Digital Commons Network^™

Design Of Topical Moxifloxacin Mucoadhesive Nanoemulsion For The Management Of Ocular Bacterial Infections, Ahmed Adel Ali Youssef, Ruchi Thakkar, Samir Senapati, Poorva H. Joshi

Faculty and Student Publications

Ocular bacterial infections can lead to serious visual disability without proper treatment. Moxifloxacin (MOX) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a monotherapy for ocular bacterial infections and is available commercially as an ophthalmic solution (0.5% w/v). However, precorneal retention, drainage, and low bioavailability remain the foremost challenges associated with current commercial eyedrops. With this study, we aimed to design a MOX-loaded nanoemulsion (NE; MOX-NE) with mucoadhesive agents (MOX-NEM) to sustain MOX release, as well as to overcome the potential drawbacks of the current commercial ophthalmic formulation. MOX-NE and MOX-NEM formulations were prepared by hot homogenization …

The Wu-Tang Clan And Cultural Resistance, Michael Blum

Proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society

No abstract provided.

Nsf Fellowships Give Students Means To Aim Big With Their Research, Benita Whitehorn

University of Mississippi News

Students recognized with graduate research fellowships, honorable mention

M.B. Mayfield Heritage Trail Walking Tour, Ellie Davis, James Geiger, Samantha Rice, Brittany Ellis, Abigail Browning, Walker Bray, Katie Kerrigan, Sara Grevy, Josh Cielencki, Jeannie Speck-Thompson

Digital and Public History Student Projects

Discover sites related to the life and art of M.B. Mayfield, an African American artist who was educated in secret at a pre-integration University of Mississippi.

Synthetic Investigations In Chemical Probe Development Part 1: Design And Synthesis Of Novel Triton X-405 Adenosine Conjugates; Part 2: Synthesis Of 2,8-Dihydroxychrysene, Rachel Irene Hammond

Honors Theses

Although not drugs themselves, chemical probes are a necessary tool in biomedical research for the interrogation of biological systems. In the present synthetic investigation, two chemical probes were developed – a Triton X-405 adenosine conjugate (TX-405A) and 2,8-dihydroxychrysene. The designed TX-405A conjugate was generated in four steps through tosylation and amination of TX-405 such that EDC-coupling of TX-amine with 2’,3’-Isopropylidene adenosine-5’-carboxylic acid afforded TX-405A following acetonide deprotection. The development of TX-405A represents the first report of the synthesis and utilization of a detergent-linked dosimeter. The synthesis of 2,8-dihydroxychrysene provided an in-depth exploration on the unique reactivity of chrysene. The desired …

A Study Of Cannabigerolic Acid And Its Derivatives Via Raman Spectroscopy And Density Functional Theory, Trevor Wolfe

Honors Theses

The cannabinoids are a class of molecules endogenous to the cannabis plant. Their scientific relevance has increased in recent years due to the mercurial legal status of marijuana across the United States. Some of the most known are cannabidiol (CBD), δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (δ9-THC), and δ8-THC due in large part to their widespread use, especially in states where marijuana and related products are legal. However, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is arguably the most important cannabinoid; it is enzymatically converted into other acidic cannabinoids, which subsequently undergo non-enzymatic processes (isomerization, thermal decarboxylation, oxidation, etc.) to synthesize further cannabinoids. Although there is a wealth of …

A Performance Analysis Of The Belle Ii Detector, John Stacy

Honors Theses

The Belle II experiment has recently (2018) started data taking at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan. Detector performance studies are necessary to understand early data and prepare for more complex analyses. This study of the proton detection efficiency of the Belle II detector compares real and simulated data to find discrepancies with the intention to provide useful information for detector and calibration experts to better gauge detector performance. It also attempts to improve the characterization of proton identification efficiency at low momenta, which performs poorly under the current fitting model. This helps analysts exploring final states that include …

Lifetime Measurement Of The Xi_C^+ Using Belle Ii Monte Carlo, Paul Gebeline

Honors Theses

This analysis uses simulated data from the Belle II experiment to measure the lifetime of the Xi_c^+ baryon. Three different decay modes are investigated to explore the feasibility and accuracy of such measurements at Belle II. The Xi_c^+ lifetime is measured using one of these modes after reducing backgrounds from sources other than the decay of interest. The final result is 464 +/- 15 fs, which is consistent with the expected result of 442 fs within uncertainty. This result shows that Belle II can make competitive measurements of particle properties and decays.

