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Honors Theses

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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak Preparedness In The United States: A Scoping Review, Emma J. Gurley May 2025

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak Preparedness In The United States: A Scoping Review, Emma J. Gurley

Honors Theses

In order to gauge preparedness for an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in the United States, a scoping review of the current literature was conducted. This process involved (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying studies relevant to the topic, (3) selecting studies for inclusion (4) charting the data, and (5) analyzing and reporting the final data. Ultimately, seventeen studies were deemed appropriate for examination within this scoping review and several key themes were identified. The results emphasize the importance of adopting a One Health approach, the key role that vaccination may well play in preventing the spread …


From Basel (1989) To Busan (2024): Developments And Contradictions In The Global Plastic Waste Trade, Megan E. Hughes May 2025

From Basel (1989) To Busan (2024): Developments And Contradictions In The Global Plastic Waste Trade, Megan E. Hughes

Honors Theses

In 1989, the international community convened in Basel to adopt groundbreaking, legally binding legislation on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. Plastic waste was notably absent from the initial Basel Convention due to the perceived economic value in plastic recycling despite social, economic, and environmental harms. Consequently, the transboundary sale of plastic waste for recycling– known as the Global Plastic Waste Trade (GPWT)– has proceeded largely unregulated, enabling unsustainable plastic consumption while exacerbating environmental justice divides between developed and developing nations. Recent commitments in the GPWT, such as the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan (2015), China’s National Sword policy …


Design And Evaluation Of Antibody-Conjugated Microneedle Patch For Early Mrsa Biomarker Detection, Kylee Marie Pop, Alexis Richie, Nicholas Jenkins, Andrew Holmes May 2025

Design And Evaluation Of Antibody-Conjugated Microneedle Patch For Early Mrsa Biomarker Detection, Kylee Marie Pop, Alexis Richie, Nicholas Jenkins, Andrew Holmes

Honors Theses

Post-operative orthopedic surgical site infections (SSIs), specifically those caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), present a significant clinical challenge due to delayed detection, increased morbidity, and current rising healthcare costs. Early detection of infection remains limited due to the current methods of diagnosis, which consist of observation of the surgical site and laboratory infrastructure for conformation of infection. To combat these issues, my team and I have designed and evaluated a minimally invasive microneedle diagnostic patch that continuously monitors for the presence of MRSA-associated biomarker PBP2a in interstitial fluids around surgical site incisions. Upon antigen detection, a colorimetric response …


Assessing The Behavioral Impact Of Pyridostigmine Bromide In Rats, Noah A. Martin Apr 2025

Assessing The Behavioral Impact Of Pyridostigmine Bromide In Rats, Noah A. Martin

Honors Theses

Pyridostigmine bromide (PB) is an organophosphate (OP) nerve agent prophylactic used to protect warfighters against chemical warfare agents. OPs inhibit the neural enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain. This leads to the buildup of acetylcholine, causing respiratory failure, seizures, and death. PB functions by inhibiting ~30% of peripheral AChE temporarily, protecting the enzymes so that the body is able to restore sufficient cholinergic function post-exposure. PB does not cross the blood-brain barrier, though it may still indirectly affect toxicity in the brain due to repeated AChE inhibition throughout treatment, or by inhibition of non-target ChE’s in the blood. The aim …


Seasonal Detection Of Coliphages In Freshwater Bodies At Coastal Carolina University, Ella Caldwell Apr 2025

Seasonal Detection Of Coliphages In Freshwater Bodies At Coastal Carolina University, Ella Caldwell

Honors Theses

Bacteriophages, commonly referred to as phages, are non-living viruses that only infect bacteria. As the most abundant biological entities on Earth, understanding their role in regulating microbial populations is essential. This ongoing research aims to identify naturally occurring bacteriophages that could effectively control bacteria blooms. The primary objective of this study is to detect coliphages on Coastal Carolina University's campus and determine their viral families. Coliphages are a subgroup of bacteriophages that specifically infect coliform bacteria. Water samples were collected across multiple sites on campus, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to amplify the viral DNA from the potential …


