Digital Commons Network^™

A Solution To Workplace Injuries And Accidents, Reagan C. Cole

Honors Theses

Workplace injuries and accidents are occurring every day and causing problematic situations for both employees and the employer. To achieve a safety culture, and therefore reduce the number of injuries and accidents, employee competency must be achieved. During on-board training it is crucial to embed safety practices within procedural training, to have a seamless transition with completing a task, and doing it safely. During my study I compared the workplace practices I observed during my internship as NASA and contrasted those practices with safety norms within general industry. Many workplace injuries and accidents occur when employees are unaware, they’re committing …

An Experiment Of Modern Music: An Application Of The Modern Production And Distribution Of Independent Music, Jesse W. Klapheke

Honors Theses

The music industry is not what it once was. Currently, there is a much larger burden for the independent artist to bear in regards to producing and marketing their own music, and for many this seems like a mountain too tall to climb. With this thesis, I set out to measure the effectiveness of today’s music production and distribution methods and tools by recording a full length audio recording, documenting its inception, production, and distribution by utilizing 21st century ‘do-it-yourself’ home recording equipment and distribution services, the product of which being the album ‘50,000’.

The metrics by which the success …

Developing A Campus Resource Guide For The Eku Latino Community, Kasey N. Dearing

Honors Theses

Mental health concerns are a growing problem in the United States. For minority populations and the Latino population in particular, there is a disparity between the number of individuals suffering from mental health issues and those seeking help from mental health services. As the Latino population continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize these concerns and find ways to combat them. The current creative research project utilizes research on the growing mental health concerns for the Latino population within the U.S., with specific focus on Latino students in higher education, to support the creation of a campus …

All Parts And Parcels: Unpacking And Analyzing Kentucky Education Reform, Matthew A. Lee

Honors Theses

Since the mid-twentieth century, public education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky has often faced opposition from its General Assembly. Historically underfunded, Kentucky’s public education system has consistently placed near the bottom in all measures of student assessment and school finance in the nation, according to data published annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Over the last thirty years, however, the General Assembly has taken some steps toward improvement. The purpose of this paper is to present a historical record of these reform efforts and to analyze whether these alterations have been effective. To assess the state’s role …

How Small Business Owners And Managers Make Marketing Decisions Based On The Success Of The Local College Football Team, Sarah L. Rychlak

Honors Theses

Existing literature suggests that while many people, especially business owners, believe that their local economy suffers when the nearby sports team is not performing well, that is not the case. Student enrollment can take a dip when this occurs in college towns, but economic growth and prosperity is not dependent on a successful sports team. Studies have explored these effects in large cities, but less attention has been paid to the cities that would be more affected by the performance of sports teams, which is small college towns. This research explores the relationship between college football team success and small …

Two Arguments For Extending Legal Personhood To Nature, Hailey Walley

Honors Theses

This thesis will articulate new sorts of arguments under a legal philosophy framework that I believe can be used to protect the environment, but which also have a chance at convincing a wide range of citizens and politicians. The conclusion for which I will argue is that the United States should extend legal personhood to Nature. I will first provide detailed analyses of two countries that have already extended rights to nature, Ecuador and Bolivia. I will then proceed to compare the two cases and discuss what aspects of their models can and cannot be applied to the United States, …

When Life Gives You Lemons: Comparing Two Diffusion Methods For A Psychological Screening Tool In The Medical Field, Jessica Tran

Honors Theses

E.M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory is used to explain the process of how an idea or technology gains momentum and spreads through a particular population. The result of the diffusion is called adoption, meaning that over time the group has changed their initial behavior (i.e. using the new technology, purchasing and performing new behavior, etc.). There is considerable evidence for successful use of this theory in various fields. The study investigates the theory using a new psychological screening technology. A solicitation to hear information about the tool was presented to 19 physicians who were separated into two randomized groups, …

Model Validation Of The Thermospheric Neutral Mass Densit, Martin Geary Mccandless

Honors Theses

Accurately predicting the thermospheric neutral mass density is crucial for estimating the trajectory of low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft since satellite drag introduces errors in orbit determination solutions for the rapidly increasing number of man-made objects. The purpose of this study is to quantify the degree of variability in the thermospheric neutral mass density during the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm utilizing the coupled Whole Atmosphere Model and Ionosphere-PlasmasphereElectrodynamics model (WAM-IPE). The neutral mass density variations for various geophysical conditions from WAM-IPE are compared between the accelerometer satellite observations from Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) and …

