Digital Commons Network^™

Cooperating For Charity: The Effect Of Decentralization On French Associations, Ragan Ketrow

Honors Theses

This thesis explored the relationship between the decentralization laws of 1982 and 1983 in France and French associations as well as the resulting lack of exceptionalism in the French nonprofit sector. This thesis explores the claims of the French nonprofit scholar Edith Archambault as she argues that the steep rise in associations in France in the 1980s is due to the legal changes that occured during that same decade. In order to evaluate these claims, I used regression tests to compare the relationship between the growth of associations and other variants including economic growth, disposable income, and government expenditure. In …

Who Will Do The Good Works?: The Troubling Case Of Secularization And The Failure Of The Welfare State In England And Perú, Gabrielle Anna Schust

Honors Theses

This study examines the contribution and impacts of the social service works done by nuns in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s, and in Perú within the last five years. Specifically, it investigates the relationship between nuns as providers of social services and other providers such as the government. Drawing on existing literature on theories of secularization, and a close examination of the historical evolution of the British and Peruvian welfare state apparatuses, this study contextualizes the social service work of nuns in contemporaneous social, economic, and political circumstances. It finds that the population of nuns is on a …

Assessment Of Antebrachial And Carpal Muscle Activity During Smartphone Use: Is “Selfie Wrist” A Real Phenomenon?, Monica Stacy

Honors Theses

Reports in the media by celebrities have sparked an interest in a phenomenon being called “selfie-wrist,” in which smartphone users develop symptoms traditionally associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There has been no research to date which investigates the claims of “selfie wrist.” The primary aim of this study was to address the validity of “selfie wrist” claims. The secondary aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of texting on musculoskeletal health, taking into account the differences between texting one-handed versus two-handed, and the effect of using a grip device while texting.

The experiment consisted of an …

Does It Get Any Worse Than Acne? It Does, Actually. An In-Depth Review Of Accutane’S Regulatory History., Bridget A. Betts

Honors Theses

Isotretinoin, most often recognized by the brand name Accutane®, is regarded by many patients and prescribers as the miracle cure for acne. Its unsurpassed efficacy is paired with serious risk of adverse events and birth defects, which poses ethical questions regarding its safety and necessity. Its regulatory history established precedent in Food and Drug Administration Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies and brought awareness to the sharp dangers of teratogenic drug use.

This medication came as a breakthrough solution to patients that suffered years of unsuccessful regimens for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Some question the risk-benefit evaluation of such a …

Can Cities Be Feminist? A Cross-National Analysis Of Factors Affecting Local Female Representation In Latin America, Katie Davis

Honors Theses

Women are underrepresented in mayor’s offices and on city councils across Latin America. In this paper, I examine gender-based differences in individual opinions toward running for office in Argentina and Uruguay, as well as conduct a twenty-six country analysis on factors related to female representation in municipal government. Based on these analyses, I make three main conclusions about female local representation in Latin America. The first conclusion is that women in Latin America are significantly less likely to want to run or feel qualified to run for office. The second conclusion is that cross-national variation in the percentage of female …

Detection And Characterization Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid Metabolites Using Human Liver Microsomes, Seema Murugan

Honors Theses

Marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids are the most commonly used and trafficked illicit drug. ∆⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary active compound in marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids were created as a method to study the effects of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system, which consists of endogenous cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and the synthetic and degrading enzymes responsible for the synthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids. Cannabinoids activate the same receptors as endocannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids gained popularity as recreational drugs due to their ability to avoid detection. Synthetic cannabinoids have been found to have a greater binding affinity to the cannabinoid CB₁ receptor …

Talent Against Tradition: The Art And Life Of Kate Freeman Clark, Grace Moorman

Honors Theses

This paper explores the art of Holly Springs, Mississippi, painter Kate Freeman Clark, especially in association with the work of her teacher William Merritt Chase. Much of this paper is based on two extensive biographies: Cynthia Grant Tucker’s Kate Freeman Clark: A Painter Rediscovered, and Carolyn J. Brown’s The Artist’s Sketch: A Biography of Painter Kate Freeman Clark. Using a number of object studies, this paper explores the development of Clark’s work under the tutelage of Chase, highlighting similarities and differences that lead to the conclusion that Clark had a very real talent that she seemed reluctant to …

