Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Storage Conditions On The Composition, Physical Properties, And Functionalities Of Peas And Lentils, Fatimah Alsaeed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peas (Pisum sativum L.) and lentils (Lens culinaris) are nutritionally rich pulses valued for their high protein, fiber, and starch content. Although their composition and health advantages are widely known, little is known about the effects of long-term storage on their functional qualities and nutritional value. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of storage conditions and duration on the proximate composition, physical attributes, and techno-functional traits of lentils and peas. Storage conditions included bin (BIN; -30 to 41°C, 20–98% RH), non-environmentally controlled warehouse (NECW; -23 to 32°C, 25–84% RH), and environmentally controlled warehouse (ECW; 19–21°C, 50–53% …

Pressure-Related Discrepancies In Landsat 8 Level 2 Collection 2 Surface Reflectance Products And Their Correction, Santosh Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Established Perennial Clover Living Mulch And Soil Management Effects On Weed Suppression, Soil Health, And Broccolini Production For The Northern Great Plains, Connor Ruen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vegetable cropping systems have long been reliant on the use of tillage to prepare favorable seedbeds and manage weed pressure. Tillage degrades soil structure, decreases water infiltration and leads to compaction. Due to recent droughts across the central United Stated, it is important for water conservation to improve infiltration and avoid run off and erosion. Changes in weather patterns not only influence drought conditions but bring heat waves that have made early and late planted cool season crops in the brassica family prone bolting, leading to unmarketable produce and economic losses for farmers. This 2023 and 2024 study was designed …

The Implications Of The Menstrual Cycle On Upper Extremity Function And Injury Risk, Kaitlyn Ashley Armstrong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading cause of time lost from work in the healthcare industry (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Women account for 75 percent of the total employment in hospitals (BLS, 2022). It is important to identify key risk factors that may be contributing to the high rates of injury in this sector. Females bring a variety of unique factors into account, and understanding these factors could be critical for improving individual health and the burden placed on the system due to absenteeism resulting from injury. The cyclical hormonal fluctuations that occur over a menstrual cycle …

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.

Measuring The Dynamic Exponent Across The Excitation Spectrum Of The Fredkin Spin Chain, Coleman Kristopher Irby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spin chains are thoroughly studied models used throughout statistical physics. They make considerable simplifications to complex many-body systems that allow us to analyze complex behaviors such as phase transitions. With these large interacting systems, it is often impossible to solve them analytically. However, with the advent of digital computers, we are able to investigate these models numerically and to extrapolate to the thermodynamic limit. Our area of study concerns the Fredkin Spin Chain model. The Fredkin Spin Chain is a well studied model which has an exactly solvable ground state and an unusually large dynamical exponent, z. Much analysis has …

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 …

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 …

Identification And Computational Modeling Of Molecular Precursors To Carbonaceous And Inorganic Grains In Cosmic Media, Athena Renee Flint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mechanistic and spectroscopic data for small astronomically-relevant molecules are necessary to make sense of astrophysical observations and modeling results. For certain groups of species, including cyclopropenylidenes, silica, silicates, and ortho-benzyne derivatives, more small-scale astrochemical insights are needed to bridge the gap between atoms and small molecules and larger structures. As these understudied species are among those that can be difficult to study experimentally, quantum chemistry provides an excellent medium for carrying out such work. Within this dissertation, elucidation of reaction pathways, qualitative and quantitative rate predictions, and computation of rovibrational spectroscopic data are combined in order to better understand the …

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 …

Chemical Composition And Cardiorespiratory Health Effects Of Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) From Ambient Sources And Gunshot Residue: Investigating The Role Of Rage-Driven Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Samuel Cole Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. use firearms for recreation or occupation annually. The discharge of firearms releases a complex chemical mixture into the breathing zone of the individual. Historically the primary concern of this exposure was the inhalation of lead (Pb), however gunshot residue (GSR) is composed of inorganic and organic components that are understudied in regards to airborne concentrations and health relevance. In addition to chemical composition, GSR released into the air is composed of various size particles from unburnt propellent and projectile fractionation. A size fraction of major health concern is particulate matter less than 2.5 …

