Digital Commons Network^™

Incorporating Follicle Stimulating Hormone To Stimulate Multiple Corpora Lutea For Embryo Transfer In Beef Cattle, Bryan Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Assisted reproductive technologies, such as estrus synchronization and embryo transfer, can aid producers in improving genetics by increasing the number of progeny produced from elite females. The success of embryo transfer is dependent on a viable, competent embryo and a recipient with a receptive uterine environment. Follicular development and luteinization are pertinent for the recipient to establish a functional corpus luteum (CL) that can produce adequate concentrations of progesterone (P4) and provide a uterine environment conducive for the establishment of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine if exogenous follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), would increase the number of …

Phenotypic Evaluation Of Energycane (Saccharum Spp.) Genotypes In Northcentral Mississippi, Wyatt Armistead Eason

Theses and Dissertations

As fossil fuel supplies decrease and concerns of climate change increase, the search for alternative sources of fuel has pushed biomass crops to the forefront of discussion. Saccharum spontaneum readily hybridizes with commercial sugarcane and lends cold tolerance and greater yields to the hybrid progeny, called energycane. Twenty genotypes were tested against an energycane variety (Ho 02-113) as a control. Two locations were tested: the HH Leveck Animal Research Center (planted in 2019), and the Bearden Dairy Research Center (planted in 2020). The Bearden Dairy Research Center yielded significantly higher than the HH Leveck Animal Research Center regarding dry matter …

Classification Models For 2,4-D Formulations In Damaged Enlist Crops Through The Application Of Ftir Spectroscopy And Machine Learning Algorithms, Benjamin Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

With new 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) tolerant crops, increases in off-target movement events are expected. New formulations may mitigate these events, but standard lab techniques are ineffective in identifying these 2,4-D formulations. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms, research was conducted to classify 2,4-D formulations in treated herbicide-tolerant soybeans and cotton and observe the influence of leaf treatment status and collection timing on classification accuracy. Pooled Classification models using k-nearest neighbor classified 2,4-D formulations with over 65% accuracy in cotton and soybean. Tissue collected 14 DAT and 21 DAT for cotton and soybean respectively produced higher accuracies than the …

The Effects Of Moderate And High Temperatures On Growth, Metabolism, And Blood-Oxygen Affinity In Ictalurus Spp., Brandon Gerhart

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the growing use of hybrid catfish (Ictalurus furcatus × I. punctatus) in aquaculture, few studies have investigated the comparative effects of temperature on physiological performance with other cultured catfish. Therefore, growth, metabolism, and blood-oxygen affinity of blue (I. furcatus), channel (I. punctatus), and hybrid catfish were compared at moderate (23°C) and high (33°C) water temperatures. Channel catfish had the greatest growth and were in better condition compared to blue and hybrid catfish. Hybrid catfish standard metabolic rates did not differ from blue or channel catfish, while hybrid catfish had higher maximum metabolic rates, …

Nondestructive Assessment Of Flexural And Tensile Properties For Southern Pine Structural Lumber, Marly Gabriela Carmona Uzcategui

Theses and Dissertations

The flexural and tensile properties of visually graded southern yellow pine lumber were modeled. Longitudinal and transverse vibration techniques and proof-loading bending tests were used to assess the flexural and tensile properties of southern pine lumber. The properties evaluated were dynamic modulus of elasticity (dMOE), static modulus of elasticity (E_b), tension modulus of elasticity (E_t), and ultimate tensile stress (UTS). The tensile properties were evaluated in the direction parallel to the grain. This study presents the results of tests conducted on No. 2 2 × 6 and 2 × 10 southern pine lumber of two different …

Experiments To Mitigate Flow Recirculation In A Closed Anechoic Chamber Using Mesh Screens As Turbulence Suppressors, Tori Kay Wolverton

Theses and Dissertations

The desire to gather acoustic data of a propeller in simulated hover without environmental effects is met with the challenge of recirculating flow in a closed anechoic chamber. Flow recirculation in an anechoic chamber is not ideal because the effects of it being ingested by the rotor cause unsteady loadings on the propeller. This unsteady loading causes vortex noise from the turbulence introduced by the recirculation of the flow. The aim is to study the acoustic signature of a propeller separate from external factors and engine noise. Two different propellers with three different screen combinations were tested in a closed …

