Digital Commons Network^™

Politicized Prayer: How Thoughts And Prayers Hinder Gun Legislation, Hope Cody

Honors Theses

Thoughts and prayers are a strategic rhetorical tool, rather than a religious sentiment, when it comes to gun reform in the US. I confirm my three hypotheses: that the rhetorical use of thoughts and prayers do rise sharply after a mass shooting, that the use is centered in the gun rights coalition, and the use of thoughts and prayers is intentional. This establishes a direct link between the sending of thoughts and prayers and the lack of measurable gun reform laws in the United States.

Improving Engineering Education Through Cyber-Physical Systems: Instrumentation And Control Of A Unit Operations Laboratory, Shelby Musselman

Honors Theses

A cyber-physical system (CPS) is a network of physical devices that are monitored or controlled by computer-based algorithms. A key enabler for future technology developments, CPS is an interdisciplinary research area that engages a broad spectrum of disciplines and could bring about revolutionary changes in domains such as energy, environment, and healthcare [1, 2] Using CPS to develop smart, connected products through hierarchies such as internet of things (IoT) allows for integration of systems and provides open access to data subsets for digital service applications. This technology has the potential to transform our everyday lives (e.g., smartphones, activity trackers), our …

Envisioning Success: A Naturalistic Investigation Into Prospective Memory Performance, Reminder Use, And Memory Strategies In An Academic Context, John Whittemore

Honors Theses

Prospective memory encompasses the ability to remember to carry out future intentions. Prospective memory performance is essential for students. College students are expected to remember and complete a variety of assignments on a daily basis. In these naturalistic experiments taking place before and after COVID-19, college students were required to set academic goals for themselves for three consecutive days following specific guidelines. Each day, the participant identified a time specific academic goal and a non-time specific academic goal. Participants were randomizing assigned experimental or control condition. The experimental group performed an episodic future thinking exercise during encoding. Additionally, each time …

Starting A Residential Real Estate Business, Caelan Shurina

Honors Theses

Hello fellow entrepreneur! It seems you have set your heart on residential real estate. Great! This guide explores the steps you will need to take to turn this interest into a profitable business in real estate investing. By laying out the discoveries I made while creating my own real estate management business in downtown Chattanooga, I’ve created a step by step guide to help you streamline the process from evaluating the market before you buy to selling the property after renovations are complete.

The Design And Validation Of A Qpcr-Based Approach To Cell Quantification Of Fungal-Algal Symbioses, Isabelle Katherine Garlotte

Honors Theses

Symbiotic relationships are extremely common in virtually all species. These relationships between organisms, particularly mutualistic symbioses, can have an incredibly large impact and can greatly affect the evolution of the species involved. Of particular interest is the suspected mutualistic relationship between green algae and fungi that may hold key evidence of how terrestrial plants evolved. In this experiment we established a method of quantifying the cells of each species involved in these symbioses through qPCR analysis to determine if the relationships are truly mutualistic. We developed a system for using DNA copies as a proxy for cell count in co-cultures …

Search For Antibiotic-Producing Microorganisms In Sites Affected By Acid Mine Drainage, Hannah A. Bussell

Honors Theses

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria are an escalating problem. Little is known about the potential of microorganisms in sites affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) to be sources of new antibiotics. Sediments from AMD sites in Letcher County, Kentucky, were collected and microorganisms isolated. These samples were screened for their capacity to produce antimicrobial compounds active against known bacteria E. coli and S. aureus. The results showed no antimicrobial activity. This could be due to sample death, incorrect pH of media, or antibiotic resistance already present in the AMD site.

Lyme Disease In Kentucky: Prevalence, Awareness, And Diagnosis In A Conventionally Low-Endemic Area, Rachel L. Carden Ots

Honors Theses

Lyme Disease is the fastest-growing vector-borne illness in the United States – including in low-endemic states, such as Kentucky; given Kentucky’s low Lyme disease incidence in prior decades, it has since experienced an increase of cases despite a lack of discussion on the condition and its implications on patient health and wellbeing. To measure current levels of knowledge and awareness of Lyme disease in Kentucky residents, a survey was distributed to Microbiology and Honors Program students at Eastern Kentucky University, and its results were discussed. While Lyme disease cases do continue to rise, the general public of Kentucky lacks in …

On The Basis Of Sex: Personal Status Law Reforms And Economic Growth, Kylie Bring

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how law reform toward gender equity has an impact on economic growth in Arab countries in the Middle East. Personal status law reform granting women economic, social, and personal freedoms is spreading across the region and showing substantial change. Using case studies of major PSL reforms in Tunisia and Morocco, this thesis outlines qualitative and quantitative evidence to support the case that gender equity benefits the economic growth of the given country.

