Digital Commons Network^™

Using Differentiated Gamification To Teach Systems Interactions: Impacts On Ninth Grade Biology Students' Academic Achievement And Cognitive, Behavioral, And Emotional Engagement, Stephanie Morgan Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of differentiated gamification on student cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement, and academic performance within the unit of plant and animal systems for ninth grade biology students. Scientific literacy is considered a key component of education, as it contributes to societal innovation, economic production, and an informed public. Comprehension of biological concepts and processes, such as plant and animal systems, provide a greater understanding of the living world, and contributes to overall scientific literacy. Although a vital component to science education and literacy, students continue to struggle with the concepts …

Optimal Limb Regeneration Strategies In Hemigrapsus Sanguineus, Laura S. Fletcher

Theses and Dissertations

Diet quality and energy allocation influence an individual’s life-history traits by determining how much energy is available for processes such as growth and reproduction. One common method of assessing diet quality involves measuring gut length or size, which is typically inversely related to diet quality. However, this often requires animal sacrifice and time- consuming dissections. Similarly, many traditional bioenergetics models fail to capture the context-dependence of energy allocation, as these models rely on fixed energy allocation rules. One such rule is the κ-rule of dynamic energy budget theory, which assumes a fixed proportion (κ) of assimilated energy is always allocated …

Deep Learning For Source Localization In A Laboratory Tank, Corey Emerson Dobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning has been applied to underwater acoustics problems in many forms. One difficulty in applying deep learning techniques to ocean acoustics is the spatially and temporally varying environmental properties. Another challenge is the lack of labeled data for training large networks. The overall goal of this work is to develop deep learning approaches for source localization that can be adaptable to different conditions. In this work, a convolutional neural network was trained on acoustic data measured in a water tank, while the water was at room temperature, to predict source-receiver range. Tests were done to ascertain ideal quantities of …

Linking Geospatial Trends And Geochemical Fingerprints To Anthropogenic Phosphorus Dust Deposition In Subalpine Soils, Austen Michael Lambert

Theses and Dissertations

This study shows that fugitive emissions associated with the surface mining of phosphate rock are a significant phosphorus (P) source to surface soils in northeastern Utah. Phosphorus is a nonrenewable resource essential for all life. Anthropogenic alterations to the P-cycle have led to widespread P pollution, and the unsustainable management of P has led to the threat of global depletion of P resources. Thus, accounting for both natural and anthropogenic flow paths of P is essential for the conservation and pollution reduction of P. One such source of human alteration to the P-cycle is the mining of phosphate rock. Mining, …

Microbial Hydrolysis Process To Improve Anaerobic Digestion For Biofuel Generation, Caleb Michael Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Human development results in billions of tons of waste per year, which contributes to major issues such as pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. In this study, we explored the impact of bacterial inoculation on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, volatile solids (VS), and gas output in anaerobic digesters under different substrate treatments. Our results reveal that bacterial inoculation significantly boosts VFA levels, especially acetic acid, with both Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and mixed Caldicellulosiruptor, cultures showing notable differences compared to controls, especially in untreated manure and WAS treatments. Acetic acid and VS/TS increased in untreated WAS when inoculated with C. bescii …

Zno Based Chemiresistive Sensor For Ammonia Detection, Anna Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This work aims on the development of nanostructured sensing elements based on ZnO for detecting ammonia, specifically designed for applications in poultry and farm fields. To achieve this objective, we prepared sensing elements, including ZnO, CuO, WO3, NiO, ZnO/CuO, ZnO/WO3, ZnO/NiO, and rGO/ZnO, using the spray pyrolysis technique. Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Microscope (FESEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The vapour/gas detection studies of fabricated sensing elements were carried out in a home built sensing chamber.

