Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of The Immune Response Of Angus Heifers With Different Genetic Markers For Marbling When Challenged With Lipopolysaccharide, Joe O. Buntyn

Theses and Dissertations

Nineteen heifers (274 ± 24 kg) were blocked into two treatment groups based upon DNAm; heifers with no DNAm (noQG), and heifers with one or more DNAm (1+QG). Prior to challenge (24 h), heifers were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and indwelling vaginal temperature (VT) monitoring devices. Blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals while RT were collected at 1-min intervals from -2 to 8 h relative to a lipopolysaccride (LPS) challenge (0.5 ìg/kg BW) at 0 h. Serum was analyzed for concentrations of cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines. All physical, endocrine, and immune measurements increased relative to LPS challenge. No …

Experiments And Simulation For 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Resistance Spot Welded Lap Joints, Radu Stefanel Florea

Theses and Dissertations

This comprehensive study is the first to quantify the fatigue performance, failure loads, and microstructure of resistance spot welding (RSW) in 6061-T6 aluminum (Al) alloy according to welding parameters and process sensitivity. The extensive experimental, theoretical and simulated analyses will provide a framework to optimize the welding of lightweight structures for more fuel-efficient automotive and military applications. The research was executed in four primary components. The first section involved using electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) scanning, tensile testing, laser beam profilometry (LBP) measurements, and optical microscopy(OM) images to experimentally investigate failure loads and deformation of the Al-alloy resistance spot welded …

Grandpa Bandit, Jasmine D. Dunn

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Grandpa Bandit tells the story of elderly Virgil Wells, an upstanding citizen who is forced to partake in criminal activities in order to be able to provide for his ailing wife, Mary. As their funds decrease and their medicare is terminated, Virgil applies for work but is overlooked. His abilities are underestimated. He's viewed as a liability because of his age. When all attempts at making an honest living fails, Virgil decides that his only option is to rob a bank.

Throughline: The common misconception that the elderly are incapable of working hard during their golden years often leaves these …

Pigments Of Imagination: An Actor's Journey Of Creating The Character Of Jack Lawson From David Mamet's Race, Paxton H. Mccaghren

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to create a believable, multiple dimension character portrayal of Jack Lawson in David Mamet’s Race. Documentation of the process will include: an explanation of the acting technique and analysis used to create the backstory and portrayal of the character; insight into the background and beliefs of playwright, David Mamet; and a personal review of my growth and performance.

A Platform Independent Investigative Process Model For Smartphones, Frances Chevonne Dancer

Theses and Dissertations

A properly conducted forensic examination is one of the most fundamental aspects of a digital investigation. Examiners are obligated to obtain the skills necessary to use forensic tools and methodologies and rely on sound judgment when analyzing a digital device. Anytime during this process, the quality of the methods, skills, and expertise of the examiner may be challenged, thus, placing the forensic value of the evidence collected during the process in jeopardy. In order to combat the potential challenges posed as a result of the forensic examination process, the digital forensics community must ensure that suitable protocols are used throughout …

An Assessment Of Campus Police Departments Across Mississippi's Public Community And Junior Colleges, Brad D. Boggs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to provide an assessment of campus police departments throughout the 15 public community and junior colleges in Mississippi. This research could provide Mississippi community and junior college administrators the opportunity to observe and appraise the overall safety of their respective campuses in comparison to safety practices of the other campus police departments in the state. This study will lay the foundation for further research of campus police departments and can assist administrators and boards of trustees of Mississippi’s public community and junior colleges with annual and long-range planning efforts. This study included campus police/security …

An Octree Surface Wrapping Algorithm To Recover Building Structures, Michal Trcalek

Theses and Dissertations

In the past twenty years, our world has experienced a number of disasters, ranging from hurricanes to acts of terrorism. While both natural and anthropogenic disasters are inevitable, being able to simulate their progression and impact can provide guidance for preemptive measures to mitigate casualties and property damage. Specifically, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can be used to simulate wind forces associated with hurricanes or pressure waves associated with explosions. However, even a simple CFD simulation is time consuming and requires highly-specialized expertise. This paper aims to reduce the processing time by utilizing readily available geometry models, and a surface …