Beyond The Pta: Mothering Work And Women's Education Activism In The Deep South, Emily L. Tingle

Theses and Dissertations

It has long been established that women play unique roles within schools, volunteerism, and school-based community work (Griffith and Smith 2005; Calarco 2020; Lewis and Diamond 2015; Posey-Maddox 2014). Additionally, research suggests that the work done surrounding the institution of education primarily falls on mothers (Griffith and Smith 2005; Haley-Lock and Posey-Maddox 2016; Lareau 2000; Lareau 2011). However, little research has been done that explores how gender dynamics play out in education activism that lies outside of schools. This study seeks to understand how women view gendered expectations of mothering work in regard to education and if/how they perceive that …

Assessing The Functional Impacts Of Acquired Syphilis In Industrial England, Cassandra Marie Seda Degaglia

Theses and Dissertations

This work identifies and describes pathological skeletal changes associated with and attributable to acquired syphilis and which potentially caused functional impairment within eleven skeletal individuals recovered from five industrial-era London cemeteries. In eight (72.73%), functional impairment was likely or very likely, based on type and distribution of lesions across their skeleton. These impairments likely impacted the individuals’ ability to engage in various forms of physical activity, potentially limiting their economic potential. These results expand our still highly limited understanding of syphilis’s functional impacts within past populations, especially within industrial-era societies, querying longstanding characterizations of tertiary gummatous involvement as benign, while …

Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems To Sample Insects In Soybean, Marvin Merkl

Theses and Dissertations

To overcome some limitations of manual insect sampling in soybeans, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sampling platform was developed that could collect insects in a sweep net attached to the bottom of a UAV. Before this UAV sampling platform can be used to make management decisions, correlations with manual sweep net and/or drop cloth sampling methods are needed. This will allow action thresholds for the various pests to be calculated for the UAV sampling platform. To make the correlations, 87 soybean fields were sampled during 2020 and 2021 with each of 4 sampling methods, a UAV travelling 50-m, the same …

Inosine 5’- Monophosphate Derived Umami Flavor Intensity Of Beef Determination By Electrochemistry And Chromatography, Kezia Virellia To

Theses and Dissertations

The umami sensation contributes to beef flavor and acceptability. Inosine 5’- monophosphate (IMP) was the most abundant nucleotide in meat known to impart umami taste which thus far had been overlooked in meat flavor studies. The objectives of this study were to determine the umami taste threshold of inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), the effects of spiking IMP on the sensory descriptive attributes of various USDA graded beef strip steaks, and to differentiate beef by IMP content using electrochemistry. USDA Prime, Choice, and Select steaks were spiked with 0.3 and 0.6 mM IMP and analyzed chemically and organoleptically. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and …

Development And Characterization Of A Peanut-Shell Based Activated Carbon And The Outcomes Of A Hands-On Approach To Chemical Education, Danielle Pitre

Theses and Dissertations

Heavy metals are a recognized toxic environmental contaminant, even at very low concentrations. There have been well-known events in the last decade within the US of high amounts of lead in the drinking water supplies of cities, leading to detrimental effects within its population. Ways have been found to remove this metal, and others, from water with expensive adsorbents. The aim of the first part of this research was to create an inexpensive adsorbent from a waste material and modify it in such a way that it would be adept at removing heavy metals from water.

