Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Pseudomonas Produced Hydrogen Cyanide In Biological Control Of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes, Haytham Aly

Dissertations

Plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most devastating pests world-wide, causing extensive damage to important agriculture crops. The management of nematodes is challenging. Current methods used for nematode control rely mostly on using chemical nematicides and naturally resistant plants. Because of serious health and environmental problems associated with chemical control and over use of resistant plants resulting in resistant breaking strains of nematodes, alternative nematode-control methods are needed. Several potential nematode-biocontrol agents, including bacteria and fungi, have been studied for their antagonistic effect toward plant-parasitic nematodes. However, a concise picture about the biological agent’s mechanisms used to antagonize nematodes remains elusive. …

Elucidating Matrix Protein Import And Beta-Oxidation Pathways In Plant Peroxisomes, Bibi Rafeiza Khan

Dissertations

Plant peroxisomes function in fatty acid β-oxidation, jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis, and conversion of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Peroxisomes lack genetic material; proteins required for peroxisomal processes are imported posttranslationally. The PEX5 and PEX7 receptors import proteins containing one of two peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS1 or PTS2). I took a genetic approach to better understand protein import and to elucidate the role of Acyl-CoA Oxidase (ACX) enzymes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. ACX enzymes catalyze the first step in β-oxidation. There are six ACX genes in Arabidopsis and each ACX enzyme acts on specific chain-length targets, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Planning And Training, And Response To Campus Safety Incidents, Kimberly Michele Harvey

Dissertations

Over the past 50 years, campus violence has significantly impacted our institutions of higher education. As a result, campus safety has become an increasingly important topic for all colleges and universities. The Virginia Tech tragedy in 2007 highlighted the necessity of emergency management planning and training as well as employee understanding of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Emergency management plans for 27 institutions in Missouri were collected and evaluated to determine how they instructed employees to respond to various campus safety scenarios and how training factored into the campus plans. Two-hundred, fifty-one employees were then surveyed to …

An Action Research Inquiry Into The Relationship Among Aerobic Activities, Memory, And Stress With Students Identified As Gifted, Denise Marie Ford

Dissertations

Students identified as gifted come from varying socio-economic strata and nationalities with a range of talents and temperaments comprising a diverse community. They may experience stress for a variety of reasons. Although a certain amount of stress can enhance the learning process, too much stress can impede learning, especially memory. Strategies have been offered for relieving stress, yet the benefits of physical activities as stress reducers for the gifted have frequently been overlooked. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among aerobic activity, stress, and memory ability in students in an elementary school gifted program. An exceptional …

From Juvenile Court To The Adult Criminal Justice System: An Examination Of Judicial Waiver, Sheri Lu Jenkins Cruz

Dissertations

This project was concerned with how extra legal factors impact juvenile court judge‟s decisions to waive juveniles to the adult criminal court. This study had both a general and a specific purpose. Generally, it sought to identify and examine the perceptions of juvenile court judges regarding judicial waiver based on previous positions held and on the state in which the juvenile judge resides. Specifically, this study sought to examine the relationship between individual characteristics of juvenile court judges and their perceptions regarding judicial waiver. Based on the research questions, ten hypotheses were developed and tested. The population for this study …

Legal Discourse, Conceptual Metaphors, And Basic Writing Programming: A Study Of Ayers V. Fordice, Joyce Olewski Inman

Dissertations

In what ways does legal discourse influence our perceptions of students labeled as basic writers and these students’ perceptions of themselves? How does standards-based discourse affect student writers’ abilities to define themselves in academe? This dissertation involves an examination of legal and public discourse surrounding Ayers v. Fordice, one of the most prominent desegregation cases in higher education, in an attempt to answer these questions. Its intent is to explore how conceptual metaphors prevalent in these discourses affect our understandings of basic writing programming in the state of Mississippi but also in the field of composition more globally.

