Digital Commons Network^™

Extraction Of Human Dna From Soil In A Simulated Clandestine Grave, Arely Joaly Parra Lopez

Honors Theses

Locard’s Exchange Principle states that “every contact leaves a trace.” The same principle applies when a perpetrator of a homicide decides to bury a victim in a clandestine grave. If a perpetrator originally buried a murder victim in haste to prevent discovery and then decided to later move the victim’s body to a remote location for disposal, decomposition fluids from the victim’s body (which contain cellular material and therefore DNA) would remain in the surrounding grave soil at the original burial site. It is possible that investigators could: 1) prove that a human body had once laid in that location …

Ecology Of Estuarine Birds: Differences In Desensitization Of Year-Round And Transient Species, Sarah Thomas

Honors Theses

Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC, USA is considered a “hotspot” for birds, according to the eBird database (eBird, 2020). The park is also visited by approximately 300,000 people, annually (Hobdy, 2019). The causeway at the park is an area of high human and wildlife activity. Here, the differences in desensitization, or lack thereof, of year-round and transient bird species to the stimuli of vehicles and humans were determined. Multiple surveys of the birds at Huntington Beach State Park were conducted from 22nd September, 2019 to 13th June, 2020. Desensitization was quantified by use of a range finder …

Acute Physiological And Perceptual Responses To Unilateral Versus Bilateral Walking With Blood Flow Restriction, Sage Donaldson

Honors Theses

The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) has skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years as a therapeutic modality. Studies have shown that the application of BFR at 20-30% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) yields similar improvements in cardiovascular fitness, muscle mass, and strength when compared with traditional exercise at 60-90% of VO_2max. The substantially lower workload accompanying BFR allows for more tolerable workloads in special populations, such as those recovering from musculoskeletal injury. Because previous studies regarding BFR have mainly focused on bilateral BFR, it is unclear how unilateral BFR compares to bilateral BFR. …

Effect Of Aerobic Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction On Substrate Utilization And Energy Expenditure, Nathen Andrews

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intermittent blood flow restriction (BFR) compared to low- (LIIE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on energy expenditure (EE) and substrate utilization. Participants randomly performed each interval exercise protocol, and then rested for a three-hour period, in which EE and substrate utilization were measured. Total EE was different between BFR (321.6 ± 30.1 kcals), HIIE (254.5 ± 33.5 kcals), and LIIE (287.1 ± 25.5 kcals). Fat oxidation (FatOx) in BFR (1hr = 0.14 ± 0.01 g / min, 3hr = 0.11 ± 0.01 g / min) was greater than LIIE …

Initial Investigation Of Wildflower Honey Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled With Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry For Geographical Information, Tyra Countiss

Honors Theses

Honey has been used as a food, sugar substitute, and flavor enhancer forever. The uses for honey are extremely varied from food to medicine. It is widely touted that you can address seasonal allergies, especially those following a move, by eating local honey. For this to be true the composition of the local honey, including trapped pollen, would allow allergy symptoms to be eliminated. In this project, the volatile and semi-volatile aroma compounds in wild flower honey from several different locations were analyzed. Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to help develop the …

Clothing: The Gateway To Trucks Or Tiaras, Riley Mccormick

Honors Theses

This research observes and analyzes the gendering of children’s clothing and how this affects how adults see children and gender, how children will grow to view one another, as well as how the children will eventually see themselves. For the purpose of this research, I am analyzing clothing for children of the ages two to eight because that is when a child begins to recognize themselves as their own person, begins to understand their personality, and starts to understand their own sex (Capsi, Roberst, Shiner 256). Children’s clothing often expresses messages that assert a masculine or feminine gender. These messages …

Investigating The Use Of Saligae® To Identify Expirated Blood On Various Material, Maria Bigos

Honors Theses

Expirated bloodstains and impact bloodstains have very similar physical characteristics. The main way Blood Pattern Analysts identify bloodstains in based on their physical characteristics. This can lead to difficulty distinguishing between expirated blood and impact spatter. Expirated blood can be identified through the presence of air bubbles, however these are often only present on non-porous surfaces. However, if expirated bloodstains can be identified through the presence of saliva, this can provide an alternative way to identify expirated bloodstains. This study examined if SALIgAE can be accurately used to identify the presence of saliva in blood and thus, be a way …

The Commercialization Of Crime Solving: Ethical Implication Of Forensic Genetic Genealogy, Hannah Lee

