Digital Commons Network^™

Baby, Ocd, And Me: Psychoeducation Intervention On Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Alexandra Marie Gilbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Awareness towards maternal mental health conditions (MMHC) has recently increased, especially during the perinatal period (pregnancy and the first postpartum year [Kucherer & Byatt, 2020]). However, perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), continues to face unique challenges. Perinatal OCD is found to be insufficiently recognized, diagnosed, and treated compared to other MMHC (Mulcahy et al., 2020). Researchers have identified a general lack of awareness and/or stigmatization of the disorder as complicating factors (Cooke et al., 2020; McCarty et al., 2017). One promising avenue for addressing such barriers to accessing care is psychoeducation intervention (PEI) focusing on perinatal OCD (Timpano et al., 2011). …

The Enduring Tradition Of Toxic Masculinity In French Literature, Hailey Caroline Kaim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Toxic masculinity, the modern definition has given a concise explanation to what French literature has been relaying to audiences for centuries. This thesis will explore how toxic masculinity is seen in French literature through five time periods: the Medieval era, 17th, 18th, 20th, and 21st century. Introducing toxic masculinity is provided by a modern definition, biological evidence, and evaluation with society’s definition of masculinity. The Medieval era will investigate two short stories of courtly love that provide readers with classical examples of toxic masculinity that both men and women displayed. Venturing into the 17th and 18th centuries, plays brought the …

Developing Biomolecular Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts Using De Novo Designed Self-Assembling Metallopeptides And Metallothionein Scaffolds, Sreya Malayam Parambath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The imbalance between the consumption and production of energy is one of the global issues of the century. At present, the most used source of energy is fossil fuel. Even though these are non-renewable source of energy that depletes over time, burning fossil fuel can cause several environmental problems, which include significant issues such as global warming; ocean acidification; and the issues such as water pollution from coal mining. Thus, it is important to find a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy to meet the increasing demands of the rapidly growing global population. Hydrogen is considered a secure and …

Humanitarian Capitalism: Displaced Persons Resettlement In America, 1948-1952, Andrew Joseph Marion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines an American resettlement program for displaced Eastern and Central Europeans following World War II. Between 1948 and 1952, nearly 395,000 displaced persons (DPs) resettled to the U.S., and each resettled individual or family had an American sponsor who committed to providing housing and employment. The lobbying and creation of the resettlement legislation and the implementation of the program reflected the political, social, economic, religious, and cultural tensions both at home and abroad in these early Cold War years. DP resettlement occurred at a time when the U.S. and international community considered and adopted emerging human rights language …

Enhanced-Entropy Chaotic Circuit Design For Overhead-Constrained Hardware Security Applications In Integrated Circuits, Partha Sarathi Paul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This document presents a Ph.D. dissertation that focuses on designing overhead constrained circuits for chaos-based hardware security applications in integrated circuit (IC) technology. The designed circuits are optimized for promising chaotic behavior while maintaining the constrained area, delay, and power budget. This research includes proposing novel circuit topologies for attaining superior chaotic complexity, analyzing chaotic performance with multiple metrics, proposing the designs for real-world hardware-security applications that leverage proposed circuit topologies, and analyzing the security aspects of the designed applications. Multiple circuit design techniques are presented in this document. All the proposed works fall under the central motivation of designing …

Mindfulness Practice Relates To Improvements In Delaying Gratification In Preschoolers, Biju Rajbhandari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness, often defined as “awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Kabat-Zinn, 2003, p. 145), has been proposed as a potential practice to aid in self-regulation and emotional control (Diamond & Ling, 2019). However, results have been mixed, especially during early development (Mak et al., 2018; Pearce et al., under review). One possible reason for these inconsistent findings may be related to the multidimensional nature of both mindfulness and executive function (EF). For instance, it has been suggested that mindfulness practices two components, focused attention …

Photophysical Characterization Of Small Organic Molecules Via Time-Resolved And Steady-State Spectroscopic Techniques, Cameron Luke Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes in detail the photophysical characterization of novel organic dyes in the infrared region for bioimaging purposes in a rapidly evolving field which originates from the need for more efficient and bright systems that are capable of replacing current commercial options and functioning in biologically relevant media. Biological tissue, whether it be muscle, adipose, or epithelium, has a higher scattering efficiency, greater light attenuation, and stronger autofluorescence at shorter wavelengths, thus limiting the biological window to longer wavelengths. The goal of this dissertation was the comparison of novel organic dyes for commercial development as bioimaging dye candidates with …