In Chapter I, we …

Assessing The Flood Tolerance, Physiological Mechanism, And Nutrient Mitigation Potential Of Short Rotation Woody Crops Planted On Seasonally Flooded Marginal Land Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Thu Ya Kyaw

Theses and Dissertations

In 2019, the Mississippi River watershed had a record-long flooding, which was comparable with the 1927 Great Mississippi River Flood. This study leveraged this flooded condition to assess the flood tolerance of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and black willow (Salix nigra) planted as short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) on seasonally flooded marginal land of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) in 2018. The survival/mortality prediction models developed by using hydrologic and environmental variables suggested that only high flood depth affected the survival of black willow. However, eastern cottonwood was threatened by flood depth, flood duration, and …

Determining The Effects Of Elevated Carbon Dioxide On Soil Acidification, Cation Depletion, And Soil Inorganic Carbon And Mapping Soil Carbons Using Artificial Intelligence, Jannatul Ferdush

Theses and Dissertations

Soil carbon is the largest sink and source of the global carbon cycle and is disturbed by several natural, anthropogenic, and environmental factors. The global increase of atmospheric CO₂ affects soil carbon cycling through varied biogeochemical processes. The first chapter is a compilation of current information on potential factors triggering soil acidification and weathering mechanisms under elevated CO₂ and their consequences on soil inorganic carbon (SIC) pool and quality. Soil water content and precipitation were critical factors influencing elevated CO₂ effects on the SIC pool. The second chapter examines a detailed column experiment in which six soils …

How And With Whom You Spend Your Time Matters: An Examination Of Familial Relationships, Leisure Activities, And Dementia Development, Erika Cooksey Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Dementia is an interminable disorder characterized by a decrease in cognitive functioning behavioral and emotional changes, and an overall diminishment in quality of life that usually affects the older population. In the coming decades, scientists estimate that the number of sufferers will reach over 100 million worldwide. Though there is currently no cure for any form of dementia, the theory of cognitive reserve posits certain lifestyle characteristics (i.e., educational attainment, SES, and/or career path) can mitigate the risk of dementia by improving cognitive resilience over an individual’s lifetime. The current study sought to discover what, if any, effects familial relationships, …

Examining The Impact Of Financial Stress On Affect And Eating Behaviors, Ellen Hunt Steele

Theses and Dissertations

Economic pressure and concomitant financial stress have been associated with mental and physical health problems, conflict, and poorer education and employment outcomes. Moreover, financial stress can be seen in specific hardships (e.g., food insecurity) and lead to maladaptive attempts to regulate emotions stemming from financial stressors. Women may be more vulnerable to consequences of food insecurity and attempts to regulate emotions with eating than men. Thus, the current study examined the impact of a randomized financial stress induction on affect and snack food choice while accounting for the influence of food insecurity and gender. Participants included 269 validly responding individuals. …

X-Ray Vision At Action Space Distances: Depth Perception In Context, Nate Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate and usable x-ray vision has long been a goal in augmented reality (AR) research and development. X-ray vision, or the ability to comprehend location and object information when such is viewed through an opaque barrier, would be imminently useful in a variety of contexts, including industrial, disaster reconnaissance, and tactical applications. In order for x-ray vision to be a useful tool for many of these applications, it would need to extend operators’ perceptual awareness of the task or environment. The effectiveness with which x-ray vision can do this is of significant research interest and is a determinant of …

Behavioral And Histological Inflammatory Analysis Of A Single, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Repeated Subconcussive Brain Injury Using A Rodent Model., Anna Marie Clay

Theses and Dissertations

Subconcussive (SC) impacts have become a growing concern within the neuroscience community regarding the immediate and long-lasting effects of sports-related injuries. While a single low-level impact, i.e., a subconcussion, may not cause cerebral perturbations, it has been increasingly recognized that repeated SC exposure can induce deleterious effects. Therefore, determining the lower limits of systematic perturbation resulting from multiple SC impacts is of critical importance in expanding our understanding of cerebral vulnerability and recovery. Currently, there is a lack of correlation between a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and repeated SC impacts with respect to injury biomechanics. Moreover, the cumulative threshold …

Effects Of Temperature On Growth, Metabolic Rate, And Lower Dissolved Oxygen Tolerance Of Speckled Peacock Bass Cichla Temensis, Manuel E. Coffill-Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

I examined the effects of temperature (25, 30, and 35°C) on growth, standard metabolic rate (SMR), and lower dissolved oxygen tolerance (LDOT) of juvenile Speckled Peacock Bass Cichla temensis. Fish were acclimated to 150-L aquaria for 7 weeks before the growth, SMR, and LDOT experiments. The growth study lasted 58 days and fish acclimated to 25 and 30°C displayed similar growth rates, while fish acclimated to 35°C had very poor growth rates. The SMR and LDOT experiments were performed using intermittent respirometers. Fish acclimated to 25°C had the lowest SMR, followed by 30°C, and finally 35°C. The highest LDOT …

