The Other Side Of The Wall: A Study On The Impact Of Paternal Incarceration On African American Children, Chance M. Wideman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the long-term psychological, relational, and systemic impacts of paternal incarceration on adult children. Guided by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Theory, Attachment Theory, and Family Process Theory, this study examines two research questions:

(1) What types of childhood trauma are associated with paternal incarceration?

(2) How does the childhood trauma associated with paternal incarceration impact one in adulthood?

The study draws on three in-depth narrative interviews with adults who experienced paternal incarceration in childhood. These interviews, framed as dialogic and reflexive spaces, illuminate the deep and layered consequences of incarceration across the lifespan.

Five central findings emerged: …

The Ascot App – A Plant Tracking Smartphone Tool For Field-Based Community Science, Demian A. Willette, Aaron W. Floreani, Stephanie A. Flores, Milla P. Markovic, Coby T. Sanders, Evan Yu, John David N. Dionisio

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Urban tree planting efforts have accelerated globally, but systematic monitoring of planted trees, particularly of survivorship and growth, lags behind. To help address this challenge, we developed and implemented the Ascot App, a free, mobile-based tool designed to streamline citizen science data collection in urban habitat restoration projects. Deployed at a Miyawaki-style microforest in Ascot Hills Park, Los Angeles, the app enables volunteers with minimal training to scan QR-coded tags on seedlings and submit standardized, timestamped plant health data via an intuitive interface. The app reduces user error through simplified prompts and integrates directly with a web-based administrative portal for …

Using Ecorevelatory Design And Landscape Biography To Promote Ecological Literacy In Menomonee Valley, Milwaukee, Wi, Usa, Jennifer Engelke

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, has undergone a remarkable transformation from a defunct brownfield site into a vibrant landscape of community parks within a revitalized industrial corridor. This change was driven by ecological restoration, stormwater management, and renewed connections to the Menomonee River. Central to this transformation was the use of ecorevelatory design, which draws on historical narratives and site-specific stories to highlight the presence and importance of more-than-human elements such as water, vegetation, and wildlife. To assess how contemporary users engage with these ecological features, the study employed stakeholder interviews, intercept surveys, and site observations. These methods explored …

Trematodes Detected In An Exotic Population Of Red Swamp Crayfish From An Urban Storm Drain In Los Angeles, Jason M. Post, Emily S. Bailey, Rachael J. Post

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii is an exotic aquatic crustacean with global prevalence. Native to the Southeastern United States, this species has been introduced for aquaculture as it is a popular food fishery resource. A well-documented host for trematodes, P. clarkii is a known vector for parasitic, fungal, and viral infections. Procambarus clarkii has demonstrated the ability to consume exotic snails such as Melanoides tuberculata as a means of controlling snail-borne infections. In this study, an isolated exotic P. clarkii specimen was collected from an urban waterway in Los Angeles, California adjacent and draining into the largest remaining wetland …

Why Do People Use Rat Poison To Manage Rats? A Mixed Methods Study In A Large American City, Maureen H. Murray, Danielle German, Jacqueline Y. Buckley, Seth B. Magle, Kaylee A. Byers

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Commensal rats are managed worldwide using rat poisons known as anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). ARs are a global health and conservation issue as they sicken and kill non-target animals that consume bait or poisoned rats. The public can use AR bait to manage rats without oversight, and so understanding why people use ARs is critical to reducing public use of, and demand for, ARs. We used a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach to examine 1) urban residents’ perceptions and use of rat poison, 2) drivers of rat poison use, and to 3) describe the reasons that poison was used. We surveyed …

Understanding Pancreatic Islet Stress Responses And Developing Strategies To Improve Transplantation Grafts, Marlie Maria Maestas

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting millions worldwide, characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or action. While current treatments range from pharmacotherapy to experimental cell-based therapies, progress remains hampered by donor scarcity and an incomplete understanding of islet stress responses. This dissertation investigates cellular stress responses in pancreatic islets and strategies to improve stem cell-derived islet (SC-islet) transplantation. The first chapter provides an overview of diabetes pathophysiology, modeling approaches, and treatment options. In the second chapter, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate cell-type-specific responses to diabetes-associated stress in primary human islets exposed to endoplasmic …

Integration Of Renewable Energy Networks Into Smart Grid Infrastructure: A Matlab/Simulink-Based Simulation Approach, Saturday Noghayin Osaretin

