Digital Commons Network^™

What It Means To Be Gifted: Quantitative Analysis Of The Characteristics Of Gifted Students, Ben Ellis

Senior Honors Theses

Past research has studied giftedness from theoretical, educational, and practical perspectives. The theoretical perspective informs an understanding of how gifted students uniquely comprehend and process information. The educational perspective informs the context surrounding gifted students in the educational environment. The practical perspective informs techniques and curricula that are effective in educating gifted students in a way that is tailored to their distinctive social and emotional characteristics. Together, these three perspectives provide an understanding of the unique characteristics of gifted learners. However, there remains a gap between developing this hypothetical understanding of giftedness in the literature and empirically testing this understanding …

Effects Of Cafestol And Enterolactone On Glucose Uptake In 3t3-L1 Differentiated Adipocytes, Sierra Hall

Senior Honors Theses

A review of current literature has revealed that moderate habitual coffee consumption is inversely associated with the risk of T2D development. Cafestol (CF) and enterolactone (ENL), two bioactive compounds found naturally in coffee, have been shown to promote glucose disposal in skeletal muscle and basal glucose uptake in L6 myotubes, respectively. However, the anti-diabetic effects of these compounds on adipose tissue and the mechanisms they utilize have not yet been characterized. Thus, in this study, the effects of CF and ENL on adipose tissue were determined by differentiating 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes and treating them with either compound in a …

Enterprise Systems: Installing And Configuring Erpnext On Macos, Yazan Abbasi

Senior Honors Theses

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrate business processes across organizations onto unified digital platforms through data and workflow consolidation. However, high licensing costs of proprietary ERP solutions like SAP and Oracle limit adoption for small and medium enterprises. This led to the emergence of open-source ERP alternatives like ERPNext which provide sophisticated capabilities at much lower total cost of ownership. However, ERPNext faces documentation gaps that hamper onboarding, customization, and widespread adoption. Accelerating ERPNext implementation by developing a comprehensive installation and configuration guide tailored for developers using Mac environments will be examined furthermore.

The background on ERP systems explores critical …

A Library Of 39 Plant Peroxidases: Plants From The Families Cucurbitaceae And Brassicaceae Show Promising Peroxidase And Peroxygenase Activity, Sally Hess

Senior Honors Theses

Peroxidases are enzymes that reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidize organic substances in living cells. The textile industry, wastewater treatment plants, immunological laboratories, and diagnostic laboratories have extensively used horseradish peroxidase for their oxidating needs. This research aims to provide a tool for identifying potentially useful sources of peroxidases in addition to specifically pinpointing a novel peroxygenase in jalapeño seeds. By using two widely accepted peroxidase assays, the guaiacol assay and the fluorophenol assay, fruits of the genus Cucurbita and roots or leaves of the family Brassicaceae were seen to have high peroxidase activity. Additionally, novel peroxygenase activity was …

A Computational Investigation Of Wood Selection For Acoustic Guitar, Jonah Osterhus

Senior Honors Theses

The acoustic guitar is a stringed instrument, often made of wood, that transduces vibrational energy of steel strings into coupled vibrations of the wood and acoustic pressure waves in the air. Variations in wood selection and instrument geometry have been shown to affect the timbre of the acoustic guitar. Computational methods were utilized to investigate the impact of material properties on acoustic performance. Sitka spruce was deemed the most suitable wood for guitar soundboards due to its acoustic characteristics, strength, and uniform aesthetic. Mahogany was deemed to be the best wood for the back and sides of the guitar body …

Testing The Hypothesis That Tennis Points Are Independent And Identically Distributed Using Statistical Methods, Ernesto Ugona Santana

Senior Honors Theses

Most research on the probability of winning a tennis match is based on the assumption that the points are independent and identically distributed, treating each point as a Bernoulli trial with fixed probability of success. This assumption, however, seems to contradict experience. Players' performance appears to fluctuate as the match progresses due to the psychological effect of past performance. To test this counterintuitive yet central assumption, previous research has attempted to test the independence hypothesis. However, there exists a research gap in evaluating the identicality-of-distribution hypothesis, a question of broader scope than that of independence. Hence, the purpose of this …

Overcoming Ethos: How To Give Sport Broadcasters Credibility Who Did Not Play Their Sport At A High Level, Tyler Hill

Senior Honors Theses

A common assumption among viewers of broadcast sports is that broadcasters who have not participated in the sport they are discussing do not have the same credibility as broadcasters who have played Division 1 or professional sports. These broadcasters may not have the same level of ethos, which is known as one of Aristotle’s three pillars of credibility. This thesis examines different approaches to build up credibility among broadcasters who do not have experience as Division 1 or professional athletes. The methodology includes a review of scholarly and popular literature to discover what is known about credibility in sports …

The Technical Code For Worship: Inquiry Of Technological Use In Corporate Musical Worship, Rayah Smith

Senior Honors Theses

There are many people who have researched and written on the topic of technology in corporate musical worship. The research reveals eight biblical principles for the use of technology in those contexts as follows: technology in corporate musical worship is meant to be practical; is meant to help the Church communicate; is meant to be driven by the Holy Spirit; is meant to be intentionally efficient; is meant to encourage a unified heart of worship to God; is meant to communicate the gospel; is meant to reflect and amplify God; and is meant to be done with hearts pleasing to …