Effectiveness Of Food-Grade Coating Treated Nets After Various Drying Methods At Controlling Mite Growth On Dry-Cured Hams, Sadie White

Theses and Dissertations

Tyrophagus putrescentiae, known as the ham mite, is the most difficult pest to control in the dry-cured ham industry. Food-grade propylene glycol coated nets have been studied as an alternative to conventional mite infestation treatments but were heavy and costly to ship. This study aimed to increase the ease of use of the coated nets via drying. Three drying treatments: oven dried for 7 min (OD7m), oven dried for 20 min (OD20m), and counter dried for 24 h (CD24h), were tested to determine the efficacy at controlling mites as well as the mechanical properties of the nets and sensory characteristics …

Evaluation Of Flood Damage On Cross Laminated Timber Wall Configurations, Mustafa Nezih Kaya

Theses and Dissertations

Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the critical factors that affect climate change, increasing flooding risk and threatening human life. The use of traditional construction materials is responsible for a higher percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the use of sustainable materials in the construction industry. The substitution of current building materials with sustainable materials is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and positively influence climate change when the current construction demand in the world is considered. Wood is one of the primary environmentally friendly construction materials in regard to high carbon storage and low carbon emissions. …

Backyard Grower-Consumer Perceptions Of Rabbit Meat Consumption In Rural Mississippi, Mildred Elizabeth Murphree

Theses and Dissertations

Every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition. Malnutrition includes three conditions: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies or excesses, or overnutrition. Obesity is a greater contributor to death than undernutrition. Age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education level affect obesity. The rates of obesity vary considerably between states and regions of the country. The state of Mississippi is ranked as the poorest state in the nation and Mississippi has the highest adult obesity rate at 40.8% (Farberman & Kelley, 2020).

Rabbit meat production and consumption is a possible solution to malnutrition worldwide (Petrescu & Petrescu-Mag, 2018). …

Maternal Nutrient Restriction And Melatonin Supplementation Alter Neurotransmitter Pathways In Bovine Fetal And Placental Tissues, Allison R. Harman

Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient restriction is a relatively common production insult to pregnancy in cattle. Recently, melatonin supplementation has been investigated as a possible therapeutic to rescue the negative effects of nutrient restriction. Neurotransmitters have been implicated as having negative programming effects in mouse and human pregnancies, manifested as metabolic and neurologic disorders. The role of neurotransmitters in fetal development has only begun to be understood in mice and humans. Neurotransmitters have not been analyzed in cattle, much less within the context of a compromised pregnancy. Brangus heifers were allotted to one of four treatments (ADQ-CON, RES-CON, ADQ-MEL, RES-MEL) in either Fall 2019 …

Effects Of Mass Death On Community Structure And Ecosystem Function, Abby Kimpton Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Death and decomposition are natural processes that are generally well-understood. However, large events of death, such as mass mortality events (MMEs) are increasing in frequency and their impacts on the ecosystem are largely unknown. These events may have both bottom-up effects from increased nutrient input as well as top-down effects from loss of an ecological functional group by the affected population. Different functional MMEs may result in different top-down effects, creating cascading effects. In Chapter 1, I test the hypothesis that scavenger and herbivore simulated MMEs generate novel bottom-up and top-down effects. Results indicate that MMEs have a significant effect …

Soybean Potassium Utilization During Reproductive Growth Stages In Response To Potassium Timing, Potassium Rate, Herbicide Injury, And Desiccation, Tyler Lawrence Richmond

Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency of soybean [Glycine max (Merr.) L.] is common throughout the Mid-Southern region of the United States. Visual symptoms of K deficiency may be absent or subtle during early and mid-reproductive growth stages. Correcting K deficiency in-season is problematic due to limited research. Information regarding soybean yield response to in-season fertilizer K application time is limited to growth stages prior to the onset of R1. Research is also limited on new higher yielding soybean cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate influences of in-season K application timing during reproductive growth stages on soybean yield. Field experiments …

