Digital Commons Network^™

A Heartbreaking Loss: An Analysis Of The Long-Term Negative Cardiometabolic Effects Of Unhealthy Bulking Practices In American Football Players, Brianna Mcmanus

Honors Theses

National Football League records have shown a marked increase in the average weight of American Football Players over the course of the past half century. The emphasis placed on the ideology that “bigger is better” may enable these athletes to perform at higher levels of competition; there is now however an increased concern for the cardiometabolic health of these athletes due to the accumulation of fat mass rather than muscle mass. Numerous studies have proven a correlation between a high quantity of fat mass and the onset of cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and coronary artery …

A Contribution To The Macrofungi Of Cloudland Canyon State Park, Peyden Valentine

Honors Theses

I conducted a survey of the macroscopic fungi within Cloudland Canyon State Park, Dade County, GA that consisted of twenty-three forays from May through December of 2019, and one foray in March 2020. The results of my survey add baseline data to our knowledge of the mushrooms present within the park, allow for the future construction of an All Taxa Biodiversity Index, and allow comparisons to other surveys of fungal diversity in similar areas of the Cumberland Plateau: the Tennessee River Gorge Trust (Starrett 2005), and the Lula Lake Land Trust (De Guzman 2000). My survey resulted in an overall …

The Effects Of Trans-Nonachlor On Hepatic Lipid Metabolism In Immortalized Rat Hepatoma Cells Vs. Rat Primary Hepatocytes, Lucie Henein

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Molecular Characterization Of Wolbachia And Its Impact On The Microbiome Of Exotic And United States Ticks, Cailyn G. Bobo

Honors Theses

Wolbachia endosymbionts are obligate intracellular bacteria in the phylum α-Proteobacteria. They infect approximately two-thirds of arthropods including insects and nematodes. These bacteria manipulate host reproductive biology through a series of mechanisms that include feminization of male progeny, parthenogenesis, male killing, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. These features make Wolbachia an effective agent of controlling insect populations, as previously reported in different mosquito species. Likewise, the bacteria have also shown promising ability to interfere with the ability of mosquitoes to transmit several viral pathogens. This study was conducted to fill an existing knowledge gap on the prevalence of Wolbachia in different tick species …

The Effects Of Light On The Bacterial Biomass Of Decomposing Leaf Litter In Freshwater, Savannah L. Underwood

Honors Theses

Recent evidence has suggested that the presence of light (and in conjuction, periphytic algae) stimulates the growth and production of bacteria on decaying plant litter. However, the current method of measuring bacterial biomass, flow cytometry, drastically underestimates the bacterial biomass levels associated with litter samples. To determine and correct for this underestimation, the present study determined conversion factors using direct counting methods via epifluorescence microscopy. These conversion factors were then applied to flow cytometry counts for seven different studies. The studies analyzed the effects of light and other covarying factors on the bacterial biomass associated with various samples of leaf …

Determining The Association Between Religious Participation And Spirituality And Diet And Physical Activity Behaviors In African Americans Of Mississippi, Nidhi Shrestha

Honors Theses

According to CDC, African Americans experience higher rates of chronic diseases when compared to other ethnic groups. Focusing on religiosity and spirituality may benefit the health status of this minority group where advanced healthcare facilities are not easily assessable. The purpose of this research is to 1. Examine demographic factors related to religiosity/spirituality factors among a sample of African American Mississippians; and 2. Determine the correlation between their religiosity, spirituality, and health behaviors. The study uses the data collected by the Mississippi INBRE Telenutrition Center at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Participants for this study were recruited from May …

The Incorporation And Effect Of Movement In The Elementary Classroom, Caroline L. Rhett

Honors Theses

The main purpose of this thesis project was to examine the incorporation of movement in preschool and elementary classrooms and identify its effects. A review of methodology from musicians/educators such as Zoltán Kodály, Carl Orff, and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze provided a foundation for the research topic. Other factors surrounding music and movement included the physical, mental, and developmental aspects. These factors were studied through the lens of authors and researchers such as Howard Gardner.

