Digital Commons Network^™

Giving And Receiving Social Support Among Individuals With Migraine, Lauren Thaxter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is among the most common and burdensome neurological disorders in the United States, significantly impairing daily functioning. Psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of pain are known to exacerbate migraine experiences, while receiving social support has been broadly associated with improved health outcomes. Although giving and receiving social support are protective for physical and mental health, their specific influence on migraine outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigated experimentally whether giving social support increased pain tolerance and reduced pain intensity as measured using a cold pressor test among 117 individuals with migraine. This study also examined the …

Evaluating The Success Of The Rev It Up! Curriculum Training On The Self-Efficacy Of Sdsu Extension Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (Efnep) & Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (Snap-Ed) Paraprofessional Educators In Teaching Adolescents, Oluwatemilorun Akinsanya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Evaluate self-efficacy changes among Extension paraprofessional nutrition educators after receiving an adolescent curriculum (Rev It Up!) training. Methods: Paired t-tests on three adapted scales measured changes at pre- (T1), post- (T2), and 1 yr post-intervention (T3): the Teacher Interpersonal Self-Efficacy Scale (TISS), Nutrition Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale (NTSES), and Self-Efficacy and Nutrition Teaching Methods scale (SNTMS). Results: Six educators completed the TISS and NTSES; 5 completed the SNTMS. The TISS showed significant improvement from T1 to T2 only (p= 0.03); the NTSES showed improvement between T1 and T2 (p= 0.01) and T1 and T3 (0.01); and there were no significant …

Ovarian Response, Endocrine Environment, And Pregnancy-Associated Glycoproteins In Beef Cows Using The 7 & 7 Synchronization Protocol, Hunter Haberman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Review aims to provide an overview of the bovine estrous cycle and pregnancy establishment, beginning with follicular development, luteolysis, maternal recognition of pregnancy and early embryonic development. Manipulating the estrus cycle with synchronization protocols is a critical aspect of the beef industry and has greatly improved the efficiency of artificial insemination. This review will evaluate various strategies to synchronize estrus from the very basic to more advanced synchronization protocols. There are many factors that affect the success of the protocol, and many studies have been done to evaluate the estrus cycle to reach the highest level of success from …

Les Conditions De Vie De La Classe Ouvrière Dans Les Chefs-D’ Œeuvre De Ousmane Sembène, Sawel Awuni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Francophone African literature emerged as a vehicle for criticism of the colonial system, subsequently shifting its focus to neocolonialism as a new stage of imperialism. Literature and film served as instruments for critiquing imperialist structures, which engendered societal issues and fostered division among Africans. This study examines how Sembène’s books and films satirize society and their continued relevance to contemporary issues in the countries and cities depicted in these literary and cinematic works. To conduct this study, two books and a film were selected as primary sources: Le Docker Noir, Les Bouts de bois de Dieu, and “La Noire de…”. …

Because Kids: Improving Reading Outcomes For Students In A Low-Performing Rural School, Cornishee Jekee Bruce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this applied research study, I aimed to improve reading growth among at-risk, low-performing fifth and sixth-grade students at West Upper Elementary School, which was designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement school. I employed a data-driven decision-making framework, introduced the iReady reading computer program, and used high-quality instructional materials to address students' ongoing literacy issues. The research revealed a slight decline in the lowest reading percentiles by integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection methods through a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for continuous improvement. However, significant gains emerged in lower performance tiers, including significant decreases in the number of students at the …

Designing Security Primitives Using Digital And Analog Discrete-Time Chaotic Systems, Mrittika Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we explore the design of lightweight, reconfigurable, and entropy-rich security primitives using both digital and analog discrete-time chaotic systems. By leveraging the inherent unpredictability, sensitivity to initial conditions, and nonlinear dynamics of chaos theory, we present two distinct architectures: a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) built using digital chaotic maps and a physically unclonable function (PUF) constructed from a compact analog chaotic oscillator. Each system is tailored for efficient implementation on resource-constrained platforms while maintaining strong statistical and security properties.

Boundaries And Barriers: A Study On The Factors Influencing Bachelor’S Degree Attainment For Women In Arkansas At Regional Public Universities, Meagan Rochelle Bowling Fudge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arkansas consistently ranks among the bottom five states nationally for bachelor’s degree attainment. To explore the factors contributing to this trend and identify opportunities for increasing degree completion, this study focuses on women attending Regional Public Universities (RPUs) in Arkansas. By examining the barriers these women face, this research aims to uncover critical gaps and inform future areas for research, policy, and investment.

