Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Acute Exercise Intensity On Memory: State-Dependent Learning, Lauren E. Fuglaar, Rylie S. Mangold, Sierra N. Petty

Honors Theses

The Encoding-Specificity Paradigm states that memory recall will be enhanced when contextual factors are congruent between memory encoding and memory retrieval (i.e., state-dependent learning). However, minimal research has evaluated this paradigm in the exercise domain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute exercise intensity on memory while considering these potential state-dependent effects. Forty-eight university students completed a within-subject experiment involving seven laboratory visits, during which they encoded a list of 15 words and were subsequently asked to free-recall as many of these words as possible. The encoding and retrieval phases were matched or mismatched by …

Photocatalyzed Hydrogen Evolution Using Nickel-Bound Metallothionein Protein, Windfield Swetman

Honors Theses

The continued burning of fossil fuels is not only a cause of increasing deterioration of the environment but also a financially unsustainable source of energy. Advances in energy production must be investigated to avoid the long-term effects of this current main source of energy. One of the avenues being explored is the use of metalloenzymes to catalyze hydrogen evolution via water splitting that occurs during the reductive half of artificial photosynthesis. Metalloenzyme catalysts with a single Ni(Cys)₄ active site have been previously studied, and this study explores the possibility of increasing hydrogen production by using metalloenzyme catalysts with multiple …

Medical Marijuana In Mississippi: A Journalistic View Of Physician Opinions And Patient Education, Michael Pitts

Honors Theses

Medical Marijuana in Mississippi: A Journalistic View of Physician Opinions and Patient Education is an in-depth investigative journalism project examining aspects of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. Specific areas of interest were Mississippi physician opinions on the use medical marijuana and their views on the application of the state’s program as well as an examination into how patients are receiving education on medical marijuana. This project involved interviews of healthcare providers, dispensary staff, and patients, in addition to background research that was used to formulate interview questions, determine areas of interest and add necessary context. This project occurred during the …

Un País Invertido: The Current Immigration Regime Of Colombia, Magdalena Hendrickson

Honors Theses

Throughout its turbulent history, Colombia has seen drastic changes in structure and administration. From military coups to shaky coalitions, the country’s infamous instability has long forced its citizens to find better prospects elsewhere. However, with the rise of the Maduro administration in Venezuela, Colombia faced a massive new flow of migrants and was forced to rectify current circumstances without properly addressing its internal issues beforehand. Despite its historical status as a nation of emigrants, Colombia marks a new norm for the rest of the globe. As new issues like climate change and increased armed conflict grow worldwide, countries on the …

Gender Disparities Present Within The Legal Profession, Olivia M. Sanders

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the problem of gender disparities present within the legal profession in order to discover their causes and ways to mitigate them. Currently, there are a variety of gender disparities in the legal profession. Women are paid less than their male counterparts, are exposed to sexual harassment and violence more often, and receive fewer leadership opportunities, to name just a few of these disparities. While these disparities are documented in larger firms, little data exists on the extent of such issues in smaller firms, especially in the southeastern United States. Accordingly, I interviewed eight individuals with their juris …

Sleep Duration Is Associated With Caudate Volume And Executive Function, Nicole Jones

Honors Theses

The ineligible role of the caudate nucleus in sleep has been implicated throughout multiple scientific studies. Previous literature has shown that greater caudate volume is associated with longer habitual sleep duration in older adults- ranging from 55 years of age and up. However, the association between sleep duration and caudate volume remains unknown in the younger population. In this study, we examined the caudate volume in youth to older adults (10 to 85 years old) with a greater sample size (N=464) to increase statistical power. The volumetric size of the caudate nucleus showed significantly positive association with habitual sleep duration, …

An Analysis Of The Sensory Characteristics And Microbial Constituents Of Kefir, Katherine Quay Robinson

Honors Theses

Kefir is a fermented beverage produced using sugar water or milk, kefir grains, either water kefir grains or milk kefir grains, respectively, and microbial aggregates consisting of diverse bacteria and yeasts. As kefir and fermented beverages in general are increasing in popularity, research related to optimal sensory characteristics and consumer-approval is vital. Desirable sensory characteristics for kefir beverages include low sour taste/aroma, high sweetness, carbonation, and high viscosity (Surja et al., 2019; Margareth et al., 2020). Production methods of kefir can alter sensory characteristics, but sensory characteristics are likely strongly influenced by the microbial composition of the grains/product. Thus, an …

