Digital Commons Network^™

Dependence And Mixing For Perturbations Of Copula-Based Markov Chains, Mathias Nthiani Muia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work explores the impact of perturbations of copulas on dependence and mixing properties for stationary ergodic Markov chains. We focus on two types of copula perturbations and establish their impact on the mixing properties of the Markov chains they generate. Examples are provided to illustrate the different perturbations explored. Furthermore, we delve into the analysis of a discrete Markov chain that is based on the Frechet family of copulas. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of discrete marginals on copula-based Markov chains. We analyze the mixing properties of such models to emphasize the difference between …

Combined In Silico And Experimental Approaches Of Pharmacognosy To Resolve Complex Natural Product Issues, William Michael Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the identification of useful bioactive natural products can often involve tedious dereplication measures to decipher complex mixtures, much emphasis is placed on methods that can effectively characterize natural products. Several in silico methods, such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), molecular docking, and quantum calculations, provide researchers with valuable tools to overcome the challenge of complex natural product mixtures. To exemplify the abilities of computational methodologies to further the field of pharmacognosy, this dissertation elaborates on several research projects involving computational approaches in pharmacognosy, including: (1) global assessment of pregnane X receptor (PXR) agonism via multiple QSAR models, (2) differentiation …

Essays On The Greek Debt Crisis And The Welfare Paradox In The Lucas Natural Rate Model, Liandong Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation includes two projects, one on the Greek debt crisis and the other on the welfare in the Lucas natural rate model.

The first chapter discusses the origin of Greek debt crisis. The Greek debt crisis stands out as a compelling case study of a severe financial crisis in a developed country within a currency zone. Despite the abundance of literature on the subject, the significance of debt accumulation in the 1980s is often overlooked, and details are frequently omitted. Through an analysis of data gathered from Greek government’s public finance statistical yearbooks spanning from 1962 to 2008, I …

Apartments, Michael Pontacoloni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following poems engage with themes of placemaking in the twenty-first century. A critical introduction centers the accompanying poems within a developing tradition of poetry in the twenty-first century that challenge common conceptions of home, romantic relationships, and transience. Other topics approached in the poems include adolescence, the environment, sport, and friendship.

Grace Satellite Spatial Resolution Downscaling Using Machine Learning: Methods And Applications, Abdel Rahman M. Awawdeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of global water dynamics, providing unprecedented insights into terrestrial water storage (TWS). Despite its revolutionary contributions, the coarse spatial resolution of GRACE data (~300 km² grids) limits its utility for local-scale water resource management, particularly in regions requiring detailed hydrological analysis such as the Mississippi Delta. This dissertation addresses this limitation by developing and validating machine learning models to enhance the spatial resolution of GRACE data, thereby facilitating more precise and effective local water management strategies.

This research first establishes a comprehensive background in …

Increasing Minority Student Enrollment: An Applied Research Study On Increasing The Enrollment Of Minority Students In Advanced Placement Courses, Tamekia Helm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Addressing the disparity in Advanced Placement (AP) course enrollment among minority students at Greater High School is the focus of this research. Through an extensive review of the literature, the study examines the various factors contributing to this gap, including access limitations and systemic barriers. Additionally, teacher perceptions, student attitudes, and parental involvement are explored to understand the influence on AP course enrollment decisions. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, data is collected from students, teachers and parents to gain comprehensive insights.

Proposed solutions to enhance AP course enrollment include targeted outreach initiatives and support for minority students. …

Southern Animals: Multispecies Encounters In Midcentury Southern Fiction, Kacee M. Mckinney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation expands our understanding of how nonhuman animal figures, symbols, and encounters within southern literature have had ideologically profound impacts on our conceptions of humanity, southernness, and relationality. This dissertation examines prose fiction, including short stories, novellas, and novels, from four influential southern writers—Richard Wright, Carson McCullers, Tennessee Williams, and Flannery O’Connor—who were all actively engaged with representing, critiquing, and expanding American conceptions of the south, the nation, and the ‘human’ at midcentury. With an understanding of southern literature as a rich site for not only regional representation but also broader disruptions of national injustices and ideologies of domination …