Policy Analysis Of Tennessee's 51-To-Life Law: Juvenile Sentencing Reform, Natalie P. Hurst

Honors Theses

In the state of Tennessee, juvenile offenders convicted as adults for first-degree murder must receive a minimum sentence of 51 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Tennessee’s minimum juvenile sentencing guideline is the strictest in the United States. In 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that sentencing juvenile offenders to life is unconstitutional citing psychological evidence for a juvenile’s ability to be rehabilitated in comparison to adults (Miller v. Alabama, 2012). Tennessee’s 51-year minimum juvenile sentencing standard is a potential violation of this ruling because it has been shown that the life expectancy in prison …

Social Skills Training And Generalization Of Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brittany Wright

Honors Theses

The social deficits observed in individiuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can often be improved with social skills training. The current study evaluated the effects of the Superheroes Social Skills training program which uses animated superheroes, video modeling, and comic books to teach social skills training. Three participants with ASD were trained in Conversation, Responding to Questions, and Body Basics over ten sessions, with sessions occurring twice a week in a non-school setting at the Arc of Southeast Mississippi. A multiple baseline across skills design across participants was used to examine the effects of the intervention on skill …

Contagious Or Not Contagious: Is That The Question? Evaluating The Effects Of Disease Contagion On Memory For Word Lists, Laura Pazos

Honors Theses

Researchers have suggested that individuals possess a disease-avoidance system designed to detect and remember potential sources of harmful pathogens, a system termed the behavioral immune system. Recently, Fernandes, Pandeirada, Soares, and Nairne (2017) reported an increase in memory for objects associated with individuals that are contaminated with a disease. My thesis extends this finding by examining whether disease-related memory benefits are due to the mere presence of a disease or whether the disease needs to be perceived as contagious and thereby threatening to facilitate memory. Two experiments, one between- and one within-subjects, were designed to test memory performance in the …

The Tenure Process: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Tenure Standards And Application Processes At The Eight State Funded Universities In Mississippi, Claudia Parker

Honors Theses

The tenure application process is a very important period in any university faculty’s professional career and can be a very stressful event. The results of a faculty’s tenure application will determine whether they will have continued employment at their current university, if they will be required to take another probationary year, or if they will need to seek employment elsewhere. Due to how important this process is, any information associated with this process and the required documentation must be properly managed, easily accessible, and easy to understand. This qualitative analysis develops a list of best practices through a review of …

The Importance Of Rnd-Type Efflux Pumps In The Interactions Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa With 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde, Sanchirmaa Namjilsuren

Honors Theses

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common hospital-acquired pathogen and is often associated with high mortality rates due to the development of multidrug-resistance. Antimicrobial plant-derived (phyto-) aldehydes present a promising alternative to antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low propensity to trigger resistance. However, two main problems preclude the widespread application of these compounds: chemical instability and low antimicrobial efficacy. The ongoing collaboration between the Mavrodi and Patton labs at USM has recently addressed the problem of chemical instability by incorporating plant aldehydes into polymer materials called Pro-Antimicrobial Networks via Degradable Acetals (PANDAs). Thus, this study aimed to address the …

Exploring Financial Literacy Of Independent Musicians In The Gig Economy, Benjamin Milam

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the elements of the career of independent musicians. Specifically, how they overcome or fail to overcome the challenges of a gig economy through knowledge and ability to properly manage scarce financial resources. The research questions posed are as follows: (a) Does higher financial literacy allow independent musicians to sustain and improve their career in the gig economy? (b) How do independent musicians use financial literacy to sustain their career? (c) How does industry experience affect the ability of independent artists to effectively allocate financial resources? To answer these research questions, …

Attitudes Of Men And Women Toward Sexual Assault: The Role Of Stigma, Self-Stigma, And Gender Roles, Annie Hendricks

Honors Theses

Sexual assault is an issue pervaded with stigmas, whether imposed on a person from a social source or from oneself. Stigmas have shown to be harmful to a survivor’s recovery from trauma (Deitz, Williams, Rife, & Cantrell, 2015) and may influence whether or not a survivor of sexual assault reports an incident of sexual assault (Spencer, Mallory, Toews, Stith, & Wood, 2017). One factor that contributes to internalizing a stigma to form a self-stigma is the anticipated reaction a survivor faces when he or she discloses an incident of sexual abuse (Murray, Crowe, & Overstreet, 2018). To determine how gender …

Freiden Skincare: Evolving Stigmas For The Sake Of Wellness, Gabrielle Graham

Honors Theses

Frieden (pronounced free-den) is the German word for peace and self-reconciliation. Frieden is a skincare line infused with Cannabidiol, a natural compound found in marijuana plants that can be used for treating pain without the hallucinogenic side-effects (thanks to no THC being present in the product). Health benefits of Cannabidiol extend to topical relief from chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and a multitude of other forms of reprieve from discomfort.