The single oxides, ZnO, CuO, WO3, demonstrated ammonia detection in the range of 5-100 …

Estimation Of Cyanobacterial Concentrations From Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Imagery Over The Western Mississippi Sound, Gulf Of Mexico, John Preston Liles

Theses and Dissertations

The Western Mississippi Sound (WMS) is home to the largest natural oyster reef in the Gulf of Mexico and contributes substantially to Mississippi's economy. In 2019, the WMS experienced an unprecedented cyanobacterial bloom that killed fish and birds and led to shut down of beaches and oyster fishery. This thesis aims to quantify cyanobacteria from uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) imagery and investigate the relative influence of river discharge into the WMS on cyanobacterial concentrations. Several field campaigns were undertaken to collect field data and UAS imagery from WMS. A remote sensing algorithm was developed to quantify the unique cyanobacterial pigment …

How Teacher-Student Relationships Affect Child And Adolescent Resilience, Tashina R. Vanderwoude

Theses and Dissertations

The significance of positive relationships, particularly between teachers and students, in fostering resilience among children is well-established. While various studies have delved into the dynamics and impacts of these relationships, there is a notable gap in research that directly assesses how teacher-student bonds influence students’ resilience levels. This study aims to bridge the gap by examining students’ perceptions of their relationships with teachers and how these perceptions correlate with their reported resilience levels. Participants (n = 59) included middle and high school students recruited from a school district in northeastern Mississippi. Participants completed surveys measuring their perception of their relationship …

Nest Box Use By Common Goldeneye (Bucephala Clangula) In The Chena River System, Interior Alaska, Riley D. Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Various environmental and demographic factors can influence nest site selection in cavity-nesting birds. Nest site choices may involve females’ familiarity with local habitats or resources, or information gained about the quality of a potential nest site. Common Goldeneyes (Bucephela clangula) are philopatric, yet some proportions of available nest boxes commonly remain vacant during breeding seasons throughout the birds’ range. As part of a long-term (1997-2022) study of Common Goldeneyes, I monitored 150 nest boxes in 2021 and 2022 in the Chena River State Recreation Area, Fairbanks, Alaska. I studied use of nest boxes based on box- and landscape specific habitat …

Exploring The Plant Orphan Gene Qqs: Unveiling Its Molecular Mechanism, Functional Network, And Agricultural Implications, Rezwan Tanvir

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, understanding the emergence and integration of novel genes into genomes has garnered significant interest within the scientific community. Species-specific orphan genes have become particularly intriguing due to their recent appearance and distinct structural characteristics. Despite their prevalence and potential evolutionary significance, studying orphan genes poses challenges due to their lack of similarity to other genes, resulting in limited functional annotations. This study aims to delve into the mechanisms, functions, networks, and agricultural implications of orphan genes. QQS (Qua-Quine Starch), exclusively identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, stands as the first functionally characterized orphan gene in plants. It regulates carbon …

Using Phylogenomics And Environmental Metabarcoding To Understand The Distribution And Evolutionary Histories Of Amoebae, Robert E. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Protists are defined as eukaryotic organisms that are not animals, land plants, or fungi and make up the vast majority of eukaryotic diversity. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked and under sampled. Some rationales behind this are that they are often microscopic, most rarely the cause of human disease, and are often difficult to get into culture. Molecular phylogenetics has revolutionized our understanding of the evolutionary history of eukaryotes and without a clear picture of protist evolution our understanding would be severely hindered. Phylofisher is an easy-to-use phylogenomic software package, with an accompanying database and various utilities, intended for deep phylogenomic …

A Geant4 Based Simulation Toolkit For Detector Response Evaluations In Operational Health Physics And Nuclear Safety Applications, Ronald James Unz

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the development of a Monte Carlo simulation toolkit built on the Geant4 framework for applied health physics applications. The toolkit is designed to construct complex radiation fields and measure how radiation detectors respond to those fields, specifically radiation fields expected to be encountered in environmental and safety applications. The toolkit, along with its development and validation, is described. The use of the toolkit for performing minimum detectable concentration evaluations is outlined, following methods described in the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) and Nuclear Regulatory Guidance Manual 1507, which detail Minimum Detectable Concentrations for Typical …

Steric Tuning Of Hexadentate Chelates And Their Effects On The Stability And Redox Properties Of First-Row Transition Metals, Ryan Benjamin Gaynor

