Digital Commons Network^™

Sexual Harassment In An Overlooked Occupation: Experiences Of Cna And The Influence Of Nurses, Audrey Pennington

Honors Theses

The prevalence of sexual harassment (SH) in health care facilities has been documented in previous research, but few studies have focused on Certified Nursing assistants (CNA; Burgess et al., 2018; Dean, 2020; Deery et al., 2011; Hibino et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to explore SH that CNA experience from their patients and what influence supervising nurses may have in impacting the negative outcomes of SH. Participants (N = 95) were recruited to take an online survey through social media and snowball recruiting. The hypotheses of this study were not supported by the data, but results may …

Examining The Intersections Of Art And Science Through Photomicrography, Lauren Marie Solomon

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the ways in which photomicrography is interdisciplinary, requiring the fields of both art and science. Three types of microscopy were used in this project, brightfield, epifluorescence, and confocality. The overall thesis is both, a body of artistic work and a narrative of my endeavor to understand the science and process behind photomicroscopy.

Analysis Of Ecological Tradeoffs Between Congeneric Shrimp In Coastal Mississippi Waters, Baylor K. Lynch

Honors Theses

Palaemonidae is an ecologically important and abundant family of shrimp that link the benthos to many estuarine food webs. Palaemon pugio and Palaemon vulgaris regularly co-occur along estuarine edge habitats despite previous studies suggesting different preferred sediment types and salinity regimes. The objective was to determine if competition is occurring between the congeners by comparing their relative abundance and assessing isotope niche space along an estuarine gradient. I seasonally sampled various edge habitats at four sites throughout Biloxi Bay, MS, using fyke nets fished over a tidal cycle from November 2020 to November 2021. Collected organisms were identified to the …

Linguistic Imperialism: A Critical Analysis Of English Hegemony And Its Effect On English Language Learners, Linley King

Honors Theses

This study uses previous research and qualitative data to determine how foreign language teachers can present English to learners as an international communicative tool while also preserving their native L1 identity amidst hegemonic cultural influences. Since becoming a lingua franca, the majority of English users are non-native speakers, and the findings of this study explain how English has globally spread to create distinctive linguistic groups among these speakers and the importance of promoting the equality of their English variations against the “standard” dialect used in current monolingual English language teaching (ELT) policies (Canagarajah, 1999; Duff, 2005; Schmitz, 2014). Responses from …

Opening The Vault: An Osteobiography Of Three Individuals From A New Orleans Cemetery, Jordan Butler

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the lives of three individuals buried in Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans through osteobiographies, which combines knowledge gained from human remains, material culture, and mortuary practices. The opportunity for analysis arose since the vault was being demolished due to its dilapidated condition.

The individuals were White and of middle-class status and date to the later nineteenth century. One burial is a middle-aged man who was of average height and showed no evidence of pathology; his muscle markers do suggest he was relatively Physically active during his life. Another individual is an …

Impact Of Social Distancing On Physical Activity In College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carrington E. Brown

Honors Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic was one that affected everyone in some way. From mandatory lockdowns to vaccinations, the pandemic took a toll on everyone. This study focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic’s mandates on undergraduate college students’ rate of physical activity prior, during, and after the pandemic. A sample of 41 college students was recruited via student email. Participants were of all races, ages, and male and female, and they answered questions determining how the pandemic affected them in their physical activity routine, if applicable. As hypothesized, many individuals’ physical activity routine was interrupted because of the mandates from …

Destroying The Myth Of The Monolith: A Historical Observation Of The Black Conservative From Then To Now, Jessica Reese

Honors Theses

Although it is not often reflected at the ballot box, Black America has a wide variety of political thought processes mostly rooted in socially conservative backgrounds. There has been a false, and frankly disrespectful, narrative that all Black Americans affirm to the same political ideology, vote in similar patterns, and align with the same political party. The uprising of Black Americans, specifically within the young electorate, who hold political conservative thought processes is the inspiration of this thesis. Starting with the 1780s and progressing through the 2020s, this thesis will observe the historical shifts and expansion of Black conservatism in …

Esg Is Fiduciary Duty, Katherine Held

Honors Theses

This Thesis defends the validity of ESG Investing (Environmental, Social, Governance Investing) as an advisor’s fiduciary responsibility. The financial industry is increasingly including ESG considerations when calculating the intrinsic value of a stock. In opposition to this valuation trend, nineteen state attorney generals (Nineteen) have attacked ESG, challenging its legality by claiming that it violates state and federal law and the fiduciary responsibilities that hold investment advisors accountable to their clients. After identifying key elements of fiduciary responsibility that are being ignored by the Nineteen’s position, several key and relevant United States statutes are reviewed and applied to their argument. …