Lectin-Glycan Complexes: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Docking Calculations, Ashton Custer

Honors Theses

Lectins are a type of glycan-binding protein that noncovalently bind glycans. Carbohydrates are molecules consisting of sugar units joined together. Glycans are carbohydrates. Hence, glycans are also sugars. Lectins and lectin-glycan complexes have a range of biological roles and can be found in animals (including humans), plants, bacteria, viruses, and yeasts and fungi.¹ Many scientists focus on the computational study of these complexes due to their intricate roles in many living organisms. Computational study is important in furthering our knowledge of lectin-glycan complexes and other such protein complexes. However, computational study is not perfect. There are many challenges in …

Computational Investigations Into Astrochemical Inorganic Oxides, Ammonia Borane, And Genetic Algorithms, E. Michael Valencia

Honors Theses

The formulations of quantum mechanics in the early 1900s were exciting theoretical discoveries, but were not practical to apply until the advent of computers and the subsequent computational methods in 1951. With the introduction of tractable simplifications, procedures such as Hartree-Fock allowed for determination of properties of non-trivial systems. Presently, huge leads of computational power have allowed for extremely precise, quantitative work that can be applied to the human body, synthesis, or even astrochemical processes. This thesis presents works concerning 1) the history of quantum mechanics; 2) a brief primer on computational chemistry and its methods; 3) inorganic oxides in …

Investigating The Neuroprotective Effects Of Cannabinoids And Insulin-Like Growth Factors On Glia With Induced Inflammation, Caleb Bloodworth

Honors Theses

Chronic inflammation is a driver of numerous neurodegenerative diseases that reduce quality of life for affected individuals. Non-psychoactive cannabinoids have begun to gain more interest in the world of anti-inflammatory medicine for chronically ill patients. Along with these cannabinoids, insulin-like growth factor-1 has been examined for its association with downregulation of inflammation. Our research aimed to investigate how neuroglia are affected by treatment with cannabinoids or IGF-1 in the face of inflammation from HIV-1 protein, Tat, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Preliminary studies in our laboratory showed that neither cannabinoids or IGF-1 treatment altered astrocyte morphology or overall astrocyte viability under baseline …

Ab Initio Study Of The Rotation Of The C≡C Group In Benzvalyne, Advait Praveen

Honors Theses

For benzvalyne, we have characterized the minima and transition states of the molecule using the B3LYP, MP2, and M06-2X methods and aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. This was done by calculating the energy of the molecule while rotating the alkyne bond contained within it. After the initial rotation, optimized parameters for the molecule are found. Following this, imaginary frequencies were attempted to be found at the local maximum produced by the graph of the Energy v. rotation angle. Should the negative frequencies be found, the energy of the molecule will be characterized by the CCSD (T) method and aug-cc-pVQZ basis sets. This …

Comorbidity Burden And Covid-19 Vaccination Intention: Application Of The Health Belief Model, Michael Raymond

Honors Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted many aspects of American’s lives causing over 79 million cases and over 950,000 deaths. Existing research shows severity of COVID-19 infection may be linked to number of underlying health conditions, known as comorbidities. The objective of this study was to determine if comorbidity burden was associated with intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. This relationship was looked at through the Health Belief Model (HBM) and its mediating variables of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. Our sample was compromised of 350 individuals recruited from an online platform who were not already vaccinated against COVID-19. …

Computational Electronic Spectroscopy Predictions For Astrochemical Ice Analogues And Data Analysis For Experimental Spectra, Austin Wallace

Honors Theses

Theoretical chemistry aims to acquire wavefunctions for systems to calculate physical observables to help guide experimentation or provide rationale for particular observations. While quantum chemistry has expanded well beyond Hartree-Fock theory to produce more accurate predictions or faster computational times, this theory has formed the foundation of the field through providing a means to solve the electron-electron repulsion term as simply an average field and to acquire converged molecular orbitals through the self-consistent-field method. When attempting to describe large molecular systems that can populate many microstates, the Boltzmann distribution provides a means for determining the relative abundances of each microstate …

Rates And Perceptions Of Covid-19 Vaccination From University Of Mississippi Students, Josie Parham

Honors Theses

The trials, tribulations and triumphs of the global COVID-19 pandemic are impacted by and are a product of behaviors that occur at the level of nations, states, cities and, ultimately, communities. In the wake of the development of safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV2, the virus responsible for the pandemic, the significance of the vaccine is closely linked to the number of individuals that receive the vaccine. To date, surveys have measured sizable variations in vaccination rates between nations, states, cities, and communities. Focusing on events that have transpired in one such local community, the present study (i) measured the …

