Life Sciences Commons^™

Ncaa Di Student-Athletes’ Understanding Of And Attitudes Toward Mental Performance Services, Allison Rudisill

Honors Theses

Mental performance services are designed to assist student-athletes with psychological challenges affiliated with performance (McHenry et al., 2022). Currently, only 65 NCAA DI athletic institutions employ a psychological provider, with only 23.2% of those being mental performance consultants (MPCs; Jones et al., 2022). As student athletes are aware of the mental demand of sport (Bemiller & Wrisberg, 2011) and the NCAA begins to bring awareness to the importance of the mental well-being of the athlete (NCAA Transformational Committee, 2023), it is important to understand student athletes’ attitudes toward these services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to learn about …

The Impact Of Differing Instability Devices On Postural Sway Parameters, Kacey Wallace

Honors Theses

Single-limb balance training is an integral part of preventing and rehabilitating lower extremity injuries. Practitioners use instability devices to provide a progressive overload to an individual during single-limb balance training sessions. Previous investigations have shown that when using instability devices, differences may or may not exist in postural sway parameters during use depending on the specific devices being assessed. Thus, this investigation sought to examine differences between a commonly used foam pad and a novel instability device (block) in measures of postural sway.

This experiment consisted of 22 healthy individuals with no history of lower extremity injury and neurological disorders. …

Uptake And Localization Of Poly(2-Vinyl-4,4-Dimethyl Azlactone) Modified With Rhodamine- And Coumarin-Based Molecules In Human Embryonic Kidney (Hek293) Cells, Garrett Tassin

Honors Theses

Fluorescence microscopy is a bioimaging technology that utilizes the excitation and emission of fluorophores to identify cellular structures, processes, and interactive events. Natural and synthetic organic dyes are frequently used in fluorescence microscopy techniques for imaging, therapeutic, and biomedical applications. It is also employed in the development of novel organic dyes for innovative methods of drug delivery and labelling. In this study, we investigate the behavior of an organic dye consisting of the post-polymerization modification of poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl azlactone) (PVDMA) with tetramethyl rhodamine cadaverine (TMR) and a coumarin-based molecule (DBAC). Using cultured HEK293 cells and fluorescence confocal microscopy, we show the …

Validity Of The Loadsol Pro Insole For Pedal Reaction Force Measurements During Stationary Cycling, Anabelle Vallecillo Bustos

Honors Theses

Advancements in wearable technology have allowed clinicians, coaches, and researchers the ability to observe and quantify human movement outside the laboratory. Instrumented insoles are an example of novel technology that can be worn in the shoes and measure vertical reaction force wirelessly. The use of such insoles will prove to be beneficial for athletes as they train, patients as they progress through rehabilitation, and researchers as they experiment in their respective fields. The Loadsol Pro (Novel Inc., St Paul., MN, USA) has been shown to produce accurate and reliable measures of ground reaction forces (GRF) in various dynamic activities including …

Pirna Expression In Regenerative Tissue Of Octopus Bimaculoides, Bailey Ervin

Honors Theses

Tissue regeneration is present in varying capacities across the animal kingdom. Animals such as Hydra and planarians have the capacity to regenerate entire bodies from extremely small sections of amputated tissue. Others, such as humans, have restricted capacities of regeneration, especially in terms of full appendages and specialized tissues such as cardiac and nervous tissue. One of the primary goals of studying regeneration in other organisms is to achieve the development of regenerative medicine. Interaction of P-element induced WImpy testis (PIWI) proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been implicated in germline genome maintenance, as well as transposable element silencing. Research …

Assessing Athletes’ Risk For Developing The Female Athlete Triad At Two Mississippi Universities, Laura G. Warren

Honors Theses

Despite the health benefits associated with regular exercise, some female athletes experience menstrual dysfunction and low bone mineral density associated with low energy availability as a result of a high volume of exercise and inadequate caloric intake; these three components characterize the female athlete triad (FAT). Prior research explored the severity of the FAT, pre-season screenings, and nutrition intervention methods; however, current research regarding the relationship between the risk for developing the FAT and access to nutrition resources is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of female athletes at two Mississippi universities for developing the …

