Digital Commons Network^™

A Workers' Paradise: Re-Integrating Newfoundland Into Colonial American History, Elena Hynes

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The island of Newfoundland is conspicuous in colonial British and North American histories, most particularly and paradoxically, in its absence, a state of affairs which this study aims to help address. Multiple factors, including a paucity of documentary sources and various historiographic trends, have traditionally contributed to Newfoundland’s marginalization within colonial historical narratives. However, developments in recent years have made Newfoundland’s potential integration into the broader colonial dialogue more feasible including the advent of the Atlantic perspective, the expansion of available sources, and the work of multiple regional historians who have challenged enduring historiographic trends characterizing Newfoundland colonial settlements as …

Predation Efficiency Of Lionfish (Pterois Volitans And P. Miles) In Differing Levels Of Habitat Complexity, Abigail Ehlers Kimbrel

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois sp.) into the Atlantic and Caribbean has received attention around the globe. Venomous spines, over-sized fanlike pectoral fins, slow movement, and novel feeding strategies have allowed lionfish to become effective apex- predators. Recent research has determined that lionfish use inshore mangrove habitats as foraging grounds, which are also used as nursery habitats for juvenile fish, thus reducing recruitment of native fish populations. The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) determine the predation efficiency of lionfish in differing mangrove habitat complexities, (2) examine the influence of temperature and behavior of prey commonly found …

Productivity And Competitiveness Of The Agricultural Sector In Poland, Jacek Rodzinka, Tomasz Skica, Tadeusz Pomianek

Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies

This article attempts to assess the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector in Poland. The data used in the article were provided by Polish FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) and the Central Statistical Office, which makes them a representative and reliable source of information on agriculture in Poland. Studies have shown that the agricultural sector in Poland is characterised by low productivity, especially of small and medium-sized farms prevailing in Poland, as well as low internal competitiveness measured by the share of the national agricultural sector in generating GDP. Studies have shown, on the other hand, that the situation …

Intra-Tumoral Nerve-Tracing In A Novel Syngeneic Model Of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma, Jeffrey L Barr, Allison Kruse, Anthony C Restaino, Natalia Tulina, Sarah Stuckelberger, Samuel J Vermeer, Caitlin S Williamson, Daniel W Vermeer, Marianna Madeo, Jillian Stamp, Maria Bell, Mark Morgan, Ju-Yoon Yoon, Marilyn A Mitchell, Anna Budina, Dalia K Omran, Lauren E Schwartz, Ronny Drapkin, Paola D Vermeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dense tumor innervation is associated with enhanced cancer progression and poor prognosis. We observed innervation in breast, prostate, pancreatic, lung, liver, ovarian, and colon cancers. Defining innervation in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) was a focus since sensory innervation was observed whereas the normal tissue contains predominantly sympathetic input. The origin, specific nerve type, and the mechanisms promoting innervation and driving nerve-cancer cell communications in ovarian cancer remain largely unknown. The technique of neuro-tracing enhances the study of tumor innervation by offering a means for identification and mapping of nerve sources that may directly and indirectly affect the tumor microenvironment. …

Inflammatory Profiles Of High Risk Cattle Exposed To Common Management Practices, Alexandra M. Pittman

Theses and Dissertations

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in beef cattle. Common management practices in addition to BRD have been shown previously to cause inflammation. The objectives of this study were: (1) characterize the inflammatory profiles as indicated by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and haptoglobin concentrations; (2) evaluate the impact of on-arrival metaphylactic antimicrobial therapy on inflammatory profiles in high risk cattle; and (3) examine the relationship between inflammatory profile and BRD morbidity and mortality. Eighty sale barn heifers were purchased over a two-year period (n=160). At arrival, heifers were randomly assigned to either receive tulathromycin (Draxxin, …

Molecular, Somatic, And Performance Characteristics Of Broilers Exhibiting Woody Breast Myopathy, And The Effects Of Dietary And Challenge Intervention Strategies, Linan Jia

Theses and Dissertations

Woody breast (WB) is a meat quality problem that has caused significant economic losses for the poultry industry. Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to a 3 (diet) × 2 (cocci challenge) × 2 (sex) factorial arrangement of treatments. The three diets included the control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet), antibiotic diet (basal diet + 6.075 mg bacitracin /kg feed), and probiotic diet (basal diet + 2.2 × 108 CFU Bacillus subtilis PB6 /kg feed). Birds in the cocci challenge treatment group received 20 × the live cocci vaccine as an inoculum on d 14. Growth performance and …