Dr-4429: Social Perceptions And Narratives Of The 2019 Mississippi Delta Flood, Lily B. Langstaff Apr 2025

Dr-4429: Social Perceptions And Narratives Of The 2019 Mississippi Delta Flood, Lily B. Langstaff

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the social perceptions and narratives surrounding the 2019 Mississippi Delta flood. Recognizing flooding as a “wicked problem,” the research highlights how socioeconomic and cultural identities relate to access to resources and assistance for affected communities, with an emphasis on infrastructure. Through qualitative analysis, including thematic coding of journalistic media sources covering the flood, the study explores the perceptions and experiences as well as the concept of ‘deservingness’ and its relationship with government resources and assistance. Findings indicate that the Mississippi Delta community faced temporal barriers to post-flood recovery due to disparities in representation and perception, underscoring the …


America’S Criminal Justice System Interaction, Housing Opportunities, And Job Sustainability: Perceptions From Residents Of The Greater New Haven Area, Sarah Gaudreau Apr 2025

America’S Criminal Justice System Interaction, Housing Opportunities, And Job Sustainability: Perceptions From Residents Of The Greater New Haven Area, Sarah Gaudreau

Honors Theses

This study explored the perceived relationship between criminal justice system (CJS) involvement and housing and employment outcomes among residents of the Greater New Haven area. Prior research has demonstrated that individuals with criminal records or histories of incarceration often face significant obstacles when attempting to secure stable housing or employment. Through qualitative analysis of survey responses from 47 participants, this study highlights how increased contact with the justice system is perceived to negatively impact job sustainability and housing opportunities, while limited or no contact appears to serve as a form of privilege. Using an inductive coding method, recurring themes were …


Bacterial Microbiomes In Different Depths Of Sand At The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hays S. Roth Apr 2025

Bacterial Microbiomes In Different Depths Of Sand At The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hays S. Roth

Honors Theses

Microbial communities in sand play essential roles in their ecosystems, yet little is known about how bacterial diversity and function vary across different sand depths. This study investigated bacterial microbiomes at varying depths (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) on Biloxi East Beach, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and assays of extracellular enzyme activity. 11,161 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified across all samples, with the most abundant bacterial phyla being Planctomycetota, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidota. Depth had a significant impact on bacterial community composition, with surface layers having more diverse bacterial communities. Microbial diversity …


Protective And Risk-Related Factors Associated With College Student Burnout, Dominic X. Chavez Apr 2025

Protective And Risk-Related Factors Associated With College Student Burnout, Dominic X. Chavez

Honors Theses

Burnout is an occupational phenomenon commonly defined by the exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of efficacy a person experiences with regard to their role (i.e., educator, healthcare worker, student, etc.). Despite the prevalence of burnout in academia, very few research studies have attempted to examine the variables associated with burnout’s severity in the case of American college and university students. Thus, the current study sought to analyze the protective and risk-related factors previously determined to be associated with academic burnout within a college population. Specifically, burnout self-ratings were compared to perceived burnout stigma, resilience, perceived social support, help-seeking attitudes, and perceived …


Integrating Environmental Analyses And Awareness To The Senior Chemical Plant Design Course Che 4233, Lucie I. Leblanc Apr 2025

Integrating Environmental Analyses And Awareness To The Senior Chemical Plant Design Course Che 4233, Lucie I. Leblanc

Honors Theses

The EPA has implemented and increased environmental regulations and safeguards for carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for the past 70 years. These regulations have affected the technology and methodology used in industrial chemical production processes. As newly graduated engineers enter the work field, they will encounter current and future EPA regulations, and they will have to adjust their production units to meet these safeguards. This report loosely follows the structure of the Plant Design Course (CHE 4233) to show the process of designing a conventional cumene production plant. The conventional process is compared to a new …