Through my research, I discovered that in a world of fast fixes and reactive remedies, visual communication has influenced consumers to be more thoughtful with their purchases. Thanks in part to …

Caldecott-Winning Children’S Books And The Women’S Rights Movement Of The 1960s, Hannah Faler

Honors Theses

This research consists of a content analysis of Caldecott-winning children’s books. It explores the portrayal of the female gender before and after the Women’s Rights Movement. A qualitative approach was used to investigate the portrayal of four randomly selected Caldecott-winning children’s books. The research findings indicate that children’s books published prior to the Women’s Rights Movement include more gender-based stereotypes than those published after this movement. Female characterization, illustrations, and literary themes are all important factors contributing to the overall portrayal of the female gender in these books. The research findings are significant for educators, parents, and librarians, who should …

Transformation Of Model Organisms With Munc13-1 For Subcloning And Protein Harvesting, Grace Dittmar

Honors Theses

Exocytosis is the process by which cells release various molecules into the extracellular space. This mechanism is accomplished by membrane fusion, in which the membrane of the transport vesicle and that of the cell itself fuse to create one continuous membrane, allowing the release of the molecules inside the vesicle. A family of proteins, known as SNARE proteins, is responsible for facilitating membrane fusion. SNARE proteins form a complex between the vesicle membrane and the plasma membrane. For various cells, such as mast cells and neurons, exocytosis is essential to carry out their vital functions. Various accessory proteins are known …

The Ebp-Cot Assignment: Increasing The Use And Understanding Of Ebps In Preservice Teachers, Margaret Bowman

Honors Theses

This study investigated whether the use of the Evidence-Based Practice-Classroom Observation Tool (EBP-COT) assignment in an introductory teacher education practicum increased the understanding of Evidence-Based Practice-Classroom Observation Tools (EBPCOT). Participants in this study were consenting special education majors in their introductory block practicum course at a mid-south university in the fall semester of 2018. Students were asked to complete the EBP-COT assignment to include focused checklists components and reflections as well as a pretest and posttest. The assignment, pretest, and posttest were analyzed for similarities in increased understanding of evidence-based practices and comfort with the use of evidence-based practices. Overall, …

Peer Vs. Professional: Assessing The Communicative Experience Of Student Orientation Leaders, Casey M. Ford

Honors Theses

Current literature reveals that peer-leadership is valuable and integral within institutions of higher learning. While extensive research reveals how peer-leaders benefit the overall student experience and contribute to institutional recruitment and retention, (Tinto, 2012) little research has considered the actual experience of student peer-leaders. The current study considers the communicative challenges and triumphs student orientation leaders encounter in their roles as students and university ambassadors. During a university’s new student orientation, student orientation leaders function as both student leaders and university professionals; they serve as liaisons between students, their parents and families, and the university they represent, often working as …

An Analysis Of How The Internet Has Changed Photography And The Profession Of Photojournalism, Florence A. Maillot

Honors Theses

Photography and the photojournalism profession [HR1] is ever-changing due to the Internet. Technological advances allow photographers to use the Internet to their and their publication’s advantage. Along with positive effects of the Internet, there are also negative consequences. The positive and negative aspects intertwine, and it can be difficult for photojournalists to do their jobs due to the negative consequences. This study focused on these positive and negative effects, as well as the personal tolls that photojournalists continue to face daily. The aim of this study was to determine the positive and negative effects of the Internet on photojournalism through …

Involvement Of College Football Fans At The University Of Southern Mississippi, Cameron S. Kenney

Honors Theses

The modern college football market faces several challenges including the fact that game day attendance numbers have continued to drop for the past few years and show no signs of slowing down. Understanding the psychological involvement of sports fans could play a major role in improving attendance numbers and providing consumers with a greater experience during football games. The primary goal of this research was to determine predictors of sports involvement among Southern Miss football fans. Another goal was to determine which facets of involvement predicted return intentions. With those who had attended a home Southern Miss football game in …

