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Soda, Water, And Convenience: An Evaluation Of The Mexican Soda Tax, Benjamin Hager

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to evaluate the Mexican soda tax of 2014 by exploring the reasons for the tax and the underlying factors that the tax seems to ignore. This soda tax, in particular, was implemented to address obesity by curbing the consumption of sugary soft drinks due to the large quantities consumed by the Mexican populous. However, as this thesis shows there are some potential pitfalls in this type of obesity prevention policy. By exploring potable water data from the World Bank, the rural and urban noncommunicable disease rates of two Mexican states, and the penetration of levels of the …

The Effects Of Progesterone Induced Blocking Factor And 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate On The Pathophysiology Of Preeclampsia, Kyleigh M. Comley

Honors Theses

Preeclampsia (PE) is responsible for about 20% of the 13 million preterm births each year worldwide, including 100,000 cases annually in the United States. Despite being a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are still largely unknown. PE is progesterone deficient state characterized by hypertension, chronic immune activation, endothelial dysfunction and severe forms can lead to seizures. Treatment of seizures includes the administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) though not all PE patients are responsive, and it does not decrease PE-associated hypertension. To resolve these conditions, PE patients are delivered early thereby making PE the leading …

A Baseline Documentation Report For The Delta Wind Birds Sky Lake Nature Reserve, Michael Thomas

Honors Theses

The purpose of this baseline documentation is to conduct a report on our subject property and discuss the findings. A conservation easement is established by upholding a certain standard of a property’s current condition which makes a baseline documentation necessary for an easement to be enacted. Baseline documentation reports are used as a resource to monitor and enforce the legal agreements of the conservation easement. The subject property is currently owned by the Delta Wind Birds organization. In our scenario, this documentation report will serve to aid in the conversion of our subject property into a conservation easement in which …

Prevalence Of Adhd And The Nonmedical Use Of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students, Leah Potate

Honors Theses

Objective: The principal objective in this study is to identify the contextual factors predicting the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among college students who nonmedically use prescription stimulants (NMUPS) for academic reasons.

Participants: 470 college-aged students from varying undergraduate classes

Methods: This study utilized an observational design, which consisted of repeated surveys administered to a sample of undergraduate students at the University of Mississippi. Descriptive statistics were used to assess frequencies of contextual factors regarding the background and exam surveys. Logistic regression models assessed the correlations between the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and various contextual factors.

Results: The percentage …

Association Of Trim Gene Variation And Lpdv Infection Patterns In Wild Turkeys, Bennett Fry

Honors Theses

Emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to various species throughout the globe, including humans. The lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys is an example of disease virus whose impact on its host requires additional study. Although the first description of lymphoproliferative disease came from outbreaks in domestic turkey flocks in Europe, it is now known that LPDV is widespread in wild turkey populations in North America. In an effort to understand what may affect an individual turkey’s susceptibility to this virus, variation in part of the anti-viral TRIM62 gene was investigated. DNA was extracted from hunter-collected, turkey blood …

Synthesis Of Novel Long Chain Unsaturated Fatty Acid Analogs Of Capsaicin, Eli Bettiga

Honors Theses

A number of key studies have shown that the natural product capsaicin displays in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects against a variety of cancers, however, both the analgesic and cancer-related therapeutic potential of capsaicin have been limited by its unpleasant pungent side effects and modest potency. N-acyl vanillylamides (N-AVAMs) are a unique class of compounds that are simple side chain modified capsaicin derivatives. Limited structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of N-AVAMs demonstrated that substitution of the capsaicin side-chain with longer unsaturated fatty acid groups results in non-pungent analogs with improved anti-invasive activity relative to capsaicin. In an effort to ultimately …

Building Institutional Knowledge Into Student Leaders: A Repository Of Student-Led Climate Change Initiatives At Wmu, Aida Amirul Bahri

Honors Theses

Students and registered student organizations (RSO) at Western Michigan University (WMU) have increasingly shown interest in climate change and environmental issues. However, student leadership roles are often held short-term due to the rapid displacement cycle of student bodies caused by graduation, institution transfers and other factors. New leaders often struggle with picking up where former students left off and advancing previously established efforts. WMU student groups lack an effective system of maintaining institutional knowledge, including student-led campaigns and accomplishments, to support a smoother transition that would empower student leaders and build upon prior progress. The goal of this project is …

