Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying And Applying Processes Common To Efforts In Improving The Relationship Between Humans And The Environment, Avery Thames Burns

Honors Theses

Environmental justice, corporate social responsibility and gendered discourses are three areas of research and practice in environmental efforts that this thesis research has found all suffer because they lack recognition of and cause marginalization of specific groups. This research has created a framework of four processes that help in understanding these similarities: inequality; disregarding the values and actions of outside groups; disconnect between stated and actualized values; and insider outsider ideals. By exploring how these common processes of reasoning operate in each of the three areas, the research contributes to improving understanding of the areas and increasing their effectiveness. The …

Synthesis Of Cross-Conjugated Dibenzochrysene-Based Photosensitizers For Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Bailey Nicole Flamm

Honors Theses

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) represent a promising alternative method of energy generation. Absorbance of light across the visible spectrum and into the near-infrared (NIR) region is crucial to increasing the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of DSC devices. Dye absorbance can be red-shifted by either increasing the conjugation path of the photosensitizer or by increasing the strength of electron donors and acceptors found in molecules. By using a polycyclic aromatic Ï€-bridge in a dye, lower energy wavelengths of light can be absorbed. Dibenzochrysene is a six-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with substitutable positions that allow for a double-donor, double-acceptor (DD-Ï€-AA) structure, …

Educational Legislation In A Polarized Climate: A Look Into Mississippi Education Politics, Benjamin C. Logan

Honors Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate the political process related to educational legislation and initiatives. To accomplish this purpose, I conducted four interviews with educational experts who either have been active participants in the educational legislative process or been life-long educators. From these interviews, I organized their responses into four categories. These categories were Educational Issues in Mississippi, Passing Educational Legislation in Mississippi, Polarization of Politics, and Media Influence. With these categories, I did extensive research to bring in outside literature and documents to analyze the political process related to education legislation. In my qualitative study, I …

Towards The Synthesis Of A Polyamine Perylenebisimide Derivative For Intercalation Into Quadruplex Dna, Bobby May

Honors Theses

Perylenebisimide intercalation in G-quadruplex DNA is an area of study that has increasing interest in cancer research. The ability of perylenebisimides to interrupt the structures of the G4 DNA on the end of telomeres has allowed for the observation of how the variable-regions of the perylenebisimide can have differing effects on anticancer properties. The purpose of this experiment was to synthesize a perylenebisimide with the intentions of observing its intercalating properties with G-quadruplex DNA. In order to accomplish this, dibenzylamine was substituted onto chloroacetonitrile through an SN2 reaction to produce 2-(dibenzylamino)acetonitrile. The 2-(dibenzylamino)acetonitrile was then reduced with LAH to yield …

Isolation And Identification Of Bioactive Constituents Of Plant Pathogenic Fungi And Targeted Synthesis Of Isochromanone Analogs, Brandon Clausen

Honors Theses

An unknown fungal species was cultured from necrotic Brachiaria eruciformis leaves found in Oxford, Mississippi. The fungus was identified via molecular techniques as Pyricularia grisea. This fungus was grown on Czapek Dox broth culture medium for 21 days under continuous light at 24 0C. The culture filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate and concentrated. The major bioactive compound, namely pyrichalasin H, was isolated using TLC-guided fractionation and identified via spectroscopic techniques. The compound was then tested for bioactivity on monocotyledons, dicotyledons and agriculturally important fungal species. Cellular leakage, chlorophyll content and root/shoot length bioassays were also performed to probe the …

University Of Mississippi Students' Opinions Regarding Sex Education In Mississippi, Cody Austin

Honors Theses

The main purpose of this study is to understand the opinions of University of Mississippi (UM) students regarding sex education policies in Mississippi public schools. Utilizing empirical, quantitative data collected from an online, IRB-approved survey of the UM student body, the study aimed to answer four main research questions that relate to sex education policymaking. The first question asked how sexually active UM students are. The data revealed that most UM students are sexually active, which suggests college students need to have adequate sexual health information by the time they enter college. The second question asked how satisfied UM students …

Utilizing The Zebrafish Model To Determine Anti-Epileptic Properties Of Mistletoe And Cannabis, Collin Dietrich

Honors Theses

Epilepsy affects around 50 million people in the world, therefore improving treatment efficacy and safety for epileptics is imperative. In this study we sought to screen the effectiveness and safety of cannabis constituents (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol) and Tapinanthus globiferus extracts in treating epilepsy. We used a zebrafish model wherein seizures were induced by treatment with pentylenetetrazol. Our results showed that Tapinanthus globiferus dose-dependently reduced seizure activity, and no toxicities were seen at the concentrations used. In contrast delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol did not significantly reduce seizure activity and some toxicities were seen at the higher concentrations tested. We conclude that extracts …

