Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Into Precision Agriculture: Putting The Power Of Remote Sensing Into The Hands Of Farmers, Jeremy Richard Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid emergence and advancement of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has made it possible for their incorporation into modern agriculture. Satellite imagery has been used in the past to increase yields and profits while simultaneously decreasing chemical use and environmental damage. However, satellite imagery has some limitations in regards to agriculture that sUAS has the potential to supplement and correct. This study will present the technical and legal integration of sUAS into private agriculture in the United States. Multiple flights were conducted at various altitudes to understand the lowest possible altitude for safe and useful image recovery. A comparison …

Perceived Deployment Stressors And Well-Being Among Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan, Abigail Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are unlike previous wars and present new challenges for service members post deployment. Currently, service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing a number of stressors that may have implications during their post deployment adjustment (Kline et al., 2010; La Bash et al., 2009; McNulty, 2005). Few studies were found that examined the stressors of deployment and their relationship to the health and well-being of veterans upon return home. Therefore, a more complete understanding of the deployment experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is needed in order to have an adequate understanding …

Delay Discounting Among American Indian And Non-Indian College Students, Angelique Gillis

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the concept of delay discounting among a total 200 participants (150 American Indian college students and 50 non-Indian college students) recruited from the University of North Dakota (UND), Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC), and Cankdeska Cikana (Little Hoop Community College. All participants completed the South Oaks Gambling Scale (SOGS), Gambling Functional Assessment (GFA), Sensation Seeking Scale-V (SSS-V), and a delay discounting questionnaire. American Indian participants completed an additional form-Northern Plains Biculturalism Inventory-revised (NPBI-R). It was hypothesized that American Indian participants from the reservation sample would have higher SOGS scores than participants …

Separation And Purification Of Aromatics From Cracked Crop Oils Using Sulfolane, Nahid Khatibi

Theses and Dissertations

Aromatics, such as benzene and toluene, are important for the production of many materials such as polystyrene and other polymers. Benzene and toluene are, most commonly produced from crude oil. But due to the depletion of petroleum resources, the world is looking for renewable alternatives.

Studies of the catalytic cracking of triacylglycerol containing oils (TAG), such as soybean oil, have demonstrated that a high concentration of aromatics can be produced under certain conditions. This discovery provides an opportunity to develop a pathway for the production of aromatics from renewable resources. The main focus of this research was to develop the …

The Urotsa Bladder Cell Model For Heavy Metal Carcinogenesis: Characterization With Respect To The Role Of Beclin-1 And Sparc Expression, Jennifer Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The development of bladder cancer is known to have a strong association with environmental toxins. This laboratory employs the human Urotsa cell line model to explore the relationship between As+3 and Cd+2 exposure and the development of urothelial cancer.

The parental Urotsa cells and their As+3 and Cd+2 transformed counterparts have been used to define the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis and/or necrosis). A third mechanism of cell death, autophagy, has not yet been investigated. The hypothesis for the current study is that the autophagy pathway involving beclin-1plays a role in Urotsa cell death mechanisms. A combination of real time …

Appraisal Investigation Alternative Water Supply For Langdon Rural Water District, Geoffrey Brian Slick

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of Photographic Dynamic Measurements Applicable To Evaluation Of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles, Jeremy C. Murray

Theses and Dissertations

Developments in the area of flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) of a small size and with limited range. This has lead to a great deal of interest in biomimetric designs based on flapping wing flyers, including the North American Hawkmoth (Manduca Sexta). By utilizing high speed photography and photogrammetry the dynamic flapping of the wing can be characterized for comparison with mathematical models, namely computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA).To successfully utilize high speed image capture, a method of successfully digitizing many data points in a short period of time needs to be developed. The effort …

Design And Synthesis Of Cationic Steroid Antimicrobial Compounds, Synthesis Of Glycolipids Recognized By Natural Killer T Cells And Development Of Tlr-1, Tlr-6 Heterodimer Binders And Studies Of Their Immunology Activities, Yanshu Feng