Theses and Dissertations

Chelation of first-row transition metals has many useful properties in the biomedical and industrial fields due to the stabilizing and/or property-altering effects that certain chelates can induce in these metals. One such useful design principle for these chelates is the addition of bulky steric groups which can have an added effect on these properties. Chapter I will explore the origins of these effects and show examples of how these effects are leveraged to produce useful complexes in a variety of applications. In Chapter II, we will discuss our choice of ligand design and the development of related synthetic procedures for …

Effects Of Cascading Optical Processes On Quantification Of Sample Scattering Extinction, Intensity, And Depolarization, Samadhi Nisansala Nawalage

Theses and Dissertations

Complex samples containing nanoscale or larger materials exhibit light scattering, a universal property of matter. However, the influence of scattering-induced cascading optical processes on quantifying sample scattering intensity and depolarization has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study uses polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) as a model analyte for systematic experimental and computational investigation. It aims to elucidate the effects of cascading optical processes on scattering cross-section, molar coefficients, depolarization, and intensities. A theoretical model is introduced to show how the Beer-Lambert law is complicated by forward-scattered light interference in UV-Vis measurements. The dependence of scattering intensity on concentration and particle size is …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Behavioral Problems, And The Role Of Positive Childhood Experiences, Scout Savoy

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that individuals experience in childhood that have been linked to problems with physical and mental health in adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998). Previous research suggests that ACEs are prevalent in almost two-thirds of youth regardless of location across the world and that when an individual experiences three or more ACEs, their quality-adjusted life expectancy is found to decrease (Carlson et al., 2019; Jia & Lubetkin, 2020). Although ACEs have been associated with negative outcomes, not all individuals who experience trauma exhibit problematic behavior and are considered to have high levels of resilience (Agaiba …

Customers’ Advocacy For Environmentally Friendly Golf Courses: The Role Of Green Brand Image, Feelings Of Gratitude, And Relationship Quality, Taewoong Kyung

Theses and Dissertations

The close relationship between sports and the natural environment has been endangered by climate crisis and global warming (Breitbarth et al., 2023; Cunningham et al., 2020; McCullough, 2023; Orr & Inoue, 2019). For this reason, the development of golf courses has been accused of serious impacts on environmental destruction which causes climate change, despite the popularity of golf (Fouillouze et al, 2023). Golf courses have become quite far from the green image. Hence, golf courses began to voluntarily obtain environmental certification (e.g., Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, GEO certified) to protect nature and keep ecosystems sustainable (Gomis et al., 2018; Lee …

Efficacy Of Fungicides And Herbicides, Applications To Manage Southern Blight In Mississippi Peanut Fields, Subina Tripathi

Theses and Dissertations

Peanuts are an important legume crop cultivated in Mississippi with an annual production of 71 million kg per hectare. Southern blight (SB), caused by Athelia rolfsii, is a devastating disease resulting in significant losses to peanut production. Cultural practices may not adequately control diseases; therefore, the application of fungicides is important. Recently, the rapid growth of weed species has emphasized herbicide usage and studied weed interaction with SB. In this study, Athelia rolfsii isolates were collected from different counties to identify their biological characteristics and determine the in vitro efficacy in both 2022 and 2023. In the field trial, seven …

Evaluation Of Maternal Behavior At Calving On Beef Cattle Traits, William Cobie Rutherford

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of the study were to create a scoring system to assess maternal behavior within 24-h of calving in crossbred beef cows; determine the impact of maternal scores on cow productive responses and evaluate how maternal score varies over animal lifetime; and assess the effect of maternal aggression and perceived mothering ability on calf survivability and growth performance. Calving observations (n = 1,832) were conducted across 12 calf crops from 2017 to 2022 from 680 unique crossbred cows at the Prairie Research Unit, Prairie, MS. Along with routine data collection, dams were subjectively scored for the traits maternal aggression …

Microgreen Production: Impact Of Sanitization Methods On Germination Percentage, Mold Suppression, Microbial Load, And Survival Of Salmonella Spp. On Allium Porrum Leek Seeds., Zonia Elizabeth Caro-Carvajal