Microhydration Of Hexachlorophosphate Anion, Anna Robertson

Honors Theses

The microhydration of the hexafluorophosphate anion has been the focus of many previous experimental and computational studies, due to its use in room temperature ionic liquids.This preliminary study examines the analogous hexachlorophosphate anion and its interactions with one to two water molecules (PCl₆⁻(H₂O)_n, n = 1-2), identifying the structural and energetic differences in the microhydration of PCl₆⁻ versus PF₆⁻. A systematic investigation of the possible orientations of one to two water molecules around PCl₆⁻ was done. Full geometry optimizations were performed using the ab initio method …

The Effects Of Aloe Vera On The Human Gut Microbiome, Samantha Leon

Honors Theses

The human gut microbiome is a diverse community of bacteria influenced by multiple factors including host age, geographical location, and diet. This study observed the effects of aloe vera juice on the human gut microbiome. Fecal samples were taken every two weeks over a period of one year; the subject consumed aloe vera juice in alternating cycles of consumption “on” and abstaining “off” with each cycle lasting for eight weeks. The bacterial community in each sample was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Sequences were identified and their relative abundances were used to look for patterns distinguishing “on” and “off” …

Development Of An Immunoblot Assay To Detect Antibodies To Sars-Cov-2 Spike And Nucleocapsid Antigens In Serum Of Covid-19 Patients, Christian Hollis

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created one of the most world-halting events in recent world history. Its effects have reached every corner of the globe and manifested problems within each country’s healthcare and social systems. During the pandemic, many researchers have searched to develop a more robust understanding of the novel virus’s genetic and structural material. In year three since the emergence of COVID-19, these researchers hope to implement new advancements in testing and detection for the presence of the virus.

This thesis intends to produce evidence for the reliability of COVID-19 antibody tests using immunoblot assay detection. These tests …

A Study Of Data/Monte Carlo Agreement In Charmed Baryon Decays At Belle Ii, Kaitlyn Thurmond

Honors Theses

The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB electron-positron accelerator facility in Tsukuba, Japan has a primary goal of searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Extremely precise measurements of particle decays will be compared with Standard Model predictions in order to expose the presence of new particles and interactions. These measurements are prepared using simulated samples to avoid potential biases when studying the data. The Belle II collaboration produces two types of simulated samples for this purpose. One is produced with consistent calibration payloads and another with payloads calibrated as a function of data taking. This …

Execution By Alien (A Collection Of Poetry), Sara Emma Kahane

Honors Theses

The following is a collection of poems narratively depicting the childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and death of a woman and her memories. I will analyze the poetry in meaning and form as well.

Analyzing The Unique Role Of Repetitive Negative Thinking On Insomnia In College Students, Lara Fair

Honors Theses

Repetitive negative thinking is a transdiagnostic construct that conceptually covers worry and rumination, which are strongly associated with anxiety and depression. Worry is typically future oriented, whereas rumination is past oriented. RNT has been posited as a causal and maintaining factor for multiple disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and insomnia. The current study aimed to further understand the contribution of RNT in insomnia symptoms, after controlling for anxiety and depression. A self-report battery measuring anxiety, depression, RNT and insomnia was administered to 101 college students. In this sample, 52% of participants endorsed clinical levels of insomnia. Bivariate correlations found …

A Camera Trap Study Of Scavenger Species On The University Of Mississippi Campus, Lise Larsen

Honors Theses

This is a camera trap study to understand what kind of mammalian scavenger community we have on the University of Mississippi campus and where they are most prominent. Three motion-triggered cameras were used to survey ten buildings on campus over ten weeks. A low number of individuals were caught on camera during this study. There were limitations on this study such as a low number of cameras and a short span of time. More research needs to be done to understand the scavenger community on this campus.

