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2026

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Tips For Higher Education: A Research-Informed Framework For Designing Trauma-Informed Professional Support Practices In Higher Education, Kelli Wallace Aug 2026

Tips For Higher Education: A Research-Informed Framework For Designing Trauma-Informed Professional Support Practices In Higher Education, Kelli Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project addresses the need for structured trauma-informed professional preparation within higher education as institutions continue responding to increasing student adversity, trauma exposure, mental health concerns, and barriers to academic engagement and persistence. The purpose of the project is to develop Tips for Higher Education: A Research Informed Framework for Designing Trauma-Informed Professional Support Practices in Higher Education. The project examines the research-supported elements that should be included in a trauma-informed professional preparation framework, the competencies and learning domains needed by faculty, advisors, and student-support professionals, and the ways professional learning should be structured and sequenced to support sustainable …

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A Vital Step Toward Improving Student Success: A Comparative Examination Of Attendance Policies Across Urban, Rural, And Suburban School Districts In Mississippi, Marino Mcdaniel Aug 2026

A Vital Step Toward Improving Student Success: A Comparative Examination Of Attendance Policies Across Urban, Rural, And Suburban School Districts In Mississippi, Marino Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a growing challenge for schools nationwide, with Mississippi districts experiencing significantly higher rates after the pandemic. This capstone examined how selected rural, suburban, and urban school districts in Mississippi develop and implement attendance policies and how well these policies align with the Mississippi Compulsory Attendance Law, Mississippi Code Annotated § 37-13-91, and state board regulations. The study aimed to assess the extent to which district attendance policies reflect Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Theory, considering the multiple layers that influence student attendance. Directed by this theoretical framework, the study addressed three research questions: (1) How do selected districts design …

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Ethnic Identity And Career Adaptability Among African American High School Students: Exploring The Roles Of Perceived Barriers And Social Support, Zion J. Kamau Aug 2026

Ethnic Identity And Career Adaptability Among African American High School Students: Exploring The Roles Of Perceived Barriers And Social Support, Zion J. Kamau

Theses and Dissertations

African Americans are subjected to systemic racial discrimination and bias in the labor market. Data on labor force participation collected by the U.S. Census Bureau between 1970 and 2010 were investigated for the purpose of identifying trends, and it was found that race and ethnicity significantly influence an individual's labor market position and employment outcomes (Byars-Winston et al., 2014). African Americans were more likely to hold positions earning less, requiring fewer skills, and associated with a lower social status. There is a misconception that the phenomenon occurs only in adulthood, but it is also observed during adolescence. The U.S. Bureau …

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A Study On The Welfare And Crop-Residue Ameliorating Potential Of Acheta Domesticus In The Context Of Insect Sequestration, Metabolism, And Excretion Of Three Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, And Zearalenone, Ryan Thomas Paulk Aug 2026

A Study On The Welfare And Crop-Residue Ameliorating Potential Of Acheta Domesticus In The Context Of Insect Sequestration, Metabolism, And Excretion Of Three Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, And Zearalenone, Ryan Thomas Paulk

Theses and Dissertations

Mycotoxins are a food security issue that affects all crops globally, but to varying degrees, due to the ubiquity of fungi that produce them. Developing new agricultural practices that can ameliorate lost nutrients post-contamination by removing mycotoxins for the next levels in the food chain can remedy an inevitable effluent in the circular economy. Farmed insects, such as the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, can potentially consume moldy, mycotoxin contaminated grains safely without transferring them to other trophic levels. The experiments herein test the biology of A. domesticus to consume three individual mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone. In addition to …

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Development And Comparison Of Retained Ownership Decision Methodologies For Feeder Cattle Owners, William John Simmons Aug 2026

Development And Comparison Of Retained Ownership Decision Methodologies For Feeder Cattle Owners, William John Simmons

Theses and Dissertations

Cattle producers retain ownership through the feeding phase in the hopes of increasing profits. Because not all cattle generate positive profits, retention decisions on an individual basis substantially affect overall profitability. This study develops, simulates, and evaluates among others a new prediction methodology intended to help improve profitability. The method is an integrated framework combining a novel multilevel (hierarchical) growth model, futures basis-adjusted price forecasting, and production cost estimation to predict which animals are expected to be profitable. Individual performance data were collected for 12,066 in-sample (2003 to 2011) to predict growth and profits for 12,496 out-of-sample cattle (2011 to …

