Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Sugar Consumption Alters Perception Of And Response To Stress In Undergraduate Students: Understanding The "Freshmen Fifteen", Katherine M Keever

Honors Theses

Psychological stress is a common part in everyday life that directly affects the body through the nervous system and neuroendocrine hormones. A perceived stressor leads to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and the synthesis and release of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol from the adrenal cortex. Studies have linked the release of cortisol during high-stress periods to an increased intake of sugary and fatty foods, consistent with a suspected glucocorticoid-metabolic-brain- negative pathway, with high sugar consumption leading to lower stress and subsequently cortisol levels. In this study, undergraduate students’ diets were supplemented with either a high sugar drink or …

Love Shouldn't Hurt: Akrasia As An Explanation For The Perpetration Of Domestic Violence, Elizabeth Murad

Honors Theses

Domestic Violence (DV) is a prominent issue that affects people of all demographics, and can be defined as the perpetration of psychological, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse against (typically) an inferior other. A dear friend, Alex, lost her life at the hands of her boyfriend of almost two years, and I still struggle to understand how one could do such an atrocious thing to a loved one? The Perpetrator, Clayton, claimed that he “just snapped” when he “killed [his] girlfriend.” It is from this case, and more specifically the statement: “I just snapped,” that I have based my research; I …

Children's Perceptions Of Bullying Situations: Factors Influencing Peer Interventions, Allison Minchoff

Honors Theses

Previous research is inconclusive as to whether racial biases are prominent in elementary school children and whether gender influences the children’s perceptions of a bullying situation. Since both bullying and racial discrimination are of increased concern, I investigated how children perceive ambiguous situations that could be considered deliberate bullying or an accident, as a function of the gender, race, and reputation of the potential bully. Participants were asked to read three brief scenarios, each accompanied by a picture of the potential bully, and completed a questionnaire regarding how positive they would rate the actor, how negative they would rate the …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Care Choices A Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Katherine Pouliot

Honors Theses

Background: There is a growing need for home-based palliative care services, especially for seriously ill individuals who want to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and remain with their regular outside care providers. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Care Choices, a new in-home palliative care program provided by the Visiting Nurse Services of Northeastern New York and Ellis Medicine, a community healthcare system serving New York’s Capital District. Design: A prospective cohort study tracking patient outcomes over the course of one year. Subjects and setting: One hundred twenty-three patients (49 men, 74 women) with serious illnesses who were new enrollees in Care …

The Effect Of Color In Advertising Among Low And High Self-Monitors, Anne Reardon

Honors Theses

Prior research on self-monitoring has indicated high self-monitors will moderate their behavior based upon their environment, whereas low self-monitors listen to internal cues to make behavioral decisions. Within the consumer research, there appears to be individual differences in product evaluation. Self-monitoring orientation has emerged as one explanation for variance in product assessment. High self-monitors have indicated to be more receptive to image-based advertising. Conversely low-monitors have shown to be drawn to quality-based advertisements. Thus, other attributes such as product design, specifically color, appear to be moderators in product assessment among high and low self-monitors. The current research examined the possible …

The Expression Of Pain In Children: An Autism Spectrum Disorder Perspective, Aileen Shaughnessy

Honors Theses

Pain sensitivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been shown to vary greatly in the literature. Previous work by Rattaz et al. used venepuncture to display slower recovery in ASD youth. Later, Duerden et al. used the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) to conclude that ASD youth demonstrate a profile of decreased thermal sensitivity. In the current study, four normative males and one ASD male participated in the Cold Pressor Test. The ASD youth was also given the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3) to verify ASD tendencies. Prior to the CPT, all participants were asked to place their dominant, …

Tubulin Post-Translational Modifications Are Altered By Changes In Actin-Myosin Contractility In Non-Muscle Cells, James Mcgee

Honors Theses

All cells regulate their contractility by the interaction of actin and myosin. In non-muscle cells, however, this interaction is regulated by rho, a GTPase, which is the upstream effector for multiple pathways. Cell contractility increases when rho is active, and prior research has shown the depolymerization of microtubules (MTs) activates rho. Microtubules play a role in many cellular functions and it is thought that either associations with MT-associated proteins and/or post-translational modifications to tubulin regulate MT functions. Numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs) to microtubules have been identified, but their roles are not well understood. A possible relationship between changes in cell …

