University of Southern Mississippi
Aquila Digital Community (University of Southern Mississippi, USM)Not a member yet
11361 research outputs found
Sort by
2026 Nominee Bookmarks: PreK - 2nd Grade
No full texthttps://aquila.usm.edu/magnolia_book_awards/1012/thumbnail.jp
Spatial Behavior and Population Estimation of the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys Temminckii)
No full textThe alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Populations have been subjected to over a century of commercial and recreational harvest, causing large scale population declines. Additionally, their aquatic habitat has been subjected to largescale anthropogenic degradation. Very few robust populations have been identified or investigated by researchers. Recent population surveys in Mississippi located two populations whose demography and abundance suggest that they either escaped commercial harvest or have environmental conditions that have led to rapid population growth since harvest ended. The goals of this study were to (1) investigate the linear range and habitat selection of these populations and (2) to estimate the size of these populations using novel methods for the species. I found that M. temminckii selected different habitats based on water level, indicating shifts in habitat importance throughout the season. The linear range of M. temminckii was significantly affected by site, sex, weight, and body condition of individuals, indicating that localized habitat quality and population demography may have strong influences on space use. I estimated the total number of M. temminckii using both spatially explicit capture recapture and a novel plot sampling model using time lapse photography. The results of this study give valuable insights into the habitat preferences of M. temminckii which may provide guidance to managers and policy makers in the region. This work will also give managers and researchers new tools to investigate M. temminckii population sizes which has the potential to broaden the scope of surveys beyond only habitats accessible by boat
Framing the 2024 Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis of Media Narratives in Bangladesh and the United States
No full textThis study investigates how Bangladeshi and U.S.-based media outlets framed the 2024 Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh. While prior research has highlighted media ownership or ideology, this work explores how the national context influences framing across global North and South outlets. Drawing on framing and comparative media systems theory, propaganda models, and protest paradigms, the research explores differences in dominant frames, message themes, source attribution patterns, and sentiment across four major news platforms: New York Times, Associated Press, New Nation, and Financial Express. A structured content analysis of 400 articles was conducted using a multi-dimensional coding instrument. Findings indicate that U.S. outlets emphasized themes of human interest and international concern, whereas Bangladeshi outlets focused on conflict and protest narratives. Message themes such as justice and reform were more prevalent in local reporting, whereas global outlets focused on economic consequences and international implications. Sentiment analysis using VADER revealed divergent emotional valences, with U.S. headlines exhibiting more neutral or supportive tones compared to the largely negative framing in Bangladeshi media. Source selection also reflected institutional biases, with government officials dominating coverage in Bangladeshi outlets. U.S. outlets were more likely to include voices from protesters and experts compared to Bangladeshi outlets. Western outlets more frequently cited protesters and experts. These findings support hypotheses regarding the influence of geopolitical context and institutional pressures on media framing. This research contributes to understanding how socio-political movements are framed across different media systems
The Impact of Netflix’s Consumption on the Saudi Young Adults’ Behavior, Attitudes, and Perceptions Towards Tattoos and Pre-Marital Relationships
No full textThis dissertation examines how consumption of Western streaming content via Netflix influences Saudi Arabian young adults’ attitudes toward tattoos and premarital relationships. Tattoos and dating before marriage are traditionally stigmatized in Saudi society, yet rapid social change and Vision 2030 reforms have increased exposure to global media. Drawing on Social Learning and Cultivation theories and broader perspectives of Social Change, Modernization, Cultural Hegemony and Globalization, the study tests whether repeated exposure to streamed representations predicts more progressive attitudes.
A cross-sectional survey of 168 Saudi young adults measured Netflix viewing and attitudes toward tattoos and premarital relationships. Statistical analyses revealed significant positive correlations between streaming frequency and progressive attitudes, consistent with Social Learning and Cultivation theories
Sensitivity of the Estuarine-shelf Exchange in Mississippi Coastal Waters to River Diversions and Linkage Pathway Bathymetry: A Modeling Study
No full textThe exchange flow between the Mississippi (MS) Sound and Bight is an intricate circulation pattern that affects many important regional processes, including flushing time, sediment transport, and larval dispersion. This study examines the exchange flow in the MS Sound by estimating the volume transport and salt transport along the seven tidal inlets in 2019 by using msbCOAWST, the specifically designed coupled model’s configuration to simulate the complex hydrodynamic environment in the MS Sound and Bight. This year is marked by extreme events of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) double opening which introduces a considerable amount of freshwater input to the Mississippi (MS) Sound during its operation. The set of twin experiments proposed for this research seeks to explore and improve the sensitivity of the estuarine-shelf exchange in the Mississippi Coastal Waters through BCS diversion and channel implementation between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne in 2019. In conclusion, the msbCOAWST simulates the water level better in the MS Sound compared to the interior of Lake Pontchartrain. The deepening and widening of the Rigolets channel and Chef Menteur Pass are essential to improve the msbCOAWST performance to simulate water level and salinity regimes dynamics in the western MS Sound. The atmospheric event of Hurricane Barry is also apparent to influence the exchange flow in MS Sound and adjacent waters. Finally, the impact of BCS and deepening and widening of the channel implementation across the seven tidal inlets in 2019 are quantified and illustrated
A Population Genomic Study of Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) Throughout Florida and the Caribbean
No full textThe mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) is a reef fish commonly found in tropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean. This species is sedentary at the juvenile and adult stages when spatial movements are limited to short migrations to join spawning aggregations. Dispersal, mediated by oceanic currents, may occur during the 27-37 days pelagic larval phase. Information on genetic stock structure is critical to design management units for mutton snapper fisheries. Previous genetic studies did not detect significant structuring, but the surveys only included 8-16 genetic markers and limited geographic sampling. In this study, a chromosome-level reference genome with a BUSCO completeness score of 93.3% was developed using Illumina and PACBio sequencing combined with Hi-C scaffolding and applied in population genomic analysis. Mutton snapper (total sample size 724) were collected between 2021 and 2025 from coastal waters off Belize, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Martinique, and three areas around the Florida peninsula. Samples were assayed using dd-RAD sequencing, revealing 7,748 SNP markers. Mantel tests showed a weak isolation-by-distance pattern across the sampled range. Significant spatial autocorrelation of genotypes sampled within a 300 km window along the Florida coast was also detected. Principal component analyses and Bayesian clustering revealed two weakly differentiated groups, one containing Belize and Florida mutton snapper, and the other containing the three Eastern Caribbean populations (FST = 0.001). Outlier analysis revealed an outlier genomic region on chromosome 10 (42 loci, FST up to 0.24) differentiating the two groups, suggesting selection is associated with the divergence of the two units
Increasing Reading Comprehension Through Socratic Seminars
No full textSocratic Seminar is a discussion-based instructional strategy that aims to improve students’ critical thinking and reading comprehension skills. This strategy supports comprehension by encouraging students to answer textual-based questions with textual evidence and engage in providing multiple perspectives with their peers. Using a concurrent multiple baseline design across participants, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of Socratic Seminars as a Tier 1 intervention across three general education ELA blocks for students at-risk for reading comprehension concerns. Target participants scoring below benchmark in reading comprehension were measured using Curriculum-Based Measurements (CBM) MAZE Probes were identified. Upon the implementation of Socratic Seminars, all target students’ reading comprehension scores increased from their baseline score. 5 out 6 of the target students\u27 MAZE average scores increased at or above grade level for the end of the year benchmark. In addition to academic gains, social validity data showed that the target students and their teacher viewed the intervention as acceptable and beneficial. Implications for applied practice and research are discussed. Limitations of this study are also offered