The Vietnam War At Home And Abroad: Soldiers, Military Leadership, And The Antiwar Movement, Mason E. Fox

Honors Theses

During the 1960s and 1970s, youth activism and culture shaped American society. Pre- and college-age youth participated in the civil rights movement, engaged in politics to improve their education and equality, and called for a true democracy in American culture. The youth were passionately standing up for what they believed in, shaping the mold of America’s future. One of the most remembered youth protests of the 1970s was the antiwar movements. What began as peaceful demonstrations in 1964, quickly turned into draft card burnings, antiwar music recordings, and even went as far as torching ROTC buildings. The Kent State shooting …

Oddities And Evens: Pares Y Nones, Tanesha Colquitt

Honors Theses

Oddities and Evens: Pares y nones is a collection of poetry and short stories in English and Spanish meant for young adults. I have had the creative desire to make a universe of fictional literature like this since my own childhood. As a young girl, I dreamt of being able to communicate imaginary dimensions I was experiencing. As I played, I imagined otherworldly creatures and scenarios that I could not yet describe. This collection of writings has given me the opportunity to introduce my own twisted and paranormal ideas, in English and Spanish, to young readers. I hope that the …

Technology In Theatre: Breaking The Fourth Wall, Samantha Burns

Honors Theses

For a long time, theatre has been seen as a medium of the past. With new technologies such as cellphones being more commonplace, there could be a way to utilize them in theatre. This thesis is a reflection on writing an interactive script, figuring out the best way for an audience to interact with a performance utilizing their phones. The play comments on women in not only theatre, but all sorts of media and how they are portrayed.

Evaluation Of Different Research Methodologies For Acoustic Monitoring Of Anuran Populations, Richard Alexander Schwartz

Honors Theses

Amphibians are important for a wide variety of reasons. However, in recent years their global populations have seen a sharp decline. It is therefore increasingly important to conduct research relevant to their protection and success. The main way this is accomplished with anurans is through the monitoring of male vocalizations. This can take the form of Manual Call Surveys, Automated Recording Systems, or some hybridization of the two. However, selection of the proper research method can be complex and time-consuming, and use of the incorrect method can result in wasted funding and useless data. Very few studies have been recently …

Citizen Trust Of The Police In The United States: How Bad Is It, And What Can We Do To Fix It, Mariah K. Warner

Honors Theses

Trust in the legitimacy of law enforcement is necessary for effective policing. Literature focuses in on three broad areas in its discussion of trust in the police; general feelings of social trust toward one’s community, belief in absence or presence of procedural justice, and perceptions of police effectiveness in the neighborhood in terms of disorder and incivilities. In this paper, I use data from the World Values Survey collected in 2011 in the United States to examine these correlates of trust in the police by way of logistic regression models. I find that, in accordance with recent scholarship, individuals’ perceptions …

Golf Glove Data-Based Swing Classification Through Machine Learning, Jackson D. Fletcher

Honors Theses

A golf swing is biomechanically complex. Professional swing training is expensive for the average golfer. With the growing development of small inertial sensors and powerful microprocessors with built-in wireless communication protocol support, embedded devices are becoming suitable for tough tasks like motion tracking. The proposed solution consists of a sensor-packed golf glove. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed solution, a recurrent neural network is developed that uses a learning model to identify golf swings that produce a slice, the most common golf swing error. A motion capture system was used as the professional baseline for the evaluation. Barely falling …

More Than Remembering: How Memoirists Recall And Write The Past, Faith Garner

Honors Theses

Memory is integral to writing memoir, but sometimes, memory fails. How do successful memoirists mine their past for meaning, while staying true to their recollections? In my craft essay, I examine how writers harness the energy of their own explorations of the past. Then, I show how I have used these techniques in my own work. Six personal essays comprise the remainder of my thesis project.

The Analysis Of Erlanger Hospital’S Suture Inventory Management Operations, Amanda George

Honors Theses

This paper evaluates the impact of using mechanical engineering and operations management principles to an inventory management system in Erlanger Hospital. Erlanger Hospital is a local, nonprofit hospital system in Chattanooga. Erlanger serves as a tertiary referral hospital and a Level I Trauma Center in the region. Therefore, they are heavily depended on during times of crisis or emergency [2]. This study focuses specifically on reducing the loss and ultimate waste of sutures across Erlanger’s surgery wing. A criteria for the appraisal of using mechanical and manufacturing engineering to improve the current system is established based on existing data regarding …