Digital Commons Network^™

Strategic Planning With Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship At The University Of Mississippi, Taylor R. Coe

Honors Theses

In this paper, I detail the strategic planning process undertaken by Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at the University of Mississippi. I do this by first presenting information about strategic planning and about Chi Alpha as an organization. Then, I present a narrative detailing how we completed the planning process. After that, I present the results that make up the strategic plan itself. I end with an evaluation of the overall effort. Our planning process created strategies to address five strategic issues: reaching international students, lacking a unified discipleship structure, lacking a property, developing a “missions mindset” instead of a “leadership …

The Efficacy Of The Covid-19 Vaccine In Mississippi, Ilyse Miriam Levy

Honors Theses

The Efficacy of The COVID-19 Vaccine in Mississippi

(Under the direction of Dr. Xin Dang)

By tracking and analyzing fifty-three weeks of COVID-19 data, this thesis analyzes the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine within the State of Mississippi. Over the course of these fifty-three weeks, I have also been able to calculate the confidence intervals for vaccination efficacy and the risk reduction due to vaccination by using data regarding the correlations between deaths and vaccination status, provided to me by the Mississippi Office of Epidemiology. My analysis demonstrates that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective not only in Mississippi but also …

Optimization Of A Fluidized Bed Reactor For The Production Of Styrene From Ethylbenzene, Gregory Espenan

Honors Theses

In order to optimize Unit 500, a styrene production plant, the Net Present Value (NPV) was used as the objective function to ensure every optimization strategy had a positive economic effect. To optimize a chemical plant, it is important to note efficiency, economics, product specifications, and production requirements. The goal of this project was to make changes to the base case of Unit 500 to minimize the cost to produce styrene for an upstream unit. PRO/II was used to simulate various points in different unit operations throughout the process. The NPV was measured after each unit operation was simulated to …

The Effects Of Crowding Agents On The Pka Of Physiologically Stable I-Motif Dna, Courtney Turner

Honors Theses

The overall goal of this thesis was to investigate the environmental conditions that induce i-Motif folding of the DNA strand DUX4L22, a cytosine-rich segment of DNA found in the human genome. Cellular conditions were simulated using sodium cacodylate buffer and multiple weights of polyethylene glycol as a crowding agent. The presence of i-motifs were confirmed by Circular Dichroism spectroscopy. I found that DUX4L22 does form i-motifs under these physiological simulations at both acidic and neutral pHs. DUX4L22 therefore shows potential for use in studies of a wide variety of biotechnological advances, such as regulatory switches in nanomachines or drug-delivery systems.

The Influence Of Culture On The Accounting Profession: An Investigation Into The Implementation Of The Oecd's Inclusive Framework On Beps In The United States And Germany, Vivian Francis

Honors Theses

This research investigates the United States and Germany’s implementation of the OECD’s Inclusive Framework on BEPS and assesses the degree to which each country’s response was influenced by its culture. The objective of this research is to present a perspective on how international accounting regulations can take cultural characteristics into consideration in order to produce their desired outcomes. For the purpose of this thesis culture is defined and quantified through the framework developed by Geert Hofstede. Furthermore, this thesis investigates the relationship between the neoliberal political paradigm and the role of culture in accounting. This research uses a combination of …

Confronting Stigma: Ethical Leadership, Influence, And The Dignity Of People Struggling With Addiction, Jacob Fennell

Honors Theses

People struggling with addiction in the United States of America deserve better treatment. The current stigma of people struggling with addiction as moral failures perpetuates a policy of drugs that sees them as criminal. This policy should be repealed and a better culture of care should be created. People struggling with addiction deserve a standard of treatment based on the core tenet of human dignity. In engaging with the history and cultural beliefs that are the foundation of this mistreatment, this same tenet of dignity must be upheld. This specifically comes into my project when exploring methods of changing these …

A Utilization Focused Evaluation Of 2nd Chance Mississippi, Kathryn Mccullouch

Honors Theses

This study is a Utilization Focused Evaluation of 2nd Chance Mississippi, a local non-for-profit organization in Oxford Mississippi. The purpose of a Utilization Focused Evaluation is to provide key stakeholders with practical findings and recommendations that will be useful for future operations. The key stakeholders were identified as the administrators of 2^nd Chance, Zach and Dickie Scruggs, Catti Beals, and Sarah Rose Lomenick. Research questions were developed with the stakeholders and were as follows:

1) What are the objectives of 2^nd Chance Mississippi?

2) Are 2^nd Chance Mississippi objectives being met? If so, how?

