Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing The Roles Of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 & 2 In Zebrafish Behavior, Metabolism, And Seizure-Induced Activity, Kayci Kimmons

Honors Theses

Epileptic disorders like Dravet Syndrome require novel studies to determine the most ideal treatment. New research linking the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to epileptic disorders is arising, but there is still much to be discovered about the function and regulatory impact of the endocannabinoid system and its receptors in epilepsies like Dravet. In this study, knockout models of larval and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to investigate the roles of cannabinoid receptors 1 & 2 in behavior, brain mitochondrial metabolism, and seizure-induced activity following exposure to THC and CBD. Larval zebrafish which lacked cannabinoid receptor 1 exhibited increased …

Species Diversity And Growth Rates Of Overstory Vegetation Over 25 Years In Response To Physical And Chemical Properties In Long-Term Monitoring Plots At The University Of Mississippi Field Station, Mitchell Tharp

Honors Theses

Overstory vegetation for twenty-two long-term monitoring plots (LTMPs) was sampled from 1996 to 2021 to study the changes in vegetation due to natural and human disturbance. From the fall of 2020 through the fall of 2021, the overstory of the 22 LTMPs was resampled and soil samples were collected from each plot. The circumference at breast height (CBH) and species diversity were recorded and compared to previous years’ data. The objectives of this study were to: (1) document changes in the overstory species of the LTMPs, (2) measure growth rates of surviving trees, (3) survey how elevation and slope impact …

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 …

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 …

Pre-Practice Hydration Status Of Collegiate Male American Football Players With Sickle Cell Trait, Sara Hoffman

Honors Theses

Since 2000, 63% of deaths associated with college football were due to complications, such as sickling events; however, sickle cell trait (SCT) only affects 3-4% of participating athletes. Sickling events can be exasperated by conditions, including heat exposure, dehydration, and intense physical activity and lead to rhabdomyolysis and death. Assessing hydration status is crucial for athletes and the use of urine specific gravity (USG) has been shown to provide rapid and valid results. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dehydration among SCT carrying American college football players.

Division I collegiate football athletes participated as part …

Early Developmental Exposure To Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Causes Hyperactivity In Larval Zebrafish That Persists Into Adulthood, Victoria Jackson

Honors Theses

Due to the increasing availability of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), evaluation of the potential adverse behavioral effects following exposure to this cannabinoid during early development is crucial. Following exposure to 0.08, 0.4, or 1 µM THC as larvae (6-96 hours post fertilization), this study measured the latent behavioral effects caused by THC through testing the fish at the following life stages: larval photomotor response (LPR) at 120 hpf, and open field testing (OFT) at 3 weeks post fertilization (juvenile), 11 wpf (onset of sexual maturity) and 24 wpf (adulthood). During the LPR test, hyperactivity in the dark phase was evident in larval …

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 …

American Goldfinches (Spinus Tristis): Changes In Behavior During Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection, Hetal Shingrani

Honors Theses

Animal sickness behavior is an important component of disease ecology and is essential to understanding wildlife diseases and how and where animals allocate resources for survival. This study examines sickness behaviors, the extent of conjunctivitis, and the presence of an antibody response in relation to a Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) respiratory infection in American goldfinches. We conducted an experimental infection of American goldfinches and recorded behavior videos, and collected blood samples, throat swabs, eye swelling, and mass data at multiple time points throughout the experiment. An ELISA-serum assay was run after the conclusion of the study to identify the presence of …

The Design Of A Pcr-Based Assay To Detect And Isolate The Serine Palmitolytransferase Gene From Environmental Bacteria, Lana Taylor

Honors Theses

Sphingolipids are a natural class of lipids that function as structural elements of cell membranes and signaling molecules for important cellular activities such as cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, recognition, and adhesion. These lipids can be found universally in eukaryotic cells as well as some species of bacteria, such as those found in the human gut microbiome and in the environment in soils. Though sphingolipid production is rare in bacteria, both eukaryotic and prokaryotic sphingolipid biosynthesis begin with the condensation of serine and palmitoyl CoA into 3-ketodihydrosphingosine catalyzed by the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). In recent years, several studies have shown …

Covalent Modification Of Recombinant Protein With Reactive Thiols, Sawyer Dulaney, Bailey Taylor

Honors Theses

Many diseases cause chronic and painful inflammation in different body systems. One of the front-line drug classes to treat such inflammation is Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Despite the benefits of oral administration of NSAIDs, there are drawbacks to their long-term usage because they can cause detrimental effects on off-target systems in the body such as the liver, kidney, or the lining of the intestinal tract. An alternative to NSAIDs is the usage of hydrogels for targeted drug delivery. Hydrogels can provide drug delivery in a specific portion of the site of inflammation, thus allowing higher doses of medication to be …

