Digital Commons Network^™

Thermodynamically Consistent Hydrodynamic Phase Field Models And Numerical Approximation For Multi-Component Compressible Viscous Fluid Mixtures, Xueping Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Material systems comprising of multi-component, some of which are compressible, are ubiquitous in nature and industrial applications. In the compressible fluid flow, the material compressibility comes from two sources. One is the material compressibility itself and another is the mass-generating source. For example, the compressibility in the binary fluid flows of non-hydrocarbon (e.g. Carbon dioxide) and hydrocarbons encountered in the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process, comes from the compressibility of the gas-liquid mixture itself. Another example of the mixture of compressible fluids is growing tissue, in which cell proliferation and cell migration make the material volume changes so that it …

Tumor Suppressor Mir-489 Regulates Proliferation, Autophagy And Overcomes Drug-Resistance In Breast Cancer, Mithil Soni

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of extensive research, breast cancer remains an untamable disease due to complexity and heterogeneity of disease. It is for this very reason, most efforts targeting a single pathway did not yield satisfactory results. Discovery of a novel therapeutic agents targeting multiple pathways, such as miRNAs, holds promise for future cancer therapy. This study was aimed to explore therapeutic potential of one such microRNA, miR-489. In the first study, we identified autophagy as a novel pathway targeted by miR-489 and reported ULK1 and LAPTM4B to be a direct of miR-489 target. We showed that miR-489 mediated autophagy inhibition and …

Service Use Among Individuals With Serious Mental Illness & Physical Health Problems, Laura May Kurzban

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: This study examined the relationship between (a) physical health problems among individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI), (b) their demographic and psychosocial characteristics which may be risk and protective factors for physical health problems, and (c) the use of mental health case management services. Methods: Data collected from community mental health center consumers residing in supported housing (N = 357) included number of self-reported physical health problems and impairment. Services use and billing data were collected on targeted case management (TCM) and mental illness management services (MIMS). Results: Regression models indicated that …

A Single Case Study Exploring Self-Efficacy In An After-School Program, Dubois T. Mcmillan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single-case study was to examine the impact that the Young Moviemakers of America (YMA) after-school program had on the self-efficacy levels of six student-participants. Self-efficacy is considered a strong predictor of students’ academic success and social-emotional intelligence that influences life trajectories. YMA was formed to provide an outlet for youth in south Los Angeles to express their creative voices through a project-based, hands-on model where participants write and produce an original short documentary film.

This study was conducted to examine how YMA’s use of self-efficacy building strategies might impact students’ personal perceptions of general self-efficacy. Various …

Physical Activity During Pregnancy And Birth Outcomes In South Carolina 2009-2015, Andrew Tyler Broadway

Theses and Dissertations

Physical activity is known to be beneficial to adults in general, including pregnant women, but the literature on physical activity and neonatal outcomes has been inconsistent. Few studies have differentiated between physical activity prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy to see whether the typical beneficial effect is not due to having a more active lifestyle in general. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a national cross-sectional surveillance system. Our data from SC PRAMS included 6391 respondents and was weighted to be representative of population of pregnant women that delivered in the state. We excluded births that were not …

The Role Of Cdk8 In Metastatic Growth Of Colon Cancer, Jiaxin Liang

Theses and Dissertations

Unresectable hepatic metastases of colon cancer poorly respond to existing therapies and are a major cause of colon cancer lethality. Transcription- regulating Mediator kinase CDK8, an early clinical stage drug target, is amplified or overexpressed in many colon cancers and CDK8 expression correlates with shorter patient survival. Here we show that CDK8 inhibition does not generally suppress proliferation of CDK8-overexpressing colon cancer cells but nevertheless CDK8 knockdown by shRNA or CDK8 kinase inhibition by a selective small-molecule drug candidate suppresses metastatic growth of mouse and human colon cancer cells in the liver. This effect is due at least in part …

