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Loaded Lipid Emulsified Volatile Anesthetics In Canine Primary Hepatocytes, Patricia De Carvalho Ibrahim Obeid

Theses and Dissertations

In the 19th century, halothane hepatitis became a sensitive and well-known subject in human anesthesiology due to the production of a noxious metabolite further discovered, trifluoroacetic acid. Subsequently, isoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane were also investigated for potentially causing hepatitis through the same metabolite. Sevoflurane, however, does not generate trifluoroacetic acid and is quickly conjugated and excreted.

For more than four decades these anesthetics have been experimentally developed for intravenous injection by having added either a lipid or fluorocarbon-based carrier to produce general anesthesia with less drug and faster onset of action. The use of intravenous emulsified halogenated anesthetics as an …

Impact Of A Feeding Strategy And Management Practices On The Health And Welfare Of Pullets And Laying Hens, Gerald Rodney Self

Theses and Dissertations

The overall purpose of this thesis is to understand the impact of management on commercial egg layers, whether that be environmental-related, health-related, or other possible stressors within the pullet and post-peak phases. Furthermore, the study seeks to examine what effects to performance and production these impacts may induce within a commercial layer in differing phases, specifically the pullet and post-peak phases. Chapter two explores into coccidiosis within the pullet phase, which induced by a commercial vaccine, can provide stress to a pullet, lowering protection against infection, and seriously compromising its growth and development into peak lay. Chapter three explores into …

Evaluation Of Heat Abatement Use, Vaginal Temperature, And Activity Of Pregnant, Lactating Holstein Cows Housed On Pasture With Or Without The Choice Between Shade And Sprinklers For Heat Abatement., Kevin M. Braman

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine how pregnant, lactating Holstein cows on pasture interact with shade and sprinklers when offered a choice or no-choice between methods. Authors hypothesized that cows would use shade more then sprinklers, but sprinklers would be more effective at cooling cows. Additionally, authors predicted cows using shade more would have decreased lying bouts and steps and an increase in time lying, compared to cows choosing sprinkler. Results indicate cows will use both methods when offered alone or together. However, cows will choose to be exposed or in shade at lower temperature humidity index values, …

Mortality, Survivorship, And Institutionalization: Demographic Analysis Of The Mississippi State Asylum In Context, Taylor A. Emery

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed demographic differences and differential mortality between the Mississippi State Asylum (MSA) and the state of Mississippi. Using census records, Biennial Reports, death certificates, and vital statistics from the Mississippi State Board of Health, statistical methods including Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard analysis were employed to explore significant differences in population demographics, hazard of death, and survivorship in general and with tuberculosis. Key results include proportionally more females in the MSA, increased hazard of death/decreased survivorship within the MSA compared to the State, and increased hazard of death/decreased survivorship for Black/AA individuals compared to their White/EA …

The Interaction Between Predation And Sound Pollution On The Internal And External Microbiome Of The Grasshoppers Melanopus Sanguinipes, Alanna Bond

Theses and Dissertations

Anthropogenic activities such as construction and agriculture directly affect its surrounding environments. Many studies have focused on how megafauna and flora are impacted by human activities, however, relatively little is known how new occupation of land affects smaller organisms such as insects and microbes. Additionally, other stressors such as predation can impact host physiology. The grasshopper species Melanopussanguinipes was chosen to be used in a study to measure how stress caused by artificial sound and predation can alter exoskeleton and gut microbiomes once exposed to these stressors.

