Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Management System Optimization Focusing On The Waste Environmental Media In The Chemical Industry, Mesha Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The first part of this project focused on evaluating aspects of the environmental management practices of Texas chemical industries, particularly waste generation and management of the data related to these processes. The waste generation data included Texas notifications required to track wastes. The next phase consisted of characterizing industrial waste disposal methods, waste container management, and transportation including an overview of required documentation for each activity. This led to identification of issues encountered from inefficient recordkeeping, ineffective internal communication, or inadequate environmental management systems. The result of an ineffective hazardous waste data management program can be fines, damage to the …

Evaluating Economic Impacts Of Different Silvicultural Approaches In Bottomland Hardwood Forests Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (Lmav), Sunil Nepal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to model the growth and yield of bottomland hardwood forests of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and to explain the economic tradeoffs of even- and uneven-aged management. The US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Vegetation Simulator was used to model growth and yield for four different bottomland hardwood forest types using USFS inventory data. Even- and uneven-aged management scenarios were optimized for timber revenue maximization using the Land Expectation Value formula. Analyses suggested that growth and yield of even-aged and uneven-aged management approaches differ in terms of end products and harvesting time. The even-aged management …

Utilization Of Outdoor Resources To Enhance Understanding Of Geosciences, Sarah Radencic Lalk

Theses and Dissertations

Societal awareness and general understanding of the diversity of geosciences environments and phenomena across regions is vital. The primary method to obtain information about geosciences is through mass media. However, there is little coverage of geosciences information and the public may not trust it because of low geosciences awareness. Geosciences are rarely included as part of K-12 curricula and are optional at the collegiate level, contributing to the public deficiency regarding awareness and understanding of the geosciences. This research study investigated methods utilizing outdoor resources in an effort to increase region-specific understanding and awareness of geosciences among diverse groups. A …

Mathematical Motivation Beliefs: A Study On The Influences Of The Mathematical Motivation Beliefs Of Students In A Predominantly African American Environment In Mississippi, Kendrick Laterrell Savage

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the influences certain factors have on the mathematical motivation beliefs of students in a predominantly African American setting. Mathematical motivation beliefs, for the purpose of this study, are defined as the components mathematical self-efficacy and mathematical value, both represented as dependent variables in the study. 4 independent variables were studied as potential influences regarding mathematical motivation beliefs. The variables included parental influences, teacher influences, mathematical anxiety, and the environment/setting. This research was conducted using 2 high schools in a rural area in East Mississippi. The 1st high school was predominantly African American …

Geotechnical Properties Of Very High Moisture Content Dredged Soil Lightly Cemented With Ordinary Or Portland-Limestone Cement, Mohammed Bazne

Theses and Dissertations

Sustainable geotechnics warrants exploring beneficial reuse of the large volume of fine grained soils which are produced annually in various forms such as dredged soils and mine tailings. Often these soils are at very high moisture content, and are therefore referred to herein as VHMS for Very High Moisture Soils. These soils exhibit poor engineering properties such as low shear strength and high compressibility. This dissertation presents results from experiments conducted primarily to assess geotechnical properties over time of lightly cemented VHMS (referred to as LC-VHMS and defined as 5% or less cement by slurry mass). The main objectives of …

Holding Performance Measures Accountablefor Social Equity: A Polycentric Approach To Evaluating American Higher Education, Tracey L Norden Baham

Theses and Dissertations

America’s founding fathers identified education as the key for sustaining democracy and economic growth. When determining how the new country would organize education, they decided not to centralize higher education institutions under a national university, thus creating a federalist system unique from the European model. This format allowed for diversity in educational missions, which many theorists suggest allows the country to serve its heterogeneous population. Many institutions that focus on social equity do not perform as high as institutions with selective admissions criteria. As governments begin enforcing accountability policies that encourage performance, institutions with social equity missions may be adversely …

Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• Georgia Southern University donfers 1,700 graduate and undergraduate degrees during Fall 2016 Commencement
• Local school applies for STEM grant: University FabLab inspired need
• Third time's the Charm: Triple Eagle walks in December

