Digital Commons Network^™

Determining The Susceptibility Status Of Red Sunflower Seed Weevil, Smicronyx Fulvus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) To Pyrethroid Insecticides, Aaron Lee Hargens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although sunflowers are native to North America, the early breeding efforts to improve sunflowers occurred outside of the continent. These hybrids were reintroduced to North America around 1875. In the early 1900’s, efforts to increase oil content were achieved by selective breeding of the reintroduced hybrids. Although this resulted in the development of improved sunflowers, many of the traits that conferred resistance to native insect pests were lost. One insect pest, the red sunflower seed weevil was noted as having caused sunflower production to rapidly decline and eventually end in Illinois and Missouri. Unfortunately, red sunflower seed weevils are still …

Semantic Think-On-Graph (Semtog) : Enhancing Graphrag Through Semantic Community Detection, Sugam Mishra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graph-based Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG) enhances large language models (LLMs) by grounding their reasoning in structured knowledge graphs, making them more reliable for multi-hop reasoning and factual QA. A central mechanism in Think-on-Graph systems such as ToG[14] and FastToG[7] is community detection, which groups locally related nodes into compact subgraphs so that LLMs can reason over focused, information-rich neighborhoods instead of traversing the entire graph. However, these methods rely purely on structural connectivity, often scattering semantically related entities across different communities and weakening the evidence provided to the LLM. We propose Semantic Think-on-Graph (SemToG), a semantic-aware extension of FastToG[7] that integrates …

Fungal Biotransformation Of Thin Stillage And Soybean Hulls And Bacterial Production Of Lysine In Ethanol Industry Co-Products, Bhawana Khadka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thin stillage (TS) and whole stillage (WS) are major by-products of the corn ethanol industry. These by-products are generated in large quantities and contain nutrients that remain after yeast fermentation. Current industrial utilization of these by-products involves a series of downstream processing steps such as centrifugation and evaporation, which are energy-intensive and often result in nutrient losses. Traditionally, these by-products are dried to produce distillers dried grains with solubles. In this study, microbial fermentation was investigated as an alternative bioprocessing tool to expand the utilization of these by-products. The first objective was to explore the upcycling of TS, both alone …

Evaluation Of Soil Microbiome And Edaphic Factors In Response To Nitrogen Fertilizer Application In Western South Dakota Croplands, Riya Jain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Extended Days On Feed: Influences On Growth Performance, Efficiency, And Carcass Characteristics Of Steers And Heifers Of Different Proportions Of Angus And Limousin Genetics, Grace Henley Olinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, cattle feeders have extended days on feed (DOF) resulting in hot carcass weights (HCW) exceeding the limits of existing serial slaughter datasets. This study's goal was to determine the impact extended DOF exerts on growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of steers and heifers with varying proportions of Angus (AN) and Limousin (LM) genetics. In 2022, commercial AN cows from two MT ranches were artificially inseminated to 9 sires from 3 breeds (AN, LM, and Limflex (LF)) with parentage confirmed by DNA. In 2023, 216 calves (sired by 72 AN, 73 LF, and 71 LM; 105 steers and …

Modelling The Hydrologic Impact Of Land Cover On Stormwater Detention Basins In Harris County, Tx, Kabita Sapkota

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harris County on the upper Gulf Coast in Southeast Texas is susceptible to both riverine and coastal flooding due to intense, short-duration thunderstorms, slow-moving frontal systems, and tropical hurricanes. Low-lying terrain, clay soils with poor drainage, high annual rainfall, and a widespread network of bayous and streams all contribute to frequent flooding. To reduce the impacts of urbanization and the loss of surface storage, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) built detention basins throughout the county to temporarily store stormwater runoff and release it slowly, lowering peak flows and preventing downstream flooding and erosion. These basins vary in land …

Persistent Reading Deficiencies In Early Education, William Steven Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated early reading teachers’ perceptions of the instructional practices they use to identify early elementary student reading proficiency, including unique challenges they face when addressing the development of early reading skills. The researcher investigated eight first and second grade teacher classrooms during the 2023–2024 school year through collective interviews, observations, and related school data. The researcher performed a qualitative analysis of the collected data to reveal varying themes that support recommendations to reduce persistent reading problems among early elementary students. Using purposeful sampling to select licensed, experienced participants, the insights of eight early elementary reading teachers …

