Digital Commons Network^™

How Russia’S Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine In 2022 Has Changed Russia- Africa Relations, Nkeiruka M. Origa

Master's Theses

This thesis examines how Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has impacted Russia's relationships with several African countries, specifically focusing on Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Sudan. The study employed qualitative data analysis sourced from both primary and secondary materials, including official government statements, expert opinions, statements from key stakeholders, journal articles, verified news media, and think tanks. The study has found that the geopolitical shifts triggered by Russia’s war against Ukraine have enhanced Russia's political, economic, and military cooperation in the four African nations under analysis. The analysis of the five African nations’ cooperation with …

Evaluating Cannabigerol As A Therapeutic Agent In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Michael J. Viereckl

Master's Theses

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a prolific disease worldwide, with rising incidence and limited treatment options. The disease is progressive, what begins as simple lipid congestion within the cells of the liver eventually leads to incitement of inflammatory reactions and destruction of the liver which can further develop into cancer. Epidemiological data suggests that Cannabis use is associated with reduced incidence of NAFLD, and relatively recent changes in the plants legal status now affords us with the opportunity to investigate unstudied cannabinoids in the context of NAFLD. Further, growing popularity of these bioactive compounds as supplements warrants investigation into …

Imitation And Text Relationships In Tomás Luis De Victoria's Missa O Magnum Mysterium, Natasha Ann Monroe

Master's Theses

Unusual musical relationships surrounding the compositions of Tomás Luis de Victoria have intrigued scholars for decades, but their purpose remains hidden. Robert Stevenson has suggested that textual connections can be found alongside these musically similar passages. I revisit this suggestion by analyzing an imitation mass by Victoria: Missa O magnum mysterium based on his motet O magnum mysterium. When trying to understand any intentional textual connections, it is necessary to consider the composer's broad perspective. In the case of Missa O magnum mysterium, the logical starting points are Victoria's life-long involvement with the Catholic Church and the feast …

“But Where Are Those Good Old-Fashioned Values?”—The Racial Politics Of Animated Satire In Family Guy, Jordanne Greenidge

Master's Theses

Few animated shows have shaped American pop culture quite like Family Guy. Known for its rapid-fire cutaway gags and irreverent humor, the series has remained a television mainstay since its debut in 1999, despite frequent criticism and even two cancellations. Created by Seth MacFarlane and based on his 1995 student film The Life of Larry, Family Guy has built its reputation on pushing the boundaries of taste, especially when it comes to race, gender, and politics. Though often defended as satire, the show’s use of racial humor raises questions about its true impact: Do its portrayals of Black characters challenge …

Edouard Reményi And Johannes Brahms: A Lifelong Influence Reconsidered, Katherine Marie Martin

Master's Theses

Edouard Reményi was one of the first important influences in Johannes Brahms’s life and compositional career. Yet, beyond a single biography, much of what is commonly believed about Reményi is based on information provided by the Brahms literature.

By reexamining the accounts of Reményi in the Brahms literature, and comparing them with Mary Kelley and George Upton’s biography of Reményi and Robert Eshbach’s excellent research, the timeline of Reményi’s life and work can be clarified. Analysis of a set of three pieces for violin and piano demonstrates Reményi’s work as a composer and illustrates the style of Hungarian music that …

The Distribution Of Spinal Cord Injury Severity Across Age And Injury Location In Frontal Impact Automobile Collisions, Alyssa Teixeira

Master's Theses

Automobile collisions are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) worldwide, accounting for about 42% of SCIs in the United States alone (McDonald & Sadowsky, 2002; Roberts et al., 2017). The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5-29 years, emphasizing the urgent need for effective prevention strategies (World Health Organization, 2023). The primary aim of this study was to identify differences in spinal column injury severity and location (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar) across multiple age groups to identify any discrepancies or similarities. A total of 302 traffic accidents …

Those Magnificent Men In Their Fighting Machines: An Investigation Into The Lives Of Wwi Tankmen, Lucas C. Campbell

Master's Theses

This thesis will look at the immense backlog of war diaries, journals, personal letters, government documentation, and oral histories left behind by British tank crewmen of the First World War. The purpose of this investigation is mainly to uncover the reasons that individuals were chosen for transferal into the Royal Tank Regiment, where they were transferred from, what their training consisted of before their deployment, and their combat history once they were sent into the battlefields on the Western Front. The goal of this project is to gauge the reaction to the emergence of this crucially important technology on a …

Empowering Narratives Or Marketing Strategy? Nigerian Audience Reactions To Femvertising In The “Joy Soap ‘My Life, My Script’ Campaign”, Oare Danielle Addeh

Master's Theses

Guided by Feminist Theory, this thesis examines how audience responses to Joy Soap’s ‘My Life, My Script’ campaign reflect, reinforce, or resist dominant gender norms in Nigerian society. Positioned as a form of femvertising, the campaign aims to challenge traditional expectations placed on women and promote narratives of empowerment. However, audience reactions reveal a complex negotiation of cultural values, personal experiences, and shifting gender ideologies.

