Digital Commons Network^™

Investigations Of Secure Memory For Vlsi Based Crypto System, Vijay Sai R Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconductor technology is growing very rapidly in their architectural developments, involving the usage of processor and memory. Presence of memory, in general is a vital commodity in various devices which are almost embedded into human activity, from robust work stations to handy mobile phones. Security of data stored in memory is very important, and hence, observation must be made that these valuable data should not be thwarted by malicious means. Security in cache memory is a major issue in memory related applications such as smart cards and bio-metric implementations.

Cache, is a small and limited memory located between central processing …

Genomic Surveillance Of Indian Klebsiella Pneumoniae And Exploration Of Resistance Inhibitors, Abhirami Ks Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important ESKAPE pathogen that causes life threatening infections. The strains exhibiting multidrug-resistance (MDR) and hypervirulence are the priority pathogens for which immediate treatment and dissemination prevention strategies are required. To address this, genome profiling was performed to understand the AMR patterns, role of episomes, phages, virulence determinants and its association with sequence types.

The study includes 267 publicly available Indian K. pneumoniae genomes over a period of ten years and four sequenced isolates. Whole genome analysis revealed the widespread presence of diverse β-lactamase genes, with β-lactam resistance being predominant. Genes such as blaCTX-M-15, blaTEM-1B and blaOXA-232 …

Seating Charts, Connections, And Fostering Community, Mckenna B. Chow

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how fostering stronger connections in the high school ceramics classroom can create a more inclusive and collaborative community. I regularly changed seating charts to encourage new relationships and strengthen classroom culture as part of this effort. Historically, seating charts have enforced uniformity and promoted specific behaviors. My research challenges these traditional purposes and proposes that seating arrangements can instead serve a more meaningful and enduring goal: promoting connection and ensuring that all students feel seen. I found that while seating charts can contribute to this goal, achieving genuine connection and inclusivity also requires several additional factors to …

Evaluating Nfl Quarterback Decision Making Through Tracking Data, Jesse N. Melville

Theses and Dissertations

Quarterback decision-making is one of the most critical determinants of success in the National Football League (NFL), yet traditional statistics fail to account for the spatial, temporal, and contextual factors influencing each play. This thesis proposes a data-driven methodology for evaluating quarterback decisions using NFL player tracking data from the 2022 season. We replicate and extend the DeepQB framework by training deep learning models to estimate expected completion probabilities and expected yards gained for each receiver at the moment of the throw. Our extension applies the approach to a newer dataset with additional contextual features, enabling a more detailed evaluation …

Scent Of The South: Fragrance And Identity In The 19th Century, Sarah Donahua Peters

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the role of personal fragrance as a cultural marker in the 19th-century American South, examining how scent reflected identity, status, and social norms in a region shaped by colonialism, capitalism, and religious influence. Drawing on historical sources, botanical knowledge, and public history practices, the project traces the evolution of fragrance from home-crafted perfumes to mass-marketed products, highlighting how access to scent was shaped by race, class, and gender. Central to the thesis is a public history exhibition designed for the Esse Purse Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas, which invites visitors to engage with scent as a medium …

The Association Of Anxiety, Familial Dysfunction, And Child Emotion Regulation Between Family Therapy Sessions 1 And 4, Kaelie Noel Lemmon

Theses and Dissertations

Few studies address how relational factors may be interdependent and impact child-focused problems that could be collectively addressed in systemic family therapy. The current study utilized a cross-lagged panel model to explore the associations of parental anxiety, familial dysfunction, and child emotion regulation between four family therapy sessions. The study included 224 parents who sought family therapy and participated in the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network (MFT-PRN). Data were collected at two time points across four family therapy sessions. The findings indicated that higher levels of parental anxiety at intake were associated with higher familial dysfunction at session …

The Governor’S Cabinet Project A Study Of The Evolution Of The Executive Branch, Revis. L. Edmonds