Exploring The Effects Of Fatty Acids (Pufas) On The Antimicrobial Resistance In Vibrio Cholerae, Naina Patel

Honors Theses

As antibiotic resistance becomes a major challenge for public health professionals, our research objectives aimed to investigate the potential for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to create membrane vulnerability in the gram-negative pathogen Vibrio cholerae to help improve the efficacy of several antibiotics. V. cholerae, normally residing in aquatic environments, is capable of altering its phospholipid composition through the uptake and assimilation of exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids. The purpose of this study was to measure PUFA-mediated changes in the membrane permeability and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae. The three physiologically relevant PUFAs used were linoleic acid [18:2], arachidonic acid [20:4], and …

Neurotypes: Do Ocd, Adhd, And Autism Play A Role In Life Satisfaction?, Morgan Mcleod Evans

Honors Theses

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are neurotypes that impact every aspect of life, including daily activities and socialization, which is why they have been shown in prior studies to negatively impact life satisfaction. This study compared the levels of life satisfaction now and before the COVID-19 pandemic in young adults (n = 324) with typical neurotypes, those with only ASD (autism), with only OCD, with only ADHD, with two of the neurotypes, and with all three neurotypes. Contrary to predictions from prior research, life satisfaction did not decrease after the onset …

Beyond The Classroom: Building Professional Skills With The Flyaway Mural, Augusta Gaston

Honors Theses

In April of 2022, I completed a collaborative mural at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Reflection Riding hosts a radio antenna connected to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, which studies animal migration routes through North, Central, and South America. Working collaboratively with artists Rondell Crier, Tyus Allen, and Professor Derek Witucki, we designed and installed a mural that would communicate the Motus research to their visitors in the absence of a Reflection Riding employee. The project was funded by various grants awarded by ArtsBuild and The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and organized by budgets that …

Study Of Collective Self-Esteem And Academic Motivation Examining Perceptions Of Academic Statistics Of Black Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending A Pwi, Ariyah Robinson

Honors Theses

College enrollment for black traditional college-age students has been on the rise. Matriculation experienced a seven percent increase from 2000 to 2018 (NCES, 2020). However, Cokley et al. (2013) found that black students exhibit the highest minority stress among college students. Researchers also found that students may feel pressured to break stereotypes and perform well academically (Smith & Hope, 2020; Brooms, 2019; Mary et al., 2018). As more black students enroll in colleges nationwide, there is more than reasonable cause to continue examining how the matriculation of black students into predominantly white institutions impacts black students and their perceptions of …

Money Moves: An Analysis Of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment In Europe, Susan Soh

Honors Theses

In recent years, China has begun engaging in outward foreign direct investment (FDI). There is a significant amount of literature dedicated to understanding China’s FDI in developing nations. However, very little research has been conducted over Chinese FDI in advanced economies. As a result of this gap in existing literature, the question arises, what explains Chinese FDI in Europe?

As FDI is a transaction to which both the donor and recipient countries must agree, this thesis has a dual focus. One chapter of the thesis analyzes the effects of and motivations for Chinese FDI on European nations. In this chapter, …

Wait, Is That Legal?: A Defense Of The Rights Of The Mentally Ill In The United States Prison System, Sophie Owen

Honors Theses

The ever-evolving question of what the legal requirements are regarding providing mental health care in prisons has been debated for decades. This thesis presents a meta-analysis that examines the Eighth Amendment Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause in regards to the mentally ill in the Criminal Justice System and applies it to present day prison systems in the United States. This research creates a clear picture of the inadequate care that is provided and the systemic issues that allow this level of mistreatment and lack of care to prevail. It examines the requirements for mental health care as set by the …

Prototyping A Novel Mach-Zehnder Interferometer With Acousto-Optic Modulators, Jon Mills

Honors Theses

The Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is a ubiquitous optical tool that has been used for decades in a variety of applications. However, its design has undergone little to no updating throughout this time, and it remains expensive to install and difficult to scale. This limitation is due to the need for precise translation stages and mirrors to carefully direct the beams. Because of this, we propose the use of acousto-optic devices to simplify the design of the MZI and make it more accessible and scalable. By using acousto-optic modulators (AOMs), it is possible to direct the beams using radio frequency (RF) …

Holistic Education: How And Why, Amanda Krebs

Honors Theses

Since standardized testing began in the early 2000s, teachers and administrators began to focus on grades and numbers due to pressure placed by these measures. Students are not numbers and therefore are not getting a holistic education that develops their whole being, only their academics. How do we incorporate methods into the classroom to develop the whole child, not just academics, and why is this important?