Determining The Bioaccumulation Of Minor Cannabinoids In Zebrafish Larvae, Kamdyn A. Holt Apr 2025

Determining The Bioaccumulation Of Minor Cannabinoids In Zebrafish Larvae, Kamdyn A. Holt

Honors Theses

Due to the increasing prevalence of cannabis product availability and usage in the modern United States, particularly among pregnant individuals, evaluating the bioaccumulation of minor cannabinoids to further understand the adverse effects of cannabinoids during early development is critical. This study quantitated the uptake of eight minor cannabinoids ((∆8-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC), ∆9-THC, ∆10-THC, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)) in zebrafish larvae following water-borne 2 µM exposures from 6 to 96 hours post fertilization (hpf). Larvae were homogenized at 96 hpf and analyzed using a gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method developed in this study. Bioconcentration …


The Implementation Of Higher Education In The Prison System In Mississippi: The Challenges And Benefits, Elizabeth F. Ratliff Apr 2025

The Implementation Of Higher Education In The Prison System In Mississippi: The Challenges And Benefits, Elizabeth F. Ratliff

Honors Theses

Growing support for higher education in prison has sparked much conversation regarding the challenges and benefits of the programs and their implementation. In Mississippi, this has become an increasingly prevalent issue as the incarcerated population continues to grow and programs continue to be limited in accessibility. Mississippi’s incarcerated population deserves the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through higher education to better themselves individually and better their communities upon release. However, Mississippi faces unique challenges in its prison system, preventing the benefits of these programs from showing. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the challenges and …


Effects Of Acute Exercise On Cognition: Consideration Of Potential Moderators, Elizabeth G. Gaines, Mckenzie M. Cotten, Elizabeth Reese Carwile, Mary Griffin Jackson, Marascalco Liston, Lucy Wilson Apr 2025

Effects Of Acute Exercise On Cognition: Consideration Of Potential Moderators, Elizabeth G. Gaines, Mckenzie M. Cotten, Elizabeth Reese Carwile, Mary Griffin Jackson, Marascalco Liston, Lucy Wilson

Honors Theses

The present thesis aims to determine the effects, if any, of six potential moderators on the effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on cognitive functioning. The modes of exercise undertaken by the participants included treadmill (Experiment 1) and stationary bike (Experiment 2) exercise. Participants in each experiment either exercised or rested for twenty minutes and then participated in either a memory recall task or cognitive functioning (“Stroop”) task. The bouts of either exercise or rest on the stationary bike were followed by a rest period during which the participant would be exposed to either standard air oxygen levels (normoxia) or hypoxic …


Providing A Solution For Active-Duty Servicewomen Facing Chronic Musculoskeletal Injuries Due To Improper Gear Fit, Celia Watson, Denver Tidwell, Hadi Obaji Apr 2025

Providing A Solution For Active-Duty Servicewomen Facing Chronic Musculoskeletal Injuries Due To Improper Gear Fit, Celia Watson, Denver Tidwell, Hadi Obaji

Honors Theses

As senior biomedical engineering students at the University of Mississippi, we began our academic year brainstorming unmet clinical needs in healthcare intending to provide an innovative solution. After conducting personal inventories, determining a mission, and evaluating internal and external factors, we established acceptance criteria for our strategic focus and clarified our needs statement: develop a prophylactic device for chronic musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) in active-duty servicewomen (ADSW). The average female soldier is at a disadvantage compared to her male counterpart due to anthropometric and physiological differences between men and women in most aspects of physical performance (Epstein et al. 2673). These …


Caregivers’ Satisfaction With And Perceived Cultural Sensitivity Of A Modification Of A Child Injury Prevention Program For Spanish-Speaking Families, Karen Padilla Apr 2025

Caregivers’ Satisfaction With And Perceived Cultural Sensitivity Of A Modification Of A Child Injury Prevention Program For Spanish-Speaking Families, Karen Padilla