Theses and Dissertations

In Arkansas’s long path toward modernizing its executive branch, it may appear to the casual observer that the state was locked in a process in which its politics and its culture were engaged in a longstanding tug-of-war between traditionalists and modernizers—a conflict complicated by the state’s personality-based politics and restrictive post-Reconstruction constitution. It has often been asserted that the conflict, in Arkansas’s case the romanticizing of rural life as opposed to the economic and social interests of the fast-growing suburbs of Central and Northwest Arkansas, explains a great deal of this slow transition. This attitude was largely a product of …

Computational Modeling Of Magnetic Field Interaction With Superconductors Under High-Field And High-Dissipation Conditions: A Tdgl Approach Applied To Nb And Nb3sn, Aiden Victor Harbick

Theses and Dissertations

Superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities are essential components in modern particle accelerators, enabling the efficient acceleration of charged particles for various applications in physics, medicine, materials science, and beyond. The performance of these cavities is significantly influenced by the properties of superconducting materials, such as niobium (Nb) and triniobium-tin (Nb3Sn), and the defects and surface features present within the material. This dissertation presents a computational study focused on understanding the behavior of SRF cavities, using a sample-specific time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) framework to simulate their performance under realistic material conditions. The research integrates experimental data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to …

Remote Running Gait Analysis Using Smartphone Video And Monocular Pose Estimation: A Feasibility Study, Luke Vankeersbilck

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Running is a common form of exercise that comes with many health benefits; however, many people stop exercising because of the high injury risk. Running injury is connected with biomechanical risk factors. Yet, these risk factors often show inconsistent and conflicting results across studies, largely due to small sample sizes limiting statistical power. Low subject numbers may be partly due to the time requirements of traditional motion capture. Monocular pose estimation offers a promising alternative by using machine learning to track body landmarks from a single camera. This study evaluated the feasibility of remotely collecting running biomechanics data using …

Ai-Enabled Innovations In Automated Essay Scoring And Feedback Systems, Michael J. Murff

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the evolution and educational implementation of Automated Essay Scoring (AES) systems, with particular focus on generative artificial intelligence integration in educational assessment. Through a two-article format, this research addresses the persistent gap between technical capability and educational adoption that has characterized AES development over seven decades. The first article presents a comprehensive methodological review analyzing 122 studies spanning AES evolution from foundational computational linguistics through contemporary hybrid systems. Despite achieving strong correlations with human scoring, modern AES systems face resistance due to validity concerns and misalignment with pedagogical values, revealing an "adoption paradox" where technical sophistication often …

Under The Sea And Into The Future With Darwin, Verne, & Wells: Evolutionary Ideas In Early Science Fiction Literature And Atomic Age Adaptations, Suzette K. Forston

Theses and Dissertations

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, Charles Darwin's theories challenged traditional ways of thinking about the world so dramatically that his writings inspired the formation of a new genre: science fiction. Two pioneering authors, Jules Verne and H. G. Wells drew from Darwin's writings in their classic novels, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (1870) and The Time Machine (1895). Though the two authors are often compared because they were both early science fiction authors, they approached Darwinian theory in different ways. Verne uses a more extrapolative approach and focusing on specific details of Darwin's texts to tell a …

Circadian Influences On Glycemic Control In 24-Hr Fasts Initiated At Different Mealtimes, Elizabeth Z. Gipson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated whether the timing of a 24-hour fast influences indicators of glycemic control throughout the duration of the fast or upon refeeding. Twenty-four adults who have overweight or obesity (13 female, 11 male) completed this randomized crossover study involving three 24-hour fasts initiated at either 8:00 am, 1:00 pm, or 6:00 pm followed by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) which lasted 2 hours. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) were employed to track interstitial glucose throughout each fast and OGTT. Plasma samples for insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) were collected at the …

Investigating Relationships Between Education Professionals' Trauma Histories And Causal Attributions For Students' Disruptive Behaviors, Christina D. Rodefeld