3) What are …

Maybe The Real Prize Was The Connections They Built Along The Way: A Legal Analysis Of The Role Of Privateering In The Creation Of The Trans-Imperial Greater Caribbean, Daniel Hall

Honors Theses

While study of the eighteenth-century Caribbean has traditionally focused on the stark separation between the European empires of the region, this thesis seeks to reveal privateering’s role as an important force in creating what has come to be referred to as the trans-imperial or trans-national Caribbean. This will be based in an analysis of the legal structure of British privateering as a means of both drawing attention to the practice’s intrinsically legalistic nature as well as highlighting the fact that this regional creation was a result of colonists working within imperial guidelines as much as it was an act of …

The Interaction Between Anxiety Sensitivity And Sleep Disturbance In Relation To Alcohol Use Among Adolescents, Gabrielle Meshell Armstrong

Honors Theses

Both substance use and sleep disturbance are common in adolescence. Additionally, alcohol use specifically is positively associated with a number of sleep disturbances. However, little to no research has examined factors that may influence the relation between problematic alcohol use and sleep disturbances among adolescents or adults. One factor that may be particularly important to consider in this regard is anxiety sensitivity (AS; i.e., the tendency to interpret unpleasant physiological sensations as dangerous). Among previous studies, anxiety sensitivity has been found associated with both increased alcohol consumption and sleep disturbances. The current study evaluated the main and interactive effects of …

Increasing The Student Activity Fee, Alexandria Bea Mabry

Honors Theses

The Student Activity Fee is a five-dollar fee paid by every graduate and undergraduate student at the University of Mississippi through their university tuition. The purpose of the Student Activity Fee is to support any efforts and passions of student organizations to allow them the financial freedom to host intentional programming for students or provide items needed for the function and success of that organization. The Student Activity Fee Fund was estimated to be depleted by Fall 2023. Therefore, in order to protect the Fund, a Student Activity Fee increase to two-dollars per credit hour was proposed to the student …

Applying Deliberate Practice To Learning Psychotherapy Techniques, Nikyra Jenkins

Honors Theses

Deliberate practice has commonly been used in areas such as music, chess, and medicine, but there is a lack of deliberate practice found in psychotherapy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether deliberate practice can be applied to learning psychotherapy techniques in a novice learner (the author of this study). The study also aimed to research the anxiety and reactivity levels of the subject in response to performance during and after the session. The author independently learned modules from the Unified Protocol manual and then engaged in role-play sessions with an expert. Before beginning each exercise, the subject …

Comprehensive Analysis Of Financial Accounting Through Series Of Case Studies, Tyler Anderson Burke

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of eleven case studies that were compiled during the 2020-2021 school year. The cases studies focus on a variety of topics concerning the field of accountancy. Over a period of two semesters, the cases were researched and written independently and in a group setting. The cases studies that were written with my fellow group members resulted in a group case competition at the end of the course. This thesis was developed under the guidance of Victoria Dickinson, Ph.D., CPA.

Case Studies In Accountancy, Michael Keene

Honors Theses

Case Studies in Accountancy is a compilation of case studies completed in fulfillment of ACCY 420. My cases are titled as followed: A Tale of Two Cities, Financial Statements, Presidential Debate, Tax Cuts and Job Act and Taxodus, Professional Interview, Financial Crisis, Case Competition Amazon Overview, Case Competition Amazon Audit Analyst, Case Competition Amazon Tax Advisor, Case Competition Amazon Advisory Consultant and Case Competition Amazon’s Equity Position. These cases covered a variety of topics in the world of accountancy as well as touching on our personal lives. In the first semester of the course, cases were typically individual before moving …

How Integrated Marketing Communications Can Be Used To Better Engage Generation Z In Bridge Building, Gracie Bynum

Honors Theses

The use of Integrated Marketing Communications holds strong promise for engaging Generation Z in the work of bridge building. The work of bridging is dedicated to healing America by decreasing political polarization and bridging divides between people who think differently. The bridging space has grown drastically in the last few years because of a variety of factors including, but not limited to: increasing polarized political elections, rising racial tensions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that Generation Z, the most educated and diverse generation, is engaged in this space in order to create a less divided America. I conducted …

Financial Accounting Case Studies, Mark Miller

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to study and reflect on a variety of different aspects of the accounting profession and the professional world at large. Over the course of two semesters, we engaged independently and collectively with our peers in some of the deepest dives into our future profession of our academic careers. Each of the initial cases broadened my horizons and brought to light much of accounting that I had yet to be exposed to. Ultimately in the second semester we were divided into groups to work on series of cases revolving around one major business entity. In …