The Impacts Of A Multimodal Assessment Project In General Biology I At A Southwestern Community College, Larchinee Turner

Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) uses an action research (AR) methodology to answer a research question pertaining to the impacts of implementing a multimodal-based assessment project in the introductory, General Biology I (BI 114) classroom at East- State Junior College. A mixed-methods approach will be utilized to ascertain the impacts on student learning as well as student perceptions of the project. Chapter One provides a justification of the relevance and importance of the research question regarding student learning, the post-secondary science landscape, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and the challenges of providing positive learning opportunities and experiences to those students. A concise literature …

Communication Between Home And School For Parents Of Children With Chronic Illness, Keri Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

A child with chronic illness has a physical or behavioral condition that affects the child’s daily functioning, lasts longer than three months, and requires medical intervention such as medication, hospitalizations, and/or home care (Newacheck, McManus, & Fox, 2001). Chronic illness interferes with all areas of development, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, and a growing number of children with chronic illnesses are attending school. Effective communication between parents and educators is essential so that accurate information about the nature and extent of the impact of chronic illness on children’s learning experiences and schooling can be shared and appropriate supports …

Efforts Towards The Discovery Of Novel Methods For The Synthesis Of Pharmacologically Relevant Molecular Scaffolds, Graham Joseph Haun

Theses and Dissertations

With the introductions of pharmaceuticals into modern day society many people have been using them to improve their lives. Due to this high increase in demand along with the ever-growing concern of environmental impact pharmaceutical companies have been pressed to synthesis new and existing drugs at a higher rate. This increased rate can cause low yield drugs or have a heavy environmental impact. As the use of pharmaceuticals becomes more widespread the need for greener and simpler organic synthesis methods to make these pharmaceuticals becomes more needed.

Herein is reported the methodological development of different pharmacologically relevant scaffolds. This work …

Students And Sexual Orientation: A Study Of Students And Their Development At Higher Educational Institutions, Diamond Bolden

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore and assess student sexual identity development on college students, in particular sophomore, junior, and senior students at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ in the spring 2018 semester. The study also investigated the impact of demographic factors and other variables such as gender, ethnicity, and social life. The instrument used to assess students' anxiety levels and attitudes toward sexual orientation was adapted from two surveys used in previous studies, one about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) and gender development, as well as student anxiety. It was assessed with survey questions created …

Authenticating Smart Device Users With Behavioral Biometrics, Yanyan Li

Theses and Dissertations

Designed as personal smart assistant, smartphones and smartwatches have dramatically changed people's lives in every aspect from social network communication, navigation to both online and offline shopping. A large amount of personal data such as messages, emails and payment information is stored in such a device. Such data, if lost, can lead to privacy leakage and financial loss. Therefore, protecting such devices from unauthorized access is crucial. Despite the existence of personal identification numbers (PIN) and unlock patterns for user authentication, they have well known drawbacks. Although physiological biometrics such as fingerprints and facial recognition has become popular, they suffer …

A Case Study Of Instructional Leadership, Remediation, And Student Success In Algebra I In Four Public High Schools, Frankie Horton James

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine leadership styles and practices of principals to see how they contributed to math achievement and efficiency with remediation programs on student success in public education in a southern state. The case study focused specifically on leadership styles and philosophy of four strong and independent high school principals who used remediation to promote test scores on the Algebra I EOC exam for students. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, artifacts and published literature with the principals of one southern school district. The conceptual framework for the study was based on instructional …

#Digitalactivism: Examining #Yesallwomen And Teaching Social Media Activism In Technical Communication, Karishma Verma

Theses and Dissertations

In May 2014, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger killed six people and injured fourteen others near

the University of California campus in Santa Barbara. A “hatred of women” was cited as the

reason for his crimes. This incident inspired the hashtag movement #YesAllWomen on social

media. Users shared examples of how although “not all men” engage in violent behaviors that