Honors Theses

With the advancement of DNA technology and expansion of direct-to-consumer DNA services, a growing number of cold cases have been solved using a revolutionary new investigative method: familial DNA mapping. While the technique has been lauded by law enforcement as revolutionizing criminal identification, others are concerned by the privacy implications and impact on the family structure. In this thesis I will draw on communitarian, liberal rights, utilitarian, and social justice arguments for and against the practice. I conclude that this method has the potential to increase security and provide justice for victims and families, but absent comprehensive regulation and privacy …

Prospective Physical Therapy Education Revisions According To Appalachian Physical Therapists And Physical Therapist Assistants, Paige N. Freeman

Honors Theses

Abstract

Physical Therapy Education Revisions According to Appalachian Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants

Paige Freeman

Dr. Michael Lane PhD, Department of Exercise Science

According to the American Physical Therapy Association and associated literature, the Physical Therapy profession has not changed significantly since its modern beginnings despite the obvious changes in technology and research. The lack of these changes can leave graduates underprepared for the challenges of the workplace and have an increased variability in practice, yet students continue to pay more for the same inadequate education. These issues exist overall within the Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant professions …

What’S In An Ace: The Role Of Ace2 In Covid-19’S Tissue Damaging Effects, Christian White

Honors Theses

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is the disease state caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the current pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via the membrane bound form of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Aside from its role in viral entry, the role of ACE2 in the morbidity and mortality of severe COVID-19 is often overlooked. ACE2 functions as a member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by cleaving the angiotensin II into angiotensin (1-7). Angiotensin II increases inflammation, thrombosis, and inflammation, whereas angiotensin (1-7) decreases these phenomena, making ACE2 an important balancing agent. ACE2 is …

Trading Addiction: An Analysis Of Prescription And Non-Prescription Opioid Abuse, Jordan Brock, Lisa S. Middleton

Honors Theses

Opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose is a serious public health concern that has plagued the healthcare system for the last thirty years. The compiled research in the following paper explores the rise of the opioid epidemic, the implications of more recent prescription monitoring and pain management programs, the relationship between non-prescription and prescription opioids, and the current face of the epidemic, illicit opioids. Kentucky has, unfortunately, been at the forefront of this epidemic with regard to both prescription and illicit opioids. Policy reformation and preventative action must be taken into consideration in regard to the relationship between prescription and non-prescription …

Research Towards Understanding Hox Regulation By Cdx, Joshua M. Fisher

Honors Theses

In this project, we aim to functionally test the contribution that individual Cdx binding sites have in hox gene regulation. We will achieve this by individually blocking Cdx binding sites using CRISPR/dCas9 in the zebrafish and then analyzing changes in the time, distribution, and levels of hox gene transcription.

We will focus our analysis in only one of the seven zebrafish hox clusters, the hoxca cluster. We are focusing on the hoxca gene cluster because it has lost the least number of genes relative to other clusters and is involved in specifying the axial identity of cells in …

Simian Varicella Virus Antibody Response In Recombinant Svv-Siv Immunized Primates, Kiser Horne

Honors Theses

Since its emergence in the early 1980’s HIV has killed approximately 32 million people, and continues to kill over half a million people every year. Significant research into potential vaccines and cures for HIV has been ongoing for decades but has been largely unsuccessful. One of the more promising technologies that is being investigated to develop an HIV vaccine is recombinant vaccine technology. The study presented in this thesis aims to use simian varicella virus (SVV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) to act as a model for recombinant vaccine development. If a recombinant SVV-SIV vaccine can be proven safe and …

The Functional Connectivity Of The Auditory Cortex In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katherine Wilson

Honors Theses

Disturbance of the auditory cortex in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is well known as well as its influence on hearing. Functional connectivity within the brain is also known to be affected by ASD. However, functional connectivity of the auditory cortex in ASD has yet to be studied. In this study, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE), functional connectivity of the auditory cortex was examined by comparing 68 individuals with ASD and 75 individuals with ASD. Four brain regions showed smaller functional connectivity to and from the auditory cortex; the occipital cortex, …

Chronic Exercise And Memory Interference, Lisa Vogelgesang

Honors Theses

This online study examined whether chronic exercise is associated with attenuated memory interference. Sixty-three healthy, young adults completed an interference task (AB/AC-paradigm) and self-reported the number of days and minutes a day they engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. We found that proactive interference (PI), but not retroactive interference (RI), occurred but none of the exercise modalities significantly impacted PI. Future studies should evaluate whether different interference tasks display diverse sensitivities to exercise-induced changes in memory interference. Moreover, other potential modulating factors, such as the duration and intensity of the exercise should be controlled for.

