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The United States Eroding Global Military Advantage; Is There A Way Back?, Fatima Munib

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the U.S. eroding global military advantage in light of the current changing security environment. First, I examine the process and type of erosion taking place. I expand the existing debate and show that the erosion is not defined in monetary terms but in terms of the declining U.S influence within the established rule-based international order. Secondly, I use China and Russia as case-studies to define the present geopolitical rivalries and the (re)emergence of revisionist powers. Both China and Russia aim to shape the emerging international order and threaten the U.S. national security with the increased inter-state competition. …

The Impact Of Utilizing Peer Mentoring Interactions, New Laboratory Experiments, And Writing-To-Learn Practices In Undergraduate Chemistry Education, Dulani Samarasekara

Theses and Dissertations

High attrition rates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields are major challenges in undergraduate education. Many students enrolled in STEM fields end up switching their majors to non-STEM fields or leave college without earning any academic qualification. Due to these reasons, the United States is facing a critical shortage of future talented STEM personnel in the domestic workforce. Therefore, graduating a sufficient number of talented students in STEM fields has come to national attention. It is important to examine strategies for improving STEM-major retention and undergraduate education in STEM disciplines. The main purpose of this study was to …

Don't Fear The Nobodies: A Critical Youth Study Of The Columbiner Instagram Community, Brianna L. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

This research sheds light on how one particular group of young people, Columbiners, use social media to build and maintain a sense of community. Through a content analysis of 200 Instagram posts containing a school shooting fandom hashtag, or #Columbiner, and drawing on both Critical Youth Studies and Sense of Community Theory, this research demonstrates how Columbiners use their hashtag to create a sense of community on Instagram, to explore what it means to be young and cool, and to make sense of the problems that shape their social world, including school shootings. Exploring how this particular group of young …

Problem Solving And Suicide: A First Look, Caitlin E. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with rates increasing over the past several decades. This study examined whether problem-solving performance differs in those with no suicide ideation or attempts compared to those with only suicide ideation and with those with a history of attempts. Results demonstrated that when accounting for depression, problem-solving accuracy was positively predictive for the suicidal ideation group. Furthermore, the suicidal ideation group solved more problems on average than both those with no history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and the suicide attempt group. The current study was somewhat underpowered and …

Use Of Formative Research To Inform Family-Based Approaches To Prevent Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Mississippians, Mary Nelson Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, which is leading to approximately 130 deaths each day. While research on family-based approaches for substance misuse prevention, such as alcohol and tobacco prevention, has been conducted, few if any studies have focused on prescription opioid misuse prevention. Previous literature suggests that a comprehensive family-based approach can be effective in preventing substance misuse at the family-level. Considering the multiple age groups the sandwich generation cares for, the sandwich generation may have greater access to reaching multiple age groups to prevent prescription opioid misuse. Therefore, the purpose of this study …

Maintaining Agronomics, Economics, And Furrow-Irrigation Efficiency In Mid-Southern Usa Soybean Conservation Production Systems, Corey Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Mid-southern USA soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] producers are being pushed to increase adoption of conservation tillage systems as a means of increasing the application efficiency of gravity flow irrigation systems. This research was conducted to determine whether the efficiency of furrow-irrigation systems could be manipulated through conservation tillage systems while maintaining soybean productivity and profitability. Three experiments were conducted near Stoneville, MS on a Dubbs silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs) to determine the effects of reducing tillage and increasing ground cover residues on irrigation application efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency, soybean grain yield, and net returns …

How The Dogface Got Its Color: How Genetics And The Environment Influence Color Variation Within And Between Species In The Zerene Butterfly, Jennifer Fenner

Theses and Dissertations

A fundamental question in biology is: How is variation generated? At a basic level, the vast amount of variation and biodiversity is generated through a combination of genetic and environmental processes. Traditionally these processes were treated independently, but recently fields such as evolutionary development have worked to unify our understanding of these mechanisms and to investigate how these processes interact with each other to generate variation. Developmental plasticity provides a fantastic framework for studying how genetic and environmental (GxE) interactions shape and maintain natural variation. Butterflies and their wing color patterns have long been model systems for plasticity. This dissertation …

Family Firm Selection: A Relational Perspective, William Elliot Tabor

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the hiring of nonfamily employees in family firms. Research to date has emphasized the challenges family firms confront in attracting and selecting quality nonfamily human capital. This literature has emphasized the limitations these firms face due to the information asymmetries common to the hiring process. However, this research has not considered the advantages available to family firms through their social network. Drawing on agency theory, I hypothesize that owner referral utilization mediates the relationship between family essence and firm performance because their use lessens the agency conflicts between owners and nonfamily members. Utilizing a sample of …

