Digital Commons Network^™

Associations Between Tiktok Use And Undergraduate Nursing Professional Identity, Parker M. Watts

Honors Theses

Background. The global surge in social media usage prompts extensive research into its links with nursing professional identity. College-aged individuals who are in nursing school or are going to be in nursing school in the future must navigate their professional identity as they face heightened susceptibility to subjective opinions about the career of a nurse due to their frequent engagement with social media platforms. Among these platforms is that of TikTok, a platform of which has rapidly gained traction, especially among younger demographics. TikTok remains relatively underexplored in terms of its impact on nursing professional identity. This study seeks to …

Cooking For A Cause: Food Insecurity In Lafayette County, Ms, Anna K. Richie

Honors Theses

Many people in Lafayette County, MS, experience ongoing difficulties with consistent access to healthy food options. According to the Mississippi Health & Hunger Atlas, “food insecurity rates in Mississippi are consistently and statistically higher than national averages—having been ranked as #1 or #2 for highest food insecurity rate every year for the past 15 years” (Haggard, Cafer & Green, 2017). This capstone project examines how a Little Free Pantry (LFP) initiative can contribute to local food security efforts and evaluates cooking demonstration outcomes using ingredients found in LFPs. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods by tracking pantry inventory data …

Red Strings: A Collection Of Creative Works, Natalie Gumm

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of creative nonfiction and poetry exploring different aspects of my identity, including my passions, appearance, sexuality, and the places I’ve called home.

Economic Development In Cartersville, Ms: A Case Study Of A Non-Profit Organization's Community Development Projects, Mckenzie B. Perkins

Honors Theses

The Mississippi Delta Region has long faced significant economic, educational, and health challenges and a steady population decline since the 1940s. In response, community development projects have emerged as powerful tools to promote health, well-being, and social mobility. This thesis investigates the impact of community development initiatives in Cartersville, MS, focusing on the dental clinic, educational programs, and the economic development center established by a non-profit organization. Through the lens of community development theories, the research explores how community leadership, particularly partnerships between EverHope Ministries and Cartersville leaders, is pivotal in addressing health disparities in historically marginalized populations. By engaging …

A Local Assessment Of Glp-1 Use For Weight Loss: An Interview Study, Maci Bradley

Honors Theses

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a novel class of medications used primarily for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as well as for chronic weight management. The first GLP-1 medication, exenatide, was FDA-approved in April of 2005 for glycemic control, however, it was not until December of 2014 when liraglutide became the first GLP-1 FDA-approved for weight loss. There are now eight FDA-approved GLP-1s, only two of which are approved for weight loss. GLP-1 use has become increasingly popular in recent years, even extending to the college-aged population. The purpose of this study is to examine the trends in …

Could Policy Replication Improve Maternal And Infant Mortality In Mississippi? Perceptions Of Healthcare Workers, Allison G. Holland

Honors Theses

Despite medical advancements and policy reform, rates of maternal and infant mortality remain disproportionately high in various regions of the United States. The state of Mississippi consistently yields some of the highest rates of both infant and maternal mortality rates nationally. In the past decade, California has developed a series of initiatives and policies to combat rates of maternal and infant mortality across the state. Through state-level policy efforts such as the Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and Mandated Paid Maternity Leave, California consistently leads the nation with the lowest rates of maternal mortality. Initiatives such as the Black Infant Health …

Bridging The Justice Gap: Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic At North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Emma-Kathryn Bond

Honors Theses

Over the course of two years, I spent more than 130 hours completing on-the- ground volunteer work with the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC), a clinic within North Mississippi Rural Legal Services that provides free legal assistance to individuals navigating disputes with the IRS. While the Sixth Amendment guarantees legal representation in criminal cases, no such guarantee exists for civil matters such as tax disputes, housing instability, or loss of public benefits. Clinics like LITC fill a crucial gap by offering support in areas that are often overlooked, such as tax law, where clients risk audits, wage garnishments, and court proceedings …

Empowering Youth Through Cooking Classes, Jamiya C. Mason

Honors Theses

Chronic health issues and poor dietary habits continue to disproportionately impact rural communities in Mississippi, especially among children. Research has shown that early exposure to healthy foods and cooking practices can positively influence lifelong health behaviors. Cooking classes have also been linked to improved food literacy, culinary confidence, and willingness to try new foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a short-term culinary program on children’s cooking self-efficacy and food behaviors in Quitman County, Mississippi.

