Digital Commons Network^™

Community Composition Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria On The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Marisa Martin, Colin Jackson

Honors Theses

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is an important resource for transportation, economic development, and recreation. Given its economic and cultural importance, it is crucial to maintain clean and safe conditions along the coast for public health, but other than routine beach monitoring, few studies have examined microbial contamination of coastal waters in this region. This study aimed to determine the quantity, composition, and distribution of bacteria resistant to six different antibiotics (Vancomycin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, or Amoxicillin) in seawater at seven public beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. No bacteria resistant to Ciprofloxacin were detected, and bacteria resistant to Kanamycin …

Prematurity And Special Education: Raising Awareness Of The Connections Between Preterm Births And Special Education, Nadia R. Corder

Honors Theses

In this thesis, the goal was to find the link, if any, between prematurity and special education, with regards to probability of special education and outcomes, and to create a means of professional development for not only special education teachers about prematurity risks and effects on students but also parental education about the possible procedures of their child’s education. This is accomplished through the organization of infographic pamphlets for parents and an online professional development presentation. Both these formats are compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility parameters. A literature review was conducted to achieve this goal using …

Ready: Piloting An Inclusive Higher Education Program For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At The University Of Mississippi, Emily R. Davis

Honors Theses

The University of Mississippi is currently one of the few SEC schools that does not offer an inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). An initiative to bring inclusive higher education to Ole Miss began as a passion project led by Honors College student Bailey Beaird and continued through 2024. Bailey worked diligently to research and design a model for implementing a four-year inclusive higher education program (IHEP). Ultimately, the decision was made by the administration to postpone advancement of a four-year program due to limited campus resources and concerns surrounding long-term sustainability. Instead, the …

Lifestyle And Activity Patterns Of The Classic Period Maya From Chac Balam And San Juan, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Abigail L. Hornbeck

Honors Theses

Bioarchaeological research often uses skeletal remains to reconstruct patterns of activity and labor in past populations. This study examines potential sex-based differences in long bone morphology among individuals from the Classic Maya sites of Chac Balam and San Juan on Ambergris Caye, Belize. These coastal communities participated in maritime trade networks, and daily activities such as cargo transport, canoe travel, and fishing may have placed distinctive mechanical stresses on the skeleton. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether measurable differences in bone structure between males and females reflect differences in habitual activity patterns.

Two complementary methods were used …

The Associations Between Problematic Social Media Use, Social Media Appearance Preoccupation, And Sleep Quality Among Emerging Adults, Lily Gisclair

Honors Theses

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental window in which significant transitions increase vulnerability to mental health challenges. Additionally, emerging adults are spending large amounts of time on social media sites. Recent literature suggests that problematic social media use and social media appearance preoccupation could all play a role in increased anxiety, depression, and poorer sleep outcomes in young people. However, to our knowledge, few studies have directly examined the associations among all of these variables specifically in the emerging adult population. The current study was designed to examine these associations among 178 emerging adults between the ages of 18 and …

Phytomining Potential Of Native Rocky Mountain Plants, Halle Cogley

Honors Theses

Standard mining practices of the past have left valuable, critical minerals remaining within mine waste and tailings piles. Phytoremediation, or the use of plants to uptake and store heavy metals, has grown in popularity for these sites. A new technology, phytomining, is being developed that not only offers the benefits of phytoremediation but also allows a new pathway to extract and generate revenue from these untouched critical minerals. Certain plants have been identified as hyperaccumulators with the ability to bioaccumulate a high level of certain minerals in their plant tissue. This study explored different species of native plants within the …

Collector Blends For The Flotation Of Rare Earth Silicates, Padmore Fosu Amankwah

Honors Theses

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for modern technologies, but their extraction from minerals remains challenging due to various factors, and their impact on mineral bonding and resulting crystal structure. Fundamental studies have shown that the concentration of rare earth minerals (REMs), such as rare earth silicates (RES), depends on factors such as Lanthanide contraction (LC), Coordination Number (NC), and silicate polymerization (SP). These influence flotation responses pending silicate type (e.g., sorosilicates, phylosilicates, nesosilicates, inosilicates, orthosilicates, etc.). To better understand this behavior and optimize REE recovery, samples from Halleck Creek, an American Rare Earth property in Wyoming, were obtained. Characterization …

Lunar Manufacturing Systems And The Role Of Additive Recycling Technologies, Camille A. Newman

Honors Theses

Renewed international interest in sustained lunar exploration has created a growing demand for technologies to support long-duration space exploration. Part of the recent Artemis missions and the Moon to Mars initiative is to improve key mission capabilities and fill critical gaps necessary to sustain lunar habitation. Waste management, recycling systems, and manufacturing systems have been identified as critical technologies that need further development before a sustained mission is possible. This thesis explores the feasibility of an additive manufacturing and recycling system designed to process plastic waste generated during extended lunar habitation. Initial research focused on existing manufacturing and recycling technologies …