Characterization Of Major Foliar Fungal Species Affecting Cucurbits In South Dakota, Janani Perera Waduwarage Dona

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cucurbit crops comprise the largest area in vegetable production in South Dakota (USDA 2022). Information on the prevalence, distribution, and fungicide sensitivity of their fungal pathogens are unknown. This study characterized the major foliar fungal species affecting cucurbits in South Dakota through a 2-year, state-wide survey. Between 2023 and 2024, 789 leaves were recovered from pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, squash, and bottle gourd. Alternaria spp. (70.72% of leaves) Fusarium spp. (6.84%), Podosphaera xanthii (4.18%), both Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. (3.42%), and both Alternaria spp. and Podosphaera xanthii (1.90%), Stagonosporopsis spp. (1.27%) and other genera of fungi (4.94%) were identified using …

Spatiotemporal Habitat Use, Sex-Specific Movement, And Site Fidelity Of Walleye In Lake Sharpe, Sd, Carter S. Dollen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Walleye Sander vitreus are a popular sportfish among anglers in South Dakota with large economic impacts to local communities. A popular destination for Walleye anglers is Lake Sharpe, a 25,000-ha reservoir on the Missouri River, in central South Dakota. Gill net catches in Lake Sharpe show high annual variation, prompting concern that gill net catch rates may be poorly related to population abundance. A better understanding of Walleye movement and distribution could lead to increased precision in annual abundance estimates and improved active management that increases angler success. The goals of this study were: 1) determine spatiotemporal movement patterns of …

Formulation And Immunogenicity Of L1 Orf1 Mrna Vaccine In Mice, Raj Nandani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the design, formulation, and immunogenicity evaluation of a novel mRNA vaccine targeting the L1 ORF1p protein, a tumor-associated antigen. The vaccine was synthesized using in vitro transcription and encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), with both unmodified uridine and N1-methylpseudouridine variants tested. Physicochemical characterization confirmed optimal particle size (160–220 nm), acceptable zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency ranging from 74% to 92%, with preserved RNA integrity post-formulation. These results validate the robustness of the formulation workflow and its suitability for antigen delivery. Immunogenicity studies in C57BL/6 mice revealed modest but promising immune responses. While early activation markers (CD69) and …

Epidemiological And Diagnostic Approaches For Soybean Cyst Nematode In South Dakota, Nabina Karki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines (HG) Ichinohe, is an endoparasitic nematode and one of the major yield-limiting pathogens of soybean (Glycine max L.) in the United States. Soybean cyst nematode alone accounts for more than $1.5 billion economic loss annually in North America. First reported in the U.S.A. in 1954 in New Hanover County, North Carolina and later in 1995 in Union County, South Dakota. Prior to this study, SCN has spread in 34 counties in the state. As a soil pathogen, which can adapt to most soil conditions under soybean production and beside soybean, it is hosted on …

Evaluation Of Two Stem Boring Insects In South Dakota: A Survey Of Wheat Stem Sawfly And Determining The Impact Of Planting Date On Dectes Stem Borer Infestations In Sunflowers, Khuma Kumari Bhusal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., are major crops in South Dakota that are threatened by stem-boring insect pests capable of reducing yield and harvestability. In wheat, the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, has long been recognized as a destructive pest in the Northern Great Plains, yet its actual distribution within South Dakota remained uncertain. To determine its presence, a two-year survey was conducted across the state from 2023–2024, during which one to four wheat fields per county were sampled using standardized sweep net transects. Wheat stem sawflies were collected only from Harding and Perkins Counties …

Impact Of Natural Feed Additives And Monensin Sodium On Growth Performance In Feedlot Cattle, Thiago Lauro Maia Ribeiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how phytogenic feed additives and a pulse feeding monensin sodium strategy would affect growth performance in the receiving and finishing feedlot phases. Three randomized complete block design feedlot experiments and one pooled analysis were conducted to determine the effects of the feed additives and management strategies used in newly weaned and finishing beef cattle. The objective of these experiments were 1) determine if a blend of capsicum oleoresin, clove essential oil, and garlic essential oil (CCG) influences cattle performance, sera metabolites or health outcomes during the feedlot receiving phase; 2) determine if …

Development Of Bio-Based Coating Materials For Environmentally Friendly Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications, Anne Carolyne Mendonca Cidreira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

