Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Maternal Nutrition And Genetic Background On Myogenic And Adipogenic Development In Skeletal Muscle Of Angus And Brahman Cattle Offspring, Racheal L. Lemire

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine breed specific effects of nutritional insults during gestation on regulation of muscle and adipose tissue growth in beef cattle offspring during fetal and early postnatal development. Angus and Brahman heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments consisting of 100% or 60% based on net energy requirements for gestating heifers. Nutritional treatments were imposed from day 50 to 180 of gestation. Fetuses harvested at 180 days of gestation had smaller frames and spared critical organs. Gene expression in several fetal tissues indicated potential for compensatory growth. Postnatally, Brahman offspring weighed …

The Impact Of A Freshman Orientation Program On Academic Achievement For Students Enrolled In A Community College, James Gray

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the effectiveness of a freshman orientation program on second-semester retention, second-year retention, and cumulative GPA for students enrolled in a community college in the Deep South. The problem addressed in this study is a lack of sufficient academic and social support for college students, limiting their ability to remain in school and with high levels of academic performance (Nora & Crisp, 2007). For this study, the following research questions were analyzed: (1) Are there differences in 1st to 2nd semester retention for program completers with a 17-18 ACT as compared to …

The Morphology, Pigmentation, And Development Of Structural Coloration In Vanessa Cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Emily A. Shelby

Theses and Dissertations

Butterfly wing color patterns are produced by the placement of monochromatic scales that have specific colors due to pigmentation, nanostructures, or a combination of both. Structural coloration results from the interference of light from the architecture of the nanostructures. Structural coloration in butterfly scales has been studied optically, but little is known about the mechanisms used to create these scales compared to scales without structural coloration. Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine underlying morphological, pigmentation, and developmental differences between blue (i.e., structural) and black (i.e., nonstructural) wing scales of Vanessa cardui. Differences in scale size, pigmentation, …

Perceptions Of Food, Supportive Resistance Resources, And Nutrition Knowledge Of Bariatric Surgery Patients, Savannah K. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Adult overweight and obesity is a life-threatening health concern worldwide. Bariatric surgery is a successful treatment for severely obese individuals however, there is a moderate risk for weight regain. This study evaluated perception of food, supportive resistance resources, and nutrition knowledge, which play important roles in successful weight loss post bariatric surgery. Participants completed a three-part questionnaire at three time intervals: prior to surgery, 2 months post-surgery, and 5 months post-surgery. Results show that bariatric patients’ eating behavior significantly changes post bariatric surgery, but a disordered perception of food remains. Bariatric surgery patients believe support from significant others and family …

Development Of Quality Crappie Fishing Opportunities In Mississippi State Lakes, Bryant Haley

Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi is home to many small impoundments, providing anglers with local fishing opportunities. Crappie (Pomoxis spp.) fisheries are highly prized in the state, and managers struggle to meet angler expectations in these smaller systems. From 2015 to 2017, white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) and magnolia crappie (male black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus x female white crappie Pomoxis annularis), marked with oxytetracycline and alizarin red s, were stocked into five small Mississippi impoundments to evaluate stocking efficacy and long-term mark retention. Overall stocking contribution to established populations was 0.59% with only one marked fish recovered. An additional 12 lakes ranging in size from …

Predation Risk Of Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Auritus) On Commercial Catfish Production In The Mississippi Delta, Terrel Christie

Theses and Dissertations

Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) impact United States commercial aquaculture and are considered the greatest avian predators on catfish (Ictalurus spp.) aquaculture facilities in the Mississippi Delta. Recent changes in aquaculture practices, regulatory policies, and decreased overall hectares in production prompted this study that: 1) estimated abundance and distribution of cormorants at their night roosts using aerial surveys, 2) assessed cormorant consumption of catfish in relation to their night roost through cormorant collections and stomach contents analysis, and 3) updated a cormorant bioenergetics model with contemporary data to estimate catfish loss. Models estimated that 4.2 and 5 million cormorant forage days …