The practice used was primarily observation, which took place in local music classrooms as well as at a Carl Orff Workshop. Observation led to the conclusion that …

The Effect Of Family Structure And Mental Health On Childhood Bullying Behaviors, Kierstynn Hunter

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Soil Lead Contamination Issue Of South Chattanooga, Tesros Cherian

Honors Theses

Childhood lead poisoning is an ongoing health threat despite actions taken by governmental bodies to remove lead from gasoline, paint, and other various household objects in which lead is found. In South Chattanooga specifically, lead has been found in the soil at such a level it is considered a public health threat, especially to children under the age of six. This situation has caused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to name the South Chattanooga area as a Superfund site known as the Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund site. This designation has resulted in multiple community meetings between EPA officials and Chattanooga …

Reconciling Flourishing Egoism With Common Morality, Mark Lamb

Honors Theses

It is a common critique of moral theories focused on the agent that they are selfish and immoral. Selfish here typically carries a negative connotation. Morality is supposed to show how we ought to treat people outside of ourselves; and this is true to a degree. But so often it seems, at least to me, that the more “selfless” moral theories seem to forget that the agent is as deserving of the good as those that the agent interacts with are. Egoism, broadly, reverses this and places the agent at the forefront of ethical decision-making. Unfortunately, this has historically led …

An Evaluation Of The Eating Behaviors Of Honors College Undergraduate Students At The University Of Mississippi, Anna Bouthillier

Honors Theses

Eating disorders are defined as an illness that changes one’s relationship with food, that ultimately affects one’s emotions, thoughts, and physical well-being. Three types of eating disorders most commonly diagnosed are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and disordered eating. It is important to note that disordered eating is a term used to describe abnormal eating behaviors and feelings related to food that may or may not fall into a certain diagnostic category (Anderson, 2018). Many college students today are diagnosed with an eating disorder or disordered eating as a result of the increasing anxiety and pressures experienced at this age.

The …

The Effects Of The Omega-3 Fatty Acids Docosahexaenoic Acid On Inm1 Gene Expression In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Haley Kang

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder associated with abnormal inositol levels. Preliminary studies show omega-3 fatty acids alter intracellular inositol levels; however, the cellular mechanism behind this process is unknown. Therefore, the focus of this study is to determine the effects of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the expression of INM1 which encodes inositol monophosphatase. Using yeast as our model system, cells were grown in varying concentrations DHA and the expression on INM1 was determined by RT-qPCR. The results show INM1 expression increased with increasing concentrations of DHA; thus, the effects of DHA on inositol levels may …

Are Florida Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Wearing Their Teeth Beyond Functionality? Interspecific And Intraspecific Mesowear In Manatees, Nina Woodard

Honors Theses

Manatees (Trichechus spp.) are herbivorous aquatic mammals found in tropical and subtropical waters. At maturity, they possess only supernumerary molars (SM), with 5-8 in occlusion at each quadrant. Manatees exhibit a dental replacement system in which they shed old teeth anteriorly and erupt new teeth posteriorly. This adaptation is thought to have arisen to deal with abrasive foods. Mesowear (facet development on occlusal surfaces of teeth) increases from posterior (younger) to anterior (older) molars. Tooth functionality is linked to level of mesowear, with increased amounts resulting in decreased food-processing ability. Less functional teeth can result in an increase in feeding …

Patience, Young Grasshopper: Analyzing The Fungal Components Of The Grasshopper Gut Microbiome, Staci Seitz

Honors Theses

Microbes inhabit many corners of the Earth, including the intestines of all animals. These intestinal microbes, collectively called the “gut microbiome,” provide numerous nutritional and regulatory functions for the animals they live in and thus play an important role in animal health. The fungal communities in insects, specifically, play a diverse, but important role in insect physiology, as well as insect control. The goals of this project were to expand knowledge of R programming through statistical analysis of microbial ecology and to identify the fungal communities in grasshoppers to enrich our knowledge in insect fungal microbiome. Questions that we wanted …

The Development Of A Scfa Analysis Method And The Examination Of Factors Affecting Listeria Pathogenesis, Ashton Dix

Honors Theses

This thesis focuses on the three different projects that I worked on during my time in Dr. Yvonne Sun’s microbiology lab. The main goal of the first project was to develop an analytical method on UD’s campus to analyze SCFAs by using Gas Chromatography. This was achieved by creating defined media that could sustain the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) and developing a successful characterization method on a GC. The main goal of the second project was to determine the effects that SCFA supplementation and age have on Listeria infection. This was achieved using in vitro methods to assess the …

Direct And Indirect Effects Of Additional Sodium On Grasshopper Growth And Development, Mark Ghastine

Honors Theses

In order to investigate why sodium, combined with macronutrients, led to a spike in grasshopper abundance in a Texas prairie field, laboratory and field studies were conducted in Ohio and Texas to understand if sodium has an effect on grasshopper growth and development. These effects could happen directly, by altering grasshopper physiology, or indirectly by altering the plant communities that grasshoppers eat. To examine direct effects, grasshoppers were captured, reared, and fed diets with varying amounts of sodium. Indirect effects were examined by collecting the most dominant plants within plots treated with different micro and macronutrients, and feeding them to …

