Digital Commons Network^™

Compromised Health: Examining Growth And Health In A Late Antique Roman Infant And Child Cemetery, Sierra Malis

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the relationship between growth, growth disruption, and skeletal indicators stress amongst juveniles (n=60) interred at the Late Antique infant and child cemetery at Poggio Gramignano (PG) (ca. 5th century CE), associated with a rural agricultural community. Growth disruption – evidenced by decreased long bone length compared to dental age – and stress experience – evidenced by skeletal stress indicators – were compared to those within juveniles from two urban Roman-era cemeteries (n=66), Villa Rustica (VR) (0-400 CE) and Tragurium City Necropolis (TCN) (400-700 CE). Results indicate that the PG juveniles had significantly smaller femoral lengths-for-age than VR …

The Mississippi Timber Severance Tax: Its Economic Impacts To Forestry And The State Economy, Sakar Nepal

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of dollars are collected through Mississippi’s timber severance tax every year which then funds the Forest Resource Development Program (FRDP). This study analyzed their contributions to Mississippi’s economy and found that the total possible contribution was estimated to be $6.0 million in industrial output and 222 full-time and part-time jobs in 2019. However, only about 70 percent of the FRDP funds were expended in that year, and the actual contribution was short by $1.80 million in output and 80 full-time and part-time jobs. This study also examined the impact of the severance tax and FRDP on forest investment, using …

Oxidation Resistance Of An Atomically Flat Cu(111) Surface: A First-Principles Study, Bipin Lamichhane

Theses and Dissertations

The first-principles calculation based on density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the oxidation resistance of atomically flat and atomic-step edges of Cu(111), diffusion of Cu atoms in different surfaces of alumina and interface properties of alumina and Cu(111), and magnetic properties of Mn-substituted strontium hexaferrite. The dissociation of oxygen molecules is the primary reason for the corrosion of metals, which deteriorates their application. Cu(111) flat surface, mono-atomic, and multi-atomic step edges were used to study oxygen diffusion. Penetration of oxygen on a Cu(111) flat surface requires high energy, indicating oxidation resistance. Our DFT result of oxygen diffusion into …

Comet Nuclei Activity Simulation Using Percolation Theory On Comet 67p/Churyumov– Gerasimenko, Ahmad Sohani

Theses and Dissertations

Comets, remnants of the solar system's formation, exhibits partially unexplained outbursts that are closely tied to the physical structure of the nucleus. To investigate outbursts, we employed pore network modeling techniques, such as the Bower-Watson algorithm and Voronoi diagrams, to better represent the nucleus' complex porous structure and simulate gas transfer processes. We examined heat diffusion in the comet's subsurface and its influence on crystallization. The extra heat generated by crystallization can shift the crystalline front deeper into the nucleus, accelerating subsurface evaporation rates. This process results in the formation of a thicker ice mantle with reduced porosity on the …

Role Of Fungal Arv-1 Protein In Sterol Metabolism And Pathogenicity Of The Chestnut Blight Fungus Cryphonectria Parasitica, Soumyadip Kundu

Theses and Dissertations

Intracellular sterol redistribution is an important step in the lipid homeostasis of organisms, a process directly linked to the organizational arrangement in the plasma membrane (PM) of cells. Previous studies in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have demonstrated that the ARV1 (ACAT-related enzyme-2 required for viability 1) protein is a major regulator of sterol transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane, contributing to the structural organization of the PM, rendering it resistant to anti-fungal compounds as well as maintaining ER integrity. This study assessed the significance of ARV1 in the plant pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (Cparv1) …

Development And Evaluation Of An Automated Tactical Tillage Tool To Control Weeds In Row-Crop Production Systems, Grace Mccormick Friday

Theses and Dissertations

Weed control is an integral part of a successful overall production strategy in row- cropping systems and has the potential to reduce or eliminate yield losses that negatively affect profitability. Timely and correctly selected herbicide applications are the major keys for effective weed control in a majority of instances. However, there are negative factors that contribute to ineffectiveness and weed escape issues that currently lack viable options for management. Sparsely populated late-season weeds that emerge after lay-by herbicide applications and weeds that have become tolerant and resistant to traditional herbicide chemistries are of greatest concern. Historically, these weeds would have …