Rodger exhibited, all women go through their lives fearing. This thesis uses a technofeminist

framework to examine how the #YesAllWomen movement functioned as an online social

movement on Twitter to encourage conversation as well as promote change. I also discuss how

technical …

Ekosistemi I Zonës Së Blinajës Dhe Funksionalizimi Urban, Florim Gashi

Theses and Dissertations

Mundësitë për investime në zonat e përshatshme për turizëm dhe mundësia që ato të sjellin përfitime dhe të jenë të vetëqëndrueshme janë të limituara në Republikën në e Kosovës. Mirëpo në veçanti, Rezervati i Blinajës do të mund të ishte një mundësi e mirë dhe shembull i suksesit për projekte të ngjajshme në të ardhmën. Ky hulumtim është përpjekje që të dëshëmohet se ndërlidhja e ekosistemit, gjeografisë, natyrës si dhe projekti arkitektonik i dizajnuar nga autori në funksion të kësaj, synon që përmes të dhënave burimore por edhe atyre sekondare të dëshmojë që Blinaja është investim real në të ardhmën …

Self-Assembly Of Protein Fibrils In Microgravity, Dylan Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Deposits of insoluble protein fibrils in human tissue are associated with amyloidosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Different proteins are involved in each disease; all are soluble in their native conformation in vivo, but by molecular self-assembly, they all form insoluble protein fibril deposits with a similar cross -sheet structure. The study of molecular self-assembly is also of interest to origin of life. The development of cellular activity was dependent upon the creation of large complex molecular structures in the chemical and environmental conditions present when life originated. Although life probably arose in a planetary environment, microgravity is known to effect cellular …

Application Of Spectral Solution And Neural Network Techniques In Plasma Modeling For Electric Propulsion, Joseph R. Whitman

Theses and Dissertations

A solver for Poisson's equation was developed using the Radix-2 FFT method first invented by Carl Friedrich Gauss. Its performance was characterized using simulated data and identical boundary conditions to those found in a Hall Effect Thruster. The characterization showed errors below machine-zero with noise-free data, and above 20% noise-to-signal strength, the error increased linearly with the noise. This solver can be implemented into AFRL's plasma simulator, the Thermophysics Universal Research Framework (TURF) and used to quickly and accurately compute the electric field based on charge distributions. The validity of a machine learning approach and data-based complex system modeling approach …

Compressive Sampling For Phenotype Classification, Eric L. Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Phenotype classification has become an increasingly important genomic research method for disease identification and treatment. Phenotype classification is the investigation into the genetic information concerned with locating biomarkers (features) in order to identify an observed effect. The primary challenge associated with phenotype classification is with analyzing the data due to the inherent high-dimensionality of DNA data. As a result, phenotype classification faces challenges with feature selection, and consequently, classification accuracy. This research developed a methodology to alleviate these challenges while improving classification performance. The methodology leverages concepts of compressive sampling, to arrive at a process that identifies features most relevant …

Teaching To Assess: An Evaluation Of Assessment Education For Secondary Teacher Candidates, Daniel M. Frederking

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the assessment instruction of a four-year undergraduate secondary education program and its alignment to the teaching standards and the summative teacher licensure assessment. Document analyses were conducted on the program’s syllabi as well as the assessment portions of the InTASC standards and the handbook of the edTPA. Results highlighted several areas of misalignment in the areas of categorical concurrence, depth of knowledge, and range of knowledge. Also of note, preservice teachers in different secondary subject areas are receiving different amounts of assessment instruction. Additionally, local edTPA data was examined to highlight areas of strength and weakness. Students …

A Framework For Improving Breast Cancer Care Decisions By Using Self-Organizing Maps To Profile Patients And Quantify Their Attributes, Vanda Victoria Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

