Digital Commons Network^™

Family Structure And Child Emotion Regulation Difficulties As Important Factors In The Relation Between Maternal Depression And Child Externalizing Behaviors, Kristy Marie Disabatino

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate if child emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relation between maternal depression and child externalizing behaviors. In addition, understanding whether family structure is an important moderator in the relation between maternal depression and child emotion regulation difficulties was of interest in the present study. Archival data from 210 children (64.3% boys; 71.9% self-identified as non-Caucasian, 28.1% as Caucasian), one female caregiver, and the child's teacher were used. It was hypothesized that child emotion regulation difficulties would be positively related to maternal depression and child externalizing behaviors and would mediate the relation between …

The Effects Of Angiogenic Growth Factors On Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation And Differentiation To Vascular Cell Fates, William Anthony D'Angelo

Master's Theses

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into several cell lineages, including mural cells, which surround and support blood vessels, and possibly endothelial cells, which form the blood vessel walls. In this study, we investigated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two of the best-characterized angiogenic factors, on MSC proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesized that treatment with these two factors could inhibit mural cell character and promote differentiation toward an endothelial cell fate. C3H/10T1/2 cells (a line of MSCs derived from mouse embryonic tissues) were treated with bFGF and …

The Effects Of Snowmelt Percolation On Stratified Pollen Records: A Cooler Study, Michael Edward Ewing

Master's Theses

Temperate valley glaciers may contain unique paleoecological records with the possibility of very high-resolution pollen analysis. However, little is known about the effects of meltwater percolation on pollen found in snow and glacial ice. Previous studies have suggested that pollen is relatively impervious to meltwater percolation due to grain size and, thus, resists transport. However, investigations on McCall Glacier in the Brooks Range of northeast Alaska reveal a disparity between the large amounts of pollen in the surface snow and firn, and dearth of pollen in the glacial ice core samples. The purpose of this study is to investigate if …

Conservation Genetics Of Threatened Gopher Tortoises, Gopherus Polyphemus: An Assessment Of Genetic Variation And Parentage In Two Populations In South Mississippi, Angela Huang Getz

Master's Theses

Despite the protection of gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus, in the western portion of their range for over twenty years, populations of the De Soto National Forest (DNF) in southern Mississippi experience low recruitment and lower hatching success than populations in the eastern portion of the range, and the causes of this are unknown. Previous work has shown that Mississippi populations of the DNF have lower levels of genetic diversity than eastern populations, which prompted the suggestion that reduced levels of genetic variation may play a part in low hatching success. Small populations can become more susceptible to the effects …

Settlement, Mobility, And The Organization Of Technology At The Clark Lake Site (22sh535): A Small-Scale Woodland Settlement, Michelle Renee Hammond

Master's Theses

Research conducted on the Woodland period in the Lower Mississippi Valley has largely focused on ceramic analysis of assemblages from large-scale settlements. Very little research has been conducted on lithic technology, particularly debitage from small sites. The Clark Lake site in the Lower Yazoo Basin is a small-scale settlement with components dating from the Tchula Phase to the Lake George I phase (circa 500 B.C. - 1500 A.D.). This thesis focuses on the lithic assemblage recovered from the MiddleLate Woodland occupation of Clark Lake. Analysis of lithic debitage provides evidence concerning site function at this small-scale Woodland settlement.

The Influence Of Extended Cure On Mechanical Performance Of Aerospace-Grade Film Adhesives, Ryan Marcus Young

Master's Theses

Bonded adhesive joints have seen increased usage in aircraft structures as weight and cost reductions drive manufacturers to composite designs. As the use of epoxy film adhesives become more prevalent, it is important to characterize the thermal and mechanical properties of the adhesive after exposure to various manufacturing conditions. Prior studies suggest that thermal characteristics and mechanical performance of epoxy resin formulations may be considered a function of chemical structure, cure temperature, and cure duration. It was therefore hypothesized that by controlling cure temperature and duration, the Tg, degree of cure, and mechanical performance of aerospace-grade film adhesives may be …