Seasonal Variation And Size Distribution Of Particulate Matter In The Mississippi Delta: Implications For Source Attribution, Abigail E. Barnett

Honors Theses

This study examines seasonal patterns of particulate matter in the Mississippi Delta using data from PurpleAir sensors, with a focus on particle size distributions across PM₁.₀, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀. The purpose of this research is to evaluate whether particulate trends in the region reflect signatures consistent with wildfire smoke or are better explained by local environmental and agricultural factors.

Daily average concentrations were analyzed and grouped by season to compare spring and summer conditions. Results show that all particle size fractions increased from spring to summer. However, PM₁₀ concentrations remained consistently higher than PM₂.₅ in both seasons. The PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ ratio …

Lunar Manufacturing Systems And The Role Of Additive Recycling Technologies, Camille A. Newman

Honors Theses

Renewed international interest in sustained lunar exploration has created a growing demand for technologies to support long-duration space exploration. Part of the recent Artemis missions and the Moon to Mars initiative is to improve key mission capabilities and fill critical gaps necessary to sustain lunar habitation. Waste management, recycling systems, and manufacturing systems have been identified as critical technologies that need further development before a sustained mission is possible. This thesis explores the feasibility of an additive manufacturing and recycling system designed to process plastic waste generated during extended lunar habitation. Initial research focused on existing manufacturing and recycling technologies …

Phytoextraction Potential Of Willows (Salix Spp.) For Common Heavy Metal Contaminants., Johannes Chandler

Honors Theses

Phytoextraction is a method for removal and recovery of heavy metals from contaminated substrates using plants. There is a growing need to test, identify, and further understand species effective for phytoextraction to feasibly remove and recover heavy metals. In this study, the phytoextraction capacity of Willow (Salix) species was tested for metal contaminated soils and waters from legacy mining in Butte, Montana. The willows were grown in a hydroponic system in two 8-week long growth trials, employing a 2x2 factorial design of contaminated soil, clay beads, contaminated mine water and uncontaminated water as the media. Heavy metal concentrations (Mn, Zn, …

Descriptive Analysis: Effects Of Insufficient Sleep Among College Students Ages 18-22, Divine Ighalo

Honors Theses

Background: Not getting enough sleep is common among college students and is often linked to habits such as screen time, caffeine intake, stress, and irregular routines. This study examined how these lifestyle factors are associated with insufficient sleep among college students ages 18-22 and how poor sleep affects their overall wellbeing. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data through an anonymous 25 question online Qualtrics questionnaire. This was completed by 150 participants. The survey was designed to be completed in about 5-7 minutes. It included a mix of multiplechoice questions, frequency-based responses and select all that …

Integrating Movement In Elementary Classrooms: Teacher Perceptions And Student Benefits In A Kindergarten Setting, Ferriday R. Green

Honors Theses

Movement integration has been shown to positively influence elementary students’ cognitive performance, engagement, and on-task behavior; however, its use in classrooms remains inconsistent due to various teacher-perceived barriers. This qualitative study investigates the challenges teachers face when implementing movement integration in elementary classrooms and examines whether access to structured, movement-integrated lesson plans influences instructional practices. The study was conducted with one kindergarten teacher at Lafayette Elementary School. Data were collected through two semi-structured interviews—one conducted prior to implementation and one following a two-week intervention period during which the teacher implemented pre-developed, movement-integrated lesson plans aligned with required academic standards. Interview …

Behavioral Biases In Investment Decision-Making: Evidence From Short-Term Trading Behavior During High-Volatility Market Events, Jayden A. Shwed

Honors Theses

This study examines how behavioral biases influence short-term trading behavior during periods of high market volatility. While traditional financial theory assumes that investors act rationally, real-world market behavior often reflects the influence of psychological factors. Rather than treating behavioral bias as a single market force, this thesis compares how different biases appear across distinct market environments. Using an empirical, case-study-based approach, this study evaluates three recent market episodes: the COVID-19 market crash in 2020, the GameStop meme stock surge in 2021, and the rise of NVIDIA during the artificial intelligence boom from 2023 to 2024. Historical price and trading volume …

The Mystery Of The Epstein-Barr Virus: How To Detect An Undetectable Virus, Paris Lange

