Digital Commons Network^™

Soil Conditions Impacting Geothermal Plant Communities In Yellowstone National Park, Karina Nordwald

Honors Theses

Soil acts as the foundation for a productive and functioning environment, by supporting plant life. Abiotic factors drive soil health and consequently influence vegetation. Geothermal activity affects vegetation through strong environmental filters from harsh conditions. Hydrothermal features in Yellowstone National Park represent a variety of naturally occurring extreme environments, where each hot spring ranges in temperature, pH, and overall chemical composition. This study investigates how these environmental drivers dictate vegetation communities, by focusing on the transition zones between geothermal activity and distance from the feature that moves toward increasingly “favorable” environments. By observing a variety of features throughout Yellowstone, we …

Geochemistry And Occurrence Of Rare Earth Elements In Mine-Impacted And Natural Waters Of Montana, Matthew Vitale

Honors Theses

The occurrence and geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REEs) in mine-impacted and natural waters of Montana are evaluated across a range of environments, including hard rock mining-impacted systems, coal-associated waters, and naturally occurring acid rock drainage (NARD). Understanding the abundance of REEs in secondary sources such as mine-impacted waters is critical for both environmental assessment and resource recovery. A comprehensive dataset of dissolved and total recoverable REE concentrations was analyzed to assess the influence of pH, total dissolved solids, and geologic setting on REE mobility and distribution. Results demonstrate a strong inverse relationship between pH and REE concentrations, with …

Autism In Real Life: Performance As Pedagogy And Advocacy, Paula Horton

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how autoethnographic performance can function simultaneously as public pedagogy and disability advocacy through the analysis of Autism in Real Life, a solo performance created and staged at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Drawing from performance studies, psychology, sociology, and disability studies, the project explores how embodied storytelling communicates autistic lived experience to audiences unfamiliar with autism. The performance combines narrative, humor, direct audience address, visual media, and accessibility-centered theatrical design to move beyond clinical representations of autism and toward a relational understanding grounded in neurodiversity and the social model of disability.

Using an autoethnographic performance methodology, this thesis …

Impacts Of Salinity On Microbial Enzyme Activity In Coastal Waters, Natali Ariyoshi

Honors Theses

Microbial extracellular enzymes are critical for the breakdown of organic matter and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. Extracellular enzyme activity serves as an indicator of nutrient turnover rates, metabolic states, and nutrient limitations within an ecosystem. Coastal ecosystems are especially dynamic as the influx of freshwater from inland runoff or seawater intrusion from storm surges can lead to fluctuations in salinity which can restructure microbial communities and alter enzymatic activity. Despite the ecological significance of these changes, few studies have explored the effects of short-term salinity shifts on microbial extracellular enzyme activity in coastal waters. This study investigated the effects …

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

Honors Theses

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

Mending The Research-Practice Gap In Psychology: Using Role-Play, Self-Reflection, And Ai Feedback To Enhance Unified Protocol Skill Development, Farryn A. Pauly

Honors Theses

This study explores ways to bridge the research-practice gap in psychology by examining how role-play, structured self-reflections, and AI-generated feedback support the development of Unified Protocol (UP) clinical skills. Using a single-subject design, the researcher simulated therapy sessions with a volunteer acting as the patient, implementing UP modules in sequence, while collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Each session included preparation using the UP, role-play, and pre- and post-session reflection. Performance was evaluated using Lyssn, an AI-based platform that generated Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS; Young & Beck, 1980) scores and detailed feedback on CBT techniques. This was interpreted and …

Honors Accounting Thesis, John Cordia

Honors Theses

This thesis includes a variety of topics related to public accounting. I completed a series of six case studies completed during the Accountancy Honors Professional Development course at the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. In this course, Dr. Victoria Dickinson often challenged her students to “think like an auditor.” The variety of cases coupled with the auditor mindset allowed me to gain a brief understanding of financial reporting and public accounting before I had any practical experience. In the group cases revolved around Home Depot and General Mills, we analyzed their 10-ks, pulled relevant information from reliable sources, and developed …

Homeschool Policy In Mississippi: Perceptions Of Regulations Among Parents, Alumni, And Policy Advocates, Kaley Lecroy

