Digital Commons Network^™

Living In A Gradient: The Influence Of Water Temperature Variation On Development, Settling Time And Survival Of Pallid Sturgeon Larvae In The Missouri River, Maria Elizabeth Erceg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) are a federally endangered species experiencing widespread reproduction and recruitment failures. Recruitment failure is hypothesized to be caused by habitat modifications made to the Missouri River that disrupt connectivity and alter temperature profiles downstream of constructed dams. Hypolimnetic releases from Missouri River dams affect the temperature downstream, creating colder conditions during the downstream drifting phase for dispersing larvae. Understanding the influence of water temperature changes on larval development is crucial for recovery efforts. In this study, we evaluated the effects of water temperature daily heating rate on energy use, settling behavior, and growth rate of endogenously …

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis Of The Temperature And Impurity Profiles In The Protodune-Sp Neutrino Detector, Jenna Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the ProtoDUNE single-phase detector were developed, refined, and analyzed. The ProtoDUNE single-phase detector is a prototype detector that is part of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, an international research collaboration aimed at better understanding neutrinos and the role they play in our universe. The ProtoDUNE single-phase detector is used to gather data and inform design changes for the full-sized far detector prior to its construction. The effects of certain geometric features and heat sources on the thermal profiles within the liquid region of the detector were investigated in a set of parametric studies. The …

Exploring Nursing Faculty Emotional Exhaustion And Its Relationship To Student Incivility, Shantelle Wade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine if nursing faculty experience emotional exhaustion (EE). Further, this study aimed to explore the relationship between nursing student incivility and faculty EE and to determine if there were differences in levels of faculty EE based on educational level, academic rank, and years of teaching experience. Background: Nursing education is stressful for both students and faculty. When faced with stress and demands, students can become uncivil. This student incivility can add additional strain to faculty’s already strenuous work and personal lives and can contribute to them becoming emotionally exhausted. Due to EE, …

Machine-Learning And Meta-Analysis Techniques To Quantify And Predict Soil Organic Carbon, N2O-N And Co2-C Emissions In Cover Crop Systems, Deepak Raj Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People worldwide are challenged by multiple threats including climate change, growing populations, and soil degradation. Addressing these challenges requires understanding of the local environment, farming systems and modern technologies. These technologies include new ways to process information that include artificial intelligence, machine learning and meta-analysis. Models produced using these technologies may be useful for predicting the consequences of implementing conservation practices that reduce GHG emissions as well as for determining the carbon footprint of cropping systems that include environmentally friendly conservation technologies such as growing cover crop. Therefore, our objectives of this study were to: 1) provide an overview of …

Understanding The Impact Of Human Germline Single-Nucleotide Variants, Samuel Adjei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

All genetic variations in the human genome are due to mutations, and therefore determining the impact of the different categories of mutations, particularly nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs) which are the most abundant in the population is essential for understanding the genetics of human diseases. Generations of mutation studies have focused on a relatively small number, partly due to technological limitations. However, advances in next-generation sequencing have allowed for empirical assessments of genome-wide mutations. genome sequence of any individual contains extensive protein-altering genetic variation (missense mutations) and of which only a few are unambiguously deleterious. Characterizing the phenotypes of these …

Fire Emissions In The Tropical Indonesia: Improved Estimation And Driving Forces Investigation, Xiaoman Lu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Indonesia has experienced frequent fires since the 1970s due to large-scale peatland conversion and extensive drainage for agricultural development. Fire emissions released from these fires have led to Indonesia being the world’s 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases in certain years. Given that fire emissions severely affect climate, weather, and the human environment, numerous approaches have been developed to estimate fire emissions. However, existing emission estimates differ largely by a factor of four in this tropical country because of frequent cloud interferences and low-temperature smoldering fires. Therefore, this dissertation aims to improve the quantification of Indonesian fire emissions through enhanced …

Modeling The Flow And Creep Compliance Properties Of Ice-Cream Mixes, Hiran Ranaweera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work documented the influence of the protein source (MPC80 and WPC80), protein content (4-12%), and temperature (5-35ºC) on the rheological behavior (flow curve, frequency sweep, and creep-recovery) of ice-cream mixes (ICM). For each protein source, the viscosity of the ICM was satisfactorily modeled (𝑅2>0.98, 𝑅2 𝑎𝑑𝑗>0.98, and E0.99), while the recovery phase was represented by an empirical model. The percentage of recovery (%R) of the ICM significantly decreased with the protein content.