Genetic Characterization Of Antimicrobial Activities Of Endophytic Bacteria Burkholderia Strains Ms455 And Ms389, Jiayuan Jia

Theses and Dissertations

Strains MS455 and MS389, endophytic bacteria, were isolated from healthy soybean plant growing adjacent to a patch of plants affected by charcoal rot disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. The complete genomes of both strains were sequenced and identified as Burkholderia species Strain MS455 exhibits broad-spectrum antifungal activities against economically important pathogens, including Aspergillus flavus. Random and site-specific mutations were employed in discovery of the genes that share high homology to the ocf gene cluster of Burkholderia contaminans strain MS14, which is responsible for production of the antifungal compound occidiofungin. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated ORF1, a …

A Longitudinal Analysis Of Pathways To Computing Careers: Defining Broadening Participation In Computing (Bpc) Success With A Rearview Lens, Mercy Jaiyeola

Theses and Dissertations

Efforts to increase the participation of groups historically underrepresented in computing studies, and in the computing workforce, are well documented. It is a national effort with funding from a variety of sources being allocated to research in broadening participation in computing (BPC). Many of the BPC efforts are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) but as existing literature shows, the growth in representation of traditionally underrepresented minorities and women is not commensurate to the efforts and resources that have been directed toward this aim.

Instead of attempting to tackle the barriers to increasing representation, this dissertation research tackles the …

Minimizing Off-Target Herbicide Movement Using Novel Application Technology, Hayden B. Quick

Theses and Dissertations

Drift is a point of contention with pesticide applications, causing the need to research application methods that provide consistent efficacy while minimizing off-target movement. Experiments were conducted to evaluate eight undiluted herbicides on invasive woody plants, Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), when applied individual plant treatment (IPT) via hack-and-squirt. Applications of undiluted aminocyclopyrachlor or imazapyr at 1 ml per 7.6 cm of tree diameter at breast height (DBH) made in the spring provided superior control over other herbicides or application timings. CamelBak® hydration reservoirs were evaluated for storage durability with eight undiluted herbicides. A third study …

The Effects Of Prior Exposure To Agriculture On College Students’ Food Purchasing Decisions, Leah E. Gann

Theses and Dissertations

This text examines the possible impacts of prior exposure to agriculture, and how this relates to college students’ food purchasing decisions. This study will assess if college students had prior exposure to agriculture before attending college, and what type of exposure this was, as well as assess how this prior exposure may alter purchasing decisions made by students who attend Mississippi State University. To collect this data, this study used a qualitative survey method to question students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University and determine if there is a significant relationship between prior …

Dissection Of The Genetic Architecture Of Grain Quality In Rice, Shuai Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Rice is an important human staple food for over half of the world’s population. Amylose content (AC), gelatinization temperature (GT), grain protein content (GPC), percentage grain chalkiness (PGC), and mineral content are important parameters for evaluating rice quality, which attracts customers and breeders. Only limited genes or QTLs (OsAAP6, OsGluA2, OsASN1, Chalk5, OsHMA3, etc.) are reported regulating rice GPC, PGC, and mineral content due to the lack of genetic knowledge and molecular markers. To dissect the genetic architecture of rice grain quality regulation, genome wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using two populations …

Physiological Roles Of Selenoprotein H In Mice, Qingzhou Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Low-hierarchy selenoproteins are sensitive to selenium (Se) deficiency and are proposed to confer the protection of body Se against age- and development-related diseases. Selenoprotein H (SELENOH), a low-hierarchy selenoprotein, is greatly downregulated by both dietary Se deficiency and age. To explore physiological roles of SELENOH, Selenoh knockout mice were employed.