Evaluation Of Male And Female Performance And The Role Of Cerebellar Lesions And Local Aromatase Inhibition In Motor And Cognitive Tasks In The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Castanotis), Mathew Joseph Thibodeaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most studies involving sex differences in songbirds are devoted to song learning and development. However, songbirds, such as zebra finches, are excellent models for studying general roles of steroids on behavior post-brain injury because they have high degrees of adult neuroplasticity and neurosteroidogenesis. The role of estradiol (E2) in recovery of function after neural insults in mammals has been well-studied for decades. Only recently has the role of E2 and aromatase in neuroprotection been examined in songbirds, and our lab is one of the few to study the role of E2 and aromatase in behavioral recovery and the only to …

Role Of Production Systems On Carcass And Palatability Attributes Of Bison, Lydia Margaret Hite O'Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation was to determine the impact of finishing systems on carcass and palatability attributes of bison. The specific objectives were 1) determine the influence of finishing system (grain-finished vs. grass-finished) on the mechanisms of tenderness formation in the longissimus lumborum of bison bulls, 2) determine the influence of diverse finishing systems on carcass characteristics and proximate composition of bison heifers, and 3) determine the influence of diverse finishing systems on palatability of striploin steaks from bison heifers. Results indicate that finishing systems differentially influence carcass characteristics, tenderness, and flavor attributes of bison. Specifically, this is …

More Than A Feeling: Materializing Sympathy In Nineteenth-Century American Literature, Kathleen Downes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“More than a Feeling: Materializing Sympathy in Nineteenth-Century American Literature” breaks from a long tradition of criticism that only considers the nineteenth-century belief that sympathy was a benevolent, voluntary, imaginative act of feeling that maintains moral rectitude through the identification of suffering with others. In this context, sympathy is primarily defined as identificatory sympathy. “More than a Feeling” expands the definition of sympathy in the nineteenth century as also something that could be atmospherically communicated, transmitting good or bad feeling, and thus affecting and infecting those around them. This other form of sympathy, which for this project I term “effluvial …

Mississippi's America: Late Southern Writing On National Themes, Jacob Fennell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project examines three texts each from three Mississippi authors working today: Kiese Laymon, Jesmyn Ward, and Mary Miller. These authors’ literary constructions of their home state and the South as a whole serve as critical, political frames for the United States. As a result, their work is well-served by the questions and methodology of New Southern Studies, a field actively invested in conceptions of the U.S. South as nonexceptional and lodged within greater geopolitical contexts. Indeed, the original call for New Southern Studies from Houston A. Baker, Jr. and Dana Nelson speaks to a problem of a false national …

Portraits Of Dayton, Alabama: Images Of Women And Place In The Antebellum South, Laura Corran Conte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The scholarship on women in the antebellum American South is extensive. Since the 1980s, historians have debated the relationships between white plantation mistresses and the Black women they enslaved. This project adds to that conversation by examining the extant material culture from Dayton, Alabama, to understand the lives of slave-holding mother and daughter, Thyrza Jane Catlin Cade (1811-1876) and Adolpha Thompson Cade Reeves (1845-1888) and the families they enslaved. This project combines gender studies with art historical analysis to ask questions about whether stories of white, elite slaveholding planter families from the Deep South anything have left to teach us. …

Exploring The Habits And Perceptions Of True Crime Podcast Listeners, Remy Heinen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although podcasts as a whole are growing in popularity, the true crime genre of podcasts continues to be especially popular, particularly with female listeners. The unique intersection of informational and entertainment goals associated with true crime podcasts raises ethical questions about how these priorities should be balanced. This study focused on learning more about listeners’ motivations, habits, and perceptions via an online survey. Additionally, it explored the gendered nature of true crime podcast consumption. A total of N = 657 participants completed the survey providing information about why they listen to true crime podcasts, how often they listen, and how …

On Inference-Time Adversaries In Object Detection Models, Soumil Datta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing use of AI in various applications, its ability to impact different communities is a crucial aspect to the advancement of humanity and technology. However, with its often unexplained properties, AI models could wreck havoc if loopholes are found. Adversarial attack algorithms have been shown to cause deep neural networks to fail on image classification and object detection tasks while being visually imperceptible to humans. Adversarial attacks cause out of distribution predictions and can cause the model to fail in unexpected ways.