Using Spectral Graph Theory To Analyze Gene Expression Networks, Chuyen Nguyen

Honors Theses

This paper covers the potential applications of using the spectral analysis of a graph’s Laplacian matrix to gene co-expression networks. The general idea is to take publically available genetic data from cancer studies, organize them into gene co-expression networks, and analyze them using Spectral Graph theory. The publically available cancer study data includes files that show the occurrence of several different genes within a single person’s genetic data (given by fragments per kilobase million). The research takes the data of several patients and organizes them into a table. From there, each gene’s occurrence is measured against every other gene’s occurrence …

The Effect Of Color Morph On Behavior Interactions In Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon Cinereus), Taylor M. Aliferis

Honors Theses

Studies in behavioral ecology provide critical information regarding a species’ territoriality, predator-prey interactions, and reproduction. Red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) are a polymorphic terrestrial amphibian whose behavioral interactions have long been studied to provide insights on the processes that structure salamander populations, which are often cryptic and difficult to study. However, research regarding the effect of coloration on these interactions is more limited, but potentially extremely important for studies of population dynamics and speciation in terrestrial salamanders. In this study, aggressive and submissive behaviors of adult male red-backed salamanders in five different color morph treatment pairings were observed to …

In His Image And Into His Likeness: Human Nature's Theosis In C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, Jacob Ross Taylor

Honors Theses

C.S. Lewis’s standalone title Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold transforms the Greek mythos “Cupid and Psyche” into a novel about human nature being deified. In TWHF, Lewis presents an arc from pagan dualism through rationalism and finally to our relational God who makes us holy like Him. Lewis studies have suffered from the lack scholarship applying St. Thomas Aquinas’s christened Aristotelianism which would illuminate the metaphysical foundations that Lewis founds his words and builds his worlds upon. In Aristotle metaphysical biology he proposed that the human soul is neither an altogether separable spirit divorced from the bodily …

How Gata3 Affects Neuronal Survival In The Inner Ear, Hiba Ahmad

Honors Theses

Broadly speaking, Gata3 is a transcription factor involved in neurosensory specification and hair cell differentiation. Previous studies have shown that Gata3 null mutants do not develop neurons, so Gata3 appears to be necessary for neuronal survival. To better understand the role of Gata3 in spiral ganglion neurons of the inner ear, a Neurod1-cre model was used to conditionally knock out Gata3 at E9-E9.5, the timepoint when neuroblasts first begin to delaminate from the otic placode. The mutants used in this study were Nd1-cre: Gata3 f/f mutants. In situ was performed to determine gene expression within the cochlea, and immunohistochemistry was …

Hiv Tat Protein Activates Plasma Kallikrein-Kinin System In Hiv-1 Tat Transgenic Mice, Logan Sneed

Honors Theses

Human Immunodeficiency Viruses are a group of lentiviruses that have seen a lot of study ever since their discovery. HIV-1, the most common and virulent form of the virus, has proven to be quite deadly when untreated, so any research into the mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis and replication could have major medical applications all over the world. HIV-1 is a sexually transmitted virus that compromises the hosts immune system and eventually leads to the patient developing AIDS, a life-threatening condition that nearly half of people infected with HIV will develop within ten years. Our study sets out to determine exactly …

Prebiotic And Probiotic Knowledge And Consumption In Collegiate Athletes, Hannah Kahn

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate gastrointestinal disturbances in collegiate athletes and their knowledge of gastrointestinal health, or lack thereof, specifically pertaining to nutrition choices including prebiotic fiber and probiotic foods, sources, and supplements. Student-athletes at the division one level endure rigorous training for competition. Although one may have competent knowledge on the importance of fueling their body for their sport, there may be gaps in understanding the digestive mechanisms of their diet, importance of a diverse gut microbiome, and subsequent nutrient uptake. This study and questionnaire explored the relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances a student-athletes may experience …

Crayfish And Climate Change: How The Growing Acidity Of Freshwater Lakes, Streams, And Ponds Negatively Impact The Nervous System Of Crayfish, Lauren Irmen

Honors Theses

The nervous system of crayfish, a freshwater crustacean, is largely regulated by the flow of calcium (Ca²⁺) ions in a cell across a concentration gradient that produces electrical impulses and controls movement (Krause et al., 1998). Crayfish obtain Ca²⁺ from their external aquatic environment. Therefore, rapid changes in the concentration of Ca²⁺ in freshwater environments may cause negative impacts to the neural system of crayfish and subsequently the freshwater food chain. These impact of altered Ca²⁺ levels may create hyperactive or hypoactive movement due to over-, under-stimulation, respectfully in the skeletal muscle of the crayfish, …

"Woodburn, Texas: A Study In Southern Gothic", Katherine Stone

Honors Theses

My thesis, titled “Woodburn, Texas: A Study in Southern Gothic”, is a short story separated into four main sections as well as an introductory piece and conclusion that are separate from the other sections. The four main sections are separated by four prose poems ¾one for each season.