Pirna Expression In The Tube Feet Of Lytechinus Variegatus, Reagan Milliet

Honors Theses

Tissue regeneration is an area of research with implications for medicine and animal health. While nearly all living multi-cellular organisms are capable of regeneration, there are major differences in the animal kingdom. Some organisms are capable of regenerating virtually every cell in their bodies. In hopes of engineering tissue regeneration for medical applications, the mechanisms by which organisms regenerate are being widely investigated. To better understand regeneration, the role of P-element Induced WImpy testis (PIWI) proteins are being evaluated. In collaboration with PIWIinteracting RNAs (piRNAs), PIWI proteins have been proven instrumental to transposon silencing and maintenance of the genome in …

Development Of A Novel Environmental Dna (Edna) Tool For Monitoring Vulnerable Freckled Guitarfish, Pseudobatos Lentiginosus, In The Western Central Atlantic, Sarah Toepfer

Honors Theses

Rhino-rays are the most threatened group of elasmobranchs, having experienced widespread declines due to mortalities in fisheries and habitat degradation. Within the Western Central Atlantic, there are two extant species of Rhino-rays, the Critically Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata, and the Vulnerable Freckled Guitarfish, Pseudobatos lentiginosus. Although there is research committed to P. pectinata in this region, less is known about the distribution status of P. lentiginosus. Over the past 50 years, P. lentiginosus have undergone a presumed range contraction in U.S. waters; once found from North Carolina to Texas, and historically common in the north central …

Variations In Thermoregulation Strategies Of Northern And Southern Populations Of Mischocyttarus Mexicanus, Taylor Guild

Honors Theses

Mischocyttarus mexicanus is a species of eusocial paper wasp that is found across much of the Southeastern coastal region of the United States. Contrasting wintering strategies have been seen in northern versus southern populations. Anecdotally, northern populations overwinter by clustering on top of palmetto fronds, their preferred nesting substrate, in a sort of "taco" shape, while southern populations stand on their nests that hang on the underside of the palmetto frond throughout the year. I tested three hypotheses related to the adaptive value of northern over-frond clustering behavior: 1) Over-frond clustering is thermoregulation related, meaning it would be temperature driven. …

Impact Of Training Volume On Female Athlete Triad Risk For Female Collegiate D1 Track And Field Athletes, Sarah Parnell

Honors Theses

iv ABSTRACT The Female Athlete Triad is the joint-presentation of three intertwined conditions (i.e., low energy availability (LEA), low bone mineral density (BMD), and menstrual dysfunction) that range in severity across affected individuals and have been known to affect the mental, emotional, and physical health of female athletes in a number of sports, especially those that are leanness-orientated and feature a high prevalence of disordered eating. The purpose of this study is to assess the potential relationship between increasing amounts of training volume and individual Triad risk factors in women’s collegiate track and field. Online Qualtrics surveys were administered to …

Relationships Between Vertical Ground Reaction Forces And Clubhead Velocity In Ncaa Division I Female Golfers, Jared Bush

Honors Theses

Golf biomechanics research has focused on clubhead velocity (CHV) for over a decade with the intent of discovering the physical attributes that contribute the most to CHV. Previous research has displayed the significant correlations of strength and power attributes to CHV, giving evidence for practitioners to integrate training to improve these attributes. Recent studies have referenced vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) and how they affect CHV. In this study, vGRFs are tested for their correlations to CHV in NCAA Division I female golfers. Clubs of various lengths were used to determine correlations between each club and vGRFs. Correlations between CHV …

Analysis Of Ecological Tradeoffs Between Congeneric Shrimp In Coastal Mississippi Waters, Baylor K. Lynch

Honors Theses

Palaemonidae is an ecologically important and abundant family of shrimp that link the benthos to many estuarine food webs. Palaemon pugio and Palaemon vulgaris regularly co-occur along estuarine edge habitats despite previous studies suggesting different preferred sediment types and salinity regimes. The objective was to determine if competition is occurring between the congeners by comparing their relative abundance and assessing isotope niche space along an estuarine gradient. I seasonally sampled various edge habitats at four sites throughout Biloxi Bay, MS, using fyke nets fished over a tidal cycle from November 2020 to November 2021. Collected organisms were identified to the …

