Digital Commons Network^™

Observation And Detection Of Adhd Malingering In College Students, Zoe Tenner

Honors Theses

The rate of college students attempting to obtain Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses in order to gain access to prescription stimulant medications has shown a large increase over the past 20 years. Research has also shown that college students are frequently able to convincingly present themselves as meeting clinical criteria for ADHD with relative ease, meaning that the barrier to false presentation for the purpose of obtaining inappropriately prescribed medication is minimal. There is a need for more concise, accurate tools to detect these efforts in clinical settings, which is an area of research pursued by members of the University of …

Diabetes Self-Management Training In Rural Mississippi, Nathan Foxworth

Honors Theses

The objective of this study is to evaluate participants’ attitudes towards and readiness to participate in an online Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program in rural Mississippi, in light of the rapid shift to telemedicine necessitated by the CoVid19 pandemic. Semi- structured in-depth interviews were conducted with patients over 18 that live in areas considered rural in Mississippi. The findings of the study conclude that patients in rural settings are willing and ready to participate in DSMES online. Of the 12 participants in the study, 11 had access to the internet and had adequate infrastructure in order to participate …

An Examination Of Accounting Topics Through The Completion Of Case Studies, Kayla Biando

Honors Theses

This thesis, completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in Accountancy 420, a year-long thesis course, is composed of eleven case studies and is intended to analyze various areas of accounting and financial reporting. This topic analysis, along with the numerous accounting firm presentations that were offered to expose us to potential future professional opportunities, helped to further enhance our knowledge of the accounting profession while developing our critical thinking processes and related research techniques. That said, the completion of this course, both information-enhancing and skill-building, assisted in setting us up for a future career in professional accounting.

Congenital Heart Defects And The Expression Of Ccdc141, Savanna Tillman

Honors Theses

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are one of the most prevalent types of birth defects in the United States. Both environmental and genetic components are known to contribute to the development of CHDs. One of the ways toxins present in the environment cause CHDs is by disrupting the expression of genes known to be vital in normal cardiac morphogenesis. Thus, the identification of both toxins that cause birth defects in cardiac development and genes expressed during heart development is crucial in order to fully understand the relationship between environment and genetics as they relate to CHD. Due to their external development, …

Potential Interactions Between Gper1 And Hiv Tat-Mediated Neurotoxicity, Shiwani Thapa

Honors Theses

Great advances have been made in the treatment of HIV, however, new infections remain consistent each year with no effective cure. The early entry of HIV virus into the central nervous system is thought to contribute to the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. One of the mechanisms of neurological impairment may involve actions of the neurotoxic HIV viral protein, trans-activator of transcription (Tat). Tat can be secreted from infected cells and acts as an excitotoxin, increasing the intracellular flux of Ca2+ , promoting mitochondrial dysfunction, and neural cell damage/death. Previous experiments have shown that steroid hormones such as estrogen can …

Increasing Mississippi’S Hpv Vaccination Rate: A Proposal Based On Providers’ Insights, Madison N. Thornton

Honors Theses

Despite high childhood vaccination rates for required vaccinations for kindergarten, including the MMR vaccine, Mississippi has the lowest HPV vaccination rate in the nation. This is so even though the HPV vaccine can prevent multiple cancers, including cervical cancer, of which Mississippi has the nation’s highest mortality rate. This study seeks to understand the factors surrounding Mississippi’s low HPV vaccination rate as well as potential policy solutions to increase this rate. To accomplish this, the author conducted interviews with 13 Mississippi physicians in various specialties to gather qualitative data. As a result of these interviews, the author found that the …

Soda, Water, And Convenience: An Evaluation Of The Mexican Soda Tax, Benjamin Hager

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to evaluate the Mexican soda tax of 2014 by exploring the reasons for the tax and the underlying factors that the tax seems to ignore. This soda tax, in particular, was implemented to address obesity by curbing the consumption of sugary soft drinks due to the large quantities consumed by the Mexican populous. However, as this thesis shows there are some potential pitfalls in this type of obesity prevention policy. By exploring potable water data from the World Bank, the rural and urban noncommunicable disease rates of two Mexican states, and the penetration of levels of the …

The Effects Of Cochlear Implantation And Educational Audiology Services On Language Skills: A Case Study, Madison Josey

