Digital Commons Network^™

On The Relation Between Parenting Practices And Pathological Narcissism In Adolescents, Kristen L. Mechanic

Honors Theses

The present study examined the relation between parenting practices and grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. The study used the self-report data of 407 adolescents (348 males, 57 females, 2 unreported) who were enrolled in a residential program in the summer and fall of 2011 and 2012. Participants completed a battery of surveys, including the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Findings link grandiose narcissism to positive parenting practices and poor monitoring and supervision, with positive reinforcement and poor monitoring and supervision predicting unique variance in adolescent grandiose narcissism. Vulnerable narcissism was significantly positively correlated with the negative parenting practices …

An Examination Of The Social Functions Of Mouth Behaviors In Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus), Kirsten E. Lapuyade

Honors Theses

This project examines the social functions of mouthing behaviors in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) houses dolphins which are captive but in a natural habitat. The twenty-six dolphins are used in human interactions, but for the rest of their time they are allowed to roam naturally. These dolphins make it possible to examine natural social behavior in a captive setting. The following study examines video data of these dolphins obtained by Dr. Stan Kuczaj in 2009. Behavior of the dolphins in these videos was recorded, the primary focus being mouthing behaviors.

There …

Studies On Controlling The Morphology Of An Organic Bulk-Heterojunction Photovoltaic Device To Improve Its Efficiency, Kelly R. Mcleod

Honors Theses

A systematic study of the effects of alteration of processing parameters in combination with incorporation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules on the properties and structure of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells made from P3HT:PCBM blends was undertaken. On implementing the correct processing protocol, incorporation of POSS molecules with specific structures resulted in considerable enhancement in cell efficiencies. Octaaminophenyl POSS incorporation resulted in a 20% increase in cell efficiency over the control and caused the formation of crystalline, fiber-like structures in the active layer of the photovoltaic cell.

The Council Of Conservative Citizens: Extolling Nativism And Perpetuating Stereotypes, Jordan M. Tinnon

Honors Theses

The Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC), an overtly pro-white, anti-immigrant political organization, uses biased news articles laden with racial stereotypes to promote and propagate their dogma of white superiority and nativism. In these articles particular attention is paid to the supposed threats of Hispanic immigration, attempting to make the case that Hispanics put white Americans’ health and safety, along with the white American way of life, at risk. Six recent articles from the CofCC website are shown to capitalize on the fear of the public to further advance and support a doctrine of nativism. Nativism has serious ramifications both to …

Targeted Delivery Of Ribonucleotide Reductase Sirna In Cancer Cells Via Gold Nanoplexes, John Caleb Grenn

Honors Theses

Cancer treatment has much room for improvement, as therapies today cannot differentiate well between what cells are part of a tumor and which are healthy. Our research involves targeting cancer cells by their overexpressed folic acid receptors, and delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to silence genes crucial to cell survival by the RNA interference gene knockdown pathway. By using Gaussia luciferase siRNA (siGLuc) as a model for cell delivery, we have been able to test our ability to deliver siRNA via a gold nanoparticle delivery system, also developed in our lab. We also synthesized ribonucleotide reductase siRNA (siRRM2), which will …

Determination Of 14c-Acetate Incorporation To Fungal Mass Conversion Factors Of Selected Saprophytic Fungal Organisms, Jakayla M. Harrell

Honors Theses

A growing body of evidence has emerged over the last several decades on the usefulness of the fungal sterol, ergosterol, in quantifying fungal biomass within decaying plant litter and the technique for measuring instantaneous growth rates of fungi via rates of [¹⁴C]-acetate incorporation into ergosterol. Although popular, an underlying problem with these methods is the paucity of studies that have determined conversion factors that relate the precursor molecules to meaningful measurements of fungal biomass and growth rates, respectively. This research was conducted to establish conversion factors relating rates of ¹⁴C-acetate incorporation to rates of fungal mass synthesis …

Gaap And Ifrs Convergence: The Effect On Lease Accounting, Ellen E. Bailey

Honors Theses

The research performed in this study has two main objectives. The first objective relates to lease accounting and the way accounting for leases differs between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The second objective relates to how companies will be affected by the convergence of GAAP and IFRS.

