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2018

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Preparing A Trumpet Recital, William Matthew Pate Jan 2018

Preparing A Trumpet Recital, William Matthew Pate

Honors Theses

The following thesis presents a discussion of the elements that went into preparing a senior solo trumpet recital. This discussion is divided into eleven sections, of which the first five contain general performance challenges and information about the types of pieces performed on the recital and the instruments used to perform those pieces. The remaining six sections discuss why the performer chose to showcase each composer and their compositions, the specific performance challenges he encountered with each piece, and the techniques he used to overcome these challenges. The historical information used to produce this thesis comes from articles written by …


Writing Ix: Combining Theatre Arts And Public Policy Through The Process Of Playwriting, John Brahan Jan 2018

Writing Ix: Combining Theatre Arts And Public Policy Through The Process Of Playwriting, John Brahan

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the process of writing a play and compares sexual misconduct policies at universities in the Southeastern Conference. It exhibits the process through examining writing exercises to develop character and plot, showing expanded understanding of dramatic literature through reading additional plays, outlining the growth of the narrative through table readings, additional feedback, and displaying audience feedback garnered through an optional survey filled out by patrons at the end of their theatre experience. Throughout the narrative of the thesis, I explore how I developed each of Aristotle's Six Elements of Tragedy: character, plot, idea, language, music, and spectacle. The …


The Cinematic South: A Look Into The South According To Quentin Tarantino, Justin Tyler Necaise Jan 2018

The Cinematic South: A Look Into The South According To Quentin Tarantino, Justin Tyler Necaise

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the eight films directed by Quentin Tarantino. More specifically, it examines how Tarantino portrays the American South, southernness, and southerners throughout his filmography. I watched each film countless times, read each screenplay, and read many articles written about the films. I also read many biographies, and I watched many interviews with Quentin Tarantino. In this work, I find that Tarantino exploits the South in order to create much more despicable characters, which furthers the stereotype that the South is in some way lesser to the rest of the United States. The South according to Quentin Tarantino is …


Interculturality In Health: The Infant Mortality Rate Of Bolivia, Allen G. Crosthwait Jan 2018

Interculturality In Health: The Infant Mortality Rate Of Bolivia, Allen G. Crosthwait

Honors Theses

The Bolivian government implemented an intercultural reform in 2006 in an attempt to improve the quality of health for its indigenous citizens throughout the country. One of the biggest focuses thereof was to improve the infant mortality rate, as it has historically far surpassed the rates of other Latin American nations. Though superficial data presented by the government seem to suggest that the intercultural reform has been an unprecedented success, very little extensive research has been done on the topic. My work gauges the merits of the intercultural reform and assesses which areas particularly have been successful. To do so, …


The Effects Of Hearing Loss On Literacy Skills In Down Syndrome: Assessing Parents' Knowledge, Annalise Claire Valle Jan 2018

The Effects Of Hearing Loss On Literacy Skills In Down Syndrome: Assessing Parents' Knowledge, Annalise Claire Valle

Honors Theses

Purpose: Although hearing loss (HL) is prevalent in individuals with Down syndrome (DS), there has been little research investigating the effects of HL on language and literacy skills in this population. The purpose of this study is to document the frequency of HL in DS, as well as language and literacy outcomes, and to determine if there is a difference in language and literacy outcomes for children with DS with HL and those without HL. Parental knowledge of HL and language development was also measured. Method: A five-part survey was distributed to 77 members of DS-Connect, a National Institute of …


Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms In College Students: An Examination Of The Association With Emotion Regulation, Posttraumatic Growth, And Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Cayla S. Hari Jan 2018

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms In College Students: An Examination Of The Association With Emotion Regulation, Posttraumatic Growth, And Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Cayla S. Hari

Honors Theses

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury, emotion regulation, and posttraumatic growth in college students. One-hundred and fifty-three participants, aged 18-57, completed self-report measures about their experiences with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), emotion regulation (ER), posttraumatic growth (PTG), and potentially traumatic events (PTEs). In line with hypotheses, results indicated a significant positive correlation between PTSS and both NSSI and PTG. Contrary to predictions, no significant relation was seen between ER and PTG and ER did not moderate the relationship between PTSS and PTG. A post hoc correlational analysis assessing potential …


The Impact Of Mass And Active Shooting Incidents On Residential Real Estate Values, Claire Sherman Jan 2018