Honors Theses

Purpose

Hearing loss can affect many aspects of a child’s life, particularly their language abilities and academic performance. Literature shows that children with hearing loss are more likely to have language deficits compared to their hearing peers (Tomblin et al., 2015). The degree to which language skills are affected has been shown to correlate with various factors, such as age of identification, hearing levels, and amount of speech and language intervention (Delage & Tuller, 2020; Shojaei et al., 2016). The aim of this research study was to assess how cochlear implantation and speech-language intervention affects the language skills and academic …

University Of Mississippi Student Perceptions Of The Relationship Between Stimulant Use And Mental Health, Elizabeth Mccutcheon

Honors Theses

College students are situated in a perfect storm for stimulant misuse and mental health issues, while living admits a mental health crisis of never-before-seen proportions, in combination with a global pandemic and the normal amount of stress associated with a university course load. It is important to address college student’s perceptions of the risks and benefits of stimulant use in order to see if they realize the severity of the problem of abuse and address it. The addiction of examining mental health in relation to stimulant abuse can provide new insight to the motivation behind the rise in stimulant abuse …

Compilation Of Cases Investigating Principles Of Accounting, Celia Sullivan

Honors Theses

This thesis is composed of two semesters worth of investigative cases into different aspects of the accounting field. There are 10 cases that each offer a unique perspective on varying aspects of accounting as a profession. Each case posed a different issue or controversy in the profession and proposed answers to the questions asked. The thesis shows a well-rounded understanding of the applications of accounting and the Generally Accepted Principles of Accounting. These cases were created and completed within the Accounting 420 course taught by Professor Victoria Dickinson in the fall and spring semesters of 2020.

The Effects Of Progesterone Induced Blocking Factor And 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate On The Pathophysiology Of Preeclampsia, Kyleigh M. Comley

Honors Theses

Preeclampsia (PE) is responsible for about 20% of the 13 million preterm births each year worldwide, including 100,000 cases annually in the United States. Despite being a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are still largely unknown. PE is progesterone deficient state characterized by hypertension, chronic immune activation, endothelial dysfunction and severe forms can lead to seizures. Treatment of seizures includes the administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) though not all PE patients are responsive, and it does not decrease PE-associated hypertension. To resolve these conditions, PE patients are delivered early thereby making PE the leading …

Microplastic Pollution: Analytical Method Development And Current Policy, Klara Missling

Honors Theses

Microplastics pollution is an emerging research and policy topic. Standardized methods are not yet established for scientific studies or compliance with legislation requiring monitoring of microplastics. This study combines the work done in the laboratory detecting and counting microplastics in samples from the Mississippi River and in oysters from the Mississippi Sound with a literature review on microplastic pollution policy. In the laboratory, I helped prepare samples for analyses using a novel one-pot method that led to a publication in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Later, I compared visual counting of microplastics stained with Nile Red dye using a …

An Analysis Of Accounting Through The Use Of Case Studies, David Fowler

Honors Theses

Over the 2019-2020 school year, I participated in Accounting 420, an honors accountancy class designed to take students through complex accounting topics in the form of case studies. We used a variety of resources, including videos, articles, financial statements, and interviewees. Each case presented a new opportunity to learn a different accounting topic that often had no relation to the others. This class allowed students such as me to gain a deeper understanding of present-day accounting news and trends and reflect on the errors of the past.

Furthermore, we were given significant exposure to many different accounting professionals from across …

Going Green: A Comparative Analysis Of Green Urbanism In Paris And Shanghai, Jeanne Torp

Honors Theses

As climate change becomes more pressing with each day and as we scramble to slow down the challenges it poses, adapting the means of operation within our cities will become an invaluable tool for reducing humanity’s carbon footprint. This paper seeks to study the ways in which green infrastructure in global cities can be used to do just that—adapting to and mitigating the effects of challenges resulting from climate change. In order to provide a broad overview of the effectiveness of such green infrastructure systems across the globe, this research will focus on two cities that vary greatly in their …

Building Institutional Knowledge Into Student Leaders: A Repository Of Student-Led Climate Change Initiatives At Wmu, Aida Amirul Bahri

Honors Theses

Students and registered student organizations (RSO) at Western Michigan University (WMU) have increasingly shown interest in climate change and environmental issues. However, student leadership roles are often held short-term due to the rapid displacement cycle of student bodies caused by graduation, institution transfers and other factors. New leaders often struggle with picking up where former students left off and advancing previously established efforts. WMU student groups lack an effective system of maintaining institutional knowledge, including student-led campaigns and accomplishments, to support a smoother transition that would empower student leaders and build upon prior progress. The goal of this project is …

Honors Accounting Practicum, Richard Roger Sankey Iii

Honors Theses

This thesis is comprised of 12 case studies that involve various financial accounting concepts and principles. Topics range from analyzing various client markets in differing cities to looking at difficult tax accounting scenarios. This thesis was written under the guidance of Dr. Vicki Dickson throughout a yearlong class that was taken during my junior year. This class expanded my knowledge on current accounting trends and technology. Through these case studies I was able to better prepare myself for the rapidly evolving accounting world.