How To Be A Girl: The Discourse Of Compulsory Heterosexuality, Desire, And Adolescent Female Sexuality In Seventeen And Cosmopolitan Magazines From The Late 20th Century, Danielle Keiser

Honors Theses

This work explores the discourse of adolescent sexuality and desire presented to readers by Seventeen and Cosmopolitan magazines published between 1970 and 1989. The essay draws distinctions between articles and advertisements, pointing to those articles and ads that promote what Adrienne Rich called compulsory heterosexuality and those that encourage a less restrictive kind of femininity. The essay claims that Seventeen, because it targets a younger audience than Cosmopolitan does, promotes a more sexually normative framework of heterosexual relationships, compulsory matrimony, and motherhood for young readers. Cosmopolitan, on the other hand, teaches readers to embrace female sexuality and desire without needing …

Cadmium Disruption Of Calcium-Dependent Dimerization Of Neural Cadherin, Dylan Ritter

Honors Theses

Cadherins are a family of transmembrane proteins that dimerize to form junctions between cells in the presence of calcium. Due to the necessity for proper cell adhesion during cell differentiation in development, we are examining whether binding of other metallic divalent cations would disrupt calcium-sensitive dimerization of neural cadherin in vitro. Specifically, we are studying the effect of cadmium(II) on the linkage between calcium binding, dimerization, and dimer disassembly. Cadmium toxicity became recognized during the Industrial Revolution, with particular attention gained during the Itai-Itai disease outbreak in China during the 1910s. This toxicity, partnered with the role of cadherin in …

Pituitary Gland Functional Connectivity And Bmi, E. Paige Rucker

Honors Theses

This study examined the link between pituitary gland functional connectivity and BMI. The pituitary gland plays various roles in the body through the secretion of hormones, but its direct role in development of obesity and BMI management is unknown. Resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rsfMRI) brain data of individuals with diverse BMIs were analyzed by voxel-wise analysis to determine the functional connectivities of the pituitary gland to other regions of the brain. A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and pituitary gland functional connectivity in eleven different brain regions. These regions include the posterior thalamus, lingual gyrus, precuneus, …

Research And Analysis Of Selected Financial Reporting Topics, Edward Donelson Lake

Honors Theses

Throughout the 2015-2016 school year, I completed several different cases within the realm of financial reporting and accounting. The purpose of this research was not only to familiarize myself with financial reporting methods but also to take a deep dive into the intricacies of financial statements. Thus, this thesis paper will look vastly different than most theses submitted to the Honors College, for it covers a broad range of topics rather than honing in on just one area. The cases range from private companies to public companies, some domestic and some international. Throughout my research, one will find that any …

The Sociological And Economic Factors Impacting A Workforce Development Program In An Impoverished Community, Elena Bauer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to inform about the best practices of workforce development, and to consider the sociological and economic factors in impoverished areas that are to be considered for successful traditional business principles to work. Through an in-depth study of eight African American male respondents who were participants in a job training program in Clarksdale, Mississippi, this study explores the impact of the vestiges of past discrimination embedded in the institutions and culture to make a Mississippi community particularly challenging for providing equitable opportunities for low income residents (Cobb, 1992; Duncan & Blackwell, 2014; Myers Asch, 2011). …

The Effects Of Terrorism On Public Opinion Of Gun Control In The United States, Emily Mckee

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between terrorist activity and public support for gun control. This thesis tests three hypotheses: 1) that out-group violence causes greater support for gun control than in-group violence, 2) that the method of violence determines support for gun control, and 3) that the results of the first two hypotheses are dependent on the conditional variables of gender, fear of Muslims, and residence in an urban or rural area. To analyze these relationships, a survey experiment was conducted to determine if out-group violence and method of violence had an affect on public …

Multi-Generaltional Marketing: Variations And Implications Of Nonprofit Approaches, Emily Alexandra Lindstrom

Honors Theses

Research reveals that today's nonprofit organizations have shifted their longtime marketing efforts away from Baby Boomers to target the younger Millennial and Generation Z audience. In their effort to reach the new audiences, nonprofits have been forced to change their marketing strategies, including the adoption of new and more effective social networking media. Despite their shift in focus, nonprofits remain in a battle for funds with their for-profit competition. Using past and present nonprofit marketing strategies, this thesis isolates the difference between nonprofits and for-profits and identifies the influence that nonprofits have on society today. It further analyzes the current …

