Behavioral Chronopharmacology Of Cannabinoids In Young And Aged Mice, Erik Lewis Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overarching goal of this research is to explore the biological mechanisms of aging and formulate novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate age-related impairments. The presence and pervasiveness of ~24 hour (circadian) rhythms in molecular and behavioral dynamics suggests that the mechanisms regulating these rhythms are integral to biological aging and possibly amenable to therapeutic interventions. Based on evidence presented in this dissertation, we conclude that the endocannabinoid system is a mediator of both central and peripheral circadian physiology. Additionally, the hormetic pharmacological properties of the synthetic cannabinoid CP55940 suggest that bidirectional modulation of circadian rhythms via cannabinoids is possible. Chapter …

Novel Ophthalmic Formulations For Improved Natamycin Delivery In Fungal Infections Of The Eye., Akash Vijay Patil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natamycin (NT) is a front-line drug in the management of ocular fungal infections (OFI). An ophthalmic marketed NT suspension (Natacyn®) is currently the only FDA approved medication prescribed in the pharmacotherapy of OFI. Current NT pharmacotherapy requires frequent topical administration (every hour or 2-hours over 6-8 times in a day) due to it being instilled as eye-drops. This leads to higher precorneal losses and subsequent poor permeation and bioavailability. Therefore, in this research study, alternative ocular formulations of NT were investigated with an intent to improve precorneal retention and corneal permeation in comparison to Natacyn®. Chapter 1 discusses various aspects …

Maurice E. Peloubet: A Life Of Impact On Accountancy And Society, Brandi Holley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maurice E. Peloubet was one of accountancy’s major players during the profession’s highly evolutionary period in the United States from before World War I to the Vietnam War. Though Peloubet spent his entire career from 1911 to 1964 in public accounting, he also promoted the profession on the academic, governmental, and international fronts. This dissertation explores his contributions to the profession of accountancy and in turn society at large. Particular focus is placed on his role in the evolution of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), his lobbying efforts before Congress concerning the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) Inventory method …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Solid Cargo Inside Cylindrical Containers By Using Linear And Nonlinear Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopy, Kevin Yi-Wei Lin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) of cylindrical containers is of critical importance because of their ubiquity in industrial applications. However, there is a paucity of research in the literature on NDE studies of solid cargo inside cylindrical containers. This dissertation consists of three connected projects investigating the application of linear and nonlinear Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopy (ARS) to the NDE of solid cargo inside sealed cylindrical containers. In these projects, the container of interest varied from extremely complicated to very simplified, and the studies extended from applied to basic physics problems. The first study was focused on an empty Transnuclear-32 (TN-32) nuclear …

Learning Community Impact On Low-Socioeconomic Student Success In A 4-Year Public University, April Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Low-socioeconomic students often persist and graduate from institutions of higher education at lower rates than middle and upper-socioeconomic students. Learning communities are one proactive program established in higher education to support first-year students in their academic and social acclimation into college. However, learning community literature tends to focus on the success of the participant population as a whole. This study sought to contribute to existing learning community literature and low-socioeconomic student literature by measuring learning community impact on low-socioeconomic student academic success in terms of GPA, same-institution retention, and same-institution degree completion within six years. This quantitative study measured GPA, …

Nest Microclimate Manipulation Affects Growth, Development, And Heat-Shock Protein Production In The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis), Brooke E. Sykes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climatic conditions are particularly important to breeding birds, especially as recent global change has caused a shift in the timing and length of avian breeding seasons. Nest microclimate has been shown to influence avian development and parental care, however, little work has been done to examine whether increased heat poses a cost to altricial nestlings at different stages of their development. We manipulated the temperature of eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) nest boxes to examine whether or not nestlings exhibit a heat shock response, and a difference in growth or altered parasite loads at both their early and late developmental stages. …

Instant Schools: The Frenzied Formation And Early Days Of The Mississippi Private School Association, Ernest Flora Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The founding leadership of the Mississippi Private School Association (MPSA) used individual experience and extensive networking via the Citizens’ Council along with the community’s belief and desire to maintain white-only schools to create a coalition of quickly formed but well-resourced private schools. This political and social clout afforded them the ability to create a large, powerful organization almost “instantly” during a pivotal moment of southern educational history. Scholar Kenneth T. Andrews called the establishment of all-white academies in Mississippi, “a countermovement strategy that floout of the prior history of organized white resistance to the civil-rights movement.” The significance of this …

