Digital Commons Network^™

Exploiting Spatial And Spectral Information In Hyperdimensional Imagery, Matthew Allen Lee

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, new digital image processing methods for hyperdimensional imagery are developed and experimentally tested on remotely sensed Earth observations and medical imagery. The high dimensionality of the imagery is either inherent due to the type of measurements forming the image, as with imagery obtained with hyperspectral sensors, or the result of preprocessing and feature extraction, as with synthetic aperture radar imagery and digital mammography. In the first study, two omni-directional adaptations of gray level co-occurrence matrix analysis are developed and experimentally evaluated. The adaptations are based on a previously developed rubber band straightening transform that has been used …

Computational Prediction Of Flow And Aerodynamic Characteristics For An Elliptic Airfoil At Low Reynolds Number, Varun Chitta

Theses and Dissertations

Lifting surfaces of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are often operated in low Reynolds number (Re) ranges, wherein the transition of boundary layer from laminar-to-turbulent plays a more significant role than in high-Re aerodynamics applications. This poses a challenge for traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, since typical modeling approaches assume either fully laminar or fully turbulent flow. In particular, the boundary layer state must be accurately predicted to successfully determine the separation behavior which significantly influences the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based CFD simulations of an elliptic airfoil are performed for time-varying angles of attack, and …

Crappie Population Characteristics Relative To Inundation Of Floodplain Habitats In Reservoirs, Jonah Dennis Dagel

Theses and Dissertations

Catch rates of age-0 and adult crappies Pomoxis spp. were compared between floodplains and coves to determine if differences in densities existed between habitats, and to determine if water levels influenced density relationships. Habitat in a cove and a floodplain of Enid Reservoir was mapped to describe differences in vegetation. Adult crappies were collected with electrofishing and age-0 crappies were collected with trap nets. Coves had the greatest spring densities of adults in 2009 and 2010, whereas floodplains attracted adults earlier in the spawning season. Recruitment of age-0 crappies was related inversely to high water levels during months preceding the …

Degree Of Pyritization And Methylmercury Analysis, Weeks Bay Alabama, Henry A. Stauffenberg

Theses and Dissertations

Methylmercury (MeHg) production is magnified in the natural environment by geochemical influxes and an active sulfate reducing bacteria community. It has been found that the presence of sulfides, excess nutrients, and the type of depositional environment (normal marine or euxinic) greatly influences MeHg production and degree of pyritization (DOP). The aim of this research is to investigate a possible connection between MeHg accumulation and the DOP in Weeks Bay sediment. Collected sediment samples have confirmed a significant presence of total reduced sulfides, inorganic mercury, reactive iron, and total organic carbon. Pyritization results indicate a normal marine environment and, of the …

William Charles "Butch" Wallace

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Murray Ledger And Times, August 11, 2012, Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

College Of Behavioral And Social Sciences News, Georgia Southern University

College of Behavioral & Social Sciences: News & Publications (2012-2022)

• CLASS Alumni Connection Lecture Series launches Sept. 17

The Effect Of Slope And Media Depth On Growth Performance Of Sedum Species In A Green Roof System In Mississippi's Sub-Tropical Climate, Sinan Kordon

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, green roofs have become an accepted solution in ecological urban design to mitigate the impacts of impervious surfaces (Berghage, Beattie, Jarrett, Thuring, & Razaei, 2009). An experimental research project was conducted at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) Green Infrastructure Research Area at South Farm of Mississippi State University to determine how medium depth and slope gradient on rooftops affect plant cover and survival. Plant cover was monitored monthly by photographing the experimental green roof platforms. Photoshop and AutoCAD software programs were employed to digitize and to calculate plant cover from the images. All recorded …

The Effects Of National Board Certified Teachers On Student Achievement In Mississippi High Schools, Raymond C. Morgigno

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of National Board Certified Teachers on student performance on Mississippi’s Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) English II assessment, an end-of-course exam that assesses 10th grade students in Mississippi school districts. The researcher sought to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the SATP English II scores of two groups of students (those taught by National Board Certified Teachers and those who were not). If there was a difference, the researcher sought to determine how the difference could be explained based on selected teacher demographic data (sex, race, highest …

The Effects Of Prison Program Participation On Recidivism Of Ex-Offenders In Mississippi, Chad Lamar Stocks