The Psychology Of Romantic Relationships, Darby Dietrich

Honors Theses

Prior research on self-monitoring suggests that high self-monitors are more likely to choose a romantic partner based on status and appearance. Conversely, low self-monitors put a greater emphasis on shared values and interests. In the current research, we examined the self-monitoring differences in both dating relationships and marriages. Participants were given a survey in which they answered personal questions, questions about their past relationships, qualities that are important in potential dating and marriage partners, and the Snyder and Gangestad (1986) 18-item Self-Monitoring scale. Trends were consistent with previous research, such that high self-monitors were more likely to divorce than low …

Habitat Light And Signal Color Evolution In 5 Species Of Anoles From The Dominican Republic And The Use Of A Feeding Assay To Test The Effects Of Visual Color Contrast On Stimulus Visibility In The Lizard Anolis Sagrei, Raymond Farmer

Honors Theses

Anolis lizards have excellent color vision and depend on their eyesight to detect visual signals made by other anoles. The dewlap, a colorful and expandable flap of skin, lies beneath the jaw in male anoles and is a primary signaling structure used for territorial and courtship displays. This paper focuses on dewlap color diversity and its evolutionary rudiments. With this in mind, the research team traveled to the Dominican Republic and collected natural habitat light data and dewlap and body color data from the local anoline inhabitants. We hypothesized that light environment would be the main driver behind dewlap color …

Evaluation Of An In-Home Palliative Care Program's Management Of Pain, Mackenzie Laporte

Honors Theses

With the growing population of chronically ill patients wishing to receive care at home, care providers face unique challenges managing the pain of patients with quickly changing illness trajectories. Treating patients outside of institutionalized settings, where regular monitoring is standard, requires careful symptom management. This project was a retrospective review examining nurses’ documentation of pain for patients enrolled in Care Choices, a new home-based palliative care program coordinated through a visiting nurse service and community hospital. The extent to which nurses documented patients' pain score, site, type and pain goal as well as nursing interventions and plan of care in …

Union College Smokers: Hurting Themselves But Helping Others? Mixed Research On The Relationship Between Smoking And Volunteering, Cameron Robertson

Honors Theses

This mixed methodology research project analyzes the relationship between smoking cigarettes and volunteer participation rates utilizing an empirical analysis of 2006 and 2010 Current Population Surveys (CPS), as well as a qualitative analysis on the perception and behaviors of Union College student smokers. Existing studies have indicated a negative association between smoking cigarettes and social participation, yet little research has been done on the specific relationship between smoking status and volunteer participation. Utilizing CPS supplements on tobacco use and volunteering, this empirical analysis finds that smoking cigarettes has a significant association with decreased volunteer participation rates. This research also includes …

Point Mutations Of The Putative Follitropin Receptor Caveolin Interaction Motif Do Not Disrupt Receptor Function, Stanley Soroka

Honors Theses

Human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) is a hormone found in humans that is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary and targets the ovaries and testes. This specificity of targeting is accomplished by the interaction of hFSH with its receptor (hFSHR) on target cells. hFSHR is a G protein-coupled receptor that localizes to domains in the cell membrane known as lipid rafts. The mechanism of translocation of the hFSHR into lipid rafts is unknown. Our hypothesis is that translocation occurs through interaction of hFSHR with the protein caveolin via a specific sequence in the hFSHR; a putative caveolin interaction motif …

13c Composition In Bryophyte Primary Sugars As An Indicator Of Water Availability, Olivia Hope Williamson

Honors Theses

Bryophytes (mosses and their relatives) are a major carbon sink, and their productivity, is expected to be affected by climate change. Changes in plant productivity caused by changes in the climate can be tracked through stable carbon isotopes. This research aims to find a connection between stable carbon isotope signatures and water availability in bryophytes by examining the composition of 13C in soluble sugars and bulk tissue. Similar to trees, which leave rings of growth every year, mosses build up peat deposits, which can be used to gain information about the weather and water availability of a region. Information on …

A Comprehensive Study Of The Effects Of Chemotherapy On Friction Ridge Detail, M Mariel Lowe

Honors Theses

Past research and case studies have shown that chemotherapy drugs appear to lessen the quality of friction ridge skin, thereby impacting cancer patients who are already experiencing a number of unpleasant side effects. Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia, more commonly referred to as Hand-Foot Syndrome (HFS), is a common side effect of many chemotherapy agents and includes redness, swelling, and peeling of the skin of the hands and feet. This syndrome has been linked to a number of cases involving fingerprint loss, including a prior longitudinal study that evidenced degradation in response to capecitabine, a common chemotherapy agent. This research builds upon the …

