Digital Commons Network^™

Flies Don't Enter A Closed Mouth, Margaret Perez

Graduate Theses in Studio Art

From the Artist's Statement: "The work in Flies Don't Enter A Closed Mouth is both photographed and drawn, digitally printed and hand-made, flat and assembled into three-dimensional installations."

America’S History Of Health Disparities: How Does This Affect The Future Of Healthcare In Mississippi?, Zuri O. Dixon Omere, Jazmin King

Honors Theses

America’s healthcare system runs rampant with healthcare inequalities that have an alarming effect on minorities and people of color. In order for people of color and marginalized groups to receive proper care and treatment, more attention needs to be brought to these inequalities. For example, Covid-19 reflected the health inequalities that are present in this country; minorities were more likely to become hospitalized due to Covid-19 than other non-minorities. In addition, minorities in women’s health, specifically black women, have been affected in various ways that are related to the inequalities in medicine like dying during childbirth and improper care. This …

Design Of An Implanted Vascular Access Device With A Mechanical Septum, Mallory Ann Moffett, Katherine Rose O'Quinn

Honors Theses

As populations continue to age, their need for medical care continues to rise. This is seen by the large need for implanted vascular devices (IVADs). IVADs are essential for individuals with poor venous access and patients requiring long-term venous delivered drugs. This document will explore the existing IVADs, where they fall short, and where our device, the IrisPort system, works to solve the unmet needs of patients. The IrisPort system is a needle-less port system that allows for repeated venous access without the use of a non-coring needle. Prior art searches have shown that the IrisPort is a novel solution …

Isolation Of Echimidine And Its C-7 Isomers From Echium Plantagineum L. And Their Hepatotoxic Effect On Rat Hepatocytes, Michał Gleńsk, Marta K. Dudek, Peter Kinkade, Evelyn C.S. Santos

Faculty and Student Publications

Echimidine is the main pyrrolizidine alkaloid of Echium plantagineum L., a plant domesti-cated in many countries. Because of echimidine’s toxicity, this alkaloid has become a target of the European Food Safety Authority regulations, especially in regard to honey contamination. In this study, we determined by NMR spectroscopy that the main HPLC peak purified from zinc reduced plant extract with an MS [M + H]+ signal at m/z 398 corresponding to echimidine (1), and in fact also represents an isomeric echihumiline (2). A third isomer present in the smallest amount and barely re-solved by HPLC from co-eluting (1) and (2) was …

Essential Oil Yield, Composition, And Bioactivity Of Sagebrush Species In The Bighorn Mountains, Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, Charles L. Cantrell, Ekaterina A. Jeliazkova, Tess Astatkie

Faculty and Student Publications

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) are dominant wild plants in large areas of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and they include several species and subspecies. The aim was to determine if there are significant differences in essential oil (EO) yield, composition, and biological activity of sagebrush within the Bighorn Mountains, U.S. The EO yield in fresh herbage varied from 0.15 to 1.69% for all species, including 0.25–1.69% in A. tridentata var. vaseyana, 0.64–1.44% in A. tridentata var. tridentata, 1% in A. tridentata var. wyomingensis, 0.8–1.2% in A. longifolia, 0.8–1% in A. cana, and 0.16% in A. ludoviciana. There was significant variability in …

Rap1a Activity Elevated The Impact Of Endogenous Ages In Diabetic Collagen To Stimulate Increased Myofibroblast Transition And Oxidative Stress, Stephanie D. Burr, Christopher C. Dorroh, James A. Stewart

Faculty and Student Publications

Diabetics have an increased risk for heart failure due to cardiac fibroblast functional changes occurring as a result of AGE/RAGE signaling. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) levels are higher in diabetics and stimulate elevated RAGE (receptor for AGE) signaling. AGE/RAGE signaling can alter the expression of proteins linked to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and oxidative stressors. Our lab has identified a small GTPase, Rap1a, that may overlap the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway. We sought to determine the role Rap1a plays in mediating AGE/RAGE changes and to assess the impact of isolated collagen on further altering these changes. Primary cardiac fibroblasts from …