Conceptual Change: The Integration Of Geologic Time Into The Teaching Of Evolution, David L. Ramseyer

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to discern if geologic time is a threshold concept for student understanding of evolutionary theory. A threshold concept enables the learner to unpack other concepts because of its importance in thought construction. In this study three teachers and ten sections of biology were investigated from the same high school. Each teacher used the same activities, in the same sequence, and with identical evaluation methods. Students in the treatment group covered a unit on geologic time prior to completing course work on evolutionary theory. Student misconceptions in both control and treatment groups were assessed using a composite concept …

Creation And Testing Of A Semi-Automated Digital Triage Process Model, Gary Dewayne Cantrell

Theses and Dissertations

Digital forensics examiners have a growing problem caused by their own success. The need for digital forensics is increasing and so are the devices that need examining. Not only are the number of devices growing, but so is the amount of information those devices can hold. One result of this problem is a growing backlog that could soon overwhelm digital forensics labs across the country. One way to combat this growing problem is to use digital triage to find the most pertinent information first. Unfortunately, although several digital forensics models have been created, very few digital triage models have been …

Single Camera Autonomous Navigation For Micro Aerial Vehicles, Jacob Bowen

Theses and Dissertations

Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) provide a highly capable, agile platform, ideally suited for intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance missions, urban search and rescue, and scientific exploration. Critical to the success of these tasks is a system which moves au-tonomously through an unknown, obstacle-strewn, GPS-denied environment. Classical simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approaches rely on large, heavy sensors to generate 3-D information about a MAV’s surroundings, severely limiting its abilities. This motivates a study of Parallel Tracking and Mapping (PTAM), an algorithm requiring only a single camera to provide 3-D data to an autonomous navigation system. Metric properties of 3-D MAV pose estimates are compared …

Software Requirements Elicitation, Verification, And Documentation: An Ontology Based Approach, Robert A. Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Software intensive systems are developed to provide solutions in some problem domain and software engineering principles are employed to develop and implement that system. Software engineering principles should enhance the development and production of software artifacts and yet the artifacts often lack in quality. Crucial in the development process are requirements engineering activities and methods for software documentation. This research focused on requirements engineering activities, software requirements documentation and employed a new approach in these activities that incorporated ontology engineering principles. Ontology engineering refers to the set of activities concerned with the ontology development process, the ontology life cycle, the …

Effect Of Hand Pinching, Dikegulac-Sodium, And Gibberellic Acid On Chile Pepper (Capsicum Annuum), Abdulfatah Mousa

Theses and Dissertations

Hand Pinching increased branching and fruit yield. At first harvest dikegulac-sodium at 50 ppm increased fruit yield compared to the control. However, dikegulac sodium at 100 ppm reduced fruit yield initially but had no effect on fruit yield at 2-4th harvests. Digkegulac-sodium, Gibberellic acid, and hand pinching did not affect fruit length at third and fourth harvests. However, first and second harvests dikegulac sodium reduced fruit length whereas GA3 had no effect. None of the treatments affected fruit width. Dikegulac sodium and Hand pinching increased the number of branches after three weeks, but GA3 did not. At 8 weeks after …

Effects Of Preblending And Water Addition On Physical And Sensory Characteristics Of Seasoned Pork Patties, Molly Sheppard Field

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to establish the consumer acceptability of preblended and nonpreblended post rigor seasoned pork patties with added water levels of 0, 3, 6, and 9 percent for each formula. Other parameters measured were proximate analysis, texture, cooking loss, and consumer acceptability. Nonpreblended treatments had a higher (P<0.05) percentage of protein and a lower (P<0.05) percentage of fat as compared to preblended treatments. Texture analysis revealed a lower (P<0.05) amount of total energy required to shear through a single patty in preblended treatments than nonpreblended treatments. No differences (P>0.05) were detected among treatments at varying water levels. Consumer acceptability showed no differences (P>0.05) among selected treatments. Consumer acceptability scores indicated that consumers would consume both preblended and nonpreblended seasoned pork patties at varying water levels.