Newcomer Adjustment And Affective Commitment: A Two-Wave Moderated Mediation Model, Shay Norris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As job and career changes continue to increase in the post-pandemic work environment, new employees are not staying in their roles long enough to identify with their organization, causing high turnover in the first few months of employment. To address these problems, there is increasing evidence that providing resources and support during the socialization process will increase employee commitment, retention, and organizational performance. I propose that an integrated theoretical framework combining Socialization Resources Theory (SRT) and Job Demands-Resources Theory (JD-R) is best suited to explain the relationship between newcomer adjustment and affective commitment. A moderated-mediation model is developed and tested …

Middle American Gothic, Jordan Heisler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though Gothicism has evolved since its inception in the eighteenth century, its most common tropes—such as deteriorating settings, supernatural figures, and foreboding atmospheres—have remained integral to the genre. While, the following fictional collection, Middle American Gothic, draws inspiration from these familiar Gothic tropes, it substitutes the grandeur of crumbling castles, monasteries, and sprawling estates for a common town within the rural Midwest. Similarly, while the collection nods to the existence of supernatural beings, none of its stories actually rely on anything otherworldly as a source of terror. Its setting, while not traditionally Gothic, features a series of decaying, outdated homes …

Factors Associated With Increased Breastfeeding At Initiation And Continuation At Two Months In American Indian Women, Addison Reimer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The purpose of this report was to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding at initiation and two months continuation in American Indian South Dakota mothers who gave birth between 2017-2019 and determine the factors associated with breastfeeding and various health behaviors and beliefs. This study serves to fill the current gaps in research focusing on breastfeeding in American Indian women in South Dakota. Methods: Data from the South Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (SD PRAMS), a state-based surveillance system, was used to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and maternal behaviors, attitudes, and experiences. Logistic regression was used to determine …

Students’ Perceptions Of Specific Laboratory Curricula On The Learning Experience In Chemistry Courses, Arwa Ali Alshehri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laboratory courses play a key role in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and providing experience in certain aspects of a laboratory setting including reactions, materials, and equipment. Prior studies suggest that a laboratory course assists students toward cognitive gain on lecture content. In contrast, other studies conclude that laboratory is uncorrelated with cognitive gain on lecture content. Thus, a discord exists between researchers regarding the role that laboratory experiences play in furthering the understanding of chemistry concepts taught in lectures. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of two different laboratory curricula on students’ performance in …

Emerging Respiratory Viral Pathogens, April Nelsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Respiratory disease is arguably the most important health concern for the production animal industry [1-3]. Respiratory problems accounted for the highest mortality both in the swine and beef industries [1, 4]. Respiratory pathogens remain the most vital for swine and bovine research and disease monitoring [2, 5-7]. As pathogens, in particular viral pathogens, mutate, novel disease-causing viruses emerge, and there becomes an increasing concern and need for identification with control perimeters. One frequently identified disease syndrome is Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC). PRDC is characterized by pneumonia of mixed respiratory infections with contributions from the environment and management practices. The …

Evaluating The Effects Of Medium Chain Fatty Acids On Sow Reproductive Characteristics, Offspring Biological Health Markers, And Growth Performance, Analicia J. Swanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A sow’s diet can influence and her offspring not only in the suckling period, but well after weaning. The objective of this study was to determine how supplementing medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in gestation and lactation impacted offspring growth performance as well as the biological markers of pig quality from the suckling period until week 6 of the nursery period. A total of 77 primparious and multiparious females and their 438 offspring were utilized in this study. Sows and gilts (218.15 kg ± 32.15 kg BW at d28 of gestation) were assigned to one of 2 dietary treatments: Control …

Molecular Design Of Transition Metal Complexes For Photocatalytic Co2 Reduction And Redox Mediation In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Anthony Devdass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The search for cost-efficient alternate energy sources has been a significant goal of the scientific community. Around 83% of global primary energy consumption currently comes from fossil fuels and this over dependency on fossil fuels has been a major contributor for increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. The safe path is to use carbon-neutral energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy or to use these renewable energy sources to drive chemical reactions to convert CO2 to energy rich fuels or fuel precursors. Such a strategy involves storage of energy in the form of chemical bonds …

Resilience Capacity Of School Meal Programs In Southeastern U.S. School Districts During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Findings From Mississippi, Louisiana, And West Virginia, Kritika Gupta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi (MS), Louisiana (LA), and West Virginia (WV) have some of the nation’s highest rates of poverty and health disparities, reflected in high rates of food insecurity. Many of the school districts in these states have greater than 40% of students qualifying for free meals and, under community eligibility, can provide meals free to all children. School meals play an important role in addressing food insecurity in the U.S. and those were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of social systems (schools) to continue operations during adverse circumstances (pandemic) to ensure the sustained outcome of interest (food security) …