My …

Understanding Captive-Takers Motivations, Methods And Targets, Jean Garner Larned

Dissertations

Understanding Captive-Takers Motivations, Methods and Targets is the ultimate goal in order to help those who train, manage and prevent hostage taking events which include police officers, negotiators, recovery personnel, academics and psychologists. The overall lack of literature relating to the topic of captive-taker motivations is another impetus for this dissertation. There is a dearth of scholarly material in any of the main areas of understanding kidnapping/captive-taking/hostage-taking from the perspective of the perpetrator within law enforcement, psychology, private sector or academia. It is anticipated that this research study and the data garnered from it will assist academics, psychologists, private corporations, …

Song Cycles For Soprano By Richard Pearson Thomas, Laura Faith Bateman

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Theoretical Approach To Legitimizing Collaboratively Constructed Knowledge: A Content Analysis Of Wikipedia Science Articles Based On Accidental Collaboration, James Patrick Hutchinson

Dissertations

This study involved an analysis of 147 Wikipedia science articles using content and social network analysis to explore authorial relationships between articles and test a theoretical approach to using accidental collaboration as a tool to legitimize collaboratively constructed knowledge. Contrary to Wikipedia’s tagline of “anyone can edit,” this study found that articles had a small number of prolific contributors and that these contributors had educational background and edit history suggesting they were knowledgeable about the topics to which they contributed. Results also showed that articles found via accidental collaboration tended to be scientific in nature and often had direct subject …

All I Am: Defining Music As An Emotional Catalyst Through A Sociological Study Of Emotions, Gender And Culture, Adrienne M. Trier-Bieniek

Dissertations

This dissertation, "'All I Am': Defining Music as an Emotional Catalyst through a Sociological Study of Emotions, Gender and Culture", is based in the sociology of emotions, gender and culture and guided by symbolic interactionist and feminist standpoint theory. A primary focus is on understanding the emotional and empowering relationships women build with music that is written and performed by women, especially if they are using the music for emotional support or as a means to heal themselves. This study examines the cultural, emotional and gendered role music plays in day-to-day social life using data collected during forty-two semi-structured interviews …

Attitudes, Knowledge, And Experience With Dropout Prevention Strategies Of Mississippi Teachers And Administrators, Harold Kirk Lucky

Dissertations

Mississippi has been overly burdened with a high dropout rate for generations but in 2007 began a program to correct this problem based on the requirements of No Child Left Behind that requires all school to reduce their dropout rate. The purpose of this study was to compare the attitudes, knowledge, and experiences of Mississippi teachers and administrators with the State of Mississippi’s dropout prevention efforts and ultimately determine if they are supportive of the dropout prevention efforts. The study used a questionnaire designed by the researcher. A total of 386 questionnaires were returned from school districts across the six …

Cyberbullying, School Violence, And Youth Suicide, Mark Leopold Bennett Trachtenbroit

Dissertations

The frequency of occurrences of cyberbullying among school aged children and its co-occurrence with school violence and risk factors associated with youth suicide have been quantified in numerous national studies in recent years. However, the degree to which school administrators, school teachers, and school counselors at the middle school and high school levels are aware of these national statistics regarding cyberbullying has not been thoroughly researched. The Secondary School Educator.s Cyberbully Awareness Survey was developed to assess educator awareness of cyberbullying. Secondary school educators in this study were found to have inadequate awareness of the national statistics regarding cyberbullying, underestimating …

Does Online Course Design Encourage Attrition? Assessing Usability Factors In Learning Management Systems, Lisa Theresa Richardson

Dissertations

Online coursework offers many college students flexibility and increased earning potential that they otherwise may not have due to personal or professional responsibilities and restrictions. Unfortunately, for students with disadvantaged technology backgrounds or disabilities limited accessibility compromises these opportunities for students who already face significant challenges to the completion of their post-secondary education. In the same manner that universal design of physical spaces increases usability of buildings and other facilities for all patrons, universal design of web-based courses could improve retention of course content for all learners.

In a case study based on cognitive load theory and constructivist pedagogy, the …

The Relationship Between Attitude And Anxiety Toward Teaching Science In Pre-Service Elementary Teachers And The Use Of Science Olympiad Events, Allison Armstrong Downing

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the anxiety and attitudes of pre-service elementary teachers toward teaching science and the use of Science Olympiad events in an elementary science methods course. The participants were 34 pre-service elementary teachers enrolled in the Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 trimesters in the course Science in the Elementary School at a private university in south Mississippi. Attitude toward teaching science was measured using the Revised Science Attitude Scale. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Data collection involved participants taking pretests for attitude and state anxiety on …

Design Of Covalently Dynamic Films And Coatings: Analysis Of Biocatalyzed Kinetic Behavior In Soft Condensed Matter, Pirro Cipi