Contributions Community Health Centers In The Delta Have Made During The Pandemic And Their Future, Ajah Tiyanna Singleton

Honors Theses

Community health centers that are located in the Mississippi Delta serve as critical points of contact for residents pertaining to medical care. The framework for the services provided locally, and nationally, originate from the now Delta Health Center in Mound Bayou, MS. The care that providers within these institutions have transformed over the course of the pandemic, and the aid rendered to patients have enabled residents to maintain their current level of health. Analyzing the various services provided during this time will allow for stakeholders to determine the next steps for these institutions as the imminent transition into a COVID-19 …

Computational And Spectroscopic Studies Of New Sulfur-Containing Dipole-Bound Anions, Nicholas Allen Kruse

Honors Theses

Sulfur and Nitrogen are essential ingredients in both life-supporting and light-harvesting molecules. Their presence also usually leads to the delocalization of electrons and large dipole and quadrupole moments. Such molecules are sometimes able to form negative ions through the electrostatic binding of an excess electron. These so-called multipole-bound (dipole-bound, quadrupole-bound, etc.) anions have been shown to be important in radiation damage in biology and electron transport processes. Here, we present our recent computational and experimental results studying the creation of new multipole-bound anions.

The Long-Term Health And Developmental Impacts Of Children Born At Low Birth Weight, Kathryn Grace Kelly

Honors Theses

The state of Mississippi currently has the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) births in the United States. LBW is a negative birth outcome which can lead to suboptimal pediatric health and development. The primary goals of this thesis are to identify the long-term outcomes associated with LBW and to present potential interventions to address LBW. A combination of literature review and quantitative data analysis were used to inform the objective of this thesis. A variety of physical health, behavioral health, and other long-term issues were found associated with LBW. The consequences of LBW place LBW children at a …

Ipseity Vol. 1: An Artful Exploration Of Identity Formation In Emerging Adulthood, Lauren Alexis Taylor

Honors Theses

Ipseity is a multi-edition coffee-table style book that integrates digital and print design and incorporates handmade elements and processes such as die-cuts, letterpress printing, gold foiling, hand-sewn bindings, and embroidery. Its design is rooted in minimalism, yet the handmade aspects, eye-catching color palette, and bold illustrations make reading Ipseity a visual and tactile experience. The design utilizes typography and flat-color illustrations in a consistent layout, with a strong emphasis on the handmade elements and craftsmanship throughout the book. It is not only a publication to read and ponder, but it is an artful object with a physical presence to be …

College Students Fail To Identify Nutrition Misinformation On Social Media, Helen Mary Katool

Honors Theses

Social media has become a part of everyday life in our society and has the capability to reach billions, across age groups. Research has shown that there is a direct link between the widespread access to social media and the amount of misinformation that is circulating. In fact, unqualified and uneducated individuals share believable but inaccurate nutrition posts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if college students can distinguish the difference between nutrition misinformation or factual nutrition information when presented on social media. Male and female college students (>18 years old) from two classes (nutrition and …

Rising From The Ashes: An Analysis Of How One Infamous Promotional Event Caused A Company's Ruin And A Concept On The Future Of Influencer Experiences, Janis B. Kruger

Honors Theses

This thesis and its research focuses on the topic of modern influencer marketing through digital media. Throughout the thesis, traditional marketing tactics and the power of influence is discussed, and then it moves into the topic of modern advertising and the role that modern social media influencers play in reaching the consumer. The methodology behind influencer marketing is explained and consumer behavior is analyzed. The 2017 Fyre Festival promotional event is then used as an example to dissect this marketing tactic and how the event impacted the future of influencer marketing. Finally, a modern-day, hypothetical campaign based on the concept …

Education, Income, Racial Composition, And Urbanization: An Examination Of Factors That Affect Intervention Court Participation And Drug-Related Arrests In Mississippi, Will Hengehold

Honors Theses

This paper serves as an evaluation of Mississippi Intervention Courts and attempts to determine the effectiveness and use of those courts. The regressions in this paper attempt to show how the use of intervention courts and demographic characteristics of Mississippi District Circuit Courts affect the number of drug-related arrests in Mississippi, how the number of drug-related arrests and demographic characteristics of Mississippi district circuit courts areas affects intervention court use and intervention court participation rates in Mississippi, and how demographic characteristics affected the delay in the adoption of intervention courts by Mississippi District Circuit Courts. Demographic characteristic variables used include …

Cultural Memory Conflicted In Post-Conflict Peru: Constructing Heroes And Villains La Hora Final And La Casa Rosada, Reed Peets

Honors Theses

Building on this same theoretical platform, this project uses two critically-acclaimed contemporary cinematic representations of the internal armed conflict—La hora final and La casa rosada—as reflections of the ways in which the Peruvian cultural products of today are leveraged to reorchestrate collective understandings of the past.