Variational And Adaptive Non-Local Image Denoising Using Edge Detection And K − Means Clustering, Shiraz Mujahid

Theses and Dissertations

With the increased presence of image-based data in modern applications, the need for robust methods of image denoising grows greater. The work presented herein considers two of the most ubiquitous approaches towards image denoising: variational and non-local methods. The effectiveness of these methods is assessed using quantitatively using peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index measure metrics. This study employs ��−means clustering, an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, to isolate the most dominant cluster centroids within the incoming data and propose the introduction of a new adaptive parameter into the non-local means framework. Motivated by the fact that a majority of …

Examining Food Insecurity Among Mississippi Community College Students, Laura Jean Kerr

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity among postsecondary students and especially community colleges is a persistent social problem, but the prevalence continues despite much research. Postsecondary students experience food insecurity slightly differently from the general population and they are held to different rules to qualify for food support such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). In this research I examine the prevalence, frequency, and duration of food insecurity experiences among Mississippi community college students. I begin with a discussion of the literature of food insecurity and policy used to address food insecurity. I draw upon Bourdieu’s theory of social fields, capital, and habitus …

Robotic Cotton Harvesting With A Multi-Finger End-Effector: Research, Design, Development, Testing, And Evaluation, Hussein Gharakhani

Theses and Dissertations

Cotton is harvested with large and heavy machines that are very efficient but have some disadvantages. They can harvest the crop only once at the end of the growing season. Since cotton bolls do not mature uniformly, the early opened bolls expose their fiber to weather for extended periods, reducing lint quality. In addition, the machines can also compact the soil, reducing water and fertilizer usage efficiencies and crop yields in the following years. Robotic cotton harvesting offers a promising solution to these issues. Smaller robotic harvesters could go to the field multiple times during the season to pick cotton …

Quantifying Seasonal And Annual Precipitation Variability On San Salvador Island, Bahamas Using Surface Observations And Satellite Estimates., John Bryson Wells

Theses and Dissertations

San Salvador Island is a small Bahamian island located in the subtropics just north of the Tropic of Cancer. Due to its subtropical location, the island is influenced by both mid-latitude and tropical weather patterns. These weather patterns vary in scale from localized convective uplift to synoptic-scale systems. This study compares satellite-derived estimates of precipitation and rain gauge observations from June 2019 through September 2021 to evaluate the relationship between the two datasets. This study then uses the satellite-derived estimates of precipitation over a 20-year period to quantify annual and seasonal variability in precipitation on San Salvador. Corroborating past research, …

Physiological And Proteomic Analysis Of Soybean In Response To Drought And Heat Stress, Amandeep Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

Drought and temperature stress are the two most important factors limiting crop productivity. A physiological and proteomic analysis of soybean was performed to investigate the negative impact of these variables. The previous studies reported the beneficial effect of silicon under stress conditions. Silicon supplementation may promote plant growth under drought stress, although the mechanism to alleviate drought stress is uncertain. The proteomic analysis of chloroplast proteins was carried out to study the response of silicon supplementation under drought stress.

Similarly, temperature stress, mainly heat stress, has an adverse effect on soybean plants. The comparative analysis of two soybean cultivars, DS25-1 …

Where Did They Come From? Why Did They Go? How Engineering Students’ Perceptions Cultivate Experiences And Influence Behaviors, Sara Campbell Vick

Theses and Dissertations

Engineering undergraduate students have opinions and perceptions of engineering disciplines and engineering undergraduate students do not always matriculate and graduate in precisely the same discipline. Understanding how these two characteristics of engineering undergraduate students interact to inform behaviors is important for engineering educators and administrators to increase and improve recruitment and retention among their students.

