Digital Commons Network^™

Homeward Bound: The Struggle Senior Dogs Face To Find Their Fur-Ever Homes, An Exhibition Proposal, Natalia Chavez

Master's Projects and Capstones

For this capstone project, I created a proposal for an exhibition centering around animal rights that focuses on the rights of senior dogs in United States animal shelters. Homeward Bound: The Struggle Senior Dogs Face to Find Their Fur-Ever Homes intends to raise awareness of the difficulties senior dogs face in being adopted from animal shelters, while promoting individuals to be active and engaged participants in actions to support the needs of senior shelter dogs.

Senior dogs have the highest probability of euthanasia in shelters.[1] Shelters and rescue organizations provide much needed assistance to senior dogs, supporting their …

Improving Nursing Communication Outcomes Through The Tell-Us Card, Nina Park, Laura Le, Brittney Pilker, Jillian Cule, Maricarmen Reyes, Jeffrey Salao

Master's Projects and Capstones

Nursing communication plays a pivotal role in patient-centered care. However, statistics have shown that failures in communication exist in more than 20% of all hospital settings (Sethi & Rani, 2017). Within the explored microsystem, a gap in patient communication was identified through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys. Reports revealed that the microsystem was performing at 69%, which is 11% below the national average for nursing communication (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS], 2018). After performing a microsystem assessment, there was a measurable communication opportunity between the patients and nurses. It was determined that …

Staff Retention Through Standardized Training Materials In Adult Primary Care Clinic, David Smith

Master's Projects and Capstones

As non-profits, community health clinics face a unique set of challenges. Primary amongst these is a shortage of financial resources. Staff turnover, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and Medical Assistants (MAs), can result in avoidable increased wage costs related to training of newly-hired RNs/MAs (clinical staff). Retention of experienced RNs/MAs can be directly correlated with job satisfaction, the obverse of which is job frustration. The intent of this RN/MA training and orientation project is to ameliorate frustration related to a lack of informational resources and clear competency expectations. Upon completion and implementation, project efficacy will be assessed via four longitudinal measures: …

Advanced Roles For Social Work: The Approved Mental Health Professional, K Stone

More Faculty of Health Research

No abstract provided.

Transcriptome 3′End Organization By Pcf11 Links Alternative Polyadenylation To Formation And Neuronal Differentiation Of Neuroblastoma, A Poetsch, S Danckwardt

School of Biomedical Sciences

Diversification at the transcriptome 3'end is an important and evolutionarily conserved layer of gene regulation associated with differentiation and dedifferentiation processes. Here, we identify extensive transcriptome 3'end-alterations in neuroblastoma, a tumour entity with a paucity of recurrent somatic mutations and an unusually high frequency of spontaneous regression. Utilising extensive RNAi-screening we reveal the landscape and drivers of transcriptome 3'end-diversification, discovering PCF11 as critical regulator, directing alternative polyadenylation (APA) of hundreds of transcripts including a differentiation RNA-operon. PCF11 shapes inputs converging on WNT-signalling, and governs cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis and neurodifferentiation. Postnatal PCF11 down-regulation induces a neurodifferentiation program, and low-level PCF11 …

Characterization Of Gene Products Associated With Reduced Aflatoxin Accumulation In Maize (Zea Mays), Dafne Alves Winders

Theses and Dissertations

The fungus Aspergillus flavus L. is an agricultural threat, particularly for maize (Zea mays L.). Its invasive growth and contamination before and after harvest can lead to the loss of the commodity and cause life threating consequences to humans and livestock that consume a contaminated product. The differential expression profile of two resistant maize inbred lines, Mp313E and Mp719, and two susceptible maize inbred lines, B73 and Va35, were evaluated in the mRNA and protein levels. The experimental designed used allowed to observe the responses of these maize lines to A. flavus inoculation and to the stress caused by wounding …

Development And Validation Of Urine Hormones By Lc-Ms/Ms Using The Boreal Toad (Anaxyrus Boreas Boreas) As A Model Species, Ashley Nicole Meredith