Comparative Effects Of Upper Or Lower Body Ergometry To Facilitate Recovery From High-Intensity Combined Arm And Leg Exercise, Benjamin Chad Lyman

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of upper body versus lower body ergometry on blood lactate concentration ([La]) disappearance. Ten individuals (age: 20.6 ± 1.3 yrs, height: 1.72 ± 0.08 m, weight: 66.77 ± 10.42 kg) completed preliminary testing sessions, 3-5 days apart, to determine the power output corresponding with the subject’s onset of blood lactate (OBLA), which for the purposes of this study is considered the subject’s lactate threshold (LT), for leg ergometry (LT_L) and arm ergometry (LT_A). Participants then returned to the laboratory on three separate occasions to complete the …

Aaarrrggg I’M A Pirate: Cloud-Streaming Services And Their Effects On Music Consumption And Music Piracy, Caitlin M. Seale

Honors Theses

With advances in technology, music consumption among listeners has vastly changed throughout the years. These changes in technology have allowed piracy to thrive and prosper while physical sales vastly decreased. Previous studies have explored how music piracy effects music consumption. This study goes beyond the work that previous studies have explored by examining a new form of music consumption—cloud-streaming websites. This thesis examines how cloud-streaming services have affected music consumption and music piracy through an analysis of an online study distributed to music consumers. The results showed that cloud-streaming services do change the way that people consume music. Respondents demonstrated …

High Performance Network Communication Between High Frequency Application Servers And Android Tablets, Brandon L. Wolfe

Honors Theses

This thesis will develop methods for comparing NORM protocol in unicast mode to TCP by simulating high performance network communication between Android tablets and high frequency application servers. Since mobile network conditions vary based on service provider or tower distance, we will test over a wide range of network conditions such as high delay or high loss, as well as high chances of packet corruption or duplication. We want to maximize speed of data delivery without sacrificing the integrity of the data. The methods used will be generically applicable to multiple operating system platforms and will be cross-platform compatible.

What’S Love Got To Do With It? A Content Analysis Of English And Spanish Idiomatic Expressions, Allie R. Solomon

Honors Theses

Idiomatic expressions are figurative in nature and vary from language to language, offering valuable insight toward understanding cultural connotations concerning the topics expressed. This study focused on idiomatic expressions that contain the word “love” or its grammatical variants found in the English and Spanish languages. The aim of this study was to conduct a qualitative analysis of these idiomatic expressions in order to identify cultural connotations, insight, and patterns regarding the communication of love within these expressions. A sample population of these expressions was obtained from a collection of available idiom and phrasal dictionaries and books written in English and …

Popularity Of Virtual Reality Immersion In Theme Park Attractions Of North America, Jessica A. Jelinski

Honors Theses

Theme parks continually change to incorporate new technology. Since the development of virtual reality, designers of theme park attractions have utilized several different immersion technology systems. Most of the current attractions are based on the Head-Mounted Display system and the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment system. To date, few studies or papers have been published concerning the effect virtual reality and the accompanying immersion technology may have on theme park attractions. One hundred and seventy-eight attractions from eight theme parks were categorized based on level of immersion and then analyzed for this study. Wait times for these attractions were used to …

Black Empowerment And Mobilization: A Comparison Of Urban And Small City Trends, Samantha D. Rayborn

Honors Theses

This research to follow compares voting trends between blacks in urban cities and smaller, non-urban cities. The research aims to replicate the findings based on studies of large cities that blacks tend to have higher or lower turnout rates when there is a black public office holder. Election results were taken from mayoral elections in Alexandria, LA and Monroe, LA. Previous research indicates that blacks have a high rate of turnout in urban areas when there is a black elected official. However, does this effect hold true in non-urban, small cities? Blacks in smaller, non-urban cities, this study finds, do …

Dive Into The Pit: Moshing And Its Effects On Perceived Stress, Sense Of Belonging, & Self-Esteem In College Undergraduates, William Tyler Edwards

Honors Theses

Moshing has been underrepresented in the research field. This is especially true in the area of Therapeutic Recreation. Moshing has been seen as a dangerous and violent form of dance. However, in a controlled environment moshing has the potential to be used as a therapeutic modality.

This study examined the effects of moshing on perceived stress, sense of belonging, and self esteem in undergraduate college students at the University of Southern Mississippi. Data was collected during a five-week moshing dance session through the use of three assessments/surveys, which included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rosenburg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the …

Explaining Leisure Interests, Personality, Work Centrality, And Vocational Interests, Stormy Z. Speaks

Honors Theses

The current study examined the relations between leisure interests and other vocational constructs among undergraduate university students. Methods included utilizing previously obtained data from a sample of 194 undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota, where study measures were given in 2007. Data collected included the Leisure Interest Questionnaire, used to determine leisure interests and activities outside the workplace; the International Personality Item Pool, a measure of five main personality traits; and the Strong Interest Inventory, a measure of vocational interests. Work centrality, or the importance of the role of work, was also assessed to determine the relations between leisure …

“A Very Different Looking Class Of People”: Racial Passing, Tragedy, And The Mulatto Citizen In American Literature, Stephanie S. Rambo