Honors Theses

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Caregivers play a critical role in reducing children’s risk of injury by adopting appropriate supervision behaviors and engaging in safety-proofing practices. The Supervising for Home Safety (SHS) program is a video-based intervention developed to increase caregiver supervision for children ages 2–5 by targeting beliefs about injury vulnerability, injury preventability, and self-efficacy for implementing safety precautions. While SHS has demonstrated effectiveness in English-speaking populations, no research has examined its adaptation and impact among Spanish-speaking caregivers. This study aimed to examine caregivers perceived cultural sensitivity and satisfaction with …


The Conservative Approach To Informed Consent: The Evidentiary Model And An Antidote To The Problem Of Framing Effects In Medical Decision-Making, James D. Polk Apr 2025

The Conservative Approach To Informed Consent: The Evidentiary Model And An Antidote To The Problem Of Framing Effects In Medical Decision-Making, James D. Polk

Honors Theses

Since the latter part of the 20th century, there has been a gradual but significant shift of the doctor-patient relation from paternalism to a more patient-centric approach. As such, informed consent – the legal and moral requirement that a physician fully disclose relevant details to their patient and gain their consent – is a central doctrine to patient-centric care. Gone are the days of the doctor governing the patient: the patient is now considered a valuable and important decision-maker. Achieving informed consent is the foundation of patient centric medicine. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that philosophical consideration be …


Daca’S Impact On Recipients: Interviews With Three Daca Recipients From Michigan, Jazmin Moron Apr 2025

Daca’S Impact On Recipients: Interviews With Three Daca Recipients From Michigan, Jazmin Moron

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the lived experiences of three Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients residing in Michigan. It examines how DACA has impacted their lives across three distinct phases: pre-DACA, while applying for DACA, and post-DACA. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews, this research uncovers key themes: normal childhood, proof of presence, skeptical DACA future, and restricted immigration pathways. While DACA offered recipients increased opportunities in education, employment, and stability, it also imposed systemic challenges such as costly renewals, limited career growth, and continued legal uncertainty. By focusing on Michigan—a state with a relatively small Hispanic/Latino population—this study highlights the unique …


Impact Of Humor Vs. Seriousness In Advertising: The Role Of Product Type In Consumer Recall And Purchase Behavior, Cian Ortega Apr 2025

Impact Of Humor Vs. Seriousness In Advertising: The Role Of Product Type In Consumer Recall And Purchase Behavior, Cian Ortega

Honors Theses

This study examines the effectiveness of humorous versus serious advertising tones across three different product categories, which are beverage, hygiene, and health/medicine. This is done by measuring their impact on a consumer’s brand/product recall, enjoyment, and purchase intent. Historically, humor has been related to positive emotional responses while seriousness has been associated with building trust and credibility. By using a within-subjects experimental-survey design, data were collected from seventy survey respondents who viewed humorous and serious advertisements across the three product categories (hygiene, beverage, and health/medicine and then evaluated each ad based on their agreement to statements relating to brand/product recall, …


Examination Of A Bench-Scale Model For Post-Wildfire Flood And Water Quality Mitigation Solutions, Cheyenne Ethridge Apr 2025

Examination Of A Bench-Scale Model For Post-Wildfire Flood And Water Quality Mitigation Solutions, Cheyenne Ethridge

Honors Theses

The objective of this study is to determine a potential low-cost, sustainable, and rapidly deployable solution for post-wildfire flood and water quality mitigation in communities reliant on surface water for drinking water. Coalinga, Fresno County, California was selected as a study area for a full-scale solution due to its high risk of wildfires, high social vulnerability, and relatively low community resilience. A bench-scale demonstration of the system directs water into a gravel infiltration zone surrounded by a weir perimeter and followed by a clarifier. Because of their abundance in the area, almond shells were explored as a coagulant additive to …


Supporting Doctoral Research In Aging: From Exercise Barriers To Geropsychology Competencies, Alexandra Crites Apr 2025

