Digital Commons Network^™

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plans (Fsps) And Responses To Agency Comments, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Association Of Genetic Ancestry With Molecular Tumor Profiles In Colorectal Cancer, Brooke Rhead, David M Hein, Yannick Pouliot, Justin Guinney, Francisco M De La Vega, Nina N Sanford

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There are known disparities in incidence and outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) by race and ethnicity. Some of these disparities may be mediated by molecular changes in tumors that occur at different rates across populations. Genetic ancestry is a measure complementary to race and ethnicity that can overcome missing data issues and better capture genetic similarity in admixed populations. We aimed to identify somatic mutations and tumor gene expression differences associated with both genetic ancestry and imputed race and ethnicity.

Methods: Sequencing was performed with the Tempus xT NGS 648-gene panel and whole exome capture RNA-Seq for 8454 primarily …

The Biology And Function Of Extracellular Vesicles In Immune Response And Immunity, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as ectosomes and exosomes, contain DNA, RNA, proteins and are encased in a phospholipid bilayer. EVs provide intralumenal cargo for delivery into the cytoplasm of recipient cells with an impact on the function of immune cells, in part because their biogenesis can also intersect with antigen processing and presentation. Motile EVs from activated immune cells may increase the frequency of immune synapses on recipient cells in a proximity-independent manner for local and long-distance modulation of systemic immunity in inflammation, autoimmunity, organ fibrosis, cancer, and infections. Natural and engineered EVs exhibit the ability to impact innate and …

Prostate Cancer-Induced Endothelial-Cell-To-Osteoblast Transition Drives Immunosuppression In The Bone-Tumor Microenvironment Through Wnt Pathway-Induced M2 Macrophage Polarization, Guoyu Yu, Paul G Corn, Celia Sze Ling Mak, Xin Liang, Miao Zhang, Patricia Troncoso, Jian H Song, Song-Chang Lin, Xingzhi Song, Jingjing Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Christopher J Logothetis, Marites P Melancon, Theocharis Panaretakis, Guocan Wang, Sue-Hwa Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immune checkpoint therapy has limited efficacy for patients with bone-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (bmCRPC). To improve immunotherapy for bmCRPC, we aimed to identify the mechanism of bmCRPC-induced changes in the immune microenvironment. Among bmCRPC patients, higher levels of a 32-gene M2-like macrophage signature in bone metastasis samples correlated with shorter overall survival. Immunohistochemistry showed that CD206-positive (CD206+) macrophages were enriched in bmCRPC bone biopsy specimens compared with primary tumors or lymph node metastases. In preclinical osteogenic prostate cancer (Pca) xenograft models, CD206+ macrophages were recruited to areas with tumor-induced bone. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis showed higher expression of an M2-like …

Metal(Loid) Uptake And Physiological Response Of Coix Lacryma-Jobi L To Soil Potentially Toxic Elements In A Polluted Metal-Mining Area, Qun Zhao, Hongyan Liu, Longhua Wu, Peter Christie, Xuewen Wang, Ghulam Rasool, Guilan Peng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Coix lacryma-jobi L. is a traditional medicinal plant in east Asia and is an important crop in Guizhou province, southwest China, where there are elevated levels of soil mercury and arsenic (As). Exposure to multiple potentially toxic elements (PTEs) may affect plant accumulation of metal(loid)s and food safety in regions with high geological metal concentrations. Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of PTEs on metal(loid) accumulation and physiological response of C. lacryma in different plant parts at three pollution levels. Total root length, number of root tips, number of branches, and number of root crosses increased with increasing …

In Reply: Can Artificial Intelligence Make The Cut? Dissecting Large Language Model’S Surgical Exam Performance, Adam M. Ostrovsky, Joshua R. Chen, Vishal N. Shah, Babak Abai

