Digital Commons Network^™

Student Perception Of Covid-19 Mitigation Strategies And Correlation To Demographics At The University Of Mississippi, Anna Couhig

Honors Theses

COVID-19 caused an unprecedented dilemma for universities, the best method of continuing education during a pandemic. Different mitigation strategies were developed as higher education institutions transitioned back to in-person learning, and the effectiveness of these strategies depended largely on adherence by college students. COVID-19 remains a vastly unexplored research topic, and college students’ approval of mitigation strategies is largely untouched. This research answers the question: “Are University of Mississippi student perceptions of COVID-19 mitigation strategies correlated to demographics?” Through a mixed-methods survey that was sent to a random sample of full-time undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Mississippi, …

Language Laws And Regional Identity: A Case Study Of Euskera In The Basque Country, Jenna Ebel

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the interconnectivity between language laws and regional identity, focusing on education, public health, and transnational systems. Through this case study of the Basque Country, the context and wording of the language laws in the subregions within the Basque Country are utilized to understand how they affect the usage and understanding of the Basque language, “Euskera.” Through this, the study is then focused on the Spanish autonomous community of the Basque Country to understand the effects of a minority language on educational systems, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the connections to both the EU and the UN. Through a …

Accounting Analysis, Henrietta Long

Honors Theses

In my practicum class during my junior year at the University of Mississippi, I was able to work on ten cases discussing many different accounting topics. During the first semester of the course, the class conducted research on different cities around the US for accounting internships, we became excel certified, and we completed an interview with a professional that had experience in the business world. We also had the privilege of having highly acclaimed accounting firms come to the class and present on a variety of different accounting matters. Additionally, we watched a documentary about September 11th, 2001 and completed …

A Financial Analysis Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Logan Moll

Honors Theses

This thesis contains a collection of ten case studies completed during the fall and spring semesters for the Accountancy 420 class under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The class and case studies were completed to fulfill the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Accountancy Practicum. During the fall semester, Dr. Dickinson presented the class with specialized case studies to consider different areas of the accounting and business industry. During the spring semester, we formed groups and selected a Fortune 500 company to research before completing case studies that evaluated the company’s following areas: company overview, audit, tax, …

An Examination Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Jacob Maschhoff

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of ten case studies that are focused on the principles and standards of financial accounting. The case studies were assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson and completed under her guidance throughout the course of Honors Accountancy 420. During the first semester of the class, Dr. Dickinson provided five unique prompts that explored current events and relevant topics within the professional world of accounting. We were able to sharpen our accounting and research skills as well as gain knowledge about potential career paths and opportunities within accounting. Throughout the second semester, we completed five more case studies pertaining to …

Comparing The Evolution, Form, And Function Of Russian And Chinese Information Operations, Briana Berger Slowinski, Marissa J. Skulsky

Honors Theses

Russia and China are critical actors who deploy far-reaching and impactful information operations in pursuit of their national interests. Their use of information operations is multifaceted and should be subject to study due to how influential these operations are and how significant the effects can be. In pursuit of this knowledge, the aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of these two countries' information operations and how their operations differ. The first area analyzed was the evolution of these countries' modern day information operations, primarily looking for the factors and historical context which influenced the development of …

"It Was Really Up To Us": The History Of The Black Berets Of Albuquerque In The Chicana/O Movement Of New Mexico, Jerome J. Chavez

Chicana and Chicano Studies ETDs

This study examines the history of the Black Berets of Albuquerque and their role in the Chicana/o Movement of New Mexico. The Black Berets of Albuquerque were part of a trend in the Civil Rights and Chicana/o Movement era that saw militant youth-based community groups in urban areas form in response to racial discrimination, poverty, educational and health disparities, and police brutality. The issues the Black Berets formed to confront were based on the unique urbanization process that Albuquerque went through that created political and economic disempowerment for the Chicana/o people but made the city a major site for Chicana/o …

Fayetteville State University Spring Undergraduate Commencement 2023, Fayetteville State University

Graduation Exhibit

Fayetteville State University Spring Undergraduate Commencement May 13th 2023

Keynote Speaker: Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, US Secretary of Defense

Synthesis And Characterization Of Sodium Cathode Materials, He Zhou

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

As sodium batteries hold great promise as a next-generation energy storage device to replace lithium batteries, the development of sodium battery materials has become increasingly urgent. The current study aims to investigate two potential sodium-ion battery cathode materials, Sodium Vanadium Phosphate, and Sodium Manganese Hexacyanoferrate, optimize the experimental procedures, conduct a systematic analysis of material properties and characterization, and ultimately determine the ideal synthesis conditions for these materials.

