Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Food Insecurity On Coping Strategies: A Comparison Of Family And College Perception, Nora Evelyn Halama

Honors Theses

Food insecurity (FI), defined as the lack of consistent access to nutrient dense foods, is equally complex as it is prominent in low-income households. Many food insecure individuals have developed coping strategies to mitigate food deficiencies. There remains a gap in research regarding the influence food insecurity on these coping strategies during the transitionary period of students from home life to college. The present study examines the impact of food insecurity on coping strategies among students during both high school and college experiences. A total of 231 freshmen at two large, urban universities completed a questionnaire that included the 6-item …

Food Insecurity In Collegiate Athletes During Covid-19, Elizabeth Swindell

Honors Theses

A study done by Georgetown University in 2019 found that one-fourth of NCAA, D1 collegiate athletes experience food insecurity. The study purpose was to examine food security levels in student athletes at a southern university and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in these students. A survey was completed by student athletes to determine their food security levels during the 2020 academic year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included questions relating to food security based on the USDA’s food insecurity module as well as questions specifically related to the impact of food security …

Alternative Sweeteners For Cultivating Water Kefir Grains, Morgan Barnes

Honors Theses

Water kefir is traditionally fermented using dark brown sugar due to a fast growth rate, however the use of other sweeteners, such as honey, is relatively unexplored. This paper describes the investigation of using alternative mediums made with honey, agave nectar, Truvia/stevia, and monk fruit sweetener, each supplemented with dark brown sugar on the biomass growth of water kefir grains (WKGs). Growth in these alternative mediums was compared to WKG growth in the standard medium prepared using only dark brown sugar. Two trials were conducted, each with three replicates for each experimental medium as well as three replicates of dark …

Investigation Into The Comorbidities Of Disordered Eating And Social Anxiety Disorder In College Students, Alice Mccraney

Honors Theses

In recent years, psychiatrists have reported a trend that individuals with social anxiety disorders are more likely to also have disordered eating and vice versa. Research into this connection has suggested that risk factors, such as stress reactivity, negative self- esteem, perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation are potential links. This is important because understanding the correlation between the two disorders could help develop better treatments plans for people who suffer from these disorders. This study investigates the relationship between the two. A total of 257 college students between ages 18-22 completed a questionnaire using the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale …

Kritika Gupta Named Graduate School Class Marshal, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

Doctoral candidate praised for her work in child nutrition and school wellness

Red And Blue Celebration Honors Graduating Staff Members, Edwin B. Smith

University of Mississippi News

Annual event recognizes 23 UM employees for overcoming challenges, earning degrees

Mississippi Pharmacists’ Perceptions Of Dietary Supplements, Emory Booth

Honors Theses

Dietary supplements are often a controversial topic among healthcare professionals. Many view supplements positively and appreciate the health benefits they can provide. Others are wary of the decreased regulation dietary supplements are subject to and believe that the benefits of supplements do not outweigh the risks. Dietary supplements are of particular interest to pharmacists, as they are often sold at their place of work, and pharmacists have to consolidate their patients’ supplement use with their medication use. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the viewpoints of Mississippi pharmacists in relation to dietary supplements. A survey was sent to …

Grit And Food Security Among Female Caregivers In A Rural, Appalachian Mississippi County, Mary Frances Buzhardt

Honors Theses

Background: Grit is the determination and resolve required for accomplishing long term goals.

Research Outcome: This study examined: 1) differences in grit by household food security status; and 2) relationship between grit and household food security status among female caregivers of elementary school children in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi county after participation in a produce voucher intervention.

