Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing The Impact Of Cover Crop On Soil Microbiome Function Affecting C And N Inputs In Corn Production System, Durga Purushotham Mahesh Chinthalapudi

Theses and Dissertations

Cover cropping (CC) is a widely adopted strategy to improve soil health and microbial diversity in agroecosystems. However, its influence on microbial community dynamics and ecosystem functions remains context-dependent, particularly under variable nitrogen (N) inputs. This dissertation integrates a three-year field study (2021-2024) in corn-based systems with a meta-analysis of 473 soil samples from diverse Mississippi cropping systems to evaluate CC effects on soil microbial structure, function, and ecosystem multifunctionality. In the field study, soil bacterial and fungal communities were profiled using high-throughput amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA for bacteria, ITS2 for fungi). Seven CC treatments ryegrass, balansa, radish, red clover, …

The Evaluation Of Traditional And Latency Based Functional Analyses On The Identification Of The Function Of Inappropriate Mealtime Behavior, Mallie N. Donald

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that up to 80% of children with developmental disabilities have feeding problems. Feeding problems typically coexist with the presence of inappropriate mealtime behavior which includes behaviors such as aggression, throwing food or utensils, or turning head away from the presented bite. As a result, functional analysis procedures are commonly used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior to later inform effective function-based interventions. Traditional functional analysis procedures utilize the measurement of the rate of inappropriate mealtime behavior. Several limitations exist within traditional procedures for the assessment of inappropriate mealtime behavior which include demands across all test and …

Evaluation Of Furrow-Irrigation And Agronomic Management In Mississippi Rice (Oryza Sativa L.), Thomas W. Eubank Iv

Theses and Dissertations

A new non-transgenic rice has been developed called ROXY, which is resistant to formulations of oxyfluorfen. Utilizing the ROXY rice production system in a furrow-irrigated system could help combat troublesome terrestrial weeds and be a viable option for producers. To evaluate the performance of oxyfluorfen in furrow-irrigated ROXY rice production system, two concurrent field studies were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS, from 2022 to 2024. The first study evaluated residual grass and broadleaf weed control with oxyfluorfen applied delayed-preemergence (DPRE). Factor A was oxyfluorfen rates of 0, 700, and 981 g ai ha-1. Factor …

Strategic Use Of Exogenous Feed Enzymes And Sodium Bisulfate To Optimize Broiler Production, Spencer Thomas Karn

Theses and Dissertations

Poultry producers must continually evaluate nutritional strategies to enhance broiler performance and sustainability. Chapter II assessed sodium bisulfate (SB) applied to litter, feed, and water across a 42-day grow-out. Applying SB to litter reduced pH, while 0.3% and 0.4% dietary SB improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). Water acidification with SB during the final week did not impair performance, supporting its use as a preharvest intervention. Chapter III evaluated phytase at 500, 1500, and 2000 FTU/kg, with or without protease, in reduced amino acid diets over 56 days. Birds fed a nutrient-adequate diet with 1500 FTU/kg phytase outperformed all reduced-amino acid …

From Gametes To Genes: Genetic Quality Assessment Of Anuran Cryopreserved Spermatozoa And Derived Embryos, Trinity Isabella Kassuhn

Theses and Dissertations

Sperm cryopreservation is an important tool within the suite of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) as it enables long-term storage of genetically valuable gametes. However, knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for assessing sperm quality and the genetic consequences of using cryopreserved sperm in amphibians is limited. This gap has raised concerns in captive breeding and reintroduction programs regarding the potential impact that cryopreserved sperm and the derived embryos may have on a population. The thesis aims to investigate how sperm cryopreservation affects the genetic material in both sperm and resulting embryos, with implications for in situ and ex situ amphibian populations. …

Understanding Pollinator-Forb Interactions And Evaluating Trapping Methods For Pollinator Monitoring In Lawns Of The Southeastern United States, Sara Rose Kirby