Invasion Properties Of Listeria Monocytogenes In Aged Cells, Mina Lane Chasteen Burton

Honors Theses

Listeriosis is a bacterial infection caused by the gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. When compared to other foodborne illnesses, listeriosis has a higher death rate due to an increased incidence of complications such as meningitis, hydrocephalus, and sepsis in immunocompromised populations. Elderly individuals experience a condition known as immunosenescence, which is a gradual compromisation of the immune system brought on by natural aging. Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disorder causing premature aging, which allows HGPS cell lines to be used as models to further research in the field of biogerontology. This study utilizes the F2365 strain of …

Reproductive Timing In Percina Aurora And Other Percina Species In The Pascagoula River Watershed, Malia Davidson

Honors Theses

The Southeastern United States is home to high levels of aquatic biodiversity and was recently named one of the Earth’s biodiversity hotspots. Within this region, growing human populations continue to place pressure on aquatic ecosystems and the resident species. Darters (Percidae: Percina) represent a large proportion of the freshwater fish diversity in the region. However, for some species the fundamentals of age, growth, reproductive timing and effort, and ecology remain poorly understood. That said, understanding the timing, duration, and effort allocated to reproduction is vital to successful management of any species. The pearl darter, Percina aurora, has been …

Comparing The Reproductive Fitness Of Fundulus Hybrids And Their Parental Species (Fundulus Olivaceus And Fundulus Notatus) Within Mississippi Freshwater Contact Zones, Sarah Stovall

Honors Theses

Hybridization of closely related taxonomic groups within the Animal Kingdom has led to complex species interactions that are not well understood. Pre-zygotic or post-zygotic barriers complicate hybridization as a means to diversify; however, diverging hybrids may speciate and expedite evolution of involved taxa. This study pursues understanding of these intricate interactions using topminnow Fundulus notatus, Fundulus olivaceus, and their hybrids from the Fundulus notatus species complex. Persisting hybrids within riverine contact zones were hypothesized to experience barriers of hybrid breakdown from lower fitness in comparison to the pure species. Specimens were collected within four contact zones: Spring River, …

Oligomerization Of Amyloid-Β Peptide In The Presence Of Gangliosides–Implications For Alzheimer Disease, Sydney Boyd

Honors Theses

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction in elderly populations worldwide. A key characteristic of AD is the formation of neuritic plaques composed of extracellularly deposited aggregates of amyloid-β (Aβ), an intrinsically disordered protein. Although Aβ fibrils were once thought to be the prime initiators of the disease, research has since been shifted to consider soluble, low molecular weight Aβ oligomers as the driving force behind AD toxicity. Due to its origin as a cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein (APP), an integral membrane protein, Aβ is known to perpetually interact with …

Expression And Purification Of The Bacterial Protein Curli Csga And Its Cross-Interactions With Amyloid-B, Leah Grace Cantrell

Honors Theses

One of the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases is aggregation of amyloid proteins that are toxic to the neurons. Proteins like amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-syneuclein (α-syn) form hallmark aggregate lesions that contribute to pathological processes in the brain in Alzheimer and Parkinson’s patients, respectively. Recent ground-breaking studies have suggested a link between the microbiota of the gut and neurodegenerative diseases, called the “gut-brain axis.” It has been long known that the protein, CsgA found in many enteric bacteria, forms amyloid fibers of its own called Curli. Curli fibrils are a structural component of bacterial colonies and maintain the integrity of …

Retrospective Reports Of Parental Feeding Practices And Current Emotional Eating Behaviors Among College Students, Mercedes Babin