Separating the sections are four prose poems that follow the seasons. They allow for further access into the history and mindset of the people of this seemingly quiet and slow town as well as the Southern mindset in general.

Both the poems and the regular prose are told in the first person …

Density Dependent Growth Of Pseudomonas Fluorescens In The Presence And Absence Of C. Elegans Predation In Liquid Media, Jack Landmann

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the predator-prey relationship between C. elegans worms and P. fluorescens bacteria in liquid media. We were aiming to create a predation model of the relationship between these two species.

This study was performed through three experiments. Using 96-well plates, we were able to measure the change in optical density (OD) of these wells and calculate the growth rate. This growth rate was then graphed and analyzed. The first experiment contained P. fluorescens and KB liquid media, this study demonstrated that the bacterial population has a carrying capacity. We were also able to …

Assessing Arthropod Responses To Volatile Organic Compounds From The Algal Microbiome Of A Sloth Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Lilli Gordon

Honors Theses

Sloths contain an unexplored ecosystem of microbial diversity in their fur, including algae, fungi, bacteria, and arthropods. These symbionts are able to communicate through the chemicals they release, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to unique ecological interactions. The VOCs released from the algal polycultures of sloth hairs merit further investigation in their ability to cause a response from other organisms in this microbial community and within a broader ecological context. This research team aimed to assess the response of Drosophila melanogaster as test subjects when exposed to VOCs of the algal microbiome of a sloth. Exploratory research …

Parkinson's Disease, The Amygdala, And Non-Motor Symptoms, Callie Claire Gammill

Honors Theses

This study sought to explore the relationship between Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the amygdala, and the plethora of non-motor symptoms that plague individuals with PD. Previous research gave insights about the amygdala’s function as the emotional center of the brain, its role in depression, and its participation in the non-motor symptoms of PD. The research proved to still be inconclusive on its own because of a variety of limitations. The methods of this study consist of the analysis of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans from 93 individuals with PD and 18 individuals without PD while in a resting state. The …

Projecting Effects Of Stress And Anxiety In Out-Of-State Students, Bryar Brooks

Honors Theses

This study investigated the effects of stress and anxiety on undergraduate in-state, out-of-state, and international students. The current statistics on stress and anxiety in college students in general is mind blowing. Almost 50% of college students say they have moderate levels of stress and 25% of college students say that they have high stress levels. In addition, 44% of students struggle with depression and 50% struggle with anxiety. These have a direct correlation with their sleep habits as well. With these statistics in mind, the goal of this study was to see the statistically significant difference in stress and anxiety …

Describing The Gut Microbiome Of Two Freshwater Mussel Species Within The Tennessee River Basin, Eloise Cotten

Honors Theses

Freshwater mussels are important bioindicators of aquatic environmental quality, yet little is known about the composition of their gut microbiome or how it varies between different locations and mussel species. In this study, two species of mussels were collected from three sites located in two rivers, the Duck River and the Paint Rock River of the Tennessee River Basin. The gut microbiome of each mussel was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gut microbial communities were primarily composed of members of the Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, and Proteobacteria, which along with six other phyla accounted for nearly 90% of the sequences. Dominant …

Examining The Role Of Wnt Signaling In Vascular Calcification, Kaylee Bundy

Honors Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a worldwide epidemic. As the leading cause of death across the world, many researchers are working to better understand the causes and mechanisms resulting in the disease [1]. One of the predictors of and contributors to cardiovascular mortalities is vascular calcification, the buildup of hydroxyapatite deposits within the arterial wall. The mineral deposition can occur in either the intimal or medial layers of the arteries; the location depends upon the causative factors and can create different effects within the body [2]. Conditions conductive of calcification include but are not limited to hypercalcaemia, hyperphosphatemia, and mechanical stress …

A Baseline Documentation Report For The Delta Wind Birds Sky Lake Nature Reserve, Preston T. Perkins, J Hays Dubberly, Michael J. Thomas, Jensine Coggin

Honors Theses

The purpose of this baseline documentation is to conduct a report on our subject property and discuss the findings. A conservation easement is established by upholding a certain standard of a property’s current condition which makes a baseline documentation necessary for an easement to be enacted. Baseline documentation reports are used as a resource to monitor and enforce the legal agreements of the conservation easement. The subject property is currently owned by the Delta Wind Birds organization. In our scenario, this documentation report will serve to aid in the conversion of our subject property into a conservation easement in which …