Honors Theses

The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a latent virus that stays in the body after the initial acute infection. In severe cases, this virus can lead to viral myocarditis and can cause life-threatening health issues. One reason this virus is impactful is its ability to suppress the intrinsic apoptotic response through a gene called BHRF1. This gene is an early lytic gene that encodes a homolog of a human pro-survival protein named Bcl-2. This allows the gene to act as an anti-apoptotic survival factor, facilitating the viral persistence inside the host without premature death of the host’s cells. Here, the BHRF1 …

From Crops To Kilowatts: The Growing Energy Potential Of Modern Agriculture, Karlee M. Crowe

Honors Theses

Agriculture has traditionally been defined as merely the production of food, fiber, and raw materials. Growing global challenges such as rising energy demand, resource depletion, and environmental degradation are reshaping the agricultural industry. This paper argues that modern agriculture has the potential to expand beyond its conventional roles by integrating renewable energy production—specifically through agrivoltaics and biomass generation—into existing agricultural practices. By focusing on these two main systems, this study highlights how the agriculture industry can implement energy production into already existing practices. Drawing on scientific literature and government sources, this study analyzes the environmental, economic, and social implications of …

Unbottling The Truth: A Study Of Alcohol Rehabilitation Access And Outcomes In Kentucky, Kendall Pierce

Honors Theses

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a significant public health concern in the United States, with disproportionately higher rates in Kentucky. Despite the availability of various treatment modalities, barriers to access and perceptions of treatment effectiveness continue to influence recovery outcomes. This study examines the accessibility and perceived success of alcohol rehabilitation programs in Kentucky through qualitative focus groups with individuals with lived experience of AUD (n = 9). Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, four major themes were identified: individual readiness for recovery, social support and resource navigation, structural barriers within the treatment system, and perceived characteristics of …

Invisible Fallout: Economic Health, Environmental Injustice, And The Social Legacy Of The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Isabella G. Bailey-Sims

Honors Theses

This paper examines the long-term impacts of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) in western Kentucky, framing its legacy as a form of “invisible fallout” in which economic growth was accompanied by delayed environmental and public health consequences. Established in the early 1950s, the plant served as a major economic driver, providing stable employment and transforming the regional economy. However, its operation involved the handling of radioactive materials and hazardous chemicals, leading to environmental contamination and occupational exposure risks that were not fully disclosed during its active years.

Drawing on epidemiological studies, environmental reports, and socioeconomic analyses, this study identifies …

Why Did Pikeville Blow Up That Mountain? Post-Evaluation On Public Projects In The United States, Gavin Cantrell

Honors Theses

Public project evaluation in the United States follows that projects are developed with constant checks and measurements to ensure that budgetary expectations, efficiency expectations, and output expectations are being met consistent with what was approved for the project. However, post-evaluation (also known as ex-evaluation) is not mandatory for constructing a project. Post-evaluation is a systematic approach of assessing and evaluating a project after its completion. Evidence suggests that there is no standardized system of post-evaluation across the branches of government, nor is there one that measures success. The logic model can fill this gap in post-evaluation. The logic model is …

Eastern Kentucky Drowning: Floods And Relief Efforts, Lynsey Joseph

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impacts of repeated flash floods in Eastern Kentucky, focusing on the flood events of 2022 and 2025, to understand how environmental conditions, disaster policy, and socioeconomic factors have shaped the community vulnerability and recovery in the region. This research is relevant due to the increased frequency of extreme weather events that have had disproportionate effects on rural and low-income regions. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of federal disaster response programs like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to analyze these systems compared to community-based recovery efforts. This was done using a …

Pfas Drinking Water Contamination In Madison County, Ky Association With Reproductive Health Outcomes., Jessica L. Stone

Honors Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, manmade chemicals used since the 1950s in a wide variety of consumer products. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as PFAS, have been linked to an increase in hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast and prostate, decreased fertility, decreased sperm count, genital malformations, and early puberty. This study utilized a mixed methods approach, including a literature review, a survey consisting of surface water and drinking water analysis, and a spatial analysis of public cancer data. Analyzed cancer data stratified by Kentucky River lower subbasin versus the remainder of the sectors, resulted in three significant p-values, …

"Sirens, Safety, And Superheroes": A Children's Guide To Handling An Emergency Crisis, Madison B. Cassity

Honors Theses

A children’s book was created highlighting the roles and responsibilities of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers in the prehospital setting. The book addresses the concerns and hesitancies that children may have when approached by EMS in the event of an emergency. This includes strategies about how children should manage and react in a situation if they must call 9-1-1 themselves. In addition to EMS related research, a literature review was conducted to analyze sources on how to effectively write a children’s book (what makes a child most interested, how to keep them engaged, etc.). This thesis will also articulate the …

Cancer Risk Perceptions And Nicotine Use Behaviors Among Eastern Kentucky University Students, Kassidy Burke