A Classification System For Large Reservoirs Of The Conterminous U.S, Rebecca Misaye Krogman

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoirs represent a relatively young element of the U.S. landscape, with most reservoirs being built within the last century. Despite their recreational, ecological, and socioeconomic importance, reservoirs nationwide are suffering from severe habitat degradation. Habitat impairments related to siltation, eutrophication, poor water quality, water regime, lack of submerged structure, and macrophyte invasions affect reservoirs to differing degrees in different reservoirs. To adequately assess these issues, we needed to develop a classification system within which an assessment mechanism could function. I collected data for large reservoirs across the conterminous U.S. regarding fish habitat impairments and status of the fish community and …

Assessment Of Herbicides For Control Of Non-Native Species: Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Spp. Multiflorum), Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina Benghalensis), And Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum Viarum), Ernest Kwaku Kraka

Theses and Dissertations

Herbicides were evaluated for control of non-native and invasive plants namely tropical soda apple (TSA) (Solanum viarum), tropical spiderwort or Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) from 2007 to 2012 in greenhouse at Plant Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville-Mississippi. In TSA study, aminopyralid at 0.88 or 0.12 kg ae/ha, and triclopyr + picloram + 2,4-D at (0.56 + 0.15 + 0.56) kg ae/ha controlled TSA seedlings emergence ranged from 83 to 96% at premergence (PRE), and 1 month after treatments (MAT). All herbicides failed to provide more than 63% control of TSA at 3 and …

A Comparative Study Of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy And Spark Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Rapid Analysis Of Mercury In Soils, Pavan Kumar Srungaram

Theses and Dissertations

Elevated concentrations of mercury in soils are quite hazardous to flora and fauna and water bodies near these soils. This makes continuous monitoring of mercury very essential. This work compares two potential spectroscopic methods LIBS and SIBS at their optimum experimental conditions for mercury monitoring. The experimental conditions for Hg measurements with LIBS and SIBS were determined and calibration was developed. The limits of detection (LODs) of Hg in soil were calculated from the Hg calibration curves. The LOD for mercury (Hg) in soil calculated using LIBS and SIBS are 483 parts-per-million and 20 parts-per-million, respectively. The present study indicates …

Enhancing Levoglucosan Formation During Fast Pyrolysis Of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Qi Li

Theses and Dissertations

Levoglucosan is the major anhydrosugar component of bio-oil produced by fast pyrolysis. Previous research has shown that levoglucosan yield can be greatly increased if a mild acid pretreatment is applied to demineralize the feedstock prior to pyrolysis. The interest in levoglucosan production is that it provides a route to production of monomeric sugars, primarily glucose, which can be utilized to produce biochemically derived fuels (ethanol, butanol, etc.) In one study, four different lignocellulosic biomass were subjected to pyrolysis as feedstocks to produce bio-oils via fast pyrolysis in a 7 kg/h feed rate auger reactor. Feedstocks were pretreated with dilute phosphoric …

Evaluation Of B-Mode And Color Doppler Ultrasound As Alternative Tools For The Study Of Reproduction, Temperament, And Milk Production- Related Variables In The Bovine, Hector Luis Sanchez-Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

An adequate vascular perfusion status is essential not only to maintain life, but to ensure the proper physiology of the different systems that form the animal’s body. Due to its role in the transport of oxygen and nutrients toward, and the removal of cellular waste products away from the body’s tissues, the circulatory system is responsible for the maintenance of body homeostasis. Production related functions in farm animals are not an exception, and directly depend on sufficient vascular physiology. In the past, the study of blood flow in large domestic species was restricted to highly invasive techniques. However, even when …

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging And Its Use In Domestic And Non-Domestic Species, Susan Denise Bowers