Theses and Dissertations

Correctional education research strongly suggests that an increase in inmates’ education will reduce recidivism rates. This study utilized logistic regression techniques to investigate the effects of prison education program participation on recidivism and employment rates. Using this method made it possible to conclude that inmates who participated in prison intervention/educational programs were significantly less likely to recidivate. The purpose of this study was to identify to what extent the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ (MDOC’s) intervention/educational programs reduce recidivism. The pre-existing data used were historical information collected as part of a longitudinal study on Mississippi inmates since 2000. The data were …

The Efficacy Of Learning Communities In Assisting Developmental Students In Achieving Graduation And Accumulation Of Credit Hours In A Southern Metropolitan Community College, William J. Ashley

Theses and Dissertations

Hinds Community College (HCC) engaged in a study that produced the transitional program. This program was in response to high rates of attrition of the college’s freshmen classes because of poor academic performance. This dissertation evaluated the effectiveness of the transitional program’s main component—the learning community created by placing students in the LLS 1151 College Life course based on their status as residence hall students. HCC’s transitional program is a further elaboration of placement policies that have been a part of the community college landscape for many years. The HCC transitional program incorporates learning communities in combination with HCC’s placement …

The Role Of A Community College Writing Center In Preparing An Educated Workforce: A Case Study Of The Itawamba Community College Writing Center, Stephen Kyle Brandon

Theses and Dissertations

Good writing skills are an essential component of a well-educated workforce. The competitive nature of business and industry demands a diversified and educated workforce. This study investigated the intersections of a community college writing center and the writing demands of business and industry in North Mississippi. The research was qualitative and employed observations, interviews, documents, and other artifacts that were relative to the study. The Itawamba Community College (ICC) Writing Center was purposively selected for the case study. Participants for the study included current and former ICC students, writing center directors, faculty, ICC peer tutors, and business and industry leaders …

The Role Of Thought Confidence In Resistance To Social Norms, Benjamin Howard Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The current study employed the self-validation hypothesis (Petty, Brinol, & Tormala, 2002) to test how thought confidence affects individuals’ responses to social norms regarding gay rights. After measuring their gay rights attitudes and thought confidence, participants took part in a discussion where they faced groups that either opposed their position on gay rights unanimously or non-unanimously (i.e., 4 opposing confederates vs. 3 opposing confederates and one supporting confederate). Those who were anti-gay rights conformed more than those pro, particularly when facing unanimous opposition. Thought confidence reduced the effects of normative pressure on conformity, but only in those who were anti-gay …

Rejection, Rumination, And Revenge: A Test Of The Relational Goal Pursuit Theory Of Stalking Perpetration, Benjamin A. Fay

Theses and Dissertations

Applying Relational Goal Pursuit Theory (RGT), the present study examined the motivations for obsessive relational intrusion (ORI). Participants (n = 509) were randomly assigned to conditions that 1) primed relational or retaliatory goals, then 2) exposed to a negative romantic relationship vignette (relationship disappointment vs. explicit rejection vs. “nice” rejection), and 3) then were either induced to ruminate about the vignette events or were not. Participants reported how likely they would be to think about pursuit (e.g., frequent calls) and aggressive (e.g., threats) ORI. Contrary to expectations, rejection elicited less ORI than the relationship disappointment condition. However, it was found …

Remote Sensing Of Cyanobacteria In Turbid Productive Waters, Sachidananda Mishra

Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacterial algal bloom is a major water quality issue in inland lakes, reservoirs, and estuarine environments because of its scum and bad odor forming and toxin producing abilities. Health risks from cyanobacterial toxin can vary from skin irritations to fever, intestinal problems, and neurological disorders. Terminations of blooms also cause oxygen depletion leading to hypoxia and widespread fish kills. Adding to the problem, many species of cyanobacteria produce odorous compounds such as geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) that cause “earthy-muddy” and “musty” odor in drinking water, which is also a serious issue in aquaculture and drinking water industry. Therefore continuous monitoring …

Slope Stability Analysis Of Spoil Dragline Bench In Lignite Coal Mine, Choctaw County, Mississippi, Maria Laila Jover

Theses and Dissertations

Spoil pile stability in an open pit coal mine is a common problem and the Red Hills Lignite Mine in Choctaw County is no exception. The mine has had spoil stability problems of their spoil dragline bench since the beginning of their activity in 2002. They have managed to stabilize the conditions by installing prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) to consolidate the layers below the spoil dragline bench, which tended to fail due to an increase in pore water pressure. In this study, the capability of analyzing and predicting future pore water pressure conditions is examined. With the use of the …

