Digital Commons Network^™

A Closer Look At Your Closet: An Analysis Of Consumer Desires, Fast Fashion’S Negative Harms, And Sustainable Solutions For Change, Sarah Hallman

Honors Theses

This thesis serves as an in-depth analysis of the fast fashion industry as it relates to consumers and seeks to identify and promote changes to enhance sustainability with a focus on reusing and repurposing secondhand clothing. The fast fashion industry is unique in its business model, means of production, and harm associated with it. It thrives on the exploitation of consumer desires that silently influence what and how consumers purchase clothing. Through an analysis of consumer desires and the harms associated with the industry through a literary discussion of scholarly articles previously written on these topics, solutions for both businesses …

Synthesis Of Antibody Functionalized Polyaniline/Polystyrene/N-Gqds Composite Fibermats For Sweat Based Cortisol Biosensing Applications, Ashwin James

Honors Theses

Noninvasive, wearable biosensors capable of detecting stress biomarkers in sweat require electrodes that are flexible, conductive, insoluble in water, and highly sensitive at low concentrations of analyte. In this work, bovine serum albumin blocked and anti-cmab immobilized nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots integrated polyaniline/polystyrene composite fibermat electrodes (BSA/Anti-Cmab/N-GQDs/PANI/PS electrodes) were synthesized and evaluated as a potential platform for an electrochemical cortisol biosensor in sweat based systems. Polyaniline was utilized in order to provide electrical conductivity, while polystyrene served as a carrying polymer for mechanical support and its hydrophobicity. Composite fibermats were manufactured through Forcespinning™, followed by a secondary polyaniline graft …

Beyond Traditional Pathways: Addressing Challenges Facing Adult Learners, Katherine L. Harden

Honors Theses

Successful institutions of higher education are continually seeking methods to improve their schools and keep pace with the changing demands of the academic sphere and current job market. With a potential enrollment cliff arising, it is particularly necessary for universities and colleges to find ways to overcome the challenges associated with a possible declining number of traditional—-aged students participating in higher education. A strategically clear solution is to explore the rapidly growing population of adult learners.

This paper will examine the complex motivations, challenges, educational experiences, and perseverance displayed by these students as they work to succeed from admission to …

Perceptions Of Mississippi Parents Of Youth And Young Adults With Autism Regarding Relationship Training And Sex Education, Peter Mccormick

Honors Theses

This study used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine if there was a significant difference between the age of a parent with a youth or young adult with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and the age of their child when they plan to discuss the three sex education and relationship training topics of sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception. The results of the ANOVA were not significant for the sex education and relationship topics of sexual intercourse F (2, 22) = 1.485, p = 0.248 and contraception F (2,22) = 3.059, p = 0.0667. However, the results of the ANOVA …

Exploring The Relationship Between Exercise, Social Support, And Mental Health, Emma Anderson

Honors Theses

This study explored the relationship between exercise, social support, and mental health in college students. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress are prevalent among college students. The two components that are experimented with for their potential in decreasing the effects of negative mental health are exercise and social support. This project executed a cross-sectional design by surveying three groups of college students: cycle class participants, independent exercisers, and non-active students. The recruitment process for the three groups of participants were key in measuring the physical activity levels. The participants were individually asked if they completed a specific …

Relationships Among Institutional Betrayal, Adverse Healthcare Experiences, And College Student Health, Saba Mustafa

Honors Theses

Institutional betrayal is defined as the trauma experienced by an individual who feels that their trust in the ability of an institution to keep the individual safe is broken. Healthcare-related institutional betrayal has primarily been explored among working adults, individuals with chronic conditions, and individuals from racially diverse backgrounds. However, healthcare-related institutional betrayal has seldom been explored in college student samples, who may have different healthcare needs compared to other patient populations. The present study explored college students’ experiences with institutional betrayal due to negative healthcare experiences. Survey data were gathered from 157 college students. Measures included healthcare provider trust, …

Hand Injuries In Boulderers Across Various Settings, Experience And Skill Levels., Cole E. Olinger

Honors Theses

Survey-based research was performed to identify risk factors and prevention tactics for finger injuries in boulderers. An IRB-approved survey was distributed and taken by 228 respondents, whose data was analyzed. Risk factors for finger injury were found to include years of experience and skill level. Results indicated stronger, more experienced boulderers were more likely to report history of finger injury than weaker, less experienced boulderers. Findings suggest boulderers may avoid injury by manipulating their grip type in specific ways.