The Effect Of Movement On Convergent And Divergent Thinking, Simmy Vig

Honors Theses

Research within the field of embodied cognition has primarily focused on the effect of bodily movement on convergent measures such as intelligence and memory, but few studies have explored movement’s effect on convergent thinking ability and divergent creative potential. This study aimed to investigate the effect of embodiment on convergent problem-solving (i.e., vocabulary and similarities tasks) and divergent creativity (i.e., Alternative Uses Task) through the movement conditions of constrained walking (i.e., path-walking) and unconstrained walking (i.e., roaming) in undergraduate college students. Participants simultaneously walked while completing the experimental tasks, and their responses were compared to those in the control (seated) …

The Red Swimsuit: Essays, Jacqueline Knirnschild

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of creative non-fiction essays that offers a collage of ethnography, reportage and memoir. The Red Swimsuit blurs the lines between what is considered social science, journalism and art. These essays will become part of a book- length work of creative non-fiction that will explore what it’s like to grow up as a woman in a globalized world wrought with social media, hookup culture and cross-cultural interactions. The Red Swimsuit provides first-hand experience, reflexive narration, and reflection on life as a member of Generation Z, also known as iGen.

Acute Exercise On Prospective Memory Function: Open Vs. Closed Skilled Exercise, Grace Burnett

Honors Theses

Background: Accumulating research suggests that acute exercise may enhance memory function. Limited research, however, has evaluated whether the movement patterns of acute exercise may have a differential effect on memory. Such an effect is plausible, as research demonstrates that open-skilled exercise (e.g., racquetball) may have a greater effect on memory-related neurotrophins (e.g., brain - derived neurotrophic factors) when compared to closed-skilled exercise (e.g. treadmill exercise). A key distinction between open- and closed-skilled exercise is that open-skilled exercises are those that require an individual to react in a dynamic way to a changing, unpredictable environment. The purpose of this study was …

Assessment Of Orofacial Myofunctional Profiles Of Undergraduate Students In The United States, Rachel Yockey

Honors Theses

Background: Previous research indicates a high prevalence of orofacial myofunctional disorders in the general population. It was further reported that orofacial dysfunction may have wide ramifications, such as teeth displacement, articulation errors, swallowing difficulties, middle ear infections, and frequent colds. The purpose of this study was to examine orofacial myofunctional profiles of undergraduate students in the United States.

Method: The English version of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) was used to assess 55 undergraduate university students (age range:18 to 23 years). In addition, each participant completed a standard hearing screening, as well as a hearing history questionnaire.

Results: In our …

An Assessment Of Herb-Drug Interaction Potential Of Two Herbs: Momordica Charantia And Phyllanthus Amarus, Faridah Salau

Honors Theses

The use of natural supplements alongside prescribed medications is on the increase. Thus, it is important to analyze different properties of herbal supplements that can be implicated in eliciting herb-drug interactions. The herb Momordica charnatia is used throughout the world for its antidiabetic properties, and the herb Phyllanthus amarus is used in tropical and subtropical areas of the world for its hepatoprotective properties. Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) activation capabilities of these herbs was measured using a reporter gene assay. Additionally, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform induction potential for CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, and CYP2C9 was determined through an enzymatic assay in hepatic …

The Covert Abolition Of The Death Penalty: A Comparative Analysis Of France And Mississippi, Emma S. Rice

Honors Theses

This study places that question in the context of two places which both share a common history of using brutal death penalties: France and Mississippi. This thesis seeks to answer the question of what the abolition of the death penalty in France suggests about the likelihood of its abolition in Mississippi, in light of a cultural comparison of their respective attitudes toward crime and punishment.

Chancellor Letter End Of Spring 2020 Semester, Glenn F. Boyce

COVID-19 Emails

No abstract provided.