Physical Activity And Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Habits In College Student Smokers, Social Smokers, And Nonsmokers, Timothy Chad Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

Smoking, physical activity, and insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption have been linked to increased instances of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, hypertension, numerous cancers, and complications surrounding blood pressure and blood cholesterol. In the United States approximately 22% of college students have smoked at least one cigarette in the past 30 days; 70-85% are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity; and 75% are not consuming recommended levels of fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption …

Potential Of Great Egrets To Be Vectors For The Transmission Of S Virulent Strain Of Aeromonas Hydrophila Between Channel Catfish Culture Pond, Madison Mccall Jubirt

Theses and Dissertations

Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative, rod shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium that is ubiquitous to freshwater and slightly brackish aquatic environments and can cause infections in fish, humans, reptiles, and avian species. Recent severe outbreaks of disease in catfish aquaculture have been associated with a highly virulent Aeromonas hydrophila strain (VAH) that is genetically distinct from less virulent strains. Given that A. hydrophila is known to infect birds, we hypothesized that fish eating birds may serve as a reservoir for VAH and spread the pathogen by flying to uninfected ponds. Great Egrets were used in this transmission model because these wading …

Price Pass-Through In U.S. Gasoline Markets, Phillip Anthony Mixon

Theses and Dissertations

The price pass-through relationship of retail gasoline markets in the United States has been examined on several levels. This dissertation takes two unique approaches to examine the pass-through behavior (1) a seemingly unrelated regressions model to survey regional differences in gasoline markets and (2) a pooled panel error-correction approach to analyze the effects of spatial competition on local Mississippi gasoline markets. The first model showed the presence of rockets and feathers on a regional level in the US. Moreover, every PADD had a long run asymmetric price pass-through relationship. I included variables to capture the effect of Hurricane Katrina. The …

Principals' Perceptions Of Factors Associated With The Implementation Of School Wellness Policies, Melissa Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1/3 of the children in the United States are overweight or obese. Children in Mississippi have the highest rate of obesity among all other states. The outcome of this epidemic presents an increase in poor health. To address the problems associated with overweight and obesity among children, schools in the U.S. were required to develop school wellness policies. School principals were identified as key individuals in overseeing the development and implementation of the policies. Existing research studies show a strong relationship or association between student health and academic achievement. The purpose of this research study was to investigate elementary …

Multi-Scale Den-Site Selection By American Black Bears In Mississippi, Brittany Winchester Waller

Theses and Dissertations

Dens are a critical component of black bear (Ursus americanus) habitat, yet scale-dependent den-site selection has received limited attention. Natural and anthropogenic factors (e.g., vegetation, roads) may also influence bear den-site selection. I quantified black bear denning chronology and den use and evaluated multi-scale den-site selection in Mississippi, USA during 2005–2011. Females entered dens earlier than males and emerged later; multiple den use by both sexes in a single winter was common. I recorded equal numbers of tree and ground dens, with ground dens at higher elevations surrounded by dense vegetation. Chronology and other denning characteristics of bears in Mississippi …

Dental Microwear And Diet Change During The Greek Bronze And Iron Age In Coastal East Lokris, Greece, J Rocco De Gregory

Theses and Dissertations

This research utilizes two analytical methods to examine the dental microwear of two skeletal samples from East Lokris, Greece. The samples are from the Bronze age/Early Iron age sites of Mitrou and Tragana Agia Triada. The samples were tested according to various temporal and geographic designations in an attempt to determine if any differences in dietary constituent could be discerned from their dental microwear signatures. Both traditional dental microwear analysis using a scanning electron microscope and dental microwear texture analysis employing scale sensitive fractal analysis and a Sensofar Plµ Confocal Profiler were used. The results of analysis for both methods …

Comparing Recreational Amenities Of University Towns And Non-University Towns, Timothy Allen Bisantz

Theses and Dissertations

Recreational amenities present great value for the community. Their existence provides an improved quality of life, offers a connection with the natural surroundings, and facilitates a healthy lifestyle. While communities continue to create and operate recreational facilities/areas, the presence of such facilities may have indirect effects on the general population. Specifically, this thesis will compare the presence of recreational amenities in metropolitan statistical areas that contain universities which are a part of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and metropolitan statistical areas with similar populations and geographic characteristics that don’t contain an AAU-member institution.