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Improving Access To Care For Uninsured Patients In Texas Outpatient Clinics: Achieving Patient-Centered Care, Stephanie Ann Greenwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uninsured patients encounter major barriers to accessing healthcare, leading to delayed or missed medical care, higher rates of chronic conditions, and increased financial and psychological stress. The purpose of this integrative review study was to examine the factors that affect Texas residents who lack insurance and require access to healthcare services in outpatient community clinics. The review question was used to explore strategies to improve access to healthcare and strengthen patient-centered care for uninsured patients in Texas outpatient health clinics. A thorough integrative review was completed using empirical and nonempirical literature published between 2019 and 2024. The results of the …

How Belief In God Impacts Marital Conflict And Resolution For Women Of Faith, Elizabeth Kay Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

Frequent conflict is a significant relationship risk factor for divorce, but it has also been shown that religion strengthens marriages, specifically in ways that give direction and motivation for couples in resolving marital conflict or other marital hardships. Thus, a study of how successful religious couples resolve conflict is pertinent in helping us better understand how to strengthen marriages and families. Our qualitative study of 113 highly religious women of diverse faiths and races found that women's perceived relationship or connection with God reportedly impacted conflict resolution and coping with marital hardship. Results suggest greater reconciliation and unity with the …

Final Phase 1 Substudy Results Of Ivosidenib For Patients With Mutant Idh1 Relapsed/Refractory Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Courtney D Dinardo, Gail J Roboz, Justin M Watts, Yazan F Madanat, Gabrielle T Prince, Praneeth Baratam, Stéphane De Botton, Anthony Stein, James M Foran, Martha L Arellano, David A Sallman, Mohammad Hossain, Dylan M Marchione, Xiaofei Bai, Prapti A Patel, Stephanie M Kapsalis, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Amir T Fathi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ivosidenib is a first-in-class mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (mIDH1) inhibitor with efficacy and tolerability in patients with advanced mIDH1 hematologic malignancies, leading to approval in frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) mIDH1 acute myeloid leukemia. We report final data from a phase 1 single-arm substudy of once-daily ivosidenib in patients with R/R mIDH1 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after failure of standard-of-care therapies. Primary objectives were to determine safety, tolerability, and clinical activity. The primary efficacy end point was the complete remission (CR) + partial remission (PR) rate. Nineteen patients were enrolled; 18 were included in the efficacy analysis. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in …

Evaluation Of Maternal Behavior At Calving On Beef Cattle Traits, William Cobie Rutherford

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of the study were to create a scoring system to assess maternal behavior within 24-h of calving in crossbred beef cows; determine the impact of maternal scores on cow productive responses and evaluate how maternal score varies over animal lifetime; and assess the effect of maternal aggression and perceived mothering ability on calf survivability and growth performance. Calving observations (n = 1,832) were conducted across 12 calf crops from 2017 to 2022 from 680 unique crossbred cows at the Prairie Research Unit, Prairie, MS. Along with routine data collection, dams were subjectively scored for the traits maternal aggression …

Microgreen Production: Impact Of Sanitization Methods On Germination Percentage, Mold Suppression, Microbial Load, And Survival Of Salmonella Spp. On Allium Porrum Leek Seeds., Zonia Elizabeth Caro-Carvajal

Theses and Dissertations

Seed sanitization is crucial for microgreen production to prevent pathogens that compromise quality and safety. This study examined the effects of various sanitization methods on germination, mold suppression, microbial load, and Salmonella spp. survival on leek (Allium porrum L.) seeds. Seeds were treated with Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) at 0.27%, Hot Water (HW) at 85 ± 2°C, Tsunami® 100 (TS) at 0.04%, Vinegar (VN) at 1.1%, and Deionized Water (DI). Germination and mold percentages were recorded over 5 days. HW and HP treatments resulted in significantly higher germination rates (72% and 71.4%) compared to other treatments, with HW effectively preventing mold …

Enhancing Afm Particle Analysis And Shape Factor Identification With Machine Learning, William David Mckelvey