Problem Solving And Suicide: A First Look, Caitlin E. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with rates increasing over the past several decades. This study examined whether problem-solving performance differs in those with no suicide ideation or attempts compared to those with only suicide ideation and with those with a history of attempts. Results demonstrated that when accounting for depression, problem-solving accuracy was positively predictive for the suicidal ideation group. Furthermore, the suicidal ideation group solved more problems on average than both those with no history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and the suicide attempt group. The current study was somewhat underpowered and …

Development And Evaluation Of An Automated System To Deliver A Live-Attenuated Edwardsiella Ictaluri Vaccine In Commercial Catfish Production Systems, John Wesley Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

Catfish aquaculture is the largest cultured food fish industry in the United States, accounting for approximately $375 million in sales annually, with Mississippi leading the industry with 36,200 surface acres of production. However, infectious diseases such as enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) are decreasing production efficiencies, creating losses of $40-60 million annually. Live-attenuated oral ESC vaccines are effective in preventing ESC infections, but have not been widely adopted by the catfish industry due to the lack of a system to administer the oral vaccine at the scale seen in commercial catfish production systems. An automated system was developed to administer …

Characterization Of Fatty Acid Composition Of Bull Sperm With Varied Cryotolerance, Holly Evans

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to determine fatty acid composition and acrosome status from bull sperm with different freezabilities (n = 12). We hypothesized that lipid fractions had differentiated fatty acid compositions and such differences influence sperm freezability and the sperm acrosome. Fatty acids were extracted from fresh frozen sperm and fractionated by solid-phase extraction. Thirtyour fatty acids were quantified. Saturated fatty acids were predominant, accounting for 71 to 80% of fatty acids in both fractions. Differences in composition between fractions existed (P < 0.001). Branched chain fatty acid concentrations (15 to 18 µg) were almost twice that of polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations found in the polar fractions (8 to 9 µg; P < 0.001). Sperm with differentiated freezabilities had few differences in 22:0, 18:1 cis 9, and 14:0 13-methyl fatty acids (P ≤ 0.011). Analyses of acrosome status of sperm revealed that acrosomes were affected differently among bulls.

Evaluating The Applicability Of Deep Learning Techniques In Agricultural Systems Modeling, Babak Saravi

Theses and Dissertations

A rapidly expanding world population and extreme climate change have made food production a crucial challenge in the twentyirst century. Therefore, improving crop production through agricultural management could be an effective solution for this challenge. However, due to the associated cost and time to perform field works, researchers widely rely on agricultural system modeling to examine the impacts of different crop management scenarios. However, due to the complexity of agricultural system modeling, their applications in producing practical knowledge for producers are limited. Concurrently, deep learning techniques have been recognized as a preferred method when dealing with large datasets. This study …

Understanding The Effects Of Mass Mortality Events On Plant Communities And Consumer Behavior, Carolina Baruzzi

Theses and Dissertations

Mass mortality events (MMEs) are die-offs that result in increased carrion biomass and sometimes the impairment of functional roles. Concurrently, several vulture species are declining. Carrion is a basal resource in ecosystems and its recycling by vultures is considered an ecosystem service. However, the consequences of simultaneously increasing carrion loads and declining vulture populations are unknown. I developed a theoretical framework predicting that, with increasing carrion biomass, carrion food web diversity would increase horizontally and vertically, respectively increasing and decreasing carrion recycling efficiency. Using a manipulative experiment, I investigated the role of bottom-up and top-down forces affecting plant communities during …

Spatial Responses Of Adult Male White-Tailed (Odocoileus Virginianus) Deer To Hunting Risk, Ashley Chance

Theses and Dissertations

Movement responses of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to hunting pressure vary across study systems and risk levels and may be confounded by breeding season. At the average levels of risk present on my study area (0.04 hunters/hectare/day) deer almost never altered behavior in response to hunter proximity. Home range characteristics did not predict risk exposure or risk management. Behavioral responses to levels of risk present in my study appear to be minimal, however bucks altered home range size and movements as the breeding season progressed. Most unconstrained movements occurred in early rut, with a 50% reduction during late and …

Supporting Student Success In Chemistry Using Peer Mentoring, Laboratory Experiments, And Eye-Tracking Analysis, Viveka Lakruwani Perera