Women represent the largest segment of undergraduate enrollment in the state, consistently enrolling in college at higher rates than their male peers. RPUs enroll more bachelor's degree-seeking students than any other type of institution in Arkansas, including …

The Underrepresentation Of African American Male Educators In K-12 Education, Nisa Lewis Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American education system has struggled with a significant teacher shortage for years. Alongside this shortage is the underrepresentation of African American male teachers. Despite the increasing diversity of the student population, African American men make up less than 2% of teachers nationwide (Aftunion, 2020). This disparity denies all kids access to diverse perspectives in the classroom and limits the presence of role models for students of color. Research studies have shown that African American students who have African American teachers show improvement in their grades, standardized test scores, attendance records, and graduation rates (Breazeale, 2023). This study aimed to …

Asking Pharmacists About Over-The-Counter Oral Contraceptives: Intention Among Adolescents And Young Women, Ivy Leong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recent availability of over-the-counter oral contraceptives eliminates many barriers to accessing birth control. Even with this easier accessibility, pharmacists can still play an important role in educating users, especially adolescents and young adults. However, hesitation to reach out to pharmacists among younger populations has been documented. Additionally, little is known about the underlying driver of this hesitation.

This study aimed to examine predictors of young females’ willingness to seek assistance from pharmacists for over-the-counter oral contraceptive use and to determine the difference in the effect of these predictors between adolescents (age 16 to 17) and young women (age 18 …

Secure Wireless Communication With Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces, Babita Pradhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the promising use of Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) for enhancing the security in wireless communication, this dissertation explores secure wireless communication facilitated by IRS to improve the secrecy rate of the system. We consider a multiple-input single-output (MISO) communication system supported by the IRS in the presence of a single legitimate user (Bob) and an illegitimate user (Eve).

First, we focus on maximizing the secrecy rate of the system through joint optimization of transmit beamforming and the phase shifts of the IRS elements. We examine two methods: (1) Method 1, which directly optimizes the secrecy rate as the objective …

Exploring Aging And Bone Health In Normal Weight Obesity And The Prevalence Of Unhealthy Lean Phenotypes, Pouria Sefidmooye Azar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a complex chronic condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat. While numerous studies have highlighted the risks of adverse complications associated with obesity, limited research has explored the relationship of body composition phenotypes, more specifically normal weight obesity with aging, and bone health. Also, the prevalence of unhealthy lean phenotypes in adults in the U.S. is not clear. A secondary-data analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 were performed to further examine the relationship between body composition phenotypes—normal weight lean (NWL), overweight/obesity with normal body fat percentage (OBL), normal weight obesity (NWO), …

A Profile Of Contempt: Its Expressive Function In The Age Of Profilicity, Eric Michael Servatius

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contempt permeates modern political discourse and popular media. Nevertheless, within the psychological and philosophical literature on reactive attitudes, moral emotions, and negative sentiments, contempt remains comparatively understudied. In this paper, I examine contempt’s intimate connection with social identity and argue that existing accounts of contempt largely overlook the broader social role it plays in a contemporary moment characterized by digital communication and fluid group dynamics. I contend that public expressions of contempt serve two primary expressive functions in modern society: (1) to signal group identification and (2) to enforce group norms—not for the target of contempt, but for third party …

Slope Stability Hazard Investigation Of Calhoun County, Mississippi And The County Road 210 Landslide, Miles Heath Grames

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses geological field data, laboratory characterization of sediments, and multiple computational models of slope stability to investigate a landslide that occurred in Calhoun County, Mississippi. The primary hypothesis is that intense rainfall led to the saturation of the slope, triggering failure through the reduction of shear strength.

Fieldwork included drilling at the failure site to obtain subsurface samples and drone-based site characterizations. Laboratory analysis included soil descriptions, grain size analysis, and Atterberg limit testing. Sample characterizations revealed a stratified soil profile dominated by fine-grained silts and clays, including an organic-rich lignite layer (OL). Strata generally exhibit low permeability …

Leveraging The Zebrafish Model For The Study Of Human Health Impacts Of Particulate Matter Exposure: Exploring Biological Effects Of Fuel Source Emissions, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like Behaviors, And Molecular-Level Reproductive Impacts, Shayla Victoria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particulate matter (PM) is the solid and liquid portion of air pollution that can be found at various size fractions, including PM2.5, which is 2.5 μm or smaller in aerodynamic diameter. PM is a complex mixture, containing a wide variety of chemical constituents, including inorganic compounds (heavy metals), organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and pesticides, that have been individually linked to human health impacts. These include cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, but due to its small size and chemical composition, PM has the ability enter into systemic circulation and cause dysregulation of other physiological processes, such as neurodevelopment and reproduction, which …

