Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Risk And Resilience In Psychological Distress: An Application Of The Minority Stress Model, Rachel Clair Franklin

Theses and Dissertations

LGBT individuals experience disproportionate levels of psychological distress compared to heterosexual populations, often attributed to minority stressors, including experiences of discrimination and victimization. Guided by the Minority Stress Model, the present study examined whether social and community support moderated the relationship between minority stress and psychological distress, and whether rejection sensitivity and fear of discrimination mediated these associations. Data were collected from a sample of 251 individuals who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in the United States. Multiple regression, moderation, and mediation analyses using the PROCESS macro were conducted to examine relationships among experiences of discrimination, sexuality-based victimization, …

A Woman’S Wilderness: Fostering Mental Well-Being Through Sensory Stimulation In The Outdoors, Anah Gaynes

Theses and Dissertations

The female experience with nature is unique (Nurse, G. A., Benfield, J., Bell, P. A., 2010). This provokes the question explored in this study: “What sensory interactions impact women’s mental well-being in nature-based therapy programs?” This study invited participants of nature-based retreats held at 4 Winds Farm in Glenwood Springs, Colorado or Summit Sisters at Cal-Wood Education Center in Jamestown, Colorado. Findings indicate that women’s positive emotions are significantly impacted by their sensory experiences. It also revealed a fascination with trees and the importance of tactile experiences. For landscape architects this brings about a new challenge in designing for the …

Investigating Teacher Cognition Of Teaching Spatial Thinking Among Middle And High School Stem Teachers: A Knowledge, Belief, And Attitude Perspective, Jonathan Grant Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Spatial thinking is a critical cognitive ability that supports learning and problem solving across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Despite extensive research highlighting the importance of spatial thinking in STEM achievement and career success, limited research has examined STEM teachers’ cognition of spatial thinking or developed instruments to measure it. The purpose of this study was to investigate middle and high school STEM teachers’ cognition of spatial thinking, including their perceived pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of spatial thinking, self-efficacy beliefs about teaching spatial thinking, and attitudes toward spatial thinking as a critical component of STEM learning and achievement. …

Accelerating Defensive Cyber Operations Via Unsupervised Log Clustering And Automated Regex Template Synthesis, Charles Matthew Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Modern Security Operations Centers (SOCs) ingest millions of log entries per day, but manual parsing does not scale to the volume, heterogeneity, and rapid evolution of log formats. This dissertation investigates whether unsupervised clustering can automate the generation of candidate field-extraction templates while remaining deployable in production and feasible under realistic runtime and memory constraints. The central research question asks whether a machine-learning-assisted pipeline that proposes extraction templates for security engineer review—relative to reproducible human-authored baselines such as hand-written regular expressions—can measurably improve rule-set deployability and corpus-scale extraction quality. Improvement is quantified using four applicability metrics: Coverage Rate (CR), Exclusive …

Our Home Away From Home? A Transnational Intersectional Exploration Of Colorism And Group Identity Among Black Surinamese Dutch People, Ashley Melcherts

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I explore the influence of colorism on Black Surinamese Dutch group identity formation. Through a transnational intersectional lens rooted in Black feminism, I examine the role of colorism in the formation of group identity of Black Surinamese Dutch people. I also examine gendered aspects of colorism. Data for this dissertation come from virtual and face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews I conducted with 25 Black Surinamese diaspora members in the Netherlands, one Black Surinamese diaspora member in Spain, and one Black Surinamese diaspora member in the United States. Interviews reveal how Black Surinamese Dutch people negotiate colorism coming from …

Assessing Biotic And Abiotic Drivers Of Hybridization And Species Delimitation In A Highly Reticulate Syngameon, Nicholas John Engle-Wrye

Theses and Dissertations

Hybridization, or the flow of genetic materials between varieties or species, shapes evolution by generating novel genotypes, altering allele frequencies, and driving diversification. Yet, the rate at which hybridization occurs is heterogeneous across the tree of life and the ecological and evolutionary factors that govern its occurrence remain poorly understood. This dissertation examines how conserved biotic and abiotic niches influence hybridization and uses integrative methods to delimit species boundaries within Heuchera (Saxifragaceae), a genus notable for widespread interspecific gene flow and cryptic morphological diversity. Results reveal that hybridization is most frequent where pre- and postzygotic barriers are weak, as with …