This study uses Critical Discourse Analysis to examine purposively sampled comments from the campaign’s Instagram comment section, focusing on four selected episodes. The analysis identifies discursive patterns that reveal key themes, including the reinforcement and …

Doin' Time: Entertainment And Exploitation At Decommissioned Prison Museums In The United States, Jessi Robbins

Master's Theses

This thesis aims to explore how decommissioned prison museums in the US, such as Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary (BMSP), shape societal attitudes and understanding of the carceral system as a whole and the presence of systemic racism within by addressing three questions: (1) What histories do prison museums tell, and which are erased?, (2) How do objects displayed in prison museums reflect past and present racial attitudes toward the incarcerated?, and (3) Does visiting or working at a prison museum affect individual attitudes regarding the US carceral system? Grounded in James Scott’s (1992) concept of “hidden transcripts” and Michel Foucault’s …

“From The Synagogue To The Streets”: Outsider Rabbis, Mississippi, And The Civil Rights Movement, Holli Elaine Parker

Master's Theses

The historiography of Jews in the Civil Rights Movement is extensive, and recent scholarship has reevaluated the relationships between Jews and civil rights organizations. The role of southern Jews in critical states, such as Mississippi, is often amalgamated into one category: supportive but scared. The focus on two rabbis known for their outspokenness regarding racial equality, Charles Mantinband of Hattiesburg and Perry Nussbaum of Jackson, is central to most southern Jewish studies. However, it neglects aspects of their background. Neither rabbi was a native Mississippian nor accepted as truly Southern due to the stances they took regarding racial equality. Charles …

Key-Based Authentication Scheme For Evtol Drones Using Chebyshev Chaotic Maps, Eduardo A. Hernandez Escobar

Master's Theses

The development of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) drones signifies a substantial advancement in urban air mobility, ready to transform transportation models in densely populated regions. These advanced drones, distinguished by their capacity to function in limited spaces and their minimized environmental impact, are set to transform individual, shipping, emergency services, and public safety activities. Nonetheless, like any transformational technology, the implementation of eVTOL systems presents many challenges, especially in the realm of cybersecurity. Adding many devices and entities to an eVTOL network increases the risk of privacy and security attacks. This paper proposes a key-based authentication scheme that …

Ghana’S Shift From Non-Alignment To Alignment: A Comparative Case Study Of Foreign Policy Under Geopolitical Pressures, Bernice Owusu

Master's Theses

With the geopolitical landscape experiencing significant dynamic shifts, the rise of global powers like China and Russia is putting pressure on non-aligned countries to adjust to the new realities. This thesis examines the evolving nature of Ghana’s foreign policy from non-alignment to alignment due to geopolitical pressures. Using a comparative case study of Ghana and Zambia, the thesis analyzes how economic dependency, military cooperation, and diplomatic behavior— especially with the United States—have influenced Ghana’s foreign policy trajectory between the Cold War and the post-2010 period. Through analysis of policy documents, defense agreements, and United Nations General Assembly voting records, the …

A Herpetofaunal Inventory Study Of Two National Wildlife Refuges In The Mississippi Delta And Associated Evaluation Of Trapping Efficacy, Andrew Holzinger

Master's Theses

The objectives of this project were to record the diversity and distribution of amphibian and reptile species present at Panther Swamp and Hillside National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and to quantify trapping efficacy as a result of various methodologies under different habitat variables. The primary methods employed were two varieties of drift fence trap arrays consisting of 100-foot sections of silt fencing with buried 2.5-gallon buckets as pitfall traps and box traps placed at the end of each fence to capture larger organisms. When conditions permitted, aquatic trapping was also employed across the Refuges. A total of 55 species were documented, …

Population Estimates, Demography, And Habitat Assessment Of The Pearl River Map Turtle (Graptemys Pearlensis) In The Pearl River Drainage Of Mississippi, Noah Devros

Master's Theses

The Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) is a highly riverine Emydid endemic to the Pearl River drainage of central and southern Mississippi and southern Louisiana. First described in 2010, G. pearlensis was listed as federally Threatened in 2024. . Due to its relative novelty as a species, no rigorous site-specific population estimates of G. pearlensis in Mississippi have been conducted. The primary goal of this study was to implement a replicable method of assessing the population of G. pearlensis throughout the Pearl River drainage system of Mississippi. A secondary goal was to describe habitat associated with G. …

Movement Ecology And Trophic Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Implications For Fisheries Management, Calvin Chee

