Digital Commons Network^™

Pepón Osorio And Merián Soto: Multidisciplinary Collaborations, From 1985 To 1995, Zuna Maza

Theses and Dissertations

This paper assesses Pepón Osorio and Merián Soto’s collaborative multidisciplinary works created from 1985 to 1995. Underdiscussed in their individual scholarships, these joint works are reexamined through their collaborative approach, multidisciplinary framework, and their thematic explorations of the nuances of culturally specific subject matter.

A Draft: Up N’ Upper Or Sisyphus Lounge; Notes, Poems & Essays From The Road & The Cabin, Andrew M. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

This text imagines a reconciliation where the slick, sterile nature of contemporary objects and conditions might offer a sort of soft retreat. Sisyphus Lounge, a modular installation of light, near-defunct-technologies and carefully cluttered “stuff,” attempts to locate and explore value systems fogged by dis/information and the impossibility to articulate is-ness.

Shprehitë E Të Ushqyerit Te Nxënsit E Shkollave Fillore Në Komunën E Gjilanit, Esra Spahiu

Theses and Dissertations

Ushqyerja është një nga faktorët kryesorë që ndikon në shëndetin e një individi, sidomos gjatë moshës shkollore, me qëllim që fëmija të rritet e zhvillohet mirë dhe të sigurojë shëndet dhe jetëgjatësi më të mirë. Studimet tregojnë se në Kosovë, ashtu si në botë, po shfaqet kërcënimi i mbipeshës dhe obezitetit (sidomos në moshën shkollore) të cilat shpesh pasohen me sëmundje të shumta kronike si në moshë të re edhe në moshë adulte. Qëllimi: Është që fëmijët të jenë sa më të shëndetshëm, më këtë punim jemi munduar që tu ofrojmë sado pak njohuri rreth ushqyerjes së shëndetshme të fëmijëve …

Ndikimi I Ndotjes Së Ajrit Në Ambientin Jetësor Në Republikën E Kosovës – Komuna E Prishtinës, Nazif Fazliu

Theses and Dissertations

Ambienti jetësor ka rëndësi shumë të madhe në jetën tonë, ku rrjedhimisht duhet të kushtohet shumë rëndësi kujdesit ndaj tij pasi që ambienti paraqet ajrin që ne thithim çdo ditë. Një ndër sfidat më të mëdha që është paraqitur në ditët e sotme, si rezultat i shumë veprimtarive të ndryshme dhe si pasojë e mos angazhimit të instrumenteve shtetërore është edhe sfida e ndotjes së ambientit jetësor në Kosovë. Kjo sfidë deri më tani, ka qëndruar në një farë mënyre e papërballueshme për institucionet tona duke pasur parasysh që kemi mungesë të theksuar të informacionit mbi ndotjen e ajrit, pasojat …

Përdorimi I Vitaminës D Në Regjionin E Ferizajit, Ermelinda Neziri

Theses and Dissertations

Njohurite për vitaminat janë një çështje që secili njeri duhet t’i ketë, dhe që çdo infermier duhet që të informojë pacientët dhe të tregojë një kujdes të veçantë. Objektivi i temës do të jetë zgjerimi i njohurive rreth rolit dhe rëndësisë së përdorimit të vitaminës D. Një vend të posaqëm do te kete shqyrtimi i mungesës dhe përdorimi jo adekuat të vitaminës D duke pasur për fokus pasojat të cilat rezultojnë në këto raste. Duke zgjeruar këto njohuri, synoj që të njejtat të përdoren nga infermieret në mënyrë që një numër i madh i keqformimeve si rezultat i deficeinces së …

Pattern Based Classification Of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients, Melissa Megan Moreno Cole

Theses and Dissertations

We apply a pattern-based classification method to identify clinical and genomic features associated with the progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). We analyze the African-American Study of Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension (AASK) dataset and construct a decision-tree classification model, consisting 15 combinatorial patterns of clinical features and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), seven of which are associated with slow progression and eight with rapid progression of renal disease among AASK patients. We identify four clinical features and two SNPs that can accurately predict CKD progression. These features are validated with using sophisticated machine learning techniques including Random Forest, Nearest Neighbor, …