Structural Integrity And Stability Of Dna In Ionic Liquid And Near-Infrared Indolizine Squaraine Dye, Ember Yeji Suh

Honors Theses

Luminol, the most common presumptive test for blood at a crime scene, has multiple issues, such as false positive results with chemical agents, no luminescence due to “active oxygen” cleaning agents on bloodstains, and inability to penetrate textile materials. A combination of indolizine squaraine dye and ionic liquid (IL), or Dye Enhanced Textile Emission for Crime Tracking (DETECT), have shown potential to address these issues. The purpose of this study was to assess the binding mechanism of CG (1:1) and SO₃SQ dye to HSA and how the mechanism can explain the W214 fluorescence quenching effect and to determine …

Botulinum Toxin For Abductor Type Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Systematic Review, Keyona Sutton

Honors Theses

A systematic review was conducted to show that BTX (Botulinum Toxin) is the most effective treatment for Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia (ABSD). There were a total of 117 records screened for inclusion in this review. After the initial screening, there were seven successive rounds of screening for eligibility. This process produced a total of three eligible records that met the following conditions: patients presented with spastic abduction, electromyography BTX type A injection into the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, and measurement of results with acoustic dimensions. After surveying all eligible studies, it was concluded that BTX is an effective treatment for ABSD. Every …

Historical Archaeology At The Chalmers Institute, Mississippi's First University, Antosia Briggs

Honors Theses

This study presents a basic description and analysis of the artifacts collected from the 2015 archaeological excavation conducted in Holly Springs, Mississippi at the Chalmers Institute site. The thesis includes history and background on Holly Springs as a city to orient the reader. This text also includes information regarding the program, Preserve Marshall County, as their work regarding the building and site ties directly into the ability of the student archaeologists being able to excavate in 2015 as well as the future of the building. This study analyzes the artifacts found based on the frameworks of the archaeology of institutional …

A Synthetic Approach To The Optimization Of Silicon-Rosindolizine Swir Fluorophores, Timothy Lewis

Honors Theses

Fluorophores emitting within the near-infrared (700 – 1000 nm) or shortwave-infrared (1000 – 1700 nm) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are of particular interest for their potential to supplement or even outright replace commonly used biological imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanning. Various characteristics make these molecules particularly appealing to researchers, such as their ease of synthetic tunability, generally low toxicity, and high solubility in biological media in comparison to other NIR- and SWIR-emissive fluorophores. Different molecular skeletons have been examined for use as the core of these imaging agents, such as squaraine, cyanine, and …

Women In Dentistry At The University Of Mississippi: Increasing The Confidence And Skills Of Future Women Dentists, Lakin Cramer

Honors Theses

Women in Dentistry became a registered student organization in February 2022. The purpose of the organization is to encourage and promote the professional and personal success of women in dentistry on the University of Mississippi Oxford campus. The historical and current literature of Women in Dentistry serve to provide a framework for the importance of uplifting women as they prepare for a career in dentistry. During my time as Founder and President of Women in Dentistry, my goal was to establish the organization, provide mentorship to prospective female dental school applicants, and increase the confidence and skills of future women …

Associations Between Tiktok Use, Mental Health, And Body Image Among College Students, Alexz Carpenter

Honors Theses

Background. Social media use continues to increase globally, and there is a large field of research examining the relationships between social media use with anxiety, depression, and body image. College-aged students are particularly vulnerable to these associations because they are at a unique developmental point of their life. College-aged students also use social media more frequently than almost any other age group, which may put them at increased risk for negative mental health and body image outcomes related to their social media use. TikTok is a relatively new social media app that has exponentially risen in popularity, especially among younger …

Telepractice-Based Language Intervention Training For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sarah Bryan

Honors Theses

This study closely examined the progression and fidelity of strategy implementation of parents undergoing an ASD language intervention training program. This instructional, interactive program was designed for parents of children with autism, thus catering to the needs of participants involved. This study assessed the use of parent comments and redirects, two kinds of parent strategies, during each parent-child interaction to provide more information about the impact of training sessions. The researchers hypothesized that by the end of training, parent participants would increase their fidelity of strategy implementation, increase their use of comments rather than redirects, and employ more open-ended questions …

An Analysis Of Detection Asymmetry Using Baryon Decays In Belle Ii, Matthew Mestayer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the detection asymmetry of the Belle II detector using decays of two common baryons, Λ⁰ → ��π^- and Σ⁺ → ��π⁰. A Monte Carlo simulation of both decays was used to determine the validity of signal isolation criteria. These criteria were then applied to the Belle II data, allowing for a comparison of the detection asymmetry in the data relative to the simulation. The results show a moderate detection asymmetry when using the Λ⁰ → ��π^- decay, particularly for forward-going baryons. For the Σ^{+ …}

Our Mothers Are Dying: How Economics Affect Maternal Mortality, Kendall Wheelock

Honors Theses

One of the primary goals from the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce maternal mortality on a global scale. It is well documented that economic success has a strong correlation with maternal mortality (Kirigia et al 2014, 1-3). There is ample research on how one’s health affects their ability to participate in society, furthermore protecting women within the sphere of medicine is a key part of advancing society. This thesis aims to give qualitative and quantitive backing to a deeper investigation of the correlation between economic success and maternal health.