In The Footsteps Of Moose: Using Non-Invasive Techniques To Identify Cause-Specific Calf Mortalities And Evaluate Moose (Alces Alces) Movements Pertaining To Mineral Lick Locations On Ancestral Lands Of The Grand Portage Ojibwe, Anna B. Weesies

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Following a sharp moose (Alces alces; mooz, Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language) population decline in northeastern Minnesota during the early 2000s, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa initiated a long-term moose collaring effort to assess survival and mortality causes. Moose are a culturally important species to the Band, with annual subsistence hunts held on the Reservation and adjacent 1854 Ceded Territory. Continued research guides culturally appropriate management decisions aimed at bolstering calf and adult survival, helping to preserve this moose in Minnesota today and for subsequent generations. Chapter 1 identifies cause-specific calf mortality rates in this multi-predator system using minimally …

Characterizing A Free-Roaming Cat Population To Predict Predation Of Threatened Species In An Island Ecosystem, Sarah Gheida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Cover Cropping Strategies For Improving Weed Suppression, Yashar Askarzadeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops (CCs) play an essential role in sustainable agriculture by providing multiple ecosystem services. However, adoption remains low due to concerns about economic returns, management complexity, and potential yield reductions in cash crops. Applying CCs uniformly across fields without accounting for spatial variability can result in inconsistent outcomes. A precision cover cropping system (PCCS), which incorporates site-specific management zones (MZs), offers a more targeted approach to improving performance while minimizing costs and uncertainties. This study explores the interaction between CCs and field variability through complementary field and greenhouse experiments. The field experiment demonstrates that field heterogeneity significantly influences CC …

What Do We Get Out Of Our Entertainment? Empirically Determining The Differences Between Narrative Engagement And Flow Using Video Games, Lars Wagener

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Immersion is an important aspect of entertainment media because it both drives the use of media and heightens one’s experience with that media (Nilsson et al., 2016). There are three core aspects of immersion. These aspects are (1) narrative engagement, (2) flow, and (3) enjoyment. This study set out to determine whether these aspects are statistically distinct from one another when observed in video games. The result indicated that these aspects were distinct from one another when examined through a structural equation model. This indicates that creating an overarching immersion variable that combines the different aspects of immersion may not …

Large Scale Crop Damage Mapping Using Optical And Sar Satellite Data Fusion And Deep Learning, Santosh Subedi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

“But The Trauma Did Not Fade Away” Childhood Sexual Abuse, Adolescent Pregnancy, And Rurality, Cynthia H. Mcniss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent pregnancy are critical public health issues that intersect in complex ways, particularly in rural areas. Adolescents who have experienced CSA are at a significantly higher risk of becoming pregnant before the age of 19 compared to their peers without such a history (Madigan et al., 2014). Rurality is also associated with elevated rates of adolescent pregnancy due to various socio-economic and healthcare access challenges ("Rural Health Information Hub," 2024). This study employed a grounded theory approach to develop a comprehensive understanding of the social and psychosocial processes influencing the choices, actions, and decisions of …

Gatekeeper, Keep Thyself: How Impairment Impacts The Integration Of Counselor Wellness Competencies, Curtis Lee Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined counselor educators’ beliefs regarding the importance of Counselor Wellness Competencies (CWCs) and how effectively they teach them to their counselors-in-training (CIT). This study focused on significant relationships between the importance and effective teaching, self-care, and burnout. Counselor educators who place higher importance on the CWCs reported having higher self-efficacy in teaching them. The findings suggest that counselor educators with more self-care behaviors experienced less burnout and were better able to show congruence between the importance and effective teaching of the CWCs. The conclusion of this report explores limitations and directions for future research.

Teaching Video Game As A Leisure Skill To Arab American Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Video Modeling In A School Setting, Lubna Alzayyat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leisure activities are important in assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to build relationships, learn to behave socially appropriately, and acquire new interests- competences that assist in cultivating positive self-consciousness (Specht et al., 2002; Womack et al., 2011). Statistics indicate that 2.3% of 8-year-old children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2021). Despite these large numbers and the tremendous benefits of engaging in leisure activities, participation in leisure activities is lower among children with ASD when compared to their typically developing peers (Ratcliff et al., 2018). The situation is worse when compared to children with ASD …

