Digital Commons Network^™

Rat Hind Limb Nociceptive Withdrawal Response Depends On Initial Paw Position But Not Stimulus Location, Kimberly Seamon

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

There have been numerous studies in non-human animals on the effect of stimulus location on the NWR and at least a few studies that address the role of initial posture. However, all of these studies were conducted in anesthetized, decerebrated, or spinalized mammals. Since descending modulation and long loop reflexes may influence the NWR, the anesthetized spinalized/decerebrated animal may not be an adequate model of normal animals. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of the stimulus location and initial paw position on the direction and magnitude of the nociceptive withdrawal response to heat stimulus …

Structural Comparison Of Tonb-Dependent Receptors In Bradyrhizobium Japonicum, Allie R. Casto

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Soybean is one of the leading crops grown in the United States. Nitrogen fertilizers are widely used in soybean production to increase crop yields. An alternative to nitrogen fertilizers is the symbiotic relationship between soybean and a species of nitrogen-fixing Gram-negative soil bacteria, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The bacterium infects the roots of the soybean, forming nodules that perform nitrogen fixation. This study involves analysis of TonB-dependent receptors, intermembrane proteins responsible for iron uptake and, in some cases, symbiosis in B. japonicum. A comparison of sequence alignments and 3D structure predictions was used to identify potential symbiosis-specific structural domains within …

The Influence Of Lay Concepts And Causal Theories On Definitions Of Mental Illness And Social Outcomes, Kallen A. Bynum

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Lay concepts and causal attribution theories enable lay people to make sense of their social situations, more specifically, their encounters with those suffering from mental disorders by providing informational frameworks and explanations upon which to interpret their circumstances. Thus, lay concepts and causal theories about mental illness play a role in beliefs and behaviors toward those individuals. The current study surveyed 113 undergraduate students to investigate relations between knowledge of mental illness as well as causal attributions and explicit stigma associated with depression and schizophrenia, such as perceived dangerousness and desire for social distance. Scores for schizophrenia and depression were …

The Evolution Of Women In Business And Female Leadership In The Business Environment, Olivia M. Deputy

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper analyzes the evolution of women in business and female leadership in the business environment. In spite of the tremendous progress made towards gender equality in the workplace and politics in recent decades, the revolution has stalled and internal and external factors remain which prevent women from achieving positions of high leadership.

The Effect Of The Dodd-Frank Act On Risk In The Financial Sector, Beatrix S. Haddon

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as the Dodd-Frank Act, was passed in 2010 in an attempt to increase transparency and accountability in the financial system. The purpose of this thesis is to discover what effect, if any, the Dodd-Frank Act had on both systematic risk and total volatility in the financial sector. My study shows that while the legislation significantly reduced systematic risk in only one out of the seven industries within the financial sector in the time period I analyzed, it successfully reduced total volatility in all seven industries.

Cybersecurity Disclosure Effectiveness On Public Companies, Jingjing Jin

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

On October 13, 2011, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued a guidance on corporate disclosure of cyber-risks and information security breaches (SEC, 2011). To determine if a company disclosed information on the breach, I reviewed the company’s risk factors, management’s discussion and analysis of financial conditions and results of operations, description of the business, legal proceedings, financial statement disclosures, and disclosure controls and procedures. However, the disclosure regulations from this guidance are vague and thus do little to force disclosure of valuable information. The guidance has led to companies disclosing ambiguous, generic risk factors that can be applied to …

Causes Of Third Party Military Intervention In Intrastate Conflicts, Hailey Bennett

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Since the conclusion of World War II, the number of expansive interstate wars has decreased while devastating intrastate wars and conflicts have increased exponentially. The Cold War ushered in an era of international stability in the bipolar balance of power, but proxy wars, wars of succession and independence, genocide and civil war made the era anything but peaceful. These conflicts proved to be breading grounds for third party military interventions, which increased simultaneously. In this thesis, I attempted to determine what factors encouraged third party states to intervene militarily in the affairs of other states in the post-World War II …

Methods For Coating Quartz Crystals, William Patrick

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The goal of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness a procedure that can be used to coat quartz crystal microbalance crystals with titanium dioxide. A successful suspension was created by suspending titanium dioxide powder in poly(acrlic) acid and mixed in an ultra-sonication bath. By utilizing a spin-coater, the TiO₂ suspension was successfully dispensed onto a QCM crystal and verified using a surface profiler and microscope. However, after QCM testing, there was no evidence that supports the TiO₂ precursor aiding in photocatalytic reactions.