Novel Perspectives Of Hot Melt Extrusion Technology For Pharmaceutical Applications, Mashan Almutairi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the last several decades, hot‐melt extrusion (HME) has emerged as a leading production platform for a range of pharmaceutical applications covering a number of delivery modalities. Two major advantages make the HME technique unique over traditional techniques. First, this technology does not require the use of solvents during the process. Therefore, there is no need for purification steps to achieve the final product, avoiding many risks, such as immunogenicity or other toxicity effects. Second, HME is a very efficient process because it is a continuous and reproducible process; for this reason, it is ideal for industrial scale‐up. HME is …

Free Speech And Students' Rights In Mississippi Public Schools: Exploring Off-Campus Speech, Diala Husni Chaney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study uses qualitative interviews with building-level principals in Mississippi public high schools along with document analysis to construct standardized policy language for Mississippi School Districts to adopt in order to aid administrators when handling issues involving student off-campus speech. This study rests upon the idea that free speech, and what constitutes free speech, has been and always will be a problem within society, especially with regard to speech used within public schools.

The consensus among researchers is certain types of speech are protected by the First Amendment, while other types of speech are not. By further delving into …

Exploration Of Chemical Transformations Of Pentafluoro-Gem-Diols And Their Utility In Drug Discovery, Baharul Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Methods for creating fluorinated organic molecules are highly valuable in drug discovery and synthetic organic chemistry. Fluorine has been found to enhance desirable properties of organic molecules, leading to an increasing number of pharmaceuticals containing fluorine. The research studies in this dissertation center around the synthetic utility of pentafluoro-gem-diols, which are precursors of fluorinated building blocks. Using pentafluoro-gem-diols, we have discovered new synthetic methods to create valuable fluorinated molecules such as difluoro-β-amino ketones, difluoroethanols, pentafluorohemiketals, and pentafluoroisopropanols. Prior methods for making α,α-difluoro-β-amino ketones required multiple steps and the use of an unstable starting material. We have developed a one-step method …

Development And Characterization Of An Intravenous Formulation Containing Paclitaxel-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles And Doxycycline, Navya Nalajala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth-most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. It is often difficult to detect in its early stages, leading to a higher mortality rate. There are several types of ovarian cancer, including epithelial ovarian cancer, germ cell ovarian cancer, and stromal ovarian cancer, which is the most common type among all of them. The exact causes of ovarian cancer are not fully understood. Paclitaxel (PTX), a chemotherapeutic agent, is currently used as the first-line agent in combined therapy for epithelial OC. Doxycycline (DOX) is a Tetracycline class of antibiotics, currently emerging as a chemotherapeutic agent …

Leadership Matters: An Assessment Of The Mpower Leadership Program At The University Of Mississippi, Ryan Upshaw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the importance of student leadership development programs on undergraduate students using the framework of the Social Change Leadership Model. This document will specifically examine the MPower Leadership program held at the University of Mississippi. Student engagement and leadership is extremely important to college campuses as universities seek to prepare their students for the world of work and to become engaged citizens. Student leadership and engagement also has ties to academic success and persistence. A concrete plan that is focused on leadership development also benefits student affairs administrators who are responsible for coordinating, …

Social Anxiety And Engagement In Risky Behaviors: Exploring The Role Of Emotion Regulation, Carey J. Sevier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a chronic, prevalent disorder that is characterized by persistent and marked fear of social situations when there is potential for negative evaluation from others. Although SAD is typically characterized by inhibition and escape behaviors, some research suggests some individuals with SAD display approach-oriented behaviors wherein individuals engage in greater risky behaviors (e.g., aggression, sexual impulsivity, substance use). This approach-oriented presentation appears to have an earlier onset, greater symptoms severity and greater functional impairment. Emotion regulation (ER) is the ability to use strategies to engage in goal directed behavior. ER difficulties have been shown to be …

Project Grit: An Applied Research Study Conducted In An Alternative School Program To Promote Alternative Behaviors To Violence, James Ray Howington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students in the Anniston School District are placed in the alternative setting (i.e., the Avery Alternative Center) for fighting and violence more than any other disciplinary infraction. The disproportionality of students of color and minority groups enrolled in the alternative setting for fighting is also alarming. Why is this happening? Why does student conflict often end in physical aggression and violence, especially disputes involving minorities? What can stop the violence? Stakeholders in the Avery Alternative Center created Project GRIT to help answer these questions by incorporating research-based practices and interventions designed to strengthen conflict resolution skills in participants and support …

Harness Therapeutic Potential Of Immune Responses: Molecular Characterization And Targeted Delivery, Nan Ji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The immune system plays a crucial role in protecting the body from harmful pathogens and cancer cells and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Immunotherapy has shown significant potential in treating various diseases by harnessing the therapeutic potential of immune responses through the targeting of different immune cells, receptors, and signaling pathways. This dissertation investigated two immune modulators for their immune-enhancing potential.In the first chapter, the components of innate immunity are introduced. In the second chapter, Immulina, a commercially available extract of Arthrospira platensis enriched with Braun-type proteins, was studied for its immunostimulatory effect in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages. The …

