Digital Commons Network^™

Glucose Oxidase And Prussian Blue Nanoparticles Encapsulated Within A Xerogel For Electrochemical Detection Of Glucose, Daniel Baker

Honors Theses

Recent literature reports examples of electrochemical biosensor systems based on the encapsulation of enzymes and metal nanoparticles into a xerogel for the detection of biologically important compounds, such as glucose. While these systems are very successful with acceptable detection limits and linear ranges. However, Prussian Blue modified electrodes have been shown to be better than metal electrodes for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. Here, a biosensor system where a xerogel in formed with both glucose oxidase and Prussian Blue nanoparticles.

Comorbidity Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Infertility, Brenna Payne

Honors Theses

This paper investigates the association between sexual abuse during childhood and female adult infertility. The initial purpose of this study is to determine if the two experiences share a correlational or causational relationship. Raw data on the incidence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is drawn from sources such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A number of peer-reviewed scientific articles provide information on subjects including the following: female infertility, genital abnormalities resulting from CSA, and techniques used in the clinical examination of victims of sexual abuse. A few case studies of survivors …

An Analysis Of The History And Ethics Of Video Games, Trenton Brock

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Test Using Sedimentary Records To Quantify Extreme Paleo-Flood: A Case Study Of An Oxbow Lake In South Carolina, Molly Aeschliman

Honors Theses

Extreme flooding has become an increasing issue along the coasts for people’s health and infrastructure stability. As the effect of climate change continues to persist, the need to prepare for such events becomes imperative. To improve the understanding of climatic forecasting with regards to extreme flooding, there is merit in searching flooding history beyond the instrumental records. There has been some work done in the past to correlate extreme flooding and its sedimentary traces preserved in floodplain depressions, such as oxbow lakes, based on the assumption that the coarser grain sediments in the sediment layers correspond with higher peak discharges …

Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Various Types Of Exercise, Jenna Thompson

Honors Theses

Previously, we found that variable-intensity exercise (VIIE) was more enjoyable than high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT), but the physiological stress was reduced. This study will examine exercise intensity, energy expenditure (EE), and perceptual responses during and after moderate-intensity exercise (MIE), HIIT, and VIIE. On separate days, the three work-matched bouts of exercise (MIE, HIIT, & VIIE) were randomized and performed. Oxygen consumption, heart rate (HR), and muscle oxygenation were collected over the entire bout for all conditions. OMNI ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and affect, via Feelings Scale, were measured in-exercise and enjoyment was measured post-exercise using the physical activity enjoyment …

The Effects Of Acute Exercise And Psychological Stress On Episodic Memory, Lauren Koehler

Honors Theses

Research has suggested that exercise has an effect on memory function. Studies have also shown that exercise mitigates the effects of stress. The relationship between exercise and stress in regard to memory function is noteworthy. There has been little research on this relationship in young adults. This thesis discusses the effects of acute exercise on the episodic memory of young adults when they are exposed to a psychosocial stressor. The results of the research study show that acute aerobic exercise before memory encoding or consolidation was not associated with memory function after exposure to a stressor. Future research in this …

Audibility, Cost-Acceptibility And Cosmetic Appearance Of Iqbuds Boost In Adults Over The Age Of 50, Madison Dacus, Vishakha Rawool

Honors Theses

Background: Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans and up to 86% of all adults with hearing loss may not wear hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss is associated with social withdrawal, depression, stress, loss of income, and dementia. Even so, people still tend not to buy or wear hearing aids for a variety of reasons. One recently suggested solution to this problem is low-cost, over the counter (OTC) hearing aids, nicknamed “hearables” This study evaluated the audibility, cost-acceptability and cosmetic appearance of one OTC, IQBuds BOOST.

Methods: Fourteen men and 12 women over 50 years with a hearing loss participated in …

Feminism And Low Breastfeeding Rates In France, Megan Wadsworth

Honors Theses

Breastfeeding rates in France are among the lowest in high-income countries, indicating that French mothers do not breastfeed for nearly as long as is recommended by healthcare professionals and international health organizations. French government, society and conflicting feminist perspectives all influence the likelihood that mothers will breastfeed. The French government has regulations in place to protect women’s right to breastfeed in public and in the workplace, but it is unclear if these are truly beneficial for French women. French society is a seemingly inhospitable environment in which mothers do not feel safe and secure to breastfeed publicly. Motherhood and feminism …