An Assessment On Microplastic Pollution In The Resacas Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Wesley D. Franklin

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastic pollution is a serious issue that impacts most aquatic environments. Microplastics have the potential to cause numerous detriments to the fitness and reproductive capability of many organisms. The resacas of the Lower Rio Grande are an understudied area that could be sinks for large congregations of microplastics. We analyze microplastic pollution in two species of fish as well as the sediment and water of eleven different pools from four resaca systems. We find that microplastics are present in every pool sampled.

Altogether 218 microplastic pieces are found from the water, sediment and fish samples. We find that microplastics are …

Removal Of Arsenic (Iii) And Arsenic (V) From Aqueous Solution Via Solanum Lycopersicum Phytoremediation And Essential Nutrient Analysis, Grecia W. Garcia Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

ICP-OES was used to investigate the uptake of arsenic (V) and arsenic (III) from aqueous solution using tomato seedlings. The effect of arsenic on essential nutrient uptake by tomato was analyzed. The experiment was performed at three levels of arsenic: 1ppm, 2 ppm and 5 ppm [added as sodium arsenate (Na3AsO4) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3)], in nutrient solution. Plants remained in solution for two weeks. Arsenic accumulation depended on arsenic concentration in solution, when exposed to higher arsenic concentrations the plant uptake increased. The highest arsenic accumulation was found in roots, followed by stems and leaves in that order. Essential …

Understanding An Inflammatory Pathway In Diabetic Retinopathy, Reanna Raye Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of its molecular pathway and how it attributes to increases in inflammatory response in the eye. One avenue we will investigate is the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway and its effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and cell viability. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concern that have arisen are the underlying effects of oxidants and antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes. In attempt to learn more, we evaluated how an …

Vertical Transmission Of Zika Virus In An Opossum Model, Dionn Carlo Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This study will identify Brazilian ZIKV infection in the offsprings of mated, inoculated Monodelphis domestica females. Unlike non-human primates (NHP) and transgenic mice, M. domestica provides an opportunity to study ZIKV infection in a novel animal model possibly useful for in-utero studies. M. domestica has also been used in cancer and dietary research with varying degrees of success. ZIKV infection will be identified using antibody staining and in situ hybridization. The expected result of this study is that ZIKV will be identified in various tissues and reveal that ZIKV is transmitted vertically in this animal model. The significance of this …

Effects Of Plant Secondary Metabolites And Host Specificity On Growth, Development, And Oviposition Of Lepidopteran Herbivores, Sukhman Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter provides a review of recent and critical literature on the role of polyphenols in mediating plant-insect interactions. I particularly focused on plant defense induction and mode of action of polyphenols, defense fitness trade-offs, and storage of polyphenols for future defense responses.

Chapter 2: This chapter is about the effects of polyphenol rich purple corn pericarp extract on the growth and development of generalist caterpillar i.e., fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). This study shows that purple corn pericarp extract rich in polyphenols negatively effects the growth and development of S. frugiperda.

Chapter 3: This chapter …

Physical And Chemical Defense Mechanisms In Aloe Barbadensis Against Insect Herbivores, Zachary Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter provides an overview of insect herbivore impacts on plants and plant defense mechanisms to combat them. I particularly focused on physical and chemical defenses in the broader sense.

