Digital Commons Network^™

Food Waste In The United States: Issues, Ethics, And Solutions, Patrick Erickson

Honors College Theses

One-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. In North America and Europe, 280-300 kg of food is wasted per capita each year, with more than 40% of the losses occurring at the retail and consumer level. In this paper, I compare the amount of food wasted in the United States to the amounts wasted by different societies around the world, and discuss the reasons for the food waste, and the consequences that the waste has on our society, in terms of resource consumption and production of pollution. The pragmatic philosophy of Richard Rorty states …

Impact Of Flow Direction On Local Flow Behavior In Biologically-Inspired Flow Passages, Derrick Dewayne Herrin

Honors College Theses

ABSTRACT

A computational fluid dynamics model was utilized to study the effect of flow direction on local flow behavior in biologically-inspired microscale flow networks. Biologically-inspired flow networks have been found to offer numerous advantages when compared with parallel flow networks, particularly in thermal management applications. Flow behavior was examined for a range of bifurcation angles and laminar inlet Reynolds numbers. The computational model was validated with existing theoretical solutions and verified for grid independence. As the bifurcation angle increased, the pressure drop, and thus pumping power, across the biologically-inspired flow networks increased. In addition, as the inlet Reynolds number increased, …

The Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health: A Research Review, Kaylani Benson

Honors College Theses

This research review looks at the effects exercise and physical activity have on mental health. The results of this review are based upon the results of the formal studies that have been included. These studies are Benefits of Exercise on Physical and Mental Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Exercise Effects on Mental Health of Preschool Children, The Effect of Morning Exercise on Mental Health of Female Police Employees, Exercise and Mental Health of People Living with HIV: A Systemic Review, Exercise Improves Physical Function and Mental Health of Brain Cancer Survivors: Two Exploratory Case Studies, Effect of Yogic and Physical …

What 2017 Holds For Technology In Dentistry, Arshi Siddiqui

Honors College Theses

Dentistry in the United States is a field that grows and expands based on the needs of its consumers. This paper aims to highlight this very versatility through the analysis of specific demographics of dental practitioners, consumers, and the changes in technology that are predicted for the future of dentistry. With the rise of Generation X and the Millennial Generation, dentistry will undergo many changes alongside the rise of technology throughout the recent years. More evidently, the population is undergoing a very seismic shift in the way they view themselves. Because people are harboring more of an individualistic mindset, the …

The Analytical Methods Used To Detect Fluoride In Dental Pharmaceuticals, Amber Aboona

Honors College Theses

My thesis, “The Analytical Methods Used to Detect Fluoride in Dental Pharmaceuticals” discusses the various analytical chemistry methods which are incorporated in the field of dentistry in order to detect fluoride in pharmaceuticals such as toothpaste and mouthwash. The oral cavity is exposed to various forms of bacteria, many of which enter through the consumption of foods and drinks that contain sugar and starch. The side effects of fluoride have been a controversial component of oral healthcare, however, many benefits have been discussed. Water fluoridation has been one of many significant methods of incorporating fluoride into the oral cavity, enhancing …

Garments With A Message: Developing An Evening-Wear Collection Which Conveys An Underlying Message Of Social And Life Issues, Kiana S. Carn

Honors College Theses

This research provides some insight to multiple social issues in the American women society and using elements of those issues to develop a collection of evening wear garments. The collection will consist of a 4-look evening wear group, which attempts to represent each code of dress in this design market: cocktail, prom, bridesmaid and bridal, that will be constructed using context that correlates with that specific garment’s relative social issue. The following issues will be discussed: the millennials lack of knowledge when it comes to appropriate dress code for events, prom attire through the social media context, the real cost …

Comparison Of Self-Esteem, Body Image, And Motives Of Physical Activity In College Students In Group And Solo Exercise, Isabella Mary Axelsson 5075558, Jody Langdon

Honors College Theses

Previous research has shown significant differences in the intensity of exercise performance and perceived body image between individuals with and without an exercise partner (Plante et al., 2010). Little research has been found which has compared the psychological factors between those who exercise with a group class and those who exercise alone. The purpose of this research study was to compare self-esteem, body image, and physical activity motives between individuals who engage in group exercise and those who exercise alone. It was expected that self-esteem, motivation and body esteem would be significantly higher in those that participate in group exercise …