The most common way in the present day is through socio-emotional learning platforms or curriculums. These may be stand alone lessons or techniques on incorporation into lessons and school culture in general. Normally, whole …

Kentucky Dental Health With Regards To Social Factors, John Pattison

Honors Theses

This honors thesis researched the current dental standing of Kentucky compared to the other US States in a variety of factors. The information collected was compared to the national average dental health and will be used to expand on the statewide education on dental health. A wide range of demographics were be surveyed from across the state to get the most accurate representation of the true population. The survey included questions regarding the participants background dental information and social statuses. Also included were questions regarding county of residence, income, race, age, gender, consumption of certain foods and drinks, status of …

Rejecting The Paradigm: Reimagining The Philosophy Of Punishment To Address The Criminal Justice Crisis In Twenty-First Century America, Jon E. Mcgee

Honors Theses

Legal punishment has been subject to cacophonous debate and transformation throughout the history of American political and philosophical discourse. As a growing body of academic literature indicates a failure in the punitive techniques practiced by American institutions, the necessity for a precise diagnosis of such ailments paired with a new model addressing American concerns for reform remains increasingly pertinent. With due consideration to the previous recommendations of scholars, this paper illustrates the crisis in criminal justice currently felt in the United States. Through statistical, theoretical, and comparative analyses, existing alternatives are examined and an alternative fit to serve the United …

The Shadow Of Fast Fashion: The Quilting Industry, Elizabeth Y. Barnes

Honors Theses

The purpose behind this creative research project is to bring the contemporary quilting industry to attention when discussing environmental concerns that are typically associated with the textile industry. Quilting, despite its origins in inadvertent conservatism, has evolved into a consumerist business that can be most adequately compared to that of fast fashion. Through analysis of the different types of fibers, manufacturing processes, and environmental implications, an extensive background of the textile industry was given so that the consequences discussed later in the paper can be fully realized. By comparing examples of need-based quilting, like the quilts of Gee’s Bend, to …

Emotionally Unavailable: A Comparison On The Ability Of Children With Developmental Language Disorders To Interpret Emotions In Humans And Inanimate Objects, Savanna B. Gullett

Honors Theses

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neuro-developmental condition that emerges in early childhood and can persist into adulthood, manifesting as a variety of symptoms that can be significantly different in each individual. It has an estimated prevalence of 7.58% and is nearly 7 times more common in children than autism spectrum disorder (McGregor, 2020). As a population, individuals with DLD are at risk of facing significant issues in associating areas of language, including reading comprehension, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. Professionals have noticed emotional disconnect amongst individuals with DLD, leading to the proposition that those with DLD may have a …

Indirectly And Directly Involved Students' Perspectives On Multi-Modal Communication Treatment In Persons With Aphasia, Emily Lewis

Honors Theses

Our study investigated the perspectives of students who were either directly or indirectly involved in the Multi-modal communication treatment (MCT) sessions for persons with aphasia. Two undergraduate and two graduate students were recruited from the University of Mississippi who participated in the MCT sessions. We collected their perspectives through semi-structured interviews and used thematic qualitative analysis to analyze our data. We reported themes from the indirectly involved students and the directly involved students and compared how the themes were similar and different between the indirectly and directly involved students. We discussed that both direct and indirect experience for clinical therapy …

The Effects Of Cross-Training On A Barrel Horse, Autumn Gallagher

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Use Of Naturally Occurring Free Radical Scavengers Against Uv Light Damage In Cancer Prevention, Tanner Justice

Honors Theses

A strong association has been found between mutated p53 tumor suppressor genes and cancers in humans. Cancers arise from a culmination of genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Prolonged exposure to UV has proven negative effects on cell homeostasis. Much of the damage caused by UV light exposure is through generation of free radicals. Zeaxanthin and melatonin are known antioxidant/free radical scavengers which protect cells by neutralizing damage causing free radical molecules. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of zeaxanthin and melatonin in preventing the negative effects of UV light on …

Anxious Attachment As A Mediator Between Parental Abuse In Childhood And Partner Attributions In Adulthood, Naomi Michele Pearson

Honors Theses

Parenting in childhood can positively or negatively affect physical and mental health and behaviors in adulthood. When a child undergoes abuse or neglect from their caregiver, they often develop inadequate adjustment, due to insecurity in close relationships, which may continue throughout their lives. Furthermore, this insecurity, established in childhood, can manifest in adult romantic relationships, as assurance-seeking, jealousy, and hostility, causing insecurely-attached individuals to attribute blame onto their partners, internal attributes, or circumstances.