Theses and Dissertations

Through enhancing aerosol particle measurement accuracy by determining particle shape factors using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) combined with machine learning techniques, this study aims to provide a methodology that will improve the precision of aerosol measurements and contribute to the development of more effective filtration technologies. Accurate shape factor measurement is crucial for devices such as the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), which often assume spherical particles of uniform density. By identifying and analyzing particles in AFM scans using machine learning techniques, this research provides a better understanding of shape factors, improving the quality of aerosol measurements. These advancements contribute …

Performance Evaluation Of Deep Learning Object Detectors For Weed Detection And Real Time Deployment In Cotton Fields, Abdur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Effective weed control is crucial, especially for herbicide-resistant species. Machine vision technology, through weed detection and localization, can facilitate precise, species-specific treatments. Despite the challenges posed by unstructured field conditions and weed variability, deep learning (DL) algorithms show promise. This study evaluated thirteen DL-based weed detection models, including YOLOv5, RetinaNet, EfficientDet, Fast RCNN, and Faster RCNN, using pre-trained object detectors. RetinaNet (R101-FPN) achieved the highest accuracy with a mean average precision ([email protected]) of 79.98%, though it had longer inference times. YOLOv5n, with the fastest inference (17 ms on Google Colab) and only 1.8 million parameters, achieved a comparable 76.58% [email protected], …

The Conservation Of Brain Folding Mechanics, Amber Cook

Theses and Dissertations

The pattern and complexity of cerebellar folding varies across vertebrates. However, little is known about how the tissue-level mechanics are adjusted to create species-specific folding patterns. Here, we utilize a variety of species with differences in cerebellar folding amount to investigate two tissue-level mechanics known to affect folding—differential expansion and outer layer thickness. We found that the level of differential expansion between the outer and inner layers of the cerebellum broadly correlates with folding amount and that the thickness of the outer layer is important as thicker outer layers require more differential expansion to fold. Additionally, we find that both …

Sexual Attitudes And Knowledge Of Southern United States College Students On Risky Sexual Behavior: Moderation By Conservative Religiosity, Sex, And Sexual Double Standards, Andreana Durham

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relation of sexual attitudes and knowledge on risky sexual behavior (RSB), while including sex, sexual double standards (SDS), and conservative religiosity as moderators. Findings suggested that sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and conservative religiosity associated negatively with RSB for female participants. SDS positively associated with RSB for male participants. The interaction of sexual knowledge and SDS on RSB was significant in male participants and indicated that higher sexual knowledge is associated with higher RSB when SDS is higher. The interaction of sexual knowledge and conservative religiosity on RSB was significant in …

Efficacy Of Recycled Glass Cullet As A Soil Substrate For U.S. Gulf Coast Salt Marsh Restoration, Ansley Levine

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled glass cullet is a potential alternative to fill substrate in salt marsh restoration projects, given its similarity to natural silica sands. However, the ability for common salt marsh plants to grow in glass cullet has not yet been tested. An outdoor mesocosm experiment assessed the ability of the dominant mid-marsh plant Juncus roemerianus and the upland marsh plant Spartina patens to grow in various mixtures of glass cullet versus fill soil. Results showed that J. roemerianus can survive in glass cullet, but growth declined as the proportion of cullet increased. However, S. patens grew comparably, if not better, in …

Examination Of The Impact Of Discriminatory Legislation On Gender Minority Stress And Suicide Desire And Intent In Gender Minority Adults, Ashley R. Pate

Theses and Dissertations

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempt rates are far higher among gender minority individuals than in the general population. In the wake of an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed and passed in 2023 in the United States, this study sought to examine the impact of this legislation on gender minority stress and suicidal desire and intent among gender minority adults. Results indicated that anxiety about the legislation was associated with the desire to die, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and the likelihood of attempting suicide in the future. The perceived impact of the legislation was associated with intent to die …

A Multivariate Analysis Of Coliform Microbial Dynamics And Intervention Efficacy In A Complex Ready-To-Eat (Rte) Beef Value Stream, Benjamin Adam Miles