Honors Theses

This project explores the mulatto citizen as one who prevails against tragedy, uses passing as an escape route to freedom and equality, and establishes a fixed racial identity in a color struck world. In nineteenth-century American literature, the mulatto penetrates a seemingly solid world of color to reveal racial anxieties of the time. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or Life Among the Lonely (1852), William Wells Brown’s Clotel, or the President’s Daughter (1853), Frank J. Webb’s The Garies and Their Friends (1857) and Frances E.W. Harper’s Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted depict these mulatto characters as agents of social …

The Trap-Neuter-Return Program As A Means For Collecting, Analyzing, And Comparing Data In Animal Care Facilities In Florida, Louisiana, And Mississippi, Stephanie T. Doty

Honors Theses

The TNR program has been met with both scrutiny and approval as a result of conflicting data from studies that examine its usefulness as a means of controlling the free-roaming cat population explosion (Levy & Crawford, 2004). Though the differing opinions will be discussed, it is not the intention of this paper to provide evidence in support of one or the other; instead, the purpose is to examine the various clinics’ implementation of the TNR program and its usefulness in providing data. In addition, an analysis of the data was done to determine what they may suggest about the free-roaming …

Attempt To Synthesize The (S) Enantiomer Of A Glutathione Analog To Be An Inhibitor Of Glutathione Reductase, Sidney L. Mcclendon

Honors Theses

Malaria is a disease of the blood that is caused by a parasite and affects over forty percent of the world population today. This small parasite can be treated in a very short period of time; however, there are many countries that do not have access to advanced medicine. This means that the people infected with this disease will usually die from complications arising from the illness. Malaria is prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries close to the equator where more than half of the world’s population resides. Dominance of malaria in these areas is because of the low economic …

Color Theory: The Effects Of Color In Medical Environments, Sarah E. Babin

Honors Theses

The relationship between color and the environments we live in is one of great dynamics. It not only helps us to define our personal spaces, but it can also affect our temperaments and our reactions. In the medical field, color is equally as important, as it has the ability to heal and to comfort. A combination of literature review and a short survey were utilized in order to find out exactly how color can influence our mood. While previous studies and other research have been conducted, the use of a new survey helped to confirm the findings. In previous studies, …

Deletion Of Putative Msa Operon Gene Fragment And Its Phenotypic Characterization In Community Acquired-Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Usa300 Strain Lac, Reem A. Dawoud

Honors Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that causes a wide variety of diseases. Many S. aureus strains have emerged which are resistant to the penicillin class of antibiotics. Of primary importance is methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which has cause frequent hospitalizations due to infections. In the past, MRSA was typically confined to hospital settings, but recently, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) have been reported. CA-MRSA poses a major public health threat because of increased virulence and success in infecting otherwise healthy individuals. Previously we discovered a gene, msa, which plays a critical role in biofilm formation and regulation of the …

Attitudes Of Clinically Practicing Registered Nurses In Southern Mississippi Toward Physician-Assisted Death, Robin E. Smith

Honors Theses

Problem

The purpose of this study is to discover unique themes related to the attitudes of nurses in Southern Mississippi toward physician-assisted death (PAD).

Methods

This study is a qualitative, inductive content analysis. The sample comprised three registered nurses currently practicing in Southern Mississippi. The researcher guided each participant’s one-hour interview with questions, then recorded and transcribed the texts for data analysis; and coded and analyzed data. Themes were selected if there was inter-rater agreement of 100% between the researcher and thesis adviser.

Results

The interview questions focused on (a) the presence or absence of support for legalization of PAD, …

Study Of Students' Knowledge Of The Profession Of Graphic Design, Rachael C. Thomas

Honors Theses

Research, or rather the lack thereof, seems to indicate a lack of appreciation for graphic design, designers themselves, and the work they do in both the public and scholarly society. Without proper acknowledgement from the public and academia, graphic design as a profession is in danger of disappearing. The problem may stem from graphic design being a relatively new field if one is to think of it as really taking off with the invention of computers. This lack of understanding may also contribute to the absence of a single definition for graphic design. To address these concerns, this study will …

Exploring The Interactions Between Interleukin-8 (Il8) And Amyloid-Β (Aβ) Peptide In Traumatic Brain Injury, Olivia G. Gibson

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive dysfunction and memory loss, and pathologically characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and inflammation. Recent research has shown that these Aβ plaques are also found in traumatic

brain injury (TBI) patients. This discovery has led to a proposed pathway leading from traumatic brain injuries to dementia, more specifically AD. After a TBI, human granulin-A (GRN) and interleukin-8 (IL8) are released and the number of elastases in the brain increases in response to the inflammation response. IL8 is a cytokine that is released in acute inflammation responses, and the levels of IL8 …