Supporting Doctoral Research In Aging: From Exercise Barriers To Geropsychology Competencies, Alexandra Crites

Honors Theses

This thesis explored hands-on experiences supporting ongoing research in behavioral gerontology, addressing the growing need for individualized interventions, and improving professional training to meet the complex needs of aging populations. Through involvement in two primary studies—one examining exercise nonadherence in people with osteoarthritis (OA) and another developing competency standards for professionals entering geropsychology. I contributed to data analysis, research design, and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative literature. My work with Haley Hughes’ study included developing a comprehensive data table that mapped participant responses from focus groups and identifying nuanced themes related to barriers and facilitators for physical activity. For …


Associations Between Parental Depression And Child Internalizing Behaviors: The Role Of Gender, Abigail M. Webb Apr 2025

Associations Between Parental Depression And Child Internalizing Behaviors: The Role Of Gender, Abigail M. Webb

Honors Theses

The present study is a cross-sectional examination of associations between mother and father depression as it relates to child internalizing symptoms and anxious and depressed symptomatology. The study builds on the literature that underscores the importance of parental mental health for child outcomes, particularly anxiety and depression symptoms, by examining the role of gender in the link between parental depression and child internalizing symptoms. This study included 256 children (M age = 9.53 years; SD = 29.97 months; 123 males) and their mothers, fathers, and teachers. The measures included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Teacher Report …


Almost Last Again? Mississippi's Labor Force Participation Rate: Causes And Solutions, John Martin Fox Apr 2025

Almost Last Again? Mississippi's Labor Force Participation Rate: Causes And Solutions, John Martin Fox

Honors Theses

Mississippi is currently ranked second to last in labor force participation rate in the country. This is the latest damning statistic inhibiting the state from growing and becoming a more nationally recognized state with higher economic output. This thesis examines how Mississippi arrived at this bleak labor force participation rate and what is currently ongoing to alleviate it. It also examines some possible proposed solutions to accelerate those efforts. Through extensive research and numerous interviews with officials from public and private sector employees directly dealing with this predicament, this thesis has assembled a thorough and comprehensive picture of how the …


Measuring Market Sentiment Towards Ceo Incentives, Joshua C. Whitehead Apr 2025

Measuring Market Sentiment Towards Ceo Incentives, Joshua C. Whitehead

Honors Theses

In the absence of agency issues, CEOs will act in the best interest of shareholders by maximizing firm value. Existing literature documents the individual agency of the CEO and how firms incentivize CEO behavior to align with shareholder interests. To study groups with varying initial incentives, I divide CEOs into internal and external origin to determine differences in compensation. This study then utilizes regressions to study the differences between candidate origin and corresponding incentive structure. I hypothesize that CEO profile influences compensation design to address candidate skills and agency costs, impacting firm value and market perception of CEO future value. …


The Interaction Between Parenting Styles, College Adjustment, And Decision Making In Undergraduate Freshman And Sophomores, Taylor Phillips Apr 2025

The Interaction Between Parenting Styles, College Adjustment, And Decision Making In Undergraduate Freshman And Sophomores, Taylor Phillips

Honors Theses

Although considerable research has investigated how parenting styles impact child development, little is known about how parenting styles correlate with young adults’ adjustment to college. Parenting styles children are raised with may impact the development of skills such as resilience, problem-solving, and emotional regulation that influence how they react to difficult life transitions. Parenting styles may also impact a person’s decision making, including in situations involving self-control. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between parenting style, college adjustment, and self-control. This study used the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire- Short Version, the Student Adaption to …


Examining The Causal Impact Of Prayer On Self-Control And Generosity, Angel R. Rivera-Martinez Apr 2025

Examining The Causal Impact Of Prayer On Self-Control And Generosity, Angel R. Rivera-Martinez