Investigating Semantic Categorization Using Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation, Zack Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

Fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) with EEG provides a rapid method for isolating both higher-order and lower-order cognitive responses, an advantage that could prove useful in future research into higher order cognitive tasks. This thesis tested whether a semantic categorization response could be reliably differentiated from a low-level color response. EEG data were collected while 33 young adults viewed image sequences of fruits and vegetables of varying colors across five experimental conditions that compared color and semantic categorization responses. Frequency domain analysis revealed that color responses were much stronger and localized to the Left Occipito-Temporal (LOT) region of interest (ROI) …

Plasma Pharmacokinetics Of Topical 0.1% Diclofenac Sodium And 0.5% Ketorolac Tromethamine In Dogs, Jacqueline Peraza

Theses and Dissertations

To determine plasma concentrations of ophthalmic 0.1% (w/v) diclofenac sodium and 0.5% (w/v) ketorolac tromethamine following 4 times daily ophthalmic administration in healthy dogs. Eight dogs were randomly assigned to a diclofenac or ketorolac group. Plasma was collected before drug administration. Plasma samples were collected after the 4 pm treatments on days 1 and 5. Plasma concentrations (ng/mL) were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and analyzed with noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. After ophthalmic administration of 0.1% diclofenac, mean t1/2, Tmax, and Cmax occurred at 3.08 0.9 hours, 121.4 2.8 hours, 0.12 0.05 ug/mL, respectively. The mean t1/2, Tmax, and Cmax after …

Characterizing The Microbial Structure And Function In Black Soldier Fly Digested Dairy Manure And Subsequent Larvae, Branden N. Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

This work examined the microbial structure and gene expression found in Black Soldier Fly larval guts and their frass when reared on dairy cattle manure that had been amended with either R. rhodococcus 21198, P. polymyxa 8158, or both and compare the results to larvae reared on untreated manure. First an overview of literature surrounding projected global food supplies and the possible use of insects to either increase them or mitigate the environmental effect of producing said supply. A cellulose degradation assay was performed to assist in determining which bacterial species to use as amendments. Characterization of the microbial communities …

A Cradle To Grave Life Cycle Assessment Of Captured Landfill Methane Abatement Strategies, Joshua Caleb Richard

Theses and Dissertations

Landfill methane mitigation strategies are commonly evaluated using percentage-based leakage assumptions and linear scaling models. These approaches may misrepresent system performance at varying throughput levels and real-world operating scenarios. This thesis develops a system-level life cycle assessment framework that incorporates both fixed infrastructure losses and employs sensitivity analysis to more accurately characterize emissions from landfill gas management pathways. Three scenarios are evaluated: methane capture and flare, methane capture and combustion for electricity generation, and methane upgrading with pipeline injection as renewable natural gas. Results demonstrate that emissions models over- dependance on static factors may inadvertently lead to under-reporting and provide …

No-Till Versus Conventional Tillage Cover Crop Systems Effects On Cotton In The Blackland Prairie Region Of Mississippi, Mallie West Rivenbark

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) plays a critical role in cotton production systems. Management practices such as tillage systems and cover crops (CC) can influence nutrient cycling and availability within the soil. The present study assessed the effects of CC in a conventional tillage (CT) vs. no-tillage (NT) system on cotton yield, fiber quality and N use efficiency. Ramifications for CC and N rates on lint yield and cotton N uptake were investigated during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons in Verona, MS. Cover crop treatments include cereal rye (Secale cereale), crimson clover (Trifolium incaranatum) and a mix of cereal rye and crimson …

Nesting Ecology And Responses To Snag Resource Fluctuations Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers In Working Pine Forests, Zoe Elise Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Southeastern working pine forests provide opportunities for sustainable management that balance conservation and economic objectives. Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), as primary cavity excavators, play a disproportionate role in forest ecosystems, making them an ideal focal species for evaluating management strategies. From 2024-2025, we monitored 103 nesting attempts in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests of Mississippi and Alabama, assessing nest site selection and survival. Nests were concentrated in early successional stands, with selection favoring taller snags with advanced decay characteristics, greater understory cover, and north-to-west cavity orientation. Nest survival increased with reduced cavity accessibility. Simulation models of varying snag retention levels …