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of urinary hormone levels can be used to identify sex and breeding patterns in amphibians. This is especially important for ensuring the survival of endangered species. The most common way to determine hormone levels is enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); however, there is the possibility of cross-reactivity with this technique, and only one hormone can be monitored per plate, limiting efficiency. In this study, the effectiveness of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, repeatability, and through-put in monitoring hormone levels in Anaxyrus boreas boreas (boreal toads). Urine samples were collected from ten different …

Distributed Predictive Control For Mvdc Shipboard Power System Management, Nasibeh Zohrabi

Theses and Dissertations

Shipboard Power System (SPS) is known as an independent controlled small electric network powered by the distributed onboard generation system. Since many electric components are tightly coupled in a small space and the system is not supported with a relatively stronger grid, SPS is more susceptible to unexpected disturbances and physical damages compared to conventional terrestrial power systems. Among different distribution configurations, power-electronic based DC distribution is considered the trending technology for the next-generation U.S. Navy fleet design to replace the conventional AC-based distribution. This research presents appropriate control management frameworks to improve the Medium-Voltage DC (MVDC) shipboard power system …

Effect Of Stress Mindset And Adverse Childhood Experiences On College Students' Academic Success And Psychological Well-Being, Alice Cathryne Long

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse life events that occur in childhood may decrease an individual’s ability to effectively cope with challenges throughout their lives. The proper management of stress is essential to avoid problems that can crop up in all areas of life. College students who employ stress management tactics are better able to achieve well-being and academic success. This study examined the potential moderating association between “from within” coping supports or internal risk factors and academic success, mental health, and resilience qualities. Using a sample of college students at a large public university in the southeastern United States, this study demonstrates that viewing …

Effect Of Supplemented L-Arginine On Reproductive Parameters Of Gestating Mares, Lauren B. Hodge

Theses and Dissertations

Studies that have investigated the effects of L-arginine supplementation on blood flow to the uterus have not determined the optimal time of supplementation. No research has been conducted on nitrite concentration in the placenta and blood of mares supplemented with L-arginine. L-arginine is a precursor of NO and therefore, should increase nitrite production both in blood as well as in expelled placenta. Presence of nitrites would also be indicative of increased angiogenesis. No studies have addressed placental efficiency in mares supplemented L-arginine. Placental efficiency is vital for production of a healthy foal. Therefore, to address these short-comings the objectives of …

Creating New Germplasm To Improve Aflatoxin Resistance In Maize, Oluwaseun Felix Ogunola

Theses and Dissertations

Maize (Zea mays L), the third largest crop produced in the world is susceptible to pre and post contamination of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a secondary carcinogenic metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus, an opportunistic fungus of maize that causes ear-rot and subsequent production of aflatoxin. Host plant resistance is one of the promising long term solution to combat aflatoxin contamination in maize grains. Resistance to aflatoxin is heritable and resistant germplasms that can be used to reduce aflatoxin resistance has been developed. Creating quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping populations to identify regions within maize chromosomes contributing to aflatoxin resistance help identify …

Estimating Clapper Rail (Rallus Crepitans) Survivorship And Implementation Of Estimates Into Individual-Based Population Models, Jared Feura

Theses and Dissertations

Sea-level rise is a concern for the future of coastal marsh obligate species such as the Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans). Clapper Rails possess the potential to indicate changes to marsh ecological state due to population variation related to habitat features exhibited in previous study. Estimates for Clapper Rail survival are among the key missing parameters to create predictive models for Clapper Rail populations. I estimated Clapper Rail survival using data collected from six automated telemetry towers located in two Mississippi marshes. Thirty adult rails were harnessed with radio transmitters around telemetry towers to provide evidence of a rail’s status, alive …

Examining The Impact Of Trauma On Reading Performance Among Elementary Students, Shelby Lynn Mcgrew