Methods: Female caregivers (n=1,144) were recruited at three elementary schools in MS in November 2017 and enrolled into a produce voucher intervention ($11/week over 10 weeks). Validated measures of household food security status (10-item USDA survey) and grit score (8-item Duckworth survey) were …

The Dream Of The Common Good: Not A Nightmare, Jackson Gregory Dellinger

Honors Theses

This paper examines an emerging position in the philosophy of law, common-good constitutionalism. In the first two parts of the paper, I explain the position and constitutionalism more generally, examining how common-good constitutionalism fits within the definition of constitutionalism providing by a neutral scholar. In the next five parts, I attempt to show that common-good constitutionalism’s preference for explicit adherence to the common good does not violate constitutionalism. In doing so, I provide an examination of common-good constitutionalism’s relationship with three important constitutional principles and the separability of common-good constitutionalism as a whole and the infamous views of its most …

Sources Of Patient Information For Type 2 Diabetes Self-Care In Northern Mississippi, Minh-Sang La

Honors Theses

Given the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the United States and the continuous rise of cases, especially within Mississippi, there is an increasing need to identify if, and how, patients with Type 2 Diabetes receive information about self-care. While there is data available on the topic of where patients receive their information and the influence it has on their health in other countries of the world, the research on the source of Type 2 Diabetes education in the United States is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to bridge the gap of understanding where patients with Type 2 Diabetes …

A Survey Of The Presentation Of Pharmacogenomic Testing For Psychotropic Medications In Rural Areas, Laken Hancock

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to assess the knowledge and opinions of the general public in rural areas in regard to genetic testing and pharmacogenomics. 40 people from self-identified rural areas participated in this study by completing an online Qualtrics questionnaire and an in-person or online semi-structured qualitative interview. The Qualtrics questionnaire measured demographic information, as well as depression, anxiety, stress, positive affect, and negative affect using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) measures. The semi-structured qualitative interview included questions pertaining to the decision support tool (DST) presented to participants, …

Pre-Practice Hydration Status Of Collegiate Male American Football Players With Sickle Cell Trait, Sara Hoffman

Honors Theses

Since 2000, 63% of deaths associated with college football were due to complications, such as sickling events; however, sickle cell trait (SCT) only affects 3-4% of participating athletes. Sickling events can be exasperated by conditions, including heat exposure, dehydration, and intense physical activity and lead to rhabdomyolysis and death. Assessing hydration status is crucial for athletes and the use of urine specific gravity (USG) has been shown to provide rapid and valid results. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dehydration among SCT carrying American college football players.

Division I collegiate football athletes participated as part …

A Trained Eye: Optometrists' View Into Primary Care, Louis C. Magee Iii

Honors Theses

The aim of this thesis is to explore and present the auxiliary responsibilities of doctors of optometry, particularly those involved with primary health care such as screening for serious diseases. This idea was approached by researching the technological capabilities of optometrists, the diseases and conditions they commonly detect, as well as the barriers preventing some people from receiving proper eye care. The importance of optometrists as primary care providers is steadily rising alongside their capabilities. There are many instances within a routine eye exam in which an optometrist is able to detect and recommend treatment of a serious disease. Also …

The Long-Term Health And Developmental Impacts Of Children Born At Low Birth Weight, Kathryn Grace Kelly

Honors Theses

The state of Mississippi currently has the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) births in the United States. LBW is a negative birth outcome which can lead to suboptimal pediatric health and development. The primary goals of this thesis are to identify the long-term outcomes associated with LBW and to present potential interventions to address LBW. A combination of literature review and quantitative data analysis were used to inform the objective of this thesis. A variety of physical health, behavioral health, and other long-term issues were found associated with LBW. The consequences of LBW place LBW children at a …

College Students Fail To Identify Nutrition Misinformation On Social Media, Helen Mary Katool

Honors Theses

Social media has become a part of everyday life in our society and has the capability to reach billions, across age groups. Research has shown that there is a direct link between the widespread access to social media and the amount of misinformation that is circulating. In fact, unqualified and uneducated individuals share believable but inaccurate nutrition posts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if college students can distinguish the difference between nutrition misinformation or factual nutrition information when presented on social media. Male and female college students (>18 years old) from two classes (nutrition and …

What Is The Satisfaction Of Youth Participating In A Pilot Reading And Food-Based Stem Education Program In Rural Appalachian Mississippi?, Meagan Smith

