Digital Commons Network^™

Invasive Bigheaded Carp Distribution Patterns In Oxbow Lakes Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Michaela Ann Palmieri

Theses and Dissertations

Large populations of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Bighead Carp (H. nobilis), collectively called bigheaded carps, may have significant impacts where they are invasive. In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV), bigheaded carps have been documented in major rivers; however, knowledge of their distribution in oxbow lakes is lacking. Species distribution models are tools that can be used to estimate species distribution with presence data and environmental variables. As a cost-effective alternative to onsite sampling, I administered a questionnaire to biologists to inventory bigheaded carp presence and obtained environmental data from existing datasets. I used Maximum Entropy (Maxent) to illustrate …

Evaluation Of Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Seed Inoculation With Bradyrhizobium Japonicum And Bacillus Subtilis On Yield And Root System Architecture: A Herbicide Carryover Perspective, Ncomiwe Andile Maphalala

Theses and Dissertations

Reducing herbicide carryover in soybean production is imperative to sustain future soybean cropping systems in Mississippi and the rest of the world. This research was conducted to determine the response of inoculated soybean to corn (Zea mays L.) residual herbicides. The herbicide treatments included aatrex (atrazine), callisto (mesotrione), lexar (atrazine+mesotrione+s-metolachlor), and steadfast (nicosulfuron+rimsulfuron) at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of the total label rate. Inoculant treatments were Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Bacillus subtilis, and no inoculant. Bacterial inoculants positively impacted most shoot and root growth parameters, significantly increasing depending on the herbicide x inoculant treatment combination and its rate. B.japonicum alone and …

Analysis Of Cortical Evoked Auditory Response Detection In Adults Using Machine Learning, Pranavi Beerelli

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the use of machine learning (ML) techniques to automate the detection of Cortical Evoked Auditory Responses (CEARs), which are key in understanding how the auditory cortex processes sound stimuli. Traditionally, analyzing these auditory responses has relied on manual interpretation by audiologists, a process that can introduce variability and human error, particularly in complex cases. To address this challenge, the research utilizes advanced deep learning models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) architectures, to analyze Electroencephalography (EEG) data and classify the presence or absence of auditory responses automatically. …

Evaluation Of The Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Hardwoods And Softwood Cross Laminated Timber, Richard Olakunle Omotayo

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is focused on the evaluation of cross laminated timber made from southern pine lumber and low-grade hardwood species (which included red oak, sweetgum, and yellow poplar) growing in the southeastern part of the United States. The properties of interest were density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and dynamic modulus of elasticity (dMOE). Mechanical testing using static bending technique was used to determine MOE and MOR and non-destructive technique (NDT) was used to predict dMOE. The results from mechanical testing showed that over 98% of low-grade hardwood CLT samples exceeded 8300 MPa. This proved the suitability …

Investigations Of Guayule Resin As A Wood Protectant, Queen Aguma

Theses and Dissertations

Wood products are subject to deterioration by numerous processes, as a biological material. Today, a significant area of preservative development is the utilization of existing plant residues that have water-repelling, antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties as components of wood protectants. Parthenium argentatum, known as guayule (wy-oo-lee), is a promising wood protectant due to its resin. However, the resin's complicated chemical, physical, and solvent-resistant properties make it difficult to use. The primary goal of this study was to eliminate the use of any solvent and rely on thermal modification only to fractionate usable compounds from guayule resin. Utilizing heated dialysis and …

Innovative Methyl Bromide Alternatives: Efficacy Of Acetic Acid Coated Ham Nets And Carboxymethyl Cellulose Films In Inhibiting Mite Infestations On Dry-Cured Ham, Sawyer Wyatt Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Dry-cured hams may become infested with Tyrophagus putrescentiae (ham mites) during the aging process. Traditionally, methyl bromide (MB) fumigation has been used to control these infestations, but its phase-out due to environmental concerns has prompted the need for alternative methods. This study evaluated the effectiveness of acetic acid-coated ham nets and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based edible films with propylene glycol (PG) in mitigating mite infestations. Laboratory trials assessed the impact of these treatments on mite orientation, reproduction, infestation rates, and sensory quality. Results indicate that CMC films were effective at controlling mite growth and reproduction with minimal sensory impact. In contrast, …