Neuropunk: A Discursive Ethnographic Study Of The Do-It-Yourself Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Community, Erick Guzman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to understand the sociocultural contexts surrounding the do-it-yourself (DIY) use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices. TDCS is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation which has a history of use in (1) human brain mapping for basic neuroscience studies, (2) neuropsychological rehabilitation and the treatment of psychological disorders in clinical populations, and (3) cognitive enhancement in healthy people. However, its validity and effectiveness across these uses remain open to debate. Since the early 2010’s, tDCS has attracted a number of lay individuals interested in using it outside of formal scientific and medical contexts. These DIY tDCS …

Understanding Widowhood Cultural Practices, Values, And Beliefs, Of Nigerian American Women: An Ethnonursing Study, Prisca Anuforo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Many widowhood cultural practices are detrimental to the health and well-being of widows in Nigeria. Little is known about the experiences of widowhood for Nigerian American women, their cultural practices, and how it affects their health.

Purpose: Understand widowhood cultural practices among Nigerian Americans and how these experiences may affect health and wellbeing.

Methods: The qualitative ethnonursing method was used to collect data from 25 Nigerian American widows. Data were analyzed using NVivo qualitative data manager software guided by Leininger’s four phases of qualitative analysis.

Results: Widowhood cultural practices are modified and undertaken to preserve health and honor the …

The Ethics Of Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Policies, Practice, And Ethical Oversight, Mariah Chobany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a specialized field of medicine, psychiatry presents unique ethical challenges and dilemmas distinct from other medical disciplines. A particularly complex aspect of psychiatric care involves the involuntary treatment of patients who may be unable to make informed decisions about their care or participation in research due to the debilitating effects of their psychiatric condition. This presents a significant challenge for providers and researchers, particularly concerning capacity issues and the informed consent process. Despite the intricacies and complexities of ethical dilemmas in psychiatric treatment and research, there is a notable lack of comprehensive guidance in policies and practices on addressing …

Ethical Considerations In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ferdinand Okafor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethical response to the ethical issues in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The problems that underlie the discussion are misconception about autism and Autistics. The misconception about autism and Autistics lead to misinterpretation of the neurological functioning, cognition, and the behaviors of Autistics. Consequently, it influences the approach and model of care in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. Currently, the analytic approach and biomedical model of disease are applied in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The motive of the analytic approach and biomedical care is to cure autism. The consequence …

Efficient Development Of Density-Insensitive Near-Infrared Methods For In-Line Drug Content Monitoring In Continuous Powder Streams, Natasha L. Velez-Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A well-defined action plan to respond effectively to sudden changes in product demand is critical for preventing drug shortages within the pharmaceutical industry. An effective way to increase the output of a continuous manufacturing (CM) process is through flow rate adjustments. However, robust analytical methods must be in place to ensure consistent analytical performance across varying flow rates. Existing approaches for mitigating the physical effects of flow rate on Near-Infrared (NIR) measurements are often burdensome. Thus, efficient robust modeling strategies that reduce the current calibration burden and ensure model insensitivity to the physical variations in CM systems are needed. In …

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Challenges To Reproductive Justice: An Ethical Analysis Of Reproductive Technologies And Disparities, Courtney Brenner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes the Reproductive Justice Framework to describe possible solutions to the ethical challenges related to reproductive healthcare disparities. Various frameworks to support reproductive equity fail to address the challenges marginalized individuals face in accessing reproductive health services. The four ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice serve as foundational tools to support reducing these disparities. This dissertation uses the Reproductive Justice Framework to analyze the unequal distribution of harms among marginalized women. It highlights how access to care, such as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), is disproportionately inaccessible to marginalized women. Then, it discusses the relationship between marginalized …

Intrinsic Gas-Phase Behavior Of Uranium Species: A Comprehensive Reactivity Study Of [O=U≡Ch]+ And [Uh]+, Justin Terhorst

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intrinsic chemistry of actinide elements, particularly uranium, remains a key challenge in understanding f-block reactivity due to the complexity introduced by solvent interactions, counter-ions, and complex equilibria in the condensed phase. In this dissertation, a systematic gas-phase study utilizing preparative tandem ion-trap mass spectrometry (PTMSⁿ) is presented, focusing on the reactivity of uranium-centered species, specifically [OUCH]⁺, an oxy uranium methylidyne species, and [UH]⁺ ions. By stripping away solvent effects and isolating the ions, PTMSⁿ provides a powerful platform to probe the fundamental chemical behavior of uranium species in their intrinsic state.

The …