Magnolia State Of Mind: Memory And Memorialisation In Mississippi, Cosmo Mcgee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the ways Mississippi has historically and contemporaneously crafted its collective memory through symbolism. Confederate memorial groups endeavoured to create a “Lost Cause” memory of the state’s Antebellum past, validating its White supremacist systems into the 1960s. With the violence of the Civil Rights era failing to stop integration, Mississippians would spend the next sixty years debating the best ways to represent the state’s history.

This work looks at three distinct manifestations of Mississippi’s memorial culture: the discussions around and changes to the state flag, the cultural and sporting atmosphere of the University of Mississippi (“Ole Miss”), and …

Spins And Kicks: An Analysis Of Dynamical Properties Of Compact Binaries Using Gravitational Waves, Sumeet Kulkarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The detection of over 90 compact object mergers involving black holes and neutron stars as gravitational wave events by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors over the course of three observing runs has ushered in the new era of gravitational wave astrophysics. Within a decade, we have transitioned from a detection to the population era, with a combined catalog of these events making it possible to study the population properties of compact objects, estimate their local merger rate, and provide clues as to how they can form binaries. This dissertation focuses on two particular displays of the dynamical dance …

Montesquieu: The Nature Of L’Esprit Des Lois, Christian Jax Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When Baron de Montesquieu received a copy of his L’Esprit des lois, he was horrified by the total removal and reorganization of critical parts of his text, changed ideas, and an abnormal amount of printing errors in his work. While he saw these issues hindering the reception of his work, this thesis argues that the chaos of the text, in both its style and publication, made the book more popular instead of hindering it. Montesquieu, his editor, and his publisher constructed a new kind of text that was broad in its subject matter and ambiguous in its meaning where its …

Moving Minds: Examining The Potential Effects Of Movement On Executive Function Among 3-Year-Olds, Zubie Reagan Pearce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the effect of movement on the conscious control of behavior (i.e., executive function or EF) in three-year-old children. Two questions were addressed regarding the role of movement in preschoolers' EF. First, the study investigated how altering movement within EF tasks influenced children's EF performance by manipulating relevant motor patterns (i.e., arm movement within EF searching and sorting tasks) in 3-year-olds. Children wore slightly weighted armbands while engaging in two distinct EF tasks, one focusing on motor control (i.e., reaching for an object) and the other on cognitive control (i.e., sorting objects based on rules). Second, …

Moderation In Online Incel Forums: A Comparison Of Warning Behaviors, Katherine Elizabeth Norris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Incels constitute an online community characterized by shared negative perspectives concerning masculinity, women, and societal norms. Platforms such as Twitter and Reddit have implemented content moderation measures aimed at curtailing the dissemination of incels' ideologies, which often promote violence and suicidal ideation. To observe the influence of content moderation on incel discourse, this study examined posts from two distinct incel forums: one subject to moderation and another without such restrictions. Employing thematic analysis, common themes within the posts were identified, and the occurrence of negative language was quantitatively assessed. Findings revealed that the moderated forum exhibited a higher prevalence of …

From Likes To Looks: The Relationship Between Tiktok Use And Body Satisfaction In A Young Adult Population, Madeline Pruett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Body dissatisfaction is becoming an increasingly pervasive problem among young adults, presenting severe implications including the onset of eating disorders and related behaviors. This alarming trend can be attributed, at least in part, to the ubiquity and influence of social media platforms, which serve as a modern catalyst for appearance pressures. While there is a substantial body of research establishing the connection between body dissatisfaction and traditional social media, the examination of newer platforms like TikTok, which have become highly popular among young adults, remains limited. As such, the present study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the relationship …

Utilizing Embedded Mathematics Instructional Coaching When Implementing High-Quality Instructional Materials, Shannon E. Priest

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Professional development is essential for teachers to grow in their profession. However, often professional development is a one size fits all approach, and it occurs outside of the teachers’ classroom. This causes teachers to not fully implement new strategies when they return to their classroom. One way to overcome this is to utilize instructional coaching. As our school district began implementing new high-quality instructional materials without guidance, I took on the role of serving as an embedded mathematics instructional coach.