Sustained And Improved Ophthalmic Formulations Of Gatifloxacin For Better Therapeutic Outcomes During Topical Ocular Applications, Poorva Hemant Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gatifloxacin (GTX) is a broad-spectrum 4th generation antimicrobial fluroquinolone used in the treatment of ocular infections such as conjunctivitis, keratitis and keratoconjuctivitis. GTX (as a sesquihydrate) is commercially available as aqueous eyedrops for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (BC) which requires frequent administration due to low residence time on the conjunctival surface. The eye is a highly specialized photoreceptive organ, which is protected by a continuous tear flow containing antibacterial components. However, inflammation or scarring of the eye may be difficult to resolve once having occurred. Furthermore, initial infections if ignored are likely to invade the inner portions of the …

Understanding Financial Toxicity Among Adult Cancer Survivors In The Us, Siddhi Korgaonkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term ‘financial toxicity’ (FT) has been used to describe cancer-related financial hardship and psychological distress experienced by cancer survivors. FT can be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors due to its multifarious adverse effects.

This dissertation strives to advance extant knowledge on cancer-related FT research by investigating three key questions: 1. How have the trends in the direct total and out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditures, and OOP financial burden of US cancer survivors aged 18-64 years evolved between 2008 – 2019? 2. What are the self-reported HIL levels among adult cancer survivors aged 27-64 years in the …

Effects Of Pictorial And Imagery Encoding On False Memories, Paul D. Loprinzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prior research demonstrates that viewing matched pictures is ineffective in reducing false memories for related lures that have not been previously externally presented during the experiment. However, other types of visual processing, such imagery encoding, have been shown to reduce false memories when evaluated from paradigms where the critical item is also thought to be internally activated, such as when using DRM lists. The prior work showing that imagery encoding can reduce false memories when using DRM lists may be confounded by a potential mismatch between the mentally-generated image and the visual word. Using a category associate procedure, as opposed …

Evaluation Of Quality Ratings In Healthcare: Is There Evidence Of Disparities In Their Applications?, Irene B. Nsiah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined racial and ethnic disparities in: (1) the impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy and payment changes to the Medicare Part D Star Ratings Program on adherence to diabetes, renin-angiotensin system antagonists (RASA) and statin medications, (2) the spillover effect of this program onto nontargeted therapies used to treat hypertension (calcium channel blockers and beta blockers), and (3) insulin non-persistence among Medicare beneficiaries, and quantified the contribution of sociodemographic, clinical and cost factors associated with the racial and ethnic disparities.

For objectives 1 and 2, interrupted time series (ITS) analyses were conducted using …

Determining Background Deep-Time Critical Zone Conditions In Mississippi Preceding The Onset Of Paleocene-Eocene Hyperthermals, Savannah Reese Rathbun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hyperthermals are periods of extremely rapid global warming. In order to understand the magnitude of hyperthermals, a more complete understanding of background conditions must be established. My goal is to study the paleoclimatic conditions that existed prior to the onset of Paleocene- Eocene hyperthermal events in order to establish background conditions. Relatively thick Paleocene and Eocene sedimentary units ideal for this study are present in the Mississippi Embayment (MSE), a major southwest- dipping sedimentary basin in the Gulf of Mexico coastal region of North America. The MSE contains an extensive record of Paleocene strata that were deposited prior to the …

Exploration Of Student Success Programs For Freshmen Students On Academic Warning/Academic Probation At The University Of Mississippi, Jeremy Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nearly ten percent of the first-year class at the University of Mississippi go on Academic Warning or Academic Probation each semester after their first-full semester at the University. During this time, the student's GPA is below a 2.0, which requires them to take the EDHE 101: Academic Skills for College course, if they plan to return to the University that following Spring or Fall semester (depending on which was their first-full semester). Academic Support Programs, under the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience oversees this course and several other programs to assist students as they look to return to …

Formulation And Development Of Curcumin Implants For Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer: Application Of Hme And 3d Printing, Neha Rajendra Sali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Targeted drug delivery for preventing colorectal cancer (CRC) reoccurrence after surgery can be one of the potent tumor reduction methods among other therapies, such as chemotherapy, ablation, embolization, and radiation therapy. Curcumin has been reported to target the growth factors in carcinoma cells and thereby reducing the proliferation and accelerating the apoptosis of the cancerous cells. Due to its poor bioavailability, it has several limitations for its use in anti-cancer therapy. Piperine has increased the solubility and bioavailability of curcumin and acts synergistically to suppress cancer cell growth. The current study intended to develop novel curcumin implants by coupling hot …

Entrepreneurs Want More Than Just Money: The Role Of Subjective Entrepreneurial Success In Predicting Entrepreneur’S Grief Following Venture Failure, Joseph Richard Schaefer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focal topics of this dissertation are subjective entrepreneurial success (SES) and grief. Over the past three decades, the budding SES literature has seen accelerating growth since its conceptual inception in 1987, with 2016 marking a key event in the literature – the formal naming and definition of the SES construct. Research on the SES construct is of interest to scholars because it complements the objective economic conceptualizations of success often seen in the entrepreneurship literature, highlighting the idiosyncratic ways that entrepreneurs conceptualize and evaluate their success.

