Doctoral

Quelbe ([kwel bā]), formally adopted as the official traditional music of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a musical synthesis arising from the convergence of European, Africa[...]

The rapid expansion of remote work has raised essential questions about how virtual settings alter leadership dynamics and the effectiveness of leadership behaviors. This[...]

This qualitative study uses autoethnography to explore my lived experiences as a Black woman, K-12 teacher, and mother of young children provides an important entry point[...]

Patients with advanced cancers prefer shared decision making that includes conversations about their prognosis, values, preferences, and goals for life and care. Patients[...]

This study evaluates the potential of Ultra High-Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) to enhance fruit juices' safety, quality, and sensory attributes, presenting a promising a[...]

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is the most damaging pathogen of soybean (Glycine max (L). Merr), causing an estimated $1.5 billion in annual yi[...]

Although prior research has recognized synergistic relationships between the life domains that aggregate to form an individual's overall well-being, extant research focus[...]

Insect symbioses with heritable bacteria have been pivotal in facilitating the use of nutrient-poor plant sap as a primary food source, with bacterial partners supplying [...]

Root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) are the most economically dangerous pathogens affecting soybean production in the southeastern U.S., causing an estimated $166[...]

A soil classification scheme for fine-grained subgrade soils was developed using resilient modulus data extracted from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database.[...]

The correlation between lifestyle choices, dietary habits, and the onset of chronic illnesses has been well-established. With the increasing population and life expectanc[...]

This dissertation consists of two distinct bodies of work. The first leverages a unique aspect of fire ant biology to investigate a potential role for a supergene in gene[...]

The concept of sense of belonging is a critical component of student success, retention, and well-being in higher education, particularly for underrepresented students. T[...]

Natural disasters will continue to occur with greater frequency and intensity as climate change accelerates. The combined effects of these events, alongside existing stru[...]

Creeping bentgrass (Agrositis stolonifera L.) is an economically important perennial grass species which is largely used on high value turf areas but typically show poor [...]

Drought occurs naturally due to variability in rainfall, but the frequency and severity of drought is increasing in many regions due to climate change (Trenberth et al., [...]

African American males face unique challenges navigating college, where academic rigor is compounded by societal stigmas associated with Black masculinity. Mass media oft[...]

Human-robot collaboration (HRC) stands at the forefront of scientific innovation and technological advancements. By combining the cognitive acuity and dexterity of human [...]

Influenza A viruses (FLUAV) have a wide host range. While its natural hosts are considered to be aquatic bird of the genus Anseriformes and Charadriiformes, including duc[...]

Beef producers in the U.S. face the Sisyphean challenge of producing more protein using less land requiring fewer of their limited resources. Improving cattle feed effici[...]

Plastic pollution has reached an undeniable level of global impact. The transition towards circular systems that rethink the design and use of plastic products and elimin[...]

Avian reoviruses (ARVs) and fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) are ubiquitous, variably pathogenic viruses that are responsible for several economically costly diseases in commerc[...]

This dissertation follows a manuscript-style format, beginning with an introduction and literature review, followed by three distinct studies and a concluding section. Al[...]

Pantoea ananatis is a significant bacterial pathogen responsible for onion center rot (OCR) in bulb onions (Allium cepa). The pathogen’s virulence in onions is attributed[...]

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a non-enveloped, double-stranded ribonucleic acid virus in the family Birnaviridae. I[...]