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Exploring The Viability Of Variable-Design Policy Approach To Addressing Teacher Retention In Kentucky, Donald R. Smallwood Aug 2026

Exploring The Viability Of Variable-Design Policy Approach To Addressing Teacher Retention In Kentucky, Donald R. Smallwood

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition among early- and mid-career educators threatens the stability of Kentucky's public school workforce, yet the Commonwealth has largely relied on isolated, single-lever retention strategies. This desk-based capstone evaluated the viability of a coordinated, multiple variable policy framework for improving teacher retention in Kentucky. The study identified, appraised, and synthesized evidence, including peer-reviewed studies, state and national policy reports, legislative documents, and Kentucky-specific working-conditions data. Three research questions guided the study, addressing the evidence for coordinated multiple-variable retention approaches, the evidence for each individual policy lever, and the challenges and opportunities within Kentucky's current retention landscape. Content and thematic …

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They Not For Us: Reimagining Social-Emotional Learning For Black Youth, Jennifer Chinecherem Ani Aug 2026

They Not For Us: Reimagining Social-Emotional Learning For Black Youth, Jennifer Chinecherem Ani

Theses and Dissertations

Social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions are often implemented within a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework and have been found to be effective in improving students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes. However, SEL interventions are typically implemented as a Tier I intervention and there is limited research on SEL interventions implemented in Tier II. Additionally, SEL interventions have received criticism for not being culturally relevant for minoritized populations, especially Black students. This study aims to seeks to extend the current literature on making cultural adaptations of an SEL intervention, specifically for Black elementary students using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM). …

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Examining The Effects Of Oral Melatonin Supplementation On Bull Reproductive Physiology, Megan M. Patterson Aug 2026

Examining The Effects Of Oral Melatonin Supplementation On Bull Reproductive Physiology, Megan M. Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Bull subfertility is a prevalent issue with significant consequences for cattle production. Unfortunately, few management interventions exist to alleviate bull subfertility and improve bull reproductive efficiency. Melatonin, a key regulator of circadian rhythms and seasonal reproduction, improves reproduction in non-seasonally breeding mammals, yet the benefits of oral supplementation in the bull remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the extent to which melatonin supplementation could serve as a management intervention to improve bull reproductive efficiency. Yearling Angus bulls (n = 21) were utilized to examine the effects of 90 days of oral melatonin supplementation on sperm quality, blood plasma …

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How Family Functioning Impacts Adolescent Outcomes: The Roles Of Cohesion, Flexibility, Communication, Satisfaction, And The Family Environment On Well-Being Across Levels Of Family Complexity, Emily E. Shaw Aug 2026

How Family Functioning Impacts Adolescent Outcomes: The Roles Of Cohesion, Flexibility, Communication, Satisfaction, And The Family Environment On Well-Being Across Levels Of Family Complexity, Emily E. Shaw

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation research is a combination of two studies. The overarching and guiding focus for this study involved how family functioning and environments influence adolescent psychological well-being, and do these associations vary based on levels of family complexity. Study 1 examined family complexity and family environments as potential predictors of family functioning, while Study 2 examined family functioning and family complexity as potential predictors of adolescent negative (i.e., anxiety and depression) and positive (i.e., engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness) well-being. In Study 1, family complexity was not predictive of family functioning, but the family environment was a strong predictor. …

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Wellness In The Workplace: An Assessment Of The Mississippi State University Extension Service Workplace Environment And Its Effect On Employee Mental Health And Overall Wellbeing, Tashmia S. Prowell Aug 2026

Wellness In The Workplace: An Assessment Of The Mississippi State University Extension Service Workplace Environment And Its Effect On Employee Mental Health And Overall Wellbeing, Tashmia S. Prowell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify perceived stressors within the Mississippi State University Extension Service (MSU-ES) workplace environment and to determine the impact of these stressors on employee mental health and overall wellbeing. This study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional research design collecting data through a quantitative web-based survey developed in Qualtrics and adapted from the NIOSH Worker Wellbeing Questionnaire. To examine the research questions and hypothesis guiding this study, quantitative data were analyzed using Stata MP 19.5. After a data scrub, 213 usable responses were yielded. Associations between variables were examined using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The …