Theses and Dissertations

Urban turfgrass landscapes are widespread across the southeastern United States but offer limited ecological value under conventional management. This thesis evaluates the pollinator support potential of ten forb species commonly found in low-maintenance lawns and assesses the effectiveness of two insect sampling methods, sweep netting and pan trapping. Over two years of field surveys, native forbs such as Symphyotrichum divaricatum and Claytonia virginica supported significantly greater insect abundance and diversity than introduced species. Network and modularity analyses revealed that native plants facilitated more specialized pollinator interactions, including those involving oligolectic bee species. In a complementary study, pan traps effectively sampled …

Impact Of Buffered Dry Vinegar And Fermented Onion Juice On The Quality And Shelf-Life Of Fresh Pork Breakfast Sausage, Emily M. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The demand for clean-label meat products has increased interest in natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. This study evaluated the effects of buffered dry vinegar (BDV), fermented onion juice (FOJ), and their combination (CMB) on microbial stability and sensory quality of pork sausage during 9 days of refrigerated storage. Sausages were assigned to control, FOJ (0.5%), BDV (0.5%), or CMB (0.25% each) treatments. BDV and CMB significantly reduced aerobic and psychrotrophic counts by days 7-9, while yeast increased across all treatments over time, reaching ~7 Log CFU/g by day 9. Sensory analysis revealed lower oxidation and off-note intensity in …

Evaluating The Dietary Supplementation Of Soy Lecithin For Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), Crystal Lodi Conde

Theses and Dissertations

Soy lecithin (SL), a phospholipid rich ingredient derived from soybeans, was tested to evaluate the effects on channel catfish growth and physiological responses. In Trial 1, formulated diets with gradual SL levels were tested. Fish fed 1.5% SL had improved feed efficiency, while 0.5% SL enhanced protein conversion efficiency. The SL influenced cortisol levels during recovery from air exposure stress and improved survival after bacterial challenge. The Trial 2 tested three different lipid sources: Soybean oil (SBO; control), 1% SL + SBO, and catfish oil (CFO). The SL-fed fish also presented improved feed efficiency compared to the SBO group. There …

Sweetpotato Insect Pests: Virus Vector Management And Rearing, Rachel Emily Morrison

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are vegetatively propagated through slips, making them prone to viral buildup. Aphids are insect pests known for transmitting viruses to crops, which reduces yield. This study examined different options for aphid management to reduce the spread of potyviruses: crop borders, crop oils, and insecticides. However, the results of this research showed that treatments were not successful at reducing the spread of the four potyviruses tested. An additional objective was to establish a colony of banded cucumber beetles (Diabrotica balteata) in the laboratory. These beetles are a leaf-feeding and root-feeding pest of sweet potatoes. Two colonies of banded …

Evaluating The Impacts Of Cover Crops At Different Nitrogen Rates On Soil Microbial Dynamics Within A Sweetpotato Production System, Lahari Nekkalapudi

Theses and Dissertations

A field study was conducted from 2023 to 2024 at Pontotoc, Mississippi, to evaluate the effects of cover crops and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil microbial communities in sweet potato production. The study followed a randomized split-block design with three cover crops (Clover, Wheat, and Fallow) and three N rates (0, 50, and 100 lb N acre⁻¹), each replicated four times. Soil samples were collected at cover crop termination, sweet potato planting, and harvest. Bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed using Illumina HiSeq sequencing. Soil properties such as total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, POXC, and microbial activity (AWCD) were also …

Spawning And Rearing Techniques For Improved Production Of White Crappie (Pomoxis Anularis), Matthew E. Nichols

Theses and Dissertations

White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is a popular species, commonly propagated in hatcheries to support fisheries and supplement natural populations during cyclical declines. However, limited information exists regarding the effects of extended broodstock holding periods (>4 weeks), which are critical for enhancing flexibility in hatchery practices. Furthermore, rearing larval-to-juvenile crappie in outdoor ponds would greatly benefit from optimized fertilization and stocking densities to improve growth and survival rates. Additionally, dietary preferences during early life stages remain poorly understood, yet are essential for maximizing production efficiency. This study found holding broodstock for > 6 weeks can significantly reduce fertilization percentages. We also …

An Evaluation Of The Mississippi 4-H/Ffa Replacement Beef Heifer Development Contest, Lindsey V. Pansano