Honors Theses

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is a vital subsection of primary education which focuses on imparting knowledge to foster STEM literacy and ultimately bolster the workforce of STEM related fields (Holmlund, 2018). Due to both geographic and socioeconomic challenges, STEM education in rural areas suffers from a lack of engaging learning opportunities and contributes to a shortage of STEM professionals originating from rural areas (Munn, 2019)(Murphy, 2020). Rural areas such as Calhoun County, MS, where the pilot program associated with this thesis was conducted, do not have the means to support interactive learning institutions such as aquariums and …

Evaluating The Barriers Of Entry That Small Commercial Farmers Face And The Implications Of Such Barriers On Rural Communities, Lauren C. Chandler

Honors Theses

The research proposed in this thesis will identify the barriers of entry that

small farmers face when entering the Agricultural Industry. The proposed research will also seek to discover how having these barriers in place affects rural communities. This thesis conducts a literature review of the topic, sets the context for the research to be done, and proposes a research project to further investigate the topic. The proposed research will be done through administering a survey to stakeholders, and then interviewing a small sample of those surveyed to get a comprehensive look at the effects of agribusiness on rural communities. …

Characterizing The Roles Of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 & 2 In Zebrafish Behavior, Metabolism, And Seizure-Induced Activity, Kayci Kimmons

Honors Theses

Epileptic disorders like Dravet Syndrome require novel studies to determine the most ideal treatment. New research linking the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to epileptic disorders is arising, but there is still much to be discovered about the function and regulatory impact of the endocannabinoid system and its receptors in epilepsies like Dravet. In this study, knockout models of larval and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to investigate the roles of cannabinoid receptors 1 & 2 in behavior, brain mitochondrial metabolism, and seizure-induced activity following exposure to THC and CBD. Larval zebrafish which lacked cannabinoid receptor 1 exhibited increased …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Getting To The Core Of Hospitality - Journey To Commencement, Lauren Lucas

Journey to Commencement

Bernardo Guerrero turns a desire to serve others into pathway to personal and professional success.

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 …

Um Summer Programs Offer Fun And Learning For K-12 Campers, Erin Garrett

University of Mississippi News

Scholarship opportunities available for students of all academic levels

Um-Sponsored Bilingual Health Fair Benefits Pontotoc Community, Edwin B. Smith

University of Mississippi News

Area residents obtain valuable screenings and health information

Mental Health Professionals Serving The Military: Who Has Access?, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Licensed counselors are underrepresented as mental health professionals (MHPs) servicing military-connected clients (service member/Veterans and their families). Mixed-methods research, conducted by the authors, highlights key viewpoints of MHPs (counselor, psychologist, and social worker) interested in working with the military and on their level of confidence in working with this population. MHPs’ experiences, perspectives of their profession’s responsibilities to military clients, and their role in comparison to other MHPs is explored. Findings aid in advocacy efforts for the military population to receive counseling from qualified providers and support counseling program development to increase counselor employability among this group.

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. …

Providing Culturally Competent Eldercare For Asian Americans, Britney Ngo

Honors Theses

As the Asian American elderly population continues to grow, it is important to acknowledge cultural factors that may impact their behavior, attitudes, preferences, and decisions in the context of eldercare. Cultural competency acknowledges and considers these factors while providing care that includes biophysical factors of healthcare as well as non-medical dimensions of care such as language and culture.

This thesis seeks to address the applications of providing culturally competent eldercare to Asian Americans and offer future recommendations to care settings that have limited resources by utilizing a multidisciplinary review of literature accompanied by interviews with representatives from On Lok, a …

Um Hosting Bilingual Health Fair Saturday In Pontotoc, Edwin B. Smith

University of Mississippi News

Free 3-hour event providing screenings, vaccinations and information to public

Dowling Named University's Top Online Instructor, Erin Garrett

University of Mississippi News

Award winner to speak at 'Toolbox Talks' virtual event on March 23