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Exploring Rural Ap Stem Motivation, Interests, And Aspirations: A Self-Determination Theory Lens, Erin Seger Mcguire Aug 2026

Exploring Rural Ap Stem Motivation, Interests, And Aspirations: A Self-Determination Theory Lens, Erin Seger Mcguire

Theses and Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have become the focal point of many countries around the world, with the intention of strengthening national renown by being the first to make advancements in STEM domains. The United States has recognized the importance of STEM and STEM education, though these efforts are lacking in rural areas, like Mississippi. These schools often serve underrepresented populations and may be unable to financially support learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, the national teacher shortage disproportionately affects science and mathematics classes; in rural schools, teachers in these areas may be underqualified, as the schools …

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Exploring Emergency Manager Decision-Making Regarding Heat Hazards Using Protection Motivation Theory, Nathaniel Mirly Aug 2026

Exploring Emergency Manager Decision-Making Regarding Heat Hazards Using Protection Motivation Theory, Nathaniel Mirly

Theses and Dissertations

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States, yet it remains under-recognized despite rising mortality and intensifying climate trends. This qualitative study explored decision-making processes regarding heat hazards among 15 county-level emergency managers in the Northern Gulf Coast region using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as a guiding framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining deductive coding of PMT constructs with inductive identification of independent themes. Key findings showed reliance on verbal persuasion and prior experience as primary information sources, threat appraisals moderated by normalization and deprioritization of heat due to other …

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The Role Of Latinx And Hispanic Identity In The Presentation Of Hoarding Symptoms, Caitlyn Ashley Nix Aug 2026

The Role Of Latinx And Hispanic Identity In The Presentation Of Hoarding Symptoms, Caitlyn Ashley Nix

Theses and Dissertations

Although people who identify as Hispanic and Latinx make up approximately 19% of the United States population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023), most research into hoarding disorder is comprised of White, non-Latinx samples. Thus, the current study investigated Hispanic and Latinx ethnicity as a predictor of several facets of hoarding disorder. Previous literature has shown lower risk for Hispanic and Latinx individuals in terms of several physical health outcomes when compared to individuals of similar socioeconomic status (Markides & Coreil, 1986), though mental health outcomes have more variation by subgroup (Barragán et al., 2020). Previous research has also shown that collectivistic …

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An Equity-Centered Creative Therapies Implementation Framework For K-12 School Counseling Practice, Brian Caleb Carlisle Aug 2026

An Equity-Centered Creative Therapies Implementation Framework For K-12 School Counseling Practice, Brian Caleb Carlisle

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents in K-12 schools are experiencing a significant mental health crisis, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional dysregulation, while many continue to face limited access to equitable, developmentally appropriate supports. Although schools increasingly serve as primary sites for mental health services, they often lack resources, training, and infrastructures necessary to implement effective interventions. Arts-based and creative therapy approaches demonstrate benefits for emotional regulation, trauma processing, and social-emotional development but remain underused due to inconsistent implementation and systemic barriers. This capstone project examines how creative therapies can be integrated into school counseling programs to address these gaps. Guided …

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Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Interventions For Black Adolescent Girls Through Staff Training, Shundrell Mcmullan Aug 2026

Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Interventions For Black Adolescent Girls Through Staff Training, Shundrell Mcmullan

Theses and Dissertations

Black girls often face systemic inequities rooted in discriminatory practices and policies in the educational system contributing to adverse social-emotional outcomes unless mitigated by intentional protective supports. Many schools have adopted social emotional learning (SEL) programs; however, their effectiveness for culturally diverse students are often challenged. The present study examined the impact of Sisters of Nia, a race-conscious and gender-responsive intervention designed to enhance protective factors and social-emotional well-being among six adolescent Black girls. Student outcomes, including academically engaged behaviors and positive peer interactions, were primarily evaluated using a single-subject A/B design. Students’ self-esteem and racial identity were also measured …

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Scan Statistics For Nonhomogeneous Poisson Processes: A Method For Cnv Detection, Asanka Rathnayaka Duwage Aug 2026