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi 4-H/FFA Replacement Beef Heifer Development Contest began in 2008 to provide youth with a contest to showcase their managerial skills relating to beef cattle. This study examined the impact of contest participation on development of life skills, technical skills, and choice of occupation. Youth and parents/guardians reported slight to moderate improvement in life skills. The same groups also agreed that technical skills were improved through contest participation. While most youth did not consider the contest to impact their choice of occupation, all indicated that they are currently involved in the beef cattle industry as adults. Overall, these results …

Drought Resilience Of Cowpea During Vegetative And Reproductive Stages, Sujan Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an important leguminous crop. Exposure to drought can lead to significant reductions in yield and quality. Designing strategies to mitigate the effects of drought requires a comprehensive understanding of how trait variability influences resilience at various crop growth stages. Three experiments were conducted to assess the response and resilience of various cowpea genotypes under control (100% irrigation) and drought (50% irrigation of control for 14 days) conditions during the vegetative (nodulation initiation - V2, and peak branching - V4) and reproductive (flowering - R1, and seed fill - R4) stages. The short-term drought impacted …

Evaluation Of Soil Steaming, Cover Crops, And Allelopathy: An Integrated And Sustainable Weed Management Strategy In Sweetpotatoes, Alaina Marie Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a persistent weed in sweetpotato and vegetable cropping systems caused by its aggressive growth habit and limited control options. The present study assessed two alternative, chemical-free methods: steaming the soil and the use of allelopathic cover crops. Greenhouse and field experiments showed that steaming suppressed the germination of yellow nutsedge effectively and that treatments for 45 min provided the highest control of all the soil depths tested (100%). A leachate experiment examined the allelopathy of five cover crops against yellow nutsedge and showed that buckwheat and cereal rye had the largest reductions in shoot …

Feed-Based Strategies To Improve Poultry Production Efficiency, Anna Kathryn Riggs

Theses and Dissertations

The poultry industry continues to make significant strides in efficiency and innovation, particularly through advancements in nutrition. This thesis explores two key areas within broiler nutrition that are essential to supporting sustainable, cost-effective poultry production. First, the potential of a next-generation exogenous carbohydrase enzyme blend containing beta-mannanase and endo-glucanase is investigated when supplemented into reduced-energy, all-vegetable diets based on corn, soybean meal, and corn distillers dried grains with solubles in male broilers over a 42-day grow-out period, including processing (Chapter II). Second, the thesis examines the use of modeling strategies such as cubic, quadratic, kernel and smoothing spline to predict …

Raspberry Cultivar Evaluation Trial In Mississippi, Apphia Santy

Theses and Dissertations

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are valued for their flavor, appearance, and nutritional quality. This study evaluated 26 raspberry cultivars over two seasons (2023 and 2024) in Mississippi under a 50% shade-covered system, using organic and conventional fertilization in 7-gallon containers. Cultivars included floricane- and primocane-fruiting types. Data collected included harvest timing, yield, berry weight, soluble solids content (°Brix), titratable acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). Results showed cultivar differences in yield, berry quality, and antioxidant levels. In 2023, conventionally fertilized plants produced higher yields; in 2024, fertilizer had no impact. Late-season harvests had elevated phytochemicals. ‘Prelude,’ ‘Nova,’ …

Academics Vs Athletics: Prioritizing The Students In Student-Athletes And The Importance Of Their Return To The Classroom, Stephen Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) aims to enhance student- athletes' educational experiences but Law 6.5.1 inadvertently causes students to miss 300 hours of academic instruction annually. This dilemma forces school districts to choose between robust sports programs and rigorous academic schedules, ultimately creating a disadvantage for students. While participation in sports has been linked to improved academic performance, the current structure disproportionately allocates resources to athletics over academics, with only 51% of schools offering after-school academic programs compared to 77% for sports. This paper discusses the benefits of sports, including higher attendance and graduation rates, but also highlights …