Master's Theses

The northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) is a diverse and productive region for living marine resources. The region supports lucrative commercial and recreational fisheries ranging from low-trophic-level species, such as penaeid shrimps and forage fishes, to high-trophic-level predators (e.g. Yellowfin Tuna). This thesis contributes to the region’s ecological knowledge, with the primary aim of enhancing management efforts and providing direct management advice to two important fisheries. In Chapter 1, we develop a traditional per-recruit model for Southern Flounder, as well as a spatiotemporally integrated per-recruit model that incorporates the spatial distribution of fishing effort and the stock’s movement ecology. Fish …

Interconnections Among Self-Awareness Constructs In Schizotypy: The Importance Of Interoceptive Sensibility, Kendall Beals

Master's Theses

Interoception involves the sensing, interpreting, and integrating of signals from within the body and mind. Interoception is a central concept to our awareness of bodily sensations and thus can be classified as one form of self-awareness. Differences in other forms of self-awareness, such as alexithymia, cognitive insight, and introspective accuracy, have been observed between those with high and low schizotypy. Given the conceptual similarity in these constructs, understanding inter-relationships across measures of self-awareness will serve to advance our understanding of the concept and its various facets for people with high schizotypy. This study examined the relationships between interoceptive sensibility and …

Structural Vibration Analysis Of The Multi Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (Mmrtg) On The Martian Surface, Christopher Brown

Master's Theses

A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) is a radioisotope power system designed for use within both planetary atmospheres and the vacuum of space. A radioisotope power system uses a radioisotope fuel source which generates heat that is then converted into electricity by the system’s thermocouples. These generators are used as a power source on space missions with very long service durations. MMRTGs have a required usage lifespan of roughly fourteen years, therefore the system must withstand stressors without suffering significant structural damage that would affect their functionality.

It is important to take into consideration that MMRTGs house radioactive materials; therefore, …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Production Of Biofuels From Nanno 3600 Microalgae And Algae Native To Connecticut Via Greener Alternative Extraction Solvents For Lipid Recovery, Juhkory Najar

Master's Theses

As the world continues to evolve and expand in both technology and population, the energy demand continues to increase as well to keep up with the production of new products and higher production rates. The depletion of fossil fuels and the considerable amount of greenhouse gases from the use of nonrenewable energy sources fuel the demand for renewable energy sources. These renewable energy sources originate from a variety of places, such as wind power, hydroelectric, and solar. Biomass continues to grow in the renewable energy sector due to its versatility in high lipid content and minimal competition with other biomass …

The Rise Of Cyber Conflict As A Policy Tool: A Comparison Of The United States And The People's Republic Of China, Sophia Radzim

Master's Theses

This thesis explores cyber incident trends and its effects on conflict resolution of interstate relationships between the U.S. and China. Key findings of this research discovered that the U.S. relies on diplomatic negotiations to resolve cyber conflicts and does not utilize an aggressive approach within the cyber domain. China, on the other hand, has aggressively expanded its cyber capabilities. They leverage cyber attacks to promote their technology, military, and economy sectors, while undermining the U.S.’ global status as a political leader and innovator. China’s dominance in cyberspace poses a great threat to the national security of the U.S. Through descriptive …

Does 9/11 Still Act As A Motivator For Individuals Entering The Criminal Justice And National Security Fields?, Ashleigh Lane

Master's Theses

The terror attacks on September 11, 2001 changed the world in an instant, leaving lasting effects on the United States and the international community. This thesis investigates whether the 9/11 attacks continue to serve as a motivating factor for individuals pursuing careers in the Criminal Justice and National Security fields, despite the passage of more than two decades since the event.

This study utilizes secondary research analysis to examine data from empirical studies conducted between 2006 and 2022, with a particular emphasis on students enrolled in Criminal Justice programs at institutions of higher education. Key variables explored include personal victimization, …

Enhanced Post-Capture Automatic White Balance For Srgb Images, Eric Huang

Master's Theses

Automatic white balancing (AWB) aims to correct color casts caused by varying illumination conditions, typically assuming access to RAW sensor data. However, many real-world applications involve only sRGB images that have already been processed by in-camera pipelines. In these cases, traditional AWB algorithms often underperform due to the nonlinear transformations done by these pipelines.