These pessimistic attributions, caused by parental- influenced feelings of ambivalence and separation anxiety, may lead to increased tension and dissatisfaction within close relationships. A sample of 150 …

Communication Techniques For Nursing Students, Erin Raby

Honors Theses

This thesis will discuss the effects nursing preceptors have on nursing students' clinical experience. This thesis will explore multiple factors that negatively impact nursing student’s communication with their preceptors. It has been found that clinical experiences are extremely important for the future of nursing students. However, there is often a communication barrier between nursing students and their preceptors. This barrier can lead to negative outcomes for new nurses entering the field. Strained communication can also create dangerous situations for patients. Students who fear harsh comments or vertical violence may be reluctant to disclose the limitations of their knowledge. We completed …

Effects Of Zeaxanthin And Uv Light On Cell Viability And P53 Level: Examining The Use Of Naturally Occurring Free Radical Scavengers Against Uv Light Damage In Cancer Prevention, Tanner Justice

Honors Theses

A strong association has been found between mutated p53 tumor suppressor genes and cancers in humans. Cancers arise from a culmination of genetic and environmental factors, including exposure ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Long exposure to UV has proven negative effects on cell homeostasis. Much of the damage caused by UV light exposure is through generation of free radicals. Zeaxanthin is a known antioxidant/free radical scavenger which protects cells by neutralizing damage causing free radical molecules. This study was conducted to determine the effects of zeaxanthin on preventing the negative effects of UV light on cell viability, cell cycle …

When Smart Kids Fall Behind: Root Causes And Remediation, Victor T. Logan

Honors Theses

Absenteeism, alongside root causes such as socio-economic status and health indicators, is a primary driving force in young students falling short of academic goals, particularly in elementary and middle school. Determining the root causes of this chronic absence, and the mechanisms by which it hinders student achievement, is necessary to effectively fight back. Which sources of absences are preventable? Which are not? Is it better to construct a system of remediation that broadly addresses the challenges these students face, or to develop multiple smaller systems designed to more specifically target the needs of students based on their particular situation? These …

Descriptive Representation In State Legislatures: Exploring The Educational Backgrounds Of State Representatives And Senators, Skylar Dykes

Honors Theses

This project will investigate the influence of descriptive representation as it pertains to efficacy in a democratic system. It is possible that policy outputs are heavily dependent upon motivations of an elected official, even more so than the anticipated or predictable effects of an ideological stance. We expect that, following the juxtaposition of a state legislator’s voting records with his or her biographical data, these claims will be supported by data related to higher education and its funding allocations. We are especially interested in the specific relationship between the educational background of state legislators, and whether or not a correlation …

Coded: Dialect Diversity In The Secondary American Classroom, Madeline Dunn

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the differences between dialects along racial, cultural, and ethnic lines with a specific focus on Black and Latine students inside the public secondary classrooms of America. The focus of the paper is on two linguistic tactics: “code-switching,” a linguistic practice which teaches students to separate their home language from the language they use in formal or professional settings, and “code-meshing,” a linguistic practice to teach students how to mesh together multiple dialects with which a student is familiar. Through the creation of a historical framework and an analysis of existing literature, theory, and pedagogical practices regarding the …

Organizational Effectiveness Of Rabies Division Of South Carolina Dhec, Camden Daniel Sasfai

Honors Theses

There are two types of rabies, known as furious and paralytic, that are both spread mostly through saliva of wild or domesticated animals via scratches and bites. Both types can ultimately result in death of the human victim, yet both are vaccine-preventable diseases. Transmission of the rabies disease to humans is usually found following a deep bite or scratch from an infected animal, and transmission to humans by rabid dogs accounts for up to 99% of human infection cases, though bats are now an increasing source of human death due to rabies as well. Surprisingly enough, human deaths following exposure …