Analysis Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Studies Examining Relevant Topics And Concepts, Jermaine Barnes Jr

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of various case studies addressing relevant issues and concepts within the field of accounting. It is composed of twelve cases designed to address and analyze numerous topics that are currently relevant to the field of accounting and my future career within this field. The information presented herein addresses a wide range of necessary skills and knowledge applicable to this field, and this information was gathered through analysis and documentation of a multitude of topics, such as the Financial Crisis of 2008, the first presidential debate of the 2020 election, the various demographical trends of cities …

Homeland Calling: Myths As Mobilizers Of Conflict In The Zapatista Rebellion And The Kosovo War, Catherine E. Williamson

Honors Theses

How do conflict myths mobilize actors in insurgencies? This thesis aims to answer this question by exploring how insurgent leaders engage in revolutionary mythmaking in its messaging to combatants, members of the nation, and the international community, in order to incite and sustain their rebellions. I compare the Zapatista Army of National Liberation of the 1994 Zapatista rebellion and the Kosovo Liberation Army of the 1998 Kosovo war in order to examine the kinds of myths propagated in each case. This study argues that revolutionary mythmaking is not a mere feature of some insurgencies but a necessary condition for an …

The Legality Of The European Union’S Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism And The Limitations Of World Trade Organization Rules On Effective Climate Action, Delaney Smith

Honors Theses

In July 2021, the European Union proposed the creation of a carbon border adjustment mechanism, a trade mechanism that would levy a carbon price against imported goods. This mechanism, the first of its kind, has the potential to address weaknesses in the EU’s existing domestic cap and trade system and create a financial incentive for other nations to reduce their carbon emissions. However, legal experts have raised concerns that this mechanism may violate the rules of the World Trade Organization. If another member state raises a complaint against the measure, the European Union will be forced to navigate the World …

Ameliorative Effects Of Minor Cannabinoids Over Hiv-1 Tat-Mediated Visceral Pain, Charlie Worth

Honors Theses

As the total number of people living with HIV continues to rise across the world, an effective HIV treatment is still sought after. While modern-day advanced therapies exist for mitigating much of the negative effects of HIV, the virus remains evasive and problematic in the central nervous system. Thus, even with treatment, many people living with HIV continue to suffer from a plethora of symptoms. However, a large proportion of HIV-positive patients claim to feel a reduction in those persevering symptoms after cannabis usage. This anecdotal evidence has sparked interest in the efficacy of cannabis constituents for HIV therapy. This …

Identification Of The Putative Binding Site Of A Novel Benzimidazole (Etazene) And Its Metabolites On Μ-Opioid Receptor: A Systematic Computational Study And Detection Using Human Liver Microsomes, Isuru Nipun Hewamanna

Honors Theses

The abuse of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has risen dramatically worldwide, especially among recreational users and regular abusers. The absence of pharmacological and toxicological data on new, illicitly used, and abused opioids, results in serious adverse effects, including death. The synthetic benzimidazole opioid, Etazene (70 times higher analgesic activity than morphine), gained popularity as a recreational drug on the illegal/darknet market; however, no experimental information is available at the

molecular level on the binding mechanism and putative binding site of Etazene and its metabolites at the µ-opioid receptor (MOR). In the present study, we investigated the possibilities of MOR activation …

A Molecular Dynamics Study Of The Laser Sintering Process And Subsequent Mechanical Properties Of Γ-Tial Nanoparticles, Eleanor Dickens

Honors Theses

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the laser sintering additive manufacturing process is investigated through the observation of γ-TiAl nanoparticles. This process is conducted using both uni-directional chain and stacking configurations. By mimicking the heating process and varying laser sintering parameters such as heating rater, sintering temperature, and particle orientation, the fusion behavior and resulting products are analyzed for both chain and stacking NP patterns. In of single chain cases, it is noticed that slower heating rates and higher melting temperatures yield larger neck growth between each individual particle and thus produce a more stable product. This leads to stronger mechanical …