Segregation analyses demonstrated reduced frequencies of homozygotes and heterozygotes among the neonates of the breeding combinations of Selenoh^+/- males vs. Selenoh^+/- or Selenoh^-/- females, demonstrating essential roles of SELENOH in embryogenesis. Litter sizes from these two breeding groups were comparable with control, suggesting a role of SELENOH …

1,2-Diazetidine As A New Amidomethylative Reagent To Control The Selectivity For The Synthesis Of N-Heterocycles And Ru(Ii)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroarylation To Form Chromane Derivatives, Chaminda Lakmal Hetti Handi

Theses and Dissertations

1,2-Diazetidine is a four-membered ring heterocyclic compound which has two adjacent nitrogen atoms. However, the syntheses of C-unsubstituted 1,2-diazetidines are rarely reported in the literature. C-unsubstituted 1,2-diazetidines were synthesized through an operationally simple intermolecular vicinal disubstitution reaction between 1,2-dibromoethane and hydrazine with N-arylsulfonyl as the protecting group. Several different types of C-unsubstituted 1,2-diazetidines derivatives were synthesized with either two of the same or two different N-arylsulfonyl groups. The electronic and steric properties were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and computational calculations. Then, several synthetic applications were demonstrated with 1,2-ditosyl-1,2-diazetidine (DTD). As a synthetic application, a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the diazetidine …

A Review Of Calcineurin Biophysics With Implications For Cardiac Physiology, Ryan B. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Calmodulin is a prevalent calcium sensing protein found in all cells. Three genes exist for calmodulin and all three of these genes encode for the exact same protein sequence. Recently mutations in the amino acid sequence of calmodulin have been identified in living human patients. Thus far, patients harboring these mutations in the calmodulin sequence have only displayed an altered cardiac related phenotype. Calcineurin is involved in many key physiological processes and its activity is regulated by calcium and calmodulin. In order to assess whether or not calcineurin contributes to calmodulinopathy (a pathological state arising from dysfunctional calmodulin), a comprehensive …

Catalytic Light Alkanes Selective Conversion Through Ammonia-Assisted Reforming, Siavash Fadaeerayeni

Theses and Dissertations

The fact that hydrogen is a clean and versatile fuel offers an attractive carbon-free source of energy and leverages the U.S. economy toward long-term sustainable economic growth. At an industrial scale, hydrogen production is mostly relying on methane steam reforming producing stoichiometric amounts of carbon oxides (CO and CO2), which imposes economic and environmental concerns. To mitigate the issue, we propose NH3 assisted anaerobic reforming of natural gas liquids (ethane and propane) as an alternative approach to produce COx free hydrogen. Here, in the first chapter, through comprehensive performance evaluation, characterization, and transient kinetic studies, it is shown that the …

Assessing The Potential For Lightning-Induced Damage In Commercial Broiler Houses In Mississippi And Alabama, Matthew R. Rowland

Theses and Dissertations

Modern broiler houses are expensive to build, maintain, and insure. Protecting them from extreme weather events is a major concern to producers, integrators, and insurance companies. Lightning strikes can cause catastrophic fires and electrical damage and can lead to costly bird losses. A greater understanding of the impact of lightning on the commercial broiler industries of MS and AL is needed. The objectives of this research were collection of baseline resistance data for broiler houses and equipment in both states, and mapping lightning strike densities across MS and AL, evaluating annual, monthly, seasonal, and diurnal patterns. 63.5% of surveyed broiler …

Positive Correlation Between A3 Subunit Of Glycinin And Firmness Of Tofu Made From Soybeans Grown In Three Locations Over Two Years, Ruiqi Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Producing desirable firmness is important in manufacturing tofu from soybeans. This study’s objective was to explore the environmental impact (location and year) on soybean chemical components and identify the correlations between chemical composition and the firmness of tofu made from soybeans planted in three locations over two years. Seventeen soybean Plant Introductions (PI) from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection and eight check varieties were planted in Mississippi, Virginia and Missouri in 2017 and 2018. Protein subunit composition, protein secondary structure, phytic acid content, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ content were determined. The result showed that A₃ subunit content was …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of The Hybrid-Online Hatch-Out Program, Tannah Leigh Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

In today’s society, the majority of our population lacks knowledge about agriculture and its importance. Therefore, there is a demand for agricultural programs to increase a general knowledge of agriculture. This study aimed to develop, pilot test, and evaluate the Hybrid-Online Hatch-out Program. Due to limited resources with the current Hands-on Hatch-out program, this Hybrid-Online Hatch-out Program could reach a larger population of youth and aid in educating more youth about poultry (one of the largest sectors of agriculture). The RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) was utilized to guide the evaluation process. The program was pilot-tested in …