James Crow Jr., Esquire And Voter Suppression, Samantha Henderson

Honors Theses

This thesis lays out Voter ID laws and the effects they have on minorities. A new era of Jim Crow legislation in the 21st century as referred to by the well-respected, civil activist, Al Sharpton, as James Crow Jr., Esquire, creating laws that negatively impact voting. “Fait accompli,” a term used to describe the plight and pressure put upon the minority who are already at a disadvantage because the laws are established to discriminate against them. How can a silenced group change legislation when they cannot access the ballot? I will explore Supreme Court cases such as Yick Wo v. …

American Indian Sovereignty And Climate Change: Emerging Spaces And Coalitions To Assert American Indian Sovereignty During A Climate Crisis, Brenna Q. Gardner

Honors Theses

Climate change is a global issue that will affect most, if not all, populations on earth; however, it will not affect groups equally. While vulnerability varies between groups, poor, frontline, marginalized, and Indigenous people are particularly vulnerable. This thesis explores if the challenge of climate change as affecting multiple vulnerable populations presents emerging spaces in which American Indian sovereignty can be asserted. I provide a literature review on federal Indian policy and the American Indian Sovereignty movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I then analyze primary materials produced by the Indigenous Environmental Network and primary material surrounding the #NoDAPL movement. …

Synthesis Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products And Pesticide Metabolites Of Environmental Concern, Isaiah Edwards

Honors Theses

Human pollution of aquatic environments by introduction of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as well as agrichemicals presents a grave threat to the health of aquatic organisms. Many of these chemicals not only exhibit toxicity to the species of complex ecosystems at various levels but also undergo metabolic transformation into moieties that have different and sometimes more potent physiochemical profiles. PPCP and pesticides as well as their metabolites impact organisms via a number of different mechanisms, with the most serious arguably being endocrine disruption. Two emerging pollutants, gemfibrozil and bifenthrin, possess naturally occurring metabolites that were determined to warrant …

The Embeddedness Of Racial Microaggressions In International Student Experiences At The University Of Mississippi, Morgan Blythe

Honors Theses

This study explores the lived experiences of international students at the University of Mississippi (UM). Using a phenomenological approach, the participants’ stories were understood and offered as a counter-narrative to existing literature dominated by White Americans. The interviews were processed through the lens of Critical Race Theory, specifically the microaggressions framework to account for modern-day racism as it evolves alongside culture. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with international students at UM ranging from exchange to PhD candidates. These participants are from various countries around the globe, chosen through convenience sampling. The interviews were coded using NVivo12. The results of this …

Design And Synthesis Of Novel Analogs As Potential Antitubercular Agents, Peggy Mccluggage

Honors Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, airborne disease which primarily infects the lungs. One-third of the world’s population is currently estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent for TB [1]. Current treatment for this disease requires at least six months of taking multiple antibiotics with undesirable side effects [2]. Difficulty in complying to this regimen as well as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS has led to antimicrobial resistance seen in Mtb. In order to combat the Multi-Drug Resistant and Extensively-Drug Resistant strains of the disease-causing bacteria, preventative care and novel antibiotics are urgently needed [3]. The purpose for …

An Evaluation Of Community Based Food Intervention: Cooking Matters In Charleston, Ms, Lindsay Fournier

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Cooking Matters classes in producing improvement in individuals’ cooking skills and confidence, as well as their eating behaviors, shopping skills, and perceptions of cooking in rural Charleston, MS. These classes have reported great success in more urban areas such as Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC; however, different challenges may be faced in rural Mississippi. To study the effectiveness of the interventions in a new context, pre- and post-intervention self-report surveys were performed and evaluated using Wilcoxon statistical analysis as well as paired sample t tests, and bootstrap …

Multi-Generational Effects Of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure On Gene Expression In Liver Tissue, Kayla Lovitt

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most commonly used, cultivated, and trafficked illicit drug worldwide. Increased availability and acceptance of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing products provide the necessity for understanding how these substances influence aging. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to concentrations of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (0.08, 0.4, 2 µM) during embryonic-larval development, the effects on aging were measured 30 months later and in the offspring of the exposed fish (F1 generation. We observed results indicating a biphasic and hormetic effect. Treatment with the lowest concentration of THC significantly increased egg production, while higher concentrations resulted in impaired …

Cell Proliferation And Viability Inhibition By Resveratrol On Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Kyle Ford Gordon Jr