A Study Of Wheat Flour Tortillas, Combustion, Selected Gaseous And Nuclear Surrogate Samples Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs), Charles Tarshi Ghany

Theses and Dissertations

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an efficient tool for identification of elemental composition and characterization of materials. The concept of this technique is to focus a laser pulse of sufficiently high power on to a sample to create a plasma plume of atoms, ions, and molecules. The measurement of the resulting optical emission from these species provides the basis of the spectral analysis. Spectroscopic analysis of the plasma generated by Nd:YAG laser irradiation of wheat flour tortillas was carried out. A careful selection of spectral lines of Ca, Na and K which do not suffer from spectral interference was made. …

America Reads-Mississippi/Americorps Reading Program's Impact On Mississippi Community College Attendance, Charity Yarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

Since the inception of AmeriCorps programs, reading, education and civic engagement has been emphasized in a large portion of the United States. Members enlist to serve schools and communities for 1 year, possibly 2. Upon completion of a member’s year(s) of service an education award is given which can be used to attend a community college, university or repay student loans. This study showed how AmeriCorps/America Reads programs partnered with community colleges and universities which recruited members to volunteer at school sites and community centers tutoring students in classrooms to improve reading, grades, engage in community service activities, use education …

American White Pelicans Hand Raised Until Fledging And Examination Of The Trematode Infection Bolbophorus Damnificus In These Birds, Treena Lee Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

Because little is known about juvenile American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) this study was conducted to gather more information on disease, general ecology and growth of American White Pelicans from hatching to fledging. In July 2011, American White Pelican regurgitate samples from North and South Dakota sub-colonies were collected/analyzed in preparation for a captive trial. Nutrient content compared between the colonies was found to be significantly different. Concentrations of Immunoglobulin Y and A in regurgitate samples were significantly different between colonies. A captive trial began 29 May 2012 and ended 30 July 2012, in which 16 American White Pelicans were …

Application Timing Of Herbicides For Miscanthus (Miscanthus X Giganteus) Control And Effects Of Mowing On Rhizome Initiation And Production, Dosha Nicole Barksdale

Theses and Dissertations

Herbicide treatments were tested on mature stands of Miscanthus in 2013 and 2014 in Winston and Oktibbeha counties Mississippi. Twenty-one different herbicide treatments and two application timings, summer and fall, were evaluated. Glyphosate at 4,500 g ae ha-1 applied in the summer provided the best Miscanthus control at each location. Control with fall applications of glyphosate varied between locations. Two greenhouse studies were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at Mississippi State, MS to evaluate the effects of mowing on seedling Miscanthus, as well as the time period between seed germination and rhizome initiation. Rhizomes were visible on seedling plants 15 …

Temporal Growth And Harvest Adjustment Procedures For Large-Scale Forest Inventory Data, Jacob R. Beard

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory (MIFI) multi-product forest inventory divides Mississippi into five inventory regions with one region inventoried each year on a rotating basis. Resource analyses that overlap these temporally separated regions require adjustment to a common comparative time base by applying appropriate forest stand growth and harvest allocation models to the portions of a selected area not inventoried at the desired common time base. Currently the Mississippi Dynamic Inventory Reporter (MDIR) does not make adjustments to temporally synchronize portions of user selected working circles, polygons, or counties that occur in separate inventory regions. Separate inventory reports for …

The Effects Of Sub-Lethal Chlorine Induced Oxidative Stress On Biofilm Formation And Thermal Resistance Of Salmonella, Janak Dhakal