Towards A Model Of Support: Redefining The Focus Of Early Parenting, Keancelar E. Birge

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the meanings and perceptions of social support and analyzes support received during and after pregnancy among Black women early parents in Mississippi. Ten online and ten in person, in-depth interviews were conducted with Black early parents in Mississippi who either had support from outside organizations like Baby University or who had not. These interviews questioned the participants' understanding and ideas about support and how they perceived their own support to evaluate how having support impacts the livelihood of Black early mothers in Mississippi and their children. Findings demonstrated that there are not real differences in outcomes …

Jack And Phil: Associations Between Exposure To Television Parents, Parental Stress And Efficacy, Jane Elizabeth Shawcroft

Theses and Dissertations

Although parents in television are often depicted in negative patterns, little to no research has empirically examined the effect of viewing these depictions of parent efficacy and stress. The purpose of this study is to use experimental methods to assess the effect of viewing authoritative, authoritarian, and stereotypical depictions of parents in television on parental efficacy and parent stress. A sample of 122 parents of adolescents were randomly assigned to one of three condition groups: authoritarian, authoritative, and stereotypical. Each group watches a different clip from a television show, and then reported on their comparison of themselves against the parents …

A Machine Learning Approach That Integrates Clinical Data And Ptm Proteomics Identifies A Mechanism Of Ack1 Activation And Stabilization In Cancer, Eranga Roshan Balasooriya Loku Balasooriyage

Theses and Dissertations

Identification of novel cancer driver mutations is crucial for targeted cancer therapy, yet a difficult task especially for low frequency drivers. To identify cancer driver mutations, we developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict cancer hotspots. Here, we applied the ML program to 32 non-receptor tyrosine kinases (NRTKs) and identified 36 potential cancer driver mutations, with high probability mutations in 10 genes, including ABL1, ABL2, JAK1, JAK3, and ACK1. ACK1 is a member of the poorly understood ACK family of NRTKs that also includes TNK1. Although ACK1 is an established oncogene and high-interest therapeutic target, the exact mechanism of …

Economic And Hydraulic Simulation Models For Evaluation Of Sediment Management In A Reservoir, Razieh Anari

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation is a serious problem that threatens the water storage capacities across the world. Extending a dam's life requires adopting a new design and operational paradigm that focuses on managing the reservoir and watershed system to bring sediment inflow and outflow into balance by including reservoir sediment management facilities in dam and reservoir. However, the cost of methods that remove the sediment from reservoirs is usually prohibitive and is a serious factor preventing sustainable sediment management. This thesis considered a case study, Paonia Reservoir in Colorado, to investigate two aspects of reservoir operation, sediment management and economic assessment. The …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Peek Based Functional Composites For Biomedical Applications, Sabah Javaid

Theses and Dissertations

We report the synthesis and characterization of PEEK-MAX (Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2,and Cr2AlC), and PEEK-MoAlB, (DDGS500 – pyrolyzed Distiller’s dried grains with soluble (DDGS)), metal (Mo) and PEEK-ceramic (Xonotlite) based PEEK composites, by hot-pressing. A systematic study was done to understand the effect of these additives on functional and mechanical properties. Initially, these composites were synthesized by hot pressing. Detailed microstructure analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that at higher concentration (≥10 vol%), the Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2 and PEEK-MoAlB particles segregated at the phase boundaries and formed interpenetrating micro-networks. PEEK-Cr2AlC were well dispersed in the PEEK matrix. Microstructure study of the composites showed …

The Acceptability And Feasibility Of Virtual Parent Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Groups: A Feasibility Study, Abigail Elizabeth Moretti

Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and poor overall well-being, particularly when their child also engages in challenging behavior (e.g., self-injury, aggression, property destruction). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which encourages psychological flexibility and attending to the present moment, is particularly suited for this population because parents of children with ASD experience high stress levels and difficulty with adaptive coping. The aim of the current study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing virtual ACT groups with parents of children with ASD and co-occurring challenging behavior. Participants attended an in-person …