Chapter 2: This chapter describes the experiments that showed the effects of extracts from Aloe barbadensis on the growth and development of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), model herbivores used to understand herbivore growth and plant defenses. This study shows that extracts from the Aloe differentially affected the growth and development of M. sexta and S. frugiperda. This chapter …

Geographic Variability In The Reproductive Hormones And Oocyte Maturation Of Bonefish (Albula Vulpes) In The Bahamas, Ashley Yarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

Bonefish (Albula vulpes) are an extremely popular sport fish that are a vital component of the multimillion-dollar recreational flats fishery. Despite its economic importance for many countries, there is little information available about many aspects of their reproductive biology. Significant gaps include analysis of the hormones that influence oocyte development and the nutrient levels in oocytes that drive embryonic and early larval development and how these parameters vary among habitats. The goals of this study were to characterize and quantify the reproductive hormones, oocyte developmental stages, and nutrient composition of oocytes from fish at or near spawning sites across multiple …

Exploration Of Antimicrobial And Cell Proliferation Properties Of Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal (O. Cochenillifera) Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the fabrication of Forcespinning® nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera, ‘nopal’, mucilage (N) extract, chitosan (CH), and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were developed with an optimum fiber average diameter of 406±127 nm, and studied for their ability to sustain adhesion and proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cells. After a 6-day incubation period, N/CH/PL nanofibers displayed robust cell proliferation, while also exhibiting inhibitory properties through an N extract dip-coating process against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli in a 24 h bacterial growth study. A demonstration of integrated natural bioactive compounds with combined biodegradable polymers, provide an enhanced …

Evaluation Of Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merr.] Quality Following Automatic Fungicide And Harvest Aid Applications Under Delayed Harvest Conditions In The Mid-Southern U. S., Robert Louis Adams Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Soybean growers in the mid-southern U.S. face many challenges imposed by adverse weather conditions that vary spatially and temporally. As a result, growers experience variations in soybean seed quality, grain quality, and yield. While not every harvest season experiences extremes in environmental conditions, those that do may result in major quality issues that could lead to significant financial losses. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate quality as it relates to delayed harvest conditions for soybean following common management practices such as fungicide application to mitigate spread of pathogens or harvest aid application to facilitate more efficient harvest. …

Multi-Cohort Examination Of Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, And Metabolic Syndrome, Robert Edward Booker Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiometabolic diseases are the leading causes of worldwide mortality, of which metabolic syndrome is a major contributor. Increased sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity have been independently associated with increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and subsequent maladies. Likewise, the development of more contemporary methodologies of measuring metabolic syndrome allow for a more nuanced examination of risk. However, these new methodologies lack extensive utilization among the physical activity epidemiology literature. The scarcity of research incorporating the independent relations between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and contemporary methodologies to measure metabolic syndrome warrants additional investigation. This dissertation aimed to further discern these …

Insecticide Resistance Monitoring And Sublethal Effects Of An Insect Growth Regulator On Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae), Beverly D. Catchot

Theses and Dissertations

Efforts to implement integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and improving our understanding of existing strategies are keys to achieving adequate control of tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris. Insecticide applications are a part of IPM and monitoring their efficacy is critical for producers to remain profitable. Resistance to imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and sulfoxaflor was documented, although there continues to remain variability among populations within the region. The insect growth regulator, novaluron, although only lethal to nymphs, plays an important role in management of Lygus. Sublethal impacts to adult plant bugs may be an important factor in reducing populations within the growing season. …

Effects Of Washing Units Of Canine Red Blood Cells On Storage Lesions, Ashley Coll

Theses and Dissertations

In humans, washing stored blood products prior to transfusion reduces storage lesions and the potential for transfusion reaction, but the effectiveness of washing units of canine whole blood is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if a manual method of washing of stored whole blood units reduced storage lesions without adversely affecting erythrocytes. Units of canine whole blood were stored for 28 days and manually washed three times with sterile .9% NaCl. Following the first wash, there was a decrease in serum potassium (P<.0001), lactate (P<.0001), pH (P=.0110), pCO2 (P<.0001), TCO2 (P<.0001), arachidonic acid (P<.0001), and thromboxane B2 (P=.0417), and increases in iCa (P=.0494), iMg (P=.0024), MCV (P<.0001), MCHC (P=.0093), RDW (P=.0009), hemoglobin (P=.0011), and MCF (P=.0006). No bacterial growth was identified on the post-transfusion samples. Manual washing of stored blood significantly reduces storage lesions after a single wash and additional washing may cause in vitro hemolysis.