An Exploration Of Interdisciplinary Graduate Education And Training: Currently Available Information, Perspectives, And Beliefs, David D. Allen Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background and Objectives

Interdisciplinary research has come into the limelight over the last 30 years. Current literature identifies interdisciplinary research as having the potential to assist in solving complex contemporary problems or issues through the inclusion of multiple disciplinary perspectives to account for the systematic intricacies therein. This project served as an exploration of interdisciplinary graduate education, graduate interdisciplinary research training, and the practice of interdisciplinary research, using three primary objectives. We first sought to identify and present current information around interdisciplinary graduate education and research training. Second, study personnel aimed to explore opinions and beliefs on interdisciplinary education and …

Beginning Teachers' Perceptions Of New Teacher Mentoring In A Suburban Mississippi School District, Kelly Anne Ladner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

New teacher attrition rates are continuously increasing, thus resulting in large numbers of teacher turnover from year to year. With the ever-growing teacher shortage, replacing new teachers has become even more challenging. If the trend continues, school leaders in the K-12 system will continuously be faced with hiring and training new teachers each year.

The current recruitment model compels teachers to “fake until they make it,” thus resulting in low teacher morale and job satisfaction. Most new teachers experience low morale, classroom management challenges, feelings of isolation, and lack of support from coworkers and administration, which leads to continuously increasing …

Exploratory Studies On The Feasibility Of Developing Microneedles Using Hot Melt Extrusion Coupled With Fused Deposition Modeling 3-D Printing, Nikeeta Palande

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transdermal drug delivery enables efficient local and systematic drug delivery while offering advantages such as non-invasiveness, patient compliance, and avoidance of first pass metabolism compared to parenteral administration. Due to strong and the multi-layered structure of the skin creates complex barriers which makes the delivery of therapeutic agents across the skin becomes challenging. Microneedles have been shown to deliver drugs through the transdermal route by penetrating the skin’s protective barrier, stratum corneum (SC) and creating a pathway for drug permeation to the dermal tissue. Traditionally, microneedles were fabricated using various types of materials and process such as casting, injection moulding, …

Covid-19 And Headache-Related Disability, Lauren Thaxter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is a common nervous system disorder that is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and approximately half of individuals with migraine report their migraine attacks cause substantial impairment in activities. A bidirectional relationship exists between migraine and psychological symptoms, and comorbid psychological symptoms compound migraine-related disability. Due to COVID-19 pandemic response procedures, many university students experienced institutional closures and corresponding increases in depression, stress, and anxiety, with the most prominent worries being about one's own health and the health of loved ones. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between COVID-19 status (pre-COVID vs. during COVID) and headache-related …

A Comparison Of Student Academic Policies Across University Of Mississippi Medical Center (Ummc), Farrah Banks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project is a three-part Dissertation in Practice (DiP) that provides a comparison of academic student policies at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). For the purpose of this study, the term “student academic policies” relates to rules and procedures for grievances, student dismissals, sanctions, and suspensions. At UMMC, potential violations on the part of students can occur based on failure to maintain required academic standards or lapses in professional conduct. An important goal of the manuscript is to reflect on ways to help ensure consistency and fairness in academic student policies based on a comparison of academic standards …

Measuring Impact Of New Teacher Mentoring Programs Through Teacher Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Ezzard Beane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The education gap between economically advantaged and economically disadvantaged students in the United States is accountable for most of the education gap in the United States and other technologically advanced countries. Unfortunately, the students who require the most academic support and quality instruction often receive instruction from the least qualified. The gap in effective instruction for the economically disadvantaged is related to the quality of instruction which is often facilitated by the least effective and least qualified teachers. The quality of teachers is directly related to the high teacher attrition rates of teachers serving economically disadvantaged students. Maximizing strategies to …

Design And Identification Of Organic Molecules As Agonists Of The Gabab Receptor And As Difluoro-C-Glycosylated Derivatives Of Flavonoids Using Molecular Modeling, Reem Alkhodier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of molecular modeling in pharmaceutical research is continuously growing. This growth is a result of the increasing number of experimental structures, the development of sophisticated modeling methods, and the improvement in computer performance by using GPUs and cloud computing. Nowadays, molecular modeling is routinely used in drug discovery to investigate biological processes and molecular properties. Herein, we use molecular modeling to investigate the behaviors of compounds with unique scaffolds.