From Difficult Heritage To A Symbol Of Peace: A Case Study Of The Chibondo Mass Grave In Zimbabwe., Peter Mudzingwa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the contested interpretation and memorialization of the Chibondo mass grave in Zimbabwe, analyzing how unresolved historical grievances shape national reconciliation efforts. Discovered in 2011, Chibondo became a politically charged heritage site, officially framed as a symbol of liberation while simultaneously raising allegations that it contains victims of post-independence violence, including the Gukurahundi massacres. Employing the theoretical frameworks of difficult heritage, transitional justice, and memorialization, this research explores the political, social, and ethical complexities that emerge when nations confront traumatic pasts. Through a mixed-methods approach that combines semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and scholarly reviews, the study critically assesses …

Human Papillomavirus Knowledge, Beliefs, And Behaviors Among Community College Students: Why Should It Matter?, Eric Pittman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.). Approximately 42.5 million individuals in the U.S. are infected with disease-associated HPV, and 13 million new cases occur every year. It is estimated that 85% of sexually active adults will be infected with HPV at some point during their lifetime. Most individuals infected with HPV are asymptomatic and clear the virus without any complications. However, in some individuals, the virus persists. Prolonged HPV infection has been associated with six different types of cancer and genital warts. There are approximately 37,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers …

Improving Detection Capabilities Of Traditional Machine Learning (Ml) Algorithms Against Data Poisoning Attacks On Image Data, Sabrina Perry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning (ML) algorithms play a critical role in automated decision-making systems across domains such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems. However, these models are increasingly vulnerable to adversarial threats, particularly poisoning attacks that manipulate training data without the knowledge of the ML developers. As ML models are often trained on publicly available data, data poisoning is trivial for attackers to perform, with no way to determine if training data is legitimate, poisoned during data collection, or poisoned during training in the current ML training pipeline.

This dissertation investigates data poisoning attacks, with a focus on label flipping and gradient …

Comparative Analysis Of Out-Of-Pocket Expenditures On Authorized Generics And Independent Generics Among Medicare Beneficiaries, Arman Arabshomali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Authorized generics (AGs) are essentially brand-name drugs without the brand name on their labeling. AGs are often marketed as cost-saving alternatives to brand-name drugs; however, their impact on patient out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures compared to independent generics (IGs) remains understudied, especially within Medicare. This study investigates the OOP costs of AGs versus IGs among Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 5% national sample of Medicare Part D claims data from 2012 to 2020, linked with the FDA’s NDC Directory data to specify Authorized Generics, Independent Generics, and Brands. The study compared OOP …

The Predictive Value Of College Entrance Exams On Retention Of Domestic, First-Time, Full-Time Freshman At The University Of Mississippi, James D. Corner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the predictive value of college entrance exams specifically the ACT and SAT on the academic retention of domestic, first-time, full-time freshmen at the University of Mississippi. With the rise of test-optional admissions models, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, this research investigates whether standardized test scores remain relevant in forecasting student success, defined by persistence from freshman to sophomore year and academic performance measured through GPA in the first and second semesters. Drawing upon a conceptual framework that includes pre-college characteristics, standardized assessments, and early academic performance, this study challenges the long-held assumption that standardized exams …

Exploring Psychological Capital In Student Pharmacists: Insights, Outcomes, And Instructional Considerations, Joseph Aaron Dikun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objectives

The positive psychology movement served to create momentum to move from treating disease to exploring what makes life worth living, emphasizing the exploration of what contributes to human flourishing. One’s psychological capital has provided a practical framework for personal development that highlights the potential for individuals draw upon resources to thrive amidst challenges. As students face numerous stressors, including academic pressures, uncertainties, and personal struggles that threaten their well-being and performance, self-awareness and ability to utilize these intrinsic resources provide an actionable target for development. First, a measure of psychological capital was adapted and refined. Next, positive psychological capital …

Don't Let Them In: Our Vampire Stories In The French Quarter, Sela Ricketts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of vampires in New Orleans. The reason I have chosen to include the word “Our” in the title is because we created the stories that I am studying. We created, perpetuated, changed, and eventually monetized them. Throughout this paper I discuss how the vampire came to New Orleans and how that same vampire shows up in New Orleans folklore. Then I discuss how the vampire made the jump from urban legend to pop culture. In doing that it gained “humanity”. They were still monstrous, but it was enough humanity to acquire regional identity, a southern …

The Effects Of Validating And Invalidating Responses On Self-Reported Levels Of Anxiety, Leila Sachner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given that validation and invalidation have been linked to internal factors contributing to anxiety disorders, it is important to further explore how validation and invalidation are associated with experiences of anxiety. The current study was designed to assess the association between validation/invalidation and anxiety among college students. Significant omnibus regression models emerged revealing that perceived invalidation accounted for 25.7% of the variance in self-reports of physiological anxiety symptoms and 27.6% of the variance in self-reports of generalized anxiety symptoms. A series of mixed-factorial ANOVAs revealed no main effect of experimental condition on emotional responses (anxiety, anger, arousal, valence), indicating that …