Understanding Food Insecurity In A College Student Population, Amanda G. Conrad

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity has emerged as a leading health care problem in the United States, impacting college students’ health, well-being, and academic performance. The aims of this study are: 1) to assess the prevalence of food insecurity at Mississippi State University, 2) to explore the coping mechanisms employed by students faced with food insecurity, and 3) to identify college students' perceptions about food access resources, 4) to identify ways in which a scenario that requires social distancing impacts food security in a college student population, and 5) to explore students' expressed needs from the university in improving food security status for …

Prevalence And Molecular Characteristics Of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli And Clostridium Perfringens In 'No Antibiotics Ever' Broiler Farms, Courtney Fancher

Theses and Dissertations

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens cause economic and welfare concerns to the broiler industry. The recent shift to no antibiotics ever (NAE) production has increased disease incidence. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of season, age of flock, and sample type on E. coli prevalence and virulence and to identify C. perfringens prevalence and toxinotypes in NAE farms. Results indicated high prevalence of virulent E. coli; prevalence of virulent E. coli decreased from Spring to Summer. Virulent E. coli showed high resistance to antimicrobials. Serogroups O8 and O78 were most prevalent in virulent E. …

Estimation Of Wild Pig Damage To Corn Production In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, David H. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Wild pigs are known to be an agricultural pest, but few studies have been done to quantify wild pig damage to corn and the landscape characteristics that are conducive to this damage. In the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, only 15 of the 125 sampled corn fields were damaged (12%). Using yield estimates, input costs and hectares of crop lost, this study concluded that wild pigs cause US$1,753 of damage per hectare. The proportion of corn that was planted within selected buffer scales consistently had a negative effect on whether a field would be damaged. The proportion of soybean planted within the …

Evaluating The Management Of Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In Cotton, Michael Cade Francis

Theses and Dissertations

In field experiments, thresholds, spray timings, and bollworm oviposition were conducted to evaluate the current recommended action thresholds for bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in cotton. Based on studies conducted evaluating thresholds, insecticide applications varied across Bt technologies. Bollgard 3 required less sprays when compared to Bollgard II and non-Bt. A second experiment highlighted the importance of timely insecticide applications for managing bollworm populations in Bollgard II cotton based on insect damage. The highest yields were associated with insecticide applications made during the timeframe that cotton is the most susceptible to bollworm damage. The last experiment was conducted to determine if oviposition …

The Use Of Desmopressin Acetate To Reduce Polyuria And Polydipsia Associated With Prednisolone Administration, Pamela Ann Galati

Theses and Dissertations

Glucocorticoids are used for many purposes in veterinary medicine but often come with significant adverse effects. Polyuria and polydipsia are the most common adverse effects noted by owners. To determine whether administration of desmopressin ameliorated the polyuria and polydipsia, a prospective study with 7 healthy Walker Hounds was performed. Daily water intake and urine specific gravity were measured in dogs under 4 separate conditions: no medications, prednisolone only, prednisolone and desmopressin, and prednisolone immediately after discontinuation of desmopressin. When compared to baseline, six out of seven dogs became polydipsic after administration of prednisolone twice daily. When desmopressin was administered to …

Effects Of Chilling Duration On Usda Quality Grade Of Beef Carcasses, Caitlyn Sarah Haines

Theses and Dissertations

Two hundred and nine beef carcasses (361 ± 53 kg) from crossbred, grain-finished cattle harvested in a commercial packing plant and evaluated for marbling score, core temperature (n=1), pH, shrinkage, color, and aerobic plate count (n=50) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h under spray chilling. There were minimal changes in shrinkage among time points (-0.4 to 1.2%; P ≤ 0.002), pH (5.56 to 5.69; P ≤ 0.001), and APC (0.1 to 0.7 log; P Ë‚ 0.001). Marbling score values were converted to numeric values of 200 (Practically Devoid00) to 1100 (Abundant00). Carcasses with SM or greater marbling score at …

Symbiosis Components Function To Inhibit Endoparasitic Nematode Infection, Rishi Khatri