Theses and Dissertations

Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is used to detect symmetry and asymmetry of surface temperature gradients. DITI can examine many different aspects of thermal physiology and diagnose injury and disease. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the use of DITI to determine whether differences in temperature gradients exist between late gestation and non-pregnant mares, (2) to evaluate whether velvet antler (VA) temperature gradients, as measured by DITI would pattern VA growth, and (3) to determine if “normal” temperature gradients of the foot exist among elephants as detected using DITI. To investigate …

Distance-Weighted Regularization For Compressed-Sensing Video Recovery And Supervised Hyperspectral Classification, Eric W. Tramel

Theses and Dissertations

The compressed sensing (CS) model of signal processing, while offering many unique advantages in terms of low-cost sensor design, poses interesting challenges for both signal acquisition and recovery, especially for signals of large size. In this work, we investigate how CS might be applied practically and efficiently in the context of natural video. We make use of a CS video acquisition approach in line with the popular single-pixel camera framework of blind, nonaptive, random sampling while proposing new approaches for the subsequent recovery of the video signal which leverage interrame redundancy to minimize recovery error. We introduce a method of …

Ecology Of The Tick-Borne Pathogen, Rickettsia Parkeri, In Its Primary Vector, Amblyomma Maculatum, And Select Vertebrate Hosts, Gail Miriam Moraru

Theses and Dissertations

Rickettsia parkeri is a tick-borne microorganism, only recently recognized to cause disease in humans. The ecology of this disease is largely unknown, and was addressed through a series of laboratory and field investigations. Feeding behavior of immature stages of the primary vector, Amblyomma maculatum, on mammalian, avian, and reptilian host models was investigated. It was determined that this tick does not feed on anoles, and nymphs do display longer periods of attachment to and are significantly heavier having fed on cotton rats as compared with quail. Field surveys indicate evidence of exposure to spotted fever group rickettsiae in small mammals …

Effects Of Television Weather Broadcasters On Viewers During Severe Weather: To Be Or Not To Be On-Screen, Amanda Marie Lea

Theses and Dissertations

An association was tested between the presence of a television weather broadcaster on-screen and viewers’ likelihood to seek shelter, measured via risk perception and preventative behavior. Social networking websites were used to recruit respondents. Four clips of archived severe weather videos, one pair (on-screen and off-screen broadcaster) using the reflectivity product and another pair (on-screen and off-screen broadcaster) using velocity product, were presented to participants. Viewers’ trust and weather salience were also quantified for additional interactions. A relationship between viewers’ risk perception (preflectivity = 0.821, pvelocity = 0.625) and preventative behavior (preflectivity = 0.217, pvelocity = 0.236) and the presence …

Development Of A High Throughput Surfactant Screening Procedure Using Shikimic Acid Analysis, Cody Alan Massey

Theses and Dissertations

In field efficacy trials most glyphosate/surfactant combinations tested control barnyardgrass as well as preormulated glyphosate products 21 days after treatment (DAT). Preormulated glyphosate products controlled barnyardgrass quicker than combination treatments, most likely due to improved glyphosate formulations with improved surfactant systems. In greenhouse trials, preormulated glyphosate products exhibited greater fresh weight reductions across all species tested, including barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, hemp sesbania, johnsongrass, large crabgrass, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, sicklepod, yellow foxtail and Palmer amaranth. Nonionic tallow amine treatments exhibited variable control among species. A shikimate analysis was developed using non-glyphosate-tolerant soybean to estimate efficacy of surfactants; data were then …

Geodetic Method To Estimate Mass Balance Of Himalayan Glaciers: A Case Study Of The Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Kabindra Joshi

Theses and Dissertations

Mass balance records of glaciers help to understand long term climate change, yet there are very few in-situ measurements of mass balance in Himalayan glaciers. Mass balance of major glaciers in the Sagarmatha National Park was assessed using Digital Elevation Model prepared from ASTER images for period 2002 & 2005 and 2002 & 2008, employing geodetic model. Overall glacial mass balance during 2002-2005 was -2.978 plus/minus 0.89 and during 2002-2008 was -0.94 plus/minus 0.34 m.w.e per annum. Glacier melt could form glacial lakes in high Himalayas. One of the glacial lakes, Imja Lake in the study area increased its surface …