Glass House S1:E1 “Sweet Temptations”, Taylor Middleton

Honors Theses

Sweet Temptations tells the story of the Price family navigating their new lives in Cape Huron. Enticed by the opportunity of a new job with great benefits, the Price family moves to Cape Huron, Maine, a small town with mysterious goings-on. While father, Paul, starts work at the factory in town, twins Seth and Samantha start their senior year of high school. Everything in the town is perfect at surface level, the houses are all the same cookie-cutter design with the exception of the different color palettes and furniture styles. The perfect All-American façade comes crashing down when Seth and …

Lc-Ms Identification Of Serum Proteins Adsorbed Onto Ionic Liquid-Coated Nanoparticles, Anh M. Hoang

Honors Theses

Nanocarriers are promising candidates for drug delivery due to their size and tunable surface characteristics. However, when they are intravenously injected, few particles make it to their designated location. This is because upon entering the bloodstream, the serum in the blood, which is rich with a diversity of proteins, adsorbs onto the particles’ surfaces forming a protein corona. Many of the attached proteins trigger the mobile immune system and are removed by macrophages, and many particles are then filtered out by the liver and kidneys. Ionic Liquids (ILs), which consist of asymmetric, bulky components that are liquid

An Overview Of Barriers To Women In Engineering, Madison Karis

Honors Theses

Engineering remains a heavily male-dominated field despite ongoing efforts to increase diversity. Early experiences within the U.S. education system can strongly influence women’s choices to pursue engineering degrees. Many young students are introduced to engineering through pre-college programs, but these programs may give students an incomplete understanding of careers in engineering. Gender stereotyping and discrimination from teachers, counselors, and professors also strongly affect female students’ majors. Students may be led to believe certain misconceptions about engineering if their teachers have inaccurate perceptions about the field. Women in engineering also face workplace discrimination at a much higher rate than women in …

Interaction Beyond Nearest Neighbor In Periodic Structures, Sudesh Pathak

Honors Theses

Periodic structures have been of particular interest to researchers and engineers due to their interesting vibrational characteristics leading to applications, namely acoustic filters, and waveguides. Many studies on the interaction of nearest neighbors have been performed. However, such studies are insufficient to understand the variation of band gaps and the maximum number of wave vectors for each frequency. The complex band structure obtained from the interaction beyond nearest neighbors can assist in the development of sophisticated acoustic technologies. This paper primarily emphasizes the study of such interactions with the development of mathematical models based on electrostatic forces, supported by the …

Mercy Otis Warren’S Marcia(S) And Cornelia(S): A Case Study In Women’S Internalization Of Classicism In Early America, Brittany Ellis

Honors Theses

The connection between people in early America and classicism is a field of study that has been heavily documented, although it has remained a very male-focused field with little research done about how women in early America formed a relationship with antiquity. This thesis reveals that elite white women had a deep emotional and intellectual attachment with mothers and matrons from ancient Greece and Rome as a basis for expressing political thoughts and identity; classicism formed a common language that many women could relate to each other before, during, and after the American Revolution. This assessment is achieved through a …

Shock Tube Response Of Polycarbonate And Polyvinyl Chloride Exposed To Uv Radiation For Use In Military Application, Tallulah Jones

Honors Theses

As today’s society becomes increasingly more conscious of finding alternative ways to

power our vehicles, research surrounding solar-charged military vehicles is on the rise. With this endeavor comes an engineering feat of discovering the proper material that is cost-effective, wear-resistant, and strong enough to withstand the harsh elements and potentially large impacts that these military-grade vehicles may encounter.

This research tested two types of materials in a shock tube to simulate their behavior in a dynamic impact. These materials were polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC. In addition to control samples of both of these materials, samples …

Increasing Perceived Realism Of Objects In A Mixed Reality Environment Using 'Diminished Virtual Reality', Logan Scott Parker

Honors Theses

With the recent explosion of popularity of virtual and mixed reality, an important question has arisen: “Is there a way to create a better blend of real and virtual worlds in a mixed reality experience?” This research attempts to determine whether a visual filter can be created and applied to virtual objects to better convince the brain into interpreting a composite of virtual and real views as one seamless view. The method devised in this thesis is being called 'Diminished Virtual Reality'. The results found in this study show that when presented with a scene composed of a combination of …

The Design And Economic Optimization Of A Warehouse Refrigeration System, Hannah Talbot

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project was to design a cool warehouse refrigeration system for Acme Frozen Foods, Inc located in Newark, New Jersey. The refrigeration system was used to cool eighteen 300,000 ft³ refrigerated units (200 ft x 100 ft x 15 ft), each requiring 200 cooling tons of refrigeration at a level of 0 F. The scope of this project included determining the appropriate refrigeration cycle, selecting the most desirable refrigerant, and temperature ranges to optimize the performance of the system. This project also considered the economic cost of the power needed to run the refrigerated units and …