Evaluation And Characterization Of Two Capacitive Sensors For Cotton Moisture Measurement In Static And Dynamic Modes For Real-Time Use In Cotton Gin, Sushma Perati

Theses and Dissertations

Two capacitive sensors, a commercial FP-32C and a custom design capacitor plate were evaluated for real-time cotton moisture content (MC%) measurement in ginning environment. The sensors were able to measure MC ranges of 3.56%–19.7% and 4.56%–21.04% MC for FP-32C and custom capacitor pate, respectively. In dynamic mode, the ranges were 4.9%–14.5% and 4.9%–14.7% respectively. Results showed that measurements of both sensors had strong correlations with results obtained from oven method. A comparison of moisture content measurement methods using a moisture balance (M5 Thermo 163M,) and oven method was conducted with the result showing that Lint-Only samples were the most closely …

Intramolecular Styryl Diels-Alder (Isda) Reaction For Synthesizing Derivatives Of Anticancer Lignans, Kriti Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Intramolecular Styryl Diels-Alder (ISDA) cycloaddition reactions are used widely in synthesizing complex natural products. They help synthesize polycyclic cores and form new chiral centers in the molecule. Among such natural products, lignans are considered important biomedical molecules due to their numerous pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, hepatoprotective, insecticidal, antifungal, antihypertensive, sedative, antioxidant, and antiparasitic. Numerous researchers have published their work in trying to synthesize different lignans for medicinal purposes. However, the lignans are challenging to synthesize because of their complex tetralin cores. This project focuses on synthesizing the polycyclic core for the analogs of anti-cancer compounds with ISDA reaction. The …

Sulfhydryl-Containing Compounds And Iron Homeostasis: Mechanisms Of Labile Iron Pool Dysregulation And Consequences For Cellular Health, Steven Lowell Mann Christiansen

Theses and Dissertations

While iron's unique coordination chemistry and redox activity have resulted in its broad incorporation into biological systems, dysfunction in key iron-regulating mechanisms can transform these biochemical advantages into factors that contribute to several pathological conditions. This dissertation explores the complex interactions between iron and sulfhydryl-containing compounds (SCCs), with particular focus on glutathione's (GSH) role in stabilizing iron reactivity juxtaposed with homocysteine's (Hcy) ability to disrupt iron homeostasis and promote disease progression. Through rigorous biochemical analysis and experimentation, we demonstrate that Hcy disrupts iron regulation through several mechanisms: (1) Hcy competitively displaces protective iron-binding molecules in the Labile Iron Pool (LIP), …

Raman Characterization Of Elastomeric Materials, Shane Michael Drake

Theses and Dissertations

Raman spectroscopy is often used for material identification but may be used for characterization. This document focuses on using Raman measurements to characterize polymers, specifically the curing and aging mechanism for hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). HTPB is a well-known elastomer used in sealants, non-slip surfaces, rocket repellants and plastic explosives. Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor urethane linkages that form from curing HTPB with a cyanate curing agent to suggest a curing mechanism for HTPB. Since this polymer is highly susceptible to oxidation, the methods used to characterize curing were also used for the aging process to see if urethane breakages …

Traveling-Wave Vibration Control And Comparison Of Individuals With Insomnia And Good Sleepers Using Eeg Spectral Power And Sample Entropy, Joseph T. Lecheminant

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection of whole-body vibration (WBV) and neurophysiological analysis to improve sleep quality and understanding of insomnia. The work is divided into two primary areas: the development of a novel traveling-wave vibration system for sleep enhancement and the analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) metrics in individuals with insomnia versus good sleepers. A vibrating sleep system capable of generating programmable traveling-wave patterns is designed and prototyped. Through iterative development and user trials, the system enables highly controlled mechanical stimulation in the form of traveling-wave vibration. Key advancements include independent amplitude and speed modulation and customizable wave patterns. Simple wave …