Theses and Dissertations

Active participation in the learning process enhance students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We implemented peerocused, active learning, recitation sessions with the large-enrollment sections for General Chemistry I courses at Mississippi State University (MSState) over a period of four semesters beginning in Spring 2016. The peerocused recitation program was a success improving student final (standardized ACS) exam scores, pass/fail rates for the course, and continuation on to General Chemistry II (CH 1223) courses. Peerocused collaborative learning and students possessing ownership over their learning significantly enhanced academic outcomes of our program. Worked-example effect is the best known and apparently the most …

Tensile Strength And Other Material Properties Of The Equine Suspensory Apparatus Of The Distal Phalanx And The Effect Of Specimen Size, Tensile Load Orientation, And Freezing On Determination Of The Material Properties, Benjamin E. Nabors

Theses and Dissertations

The suspensory apparatus of the distal phalanx (SADP) is an intricate adaptation of dermal and epidermal tissue that has a specialized role in the horse to absorb concussion while suspending the weight of the horse from within the hoof. The integrity of the hoof-bone connection is critical to the health of the horse and it can be affected by numerous disorders that cause it to fail. Accurate data on the ultimate tensile strength and other material properties of the SADP are important in modeling the behavior of the tissue under load and selecting appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for disorders …

The Binding Modes Of Diminazene Aceturate With C-Myc G-Quadruplexes, Jerrano Bowleg

Theses and Dissertations

Interactions between DNA and ligands are important in the rational design of drugs and in research into DNA function. In particular, the interaction of DMZ with DNA structures named “G-quadruplexes” was considered. G-quadruplexes are structures present in telomeres and several oncogenes. The main purpose of this project was to provide a computational tool to study DNA ligand interactions using a variety of molecular modeling techniques that include molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and MM/PBSA (Molecular Mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area). We investigated the binding modes and binding affinities of DMZ with c-MYC G-quadruplexes (G4s). We found that the conformation and …

In Ovo Injection Of Probiotic Combinations And Their Impact On Broiler Chick Performance, Immune Response, And Gastrointestinal Development, Chrysta Beck

Theses and Dissertations

As the international poultry industry searches for antibiotic alternatives, dietary probiotic supplementation has exhibited the ability to decrease FCR, increase live weight gain, and regulate inflammatory responses within the gut of broiler chickens. The in ovo (or in egg) supplementation of probiotics has the potential for promoting early colonization of probiotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and providing enhanced protection against pathogens in the hatchery and grow-out facilities. In the present studies, the in ovo injection of either L. animalis + E. faecium combination or L. animalis + B. licheniformis combination on d 18 of incubation does not negatively affect …

Is Endorsement Of Fear Of Happiness Associated With Behavioral Aversion To Reward?, Amanda Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research suggests that some individuals have negative views about happiness and may actively avoid positivity due to associating it with previous negative experiences. The Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) is a paradigm that examines approach and avoidance tendencies. However, the AAT has previously never been used to examine motivational tendencies in individuals who fear happiness. In this study, we used the AAT to examine if individuals who fear happiness respond aversively in the face of prospective positivity. Results revealed that the difference between the duration of pulling the joystick for both stimuli is negatively related to fear of happiness (FHS) such …

Maintaining Agronomics, Economics, And Furrow-Irrigation Efficiency In Mid-Southern Usa Soybean Conservation Production Systems, Corey Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Mid-southern USA soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] producers are being pushed to increase adoption of conservation tillage systems as a means of increasing the application efficiency of gravity flow irrigation systems. This research was conducted to determine whether the efficiency of furrow-irrigation systems could be manipulated through conservation tillage systems while maintaining soybean productivity and profitability. Three experiments were conducted near Stoneville, MS on a Dubbs silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs) to determine the effects of reducing tillage and increasing ground cover residues on irrigation application efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency, soybean grain yield, and net returns …

Fraze Mowing For Overseeding Establishment And Removal Of Perennial Ryegrass, Matthew Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