Michael A. Repka Presented University's Top Research Award, Shea Stewart

University of Mississippi News

Longtime UM pharmaceutics professor honored for his drug delivery work, creative activity

University Honors Three With Frist Awards, Mitchell Diggs

University of Mississippi News

Carmen Riggan, Stefan Schulenberg and Sovent Taylor recognized for exceptional student service

The Effects Of Acute Exercise And Psychological Stress On Episodic Memory, Lauren Koehler

Honors Theses

Research has suggested that exercise has an effect on memory function. Studies have also shown that exercise mitigates the effects of stress. The relationship between exercise and stress in regard to memory function is noteworthy. There has been little research on this relationship in young adults. This thesis discusses the effects of acute exercise on the episodic memory of young adults when they are exposed to a psychosocial stressor. The results of the research study show that acute aerobic exercise before memory encoding or consolidation was not associated with memory function after exposure to a stressor. Future research in this …

Audibility, Cost-Acceptibility And Cosmetic Appearance Of Iqbuds Boost In Adults Over The Age Of 50, Madison Dacus, Vishakha Rawool

Honors Theses

Background: Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans and up to 86% of all adults with hearing loss may not wear hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss is associated with social withdrawal, depression, stress, loss of income, and dementia. Even so, people still tend not to buy or wear hearing aids for a variety of reasons. One recently suggested solution to this problem is low-cost, over the counter (OTC) hearing aids, nicknamed “hearables” This study evaluated the audibility, cost-acceptability and cosmetic appearance of one OTC, IQBuds BOOST.

Methods: Fourteen men and 12 women over 50 years with a hearing loss participated in …

Feminism And Low Breastfeeding Rates In France, Megan Wadsworth

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding rates in France are among the lowest in high-income countries, indicating that French mothers do not breastfeed for nearly as long as is recommended by healthcare professionals and international health organizations. French government, society and conflicting feminist perspectives all influence the likelihood that mothers will breastfeed. The French government has regulations in place to protect women’s right to breastfeed in public and in the workplace, but it is unclear if these are truly beneficial for French women. French society is a seemingly inhospitable environment in which mothers do not feel safe and secure to breastfeed publicly. Motherhood and feminism …

James Crow Jr., Esquire And Voter Suppression, Samantha Henderson

Honors Theses

This thesis lays out Voter ID laws and the effects they have on minorities. A new era of Jim Crow legislation in the 21st century as referred to by the well-respected, civil activist, Al Sharpton, as James Crow Jr., Esquire, creating laws that negatively impact voting. “Fait accompli,” a term used to describe the plight and pressure put upon the minority who are already at a disadvantage because the laws are established to discriminate against them. How can a silenced group change legislation when they cannot access the ballot? I will explore Supreme Court cases such as Yick Wo v. …

American Indian Sovereignty And Climate Change: Emerging Spaces And Coalitions To Assert American Indian Sovereignty During A Climate Crisis, Brenna Q. Gardner

Honors Theses

Climate change is a global issue that will affect most, if not all, populations on earth; however, it will not affect groups equally. While vulnerability varies between groups, poor, frontline, marginalized, and Indigenous people are particularly vulnerable. This thesis explores if the challenge of climate change as affecting multiple vulnerable populations presents emerging spaces in which American Indian sovereignty can be asserted. I provide a literature review on federal Indian policy and the American Indian Sovereignty movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I then analyze primary materials produced by the Indigenous Environmental Network and primary material surrounding the #NoDAPL movement. …

Synthesis Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products And Pesticide Metabolites Of Environmental Concern, Isaiah Edwards

Honors Theses

Human pollution of aquatic environments by introduction of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as well as agrichemicals presents a grave threat to the health of aquatic organisms. Many of these chemicals not only exhibit toxicity to the species of complex ecosystems at various levels but also undergo metabolic transformation into moieties that have different and sometimes more potent physiochemical profiles. PPCP and pesticides as well as their metabolites impact organisms via a number of different mechanisms, with the most serious arguably being endocrine disruption. Two emerging pollutants, gemfibrozil and bifenthrin, possess naturally occurring metabolites that were determined to warrant …

The Embeddedness Of Racial Microaggressions In International Student Experiences At The University Of Mississippi, Morgan Blythe

Honors Theses

This study explores the lived experiences of international students at the University of Mississippi (UM). Using a phenomenological approach, the participants’ stories were understood and offered as a counter-narrative to existing literature dominated by White Americans. The interviews were processed through the lens of Critical Race Theory, specifically the microaggressions framework to account for modern-day racism as it evolves alongside culture. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with international students at UM ranging from exchange to PhD candidates. These participants are from various countries around the globe, chosen through convenience sampling. The interviews were coded using NVivo12. The results of this …