Four cooking classes were conducted with youth (grades 4–7) in a local after-school program. Lessons included vegetable-based recipes, including zucchini …

Building Community Through Food And Health: Student Initiatives To Address Food Insecurity In Mississippi, Sarah E. Sawaya

Honors Theses

This thesis explores food insecurity in Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi, within the broader context of state, national, and global challenges. Over a four-year period, student-led and community organizations collaborated to design programs that addressed both food access and chronic illness prevention through education, outreach, and direct service. Community input was gathered through health screenings, campus engagement, and informal interviews with residents, which guided the development of practical tools like recipe kits, QR code-based cookbooks, and on-site health education. These efforts were rooted in local partnerships and shaped by the lived experiences of those most affected. This project demonstrates that …

Health Fairs: An Effective Approach To Health Promotion Through Community Engagement And Community-Campus Partnerships, Brookleigh Brumfield

Honors Theses

Community engagement seeks to achieve long-term outcomes through collaborating with community and campus partners to address the issues affecting the community by centering their voices, concerns, and solutions. This capstone project seeks to offer health and language access for residents in Lafayette, Pontotoc, and Union Counties, and to evaluate the health fair model from the perspective of participating community and campus partners. With this information from organizations, it will be possible to create the most efficient, beneficial health fairs in these counties. The community partner perspectives show the importance of community engagement, but also the significance for the campus as …

Microplastic Concentrations Within The Winyah Bay River Plume, Daniel C. Haughie

Honors Theses

In the last 20 years, microplastics have become a significant concern for ecosystem and public health. The buoyancy and method of introduction makes river plumes a likely repository for microplastic accumulation. A river plume is a bulge of fresher water that expands radially from the mouth of an estuary, with distinct lines called fronts at the leading edge of the plume. A front is a region of convergence between the fresher plume water and the saltier ocean water. The density differences between the two water masses may create an easily identifiable color and salinity gradient. These fronts often allow for …

Spatial Distribution Of The Bankfull Discharge Recurrence Interval Across Tennessee, Usa, Brayden P. Flanagan

Honors Theses

Stream restoration and water resources engineers use a wide variety of hydrological tools and refer to multiple databases to determine accurate watershed and stream characteristics required for site assessment and restoration projects. Regional curves provide significant watershed and stream data that stream restoration engineers use in various restoration projects. However, developing these curves is time-consuming, costly, and complex, as data collection and validation require extensive field studies at multiple sites within the restoration areas. This study evaluates whether pertinent information on regional curves and streamflow frequency could be combined to provide practical guidance on determining design peak flow discharges for …

Elemental Humanity: A Hybrid Collection Of Creative Work & A Critical Introduction Exploring Relevant Genres & Themes, Haylee G. Morman

Honors Theses

This project is a creative and critical endeavor with two components: a creative portion and a critical introduction. The creative portion is a hybrid collection of poems and short prose spanning across genres and forms, linked by thematic consistencies, united by their emphasis on nature and family. Furthermore, the collection is rooted in my interest in magic realism and ekphrasis, which will be discussed in the critical introduction. The approximately 30 pages of original, creative writing reveals how delving into natural elements for inspiration spurred the creation of poems and stories that grapple with notions of familial connection, time, place, …

Conflict, Human Development, And Neonatal Health: A Regional Analysis Of The Eastern Mediterranean, Zynub A. Al-Sherri

Honors Theses

Background. The effects of war and conflict on a population are direct and indirect in nature. One of the most devastating consequences is the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, which severely disrupts access to essential services and impedes long-term socioeconomic development. Among those most affected are newborns, as the neonatal period represents the most vulnerable stage of a child’s life and serves as a sensitive indicator of a society’s overall health and socioeconomic conditions. Given the persistent instability in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), this study aimed to explore how conflict and human development are associated with neonatal health outcomes …

Impact Of Menstrual Cycle Phase On Upper Extremity Function, Emma D. Cochran, Kaitlyn M. Armstrong

Honors Theses

Abstract

The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Upper Extremity Function

Background: There has been a significant rise in the number of female athletes participating across the spectrum of sports. While there are a multitude of research studies looking at physiology in sports on performance, training methods, and injuries; this research is general across genders. When it comes to female-specific physiology concerning training and injuries, there is little research. One such gender-specific physiological focus is the menstrual cycle in the female population. The literature suggests changes in joint laxity and muscle repair throughout the various phases of the menstrual cycle, …

The Harmful Effects Of Book Banning In New York State, Ella Kelly

Honors Theses

There have been 4,231 book bans across America just in the 2023-2024 school year (PEN America, 2024). Book Banning is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue in today's society, and with our current political climate, it has the potential to worsen. This research will focus on where book bans originated from, and how they have continued to happen in modern day education. Through literary analysis, this research will examine how censorship is affecting elementary education and its students. There will be a focus on New York State, and how book banning is affecting public education here.