A Geophysical Investigation Of Stratigraphy And Structure On St. Catherines Island, Georgia, Anne M. Delua

Honors College Theses

Geophysical tools were used to investigate potential structural and stratigraphic pathways of the salt water intrusion that is affecting the surficial aquifer on St. Catherines Island, Georgia. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical tool that uses electromagnetic waves to view the subsurface. GPR is used for a variety of applications stratigraphically, biologically, and anthropogenically. GPR electromagnetic waves react to changes in density and composition and type and percentage of pore fluids in sediment and rock. GPR waves also react to interfaces including fractures and faults. GPR waves exhibit attenuation and decreased return signal in materials such as clay. Fresh …

The Attitudes And Behaviors Of Current Medical Students Towards Business Education And Training, Alea F. Simmons, Steven Charlier

Honors College Theses

Medical students often look into owning their own practice as an option for their career. However, many of them do not acquire the proper training for owning and operating a business, and ultimately end up making costly mistakes. Thus, the purpose of this study is to gauge how medical students perceive the importance of business education and training. Based on survey data from 137 current medical students from across the United States, our study found that the vast majority of medical students believe that business education and training is valuable. However, today’s MD/MBA programs do not appear to meet the …

Hannibal And Scipio's War: The Second Punic War, Michael J. Elmore

Honors College Theses

The Second Punic War (218-201 BC), setting Rome against its rival state Carthage, is remembered because of the strategic maneuverings between Hannibal of Carthage and Scipio of Rome which would determine the master of the Mediterranean, laying the ground works for eventual plans for empire. Rome would eventually beat Carthage and historians since antiquity have tried to understand how Rome did so. Nigel Bagnall, in his book on the second Punic war describes the war in its entirety, making it a good overview. Polybius, a source written during the time of the Third Punic War, is one of the main …

Differences In Mental Health Education Across Baby Boomers, Generation X, And Millennials, Ashlyn M. Avera

Honors College Theses

There is no denying that mental illness has gained a strong prevalence in the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five adults in the United States experiences a mental illness in any given year. Although mental health stigmas have played a role in the past, it does not mean they must continue to play the same role in the future. Research is now looking toward ways to decrease mental health stigma through increasing mental health knowledge. This study examines the starting point for which a society becomes literate in mental health. Using a …

The Interommatidial Bristle Variability Of Diptera, Kimberly Palmer

Honors College Theses

Insects of the order Diptera are a popular biological model for understanding morphological trait evolution. One area of particular interest is the development of the compound eyes. While the development of ommatidia and photoreceptors has been thoroughly studied in this case, little attention has been paid to the interommatidial bristles (IOBs) present on the eyes of some dipteran families. A preliminary survey suggested that these bristles exhibit high variability among IOB families on multiple taxonomic levels and are not uniformly present or absent in any suborder of the Diptera. To confirm this observation, I conducted a literature search to …

The Loaded Squat, Gianluca Scerri

Honors College Theses

Although torque on the knee joints and it’s various supporting structures has been shown to increase when an individual allows for their knees to track farther over their toes, this action alone should not stop an individual from performing a squat, because of a possible fear of “damaging” their knees. Instead, the individual should take three main aspects of proper squat technique into consideration, in order to maximize their squat potential using a barbell. These include: the force being placed upon their lumbar spine and the stability of the trunk, proper ankle dorsiflexion, and adequate knee flexion.

This thesis will …

Homless Communities: The Las Vegas Strip, Sarah Werman

Honors College Theses

Homelessness is defined as having no set place to sleep. It includes those sleeping literally outside, those staying in a shelter or vehicle, and those living at a friend’s home, or in a daily, weekly, or month to month rental. The number of homeless in the United States is staggering; there were 630,840 declared homeless people in the United States in 2012 (Utah 2012), a figure that doesn’t include the less visible homeless, such as those staying with friends or in unstable rentals. This study aims to bring more attention and understanding to the homeless community on the Las Vegas …