Theses and Dissertations

Cationic steroid antimicrobial agents (CSAs) are a family of bile acid derivatives. These compounds are amphiphilic and mimic endogenous antimicrobial peptides. The antimicrobial activities of CSA-13 have been investigated and due to portent bactericidal activities and low toxicity, a large amount of CSA-13 is demanded for clinic trails and other antimicrobial applications. During our studies, we optimized the synthetic route of CSA-13, so that it can be prepared at the kilogram, even in tons scale. We investigated three routes and one of them is suitable for industry, because only recrystallization is needed in the synthesis. Natural killer T cells (NKT …

C-Met Initiates Epithelial Scattering Through Transient Calcium Influxes And Nfat-Dependent Gene Transcription, Peter R. Langford

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling drives epithelial cells to scatter by breaking cell-cell adhesions and migrating as solitary cells, a process that parallels epithelial-mesenchymal transition. HGF binds and activates the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, but downstream signaling required for scattering remains poorly defined. This study addresses this shortcoming in a number of ways.A high-throughput in vitro drug screen was employed to identify proteins necessary in this HGF-induced signaling. Cells were tested for reactivity to HGF stimulation in a Boyden chamber assay. This tactic yielded several small molecules that block HGF-induced scattering, including a calcium channel blocker. Patch clamping was used …

The Tornado Tree: Drawing On Stories And Storybooks, Toni A. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Storytelling has been used by many cultures to record events, research genealogy, and to teach moral lessons. Some cultures passed on their histories and important events through oral narration, papyrus, or cathedral stained glass windows. More modern cultures write personal histories, and use modern technology to communicate with each other. This study is an arts based project based on writing a storybook. It is an exploration of why storytelling is important from a cultural point of view using my experiences to write a storybook based on a true event from my family history.

Dirty Talking Cracked Pots: Inferring Function And Use Of Decorated Ceramic Bowls At Fourmile Ruin, Az, Heather E. Bullock

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I discuss the function and use of decorated ceramic bowls at Fourmile Ruin, a Pueblo IV site located in east-central Arizona. My research focused on three wares dating to the Pueblo IV period of the American Southwest (AD 1275-1450): White Mountain Red Ware, Salado Polychrome, and Jeddito Yellow Ware. These wares represent the most abundant type of decorated ceramic bowls found at Fourmile Ruin. Ceramic wares and types are described, followed by a description of their physical and stylistic characteristics and functions, an analysis of how vessels were used, and, lastly, a discussion of the contexts within …

The Infant Orienting Response As It Relates To Mother-Infant Co-Regulation And Attachment, Sarah Ann Ahlander Stone

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between 6-month old infants' orienting response to maternal arm-restraint (as measured by bradycardia), the quality of mother-infant communication at 6 and 9 months (as measured by the Relational Coding System) and attachment at 12 months (as measured by the Strange Situation Procedure). As positive mother-infant communication increases, the chances the infant will experience bradycardia increases. As negative mother-infant communication increases, the chances that the infant will experience bradycardia decreases. For mothers and infants who have more positive communication patterns, orienting response to the maternal arm-restraint suggests that maternal disruption of infant activity was a novel …

Age Dependent Spatial Characteristics Of Epileptiform Activity In Malformed Cortex, L. Andrew Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental cortical malformations are a major cause of intractable seizures. Determining the location and timing of susceptibility for epileptiform activity is critical to identifying what mechanisms contribute to epileptogenesis in any model. Using the freeze lesion rat model of polymicrogyria, we have identified, in lesioned cortex, these two aspects of epileptogenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that epileptiform activity cannot be evoked prior to postnatal day (P) 12, but the malformed cortex is more susceptible to seizures as early as P10. An increase in excitatory afferents to the epileptogenic zone occurs before the onset of network epileptiform activity. Whether or not …

Adrenergic Receptor Modulation Of Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Inflammatory Responses, Laurel A. Grisanti