Comprehensive Study Of The Durability And Protective Measures Of Cross-Laminated Timber, Samuel Gray Shumate

Theses and Dissertations

The growing use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in sustainable construction necessitates improved protection against biological deterioration. This study evaluates the fungal resistance of Southern Pine CLT fabricated from lumber pre-treated with micronized copper azole (MCA). Panels were produced under industrial pressing conditions, and durability was assessed using a modified American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) E10-22 soil block test against four brown-rot fungi. Results showed significant decay reduction for Coniophora puteana and Neolentinus lepideus, while protection was less effective against Gloeophyllum trabeum and Rhodonia placenta. Findings indicate that pre-treatment enhances preservative distribution but does not fully prevent decay in high-hazard environments. …

Impacts Of Goat Grazing On Coastal Upland Understory, Maya Stratman

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal upland pine savannas and flatwoods along the northern Gulf of Mexico are biodiversity hotspots degraded by woody encroachment following fire suppression and loss of herbivory. Conservation grazing has been proposed as a management tool, yet its effectiveness in these systems remains understood. This study evaluated how goat grazing frequency and duration influence understory vegetation structure, diversity, productivity, and light availability in an Ilex-dominated coastal upland in Mississippi. Five grazing treatments (monthly, every three months, biannual, seasonal, and ungrazed control) were applied across 25 plots over one year. Vegetation percent cover, genus richness, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, light penetration, and …

Exploring The Effect Of Students' Exclusionary Discipline On Their Academic Achievement In A Rural High School., Danya Turner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent to which exclusionary discipline practices, specifically in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension, are associated with academic achievement among high school students. More specifically, the study investigated the relationship between students’ exclusionary discipline days and performance on Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) assessments in Algebra I, Biology, English II, and U.S. History. The study was guided by the Opportunity to Learn (OTL) framework, which emphasizes the importance of access to instructional time for student academic success. Archival discipline and assessment data were collected from a rural public high school in east-central …

Effects Of Melatonin Supplementation On Exercise Induced Stress In Horses, Hannah Clark Valigura

Theses and Dissertations

Exercise is a necessary component of athletic conditioning but imposes substantial physiological stress on horses, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle damage, and thermal strain that can impair performance and recovery. Melatonin, a neurohormone with potent antioxidant and thermoregulatory properties, has been proposed as a novel nutritional strategy to mitigate these effects. This dissertation aimed to (1) characterize serum melatonin concentrations following oral supplementation, (2) evaluate the effects of melatonin on oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage biomarkers after exercise, and (3) examine its influence on physiological parameters during exercise under warm weather conditions. Across a series of controlled experiments …

Tracing Hazing Across Adolescence: Examining How Prior Hazing Experiences Shape Hazing Motivation And Tolerance Among Newly Initiated Ifc Fraternity Members, John Michael Vanhorn

Theses and Dissertations

Hazing remains pervasive and underreported, disproportionately affecting adolescent and emerging adult men, particularly within athletic teams and fraternity contexts. Although hazing is most often studied within collegiate organizations, many students encounter hazing behaviors prior to college, yet little is known about how these early experiences shape later hazing perceptions, motivations, tolerance, and masculine norms. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model, this dissertation conceptualizes hazing as a developmental process shaped by repeated social interactions, individual characteristics, contextual environments, and time across adolescence and emerging adulthood. Using a two-paper approach with a quantitative, longitudinal survey design, study 1 examined fraternity new members’ …

Delayed Timing Of Spring Application Of Nitrogen In Corn, Elizabeth Mae Worley

Theses and Dissertations

Application timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer within the corn growing season can be crucial to crop nutrient uptake and availability. A lack of region-specific timing recommendations may result in inefficient fertilizer use and inconsistent yield responses. The objectives of this study were to determine how late in the growing season a first and second N fertilizer application can be pushed until corn yield is impacted and investigate whether Growing Degree Days (GDDs) should be used as better estimate of timing for N application than calendar date or growth stage. First applications were able to be delayed until V4-V6 growth stages …

Subclinical Neuropsychiatric Trait Variation In Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cohort Study, Lindsay J Mullin, Carolyn Lasch, Natasha Marrus, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Many neuropsychiatric conditions share overlapping features underpinned by shared genetics. In this study, we examined the co-aggregation of sub-threshold variation in neuropsychiatric phenotypes in biological parents of autistic children to provide insights into the intergenerational transmission of genetic liability for autism.