The Role Of Ionic Liquids In Gold Nanorod Synthesis, Noah Grovich

Honors Theses

The term cancer is used to define a large set of medical conditions that result from uncontrolled cell proliferation. The severity of cancer ranges depending on several factors, but it is one of the leading causes of death in approximately 60% of the world. Current treatment options are often not efficacious and face many limitations especially regarding limiting the secondary damage to healthy cells. Gold nanorods have shown to be a potential solution for effectively overcoming many of these barriers, but their employment is limited due to toxicity concerns stemming from the use of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in their synthesis. …

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 …

Discovery Of Truffles (Tuber Species) In North Mississippi Pecan Orchards, Scout Hodges

Honors Theses

This thesis describes a study conducted in the years 2019-2022, which aimed to discover a new species of truffle in the state of Mississippi. Tuber lyonii, more commonly referred to as the “pecan truffle,” is an ectomycorrhizal fungus found on the roots of pecan trees in much of the southeastern region of the United States. Though there are many truffles native to the United States, the pecan truffle is one of the few that has been found to have high culinary value. Given the plethora of pecan orchards in the state of Mississippi, I decided to search for evidence …

America’S History Of Health Disparities: How Does This Affect The Future Of Healthcare In Mississippi?, Zuri O. Dixon Omere, Jazmin King

Honors Theses

America’s healthcare system runs rampant with healthcare inequalities that have an alarming effect on minorities and people of color. In order for people of color and marginalized groups to receive proper care and treatment, more attention needs to be brought to these inequalities. For example, Covid-19 reflected the health inequalities that are present in this country; minorities were more likely to become hospitalized due to Covid-19 than other non-minorities. In addition, minorities in women’s health, specifically black women, have been affected in various ways that are related to the inequalities in medicine like dying during childbirth and improper care. This …

Design Of An Implanted Vascular Access Device With A Mechanical Septum, Mallory Ann Moffett, Katherine Rose O'Quinn

Honors Theses

As populations continue to age, their need for medical care continues to rise. This is seen by the large need for implanted vascular devices (IVADs). IVADs are essential for individuals with poor venous access and patients requiring long-term venous delivered drugs. This document will explore the existing IVADs, where they fall short, and where our device, the IrisPort system, works to solve the unmet needs of patients. The IrisPort system is a needle-less port system that allows for repeated venous access without the use of a non-coring needle. Prior art searches have shown that the IrisPort is a novel solution …

Effects Of Increased Levels Of Relaxin Hormone In Women During Pregnancy In Relation To Spondylolisthesis: A Literature Review, Joselin R. Guerrero Rapalo

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Female Students’ Perception Of Stem Identity At Utrgv, Kristen L. Hallas

Honors Theses

Despite the increase in representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate programs, they are still underrepresented in the workforce. Recent statistics published by the National Science Foundation show that the rate of females and Hispanic/Latina females earning degrees does not match the rate in which they earn STEM occupations, especially advanced degrees. Moreover, out of early career doctorate holders, women are less likely to hold post-doctoral scholar positions and are more likely to hold an academic, non-tenure track position. In response to these disparities, I sought to identify the strongest motivators driving the ambition of female …

Applying Mci-062, A Novel Pan-Ras Inhibitor, To Treat Kras-Mutant Lung Cancer, Richard Fu

Honors Theses

RAS is a prevalent oncogene that is mutated in 27% of human cancers. Gain-of-function RAS mutations activate multiple downstream pathways, including the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, which are critical in tumorigenesis and cancer cell proliferation. RAS proteins such as KRAS, a member of the RAS protein family, and their downstream effectors are attractive targets for cancer therapy since their mutations act as frequent drivers in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. However, RAS proteins have relatively smooth surfaces that lack traditional binding pockets, making inhibitors specific to RAS difficult to create. Recently, a novel small molecule pan-RAS inhibitor named MCI-062 was …

Theoretical Studies Of Benzoquinone Reactivity In Acidic And Basic Environments, Natali Majoras

Honors Theses

Quinones are a class of organic compounds containing a six-membered unsaturated ring with two carbonyl groups. They are biologically relevant mostly due to their ability to participate in redox reactions. Prior experiments in our lab showed that quinones can induce protein modifications that are pH dependent. In an acidic environment the modifications were less significant than in a basic environment. Previous computational studies have also been carried out to model, in neutral solutions, the reaction between various quinones and various amines. Various amine groups are used as a model for the amino group of lysine to represent protein modification. The …

Junior Year Gpa - Understanding Its Predictive Relationship To High School Ranking, Act Score, And The Shift To Online Learning, Emily Nicole Miller

