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An Integrated Data-Driven Framework for Coupling Upland Process Models and In-Stream Hydraulic Geometry Estimation
No full textLarge-scale watershed simulation platforms, such as the Agricultural Integrated Management System (AIMS), are essential for water resource management but are often limited by a critical lack of detailed in-stream channel data required for comprehensive river analysis. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating an integrated, data-driven framework that couples upland process models with in-stream hydraulic geometry estimation at a national scale. The research was executed through two complementary thrusts founded on the National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus).
First, a geospatial workflow was developed to create NHDPlus-driven input files for the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model—a tool for simulating watershed processes. To evaluate this new method, the AnnAGNPS model was executed using both the NHDPlus-driven inputs and a set of baseline inputs generated by the traditional DEM-based TopAGNPS pre-processor. A comparative analysis of the outputs from these two model runs revealed that while runoff simulations were consistent, sediment yield predictions diverged significantly. This divergence was statistically attributed to differences in the topographic Length-Slope (LS) Factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), an empirical soil erosion model, derived from NHDPlus’s hydro-enforced topography.
Second, a machine learning framework was engineered to estimate river channel geometry (width, depth, area). This was achieved by integrating in-situ measurements from the Hydrology for the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (HYDROSWOT) database, a collection of ground-based data supporting satellite missions, with NHDPlus watershed attributes. The developed Artificial Neural Network (ANN) demonstrated high predictive accuracy at a national scale for cross-sectional area under mean flow conditions. Feature importance analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), a method for explaining the outputs of machine learning models, confirmed the model’s physical interpretability. The analysis revealed that the model learned to prioritize physically intuitive drivers such as flow metrics and network hierarchy.
Together, these research thrusts establish a validated, spatially consistent, and scalable proof-of-concept that bridges the divide between watershed-scale hydrology and instream hydraulics. This provides the foundational data required to enable advanced one-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling applications within AIMS and other national-scale water resource assessment platforms
Dream and Reality: Warping Southern Mythologies
No full textDetails fade upon waking from dreams, and childhood memories wither over time. My work holds a moment and strips away details. What seems captured is ephemeral. This thesis explores the fleeting nature of memory through a multimedia installation of cyanotype photography and a poetic documentary short film. I blend family videos and photographs with ancient and medieval religious iconography to emphasize art\u27s connection to the unconscious, particularly the archetypes expressed in dreams. The written portion examines the influence, process, and context of my artwork. I delve into these concepts in a review of Southern literature, documentary films, and photography. Oral histories with my mom reflect on Southern standards for women and prophetic dreams. These stories, along with excerpts from my dream journal, reveal parallels to symbolic narratives found throughout space and time. This thesis offers poetic documentation of family tales shaping into mythology
Lucumí Language Preservation in Cuban Literature: A Study of Miami Santeros’ Perceptions
No full textSantería is an Afro-Cuban religion that has played a significant role in shaping Cuba’s cultural identity and that of its diaspora. Lucumí, a liturgical language primarily derived from Yoruba, is at the core of its religious practices. This language has been incorporated into the works of Cuban writers such as Lydia Cabrera, Alejo Carpentier, Nicolás Guillén, Miguel Barnet, and Nancy Morejón. While previous scholarship has examined Lucumí from linguistic and literary perspectives (Olmstead, 1953; Castellanos, 1939; Concordia, 2012; Ramos, 2013; Matibag, 2017), little attention has been given to how santeros, practitioners of Santería, perceive the representation of their sacred language in these texts. My study addresses that gap by investigating the perceptions of five experienced santeros in Miami, Florida, regarding the use of Lucumí expressions in selected works by the aforementioned Cuban authors. Participants evaluated five literary excerpts containing Lucumí through a questionnaire, assessing their linguistic accuracy and cultural authenticity. The responses revealed that while santeros generally acknowledged the literary value of these representations, they expressed concern regarding misinterpretations and inaccuracies in the depiction of Lucumí, notably when its structures or spiritual meanings were altered. Beyond literary representation, my study also explores the broader context of Lucumí language preservation in Miami. My findings indicate that while Lucumí remains central to Santería rituals, its usage has evolved due to Miami’s multicultural environment and the re-Africanization efforts of some practitioners. Additionally, my study highlighted the presence of Lucumí in Miami’s popular music and everyday discourse, illustrating its transition from a linguistic marker of African descent to a dynamic part of Cuban American identity. My study contributes to the ongoing discourse on Afro-Cuban linguistic heritage by emphasizing the importance of Lucumí as more than just a linguistic marker, it is a living, evolving language that continues to shape social, religious, and cultural identity (Brandon 1993). The findings underscored the need for more nuanced and respectful representation of Lucumí in literature while advocating for further research on its contemporary use among younger generations of santeros
Slope Stability Hazard Investigation of Calhoun County, Mississippi and The County Road 210 Landslide
No full textThis thesis uses geological field data, laboratory characterization of sediments, and multiple computational models of slope stability to investigate a landslide that occurred in Calhoun County, Mississippi. The primary hypothesis is that intense rainfall led to the saturation of the slope, triggering failure through the reduction of shear strength.