Scan Statistics For Nonhomogeneous Poisson Processes: A Method For Cnv Detection, Asanka Rathnayaka Duwage

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies scan statistics for detecting localized changes in non-homogeneous Poisson processes. The motivating problem arises from genomic sequencing data, where tumor and normal read locations may differ over short regions due to copy number variation, while the underlying event intensity varies across the domain. In this setting, methods based on homogeneous Poisson process assumptions are not appropriate. The dissertation develops and studies scan-based methods for detecting local differences while accounting for non-homogeneous structure. Three related approaches are considered. The first develops a scan statistic for a nonhomogeneous Poisson process and uses extreme value calibration after transformation under the …

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A Policy Analysis Of State-Mandated Literacy Reform In Tulsa Public Schools, Paul Eicher Aug 2026

A Policy Analysis Of State-Mandated Literacy Reform In Tulsa Public Schools, Paul Eicher

Theses and Dissertations

Oklahoma has implemented state-mandated literacy reforms grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR) to address persistent reading achievement challenges. Despite increased accountability measures and adoption of approved intervention programs, secondary literacy outcomes in Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) remain low, raising questions about policy design and implementation. The purpose of this project is to analyze the state-mandated framework for secondary reading intervention in TPS and develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen literacy outcomes. The study is guided by the Adapted Policy Analysis Triangle, which examines policy through the domains of content, context, process, and actors. The research explores effective intervention practices, implementation …

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Geospatial Approach To Assessing The Association Between Air Pollution And Asthma Prevalence Across Metro Areas In The U.S., Clifford Boateng Aug 2026

Geospatial Approach To Assessing The Association Between Air Pollution And Asthma Prevalence Across Metro Areas In The U.S., Clifford Boateng

Theses and Dissertations

Asthma is a common respiratory disease with growing evidence linking air pollution as a major risk factor. This study examined associations between asthma prevalence among U.S. adults and satellite-derived pollutant estimates (NO2, SO2, PM2.5/AOD) across major metropolitan areas. Individual-level and aggregated data from the 2022 SMART BRFSS were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression and spatial hotspot analysis, respectively. Results showed that higher SO2 concentrations were associated with increased odds of asthma, while NO2 showed an inverse association and AOD was not statistically significant in fully adjusted models. Lower household income was associated with increased asthma odds. The spatial analysis revealed …

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School Administrators’ Lived Experiences In Educational Settings Supporting Students With Exposure To Violence, Craig Karnell Chapman Aug 2026

School Administrators’ Lived Experiences In Educational Settings Supporting Students With Exposure To Violence, Craig Karnell Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

Violence in schools and communities presents persistent challenges for K–12 students, educators, and school leaders, particularly in high-poverty contexts where exposure to violence disrupts teaching, learning, and school climate. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979). Ecological systems theory, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school administrators in supporting students exposed to violence in their schools and communities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected school administrators working in high-poverty districts and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four central themes: (a) instructional instability resulting from persistent exposure to violence, (b) the spillover of community …

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Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization, And Storage: A Comprehensive Overview, Katheryn Bailey Aug 2026

Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization, And Storage: A Comprehensive Overview, Katheryn Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

The average global surface temperature is rising, with the 20th-century average being 2.63˚F/1.46˚C above the pre-industrial average, 56.7˚F/13.7˚C. Therefore, research into CO2 capture technology is being explored and implemented as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The main methods of CO2 capture are pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and direct air capture. These processes utilize solvent-based absorption, adsorption, membrane separation, and chemical looping combustion to separate CO2 from the exhaust gas. Implementation of this technology can come with increased: material cost, energy penalty, and CAPEX depending on the separation technique, existing equipment, inlet CO2 concentration, and partial pressure, etc.. Financial …

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Latent Profile Analysis Of Trauma Appraisal: Associations With Psychological Problems And Substance Use Moderated By Emotion Dysregulation In College Students With Trauma History, Tram Nguyen Aug 2026