Design Of Functional Benzoxazine Materials Via Thiol-Mediated Reactions, Matthew James Jungman

Master's Theses

The syntheses of functional benzoxazine monomers based on phenol and either propargyl amine or allyl amine were carried out to investigate the effect of introducing benzoxazines into thiol-alkyne or thiol-alkene networks on the thermal and mechanical properties of the networks. The thiol-alkyne polymer networks were modified by utilizing the ability of the benzoxazine to undergo heat-induced ring-opening polymerization, adjusting the properties of the networks by varying the functionality of the thiol. The kinetics of the thiol-benzoxazine reaction were determined to compete with thiol-alkyne polymerization, and so the properties of the final networks were influenced by both factors, resulting in broad …

Brave Hearts And Minds: The Devolution Revolution And The (Re)Building Of The Scottish Nation, Cody Lynn Neidert

Master's Theses

In 1995, the myth-history presented in Mel Gibson’s award winning film, Braveheart, sparked the fires of nationalism in Scotland, leading to the nation’s partial autonomy. Braveheart’s influence on politics, historical memory and cultural identity are undeniable, yet few historians give the film the credit it rightly deserves. This demonstrates that, while it may not have single handily led to Scotland’s devolution in 1999, Braveheart did play a major role in the lead up to the 1997 devolution referendum. The film infused Scotland’s society, culture, and politics with nationalistic pride. Utilizing James DeFronzo’s five critical factors for revolutionary success as a …

Victims Of Liberty: Virginia's Response To Loyalists And Loyalism In Williamsburg, 1770-1781, Stephanie Anne Seal

Master's Theses

In June, I 776, when Richard Henry Lee proposed a discussion about independence at the Second Continental Congress, ideas about political loyalty and royal ism in Virginia changed drastically. Almost overnight, there was a general consensus throughout most of the colony on the creation ofa Virginia exceptionalism: the idea that Virginia- as the largest, richest, and most populous colony- should be the leading voice of the upcoming American Revolution. This thesis argues that the ways Virginians perceived their place in the Revolutionary struggle was, in many ways, mirrored in their treatment of loyalists in the state. By examining publications on …

Barriers And Facilitators To The Effective Management Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus For Hispanic Women, Paula F. Clark

Master's Theses

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal or unfavorable condition in pregnancy, as well as a life event, that puts a woman and her biological children at an elevated risk for developing a number of negative fetal, neonatal, and maternal outcomes, including the future development type 2 diabetes in both mother and baby. These complications are associated with elevated maternal blood glucose. Diet and exercise alone are often sufficient to control blood glucose and effectively avoid negative outcomes. Yet research has determined that barely 50% of women with gestational diabetes are able to adhere to prudent dietary and exercise GDM …

A Two Hundred Year Old Lesson In Bullying: Building Community By Producing Honk! Jr., A Musical Based On The Ugly Duckling, Heidi Louise Jensen

Master's Theses

Benjamin Franklin Theatre Project was created in response to recent violence in schools and new anti-bullying legislation. Schools in Washington State are mandated by legislation to adopt anti-bullying policies. After a policy was made official, it was up to schools, particularly educators to guide students to understand, support and integrate the anti-bullying message into the school community. Theatre education, a constructivist, holistic approach to learning, was a successful way to do this at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. By producing HONK! Jr. a musical play based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Ugly Duckling”, students were able to explore, role-play and …

Pink And Dude Chefs: A Nutrition And Culinary Intervention For Middle School Students, Tianna R. Sheehan

Master's Theses

Pink and Dude Chefs: A nutrition and culinary intervention for middle school students

Tianna Sheehan

The prevalence of obesity in US adolescents has more than tripled in the past 35 years, and the greatest impact has been among low-income and minority racial/ethnic populations. Adolescents report inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, an overconsumption of sweetened beverages, and a high reliance on fast food locations for meals or snacks; increasing the risk of adolescent obesity. Building knowledge and skills through culinary interventions may empower middle school students to create and also choose healthful foods.