Fieldwork included drilling at the failure site to obtain subsurface samples and drone-based site characterizations. Laboratory analysis included soil descriptions, grain size analysis, and Atterberg limit testing. Sample characterizations revealed a stratified soil profile dominated by fine-grained silts and clays, including an organic-rich lignite layer (OL). Strata generally exhibit low permeability and high shrink-swell potential in some layers. These conditions are prone to strength reduction under saturation and are conducive to perched water table development, supporting the hypothesis that saturation was a key triggering mechanism.
Computational modeling using RocScience Slide2 software employed multiple Limit Equilibrium Methods (LEM) to evaluate the slope under dry and saturated scenarios. While dry conditions produced stable factors of safety, saturated conditions resulted in critical values—specifically, a Factor of Safety (FoS) of 1.00 under the Janbu Simplified method—indicating the slope was on the verge of failure. Sensitivity analysis further identified the OL and CH layers as highly sensitive to cohesion and pore pressure changes, confirming their role in slope instability.
LiDAR-based digital elevation models and geologic maps identified other areas with similar topographic and subsurface conditions that are potential failure zones in Calhoun County, particularly near the Skuna River. These results offer valuable insight into regional landslide hazards and provide a framework for slope risk assessment and mitigation in similar geologic settings
1:1 iPad Implementation & Standardized Testing
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between 1:1 iPad implementation and student performance on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) standardized tests. As school districts increasingly adopt 1:1 technology initiatives, it is critical to understand their impact on key academic outcomes. This research examines the extent to which the consistent use of iPads in the learning environment influences student achievement in core subjects. By analyzing test score data from schools with established 1:1 iPad programs, this paper seeks to provide empirical evidence to inform educational stakeholders, administrators, and policymakers. The findings aim to contribute to the broader discourse on technology integration in schools and offer insights into the effectiveness of such programs in enhancing educational attainment
A Sociolinguistic Study of the Bani Malik Dialect in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
No full textMy research aims to examine how the dialect of the Bani Malik community, a minority group in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has been influenced by its contact with the urban dialect of Mecca. It also aims to record Bani Malik speakers’ attitudes toward their heritage dialect. Thirty-six Bani Malik speakers of different age groups, genders, and amounts of contact with Meccan speakers were interviewed for 30 minutes each. Quantitative data analysis was used to investigate the influence of the Meccan dialect on one Bani Malik morphological feature, the first-person singular possessive marker \u3c -i:h\u3e, and two phonological features, the diphthongs [ai] and [aw], while qualitative data analysis was used to record some of the most salient features of the Bani Malik dialect and Bani Malik speakers’ attitudes toward their heritage dialect. IBM SPSS was used to analyze the quantitative data, and the results showed that there is a change led by younger Bani Malik dialect speakers who have high contact with Meccan speakers. The gender of the participants was found to be statistically insignificant, unlike their age and contact amount with the Meccan dialect. The qualitative data analysis for the participants’ attitudes toward the Bani Malik dialect showed that the majority of the Bani Malik dialect speakers (72.22%) have positive attitudes toward their dialect, 16.67% of the participants have negative attitudes toward their dialect, and 11.11% of them have neutral attitudes toward their dialect, believing that it is a regular dialect similar to any other dialect in society. Together, the quantitative data analysis results and the qualitative data analysis results indicate that change can be inevitable when a minority dialect is in a high constant contact with a major and more dominant dialect, despite the positive attitudes the speakers of the minority dialect have toward their dialect
Examining Stress, Stress, Potentially Traumatic Events, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Emotional Support Among Individuals with Skin Disease Symptoms
No full textThis study investigated the complex interplay between psychological stress, trauma-related experiences, and skin disease symptoms, alongside the potential moderating role of emotional social support. While the worsening effect of stress on skin conditions is well-documented, the specific association between trauma and dermatological symptoms, and its contribution to inflammatory responses, warrants further exploration. The stress-buffering hypothesis posits that perceived emotional support can mitigate the negative impact of stress on quality of life in chronic health conditions. This hypothesis has found support across various chronic physical and psychological ailments, yet its applicability to dermatological conditions remains less established. Our study pursued two primary objectives: first, to deepen our understanding of how different forms of stress—perceived stress, major life events, and PTSD symptom severity—relate to skin-related outcomes, specifically quality of life and disease severity. Second, we aimed to extend existing chronic