Determination Of Metals And Microplastics In Sediment From Oyster Reefs In The Mississippi Sound, Shelby Goza

Honors Theses

This research centers on the determination of metals (Cd, Pb, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and microplastics (MPs) in marine sediment from oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound Estuary. Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are a vital part of the Gulf Coast economy, but their population has dramatically declined in recent years due to multiple stressors, including oil spills and fluctuations in salinity from flooding. Increasingly frequent flooding events also introduce high loads of MPs and sediments containing heavy metals from the Mississippi River. These pollutants can have deleterious effects on oyster biology; however, they have not been adequately …

A Historical And Contextual Analysis Of Soviet And Russian "Active Measures": How Russian Political Warfare Efforts In Foreign Presidential Elections Have Transformed In The Information Age, Olivia Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to analyze the transformation of Russian active measures in targeted national elections since the Soviet era. Through a historical analysis of research on active measures and contextual analysis of active measures campaigns themselves, this thesis finds that Russian active measures techniques have not drastically changed since the Soviet era. Instead, as a result of technology, Russian active measures have utilized platforms of social media to become more targeted, continuous, and convert. Therefore, Russian active measures campaigns have been better able to successfully target specific audiences, arguably making these campaigns more effective.

Analysis Of Multigenerational Behavioral Effects Of Dietary Benzo[A]Pyrene Exposure In Adult Zebrafish, Mary Beth Gillespie

Honors Theses

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is linked to negative reproductive and developmental effects in humans and animals. Because BaP is carcinogenic, and its continued presence in the environment allows it to be inhaled and ingested, better understanding of the effects of BaP is needed. To determine the behavioral effects of BaP exposure, zebrafish were used as a model. Wild-type zebrafish (5D) underwent two separate 21-day dietary exposures to 2.5 and 25 μg BaP/g fish to compare how BaP exposure affects locomotor activity. Following the dietary exposure, fish were mated to obtain and raise the F1 generation to …

Predator-Prey Interactions Between Escherichia Coli Strains And Caenorhabditis Elegans At Various Temperatures And Resource Levels, Elizabeth Haynes Whitaker

Honors Theses

Predation is an important component of both evolutionary and ecological interactions across nature. The predator-prey relationship can be altered by differential species’ responses to changes in abiotic factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of temperature, resource levels, and their potential interactions using two strains of Escherichia coli prey and a Caenorhabditis elegans predator. It is concluded that an interaction exists between temperature and resource level on this predator-prey relationship however further testing must be done to confirm results due to contamination in the results.

Early Intervention Service Delivery Models In Mississippi: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Claire Harper

Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare two models of service delivery for early intervention in Mississippi from a health care sector perspective: (1) face-to-face therapy in the home environment and (2) a hybrid model (i.e., telepractice and face-to-face therapy in the home environment), in order to compare costs and determine the most cost-effective service delivery of early intervention.

Methods: Children (n = 10) were recruited and determined to qualify for early intervention services through the Mississippi First Steps Early Intervention program. One early intervention provider, a certified SLP, from the northern health region provided early intervention …

The Rates Of Caries Prevalence By Sex And Age From Individuals In St. Mary Graces And East Smithfield Cemeteries, Elizabeth Houston, Joseph Upton

Honors Theses

Caries are a common pathology in past and current populations, and because of the close interaction of dentition with diet, archaeologists are able to infer components of a population’s culture from pathology like caries (Lanfranco & Eggers, 2010). Most literature implies that women have higher rates of caries than men because of cultural practices and natural physiological differences which are thought to put women at an increased risk (Lukacs, 2008). Another established trend throughout literature is that caries prevalence tends to increase with age, regardless of sex (Hillson, 2008). We evaluated data from the East Smithfield (1348-1350 AD) and Saint …

Covalent Modification Of Genetically Engineered Polymers With Bodipy Fluorophores, Emilie Smith

Honors Theses

Osteoarthritis and other debilitating diseases cause chronic pain that is difficult to manage. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are the current standard of treatment for many long-term pain management, but there are potential systemic effects when using NSAIDs long-term. Therefore, it isnecessary to have an alternative option for NSAID delivery that doesn’t include these systemic effects. Hydrogels can be that alternative option. Hydrogels’ distinct characteristics allow them to be viable in the body, degrade under unique conditions, and be modified through many different chemistries. Additionally, hydrogels can be engineered and their properties optimized for the use as a drug depot inside …

End Group Modification Of Linear Dendritic Block Copolymers (Ldbcs), Chinwe Udemgba