Spatial Variation Of Bacterial Communities On The Leaves Of A Southern Magnolia Tree, Emily Q. Nguyen

Honors Theses

The leaf surface, or phylloplane, is a dynamic environment for its microbial inhabitants, which can be subjected to many environmental factors. Existing phylloplane studies have focused on differences in bacterial community structure between trees of the same species, in different geographical locations, or between trees of different species. Few studies have examined the spatial distribution of bacterial communities on the leaves of a single tree. In this study, leaf samples from different areas of the canopy were obtained from a single Magnolia grandiflora tree. Samples were taken from the high (3.5-4.0 m above the ground), middle (1.5 m), inner middle …

Recruitment And Selection In A Mass Hiring Event Of A Sme, Emily Sutphin

Honors Theses

Using a qualitative approach, I examined the relationship between formal recruitment and selection practices and the success of a mass hiring event in a small and medium sized enterprise (SME). For the purpose of my study, I will use prominent research in order to examine small and medium enterprises recruitment and selection processes and translate these findings to a mass hiring event with recruitment and selection. My literature review will help guide findings based on the qualitative data I collected. Data was drawn from observation, formal and informal interviews with key individuals within the company, and document analysis. A case …

Parental Influence On Weight Biases In School-Age Children, Emily E. Wasson

Honors Theses

Obesity rates have rapidly increased in America over the past few decades, and with this rise comes an increase in the negative psychosocial consequences experienced by victims of weight bias. Although a fair amount of research on weight bias (i.e., the negative attitudes or beliefs one holds toward overweight individuals) has been done in adults and adolescents, limited research has been done in young children. This study worked to fill gaps in the literature by investigating if children between the ages of five and nine would show weight biases, if the biases against individuals would vary by the ethnicity and …

Pharmacists' Perceptions Of Rapid Diagnostic Testing In Community Pharmacies In Mississippi: A Diffusion Of Innovations Approach, Erin Ann Hoevelmann

Honors Theses

Objectives: The broad purpose of this study is to describe community pharmacists' perceptions of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in community pharmacies in Mississippi. The focused goal of this study is to determine the correlation between Everett M. Rogers' attributes of the diffusion of innovations (including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) and the willingness of community pharmacists to offer RDTs in community pharmacies in Mississippi. Methods: This study was approved by the University of Mississippi IRB. A list of licensed pharmacists was obtained from the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy. An email with study details and a link to the …

Evaluating The Success Of Russian Hybrid Warfare In Ukraine, Gage Adam

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates Russia's use of hybrid warfare in Ukraine, and whether the endeavor was successful. In order for Russian hybrid warfare to have been successful, the costs and repercussions of their actions must not outweigh their achieved goals. For this thesis, it was assumed that Russia's goals are: locking NATO and the EU out of Russia's remaining sphere of influence, demonstrating Russian solidarity, gaining territory, and boosting popularity for the current administration. Russia was able to achieve all of these goals with the annexation of Crimea and use of military force in the Donbass region. The costs of these …

From A Tweet To The Street: The Effect Of Social Media On Social Movement Theory, Elizabeth Romary

Honors Theses

This thesis studies the role of social media within social movements and social movement theory and focuses on applying these theories to the Ni Una Menos movement of Argentina. I focus on three social movement theories: the resource mobilization theory, the political process theory, and the cultural approach. I also analyze the rise of social media in the 21st century and how they fit within the framework of the three theories. I then apply these theories to the Ni Una Menos movement. I argue that the Ni Una Menos movement emerged as a cultural movement, and shifted towards a resource …

Millennials, Mississippians, And The 2016 Presidential Election: Implications Of Generational Differences On Voter Behavior, Bess Nichols

Honors Theses

This is a study of the voting patterns of millennial voters (predominately students at the University of Mississippi) and traditional Deep South voters, which for the purpose of this study is men and women above the age of 35. The paper seeks to answer the question: Are millennials ideologically different than their older counterparts in the state of Mississippi? I surveyed a sample of 4,000 students at the University of Mississippi (with approximately 500 responses) and a sample of traditional voters gathered from social media and employees at the University of South Alabama. Respondents were asked questions about their political …

Military Intervention And The Responsibility To Protect In Libya And Kosovo, Thea Fisk

Honors Theses

This research analyzes the interventions in Libya and Kosovo. It analyzes the intents, means, and outcomes involved in each intervention in addition to the effects of both interventions on the Responsibility to Protect doctrine.