Raising Awareness: Creating A Children’S Book To Reveal The Responsibilities And Cultural Values Of Latino/A Children, Edith Del Moral

Honors Theses

This research project explores the challenges Latino/a children face by highlighting those challenges in a new children’s book. Existing books attempting to portray the Latino/a culture were reviewed and common themes found were sectioned into groups using the Creswell’s method for coding qualitative data. Discovering which existing themes in children’s books about Latino/Latina culture were the most prominent guided the process of choosing which new themes were essential to include in future pieces. This research reviewed components of published work to determine which accurate cultural representations were appropriate to include in books for children ages five to seven. Previous pieces …

Quantification Of Neurite Degeneration Through Use Of An Optimized And Automated Method, Lauren Fuller

Honors Theses

Neurite degeneration is a cellular dysfunction commonly associated with neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD). One common method of scoring neurite degeneration in micrographs involves calculation of a degeneration index (DI) using neurite fragment measurements obtained via the particle analyzer plugin of FIJI software. However, this method can be time consuming and subject to inaccuracies related to inadequate contrast. Here we describe a modified method for performing DI measurements with enhanced efficiency, accessibility, and accuracy compared to existing techniques. We developed a macro to automate the analysis process, enabling rapid and objective measurements of multiple images. …

Beyond The Veil Of Ignorance: An Analysis Of Global Regulations For Assisted Suicide And The Guided Next Steps For America, Abigail B. Coogan

Honors Theses

The concept of assistance in dying goes back to the ancient Greco-Roman world, but it is still a topic of much debate today. This paper attempts to address this debate by completing a thorough examination of the topic of assisted dying in America. It begins with a thorough examination of assisted dying through the legal lense of the United States Constitution and court decisions, moves into an analysis and rebuttal of common objections regarding assisted dying, and examines assisted dying regulations around the world in order to examine what qualities are important in developing assisted dying regulations, along with what …

Incorporating Diverse Literature Into The Middle Grades Classroom, Katheryn A. Heinrich

Honors Theses

In the field of education, we know from existing research that the literature students are exposed to has an impact on how they view themselves as students, as people, and as citizens of the society in which they live. It can have a lasting impact on their success in school, in work, and in their relationships with others. However, almost all research also shows that it’s not just about which books are taught, but how they are taught. For this project, I have designed a series of unit plans that can be used as a tool for any middle grades …

Treating The Trauma: Evaluating The Perceived Effectiveness Of Narrative Therapy On Individuals Who Have Experienced Trauma, Emily Faith

Honors Theses

Abstract

Narrative therapy (NT) has been utilized by many clinicians and found to be effective as an intervention with clients facing a wide range of issues. Focusing on one’s narrative has been given attention in many academic disciplines (e.g., social sciences, humanities and healthcare) and especially among popular written media and academic journals. Despite this attention and the various studies on its efficacy, there is a lack of research on client and non-client perceptions of this therapy. This ethnographic study’s purpose was to compare the perceived effectiveness of the NT between those who had previously participated in narrative therapy and …

Slipping Through The Cracks: Addressing Mental Health Needs Of Students In The K-12 Classroom, Emily H. Kerr

Honors Theses

Mental health illnesses have become more prevalent over the past 20 years. With this increase in mental health disorders, schools have failed to provide students with the necessary support and resources needed for them to be successful in the classroom. The objective of this study is to highlight the prevalence of mental health illnesses and give insight to strategies that can be implemented by the school system in order to give every child the opportunity to be successful. This study focuses on adolescents with anxiety and/or depression. Research has been conducted to identify the increase in cases of mental health …