Cellular Air Quality Sensors With Lora Backchannel A Robust Sensor Suited For Remote Deployment In Harsh Environments, Joseph R. Miera

Theses and Dissertations

Air quality significantly impacts health and overall quality of life, making its measurement essential. However, most affordable air quality devices are designed only for use within WiFi range and cannot handle extreme temperatures, limiting their usefulness for people in remote or extreme environments, such as regions with harsh winter climates. This limitation is concerning, as winter often brings worse air quality due to temperature inversions that trap pollutants and increase fuel burning for heating. Inversion is a problem as close to home as Utah Valley, and as far away as Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Most low-cost air quality sensors are not built …

The Effect Of Variable Learning Contexts On Novel Word Retention In Adults, Emily A. Badoni

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of decontextualized learning on memory recall and retention within virtual reality (VR) environments. Forty-six healthy young adult participants, both male and female, were randomly assigned to either a consistent VR learning condition (n = 23) or a diverse VR learning condition (n = 23). Both groups were exposed to the same set of 30 nonwords and their definitions across three learning phases. The participants in the consistent condition remained in the same VR environment throughout the study, while the participants in the diverse condition experienced three different VR environments. Immediate and delayed post-tests were conducted …

Physics-Informed Transfer Learning For Process Control, Samuel Arce Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

In the realm of process control, managing complex systems with limited prior knowledge presents significant challenges, particularly in environments where traditional mechanistic models are either unavailable or computationally prohibitive. This work explores the integration of deep transfer learning with system identification and Model Predictive Control (MPC) to develop control strategies that are both data-efficient and computationally streamlined. Initially, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks are employed to create approximate MPC controllers by leveraging transfer learning from a source system to a target system, demonstrating that transfer learning can achieve comparable performance to traditional MPC methods with reduced training data. Building upon …

The Effect Of Applied Mental Health Courses On College Student Anxiety And Perfectionism, Nathan Thomas Rhees

Theses and Dissertations

University students face a variety of mental health challenges, including increasingly high rates of anxiety. As demand for college counseling services among student populations rises, universities have an increasing need for effective and resource-efficient methods of intervention that support student mental health on their campuses. One area in need of research is that of using university classes themselves as a form of preventive intervention. If effective, this kind of preventive measure might be a particularly attractive method of reducing incidence of mental illness on campus and decreasing demand on university therapy resources. This study involves students at a private university …

The Long Shadow Of Infection: The Long-Term Implications Of Herpes Simplex Virus And M. Tuberculosis Infection, Lydia Howell

Theses and Dissertations

Infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), have traditionally been seen as distinct, with separate etiologies and courses of disease. Recent research has shown that infection and autoimmune disease are more closely woven together than previously thought; certain pathogens like Epstein-Barr virus and M. tuberculosis have been shown to cause long-term disruption to the immune system, for example (Bordignon et al 2011, #1) (Zhang et al 2023, #2) (Bjornevik et al 2023, #3). Conversely, a distinct pattern has emerged in developed countries where as rates of infection fall, rates of autoimmune disease …

Understanding The Transitional Needs Of Servicemembers To Veterans: A Focus On Mental, Social, And Behavioral Health, Marieann C. Raguso

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to fill the gaps on the transitional American veterans’ lived experience using their own voice. The reconstruction of an American Veteran’s identity after transitioning back into civilian life is a process with many challenges. Transitional practices often fail to help veterans to acculturate back into the civilian world. This includes the formulation of identities and associations. There is a lack of consistency in military transitional practices leading to identity loss and the formulation of mental and behavioral disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the lived experiences of veterans who have transitioned back …

Enhancement Of Ambient Air Quality Index Forecasting Using Optimized Ensemble Model, Vanitha M

Theses and Dissertations

Forecasting ambient air quality is essential for environmental sustainability and public health, especially in heavily populated regions such as China, India, and the United States where air pollution remains a serious concern. Traditional forecasting models often struggle to accurately represent air quality data because of its complex patterns and nonlinear interactions. To address these challenges and improve forecast performance, this research proposes a comprehensive strategy that integrates parallel heterogeneous ensemble modeling with Bayesian optimization.