A Selected Survey Of Sacred And Secular Music From The English Reformation, With Emphasis On Pedagogical Applications For The High School Choral Classroom, Caroline Morse

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this project was to examine the historical and applied performance aspects of music from the English Reformation, and to explore and explain the pedagogical methods of teaching this music to developing musicians in high school. I was responsible for organizing, programming, rehearsing, and conducting a recital featuring several works of sacred English, sacred Latin, and madrigal/secular songs. In addition, I was responsible for researching and presenting a lecture recital on the Tudor Dynasty, and the effect the monarchy had on the publication of music during 1517-1648.

I developed a lecture recital based upon age appropriate choral pieces …

Health Care Service Disparity: Factors Associated With The Distribution Of Primary Care Physicians, Robert L. Morgan

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Primary care physicians operate on the front lines of health care. Although primary care physicians play a critical role in improving health outcomes, workforce trends in the United States show a growing shortage of primary care physicians as demand for primary care rises. In conveying the importance of primary care physicians, the worsening physician shortage, the inequitable distribution of providers, and the lackluster institutional response thus far, this paper calls into question the effectiveness of current indicators used to identify underserved areas and provide appropriate government assistance. Through the use of data from the 2010 census and American Medical Association …

The Impact Of Interactive Music Therapy On The Pediatric Oncology Population, Kristin Moon Orrigo

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

It is an unfortunate truth that a child with cancer will experience pain or anxiety during their battle with illness. Research shows that Interactive Music Therapy is extremely effective at the bedside of hospitalized pediatric cancer patients in reducing pain (Thrane, 2013; Huang, Good, Zauszniewski, 2010; Potvin, Bradt, Kesslick, 2015; Naylor, Kingsnorth, Lamont, McKenever, 2011; Tanriverdi, Aydemir, 2013) and anxiety (Callaghan, Dun, Baron, Barry, 2012; Thrane, 2013; Potvin et al., 2015; Docherty, Cherven, Stegenga, Ferguson, Roll, Stickler, Haase, 2012; Robb et al.,. 2008; Kemper, Bouhairie, Martin, Woods 2008; Tanriverdi, Aydemir, 2013). In cancer centers, the demand is quickly growing for …

Ability Of Skin Bacteria On The Panamanian Frog Species, Craugastor Fitzingeri, To Inhibit The Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis, Tiffany N. Bridges

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

An emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is leading to global amphibian declines and is threatening the biodiversity of amphibians. Bd susceptibility varies among individuals, species, and populations perhaps due to defensive mechanisms such as symbiotic skin microbes. Some species of amphibians such as Craugastor fitzingeri, a terrestrial frog native to Central America, continue to persist in Bd-positive environments in Panama. My study focused on identifying antifungal bacterial isolates and determining the culturability of the bacterial community on 15 individuals of C. fitzingeri. Morphologically distinct isolates were challenged against Bd in …

Summing It Up: Comparing And Contrasting Constructivist-Based Teaching Practices, Megan T. Kohanik

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast various aspects of focused teaching practices supported by constructivist learning theories in a mathematics classroom. This paper will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of three focused teaching practices and connect the results back to current literature in mathematics education. The three focused teaching practices observed were 1) involving students in classroom discussion (Discussion-Based Classroom), 2) implementing a flipped model of instruction (Flipped Classroom), and 3) incorporating problems related to real-world contexts (Real-World Applications Classroom). Each focused teaching practice corresponded to one secondary or post-secondary classroom that was observed over the …

Lexicons Of Colonialism: A Grounded Theory Examination Of Indian And Supreme Court Definitions Of Sovereignty, Jacob Daniel Bosley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Sovereignty has served as an important political principle in the United States in both its founding and its relations with Native peoples. While the United States signed hundreds of treaties with Native peoples that recognize tribal nations as separate political entities, the political status and legitimacy of Native peoples has constantly come into question. Sovereignty has been cited throughout America’s founding documents and major Supreme Court opinions as the measure of political authority used to judge the status of Native peoples relative to the United States overriding political authority. The precedent established by these citations of sovereignty remains unclear, and …

Biophysical Characterization Of Naturally Occurring Titin M10 Mutations, Michael William Rudloff

