Digital Commons Network^™

Airborne And Dermal Collection Methods Of Gunshot Residue For Toxicity Studies, Samuel Cole Smith, Oscar Beau Black, Courtney Roper

Faculty and Student Publications

Gunshot residue (GSR) has potential negative health effects on humans as a result of inhalation and dermal exposure to the chemical and physical characteristics of GSR such as Pb, Sb, Ba, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and particulate size fraction. Filter (size selective) and double-sided tape (non-size selective) samples collected airborne GSR during single and triple firing of a 0.22 caliber revolver. Dermal exposures were considered using hand swabs and de-leading wipes, designed to remove the heavy metals. The samples underwent analysis to investigate physical (morphology, size distribution, zeta potential), chemical (black carbon and element concentrations), and potential to induce oxidative stress (oxidative …

What Happens After Debriefing? The Effectiveness And Benefits Of Postexperimental Debriefing, Rachel Leigh Greenspan, Elizabeth F. Loftus

Faculty and Student Publications

After participating in an experiment, people are routinely debriefed. How effective is debriefing when the experiments involve deception, as occurs in studies of misinformation and memory? We conducted two studies addressing this question. In Study 1, participants (N = 373) watched a video, were exposed to misinformation or not, and completed a memory test. Participants were either debriefed or not and then were interviewed approximately one week later. Results revealed that, after debriefing, some participants continued to endorse misinformation. Notably, however, debriefing had positive effects; participants exposed to misinformation reported learning significantly more from their study participation than control participants. …

Spectral Signatures Of Hydrogen Thioperoxide (Hosh) And Hydrogen Persulfide (Hssh): Possible Molecular Sulfur Sinks In The Dense Ism, Charles Z. Palmer, Ryan C. Fortenberry, Joseph S. Francisco

Faculty and Student Publications

For decades, sulfur has remained underdetected in molecular form within the dense interstellar medium (ISM), and somewhere a molecular sulfur sink exists where it may be hiding. With the discovery of hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) in the ISM in 2011, a natural starting point may be found in sulfur-bearing analogs that are chemically similar to HOOH: hydrogen thioperoxide (HOSH) and hydrogen persulfide (HSSH). The present theoretical study couples the accuracy in the anharmonic fundamental vibrational frequencies from the explicitly correlated coupled cluster theory with the accurate rotational constants provided by canonical high-level coupled cluster theory to produce rovibrational spectra for use …

Search For Charged Lepton Flavor Violating Decays Of ϒ (1s), S. Patra, V. Bhardwaj, K. Trabelsi, I. Adachi, H. Aihara, S. Al Said, D. M. Asner, H. Atmacan, T. Aushev, R. Ayad, V. Babu, S. Bahinipati, P. Behera, K. Belous, J. Bennett, M. Bessner, B. Bhuyan, T. Bilka, A. Bobrov

Faculty and Student Publications

We present a search for the charged lepton-flavor-violating decays ϒ(1S) →ℓ±ℓ′∓ and radiative charged lepton-flavour-violating decays ϒ(1S) → γℓ±ℓ′∓ [ℓ,ℓ′ = e, μ, τ] using the 158 million ϒ(2S) sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB collider. This search uses ϒ(1S) mesons produced in ϒ(2S) → π+π− ϒ(1S) transitions. We do not find any significant signal, so we provide upper limits on the branching fractions at the 90% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Popular Protests And Democratization In Post-Soviet Countries: An Analysis Of Why Some Democracy Movements Failed And Others Succeeded, David Mcdonald

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to analyze pro-democracy movements in post-Soviet countries through the lens of existing theories of democratization to determine why a particular protest movement succeeded or failed. Through a qualitative analysis of theories of democratization and four case studies – Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus – this thesis finds that the theories of democratization are ultimately applicable and helpful in understanding these case studies, albeit in different ways. Whereas the theories and their predictions might be proven correct in the cases of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, the opposite is true in Russia and Belarus, where authoritarian regimes have taken steps …

Accounting Case Studies, Megan Jansen

Honors Theses

This thesis is a combination of 11 accounting case studies. They are titled: A Tale of Two Cities, Exploring the FASB and GAAP, Presidential Debate, Tax Cuts and Job Act and Taxodus, Professional Interview, Case Competition Disney Overview, Case Competition Disney Audit Analyst, Case Competition Disney Tax Advisor, Case Competition Disney Advisory Consultant, Case Competition Disney’s Equity Position, and The Financial Crisis of 2008.These cases cover a variety of topics in the accounting and professional world. Five of the cases contain research that pertained to a case competition in which I was placed on a team and tasked with creating …

Communicating Through A Crisis: An Analysis Of The University Of Mississippi's Initial Covid-19 Crisis Communications, Sydney Waitley