List Equivalency Of The Azbio Sentence Test, Lauren C. Bush

Honors Theses

The AzBio Sentence Test was developed as a measure of speech perception abilities and intended to be more reliable and closer to real life conditions than the previous speech perception measures commonly used. The purpose of speech perception measures is to partially determine cochlear implant candidacy as well as pre- and post-outcomes of cochlear implantation. The AzBio Sentence test is composed of 15 lists of 20 sentences each. There is limited research conducted on the equivalency of each of these lists. Of the previous limited reasearch conducted, one study found that only 10 of the 15 lists were equivalent. The …

Married To Nursing School: How Stress Affects Marital Satisfaction Of Nursing Students, Krysta Af Laabs

Honors Theses

In this paper, the lived experience of married nursing students and their stress during nursing school was explored. This project aimed to answer the questions: 1) what is the lived experience of married nursing student during one semester of their nursing program and 2) what is the students’ combined experience of nursing school stress and marital stress or satisfaction? The research design was qualitative with a phenomenological approach. The participants of the study consisted of 7 volunteer, married nursing students attending the BSN program at the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Park campus during the fall 2015 semester. The participants were …

The Effect Of Balance Training On Disruptive Behaviors In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Claire A. Scates

Honors Theses

Objective

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of balance training on disruptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Methods

Fourteen parents of children with ASD participated in this study. Data was collected using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) distributed to various therapy centers around the Hattiesburg and Jackson areas. A secondary survey was included that collected demographic data and basic data on what therapies the children have been involved in. The ABC provided a measure of the incidence of disruptive behaviors exhibited by the children with ASD as evaluated by their parents. Three of …

The Impact Of Amputation On Body Image, Anna C. Gilg

Honors Theses

There is a lack of history regarding appearance-related concerns in healthcare. There are roughly two million people living with limb loss in the United States with nearly 185,000 amputations occurring each year. Alterations in body image are due to individuals being unable to adapt to appearance change and can take them far from their ideal body image. It has previously been discovered that amputees generally disclose negative feelings regarding their bodies.

The sample included 207 adults aged 21 years and older with lower-limb amputations. The participants completed a survey composed of demographics and the Amputee Body Image Scale. Statistical analysis …

The Effect Of Easy Onset Time Treatment On Voice Onset Time In Stuttering, Candace M. Franklin

Honors Theses

For over 70 million people who stutter, it is a disorder that can affect a person’s social, emotional, and professional life on a daily basis (Gordon, 2002). Stuttering is defined as a fluency disorder that includes the repetition of words, pauses in speech, or sound prolongation (Hedge, 2001). Although there are many different theories as to what causes stuttering, the etiology of stuttering remains undetermined. As a result, much research has been done on various treatment approaches to try and ease the effects of stuttering. One particular approach is the Easy Onset Time approach. This approach encourages the client to …

To Screen Or Not To Screen Parent’S Perceptions Of Eye Care Prevention For Pre-School Age Children, Bonnie E. Keaton

Honors Theses

One in 20 children is at risk for permanent vision loss from disorders such as amblyopia and strabismus (Why Save Sight, 2016). Despite vision disorders and childhood blindness being a common disability in children, preventative vision screenings are not at the center of prevention discussions. Studies have suggested that vision screenings for young children are beneficial in preventing permanent vision loss (Vision Screenings for Healthy Vision, 2016). Vision screenings for preschool children are important and require more attention in the United States. This descriptive study addressed parental perceptions of early detection of vision problems among preschoolers in southeast Mississippi as …

The Effect Music Has In Speech Therapy, Emily K. Nester

Honors Theses

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the use of music in speech therapy. A survey was sent via email to Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) certified speech-language pathologists to acquire knowledge on the use of music in their therapy sessions. The author used the source, SurveyMonkey, to collect and analyze the data. The data was used to determine the prevalence of music in speech therapy. In addition, when music was used, the data portrayed how music was incorporated into therapy and the particular gender, genre, and/or disorder preferred.

Evaluation Of Hearing Aid Wearers’ Appearance By Individuals Who Do Not Wear Hearing Aid Devices, Lauren M. Lott

Honors Theses

This study focuses on the perception of individuals who do not wear hearing aids and their perception of their hearing aid wearing peers. This thesis considers the opinions of students at The University of Southern Mississippi through the use of a paper survey evaluating the participant’s perception of the following attributes: attractiveness, confidence, motivation, trustworthiness, education, friendliness, intelligence, disability, and body image. Data is collected from 150 students from ages 18-30. This study hopes to determine whether or not there will be a significant change in perception of an individual once they are viewed with a hearing aid.