Theses and Dissertations

Using attribution theory as a theoretical framework, this mixed methods study investigated how education professionals reported and perceived the relationship between their histories of trauma and their attributions for disruptive student behavior. Participants completed four surveys to measure Adverse Childhood Experiences, adulthood trauma, COVID-19-related trauma, and causal attributions for disruptive behavior. Bivariate correlations between each of the trauma history datasets and causal attributions datasets were conducted to investigate these relationships. Two semi-structured interviews with six participants were also conducted and analyzed using deductive and inductive coding processes. Quantitative analyses found a statistically significant relationship between participants’ reported adulthood trauma amounts …

Routine Outcome Monitoring With The Youth Outcome Questionnaire-30.2 Self-Report: Creating And Testing An Empirical Alert System And Exploring Informant Discrepancy Patterns, Tate M. Paxton

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Youth self-report data using the YOQ-30 has not been specifically examined for use in routine outcome monitoring systems. This study used the YOQ-30 self-report in three endeavors: (1) modeling change trajectories in a large, naturalistic outpatient sample, (2) creating and testing an empirical alert system for deterioration, and (3) exploring the role of informant agreement, both descriptively and in a change trajectory model. Method: The sample consisted of 21,098 adolescents ages 12-17 receiving outpatient mental health care who used the OQ Measures system. Multilevel individual change trajectory models estimated symptom change over time. An alert system was developed on …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Online Training With Behavioral Consultation: The Impact Of Teacher Buy-In And Efficacy, Allison C. Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the comparative effectiveness of two different behavioral training methodologies, online training and behavioral consultation, in supporting teacher implementation of evidence-based practices, with a focus on the roles of teacher buy-in and self-efficacy. Challenging behavior is on the rise and teacher's need to know how to apply behavior management strategies to their classroom in order for their students to be most successful. Many teachers do not begin their careers with proper behavior management knowledge, training experience, or do not feel a sense of efficacy in implementing behavior management. Lack of knowledge and training may lead to decreased teacher …

Development Of Numerical Tools And Performance Metrics For Analysis Of Optical Particle Counters, Doug Webb

Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring air quality is essential for understanding and mitigating the health impacts of airborne particulate matter (PM), which is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Optical particle counters (OPCs) are widely used for air quality monitoring, yet their precision and accuracy remain uncertain due to inconsistent performance evaluations. In this thesis, performance metrics are developed that can be used to assess the accuracy of OPCs in measuring PM concentrations and size distributions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are employed to analyze the behavior of particle-laden air streams through representative OPC models. The impact of design parameters is quantified using newly …

Assessing Trends In Snap-Authorized Food Retailer Participation And Temporary Losses Using Historical Retailer Data, Adam Nathan

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides descriptive statistics for the universe of SNAP-authorized food retailers in the United States between 1996 and 2023 including the number of SNAP-authorized retailers over time as well as the frequency and duration of temporary lapses in SNAP authorization for the average retailer. Results are presented at different geographic levels, by urbanicity, by store type, and by dollar versus non-dollar stores. This study also provides a methodology for achieving these results that can be used by future researchers to utilize the key dataset, the Historical SNAP Retailer Locator dataset (HSARL). Several issues are present in the HSARL data …

Development Of Low-Cost Small-Batch Flibe Filtration, And A Comparison Of Uranium Tetrafluoride And Ionic Oxygen Oxidation In Flibe, Jacob D. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

Low-cost benchtop-scale molten fluoride salt cleaning was investigated in FLiBe (LiF-BeF2), focusing on electrochemical cleaning and filtration. FLiBe filtration was demonstrated using both pressurized and open filtration systems. Copper and 400 Monel meshes were effective and reusable. Wetting appears to be the primary obstacle to FLiBe filtration. Oxygen oxidation behavior in FLiBe was examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and cyclic square wave voltammetry (CSWV) techniques. Standard addition height measurement was used to determine electrode surface area. Results support a single-step 2-electron process, matching observations in literature. Pt electrodes may be prone to oxidative side reactions, although more investigation is required. …

