Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Bark Water Storage As A Function Of Morphology And Subsequent Impacts On Stemflow Yield In A Mixed Hardwood Stand, Max Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Forest canopy partitioning influences the movement and redistribution of precipitation, with bark serving as a critical interface regulating water storage and stemflow yield. This study quantified bark morphological and hydrological traits across six common southeastern United States tree species and evaluated their influence on stemflow yield. Significant interspecific differences were observed in bark thickness, bulk density, total porosity, bark water storage capacity (BWSC), and absolute hygroscopicity. Bulk density was positively related to BWSC and absolute hygroscopicity, whereas total porosity was negatively related to both traits. Despite substantial variation in bark properties, none of the measured bark traits consistently predicted stemflow …

A Comparative Study Of Synthetic Aperture Radar Focus Algorithms For Maritime Surveillance Applications, Madison M. Forrest

Theses and Dissertations

Maritime Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is frequently degraded by vessel motion and ocean-induced dynamics that violate the stationary scene assumptions of conventional SAR image formation, resulting in azimuth defocus and reduced image interpretability. Autofocus techniques are commonly employed to mitigate these effects; however, their relative performance in maritime environments and the tradeoffs between image quality and computational complexity remain areas of ongoing investigation. This work presents a comparative evaluation of three established SAR autofocus algorithms—Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA), Minimum Entropy (ME), and the Doppler Parameter Estimation Algorithm (DPEA)—applied to real-world maritime SAR imagery. The study utilizes X-band SAR data …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Use Of Representations To Compare Fractions In Area, Length, And Set Contexts, Sarah Salisbury

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics teachers’ knowledge of rational numbers is very important due to the prominence of fraction concepts across the K-12 curriculum. Preservice teachers (PSTs) typically only have a procedural understanding of fractions and lack conceptual understanding (Newton, 2008). PSTs struggle to construct pedagogical representations that correctly show the size of parts and wholes (Lee & Lee, 2019). The purpose of this study was to investigate PSTs’ ability to compare fractions by examining their selection and creation of appropriate and accurate fraction representations in context, including the use of area, length, and set representations. The purpose was also to determine the extent …

Improving The Hemp Fiber Supply Chain: Barriers, Innovations, And Regulatory Impacts, Sneha Chapagain

Theses and Dissertations

The hemp fiber sector in the United States has seen significant growth challenges, including a lack of processing infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and limited research. The Theory of Constraints and Systems Engineering frameworks are used in this study to carefully analyze these difficulties. The study identifies important bottlenecks, investigates system-wide inefficiencies, and examines the impact of regulatory complexity using a survey of key supply chain stakeholders. The findings emphasize the need for more processing capacity, better coordination among supply chain actors, and more policy harmonization. The report also identifies stakeholder-driven improvements in technology, transportation, and market integration that could boost efficiency …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

Agenda 2026-08-12, Sherrie Mortensen

Executive Board

No abstract provided.

Co-02 - Bylaws And Procedures 2026-07-08 - Proposed Association Bylaws Revision 2026, Mpla

Committees

No abstract provided.

Admiral's Visit Connects Students To Global Ocean Challenges, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi students recently got an inside look at how science, technology and international cooperation informs the world's maritime policy during a visit from Rear Adm. Luigi Sinapi, an international leader in hydrography.

Philosophical Education As A Vision For Lasting Peace: Keynote Address At The Phase 1 Workshop Of “Ethics, Society, And Education: Empowering Early Career Philosophers In The Philippines”, Armin A. Luistro Fsc

SDRC Media Releases

Background

This keynote address was delivered by Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC, during the Phase 1 Workshop of Ethics, Society, and Education: Empowering Early Career Philosophers in the Philippines on 12 August 2026 at De La Salle University.

The project aims to strengthen the research, writing, and professional capacities of early career philosophers in the Philippines. It is supported by the British Academy International Writing Workshops 2025 Programme under the United Kingdom Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund. The initiative is led by Dr. Hazel T. Biana of the De La Salle University Department of Philosophy, in partnership with Durham University …

Multidimensional Impacts Of Insecure Password Workaround Techniques On Modern Organizations, Emmanuel Paintsil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Password workaround (PWWA) behaviors, such as password sharing, credential reuse, and other informal security practices, continue to expose organizations to significant cybersecurity risks. Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders are particularly vulnerable because they often operate with limited resources while balancing security requirements, regulatory obligations, and operational demands. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory and activity theory. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore [CS3.1]strategies SME leaders use to identify, manage, and mitigate the financial, reputational, and regulatory risks associated with PWWA behaviors. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 cybersecurity professionals and organizational leaders who had …