The Impact Of Mass And Active Shooting Incidents On Residential Real Estate Values, Claire Sherman

Honors Theses

Gun control as a response to gun violence is currently at the forefront of political debate in the United States. The foundation of this paper revolves around crime and real estate supported by background literature detailing external effects on real estate prices to set up the framework for the research on mass shootings and residential real estate values. The findings in this paper are based on 73 events involving mass shootings in the United States from 1996 to 2015. I find that the effect of mass shooting events plays a significant role in the decline in real estate values following …


Child Sexploitation: A Study Of Machismo And The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Latin America, Courtney M. Cone Jan 2018

Child Sexploitation: A Study Of Machismo And The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Latin America, Courtney M. Cone

Honors Theses

This thesis attempts to explore how the inextricable relationship between machismo and poverty connects to the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Latin America through predatory behaviors in order to provide insight to anti-trafficking campaigns. The overt Latin American culture of machismo contributes to the discrimination of women and children, enhancing their inherent dependency on men for economic survival. The inevitable pattern of dependency on patriarchal figures out of vulnerability to societal constructions is evident in economic, political and social structures. The pervasiveness of dependency is seen through patterns of violence against women, patterns of child abuse, and patterns of …


Cyber Security And Criminal Justice Programs In The United States: Exploring The Intersections, Brian K. Payne, Lora Hadzhidimova Jan 2018

Cyber Security And Criminal Justice Programs In The United States: Exploring The Intersections, Brian K. Payne, Lora Hadzhidimova

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The study of cyber security is an interdisciplinary pursuit that includes STEM disciplines as well as the social sciences. While research on cyber security appears to be central in STEM disciplines, it is not yet clear how central cyber security and cyber crime is to criminal justice scholarship. In order to examine the connections between cyber security and criminal justice, in this study attention is given to the way that criminal justice scholars have embraced cyber crime research and coursework. Results show that while there are a number of cyber crime courses included in criminal justice majors there are not …


Higher Education And Labor Standards: Adapting To Overtime Regulations At The University Of Mississippi, Elizabeth M. Hocevar Jan 2018

Higher Education And Labor Standards: Adapting To Overtime Regulations At The University Of Mississippi, Elizabeth M. Hocevar

Honors Theses

Recent attempts of amending the Section 13(1) overtime regulations proposed by the Wage and Hour Division in 2016 have placed a strain on universities' budgets and services. As a result, departments on university campuses are home to challenges that affect both employers and employees. I provide a record of the history of Section 13(1) amendments to date in order to establish the context of my thesis. My thesis attempts to observe how various departments at the University of Mississippi have adapted to the new rule that the University has recently adopted. My review of the literature in combination with my …


A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists' Use And Understanding Of Evidence-Based Practice, Emma Kate Thome Jan 2018

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists' Use And Understanding Of Evidence-Based Practice, Emma Kate Thome

Honors Theses

Problem Statement: Prior research on evidence-based practice (EBP) in speech-language pathology is both limited and inconsistent regarding the frequency in which SLPs engage in EBP, their understanding of EBP, and the emphasis that their employers place on EBP. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess SLPs' understanding and use of EBP. In addition, this study investigated the potential barriers SLPs face when attempting to engage in EBP including employer emphasis and opinions toward EBP. Methods: SLPs (n=176) from across the United States participated in an online survey designed to assess their understanding and use of EBP. Participants …


Analyzing The Use Of Expressive Writing Among College Students, Grace Ann Wilbanks Jan 2018

Analyzing The Use Of Expressive Writing Among College Students, Grace Ann Wilbanks

Honors Theses

This is among the first studies to investigate the naturalistic use of expressive writing in college students. To do so, 255 undergraduate students from the University of Mississippi anonymously completed an online survey. Participants first answered basic demographic questions followed by questions assessing their sadness or depression, happiness, and overall adjustment in college. Next, participants responded to questions concerning expressive writing and ways in which they handled demands of college. Finally, respondents then completed a well-researched, standardized measure of depression, anxiety, and stress. Independent-samples t tests revealed that students who engaged in expressive writing demonstrated lower mean levels of sadness …


Atmospherics As A Marketing Tool: The Influence Of The Student Union Dining Atmosphere And Service On Students' Attitudes And Actions, Grayson Beau Huber Jan 2018

Atmospherics As A Marketing Tool: The Influence Of The Student Union Dining Atmosphere And Service On Students' Attitudes And Actions, Grayson Beau Huber