Sustainability Trends In Higher Education: An Analysis Of The International Journal Of Sustainability In Higher Education, Jessica Poling

Honors Theses

Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, human activities have substantially harmed the biosphere and, if continued, pose a substantial risk to life on Earth. Recognizing this, educated people have advocated widespread adoption of sustainable practices and, in particular, have increased the amount of sustainability efforts associated with higher education. The International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, established in 2000, is devoted to such practices. For my honors thesis, I examined articles published in the journal from 2010 through 2019 to determine the countries, and the institutions within those countries, that were the primary contributors to the journal. …

Fundamentals Of Business - Introduction To Information Technology, Joy Goldschmidt

Honors Theses

This chapter will discuss the relevance and importance of information technology and its integration into several business models. The term Information Technology encompasses all types of technology used to create, store, exchange, and utilize data and information in all shapes and forms. This chapter will primarily focus on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology, which refers to a type of software that organizations use to manage day-to-day busy-ness activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management, and supply chain management. In more simpler terms, ERP systems tie together a variety of business operations, enabling a smooth flow of data and …

Intervention Approaches And Potential Impacts Of Nutrition Education In Youth Ages 3-14, Lauren Barnhard

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the key factors impacting the health disparities associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in youth throughout America. Forms of nutrition education may be an effective means to increase FV consumption in youth, especially when utilizing specific teaching techniques such as taste education, experiential learning, enhanced curriculum, and adhering to age specific programming. According to the CDC, American students receive less than 8 hours of required nutrition education each school year, far less than the 40 to 50 hours that are indicated to affect behavior change. This signifies a need for increased program development and implementation …

Weaving Charlotte's Web: An In-Depth Guide To Cannabidiol, Lauren Pitts

Honors Theses

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, first gathered national spotlight after Charlotte Figi and her mother Paige were able to find two physicians willing to prescribe CBD to treat Charlotte’s seizures. Charlotte suffered from Dravet Syndrome, but was able to find relief from CBD, which decreased the number and severity of her seizures. This sparked national interest and was the catalyst that lead to research and changes surrounding CBD uses and legality. Cannabidiol is a single cannabinoid that is found within the Cannabis sativa plant family—the same family that includes marijuana. This cannabinoid differs from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and does not provide …

Perspectives Of Health Care Providers In The Dominican Republic Towards Pregnant Haitian Women, Diana Hernandez

Honors Theses

Due to the lack of basic health care in Haiti, many Haitian women cross the border looking for a better public health service in the Dominican Republic. However, differences in cultural and medical practices exist between both countries. Thus, for my thesis, I intend to study and explain the challenges that Dominican health care providers feel might impede their abilities to provide adequate health care to pregnant Haitian patients and how they respond to and manage those challenges that they face.

The Effect Of Pre-Workout Supplementation On Fitness Assessment Tests, Kassidy Davis

Honors Theses

Research regarding the benefits and detriments of Pre-workout supplement has gradually increased since its popularity arose in the early 1980’s. There have been a number of studies on its effects on human physiology during a workout; however, there are few studies regarding Preworkout supplement during fitness assessment tests. Therefore, further insights concerning Preworkout supplement and fitness testing is needed. Pre-workout supplement is taken prior to a training session and has been shown to enhance a workout by increasing aspects such as focus, reaction time, stamina, and power. This could be viewed as solely a psychological enhancement than an actual physical …

Biological Evaluation Of Fda-Approved Drugs As Mirna-31 Inhibitors Using Real Time Qrt-Pcr And A Luciferase Assay, Nicholas Sienkiewicz

Honors Theses

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of post-transcriptional, negative regulators of gene expression, consisting of ~19-24 nucleotides. Since their discovery in 1993, miRNAs have been found to be involved in a diverse amount of cellular and disease pathways, including certain types of cancer. Overexpression of certain oncogenic miRNAs, including miRNA-31, have been shown to play a role in cancer cell development. Recent findings have suggested that miRNAs play a significant role in every stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, progression, and development, as well as induce resistance to chemotherapy drugs like 5-FU. In particular, research has shown that increased levels of …