Fraze mowing offers a new tool used in both overseeding establishment and removal of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Research objectives were to determine the most effective timing of fraze mowing in overseeding establishment and removal, as well as to compare fraze mowing to other establishment and removal methods. Fall overseeding studies suggest that fraze mowing and scalping in mid-October provides the fastest establishment of ryegrass. However, by mid-March all treatments led to visually similar results. When evaluating removal timings, fraze mowing performed in early- and late-May led to faster visual bermudagrass recovery than March and April timings. Early-season application …

How The Dogface Got Its Color: How Genetics And The Environment Influence Color Variation Within And Between Species In The Zerene Butterfly, Jennifer Fenner

Theses and Dissertations

A fundamental question in biology is: How is variation generated? At a basic level, the vast amount of variation and biodiversity is generated through a combination of genetic and environmental processes. Traditionally these processes were treated independently, but recently fields such as evolutionary development have worked to unify our understanding of these mechanisms and to investigate how these processes interact with each other to generate variation. Developmental plasticity provides a fantastic framework for studying how genetic and environmental (GxE) interactions shape and maintain natural variation. Butterflies and their wing color patterns have long been model systems for plasticity. This dissertation …

Impact Of Refrigerated Storage On The Dissipation Of Woody Broiler Breast Meat, Michael Byron

Theses and Dissertations

Chicken breast samples, (n=90; n=30 normal, n=30 moderate woody breast (WB), n=30 severe WB) were collected from a commercial processing plant on 5 separate occasions. After 5 days of storage at 2-4 ºC, 84% of severe WB fillets dissipated to moderate WB, which was greater (P<0.05) than all other storage times. In comparison, 40-52% of the moderate WB fillets dissipated to slight WB or normal breasts after 3 to 5 days of storage. Shear force was greater (P<0.05) for normal breast meat than moderate and severe WB meat on day 0. After 2, 3, 4, and 5 days of storage the upper position (cranial part) of severe WB had greater shear force than normal fillets (P<0.05). Therefore, the dissipation that occurred in woody breast meat over refrigerated storage was apparent through palpation but did not result in improved texture in the cranial portion of the breast, based on shear force results.

Evaluation Of Health, Production Parameters, Time To First Detected Estrus, And Behavior In Dairy Cows Treated With Pegbovigrastim, Mauricio Xavier Da Silva Oliveira

Theses and Dissertations

Pegbovigrastim injection (IMR) represents a new approach in overcoming mastitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate production parameters, overall health, time to first detected heat, and behavior of cows treated with IMR or a saline control. Study cows (n = 270) were blocked by parity group (multiparous or primiparous) and randomly assigned to control (CON, n = 144) or treatment (IMR, n = 126). Milk yield, fat, protein, lactose, solids nonfat percent, somatic cell count, and body condition, hygiene, and lameness were evaluated weekly. Animals were evaluated for metritis twice weekly via evaluation of rectal temperature, per rectum …

Evaluation Of Preemergence And Postemergence Herbicide Programs On Weed Control And Weed Seed Suppression In Mississippi Peanut (Arachis Hypogea), John Wesley Seale

Theses and Dissertations

Weed control is challenging for Mississippi peanut producers. Research was established during 2017 and 2018 at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Mississippi, to evaluate herbicide programs for weed control and reducing weed seed production in Mississippi peanut production. Treatments were combinations of acetochlor, clethodim, flumioxazin, lactofen, paraquat, and S-metolachlor with their respective adjuvants if needed. Treatments were applied: PRE, early-POST (EPOST), and/or mid-post (MPOST). All treatments included a PRE application followed by (fb) application of EPOST and/or MPOST application. Flumioxazin PRE fb lactofen plus clethodim MPOST provided greatest weed control and peanut yield. This treatment provided 88 …

Exploring United Methodist Adults’ Racial Attitudes And Beliefs From A Critical Race Framework To Inform Outreach Efforts With Low-Income, Black Youth In Mississippi, Brittany Radford

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive literature has documented The United Methodist Church’s’ (UMC) commitment to social justice. A current focus in the church is working with economically marginalized populations, including the 231,170 Black children and youth in Mississippi. To better understand adults that serve this population, I conducted an exploratory study to gather baseline data about UMC adults’ contemporary attitudes and beliefs about race, racism, and discrimination. A cross-sectional survey was administered at the 2017 Mississippi Annual Conference of The UMC. Using a critical race lens, I found that most of the attendees espoused moderate color-blind racial attitudes and beliefs about the frequency that …