I Felt More Confident That It Would Work For Me: A Grounded Theory Of Person-Centered Interprofessional Collaboration Based On Patients’ Lived Experiences, Katherine Hope Morgan, Cristina S. Barroso, Kathleen Conroy Brown, Michael R. Bleich, Soghra Jarvandi, Elizabeth B. Strand, Shaun Rowe

Patient Experience Journal

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is considered the highest standard of practice for delivering care to patients with multiple, complex, and chronic conditions. Despite reported benefits of IPC, the voice of the care receiver and how or whether they experience IPC is underexplored. Our objective was to examine patients’ experiences with IPC in two rural primary care settings in the U.S., where the burden of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) is coupled with lower life expectancies and reduced access to care. We used a semi-structured interview to assess patients’ experiences within 72 hours after an IPC healthcare visit. This study, conducted in two …

Psychosocial Dimensions Of Living With Hep B: Notes From The Field: The Lived Experience Of A Mother Raising A Daughter With Hepatitis B, Julie Gerhardt

Patient Experience Journal

What follows is based on the interweaving of three points of view each of which contributes to an understanding of the experience of living with Hepatitis B: (i) as the mother of a daughter who was diagnosed with HBV at 5 months and who still, at age 22, carries traces of the surface antigen in her blood; (ii) as a participant in the Hepatitis B Foundation’s (HBF) “Storytellers” program in which those impacted by the disease meet with others to share experiences and narrate a short video posted on the HBF website; and (iii) as a PhD research psychologist-turned-psychoanalyst interested …

Paediatric Fixed Drug Eruption: A Case Report Of Ofloxacin As The Culprit, Ambika Nand Jha, Varsha Ratan Gaikwad, Rabia Alam, Shivanshu Sharma, Ashok Kumar Gupta

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Ofloxacin, a second-generation fluoroquinolone, is a relatively rare but documented cause of fixed drug eruption (FDE), a localized cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction marked by recurrent, well-demarcated erythematous patches or macules that may develop into blisters upon re-exposure to the offending agent. The underlying mechanism is immune-mediated, involving T-cell activation, cytokine release, and keratinocyte apoptosis. A 5-year-old boy weighing 15 kg was prescribed Ofloxacin syrup (7.5 ml twice daily) and Paracetamol suspension (5 ml twice daily) for suspected enteric fever. Within two days, he developed several annular erythematous lesions on his hands and back, associated with intense itching, raising suspicion of a …

Aristotle, John Herman Randall Jr.

Hannah Arendt Marginalia - All

New York : Columbia University Press, 1962

Call #: B485 .R3 1962

Contains underlining and marginal lining

PDF Information: 92 pages – 70 MB

Pollino: A Research-Through-Design Approach To Pollinator Conservation, Kitti Butter

Nordes Conference Series

This paper examines how design can foster multispecies cohabitation in urban environments by supporting wild pollinators, specifically solitary wild bees. Grounded in theories of more-than-human design and multispecies care, the project challenges conventional human-centric urban planning by integrating ecological insights into practical interventions. Using a Research-through-Design approach, the project “Pollino” was developed as an experimental urban intervention that incorporates pollinator-friendly nesting habitats into public infrastructure. The interdisciplinary project draws on stakeholder interviews with ecologists, urban planners, and municipal decision-makers, along with a one-year pilot study deploying twelve prototypes in diverse urban settings and monitoring their impact on urban biodiversity and …

Toying With Relations: Speculative Toys For Children And Sustainability, Karey Helms, Petra Jääskeläinen, Sharon Lindberg, Elin Sporrong, Arjun Menon, Meike Schalk, Airi Lampinen

Nordes Conference Series

Toys as situated within the relational ontologies of children includes how more-than-human relations are imagined and valued through play. Motivated by a concern for a damaged environment, we critique a selection of existing toys intended for outdoor play and fabulate other versions based upon alternative relations. From the detailing of six redesigns through text and collage, we foreground generative pathways for how children, and adults, might relate differently to nature. These pathways are presented as questions prompted by the toys. This exploratory research contributes to the imagining of multispecies worlds and the agency of children in toying with more-than-human relations.