Honors Theses

This thesis, in effort to examine modern-day crisis communications, focuses on the analysis of University of Mississippi’s initial crisis communications during the COVID-19 pandemic during March 2020. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the university’s communication efforts during this crisis in order to determine the effectiveness of the University of Mississippi’s initial COVID-19 crisis communications. First, the researcher analyzed historical case studies on three notable crisis communications (the Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Crisis of 1982, the United Airlines Crisis of 2017, and the Crock-Pot Crisis of 2018). From these case studies, qualities of good crisis communications were determined …

The American Prosecutor And The Carceral State: An Analysis To Address Prosecutorial Power And Discretion In An Effort To Reduce Overincarceration In The United States, Olivia Jordan

Honors Theses

There is perhaps no other actor within our legal system that shares more power and control over the carceral state than the American prosecutor. This thesis examines the powers of the prosecutor at every stage of criminal procedure, how these powers contribute to the carceral state, and how prioritizing prosecutorial policy reform can effectively reduce persistent mass incarceration in the United States. This thesis uses three criteria- effectiveness at reducing overincarceration, feasibility of implementation, and ethical impact- to critically evaluate several proposals for addressing prosecutorial power and discretion. Ultimately, the thesis recommends a combination of three proposals for a more …

Amlo And Huachicoleo: The Effects And Implications Of The Fuel Theft Crackdown In Mexico, Samuel Starr

Honors Theses

On December 20th, 2018—less than three weeks into new president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term—the Mexican federal government initiated a crackdown on fuel theft, or huachicoleo. The crackdown was intensive and nationwide. Its implementation was costly: gas stations throughout the country shut down as fuel pipelines were closed, the newly established National Guard was deployed to protect fuel infrastructure, and cartels threatened acts of terror against the government. The crackdown ended in April of 2019, with the López Obrador administration calling it a success. The overarching goal of this study is to test that assertion empirically by investigating the crackdown’s …

Financial Analysis Of Accountancy In America Today Through Collective Case Studies, Caitlyn Henry

Honors Theses

The following thesis contains a collection of ten accounting case studies that were written and directed under the advisement of Dr. Victoria Dickinson during the enrollment of Honors Accountancy 420. Dr. Dickinson presented us with unique prompts for each case study and guided our research as we dove into the professional world of accounting standards in America today. Five of my cases specifically correlate to The Coca-Cola Company, which my case competition team selected to research as we devised tax, audit, and advisory plans to better the company. We presented our findings to a panel of accounting professionals from numerous …

The Grate Solution: Simplifying Viking Oven Packaging Processes, Megan Jansen

Honors Theses

The following report details work completed to improve the Viking Oven Corporation’s gas oven assembly line. The current state of the line hosts an unreliable system for packaging oven grates. Viking manufactures two types of gas ovens on the same line: open burner and closed burner. These different types require different prepackaged grates to be included in the final assembly area. Viking estimates that the wrong grates are sent to the customer ten percent of the time. The following report presents research, brainstorming, problem-solving techniques, and proposed solutions to the problem. The proposed solution would solve the problem at little …

Analysis Of Test Anxiety In Human Anatomy And Physiology I Students At The University Of Mississippi, Anne Piazza

Honors Theses

Student anxiety, specifically test anxiety, is common hindrance to student performance in various courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Mississippi. Through a sequence of three surveys we collected demographic information, anxiety data related to the course, and test anxiety in general We researched factors that could potentially influence student anxiety such as at what point in the semester the student is evaluated, when students feel the most stressed, outcomes on previous evaluations, and perceived outcomes of the course. We also examined what effect the anxiety has on the student such as lowered performance, lowered test scores, …

Computer Adaptive Instruction And Assessment: The Story Of Prescriptive Curriculum In One Rural Mississippi School, Mary Simpson Stone

Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to discover the impact iReady, a computerized instruction and assessment software, and Ready, the software’s printed counterpart, have had on English/Language Arts teachers at School D (pseudonym). School D is part of the Achieving Success School District (pseudonym) which is located in Town X (pseudonym) in rural Mississippi. This study uses a mixed methods approach to understand teachers’ perceptions of iReady software and Ready curriculum in general as well as teachers’ perceptions of how the implementation of the program affected themselves and their students. The findings and implications recorded in this study are a …

April 28, 2022, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Um Band Getting Bigger, Better Practice Field, Edwin B. Smith

University of Mississippi News

Chancellor Glenn Boyce announces $3.5 million commitment from the university, donors

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 …

Learning Local Languages As A Means Of Preserving Culture: An Analysis Of The Federal Education Laws’ Treatment Of Regional Languages In The Basque Country And Colombia, Olivia Jaramillo