Identifying Barriers For Community Pharmacies As Vaccines For Children (Vfc) Providers In Rural Alabama: Opportunities For Solutions, Myra Bajwa

Honors Theses

Significant Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination disparities exist between rural and urban areas in the US. A primary contributor is low access to preventive care in rural areas. Among the most promising strategies to overcome this is increasing access through offering HPV vaccination in non-traditional, convenient health settings such as pharmacies. In rural areas, community pharmacies are trusted, convenient pillars of the community. In Alabama, community pharmacies are eligible for enrollment in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, a federally-funded program that provides free vaccines to children and adolescents under 18 years old who are uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, or Alaska …

Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy-Derived Oxygen Desaturation Rates During Post-Exercise Circulatory Occlusion As Predictors Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Markers, Carstell Lee

Honors Theses

Cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) is a critical predictor of all-cause mortality and overall cardiovascular health. Metabolic carts are the current gold standard for evaluation of VO₂max, but are inaccessible to most facilities and individuals, and are expensive ($20,000+). Near-Infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as an accessible and affordable ($5,000-$10,000) alternative for evaluating skeletal muscle oxygenation kinetics and mitochondrial oxidative capacity. However, there is limited research in examining whether NIRS-derived oxygen desaturation rates can be a predictor of cardiorespiratory fitness markers (such as VO₂max and peak power output [PPO]), and whether these measurements show a superior predictive …

Expression, Purification And Characterization Of Full Length Tdp-43, Danya Abouzaid

Honors Theses

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a 43 kDa RNA-binding protein linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Alzheimer’s disease. 5-7,28,30,33 Studying full-length TDP-43 has been difficult because of its intrinsic instability and tendency to aggregate.19,25,28,33,36 In this study, we focused on overcoming the difficulties to express full-length TDP-43 in E. coli recombinantly. We focused on expressing full-length TDP-43 as a fusion construct with a maltose-binding protein (MBP) to improve solubility and stability. Our strategy was to purify TDP-43-MBP fusion and make biomolecular condensates with RNA before cleaving the tag with thrombin protease. …

An Assessment Of The Relationship Between Stress And Glucose Levels In Medical Laboratory Science Students, Jayla Edwards

Honors Theses

Stress is prevalent among college students. Prolonged, unmanaged stress can affect physiological processes such as glucose metabolism. This study aimed to examine the effects of stress on glucose levels of medical laboratory science (MLS) students at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). To achieve this, the participants’ perceived stress levels and glucose levels were measured at the beginning of the semester and during finals week, a period when college students typically experience the most stress. There were nineteen MLS students that participated. Data was collected at two phases: phase 1 at the beginning of the semester and phase 2 during …

Beyond The Classroom: The Role Of Cultural Capital In College-To-Career Transitions, Keynijah Sullivan

Honors Theses

For many college students, the transition into the workforce is shaped not only by academic knowledge, but also by access to less visible resources, often referred to as cultural capital. Research has been done in the past that discusses how cultural capital is transferred through families, its role in academic settings, and its impact on employability. However, there is a gap in research focusing on the role of cultural capital in college-to-career transitions. This study uses qualitative methods, specifically semi-structured interviews with junior and senior undergraduates at the University of Southern Mississippi. The purpose of this study is to better …

False Narratives And Fierce Hope: Recentering Appalachian Rhetorics Of Place And Health, Sarah G. Cardwell