Staff Education To Improve Obesity Risk Assessment And Referral Practices, Omolara Aminat Oshokoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This staff education project addressed inconsistent obesity risk assessment practices in an adult primary care setting. Obesity is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions. At the project site, obesity assessment practices relied largely on body mass index (BMI), resulting in inconsistent identification of obesity-related risks and referral needs. The purpose of this project was to educate providers on the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) to improve obesity risk identification and referral practices. The project evaluated whether the staff education intervention improved providers' knowledge and use of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) …

Reducing Live Discharges Using A Tiered Protocol In A Rural Hospice: A Quality Improvement Project, Jemma Lowak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To reduce 30-day caregiver-driven hospice revocations by implementing a tiered post-admission nursing visit protocol based on caregiver preparedness. Background: Caregiver distress and inadequate support contribute to hospice revocations and interruptions in care. Increased nursing contact during the first week of enrollment may improve caregiver preparedness and reduce crisis-driven hospitalizations. Methodology: An eight-week quality improvement project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented at a rural hospice agency. Caregivers completed a Caregiver Preparedness Survey to assign preparedness tiers and guide additional nursing visits during the first week. Process measures included survey completion and protocol adherence. Outcome measures included caregiver preparedness and …

Instruction Guide, Mark C. Hall

Analytical Biochemistry: A Practical Handbook for Undergraduates

The instruction guide provides useful information for setting up and running the lab activities each week and assessing student preparation, performance, and comprehension.

Psychological Interventions For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities In The Context Of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Evangelos Mantsos, Soultana Papadopoulou, Efthymia Efthymiou, Maria Theodoratou, Maria Sofologi, Eugenia Toki

All Works

Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Abstract Background/Objectives: This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

The Fate Of Duplicate Meiotic Recombination Genes After Whole Genome Duplication In Vertebrate And Yeast Lineages, Sophie Maedo

Theses and Dissertations

Meiotic recombination is the exchange of DNA between homologous chromosomes that creates novel allele combinations and therefore aids in evolution. After whole genome duplications (WGD), challenges arise with proper chromosome segregation, necessitating changes to the meiotic recombination pathway. Reducing recombination rate and recombination gene copy number are mechanisms to correct multivalent formation. Within plants, copy number and retention rate of these genes has been well characterized; however, this is untrue for the wider eukaryote domain. Through this work, I show that meiotic recombination genes are maintained at a lower copy number than the rest of the genome; however, immediately after …

Impact Of In-Season Potassium Fertilizer Application On Sweetpotato Yields, Alyssa Lynn Hotchkiss

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotatoes require approximately three times more potassium (K) than nitrogen (N), making K the most applied nutrient in production. However, K fertilizer recommendations for sweetpotatoes in Mississippi remain outdated or are based on recommendations for other crops. This study evaluated the effects of K fertilizer rate, timing, and application method on sweetpotato production. Field trials were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Treatments included preplant K applications of 0, 134, or 191 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, in-season sidedress applications of 56 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, and four foliar K treatments. …

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) Seedbank Decay And Susceptibility To S-Metolachlor And Glufosinate In Mississippi, Nestor Cordero

Theses and Dissertations

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is one of the most troublesome herbicide-resistant weeds in U.S. agriculture. This study evaluated (1) seed persistence across soils collected from major row-crop production areas in Mississippi by investigating the influence of soil physicochemical and microbial properties on seed viability and (2) the prevalence of resistance to S-metolachlor and glufosinate among Mississippi populations. A seed burial experiment using soils from 57 locations representing 10 counties showed that seed viability declined substantially between 4 and 6 months after burial. Although soil physicochemical properties were associated with variation in seed viability, no single factor consistently explained …

Profiles Of Body Image In Emerging Adults And Associations Across Sociocultural Influences, Alligrace Story

Theses and Dissertations

The Tripartite Influence Model of body image suggests that multiple sources of appearance-related pressures (i.e., family, peers, significant others, and media) impact body image and disordered eating behaviors via appearance-related comparisons and internalization of body-related ideals (i.e., thin-ideal internalization and muscular-ideal internalization). Previous research has shown support for the Tripartite Influence Model of body image among various demographic groups. The current study identified and examined profiles of emerging adults based on their reported body esteem and body appreciation. Body esteem was measured using the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA; Mendelson et al., 2001), and body appreciation was …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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