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of sub-lethal chlorine stress on various strains/serotypes of Salmonella on biofilm formation and thermal resistance was studied. The effect of oxidative stress (induced by 150 ppm of chlorine in TSB) on Salmonella biofilm formation on polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces at three temperatures (4°C, 30°C, and room temperature) in nutrient rich (full strength TSB) and nutrient limited conditions (1/10th TSB) was evaluated. On polystyrene surface, chlorine stressed S. Heidelberg (strain ID 72), S. Newport (strain ID 107) and S. Typhimurium (ATCC 14028) formed stronger (P < 0.05) biofilms at 30°C. On stainless steel, the chlorine stressed S. Heidelberg (ATCC 8326) and S. Enteritidis (ATCC 4931) at room temperature formed stronger (P < 0.05) biofilms as compared to the non-stressed control cells. The thermal resistance of short-term (1h) and long-term (27d) chlorine stressed Salmonella Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium were compared with the non-stressed controls at three different temperatures (55°C, 58°C and 61°C) and two growth phases (logarithmic and stationary). The short-term stressed log phase cells (both serotypes) were found to be more sensitive (P< 0.05) to thermal inactivation in TSB. Upon long-term sub-lethal chlorine exposure, Salmonella developed a rugose morphotype on tryptic soy agar at 37°C. The rugose morphotype provided significant thermal protection (P< 0.05) against heat stress as compared to smooth morphotype. In chicken broth, at 55°C, short-term chlorine stressed stationary phase S. Typhimurium displayed a higher D55 value compared to non-stressed cells. The findings from this research reveal that some Salmonella strains have the potential to form stronger biofilms and exhibit higher thermal tolerance upon exposure to sub-lethal chlorine concentration.

The Effects Of The Structural Components Of 4-H Residential Summer Programs On The Achievement Of The Essential Elements Of Positive Youth Development And The Acquisition Of Targeted Life Skills, Alayna Naro

Theses and Dissertations

Youth-serving organizations, such as 4-H, place a large emphasis on positive youth development and experiential learning in order to assist youth in acquiring specific life skills. The literature suggests that residential summer camps are one of the best ways to provide positive youth development, experiential learning, and targeted life skills. This study was a mixed methods design which utilized four residential summer programs throughout the state of Mississippi in order to compare the differences between the residential 4-H summer programs that took place on a university campus to those that took place within the naturalistic environment. The results of this …

The Influence Of A Graphing Calculator Program Policy Change On The Algebra I High Stakes Assessment In Mississippi, Elizabeth Anderson Repsher

Theses and Dissertations

Graphing calculator programs have been used on high-stakes tests and teacher-created assessments at the secondary and college level for many years. These programs- are even used on college-placement tests such as the ACT. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) made the decision to no longer allow the use of graphing calculator applications and/or programs on the Subject Area Testing Program (SATP2) for Algebra I. Currently, limited research exists to address the influence of graphing calculator program use on high-stakes assessments. The programming capabilities of graphing calculators should not be ignored. Because of the 2011-2012 …

Canine Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma For Regenerative Medicine And Platelet Research: Protocol Optimization, Marina Mitie Monobe

Theses and Dissertations

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be widely used in veterinary medicine in different areas. Studies using PRP frequently use different methodologies making for difficult comparison. The objective of this study was to evaluate the purity and platelet activation of a PRP protocol. A total of 18 blood samples were drawn from six dogs, collected once per week over a total of three weeks. Blood samples were centrifuged six times at 300g for 5 min. Ultra-pure PRP (OP) was obtained by adding PRP a Optiprep 1.063g/mL density barrier and centrifuged at 350g for 15 min. Mean platelet recovery from whole blood was …

Co-Infection Dynamics Of The Tick-Borne Bacteria: Rickettsia Parkeri And "Candidatus Rickettsia Andeanae", Jung Keun Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) is the primary vector for Rickettsia parkeri which is a causative agent of American Boutonneuse fever. Infection rates of R. parkeri in A. maculatum populations from the United States are approximately 0-56%. The first human clinical case of Rickettsia parkeri infection was reported in 2014 and the patient presented with a febrile illness similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but showing milder clinical symptoms. Through 2016, approximately 40 human clinical cases of R. parkeri infection have been reported within southern United States. Amblyomma maculatum may also be infected with a rickettsia of unknown pathogenicity “Candidatus …

Copper Coordination With Protein, Peptides, And Small Molecules, Whitnee Leigh Nettles