Theses and Dissertations

A complex multi-vector processed beef value stream was biomapped and work-in-process (WIP) was sampled at various processing points that affected the product microbiome. Coliform Petrifilm™ was used to analyze samples qualitatively and quantitatively across the meat and glaze vectors. There was an impact (p≤0.05) of the glaze distribution system on coliforms. The pumps of the glaze system were fully disassembled and additional microbial data were obtained through swabbing. WIP and sponge samples were subjected to 16S V1/V2 gene amplification with primers designed for taxonomic identification. Sequencing was conducted on the Illumina MiSeq platform and bioinformatics were developed in QIIME 2 …

Special Educators’ Attrition And Retention In The Post-Covid-19 Era: A Systematic Literature Review, Brandi J. Young Sumrall

Theses and Dissertations

Special education faces persistent challenges with teacher attrition and retention in the ever-changing landscape of education post COVID-19. Using empirical research and scholarly insights, this systematic review investigates the factors that influence whether special educators choose to continue or leave their jobs following the pandemic. Central to this investigation are the aspects that influence educators' career decisions pre pandemic, such as job satisfaction, working conditions, support systems and opportunities for professional growth. Through this exploration, we gain insights into the reasons why special education teachers choose to stay or leave their roles. The study emphasizes the pressing need to address …

Durability Of 34-Year-Old Preservative Treated Test Structures In Mississippi, Brianna A. Duquette

Theses and Dissertations

Boron treated test houses at Mississippi State University’s Dorman Lake test site in Starkville, MS were built in 1989 to investigate the effectiveness of boron treatments with exposure to natural weathering. After being undisturbed for more than 20 years, samples were taken to evaluate the remaining levels of original treatments in the test houses. Visual evaluation of the test structures, curcumin test, and ICP-MS analysis of the borate content shows borates are a capable and effective long-term treatment for wood used in construction. No appreciable damage due to termite feeding was observed. Boron was still detectable by curcumin staining and …

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Suitability Index Validation And Workflow Modernization For Habitat Monitoring And Coastal Management Best Practices, Brooke Marlo Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The Caretta caretta, or Loggerhead sea turtle, is a protected species found across all temperate and subtropical oceans. Previous research has identified that the Caretta caretta has preferences for nesting sites based on beach width, beach slope, and vegetation coverage, which facilitated the development of a nesting site suitability index. In this thesis, these indices were integrated with standard coastal geomorphology metrics in the ESRI Suitability Modeler to pinpoint potential nesting locations for the C. caretta on various beach reaches. The results were then validated against observed nesting site data. The results of this study can inform critical decisions regarding …

Ultrasonographic Appearance Of The Spleen Of Growing Kittens Using A High Frequency Linear Transducer, Catana M. Capps

Theses and Dissertations

A reticulonodular splenic pattern is commonly associated with neoplastic or infectious etiologies. However, this has been described as an age-related variant in both humans and dogs, likely representing lymphoid follicles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ultrasonographic appearance of the spleens of growing kittens mimics the canine presentation. This was a prospective, descriptive study design. Healthy kittens up to 18 months old were scanned using a high frequency linear transducer. A reticulonodular pattern was present in (89%) of spleens. After 4 months of age, there was an overall negative correlation with age and the grade of …

Factors Associated With Undergraduate Students Pursuing Health And Dietetic Careers, Claire Bolen Hardin

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated factors that influenced undergraduate students’ career paths within health care and the dietetics field. A 34-item Qualtrics survey was emailed to undergraduate students. Most of the participants (N=355) were females (72.2%), 72.9% were white students and 21.6% were black or African Americans. Results indicated the main reason students chose their major was personal interest. Other reasons included lifestyle, family, potential financial success, and friends. More than 50% of students indicated they personally knew someone who has the job they desire after college. Diversity within majors and health-related professions could be influenced by gender and ethnicity. …