Molecular Mechanisms Of Novel Brain-Penetrating Oxime Acetylcholinesterase Reactivators On Sarin Surrogate-Induced Toxicities, Darby Caroline Stanford

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphorus compounds (OPs), both nerve agents and insecticides, may induce damage leading to long-term neurological deficits. Oxime 20, the lead compound from a platform of substituted phenoxyalkyl pyridinium oximes (US Patent 9,227,937), is an oxime that reactivates OP-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and has displayed neuroprotection within the brain of rats in in vivo tests where the currently approved treatment, pralidoxime (2-PAM), has not. This research investigated the neuroprotective effect of novel oxime therapy. Gene expression in rat piriform cortex was analyzed to determine if neurotoxicity, stress, and synaptic plasticity-associated genes were down-regulated by Oxime 20 following a sublethal dose of sarin …

Comparison Of Aging Techniques In Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Of Unknown Age From The Mississippi Sound., Christa Elizabeth Barrett

Theses and Dissertations

Age determination of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) is a critical tool in understanding their health. There are many methods of aging dolphins including morphometrics, counting growth layer groups (GLGs) of teeth, comparing dentin to pulp cavity ratio on dental radiographs, analysis of the pectoral flipper radiographs, and epigenetic testing. The most common method for aging toothed cetaceans is the counting of GLGs in the teeth. Since there are many challenges associated with aging dolphins based on the counting of GLGs, a processing technique that results in better resolution of GLGs is needed. This is a two-part study that …

Gene Expression Effects On Productivity And Stress Tolerance In Polyclonal Plantings Of Populus Deltoides, Macy Gosselaar

Theses and Dissertations

Polyclonal plantings of Populus deltoides are expected to display increased site resource use, productivity, and tolerance to stress through plasticity changes leading to niche differentiation (i.e changes to crown/canopy structures). In the present study, P. deltoides Clones S7C8, 110412, and polyclonal plots were tested for differentially expressed genes and enriched biological pathways between planting schemes. Transcriptomic analysis of leaves revealed upregulation of an active growth gene and gene family members that play important roles in plant stress and stress tolerance in polyclonal plantings. A gene associated with oxidative stress was upregulated in polyclonal plantings across all treatments. Secondary metabolic pathways …

Dune To Shore: The Relationship Between Vegetative Dune Systems And Shoreline Stability In Barrier Islands, Walter Hastings Hogue

Theses and Dissertations

Dauphin, Petit Bois, and Horn Island form the Alabama gulf-barrier chain directly south of Mobile Bay. Many studies have targeted local climate stressors and the flux of longshore currents as factors for erosional and accretional changes on these islands, but little attention is paid to the degradation of their vegetative dune-systems as a contributor to their shoreline morphology (Hanley et al., 2014; Smith, 2018; Byrnes, 2010). This study fills this literary gap, utilizing GIS raster classification and Digital Shoreline Analysis System to measure vegetative health and shoreline change on these islands and verify a relationship between these two factors. The …

A Survey Analysis Of Southeastern U.S. Dairy Producers’ Emotional States And Their Subjective Pain Perception Of Dairy Cows, Michelle M. Schuh

Theses and Dissertations

Dairy producers play a central role in evaluating and seeking treatment or care for animal pain. The primary aim of this study is to examine dairy producers’ emotional states and professional quality of life and analyze the relationship between these variables and their perception of pain in dairy cattle. Dairy farm owners and managers of 65 southeastern U.S. herds participated in a survey that included demographic information, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, a modified Professional Quality of Life Scale, and 23 items requiring participants to evaluate various painful conditions in cattle.

The Effects Of Mechanical Strain On Vascular Calcification And The Canonical Wnt Pathway, Hannah E. Douglas

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health crisis, representing 32% of deaths worldwide in 2019. Vascular calcification (VC), a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, is a regulated biomineralization process whose exact mechanisms are unknown. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly contribute to VC by undergoing a phenotypic switch and differentiating into osteoblast-like cells. When factors like hypertension cause disturbed laminar flow in the body’s vasculature, the mechanical stress promotes the phenotypic switch and calcification of VSMCs via mechanotransduction. VC is also induced by the Wnt pathway, which is activated via mineral imbalance and mechanical stimulation. However, the exact mechanisms behind …

Leaf Area Index And Aboveground Biomass Estimation Of Populus And Its Hybrids Using Terrestrial Lidar, Surya Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and hybrid poplar plantations were established in 2021 in Pontotoc and Oktibbeha counties of Mississippi to study the biomass potential of SRWC for biofuel production. We used a novel backpack LiDAR system to measure forest metrics and harvested sample trees to build aboveground biomass (AGB) and leaf area index (LAI) equations. The results showed that LiDAR-derived variables accurately estimated aboveground biomass (R² =0.81 and 29.22 % RMSE). However, the LAI estimation results showed that the LiDAR metrics moderately explained field measurements of LAI (R² =0.31 and 18.05% …