To contribute to the SES literature, Essay One of my three-essay dissertation, I …

Lipid Based Ophthalmic Nanoformulations For Ciprofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, And Cannabidiol, Ahmed Adel Ali Youssef

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ocular drug delivery faces many challenges due to the unique anatomy and physiology of the human eye. The development of ocular drug delivery systems is subjected to a gradual shift from an empirical to a rational base due to a better understanding of the ocular barriers that control drug disposition in the eyeball as well as new approaches in clinical testing. Most of the topically applied actives are lipophilic with low aqueous solubility, and the ocular delivery of these drugs is posing a challenging task. Lipid-based drug delivery systems are well reported to improve solubility and enhance both bioavailability and …

Electrode And Electrolyte Design To Develop Advanced Battery Technologies For Large Scale Energy Storage, Wei He

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Large-scale energy storage devices play a key role in regulating the renewable energy to build a carbon-free sustainable future, but the widely used lithium-ion batteries cannot meet the demands because of the limited lithium resource and high cost. Thus, it is urgent to develop next-generation battery technologies with low cost and high safety. Sodium-ion battery is considered as a promising candidate due to the abundant sodium resources and low cost. Its practical application, however, is hindered by the absence of the advanced electrode materials. The tin-based anodes deliver high theoretical capacities and show great promise for the sodium-ion batteries, but …

Quantifying The Effects Of Hvac Operation To Mitigate Aerosol Concentration In A Classroom Using Cfd, Scott Deprez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is a complex mechanical system for the transition of air between outdoor and indoor areas. These systems are directly responsible for temperature, humidity, and air flow into any given space, thereby providing a level of comfort to those who live indoors. These systems account for 52 percent of U.S. energy consumption. When designing HVAC systems, indoor air quality (IAQ) is the main focus for achieving safe and clean air, such as in the case of airborne diseases. HVAC systems are responsible for the flow of air in indoor spaces and thereby expand the transmissible …

Electrospun Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Microfibers As An Asphalt Mix Additive, Debbrata Datta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent decades, the use of different types of fibers in asphalt has become increasingly popular. Fibers are used in an asphalt mix to improve its durability and resistance against distresses such as rutting and cracking due to repetitive vehicle loading at high temperatures, and low-temperature contraction. Consequently, accurate rheological and performance characterization of asphalt binders and mixes containing fibers is of vital importance. With increased concerns over the environmental disruptions as a result of disposing end-of-life plastics in landfills and the need for improving sustainability of the construction materials, incorporating plastic in construction materials has always been an important …

The Impact Of Increasing Dietary Levels Of Hybrid Rye On Growing-Finishing Pig Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Meat Quality, Caitlyn Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of increasing dietary levels of hybrid rye on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and product quality of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 2,400 barrows and gilts (FAST x PIC 800, initial wt. 44.9 kg) were utilized, as pigs were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. Diets were corn-soybean based and hybrid rye replaced corn at 0, 40, 70, or 100%. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the 2012 NRC requirements for all nutrients and fed through a five-phase feeding program (44.9 to 125 kg, respectively). Pigs …

Identifying Optimum Germination Temperatures And Analysis Weights In Seed Testing For Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago Rigida) And River Bulrush (Bolboschoenus Fluviatilis), Rachel Geary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state seed laws require seed lots offered for sale to be tested and labeled with the appropriate information before they can be sold. Those tests are conducted in seed testing labs all around the world. In the United States, accredited seed testing labs follow the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules for Testing Seeds to provide information for labeling. The rules lack instructions for weights and germination for many native species. Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and river bulrush (Bolboschoenus fluviatilis) are two species that lack any information required for testing. When seed testing labs use correct weights …

Feeding Strategies To Improve Gastrointestinal Health And Growth Performance Of Confinement Fed Ruminants, Forest Laine Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how feed additives, orally administered direct fed microbials, and dietary management strategies may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health and growth performance of confinement fed ruminants. Four studies were conducted using confinement fed steers (n = 3) and wether lambs (n = 1) to determine the effects of the products and management strategies used. The first study was conducted on finishing steers to investigate the effects of increasing doses of an encapsulated butyric acid and zinc supplement (BZ) on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal health. …