Pink and Dude Chefs, a six-week nutrition and …

An Experimentally Generated Constitutive Model For Peak Stress (Σ_Peak) In Compression Samples, Kevin Mathew Lopez Galang

Master's Theses

The hot working behavior of AISI 1018 steel was studied by hot-compression deformation tests on the Gleeble 1500 thermo-mechanical simulator at true strain values of -0.143 and -0.405, true strain rate values of 0.01 and 0.1, and working temperatures of 900^°C and 1000°C. The tests show that a lower working temperature and lower true strain value results in a greater maximum compressive force. The apparent activation energy Q_app was calculated by using the Zener-Hollomon parameter combined with the low stress law. Q_{app ­}was calculated to be 311 kJ mol^-1 K^-1.

Determinants Of Food Insecurity Among Vulnerable White And Latino Households: Contextualizing The Impact Of Sociodemographic And Household-Level Factors, Alexandra Lund

Master's Theses

Household-level characteristics have been shown to be associated with food insecurity but studies among vulnerable populations are sparse. A food security assessment was developed to determine food security and collect sociodemographic and household level data across San Luis Obispo County. The assessments were administered to vulnerable groups through interviews at multiple sites across the County. Three household characteristics (marital status, number of children in the household and number of workers in the household) were examined in this analysis. A total of 808 surveys were collected, 69% in English and 31% in Spanish. Through ethnicity-stratified sequentially adjusted logistic regression models, the …

Voltage Stability Analysis Using Simulated Synchrophasor Measurements, Allan Agatep

Master's Theses

An increase in demand for electric power has forced utility transmission systems to continuously operate under stressed conditions, which are close to instability limits. Operating power systems under such conditions along with inadequate reactive power reserves initiates a sequence of voltage instability points and can ultimately lead to a system voltage collapse. Significant research have been focused on time-synchronized measurements of power systems which can be used to frequently determine the state of a power system and can lead to a more robust protection, control and operation performance. This thesis discusses the applicability of two voltage stability synchrophasor-based indices from …

Transient Small Wind Turbine Tower Structural Analysis With Coupled Rotor Dynamic Interaction, George R. Katsanis

Master's Theses

Structural dynamics is at the center of wind turbine tower design - excessive vibrations can be caused by a wide range of environmental and mechanical sources and can lead to reduced component life due to fatigue, noise, and impaired public perception of system integrity. Furthermore, periodic turbulent wind conditions can cause system resonance resulting in significantly increased structural loads. Structural vibration issues may become exacerbated in small wind applications where the analytical and experimental resources for system verification and optimization are scarce. This study combines several structural analysis techniques and packages them into a novel and integrated form that can …

Modeling And Analysis Of A Dynamic Voltage Regulator, Timothy David Haskell

Master's Theses

Increased government funding and incentives in recent years has led to an increase in the number of grid-tied renewable energy sources as their economic benefits become more renowned. Unfortunately, the outputs of these renewable resources are often highly variable, resulting in undesirable voltage disruptions that are harmful to sensitive loads. In addition to the energy variability of renewable energy sources, random voltage sags, swells and disruptions are already a major issue in power systems. Recent advances in power electronic devices have provided a platform for new solutions to the voltage support problem in power systems. One promising solution is the …

Modeling And Analysis Of A Pv Grid-Tied Smart Inverter's Support Functions, Benjamin Anders Johnson

Master's Theses

The general trends in the past decade of increasing solar cell efficiency, decreasing PV system costs, increasing government incentive programs, and several other factors have all combined synergistically to reduce the barriers of entry for PV systems to enter the market and expand their contribution to the global energy portfolio. The shortcomings of current inverter functions which link PV systems to the utility network are becoming transparent as PV penetration levels continue to increase. The solution this thesis proposes is an approach to control the inverters real and reactive power output to help eliminate the problems associated with PV systems …