By Way Of Remembrance: Rural Cemeteries Of North Mississippi, David Wharton

Study the South

"My habit was to drive back roads, explore, and not worry about getting anywhere quickly or about getting lost. With my wife, Marianne, often accompanying me, we would stick to county roads, always on the lookout for places of visual interest. Among the places we frequently stopped were small towns—in both business and residential areas—and, especially, rural churches and cemeteries. Many of the churches, whether still active or not, had burial grounds close by, and even long-abandoned churches sometimes had cemeteries that showed signs of recent use. A few cemeteries were off by themselves, however, apparently forgotten by any church …

The South In Review, Adam Gussow, Peter Lurie, David Wharton

Study the South

The following books are reviewed in this issue:

• I Am a Man: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1960-1970 / William R. Ferris and Lonnie G. Burch, III. University Press of Mississippi. Reviewed by David Wharton
• William Faulkner and the Faces of Modernity / Jay Watson. University Press of Mississippi. Reviewed by Peter Lurie.
• New York City Blues: Postwar Portraits from Harlem to the Village and Beyond / Edited by Larry Simon and John Broven. Photos by Robert Schaffer. Reviewed by Adam Gussow.
• Road Through Midnight: A Civil Rights Memorial / Jessica Ingram. University of North Carolina Press. Reviewed by …

Panda Diplomacy: China's Use Of Soft Power To Influence The World, Anna Reed

Honors Theses

Although giant pandas lack a long-standing history in Imperial China, they hold a strong connection to the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese Nationalism in the modern day. This research attempts to answer the question of whether giant pandas are an influential tool of soft power and achieve the purpose of promoting a “softer” image of China globally. Through a literature review and the method of a survey, research revealed that giant pandas are a successful tool of soft power. Overall animals serve a larger purpose in policy than simply a pet object. They can influence people and nations.

Development Of A Non-Invasive Dna Extraction Method From Teeth, Monalisa Heng

Honors Theses

Forensic dentistry has evolved from simple morphological investigations to genetic and molecular analysis. One of the most important techniques is DNA analysis which requires viable samples from an individual or crime site. The orofacial region can be a good source for DNA samples because the tissues can resist environmental, thermal, electrical, and mechanical challenges. Teeth are especially useful as a source of genetic material because the DNA located in the pulp is surrounded by protective mineral tissue. The DNA in the pulp tissue is currently accessed through destructive methods involving crushing, pulverization, and splitting the tooth. Unfortunately, destructive methods destroy …

Issue 392: April 21-May 5, 2022, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

Double Decker Festival 2022

'The Power Of A Suit' And Other Tools For The Modern Music Marketer, Andrew Gardner

Honors Theses

The following thesis records the creation of a new persona. Mr. Neptoon is a concept, a brand, and most importantly, an authentic musician. He is an artist who wants to make and spread his art as widely as possible. We document the career trajectory from September 2021 to March 2022. The high-stakes experiment: utilize big-picture marketing goals to inform an approach to crafting the art and commercial material. Research informs the artistic direction. Research informs the messaging and marketing direction. The artist is creating and selling a full-length, fourteen-track concept album—aided by the project's marketing research — to be completed …

Black Carbon And Meteorological Parameters At Two Locations In Northern Mississippi, Ashton Swader

Honors Theses

Black Carbon, which is a component of fine particulate matter, is a known pollutant that has been linked to the development of several diseases including cardiovascular disease. This pollutant can be measured by taking samples of air within a certain region and analyzing them using a transmissometer. It is known that black carbon concentrations tend to be higher in urban areas when compared to rural areas within a region. Black carbon concentrations can also vary depending on certain meteorological parameters such as temperature and humidity. There were no current studies that analyze the air quality in northern Mississippi due to …

