Digital Commons Network^™

Title Character: A Novel, Di Bei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inspired by true events, Title Character: A Novel tells the intimate and fraught relationships of Asian female artists during a pandemic in Idaho: Jade, a rebellious girl born amid the one-child policy in Beijing, writes her love story into a script; Pearl, an ambitious actress raised in rural China, stars in Jade’s film and dates the method actor who plays her lover. Strung together by one film, young women of the Asian diaspora mirror and maneuver each other, while playing out their performances of self with art as their arena.

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 …

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 …

A Case Study Of The Mississippi Teacher Corps (Mtc) Program Graduate School Experience As It Relates To Mtc Postgraduate Teacher Retention, Sandra Evelyn Carver Hubbard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation in practice (DiP) is to explore the relationship, if any, between the Mississippi Teacher Corps Graduate School experience and the expressed reasons of some of its teachers to either leave their placement school; teach in another critical-needs school in Mississippi, but not remain long-term; teach in another state; or exit the profession of classroom teaching after completion of the program. This study will only focus on teachers who left their placement school, another critical-needs school in Mississippi, or classroom teaching after 5 years. These five years include the two years while participants were in the …

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 …

Evaluation Of Process Parameters For Continuous Manufacturing Of Quetiapine Fumarate Immediate Release Tablets Using Twin Screw Wet Granulation, Tejaswini Naguboyina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Granulation is one of the important unit operations in the manufacturing of solid dosage forms like tablets and capsules that regulate the quality of end products. It is a process of particle enlargement by agglomeration technique, which improves flow properties, compressibility, reduction of dust formation, drug content uniformity, dissolution rates, and overall product stability. Traditionally, it has been a batch process due to a better understanding. However, there has been a shift towards continuous manufacturing using a Twin-screw granulator, which is more robust, scalable, and versatile for various applications. This work presents the use of Twin screw wet granulation (TSWG) …

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, …

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 …

Modeling The Relationship Between Protein Sequence And Structure Using Triangular Spatial Relationship-Based Keys, Arianna Nicole Swensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein structure comparison and our understanding of protein sequence and structure relationships are intertwined. In this work, I use the TSR-based key generation algorithm to develop a model for relating sequence and structure. I develop embeddings for the sequence-based keys and the structure-based keys as the basis for a translation model between the two sets of keys, evaluating the efficacy of local and global embedding generation techniques in the context of the TSR-based comparison method.

Molecular Modeling Of Inhibitors Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 And Urinary Tract Infections, Priyanka Samanta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Glycans initiate host–pathogen interactions in two particular infectious diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and urinary tract infections (UTIs). In this work, recent advances of computational tools in drug design are utilized to target these glycanspecific host–pathogen interactions for the potential prevention of SARS-CoV-2 or UTIs.

SARS-CoV-2 viral entry into the host cell is mediated by the viral S-protein. Carbohydrate molecules bind to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S-protein which interacts with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and leads to host cell invasion. Here we report computational studies …

Branching Fraction Measurements Of Ξc + → Σ+H+H− And Λc + → P+H+H− Using Belle Ii Monte Carlo, Azwad Adnan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Charmed baryon decays are a great place to probe and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The Belle II experiment is equipped to explore this area with high statistics datasets to shed light on any potential anomalies. In addition to searches for new physics, the Belle II data samples can be used to make SM measurements that are either missing, statistics limited, or require confirmation.

English Language Teachers’ Perspective On The Applicability Of The Language Assessment Frameworks Used In Saudi Arabian Universities, Asmahan Ghazi Alqahtani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates English language assessment practices in Saudi Arabian universities from the perspectives of English language teachers. It explores how ESL teachers perceive the applicability of assessment frameworks provided by policymakers in higher education. Guided by concepts of Language Assessment Literacy, the study examines the roles and practices of various stakeholders in language assessment, the principles and concepts guiding these practices, and the awareness of the social contexts in which language assessment takes place. In Saudi Arabia, research on language assessment is needed due to the limited attention given to assessment and testing issues, and the minimal involvement of …