For this qualitative self-study, I acted as an embedded mathematics instructional coach and provided research-based teaching activities to peer teachers …

Mirroring The Target Environment: Text And Task Authenticity In Esl Business Textbooks, Kurt Wildon Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the utilization of authentic reading materials in ESL textbooks and the role that textbook-based tasks serve in enabling ESL classrooms to mirror the target environment. Three original studies are conducted, and two models are designed and applied in order to address the research questions, which aim to establish a standard metric for assessing semi-authenticity of materials and to determine to what degree ESL textbooks prepare students for utilizing subsequent academic textbooks in similar topical areas. Textbooks developed for ESL business and academic business courses are analyzed to determine task category prevalence, reading texts in the ESL genre …

Investigation Of Evolution In Fungal Traits At Multiple Genetic Scales, Brooke Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of fungal traits is critical for understanding community assembly and ecosystem function, as traits related to resource acquisition, enemy avoidance, and stress tolerance link fungi to their ecological roles. Symbiotic relationships, such as those between ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi and their host plants, greatly influence fungal traits and play a key role in fungal evolution. In this study, we addressed the evolution of EcM fungal traits, particularly biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), at multiple genetic scales, including individual genes, genotypes within populations, and a broader phylogenetic perspective across the fungal kingdom. First, we surveyed the diversity of BGCs in native …

'Mark My Words' : Measuring Personality Of Global Leaders, Mahesh Acharya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the analysis of thousands of speeches delivered at the United Nations General Assembly to detect personality of global leaders, this dissertation adds a stepping stone to the first image research, in particular, the psychological approaches in International Relations and its stream of Foreign Policy Analysis. Theoretically, it advances the trait models of psychological approaches by building on the lexical theory of personality psychology to analyze the traits of global elites. The theory has been tested over decades showing that linguistic cues like utterances not only provide us with the information on semantics but also the speaker including her personality …

Impact Of Graphene Nanoplatelets On The Fresh, Static, And Dynamic Properties Of Cement Paste, Bassil Bataineh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The construction industry is constantly in pursuit of innovative materials and methods to boost the performance and sustainability of concrete. This thesis examines the impact of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the fresh, static, and dynamic properties of cement paste, positioning GNPs as a potential groundbreaking material. Systematic experiments were conducted to evaluate various concentrations of GNPs and their combinations with polycarboxylate ether (PCE SP) surfactant, analyzing their effects on workability, setting time, and mechanical strength. The research methodology was robust, integrating experimental design, comprehensive data analysis, and a thorough review of the relevant literature.

Dunc13 Isoforms, Rim, And Rab3 Differentially Modulate Ethanol Sedation Sensitivity In Drosophila Melanogaster., Gaurav Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dunc13 is a Drosophila active zone protein homologous to the mammalian Munc13that interacts with RIM and Rab3 as a heterotrimer. Alcohol binds to the C1 domain of Dunc13/Munc13 and inhibits its ability to bind to Diacylglycerol, inhibiting neuronal signaling. The genetic reduction of Dunc13 activity in the Dunc13P84200/+ heterozygotes induces a state in flies that mimics alcohol tolerance, evidenced by increased self-administration, and behavioral, physiological, and molecular resistance. This includes changes in the expression of key synaptic proteins, such as decreased expression of Dunc13 and Syb mRNA, and increased expression of Rim and Rab3 4hrs after ethanol exposure. Dunc13 has …

Linguistic Gender Differences In English Among Saudi Medical Students In Online Courses, Ala Mohammed Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research explores gender differences in language use among Saudi medical students in online courses. Employing purposive sampling, the study, aims to comprehend the influence of gender on language patterns and communication styles in online education. Data collection involves online interviews with five teachers and survey questionnaires administered to twenty actively enrolled Saudi medical students. The interviews provide insights into language use patterns in the online learning environment, while surveys offer a broader perspective on student language use. Thematic analysis unveils recurring themes: “courses developed,” “reasons for online courses,” “interaction among male and female students in online courses,” “comfort …

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

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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

Pig: A Novel, William Hal Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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