Effects Of Acute Exercise Intensity On Memory: Considerations Of Timing And Aerobic Endurance, William Meyers, Caroline Loeb, Mary Collins West, Bailey Bass

Honors Theses

The primary objective of this study was to find the optimal acute exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery time to enhance memory retention. A secondary objective of study was to evaluate the influence of aerobic endurance on memory and whether endurance capacity interacts with exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period to influence memory performance. Participants were 54 undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Mississippi, with an age range of 18-23 years. Participants completed 13 visits in total. The first visit evaluated their aerobic endurance, with the remaining 12 visits including a 3 (Intensity: Control, Moderate, Vigorous) by 4 (Post-Exercise …

Raman Spectroscopic And Quantum Chemical Investigation Of The Pyridine-Borane Complex And The Effects Of Dative Bonding On The Normal Modes Of Pyridine, Ethan C. Lambert, Benjamin W. Stratton, Nathan I. Hammer

Faculty and Student Publications

The pyridine-borane (PyBH3) complex was analyzed by Raman vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory to elucidate its structural and vibrational properties and to compare these with those for neat pyridine (Py). The borane-nitrogen (BN) bond length, the BN dative bond stretching frequency, and the effects of dative-bonded complex formation on Py are presented. Rather than having a single isolated stretching motion, the complex exhibits multiple BN dative bond stretches that are coupled to Py's vibrations. These modes exhibit large shifts that are higher in energy relative to neat Py, similar to previous observations of Py/water mixtures. However, significantly higher charge …

Q&A With Madeline Mcmahan (Mfa Painting), Madeline Mcmahan

Q & A Interviews with Art Students

No abstract provided.

The Contribution Of Environmental Education To Dismantling An Increasingly Dysfunctional Environmental Attitude, Jenna Patricia Santacroce

Honors Theses

In part one, this thesis explains how a widespread environmental attitude, which is that it is permissible for humans to dominate the Earth, originated in early human history and remains prevalent today. This “domination attitude” is accompanied by American physical and social structures, otherwise referred to as provisioning systems, which largely constitute a current, prominent paradigm. This paradigm is leading to irreversible environmental degradation which adversely impacts all life on Earth. In part two, this thesis claims that this trajectory can be effectively diverted through a paradigm shift, one where the domination attitude is abandoned, humans pursue a more harmonious …

Issue 391: April 7-21, 2022, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

16th Anniversary Edition

April 7, 2022, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Q&A With Travis Rogers (Bfa Graphic Design), Travis Rogers

Q & A Interviews with Art Students

No abstract provided.

Q&A With Taylor Skelton (Bfa Painting), Taylor Skelton

Q & A Interviews with Art Students

No abstract provided.

Q&A With Carmina Peña (Bfa Graphic Design), Carmina Peña

Q & A Interviews with Art Students

No abstract provided.

Environment And Co-Occurring Native Mussel Species, But Not Host Genetics, Impact The Microbiome Of A Freshwater Invasive Species (Corbicula Fluminea), Marlène Chiarello, Jamie R. Bucholz, Mark Mccauley, Stephanie N. Vaughn, Garrett W. Hopper, Irene Sánchez González, Carla L. Atkinson, Jeffrey D. Lozier, Colin R. Jackson

Faculty and Student Publications

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Family: Cyneridae) has aggressively invaded freshwater habitats worldwide, resulting in dramatic ecological changes and declines of native bivalves such as freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae), one of the most imperiled faunal groups. Despite increases in our knowledge of invasive C. fluminea biology, little is known of how intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including co-occurring native species, influence its microbiome. We investigated the gut bacterial microbiome across genetically differentiated populations of C. fluminea in the Tennessee and Mobile River Basins in the Southeastern United States and compared them to those of six co-occurring species of native freshwater mussels. …

Full Issue, Journal Editors

Yalobusha Review

No abstract provided.