Theses and Dissertations

Copper is an essential element for all living organisms. However, due to its low redox potential it can be involved in the production of reactive oxygen species; where excess amounts of copper can be exceptionally toxic.1 In humans, malfunctions in copper metabolism are linked to diseases such as Menkes syndrome, Wilson’s disease, prion disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.2 Maintenance of copper homeostasis requires a number of proteins, such as copper transporters and chaperones to deliver copper to the correct protein while limiting free copper in the cell.3 Therefore, understanding the thermodynamics of copper(II) coordination in proteins is critical to our understanding …

A Binding Energy Study Of The Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012 And An Updated Beta-Decay Study Of Neutron-Rich 74cu, James L. Tracy Jr

Theses and Dissertations

A study of ground state binding energy values listed in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012 (AME2012) using an interpretive approach, as opposed to the exploratory methods of previous models, is presented. This model is based on a postulate requiring all protons to pair with available neutrons to form bound alpha clusters as the ground state for anN = Z core upon which excess neutrons are added. For each core, the trend of the binding energy as a function of excess neutrons in the isotopic chain can be fit with a three-term quadratic function. The quadratic parameter reveals a smooth decaying …

Governing The Rurals: Food Security And Governance In The 21st Century, Gina Paola Rico Mendez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops a theory about the consolidation of state legitimacy given transformations in food security. Food security has moved from a national food maximization effort to the provision of food to households and individuals, regardless of the production source. This definitional change was triggered by urbanization, industrialization of agriculture and liberalization of trade. These dynamics altered the formula for balance and control of a country’s territory; as agricultural output moved into a global context, urban centers became less reliant on its periphery for sustenance and thus governments have fewer incentives to provide governance of any quality to rural areas. …

Impact Of Simulated Corn Earworm Damage On Field Corn Yield And The Influence Of Chlorantraniliprole And Flubendiamide On Fall Armyworm And Agronomic Characteristics Of Field Corn, Bryan Michael Olivi

Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of pyramided Bacillus thuringinesiss (Bt) in field corn, Zea mays L. has helped reduce kernel and foliar damage from caterpillar pests including fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). These pests can also be controlled with diamide insecticides. No compensation for manual kernel damage occurred at any section of the ear for Bt or Non-Bt corn. No consistent impacts on corn growth or yield were observed following foliar applications of diamide insecticides at various growth stages. The diamides exhibit longer residual efficacy than other insecticides available for fall armyworm management in field corn. …

Pseudotransformational Leadership, Leadership Styles, And Emotional Intelligence: A Comparative Case Study Of Lon Nol And Pol Pot, Hok Roth

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to help explain how and why two revolutionary national leaders of Cambodia–Lon Nol and Pol Pot, particularly the latter–had spectacular failures and became pseudotransformational leaders. It aims to build a proposition or theory that revolutionary leaders in the public sector, particularly of undemocratic regimes, tend to become pseudotransformational leaders when a) they lack certain components of emotional intelligence (EI) and/or b) adopt certain leadership styles and use them inappropriately. The author used a mixed methods comparative case study with the quantitative method nested in the qualitative one. He collected empirical data from a quantitative …

Role Of Selenium In Age-Related Degeneration: Selenotranscriptome Hierarchy And Characterization Of Selenoprotein H, Lei Cao

Theses and Dissertations

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element exerting its biological functions mainly through selenoproteins. Our lab has recently shown a paradoxical role of dietary Se at nutritional levels of intake in the delay of age-related degeneration while reducing longevity in mice carrying humanized telomeres. The first aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the effects of long-term dietary Se deficiency, aging, and sex on selenotranscriptome hierarchy in tissues. Four unique patterns in selenotranscriptomic changes were summarized. First, the responses of selenotranscriptomes to dietary Se deprivation and aging were sexually dimorphic. Second, a few selenoproteins responded to dietary Se deficiency and …

Fall Migrant Waterbird Community Structure And Stable Isotope Ecology In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley And Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Use Of Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative Sites And Other Wetlands, Justyn Richard Foth