Honors Theses

Prayer is a behavior that is characteristic of most religions and spiritualities and a practice important to many people. Although many studies have looked at a wide variety of the possible outcomes and impacts of prayer on behavior and well-being, this research hopes to study the practice of prayer and its outcomes in a more theological lens. In the Bible, the Fruit of the Spirit outlines expected characteristics of a person or community living in accordance with the Holy Spirit. The two aspects of the Fruit that will be studied as variables within this experiment are self-control and generosity. The …


Do Super Shoes Improve Drop Jump Performance?, Emily Urban Apr 2025

Do Super Shoes Improve Drop Jump Performance?, Emily Urban

Honors Theses

Super shoes are responsible for the astonishing improvements in marathon times; however, it is unknown whether they can also aid athletes when it comes to jumping performance. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate if super shoes improve jump performance in athletes in comparison with regular athletic shoes, as measured by vertical jump height and torque during a drop jump maneuver. In addition, the study investigated if there were differences in kinetic and kinematic variables during jumping between shoes, as measured by torque production at the hip, knees, and ankles during takeoff.


Step-Rate Manipulation For Improved Running Economy At A Performance, Noah Clemens Apr 2025

Step-Rate Manipulation For Improved Running Economy At A Performance, Noah Clemens

Honors Theses

The relationship between step rate (SR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) is non-linear, with an individual’s optimal SR minimizing VO2. Prior studies suggest highly trained runners do not self-select this optimal SR, though most research has focused on submaximal speeds. This study assessed whether highly trained male distance runners self-optimize SR at a performance pace. Twelve participants (22.5 ± 3.7 years) completed nine 4-minute treadmill trials at 4.96 m/s. The first trial was self-paced; remaining trials were metronome-cued (170–200 steps/min). VO2 was plotted against SR and modeled with a second-order polynomial to estimate optimal SR. Four participants were excluded due to …


Ethical & Effective Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy, Liam J. Row Apr 2025

Ethical & Effective Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy, Liam J. Row

Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the defining achievement of our time, processing vast amounts of data, generating intelligent outcomes, and enhancing our efficiency. As such, AI has the potential for both great benefits and significant harms. First, I reviewed the five most significant and immediate problems posed by AI. After recognizing the problems, I conduct in-depth analysis on the current regulatory structures of the federal government. I examine seven different departments as well as certain state and international regulatory structures to determine what harms are already addressed, where the gaps exist, and where the new policy is necessary. Then, I briefly …


“Almond Moms” And Their Influence On College-Aged Emerging Adults: An Investigation On Eating Cognitions, Behaviors, And Psychological Wellness, Rebecca E. Sutton Apr 2025

“Almond Moms” And Their Influence On College-Aged Emerging Adults: An Investigation On Eating Cognitions, Behaviors, And Psychological Wellness, Rebecca E. Sutton

Honors Theses

The present study examines the potential psychological and behavioral impacts Almond Moms have on their college-aged children. Previous studies examining how parents influence disordered eating habits found that parental attitudes, specifically maternal attitudes, towards appearance, weight, and dieting are correlated with their children’s likelihood of engaging in disordered eating behaviors. It was hypothesized that college-aged students who report more experiences growing up with an Almond Mom will demonstrate more disordered eating habits and less positive body image. Impulsivity, socioeconomic status, and attachment were predicted to moderate the link between parental experiences and eating habits. Participants were recruited from introductory psychology …


The Correctional Responses To Covid-19: In Ohio, The U.S., And Across The Globe, Kendall E. Visco Apr 2025

The Correctional Responses To Covid-19: In Ohio, The U.S., And Across The Globe, Kendall E. Visco

Honors Theses

The United States has the largest correctional system in the world, and as a result, the system is vulnerable to various public health issues, the most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic. Correctional institutions across the country were unprepared for a pandemic of this scale, specific to supplies and regulations. As a result, tens of thousands of incarcerated individuals fell sick in outbreaks, and thousands more passed away due to complications. Regulations varied from institution to institution, and policies then and now are still unclear. To prepare for the future, understanding these policies is vital to better understand where successes and …