Writing Systems As A Reflection Of Ancient Societies, Sarah M. Gripshover

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the writing systems of two ancient societies: the Latin alphabet as a writing system within the Roman Empire and the hieroglyphic writing system within the Maya city-state. This thesis first situates writing as a technology and explains the common uses of writing systems in modern contexts, before turning to an examination of the past. Next, basic literary patterns—including estimated literacy rates, education patterns and opportunities, types of documents, and themes within writing—are examined within the context of both societies. After evaluating these literary patterns, as well as the social, political, and economic organization of both societies, this …

Systematic Review Of Integrating Care To Improve Quality Of Life Within Chronically Diseased Patients With Mental Illness, Brooke R. Goble

Honors Theses

Chronic disease and mental illness affects a multitude of individuals in the United States. Sufficient treatments exist for chronic diseases and mental illnesses, separately. However, a gap in care exists in individuals who have co-occurring conditions. The presence of one or more chronic conditions, or comorbidities, has been observed by several providers, yet there is a crucial need for integrated care in the case of chronically diseased individuals with mental illness. Increasing quality of life within this vulnerable population is a necessity. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine whether integrated care and collaboration between behavioral health and …

Massachusetts Chapter 70 Education Equity Funding In Policy And Practice, Julia E. Kostro

Honors Theses

School funding policies aim to equalize school quality between districts of varying income levels, however, vast inequalities persist in our education system. This thesis examines how and why education funding policy, despite its high potential to create meaningful reform, continues to be a weak lever to promote equitable change in the education system in Massachusetts. After considering the rationales from previous scholars used to explain this phenomenon, interviews were conducted with three key stakeholder groups (policymakers, state advocates, and local leaders such as principals and superintendents), in order to produce a cross-sectional analysis of why education funding policy tends to …

Assessing A Two-Hit Model Of Schizophrenia: Prenatal Choline Deficiency And Induced Hypofunction Of Nmda Receptors In Male And Female Long Evans Rats, Samuel Gray, Samuel W. Gray

Honors Theses

Choline is an essential dietary nutrient essential to the development and function of the central nervous system. Prenatal choline deficiency alters hippocampal development as well as acetylcholine metabolism, leading to cognitive impairments and attentional and sensory processing deficits into adulthood. MK-801 is an NMDA receptor antagonist frequently used in rodent models of neuropsychiatric conditions, particularly schizophrenia. Acutely and sub- chronically, it causes hyperlocomotion and social withdrawal. One primary goal of the present study were to investigate prenatal choline deficiency induces a biological vulnerability to the motor deficits, anhedonia, and social impairment precipitated by low-dose sub-chronic MK-801 administration in adulthood. Another …

Food System Resilience In The Face Of Covid-19: A Study Of Maine’S Food Sovereignty Movement, Hania M. Lincoln Lenderking

Honors Theses

As the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities in the United States’ industrialized food system, the need for a more resilient alternative is stronger than ever. In Maine, food sovereignty - the right of people to determine their own food system - has been enacted at the local level through the adoption of the Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance (LFCSGO). Using unstructured interviews with leaders of Maine’s food sovereignty movement conducted prior to the pandemic, this study aims to link food sovereignty in Maine to the concept of food system resilience. Participants defined food sovereignty specifically in relation to …

Does Fish Diet Affect Consumer Decisions? A Nutitional And Sensory Study Of Farm-Raised Trout., Sarah Booth

Honors Theses

The focus of this study is twofold: 1) compare the nutritional value of farm-raised rainbow trout obtained from commercial sources, fed different diet regimens with that of wild-caught rainbow trout, and 2) conduct a sensory analysis test on both farm-raised and wild rainbow trout products with a consumer panel understanding their preferences and attitudes to fish consumption.

The data from this study showed a higher PUFA content in fish raised on the Plant based diet. The sensory study results indicate a preference the fish raised on the Conventional diet. While these results are not conclusive because of the known variables, …

Evaluating A Culprit: A Review Of The Biochemical Mechanisms Of Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance, Callie Cinque

Honors Theses

Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance (NCGI) has evaded biological and chemical mechanisms since it was first reported in 1978. Celiac Disease, a multi-system immune mediated disorder has long served as the most similar counterpart to NCGI. Less cases of celiac disease are going undiagnosed reflecting an improvement on sensitive and decisive diagnostic tools. However, NCGI has been significantly growing as a diagnosis over the past decade with little match or similarity to the markers found in celiac disease patients. Critical evaluation of NCGI theories, experimentation, and existing hypotheses is necessary. This review seeks to synthesize multiple disciplines of gluten research and enhance …