Adding Production To High Variability Phonetic Training, Caleb Crosby

Honors Theses

The effectiveness of adding a production component to a High Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) regimen to improve native Japanese speaker’s pronunciation of English [b], [v], [f], and [h] was investigated. L1 Japanese-speaking English learners were recruited as participants, and a pretest-posttest procedure was used to evaluate improvement at production of the target consonants. For the pretest and posttest, recordings were taken of participants pronouncing twelve tokens, and the recordings were rated for intelligibility by a phonetically trained native English-speaking rater. Participants were divided into two groups. Group A received only HVPT training, and group B received a regimen of half …

Identifying Observation Unit As Best Practice, Justin Abraham

Honors Theses

The rising demand for acute care is attributable to several factors, including poor access to unscheduled primary care and an aging population with complex chronic illnesses which place an increasing demand on crowded ED and hospitals in the United States (American College of Emergency Physicians, 2009). Observation (OBS) services are provided to patients with an acute clinical condition whose need for acute care hospitalization is unclear after their initial evaluation and management. Center for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) define hospital observation as those services that are reasonable and necessary to evaluate the outpatient's condition whose need for the patient to …

Building Professional Development Through The Research Of Financial Accounting, Amanda Starrett

Honors Theses

The following work is compiled from twelve cases assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson over the course of an academic year. The program used in creating this work was designed to enhance students’ professionalism and enhance their exposure to real world examples of accounting methods. Each case provided different outlooks on accounting standards and provided the opportunity to examine specific issues regarding financial statements. Public accountants face a wide variety of problems when working with clients; learning from real world situations, students are able to create a better understanding of what challenges may await them in their future careers. By the …

Utilizing Manganese And Rhenium Sediment Concentrations To Reconstruct Past Interglacial Southern Ocean Circulation Changes, Evan E. Rohde

Honors Theses

The circulation in the Southern Ocean is a component of global nutrient, heat, and carbon cycles. Changes in any of these cycles can dramatically change ocean conditions around the world. Therefore, any changes that occurred to this circulation in the past is of scientific interest. We hypothesize that changes in the glacial cycle of the planet can affect this circulation. Specifically, we hypothesize that the strength of circulation in the Southern Ocean can be reduced by conditions during interglacial, or warm climate, time periods. It is proposed that during the interglacial period of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 (425 to …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Accounting Topics Through Case Studies, Grant M. Rudow

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a combination of twelve accounting case studies that were presented as curriculum in the Accounting 420 class. Each case contains a different topic and demonstrates a deep analysis in accounting theory and the current industry, in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. This thesis demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of core accounting principles and standards, and their relation to academia and industry practice. The case studies were completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in fulfillment of the requirements for The University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors …

Kinesthetic Aftereffects And Anticipation Timing Of A Weighted Bat Warm-Up In Softball Players, Kylee L. Hill

Honors Theses

Abstract

It has long since been a tradition for baseball players to use weighted bats in the on-deck circle and for many sport companies to market these training aids with promises to “increase swing velocity” and “improve hand speed and strength”. Increased research in the area has indicated the potential adverse effects of weighted-bat warm up, including potential impacts on swing mechanics, bat swing velocity, and anticipation timing. Since bat swing velocity and interceptive timing are crucial elements to success in baseball and softball batting, there is a need to further investigate the effects of weighted bat warm-up. In this …

Out Of The Darkness: Identifying Solutions For The Catholic Diocese Of Dallas Amidst Child Sexual Abuse By Clergy, Alee Corrales

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Fundamentals Of Financial Accounting: A Compilation Of Case Studies, Grace Anne Harlan

Honors Theses

Financial accounting encompasses many topics such as different accounting methods, ethical practices, financial reporting, and more. Dr. Victoria Dickinson assigned students twelve case studies, each covering a different category of financial reporting, including case studies about accounting methods, accounting standards, and financial statements. The cases are designed to help students understand real examples, think critically to solve problems, and develop strong research and collaboration skills. At the conclusion of this course, students had an improved technical knowledge of accounting and a better understanding of the importance of proper financial accounting methods. The knowledge learned will continue to benefit students in …

Impact Of Denial Of Sexual Offenses On Sentencing And Treatment Strategies, Jenna Luallen