Towards Eco-Social Contracts Through An Entangled Manifestation Of Digital Litter, Seda Özçetin, Ylva Fernaeus, Şeyda Özçetin, Larissa Pschetz

Nordes Conference Series

Many of the current debates in technology concern the extractive practices around planetary resources and data, which produce electronic waste as well as everyday sense of clutter among media channels and files. In this paper, we engage with this problem space through a specific focus on Terms of Service agreements, which have become a prerequisite for even the most rudimentary use of technology. We do this by presenting an exploded view of an existing Terms of Service policy ecosystem, in the form of an outdoor installation, temporarily littering a patch of nature. Through this installation, we expose eco-social contracts as …

In Relation: Brazilian Indigenous Fashion Design, Julia Valle-Noronha

Nordes Conference Series

Contemporary applications of indigenous and ancient knowledge systems are seen as an opportunity to reestablish relationships of care and respect. This paper investigates how contemporary indigenous fashion designers in Brazil enmesh indigenous thinking in their practice. The paper starts by laying out discussions on indigenous knowledge systems and its relationships with design. Following, the indigenous fashion phenomena in Brazil is introduced and analysed through data collected via interviews and desktop research. To conclude, possible more than human directions that challenge the current paradigms in western fashion design practices are exposed. They are: relational practices, more than human notions of time …

Co-Creating The Good Life Through Food-Based Inquiry, Danielle Wilde, Leena Naqvi, Mary Karyda

Nordes Conference Series

Food and eating (re)connect humans daily with worlds within and beyond us. From the trillions of microorganisms that help make us who we are; through the socio-culturally and tangibly graspable people, animals, plants, fungi and algae that we cohabit with; to decreasingly relatable systems of food production and provisioning across the planet, food stitches us together. We provide four mini cases to consider how using food as a methodology for experimental design research can build relations towards ensuring ‘the good life.’ We explore what the good life is, why relationality sits at its heart, and provide a framework for using …

Improvement Of Flax Seeds Processing Technology For The Production Of Functional Oil Products, Manzura N. Hafizova, Ismoil B. Isabaev, Nафиса R. Djurayeva, Suvankul S. Ravshanov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

One of the main problems of our time is the sharp increase in alimentary-dependent diseases or so-called "diseases of civilization" caused by unbalanced nutrition, namely a stable deficiency or excess of nutrients with food relative to the physiological human needs. Therefore, recently there has been an increased interest in the production of functional products with a relatively balanced composition of certain nutrients depending on their purpose and intended use. A promising object of modification is traditional fat products, the transformation of which into functional ones is carried out by combining various types of raw materials, i.e., by creating composite (model) …

Snap Benefits In A Recession: Mountain West State Projections, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on simulated recession impacts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the Mountain West. The Urban Institute’s “How Would a State Cost Share Affect SNAP in a Recession?” report provides recession projections based on the current SNAP policy – which allows SNAP to automatically expand in the event of a recession – as well as a 10% cost share scenario, for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This fact sheet focuses on recession projections for the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

A Toolkit For Treating Obesity In Children With Metabolic Syndrome, Karen Mayers-Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project seeks to bridge the existing knowledge gap in using Metformin to manage childhood obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome. The primary goal was to develop a complete toolkit to educate healthcare providers on utilizing Metformin in obese children with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, characterized by higher triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, and increased waist circumference, offers considerable health hazards for children. The practice-focused question is, Is the toolkit deemed useful to providers for treating obesity in children with metabolic syndrome using metformin?” The project employed the theory of planned behavior, …

Daily Prebiotic Consumption Of Sweet Potatoes Shifts Abundances Of Key Gut Microbial Taxa Connected To Gut Health, Alexis Gallegos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Diet plays a large role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, which impacts many aspects of human health. Sweet potatoes contain high levels of resistant starches and dietary fiber which healthy gut microorganisms can metabolize. We tested if daily sweet potato consumption for thirty days shifts gut prokaryotic communities and the phylogenetic diversity of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) functional genes. Selected functional genes are known to be important for human health associated with butyrate and propionate production pathways. To do so, we collected fecal samples from healthy adult volunteers, before and after daily sweet potato consumption and conducted metabarcoding …