Racial Microaggressions On An Online Anonymous Platform, Navneesh Pandher

Honors College Theses

In sociology there has been an increase amount of scholarly attention devoted to the microaggressions as a theoretical construct. Efforts have been devoted towards understanding the themes, track the progress of the term to its modern day use, the different forms that microaggressions take, and the consequences to individuals that suffer in these encounters. Typically, microaggression research is centered around interviews with minorities but there is minimal investigation into the presentation of these encounters on online platforms where users can maintain an anonymous identity. A content analysis with 5 codes was conducted of a blog that is open to anonymous …

Locomotion And Skeletal Morphology Of Late Cretaceous Mosasaur, Tylosaurus Proriger, Jesse A. Carpenter

Honors College Theses

Mosasaurs (Reptilia: Squamata) are apex marine predators from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian to Maastrichtian) epicontinental seas of North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. From previous studies, it has been suggested that this group trends towards increased rib compactness, lengthening and increased posterior inclination of neural spines of intermediate and terminal caudal vertebrae to support a caudal fluke, and a transition from anguilliform to carangiform locomotion, closer to thunniform in pelagic adapted species. This study examined multiple Tylosaurus specimens using centrum length/width (CL/CW) and width/height (CW/CH) ratios along with neural spine height and angle of posterior inclination to (1) describe the …

Is Students’ Knowledge Of The Student Conduct Code Associated With Their Conduct Code-Breaking Behaviors On Campus?, Joy D. Bonner

Honors College Theses

Annually colleges and universities spend countless hours updating their student codes of conduct, but is this added time worth the hassle if students continue to break the code? The purpose of this study was to examine the effects a student’s knowledge of a university’s code of conduct may have on the amount of code-breaking behaviors committed on campus. A survey was administered to students at Georgia Southern University analyzing students’ knowledge and perceptions of academic dishonesty and plagiarism on campus. Each participant was asked a series of questions analyzing their knowledge of the code, its sanctions, as well as the …

Developing Tools For A Precision Measurement Of Newton's Gravitational Constant Using Atom Interferometry, Elizabeth Ashwood

Honors College Theses

We propose a new atom interferometry scheme for making a precision measurement of Newton's Gravitational constant (Big G) using NASA's Cold-Atom Laboratory which is scheduled to be deployed to the International Space Station in 2017. The proposed interferometer consists of splitting a harmonically confined Bose-Einstein condensate into multiple pieces. In a perfect harmonic potential, all of the pieces come to rest at the same time, at which point the harmonic trap is turned off. These initially motionless condensate clouds then accumulate different phases due to the relative velocity they develop caused by the gravitational attraction of a nearby source mass. …

The Effects Of Static Stretching On Pennation Angle And Muscle Power Production In The Triceps Surae Complex, Lacey G. Dennis

Honors College Theses

Many studies have examined how power is affected by static stretching. However, little research has been completed to examine why the muscle power production is affected by static stretching. The purpose of this study is to see the correlation of how pennation angle (PA) and muscle power production (MPP) is affected by a static stretching protocol. For the methodology, PA of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle will be measured using Terason ultrasound machine. After the PA is measured participants will perform a vertical jump on a force plate while utilizing a Vertec, to determine the height of their jump …

Narcissism And Short-Term Mating Attempts, Rebecca E. Burchette

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to measure the behavioral choice of narcissists when presented with an opportunity for short-term or long-term mating in an online simulation. Participants were randomly assigned to either a short-term mating (STM) or long-term mating (LTM) condition in which they saw women that were interested in “casual” or “lasting, loving” relationships. Participants had the option of emailing as many women as they liked. However, there was no significant moderation found.

Network Modeling Of Infectious Disease: Transmission, Control And Prevention, Christina M. Chandler

Honors College Theses

Many factors come into play when it comes to the transmission of infectious diseases. In disease control and prevention, it is inevitable to consider the general population and the relationships between individuals as a whole, which calls for advanced mathematical modeling approaches.