Theses and Dissertations

The adrenergic receptor (AR) family is a group of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the endogenous catcholamines epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE). There are nine different AR subtypes that are differentially expressed throughout the body including on immune cells. Levels of Epi and NE are known to influence immune responses however, the AR subtype expression and function are not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to: 1) characterize the AR subtype expression profile on monocytes and macrophages; 2) elucidate how AR activation regulates cytokine/chemokine production; and 3) determine the mechanism(s) by which individual AR subtypes modulate cytokine production. …

Uncertainty Visualization Of Ensemble Simulations, Jibonananda Sanyal

Theses and Dissertations

Ensemble simulation is a commonly used technique in operational forecasting of weather and floods. Multi-member ensemble output is usually large, multivariate, and challenging to interpret interactively. Forecast meteorologists and hydrologists are interested in understanding the uncertainties associated with the simulation; specifically variability between the ensemble members. The visualization of ensemble members is currently accomplished through spaghetti plots or hydrographs. To improve visualization techniques and tools for forecasters, we conducted a userstudy to evaluate the effectiveness of existing uncertainty visualization techniques on 1D and 2D synthetic datasets. We designed an uncertainty evaluation framework to enable easier design of such studies for …

Seasonal Habitat Selection By Greater Sage Grouse In Strawberry Valley Utah, Riley D. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined winter habitat use and nesting ecology of greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Strawberry Valley (SV), Utah located in the north-central part of the state. We monitored sage grouse with the aid of radio telemetry throughout the year, but specifically used information from the winter and nesting periods for this study. Our study provided evidence that sage grouse show fidelity to nesting areas in subsequent years regardless of nest success. We found only 57% of our nests located within the 3 km distance from an active lek typically used to delineate critical nesting habitat. We …

Stable Isotope Diet Reconstruction Of Feral Horses (Equus Caballas) On The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, Usa, Megan Kathleen Nordquist

Theses and Dissertations

Feral horse management has become a subject of significant controversy in the United States. This is because of differing opinions and minimal recent empirical data on feral horses. In recent years, numbers of feral horses have increased due to governmental horse removal restrictions (specifically the Wild Horse and Burro act of 1971). With increasing numbers of feral horses on rangelands, land managers are challenged with identifying the appropriate course of action for satisfying groups with differing opinions. The purpose of this study is to characterize diet consumption through the use of stable isotope dietary analysis (δ15N and δ13C). We did …

Traces Of Existence, Jayna Brown Quinn

Theses and Dissertations

This project report accounts for my final MFA project, Traces of Existence. This body of work began as an exploration, partially borne of the love of genealogical research translated into visual art by exploring the things my ancestors touched, be it ephemera, the soil they lived on, or artifacts they left behind, and partly as a pathway through which I could learn to understand more about my own identity, all the while finding beauty in the mundane. Although the works are personal, it is my hope that the viewer will respond to them in his/her own way, and that …

From Desegregation To Desexigration In Richmond, Virginia, 1954-1973, Leslee Key

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation explores the relationships and experiences in the urban community that connected black and white women to understand the complexities of Jim Crow, its breakdown, and the subsequent expansion of female activism in Richmond, Virginia. By examining the South’s famous department stores, Thalhimers and Miller & Rhoads, this research attempts to focus on female-created and female-oriented spaces within downtown Richmond, from 1954 until 1973, and draws a line from the Thalhimer boycott staged by African-American women in 1961 to the sit-in performed by white women in the Thalhimers male-only soup bar in 1970. Historical context is developed to show …

Quantifying Physiological Responses Of Beef Cattle Using A Tympanic Temperature Measurement Device, Jacob John Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

The primary goals of this research were to develop an improved design for measuring tympanic temperature in groups of beef cattle, determine the ideal operating parameters of the new device, and to verify its effectiveness in a research application. Development of the continuous tympanic temperature logger (CTTL) consisted of two steps: identifying a small temperature logger capable of adequate data storage and constructing a probe to hold the logger and fit in the ear canal of a bovine animal. The minimum sampling interval needed to measure tympanic temperature in beef cattle was calculated using Fourier analysis. In addition, the differences …