Honors Theses

Emotional eating is a commonly reported eating behavior among United States adults; however, previous literature has indicated that the development of emotional eating is abnormal with regard to the body’s typical physiologic functioning. Although several studies have shown parental feeding practices correlate to the development of emotional eating in children, little research has been done to explore the association between parental feeding practices experienced in childhood and eating behaviors present in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parental feeding practices in childhood (i.e., food as a reward, monitoring, restriction, and pressure to eat) and …

Habitat Preference Of F. Notatus And F. Olivaceus From A Reversed Hybrid Zone, Elizabeth Hart Williams

Honors Theses

Understanding the mechanisms driving habitat preference throughout an organism’s life opens doors to the further understanding of the origins of diversity. Two species of minnow, Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceus, are ideal for ecological research on habitat preference. Ordinarily, F. notatus and F. olivaceus display habitat preferences of downstream and upstream, respectively, with minimal coexistence at confluences. However, in some drainages, these preferences are flipped, like those in the Tombigbee River basin. Members of both species were collected from the Tombigbee River, tagged with species and sex specific colored elastomer marks, and placed in either a homogeneous control or …

Comparative Genome Analysis Of Fungal Antagonists Marinomonas Ostreistagni 398 And M. Spartinae 468., Jessie L. Fields

Honors Theses

Under certain conditions, the Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus grasses in marshes undergo progressive decline in an event known as Saltwater Marsh Dieback, which may be attributed to the presence of the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium. The microbiomes of S. alterniflora and J. roemerianus from Deer Island, MS were characterized and Fusarium suppressing bacteria were identified. Among isolates capable of antagonizing Fusarium were Marinomonas ostreistagni 398 and M. spartinae 468. Despite the progress in understanding the diversity of Marinomonas, our ability to explain ecological, metabolic, and biochemical traits of marinomonads at the genomic sequence level remains limited. Analysis …

Environmental Dna (Edna) Surveys For The Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis Pectinata, In The Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, Emma M. Humphreys

Honors Theses

The Critically Endangered smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata, was historically found throughout tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As a result of mortalities in fisheries and habitat degradation, they became largely restricted to southwest Florida in the U.S. and the Bahamas by the 1980s. However, recent public encounter reports of sawfish in the Florida panhandle, Mississippi, and Louisiana suggest this species is occasionally present in northern Gulf of Mexico waters. Targeted species surveys are needed to improve our understanding of the occurrence and status of this species in these waters. This research used environmental DNA (eDNA) methods …

Testing For Character Displacement Between Two Abundant Stream Fishes, Amber Nations

Honors Theses

Character displacement is a pattern that can be used to explain differences between similar species in sympatric and allopatric situations. Gause’s Principle explains that a niche can only be occupied by one species at a time, so character displacement may be a way for similar species in the same habitat to shift resource use and compensate in order for the species to coexist. The Southeastern United States offers a unique opportunity to study this pattern because the diversity of freshwater fauna is quite high. However, the question of “How did this region become so diverse?” remains unanswered. One way for …

Mitochondrial Replacement And Mitonuclear Interactions In The Broadstripe Topminnow (Fundulus Euryzonus), Auburn Ansley

Honors Theses

When species hybridize, mitochondrial and nuclear introgression can take place. This is commonly observed in freshwater fish species, such as the Fundulus notatus complex, which is composed of F. notatus, F. olivaceus, and F. euryzonus. The broadstripe topminnow, F. euryzonus, is only found in the Amite and Tangipahoa Rivers in the Lake Pontchartrain drainage, where it overlaps in distribution with F. olivaceus. Previous studies determined that F. euryzonus in the Tangipahoa River system possesses mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from F. olivaceus as a result of hybridization between the two species. The goal of this thesis was …

Interregulation Between Msaabcr Operon And Ccpe To Determine Staphylococcal Metabolism And Virulence, Erin R. Cox

Honors Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is a complex human pathogen that causes problems in both healthcare and community settings. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive, sphere shaped bacterium that usually colonizes in the nasal cavity of healthy individuals. Staphylococcus aureus infections are a growing health concern due to its ability to produce virulence factors, such as pigmentation, protease production, and capsule formation. Two regulators in S. aureus virulence factors are msaABCR, which is a newly characterized operon, and ccpE. In order to determine the interaction between these two regulators in regulating virulence and metabolism in S. aureus, ccpE and ccpE/ …