Investigating Preservice Elementary Teachers (Psts’) Views Of Nature Of Science (Vnos) And Science Attitudes Following Engagement In An Integrated Physics And Chemistry Content Course, Anna Stahurski

Honors Theses

Students’ classroom experiences affect their views of science, placing importance on teachers’ instructional approaches. Current reform suggests that inquiry-based science instruction supports positive views of science. However, students and teachers have been shown to hold developing views of nature of science (VNOS), or understanding what science is and how it progresses. Compounding matters, every student has their own personal science experiences that shape their science understandings and attitudes. This project investigates the attitudes and VNOS among preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) enrolled in an integrated physics and chemistry content course (SCI142). Two course sections were surveyed throughout one semester (n = …

Correlation Between Maximal Strength And Standing Power Position In Shot Put Throwers, Ryan E. Joule

Honors Theses

This study determined the correlation between maximal strength to performance in a standing power shot put throw. Collegiate athletes (N = 7, 1 female, 6 males) conducted a one-repetition maximum for the bench press, back squat, and hang power clean, and executed three shot put throws at two different time points (three months apart). For the first time point, there were positive, moderate correlations of shot put distance to bench press (r = 0.41) and back squat (r = 0.45). A positive, strong correlation between distance thrown to hang power clean (r = 0.66) was present. For the second time …

The Impact Of Sensory Materials On The Behavior Of Children In Early Childhood Education, Hannah Holt

Honors Theses

In the field of early childhood education, several studies report the benefits of sensory play on children’s physical and cognitive development. This study focuses on the impact sensory play has on the behavior of young children as reported by primary teachers at the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center through surveys. The surveys found that engaging in sensory play had a positive effect on the behavior of young children, which suggests the need for further research into why sensory play positively affects a child’s emotional state.

The Effect Of Self - Conscious Emotions On Help- Seeking Behavior, Kiera Blankinship

Honors Theses

Self-conscious emotions are a select category of emotions which are of special interest in the field of psychology because of the impact they have in the therapy room and beyond. Shame, pride, and guilt are incredibly influential in behavior, self-concept, and many other areas, yet we still know so little about them. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the interaction and correlation between proneness to self-conscious emotions and intentions to seek help for mental health issues. The research questions were evaluated using a quasi-experimental survey design utilizing the Test of Self- Conscious Affect (TOSCA) and the General …

Mentorship As Experienced By Black Woman In Stem At Predominantly White Institutions, Chelsei Lasha Arnold

Honors Theses

Black female college students have experienced a marginalized history in STEM higher education. Although students associated with this identity are enrolling and earning college degrees at historic rates, there is a gap in the resources available, especially at predominantly white institutions (PWIs), for these students once they reach collegiate level. The goal of this study is to examine the role of mentorship in the lived experiences of Black women STEM students at PWIs. I used interpretive phenomenological analysis on transcribed interviews to examine psychological patterns, and then I carefully analyzed the phenomenon of being mentored. Through the analysis, I sought …

Genomic Analysis Of The Lyme Disease Vector Across Virginia’S Spatial Expansion Front, Amy Jablonski

Honors Theses

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and is expanding with rising incidence in Virginia . This study investigates populations of lxodes scapularis across Virginia using RAD-seq to analyze SNPs from ticks collected in seven Virginia counties and four U.S. states as references . Results show a clear genetic split between western and eastern Virginia ticks . These results follow previously noted patterns in regional differences in Lyme disease risk.

From Surviving To Thriving: Sense Of Belonging And Imposter Syndrome In College Students With Ptsd, Amaree Walker

Honors Theses

This study explored how PTSD affects college students’ sense of belonging and experiences of Imposter Syndrome. Guided by cognitive-behavioral theory, attachment theory, and post-traumatic growth (PTG) theory, the research aimed to identify cognitive and relational experiences in students with PTSD. PTSD correlated with increased sense of belonging and increased feeling of Imposter Syndrome, influenced by cognitive distortions and insecure attachment styles. psychological well-being was revealed as a mediator in each of these relationships. This research sought to understand how trauma impacts potential cognitive and relational shifts in students with PTSD. The findings can inform future interventions targeting PTSD-related challenges for …

The Effect Of Pickleball On Postural Control For Young Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Emma Wilkinson

Honors Theses

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, impacting various aspects of life, including balance. Individuals with IDD often experience balance deficits due to muscle weakness, sensory deficits, and slower processing times, leading to an increased risk of falls and injuries. Traditional balance training programs such as yoga, aquatic exercises, and exergaming have shown promise in improving balance and physical health in this population.