Honors Theses

Considerable amounts of resources are allocated to assist and retain students during their first and second years in college, and many universities provide extra support to students as they prepare to graduate and start their professional careers; however, resources are not often specially aimed at third year students (i.e., students in their junior year). The primary goals of this study were to contribute to the body of literature and gain a better understanding of the relationships between students’ ACT scores, their Tennessee High School Quality ranking scores, and their cumulative GPA at the end of their junior year. This research …

Sentiment Trends In Political Tweets: A Case Study Of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madeline Enlow

Honors Theses

Political public relations has changed in recent years with new developments in social media, leading to a greater use of digital communication. This thesis focuses on the wording in Twitter posts. This purpose of this case study is to find the potential effect of tweet sentiment on audience engagement when looking specifically at messages from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s professional Twitter account. A sentiment analysis of a sixth-month time span of tweets was created using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) system. The variables assigned for tone were averaged for each day and charted on a graph, showing when they …

Reestablishing A New Normal: Addressing The Social Injustices At The Heart Of Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic And Examining The Role Of Feutin-A As A Potential Therapy, Christopher Robinson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigating Differing Covid-19 Vaccine Attitudes Within Families, Sarah Dulaney

Honors Theses

The dynamic between the young adult and their immediate parent(s) is unique as it is in limbo between childhood and the young adult starting their own family. Although young adults can legally make their own vaccine decisions, parental influence can be a major factor in their decision making (Patel, Zochowski, Peterman et al., 2012). The aim of this study is to investigate the sociological phenomena behind the differing attitudes between family members on the topic of COVID-19 vaccination. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the health and stability of society, understanding the factors that influence vaccine attitudes can inform …

Alternative Inhibitors Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, Abigail Grant

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Trauma On The Mental Health Of Forensic Scientists, Carley Sistrunk

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the existence of any correlation between forensic scientists experiencing trauma and levels of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. A survey created in Qualtrics with demographic questions and measurement questionnaires for each mental health disorder was utilized for this study. While there was little statistical analysis due to a small sample size, results showed a correlation between experiencing anxiety and PTSD. Research also illustrated that there were no respondents that reported having no level of the mental health disorders listed.

Keywords: forensic scientist, trauma, mental health, anxiety, depression, PTSD

Constructing The “Obesity Epidemic:” A Chronology Of The Pathologizing And Enfreakment Of Fatness, Brooklynn Smith

Honors Theses

The “obesity epidemic” is framed by medicine and media as a public health crisis that urgently demands medical intervention and policy. Despite this common narrative, the cultural and scientific dimensions, as well as the historical roots of the “obesity epidemic,” have been subject to much less scrutiny than necessary. Part of this inadequate scrutiny is due to the pervasive pathologizing of fatness that has roots back in 18^th- and 19^th-century ideals of normative bodies. While the contemporary American medical system holds the “obesity epidemic” as objective truth, scholars both within and outside of medicine have challenged …

Retrospective Reports Of Parental Feeding Practices And Current Emotional Eating Behaviors Among College Students, Mercedes Babin

Honors Theses

Emotional eating is a commonly reported eating behavior among United States adults; however, previous literature has indicated that the development of emotional eating is abnormal with regard to the body’s typical physiologic functioning. Although several studies have shown parental feeding practices correlate to the development of emotional eating in children, little research has been done to explore the association between parental feeding practices experienced in childhood and eating behaviors present in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parental feeding practices in childhood (i.e., food as a reward, monitoring, restriction, and pressure to eat) and …

Left Out And Left Behind: Exploring The Well-Being Costs Of Leftist Ideology, Liam Luckett

Honors Theses

Many studies have empirically explored the relationship between political ideology and psychological well-being. Less look at political ideologies which fall outside of the categories of liberalism and conservativism, such as the case in question for this study, leftism. In the present paper, I carry out a cross-sectional study of candidate risk factors on well-being associated with espoused leftist ideological views, including locus of control and experiences of workplace alienation. I drew from both psychological theory on political ideology and well-being and elements of Marxist theory to generate predictions and explain the interaction of variables and potential personal costs to leftism. …

The Implications Of Colorism On Black Women From The Early 20th Century To The Present, Allaija Briann Williams

Honors Theses

Colorism, a term first coined by novelist Alice Walker in 1983, is a systemic issue plaguing the black community because it demonstrates unequal treatment of people with different skin tones and hair. Although colorism is present among people of other races and black men, this thesis explores black prejudice towards dark-skinned black women in the 21^st century as compared to the 20^th. This study illustrates the historical continuity of the colorist narrative of dark-skinned women as ugly, angry, and incompetent. As a dark-skinned woman, I was inspired to write this thesis from my own experiences and observations. …