Electrical Engineering Theses

The rising demand for sustainable and resilient energy systems has accelerated the transformation from traditional power grids toward smart grids integrated with renewable energy networks. This thesis explores the integration of solar energy sources into smart grids to replace conventional fossil-fuel-based generation. A simulation model is developed using MATLAB/Simulink to evaluate the operational performance, stability, and adaptability of the proposed smart grid architecture. Key challenges, including intermittency, synchronization, and bidirectional power flows, are identified, and corresponding solutions, such as energy storage systems, are proposed to address these issues. Simulation results demonstrate enhanced grid stability, reduced carbon footprint, and improved power …

Exploring Occupational Therapists' Experiences With Animal Assisted Therapy Competencies For Safe And Ethical Practice, Macy Burr

Student Dissertations

The implementation of animal-assisted therapy requires professionals to establish competencies and work with animals that possess specific characteristics and have undergone specialized training. Researchers noted a lack of uniform guidelines for practicing animal-assisted therapy in occupational therapy. The Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals recently developed a set of competencies for the safe and ethical inclusion of animals in professional settings, with a section in the appendix specifically tailored to occupational therapy. Although extensive research was conducted to develop these competencies, there is little research on their application to practice. The identified problem was the lack of research to guide the …

Ole Miss Student Joins Elite Cohort Of Newman Civic Fellows, Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi junior Emerson Morris takes pride in her community and home state, and she hopes to channel her passion to one day advocate for underserved regions of the South.

Status Of Training In The Use Of Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents For Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound During Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship: A Survey Questionnaire, Yasi Xiao, Maham Hayat, Abdul S. Mohammed, Abdullah Abbasi, Sagar Pathak, Saurabh Chandan, Daryl Ramai, Deepanshu Jain, Muhammad K. Hasan, Mustafa A. Arain, Kambiz K. Kadkhodayan, Natalie Cosgrove, Dennis Yang

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Background and Aims The lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has revolutionized endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). However, there is a paucity of data on the optimal approaches to training on the use of LAMSs. This survey study aimed to evaluate the status of training in LAMSs among advanced endoscopy fellowship (AEF) trainees. Methods AEF (academic year 2023-2024) trainees were invited to complete a 15-question survey on LAMS training. The questions included the following domains: demographics, exposure to LAMSs before AEF, number of observed and hands-on participation using LAMSs for EUS-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage (EUS-PFCD), choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CD), gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD), and gastrojejunostomy (EUS-GJ) …

Give Me Your Hungry, Your Poor: How Welfare Restrictions Perpetuate Recidivism, Kaitlyn Hammond

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Tennessee’S Families Rights And Responsibilities Act: A Risky Gamble With Adolescent Health And Safety, Oluwafunmilayo Oguns

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Looking Down The Road: The First Steps To A Public Interest Law Career, Amy Leipziger

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

April 4, 1968: A Law Student’S Night In The Memphis Jail, Alex Jay Hurder

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Rapid Detection Of Chicken Residues On Poultry Plant Surfaces Using Color And Fluorescence Spectrometry, Clark Griscom, Dongyi Wang, Corliss A. O'Bryan, Rimmo Room, Philip G. Crandall

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Color and fluorescence spectrometry were evaluated as rapid, objective tools for verifying the cleanliness of poultry-processing food-contacting surfaces contaminated with a model chicken solution across six common materials. Both techniques detected chicken residues at dilutions several orders of magnitude below human visual and olfactory thresholds, with stainless steel and blue plastic yielding the largest color differences between clean and contaminated states and fluorescence measurements remaining highly sensitive on all tested surfaces. Representative limits of detection were on the order of 1:50-1:100 dilution of chicken residue for color measurements on most surfaces and approximately 1:50 for fluorescence measurements, compared with human …

Shaping Oman’S Child Health Future By 2040: Key Projections For Population And Workforce In Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics, Watfa Al-Mamari, Ahmed B. Idris, Rola Al-Balushi, Kamila Al-Alawi, Saquib Jalees, Ahmed Al-Saidi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Individual Relationships Of Mothers' And Fathers' Parenting Styles With Emerging Adults' First-Term Gpa, Tiffany Fox Okeke

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting styles have most often been studied through the lens of adolescent academic outcomes but less is known about how mothers' and fathers' parenting styles influence academic performance separately, especially during the critical transitionary period to post-secondary education. This study examines how mothers' and fathers' parenting styles distinctly shape emerging adults' first-term academic outcomes during their postsecondary education, with a focus on the dimensions of parental warmth and control. The study uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 dataset and the NLSY97 Post-Secondary Transcript Data focusing on the 1997-2005 cohorts (N=3,478) along with OLS regression analyses to predict emerging …