The Development Of Authentic Virtual Reality Scenarios To Measure Individuals’ Level Of Systems Thinking Skills And Learning Abilities, Vidanelage L. Dayarathna

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops virtual reality modules to capture individuals’ learning abilities and systems thinking skills in dynamic environments. In the first chapter, an immersive queuing theory teaching module is developed using virtual reality technology. The objective of the study is to present systems engineering concepts in a more sophisticated environment and measure students learning abilities. Furthermore, the study explores the performance gaps between male and female students in manufacturing systems concepts. To investigate the gender biases toward the performance of developed VR module, three efficacy measures (simulation sickness questionnaire, systems usability scale, and presence questionnaire) and two effectiveness measures (NASA …

Relationship Of Winter Hair Coat Shedding Ability Of Purebred Angus Dams With Mineral Status, Apparent Forage Digestibility, Uterine Artery Hemodynamics, And Calf Growth And Development, Randy Hunter Burnett

Theses and Dissertations

Winter hair coat shedding ability in southern U.S. cattle production has previously been associated with differences in adjusted birth and weaning weights of calves from dams that shed by June or later (Gray et al., 2011; Cauble et al., 2019). This study was developed to research possible avenues of why these relationships exist with winter hair coat shedding ability. The primary objectives of the following experiments were to: 1) evaluate how mineral status relates to winter hair coat shedding ability, 2) evaluate how winter hair coat shedding ability relates to apparent digestibility of forage, 3) evaluate winter hair coat shedding …

The Effects Of Grazing Cover Crops On Animal Performance, Soil Characteristics, And Subsequent Soybean Production In East-Central Mississippi, Bronson Scott Bass

Theses and Dissertations

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) incorporate cropping systems and livestock production by grazing cover crops. With a growing awareness in recent years regarding agricultural sustainability, these systems have begun to be re-introduced into the southeastern U.S. This study evaluated cover cropping systems under grazed no-till (GNT), un-grazed no-till (UNT), and un-grazed conventional tillage (UCT) management, in Mississippi. Beef cattle (Bos spp.) performance was significantly less in the cover crop treatment of oats (Avena sativa) + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) + radish (Raphanus sativus; OCR) in both average daily gain (ADG; 3.03 lb hd^{-1 …}

Evaluating The Effects Of Pine And Miscanthus Biochar On Water Activity And Escherichia Coli Populations In Commercial Broiler Litter, Christopher Austin Marty

Theses and Dissertations

The decrease in subtherapeutic antibiotic administration in poultry has increased the need to address production challenges caused by pathogens, such as E. coli. One potential way to improve bird health and reduce bacterial infection is through the addition of litter amendments that absorb moisture. Biochar (BC) has previously been shown to increase water holding capacity in poultry litter, but its effects on E. coli mitigation are unknown. The objectives of this research were to 1) evaluate water activity of poultry litter amended with pine and miscanthus BC, and 2) determine the effects of different BC inclusion rates on litter …

The Effects Of Cover Crops In An Integrated Livestock/Continuous Corn Cropping System In East-Central Mississippi, Ken Randolph Waddell

Theses and Dissertations

There is growing interest within the agricultural industry on how cover crop systems affect soil health and economic productivity in integrated crop-livestock systems. This study investigated the combined effects of cover crop species; no-till and conventional till; and grazed (G) and un-grazed (UG) in a continuous corn (Zea mays) production system in east-central Mississippi. Cover crops were established in the fall of 2019 and 2020 in two separate field studies. Corn yield was not affected by grazing or tillage but was affected by cover crop species. We then compared the difference in cover crop species treatments with their respective corn …

Systematics And Population Structure Of Amblyomma Maculatum Group Ticks And Rickettsia Parkeri, An Emerging Human Pathogen In Southern Arizona, Usa, Michelle E. J. Allerdice

Theses and Dissertations

The recent discovery of Amblyomma maculatum sensu lato (s. l.) ticks in southern Arizona has renewed discussions around species designations for members of the Amblyomma maculatum tick group. Amblyomma maculatum s. l. from Arizona appear to be morphologically intermediate between A. maculatum sensu stricto (s. s.) and A. triste s. s. At present there is no conclusive species designation for the ticks from Arizona. My research focused on analyzing the systematics of both A. maculatum s. l. and Rickettsia parkeri, a common bacterial pathogen transmitted by these ticks.