Honors Accounting Thesis, John Houston Ii

Honors Theses

This thesis contains twelve case studies that cover various accounting technical and career topics. These topics include consideration of where to work in the city selection case to analyzing the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. This thesis was written with the guidance of Dr. Vicki Dickinson during my junior year accounting Independent Study class. I gained a greater understanding of a numerous amount of accounting related topics, over the course of this class.

Evaluation Of Whether Habitual Physical Activity Is Associated With An Attenuated Memory Interference Effect, Lilianne Belle Mckissack

Honors Theses

The relationship between exercise and memory is notable. Recently, there has been a sparked interest in studying the effects of exercise on attenuating memory interference. There have been several studies that have investigated whether acute exercise can attenuate memory interference. However, this thesis specifically studies the effects of habitual physical activity on attenuating the memory interference effect, which has been infrequently studied. One-hundred and nine young adults completed an online survey evaluating their physical activity behavior and memory interference, assessed via an AB/AC paradigm. We were effective in inducing proactive interference (p = .001), but physical activity was not …

Open Vs. Closed Skill Acute Exercise On Emotional Memory, Ashley Lovorn

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT ASHLEY LOVORN: Acute Open vs. Closed Skill Exercise on Emotional Memory (Under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Loprinzi)

Accumulating research suggests that acute exercise may influence emotional memory. However, there is limited research on this topic evaluating which modality of exercise elicits the greatest effects on emotional memory. The purpose of this thesis experiment was to evaluate if treadmill exercise (closed-skill) has a differential impact on emotional memory relative to racquetball exercise (open-skill). One-hundred and ninety- three participants were recruited and divided into three groups: closed-skill (N=65), open- skill (N=65) and control (N=64). Prior to exercise, each of …

Oxidative Potential And Composition Of Fine Particulate Matter At Two Locations In Mississippi, Victoria Claire Stevens

Honors Theses

Air pollution exposure has negative health effects on individuals across the globe. Negative impacts on human health have been documented in studies following both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution, and these adverse effects have been seen even at the lowest levels of exposure. Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has specifically been linked to these negative health effects. These effects come from many sources, but one large contribution to the negative health effects comes from oxidative stress. In this study, samples were collected from Hernando, MS and Gulfport, MS in September 2013 and November 2013. Black carbon (BC) …

Relationship Between Anxiety And Dietary Quality In College Students, Katie Darnell

Honors Theses

College students across many universities show high levels of anxiety in the transition from high school to college. These students must learn to adapt to a higher demand of focus and work that a college education requires, and some students find the pressure to be too much to handle. The purpose of this study was to determine whether college students with high anxiety displayed a poorer diet quality. The sample was college students (N=44) enrolled in undergraduate studies at the University of Mississippi. Students completed an anonymous 39-item questionnaire about their prevalence of anxiety and consumption rates of …

Synthesis Of Novel Long Chain Unsaturated Fatty Acid Analogs Of Capsaicin, Eli Bettiga

Honors Theses

A number of key studies have shown that the natural product capsaicin displays in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects against a variety of cancers, however, both the analgesic and cancer-related therapeutic potential of capsaicin have been limited by its unpleasant pungent side effects and modest potency. N-acyl vanillylamides (N-AVAMs) are a unique class of compounds that are simple side chain modified capsaicin derivatives. Limited structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of N-AVAMs demonstrated that substitution of the capsaicin side-chain with longer unsaturated fatty acid groups results in non-pungent analogs with improved anti-invasive activity relative to capsaicin. In an effort to ultimately …

The Importance Of Continuity Of Care Among Older Adults On Chronic Opioid Therapy, Max Mauney

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to define continuity of care and prescriber characteristics among older adults with chronic non-cancer pain who are on long-term opioid therapy. Also, it will evaluate the connection between continuity of care and prescriber characteristics on the risk of opioid-related adverse events among older adults on chronic opioid therapy. The main goal is to observe the relationship between continuity and the related adverse events that may arise.