Honors Theses

Atmospherics have been a focus of marketing research for decades following the research of Kotler (1971). Atmospherics research has revolved mostly around retail settings, with some research focusing on dining settings for consumers. Visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile factors of atmospherics have been studied in order to provide the best customer experience. Positive atmospherics also can relate to future buying habits. This study focuses on the topic of dining atmospherics on a college campus. The purpose of this research was to analyze any changes in students' opinions following the renovation of an on-campus dining option. A survey was available to …


Asylum Denied: Barriers To Protection For Mexican Asylum Seekers, Kara Hofheins Jan 2018

Asylum Denied: Barriers To Protection For Mexican Asylum Seekers, Kara Hofheins

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis evaluates the United States’ adherence to international refugee law and the asylum process’s efficacy in relation Mexican asylum seekers fleeing persecution from drug trafficking organizations. It is found that constrictive domestic asylum laws, structural institutional deficiencies, inconsistent standards, and absence of accountability erode the democratic principle of due process and contribute to the debasement of rule of law in The United States. This aggregation of deficiencies constitutes the failure to protect persecuted people and the failure to adhere to international refugee law.


Disaster Medical Preparedness In The Birmingham Metropolitan Community, Angela Hollowell Jan 2018

Disaster Medical Preparedness In The Birmingham Metropolitan Community, Angela Hollowell

All ETDs from UAB

This research study aims to determine the presence of disaster medical preparedness in residents of the Birmingham metropolitan area. A concurrent collection of qualitative and quantitative data analysis was used to assess the perceived risk of a natural disaster, determine the socioeconomic status of residents, evaluate the health needs of residents, and examine the presence of disaster medical preparedness. Face-to-face interviews of research participants were conducted for six weeks at five churches: 6th Avenue Baptist Church, Avondale Church of Christ, Mountain Brook Community Church, Southside Church of God, and True Love Church of Ensley. In analyzing the results of the …


Visual, Attentional, And Cognitive Risk Factors For Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement Among Older Adults, Carrie Huisingh Jan 2018

Visual, Attentional, And Cognitive Risk Factors For Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement Among Older Adults, Carrie Huisingh

All ETDs from UAB

Motor vehicle collisions are a major public health problem for older adults in the United States. In 2013, there were 5,671 older adults killed and an estimated 222,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes. After adjusting for miles driven, the risk of crashing increases rapidly after age 70, nearly equal to that of younger drivers whose crash rate is the highest among all age groups. Driving is a highly complex task that relies on a variety of visual and cognitive functions. A large body of work has demonstrated that drivers with visual sensory impairments and/or higher-order visual-cognitive processing deficits, those who …


Algorithmic Accountability And Individual Rights: A Case Study Analysis, Karina Jaimes Jan 2018

Algorithmic Accountability And Individual Rights: A Case Study Analysis, Karina Jaimes

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Algorithms are becoming widespread and their use is set to expand, but it must be emphasized that, although constructive and transformative, they can also be destructive and counterproductive. Various types of organizations utilize algorithms, including government. The consequences of poorly constructed algorithms could lead to the infringement of citi-zens’ individual rights. Exploring two algorithms as case studies allows us to understand government use of algorithms and the ethics associated with them, especially in relation to the potential for the violation of rights. The application of privacy and anti-discrimination as lenses through which algorithms can be analyzed allows government officials …


Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Beliefs, Prekindergartener’S Self-Regulation And Classroom Quality: Informing Professional Development Programs, Cailin Jane Kerch Jan 2018

Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Beliefs, Prekindergartener’S Self-Regulation And Classroom Quality: Informing Professional Development Programs, Cailin Jane Kerch

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this convergent parallel, mixed methods study was to examine and explore the relationship between subjective teacher beliefs, classroom quality, and pre-kindergartener’s self-regulatory abilities within a publicly funded pre-kindergarten program. Teacher subjective beliefs (beliefs of classroom management, classroom practice, and beliefs of children) were studied operantly using Q-Methodology, in addition to, audio-recorded focus groups to explore the lived experience of teachers within the sample (n = 20). Classroom quality was measured using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and pre-kindergartener’s self-regulatory abilities were studied using pre/post proxy items from the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers, Second Edition …


Examining Factors That Contribute To Motives For Marijuana Use Among African American Adolescents, Vinetra Loette King Jan 2018

Examining Factors That Contribute To Motives For Marijuana Use Among African American Adolescents, Vinetra Loette King