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 …

A Spoonful Of Sugar: A Mathematics Board And Card Games Intervention For Kindergarten Students At Risk For Mathematics Disabilities, Leah Kai Tiisler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early mathematics knowledge in kindergarten students can predict their later success in school and in life, while difficulties with mathematics early on can derail a child’s future unless they are provided with effective interventions. Ideally, interventions should be developmentally appropriate, playful, low in stress, and easy to implement. Board games and card games can be integrated into math interventions and easily adapted to include early arithmetic elements. This dissertation investigates the impact of a mathematics board and card game intervention on kindergarten students at risk for mathematics disabilities. The study employed a single-subject research design to assess the effectiveness of …

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 …

Study Of The Ultrasonic Properties Of A Tissue-Mimicking Phantom Of Human Brain, Utsab Acharya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preparing tissue-mimicking phantoms for brain ultrasound studies presents unique challenges due to the need to replicate the complex acoustic properties of cerebral tissue. Human brain tissue exhibits a speed of sound typically between 1520 and 1540 m/s, an attenuation coefficient ranging from 0.58 to 2.42 dB/cm in the 1–3 MHz frequency range, and a notably low backscatter coefficient between –94 and –82 dB/(cm・sr). Accurately reproducing these parameters simultaneously in a synthetic phantom is difficult because of the naturally low scattering properties of brain tissue and the interdependence of ultrasonic attenuation and scattering mechanisms. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has emerged as a …

The Profiled Feldman-Cousins Method For Confidence Interval Construction For The Nova 3-Flavor Oscillation Analysis, Andrew Joseph Dye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The small interaction cross-section of neutrinos makes experimental neutrino physics particularly responsive to technological advancements. A significant development leveraged by the NOvA experiment is large-scale parallel processing, enabling novel computational approaches to longstanding experimental challenges. Central to managing the resulting high-throughput data is NOvA’s implementation of the Freight Train model, designed for efficient data production and handling.

This dissertation details the methodology and execution of the NOvA 2024 3-Flavor Oscillation Analysis, supported by a comprehensive dataset spanning ten years. It emphasizes frequentist results refined through the Feldman-Cousins (FC) technique, specifically addressing confidence interval corrections in parameter estimation. The computational intensity …

The Prison Life-Course And Correctional Misconduct, Zachary Nathanial Buckner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to apply a developmental and life-course perspective to the understanding of correctional misconduct for those serving long-term sentences by conducting three separate analyses that examine the development of misconduct over time, and the influence of personal and prison characteristics on misconduct. Data were provided by the Department of Corrections in a Northwestern state in the United States and included all adults in custody who were currently incarcerated and had been incarcerated for a minimum of 15 years consecutively at the point of data collection in March 2023. The first analysis used group-based trajectory modeling …

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 …

Working With Parents/Guardians To Provide Support And Knowledge For Structured Literacy Spelling Instruction At Home, Claire Rearick Fearn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation in practice explores the role of spelling instruction within the framework of the Science of Reading (SOR) and Structured Literacy (SL). This research examines how spelling, a vital yet acquired literacy skill, is foundational to reading and writing development and should be taught explicitly and systematically through SL principles. Drawing on research in cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and educational research the study highlights how the brain learns to read and spell, reinforcing the need for evidence-based instruction that integrates both encoding and decoding practices. Despite research starting the importance of teaching spelling utilizing SL methods, spelling instruction and …

An Advanced Machine Learning Framework And Multi-Label Heart Disease Classification With Unet-Based Nucleus Segmentation, Md Rahat Kader Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for accurate, rapid, and interpretable diagnostic tools in the medical field has spurred the integration of artificial intelligence into various healthcare applications. Acute Myocardial Infarction, which remains one of the primary causes of mortality in both developed and developing nations, requires timely and precise identification to prevent life-threatening complications. In response to the lack of interpretable AI models tailored to diagnosing AMI using hemogram parameters, this study presents a robust machine learning-based framework that explores the diagnostic potential of these parameters. By evaluating several machine learning techniques, the research establishes the superiority of boosting algorithms, particularly the …

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. …

Framed By Education: Labeling, Stigma, And The Behavioral Pathways Of Alternative School Students, Abigail Dempsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alternative education has emerged as a critical part of the education system, addressing the needs of students who face academic, behavioral, or personal challenges. However, concerns persist about their long-term effectiveness and the stigma associated with alternative school placements. This study examines how stigma tied to alternative school placements impacts delinquency outcomes among adolescents, utilizing labeling theory as a conceptual framework. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Pathways to Desistance dataset, this research explores the relationships between school placement, self-perception of success, and delinquent behaviors. It also serves to investigate whether labeling of an alternative school placement creates a self-fulfilling …