Effectiveness Of Individualizing Interventions Informed By The Hierarchic Dementia Scale (Hds), Used By Nursing Staff, To Reduce Aggressive Behaviors In An Individual With Alzheimer’S Disease, Nicki E. Relan

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, representing 60 percent of all cases, and is described as a chronic, progressive, degenerative cognitive disorder. With loss of independence due to cognitive impairment, AD patients become more confused and anxious, which leads to a higher incidence of aggression towards nursing staff. It is paramount that the nursing community seeks new evidence-based healthcare innovations to reduce aggression and to protect caregivers. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of individualizing interventions informed by the Hierarchic Dementia Scale (HDS) to reduce aggressive behaviors in people with Alzheimer’s disease. …

Biophysical Characterization And Cross-Seeding Properties Of Lfaos, Novel Prion-Like Oligomers Of The Amyloid-Beta Peptide Involved In Alzheimer’S Disease, Morgan C. Woodrow

Honors Theses

The amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein is known to play an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ peptide aggregates in the brains of AD patients to form soluble oligomers as well as insoluble fibrils. Oligomers of Aβ are now known to be the primary toxic agents in AD. Evidence is beginning to emerge regarding a conserved prion-like propagation mechanism in AD. One of the principal characteristics of prion diseases is their ability to self-propagate via a template-assisted-corruptive mechanism. Our lab has previously characterized a unique ‘Aβ prion’ called Large Fatty-Acid- Derived Oligomers (LFAOs). This project examines the ability …

The Impact Of Self-Esteem And Religiosity On The Marital Readiness Criteria Of College Students, Molly J. Gunnels

Honors Theses

The focus of this exploratory study was to better understand the impact of self-esteem and religiosity on marital readiness criteria of college students. Data was collected from 18-25 year old students at a large, public university in Southern Mississippi. A total of 216 participants completed questionnaires that consisted of demographic information and self-esteem, religiosity, and marital readiness scales. Results indicated that self-esteem and religiosity combined have a statistically significant positive relationship with marital readiness criteria. In addition to the analysis among all of the variables, the independent relationship between each independent variable on marital readiness was examined. The relationship between …

The Relation Of Adhd Characteristics To Positive Illusory Bias Among Gifted Elementary Students: Iq As A Possible Moderator, Meredith S. Manguno

Honors Theses

The current study examined the relation between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) characteristics and Positive Illusory Bias (PIB) in gifted elementary students. Children with ADHD have a propensity toward a PIB—or seeing themselves in a more positive light than other standards would indicate—even among domains in which they struggle (Owens, Goldfine, Evangelista, Hoza, & Kaiser, 2007). This tendency toward a PIB may be linked with their encounters of a great number of setbacks and could be a way to create hope and positivity. In comparison, gifted students frequently meet and surpass goals, often with few setbacks. Thus, twice-exceptional students (e.g., gifted students …

The Who, What, Where, And How Of Foreign Languages: A Study Of Foreign Language Curricula At Four-Year Colleges In Mississippi, Mariah S. Senegal

Honors Theses

This paper studies the eight four-year public universities within the state of Mississippi and their French and Spanish foreign language curriculums in order to compare their curriculums to those of The American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ standards of the Five C’s: communication, communities, culture, connections, and comparisons. The results are broken down into three sections by each college’s overall rankings, each college’s individual course offerings, and culture offerings. The data provides interesting results that shows that while a university may offer more or less foreign language courses, their curriculum did not necessarily reflect the standards that ACTFL …

Movement Marketing Of Nonprofit Organizations: Creating Consumer Advocates, Laura B. Hunt

Honors Theses

The title of my thesis is called Movement Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations: Creating Consumer Advocates. The purpose of the study was to determine how nonprofit organizations use marketing to further their cause. The study involved interviewing employees of nonprofit organizations using a standard questionnaire to gather information about how the organization utilizes marketing internally and externally. After analyzing the information gathered from the personal interviews, several techniques were used by all of the organizations. The organizations use movement marketing by first starting to spread the passion for their cause within the organization through employees, volunteers, and board members. These advocates …

The Relationship Between Calcium Intake And Body Mass Index In The Participants Of Hub City Steps, Laura P. Ewoldt

Honors Theses

Background: The social, economic, and health impacts of unhealthy dietary behaviors and sedentary lifestyles are quite significant and even more so in the rural South. The majority of individuals in the US do not adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, specifically fruits, vegetables, and calcium.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to address the issue of calcium intake and obesity in a population of primarily African American women in south Mississippi and to determine if levels of calcium intake had a relationship with body mass index.

Methods and Analysis: Data for the current study was …