Three Rival Versions Of Physical Education: A Macintyrean Analysis Of The Field, Clayton Michael Whalen

Theses and Dissertations

At both the theoretical and applied levels of analysis, the field of physical education is all too often completely incoherent. There appears to be little agreement as to how school-based programs ought to be implemented or what the goals of such programs really are. No two physical educators run their programs exactly the same and, chances are, those physical educators likely have wildly different understandings of their field and its proper place within the education of our youth. Borrowing from the title of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre’s (1990) book, Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry, I’ve chosen to describe the …

Expanding The Emotional Cascade Model Of Borderline Personality Disorder With Negative Thoughts, Thought Control Strategies, Suicide Attempts, And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Courtney K. Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an impairing mental illness and has a core component of emotional dysregulation. Evidence suggests the emotional cascade model describes how this emotional dysregulation leads to engaging in risky and life-threatening behaviors, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Specifically, this model describes rumination as a cognitive component that links the emotional and behavioral dysregulation. The current study aimed to expand the model by investigating how individuals with heightened BPD traits engage in NSSI and in cognitive strategies to cope with their negative affect. Specifically, it was investigated whether behaviors like suicide attempts and cognitions differentiated between those …

Examining The Impact Of De-Escalation Training For Rural Mississippi Leos: Using Simulation To Assess Behavioral Outcomes, Deepali Manoj Dhruve

Theses and Dissertations

People with mental illness (PMI) are at a 67% greater risk of arrest and 16 times greater risk of being killed during a police incident than other civilians. Indeed, law enforcement officers (LEOs) report lacking expertise when addressing mental health calls, and existing trainings aimed at reducing violence in LEO encounters with PMI do not account for challenges specific to rural LEOs. Additionally, many trainings are severely lacking in assessing outcome changes pre- and post-training with more than half of trainings relying on survey-based knowledge subject to social desirability bias and inaccurate self-assessment. This study aimed to address limitations in …

Time After Time: Deciphering Structural Violence And Vulnerability Using Postmortem Recovery Time Data And Demographics Throughout The Southeast Region Of The United States, Elise J. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last few decades, forensic anthropological research has made significant strides in developing better methods for decedent identification and increasing the accuracy of time since death/postmortem interval (PMI) estimations within medicolegal contexts. Until recently however, there has been little emphasis placed on how socioeconomic considerations might be connected, especially regarding recovery times for individuals from various demographic backgrounds. Using intersectional and biocultural frameworks and data collected from forensic anthropologists and medicolegal labs throughout the Southeastern US, this research aims to decipher the role that inequality, through instances of social vulnerability and structural violence, plays in recovery time data throughout …

Diffusion Of Water Conserving Irrigation Practices In The Mississippi Delta, Eugene Oku

Theses and Dissertations

The expanding irrigated acreage in the Mississippi Delta has resulted in increased withdrawals that exceed the recharge rate of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA), leading to a decline in water levels. This trend poses a threat of rapid depletion, potentially resulting in deteriorating water quality and increased pumping costs in the region. Water-conserving irrigation practices are a key component to any potential solution, promising enhanced water use efficiency and sustainable agricultural practices. Nonetheless, farmers adopt these practices at different times. This study used a duration model to identify the factors that influence the timing of adoption of computerized …

Silvicultural Strategies For Converting Longleaf Pine Plantations To Multi-Aged Stands With Groundcover Species Restoration In Georgia, Usa, Gabriel F. Nyen

Theses and Dissertations

For some forest landowners in the southern USA, multiple ecological and economic objectives are met through the conversion of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) plantations to uneven-aged stands. This study was conducted in eight similarly-aged longleaf pine plantations at The Jones Center at Ichauway in southwestern Georgia. The stands were disturbed by commercial thinning in 2014 and partially disturbed by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and half of the stands were seeded with native grasses and a forb in 2015. I developed explanatory models of groundcover biomass and longleaf pine seedling occurrence and density. I detected a community composition difference in groundcover …