Honors Theses

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including vaping devices and oral nicotine pouches, has increased among adolescents and young adults. Although often marketed as safer alternatives to cigarettes, emerging evidence suggests these products may still pose significant health risks, including potential contributions to cancer. Despite this, many college students perceive them as low risk. This study examines cancer risk perceptions and nicotine use behaviors among students at Eastern Kentucky University, focusing on perceptions of cigarettes, vaping devices, and oral nicotine pouches, as well as how these perceptions influence behavior. It also explores sources of health information and the …

Two Sides Of The Same Cycle: Understanding The Experiences Of Domestic Violence Survivors And Perpetrators, Avery M. Blevins

Honors Theses

Domestic violence has been a prevalent concern throughout society for many years but has recently begun to cumulate awareness from policymakers, people in the community, and individuals in service professions. There have been various changes made to the way that we define and understand domestic violence which has further led to the need to explore and educate on this concern. This paper aims to understand the experiences of both survivors and perpetrators that led to such violent circumstances. This creates a more multifaceted understanding of domestic violence and aids in implementing effective resources to both prevent and intervene in violent …

Unlocking Access: Investigating The Implementation Of European Accessibility Standards In European Museums, Katie Hendrix

Honors Theses

Individuals with mobility limitations are limited to utilizing facilities that provide mobility adaptations, such as: elevators/lifts, automatic/easy to open doors, ramps, sufficient maneuverable space, benches, etc. To address this equity need in Europe, the European Committee for Standardization published and implemented the European Standard for accessibility and usability of the built environment (EN 17210) in 2021 which outlines accessibility features that all European Union (EU) countries are recommended to follow. The goal of this research is to investigate how the European Standard regulates the EU infrastructure and analyze its impact on infrastructures for those with mobility impairments. This project presents …

Beyond The Game: The Real Impact Of Cte, Leah R. Rennels Ms

Honors Theses

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is very new in the world of sports medicine and the clinical features and symptoms of CTE are wide ranging. Some of these features include: executive function decline, memory problems, depressive episodes, behavioral changes, and mood swings. The affected populations include contact sport athletes, military veterans, and physical abuse victims. Continued research in the field has also broadened the scope of its effect. CTE research can affect sports administration, medicine, and even legal fields. Sports administration and medicine can both make advancements to protect our contact sport athletes and medicine can even help people with similarly …

Inbreeding And The Fall Of The Spanish Habsburg Dynasty, Kira L. Kent

Honors Theses

Inbreeding and the Fall of the Spanish Habsburg Dynasty examines how centuries of consanguineous marriages within the Spanish Habsburg family contributed to the dynasty’s decline and eventual extinction. Focusing on the reign and health of Carlos II of Spain, this study explores how dynastic marriage strategies, which were designed to consolidate political power and preserve royal lineage, ultimately produced severe genetic consequences. This thesis analyzes patterns of intermarriage beginning with Carlos I and continuing through the next four monarchs, highlighting the repeated marriages between close relatives. These practices significantly increased the likelihood of inheriting harmful recessive traits. In addition, this …

Sense Of Belonging And Self-Efficacy Of Women In Stemm At The University Of South Alabama, Emilie Dedeaux

Honors Theses

Despite decades of calls and initiatives to diversify science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines, females are still more likely to leave STEMM career paths compared to their male peers, which is often depicted as a 'leaky pipeline'. Females in STEMM often report greater social alienation, greater selfdoubt, lower sense of belonging and academic satisfaction due to a mismatch in values in STEMM disciplines. STEMM values have traditionally been normed by cisheteronormative, white, male ideologies . While extensive research has focused on the barriers females experience in STEMM that reduce sense of belonging , less research has focused on …

Targeting The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Improve Depression And Anxiety In Parkinson's Disease, Brock Renicks

Honors Theses

The aim of this study is to observe the outcomes of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This study will primarily look at changes in depression and anxiety, as these symptoms are often comorbid with Parkinson’s Disease. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive, very low-intensity form of electrical stimulation of the brain. It is being increasingly used as a form of treatment for Parkinson’s Disease and depression and anxiety, however the literature is ambiguous, showing mixed results throughout various studies, with no standardization of tDCS administration. To determine the effect of tDCS on …

Gis-Based Trail Accessibility Assessment At Lime Hollow Nature Center, Ashley Siergiej

Honors Theses

Outdoor recreation, such as hiking, is an important component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially in regions such as Central New York where natural areas are abundant. Hiking trails provide opportunities for people to connect with the environment, making it important that individuals of all abilities can access and experience these spaces. However, many environmental and physical factors can influence the difficulty and accessibility of hiking trails. This study evaluates trail accessibility at Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, New York using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and field-based data collection. Field observations were collected along the Art Meadow Loop and …