Latent Profile Analysis Of Trauma Appraisal: Associations With Psychological Problems And Substance Use Moderated By Emotion Dysregulation In College Students With Trauma History, Tram Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical research suggests that trauma-related appraisals have significant mental health implications. A prior meta-analysis reported that maladaptive trauma-related cognitions play a central role in the development and maintenance of poor coping strategies (i.e., substance use) and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, less is known about the relationships among maladaptive trauma cognitions, emotion dysregulation, and risk for substance use. The current study sought to provide a comprehensive examination of the relationships among trauma appraisals, emotion dysregulation, psychological problems, and substance use. A systematic review highlighted the lack of a person-centered approach to trauma appraisal research, as well as a lack of research …

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Development And Validation Of The Global Impact Of Chronic Illness Scale – Universal, Abigail Kukay Aug 2026

Development And Validation Of The Global Impact Of Chronic Illness Scale – Universal, Abigail Kukay

Theses and Dissertations

The current manuscript presents the development and validation of the Global Impact of Chronic Illness Scale – Universal (GICIS-U), a novel measure of chronic illness impact through three separate studies. The pilot study aimed at measure development, which included item selection and two rounds of item refinement using feedback gained through four focus groups. Study 1 consisted of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine factor structure of the measure. Participants were 183 individuals recruited from an online participant pool and social media outlets who completed the refined GICIS-U online. Results of the EFA suggested a six-factor structure, of which …

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Optimization Of Punicalagin-Releasing In Situ Forming Microparticles (Prism) For Treatment Of Osteoarthritis, J. Alejandra Amaya Aug 2026

Optimization Of Punicalagin-Releasing In Situ Forming Microparticles (Prism) For Treatment Of Osteoarthritis, J. Alejandra Amaya

Theses and Dissertations

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by inflammation and degradation of articular cartilage, of which disease-modifying therapies are limited. Punicalagin (PUN), a polyphenol with cartilage-protective and anti-inflammatory properties, has inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase-13 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study aims to optimize formulation of punicalagin-releasing in situ forming microparticles (PRISM) by varying polymer concentration, polymer ratio, solvent ratio, and oil-to-polymer ratio. Design of Experiment (DoE) software was used to generate 25 formulations. PRISM was created by emulsifying the polymer/drug solutions in sesame oil. Drug release data was measured via optical absorption readings and particle size determined by both scanning electron microscope (SEM) …

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Texas Community College Mid-Level Academic Leaders’ Perceptions About Professional Development, Jeanette Robinson Aug 2026

Texas Community College Mid-Level Academic Leaders’ Perceptions About Professional Development, Jeanette Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined mid-level community college administrators’ perceptions of professional development. Despite the extensive educational literature focused on higher education, limited research has explored mid-level administrators employed at community colleges. The purpose of this study was to understand how Texas community college mid-level academic administrators perceive the professional development opportunities available for their positions. A quantitative, non-experimental approach was used, involving mid-level academic administrators employed at public two-year colleges in Texas. Data were collected using a virtual survey and analyzed using a one-factor ANOVA, and two separate two-factor ANOVAs. The results indicated that the size of the community college employer …

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Decentralized And Privacy-Preserving Intelligent Systems Via Federated Learning For Healthcare Monitoring And Financial Security, George Anim Aug 2026

Decentralized And Privacy-Preserving Intelligent Systems Via Federated Learning For Healthcare Monitoring And Financial Security, George Anim

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid expansion of data-driven methodologies in healthcare and finance is increasingly constrained by ethical, regulatory, and security requirements that limit centralized data sharing. Sensitive information—including electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and inter-institutional financial transaction logs—remains siloed, reducing opportunities for collaborative model development and limiting generalizability across heterogeneous environments. In healthcare, epileptic seizure prediction is challenged by inter-patient variability, scarce and non-IID EEG data distributions, and the need for real-time inference on resource-constrained wearable devices. In finance, anti-money laundering (AML) detection is complicated by decentralized and dynamically evolving transaction networks, temporal-structural dependencies, limited labeled data, and information-sharing restrictions. This dissertation proposes a …

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Toward Secure Genomic Intelligence: Privacy-Preserving Deep Learning Frameworks For Cancer Classification And Collaborative Analysis, Yibo Dong Aug 2026

Toward Secure Genomic Intelligence: Privacy-Preserving Deep Learning Frameworks For Cancer Classification And Collaborative Analysis, Yibo Dong