Honors Theses

In recent years, the growth of homeschooling and alternative education methods such as hybrid and virtual schools has reshaped educational opportunities for both parents and students. As more options become available and more parents opt for the flexibility of non-traditional school, it is imperative that we examine the educational guardrails in place for these students. Even more importantly, it is imperative that the perspectives of home educators and homeschool alumni have a place at the table when we review the regulations in place. This thesis seeks to understand the perspectives of current and former Mississippi home educators, Mississippi homeschool alumni, …

Nutrilog: Design And Development Of A Full-Stack Web Application For Holistic Health Tracking, Jaromir J. Saloni

Honors Theses

NutriLog is a web-based fitness and nutrition tracking application designed to help users record, organize, and interpret personal health data in one centralized platform. Many existing applications focus primarily on either nutrition tracking or exercise performance, which can make it difficult for users to understand how food intake and physical activity interact. NutriLog addresses this gap by combining food logging, exercise logging, calorie adjustment, nutrition summaries, and historical tracking into a single dashboard-based interface.

The application was developed using React and TypeScript for the frontend and Supabase for authentication, database storage, and user-specific data management. Nutrition data is supported through …

Development Of A Putting Green Manufacturing Process, Avalon R. Madden

Honors Theses

Our Capstone project investigates the end to end design, development, and production of a 6‑foot long portable putting green marketed for individuals seeking a high quality, competitively priced golf product for home or office use. The capstone project examines the full lifecycle of product creation applying manufacturing principles learned through the center of manufacturing’s coursework. From the initial concept through engineering design, market research, prototyping, manufacturing optimization, and final production the project emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration across engineering, business, and accountancy majors. Methods used to gather data included marketing surveys, CAD drawings, time studies during production runs, value stream mapping, and …

Consumer Reaction To Olympic Sponsorships, Bailey R. Wood

Honors Theses

The Olympic Games are the world’s premier sporting event, hosting athletes from 206 countries every four years. The Ancient Games date back over 3,000 years in what is now modern-day Greece. The “Classical Games” consisted of a single foot race, the “stade,” and eventually grew to include long-distance running, wrestling, long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw (Abrahams, n.d.). Now, the Games are split into summer and winter sports, with the Summer Olympic hosting 329 medal events and the Winter Olympics 116. Due to the size and magnitude of this event, the Olympic Games are broadcast all over the world, …

Controlling Fiscal Destiny: Evaluating The Effect Of State Tax Composition On Resilience During Defined Shock Period, Calloway R. Bills

Honors Theses

State governments operate under strict fiscal constraints that limit their ability to respond to economic downturns through borrowing or monetary policy, making tax composition a key determinant of fiscal stability. This paper evaluates how variation in state tax revenue composition affects fiscal resilience during economic shocks, focusing on the Great Recession. While prior research shows that individual tax instruments differ in cyclicality, less is known about how overall tax structure shapes revenue performance during and after shocks. Using a panel dataset of U.S. states from 1988 to 2024, this study measures resilience through two outcomes: the magnitude of revenue decline …

Developing Spanish-Language Campus Tours To Enhance Accessibility And Competitive Recruitment At The University Of Mississippi, Caitlyn E. Culpepper

Honors Theses

This thesis proposes and outlines an initiative that would bring Spanish-language campus tours and visit resources to the University of Mississippi, increasing accessibility to the campus visit experience while also providing institutional benefits within a competitive recruitment landscape. Through a review of current literature on Hispanic/Latino students in higher education, institutional enrollment and recruitment data, comparative research on peer institutions, and conversations with university professionals, this project explores the role that language accessibility, family engagement, and campus visits play in the college decision-making process.