Dissertations

Reversibly adjusting surface and bulk properties of materials is advantageous to many applications and will vastly expand current polymer capabilities. A novel strategy was developed to render materials capable of “smart” surface and bulk properties with the aid of embedded biocatalyst and latent functional groups that are selectively activated in the presence of biocatalyst to undergo chemical transformation. The research presented herein focused on systematically characterizing the activity of lipase catalysts embedded in poly (alkyl methacrylate)s simultaneously with functionalized components, either as diffusing within the polymeric matrix or tethered to the matrix. Lipase activity, ester forming (synthetic) or ester breaking …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Acceptor: Donor Block Copolymers For Organic Photovoltaics, Brandon Cory Achord

Dissertations

Mankind needs sources of clean power. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, in use since 1839, have proven reliable and practical for certain applications. PV cell efficiency has changed over the years from 1-2% to ultra-high efficiency cells operating at efficiencies greater than 40%. Organic photovoltaics are a potential transformative technology platform. The potential for cell use, efficiency and cost are all parts of the research and development focus at the time this document was written. This research was initiated with a focus on the synthesis and understanding of the variables effecting acceptor-donor block copolymer. The self-assembled morphology resulting from varying volume ratios …

Development Of An Instrument Measuring The Perceived Attributes Of Using A Healthy Diet Innovation, Holly Ann Federico Huye

Dissertations

The Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) is a rural region that is rich in agricultural resources but is one of the most impoverished areas in the US. Prior research has indicated LMD adults as having higher rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases as compared to US adults. While the need for dietary intervention in the LMD is evident, the first step in designing effective interventions is the assessment of one’s perceptions of dietary behaviors. The purpose of this research was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to assess individuals’ perceived attributes of using a healthy diet. Using the Diffusion …

Following The Principles: Case Studies In Operations Other Than War, 1945-1999, Kevin Joseph Dougherty

Dissertations

In the post-World War II-era, operations other than war (OOTW) were the types of conflict most commonly faced by the United States. This term for what had previously been called by such names as small wars and low intensity conflict was incorporated in the Army’s capstone manual, Field Manual (FM) 100-5, Operations, in 1993. Field Manual 100-5 also listed objective, unity of effort, legitimacy, perseverance, restraint, and security as the six principles of OOTW. An analysis of eight OOTWs that occurred between 1945 and 1999 indicates that the balanced application of these principles is a reliable predicator of the operation’s …

From Facebook To Gradebook: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Teen Use Of Social Networking Sites And Academic Achievement, Melody Dickerson Swang

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Feminist Advocacy In Community Based Responses To Domestic Violence: Gendered Identity, Ideology And Practices, Andrea J. Nichols

Dissertations

The anti-domestic violence movement began as a feminist grassroots effort. Early feminist advocates relied on survivor-defined and social change practices rooted in feminist identity and ideology. Advocacy has evolved over time, moving from grassroots efforts into professionalized organizations, and now includes collaboration with the justice system in community based responses to domestic violence (CBR). Through inductive analysis of interviews with 26 domestic violence victim advocates and drawing from a gendered organizations framework, I examine how advocates’ feminist identity and ideology shape their practices in CBR. Findings indicate that advocates both resist and reproduce various gendered practices within traditionally feminist anti-domestic …

The Effects Of Problem-Based Learning In Math And Science On High Potential Elementary School Students, Tracy Ford Inman

Dissertations

This study explored the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on growth in both math achievement and science process skills within a sample of high potential and high ability students in grades 3 through 6, particularly students from low socio-economic (SES) backgrounds. Six elementary schools were assigned to one of three treatment groups: (a) PBL instruction in math and science in ability-grouped target classes and one-day-a-week magnet program; (b) PBL instruction in math and science in ability-grouped target classes; and (c) non-PBL instruction in math and science as a control group. Stemming from data gathered in Project GEMS (Gifted Education in …

Functional Characterization Of Putative Non-Specific Phospholipase C (Npc) In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Carlotta Antonetta Peters

Dissertations

Abstract Phospholipases are enzymes that hydrolyze phospholipids. In terms of the position of bond hydrolysis, phospholipases are classified into four major types: phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase D (PLD), phospholipase A1 (PLA1) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). PLC hydrolyzes phospholipids at the first phosphodiester bond, producing diacylglycerol (DAG) and a phosphorylated head group. Based on substrate specificity, PLC is divided into two distinctively different groups: phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and non-specific phospholipase C (NPC). There are six members of the NPC family in Arabidopsis, designated NPC1 through 6 that bears sequence homology to bacterial phosphatidylcholine hydrolyzing PLC (PC-PLC). However, their function remains …

Mad Or Bad? The Portrayal Of Mentally Ill Offenders In The Irish Print Media, Karla Duffy