Theses and Dissertations

Genomic data contains highly sensitive personal information, yet cancer classification and collaborative medical research increasingly depend on sharing such data across institutions. Existing privacy-preserving approaches for deep learning, including differential privacy (DP) and standard federated learning (FL), leave critical vulnerabilities: DP degrades model utility through noise injection, while FL relies on a trusted aggregation server that remains susceptible to gradient-based attacks. This dissertation develops, evaluates, and optimizes a series of privacy-preserving deep learning frameworks specifically designed for genomic cancer classification. First, a systematic benchmarking study evaluates DP, FL, and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) across three deep learning architectures (fully connected …

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Engineering Education Beyond The Engineering Classroom: Three Studies On Behavioral Nudges, General Education Completion, And Honors Program Participation, Andrew Harrison Volk Aug 2026

Engineering Education Beyond The Engineering Classroom: Three Studies On Behavioral Nudges, General Education Completion, And Honors Program Participation, Andrew Harrison Volk

Theses and Dissertations

Engineering education extends well beyond the engineering classroom. Engineering undergraduates progress through general education courses, institutional support structures, and enrichment opportunities operating outside their major. The administrative offices that shape these non-engineering experiences typically operate independently of engineering departments, and the structural decisions they make can shape the engineering student's experience without engineering's input. This dissertation examines three settings in which decisions outside engineering matter for engineering students. Study 1 reports a PRISMA-format systematic review of nudge interventions in higher education, developing a four-category typology of nudge types (informational, environmental, process-oriented, and in-name-only) and a six-category typology of application domains. …

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Simulating Wind-Induced Temporal Variability In Gnss Transmissometry Via Coherent Bistatic Scattering, Brantley Allen Forrest Aug 2026

Simulating Wind-Induced Temporal Variability In Gnss Transmissometry Via Coherent Bistatic Scattering, Brantley Allen Forrest

Theses and Dissertations

Global Navigation Satellite System Transmissometry is a technique for forest remote sensing. Interpreting these measurements requires physically based models to relate observed signal behavior to underlying biophysical parameters. A limitation of current electromagnetic modeling approaches is the assumption that vegetation optical depth is static. In practice, forest canopies, and therefore vegetation optical depth, are dynamic systems continuously influenced by wind. These geometric changes alter the scattering environment and introduce temporal variability in the received signal, particularly through phase-sensitive multipath interactions. This thesis presents a methodology for simulating wind dynamics for first-order scattering. The approach integrates a procedural, stochastic aeroelastic wind …

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Development Of A Gis-Based Research Data Preservation Platform For Historically Significant Wood Preservative Research Field Sites, Lorali Gene Pace Aug 2026

Development Of A Gis-Based Research Data Preservation Platform For Historically Significant Wood Preservative Research Field Sites, Lorali Gene Pace

Theses and Dissertations

Wood protection research plots have played a critical role in the development and evaluation of preservative treatments used throughout North America, including decades of research associated with Mississippi State University’s Department of Sustainable Bioproducts. However, without spatial documentation, much of this research history and institutional knowledge is at risk of being lost. This study develops a GIS-based research preservation platform to document, organize, and preserve historic wood protection testing data. Using ArcGIS Pro, field-collected spatial data, historical records, aerial imagery, and ArcGIS Online technologies, a digital geodatabase and interactive web application were created to organize research locations and connect them …

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Investigating Biomass Production Of Eastern Cottonwood (Populus Deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh.) And Black Willow (Salix Nigra Marsh.) In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Luke Ferguson Aug 2026

Investigating Biomass Production Of Eastern Cottonwood (Populus Deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh.) And Black Willow (Salix Nigra Marsh.) In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Luke Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

Alternative and sustainable sources of energy have become critical in the 21st century due to strains on energy supply because of rising global populations and increasing global temperatures driven by fossil fuel extraction and use. One promising source is woody biomass, which has the advantage of being both abundantly available and readily accessible. Short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) have been widely researched for their ability to produce biomass in shorter periods compared to other traditional woody biomass crops and providing a constant supply to meet demands. However, currently there is a lack of standards for optimally establishing and growing SRWC …

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