This study explores the potential of pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, as an alternative balance training intervention for young adults with IDD. Pickleball's unique combination of physical …

Partnering With Parents: Encouraging Families To Take Part In Their Child’S Educational Growth, Kayla J. Wagner

Honors Theses

Family involvement in their child’s education is a topic not discussed enough. While many teachers and parents or guardians know the academic benefits that family involvement and family-teacher partnerships bring for a child, they do not know where to start. Teachers play a crucial role in encouraging and providing resources for families to support their child’s learning. I have selected twelve various tips and tools that will equip Kindergarten through grade 5 teachers with the knowledge and resources to partner with parents and families to encourage the success of each child in their classroom. These tips and tools have been …

Animation Therapy, Leah Bernhardt

Honors Theses

Can viewing a meditative animation help student athletes with their mental health? My creative project involves seven one-minute animations that are based on the concept of the seven chakras found in the physical body. Each chakra has specific characteristics that can affect our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. If we can learn how to keep these energies stable within the body, we can learn how to become mentally and physically balanced. My animation consists of animals that best represent each chakra's characteristics. The viewer can imagine themselves as that animal and incorporate those characteristics into their daily life. I presented …

Influence Of Hearing Loss On Self-Reported Hearing Ability And Listening Fatigue In Persons With Aphasia, Ashlyn Kilgore

Honors Theses

Aphasia is an acquired disorder, often caused by stroke, that results in language deficits. It can greatly impact a person's ability to communicate with others. Cognitive deficits may accompany aphasia. Additionally, hearing loss is a disability likely to co-occur with aphasia, as they both most commonly impact the same age group. When a person has hearing loss, the quality of the auditory signal is degraded when it reaches the brain. The poor signal quality, compounded with linguistic and possible cognitive deficits that are associated with aphasia, makes it more difficult for persons with aphasia (PWA) to comprehend speech.

For all …

Acceptability And Competency Of Motivational Interviewing (Mi) Training And Mi Spirited Communication In An Undergraduate And Graduate Nursing Program, Grace Koons

Honors Theses

Problem- There is a move towards patient-centered care in nursing and Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been one approach to accomplish positive communication. While the use of MI has been increasing in healthcare settings, undergraduate and graduate nursing programs have been slow to incorporate it into their curricula.

Aims- This study aimed to determine the acceptability and MI competency for the use of MI Spirited Communication (MISC) among undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a university in the Southeast region of the U.S. Methods- The design of this pilot study was a descriptive, quasi-experiment with no control group. The …

Design And Optimization Of Aquaculture Gear: Development Of A Cage-Integrated Reeling Mechanism For Oyster Farming, Felicity Bryant

Honors Theses

This project encompasses the design, fabrication, and testing of a cage-integrated reeling system aimed at reducing the physical labor required in oyster aquaculture at Bama Bay Oyster Farm, the last operational oyster farm in Mobile Bay. The proposed system includes two primary components: lightweight, modular oyster cages and a dual-winch reeling device for automated retrieval. Three cage prototypes—rectangular, oval, and hexagonal—were evaluated for structural performance and fabrication feasibility. The oval design was ultimately excluded due to practical fabrication limitations. The rectangular and hexagonal designs were fabricated using recycled materials and tested under the most extreme environmental conditions derived from years …

Exploring The Role Of The Id2 And Rab11fip3 Pathway In X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease (Xcgd) Through Comparative Gene Expression Analysis, Kaili Coenen

Honors Theses

X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (XCGD) is a debilitating immunodeficiency disorder primarily affecting men. The disease results from mutations in the CYBB gene on the X chromosome, which encodes the GP91^PHOX protein responsible for electron transfer from NADPH to molecular oxygen. Despite the identification of the CYBB mutation, the pathological mechanism underlying the reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in XCGD remains unclear. We hypothesized that comparative gene expression analysis, combined with pathway analysis, could identify genes and signaling pathways contributing to reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in XCGD. In this study, we analyzed gene expression data from four …