Lindenwood Digest, December 13, 2019, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Effect Of Different Types Of Static Mixer Geometry On Quality Of Microbubble Generation, Tee Wu Yang

Student Works (2020-2029)

This research project is mainly focused on the impact of different types of static mixer on the quality of microbubble generation. The design of the microbubble generation consists of venturi to allow the air intake by using pressure difference and then different static mixer geometry are tested to investigate the effect on bubble rising time and dissolved oxygen (DO). At the first part of study, the work comprises of the relationship of bubble rising time at different pressures and bubble diameter at different pressures. It has proved that higher pressure will induce small bubble diameter and the bubble rising time …

Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• From apartheid to academia, Georgia Southern graduate student beats odds to earn degree

Residues And Residue Pairs Of Evolutionary Importance Differentially Direct Signaling Bias Of D2 Dopamine Receptors, María E Terrón-Díaz, Sara J Wright, Melina A Agosto, Olivier Lichtarge, Theodore G Wensel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The D2 dopamine receptor and the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2A) are closely-related G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) from the class A bioamine subfamily. Despite structural similarity, they respond to distinct ligands through distinct downstream pathways, whose dysregulation is linked to depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, and psychosis. They are important drug targets, and it is important to understand how their bias toward G-protein versus β-arrestin signaling pathways is regulated. Previously, evolution-based computational approaches, difference Evolutionary Trace and Evolutionary Trace–Mutual information (ET-Mip), revealed residues and residue pairs that, when switched in the D2 receptor to the corresponding residues from 5-HT2A, altered ligand potency …

A Long Cane Competition's Impact On Self-Determination Of Youth With Visual Impairments, Kasey Markoski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore self-determination in daily life and external programs for youth with visual impairments. To achieve this, the researcher explored three areas that contribute to the development of self-determination based on Wehmeyer’s Functional Theory of Self-determination: capacity, opportunities, and support. All participants in this study participated in Cane Quest, an external program specifically designed for youth with visual impairments. Cane Quest is a long cane competition for youth with visual impairments. These youth independently complete on a route using their orientation and mobility skills while navigating through complex environments such as residential areas, …

A Systematic Approach For Waste Management In The Semiconductor Industry, Vivian Hui

Theses and Dissertations

One area that has received attention in the literature is sustainable production. This research has focused upon modifying production processes to improve sustainability. Semiconductor manufacturing has evolved into one of the most important industries in the world. However, as a new industry, semiconductor manufacturing has had far less attention in the sustainability literature as compared to more mature industries. Amongst the sustainability frameworks and methodologies that have been developed to measure the sustainability of an entity, waste is treated as an afterthought, not as the focus of the research. The literature rarely considers waste management as a component of sustainable …

Attributes Affecting Adoption Of Pollinator Conservation Practices, Shannon M. Westlake

Theses and Dissertations

Pollinator conservation has recently become a topic of greater interest and research around the world as native insect pollinator species increasingly face population declines. In the United States, growing concerns regarding food security and decreased biodiversity have led to the creation of programmatic and best management practices (BMPs) promotional efforts among governmental and non-governmental organizations. These efforts seek to support pollinators on public and private lands by addressing the primary causes of decline (e.g., habitat loss and increased chemical use). Although these organizations have worked diligently to increase awareness and applicability of programs to private landholders, there is still a …

Zoonotic Risk Of Emerging Influenza Viruses From Domestic Animals, Sherry Blackmon

Theses and Dissertations

Influenza poses a significant global health risk due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with endemic strains and the pandemic potential of novel strains. This research characterizes the zoonotic risk of emerging influenza viruses from domestic animals. Chapter two investigates the genetic compatibility of pandemic H1N1 and emerging canine influenza H3N2 (CIV-H3N2), first identified in dogs in 2007 and currently responsible for outbreaks in shelters in the U.S. We generated 51 of the 127 possible reassortant viruses: 19 showed high-growth phenotypes and 13 replicated in mice lungs. A reassortant with the HA and NP genes derived from CIV-H3N2 transmitted …

Biochemical Characterization And Regulatory Mechanisms Of Plant Thimet Oligopeptidases Under Oxidative And Reductive Stress, Thualfeqar Almohanna