In the first part of the study, we focused on optimizing the synthesis of Sodium Vanadium Phosphate. By investigating various synthesis conditions, such as annealing temperature, pressure, ascorbic acid content, and material …

Dynamic Conformational Switching Underlies Tfiih Function In Transcription And Dna Repair And Impacts Genetic Diseases, Jina Yu, Chunli Yan, Thomas Dodd, Chi-Lin Tsai, John A Tainer, Susan E Tsutakawa, Ivaylo Ivanov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is a protein assembly essential for transcription initiation and nucleotide excision repair (NER). Yet, understanding of the conformational switching underpinning these diverse TFIIH functions remains fragmentary. TFIIH mechanisms critically depend on two translocase subunits, XPB and XPD. To unravel their functions and regulation, we build cryo-EM based TFIIH models in transcription- and NER-competent states. Using simulations and graph-theoretical analysis methods, we reveal TFIIH's global motions, define TFIIH partitioning into dynamic communities and show how TFIIH reshapes itself and self-regulates depending on functional context. Our study uncovers an internal regulatory mechanism that switches XPB and XPD activities …

Socially Mediated Self-Presentation, Image-Construction, And Twitter: A Multimodal Analysis Of Vice Presidents Across A Continental Divide, Nana Kwame Osei Fordjour

Communication ETDs

Struck by the paucity of studies on vice presidential rhetoric, the omnipresence of social media, and its centrality in politics, I analyzed the tweets of the vice president of the US, Kamala Harris, and the vice president of Ghana, Dr. Bawumia, after their respective elections in 2020. Taking a multimodal rhetorical analysis guided by a theoretical self-presentational framework centered around gender, personalization, and authenticity. I contribute to the broader discourse of how politicians communicate on social media to construct their public image. Taking a cue from the rhetorical approaches used by the two vice presidents, I argue that vice-presidential communication …

A Multi-Institutional Phase 2 Trial Of Ablative 5-Fraction Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-Guided On-Table Adaptive Radiation Therapy For Borderline Resectable And Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer, Kathryn Mittauer, Michael Chuong

All Publications

Purpose: Magnetic resonance (MR) image guidance may facilitate safe ultrahypofractionated radiation dose escalation for inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a prospective study evaluating the safety of 5-fraction Stereotactic MR-guided on-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) for locally advanced (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). Methods and Materials: Patients with LAPC or BRPC were eligible for this multi-institutional, single-arm, phase 2 trial after ≥3 months of systemic therapy without evidence of distant progression. Fifty gray in 5 fractions was prescribed on a 0.35T MR-guided radiation delivery system. The primary endpoint was acute grade ≥3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity definitely attributed to …

Connecting Social And Ecological Systems In Small-Scale Fisheries In The Philippines, Sara Eisler Marriott

Dissertations

Nearly 50% of all marine fish capture in the Philippines is from artisanal fisheries, most of which is un- or under-reported. As in many emerging nations around the world, the Philippines cannot fully address overfishing by managing only half of the catch that comes from commercial fisheries. Marine reserves are a popular governance strategy for conservation and of growing interest for fisheries management. Many marine reserves in the Philippines, however, are not considered effective. In 2014, Rare, an international NGO, implemented a community-based management program to increase the effectiveness of the marine reserves, and while it found biomass increased, there …

The Role Of Social Media Activism In Achieving Good Water And Sanitation In Ghana, Inusah Mohammed

Communication ETDs

This thesis examined the role of social media activism in ensuring good water and sanitation in Ghana. The study conducted a thematic analysis of Facebook posts (403) from March 2020 to December 2022 and found seven themes on how social activists are presenting issues concerning water and sanitation in Ghana. The study also found outcomes of the activism and also found theoretical implications of activism on social media usage in Ghana.

Attitude Of Students Towards Blended Learning, Tolulope E. Adenekan, Victor Omeiza Jatto

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Blended learning is a learning system that combines both online and face to face learning. It has come with its advantages as well as its disadvantages thus resulting in either positive or negative attitudes of users. The study sets out to understand the attitude of postgraduate students towards blended learning and the factors that influences their attitude. The study adopted a survey method, it makes use of questionnaire for data gathering. Data was gathered from a population of 130 post graduate students in department of Information Management, Lead City University sampling a number of 97 using Krejce and Morgan …