health research by examining the stress-buffering hypothesis within a dermatology sample, focusing on the moderating effect of social emotional support on the relationship between stress and skin outcomes. We hypothesized that increased stress levels would correlate with more severe skin symptoms and a diminished quality of life. Furthermore, we predicted that greater emotional social support would lessen the impact of stress on both skin disease severity and quality of life. Our findings confirmed a significant association between higher stress levels and more severe skin disease symptoms and lower quality of life. However, contrary to our hypothesis, emotional social support did not significantly moderate this relationship within our dermatology sample. Despite the lack of support for the stress-buffering hypothesis in this specific context, the undeniable link between stress and skin-related outcomes underscores the significant and often overlooked psychological burden experienced by individuals with dermatological conditions. These results strongly advocate for the integration of mental health screening and interventions as a crucial component of comprehensive dermatological care
Les Conditions De Vie De La Classe Ouvrière Dans Les Chefs-D’ Œeuvre De Ousmane Sembène
No full textFrancophone African literature emerged as a vehicle for criticism of the colonial system, subsequently shifting its focus to neocolonialism as a new stage of imperialism. Literature and film served as instruments for critiquing imperialist structures, which engendered societal issues and fostered division among Africans. This study examines how Sembène’s books and films satirize society and their continued relevance to contemporary issues in the countries and cities depicted in these literary and cinematic works. To conduct this study, two books and a film were selected as primary sources: Le Docker Noir, Les Bouts de bois de Dieu, and “La Noire de…”. Through these works, we will analyze how literature produced in the twentieth century remains relevant in the twenty-first century. Two theories were employed in this study: sociocriticism and a branch of marxism, the theory of labor. These theories proved instrumental in our analysis, as they address issues pertinent to our society and Sembène was a proponent of Marxist ideology. The objective of this study was threefold: first, to examine how Sembène’s works portray the treatment of the working class; second, to analyze how the working class responds to this treatment; and third, to explore how the ruling class retaliates. All of this is examined through the lens of how these dynamics are reflected in contemporary society, particularly in relation to the cities and countries mentioned in his masterpieces
Multi-Hazard Analysis of Bridges Under Seismic, Flood-Induced Scour, and Hydrodynamic Loading
No full textNatural disasters such as floods and earthquakes pose significant threats to the resilience of highway transportation systems, particularly compromising the safety and serviceability of bridges. In regions susceptible to both seismic activity and flooding, the combined effects of earthquake loading, flood-induced scour, and hydrodynamic forces create a critical multi-hazard scenario. This research develops a comprehensive multi-hazard analysis framework to evaluate bridge performance under combined seismic and flood-induced hazards. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of representative three- and six-span steel girder bridges are developed and analyzed under varying scour depths and hydrodynamic loading conditions. Modal analysis, static pushover analysis, and non-linear time history analysis are conducted using ground motions representative of catastrophic events in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). The multi-hazard analysis methodology is also applied to a real 11-span bridge in northern Mississippi to assess its performance under region-specific flood and earthquake scenarios.
This study investigates the seismic vulnerability of bridges under the combined effects of earthquake loading, flood-induced scour, and hydrodynamic effects. The analysis reveals that scour significantly affects the fundamental periods, stiffness, displacement ductility, and structural capacity of the bridges. Under combined hazard conditions, moment demands, lateral displacements, and foundation vulnerabilities increase, with shallow scour depths that substantially compromise foundation stability during seismic events. The hydrodynamic effects become critical at deeper scour depths, at which the moment demand increases by up to 25%. These results highlight the importance of accounting for hydrodynamic forces in seismic risk assessments, particularly for bridges exposed to deeply scoured foundations and high-water regions. Fragility curves are developed for a real bridge, using displacement ductility as the engineering demand parameter for varying scour conditions. The results indicate that the scour substantially affects the seismic fragility of the bridge. As the depth of the scour increases, the probability of exceeding all damage states increases significantly, highlighting the critical need to consider the effects of the scour in seismic risk assessments for bridges in flood- and earthquake-prone regions. The multi-hazard framework in this study provides a practical analysis framework for evaluating bridge vulnerability under combined earthquake and flood scenarios, thereby contributing to the design and maintenance of more resilient bridge infrastructure. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing scour countermeasures and incorporating multi-hazard considerations into bridge design and maintenance strategies