Upland Cotton And Nematodes: An Analysis Of Historical Resistance, Upcoming Threats, And Co-Inoculation Effects, Amanda Gaudin

Theses and Dissertations

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum ) is an important fiber crop grown throughout the southern United States. Plant-pathogenic nematodes are worm-like animals that feed on the roots of most agronomic crops, including cotton. The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita, RKN) and the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis, RN) cause significant yield losses in cotton every year. Current sources of resistance are effective but limited, therefore historical screenings of cotton accessions were revisited in search for novel resistance sources. None were identified but many of the screened accessions possessed markers of known root-knot nematode and reniform nematode resistance. …

Response Of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) To Salt Stress, Bikash Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

Lettuce is a highly nutritional crop that is sensitive to multiple stresses, including salt stress. The decreasing availability of salt-free water is posing a major challenge to growing nutritious lettuce in hydroponic systems. Despite evidence that salt stress affects yield and nutrition, its impacts on economically important growth stages are overlooked. This study addressed the knowledge gaps regarding the salt stress impact on romaine lettuce. Four independent experiments were conducted in controlled environment conditions using 2-38 lettuce genotypes, to assess the effects of salt stress at rosette or head formation. An increase in sodium chloride (NaCl) levels (0 to 150 …

Survival, Persistence, Regrowth And Morphotype Variation Of Listeria Monocytogenes Strains After Exposure To First Generation And Second Generation Quaternary Ammonium Compounds In Water, Stephen Schade

Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the toughest challenges the food industry is facing today. While quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) are typically applied at very high concentrations to kill L. monocytogenes, there are some factors that can cause its reduced efficacy in the food processing environment. Sublethal concentrations of stagnated QAC have been found both in processing plants and in waste waters released to the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of two L. monocytogenes strains, Bug600 (serotype 1/2a) and ScottA (serotype 4b) to persist in lethal and sublethal concentrations of first generation QAC (benzalkonium …

Evaluating The Role Of The Bovine Vaginal Microbiome In Neonatal And Maternal Health Outcomes, Riley D. Messman

Theses and Dissertations

The dam vaginal microbiota is the first major microbial inoculating community within the neonate. The composition of the dam vaginal microbiota has implications in calf commensal microbiota development. Alterations of the dam microbial community prior to parturition could alter inoculating communities and immune responses in both the dam and calf. Thus, authors aimed to elucidate the microbial community composition of the bovine dam vaginal and calf nasal microbiota post-partum after utilizing betadine lavages (BL). The dam vaginal and calf nasal microbial communities and immune responses were evaluated at 0-, 15-, 30- and 60-day post-partum. Microbiota composition of the dam haircoat, …

Non-Destructive Evaluation Of White Striping And Microbial Spoilage Of Broiler Breast Meat Using Structured-Illumination Reflectance Imaging, Ebenezer O. Olaniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Manual inspection is a prevailing practice for quality assessment of poultry meat, but it is labor-intensive, tedious, and subjective. This thesis aims to assess the efficacy of an emerging structured illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) technique with machine learning approaches for assessing WS and microbial spoilage in broiler breast meat. Broiler breast meat samples were imaged by an in house-assembled SIRI platform under sinusoidal illumination. In first experiment, handcrafted texture features were extracted from direct component (DC, corresponding to conventional uniform illumination) and amplitude component (AC, unique to the use of sinusoidal illumination) images retrieved from raw SIRI pattern images build …

Investigating Potential Indicators Of Soil Health Through Microbiome Response To Environmental And Anthropogenic Stressors, Austin Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, the analysis of soil health has overlooked the biological component of soil due to poor understanding of connections between the microbiome and empirically measured soil health indicators. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of environmental and anthropogenic stressors on the soil microbiome, with the aim of identifying measurable soil biological indicators. Chosen soils were examined under distinct conditions to evaluate the effect of selected environmental and anthropogenic stressors on the microbiome. Soil biological responses were analyzed via enzymatic response, microbial functional genes, and microbial community. Environmental factors such as soil moisture and organic matter showed …