Survival And Development Of Larval Odonates (Anisoptera) And Female Oviposition Site Choice In Response To Predatory Fish, Kevin Matthew Potts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reproductive success of many aquatic insects is highly dependent on where they deposit their eggs. Not all habitats are created equal. Some are more favorable than others for larval development. Therefore it would be evolutionarily advantageous for an ovipositing female to differentiate between them and choose the most suitable for her offspring’s survival. Numerous studies have shown that many species with complex life-cycles representing a diverse array of taxonomic groups sort themselves non-randomly among habitat patches on the basis of perceived habitat quality. In the case of dragonflies, insufficient evidence exists to support the hypothesis that this group can …

Transition Stories Of Student Veterans, Kelley J. Jenkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the transition experience for student veterans enrolled in the three largest universities in Mississippi: Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi, and The University of Southern Mississippi. Schlossberg’s Transition Theory was used as a lens for viewing the results of this study. This phenological approach will take a social constructivist worldview in order to describe the veteran transition experience. Data was collected using semi structured interviews, transcribed, and analyzed. Each veteran’s story was written in a narrative form to provide rich detail for better understanding of their experiences. The interview transcripts …

Admission Officers' Perceptions Of Implicit Bias In The Admission Process, Christi Denise Hardy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although they are not involved in the decision making process, admission officers at institutions of higher learning could have a significant effect on the admission process. For the purposes of this research, admission officers are defined as the primary personnel assisting applicants to complete their applications through the collection of applications, fees, essays, transcripts, test scores, and other supplemental documents required by the institution for admission consideration. More specifically, their implicit biases could significantly affect the admission process. Research on implicit biases is on the rise, and studies investigating this issue in health care and hiring practices are abundant. Implicit …

Habitat Selection Across A Temperature And Nutrient Gradient By Cope’S Grey Treefrog (Hyla Chrysoscelis) And The Mosquito, Culex Restuans, Sarah Christine Mcnamara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Habitat selection by pond breeding amphibians and insects is often critical for larval survival, performance, and resulting parental fitness, since there is typically little parental care beyond oviposition site choice. Numerous axes of patch quality have been identified and quantified, but species with varied life histories may differently shift perception of habitat quality as changes in global climate increase water temperatures and rates of eutrophication. Three outdoor mesocosm experiments were conducted using two species with complex life cycles and very different life histories; Hyla chrysoscelis, or Cope’s Gray tree frog, and the mosquito (Culex restuans). Two mesocosm experiments were conducted …

Elucidating The Sloth Hair Microbiome: A Metagenomic Comparison Of Two- And Three-Fingered Sloths, Maya Kaup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sloths are unusual mobile ecosystems containing a high diversity of symbionts living and growing in their fur. These symbionts include poorly studied algae, arthropods, fungi, and bacteria, making sloths likely reservoirs of unexplored biodiversity. I aim to identify gaps and eliminate misconceptions in our knowledge of sloths and their symbionts, and to identify key questions to spur future research into the functions and roles of sloths within a broader ecological and evolutionary context. I also seek to position the sloth fur ecosystem as a model for addressing fundamental questions in microbial and metacommunity ecology. I used whole-community shotgun metagenomic sequencing …

Cyanines, Squaraines, And Xanthene Based Nir Emissive Materials For Biological Imaging, Jacqueline N. Gayton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need for NIR fluorescent dyes is widely accepted for imaging and communications applications. Cyanines are a commonly used family of dyes for biological imaging due to their tunability, often rapid synthesis, ease of bioconjugation, intense molar absorptivities and strong NIR emissions. Since the invention of indocyanine green (ICG), many efforts have been made to improve on the design achieving farther red-shifted dyes with larger quantum yields and enhanced Stokes shifts. A series of squaraine, cyanine, and xanthene based dyes using the indolizine heterocycle as a donor in place of the commonly used indoline donor are discussed. The indolizine donor …

Carceral Matrix: Black Women's Writing In Response To Mass Incarceration, 1963-2019, Allison Michelle Serraes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation broadens the definition of confinement literature, a critical and developing subfield in African American literary studies. It argues that contemporary Black women writers are the early theorists of the complex and insidious reach of the U.S. prison-industrial complex. Through their probing representations of Black female characters’ interactions with state-sanctioned social control and patriarchal violence, Gayl Jones, Alice Walker, Suzan-Lori Parks, and DaMaris B. Hill expand critical understandings of confinement and imprisonment. This dissertation contends that these writers’ depictions of sexual and reproductive control as part of the developing carceral state reveal how confinement and imprisonment operate on intersecting …