Design And Synthesis Of Novel Analogs As Potential Antitubercular Agents, Peggy Mccluggage

Honors Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, airborne disease which primarily infects the lungs. One-third of the world’s population is currently estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent for TB [1]. Current treatment for this disease requires at least six months of taking multiple antibiotics with undesirable side effects [2]. Difficulty in complying to this regimen as well as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has led to antimicrobial resistance seen in Mtb. In order to combat the Multi-Drug Resistant and Extensively-Drug Resistant strains of the disease-causing bacteria, preventative care and novel antibiotics are urgently needed [3]. The purpose for …

An Evaluation Of Community Based Food Intervention: Cooking Matters In Charleston, Ms, Lindsay Fournier

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Cooking Matters classes in producing improvement in individuals’ cooking skills and confidence, as well as their eating behaviors, shopping skills, and perceptions of cooking in rural Charleston, MS. These classes have reported great success in more urban areas such as Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC; however, different challenges may be faced in rural Mississippi. To study the effectiveness of the interventions in a new context, pre- and post-intervention self-report surveys were performed and evaluated using Wilcoxon statistical analysis as well as paired sample t tests, and bootstrap …

Multi-Generational Effects Of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure On Gene Expression In Liver Tissue, Kayla Lovitt

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most commonly used, cultivated, and trafficked illicit drug worldwide. Increased availability and acceptance of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing products provide the necessity for understanding how these substances influence aging. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to concentrations of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (0.08, 0.4, 2 µM) during embryonic-larval development, the effects on aging were measured 30 months later and in the offspring of the exposed fish (F1 generation. We observed results indicating a biphasic and hormetic effect. Treatment with the lowest concentration of THC significantly increased egg production, while higher concentrations resulted in impaired …

Cell Proliferation And Viability Inhibition By Resveratrol On Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Kyle Ford Gordon Jr

Honors Theses

Antioxidants are well-known for their various health benefits. They are able to protect cells from being damaged by free radicals that are produced by vital biochemical processes. It has long been known that antioxidants are important in our everyday health, but their potential as disease preventers and potential therapeutic agents is a relatively new field of study. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol and well-known antioxidant, is found in plants, fruits, and products derived from them, like red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have various properties, including antiaging, anti-aggregation of platelets, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Because of their many health benefits, …

The Effects Of Narrative Processing On False Recall, Calista Spears

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to test whether false memory intrusions occur at a greater rate when participants encode words in a narrative processing scenario, as compared to a survival scenario or a pleasantness condition. In each condition, the participants were presented with one list of words related to an unlisted critical word adapted from Stadler, Roediger, and McDermott’s (1999) norms. For each condition (narrative, survival, and pleasantness), participants read a set of instructions and processed words by writing things related to the condition (i.e., writing a story line using the word, listing how the word would be used …

Vital Signs: Exploring Medical American Sign Language Interpreting Services In Mississippi, Morgan Pfleger

Honors Theses

This research involves the regulation, education and training, and availability of medical sign language interpreters in Mississippi, a topic that is seldom studied. The research consisted of a review of past literature on topics related to interpretation and Deaf and hard-of-hearing population, systematic policy review, and interviews with 9 individuals from 7 different medical facilities and one interview with 4 participants together in Mississippi including primary care providers, hospitals, and community health centers. These data were used to explore the interpreting services being provided for those using sign language in Mississippi. Both national and state policies require that alternative methods …

The Roots Of Wellbeing: Positive Effects Of Nature Writing, Grace Turner

Honors Theses

Fostering healthy relationships between humans and the environment is beneficial for people and for the natural world around us. Efforts to foster these relationships are more important now than ever before due to the rapid deterioration of the climate and the growing divide between people and nature. There is abundant research documenting the positive physical, psychological, and social effects of time spent in nature, such as positive mood, life satisfaction, connection to nature, pro-environmental behavior, and feelings of transcendence. However, actual experiences in nature may be inconvenient, inaccessible, or otherwise unavailable. Addressing this concern, researchers are now examining the possible …