Findings suggest that Hispanic/Latino students remain an underrepresented yet rapidly growing population in higher education and …

The Impact Of Patient Navigation On The Hepatitis C Care Continuum In Underserved Populations: A Scoping Review, Deauntaye Jones

Honors Theses

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant public health concern and is a leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation when left untreated. Although direct-acting antiviral therapies have made HCV curable for most patients, many underserved populations continue to experience barriers to diagnosis, linkage-to-care, treatment completion, and sustained virologic response (SVR). This study evaluated how patient navigation programs influence progression through the HCV care continuum among underserved populations. Relevant studies published between 2014 and 2025 were identified through searches of PubMed and Embase using terms related to HCV, patient navigation, linkage-to-care, underserved populations, and treatment outcomes. Following title, …

Hyposense: Multimodal Physiologic And Voc Wearable For Early Hypoglycemia Detection, Nidhi R. Patel

Honors Theses

Hypoglycemia remains a significant safety concern for insulin-dependent individuals, especially when blood glucose declines rapidly during exercise, sleep, or periods of impaired hypoglycemia awareness. Current continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin delivery systems have helped to improve diabetes management, but these technologies primarily respond to glucose trends after they have already started and may not actually provide sufficient warning before symptoms occur. This thesis describes the development of HypoSense, a noninvasive wrist worn wearable concept that is designed to support earlier hypoglycemia risk detection through multimodal physiologic and volatile organic compound emission sensing. HypoSense combines volatile organic compounds/gas sensing with …

Learning Through Play: The Effects Of Play-Based Instruction On Literacy Development, Jherica Goodgame

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the role of play-based learning in early literacy development, emphasizing its impact on student engagement, executive functioning, and overall academic success. Drawing from research and personal experience, it argues that play is not separate from learning but a critical component of it. This thesis also highlights the benefits of play for diverse learners and examines the challenges teachers face in implementing play-based instruction. It provides numerous examples of play-based instruction practiced in a real classroom setting with 17 students who are varying from early kindergarten to late kindergarten levels. This thesis seeks to demonstrate the importance of …

What Do We Owe A Drowning Coast? Examining Louisiana's Coastal Crisis Through The Lens Of Environmental Justice, Owen M. Plaisance

Honors Theses

This thesis argues that human contributions to Louisiana’s coastal land loss constitute a form of environmental injustice that cannot be adequately addressed through frameworks focused solely on aggregate welfare or distributive fairness. While utilitarian and Rawlsian approaches offer important insights, both are limited in capturing the full scope of harm caused by environmental degradation. In coastal Louisiana, land loss undermines not only economic resources and physical security but also the substantive freedoms required for individuals and communities to live meaningful and culturally rooted lives, while disrupting ecological systems and non-human flourishing. To address these limitations, the thesis develops the Capabilities …

A Survey Of Lichen Native To Three Of Mississippi’S National Forests, William S. Granberry Iii

Honors Theses

Lichens are a major part of the environment for telling the air quality and the impact humans have on the environment. These signs go into how many species of lichen are present in a general area, and there has been a lack of a list of lichens that call Mississippi their home. The goal of this research is to help create this list through a survey of lichen in three of Mississippi’s National Forests: DeSoto, Homochitto, and Holly Springs. These three forests are ideal because they cover differing ecosystems and are in different parts of the state, heightening the chance …

Identity, Masculinity, And Stigma: Understanding Barriers To Mental Health Care Among African American Men, Landon H. Jones

Honors Theses

African American men are documented to underutilize health care services. Although the reasons for this pattern are complex, research suggests that both historical mistrust of the medical system and sociocultural expectations of strength, rooted in intersecting racial and masculine identities, might play key roles. These same factors may also influence attitudes toward mental health care. In the study, 267 African American men were randomly assigned to listen to a brief pro-health message delivered by either an in-group community member, a religious figure, or a neutral control speaker. Participants completed measures of racial identity importance, conformity to masculine norms, anticipated stigma, …

"En Papel,” Not In Practice: Indigenous Autonomy And The Structural Barriers To Land And Resource Control In Bolivia, Andrew F. Purcell

Honors Theses

This thesis examines why Bolivia’s 2009 plurinational constitution—despite its strong recognition of Indigenous autonomy, collective territory, and prior consultation—often produces rights that remain “en papel” rather than in practice. Based on one month of fieldwork in Tumupasa, Chojasivi, La Paz, El Alto, and Santa Cruz, the study draws on interviews, participant observation, and NGO documents to analyze the structural barriers that prevent constitutional guarantees from becoming enforceable governance tools. This gap between recognition and implementation structures the central research question: why do Bolivia’s constitutional and legal protections for indigenous land and resource rights function as symbolic guarantees rather than enforceable …