Hearth And Home: Life In And Around A "Kitchen" From Ancient Judah As Excavated At Tell Halif, Tim Frank

Theses and Dissertations

A room with many well-preserved artifacts was excavated at Tell Halif in a level associated with Ancient Judah. By using analogy the use of these artifacts can be compared with that of other similar objects. Analogy is at the heart of archaeological interpretation and allows a more explicit determination of the possible uses of artifacts and their patterning. The artifacts serve as evidence for reconstructing life in and around an archaeologically excavated space. By discerning the patterns of artifact distribution we can interpret how the space might have been used. The room excavated at Tell Halif has strong evidence for …

Mechanisms And Patterns Of Invasion In Macrophyte Communities, Jonathan Paul Fleming

Theses and Dissertations

Aquatic plants (macrophytes) are important components of freshwater ecosystems and serve numerous purposes, physical and biological, that help to structure aquatic communities. Although macrophytes represent an essential component of stable aquatic communities, invasive macrophytes may negatively alter ecosystem properties. Non-native, invasive species have been identified as a major cause of biodiversity loss and the increasing prevalence of invasive species has prompted studies to help understand their impacts and to conserve biodiversity. Studying mechanisms of invasion also gives insight into how communities are structured and assembled. This study examined mechanisms that contribute to macrophyte invasion. First, I reviewed literature concerning mechanisms …

Multi-Scale Population Genetic Analysis Of Cogongrass (Imperata Cylindrica) In The Southeastern United States: Introduction History, Range Expansion, And Hybridization, Rima D. Lucardi

Theses and Dissertations

Biological invasions are a significant area of research due to perceived negative environmental and economic impacts. The study of biological invasions has identified three broad components involved in successful invasions: propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic conditions. Propagule pressure is the product of introduced propagules and the frequency of those introductions, and is considered a driver in all stages of invasion. Data to quantify propagule pressure is often unavailable, and therefore, this research approached genetic information to produce estimates of propagule pressure in the successful invasion of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) in the United States. The following research utilized molecular methodologies to …

Bacteria And Their Effects On Fertility In The Chicken, Melissa Dawn Haines

Theses and Dissertations

Pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria that are commonly associated with Poultry include: Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. These bacteria are often transmitted to the bird from the environment and sometimes to the offspring which may affect bird performance and health. Therefore, the objective of our first experiment was to determine if rooster semen exposed to these bacteria had an effect on sperm motility. Our results indicated that all 6 bacteria lowered sperm motility but the 2 non-pathogenic bacteria, eliminated sperm motility immediately after exposure. These results led to the second experiment which was to determine if semen exposed …

A Nonlinear Statistical Algorithm To Predict Daily Lightning In Mississippi, Erin Amanda Thead

Theses and Dissertations

Recent improvements in numerical weather model resolution open the possibility of producing forecasts for lightning using indirect lightning threat indicators well in advance of an event. This research examines the feasibility of a statistical machine-learning algorithm known as a support vector machine (SVM) to provide a probabilistic lightning forecast for Mississippi at 9 km resolution up to one day in advance of a thunderstorm event. Although the results indicate that SVM forecasts are not consistently accurate with single-day lightning forecasts, the SVM performs skillfully on a data set consisting of many forecast days. It is plausible that errors by the …

Accelerated Composting Of Hardwood Bark Amended With Organic And Inorganic Fertilizer, Hoda Bakhshizadeh

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were: 1) To evaluate short-term composting of hardwood bark with combinations of poultry litter and ammonium nitrate and 2) To determine the suitability of composted material for ornamental plant media. In a 3-month accelerated composting study, hardwood bark was amended with (20% & 40%) poultry litter, (1% & 2%) ammonium nitrate, or unamended. Composting was run in fifteen 35- gallon containers and samples were collected at day 0, 45, and 90 for pH, moisture content, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, compost maturity, toxicity, and green house evaluations. The amendment containing 40% poultry litter showed significantly higher weight reduction …