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Certificate of Life Membership in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, September 16, 1966
Get PDFJames F. Buchanan is certified upon retirement as a lifetime member of the National Association of County Agents on September 16, 1966. The certificate is signed by the secretary of the NACAA and the secretary State association.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1519/thumbnail.jp
Tools we use: Evaluating UAV and photogrammetry workflows for early-stage site documentation; Comparative analysis for small landscape architecture firms
Get PDFLandscape architects utilize advanced technologies in the design process. Advancements in automation and data capture have opened up new opportunities for UAVs and photogrammetry to produce high-resolution imagery, contours, and 3D models. By leveraging UAVs early in the design process, landscape architects are able to maximize advantages: site analysis through computational software, 3D sectional information, and hydrology prediction. This research focuses specifically on the advantages UAVs offer compared to established workflow methods. It examines four unique workflows for early-stage site documentation: capturing the site with UAVs through photogrammetry, generating a site plan from publicly available GIS data, gathering information from online vendors, and using google earth. The study evaluates each workflow across categories including cost, aerial imagery resolution, contour resolution, and user-friendliness. This study explores and analyzes results through the lens of small design firms, providing an understanding of UAV workflows in practice and academia
Interspecific competition effects on biomass allocation in a young, fertilized longleaf pine stand in central Mississippi
No full textRestoration of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) can be challenging on sites with high densities of naturally regenerated loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). This study aims to understand how interspecific competition impacts early establishment of planted longleaf pine. The study area was a complete block design to evaluate two different fertilization methods and application of diazotrophic endophytes. While the site was chemically prepared, high densities of loblolly pine established from adjacent stands. Measurements included survival, root collar diameter, height, and neighboring competition. Soil properties, including texture and nitrogen mineralization rates, were also evaluated. Results indicate that fertilization had a significant effect on tree- and non-tree competition. Longleaf pine biomass was negatively impacted by natural loblolly pine and herbaceous competition. Increased competition shifted allocation towards belowground biomass. Understanding establishment dynamics may help to re-establish longleaf pine within its native range and increase biodiversity across the southeastern U.S
Synthetic mRNA induced TF1.17-specific antibody response against Tritrichomonas foetus for preputial delivery in bulls
No full textBovine trichomoniasis, caused by Tritrichomonas foetus, remains a persistent reproductive disease in cattle due to asymptomatic carriage in bulls and lack of effective treatments. This thesis evaluated the use of synthetic mRNA to drive expression of TF1.17- specific antibodies, targeting a conserved surface adhesin essential for parasite colonization. Membrane-anchored and secreted IgG1 constructs were transfected into bovine kidney cells, resulting in time-dependent antibody expression verified via NanoLuc luminescence. In vivo, aerosolized mRNA administration to bull calves led to localized antibody expression in preputial secretions. Although immunofluorescence assays detected fluorescence signal, high background limited interpretation of specific binding to T. foetus. Despite this, results support the feasibility of mRNA-induced antibody expression at mucosal surfaces in cattle. This work establishes a foundation for synthetic mRNA immunotherapy in bulls, offering a novel approach to prevent or reduce T. foetus colonization and transmission, and informing future strategies to improve reproductive health in cattle
Unboxing the black box: Graph-based interpretability in transformer models
No full textThis thesis introduces a novel interpretability framework for transformer encoder models by hypothesizing that their internal embedding updates define a state transition system. We propose that transformers implicitly learn token-to-token influence dynamics, which can be analyzed using graph-theoretic methods. To validate this, we construct transition graphs from embedding changes and rank token importance using the PageRank algorithm. We develop two transformer models from scratch: a self-supervised model that incorporates serotype tokens to learn contextualized embeddings, and a supervised model initialized with these embeddings. Cosine similarity analysis of their token influence patterns reveals strong structural alignment, with values exceeding 93%. This architecture-aware approach reframes attention as a dynamic transition process, providing deeper insight into how information propagates within transformer models. Our findings high- light the potential of graph-based analysis for uncovering interpretable structures in modern deep learning architectures
Thermo-mechanical advancements for very high strength and ultra high performance concretes