Honors Theses

This research seeks to analyze the rhetorical dimensions of how health is discussed in Appalachia, focusing specifically on Letcher County, Kentucky. In Letcher County, as in many Appalachian communities, rhetorics of healthcare and poverty are inextricably linked, largely due to media portrayals. One of the most impactful of these media portrayals is the 1964 CBS special entitled Christmas in Appalachia. In this special, host Charles Kuralt visits Letcher County and makes a pointed effort to speak to families who are living in poverty, asking them questions about their daily lives and if they “want better” for their children than their …

Influence Of Depressive Symptomatology On Vocal Production, Olivia Taylor

Honors Theses

Language has been widely recognized as a crucial form of social connection, providing both contextual and semantic information, including intonation, pitch, rate of speech, and pauses. As mental health conditions begin to rise while mental health providers begin to decrease, research in psychology has focused on investigating other factors that may aid in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Research has indicated that physiological factors, including vocal production, may highlight specific shifts in speech patterns or vocal characteristics. Limited research has been conducted to investigate the possible implications for the emerging adult population, despite the group obtaining the highest prevalence …

Transcription Factors And Regulatory Proteins In The Control Of Eukaryotic Gene Expression, Maya M. Minkara

Honors Theses

Transcription factors (TFs) function as precision switches that integrate signaling inputs, chromatin state, and protein homeostasis to control gene expression. This thesis unites three interconnected research themes: (1) mechanistic studies of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in regulating eukaryotic TFs, focusing on polymerase-associated Factor 1 (Paf1) and TATA-box binding protein-associated factor 2 (Taf2); (2) identification of biomarker genes within odor-related TF networks; and (3) integration of published undergraduate research linking molecular regulation, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology. These themes are purposefully structured so that mechanistic insight into TF control sets up network-level discovery and, in turn, motivates applied and translational directions. In …

Cultural Roots Of Eating: A Comparative Analysis Of Organic Discourse And Marketing Practices In China And The United States, Zubing (Jane) Guo

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how cultural frameworks influence the development of the organic food market and shape individual attitudes towards the label “organic” in the U.S. and China. While the popularity of organic food has increased in recent years, cognitive and behavioral reactions toward the label “organic” have differed across societies. In the U.S., healthy eating discourse aligns closely with the individualistic culture and atomistic cognitive style, highlighting the importance of salient elements such as specific nutrients or chemical use. In contrast, Chinese healthy eating discourse is based on balance and harmony, which is directly related to traditional Chinese culture of …

Investigating The Cardiovascular And Autonomic Responses To Energy Drink Consumption: The Role Of Energy And Calorie Content, Sophia Schmidt

Honors Theses

Energy drinks (EDs) are among the most consumed functional beverages, often marketed to enhance focus, alertness, and physical performance. Despite their popularity, the combined cardiovascular and autonomic effects of caffeine and sugar during exercise remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute cardiovascular, metabolic, and autonomic responses to sugar-sweetened (ED-S), non-nutritive sweetened (ED-NNS), and placebo beverages during submaximal cycling in healthy young males.

Nine male participants (age 22.2 ± 2.4 yrs; BMI 26.2 ± 2.9 kg/m²) completed three experimental visits in a randomized, repeated-measures design. Each visit involved ingestion of one drink (ED-S, ED-NNS, or …

A Story Of Life Through Death: An Osteobiography Of Two Individuals From The Late Saxon Period, Isabella Ragazzi

Honors Theses

The Anglo-Saxons were the most influential inhabitants of the British Isles in the years AD 450-1066, reigning during a time marked by much warfare, pestilence, and famine. Their impact on British history is still seen through archival materials as well as the archeological and bioarchaeological records. A recent development in the field of bioarchaeology is the osteobiography, which places skeletal analysis in context of the overall culture to create the most complete interpretation of the individual and their life history. Involving both traditional bioarchaeological evaluation and isotopic analysis, this method was applied to two Anglo-Saxon skulls donated to the University …