This dissertation approached each characteristic of engineering students, first separately and then together. A nationwide survey of undergraduate engineering students found significant differences in how students perceive various engineering disciplines along several paired-term anchored scales. These differences were equally significant when scores were considered in …

Development Of Live Attenuated A. Hydrophila Vaccines And Understanding Of Macrophage-Aeromonas Hydrophila Interactions, Eda Ozdemir

Theses and Dissertations

Channel catfish farming is the largest aquaculture industry in the U.S., and virulent Aeromonas hydrophila is an important re-emerging bacterial pathogen of farmed catfish. A. hydrophila is ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and causes motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) in farmed catfish. A. hydrophila infection is challenging to treat due to rapidly progressive mass mortalities. Although florfenicol has been used in managing outbreaks, acute onset of anorexia, drug cost, and emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains are significant concerns. Prevention of MAS by vaccination could be a promising approach, but a commercial vaccine is not available. Thus, it is critical to develop effective …

Eating German, The American Way: German And American Cooking Traditions, Potato Salad, And The Culinary Assimilation Of German Immigrants, 1820-1920., Scott Wooley

Theses and Dissertations

“Eating German, the American Way” explores how and why the mayonnaise-based potato salad came to be a staple of American culinary tradition. It examines how native-born Americans and German immigrants in the nineteenth century identified themselves based on their culinary traditions and what they ate and how the interactions between, and accessibility of, those traditions created a new identity based on the sharing of recipes as the two groups mingled and assimilated to each other. It uses food as a way to understand the processes of assimilation by defining the distinctions between the two groups based on their separate repertoire …

Physiological And Yield Responses Of Soybean Cultivars To Heat And Drought Stresses, Sadikshya Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important legume crop often exposed to heat and drought stresses during reproductive and early-seed setting stages, resulting in lower yields and seed quality. Ten soybean cultivars were phenotyped for individual (drought or heat) and combined stress tolerance. Under drought, reduced stomatal conductance and increased canopy temperature significantly reduced seed number (46%) and weight (35%). Heat stress alone reduced seed number (19%) and weight (23%) compared to control. Moreover, a degree increase in daytime temperature above 32 °C during the reproductive stage reduced seed weight by 4% and 7% under well-watered and drought conditions, respectively. …

Molecular Characterization Of Seminal Plasma From Boars With Divergent Sperm Quality, Notsile Hleliwe Dlamini

Theses and Dissertations

Seminal plasma (SP) is the microenvironment of spermatozoa whose composition reflects semen quality and constitutes an excellent source for detecting non-invasive biomarkers. This study characterizes good vs. poor quality semen using seminal extracellular vesicles coupled proteins and miRNA. Fresh boar semen samples were screened, centrifuged, and SP supernatants were collected for near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis. EVs were extracted from SP (SP-EVs), characterized, and those of extremely poor or good sperm quality groups were subjected to proteomics and small RNA sequencing. Significant differences were set for P

Protecting The Vulnerable: Tornado Sheltering And Communication Of Public Shelters With A Case Study From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Craig Douglas Croskery

Theses and Dissertations

One of the greatest natural hazards that is faced with in much of the United States are tornadoes. Despite improvements in the warning processes, the risk of significant loss of life remains high. That is particularly true with vulnerable communities which have higher proportions of mobile homes; however, violent tornadoes are very difficult to manage in permanent homes or buildings as well. As a result, tornado shelters have been built in some communities and have become available to the public. However, their presence is intermittent, and there are many tornado-prone areas that lack such shelters.