In the laboratory, A. maculatum s. l. from Arizona and A. maculatum …

The Efficacy Of The Low-Fodmap Diet To Alleviate Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome In Adults: A Systematic Review, Jacqueline Nicole Rustom

Theses and Dissertations

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder with 6.5% worldwide prevalence that causes gas production, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain or discomfort. This systematic review describes efficacy of the Low-Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols (FODMAP) diet (Low-FODMAP diet or LFD) to alleviate IBS symptoms using the PRISMA guidelines. Nine randomized controlled trials (RCT) and one non-RCT consecutive controlled study published between 2015 to 2019 were identified using PubMed and CENTRAL. Included studies involved adult IBS participants with symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. A total of 530 participants completed the interventions from the 10 studies included …

Examining The Need For Parental Satisfaction With The Msu Extension Equine Assisted Therapy Program, Ashlyn Ann Kiker

Theses and Dissertations

Animal assisted interventions are becoming more prevalent in our society. Animal interventions have become a popular therapy technique that exist to aid a variety of disabilities. Equine therapeutic riding has become one of the most popular forms of animal assisted therapy for both children and adults. While research shows the importance and benefits of animal assisted therapy for children, there is a lack of research concerning parental satisfaction within therapeutic riding programs.

This study tested a newly developed instrument for measuring parental satisfaction for therapeutic riding programs. The Parent/Caregiver Evaluation Tool (Kerr, 2021) was administered to parents/caregivers whose children participated …

The Art Of Amphibian Conservation: Linking In-Situ And Ex-Situ Populations Of Endangered Species Through Genome Banking, Isabella Joann Burger

Theses and Dissertations

Limited breeding success in captive breeding programs has necessitated the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to preserve and increase genetic variation and population numbers of both captive and wild amphibian groups. ART has been shown to be successful in numerous anuran species, and current studies focus on the application of ART in ex-situ populations. The focus of this project is to show that linking in-situ and ex-situ amphibian populations through sperm cryopreservation, genome banking, and in-vitro fertilization is possible, with the goal of increasing gene diversity throughout groups in order to produce self-sustaining, wild populations in the future. Specific …

Description Of The Conjunctival Microbiome Of Normal Non-Brachycephalic Dogs And The Effects Of Antiseptic Preparation, Lindsay Seyer

Theses and Dissertations

Surgical preparation reduces commensal bacterial load. Currently, no standardized preoperative ocular preparation method in the dog has been reported. Previous studies use culture-based methods to determine commensal bacterial populations. Recent reports suggest that high-throughput sequencing may be superior to culture techniques to determine bacterial communities in the eye and other tissues. The goal of this study was to describe the conjunctival commensal ocular microbiome and bacterial community using DNA sequencing and aerobic cultures of six normal, healthy dogs and investigate the short and long-term effects of an antiseptic protocol on the ocular microbiome. Samples were obtained prior to, immediately following, …

Macronutrient Intake: A Multi-Sport Study Of Female Division I Collegiate Athletes, Ffion Price

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Macronutrients play a critical role within collegiate athletes’ performance and health, with carbohydrates providing most of the energy needs for most athletes. There is little research examining the macronutrient intake of healthy collegiate female athletes across sports. The aim of the present study was to compare macronutrient intakes of female collegiate athletes within different sports and compare their intakes to recommendations. Methods: An observational study was conducted to determine whether a sample of female collegiate athletes (n=26) consumed the IOC nutritional recommendations. Sports included within the study were soccer, basketball, volleyball, and cross-country. Athletes were asked to complete a …

Is Activation Of Gdnf/Ret Signaling The Answer For Successful Treatment Of Parkinson's Disease? A Discussion Of Data From The Culture Dish To The Clinic, James A. Conway, Edgar R. Kramer

Peninsula Medical School

The neurotrophic signaling of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) with its canonical receptor, the receptor tyrosine kinase RET, coupled together with the GDNF family receptor alpha 1 is important for dopaminergic neuron survival and physiology in cell culture experiments and animal models. This prompted the idea to try GDNF/RET signaling as a therapeutic approach to treat Parkinson's disease with the hallmark of dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Despite several clinical trials with GDNF in Parkinson's disease patients, which mainly focused on optimizing the GDNF delivery technique, benefits were only seen in a few patients. …