Theses and Dissertations

Two main Arabidopsis thimet oligopeptidases (AtTOP) involved in stress responses are: (1) thimet metalloendopeptidase 1 (TOP1), found in the mitochondria and chloroplasts, annotated as At5g65620, and (2) thimet metalloendopeptidase 2 (TOP2), found in the cytosol annotated as At5g10540. Both AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 are located on chromosome 5 and share high homology. AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 are zincin-like metalloendopeptidases with the characteristic HEXXH active motif of the M3 clan. Their peptidase activity is related to the oxidative stress triggered by plant immune responses. AtTOPs are involved in plant immune responses through a mechanism regulated by Salicylic Acid (SA); both AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 …

Service And Empathy: A Comparison Study Of Intercultural Experiences Among Students At Mississippi College, Victoria Rose Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

Service to the community is a key element in mission statements of public and private universities. In the 21st century, higher education shifted by establishing community engagement offices and encouraging student community service through service-learning. Previous literature indicated that experiential learning increased ethnocultural empathy and volunteerism among college students. This study compares two experiential learning programs’ influence on the ethnocultural empathy development among college students at Mississippi College, a private, religious-affiliated university to explore how this empathy increases community service. 38 students were asked to complete the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy (Wang et al. 2003) and were interviewed about their …

Spatial Responses Of Adult Male White-Tailed (Odocoileus Virginianus) Deer To Hunting Risk, Ashley Chance

Theses and Dissertations

Movement responses of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to hunting pressure vary across study systems and risk levels and may be confounded by breeding season. At the average levels of risk present on my study area (0.04 hunters/hectare/day) deer almost never altered behavior in response to hunter proximity. Home range characteristics did not predict risk exposure or risk management. Behavioral responses to levels of risk present in my study appear to be minimal, however bucks altered home range size and movements as the breeding season progressed. Most unconstrained movements occurred in early rut, with a 50% reduction during late and …

Evaluation And Development Of Effective Tank Cleanout Procedures Following Dicamba Use, Zachary Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

Sprayer hygiene and concerns of off-target injury from auxin herbicides have increased in recent years. New auxin tolerant crops have broadened the use patterns of these herbicides. Therefore, experiments were conducted across two locations in Mississippi in 2016, 2017, and 2018 to evaluate sprayer cleanout procedures to aid in dicamba removal. Standard sprayer cleanout consisted of a triple rinse of 10% tank volume, with either a tank cleaner or ammonia added in the second rinse. Samples collected in each rinse step for all treatments were applied to actively growing soybean and dicamba concentration quantified with HPLC. Experiments were conducted to …

Effect Of Frontal Passage On 24-Hour Thermal Variability Of Urban Heat Islands, Mary-Stewart Wachter

Theses and Dissertations

Building materials, lack of vegetation and absence of open spaces in urban areas cause surfaces such as asphalt to become warmer than nearby vegetated surfaces that surround the city, creating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Little investigation has been done regarding temperature changes across these surfaces before and after frontal passages. This study analyzes the 24-hour temperature difference as a result of a cold front passage by examining the transitional seasons (Spring and Fall) for Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Kansas City, Missouri. This research focused on investigating the pattern of moist and dry tropical air masses preceding a …

Vegetable, Dietary Fiber Consumption And Obesity In Japan And The United States, Megumi Hashida

Theses and Dissertations

The US and Japanese populations do not meet recommended DF intakes. This study indicated the relationship between the variety of vegetables available in markets and vegetable consumption in the US and Japan. The number of vegetables available in markets was determined using online resources from five markets in each country. Mean number of vegetable products in the US was 104.4 products (SD: ±36.8) and mean number of vegetable products in the Japanese markets was 120.2 products (SD: ±15.6). There was no significant relationship between the variety of vegetables in markets and vegetable consumption between the US and Japan. This study …

Development And Evaluation Of An Automated System To Deliver A Live-Attenuated Edwardsiella Ictaluri Vaccine In Commercial Catfish Production Systems, John Wesley Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

Catfish aquaculture is the largest cultured food fish industry in the United States, accounting for approximately $375 million in sales annually, with Mississippi leading the industry with 36,200 surface acres of production. However, infectious diseases such as enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) are decreasing production efficiencies, creating losses of $40-60 million annually. Live-attenuated oral ESC vaccines are effective in preventing ESC infections, but have not been widely adopted by the catfish industry due to the lack of a system to administer the oral vaccine at the scale seen in commercial catfish production systems. An automated system was developed to administer …

Durability Characteristics Of Asphalt Mixtures Containing Bioditives, Amanda Hufft