Determining The Best Indicators For Targeted Selective Treatment Development Against Gastrointestinal Nematodes In Sheep And Goats In Mississippi, Lindsey N. Dearborn

Theses and Dissertations

An understanding of characteristics of sheep and goat producers across the Southeast United States is crucial for the development and vitality of the small ruminant industry. The state of Mississippi (MS) is rich in animal agriculture, and sheep and goats display the potential to become an integral part of the state’s agricultural livelihood. However, sheep and goat producers are constantly combatting the negative effects gastrointestinal nematodes inflict upon their animals. With the anthelmintic resistance status rising across the globe, sustainable methods to control parasites in small ruminants are crucial. Therefore, small ruminant producers must develop an accurate targeted selective treatment …

Oocytes To Offspring: Optimizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Art) To Support Amphibian Conservation, Shaina Shaira Lampert

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing dependence on amphibian captive breeding programs to support at-risk populations has led to growth in the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to aid with the management of decreasing population density and genetic diversity. Already the integration of ART within these programs has led to monumental successes and shows great promise as a means to augment amphibian breeding efforts when natural breeding has low success. The focus of this project was to continue the optimization of ART to aid in making these technologies more widely applicable. Specific objectives include developing a framework that can be used to standardize …

Trace Metal Analysis Of Pond Sediments To Measure Deposition From A Coal-Fired Power Plant In Ackerman Mississippi, Charles Bills

Theses and Dissertations

Trace element sediment pollution due to coal power plants have been reported in many countries. In this study, pond sediment samples collected from locations around a coal fired power plant in Ackerman, MS, were evaluated for their trace element concentration and pollution status. The samples were collected at two depths to study changes in element accumulation over time. The samples were digested and the elements, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn were analyzed using ICP-MS. Results were then compared to known background concentrations as well as sediment quality guidelines and pollution thresholds. The sample locations downwind of the …

Adherence To A Gluten-Free Diet And Depression, And Nutrient Distribution In Participants With Celiac Disease, Mohammad K. Shushari

Theses and Dissertations

Celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disorder affecting millions of Americans, poses significant obstacles leading to a normal life. With no known cure, adherence to a strict glutenfree diet (GFD) is essential. However, the cost and limited availability of gluten-free alternatives can burden individuals with CD. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status, nutrient deficiencies, and the nature of the disease may contribute to mental health issues. This study aimed to investigate the influence of adherence to a GFD on depression in CD patients. The prevalence of depression among individuals with CD from diverse backgrounds was examined, along with the analysis of …

Soil Health As Influenced By The Integration Of Cover Crops And Poultry Litter In North-Central Mississippi, Nikitha Reddy Kovvuri

Theses and Dissertations

Soil health-based agricultural management practices are widely promoted to improve soil structure, infiltration and reduce erosion. This study was conducted at two locations in North-Central Mississippi to evaluate the influence of different cover crop species and poultry litter on soil health that can impact crop production, climate change, and resilience. The results indicated that the cover crops showed a little effect on some soil health indicators compared to control treatment. However, in one location, rye, and a mixture of cover crops decreased bulk density and increased available water content and organic matter. The poultry litter had a positive effect on …

Applying Push-Pull-Mooring Model To Investigate Non-Malicious Workarounds Behavior, Nawaf Rasheed Aljohani

Theses and Dissertations

More than half of the violations of information systems security policies are initiated by non-malicious activities of insiders. To investigate these non-malicious activities, we utilized the theory of workaround and argued that the application of neutralization techniques impacts the use of workarounds. We built our model using three theories: the theory of workaround, push-pull-mooring theory, and techniques of neutralization. We identified the elements of workarounds related to non-malicious violations and proposed a theoretical perspective using the push-pull-mooring theory to investigate non-malicious workarounds empirically. We propose that non-malicious activities of insiders can be seen as a switching behavior, with push factors …