Theses and Dissertations

An analysis of Glycine max homologs of the symbiosis genes DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS (DMI) DMI1, DMI2 and DMI3 was carried out as it relates to the defense response to Heterodera glycines parasitism. Transgenic analyses of the DMI1, DMI2 and DMI3 for overexpression showed decreased H. glycines parasitism while the analyses for RNAi showed increased H. glycines parasitism. The combination of decreased parasitism in the H. glycines-susceptible genotype G. max [Williams 82/PI 518671] and increased parasitism in the H. glycines resistant genotype G. max [Peking/PI 548402] is taken as the genes function in the defense process at some level. Prior …

Homologous And Heterologous Stress Adaptation In Listeria Monocytogenes After Sublethal Exposure To Quaternary Ammonium Compound, Divya Satish Kode

Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that can adapt to stress conditions to persist in food processing environments. Our findings show that there was a development of low-level tolerance to quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) and antibiotics ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim in L. monocytogenes after sublethal adaptation to QAC. Using eight L. monocytogenes strains, we determined the changes in MIC, growth rate, and surviving CFU for homologous and heterologous stress-response after sublethal exposure to daily cycles of fixed or gradually increasing concentration of QAC. Three main findings were observed: (1) Short-range MIC of QAC, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim increased by 1.6 to …

Evaluation Of Nitrapyrin As A Potential Nitrification Inhibitor In Mississippi Rice Production, William Jeffrey Mansour

Theses and Dissertations

Urea is the predominant ammonium-forming nitrogen (N) source applied in delayed-flood rice because of its high N content (46%) and relatively low cost. Nitrogen applied prior to flooding can be lost by multiple mechanisms such as ammonia volatilization or nitrification/denitrification. In recent years, technological advancements have provided alternative enhanced efficiency fertilizer additives with potential to be incorporated in rice production to reduce N losses. Research was conducted at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center from 2018 to 2020 to determine the effects of broadcast applications of nitrapyrin at two specific growth stages to enhance fertilizer-N recovery efficiency, …

Acoustic Analysis Of Saproxylic Arthropod Diversity In North And Central American Pine Forests, Kristy Marie Mcandrew

Theses and Dissertations

Biodiversity of arthropods living in dead wood is often understudied despite their potential effects on ecological processes such as wood decomposition and nutrient cycling. More time-efficient and less destructive methods are needed to study these saproxylic organisms to fully understand their global diversity. Because ecoacoustic methods have never been applied to saproxylic communities before, field and analytical methods such as waveguides, and soundproofing were developed, tested, and optimized. After developed methods were implemented in the field, Pearson's correlation tests were conducted to compare ecoacoustic index performance to traditional biodiversity indices. We found five significant correlations, all of which occurred at …

Interactions Between Aedes Albopictus (Skuse 1894) And Mycobacterium Ulcerans, Jillian Masters

Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium ulcerans is an acid-fast bacillus that is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, a necrotizing skin disease. The transmission route for M. ulcerans is unknown, but many insects have been posited as part of the web, including Belostomatids, Naucorids, and Culicids. Aedes albopictus was selected for use in a set of experiments where the first-generation larvae were inoculated with M. ulcerans, and mosquitoes were reared throughout the third generation to interrogate presence and quantity of the bacteria. Using qPCR, second and third generations displayed positivity (22% and 5.6% respectively). 16S V4 sequencing was used to obtain microbiota for all …

Development Of Data Processing Tool For Precision Agriculture And Delivery System To End User, Rohit Pathak

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, dramatic evolution of precision agriculture technology has been driven by technologies such as sensors and controllers, telematics, and UAV. An intriguing area in the field of precision agriculture and UAV is big volume of data and its analysis that have not been dealt with in depth. The main objective of this project is proposed to develop a digital data processing tool and deliver them in a useful format to the end users. This involves three faceted methodical approach: 1) collection of large amounts of UAV images with regards to combinations of in-field sensors and UAV imagery 2) …