Modeling The Zimmer Fitmore And Ml Taper Implantation, Tyler Kazuo Franklin

Master's Theses

With more young adults requiring total hip

arthroplasties the need for bone saving implants becomes

more important. The Zimmer Fitmore is a new bone saving

implant that utilizes an implantation technique that

reduces the damage to the muscle tissue allowing for

patients to have a short recovery time as well as a new

design that allows it to rest on the medial cortex. There

has been anecdotal evidence that this device leads to early

revision within six months of implantation due to failures

occurring in the medial cortex. The main goal of this

study was to computationally model the Zimmer …

Parenting Nutrition Skills Workshop: An Evaluation Of Facilitated Group Discussions To Enhance Parenting Nutrition Self Efficacy, Lisa A. Dawes

Master's Theses

Abstract

Parenting Nutrition Skills Workshops: An Evaluation of Facilitated Group Discussions to Enhance Parenting Nutrition Self-Efficacy

By: Lisa Dawes, RD, CDE

This research study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using facilitated group discussion (FGD), a less traditional method of nutrition education, for increasing parents’ feelings of self-efficacy in their ability to make nutrition-related decisions, and to set and enforce nutrition-related boundaries with their children.

Childhood obesity is on the rise; poor food choices, portion control, and inactivity are identified as contributing causes. Parents play a major role in creating healthy habits and providing a well-balanced diet for their …

Financing Public Solar Projects: California Public Jurisdictions' Experiences In Acquiring And Financing Solar Photovoltaic Installations, Dana M.C. Hoffman

Master's Theses

More efficient technologies, state laws as well as environmental, social, and political pressures have all contributed to placing solar acquisition on the agenda for California’s public entities over the last half decade. But a key question for these frequently cash-strapped jurisdictions is how to utilize public dollars and lands, and how to leverage incentives to obtain solar PVs. As an alternative to outright purchase, a promising financing option made available to jurisdictions in recent years is ownership by a third party, usually the solar company, including various forms of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) and leasing. Due in part to state …

Can Neoclassical Trade Theory Explain Congressional Voting?, John Dellipriscoli

Master's Theses

The neoclassical trade model has notoriously been unable to empirically predict trade flows throughout the world, however there has been a notion that the same theories and predictions could also be applied to democratic voting on free trade legislation. Using roll-call votes on three 2011 United States bilateral trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, respectively, a simple empirical model based on the neoclassical concepts, specifically the Heckscher-Ohlin and Stolper-Samuelson corollary theorems, is outlined. After an analysis using a logit estimation method, it is revealed that there is conflicting evidence whether the voting on the 2011 free trade agreements …

Mitochondrial Dna Control Region Sequence Polymorphisms From A South Indian Population Sample: A Forensic And Phylogenetic View, Robin Gwydion Bombardi

Master's Theses

India is characterized by a human migration history spanning more than 60,000 years. Contemporary populations evolved from early migrations shortly following the African exodus but also recent movements possibly related to the spread of agriculture or t?e Indo-Aryan invasion. India has been underrepresented in mitochondrial surveys of human variation. The aim of this study was to establish a mtDNA dataset for the state of Tamil Nadu, India for forensic purposes and to investigate the diversity of the Tamil Nadu population sample with respect to global populations. The hypervariable regions I, II, and III within the mtDNA control region of a …

Role Of Electric Utility Companies In Economic Development Within Deregulation, Jessica Alys Cheeks

Master's Theses

This research seeks to determine if electric utilities participate in economic development, and if so, how might the trend of electric deregulation affect that relationship. The researcher reviewed the academic literature to determine that electric utilities do, in fact, participate in economic development and significantly contribute to economic growth. They participate in all areas of economic development, including business attraction, business retention and expansion, and community development; they arguably influence business development and economic vibrancy more than any alternative business in the community.