Voltage-Dependent Anion-Selective Channels 1 And 2 Wild Type And Mutant Bh3-Like Domain Peptides: Analysis Of Secondary Structure And Binding Stoichiometry To Recombinant Bax, Mackense Kathleen Greico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates Bax binding to voltage-dependent anion-selective channels (VDAC1 and VDAC2) N-terminal 26-mer peptides, which have strong sequence homology to BH3 domains, to assess binding stoichiometries, affinities, residues involved in binding, and the potential role of peptide secondary structure in this process. Peptide helical content was assessed without or with Fos12 detergent using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Fluorescent-tagged peptides were used to assess binding affinities and stoichiometries to recombinant Bax, after correction for non-specific binding using bovine serum albumin. Affinities for VDAC1 and VDAC2 were three- to six-fold, respectively, lower than for the Bim BH3 domain, but all three peptides …

Resilience Imagined In The Mississippi Delta: Exploring Housing, Education, And Community Adaptation In Mississippi’S Internal Colonies, Semonti Jannat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of housing insecurity on educational attainment and community resilience in Cartersville, Mississippi, a historically marginalized community in the Mississippi Delta. Utilizing a qualitative research design, the study draws from in-depth interviews with eleven primary caregivers, revealing the multifaceted ways in which inadequate housing conditions affect children’s learning environments, mental health, and academic performance. The findings indicate that housing instability, manifested through overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and high financial burdens, significantly disrupts students’ educational experiences, contributing to absenteeism, limited academic focus, and stress-induced underperformance.

While the study highlights the persistent socioeconomic challenges linked to the enduring legacies …

Salinity Tolerance Of Bighead Carp And Its Implications For Dispersal In The Lake Pontchartrain Ecosystem, Alan Katzenmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of invasive bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) into the Pearl and Pascagoula River systems via the Bonnet Carré Spillway during flood control operations poses a significant threat to these unique ecosystems. This dissertation's experiments investigated the role of salinity in limiting bighead carp dispersal, demonstrating that brackish waters do not necessarily restrict their range as previously assumed. While bighead carp exhibited no significant impairment in swimming performance in salinities at or below 5 ppt, acute and chronic exposure to salinities at 15 ppt proved lethal within 50 hours, representing a critical salinity threshold. Despite mortality at elevated salinities, the …

Opportunity Restored: Using Creative Measures To Provide Students With Academic Advancement Opportunities Lost During Covid-19, Randal Clint Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examines the Fast Track and Graduation Path (FTGP) programs—equity-focused interventions developed to offer opportunity to students who experienced academic disruption during COVID-19 emergency schooling (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). The programs targeted students retained due to socioeconomic status, learned helplessness, or the technology learning gap, rather than a lack of ability or low prior performance (Jenson, 2013; Maier & Seligman, 1976; Bower, 2019). FTGP provided structured academic pathways, daily facilitation, technology-based instruction, and character education to rebuild learner confidence and achievement (Reimer & Hill, 2022).

Quantitative data from the Edgenuity© learning platform revealed the program’s …

Optimizing Infill Density For Fabricating Novel Radio Frequency Devices Utilizing Additive Manufacturing, Bibek Kattel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is revolutionizing radio frequency engineering. Along with rapid prototyping and fabricating complex structures, it enables varying substrate thickness and dielectric properties, which are highly beneficial for radio frequency research. However, despite its growing popularity, there’s a gap in understanding how 3D printing process parameters affect the electrical properties of the 3D printed structure. In radio frequency design, where device performance and characteristics heavily depend on electrical parameters such as relative permittivity, this hinders the consistency, repeatability, and reliability of 3D printed radio frequency devices.

This research addressed this gap by investigating the relationship …

Exploring Simplified Reservoir Computing Systems For Resource-Constrained Edge Ai Hardware, Ziyi Niu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Echo State Networks (ESNs) have emerged as a promising paradigm for modeling complex temporal dynamics due to their unique architecture in which only the output weights require training, while the recurrent internal reservoir remains fixed. This characteristic significantly reduces training complexity and computation time, making ESNs particularly attractive for real-time processing and resource-constrained, low-power hardware implementations. However, conventional ESNs typically employ the computationally demanding hyperbolic tangent (tanh) activation function within the reservoir neurons, which poses challenges for efficient hardware realization. To address this limitation, recent research has focused on exploring alternative lightweight activation functions—including Logistic, Tent, tanh-Linear, ReLU, and Quadratic …