Windows Of Developmental Susceptibility To Tetrahydrocannabivarin (Thcv) Reveal Stage-Dependent Morphological And Biological Effects, Mirielle Clayton

Honors Theses

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), a minor cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa, is gaining attention for its potential therapeutic applications, yet its effects on early development remain poorly understood. This study investigated how the timing of THCV exposure influences morphological, behavioral, and bioaccumulation outcomes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Embryos were exposed to 2 μM THCV during discrete developmental windows (6–30, 30–54, 54–78, 78–102) and continuous 6–102 hours post-fertilization (hpf), designed to model early stages of human gestation. Behavioral analysis using a larval photomotor response assay revealed significant reductions in locomotor activity during dark phases, with the strongest hypoactivity observed …

Expanding Expanded Access: A Case Of Onc201 And The Ethical Limitations Of Compassionate Use, Ava C. Hutchings

Honors Theses

This study examines the ethical and structural limitations of the Expanded Access program in the United States, with particular focus on its application to terminal pediatric illness. Although the program is intended to provide patients with life-threatening conditions access to investigational therapies outside of clinical trials, its effectiveness in serving critically ill children remains uncertain. This program is analyzed through careful consideration of regulatory review and ethical theory. Key policies governing Expanded Access are examined alongside scholarly discussions of pediatric autonomy and parental authority.

A case study of ONC201, a now-approved investigational drug, is used to illustrate how Expanded Access …

Energy Materials Health Monitoring With Interpretable Machine Learning, Osumanu Musah Mohammed

Honors Theses

Reliability and the lifecycle of energy materials have become key concerns for sustainable, decarbonized power systems [1]. More recent reports on photovoltaic (PV) device technologies, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and novel composite materials have indicated that material deterioration is a constraint on large-scale exploitation and cost-effectiveness, rather than on energy conversion efficiency [2], [3]. The energy infrastructure of tomorrow needs to be smart and efficient; however, more to the point, it needs to be self-aware, self-diagnostic, and able to overcome any form of degradation before breaking down [4]. The US dilemma is also directly related to federal concerns. That is …

The Effect Of A Superficial Biochar Layer On Soil Radon Exhalation: A Preliminary Investigation Into A Passive Residential Radon Mitigation Strategy, Nicholas Richmond Nelson

Honors Theses

Residential radon exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer worldwide, yet home testing and mitigation remain infrequent. Active mitigation systems can be costly, and existing passive radon-resistant construction techniques, while cost-effective, are not always sufficient to reduce indoor radon to below the recommended EPA threshold of 4.0 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3). This initial work examines the potential for a superficial biochar layer placed beneath a house foundation during construction to reduce soil radon exhalation and subsequent indoor radon concentration. Biochar is also being explored as an admixture to concrete, and this study investigates radon transmission through concrete with varying biochar …

Hydrogeochemistry Of Natural Acid Rock Drainage In The Tobacco Root Mountains Of Southwest Montana And Implications For Restoration, Josie Grigsby