Relationship Between Parental Alcoholism And Family Unpredictability, Kamie L. Stephens

Honors Theses

This research is a retrospective study on adult children of alcoholics using a previous researcher’s, Dr. Ross, unpredictability scale. Family Unpredictability is defined as “a lack of consistency in family behaviors and regulatory systems,” (Ross and Hill, 2000). There is currently a lack of research related to parental alcoholism and its effect on family structure. The researcher hopes to gain insight on the relationship between parental alcoholism and family unpredictability. Previous research suggests children growing up with a caregiver who is an alcoholic experience a higher level of unpredictability in the home. Examples of this unpredictability are: a decreased amount …

The Effect Of Increased Exposure Of Uvc Light On Human Skin Microbiota, T'Kylia S. Moss

Honors Theses

Many methods have been employed to prevent infections from opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised individuals. Among these are the use of ultraviolet light (UV). In this study, UVC light, was found to have a deleterious effect on specific skin flora. Organisms tested included Acinetobacter baumanii, Candida albicans, Candida kefyr, Corynebacterium renale, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Nutrient agar was used to cultivate most organisms. Blood agar was used for the cultivation of Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis. Bacterial suspensions were made and utilized to plate each organism onto a set of 7 nutrient agar or …

Preparation Of Myod Mrna For The Differentiation Of Stem Cells Into Muscle Cells, Stephanie A. Ye

Honors Theses

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are characterized by their two special properties: pluripotency and self-renewal. Pluripotency is the ability of ESCs to differentiate into any cell type upon expression of specific proteins called transcription factors. In order to induce differentiation, transcription factors specific for the particular cell type have to be introduced and expressed in the ESCs. The introduction of transcription factors can be achieved by using either DNA, RNA, or protein. According to the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology, DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is then translated to make a functional protein molecule. Among the available …

The Use Of Hydrotherapy In Labor To Promote Physiologic Labor, Nicolette Johnson

Honors Theses

The pain of labor is well understood, yet, very difficult to treat. This is secondary to the fact that each woman’s perception of pain varies as it is influenced by many different factors. According to Lowedermilk, Perry, Cashion, & Alden, (2012) how the woman perceives pain is “influenced by a variety of physiologic, psychological, emotion, social, cultural and environmental factors” (p. 387). A nurses’ role is to act as a patient advocate and with that entails maintaining the patient’s comfort throughout the labor process. In order to do so, a nurse must be able to assess the patient from not …

How Recipient Age Affects Long Term Survivability In Heart Transplantation Patients, Daniel Baker

Honors Theses

Heart transplantation is very traumatic for the human body. It involves physically taking out an organ that is vital for normal function and replacing it with an organ that is foreign to the body. However, it is sometimes thought that this is a very well known and well-researched procedure, when the reality is that the very first heart transplant took place less than 50 years ago by Dr. Christiaan Banard (Brink & Hassoulas, 2009). During the last 50 years many breakthroughs have been discovered and the procedure has been vastly helped by the rise of immunosuppressant’s and new surgical technology, …

Verification And Quantification Of Surface Electromyographic (Emg) Activity Of The Masseter Muscle, Kelsey Bowles

Honors Theses

Purpose: The goal of the present study is to develop and evaluate an automated technique for measuring biting and chewing related surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter muscle.

Methods: Data from 28 neurologically healthy participants between the ages of 18-40 were selected for this study. The procedure for collecting the bite/chew data consisted of the participant biting down and chewing three small breath mints while an EMG sensor recorded the masseter muscle activity. A five-step Matlab-based algorithm was created to accurately identify onsets and offsets of each bite and chew event.

Results: Compared to manual measurements using standard …

Acoustic Correlates Of Speech Naturalness In Post-Treatment Adults Who Stutter: Role Of Fundamental Frequency, Jacqueline Schmitt

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Using Focus Groups To Identify Ways To Reduce Infant Mortality In Kalamazoo, Leah Dries

Honors Theses

Study goals were to explore maternal perceptions of possible ways to reduce infant mortality in Kalamazoo County, with specific regards to the infant mortality rates of non-Hispanic African American babies versus non-Hispanic Caucasian babies. Two focus groups were conducted of voluntary, anonymous, participants from the YWCA domestic violence shelter and clients of home visiting services provided by the Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Community Services. The focus groups were guided allowing women to voice their opinions about ways to prevent infant mortality in Kalamazoo. Women were also asked to respond to the goals created by a community planning committee …