This study utilized a nested case-control using a 5% random sample of the National Medicare data between 2012 and 2016. This data used a random sample of beneficiaries …

Covid-19 And Challenges To The Traditional Understanding Of Individual Medical Autonomy, Callon A. Green

Honors Theses

Throughout history, vaccines have provided the human population with the ability to combat dangerous illnesses and avoid preventable suffering. Despite the benefits vaccines provide to the public health of the United States, anti-vaccination sentiment and resistance to vaccine uptake are still prevalent in the modern day. As the COVID-19 pandemic has developed into a major public health crisis that can be controlled through vaccination, the issues underlying vaccine resistance are becoming more critical to return to normal life. Using COVID-19 as a case study, it is evident that the individual choice to deny vaccination can have consequences on the health …

A Tale Of Two Companies: The Importance Of Public Relations Amidst The Shift Towards Corporate Activism, Olivia Schwab

Honors Theses

By comparing the controversies that stemmed from Papa John’s John Schnatter and CrossFit’s Greg Glassman, some obvious public relations strategies stand out, including but not limited to understanding an audience, adapting to a changing environment, establishing a crisis communications plan, and taking controversial stands on issues close to the audience’s hearts. Most importantly though, if companies preach messages of social change, they must follow up on their stances with corrective action to do their best to help facilitate it in society.

While examining the history of corporate activism, it is clear why and how some corporations become the victims of …

An Overview Of Select Accounting Topics Through Case Studies And Research, James Pugh

Honors Theses

During the calendar year of 2020, amongst all the turmoil surrounding our world, I had the privilege of taking part in Dr. Dickinson’s Honors 420 course. I will be forever grateful for the fresh and in-depth outlook she imparted on me in terms of my profession and the topic of accounting as a whole. This thesis is an overview of several broad and important accounting topics, along with various world-wide economic and financial reporting issues that have changed the accounting profession. This thesis has allowed strengthen my understanding of the subject of accountancy. The University of Mississippi, accounting students of …

Serine And Glutathione Biosynthesis In Breast Cancer Subclones That Preferentially Metastasize To Lung And Bone, Noah Thornton

Honors Theses

Metastatic breast cancers show distinct preferences to metastasize to lung and bone tissue. Transcriptomic analysis of lung-specific (LM) and bone-specific (BoM) subclones derived from the MDA-231 breast cancer line have identified differential expression of genes that may mediate this tissue-specific metastasis, but metabolic differences have not been systematically studied. If common metabolic phenotypes emerge in metastatic cancers having preferences for different organs, then such ‘metabolic plasticity’ may offer new therapeutic targets for treatment of specific metastases. Changes in glutathione (GSH) and serine synthesis may contribute to tissue-specific proliferation because of their roles in redox homeostasis, biosynthetic reactions including nucleotide synthesis, …

Design, Analysis, And Optimization Of A Process To Produce Dimethyl Ether From Methanol, Thomas Mathwig

Honors Theses

The company that the engineering team works for is facing a contract loss with one of its customers of methanol. To avoid economic losses, a process has been proposed for converting the unused methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) through a dehydration reaction. After a preliminary simulation of the base case and optimization of the distillation column, an Equivalent Annual Operating Cost (EAOC) of $140,000 was calculated for the column. The EAOC was the sum of the annualized capital investment and the annual operating cost. Determining the process to be worth pursuing, a Toller was brought in to provide rental equipment …

Examining Public Water Systems Servicing Schools And Childcare Facilities To Inform Policy: A Study Of Lead Exposure In The Mississippi Delta, William Farmer

Honors Theses

Abstract

This study was initiated with the intent of identifying elementary schools and childcare facilities in the Mississippi Delta with children ages 6 and under that may have public water systems (PWSs) with lead exceedances of 5 ppb. We also aimed to identify the existence, and further the availability, of information regarding which public schools and childcare facilities were serviced by which public water systems. Based on the results of this study, considerations related to Mississippi’s ability to comply with the 2020 Revisions of the Lead and Copper Rule requiring testing in all public schools were determined. Seven principal counties …

Association Of Trim Gene Variation And Lpdv Infection Patterns In Wild Turkeys, Bennett Fry

Honors Theses

Emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to various species throughout the globe, including humans. The lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys is an example of disease virus whose impact on its host requires additional study. Although the first description of lymphoproliferative disease came from outbreaks in domestic turkey flocks in Europe, it is now known that LPDV is widespread in wild turkey populations in North America. In an effort to understand what may affect an individual turkey’s susceptibility to this virus, variation in part of the anti-viral TRIM62 gene was investigated. DNA was extracted from hunter-collected, turkey blood …