Honors Theses

Regional languages are essential components of vibrantly diverse cultures. Across all regions of the globalizing modern world, regional languages remain one of the clearest markers of the rich heritage and history that each continent, country, state, city, town uniquely possesses. Unlike the more dominant languages of our evolving international landscape, local and regional languages explicitly capture precise cultural experiences of limited populations. These languages carry specific nuance, meaning, grammar, and vocabulary obscured by other forms of communication. This project, researching and analyzing two individual countries’ regional language education under the federal legal systems, holds the importance of safeguarding local languages …

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 …

Speech-Language Pathologists' Skills And Knowledge In Dysphagia Management In Long-Term Care Facilities, Madelyn Griffin

Honors Theses

An increasing amount of current research indicates the prevalence of oral and pharyngeal dysphagia in all age groups, with a higher number of cases present in the geriatric population. Dysphagia is common in age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Dementia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and skills of speech- language pathologists (SLPs) working in long-term care, in the area of oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. Participating SLPs responded to a survey asking to self-identify their knowledge/skills in oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. The findings from this study revealed the variety of expertise of SLPs …

Indie Illness: An Evaluation Of The Orphan Drug Act, Nicholas Castellanos

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 by subtracting the cost of incentives for drug development from the estimated value created by each drug in the form of quality-adjusted life-year gains. Data regarding costs of incentives is retrieved from the FDA as well as a report released by the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Data regarding value created by each drug is retrieved from a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA, the CEA registry, and a report released by the US Department of Health and Human Sciences. Sufficient data was available …

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.

The Relationship Between Ptsd-Related Symptoms And Skin Disease Symptom Severity In A Dermatological Sample, Kristin Barnett

Honors Theses

Previous research has demonstrated associations between stress and physical health conditions, including skin disease. The stress cycle, including its associated hormonal responses and stress behaviors, contributes to more severe skin disease symptoms. Psychological stress and anxiety-disorder symptoms are known to be associated with skin disease severity; however, research has yet to examine the relationships between stress disorders and skin disease severity. Therefore, stress disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) are hypothesized to have a similar relationship with skin disease severity, wherein greater severity of PTSD-related symptoms would be positively associated with skin disease severity. Participants from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N …

Parking Department Shifting To Use License Plates As Permits, Sydney Dupriest

University of Mississippi News

Many parking permit holders no longer will need hangtags or decals beginning this fall

Targeting Platelets Using Ionic Liquid Coated Nanoparticles, Karen Mun Wong

Honors Theses

Platelets are key players in our body’s inflammatory processes upon activation, which can create physiological problems. Researchers are actively seeking solutions by targeting platelets with therapeutics. The objective of the research in this thesis was to investigate a new and potentially less invasive drug delivery platform using nanoparticles. The topic of the project was to explore the world of ionic liquids and their abilities, when coated on nanoparticles, to bind to platelets. A library of choline carboxylic acid-based ionic liquids (ILs) was first synthesized via salt metathesis while PLGA-based nanoparticles were simultaneously being synthesized via the nanoprecipitation method. The ionic …

How To Combat The Negative Effects Of Punishment Drift On Children, Madison Alliston

Honors Theses

Approximately 2.7 million children have a parent that is currently incarcerated in the United States. Despite the fact that these children are innocent, they face a myriad of negative consequences due to the separation from their parents. The negative effect of incarceration on children is known as punishment drift. Because the effects of incarceration tend to “drift” onto children, these individuals typically face psychological impacts (e.g., social anxiety and depression), economic impacts (e.g., poverty and food insecurity), and environmental impacts (e.g., foster care) from punishment drift. Despite all of the detrimental effects, there have been very few policy solutions implemented …

Effects Of Parent Intervention Via Tele-Practice On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Rural Mississippi, Erin Bowens

Honors Theses

Background

The present study explored the use of parent intervention via tele-practice for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and how effective that intervention was in increasing the child’s language and communication skills and the parents’ strategy use in the rural state of Mississippi.

Methods

Two dyads of participants were used. Dyad 1 included a mother and her 4-year-old son with high-functioning ASD, and Dyad 2 included a mother and her 4-year-old daughter with severe ASD. Standardized tests were administered to gather data about the children’s diagnoses. The study included four phases across four months, including pre-test, intervention, post-test, and …

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 …

Fast Photochemical Oxidation And Footprinting Of Proteins Via Trifluoromethyl Radical Chemistry, Elaine Morrow

Honors Theses

Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) is a useful tool in proteomics because of the ability for modifications to occur on the scale of microseconds which reduces the modifications to tertiary and quaternary structure allowing for more accurate labeling of the protein. Labels for FPOP are generated from various radicals in our experiments which include hydroxyl radicals and trifluoromethyl radicals. Hydroxyl radicals are easily generated by using an excimer laser (KrF laser, 248 nm) or a UV flash lamp (as a part of the Fox™ System) by the photolysis of hydrogen peroxide. Trifluoromethyl radicals, however, need hydroxyl radicals to be …

'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 …