The study begins with a seasonal machine learning–based imputation technique (SeasonalMLImpute) designed to handle missing data in meteorological and air quality parameters. This method is evaluated …

Effect Of Laser Textured Surface With Different Patterns On Tribological Characteristics Of Bearing Material, Paul Joshua S

Theses and Dissertations

This research work determines the wear rate and friction characteristics of bearing material under different laser textured surface conditions. Chrome steels are used in bearings since they possess high strength and wear resistance. However, when those parts are in service, failure happens due to sliding friction before the lifetime. To improve the durability of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 52100 chromium steel, in this work, the effect of laser surface texturing (LST) was analysed.

With the different pattern of circle, ellipse, groove and grid were produced on the sample surface, the wear behavior was investigated using the pin …

Survey And Comparative Analysis Of Pollinator Diversity, Abundance, And Foraging Activity Of Diptera And Hymenoptera In Selected Habitats Of South Texas, Melissa Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations

With the declining bee population, non-bee pollinators can serve as an alternative source for pollination. Diptera is a potential source of untapped pollinator resources based on their abundance and visitation rate, but they are understudied in the field of pollination ecology. This study aimed to characterize the pollinator community in selected areas of South Texas. It focused on the Diptera and Hymenoptera families to compare their diversity, relative abundance, foraging behaviors, environmental influences, and vegetation associations. Active sampling and line transect were used in the survey to sample the Hymenoptera and Diptera communities to their family taxonomic rank. Statistical analyses …

The Influence Of Wind Energy Development On Occupancy Of Medium And Large-Sized Mammals In South Texas, Elwynn Sherman

Theses and Dissertations

Conservation paradigms have shifted from single to multi-species approaches for assessing and conserving mammalian populations and the habitats that they occupy. The effect of wind turbine development is an important anthropogenic change to study due to the increasing demand for wind energy in Texas. In this study, I gathered remote camera trap data on medium and large-sized mammal populations in south Texas Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat. The objectives were to determine species presence, the effect of habitat characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances on species occupancy, and the effect of temperature on species detection. The results showed that distance from wind turbines did …

Flying Under The Radar: Navigating Through Frustrations, Tears, And The Politics Of The Liberal Arts Curriculum, Sandra Houghton

Theses and Dissertations

The elements and principles of art continue to highly influence curriculum in the typical art foundations class. The reduction of art and artmaking to their formal properties constricts a student’s ability to engage in real-life artist processes, and many important contextual meanings are lost. Consequently, art foundations curriculum derived from the elements and principles of art narrows the lens through which we create, teach, and talk about art. In my own experience as an art teacher, I have found that this approach limits my teaching and makes it difficult to fully and authentically understand the works of other artists and …

Ecological And Pathological Applications Of The Heat Shock Response, Taylor Rae Stanley

Theses and Dissertations

The heat shock response (HSR) is a cytoprotective stress response pathway that regulates cellular proteostasis. The HSR is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that is essential for normal cellular functioning. Here, we explore the broad ecological and pathological impacts of the HSR. In an ecological context, we perform gene level analysis of the transcriptomes of two closely related sunfish. We found that the more invasive bluegill sunfish has gene expansions in two HSR gene families, the HSP70 family and the HSP90 family compared to the redear sunfish. These gene expansions were also observed in several other teleost fish species and were …