Baclofen is the only marketed GABAB receptor agonist that is used for spasticity disorders, and it has shown promise as an anti-abuse agent. However, it has disadvantages that raise …

Implementing Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports At Johnson Elementary School: An Applied Research Study, Authur Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Establishing positive relationships in a school is essential to how the administrators, teachers, students, and staff shape the culture and climate in the learning environment. The purpose of the applied research project was to implement a school wide PBIS program at Johnson Elementary School. Providing the staff with PBIS initial and ongoing professional development was a vital component of the research project. Additionally, utilizing a PBIS Team was pivotal in the project's sustainability. Based on the two-year pre- and post-PBIS implementation data, student discipline decreased significantly with the onset and continuation of PBIS during the 1st year of implementation; however, …

Cellular Mechanisms Of Igf-1 Neuroprotection After Ischemic Stroke, Cellas A. Hayes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Strokes are a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide; thus, there is a dire need for new, effective pharmacotherapeutics that can be administered to reduce the burden of disease post-insult. Clinical findings have shown that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and post-stroke functional outcomes exhibit a positive relationship. Importantly, the administration of exogenous IGF-1 in rodent models of ischemic stroke attenuates neurological damage and functional deficits following stroke. Ongoing stroke damage after the initial insult is primarily induced by increased extracellular glutamate causing substantial neuronal death, increased neuro-inflammation, and leading to greater tissue loss. Evidence from our laboratory has …

Physiological Corticosterone Attenautes Gp120-Mediated Microglial Activation And Is Associated With Reduced Anxiety-Like Behavior In Gp120-Expressing Mice, Emaya Marie Moss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persists as a global pandemic. Despite the benefits of combinatorial antiretroviral therapies (cART), virotoxic HIV proteins are still detectable within the central nervous system and approximately half of all cART-treated patients contend with neurological impairments. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not known, but likely involve actions of virotoxic HIV proteins including glycoprotein 120 (gp120). Glycoprotein 120 is neurotoxic, in part due to its capacity to activate microglia. Corticosterone, an endogenous anti-inflammatory, has been found to attenuate neuronal death caused by gp120-induced microglial cytokine production in vitro. But, the concentration-dependent effects of corticosterone to influence microglial …

Linguistic Expressions Of Pidgin In Nigerian Stand-Up Comedy, Jimoh Junior Braimoh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of the comics’ lexical choices and how they achieve their goals with words. The comics’ choice of words is far from being incidental, superficial, or supplementary. Performers’ choices of words show how their ideas are embodied in language. That is to say, the effect of how a comedian uses words and humor strategies is vital for understanding the contextual meaning of jokes and how they appeal to logic and reason. The objectives are to identify and categorize lexical choices and interpret their denotative, connotative, and affective meanings. Based on the Incongruity Theory (Attardo, 1994) Data …

Extra-Legal Factors In Juvenile Court Outcomes: What Is The Role Of Youth’S Race/Ethnicity And Family Structure In Disposition Decisions?, Vitoria De Francisco Lopes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to the unique nature of the juvenile justice system, its focus on rehabilitation and the population it serves, juvenile court judges serve as the sole decision maker and are given substantial power of discretion. Prior literature has indicated extra-legal factors to influence court outcomes, and scholars have argued that the use of discretion has led to a significant variability in the way youth are treated by juvenile court officials and may contribute to the issue of minority overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system. Yet, family structure has not been examined in depth, especially as it relates to race/ethnicity. The …

Socialization To Research And Sponsored Programs Administration Through Transformative Learning: A Qualitative Exploration Of Faculty Perceptions At The University Of Mississippi, Melissa Hodge-Penn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined faculty socialization at the University of Mississippi regarding research and sponsored program administration through the lens of transformative learning. Participants were 10 tenure track faculty who had been employed at the University of Mississippi no less than one year, no more than seven years, and who had submitted a proposal to or been awarded by an external sponsor to support their research. This study uses a phenomenological design of inquiry where the researcher describes the lived experiences of individuals regarding a phenomenon as defined by the participants through semi-structured interviews. Findings suggested that sponsored research faculty perceived …

Motivation Of Individual Directors: A Consolidated Perspective, Yankun Jia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies the motivation of individual directors on the corporate board and the impact of the motivation of individual directors. Building on previous work, I synthesize self-determination theory, identity theory, and social identity theory to build a comprehensive framework to understand the motivation of individual directors. By analyzing the satisfaction or frustration of basic psychological needs, the engagement of social roles, and the self-categorization and social identification process, this dissertation delivers a preliminary probe into the micro-foundations of the motivation of individual directors in the corporate governance literature.

Blood Tide: A Novel, Teagan Kessler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is a work of fiction about a detective who moves to Louisiana to outrun a tragic incident in his past. In Louisiana, he catches a case involving the sheriff’s daughter, who has gone missing. Later found dead, the woman’s life comes to light through the detective’s investigation, all while he battles his PTSD.