Dissertations

It has been argued (Pustilnik, 2005) that the majority of representations of mentally ill offenders falls into one of two models: the moral/punitive model, and the medical/therapeutic model. The moral/punitive model views mental illness as a personal failure rather than a medical condition, and any representations of offenders in this model will be unsympathetic. The medical/therapeutic model views mental illness as a medical condition, and views mentally ill offenders in a sympathetic manner. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the representation of mentally ill offenders in the Irish print media conforms to one of these two models. …

A Policy Analysis Of The Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011, Fionnuala Lawlor

Dissertations

The Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act of 2011 is legislation which is aimed at encouraging a greater use of community service orders for people convicted of minor offences. It places a requirement on Judges when considering the imposition of a sentence of 12 months or less to consider the alternative sanction of community service first. This is the first legislation for a number of years which is aimed at diverting offenders from prison and very little is known about the reasoning behind its introduction. This thesis will utilise the framework of policy analysis set out by Kingdon (1995) and …

Partners Against Crime A Review Of Partnerships In Joint Policing Committees, Dermot Harrington

Dissertations

Recent developments of policing in Ireland have seen a shift towards local crime prevention initiatives through local partnerships. The principle aim of this study is to explore the effects of the partnership model of policing with the recent introduction of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs). This dissertation seeks to examine the opinions of members of JPCs towards this model. The research employed a qualitative methodology obtained through semi-structured interviews of JPC members and observational studies. In addition, this thesis reports on literature regarding partnership, security and governance in modern society. While this research project found that informal partnerships between An Garda …

Effects Of Operating And Geometric Variables On Hydrodynamics And Tablet Dissolution In Standard And Modified Dissolution Testing Apparatuses 2, Yimin Wang

Dissertations

Dissolution testing is routinely conducted in the pharmaceutical industry to provide critical in vitro drug release information for quality control purposes, and especially to assess batch-to-batch consistency of solid oral dosage forms such as tablets. Among the different types of apparatuses listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), the most commonly used dissolution system for solid dosage forms is the USP Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2, consisting of an unbaffled, hemispherical-bottomed vessel equipped with a 2-blade radial impeller.

Despite its extensive use in industry and a large body of work, some key aspects of the hydrodynamics of Apparatus 2 have received …

Synthesis And Development Of Boron Nanotubes And Metal/Ceramic-Carbon Nanotube Composites, Jinwen Liu

Dissertations

The first part of this thesis will be focused on developing a facile and scalable solid — solid chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process using a solid boron precursor to synthesize crystalline boron nanotubes (BNTs) mixed with small amounts of boron nanofibers (BNFs). The synthesis involves the use of solid boron precursors - magnesium boride and magnesium borohydride, magnesium and nickel boride as co-catalysts, and porous MCM-41 zeolite as the growth template. Experimental parameters, such as temperature, grinding of constituents and starting precursor-catalyst-template compositions, were studied and optimized. Detailed characterization have been carried out using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission …

Energy Propagation In Jammed Granular Matter, Xiaoni Fang

Dissertations

The systems built from dense granular materials are very important due to their relevance to a number of technological and other fields. However, they are difficult to study in particular due to a lack of accurate continuum description. In this work, studies on these systems are presented using discrete element simulations that model the granular particles as soft, elastic, and frictional disks which interact when in contact. These simulations are used for the purpose of analyzing a few granular systems with the main emphasis on understanding phenomena of energy and force propagation.

Analysis of energy propagation in a two-dimensional disordered …

Synthesis Of (±)-Cyclophostin, (±)-Cyclipostin P, Their Phosphonate Analogs And New Chemistry Of Vinyl Phosphonates, Raj Kumar Malla

Dissertations

This work is divided into 2 parts: a) total synthesis of (±)-cyclophostin, (±)-cyclipostin P and their monocyclic analogs b) development of a metathesis based methodology for transformation of vinyl phosphonates. Cyclophostin (1) and cyclipostins (2) are bioactive natural bicyclic organophosphates. Cyclophostin is a powerful inhibitor of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), whereas members of the cyclipostins are potent inhibitors of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). Cyclophostin (1) and cyclipostin (2) have the same structural core unit, but different phosphate ester substituents. While cyclophostin is a methyl ester, the members of the cyclipostins are phosphate esters of different alkyl groups of various length and …

Exploring The Direct And Indirect Effects Of School Leadership On Student Achievement In Kentucky High Schools, Sheri Roberts Mcguffin

Dissertations

No abstract provided.