Educating Mexico In Emilio Fernández's Río Escondido And Rosario Castellanos's Balún Canán, David Scott Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

Following the bloody Revolution of 1910-1917, Mexican leaders took a great interest in rebuilding their devastated, war-torn country. In an attempt to further national unity, the post-Revolutionary regime sought to construct a unified, national identity. Many officials, such as José Vasconcelos, Mexico's first Secretario de Educación, viewed education as one of the keys to redeeming the nation. These government officials, empowered by their ideals and their sense of civic duty, worked to extend educational benefits to even the most overlooked segments of Mexican society. This thesis will examine two fictional texts that consider these efforts to transform and unify …

Geochemical Analysis Of Ancient Activities At Two Plazas In Cobá, Mexico, Eric G. Coronel

Theses and Dissertations

Two plazas at Cobá, Mexico, may have been the place of market activity during the classic Maya period. The intense decomposition in the warm, moist soils of the Yucatan Peninsula precludes the identification of organic artifacts in archaeological contexts, but phosphorus and trace elements accumulation in soils may provide evidence of marketing activities. The spatial patterns of P and trace element concentrations were used to elucidate the types of ancient Maya activities that took place in those plazas. Phosphorus concentrations are highly correlated (p-value <0.01) with Fe, Mn, and Zn levels in both Plaza B and D. Although the soil geochemistry of Plaza B does not show a marketplace pattern in comparison with previous studies, the elemental concentrations and distributions within Plaza D join other lines of evidence to support the premise that marketplace activities took place at that location. Soil samples were analyzed using DTPA extraction, Mehlich II, Olsen, and Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (PXRF). Experiments were performed to study the suitability of PXRF for field studies. Aspects that were studied include granule size, soil moisture content, protective plastic films that could interfere with the X-Ray signal when placing the samples on top of the analyzer, and a comparison of certified soil standards to the PXRF elemental concentration readings. The results suggest that a field laboratory could be set up to air-dry and sieve soil samples to a minimum mesh size of #10 (> 2 mm).

Multi-Agent Cooperative Control Via A Unified Optimal Control Approach, Jianan Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Recent rapid advances in computing, communication, sensing, and actuation, together with miniaturization technologies, have offered unprecedented opportunities to employ large numbers of autonomous vehicles (air, ground, and water) working cooperatively to accomplish a mission. Cooperative control of such multi-agent dynamical systems has potential impact on numerous civilian, homeland security, and military applications. Compared with single-agent control problems, new theoretical and practical challenges emerge and need to be addressed in cooperative control of multiagent dynamical systems, including but not limited to problem size, task coupling, limited computational resources at individual agent level, communication constraints, and the need for real-time obstacle/collision avoidance. …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Heat Stress On Milk And Component Yields And Somatic Cell Count In Holstein And Jersey Cows, Daniel L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Objective 1 was to investigate effects of heat stress and breed on milk and component yield for Holstein and Jersey cows on the same farm. Objective 2 was to determine the effects of breed on udder health as measured by somatic cell count (SCC) during times of heat stress. Data were collected from DHIA records of 142 Jersey cows and 586 Holstein cows from the University herd at Mississippi State University. During heat stress Jersey milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) increased (P<0.01). Holstein milk yield and FCM decreased during heat stress (P<0.01). Heat stress affected somatic cell count (SCC) although effects varied by intensity of heat stress. Breed did not have an affect on SCC. Milk fat and protein percentages declined for both breeds in heat stress conditions. Milk fat but not milk protein of Jersey cows increased as stress increased from mild to severe.