All ETDs from UAB

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit substance by adolescents in the United States. African American adolescents tend to use marijuana at higher rates and suffer from more severe consequences compared to Caucasian adolescents. Additionally, African American adolescents may be more vulnerable to psychosocial factors, such as depression, post-traumatic stress, and associating with substance using peers that may cause them to use marijuana for specific reasons. These vulnerabilities may contribute to African American adolescents using marijuana at a higher rate than their Caucasian counterparts. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of mental health problems …


Effectiveness And Acceptability Of A Robot-Based Social Skills Intervention For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sarah Alberta Koch Jan 2018

Effectiveness And Acceptability Of A Robot-Based Social Skills Intervention For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sarah Alberta Koch

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of a robot- based intervention program designed to improve social-emotional skills in school-age children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Twenty-two children with ASD and mild-to-no cognitive impairment were randomized to intervention (n = 11) or waitlist control groups (n = 11) for eight weeks. Participants who completed the robot-based intervention displayed decreased overall engagement from baseline to post-intervention, based on an eye-tracking measure. Nonetheless, they reported high favorability ratings at post-intervention, including consistently high ratings of happiness, increased comfort ratings, and only slightly decreased ratings of desire for future interactions across time. …


Apoe E4 Carrier Status And Prestroke Cognitive Function In A Case/Cohort Sample Of Incident Stroke From The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Study, Caroline Lassen-Greene Jan 2018

Apoe E4 Carrier Status And Prestroke Cognitive Function In A Case/Cohort Sample Of Incident Stroke From The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Study, Caroline Lassen-Greene

All ETDs from UAB

This study explores the role of ApoE e4 in cognitive function and incident stroke to better understand the risk of cognitive decline associated with both normal aging and dementia. ApoE e4 is a genetic risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and may have detrimental effects on cerebrovascular integrity by increasing the risk of acquiring cerebrovascular abnormalities such as white matter lesions (WMLs), infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds. Subtle cognitive impairments may reflect these clinically undetected brain vascular pathologies that also are associated with increased likelihood of incident stroke. Results of the study revealed that ApoE e4 was associated with …


Effectiveness Of A Robot Social Skills Therapy For Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jenna Brooke Lebersfeld Jan 2018

Effectiveness Of A Robot Social Skills Therapy For Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jenna Brooke Lebersfeld

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined the effectiveness of a robot-based social skills intervention for school-age children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across a range of cognitive ability. Sixteen children were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 8), which received the robot intervention, or a control group (n = 8), which played non-emotion games with the robot. All participants reported high levels of enjoyment, motivation, and willingness to have future robot interaction sessions, indicating that the robot intervention is engaging and interesting for this population. However, there was no difference between groups on measures of emotion identification or generalized social skills. …


Neuropsychological Functioning And Return-To-Learn Among Adolescents With Concussion, Jilian Alyse O'Neill Jan 2018

Neuropsychological Functioning And Return-To-Learn Among Adolescents With Concussion, Jilian Alyse O'Neill

All ETDs from UAB

Many children who experience concussions are faced with injury-related neurocognitive deficits. The reintegration of these children back into sports is controversial, yet little is known empirically about the effects concussions have on school re-entry and subsequent academic performance. Concussion symptom assessment instruments such as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool – 3rd Edition (SCAT-3) are often used to guide decisions regarding the return to sports and re-integration to school; however, knowledge regarding the relationship between this tool and aspects of cognitive functioning is limited. Return to school, often termed “return to learn” in the literature, is a relatively new phenomenon that …


Neighborhood Disorder And Risky Sexual Behaviors In Adolescents, Catheryn Orihuela Jan 2018

Neighborhood Disorder And Risky Sexual Behaviors In Adolescents, Catheryn Orihuela

All ETDs from UAB

This present study addresses the effect of neighborhood decay and a need for security on early sexual initiation, use of contraception, number of sexual partners, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI). As part of a larger investigation of adolescent health (Healthy Passages) the sample included 1,253 youth who were recruited from 5th grade classrooms in public schools in Birmingham, Alabama and followed throughout adolescence [1]. At baseline (Mage=11 years), trained observers completed assessments of neighborhood decay and security; geocoded census tract data yielded a composite measure of concentrated poverty; and youth and parents reported on their demographics and family …