This thesis builds upon a data-driven color correction framework introduced by Afifi et al. that relies on RGB-UV histograms and learned color transforms. A revised automatic white balancing (AWB) framework that improves both color accuracy and runtime efficiency is proposed. A fallback routine is implemented to …

Improved Management Strategies For Botrytis Fruit Rot, Macrophomina Root Rot, And Verticillium Wilt In California Strawberry Production, Joseph A. Ramirez

Master's Theses

Strawberry production in California is limited by plant diseases such as Macrophomina root rot (MRR) caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, Verticillium wilt (VW) caused by Verticillium dahliae, and Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) caused by Botrytis cinerea. Current disease management strategies are compromised due to fumigant regulations or ineffective disease management practices. This thesis investigated methods to potentially improve the management of these three diseases. Two host plant resistance evaluations for MRR and VW were conducted for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 growing seasons. Sixty-three strawberry genotypes were screened in both years. All plants were exposed to the pathogen via artificial …

"It's Not Your Job To Save The World, Young Women": Evangelical Women On Social Media, Ilaria P. Johnson

Master's Theses

Masters research thesis on the role of evangelical influencers on social media in spreading their beliefs on conservative politics, Christian motherhood, and Christian womanhood. Five Instagram accounts are analyzed and profiled.

Detecting Software Anomalies In Microservices Using Spectrograms, Scalograms, And Convolutional Neural Networks, Snehith Jonnaikode

Master's Theses

The growing complexity of cloud-native microservices has intensified the need for robust anomaly detection mechanisms, particularly for misconfiguration-induced failures that often manifest subtly and propagate across service boundaries. This thesis proposes a comparative framework for runtime anomaly detection by transforming system metrics into frequency-domain representations—spectrograms using Short-Time Fourier Transform and scalograms using Continuous Wavelet Transform—and classifying them with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Evaluated on DeathStarBench, a production-grade microservices benchmark with injected anomalies in the Reservation and Recommendation services, the framework also includes baseline Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models trained on raw time-series features. Stratified 5-fold cross-validation shows that CNNs trained …

Peerproxy: A Webrtc Proxy For Http, Nathan Li-En Lee

Master's Theses

Advances in networking technologies have empowered individuals to easily self-host digital services such as websites and smart home systems. However, accessing these services externally often requires port forwarding, which requires manual router configuration, technical expertise in networking, and is sometimes restricted by internet service providers. Proxy-based services such as Ngrok and Cloudflare Tunnels simplify external access by using publicly hosted proxy servers, but introduce increased infrastructure costs and privacy concerns due to reliance on third-party servers that can inspect or store traffic.

This thesis presents PeerProxy, a novel framework that simplifies access to self-hosted web services without manual network configuration, …

Enhancing The Efficiency Of Eaop Degradation Using Ultrasound: A Study With Methylene Blue And Pfoa As Model Pollutants, Jamiu Busayo Ahmed

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Enhancing University Retention Through Faculty/Staff Mentor-Mentee Relationships: An Interpersonal Communication Approach, Emma Catherine Richardson

Master's Theses

This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in faculty and staff mentorship and its impact on undergraduate student retention, focusing on struggling students at Louisiana Tech University. With a national retention rate of 68.2% and persistent disparities among underrepresented groups, improving student retention remains a critical issue in higher education. The research addresses a gap in understanding how communication practices, such as active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback, influence mentorship effectiveness. Guided by Interpersonal Communication Theory and Social Support Theory, this qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate students. Thematic analysis revealed key findings: mentors who demonstrated empathy, …

Associations Among Shopping Methods, Diet Adherence, And Nutrition Knowledge Of Employed Primary Grocery Shoppers In Households With Children, Baylee Schneider

Master's Theses

Obesity is a prominent risk factor for chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and chronic disease rates continue to rise, requiring a need for prevention and intervention efforts. The future role of dietetics is to provide treatment and prevention through holistic approaches, by understanding individuals’ habits that contribute to the onset of disease, specifically their food choices, grocery shopping methods, and influences that waver these selections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between grocery shopping methods (online or in-store), Mediterranean diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and food purchase patterns …

An Exploratory Case Study Of A Community Food Pantry In Northwest Louisiana, Abigail Clair Henington

Master's Theses

Many individuals are struggling with food insecurity in Louisiana; according to the Louisiana Food Bank Association's website, Feeding Louisiana’s 2023 impact report, an estimated 683,100 people in Louisiana experience food insecurity. In northwest Louisiana, 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, with an average income of $34,485 per household. Common Ground is a nonprofit community outreach program in Northwest Louisiana, specifically Shreveport. The program has been in operation for over 20 years and strives to provide a place free of judgment and a place of common ground for those in the Cedar Grove community. Each week, they have …

Novel Approach To Traveling-Wave-Based Fault Location In Nonhomogeneous Transmission Lines, John Parker Burrell

Master's Theses

Accurate fault location is a critical aspect of power system protection, ensuring grid reliability and minimizing downtime. Traditional traveling-wave-based fault location methods face limitations when applied to nonhomogeneous transmission lines due to the reliance on precise segment velocities and propagation time data. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing a novel algorithm that leverages historical fault data to estimate segment velocities and refine these estimates as more faults occur. The algorithm was rigorously tested using the digital model of an 11-segment, 65.694 km real overhead transmission line and validated using both simulations and hardware tests using commercially available time-domain protective …