After a public survey, it …

Interspecies Differences In Organophosphate Anticholinesterase Inhibition Potency And Reactivation Using Novel Oximes, Katie Elizabeth Strickland

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphates are insecticides which result in acute adverse signs when exposed at toxic doses by animals and lead to death if left untreated. The current treatment for organophosphate toxicity includes atropine and the federally approved oxime 2-PAM. However, 2-PAM is not very effective at crossing the blood brain barrier which results in prolonged inactivation of acetylcholinesterase, which is the primary target of organophosphates, in the brain even after administration. The novel oximes, Oxime 15 and Oxime 20, are able to cross the blood brain barrier and reactivate the inhibited acetylcholinesterase. In this experiment with six animal species frequently used in …

Managing Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (Idc) In Soybean Through A Cropping System Approach, Katelin Savannah Waldrep

Theses and Dissertations

Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a frequent problem throughout many areas of the United States where soils are high in calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), including the Blackland Prairie regions of Mississippi. The main objectives of this study were to 1) determine the effects of seven different cropping systems on IDC visual symptomology and grain yield in rainfed soybeans grown in calcareous soils, and 2) evaluate the effects of soil water tension (SWT) on IDC. Rotating soybeans with corn produced significantly higher yields for both tolerant and susceptible soybean varieties. IDC symptomology was worse, and yields were lower in cropping …

Aggregate Characteristics For Unpaved Highway Shoulders, Jessica V. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studied unpaved highway shoulders, and in particular shoulders of lower volume asphalt pavements being overlaid. The primary objective was to better understand how different shoulder aggregates perform on lower volume routes with asphalt surfaces and relatively narrow shoulders. A literature review and an evaluation of a full-scale test section containing five aggregate categories in nine test sections over a thirty-four-month period were the primary efforts performed to evaluate unpaved highway shoulders. The study concluded shoulder width measurements were not especially informative, and that California Bearing Ratio measurements were only modestly informative. Crushed concrete outperformed all other aggregates, though …

Risk Assessments And Modeling Of Driver By Using Risk Potential Theory, Riku Kikuta

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, various self-driving and driving assistance systems such as Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) have been developed with the intent to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents. While self-driving systems have been proven to reduce traffic accidents, the systems sometimes make other drivers confused because of their mechanical behavior. To avoid confusion and possible error, it is necessary to construct self-driving systems that exhibit human-like behaviors. Risk Potential theory has been used to construct models that successfully represent driver behavior, especially expert behavior. This project uses Risk Potential theory to construct and evaluate a collision avoidance driver model which …

Impact Of Daily Sweet Potato Ingestion On Alterations To The Gut Microbiome, Cholesterol, And Exercise Performance, Johneric William Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of the gut microbiome is being explored in relation to multiple facets of health and performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of frequent sweet potato ingestion on alterations of the gut microbiome which might in turn alter cholesterol levels and exercise performance. Thirteen recreationally trained males had fecal and blood samples collected and exercised to fatigue with and without exogenous carbohydrate ingestion prior to and following 42 days of daily sweet potato ingestion. Bacterial communities were extracted from fecal samples and bacterial DNA were sequence. Blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, low-density …

Verification Of The Localized Aviation Mos Program (Lamp) At Major Us Airports For Ifr Conditions, Mackenzie O'Rourke

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to quantify the LAMP’s performance when forecasting for IFR conditions at specific major airports for forecast hours one, three, six, and twelve, and further determine how the LAMP performs seasonally at those specific airports and forecast hours. Two by two contingency tables were used to calculate the Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm Ratio (FAR), Critical Success Index (CSI), Heidke Skill Score (HSS), and Bias score. The results show that the LAMP performs relatively better in the cool season compared to the warm season consistently at each chosen airport, and that the LAMP performs …

The Ties That Blend: Social Capital And Family Firm Innovation, Dustin L. Odom

Theses and Dissertations

The research project empirically assesses the influence of an under-researched aspect of social capital on the family firm’s entrepreneurial behaviors. Specifically, blending social capital, which consists of bonding social capital and bridging social capital that develops between family firms and external family stakeholders, is considered in examining the family firm’s engagement in innovation efforts. Additionally, familial tie strength and outside business ownership of external family stakeholders are argued to moderate the proposed relationship between blending social capital and family firm innovation. The surveying methods for assessing the hypothesized relationships included conducting a two-wave study with adapted, modified, and validated scales. …