A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating A Pediatric To Adult Care Transition Program For Sickle Cell Disease, Ardie Vanessa Pack-Mabien Jan 2018

A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating A Pediatric To Adult Care Transition Program For Sickle Cell Disease, Ardie Vanessa Pack-Mabien

All ETDs from UAB

A MIXED METHODS STUDY EVALUATING A PEDIATRIC TO ADULT CARE TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE ARDIE VANESSA PACK-MABIEN SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT Sickle cell disease is a potentially life-threatening hereditary hematological disorder. Transition from pediatric to adult care is a challenging process for many adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. These challenges involve the adolescent, young adult, family caregiver, health care provider, and health care system. To address the challenges, a limited number of sickle cell centers have developed transition programs to facilitate the transition process. However, research on transition programs is sparse. To address this gap, …


The Relationship Of Cognitive Decline And Impairment To The Ad8 And Activities Of Living In The Regards Sample, Jesse S. Passler Jan 2018

The Relationship Of Cognitive Decline And Impairment To The Ad8 And Activities Of Living In The Regards Sample, Jesse S. Passler

All ETDs from UAB

The AD8 is a sensitive and specific screening measure of mild dementia, although less research exists pertaining to its use as a self-report measure and in non-clinical samples. This study examined the relationship of incident cognitive impairment and cognitive decline over a 10-year span to self-reported dementia symptoms and functional impairment in the national, population-based, longitudinal, and prospective REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) sample (N = 14,453). A validated cutoff of ≥ 2 symptoms endorsed on the AD8 was used for dementia status. Functional status was determined by 5 activities of daily living (ADL) and 7 …


Examining The Role Of Injustice Perception In A Multiethnic Sample Of Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain, Terence Matthew Penn Jan 2018

Examining The Role Of Injustice Perception In A Multiethnic Sample Of Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain, Terence Matthew Penn

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is among the most disabling, costly, and painful conditions worldwide. In the United States, there is consistent evidence that the burden of chronic pain and associated disability disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Blacks (“Blacks”) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (“Whites”), with Blacks reporting greater pain frequency, severity, and disability. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that perceptions of injustice related to personal pain or injury is a crucial risk factor for poor outcomes in chronic pain, including persistent musculoskeletal pain disorders. Although racial differences have been reported for multiple chronic pain conditions, relatively minimal attention has been given to potential …


The Influence Of Treatment Expectation On Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Tdcs)-Induced Suppression Of Craving And Eating, Mary Katherine Osborn Ray Jan 2018

The Influence Of Treatment Expectation On Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Tdcs)-Induced Suppression Of Craving And Eating, Mary Katherine Osborn Ray

All ETDs from UAB

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technique with promise to improve numerous diseases, but results are inconsistent. Possible explanations for the conflicting evidence include: 1) expectation effects arising from discernable real vs. sham tDCS conditions, and 2) uncontrolled individual differences related to the outcome variables. Therefore, we conducted a study that systematically assessed the putative action of tDCS to suppress food craving and eating while controlling for expectation effects and baseline individual differences. N=74 adults were randomized to one of four groups: Told Fake/Got Fake (participants were told they were receiving fake and received fake tDCS), Told Fake/Got …


Cortical-Subcortical Functional Connectivity Of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jose Omar Maximo Jan 2018

Cortical-Subcortical Functional Connectivity Of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jose Omar Maximo

All ETDs from UAB

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Studies examining functional brain networks have risen exponentially over the last decade and have characterized ASD as a disorder of altered brain network connectivity and organization. These studies typically rely on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal correlations between two or more regions in the cerebral cortex and make inferences about brain connectivity. However, brain connectivity differences might span subcortical regions such as the thalamus and basal ganglia as well; and only a few studies have examined cortico-subcortical connectivity in ASD. …


Effect Of Occupational Demands On Driving Safety In Surgical Residents, Benjamin Mcmanus Jan 2018

Effect Of Occupational Demands On Driving Safety In Surgical Residents, Benjamin Mcmanus

All ETDs from UAB

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Examination recently revised and implemented duty hour standards that increased maximum duty hours for first year medical residents and reduced the minimal amount of time off between duty periods for all medical residents. The new standards were introduced largely without consideration of empirical research on objectively measured occupational health and safety factors for medical residents, particularly in contexts where their safety may be at-risk such as driving. Little work has examined driving performance in medical residents at multiple periods surrounding duty, including in reference to off-duty driving performance as a baseline. Certain work-related factors …