METHODS: Autistic, neuropsychiatric (i.e., anxiety, depression, ADHD), and cognitive traits were characterized in biological parents of children enrolled in a longitudinal developmental study: 189 families of autistic children and 100 families with no autistic children were included. Families were further characterized as having only one (simplex) or more than one (multiplex) autistic child. Maternal and paternal traits were …

Quantification Of Sarm1 Nadase Activity In Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, Lila F Dabill, Ivana R Shen, Jennifer M Brazill, Alicia Neiner, Yo Sasaki, Erica L Scheller

2020-Current year OA Pubs

SARM1 (sterile α and TIR motif-containing protein-1) is an NADase enzyme that serves as the central executioner of Wallerian axon degeneration. Given this, SARM1 is of high interest as a candidate therapeutic target, and SARM1 inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for treatment of neurodegeneration. Beyond neuroscience, emerging studies reveal that SARM1 may also drive aspects of bone fragility, liver pathology, adipose expansion, and insulin resistance in metabolic disease. However, we lack methods to quantify SARM1 activation in humans to better define patients at high risk of SARM1-mediated tissue damage. Unlike neurons, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) represent an easily …

Multiscale Modeling Of Chemoattractant-Guided Collective Cell Migration In The Drosophila Egg Chamber, Lara Scott, Bradford E. Peercy, Meghan Kwon, Michelle Starz-Gaiano

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Phase-Preserving Machine Learning Forecasting Of Nonlinear Predator–Prey Dynamics, Saira Batool, Muhammad Imran, Brett Mckinney

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Modeling Epidemic Dynamics With Renewal Processes And General Lifetime Distributions, Divine Wanduku, Divine Wanduku

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Remote Sensing To Detect Crop Damage By An Invasive Species, Cole Butler

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

The Making Of An Extremist: How Do We Become Someone Else’S Nightmare?, María Paula Morales

The Confluence

This article explores how ordinary people can be pulled into extremist movements and what psychological forces drive that process. It looks at three perspectives: social identity theory, which explains how group belonging shapes behavior, identity development, which shows how people searching for meaning may find it in extremist causes; and social neuroscience, which connects radicalization to brain activity linked to fear, loyalty, and moral judgement. Together, these approaches show that radicalization is not simply about ideology but about identity, emotion, and belonging. By understanding these dynamics, we can find better ways to prevent extremism and promote healthier, more inclusive communities.

From Your Pov: Using Narrative-Focused Methodology To Study Psychological Correlates Of Sexual Health Behaviors, Zoë E. Sweaney, Stephanie Afful

The Confluence

How far would you go (or not go) to protect yourself from risky sexual behaviors? Additionally, what influence does our gender identity and socialization have on these decisions? In the current series of studies, a story-driven safe-sex behavioral assessment was developed and administered to participants to assess the relationships amongst psychological indices, personal values, and sexual health. This research confirms the validity of an instrument that queries sensitive data while controlling for social desirability concerns. The applications of this research are especially pertinent to improving upon interpersonal communication, sexual health education, and women’s sexual health advocacy.

Dynamic Homeostasis In Relaxation And Bursting Oscillations, Christopher J. Ryzowicz

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Patients’ And Orthodontists’ Preferences For Pain Management During Orthodontic Treatment, Sara Schutte Dds, Bhavna Shroff Dds, Al M. Best Phd, Steven Lindauer Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Va Dent J July, August And September 2015

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Basics Of Forest Certification: A Primer For Forest Owners, Miah Maye Pormon, Joan U. Ureta, Marzieh Motallebi, Barry Graden

Forestry and Natural Resources

Forest certification promotes sustainable forest management, enhances market access for forest products, and improves ecosystem services. This article addresses forest owners’ hesitations in certifying their forest lands by providing information on the importance and requirements of the three biggest certification systems in the Southern U.S. This study can serve as a resource to raise awareness towards forest certification systems and encourage greater participation among forest landowners.