Efficacy Of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol For Hiv-Related Neuropathic Pain, Kaia Horne

Honors Theses

Despite the availability and success of antiretroviral therapeutics, ~30% of patients living with HIV experience neuropathic pain that is often intractable. The mechanisms are not known, but there is evidence to support a role for the HIV virotoxins, Tat and/or gp120, which can damage or degenerate neurons and peripheral nerves. One mechanism by which Tat and gp120 promote nerve damage involves the stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine production from immune cells which can damage or kill bystander cells. Notably, compounds found in Cannabis exert anti-inflammatory effects and many studies report HIV patients to consume more marijuana than seronegative individuals. When people …

Accounting Case Studies, Jack Mcinnis

Honors Theses

Accounting Case Studies is a compilation of independent case studies performed during the Honors Accounting 420 class. The case studies consisted of multiple performed individually, and a case competition with an assigned group. The case studies I performed individually consist of an assessment between the two cities I was interested in beginning my career in, a case study about the presidential debate in 2020, an evaluation of the optimal corporate tax, a mentorship interview, and an analysis of the 2008 housing crisis in the United States. My group for the case study included my fellow classmates; Francena Sekul, Caitlyn Henry, …

Effects Of Instructional Expenditures On Educational Outcomes In Mississippi Public Schools, Richard Grimes

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between school funding and student success in public schools in Mississippi. Data for 200 public high schools were obtained upon request from the Mississippi Department of Education, including information about school budgets, average composite ACT scores, graduation rates, and other factors. Regression analysis was conducted with the data to determine which factors might influence the success of students, with an initial emphasis on school funding. The findings indicate that allocation of school funding may have a relationship with student success as measured by ACT scores and graduation rates, but that the relationship becomes more difficult …

What Is The Satisfaction Of Youth Participating In A Pilot Reading And Food-Based Stem Education Program In Rural Appalachian Mississippi?, Meagan Smith

Honors Theses

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is a vital subsection of primary education which focuses on imparting knowledge to foster STEM literacy and ultimately bolster the workforce of STEM related fields (Holmlund, 2018). Due to both geographic and socioeconomic challenges, STEM education in rural areas suffers from a lack of engaging learning opportunities and contributes to a shortage of STEM professionals originating from rural areas (Munn, 2019)(Murphy, 2020). Rural areas such as Calhoun County, MS, where the pilot program associated with this thesis was conducted, do not have the means to support interactive learning institutions such as aquariums and …

Honors Accounting Practicum, Blake Hydeman

Honors Theses

Over the duration of our capstone course, we worked on several cases related to various accounting topics as well as our future career plans. We also had speakers from many firms come talk to the class for recruiting purposes. Their speeches varied from information about their specific firms to broad discussions about the future of accounting and how data analytics is going to revolutionize the industry. These discussions were some of the primary networking opportunities that we had prior to making our decision on which firm to intern with. Our case studies ranged from things such as researching the city …

The Neuroprotective Effects Of Estradiol And Genistein In Zebra Finch Cerebellum, Renee E. Breaux

Honors Theses

The estradiol (E2) synthetic pathway converts testosterone to E2 via aromatase (AROM) and plays an important role in neuroplasticity. However, exogenous E2 increases cancer risk and interferes with gonadal function. Phytoestrogens, plant-based estrogens, may provide neuroprotection without negative E2 effects. Genistein (GEN), a soy phytoestrogen, preferentially binds to estrogen receptor beta (ER β), which is expressed at a relatively higher concentration than ER α in the cerebellum (CB). The songbird CB is an ideal model for steroid-mediated plasticity. Songbird brains are highly plastic and CB contains all steroid-synthetic enzymes. Previous studies in zebra finches (ZF) have shown that AROM and …

Evaluating The Barriers Of Entry That Small Commercial Farmers Face And The Implications Of Such Barriers On Rural Communities, Lauren C. Chandler

Honors Theses

The research proposed in this thesis will identify the barriers of entry that

small farmers face when entering the Agricultural Industry. The proposed research will also seek to discover how having these barriers in place affects rural communities. This thesis conducts a literature review of the topic, sets the context for the research to be done, and proposes a research project to further investigate the topic. The proposed research will be done through administering a survey to stakeholders, and then interviewing a small sample of those surveyed to get a comprehensive look at the effects of agribusiness on rural communities. …