Considering the commonality of breast cancer among women in the United States and the increasing popularity of precision medicine and data analytics in healthcare, the aim of this study was to use self-organizing maps (SOM) to profile and make decisions about breast cancer patients. Breast cancer mass measurements were combined with nine non-medical attributes—family income, history of cancer, level of education, preference of probability level, presence of dependents, employment status, marital status, age, and location—that were randomly generated based on recent population statistics and fed into a SOM. The SOM’s accuracy was evaluated at around 80%. To show the decision-making …

A Geotechnical Perspective On Carbon Sequestration In Clay Using Gasifier Biochar, James Michael Williams

Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing need for employing sustainable soil improvement techniques. Concurrently, soil carbon sequestration methods continue to receive more attention in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas levels contributing to climate change. Exploring the use of gasifier biochar for soil improvement can possibility address these two needs simultaneously. This study investigates the effect of gasifier biochar amendment on mechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of a local clay with poor engineering properties. Specifically, strength, swelling, compressibility, collapsibility, permeability, water retention, cation exchange capacity, pH, and microstructural characteristics were determined for the clay amended with 5, 10, and 20% biochar. Two …

Evaluation Of Nematode Control Practices On Cotton Growth And Yield In Nematode Infested Soils, And The Effect Of Bacterial Inoculation Timing On Bacterial Blight Incidence And Cotton Yield, Bradley Reagan Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) growth, development, and yield can be limited due to reniform nematode and bacterial blight infestation. Studies were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the profitability of a soil fumigant application, seed treatments, and inurrow nematicides to protect cotton from nematode infestation as well as inoculation of bacterial blight at various growth stages in cotton to determine effects on yield. Research was conducted by applying various combinations of nematicides to cottonseed at planting and a fumigant prior to planting. Bacterial blight was conducted by inoculated on cotton at multiple growth stages throughout the year. Based on the …

Evaluation/Refinement Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Thresholds, In Mississippi Whorl Stage Field Corn And Grain Sorghum, Keiton Lanier Croom

Theses and Dissertations

During 2016 and 2017, studies were conducted to determine the effects of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on both damage and yield of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and Zea mays (L.) when infested during the whorl stage. Results from damage ratings suggest that as the amount of overall plants infested increased, overall damage rating increased. However, yield results suggested that there was no yield loss as percent infested plants increased. Other studies were conducted to determine the most sensitive vegetative growth stages of grain sorghum and field corn. Manual damage studies suggests that extensive damage to field corn during growth stages …

Examining The Effects Of Directional Wave Spectra On A Nearshore Wave Model, Sally Catherine Davis Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

Wave models are an integral part of coastal engineering due to their ability to quantify information that is either unobtainable or unavailable. However, these models rely heavily on the input of a directional wave spectrum that describes the variation of energy with frequency and direction. This study investigated how five methods for computing the directional wave spectrum perform within the nearshore spectral wave model, STWAVE. The results of the five experimental runs showed that overall, the greatest differences between spectra were observed in the significant wave height parameter. The mean wave direction showed greater differences at the offshore model domain …

Comparative Genome Analysis Of Fish Pathogens In The Flavobacterium Genus, Salih Kumru

Theses and Dissertations

Aquaculture has potential to support the food supply of increasing world population. Flavobacterial diseases pose a serious problem in wild and aquacultured fish stocks throughout the world. Flavobacterium columnare, F. branchiophilum, and F. psychrophilum are well-known Flavobacterium species that cause important fish losses. Recently, new Flavobacterium species, isolated from diseased fish, have been reported, but their virulence mechanisms are not clear. Thus, the goal of this study was to understand pathogenicity of Flavobacterium species. To this goal, 86 Flavobacterium genomes were analyzed by comparative genomics. Predicted virulence genes were identified for all genomes. For each species, unique and shared virulence …

An Experimental Investigation Of Causal Explanations For Depression And Willingness To Accept Treatment, Taban Salem