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning prior to the foundational study conducted by Felitti et al. (1998), individuals of all ages have been exposed to a variety of traumatic events that had the capacity to alter overall functioning in a variety of ways. Children and adolescents are a vulnerable subset of individuals who are often exposed to various types of trauma which has the capacity to impact academic, behavioral, and social/emotional functioning (Cohen, Berliner, & Mannarino, 2010). The adverse effects related to trauma exposure in children and adolescents have been correlated with externalizing and internalizing disorders, and decreased academic performance (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An …

Examining The Stigma Of Sex Offending In The Media, The Community, And The Prison, Kristen Lynn Stives

Theses and Dissertations

The overarching goal of the current work was to explore sanctions experienced by sex offenders prior to incarceration, during incarceration, and after their release using three separate but interrelated studies. The first study analyzed how the media framed sex offenders, and how this compared to the media’s portrayal of murderers. The study used a content analysis of newspaper articles published in 2007, the year after the Adam Walsh Safety and Protection Act was passed, and 2017. Open coding (the identification of categories and concepts) and axial coding (the process of relating categories and concepts) strategies were used. Findings showed that …

Expression Analysis Of Micrornas And Microrna-Like Rnas In Aspergillus Flavus-Infected Aflatoxin Resistant And Susceptible Maize Inbred Lines, Amanda Benton Harper

Theses and Dissertations

Corn (Zea mays) is frequently infected by a soil fungal pathogen Aspergillus flavus. The fungus produces aflatoxins, which cause liver cancer. Maize inbred lines that are resistant to infection by A. flavus have been developed, and these inbred lines provide excellent models for studying molecular mechanisms of maize resistance to the fungus. MicroRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) recently identified in A. flavus had been found to be correlated with aflatoxin production conditions, suggesting that the milRNAs might play a role in the regulation of aflatoxin production. In this research, small RNAs were isolated from kernels of maize (resistant Mp719 and susceptible Va35) …

Extraction Kinetics, Physicochemical And Functional Properties Of Proteins Isolated From Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) By-Products, Yuqing Tan

Theses and Dissertations

Channel catfish raising is an important aquaculture in the United States. Mississippi ranks No.1 in catfish production for continuous 4 years. However, catfish fillet processing generates huge amount of by-products, including heads, bone frames, visceras and skins, which contain significant amount of proteins. Removing and utilization of proteins from the by-product would add value to the catfish industry. Collagen was extracted from catfish skin by: (1) acid extraction; (2) homogenization-aided; and (3) pepsin-aided extraction methods. Kinetic analysis of the extraction was performed. SDS-PAGE was performed to analysis the composition of proteins in collagens extracted under different conditions. Collages extracted by …

Investigating Ethical Dilemmas And Ethical Decision Making In The Field Of School Psychology Using The Multidimensional Scale For Ethics In School Psychology, Umbreen Iqbal

Theses and Dissertations

Ethical standards and principals are one of the most significant part of any professional field. Being an applied practice field, the application of ethical codes and conduct is a critical component for school psychologists. There have been numerous research studies on ethical decision making and ethical dilemmas in many applied fields to help update the ethics principles and codes, same is the case for the field of School Psychology (APA, 2017; NASP, 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine school psychologists’ professional characteristics with regards to managing critical incidents that pose potential ethical violations. An additional purpose was …

Investigating The Postmortem Microbial Community Structure, Function, And Transmigration As It Pertains To Forensic Science And Public Health, Zachary Melburn Burcham

Theses and Dissertations

Postmortem microbial communities are being extensively studied for their utility in forensic science investigations. Microbial communities associated with decomposition, necrobiome, have been shown to react in a predictable manner to the postmortem interval or time since death. These communities are affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity which can cause variabilities in the community structural and functional turnover. However, the transmigration patterns across organs and functional activity as decomposition progresses is still relatively unknown in a highly controlled system. This study aims to describe the community structural changes that take place during a highly controlled decomposition in mice …

Investigation Of A Low-External-Input Sustainable Rice Production System To Identify Ecosystem Services Towards Adoption Costs And Benefits, Alexandra Gwin Firth

