Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Shape-Shifting In Literary Commemorations To Emmett Till, Chase Almquist Browning

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emmett Till remains a prominent figure in African American literature and culture. Police and vigilante violence in the twenty-first century against Black American men, women, and children has provoked political and artistic comparisons between contemporary instances of anti-Black violence and the event of Till’s kidnapping and murder. This thesis recognizes these comparisons and argues for a reorientation of critical and popular attention within the ongoing project of commemorating Till through the genres of memoir, poetry, and fiction. With the publication of Mamie Till-Mobley’s memoir Death of Innocence in 2003, I argue that this text establishes a memorial baseline for the …

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.

How French-Produced And North American-Produced French Textbooks Differ In The Teaching Of French And Francophone Culture, Elizabeth Clauss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The teaching of culture is important in any foreign language classroom. This thesis will analyze what and how different aspects of French and Francophone culture are taught in elementary-level French textbooks: one French-produced and one North American-produced. The definition of culture is provided by several sources however one definition discusses the definition of culture in its entirety. A brief history, over the course of 60 years, of the teaching of French culture is discussed and analyzed in the first part of this thesis. The development of teaching French culture in the foreign language classroom is seen. Then, the teaching of …

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 …

Improving Professional Practice: An Applied Research Study On The Effects Of A Mentoring Program For New Teachers At Wood Hawk Elementary, Latisha C. Kimbrough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This applied research study aims to improve the assistance offered to teachers within their first three years of teaching. As many new teachers enter the profession, they are faced with unexpected challenges and often left isolated and left to navigate teaching alone. This study was conducted based on the collaborative efforts of our leadership team in efforts to detail a plan of action to support new teachers through a new teacher mentor program. The goal was to utilize the mentor program, professional development, and observation and feedback cycle as strategies to help build the capacity of new teachers. The goal …

Pełczyński’S Properties (V) And (V∗) On Positive Tensor Products Of Banach Lattices, Apoorva Mate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Let E be an atomic reflexive Banach lattice and X be any Banach lattice.

In chapter 3, we study the inheritance of Pełczyński’s property (V) from E and X to their positive projective tensor product Eˆ⊗|π|X and positive injective tensor project Eˇ⊗|ε|X. In section 3.2, we show that Eˆ⊗|π|X has Pełczyński’s property (V) if and only if X has Pełczyński’s property (V) and every positive linear operator from E to X∗ is compact. In section 3.3, we show that Eˇ⊗|ε|X has Pełczyński’s property (V) if and only if X has Pełczyński’s property (V). In section 3.4, as an application, we …

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 Road To Recovery: An Applied Research Study On Promoting Effective Mathematics Instruction By Increasing Teachers’ Knowledge Of And Supporting The Implementation Of Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices To Address Pandemic Learning Loss, Kimberly D. Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied research study with a program evaluation was to answer fundamental questions about the effectiveness of an extended professional development program. The program sought to promote quality mathematics instruction by increasing teachers’ knowledge of and supporting the implementation of effective mathematics teaching practices in classroom instruction to address pandemic learning loss. To support the efforts of the Mississippi Department of Education to address pandemic learning loss and increase the capacity of the state’s educator workforce, the professional development team in the Office of Professional Development created an action plan. A program evaluation was used to measure …

Perceptions Of First-Year Bipoc Students About The Impact Of Institutional Recruitment Practices On Their Decision To Enroll In The University Of Mississippi’S Integrated Marketing Communications, Jennifer A. Simmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The University of Mississippi has a history and continued stigma of not being a welcoming place for people of color. While the university has made strides to distance itself from its past, negative stereotypes and perceptions still exist among some students and parents. These stereotypes and perceptions can make recruiting students more difficult. This study explores the perceptions of first-year students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) about the impact of institutional recruitment practices on their decision to enroll in the University of Mississippi’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program. This study will help provide perspectives from …

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 …

Pig: A Novel, William Hal Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A novel exploring addiction, recovery, faith, and family in Central Florida.

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 …

Social Capital: The Link Between State Political Culture And Civic And Political Participation, Austin Marie Conner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Systemic racism inhibits African Americans’ civic and political participation, yet the scholarship on this topic is scarce and examines Black behavior as homogenous. This study utilizes Putnam’s social capital theory and Elazar’s state political culture typology to identify social and regional distinctions in African American civic and political behavior. Both social capital and state political culture have been linked to civic and political participation, however, not much is known about how these two constructs specifically influence African American civic and political behavior. Utilizing data from the 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey, this study conducts five logistic regression models to examine …

Water Insecurity In K-12 Schools In The U.S.: Understanding State Laws, Drinking Water Violations, And Lived Experiences, Shannon O'Donnell Fitzgerald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Access to safe, reliable drinking water is essential for children's health, development, and academic success. This study examines water insecurity in U.S. K-12 schools, focusing on state policies, county-level violations, associated outcomes, and school staff experiences.