North Ms Foodrx Farm-To-Farmacy: A Home Delivery Local Food Prescription Model, Cameron De'cal Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This portfolio presents a comprehensive overview of my contributions and involvement in the Farm-to-Farmacy (FTF) program model. Farm-to-Farmacy is an extension of the FoodRx program which aims to address food insecurity in rural parts of North Mississippi. This program was inspired by the 2019 FoodRx program in the Mississippi Delta that assisted in delivering fresh produce to the doorsteps of the elderly and homebound. Farm-to-Farmacy incorporates a unique approach by soliciting the support of local farmers which assists in sustainability for a program of this stature but also supports community engagement and involvement. The Farm-to-Farmacy program relies on local farmers …

Advancing Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion: A Graduate Portfolio On Lebonheur Children's Hospital Initiatives, James Lee Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In every facet of life, diversity finds a way to play a role. By advocating for, acknowledging, and drawing attention to the disparities that emerge within the various spaces people may encounter, we consciously strive to bridge the gap, aiming for a future that is more equitable and inclusive. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have not only become personal moral imperatives but also essential pillars at the forefront for companies, healthcare, educational institutions, and businesses alike.

Small Organic Molecules Absorbing Low Energy Photons For Dye Sensitized Solar Cells And Biological Imaging, Ravinder Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Small organic molecules with the ability to access photons at longer wavelengths are greatly needed in the fields of dye sensitized solar cells and biological imaging. Firstly, an urgent challenge limiting the improvement in photocurrent of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) technology is the availability of chromophores capable of harvesting the full spectrum of solar irradiation and the judicious employment of these chromophores with other components of the DSC device in order to achieve higher efficiencies. Therefore, strategies are put forward to fabricate and optimize the DSC devices by using novel cross conjugated organic photosensitizers based on benzo[b]thiophene and fused dibenzosilin …

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of The University Of Mississippi's Biology Bootcamp, Nicole Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing demand for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) trained workforce in the United States. In order to remain globally competitive, the US needs to increase the STEM workforce not only in numbers but also diversity. Colleges and universities throughout the US need to not only gain STEM majors but retain them through graduation. Research has shown that the majority of STEM students struggle their first year in college for a variety of reasons. Many academics agree that incoming freshman need to integrate both socially and academically to prevent attrition. This has led to the creation …

Inclusive Measurement Of Upsilon(4s) To Upsilon(1s) Decays With Belle Ii Data, John Wilson Stacy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An inclusive measurement of ϒ(4S) decays to ϒ(1S) is reported. Using 364.5 fb−1 of Belle II data collected at the ϒ(4S) center-of-mass energy, ϒ(4S) → ϒ(1S) decays are identified via a fit to the μ+μ− invariant mass spectrum. Backgrounds from initial state radiation production of ϒ(1S) are subtracted using a fit to 42.6 fb−1 of data collected below the ϒ(4S) center-of-mass energy. Using our models and values taken from literature, the inclusive branching ratio for inclusive ϒ(4S) decays to ϒ(1S) can be measured with a statistical uncertainty of 5.1% and a systematic uncertainty of 14.8%.

Evolving To Abstraction - Seclusion Of Efik And Ibibio Women From The Precolonial Era To The Present, Itunuoluwa Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female seclusion was an important cultural practice to the Efik and Ibibio peoples in southernmost Nigeria. Before the advent of Western education in the precolonial and colonial eras, it was particularly essential to the development of the girl child as she received a first-rate education and preparation for maturity, marriage, and motherhood. However, despite its crucial role in both cultural societies, studies on the Efik and Ibibio female seclusion cultures are far and in-between. Furthermore, the nkuho and mbopo – as they are called in Efik and Ibibio respectively – are often analyzed and presented as one singular entity, in …

Mental Health In Rural Mississippi Counties: Experiences And Beliefs Of African American Pastors, Angela R. Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

African Americans seek formal mental health treatment services at lower rates than white Americans (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2024) and higher risk of mental illness exists among rural African Americans (Haynes et al., 2017). Religiousness and spirituality have emerged as widely utilized coping methods among African Americans, therefore it is important to understand pastoral perspectives on mental health. In addition to the type of services being sought, the decision to seek help plays an important role in treatment utilization. Along these lines, two theoretical frameworks were used to formulate this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior …

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 …

Effects Of Music-Induced Arousal On Spatial Cognition, April Marie Joyner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arousal is known to influence the manner in which spatial stimuli are processed and remembered. Although music is considered a spatial stimulus, the relationship between music-induced arousal through music listening and spatial ability remains understudied. This study was designed to determine whether arousal induced by musical stimuli differentially impacts memory performance on a map learning task created to measure spatial memory. Participants were exposed to two different pieces of music selected to induce either high or low arousal or were exposed to a control condition in which music was not presented. Participants listened to music or completed multiplication problems prior …

Improving Professional Practice: An Applied Research Study On The Effects Of A Mentoring Program For New Teachers At Wood Hawk Elementary, Latisha C. Kimbrough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This applied research study aims to improve the assistance offered to teachers within their first three years of teaching. As many new teachers enter the profession, they are faced with unexpected challenges and often left isolated and left to navigate teaching alone. This study was conducted based on the collaborative efforts of our leadership team in efforts to detail a plan of action to support new teachers through a new teacher mentor program. The goal was to utilize the mentor program, professional development, and observation and feedback cycle as strategies to help build the capacity of new teachers. The goal …

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 …

Perceptions Of First-Year Bipoc Students About The Impact Of Institutional Recruitment Practices On Their Decision To Enroll In The University Of Mississippi’S Integrated Marketing Communications, Jennifer A. Simmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The University of Mississippi has a history and continued stigma of not being a welcoming place for people of color. While the university has made strides to distance itself from its past, negative stereotypes and perceptions still exist among some students and parents. These stereotypes and perceptions can make recruiting students more difficult. This study explores the perceptions of first-year students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) about the impact of institutional recruitment practices on their decision to enroll in the University of Mississippi’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program. This study will help provide perspectives from …

Fostering Inclusive Excellence For Black Women In Undergraduate Computing Sciences At A Predominantly White Institution, Toni Avant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employment projections indicate that the computing sciences field is expected to increase by more than 600,000 jobs from 2020-2030. As society becomes increasingly reliant on technological innovations, the demand continues to rise for qualified graduates in this field. It is essential that employers build a diverse and inclusive workforce in order to accommodate the markets they serve. Yet, the lack of representation of Black women in the computing sciences field is of great concern.

Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles Enrich Less Immunogenic Protein Corona And Improve Tumor Delivery Compared To Pegylated Nanoparticles, Kenneth Ryan Hulugalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer significant promise as drug delivery vehicles; however, their in vivo efficacy is often hindered by the formation of a protein corona (PC), which influences key physiological responses such as blood circulation time, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and intracellular localization. Understanding NP-PC interactions is crucial for optimizing NP design for biomedical applications. Traditional approaches have utilized hydrophilic polymer coatings like polyethylene glycol (PEG) to resist protein adsorption, but glycopolymer-coated nanoparticles have emerged as superior alternatives due to their biocompatibility and ability to reduce the adsorption of highly immunogenic proteins. In this study, we synthesized and characterized glycopolymer-based poly[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(methacrylamidoglucopyranose) …

Study Of Binary Black Hole Dynamics Using Gravitational Waves, Cody Ayres Mccammon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Merging binary black holes exhibit precessional motion that can be classified into three distinct morphologies: Circulating, librating around 0, and librating around π. This information is decoded from the gravitational wave signal. Binary systems can transition between morphologies as they spiral inwards, and spin precession effects are more pronounced near merger. The spin morphology reveals information about the binary black holes’ formation such as through isolated evolution of massive binary stars and their collapse or through dynamic evolution channels such as capture. In this study, we considered inferring the morphology at reference points at which the binary has (approximately) a …

Structural And Binding Studies Of Marine Glycans With Potential Therapeutic Use, Hoda Alsayed Mohamed Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of various marine-derived polysaccharides, focusing on their structures and binding properties. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), distinct marine polysaccharides were structurally characterized, and their interactions with various biological targets were evaluated. The initial study explores a glucan isolated from Marcia hiantina, a bivalve mollusk, and its biological activity. Detailed structural analysis via NMR and chromatography techniques revealed a branched glucose-based polysaccharide with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies on the red alga Botryocladia occidentalis identified three sulfated galactans in its cell wall. Through NMR, we characterized the least …