Honors Theses

The prevalence of sexual offenses calls for a reevaluation of how the system treats offenders and addresses indicators of risk. How an individual convicted of a sexual offense accepts or denies the assault can weigh heavily on the sanctions imposed upon them, and how the system processes the offender. Acceptance of guilt is an important goal in offender treatment programs, and denial is reportedly used as an indicator of high risk of recidivism. Deeper examination into how individuals who deny their offense are understood and processed throughout treatment aids in the identification of best practices for working with sex offender …

Delinquency In The Caribbean: Stakeholder Perceptions Of Root Causes, Laura Nolterieke

Honors Theses

There is a gap in the research on juvenile delinquency within the Caribbean context. As countries such as St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis have growing delinquency and crime rates, there is a need to bridge this gap in the literature. This research sought to examine the main causes of juvenile delinquency within St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis, as described by juvenile justice stakeholders, such as probation officers, prosecutors, and judges, within their respective countries. Through the use of grounded theory, the data were coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method. From these data, six themes …

Kidney Tomosynthesis Image Reconstruction Algorithms And Image Quality Evaluation, Allison Mcminn, Ying Chen

Honors Theses

Kidney stone disease is one of the most common diseases that faces the American population. For proper diagnosis of kidney stones medical imaging must be performed. The current gold standard for kidney stone detection is computed tomography (CT) imaging. However, CT imaging exposes the patient to large amounts of x-ray radiation. Digital tomosynthesis is a novel technique in medical diagnosis due to its ability to generate high-resolution images while limiting the radiation dosage to patients. Tomosynthesis is a three-dimensional imaging technique that allows the reconstruction of an arbitrary set of planes from limited-angle series of projection images. Tomosynthesis has well-published …

A Compilation Of Accounting Case Studies, Richard Brohaugh

Honors Theses

This thesis compiles twelve case studies provided by Dr. Victoria Dickinson. Each of these cases, which were performed over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year, presented accounting problems that used both fictional and real-world situations to provide an experiential approach to learning. These cases presented numerous types of business problems and challenged me to better understand the various dimensions of accountancy, ranging from data analytics to banking and finance. The procedures used to gather solutions and data for each of the cases were unique, but for each case, I was able to learn how to research potential issues and …

The Effects Of Emotionally Appealing Messages On Perceptions About Marine Plastic Pollution: Implications For Science Communication On Social Media Outlets, Shelby Miller

Honors Theses

Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is one of the most pressing problems in the world today with many effects on ecological, economic, and social aspects of society. Global plastic production is around 322 million tons, with 10% of the world’s plastic products entering the ocean every year. Environmental campaigns use humor and shock in order to influence consumer behavior in regard to plastic products. Such approaches are important to utilize on social media in order to effectively communicate the issues posed by MPP. In this study, students and staff at the University of New Haven campus were given a survey containing …

Prevalent Technical Leadership Styles And The Impact On Early Engineering Careers, Connor Eigelberger

Honors Theses

This study explores the question of ‘what is the most prevalent leadership style found in industry’, from an engineering student’s internship experiences. Over the course of a Mechanical Engineering student’s four years of internships, they recorded their observation to three questions: ‘What is the dominant leadership style at the Anheuser-Busch InBev Jacksonville Brewery?’, ‘What is the dominant leadership style in the broader engineering sector?’ and lastly, ‘What is the dominant leadership style entry-level engineers should know in order to be successful?’. It reflects on their personal experiences within the engineering industry and suggests an ideal leadership style which can be …

A Compilation Of Case Studies Focusing On Financial Reporting Issues, Haydn Brown

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of case studies that focuses on various financial reporting and accounting topics. Each case addresses different topics using real world examples of specific companies. The thesis demonstrates the understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and was completed under the supervision of Victoria Dickinson to satisfy the requirements for the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Patterson School of Accountancy, and ACCY 420 course in the 2018-2019 academic year.

A Compilation Of Case Studies On Modern Issues And Applications Of Accounting, Tyler Butler

Honors Theses

Over the academic year spanning from 2018 to 2019, I attained knowledge of the accounting profession and applications of accounting techniques that have arisen from modern needs in the professional world. Having since spent the summer working as an accountant for a private construction company, I have been able to apply the knowledge in a real-world setting. For the thesis requirement, I thoroughly completed case studies on a variety of topics related to accounting. Each of the sections have been completed in case format with attention to readability and thoughtful presentation of information. Every case began with a problem to …