No full textInterest in the use of high-strength concrete (HSC) has increased in recent years with demand for improved concrete performance. HSCs are widely associated with high heat of hydration and elusive behavior when exposed to high temperatures commonly occurring in mass structures. The optimization of HSC mixture proportioning is difficult due to a wide variety of constituents that influence thermal and mechanical properties. Additionally, determining in-place properties of mass concrete placements is elusive, and there are currently minimal to no test methods available that are both predictive and a direct measurement of mechanical properties. The objective of this dissertation is to provide improved understanding of material interaction, and subsequent impact on thermal and mechanical properties and to use a protocol named CCure to evaluate material interactions in the presence of heat. This objective was accomplished in three components: (1) furthering the pursuit of a thermo-mechanical test method able to predict and directly measure thermal and mechanical properties of laboratory specimens representative of in-place properties within HSC mass placements, (2) introduce and make progress towards the development of a thermal line approach intended to be used as a guideline for use of CCure, and (3) use CCure to further understanding of the impact of materials and material interactions on HSC performance in the presence of elevated temperatures in an effort to progress HSC optimization efforts. CCure successfully replicated time-temperature profiles and mechanical properties of mass placements that varied in mixture, size, and insulation properties. This serves as measurable progress towards developing a test method capable of creating a predictive laboratory curing protocol by accounting for mixture characteristics on thermal and mechanical properties of HSCs in mass placements. CCure was also successfully used to confirm the validity of a thermal line approach (T-line) as a guideline for the use of CCure and to evaluate the influence of material properties and interactions of HSC blends. The potential of the second and third components seem promising though more overarching conclusions are withheld for subsequent efforts
Non-thermal DBD plasma-induced CO₂ capture and conversion to value added chemicals
No full textElectrified CO2 conversion via nonthermal dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma presents a promising pathway for integrating renewable energy into the carbon cycle, addressing the dual challenges of CO2 reduction and sustainable fuel generation. In this research, DBD plasma technology was integrated with a sorbent material and/or catalytic materials for CO2 desorption and conversion. Specifically, with Ni/Al2O3 as the catalyst, we investigated CO2 splitting (CO2 to CO and 0.5O2) and hydrogenation (CO2 and H2 to CO and H2O) under adiabatic and subcooled conditions. We find that CO2 splitting shows higher efficiency than hydrogenation, particularly at relatively lower power inputs. While CO2 hydrogenation can be enhanced under adiabatic conditions, CO2 splitting is favored under subcooled conditions, even though the reaction is highly endothermic (deltaH298K 283 kJ/mol). Specifically, our results demonstrate that optimized plasma catalytic synergy is achieved under room-temperature water and/or ice-water-cooled conditions. CO2 conversion reaches up to 53% at a partial pressure of 10% (balanced by Ar) and a power of approximately13.5 W, with a maximum energy efficiency of 11% achieved at lower power (approximately 2 W) and higher CO2 partial pressure (80%). Furthermore, DBD plasma was integrated with a lime-based sorbent for electrified CO₂ desorption and in-situ conversion. Up to 82% of CO₂ captured from the air by CaO can be converted into CO with a 10% H₂/Ar discharge, while CH₄ production is facilitated through a dual-function Ni-Ru CaO/CeO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst or a physical mixture with Ru/Al₂O₃. Kinetic analysis reveals that both desorption and hydrogenation exhibit first-order reaction behavior in a non-steady-state semi-batch configuration. Lastly, we evaluated the effect of two hydrogen feed compositions on CO2 hydrogenation over a Ni-MoC catalyst, examining its effects on conversion rates and product selectivity. An optimal applied voltage of 7kV was found to maximize CH4 selectivity while maintaining high CO₂ conversion rates. These results collectively show that plasma-driven electrification enhances CO₂ conversion and effectively integrates capture and utilization processes under low-temperature, renewable, and environmentally friendly conditions
“It just builds character”: Building the Bullying Myths Scale
No full textApproximately 20% of American children and adolescents report being victims of bullying each year (Irwin et al., 2022). Bullying victimization is linked to serious behavioral and psychological outcomes, like depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide (e.g., Chou et al., 2020; John et al., 2018; Mulder et al., 2017; Schoeler et al., 2018). Despite these sobering data, misconceptions continue to portray bullying as a normal part of growing up, that it is trivial in nature, and that some kids deserve to be bullied (Dawes et al., 2022; Kulig et al., 2008). This study tested the validity and efficacy of the Bullying Myths Scale including five subscales of different types of misconceptions, using participant responses to a bullying scenario. Bullying myth endorsement was associated with reductions in the perceived severity of the scenario, a perceived need to report the incident in the scenario to an authority figure, and a perceived need for someone to intervene in the incident. This minimization was especially evident for relational bullying scenarios as compared to physical bullying scenarios. Implications for research and practice are discussed
Greetings from the Sunny South Where the Cotton Blossoms Grow
No full textA color illustration of Black people picking cotton in a large cotton field while a white man in a suit and hat stands in the field watching. The scene is encircled by three alligators and the title of the card is printed in red in the upper right corner.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-lampton-images-us-african-americana/1038/thumbnail.jp
Montgomery County Courthouse, Winona, Mississippi
No full textA black and white photograph of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona, Mississippi is featured on this postcard. The courthouse, a two story building with a large cupola in the center of the roof and four round, two story columns along the front, is pictured at the end of a street with mid-twentieth century automobiles parked in front. The title of the card is written in white along the bottom of the card. Harry B. Rood Photo Postcard Printing Poultiney, VT is stamped on the back of the card.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-lampton-images-ms-delta/1365/thumbnail.jp