Spectrometric Detection Of Microplastics In The Environment: A Novel Approach Using Hyperspectral Imaging System, Mansurat Abdulmalik Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm, have emerged as one of the significant environmental contaminants due to their widespread presence in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. MPs originate from primary sources, such as industrial pre-production pellets and microbeads in personal care products, or secondary sources, such as the breakdown of larger plastic particles. Their persistence in the environment is due to their resistance to degradation and capacity to transport toxic substances and pathogens. These characteristics raise concerns about their ecological impacts and potential entry into food chains, ultimately affecting human health. Despite extensive research …

Population Genetics Of Deer In The Northern Great Plains, Usa, Sarah Elizabeth Daman

Theses and Dissertations

Deer are currently under threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) throughout North America. With CWD distribution increasing globally, understanding the spread of the disease is paramount for the effective management and conservation of deer populations. Conservation genomics has been shown as an effective method to study the behavior and movement of individuals on the landscape at a broad spatial scale. This approach allows for a multi-state evaluation of habitat and landscape features that may influence the dispersals and subsequent gene flow between populations. This study was designed to assess the genetic population structuring of deer within North Dakota and surrounding …

Personality Across Realities: Correlations Between Personality Profiles And Preferences Within Roleplaying Games, Brittany Lee Mancha

Theses and Dissertations

Clinically maladaptive behaviors and personality types have been studied within gamers, both those who play video games and those who roleplay in tabletop games. However, the connection between personality types and the preferences of the players themselves in what and how they roleplay is just barely being studied. Personality traits, such as extraversion/introversion and motivation by pain or pleasure, may be both influencing the gameplay decisions and preferences of players, and vice versa. A total of 500 respondents completed the Millon Index of Personality Styles, Revised (MIPS-R), followed by a demographics survey and finally a survey assessing Dungeons and Dragons', …

Handheld Multimodal Point Spectroscopy, Rgb Imaging, And Fusion Artificial Intelligence To Determine The Species And Freshness Of Fish Fillets, Mitchell Sueker

Theses and Dissertations

When fish species are mislabeled and the fish’s freshness is inaccurately represented, health, environmental, and economic problems can arise for both consumers and the fish industry. Fish are some of the easier foods to mislabel, as the processing of whole fish to fillets makes the visual identification of the species and freshness assessment more challenging. Due to the shortcomings of the current industry standards, confirmed by our interviews with over 20 professionals in all fish supply chain nodes, developing a system that can provide accurate and rapid on-site fraud detection is of necessity. In an attempt to meet these needs, …

Development, Characterization, And Application Of Nanomaterials For Target Detection And Therapeutic Study, Yingfen Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Nanomaterials have emerged as a pivotal area of research in chemistry, driven by their unique properties that make them suitable for both industrial and biomedical applications. Among nanomaterials, nanozyme is a series of nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activities that can proceed with the catalytic reactions of natural enzymes, conferring significant potential for their use in various biomedical applications. Herein, we describe three types of nanomaterials products with distinct properties and applications: 1) Fe³⁺-doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for sensitive H₂O₂ detection; 2) ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobes based on near-infrared (NIR) semiconducting polymer dots for label-free detection of dopamine; and 3) Multifunctional near …

How Many Tiny Snails? Circumscription Of Three Species Of Pyrgulopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)In Nevada Mountain Springs, Trenton Meadows

Theses and Dissertations

The springsnail genus Pyrgulopsis is one of the most diverse groups of freshwater gastropods in North America (Hershler, 2014), with many species displaying high levels of endemism (Hurt, 2003). This study attempts to circumscribe three putative species of springsnails: Pyrgulopsis serrata, Pyrgulopsis marcida, and a newly identified clade, referred to as Lineage C, from the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA and nearby springs. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined morphological, anatomical, and molecular data to examine species boundaries and evolutionary relationships.

Many lines of evidence were considered to determine species boundaries. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial …

Density Functional Theory And Machine Learning Analysis Of C—C Reductive Coupling From Terminal Cyanido And Cyaphido Complexes, Roberto Magdiel Escobar

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemistry. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations using the Gaussian16 package to elucidate and compare …