To focus this research, the thesis focuses on …

Financial Accounting Case Studies, John A. Batson Jr

Honors Theses

This thesis was completed in the 2021-2022 academic year and is comprised of eleven accounting case studies. The topics from these cases vary widely and are not strictly focused on accounting. Examples of this includes cases done on the twenty-year anniversary of 9/11, the ramifications of COVID-19 on Pfizer, and having to interview a local business owner. We also completed cases concerning the city we wanted to intern in as well as an excel certification course. Following the conclusion of case 5, me and several other honors students worked together to complete the next six cases which involved analyzing International …

2021-2022 Accounting Practicum: A Sequence Of Financial Accounting Case Studies, Virginia Barksdale

Honors Theses

The following set of financial accounting case studies represents two semesters of work under Dr. Victoria Dickinson at the University of Mississippi’s Patterson School of Accountancy. As is customary for the Honors Accounting Practicum, subjects covered included current events – e.g., the anniversary of 9-11 and the COVID-19 pandemic – as well as the conceptual frameworks of different financial accounting disciplines. Some cases were more research focused while others involved specific deliverables relevant to the topic of the week. All case studies required the integration of knowledge from past coursework with the knowledge gained through the cases themselves. The work …

An Analysis Of Accounting Concepts Through Case Studies, Molly Medling

Honors Theses

This thesis aims to provide a holistic picture of the accounting profession through various topics in the field. Divided into case studies, each case examines a particular accounting issue or concept through research and analysis. These cases range from an examination of the events of 9/11 through the lens of the accounting profession to a multiple-case analysis of International Paper Company’s financial position and future actions. Several online articles, financial reports, and accounting courses were used to inform the information included in this thesis. These sources were not only used to provide an analysis of accounting concepts, but also to …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Financial Accounting Through Case Studies, Will Bounds

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of accounting case studies. There are eleven cases that comprise this thesis including: 102 Minutes that Changed America, Design Your Life – Nashville, Excel Crash Course, Pfizer Profitability, Business Interview – Hank Bounds, Case Competition – Overview, Case Competition – Audit, Case Competition – Tax, Case Competition – Advisory, Case Competition – Risk, and Case Competition – Presentation. There are a large variety of topics involved in all these cases. All of them have proven to be great learning experiences for myself. Case VI through Case XI deal with the Case Competition that went on …

Financial Accounting Case Studies, Turner Willson

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of eleven accounting case studies which covers a wide variety of topics that were discussed throughout the ACCY 420 course taught by Dr. Victoria Dickinson during the 2021-2022 academic school year. The cases vary in subject which started with the reflection of the 9/11 terrorist attacks had on the country and ended with choosing Tyson Inc. as an audit client. Some of the other cases included becoming excel certified, interviewing someone in the field that we wished to join upon graduation, and researching a future city in which we would like to live in the …

A Financial Analysis Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Logan Moll

Honors Theses

This thesis contains a collection of ten case studies completed during the fall and spring semesters for the Accountancy 420 class under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The class and case studies were completed to fulfill the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Accountancy Practicum. During the fall semester, Dr. Dickinson presented the class with specialized case studies to consider different areas of the accounting and business industry. During the spring semester, we formed groups and selected a Fortune 500 company to research before completing case studies that evaluated the company’s following areas: company overview, audit, tax, …

« Iel Dit Quoi ? » : A Study Of The Origins And Evolution Of Francophone Gender-Neutral Pronouns And Inclusive Language And A Discussion Of French Versus Canadian Acceptance, Alyssa Claire Langlois

Honors Theses

Our interpretation of human gender identity has never been constant. And with it, language has always shifted in order to best represent the many different gender identities and expressions that people associate with themselves. This research examines the current gender-inclusive and gender-neutral French language that exists in both France and Canada. I use three factors: occupational nouns, l’écriture inclusive, and neopronouns, especially iel, the most common. In this thesis, I evaluate what exists, what has yet to be accepted, and the many different public reactions. I analyzed statements from official language offices, current event articles, and opinions pieces, as well …