Genome-Wide Association Study For Agronomic Traits In Bermudagrass (Cynodon Spp.), Lovepreet Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) breeding and cultivar development is hampered by limited information regarding its genetic and phenotypic diversity. A germplasm collection of 206 bermudagrass accessions from 29 countries was genotyped with high-throughput genotyping-by-sequencing technique. Genomic diversity in this diverse germplasm panel was assessed with multifaceted approaches including population structure, phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis, and genetic diversity parameters. This study revealed substantial genetic variation in the Cynodon accessions, demonstrating the potential of this germplasm panel for further genetic studies and cultivar development in breeding programs. Another critical issue in turfgrass breeding is the lack of information regarding the genetic …

The Use Of Lidar To Measure Water Surface Elevations In Froude-Scaled Physical Hydraulic Models, Gary L. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) instrumentation is becoming more diverse in our world of today. One challenge in scaled physical hydrodynamic models in a laboratory setting is obtaining high resolution water surface elevation data while maintaining accuracy requirements. Accurate water surface elevations are a primary parameter in hydraulic models as they are a means of controlling/monitoring the physical model’s boundary conditions, analyzing model experiment results, and informing model conclusions. This study focuses on laser scanners that have ranging accuracies of at least +/-10 millimeters (mm) or better for the purpose of attaining LiDAR water surface elevation measurements in scaled physical …

Novice Teacher Perceptions Of Induction Supports Provided During The First Year, Keri James Tawater

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive case study examined the perceptions of 6 beginning teachers regarding the supports offered to them during their 1st year of teaching. Based on purposeful and convenience sampling through administrative recommendations, the participants included 4 middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers in their 2nd year of teaching. I collected data from documents and multiple interviews to understand the needs of beginning teachers and how to best support them. Utilizing the social cognitive learning framework, I analyzed the results in terms of which supports provided vicarious reinforcements, self-reinforcements, and ultimately self-efficacy. These perceptions and understandings were then compared …

The Effects Of A Moderate Severity Hurricane On Landscape-Scale Heterogeneity In A Longleaf Pine Woodland, Andrew D. Arko

Theses and Dissertations

Modern forestry research and management emphasize infusing management practices with an understanding of natural disturbance regimes -- often called ecological forestry. Forestry practices emulating aspects of natural disturbance regimes are considered an effective tool to balance silvicultural and ecological objectives. Size, shape, and spatial distribution of canopy gaps formed by Hurricane Michael were studied across multiple site factors in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) woodland in southwest Georgia. No significant differences were observed in gap size or shape among landscape factors, but spatial distribution of gaps differed among landscape factors. The results observed highlight the ecological importance of the …

Tornado Outbreak False Alarm Probabilistic Forecasts With Machine Learning, Kirsten Reed Snodgrass

Theses and Dissertations

Tornadic outbreaks occur annually, causing fatalities and millions of dollars in damage. By improving forecasts, the public can be better equipped to act prior to an event. False alarms (FAs) can hinder the public’s ability (or willingness) to act. As such, a probabilistic FA forecasting scheme would be beneficial to improving public response to outbreaks.

Here, a machine learning approach is employed to predict FA likelihood from Storm Prediction Center (SPC) tornado outbreak forecasts. A database of hit and FA outbreak forecasts spanning 2010 – 2020 was developed using historical SPC convective outlooks and the SPC Storm Reports database. Weather …

Evaluation Of Early Maturing Cultivars, Optimal Harvest Timing, And Canopy Reflectance Of Peanut To Maximize Grade And Yield, Joseph Bryan Whittenton

Theses and Dissertations

Peanut digging timing is difficult to predict due to indeterminate growth and peanut pods maturing underground, resulting in the need to research methods that provide consistent measurements, while reducing time and effort for farmers and researchers. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the Maturity Index 1 and Maturity Index 2 in predicting peanut grade, the accuracy of the North Carolina 2 degree day method in predicting peanut yield, and remote sensing vegetative indices sensitivity equivalence (SEq) to peanut Maturity Index 2 and harvest grade (TSMK) for cultivars IPG-914 and Georgia-06G in Mississippi.

Maturity Index 1 and …