Activated Sludge As Renewable Fuels And Oleochemicals Feedstock, Emmanuel Durante Revellame

Theses and Dissertations

The utilization of activated sludge as feedstock for biofuel and oleochemical production was investigated. Initial studies included optimization of biodiesel production from this feedstock through in situ transesterification. Results of these studies indicated that activated sludge biodiesel is not economically viable. This was primarily due to relatively low yields and the high economics of feedstock dewatering. Strategies to increase biofuel yield from activated sludge were then evaluated. Bacterial species present in activated sludge are known to produce a wide variety of lipidic compounds as carbon and energy storage material and as components of their cellular structures. In addition to lipidic …

Biological Community Evaluations Of Potential Black Pine Snake (Pituophis Melanoleucus Lodingi) Habitat In Mississippi, Clinton Porter Smith

Theses and Dissertations

I studied four areas in south Mississippi from 2009-2010 to examine habitat conditions and faunal communities associated with presence of black pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi), a candidate for federal listing. Field studies included vegetation sampling, small vertebrates trapping, and fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) mound densities estimation. Areas that supported black pine snakes exhibited vegetation communities that differed from areas that did not support pine snakes. Presence of black pine snakes was influenced by ground cover vegetation and stump hole densities. Greatest densities of ant mounds were detected in areas that supported pine snakes and gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). Species …

Biophotonic Imaging As A Novel Approach To Study Infectious Diseases In The Bovine, Jaime E. Curbelo Rodríguez

Theses and Dissertations

Conventional bacteriological methods to establish bacterial burden and distribution in infected tissues in vivo animal models typically require extensive bacteriological procedures and therefore are time consuming. An alternative approach has been suggested to use optical markers, such as luciferases, to labeled pathogens and monitor their progress and distribution in real time. The objective of the work presented in this document was to validate the use of Biophotonic Imaging (BI) through in vitro studies as a first step toward the development of in vivo models to study infectious disease in the bovine. For example, the feasibility of detecting bioluminescent Escherichia coli …

Development Of Sub Models For A Phenomenological Investigation Of Diesel Engine Combustion, Lu Qiu

Theses and Dissertations

Various sub models of a multi-zone phenomenological model are developed by incorporating Dec’s conceptual model and Siebers’ mixing limited theory and validated with experiments. The spray penetration model, liquid length model and lift-off length model are verified with experiment data. The ignition delay model is then validated with experiment data at different injection timings and loads. The air entrainment model is based on Siebers’ jet theory. Sub models for the premixed heat release rate and diffusion burn rate are also included. The overall phenomenological model is at first used to match the motoring pressure curve. The important sub models are …

Row Spacing And Population Density Effect On Seed Yield Of Okra And Seed Oil As A Source Of Biodiesel, Tyler Neal Sandlin

Theses and Dissertations

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentis) is a warm weather vegetable crop with seed characteristics similar to cotton. Putative similarities between these crops make okra a potential candidate as a biodiesel feedstock. The objectives of this research are to determine an optimal inter and intra-row spacing combination to maximize seed yield, and determine optimal plant characteristics for seed yield, oil production, and fatty acid profiles. Data indicated treatments of (22.86 x 7.62, 22.86 x 22.86, and 45.72 x 30.48 cm) were better than 91.44 x 15.24 cm with respect to seed yield, although, 45.72 x 30.48 and 91.44 x 15.24 cm are the …

Peripheral And Placental Immunology In The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Fiv)-Infected Cat Model, Crystal Elizabeth Boudreaux

Theses and Dissertations

We are using the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cat to model HIV mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT). Vertical transmission of either virus may result not only in infected offspring, but also failed pregnancy.In HIV infections, maternal hematological and virological parameters predict MTCT.We hypothesized that such parameters would likewise be predictors of FIV vertical transfer. We inoculated ten cats with FIV-B-2542; 10 cats were uninoculated. Cats were allowed to breed naturally. Fetuses were delivered at approximately week 3 (early) gestation by cesarean section. Fetal and placental tissues were collected.Blood samples were collected from the day of inoculation through delivery. We quantified CD4:CD8 T cell …