Factors Associated With Student Withdrawals At A Mississippi Community College, Kathryn Harlow Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The three manuscript dissertation examines the factors associated with student withdrawal at a Mississippi Community College. Student withdrawal is a consistent concern for administration at this institution. The research focuses on reasons for withdrawal, student demographics, and subject withdrawal. Understanding the factors associated with student withdrawal at this institution could encourage retention and persistence. Manuscript One will provide an overview of the problem of practice, review of literature, and guidance from successful retention programs. Manuscript Two will provide a summary of data collection and presentation of findings from each of the four research questions. Manuscript Three will provide a summary …

Transgenerational Effects Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection In Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Sarah Danielle Amonett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents can transmit pathogens to their offspring. Neonatal hosts are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, as they have immature adaptive immune systems at birth. In this study, I examine parental transmission of a combacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in wild eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and its impact on nestling growth. By diagnosing infections in all family members, I confirmed that eastern bluebird nestlings can contract MG infections, and that infection was more comin older nestlings compared to adults and neonates. Furthermore, unlike in other avian hosts, MG infection does not significantly impact nestling body condition. In response to infection, eastern …

Do Cognitive Distortions And Coping Skills Predict Scar Acceptance And Body Esteem In Women With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Or Pacemakers?, Nora Brier

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cognitions and coping skills predict scar acceptance and body esteem in women 18 years and older with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or pacemakers. A convenience sample of 272 individuals responded to a Facebook post. The measures were a demographic questionnaire, the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised (Short) (SPSI-R:S), the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ), the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey, and the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD). Pearson correlation coefficient results revealed a moderate negative correlation between Negative Problem Orientation (NPO) and Body Esteem (Weight), …

Peremptory Norms Of General International Law (Jus Cogens) And Other Topics: The Seventy- First Session Of The International Law Commission, Sean D. Murphy

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This essay analyzes the outcome of the International Law Commission (ILC)’s seventy- first session, held from April 29 to June 7 and from July 8 to August 9, 2019 in Geneva, under the chairmanship of Pavel Šturma (Czech Republic). Notably, the Commission completed the first reading of its topic on peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens). The Commission also completed the first reading of its topic on protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict and completed the second reading of its topic on crimes against humanity. Progress was also made in developing draft articles on succession …

Beyond The Neighborhood: Defining Membership In Diverse Community Contexts, Brad Forenza, Brian Dashew, Diana Cedeño, David T. Lardier

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The purpose of this research is to form an overarching definition of community membership that encompasses all community contexts. Utilizing qualitative interviews with 102 members of five known community contexts (communities of action, circumstance, interest, place, and practice), the authors use cross-case analysis to explore common, transcendent themes of membership. Three takeaways emerge: first, that individuals identify with communities to address personal needs but come to see social benefits; second, that individuals join communities to deepen existing relationships, but develop new ones; and third, that through engagement, individuals strengthen a sense of self that is unique to community context. Through …

Tunable-Focus Liquid Lens Through Charge Injection, Shizhi Qian, Wenxiang Shi, Huai Zheng, Zhaohui Liu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Liquid lenses are the simplest and cheapest optical lenses, and various studies have been conducted to develop tunable-focus liquid lenses. In this study, a simple and easily implemented method for achieving tunable-focus liquid lenses was proposed and experimentally validated. In this method, charges induced by a corona discharge in the air were injected into dielectric liquid, resulting in “electropressure” at the interface between the air and the liquid. Through a 3D-printed U-tube structure, a tunable-focus liquid lens was fabricated and tested. Depending on the voltage, the focus of the liquid lens can be adjusted in large ranges (−∞ to −9 …

Prevalence Of Restricted Spirometry Within Two Eastern Kentucky Counties A Cross Sectional Study, Quincy Bascombe

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Objective: This study examines the prevalence of restrictive spirometry in Eastern Kentucky and its association among men and women with various demographic and exposure (occupational and environmental) factors.

Methods: A cross sectional, cluster sample (N = 685) of participants from Letcher and Harlan Counties, aged 21 and over, answered a questionnaire focused on risk factors for respiratory health outcomes including questions on demographic, health, occupational, and environmental exposures variables. Pulmonary function tests were administered to all participants with no significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events within the past 30 days. Log-binomial regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) …

Analysis Of High Potency Anticholinergic Prescribing In Scottish Nursing Home Patients, Alexandra Nugent

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the use of two or more high-potency anticholinergic (HPA) medications between patients 65 years and older in nursing homes and in the greater community using prescribing data. Methods: This secondary data analysis of the NHS Scotland PIS databased used prescription data from a nationally representative patient-level database. Patients were included were ≥65 years old, received ≥2HPA prescriptions from 2011Q2-2012Q1(11/12), 2016Q1-2017Q2(16/17), 2018Q2-2017Q1(18/19). The principle endpoint of this study was to assess for a change in patient’s relative risk of receiving ≥2HPA prescriptions. Results: 29,301 patients were identified. From 11/12 to 16/17 all …