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was dominated by extensive lowland forests, but during the 20th century most of the MAV was converted to agricultural, aquaculture, and other human uses. These land-use changes created stopover migration and wintering habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other waterbird species. Before landscape modification of the MAV, shorebirds likely migrated past the MAV to wetlands along the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM). In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted coastal marshes of the NGoM. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service implemented the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI) to provide waterbirds with wetlands inland of oil-impacted …

A Theoretical Analysis Of Multiproduct Mergers: Application In The Major Meat Processing Sectors, Benjamin Lee Sanderson

Theses and Dissertations

The research is motivated by the significant increase in multiproduct mergers in the meat-protein processing sector, whereby the largest firms now process beef, pork, and chicken. This thesis conducts a theoretical merger analysis, accounting for both within- and across-submarket substitution of demand related goods. The model developed is suitable for analyzing markets in which there are identifiable consumer submarkets within a larger market. The results indicate two primary findings. The first finding is that Bertrand firms have a unilateral incentive to merge. Firms involved in a given merger increase profit, as well as those not included in the merger. Second, …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between College Football Fans And Their Rival Teams, Morgan Young

Theses and Dissertations

The current study explored how fan identification and negative rival perception affect the decision to blast or support the rival in indirect competition in college football. 258 participants (M age=24.15, 51.16% female) responded after being targeted via social media, email, and in person. Fans higher in identification had a more negative rival perception, were more likely to blast the rival, and were less likely to support the rival in indirect competition. A negative rival perception increased blasting and decreased rival support. The results contribute to current literature on rivalry and fan identification and aid marketers in marketing segmentation and targeting …

An Assessment Of The Effects Of Parental Incarceration On Intragenerational And Intergenerational Mobility, Timothy E. Mcclure

Theses and Dissertations

In the past 40 years, the U.S. has experienced its largest expansion of incarceration. Sociological research has begun to examine the effects the dramatics rises in incarceration in the United States on other areas of social life. One area of research has examined the effects of parental incarceration on children. In this study, I examined the effects of parental incarceration on intragenerational and intergenerational socioeconomic mobility using data from nationally-representative sample of respondents who had been studied from adolescence to young adulthood. Specifically, I examined the effects of parental incarceration prevalence and duration on three measures of socioeconomic status—household income, …

Mental Illness In Starkville, Ms: A Cultural Consensus Analysis Of The Public Conceptions Of Mental Illness, Curtis Andrew Kennett

Theses and Dissertations

Mental illness is a complex phenomenon that is social and psychological as well as biological. But since the creation of the DSM-III in the 1980s, the landscape of mental health research and treatment in the United States has been heavily influenced by the biomedical model. The thoughts and beliefs of the lay public about mental illness are often ignored despite the push for greater cultural understanding among biomedical professionals. This disconnect, coupled with the poor mental health infrastructure, has left Mississippi with an inadequate ability to help Mississippians address mental illness. This research uses cognitive anthropological methods and biocultural theory …

Mexican And Central American Emigration: Exploring Recent Motivations And Challenges Of The Migrant Child Arriving To The U.S, Frank (Frank Edward) Bradford

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines several critical factors deemed to be important in examining why children from Mexico and Central America decide to take risks by traveling alone to unfamiliar places, such as the U.S., in such large numbers. An exploration of present day and historical backgrounds provide insight for social, political, and economic conditions that assist in shaping the landscape and outlook of Central Americans and Mexicans, particularly children on a daily basis.

Mississippi Sex Educators' Perceptions Of Youth Sexuality, Sarah Elizabeth Pellegrine

Theses and Dissertations

School-based sexuality education (SBSE) is an important and debated part of the sexual socialization of young people in the US. While existing literature addresses the sociological implications of SBSE at the policy and curriculum-level, little was previously known about the ways instructors carried out and made sense of sex education in their classrooms. In this study, I examine the relationship between how sex education instructors make sense of sex education and their understandings of youth and sexuality. I conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with sex education teachers in Mississippi public schools and used an inductive analysis approach to determine themes from …