Effects Of Temperature On Activity Of Aquatic Hyphomycetes: A Microcosm Study, Kyra Harrington‌‌

Honors Theses

Predicted increases in temperature under climate change scenarios are expected to affect not only atmospheric and water temperatures, but also the rate of heterotrophic activity and carbon dynamics and retention in ecosystems. The magnitude of the increase in metabolic activity of living organisms with increased temperature can be predicted by the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, however, multiple factors can cause deviations from simple predictions. The goal of this study is to assess the temperature sensitivity of aquatic hyphomycetes and fungi-mediated leaf litter decomposition by following responses to temperature of fungal biomass accrual, respiration and decomposition rates in laboratory microcosms simulating …

The Fourth Crusade: An Analysis Of Sacred Duty ‌, Dale Robinson

Honors Theses

The crusades were a Christian enterprise. They were proclaimed in the name of God for the service of the church. Religion was the thread which bound crusaders together and united them in a single holy cause. When crusaders set out for a holy war they took a vow not to their feudal lord or king, but to God. The Fourth Crusade was no different. Proclaimed by Pope Innocent III in 1201, it was intended to recover Christian control of the Levant after the failure of past endeavors. Crusading vows were exchanged for indulgences absolving all sins on behalf of the …

Idealizing Patriarchy: Patterns Of Hierarchy And Patriarchal Values In English Household Literature, 1520-1600, Conor Howard

Honors Theses

This thesis examines English household literature of the sixteenth century to assess normative patterns of masculinity and patriarchy. Throughout that century, in spite of prolific changes having occurred in the realm of English material and intellectual culture, the patterns of masculinity observed in these texts show a remarkable pattern of consistency. This lack of change is in keeping with the works of other historians who have argued that the most salient feature of the norms of English masculinity throughout the early modern period was in fact continuity. Chapter one of this thesis shows how this body of literature prescribed access …

Future Historiographers: A Unit Plan For Progressive History Classrooms, Holli Sommerfeld

Honors Theses

It is this unit plans goal to introduce middle school students to historiography, which is the history of how history has been written across time. Within this unit plan, students are placed in an inquiry-based environment to dissect varying source materials; during this process, students will focus on three central components that are essential to understanding how history is told, these being content, perspective, and form of writing. Though this subject matter is rarely introduced to students at this age, through the use of an interdisciplinary approach incorporating the strengths of both English and History, careful scaffolding, a collaborative learning …

A Five-Year Integration Plan For Syrian Refugees Residing In Italian Refugee Camps, Megan Vander Boon

Honors Theses

The Syrian War is drastically affecting the European Migration Crisis and the number of misplaced people in the world. With nearly five million Syrians seeking asylum outside the country’s borders, neighboring countries are being pressured to find new ways to absorb the refugees. In the last two years, Italy has been challenged more than other countries because of entrance methods through the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has the ability to absorb the growing number of refugees if it implements integration plans. The purposed method suggests Syrian refugees, specifically children, will apply for Italian citizenship once they arrive to a refugee camp. …

Delyte Morris' Furniture- A Collection Of Mid-Century Modern Ideas, Emily Muszynski

Honors Theses

In the 1970s, gone were the days of a rapidly increasing student population and major building projects and gone were the days of an only 3,006 student body. Instead, there was a world-class academic university with an environment rooted in innovation and advancement. The pieces from Delyte Morris’ presidency show a dedication to a very specific vision he had: to create a university that is both supporting of the students and pushing towards advancement. He and C. D. May, the associate architect for the university, supported this idea by buying furnishings that were manufactured in Illinois and sticking to a …

Gunning For Gun Control: A State By State Analysis Of The Effects Of Gun Control Policies On Firearm Mortality Rates, Jade L. Robinson

Honors Theses

Gun control is not a new concept; however, due to the growing amount of supporting non profits and recent mass shootings, gun control is becoming a common topic both amongst researchers and the general public. Currently, gun control is a state issue and thus should be studied on a state by state basis. This study examines state gun control policies and firearm mortality rates to determine if there is a correlation between gun control policies and the firearm mortality rate. The years covered by this study were 2000-2014 and nine states were sampled. Two out of the nine states were …

Occupational Differences In Play Between Monolingual And Bilingual Children In Kentucky, Miranda Massey

Honors Theses

This study looked at the occupational differences between monolingual and bilingual children in the state of Kentucky. The children were ages 7-12 years old and were divided into three categories: monolingual English-speaking, monolingual Spanish-speaking, and bilingual English and Spanish-speaking. Each child and their parent/guardian was interviewed to collect data on play habits to determine if language was a factor in the play choices. Subjects were selected through convenience sampling over social media and by word-of-mouth. From all possible participants collected, one child from each category was chosen for the interview process.

The process itself consisted of a 50 question child …