Theses and Dissertations

The present study was aimed at experimentally investigating effects of causal explanations for depression on treatment-seeking behavior and beliefs. Participants at a large Southern university (N = 139; 78% female; average age 19.77) received bogus screening results indicating high depression risk, then viewed an explanation of depression etiology (fixed biological vs. malleable) before receiving a treatment referral (antidepressant vs. psychotherapy). Participants accepted the cover story at face value, but some expressed doubts about the screening task’s ability to properly assess their individual depression. Within the skeptics, those given a fixed biological explanation for depression were relatively unwilling to accept either …

A Network-Based Method For The Analysis Of Use And Function In Stone Tool Kits: Implications For Late Prehistoric Settlement Patterning In Northeast Mississippi, Jason Nathaniel Ervin

Theses and Dissertations

A network-based method is developed for analyzing use in stone tool assemblages, where 'use' denotes the tasks for which chipped edges are suitable. Modeling chipped edges as nodes, use-wear and retouch as edge traversals, use-life trajectories of chipped edges as inter-connecting paths, and `tools' as subnetworks over which design tolerances are maintained on edge morphology, the method is an attempt to improve on existing models, allowing for complex, continuous change and multiple uses throughout a chipped edge's use-life. Avoiding analogy-based categories, the method is designed to highlight rather than obscure the possibilities for use and multi-use. Potential for integration into …

A Transgenic Approach To Managing Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) In Cotton, John Cameron Corbin

Theses and Dissertations

Field experiments were conducted in Stoneville, MS and Sidon, MS in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate a new transgenic cotton variety (MON 88702) (Cry51Aa2.834_16) and its effects on tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), populations, frequency of insecticide applications, and yield. Experiments were designed to compare the interactions between the Bt traited plots and non-traited plots and the insecticide spray treatments, which consisted of different application thresholds as well as treatments sprayed only during the early season and only during the late season. MON 88702 provided a significant reduction in later instar tarnished plant bug nymphs, dirty squares, …

Adaptive Molecular Evolution And Biodiversity In Malaria Parasites, Haley Nicole Bodden

Theses and Dissertations

Haemosporidian parasites are the agents of malaria. Countless vertebrates are affected by haemosporidians each year. Haemosporidians have been shown to be evolving at rapid rates; leading to new species of haemosporidians being discovered and new host associations being made. Adaptive molecular evolution was detected in an important hemoglobin degradation gene, falcilysin. At multiple sites across multiple genes involved in important functions signatures of negative selection were detected. The signatures of selection across non-hemoglobin degradation genes were indicative of evolutionary conservation when compared to the more variable hemoglobin degradation genes. This is probably due to the important role the hemoglobin degradation …

Evaluation Of Impacts Of Conservation Practices On Surface Water And Groundwater At Watershed Scale, Xiaojing Ni

Theses and Dissertations

For an agricultural watershed, best management practice (BMP) is a conservational way to prevent non-point source pollution, soil and water loss and mitigate groundwater declination. In this dissertation, several BMPs of tail water recovery system, conservation tillage system and crop rotation were selected and evaluated in order to demonstrate the impacts of those activities on stream water quality and quantity. Besides, a land use change scenario was also evaluated. In order to evaluate the scenarios comprehensively, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Annualized Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution (AnnAGNPS) were applied to simulate surface hydrology scenarios, and Modular flow (MODFLOW) …

Modeling Phase And Sorption Equilibria Using First Principles Simulations, Himanshu Goel

Theses and Dissertations

To capture the underlying chemistry and physics of a system on electronic structure platform, it is necessary to accurately describe the intermolecular interactions such as repulsion, polarization, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals interactions. Among these interactions, van der Waals (dispersion) interactions are weak in nature as compare to covalent bonds and hydrogen bonding, but it is physically and chemically very important in accurately predicting condensed phase properties such as Vapor liquid equilibria. This presents a significant challenge in modeling VLE using a first principles approach. However, recent developments in dispersion corrected (DFT-D3) and nonlocal density functionals can model dispersion …