Since 1992, electric deregulation has influenced the way these utilities participate in economic development. State governments intend …

Growth And Carboxysome Composition Of The Csosia Pore Mutants Of Halothiobacillus Neapolitanus, Jenifer Milam

Master's Theses

Carboxysomes are specialized organelles that are filled with ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) needed for CO2 fixation. The major carboxysome shell proteins, CsoSl A, B, and C, form hexamers which tile together to form the facets of the thin shell. Each hexamer has a small central pore that may play a role in metabolite flux. Using predicted structural models, a specific amino acid within the conserved hexamer pore motif (Phe-Val-Gly-Gly-Gly-Tyr) was chosen to change the size and charge of the pore, respectively. Two mutants of Halothiobacillus neapolitanus were generated in which the wild type csoSJA gene was replaced with the …

Solutions Of Matrix Equations, Thir Raj Dangal

Master's Theses

Two n x n matrices A and B can make many different matrix equations, e.g., AB = BA, AB = AA, ABA = BAB, and AAB = BAA. It is not always easy to describe solutions to these matrix equations. This thesis considers the problem of describing solutions to the matrix equations A² = B², AB = A² and AB = B². This problem is motivated by considering the properties of commutative matrices (i.e., AB = BA), as well as the matrix form of the Yang-Baxter equation, ABA = …

The Identification Of The Mid Transcription Factor Regulatory Network Specifying Cell Fate And Regulating Survival In The Drosophila Eye, Sudeshna Das

Master's Theses

The Drosophila melanogaster T-box transcription factor Midline (Mid) exhibits a high degree of structural and functional conservation with its vertebrate homolog Tbx-20. Both Mid and Tbx-20 regulate cell-fate specification with in diverse tissues including the central nervous system (CNS) and heart. Although, some important studies reported that Tbx-20 transcripts express in a wide range of developing mammalian eye tissues including those of the human fetus, the function of this transcription factor is unknown in the development of eye tissue. This current study is the first attempt to show that Mid and its para log H15 are expressed within distinct ommatidial …

Sedimentary Characteristics Of An Estuarine Marsh System And The Roles Of Storm Overwash, Micro-Tidal Currents, And Organic Production: Big Branch Marsh, Louisiana, John Andrew Sebastian Fleming

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis is to document sediment composition in Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, located on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, to discern the relative influences of fluvial, tidal, and storm overwash transport dynamics of a micro-tidal estuarine marsh system. Collected sediment samples from tidal channel beds, pond bottoms, and marsh surfaces were analyzed for organic content and particle-size distribution. Parameters of sub-environment groups were compared to find differences representing changes in relative transport energy and depositional processes. Whereas some results adhered to the model of fining patterns with increasing distance …

Waves Of Change: Tourism And Vulnerability In San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, Matthew Lee Fahrenbruch

Master's Theses

Tourism is increasingly viewed and promoted as a viable and sustainable option for economic growth in developing countries. However, despite the rise of tourism and the growing popularity of hazard-prone destinations, little research has been done to assess the vulnerability of many tourism communities. What work has been done has focused primarily on post-shock management and planning without identifying underlying factors of vulnerability such plans would ideally mitigate. The goal of this thesis is to develop a methodology for assessing vulnerability in tourism communities in the developing world by assessing the vulnerability of the Nicaraguan community of San Juan del …

Drive-By Geography: Perceptions Of Urban Growth And Land Use In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Courtney Shea Norville

Master's Theses

One of the most important mechanisms in which human societies have transformed the earth is through urbanization. Land use changes such as from cropland to businesses are important ways in which urban growth transforms landscapes. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods in order to visualize where urban growth and landscape changes are occurring between Hattiesburg and Columbia, Mississippi within the first decade of the 21st century. The methods I used involved conducting transects and creating hand-drawn maps, conversion of hand-drawn maps into ArcGIS shapefiles for interpretation and analysis, and lastly juxtaposition of shapefiles onto Landsat imagery. To analyze the …