Theses and Dissertations

Seed sanitization is crucial for microgreen production to prevent pathogens that compromise quality and safety. This study examined the effects of various sanitization methods on germination, mold suppression, microbial load, and Salmonella spp. survival on leek (Allium porrum L.) seeds. Seeds were treated with Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) at 0.27%, Hot Water (HW) at 85 ± 2°C, Tsunami® 100 (TS) at 0.04%, Vinegar (VN) at 1.1%, and Deionized Water (DI). Germination and mold percentages were recorded over 5 days. HW and HP treatments resulted in significantly higher germination rates (72% and 71.4%) compared to other treatments, with HW effectively preventing mold …

The Conservation Of Brain Folding Mechanics, Amber Cook

Theses and Dissertations

The pattern and complexity of cerebellar folding varies across vertebrates. However, little is known about how the tissue-level mechanics are adjusted to create species-specific folding patterns. Here, we utilize a variety of species with differences in cerebellar folding amount to investigate two tissue-level mechanics known to affect folding—differential expansion and outer layer thickness. We found that the level of differential expansion between the outer and inner layers of the cerebellum broadly correlates with folding amount and that the thickness of the outer layer is important as thicker outer layers require more differential expansion to fold. Additionally, we find that both …

Performance Evaluation Of Deep Learning Object Detectors For Weed Detection And Real Time Deployment In Cotton Fields, Abdur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Effective weed control is crucial, especially for herbicide-resistant species. Machine vision technology, through weed detection and localization, can facilitate precise, species-specific treatments. Despite the challenges posed by unstructured field conditions and weed variability, deep learning (DL) algorithms show promise. This study evaluated thirteen DL-based weed detection models, including YOLOv5, RetinaNet, EfficientDet, Fast RCNN, and Faster RCNN, using pre-trained object detectors. RetinaNet (R101-FPN) achieved the highest accuracy with a mean average precision ([email protected]) of 79.98%, though it had longer inference times. YOLOv5n, with the fastest inference (17 ms on Google Colab) and only 1.8 million parameters, achieved a comparable 76.58% [email protected], …

Optimal Navigation, Control And Simulation Of Electrified And Unmanned Ground Vehicles With Bio-Inspired And Optimization Approaches, Amine Taoudi

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, significant progress has been made in autonomous robotics and the electrification of transportation, highlighting the growing importance of automation in daily life. Ensuring the safety and sustainability of automated systems necessitates the integration of intelligent algorithms capable of making astute decisions in uncertain circumstances. Autonomous robots possess considerable potential for efficiently performing intricate tasks, but this potential can only be unlocked through intelligent algorithms. Moreover, enhancing the energy efficiency of transportation systems yields extensive benefits for the environment, economy, and society at large. Addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and resource depletion necessitates prioritizing energy efficiency …

Efficacy Of Recycled Glass Cullet As A Soil Substrate For U.S. Gulf Coast Salt Marsh Restoration, Ansley Levine

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled glass cullet is a potential alternative to fill substrate in salt marsh restoration projects, given its similarity to natural silica sands. However, the ability for common salt marsh plants to grow in glass cullet has not yet been tested. An outdoor mesocosm experiment assessed the ability of the dominant mid-marsh plant Juncus roemerianus and the upland marsh plant Spartina patens to grow in various mixtures of glass cullet versus fill soil. Results showed that J. roemerianus can survive in glass cullet, but growth declined as the proportion of cullet increased. However, S. patens grew comparably, if not better, in …

A Multivariate Analysis Of Coliform Microbial Dynamics And Intervention Efficacy In A Complex Ready-To-Eat (Rte) Beef Value Stream, Benjamin Adam Miles

Theses and Dissertations

A complex multi-vector processed beef value stream was biomapped and work-in-process (WIP) was sampled at various processing points that affected the product microbiome. Coliform Petrifilm™ was used to analyze samples qualitatively and quantitatively across the meat and glaze vectors. There was an impact (p≤0.05) of the glaze distribution system on coliforms. The pumps of the glaze system were fully disassembled and additional microbial data were obtained through swabbing. WIP and sponge samples were subjected to 16S V1/V2 gene amplification with primers designed for taxonomic identification. Sequencing was conducted on the Illumina MiSeq platform and bioinformatics were developed in QIIME 2 …