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated a potentially sustainable rice production system in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) that uses ecological principles to enhance environmental quality at the field scale. It was hypothesized annual flooding of rice fields to create waterbird habitat would benefit soil health, providing agronomic benefits to the farmer. Two sites were selected: a low-external-input-sustainable-agriculture (LEISA) system with flooded (LF) and nonlooded (LN) fields and a conventional site with flooded (CF) and nonlooded (CN) fields. Soil microbial diversity and nutrient content were quantified and compared. Camera traps were used to document bird activity for estimates of fecal matter input. Soil …

Landowner Perceptions Of Oil And Gas Development In Mississippi And Policies Associated With Managing The Industry And Natural Resources, Rachael Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Advances in oil and gas drilling technologies have led to an on-shore shale boom in the United States. This has increased drilling on forest land and conflicts regarding the tradeoffs of this practice. This study examines the forest landowner perspective of oil and gas development on forest land, policies that regulate the industry, opinions of land use tradeoffs, and what influences landowner decision making. This study also examines the balance of power between federal, state, and municipal government regarding the regulation of the oil and gas industry. A systematic random sample of 1200 landowners with more than 10 acres of …

Factors Influencing White-Tailed Deer Mortality Risk Within A Multi-Predator System In Michigan, Usa, Todd M. Kautz

Theses and Dissertations

I monitored cause-specific mortality and factors influencing mortality risk for white-tailed deer in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA, during two high mortality risk periods: adult female deer during Feb–May, and fawns from birth to 6 months. I observed high rates of predation and starvation for adult female deer during Apr–May, suggesting that late winter represents a survival bottleneck due to nutritional declines. A strong negative relationship existed between snow free days during late winter and mortality risk. Predation was the dominant mortality source for fawns but predation risk decreased with larger birth mass. Black bears and coyotes accounted for …

Healthcare Experiences Of Transgender Mississippians: A Qualitative Study, Micah D. King

Theses and Dissertations

For this study, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 transgender adults who lived, or had previously lived, in Mississippi and sought healthcare services in the state. The questions asked focused on identifying the barriers to care that these individuals faced as well as the strategies for navigating the barriers they employed. Recommendations for providers were also considered.

Health Science Curriculum For Early Childhood: Teacher Implementation And Impact On Child Health Knowledge, Carla J. Mays

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains two secondary quantitative data analyses studies. In the first, implementation of the WannaBee Healthy? Be Smart! Be Active! Be a Leader! health science curriculum was examined to expand understanding about teacher usage of an integrated health curriculum. Specifically, researchers assessed the amount of activities within each curriculum domain (i.e., books, creative expressions, language/literacy, math, science) and the number of activities within each theme of the lessons (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, sleep) utilized by participating teachers. Prior to implementation, teachers (N = 68; M age = 35.5 years old) attended a one-hour training where use of the curriculum …

Application Of Hydrocolloid And Propylene Glycol Infused Nets And Coatings On Cave Aged Cheddar Chees And Their Impact On Tyrophagus Putrescentiae Growth And Sensory Properties, Kavitha Rama Krishnan

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of using food grade coatings and nettings formulated with xanthan gum and propylene glycol (PG) or carrageenan (CG), propylene glycol alginate and PG on aged Cheddar cheese to control Tyrophagus putrescentiae growth at temperatures of 10°C, 15°C, and 20°C and relative humidity’s of 75% and 85%. Cheddar cheese cubes with treated nets and coatings inhibited mite growth at all temperature and relative humidity combinations. Control cheese cubes either without coatings or in untreated nets had fewer mites (P<0.05) at 10°C than at 15°C or 20°C. The sensory properties of the cheese were not affected by the coatings and nettings at 10°C and 75 % RH. However, all other temperature and RH combinations with the exception of the CG netting at 15°C at 75 % and 85 % RH caused sensory flavor differences (P<0.05).