Artificial De Novo Tetramer Hydrogenase Mimic, Co-Metallopeptide Titration, And Photocatalysis, Thuy Hien Le

Honors Theses

Alternative energy is more imperative than ever as we continue to exhaust nonrenewable resources. There is promise in artificial hydrogenases that produce hydrogen gas which can be an alternate source of clean, sustainable renewable energy. Moreover, artificial metalloenzymes were designed for solar H2 production using de novo designed metallopeptides. A computer-guided design approach was used to conceive the peptides. These peptides are 30 amino acids long and are designed to self-assemble into tetrameric structures. There are suitably positioned cysteine residues that bind the metal Co and form metallic clusters within these artificial proteins. The Co-metallopeptides were then characterized by employing …

Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films For Sequential And/Or Intermittent Release Of Psychoactive Drugs, Jason Price

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT JASON BLAKE PRICE: Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films for Sequential and/or

Intermittent Release of Psychoactive Drugs For patients with psychiatric diseases, adherence to medication schedules, medication

errors, and abuse are common issues. Promising new forms of therapy for these patients, such as micro-dosed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), where patients receive 10-20% of a full dose every third day, present further drug delivery challenges. Sequential or intermittent release of drugs from an implanted device could ensure long-term drug compliance, automate drug dosing during the life of the implant, and eliminate potential for abuse and medication errors. To this end, we generated …

Studies On Synthesis Of Pyrazole From Dibromo And Hydrazine Compounds., Riya Trivedi

Honors Theses

Depression has become the fourth leading case for mortality and morbidity in the world. It is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Current treatments of depression are inadequate, and the progress in understanding the neurobiology of depression is slow. The first generation antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have shown to possess a lot of side effects. Hydrazide-based monoamine oxidase inhibitors are known to result in acute hypertensive crises and hepatotoxicity, as well as to interact with many foods and biogenic amine drugs. Tricyclic …

Food Security Status And Disordered Eating Of Male High School Football Players In Rural, Appalachian Mississippi Participating In A Food Education Program, Miller Carlton

Honors Theses

Food insecurity is associated with disordered eating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) male athletes. This study evaluated the impact of a food education program on youth food security and disordered eating of high school football players in rural, Appalachian Mississippi. A Pre-Post design was utilized. Prospective participants (n=47) were recruited in July, 2019. The 12-week season-long food education program included weekly education with practical food-based sport nutrition principles along with food packages to implement principles at home. Youth food security was measured using Self-administered Youth Food Security Module (Connell, 2004). Disordered eating was measured using 5-item scale (Morgan, Reid, …

Non-Linear Dimensionality Reduction Using Auto-Encoder For Optimized Malaria Infected Blood Cell Classifier, Aayush Dhakal

Honors Theses

Neural Networks have been widely used in the problem of Medical Image Analysis. However, when dealing with large images, deep networks easily exhaust computer resources, which in turn hinders training. This paper shows the efficacy of using Auto-Encoders as a dimensionality reduction tool to increase the efficiency of a Malaria Infected Blood Cell Image classifier. We show that using an autoencoder, we can reduce the dimensionality of large blood cell images effectively such that the features in the new space retain all the essential information from the original input. Then we show that the new features obtained from the autoencoder …

Theory And Practice: Selecting And Implementing Effective Framing To Present Climate Science To A Lay Audience, Lauren Wilson

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the advantages and effectiveness of using storytelling in the form of narrative journalism to communicate the topic of climate science to a lay audience. The thesis combines personal experience with secondary research in order to support the claim that framing the issue in such a manner effectively communicates the severity and impact of climate change.

Through my research I discovered that storytelling is not only a social tool for humans, but a means to safely and efficiently pass on vital information to those unfamiliar with certain knowledge. The use of narrative has …

A Spectroscopic And Computational Study Of Diacetyl And Water Clusters, Margaret Baldwin

Honors Theses

Diacetyl, otherwise known as 1,2-butadione or biacetyl, is a flavor additive used in microwave popcorn, and more importantly as of late, e-cigarettes. The compound is known to cause lung disease for those who have been exposed to a large quantity of the buttery smelling molecule. As such, the characterization of diacetyl’s vibrational modes when it interacts with water are pivotal to understanding the effects it has on human lung tissue. In this research, the intermolecular interactions between water and diacetyl and the effects they have on one another’s vibrational modes are explored. While some experimental data is presented, the spectra …

An Evaluation Of The Historical Interactions And Epistemologies Of Science And Christianity, Tyler Partridge

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.