Small Area Estimation Of County-Level Forest Attributes Using Forest Inventory Data And Remotely Sensed Auxiliary Information, Okikiola Michael Alegbeleye

Theses and Dissertations

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service collects forest inventory data that provide estimates with reasonable accuracy at the national scale. However, for smaller domains, these estimates are often not as accurate due to the small sample size. Small area estimation improves the accuracy of the estimates at smaller domains by relying on auxiliary information. This study compared direct (FIA estimates), indirect (multiple linear regression), and composite estimators (Fay-Herriot) using auxiliary information derived from Landsat and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) to obtain county-level estimates of forest attributes namely total and …

Development Of Preservative-Treated Cross-Laminated Timber And Lignin-Reinforced Polyurethane-Adhesive For Glued Laminated Timber, Samuel Oluwafemi Ayanleye

Theses and Dissertations

Interest in the use of mass timber in building and construction is growing worldwide, this is due to the structural integrity and reduced environmental footprint of timber-based structures. Concerns associated with the biological and environmental degradation of mass timber necessitate the development of adequate protection strategies to ensure the durability of these products. Preservative treatment is a proven technique that increases the durability and performance of wood in-service and can also be applied to large-sized timber panels such as cross-laminated timber (CLT). Therefore, this study focused on investigating the feasibility of treating prefabricated 3- and 5-layer CLT panels with Copper-azole …

Metabolic Adaptation Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Approach In Diabetic Foot Ulcers., Carol L. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

37.3 million Americans (11.2% of the US population) currently have Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with over 1.5 million new cases being diagnosed each year. The multifactorial etiology of the patient having neuropathy, overweight/obesity, foot deformities, ischemia, and infection leads to a condition called diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). One in six patients with a DFU will require amputation with infected DFUs have a 155-fold increased risk of amputation. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacteria isolated from severe DFU infections that require amputation. Interestingly, diabetics are more heavily colonized with S. aureus compared to non-diabetics suggesting a unique advantageous adaptation …

Self-Referential Processing And Depression: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Amanda Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive theories of depression, including Beck’s Cognitive Theory, suggest that depressed individuals hold negative schemas about themselves and their environment. These negative schemas may influence the extent to which depressed individuals process positivity. Reward Devaluation Theory posits that depressed individuals avoid and devalue positivity. This suggests that depressed individuals may be less likely to hold positive schemas, or may be more likely to associate positivity with negativity. Previous meta-analytic reviews suggest that this is potentially the case, but have not assessed for self-referential stimuli. Self-referential encoding and recall tasks assess for self-schemas and may give further insight into how depressed …

Evaluating The Immunogenicity Of Colonization Proteins Of S. Pneumoniae For Identification Of Vaccine Candidates, Isidora Fereday

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus pneumoniae is typically an asymptomatic colonizer of the upper respiratory tract but can cause invasive disease in susceptible populations. Pneumococcal vaccines which are currently in use have failed to significantly reduce colonization by S. pneumoniae. To control invasive pneumococcal disease, novel strategies must be utilized. One such strategy is to reduce or eradicate colonization by pneumococcus. Supplementary vaccination with pneumococcal proteins important for colonization could serve to prime the immune system against these targets. This study serves as an initial step towards identification of crucial pneumococcal colonization proteins which may previously have been uncharacterized. Assessing the immune reactivity …

What Makes Firms Survive Longer? A Survival Analysis Using Hazard Function For Mississippi Establishments, Sabin Dawadi

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of regional factors on firm survival, with a particular focus on the startup and growing phases of firms. By employing Cox-proportional hazard models, the analysis centers on Mississippi establishments and considers regional attributes such as industry specialization, diversity and workforce education levels. The findings reveal that industry specialization does not significantly impact firm survival, while industry diversity has a negative effect, indicating a lack of discernible agglomeration benefits within Mississippi's business environment. Interestingly, regions characterized by educated and skilled workers exhibit a positive association with firm survival, particularly in the growing stage rather than during …