Neural Rrp6 Depletion Drives Circrna Accumulation And Motor Impairment In Drosophila Melanogaster Neurons, Joseph Serio

Honors Theses

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of ubiquitous eukaryotic RNAs created by back splicing. These noncoding RNAs can modulate gene expression and are implicated in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. To limit the contribution of circRNAs to aging and pathobiology, it is essential to understand how turnover of these molecules is regulated, as it is not clear which enzymes are chiefly responsible for degrading circRNAs in neurons. This study evaluates the roles of ribonucleases potentially involved in neural circRNA turnover using the model fly Drosophila melanogaster. A mifepristone-activated GAL4/UAS GeneSwitch expressed RNAi transgenes and inactivated the ribonucleases. Flies were evaluated on …

Nursing Students’ Attitudes Regarding Technical Standards For Entrance Into A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Program, Jordyn Cook

Honors Theses

Admission into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program requires students to meet specific criteria including a non-negotiable set of technical standards. Technical standards encompass physical abilities including twisting, bending, and handling objects of varying weights (Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science, n.d.). While physical capabilities may hold significance in bedside nursing, the American Nurses Association does not establish specific physical qualifications (American Nurses Association, 2010). Due to admission criteria and technical standards, individuals with disabilities are rarely found among career nurses and nursing students (Leslie & Miller, 2020).

This study aims to determine nursing students’ attitudes towards …

Band-Aids And Backroads: Surviving Rural Healthcare In South-Central Mississippi, Cambry L. Craft

Honors Theses

Health is more than the absence of disease—it is the product of opportunity, trust, and access. Yet for millions living in rural areas of the United States, equitable healthcare remains out of reach. This thesis seeks to amplify the voices of rural residents in Mississippi and uncover how their experiences, beliefs, and cultural values shape their perception of their local hospital and the care that is provided there. This qualitative research study examines the experiences and opinions of a rural community in south-central Mississippi regarding their local hospital, as well as their perceptions of the most effective approach to prevent …

Implementation And Assessment Of The Openbci Platform As An Accessible Brain- Computer Interface, Jewell Norris

Honors Theses

OpenBCI is a low-cost, open-source platform for alternative brain-computer interface (BCI) software and hardware. This thesis evaluates OpenBCI’s electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) capabilities by constructing and testing a 16-channel EEG system using the Ultracortex Mark IV headset and Cyton + Daisy biosensing board. The viability of the system was assessed through real-time BCI control and comparison to a clinical-grade EEG system. Real-time BCI control of an online falling-block game was tested via the use of eye blinks EMG (channels Fp1/Fp2) and head-tilt accelerometer inputs. The BCI game demonstrated reliable control despite minor latency and artifact sensitivity. For clinical comparison, …

How Life Enrichment Farms Promote Independence, Health, And Well-Being Through Vocational Skills And Sensory Processing Skills, Olivia Stanek

Honors Theses

There is limited knowledge about life enrichment farms and their role in supporting individuals with disabilities. This project aimed to highlight how occupational therapy can collaborate with these farm-based programs to promote independence, health, and well-being among younger adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. An evidence-informed approach and qualitative research methods were used to explore this question, including a literature review and an interview with AACORN Farms, a life enrichment farm located in Michigan. Findings were further examined through occupational therapy activity analysis to identify the vocational, sensory, and meaningful engagement opportunities embedded within the various areas …

Postmortem Vitreous Humor As An Alternative Matrix To Peripheral Blood For Benzodiazepine Detection, Sara Bussey

Honors Theses

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed secondary drugs of abuse that cause Central Nervous System depression through the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid. While not commonly fatal on their own, benzodiazepines have a minor risk for physical dependence and abuse. They also can have cumulative effects with other medications that can lead to overdose situations; thus, they are considered secondary drugs of abuse. While peripheral blood is considered the standard for xenobiotic detection in postmortem forensic toxicology, it is important to consider the validity of alternative matrices that could be analyzed in the event that blood was not available due to circumstances like …