Policy Analysis Of California Senate Bill 1138: Mandating Plant-Based Meal Options In Hospitals And Prisons, David Morton

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Obesity, chronic disease, and poor nutrition are prevalent in the United States while healthcare costs rise. Nutritional research advancements have suggested the healthfulness of plant-based diets. In 2018, the California state senate passed Senate Bill 1138, requiring plant-based meal options in hospitals and prisons. This paper sought to examine the context surrounding the bill, determine the appropriateness of the bill, and recommend next steps for nutritional policies in the United States. In a review of the literature, malnutrition in hospitals and prisons is highly prevalent, and state governments have already made efforts to improve their citizens’ nutrition. In this analysis, …

Analysis Of Health Survey Data To Address Topics In Environmental And Public Health, Nimish Valvi

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Manganese is an essential trace element that can cause adverse health effects with deficiency and in excess amounts. The purpose of this study is to determine the asscociation of blood manganese levels and the prevalence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal dysfunction in a general US population.

Methods: Data were used from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) of non-institutionalized US adults 20 years and older using the 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016 survey cycles (n=16629). Weighted multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, and poverty income ratio (PIR), were used to determine the association of …

An Evaluation Of Sensory Paths As An Antecedent Intervention For Decreasing Off-Task Behavior In Children With Disabilities During Small Group Instruction, Hannah Keene

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of sensory paths as an antecedent intervention to decrease off-task behavior and increase on-task behavior in three elementary-aged participants with disabilities. A withdrawal design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The results are corollary due to the unintentional A-B design (schools closed during this time period). There is some evidence that the sensory path intervention was no more effective in decreasing off-task behavior and increasing on-task behavior than baseline conditions. Future research is needed to further investigate the sensory path intervention.

Diagnostic And Prognostic Value Of Salivary Biomarkers In Oral Cancer And Precancer: Review Article, Dalia Ghalwash

Dentistry

Objectives: Salivary biomarker constitute major progress in diagnosis of oral cancer and is a rapidly developing arena of scientific research and is considered a promising prognostic and diagnostic utensil in oral malignant and oral potentially malignant disorders. The search for salivary biomarkers that may have importance in diagnosis, and prognosis of oral cancer is ongoing. Methods: A literature search was performed using the Cochrane library and PubMed databases from 1995 to September 2019. Results: In the recent biological era “omics” method is a new biomarker detection tool that emphasis on exploring many molecules present in saliva. Presently, five main salivary …

Sylc Air Polishing Versus Fluoride Varnish Application In Managing Dentin Hypersensitivity In Non-Carious Cervical Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Dina Ezz Eldin Ahned, Heba Hanza, Mohsen Abielhassan, Mai Mamdouh

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Preparation Type And Tooth Geometry On The Accuracy Of Different Intraoral Scanners, Ahmed Sabet

Dentistry

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of preparation design and tooth geometry on the accuracy of scans obtained from three different intraoral scanners (IOS). Materials and Methods: Full coverage crown and inlay preparations with known axial wall tapers (6ᵒ and 12ᵒ) were performed on typodont teeth using a computer numerical control machine. Reference models were scanned with a highly accurate reference scanner (Ineos X5) and saved in standard tessellation language (STL) format then each IOS (Omnicam, Trios, and i500) scanned each model 10 times. The STL files obtained from the intraoral scanners were compared to the reference models (trueness) and within …

The Issue Of Skeletal Muscle Growth And Regeneration, Ayman Ghallab, Ayman Mohammed Ghallab

Dentistry

The aim of our criticism of the paper authored by Makovický and Makovický (2020) was to prevent the readers from being misinformed by a paper based on a major flaw such as confusing splitting muscle fibers with a stretch receptor.

Effect Of Different Scaling Methods And Materials On The Enamel Surface Topography: An In Vitro Sem Study, Mahmoud Al Ankily, Fatma Makkeyah, Mohamed Shamel, Mahmoud Bakr

Dentistry

Aims and Objectives: Scaling is important for maintenance of gingival and periodontal conditions. These procedures have a harmful effect on the dental hard tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hand and ultrasonic instruments made of stainless and titanium on the surface properties of enamel. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted premolars were used in this in vitro study and were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10). Group I received ultrasonic scaling with stainless steel tip, group II received ultrasonic scaling with titanium tip, group III hand scaling with stainless steel tip, and group …