Faunal Assemblages Associated With Living Shorelines And Implications For High-Wave Energy Ecosystems, Daniel Firth

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the main and interactive effects of nearshore breakwaters and marsh vegetation on faunal abundance and diversity along an eroded shoreline in Bon Secour Bay, Alabama. In summer 2016, eight replicates of three vegetation treatments plots (naturally vegetated, planted, and open) were established along a breakwater-protected and an adjacent no breakwater shoreline. After which, three methods were used to evaluate nekton quarterly from summer 2016 to summer 2018; Breder traps along the shoreline and lift nets and trawls in nearshore waters. Data were analyzed using the Shannon-Weiner diversity index and ANOVA. Results showed breakwaters supported significantly more abundant …

Deterring Rodent Seed Predation Using Seed-Coating Technologies, Justin Blake Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

With many natural landscapes undergoing restoration efforts, there is a growing need for the optimization of direct seeding practices. Seeds planted on wildlands are often consumed by rodents leading to reduced plant establishment. Coating seeds in rodent aversive products may prevent seed predation. We tested ten seed-coating formulations containing products expected to deter rodents, namely: ghost and cayenne pepper powders; essential oils from bergamot, neem, and pine; methyl-nonyl-ketone, anthraquinone, activated carbon, beta-cyclodextrin and a blank coating containing no rodent deterrents to serve as a control treatment. Each treatment was applied to Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass) seeds. These seeds germinated similarly …

Evaluation Of Chemical, Physical, And Sensory Properties Of Tortillas Prepared From Nixtamalized Oats, Andrea Boza Arauz

Theses and Dissertations

Background and objectives: While alkaline nixtamalization has historically been used for corn, this process may have application in other cereals. Drawbacks to wider use include the lengthy steep time, as well as the volume of alkaline wastewater produced. This study evaluated a novel, waste-effluent-free nixtamalization process for oat (Avena sativa) masa, and compared properties of oat masa and tortillas prepared with 1, 1.5 and 2% lime, with and without steeping. Findings: A minimal water-addition, 45-min, simmering process, without steeping, was effluent-free, and produced oat tortillas comparable to those produced using a traditional overnight steep. The pH increased significantly with increasing …

Overcompensation In Aedes Mosquitoes Populations: Field Tests On Likelihood And An Agent-Based Model To Investigate The Influence Of Cohort Structure, Katherine G. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

The number of individuals in a competitive environment can affect the growth rate, survival, size, and fecundity of those individuals, which is known as density-dependent effects. Overcompensation may occur if few juveniles survive to adulthood in a high-density environment. Overcompensation arises when density dependent survival interacts with extrinsic sources of mortality, such that more juveniles survive to adulthood than if no extrinsic mortality had occurred.

I tested the hypothesis that density dependent effects are common and strong in the field for three mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Aedes triseriatus. I surveyed naturally occurring densities in novel and established …

Understanding Stem Faculty Members' Decisions About Evidence-Based Instructional Practices, Rebecca Louise Sansom

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional teaching practices in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses have failed to support student success, causing many students to leave STEM fields and disproportionately affecting women and students of color. Although much is known about effective STEM teaching practices, many faculty continue to adhere to traditional methods, such as lecture. In this study, we investigated the factors that affect STEM faculty members' instructional decisions about evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs). We performed a qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with faculty members from the Colleges of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering who took part in the …

Machine Learning On Acoustic Signals Applied To High-Speed Bridge Deck Defect Detection, Yao Chou

Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning techniques are being applied to many data-intensive problems because they can accurately provide classification of complex data using appropriate training. Often, the performance of machine learning can exceed the performance of traditional techniques because machine learning can take advantage of higher dimensionality than traditional algorithms. In this work, acoustic data sets taken using a rapid scanning technique on concrete bridge decks provided an opportunity to both apply machine learning algorithms to improve detection performance and also to investigate the ways that training of neural networks can be aided by data augmentation approaches. Early detection and repair can enhance …