We will use the concept of network flow and the modified Ford-Fulkerson algorithm to demonstrate the transmission of infectious diseases over a given period of time. Through our model one can observe what possible measures should be taken or improved upon in the case of an epidemic. We identify key nodes and edges in the resulted network, which …

An Examination Of Goal Orientation Between Genders – An Exploratory Study, Amanda M. Boyd

Honors College Theses

Goal orientation is defined as the perceptual-cognitive frameworks that determine how an individual approaches, interprets, and responds to achievement situations (Janssen & Van Yperen, 2004). Goal orientation refers to the reasons an individual engages in an activity and the goals he or she sets to define success (D’Lima et al., 2014). Research has shown that there are gender differences when examining goal orientation. However, little research has been found that has examined this within the millennial generation. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the differences between male and female millennial college students on goal orientation. The …

Not So Affordable Healthcare, Ashlee Charles

Honors College Theses

Rising healthcare cost in the United States has created a need to understand how a lack of healthcare coverage is decreasing women’s quality of life and leading to negative health outcomes. Though the goal of the 2010 Affordable Care Act is to give more Americans access to affordable health insurance and to reduce the growth in health care spending, it still remains unaffordable for many Americans. The purpose of this study was to identify what ecological factors impede and/or promote the quality of life for medically uninsured women. Through a focus group, participants shared information on how living without health …

Motivating Students With Different Needs, Elizabeth L. Boyd

Honors College Theses

The study that was conducted focused on the similarities and differences in the way the teachers of gifted students, the teachers of students with special needs, and the teachers who teach on­-level students, motivate their students. The teachers that were interviewed will teach students from one or more of the different ability levels, in order to achieve a range of data. The gap that this research filled is the more specific and detailed ways that teachers believe can be used to motivate students and what methods work across multiple ability levels. Studies have shown that teachers have an exceptional influence …

Preferred Behavioral Management Strategies Of 3rd - 5th Grade Teachers, Anna Dowdell

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preferred behavioral management strategies among 3rd - 5th grade teachers. The study explored the main discipline problems that these teachers experience in their classrooms and how they handle them. It also explored the teachers’ opinions of the effectiveness of their preferred behavioral management strategies.

The Music And Politics Of Willy Chirino, Nancy N. Balcziunas

Honors College Theses

Cuban musician and singer Willy Chirino, the self-proclaimed inventor of the “Miami Sound,” was sent to the United States as a teenager in the 1960s under Operation Pedro Pan to escape the influence of Fidel Castro's communist regime. Throughout his career, he has used his music to spread a personal and political agenda; his rejection of communism and the Castro regime can be seen through his song lyrics, humanitarian efforts, and direct engagement in the world of politics.

The Effects Of Pointing Gestures On Visual Attention, Samaria J. Hamilton

Honors College Theses

Visual attention is a process that involves concentrating on select features, such as sensory cues, within the complex environment. Sensory cues within the visual field capture and redirect our attention. Previous research on eye gaze revealed that direct gaze captures attention. In the present study, pointing gestures and motion cues were tested together in a visual search task to examine their effects on attention. Participants were instructed to identify a target letter presented on one of four hands. Initially, two hands displayed a pointing gesture while the other two displayed an open gesture. Next, a target letter appeared, one open …

Women's Education: An International Perspective, Nneka B. Dean

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to dissect a topic that is heavily discussed around the world: women’s education and the many diverse ways in which it is practiced. One of the reasons women’s education is such a highly-debated topic is because there are still many differences in how people believe it should be accomplished while other places do not see the advantage or purpose of educating women. There are many countries with male dominated enrollment because of the women’s traditionally-held gender role of staying at home or because the family’s socioeconomic status. This study compared the experiences of women’s …

Wage Penalties In Major League Baseball, Thomas Kraemer

Honors College Theses

This study examines discrimination both by race and by foreign-born status in the context of Major League Baseball (MLB). The goal of this study is to determine if employer-based discrimination is present in MLB by looking for average differences in wages amongst groups and by looking for differences in returns to on-field output for players of different groups. MLB is an interesting industry to look for evidence of discrimination because it is one of the few industries where employee output is clear to see and compensation information is widely available, which is unusual for labor market studies. Sports is an …

Women In Leadership: A Comparative Case Study On Successful Leadership, Christine Newcomb

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this report is to understand what makes a successful female leader. Since there are so few women in executive level positions, especially chief executive officer positions, I became interested in analyzing how successful leaders act in contrast with how unsuccessful leaders act. To analyze, I will focus on the leadership of two prominent businesswomen, one who has been successful in their tenure, and one who has been unsuccessful. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, Inc. has been successful throughout her tenure, while Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo has been unsuccessful in turning the company around. I will …