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is focused on determining the durability characteristics of asphalt mixtures containing bio-based additives for the purpose of more effective use of recycled materials. Fifty mixtures were evaluated by Cantabro Mass Loss testing in their virgin state, after 1 year of field aging, and after laboratory conditioning to determine the effectiveness of bioditives in dense graded asphalt and sand asphalt mixtures. Key findings from this work demonstrated that considerable amounts of recycled asphalt shingles (i.e. 5% of the total mixture) significantly affect the brittleness of dense graded asphalt mixtures when used in conjunction with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Furthermore, …

Evaluation Of Preemergence And Postemergence Herbicide Programs On Weed Control And Weed Seed Suppression In Mississippi Peanut (Arachis Hypogea), John Wesley Seale

Theses and Dissertations

Weed control is challenging for Mississippi peanut producers. Research was established during 2017 and 2018 at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Mississippi, to evaluate herbicide programs for weed control and reducing weed seed production in Mississippi peanut production. Treatments were combinations of acetochlor, clethodim, flumioxazin, lactofen, paraquat, and S-metolachlor with their respective adjuvants if needed. Treatments were applied: PRE, early-POST (EPOST), and/or mid-post (MPOST). All treatments included a PRE application followed by (fb) application of EPOST and/or MPOST application. Flumioxazin PRE fb lactofen plus clethodim MPOST provided greatest weed control and peanut yield. This treatment provided 88 …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Climatic Oscillations And Hurricane Intensification On The Destructiveness Of Gulf Coast Hurricane Landfalls, Michelle Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Hurricanes are the leading cause of economic loss in the United States, and recent studies have shown that they have increased in intensity. The growth of population and wealth to coastal regions has exacerbated catastrophic losses. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of three modes of natural climate variability as well as hurricane intensification on destructiveness along the Gulf Coast. The study utilized R programming software to create raster grids and evaluate spatial and temporal relationships between intensification, intensity, sea surface temperatures and destructiveness. Destructiveness was synthesized using the Pielke Landsea 2018 (PL18) normalized losses dataset. …

An Outdoor Professional Development Model In The Era Of The Next Generation Science Standards, Shana Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Experiential, outdoor education supports improvement in students’ problem-solving skills; collaboration and communication skills; and enjoyment in learning in the outdoors. Outdoor instruction is becoming increasingly underutilized. A residential environmental education center, located in Tennessee has conducted professional development programs in effort to increase teacher implementation of instruction in outdoor spaces. This institute revealed concern for low implementation rates to past professional development opportunities. Their newly designed, long-term professional development explored teacher’s perceived challenges and needs, then combined effective experiential pedagogy in outdoor spaces with pre-established communities of support from the participating schools in effort to contribute to experiential, outdoor instruction …

The Binding Modes Of Diminazene Aceturate With C-Myc G-Quadruplexes, Jerrano Bowleg

Theses and Dissertations

Interactions between DNA and ligands are important in the rational design of drugs and in research into DNA function. In particular, the interaction of DMZ with DNA structures named “G-quadruplexes” was considered. G-quadruplexes are structures present in telomeres and several oncogenes. The main purpose of this project was to provide a computational tool to study DNA ligand interactions using a variety of molecular modeling techniques that include molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and MM/PBSA (Molecular Mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area). We investigated the binding modes and binding affinities of DMZ with c-MYC G-quadruplexes (G4s). We found that the conformation and …

The Impact Of A Freshman Orientation Program On Academic Achievement For Students Enrolled In A Community College, James Gray

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the effectiveness of a freshman orientation program on second-semester retention, second-year retention, and cumulative GPA for students enrolled in a community college in the Deep South. The problem addressed in this study is a lack of sufficient academic and social support for college students, limiting their ability to remain in school and with high levels of academic performance (Nora & Crisp, 2007). For this study, the following research questions were analyzed: (1) Are there differences in 1st to 2nd semester retention for program completers with a 17-18 ACT as compared to …

Intersecting Identities And Social Support Impacting Suicidal Ideation And Attempts Among Gender Minority Adults, Ashley R. Pate

Theses and Dissertations

Suicidality rates are far higher among gender minority individuals than in the general population. This study sought to determine if intersecting identities and social support play a role in these rates. There were no differences in suicidality among gender minorities with an intersecting sexual minority identity. For intersecting racial/ethnic identities, it was found that White individuals were more likely to report past suicidal ideation than racial/ethnic minority individuals. Family support was independently associated with less suicidal ideation, whereas gender minority friend support was independently associated with an increase in suicidal ideation.