Functional Role Of Protein Kinases And Phosphatase In Abiotic Stress Response In Plants, Saroj Kumar Sah

Theses and Dissertations

Soybean (Glycine max) and rice (Oryza sativa) are the most important crops cultivated worldwide. The productivity of both crops is severely limited due to drought stresses. Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling is one of the crucial phytohormones which acts as the signaling mediator in different environmental stress for adaptive response of plants. In this study, functional characterization of abscisic acid-activated protein kinase-like kinase 1 (AALK1), and low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMWPTP) were studied by developing gain-ofunction and loss-ofunction phenotypes by transgenesis. Physiological response of AALK1 showed that AALK1 modulates the drought stress response ins soybean plants. The study has …

Social Inequality In The Early Bronze Age At Bab Edh-Dhra, Jordan, Natalie Patience

Theses and Dissertations

Bab edh-Dhra is the most extensively excavated cemetery from Early Bronze Age, Jordan. Despite thorough study, the social structure and existence of social inequality remain unclear. This was addressed using osteological evidence of physiological stress to compare between family tombs. In societies exhibiting social inequality, individuals of lower status experience higher levels of stress. Evidence of physiological stress (femoral length, LEH, metabolic disorders, periosteal reactions, cribra orbitalia, and porotic hyperostosis) was recorded using standard methods for 250 adults. The artifact counts in this study have been previously published. Differences in the frequency of stress indicators were compared using chi-square tests. …

Prediction Of Energy Expenditure From Accelerometers During Physical Activity In Adults With Down Syndrome: The Effect Of Accelerometer Placement, Anthony T. Allred

Theses and Dissertations

There is a need to examine the difference in the relationship between oxygen uptake (VO2) and output from hip- and wrist-worn accelerometers in adults with Down syndrome (DS). The purpose of this study is to identify if that relationship is different between adults with and without DS. Hip- and wrist-worn accelerometer accuracy was also assessed. The sample included 16 adults with DS (10 men; age 31±15 years) and 19 adults without DS (10 men; age 24±6 years). We measured VO2 with a portable spirometer and accelerometer output (Vector Magnitude [VM]) with a hip- and a wrist-worn accelerometer. VM and group …

Stress-Buffering Of Social Support On Depressive Problems: Moderation By Parental Depressive Problems, Erica Marie Szkody

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of parental depressive problems on children’s depressive symptoms has been widely studied. The Stress Buffering Hypothesis states that social support acts as a protective factor between the impacts of stress from negative life events on physical and psychological health. The current study examined the stress buffering hypothesis in terms of the relationship between parental depressive problems and emerging adult depressive problems. The differential buffering strength of both perceived social support and received social support between stress from negative life events and depressive problems were examined along with the moderating effects of parent and emerging adult gender. Neither perceived …

Sustainability Of Preparations Programs Initiated Through The Information Technology (It) Professionals In Health Care Program, Nena Parrish Scott

Theses and Dissertations

In 2010, the Office of National Coordinator (ONC), a branch of the federal government, launched a program called the IT Professionals in Health Care Program. The Program was intended to address the anticipated shortage of skilled workers in health information technology (HIT) and electronic health records (EHRs). According to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC, 2014), the ONC estimated a shortfall of 51,000 HIT workers over 5 years in terms of the number that would be needed to fully support health care providers and facilities in the adoption of EHRs. The growing demand for HIT professionals did not match the …

Removal Of Dietary Antimicrobials And Effects Of Their Replacement With Bacillus Subtilis On The Growth And Intestinal Health Of Male Broilers, Kacey O'Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of dietary antimicrobial removal and Bacillus subtilis supplementation on the growth and intestinal health of male broilers were investigated. Birds were fed either a control, antimicrobial, or a B. subtilis probiotic diet at different feeding phases. Birds were challenged with a 10 × dose of a coccidiosis vaccine. Supplementation of B. subtilis in for antimicrobials in the late grower and early finisher phases improved growth similar to birds fed antimicrobials until withdrawal, while antimicrobial removal without B. subtilis supplementation in those periods hindered growth. The improved growth suggests that the probiotic was able to alleviate the stress of …