An Evaluation Of The Mississippi 4-H/Ffa Replacement Beef Heifer Development Contest, Lindsey V. Pansano

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi 4-H/FFA Replacement Beef Heifer Development Contest began in 2008 to provide youth with a contest to showcase their managerial skills relating to beef cattle. This study examined the impact of contest participation on development of life skills, technical skills, and choice of occupation. Youth and parents/guardians reported slight to moderate improvement in life skills. The same groups also agreed that technical skills were improved through contest participation. While most youth did not consider the contest to impact their choice of occupation, all indicated that they are currently involved in the beef cattle industry as adults. Overall, these results …

The Evaluation Of Tetflupyrolimet In Rice (Oryza Sativa), Dalton Ryan Whitt

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of resistance to many herbicide modes of action (MOA) threatens the utility of synthetic herbicides. Barnyardgrass control in rice has become increasingly difficult due to resistance to common herbicides, and no novel MOA has been introduced in 30 years. FMC Corporation recently discovered tetflupyrolimet (Dodhylex™ active), a Group 28 herbicide that inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. In 2023 and 2024, studies were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate tetflupyrolimet for midsouthern U.S. rice production. The first study evaluated barnyardgrass control and rice tolerance with single and sequential applications of tetflupyrolimet with clomazone and …

Load Balancing For Stream Processing In Edge Computing, Faiza Akram

Theses and Dissertations

Unlike cloud-based systems, where resources are centralized for data processing and located at a distance from the source, leading to an increase in the response time, edge computing emerges as a transformative paradigm that processes the data closer to the sources to meet the application’s service requirements. Since the resources in edge computing are distributed and limited, load balancing is crucial. To ensure the prevention of bottlenecks and failures in resource-constrained environments, load balancing is an important aspect of edge computing as it optimizes resource utilization while maintaining the requirements of low-latency applications, improved fault tolerance, energy efficiency, adaptability, scalability, …

Streamlined Technology Systems: Optimizing Technology Systems For Meridian Public School District, Latoya Atterberry

Theses and Dissertations

Technology has become a cornerstone of modern education, reshaping how teachers instruct and students learn. "Technology plays a pivotal role in shaping modern learning environments, offering opportunities for enhanced engagement and personalized learning experiences" (Ascione, 2023). This project focuses on the critical role of effective professional development in equipping teachers to integrate technology into their instructional practices meaningfully. Drawing on the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) and SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) frameworks, this project examines how tailored professional development programs can bridge gaps in teachers’ technological and pedagogical knowledge, guiding them toward transformative technology use. This project culminates in …

Determining The Toxic Threshold And Other Use Characteristics For Industrial Hemp Seed Oil Used For Wood Product Protection, Daylan M. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Plant-based wood treatments have been utilized for many years, with varying success. Oils such as those extracted from linseed (flax), tung, and hemp plants have been used for thousands of years as finishes on wood. These are all drying oils, which dry to a film when exposed to air. Hemp seed oil has a high fatty acid content and can take a long time to dry on wood products but is valued in woodworking for being easy to use, food-safe, and having little to no odor. In this study, cold-pressed hemp seed oil, blended with a soybean carrier oil, is …

Fungal Resistance Of Citric Acid Crosslinked Chitosan Treated Wood, Samuel Jacob Barton

Theses and Dissertations

Chitosan (CH), a linear polysaccharide biopolymer derived from chitin, is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. However, its natural hydrophilicity limits its application as a wood preservative. This study explores the crosslinking of chitosan with citric acid (CA) to improve its stability and hydrophobicity, aiming to enhance its efficacy as a wood preservative. The study investigates fungal resistance against Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (white-rot) fungi using the AWPA E-10 soil block test for pine and gum samples vacuum-treated and dip-treated with CH-CA concentrations (CH 6%/CA 3%, CH 4%/CA 3%, CH 2%/CA 3%, and CH 1.5%/CA 3%). The …