The Diversity And Evolution Of Phenazine Biosynthesis Pathways In Enterobacterales, Christian Leise

Honors Theses

Enterobacterales is an order of Gram-negative bacteria that encompasses plant and animal pathogens and organisms of industrial importance. Some of these bacteria produce secondary metabolites classified as phenazines (Phz). Studies in other groups of microorganisms revealed that phenazines are redox-active and exhibit broad antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activity. Enterobacterales are known to produce phenazines, but details about the diversity, biochemistry, and function of phenazine metabolites in these organisms are missing. In this work, we screened the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank for genome sequences of phenazine-producing (Phz+) Enterobacterales. Additionally, genomes of Phz+ strains Pectobacterium carotovorum cc303 and …

Vertebrates At The University Of Southern Mississippi: A Wildlife Survey Of The Bear Point Bayou And Surrounding Gulf Park Campus, Hannah Mcduffie

Honors Theses

This project originated through interest in pursuing a field-based research project involving vertebrates. After conducting literature reviews, it was found that the Bear Point Bayou running through the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus has never been thoroughly surveyed for species richness (Mohrman et al. 2016). Four sites on the Gulf Park Campus were chosen and vertebrate species were documented and identified through observations, camera trapping, and vocalization recordings. These data, along with species previously recorded on campus, were combined, and compared to data from the Gulf Coast Phenology Trail of which the Gulf Park Campus was recently added …

Study Of The Role Of The Msaabcr Operon In Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Activity And Persister Cell Formation In Staphylococcus Aureus, Karsen Motter

Honors Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that causes wide arrays of infections ranging from minor skin infections to lethal systemic conditions such as infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, sepsis and pneumonia. These systemic diseases are often difficult to treat due to the presence of persister cells. Persister cells are a phenotypic variant of the bacterial population that exhibit extreme and transient antibiotic tolerance accompanied by a transient halt in growth. Upon cessation of antibiotic treatment, however, persisters resume growth which results in recurrence of infections. This characteristic of persister cells therefore displays high clinical significance. In this study, we show the …

Phosphodiesterase D Is Involved In Bile Resistance In Listeria Monocytogenes, Sophia A. Ali

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a deadly foodborne bacterium that is responsible for almost 20% of food-related deaths in the United States. Listeria monocytogenes contaminates ready-to-eat products such as cheese, deli meat, and ice cream. Once ingested, it invades the intestinal lining and can enter the bloodstream, causing listeriosis. There is a gap in the knowledge of the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes in how it is able to survive in the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of bile, which has bactericidal properties. Previous studies have suggested that the second messenger cyclic-dimeric-GMP may be involved in the regulation of virulence factors of Listeria. …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Soil Respiration In A Longleaf Pine Forest., Caroline E. Paxton

Honors Theses

Prescribed fire is a common tool used to increase the herbaceous diversity in longleaf pine forest understories and to eliminate competition from undesirable mid-canopy species. Little is known about the effects of these fires on the soil respiration rates within these forests. A study of the effects of prescribed fire on soil respiration was conducted within a longleaf pine stand at the Lake Thoreau Environmental Center to examine soil respiration across seasons and before and after a prescribed fire. Soil CO₂ efflux rates were measured using a LICOR LI-8100A gas flux system with long-term chambers from October 2020 to …

Investigating Pirna Expression And Function In Regenerating Tissue Of Segmented Annelid Capitella Teleta, Beatriz Schueng Zancanela

Honors Theses

Regeneration can be observed virtually in all animals and previous studies have identified numerous genes involved in this process. In some invertebrates, the P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI) genes appear to have an essential role. One such organism is Capitella teleta, a widely accepted model for annelid development. PIWI proteins are associated with small non-coding RNA called PIWI-interacting RNAs or piRNAs, which are involved in transposon silencing in the germline cells of many animals. It was previously believed that these proteins were only expressed in germline cells, however, recent studies have shown expression in somatic tissues as well. The function …