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The giant human muscle proteins titin and obscurin are important for sarcomeric organization, stretch response, and sarcomerogenesis in myofibrils. The extreme C-terminus of titin (the M10 domain) binds to the N-terminus of obscurin (the Ig1 domain) in the M-line, an interaction that is critical for sarcomere stability. The high-resolution structure of human M10 has been solved, along with M10 bound to one of its two known molecular targets, the Ig1 domain of obscurin-like protein. Multiple M10 mutations are linked to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2J (LGMD2J) and tibial muscular dystrophy (TMD), however the effect of the M10 mutations on protein …

"Sacred Spaces Of The Stage": Proclaiming Mennonite Identity Through Theatre, Benjamin J. Stoll

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The focus of this contextual and reflective essay is to explore the relationship between the medium of theatre and the conveyance of religious tenets, as well as the methods by which to do so in a manner beyond the rhetorical or didactic. By tracing specifically the historical interplay between theatre and the Mennonite denomination of Protestant Christianity, this essay argues for an effective and relevant correlation between the theatre and the church, for the purposes of understanding human nature, giving voice to universal issues of heart and spirit, and demonstrating implicit examples of creed—in this case, the question of peace. …

The Medical Response To The Black Death, Joseph A. Legan

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper discusses the medical response to the Black Death in both Europe and the Middle East. The Black Death was caused by a series of bacterial strands collectively known as Yersinia pestis. The Plague originated in the Mongolian Steppes. It was spread westward by the east-west trading system. Once it arrived in the Crimea in 1346, Italian merchants helped spread it throughout the Mediterranean. Medicine in Europe and the Middle East were centered on Galen’s theory of humors. There were many religious explanations for the Plague, but the main medical explanation was the spread of bad air, or …

The Professional Writer's Many Personae: Creative Nonfiction, Popular Writing, Speechwriting, And Personal Narrative, Rosemary Girard

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This book discusses in detail four genres of professional writing that are interwoven but also distinct: creative nonfiction, popular writing, speechwriting, and personal narrative. As such, it is organized in four chapters—one for each genre of professional writing. Each chapter is then broken down further into three sections—research, rhetorical analysis, and creative work. The research sections of each chapter are didactic, providing an understanding of what the genre is, what unique characteristics it has, and how a writer might go about writing a piece in that style. The rhetorical analysis sections look critically at a published piece of writing in …

Multimodal Inputs And Modularity Of The Inferior Colliculus Prior To Audition., Joseph A. Balsamo

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A fully functional nervous system requires assimilation of sensory modalities to adequately interpret stimuli and determine appropriate motor responses. Two such regions responsible for multimodal integration are found in the auditory system, the cochlear nucleus (CN) and the inferior colliculus (IC). The lateral cortex of the IC (LCIC) in particular receives a diverse multimodal input array to discrete modular/extramodular zones. Staining for certain neurochemicals, including GAD, a marker for GABAergic neurons, reveal this compartmentalized LCIC organization. The present study utilizes fluorescent anterograde tracttracing techniques to determine the development of a somatosensory brainstem projection from the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5), to …

Insomniac Of The Soil: A Collection Of Poetry And Essays, Sarah E. Golibart

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

“Insomniac of the Soil” is a homage to a landscape that has deeply informed Sarah Golibart's life and her artistic voice – the tidewater flatlands of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay peninsula where her family lives and where Golibart has worked on farms since high school. Both her poems and essays are earthy, imagistic, and grounded – quite literally – in the soil as well as in a sensibility of ecological ethics and sustainability. “Insomniac of the Soil” is also a love song to the fervent and fallow cycles of the soil.

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Related To Emergency Contraception Among College Students, Sarah Donohue

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

More than 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Though recent regulations have expanded access to EC, the numerous policy changes, lack of knowledge, and unreliable sources of information regarding EC prevent women from utilizing the benefits that EC can offer.

The purpose of this study was to assess students’ knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraception (EC) and to determine if there is a relationship between sexual behaviors and the use of EC. Two hundred and twelve undergraduate students from James Madison University completed an anonymous 29-question survey regarding EC.

Results indicated that students were reasonably knowledgeable regarding …

The First Year: The Relationship Between Loneliness & Wellness Among College Freshmen, Isabel M. Jimenez-Bush

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Loneliness is common in the majority of first-semester college students, but if left unaddressed, long-term loneliness may cause physical health problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived loneliness and physical health among college freshmen at James Madison University using a Qualtrics survey. The relationship between loneliness and health was assessed using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to gauge physical health and the UCLA Loneliness Survey (UCLA-LS) to gauge perceived loneliness. Contrary to the hypothesis, results indicated there was no relationship between loneliness and physical health. It was thought the BRFSS was a …

How To Teach Hamlet, Rachel A. Wolfe

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This thesis is a discussion of the history and previous methods of teaching Hamlet followed by a unit plan and lesson plans that are grounded in a more modern understanding of how to teach dramatic literature.