Honors Theses

This study investigates the hydrogeochemistry of the East Fork of the South Boulder River (EFSBR) in the northern Tobacco Root Mountains, Madison County, Montana. The upper 5 km of the main stem of the EFSBR is acidic (pH < 5.5), and dissolved concentrations of several trace metals including Al, Cd, Cu, and Zn exceed chronic aquatic life standards by 2-3 orders of magnitude. Unsurprisingly, the EFSBR appears to be devoid of trout. Since no mining has taken place at the source areas of the acidic headwater streams, this phenomenon is referred to as Natural Acid Rock Drainage (NARD). High mountains (up to 10,500’) bounding the EFSBR valley harbor a number of potential small rock glaciers and other periglacial features that appear to influence the hydrogeology and chemistry of the watershed. The steady flow of cold water in the hot summer months, during the same time period that neighboring drainages are drying up, is hypothesized to be sourced from melting ground ice high in the headwater catchment. Additionally, rock glaciers can act as efficient chemical reactors where they exist in conjunction with acid-generating mineralized bedrock, affecting the severity of acidic drainage and associated metal concentrations. Neutralization of the acidic water by alkaline tributaries results in the precipitation of aluminum hydroxysulfate (basaluminite), which covers the streambed with a vivid white mineral coating and can act as a natural sink through adsorption of other toxic metals to its surface. Pristine catchments exhibiting NARD can provide water quality data and serve as reference sites for restoration projects at sites experiencing Acid Mine Drainage where historical data does not exist. As climate change continues to alter the natural environment, especially in polar and high elevation regions, severity and instances of NARD are predicted to continue to increase on a global scale. A deeper understanding of the processes driving NARD from studies focused on areas such as the EFSBR will provide guidance for protecting vulnerable aquatic ecosystems and managing water resources in mountain communities into the future, as well as insights into necessary changes to established remediation methods in watersheds experiencing acid mine drainage.

Optimization And Safety Protocols For An Acetone Production Plant, Holley J. Garrison

Honors Theses

The proposed acetone production plant, scheduled for start-up in 2028, is capable of producing 3,750 kg/h of 99.9 wt% acetone. Using an endothermic catalytic dehydrogenation reaction, a feed of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is reacted to produce 30,000 metric tons per year (MT/y) of acetone. Initial design and economic analysis of this process found that this plant will not be economically viable due to its Net Present Value (NPV) of -$132M. Optimization efforts prioritized reductions in raw materials and improved product recovery. Several optimizations were performed to reduce the feed rate, including switching to the low temperature catalyst, shortening the reactor …

Factors Relating To Memory, Kyra Vanheirseele

Honors Theses

Cognitive and emotional processes are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing memory functioning. In the current study, the associations between depressive symptoms, selfcritical rumination, sleep quality, and cognitive confidence with self-referent memory recall were examined in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 60; 70.0% female, 21.7% male; M age = 19.36 years, SD = 1.21). The sample was predominantly White (73.2%), with additional representation from Black or African American (14.3%), American Indian or Alaska Native (1.8%), Asian (1.8%), and other racial groups (8.9%). Using established self-report measures, participants reported on depressive symptoms (Schmitt & Maes, 2000; Sauer et al., …

The Curtains Aren’T Just Blue: The Decline Of Media Literacy Within Pop-Culture, Kaia Divisconti

Honors Theses

This paper explores the relationship between the growing belief that media like film, television and advertisements “aren’t that deep” and the decline of English departments within education. This study explores how pillars of English departments, like analysis and rhetorical awareness, are pivotal for students to learn to understand the vast number of digital media that they are faced with every day. Through pop-culture moments of American Eagle “good genes” advertisement campaign, media trends like “red pill” content and stereotypical representation in film, this paper examines how this content is pushed onto students and how departments like English and humanities can …

Brachial Macroparasite Loads In Estuarine Young-Of-Year Striped Mullet (Mugil Cephalus), Triston Rice

Honors Theses

Climate change is a growing threat to marine habitats globally. One ecological impact that warming water temperatures poses is the increased metabolic rate of many parasite species. Their promoted reproductive and feeding rates could pose a threat to the stability of many host populations. Parasites of the gills, or brachial parasites, are especially concerning to fish populations globally. As parasitism is not limited to a specific taxon and comprises a large diversity of ecomorphs and behaviors, geographically distinct areas may be differentially affected by the changing prevalence of parasites. This study aimed to survey current brachial parasite abundance and prevalence …

Criminalizing Resistance: The Black Panther Party And State Terror In The U.S., Tyler Messinger

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the rise, suppression, and eventual collapse of the Black Panther Party (BPP) between 1966 and 1972, arguing that the organization was dismantled not primarily due to internal failures, financial issues, or criminal activity, but through a sustained campaign of state repression led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Using a document-based historical case study approach, the paper draws extensively on declassified FBI memoranda, COINTELPRO records, congressional testimony from the Church Committee, contemporary newspaper coverage, and the Black Panther Party’s own publications. Placing the BPP within the broader trajectory of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, …