Functional Variants Identify Sex-Specific Genes And Pathways In Alzheimer’S Disease, Thomas Bourquard, Kwanghyuk Lee, Ismael Al-Ramahi, Minh Pham, Dillon Shapiro, Yashwanth Lagisetty, Shirin Soleimani, Samantha Mota, Kevin Wilhelm, Maryam Samieinasab, Young Won Kim, Eunna Huh, Jennifer Asmussen, Panagiotis Katsonis, Juan Botas, Olivier Lichtarge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in females is almost double that of males. To search for sex-specific gene associations, we build a machine learning approach focused on functionally impactful coding variants. This method can detect differences between sequenced cases and controls in small cohorts. In the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project with mixed sexes, this approach identified genes enriched for immune response pathways. After sex-separation, genes become specifically enriched for stress-response pathways in male and cell-cycle pathways in female. These genes improve disease risk prediction in silico and modulate Drosophila neurodegeneration in vivo. Thus, a general approach for machine learning on …

Structure Of A Eukaryotic Cholinephosphotransferase-1 Reveals Mechanisms Of Substrate Recognition And Catalysis, Lie Wang, Ming Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant phospholipid in eukaryotic cell membranes. In eukaryotes, two highly homologous enzymes, cholinephosphotransferase-1 (CHPT1) and choline/ethanolamine phosphotransferase-1 (CEPT1) catalyze the final step of de novo PC synthesis. CHPT1/CEPT1 joins two substrates, cytidine diphosphate-choline (CDP-choline) and diacylglycerol (DAG), to produce PC, and Mg2+ is required for the reaction. However, mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis remain unresolved. Here we report structures of a CHPT1 from Xenopus laevis (xlCHPT1) determined by cryo-electron microscopy to an overall resolution of ~3.2 Å. xlCHPT1 forms a homodimer, and each protomer has 10 transmembrane helices (TMs). The first 6 TMs carve …

A Historical Examination Of Native American And European Agroforestry, Reed Bryant

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. It has been practiced in the United States and around the world for centuries.” However, for many practitioners in the past, agroforestry was not simply an “integration of trees and shrubs into animal farming systems,” nor was it simply a means to produce foodstuffs. For them, agroforestry defined a way of life where trees were fixtures in the landscape which bore many life-giving gifts: fruits and nuts to eat, …

Structural Barriers To Health Care Access And Ipv Disclosure In First-Generation Latina Immigrants, Donna L. Schminkey, Deborah Elkins, Karen Jagiello, Sandra Annan, Jamie Robinson, Erika Metzler Sawin

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background: This study aimed to describe the unique structural barriers faced by Latina women in rural areas of Virginia as they attempt to access the health care system, and, once they have gained access, to identify barriers to intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth individual interviews with first-generation Latina immigrants were conducted after initial purposeful convenience sampling and concomitant snowball recruiting. A thematic content analysis using a phenomenological approach was employed to interpret participants' experiences. Initial findings were validated through additional interviews.

Results: The overarching theme expressed by these women was their search for dignity. Emergent sub-themes related …

Vaccine Uptake In The Era Of Covid-19: Associations Between Willingness To Receive The Influenza And Covid-19 Vaccines, Mutaz Alkalbani, Ritsa Frousios, Matilda Francis, Yousef Beidas, Jennifer Ryal, Brynn Sheehan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background/purpose. Despite efforts to increase flu vaccine uptake, the rate of vaccination remains below target. Additionally, many Virginians remain unvaccinated or have not maintained a booster schedule in line with recommendations. The current study investigated willingness to receive the flu and COVID-19 vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, associations between the likelihood of receiving the two vaccines, and differences in uptake by racial group and insurance status. Methods. Participants were adult patients seen for appointments at an ambulatory clinic in Southeast, VA. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing vaccination history and future vaccination intentions. Results. Results revealed significant associations between having received …

Closing Thoughts, Mark Lundstrom

American Journal of Rising Scholar Activities

No abstract provided.

Improving Communication And Pilot Safety: Understanding Asr Systems And Their Inherent Biases, Mackenzie Richards

American Journal of Rising Scholar Activities

The Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS) is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for General Aviation. The mission of PEGASAS is to enhance general aviation safety, accessibility, and sustainability by partnering the FAA with a national network of world-class researchers, educators, and industry leaders. Weather information devices currently used in the general aviation aircraft market are highly advanced and provide detailed and timely meteorological information to pilots. Upon its introduction, it was expected that this technology would lead to a decrease in weather related accidents, but that has not been the case. When …

Coronal Mass Ejections, Alex Echeverria

American Journal of Rising Scholar Activities

The underlying dynamics of solar processes are a topic of considerable interest, because the events on the surface of the Sun directly affect the environment of our planet. Certain ‘storms’ that erupt in the outer layers of the Sun can propel masses of electrically charged plasma into the solar system. If the path of that material crosses Earth’s orbit, it can disrupt our societal electronic and satellite resources. Observing and analyzing these events is a first step toward predicting them and hardening our equipment against them. This work reviews how solar scientists collect and view this data on coronal mass …