Investigating The Regulatory Impact Of Non-Coding Rnas On Meis1, Salma Fahim

Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid ecotropic virus insertion site 1 (MEIS1) is a transcription factor involved in a myriad of functions such as hematopoiesis, cardiac regeneration, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and limb and organ development. Precise control of MEIS1 expression and function is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing pathological conditions including cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a significant role in fine-tuning MEIS1 activity. Unmasking these regulatory mechanisms could provide potential therapeutic strategies for conditions where MEIS1 is aberrantly expressed. The present dissertation presents a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on MEIS1, synthesizing findings from the literature to …

Staff Education To Improve Patient Medication Adherence For Schizophrenia Using Long-Acting Injectables, Adela Ghogomu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was conducted as a staff education initiative based on a comprehensive literature review that emphasized the importance of staff education in improving healthcare outcomes. The practice problem identified was a lack of staff knowledge and education regarding long-acting injectables (LAIs) in clients with schizophrenia, which contributed to inconsistent support for client medication adherence. It was essential to address this issue because nurses play a crucial role in medication management, patient education, and adherence support. The practice-focused question explored was: Will staff education regarding the use of long-acting injectables in clients with schizophrenia to enhance medication adherence improve …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Employer-Provided Afterschool Childcare As A Retention Strategy: A Herzberg-Informed Qualitative Case Study, Lakinsha R. Swinton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher retention has been a growing issue, as the rate of teacher vacancies has continued to increase after the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in teacher vacancies after the pandemic highlighted the importance of retaining and attracting highly qualified teachers for schools and school districts. A coastal South Carolina school district had been providing employee support services to retain current staff and create a competitive advantage over other school districts in attracting new staff. The purpose of this generic qualitative study is to examine the perception of classroom teachers regarding the efficacy of free afterschool childcare as an employee support service …

A Comprehensive Review Of Dental Diseases Detection And Classification Based On Artificial Intelligence Techniques, Nermeen N. Noaman, Yasmin M. Alsakar, Naira E. Elazab, Waleed M. Mohamed, Mohamed E. Ezzat, Mohammed M. Elmogy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In dentistry, many diseases, such as gum, cavities, and oral cancer, affect people of all ages. Early treatment and diagnosis are crucial for minimizing dental diseases' effect on overall health and saving money in the long run. Traditional dental diagnosis methods, such as manual probing and visual inspection, are time-consuming and can be subject to human errors. Hence, a computer-aided diagnosis system based on computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques is needed. The considerable progress in computer vision and AI techniques offers many possibilities in dental diagnosis based on dental X-ray imaging modalities. Dental X-rays are used to diagnose …

Child Maltreatment And Recidivism: Do Maltreatment Patterns Influence General And Violent Reoffending?, Nan Li, Matt Shelton, Elena L. Grigorenko

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

This study examined whether patterns of maltreatment predicted reoffending among 5,194 justice-involved youth (JIY) from a large Texas juvenile probation department. Using latent class analysis on five maltreatment types (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence), we empirically identified three classes: “Poly-victimization” (17.8%; high across all types), “Psychological Maltreatment” (15.3%; high emotional abuse and neglect), and “Low Maltreatment” (66.9%; low/moderate across types). JIY in the “Poly-victimization” and “Psychological Maltreatment” classes were more likely to engage in general and violent reoffending within 1 year controlling for covariates. These findings highlight the varying importance of different maltreatment …

Estoppel Without Regard To Equity? The Puzzling Omission Of Promissory Estoppel’S Inequity Condition In Canada, Marcus Moore

All Faculty Publications

Promissory estoppel plays an important role in enabling the enforcement of promises not made for consideration in cases where the promise was intended to and did induce a party to change its position in regard to preexisting legal rights. However, Canadian law on estoppel has been plagued by confusion and misunderstanding. This article addresses the internationally notable absence of an inequity requirement from promissory estoppel in Canada. The requirement’s absence is peculiar, in that estoppel’s very foundation is in equity, and it must assure that its effect is indeed equitable. Drawing on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Trial …

Omics Approaches To Understand Cardiovascular Disease, Zeeshan Ahmed, Goo Jun

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Omics approaches have emerged as indispensable tools in unravelling the intricate molecular landscape of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by providing comprehensive insights into the underlying mechanisms driving CVD pathogenesis, progression, and response to therapy. Integrative omics approaches further enhance our understanding by integrating multi-omics data to explain complex molecular networks and identify novel disease pathways. In this collection of BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, we invited submissions on omics approaches to investigate and understand CVD. Successfully achieving the goals of this collection, we were able to publish some interesting and impactful research articles after a rigorous peer review process.