Honors Theses

Linear dendritic block copolymers are amphiphilic molecules that consist of a dendritic hydrophilic portion and a linear hydrophobic portion. Its unique ability to self-assemble into spherical nanoaggregates while having the potential to uptake and transport both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs makes these polymers an item of interest in regard to the drug delivery field. The synthesis of polyamidoamine-polylactide linear dendritic block copolymers was designed to address the common issues in drug delivery systems, including problems in permeability, solubility, stability, specificity, and retention. Though this linear dendritic block copolymer has previously been synthesized in our lab with cationic amine surface functionalities, …

Handfuls Of Sea Glass, Blair Madison

Honors Theses

HANDFULS OF SEA GLASS: A fiction novella that explores the themes of grief, friendship, and love through two high-school seniors, Denver and Eli, after they lose Amelia, their best friend and sister (respectively). (Under the direction of Beth Spencer)

Responses Of The Carnivorous Pink Spoonleaf Sundew (Drosera Capillaris) To Nitrogen Addition, Phosphorus Addition, And Simulated Fire, Karina Rodriguez Castillo

Honors Theses

This study investigated how the carnivorous plant, Drosera capillaris(pink sundew), responded to changes in the resources of its habitat, the fire-prone, nutrient-poor wet savannas. It is of interest to determine what soil nutrient(s), nitrogen or phosphorus, limits the survival and growth of pink sundew, and to what extent, if any, does fire affect the survival and growth of this carnivorous plant. My field experiments had twenty plots with two replicate groups consisting of four pink sundews in each plot. From the fall of 2017 to the fall of 2019, only half of the plots were clipped annually, and there …

Systematic Review Of Race/Ethnicity In Parkinson's Disease, Amia Fisher

Honors Theses

The goal of this study was to examine race/ethnicity with an emphasis on African Ancestry in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) through a systematic review. Out of 448 scholarly articles that were originally extracted from the search, 445 were excluded due to their irrelevance regarding race/ethnicity and African ancestry in PD. Three scholarly articles were obtained through a PubMed/MEDLINE search for the review. Amongst the three sources that were chosen, there were more than 450,000 participants with PD that ranged in ages 40-65+; each case of PD within these studies were reported from 1993-2005. The varying races/ethnicities of White/non-Hispanic White, Black/African American, …

Explanatory Models Of Autism In Nigeria: Exploring Sociocultural Beliefs To Inform Systems Of Care, Gabrielle Udoka Robertson

Honors Theses

Advancements in the diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have yet to benefit children and families struggling with ASD in Nigeria and other African countries. Not only is there a scarcity of research on ASD in sub- Saharan Africa, but also a lack of mental health and special education services and a lack of understanding of the sociocultural considerations that must inform culturally responsive care. As such, this study explored the sociocultural conceptualizations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Nigeria and how these conceptualizations affect the experiences and care of people with autism. The unique …

Diagnostic Approaches To Combat Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria, Alexander Oliveri, Shade Smith, Anshul Anugu

Honors Theses

The threat of antibiotic resistance is a major problem faced by the healthcare field affecting millions of people and costing tens of thousands of lives annually. Of the potential ways to mitigate this issue the field of antibiotic resistance testing presents an opportunity for significant improvement and benefits. Several methods of such diagnostic processes can yield more informative results than the current commonly used Kirby-Bauer test. However, there are benefits and limitations to each method. In the context of a clinically relevant diagnostic for antibiotic resistance, the microarray platform exhibits the necessary breadth with opportunities to overcome some limitations with …

"The Unhappy Class Of Females": An Examination Of Non-Elite White Women In The Civil War-Era South, Reagan Elizabeth Whittington

Honors Theses

This thesis focuses on the perceptions and realities of non-elite white women in the South and how their lives and expectations changed from the antebellum years to the end of Reconstruction. There were many secondary sources consulted both before and during the research process for this thesis, and these sources are listed, alongside their significance, in the introduction. Most of the primary sources referenced for this thesis were newspapers printed in the South between 1850 and 1877, but United States census data and public records were also consulted. This thesis investigates how non-elite white women were expected to behave by …

Purification Of Pcbp2 And Its Effect On The Formation Of Dna I-Motifs And Secondary Structures, Nathan Redden

Honors Theses

Several secondary, non-B forms of DNA are associated with the promoter regions of many oncogenes, including the intensely studied c-MYC gene that codes for a transcription factor. Two such secondary structures, G-quadruplexes, and i-motifs, have become topics of interest due to their prevalence within oncogenic promoters, as well as their potential accessibility for drug targeting. B-form DNA can adopt alternative structures under certain conditions. These alternative structures are favored when there is an asymmetric distribution of guanosine and cytosine on complimentary DNA strands. The strand rich in guanosine is able to form a quadruple stranded DNA complex termed a G-quadruplex. …