Public Attitudes Toward The Nigerian Police: An Examination Of Trust Indicators At Micro Levels, Bassey Kooffreh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation comprises three studies that collectively contribute to understanding public trust in the Nigerian police. The first study applies three major policing theories namely performance theory, procedural justice theory, and social capital theory to explain the factors that influence trust in the police. The second study offers a comparative analysis of the predictors of public trust in both the police and the courts. The third study examines how individual quality of life, neighborhood structural characteristics, and civic engagement affect public trust in the police. Using nationally representative data from Afrobarometer Round 9, the first study reveals that citizens who …

Comprehensibility, Accentedness, And Intelligibility Of English Varieties As Perceived By Japanese Learners Of English, Kana Machida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to Japanese learners of English having limited exposure to various English accents in education, this study investigates their comprehensibility, accentedness, intelligibility, and familiarity with different accents. Twelve participants evaluated how easy speakers were to understand and the extent of their accentedness, and transcribed their speech.

Quantitative analysis revealed that Japanese learners of English struggle with understanding certain accented varieties of English, particularly Nigerian English, and are unfamiliar with them. In contrast, General American English and Southern American English speakers were generally perceived as less accented and easier to understand. However, results from the listening transcription task indicated that …

The Stories Of Land: Exploring Southeast Indigenous Historical Contextualization In University Settings, Haley Elizabeth Mcglone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of Higher Education have a unique opportunity as educational spaces to connect with the land they occupy. As students enter the college environment, institutions have a responsibility to provide them with meaningful connection to land their university is situated upon and educate them in its history. Many institutions of higher education have incorporated important contextualization projects on their campuses in an effort to acknowledge and confront their historic ties to colonization and systemic racism (Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, n.d.).

This study offers an environmental scan of two sites of removal now occupied …

Succession Planning And Organizational Structures Of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, Elizabeth Hinton Mcmurphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic health sciences libraries are vital in educating and training future healthcare professionals. Over the last decade, a significant number of library directors, many of whom had served in their positions for ten years or more, have retired from the field. The retirement wave in libraries has been anticipated since the late 1980s with the advent of end-user searching. However, due to the aging workforce and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this predicted exodus has become a more imminent reality. Consequently, the intricate organizational structures of academic medical centers and academic health sciences libraries, coupled with the frequent absence …

Underrepresented Medical Students: Perceptions Of Academic Persistence And Successful Completion Of Medical School, Nicholas Dakota Bibbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Less than one percent of the United States population’s workforce are physicians. The road to becoming a medical doctor is long, complex, and taxing. Individuals desiring to become physicians must have large amounts of grit, persistence, patience, and a hard work ethic just to get to medical school. The students who are accepted into medical school come from various backgrounds with differing degrees of access to resources and opportunities to prepare them before and during their medical education. Studies show that students who are categorized as underrepresented in medicine often face the most challenges to achieving academic success. Understanding what …

The Collaborative Effect Of Ceo-Cfo Power Differentials: What Is The Impact On Performance?, Derek Wayne Henrichs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Survey evidence shows that in the 21st century the CFO’s power has been increasing more than any other executive position. Yet, an understanding of how this increasingly powerful executive interacts with CEO power is not fully understood. This study examines the collaborative effect of power dynamics in the CEO-CFO relationship and how that influences firm performance. I capture executive power by combining two data sets to examine three dimensions of an executive’s power: structural, individual, and social. I predict and find that certain aspects of executive power impact firm performance differently and measure this by changes in profitability. Furthermore, I …

Navigating Cultural Transitions: The Adaptation Experiences Of Bangladeshi International Students In The Usa, Khadiza Tul Kubra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Bangladeshi international students adapt to life and study in the United States. I conducted in-depth interviews with students at the University of Mississippi to understand their everyday experiences. My focus was on how they manage cultural, academic, and social challenges. I used segmented assimilation theory, Berry’s acculturation model, and Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital to guide my analysis. The findings are shared in three main parts. First, I discuss how students use community support and religious networks to feel at home. Second, I look at how they deal with language barriers, classroom culture, and identity shifts. …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Agmatine Based Carbon Dots, Suyasha Sharad Chaudhari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized from agmatine sulfate, a bioactive molecule with nitrogen-rich moiety guanidine, and citric acid, a commonly used carbon source with oxygen-rich functional groups, at controlled temperatures of 180, 200, and 220°C, as well as CDs of agmatine only at 220°C using a hydrothermal method. The synthesized CDs were characterized for its optical properties, using UV–Vis, Fluorescence, chemical properties using, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry, structural properties using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and for surface charge evaluation ζ-potential was measured. UV-Visible spectra confirmed CD formation through characteristic sp² hybridization bands. The synthesized CDs exhibited …