Chronic Absenteeism: A Case Study In A Central Virginia High School Investigating Student Habits And Potential Interventions, Ronald R. Proffitt

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Abstract

The purpose of this single case study was to discover and determine the contributing factors for chronic absenteeism for high school students at a rural Central Virginia high school in order to discover potential solutions to increase attendance and to combat chronic absenteeism. An additional factor considered was habits that may have formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have led to an increase in chronic absenteeism rates. The theory that guided this study was Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory, as it directly addressed how a child relates and reacts to their environments based upon their interactions. The participants …

Wild Robots: Humans, Wilderness, And Technology In Becky Chambers’ Monk And Robot Series, Melissa Moore

Honors Theses

As technology advances and the environment deteriorates, the way people view the relationships between technology, wilderness, and humans becomes essential for society to move forward. To investigate perceptions about technology’s place in an environmentally conscious society, this project examines manifestations of wilderness/wildness and technology in Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot series through the lens of ecocriticism. Using Timothy Morton's concept of the ecological thought as a framework for analysis, the circumstances present in the novel suggest that the triangle separating humans, wilderness, and technology has actually collapsed, replaced by an enmeshment of technology, wilderness, and humanity.

Transposable Element-Derived Mir-28-5p And Mir-708-5p: Exploring Potential Roles In Lung Cancer, Sergiu Chira, Cornelia Braicu, Stefan Strilciuc, George A Calin, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Transposable elements are normally silenced by epigenetic mechanisms; however, during malignant transformation, epigenetic alterations enable transposons to produce functional molecules like miRNAs. Among these, LINE-2 (L2) elements can generate miRNAs capable of regulating key genes, including tumor suppressors. Two L2-derived miRNAs, miR-28 and miR-708, have been linked to lung cancer, yet the mechanisms underlying their dysregulation remain poorly understood. Our study reveals how genomic context contributes to aberrant gene expression through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses.

Methods: Using bioinformatics analysis, we evaluated the expression of miR-28 and miR-708 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) datasets from TCGA. …

Trametinib Decreased Intracerebral Hemorrhages And Endothelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition In Kras, Ohnmar Myint, Bridger Freeman, Jae Yeong Jeong, Hyejin Park, Samantha M Wilfur, Shuning Huang, Jung-Eun Park, Jakob Körbelin, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Eun S Park, Peng R Chen, Eunhee Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are a major risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhages in young patients. Recent clinical studies have reported that the majority of human bAVMs harbor somatic KRAS mutations. In our previous study, we confirmed the causal role of endothelial KRASG12V mutation in bAVM development in mice through hyperactivation of the MEK/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway. However, the treatment efficacy of targeting MEK/ERK signaling in bAVMs, regarding clinical and biological outcomes, remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we used the Food and Drug Administration-approved MEK inhibitor, trametinib, to treat mice with bAVMs induced by brain endothelial cell (EC)-specific …

The Role Of Dust Inputs And Sediment Phosphorus Diffusion Into Utah Lake, Utah, United States Of America, Kristen E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Human activities have led to excessive nutrient enrichment which is greater than lake systems can naturally assimilate. This process is known as eutrophication and it is driving significant algae growth resulting in the more common release of harmful toxins. Utah Lake, located in Utah County, UT is one such water body that even after major reductions in anthropogenic phosphorus influent, continues to experience frequent, harmful algal blooms. The extent to which natural processes, like atmospheric dust deposition and sediment recycling, contribute to the lake's phosphorus budget is still poorly understood.

To address this gap of knowledge, this study quantified phosphorus …

Evaluating Traffic Safety And Geometric Characteristics Using Machine Learning Ensemble Techniques: A Case Study Of Egyptian Rural Multi-Lane Divided Roads, Sania R. Elagamy, Ahmed N. Awaad, Usama E. Shahdah, Sherif M. El-Badawy, Marwa E. Elbany, Eman K. Ali

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Crash prediction models are essential for evaluating traffic safety by analyzing crash occurrence, frequency, or severity. Recently, machine learning techniques have gained prominence in statistical regression modeling and data analysis. This study assesses the effectiveness of machine learning in predicting crashes on Egyptian rural multi-lane divided roads using limited regional data. Supervised machine learning ensemble techniques were applied to predict crash-prone segments (classification) and estimate the total number of crashes per segment (regression). A comparative analysis aims to identify the most suitable method. The Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) addressed data imbalance, while K-means Clustering (KC) enhanced regression model accuracy, …