Methods: This mixed-methods study utilized secondary data analysis, mapping, regression analyses, and primary data collection. Secondary data from state sources were used to examine the presence of state legislation and Department of Education and Department of Health policies on school drinking water across the United States, examine associations between state legislation and policies with county drinking water violations, and investigate relationships between water …

Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles Enrich Less Immunogenic Protein Corona And Improve Tumor Delivery Compared To Pegylated Nanoparticles, Kenneth Ryan Hulugalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer significant promise as drug delivery vehicles; however, their in vivo efficacy is often hindered by the formation of a protein corona (PC), which influences key physiological responses such as blood circulation time, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and intracellular localization. Understanding NP-PC interactions is crucial for optimizing NP design for biomedical applications. Traditional approaches have utilized hydrophilic polymer coatings like polyethylene glycol (PEG) to resist protein adsorption, but glycopolymer-coated nanoparticles have emerged as superior alternatives due to their biocompatibility and ability to reduce the adsorption of highly immunogenic proteins. In this study, we synthesized and characterized glycopolymer-based poly[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(methacrylamidoglucopyranose) …

From Pixels To Strings: Efficient String Art Creation Leveraging Greedy Algorithm, Ashraya Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis optimizes String Art generation using advanced algorithms. String art is a technique that creates visual artworks composed of straight lines of strings tensioned between pins distributed on a canvas. Initially employing the Hough Transform, issues such as computational complexity and edge detection inaccuracies led to adopting a Greedy Algorithm. This algorithm iteratively enhances visual similarity between the string art and the original image by reducing the difference between pixel intensities between them, significantly improving quality and efficiency. Integrating non-photorealistic rendering techniques, the study ensures smoother and more coherent lines. The study demonstrates the improvements with different quantitative metrics. …

Study Of Binary Black Hole Dynamics Using Gravitational Waves, Cody Ayres Mccammon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Merging binary black holes exhibit precessional motion that can be classified into three distinct morphologies: Circulating, librating around 0, and librating around π. This information is decoded from the gravitational wave signal. Binary systems can transition between morphologies as they spiral inwards, and spin precession effects are more pronounced near merger. The spin morphology reveals information about the binary black holes’ formation such as through isolated evolution of massive binary stars and their collapse or through dynamic evolution channels such as capture. In this study, we considered inferring the morphology at reference points at which the binary has (approximately) a …

Perceived Use Of True-Self-As-Guide And Decision Satisfaction In Self-Control Conflicts, Madelyn Church

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When encountering ambiguous situations, individuals may look to their ‘true self’ to help guide their behavior and decisions (see Rivera et al., 2019). Empirical research has demonstrated that the perception of using one’s “true-self-as-guide” is beneficial in eliciting more satisfaction in decisions (e.g., Kim et al., 2021). Self-control conflicts create a unique challenge involving two aspects derived from the self: impulse and self-control. True-self-as-guide may be beneficial in feeling satisfied when navigating these situations. Through two studies, I investigated the effect that perceived use of the true self may have on decision satisfaction under self-control conflicts. Study 1 (N = …

An Amplitude Analysis Of Ξ0c Decays To Λ0k−Π+, Saroj Pokharel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Belle experiment has been integral in conducting spectroscopic measurements using the decay of various baryons

Temperamental Fear As A Vulnerability Factor For Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: An Examination Of Fight, Flight, Freeze Using A Trauma Film Paradigm, Jaime P. Murtagh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fear is often the primary emotion associated with anxiety and stress-related disorders with research suggesting that the expression of fear varies greatly between individuals and has been hypothesized to be associated with differences in behavioral inhibition, personality, as well as temperament. One theory which has been used to conceptualize variations in temperament is the reinforcement sensitivity theory which consists of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), behavioral approach system (BAS), and the fight, flight, freeze system (FFFS), with the latter being of particular interest in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Variations in FFFS sensitivity has been linked to variations in psychopathology with …

Structural And Binding Studies Of Marine Glycans With Potential Therapeutic Use, Hoda Alsayed Mohamed Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of various marine-derived polysaccharides, focusing on their structures and binding properties. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), distinct marine polysaccharides were structurally characterized, and their interactions with various biological targets were evaluated. The initial study explores a glucan isolated from Marcia hiantina, a bivalve mollusk, and its biological activity. Detailed structural analysis via NMR and chromatography techniques revealed a branched glucose-based polysaccharide with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies on the red alga Botryocladia occidentalis identified three sulfated galactans in its cell wall. Through NMR, we characterized the least …