Ecology And Disease Potential Of The Black-Legged Deer Tick, Ixodes Scapularis Say, In Mississippi, Lauren Goltz

Theses and Dissertations

To assess the seasonality and disease potential of Ixodes scapularis Say in north Mississippi, ixodid ticks were collected by drag cloth method at two sites in north Mississippi weekly from August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2011 and tested for molecular evidence of disease agents via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. In addition, environmental data were observed and recorded for each collection date. I. scapularis nymphs (n=6) were collected in August, September, March, and May, perhaps reflecting a seasonally bimodal distribution, while adults (n=256) were found October through May with a peak in March. No statistically significant relationship between environmental …

Educational And Informational Delivery Method Preferences Of Mississippi Beef Cattle Producers, Garrett Michael Steede

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the production costs associated with beef cattle production, it is important to equip beef cattle producers with sound, research-driven information to aid in the decision making process regarding their operation. Extension personnel as well as other organizations involved with beef cattle producers should be knowledgeable of the audience that they are disseminating information to and how this audience prefers to receive information. Knowing the demographics and educational and informational needs of the audience helps shape programming endeavors to meet the needs of the audience. The beef cattle producers surveyed indicated that they preferred to receive information from farm …

Effects Of Sodium Methyldithiocarbamate-Induced Oxidative Stress On Nf-Kappa B Activation, Monica Cherie Gadson

Theses and Dissertations

Sodium methyldithiocarbamate (SMD) is commonly reported to cause health risks in humans. Previous reports indicate SMD causes oxidative stress, which can contribute to the activation of NF-êB and cause other characteristics of inflammatory responses to be altered. Almost all pro-inflammatory cytokines require NF-êB activation for full expression and development of an innate immune or inflammatory response. This study evaluated NF-êB activation, providing new information regarding reactive oxygen in macrophages from SMD-treated mice. Studies were conducted in which NF-êB reporter mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), SMD, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). BSO depletes glutathione (GSH) and increases oxidative …

Establishment Methods Of Arundinaria Species For Restoration Purposes, David Pierce Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Rivercane, Arundinaria gigantea, is the native woody evergreen grass that has exhibited rapid population decline since European colonization of North America. Agriculture and urban expansion have reduced this important ecosystem type to remnant populations. This poses challenges to current restoration efforts by minimizing genetic diversity and limiting healthy host sites for propagation. Objectives of this research were to test four methods of establishment that would promote the greatest survivability and growth of propagules. Non-irrigated field studies indicated greatest rivercane growth response when planted in increased shade (60 - 85% light reduction). Monthly plantings indicated that February offered the greatest probability …

Evaluation Of Field-Scale Soil Organic Carbon And Watershed-Scale Bioenergy Crop Production In Mississippi, Sarah Duffy

Theses and Dissertations

To date only a limited number of studies have been done at the field level to observe the effects of agricultural management practices on carbon sequestration, water quality, and bioenergy crop yield in Mississippi. Therefore, the goals of this study were to monitor soil organic carbon (SOC) levels at the field scale and perform a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental impacts at the watershed scale using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in two watersheds located in Mississippi. It was found that SOC levels generally are affected by depth, land use, and time. The SWAT models showed good …

Adaptive Traction, Torque, And Power Control Strategies For Extended-Range Electric Vehicles, Brian Patrick Benoy

Theses and Dissertations

Modern hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles are highly dependent on control algorithms to provide seamless safe and reliable operation under any driving condition, regardless of driver behavior. Three unique and independently operating supervisory control algorithms are introduced to improve reliability and vehicle performance on a series-hybrid electric vehicle with an all-wheel drive all-electric drivetrain. All three algorithms dynamically control or limit the amount of torque that can be delivered to the wheels through an all-electric drivetrain, consisting of two independently controlled brushless-direct current (BLDC) electric machines. Each algorithm was developed and validated following a standard iterative engineering development process …

Alternate Stable States In Ecological Systems, Sarath Sasi

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we study two reaction-diffusion models that have been used to analyze the existence of alternate stable states in ecosystems. The first model describes the steady states of a logistic growth model with grazing in a spatially homogeneous ecosystem. It also describes the dynamics of the fish population with natural predation. The second model describes phosphorus cycling in stratified lakes. The same equation has also been used to describe the colonization of barren soils in drylands by vegetation. In this study we discuss the existence of multiple positive solutions, leading to the occurrence of S-shaped bifurcation curves. We …