Durability Of 34-Year-Old Preservative Treated Test Structures In Mississippi, Brianna A. Duquette

Theses and Dissertations

Boron treated test houses at Mississippi State University’s Dorman Lake test site in Starkville, MS were built in 1989 to investigate the effectiveness of boron treatments with exposure to natural weathering. After being undisturbed for more than 20 years, samples were taken to evaluate the remaining levels of original treatments in the test houses. Visual evaluation of the test structures, curcumin test, and ICP-MS analysis of the borate content shows borates are a capable and effective long-term treatment for wood used in construction. No appreciable damage due to termite feeding was observed. Boron was still detectable by curcumin staining and …

Evaluating The Use Of Soil Amendments For Shortleaf Pine (Pinus Echinata) Restoration On Post-Mined Landscapes, Casey Iwamoto

Theses and Dissertations

Coal strip mining leaves widespread degraded soil throughout the southeastern US. These soils tend to have low pH, high bulk density, impacted hydrologic processes, and an accumulation of heavy metals that limit revegetation and reforestation efforts. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) can tolerate these poor conditions on post-mined sites and has the largest native pine range in the southeastern US, making it an ideal species for restoration efforts. Additionally, the use of soil amendments to improve soil physical and chemical parameters is expected to lead to improved plant establishment and growth. To address the challenges associated with degraded post-mined landscapes, two …

Factors Associated With Undergraduate Students Pursuing Health And Dietetic Careers, Claire Bolen Hardin

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated factors that influenced undergraduate students’ career paths within health care and the dietetics field. A 34-item Qualtrics survey was emailed to undergraduate students. Most of the participants (N=355) were females (72.2%), 72.9% were white students and 21.6% were black or African Americans. Results indicated the main reason students chose their major was personal interest. Other reasons included lifestyle, family, potential financial success, and friends. More than 50% of students indicated they personally knew someone who has the job they desire after college. Diversity within majors and health-related professions could be influenced by gender and ethnicity. …

Expanding The Emotional Cascade Model Of Borderline Personality Disorder With Negative Thoughts, Thought Control Strategies, Suicide Attempts, And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Courtney K. Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an impairing mental illness and has a core component of emotional dysregulation. Evidence suggests the emotional cascade model describes how this emotional dysregulation leads to engaging in risky and life-threatening behaviors, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Specifically, this model describes rumination as a cognitive component that links the emotional and behavioral dysregulation. The current study aimed to expand the model by investigating how individuals with heightened BPD traits engage in NSSI and in cognitive strategies to cope with their negative affect. Specifically, it was investigated whether behaviors like suicide attempts and cognitions differentiated between those …

Simulated Residual Nitrogen Scavenging And Recovery Among Cover Crop Systems Using Nitrogen-15 In A Corn Production Setting, Curtis Champ Knight

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen recovery and contribution to production agricultural systems are critical services provided by cover crops investigated in this study. Research was conducted to evaluate the effect of simulated residual N (SRN) on N recovery in various winter cover crop systems (CCS) and subsequent effects on corn N uptake. Biomass, C and N measurements, 15N recovery, and sources of N acquisition were quantified among CCS. Subsequently, CCS and SRN effects on corn productivity and N status were quantified. Grass-included CCS had the greatest N scavenging ability by CCS termination, though they had negative or neutral effects on corn N acquisition. Brassicas-included …

The Conservation Genetics Of Elassoma Alabamae And Phylogeography Of Elassoma Evergladei, David Lee Pounders

Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern U.S. is a hotspot of aquatic biodiversity and endemism in the upland and Coastal Plain regions. One component of this biodiversity is the Pygmy Sunfishes of the genus Elassoma. I used next-generation sequencing to aid in the understanding and conservation of these enigmatic fish. My first chapter focused on one of the most restricted species in the U.S. the Spring Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma alabamae. In this study I found four distinct genetic populations, evidence of founder effects, and that a newly discovered population is native. My second chapter focused on the Everglades Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma evergladei a more …