The Social Psychology Of Group Dynamics In Cults: Exploring The Influence Of Leadership And Organizational Structure In The Heaven’S Gate Cult, Mellanie L N Douglas

Honors Theses

Social Psychology of Group Dynamics in Cults: Exploring the Influence of Leadership and Organizational Structure in the Heaven’s Gate Cult Mellanie Douglas Dr. Kristen Campbell, Department of Psychology

Cults are extreme religious or political groups that rely on social and psychological influence to attract followers and maintain loyalty to a charismatic leader. Heaven's Gate is recognized as a historic new age religious and science fiction cult. It was founded in the 1970s by Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lou Nettles during the counterculture movement and ended in 1997 with a mass suicide of 39 members. Accounts from within and regarding …

Benefits Of Intergenerational Programming In Occupational Therapy, Rachel Mitchell

Honors Theses

Occupational therapy helps clients work toward their meaningful occupational goals. Within this career, a person’s roles and habits are also addressed and taken into account when creating intervention plans. Many individuals live in a multi-generational home, living with others of different generations, or even interacting with them in their daily lives. Intergenerational programming is designed to bring people of different generations together. Whether the client lives with someone from a different generation, or sees them in their life, it is vital to have an understanding of each other. Areas that can be addressed include mental health, cultural identity, social isolation …

Rats With Wings: The Villainization Of The Pigeon And Its Portrayal In Modern Art And Literature, Emily Dutton

Honors Theses

For millennia, humans have had an increasingly intimate relationship with pigeons. These birds have been called a wide range of names and served a myriad of purposes alongside their human handlers; however, since the populations of feral rock pigeons have increased in American cities, the general public has ascribed a negative connotation to the pigeons that they were once closely associated with. The increasing populations of pigeons along with their decreasing perceived usefulness to humanity has led to a sharp decline in their image. This thesis aims to examine how the pigeon became so loathed after it was coveted for …

From Paper To Pixels: How Covid-19 Changed Teachers’ Perspectives Toward Technology, Nora Knight

Honors Theses

As schools transitioned to virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers faced numerous instructional, technological, and emotional challenges. The purpose of this research study is to explore how K-5 elementary school teachers navigated the transition to remote instruction during all stages of the pandemic. Additionally, it examines teachers’ perspectives on technology integration in their classrooms throughout COVID-19, focusing on their preparedness, confidence, and instructional decision-making as they adapted to online teaching. A mixed-methods survey was distributed to 108 elementary school teachers in Madison County, Kentucky. The results revealed educators’ feelings and experiences with educational technology before, during, and after the …

What About Us? The Exclusion Of Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In The Disaster Planning Process., Elizabeth Ogorek

Honors Theses

Intellectual/Developmental disabilities, or I/DDs, refers to a wide variety of conditions that can affect a person’s ability to process information and their environment. Individuals with I/DDs have a plethora of unique vulnerabilities before, during, and after major disasters. Some of these include difficulty understanding instructions, a tendency to become more easily overwhelmed by external stimuli, and reliance on 1-1 support. Despite this, very little evidence exists both in the research and the practice of emergency management to demonstrate that they have been included in meaningful ways. Many state Emergency Operations Plans, or EOPs, fail to acknowledge intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals as …

Comparing Pre-Pt Student To Pre-Pt Professor Upper Extremity Range Of Motion Reliability Using Virtual Measurements, Brittnee L. Franklin

Honors Theses

A reliability study was performed using a sample of convenience to determine the reliability of a Pre-PT student and Pre-PT professor when performing virtual and in-person goniometric measurements of forearm pronation and supination. Second, to see how a Pre-PT student compares to a Pre-PT professor at the end of the undergraduate degree. Our methodology was designed to be simple and consistent between both testers. Participants were instructed to hold a pencil in their right hand; elbow fixed at 90°; elbow by the side of the body; could not have any previous injuries to the shoulder/forearm; and must be able to …