Tharp’S Funnel: Understanding The Present Through An Understanding Of The Past, Alejandra Y. Martinez, Dayna Parrish

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

Inspired by the changes precipitated by 2020 and 2021, the authors introduce Tharp's (1994) Funnel and Filters of Development and his emphasis on ethnogenetic analysis as a framework to understand current conditions and events. In doing so, we aim to provide a lens to better grasp the issues that our nation faces and propose it as a tool to disrupt the ongoing pattern of social injustice. This framework is introduced with a discussion on some of the unfortunate, yet significant, events that have unfolded in 2020 and 2021, followed by an explanation of Tharp's Funnel and its application to contemporary …

Citation Analysis Of Library And Information Science Masters Theses: A Tool For Collection Development In University Libraries, Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko, Cecilia Chimezie Offor Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study analyzes the citations of Masters Theses in Library and Information Science of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria submitted from 2011 to 2018 with a view to determining the format and age of materials used and most frequently cited journals. The document checklists were used for data collections and the citations were extracted from the title pages and reference lists of each of the theses. Data obtained from 48 Masters Theses were examined. The study found that 47.22% of cited items were monographs followed by journals - 31.21%, 8.5% were reports, 4.05% were web resources and 3.65% were conference …

Community Information Needs And Services Through Public Libraries In The Rice Bowl Of Bengal's : Problems And Proposals, Kousik Samanta, Subhas Chandra Majhi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Agricultural development in Rice Bowl is faced with new challenges and opportunities on food, nutrition, population and environment fronts. Public Libraries of Purba Bardhaman play a vital role to face these challenges by providing quick access to information. The Public libraries are conscious of improving the conditions through Community Information Centre (CIC) for fully utilizing information age technologies to collect, organize, and disseminate all types of information needed by the users they serve. Public libraries' primary responsibilities include granting access to and safeguarding recorded knowledge for later use. In addition, they are in charge of disseminating necessary information to the …

Native Knowledge 360° (Nk360°) Essential Understandings Framework: Reflections Using The Five Level Evaluation Model, Ashlyn Lafleur, Sarah Straub

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

This paper explores participant takeaways regarding the Native Knowledge 360° workshop on artists and activism. The researcher utilized a five-step evaluation model (Kartal et al., 2019) to reflect upon belief, learning, reaction, transfer, and results. This professional development tool focuses on teacher level understanding and the transferability of lessons learned to the student results. The paper includes an example of transfer and a reflection on student results.

Blum And Kalven At 50: Progressive Taxation, "Globalization," And The New Millenium, Michael A. Livingston

Florida Tax Review

Almost 50 years ago, Walter Blum and Harry Kalven described the case for progressive taxation as "stubborn but uneasy." This article considers the extent to which that conclusion remains valid five decades later. I argue that the case for progressivity is today even more uneasy than in Blum and Kalven's time, as a result of three principal developments: a more conservative political environment, which is generally hostile to redistributive measures; the femininization and minoritization of poverty, which make it easier to rationalize inequality and tend to divide the constituencies in favor of progressive measures; and the globalization of economic life, …

Drawing Down On The Value Of A Non-Fungible Token (Nft) And Its Associated Asset Via Sale Or Transfer On The Blockchain To Fund And Or Provide Credit Collateral On A Purchase, Samuel James Oliver

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for drawing down on an NFT’s value to fund a purchase in real-time. The method comprises transmitting a purchase request to an NFT Application Programming Interface (API) 108 hosted on a payment server seeking an authorization to purchase goods/services using the value of the NFT. In response to the purchase request, the NFT API 108 holding the NFT may transfer, via sale on the blockchain the NFT’s ownership to the merchant to settle and approve the transaction. Alternatively, the NFT API 108 may sell a portion of the NFT to the …

Reconnaissance: Relationship Between Social Presence And Knowledge Construction In Second Life, Leah A. Hardesty

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

This qualitative research study explored levels of social presence in Second Life (virtual world) associated with phases of knowledge construction. The study explored images and data collected from users at two discussion-based activities. The findings revealed the three levels of social presence, according to the Interactional Process Model of Social Presence developed by Schultze and Brooks. Social presence established a sense of mutual monitoring of users that increased users’ sense of presence. This made their virtual interactions more real. Various phases of knowledge construction were observed as specified in the Interaction Analysis Model developed by Gunawardena, Lowe and Anderson. Knowledge …