Tools We Use: Evaluating Uav And Photogrammetry Workflows For Early-Stage Site Documentation; Comparative Analysis For Small Landscape Architecture Firms, Bryant Baugus

Theses and Dissertations

Landscape architects utilize advanced technologies in the design process. Advancements in automation and data capture have opened up new opportunities for UAVs and photogrammetry to produce high-resolution imagery, contours, and 3D models. By leveraging UAVs early in the design process, landscape architects are able to maximize advantages: site analysis through computational software, 3D sectional information, and hydrology prediction. This research focuses specifically on the advantages UAVs offer compared to established workflow methods. It examines four unique workflows for early-stage site documentation: capturing the site with UAVs through photogrammetry, generating a site plan from publicly available GIS data, gathering information from …

Autonomous Generation Of Ids Rules From Threat Intelligence, Azim Bazarov

Theses and Dissertations

Signature-based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) detect malicious activities by matching network or host activity against predefined rules. These rules are derived from Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), which includes attack signatures and behavioral patterns obtained through automated tools and manual threat analysis, such as sandboxing. The CTI is then transformed into actionable rules for the IDS engine, enabling real-time detection and prevention of threats. The constant evolution of cyber threats necessitates frequent rule updates, which delay deployment time and weaken overall security readiness. Recent advancements in autonomous agentic systems powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) offer the potential for automatic IDS …

Variables That Affect Designers’ Use Of Edible Planting In Residential Landscape Design, Emily Margaret Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Edible landscaping or “foodscaping” has had a resurgence into the mainstream. Though many trailblazers aim to encourage edible landscaping through homeowners and renters, there seems to be a lack of initiative from designers. To identify the variables that can affect a designer’s use of edible planting in the residential Southeastern United States, research and statistical methods were employed. Beyond interviewing an expert in the field of edible planting in the residential space, a survey consisting of both Likert and open-ended questions was sent to licensed landscape architects in the Southeastern U.S. The survey was conducted using Qualtrics and analyzed using …

American Officer Administration Development And Its Effects On Conduct, 1900-1970, David R. Burford

Theses and Dissertations

The 1970 U.S. Army War College Study on Military Professionalism concluded that officers were so obsessed with demonstrating loyalty, deference to authority, and promotion that they seemed to sacrifice their personal integrity. The findings shocked high-ranked Army officials. The detailed legislative history of Army officer administration from roughly 1900 to 1970 presented in this dissertation shows why and how these conditions came to exist. In nine chapters, the material revealed in magazines, periodicals, student research papers, statements at congressional debates, hearings and investigations, and various official and unofficial publications narrate the development of the post-World War II American officer governance …

Influence Of Diverse Forage Environments On Honey Bee Colony Health, Angus Catchot Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Honey bees are important pollinators that face a multitude of stressors in their environment such as pathogens, parasite pressure, forage availability and pesticide exposure. This study examined how the makeup of different environments and the stressors related to those environments are affecting honey bee health in Mississippi. A field experiment was conducted during the first year of the study across four distinct landscapes ranging from intensively cultivated cropland to predominantly natural forage habitats to assess the impact of landscape availability on varying honey bee colony health parameters. Locations that had cultivated crops within foraging range produced more honey and brood …

Creating A Framework For Offering Alternative Credentials At Mississippi State University, Marian Montgomery Chancellor

Theses and Dissertations

As workforce demands evolve and learners seek more flexible, skills-focused education options, Mississippi State University’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS) must innovate to remain responsive and competitive. This capstone project explores how MSU can design and implement a scalable framework for micro-credentials that align with employer needs, faculty expertise, and adult learner goals. Grounded in qualitative research, including interviews with faculty and industry leaders, the study identifies key workforce gaps—particularly in communication, leadership, and technical skills—and outlines a 6-stage development lifecycle for credential creation. Findings emphasize the importance of industry collaboration, applied learning, and policy support. The resulting …