Honors Theses

Antioxidants are well-known for their various health benefits. They are able to protect cells from being damaged by free radicals that are produced by vital biochemical processes. It has long been known that antioxidants are important in our everyday health, but their potential as disease preventers and potential therapeutic agents is a relatively new field of study. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol and well-known antioxidant, is found in plants, fruits, and products derived from them, like red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have various properties, including antiaging, anti-aggregation of platelets, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Because of their many health benefits, …

The Effects Of Narrative Processing On False Recall, Calista Spears

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to test whether false memory intrusions occur at a greater rate when participants encode words in a narrative processing scenario, as compared to a survival scenario or a pleasantness condition. In each condition, the participants were presented with one list of words related to an unlisted critical word adapted from Stadler, Roediger, and McDermott’s (1999) norms. For each condition (narrative, survival, and pleasantness), participants read a set of instructions and processed words by writing things related to the condition (i.e., writing a story line using the word, listing how the word would be used …

Vital Signs: Exploring Medical American Sign Language Interpreting Services In Mississippi, Morgan Pfleger

Honors Theses

This research involves the regulation, education and training, and availability of medical sign language interpreters in Mississippi, a topic that is seldom studied. The research consisted of a review of past literature on topics related to interpretation and Deaf and hard-of-hearing population, systematic policy review, and interviews with 9 individuals from 7 different medical facilities and one interview with 4 participants together in Mississippi including primary care providers, hospitals, and community health centers. These data were used to explore the interpreting services being provided for those using sign language in Mississippi. Both national and state policies require that alternative methods …

The Roots Of Wellbeing: Positive Effects Of Nature Writing, Grace Turner

Honors Theses

Fostering healthy relationships between humans and the environment is beneficial for people and for the natural world around us. Efforts to foster these relationships are more important now than ever before due to the rapid deterioration of the climate and the growing divide between people and nature. There is abundant research documenting the positive physical, psychological, and social effects of time spent in nature, such as positive mood, life satisfaction, connection to nature, pro-environmental behavior, and feelings of transcendence. However, actual experiences in nature may be inconvenient, inaccessible, or otherwise unavailable. Addressing this concern, researchers are now examining the possible …

Blood Glucose Levels Of Esports Athletes During High Intensity Gaming, Gunner Rhoden

Honors Theses

Given the rise in popularity of Esports, it is important to better understand the relationship between Esports and the human body. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between blood glucose levels and performance in Esports. Ten undergraduate students (9 male, 1 female; age = 20.3±1.2 years; BMI = 28.8±7.6; Esports mean hours per week = 18.9±14.3) were recruited from the Esports club at the University of Mississippi. Blood glucose levels were measured using a HemoCue Glucose 201 Analyzer (Angelhome, Sweden) a total of 8 times (4 per session). After the completion of an initial familiarization session, …

Accounting Research And Professional Development, Ragan Riley

Honors Theses

This paper is a compilation of various accounting studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson throughout a yearlong professional development course for accounting. During each of the twelve cases, the student was required to identify accounting principle problems within the cases, research proper accounting practices, and critically think through how these situations should have been handled in order for these companies to be in accordance with GAAP. There were also cases that facilitated decision making for students in their future career such as location decisions and articles regarding current accounting problems. This course allowed students to network with peers and accounting …

A Tale Of Two Cities, Maybe Three A Look At Financial Literacy And Economic Development In Three Mississippi Cities: Fulton, Clarksdale, And Oxford, Kellie Reed Cleveland

Honors Theses

This paper explores the backbones of economic growth and how the backbones influence economic development in three cities in Mississippi. It further seeks to promote education in financial literacy throughout the state to create a base for individuals to further their financial education, create small businesses, or to simply be a knowledgeable citizen. The research sifts through backbones such as population health and small & big business influence, to explore how financial literacy influences daily life and the catalyst for businesses to start and grow. The Mississippi cities Fulton, Clarksdale, and Oxford are studied more in-depth through photos of the …

Acute Exercise On Memory Function: Open Vs. Closed Skill Exercise, Justin Cantrelle

Honors Theses

Accumulating research suggests that acute exercise may enhance memory function. Limited research, however, has evaluated whether the movement patterns of acute exercise may have a differential effect on memory. Such an effect is plausible, as research demonstrates that open-skilled exercise (e.g., racquetball) may have a greater effect on memory-related neurotrophins (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factors) when compared to closed-skilled exercise (e.g. treadmill exercise). A key distinction between open- and closed-skilled exercise is that open-skilled exercises are those that require an individual to react in a dynamic way to a changing, unpredictable environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether …

Analysis Of Varying Opportunities In International Education, Jaira Gibson

Honors Theses

This analysis explores various countries and opportunities to teach overseas and the implications that coincide with it. Japan, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam are countries that currently have high academic success; hence, they have been included to analyze their education structure, brief overview of their culture, curriculum, teaching practices, and the culture surrounding their schools to best understand the opportunities a foreign teacher could have. Furthermore, a comprehensive description and analysis of programs designed for international teaching opportunities is included. These programs include but are not limited to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Peace Corps. …

Raman Spectroscopy Study Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol And Their Hydrogen-Bonding Activities, Kalee Sigworth

Honors Theses

Cannabis and products containing its cannabinoids have grown rapidly in acceptance and use in recent years with legalization of cannabis in many countries and US states. Cannabidiol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol are two primary cannabinoids in Cannabis that have been shown to produce analgesic effects along with many other positive side effects for the user. These two cannabinoids interact with receptors in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems. No spectroscopic study to our knowledge has been performed to analyze the hydrogen bonding effects of interactions between these two cannabinoids and solvents. Here, we employ theoretical Raman spectra through computational methods to study …

Comparative Analysis Of The Results From The Ideal Gas Assumptions With More Rigorous Calculations From Pro/Ii Of The Production Of Pharmaceutical Grade Acetone, Soibifaa Frank-Briggs

Honors Theses

The Chemical engineering team was assigned by Landshark Inc to investigate the production of 30,000 tonnes/yr of pharmaceutical-grade acetone with a purity of 99.9 wt.% from the dehydrogenation of isopropanol (IPA). The team was tasked with determining the necessary process and unit operation criteria to ensure the economic feasibility of the proposed plant.

The major goal of this thesis is to provide a data comparison of the reactor in acetone production process when designed in Microsoft Excel and Pro/II. The first part of this thesis will introduce the base case briefly, transition into engineering optimizations and show the results found …

The Relationship Between Autism And The Multiple Intelligences Theory: Identifying Patterns In Learning For Educational Purposes, Rhiannon M. Duvall

Honors Theses

The Multiple Intelligences theory has been used to modify lessons in the traditional classroom for years. Incorporating this intelligence theory into lesson plans, teachers address students various learning abilities. However, this educational theory can also be used to improve students’ strengths in intelligence areas they are not proficient in. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with autism with social deficits due to their developmental disorder. Autism spectrum disorder can negatively impact various cognitive elements of an individual’s life, but it primarily affects an individual’s social skills and interpersonal intelligence. One of the most prominent solutions to improving social skills for …

Solutions To Dissonance: Solutions To The Gaps In The Cognitive, Social, And Emotional Development Of Students With Disabilities In The Music Classroom, Matthew T. Robinson

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to define disability as it is used in the music classroom, summarize gaps in the development of students with disabilities in the music classroom, and determine possible solutions to those issues. The research in this thesis is intended to be used as a resource for music educators of all levels and not to criticize the work of countless other educators to impact the lives of students with disabilities. This paper makes use of some classroom observations as well as a survey of music educators from around the state of Kentucky. This paper should not be considered an …

Fostering Success: What Happens After The Transition Out Of Foster Care?, Paige N. Mikels

Honors Theses

The foster care system in the United States continues to pose a great negative impact on its participants. This negative impact consequently lowers their chances of attaining the same level of success as their non-fostered peers. The foster care experience affects their academics, mental and physical health, employment, and has a special impact on minority children. There are several sources of support and resources available to assist this population if the individual, their foster parents, or case manager is aware of them. In addition to being aware of the sources of support and resources, the foster youth or foster care …

The Effects Of Cognitive Training On Neurodegenerative Disease: A Proposed Study, Mark E. Dvornak

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases impact over 5 million Americans and costs over $290 billion annually. One possible method to restore cognitive functioning is cognitive training. Cognitive training is a broad term and can include activities like brain games, puzzles, meditation, music training, and many more activities. While there have been many studies researching individual forms of cognitive training, none have researched combining two forms of training. This research will study the effects of a combined cognitive training programming that includes 1) music training and 2) exergaming. Exergaming is a new form of training combining aerobic exercise and …