The Sustainability Rhetoric Among The Spanish Fashion Companies Involved In The Rana Plaza Collapse Of 2013, Keegan Lyle

Honors Theses

Over the last century, fashion has evolved to become a commodity that is rapidly changing and easily available. The processes that have led to this accessibility of fashion, however, have proven to be harmful to the environment and, most recently, proven to be potentially fatal for the people making the clothing. In 2013, a garment factory in Bangladesh, housing production for major global fashion brands, like Zara and The Children’s Place, collapsed following a series of negligence. The event has sparked years of awareness-raising in the public dialogue of fast fashion. As a part of the newly-developing research in sustainable …

To Be Or Not To Be: An Assessment Of Latin American Airport Infrastructure And The Creation Of An Airport Infrastructure Index, Jess Elisha Cooley

Honors Theses

Latin American transport infrastructure underperforms the global standard across the board, and previous research indicates that deficient infrastructure deters economic and social development (Fay 2007). Using multiple research methods, this thesis explores how transport infrastructure relates to the economic global competitiveness of a nation. More specifically, the quantitative research includes regression analyses with quantity of varying infrastructure types (airports, roadways, railways, and navigable waterways) and the creation of an airport infrastructure index. The index attempts to determine what dimensions of airport infrastructure truly reflect “good infrastructure” because Latin America has a relatively large quantity of airports. As infrastructure mechanisms are …

Dicyanobenzothiadiazole-Based Organic Dye As A Visible Light Absorbing Strong Photoinduced Oxidant With A 16 Microsecond Long-Lived Excited State, Ivy Li

Honors Theses

Strong photoinduced oxidants are important to organic synthesis and solar energy conversion to chemical fuels or electric. For these applications, visible light absorption is important to solar energy conversion and long-lived excited states are needed to drive catalysis. With respect to these desirable qualities, a series of five 5,6-dicyano[2,1,3]benzothiadiazole ((CN)₂BTD) dyes are examined as organic chromophores that can serve as strong photooxidants in catalytic systems. The series utilizes a ((CN)₂BTD) core with aryl groups on the periphery varying electron donation strengths relative to the core. The dyes are studied via both steady-state and transient absorption and …

Assembling Ideal Actualization In Viennese Social Housing, Jack Day

Honors Theses

The central aims of this paper are to create a potential concept for what an ideal social housing program could look like and then to determine the extent to which the social housing program in Vienna, Austria has brought this ideal to reality. The social housing program in Vienna was chosen due to its popularity as a program and its generally positive reputation. The paper proceeds by first offering potential definitions for social housing, its ideals, and potential indicators for ideal fulfillment. Then, I take influence from the frameworks of assemblage theory and path-dependency theory to analyze the material, temporal, …

Investigation Into The Detection Of Drug Metabolites In Latent Fingerprints, Paige Oden

Honors Theses

Fingerprinting has proved a useful mode of identification for thousands of years. Following numerous technological advancements, it has become a technique for categorizing and keeping track of people over large geographical spaces for almost half of a century. Those living in the beginnings of fingerprinting used them as a form of signature as it was something completely unique to each individual that could not be replicated. Although they are no longer used as the primary form of signature, it certainly remains a biomarker of identity. Over the past century the practice has been heavily refined in order to identify people …

Monte Carlo Study Of Lepton Flavor Universality Violation In B Decays With Belle Ii Simulation, Sakul Mahat

Honors Theses

Belle II, the first super B-Factory experiment, is designed to make precise measurements of weak interaction parameters and search for New Physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory that classifies all known elementary particles and describes three of the four known fundamental forces in the universe. Physics beyond the Standard Model that addresses the theoretical developments needed to explain the deficiencies in the Standard Model is often referred to as New Physics. One of the assumptions of the Standard Model is that the couplings of particles that mediate the weak …

Computational And Spectroscopic Studies Of New Sulfur-Containing Dipole-Bound Anions, Nicholas Allen Kruse

Honors Theses

Sulfur and Nitrogen are essential ingredients in both life-supporting and light-harvesting molecules. Their presence also usually leads to the delocalization of electrons and large dipole and quadrupole moments. Such molecules are sometimes able to form negative ions through the electrostatic binding of an excess electron. These so-called multipole-bound (dipole-bound, quadrupole-bound, etc.) anions have been shown to be important in radiation damage in biology and electron transport processes. Here, we present our recent computational and experimental results studying the creation of new multipole-bound anions.