Students As Neighbors: Utilizing Dialogue And Deliberation To Manage Town-Gown Tensions, Courtney C. Herb, Lauren A. Holder, Alison L. Steed

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The integration of the university and its students into the broader Harrisonburg community has promoted increased interaction amongst JMU students, JMU faculty and staff, and community members. Navigating this complex relationship can be challenging and, in recent years, this relationship has become increasingly strained. The following research seeks to cultivate processes that aid in its improvement. The research finds that utilizing dialogue and deliberation as an approach to designing public process is a promising approach to mending and maintaining the relationship between JMU students and the broader Harrisonburg community, as well as to addressing town-gown tension at large. The research …

The Synthesis And Study Of The Biological And Colloidal Properties Of Bolaamphiphiles, Louis M. Damiano

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Over the past decade, antibiotic resistant bacteria have caused infections in patients throughout the world.^[1] The rise in antibiotic resistance is primarily due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. ^[1] To counter the increase in antibiotic resistance, infection control mechanisms have been aggressively researched in recent years. In particular, drug delivery has become a focal point to fight antibiotic resistant infections.^[2] Amphiphiles have a wide range of applications in the clinical setting, including the ability to inhibit bacterial transference because of their bactericidal activity. ^[3] Bolaamphiphiles are a subclass of amphiphiles that possess two or more hydrophilic …

Characterization Of Cell-Type Specific Responses In C. Elegans Experiencing Misfolded Protein Stress: How Do Some Cells Save Themselves While Others Die?, Courtney A. Matson, Erin N. Wallace

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

To maintain viability, cells must resolve misfolded protein stress; the inability to do so often triggers cell death, most notably in neurons during neurodegenerative disease. The NAC is a highly conserved translational chaperone essential for protein folding and localization to organelles throughout the cell. In C. elegans, depletion of the NAC initiates misfolded protein stress specifically in the endoplasmic reticulum, inducing a response that upregulates the HSP-4 chaperone in an attempt to prevent cell death. This upregulation is robust but not uniform, and deficient in regions containing neurons. We are characterizing this non-uniform stress response to determine if HSP-4 upregulation …

Public Relations Promotion To Advance Child Reading And Literacy, Rosemarie Mcginty

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A literacy event was held on JMU's campus in order to increase literacy in Harrisonburg children. This article goes through the campaign process, from planning the event to the evaluation. Third grade children were able to benefit from this event and the learning experience is documented here.

Structural Studies Of The Ig58 Domain Of The Giant Muscle Protein Obscurin, Matthew C. Oehler

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Obscurin (720-900 kD) is a giant sarcomeric signaling protein that is the only known link

between the cytoskeleton and the surrounding membrane structure. Mutations to obscurin

and to obscurin binding partners have been linked to human muscle diseases such as

hypertrophic cardiomyopathies and muscular dystrophy. These diseases likely occur due

to the abrogation of specific molecular interactions necessary for suitable function. To

more fully understand how specific mutations lead to disease, here we solve the highresolution

structure of obscurin Ig58. The literature shows that an Arg8Gln mutation to

the Ig58 domain of obscurin is associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Chemical …

The Effect Of Global And Local Processing In The Attentional Blink, Ashley Kalavritinos

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The attentional blink (AB) is an individual’s inability to perceive the second of two targets presented in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). The constructs of global and local attention have been a principle concern in modern psychology. The perception of an object as an overall form is referred to as the global aspect, while the separate parts compose the local aspect. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the following factors affect the characteristics of an individual’s AB: (1) When target one (T1) and target two (T2) were the same or different letters (2) Whether T1 was …

Identification Of The Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec (Sccmec) Element In Viral Fractions From Environmental Samples, Emily M. Pelto

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Antibiotic resistance attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a growing concern over the last decade in both the healthcare and agricultural environment. This resistance is encoded by the gene mecA that is located on a mosaic, mobile genetic element called the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) element. It is proposed that the transfer of the SCCmec element and resulting spread of resistance occur by transduction, the transfer of genetic material from bacterium to bacterium by a bacteriophage. Specifically, it is hypothesized that the transduction of this resistance is occurring in the agricultural setting. To test …