Therapeutic Advances In The Management Of Type Ii Diabetes, Ashfod Mukula

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This condition occurs due to two main factors: β-cell dysfunction and reduced response to insulin by cells and tissues with insulin receptors (insulin resistance). Insulin resistance occurs when the body fails to respond to insulin; therefore, cells and tissues are impaired in transporting glucose, leading to abnormally high glucose levels in circulation. Insulin resistance is a multifactorial condition; thus, the eminent cause is not fully known. Individual health conditions and genetic predisposition have been postulated to cause it. Molecularly, insulin resistance has been associated with complications in …

J. S. Bach's Use Of The Oboe Family In His Cantata Works, Benjamin Newman

Senior Honors Theses

J.S. Bach used more idiomatic practices for the oboe family in his vocal works. Bach combined his own musical inspirations with the practices used by other composers, giving the oboe a greater variety in its orchestral roles. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate Bach’s use of the oboe family in some of his cantatas and vocal works. This thesis provides an overview of the historical context of Bach’s works for oboe, a brief biography of the composer, information about the development of the oboe family, and relevant musical analyses featuring the oboe family from selected Bach works. An …

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Pathophysiology And The Effects Of The Microbiome, Anjali Jacob

Senior Honors Theses

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic neonatal lung disease that occurs in over 50% of premature infants. BPD is characterized by damage to the alveoli and bronchioles and improper vasculature formation. It is primarily caused by overexposure to oxygen through mechanical ventilation, but there are other risk factors that make infants more susceptible to BPD. Microbial composition impacts risk for developing BPD, and research is ongoing about the effects of the microbiome on BPD pathogenesis; this information is also valuable for preventative treatment. This paper reviews the normal function of the lungs, pathogenesis of BPD and how it affects normal …

Experiences Of Dyslexic Students Learning A Second Language: A Review Of The Literature, Lauren Ricci

Senior Honors Theses

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore the experiences that college students with dyslexia face learning a second language in the classroom setting while studying at a private institution in Central Virginia. This literature review offers an analysis of the scholarly research related to this topic. The processability theory is discussed in the first section, followed by a review of recent literature on how dyslexia affects the brain’s processing, specific experiences of students, and how to best support these students in second language acquisition (SLA). Lastly, the literature surrounds phonological processing, working memory, specific struggles in the …

The Molecular Basis Of Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Chloe Jensen

Senior Honors Theses

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare metabolic disorder that is caused by mutations in the branched chain alpha keto acid dehydrogenase enzyme complex (BCKDC). There are three main genes, the BCKDHA, BCKDHB, and DBT, that affect the BCKDC, all contributing to the onset of the disease. MSUD causes encephalopathy, neural deficits, maple syrup scented urine, coma, and even death if not treated due to the aggregation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). There is currently no known cure for patients with MSUD, but the condition can be managed to improve quality of life. This review serves to examine MSUD …

Theological Songwriting, Jake William Dimas

Senior Honors Theses

Music affects people deeply. Because of this, Christian songwriters have a responsibility to write songs that are theologically accurate. To provide a comparison to the experiment that took place for this paper, Chris Tomlin’s biography, songwriting influences, and music are presented and discussed. The experiment began with exclusively Christian songwriters being given an initial questionnaire. A song prompt was then given to each songwriter, and once returned, the songwriter was given a questionnaire. This step took place once again for the other prompt. The songs produced by the songwriters were then analyzed, being compared with one another and with the …

The Fight Over Ideology: The Soviet Subversion Of Hungarian Culture In The Cold War Era, Mackenzie Vandixhorn

Senior Honors Theses

In the aftermath of Nazi Occupation during World War II, Hungarians were unable to escape the clutches of dictatorial government. The Soviet Union ousted the Nazis only to assert its own control in the years following the war. To sustain its subjugation of Hungary, the USSR needed Hungarians to accept communism. The Hungarian Revolt of 1956, however, revealed Hungary’s deep resentment for Soviet rule. To sway public opinion in favor of Soviet ideology, the USSR relied on propaganda, including statues, that sought to display the USSR in a positive light during the years 1945 to 1960. However, these attempts to …

Potential Adverse Cardiovascular Side Effects Following Mrna Covid-19 Vaccination, Abigayle Strohmeier

Senior Honors Theses

The COVID-19 vaccine, regarded as a triumph by some and a danger by others, has been studied due to the presence of adverse cardiovascular side effects experienced by some individuals following vaccination. Incidence and prevalence rates of these effects are examined by various demographic factors, primarily age and sex. The most prevalent adverse cardiovascular effects noted are myocarditis, pericarditis, cardiovascular disease, tachycardia, hypertension, palpitation, and acute myocardial infarction. Due to the novelty of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, many health studies have focused their data analysis on age or sex characteristics, however many excellent opportunities for future research are necessary to …

Simulating And Training Autonomous Rover Navigation In Unity Engine Using Local Sensor Data, Christopher Pace

Senior Honors Theses

Autonomous navigation is essential to remotely operating mobile vehicles on Mars, as communication takes up to 20 minutes to travel between the Earth and Mars. Several autonomous navigation methods have been implemented in Mars rovers and other mobile robots, such as odometry or simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) until the past few years when deep reinforcement learning (DRL) emerged as a viable alternative. In this thesis, a simulation model for end-to-end DRL Mars rover autonomous navigation training was created using Unity Engine, using local inputs such as GNSS, LiDAR, and gyro. This model was then trained in navigation in a …

The Applied Music Theory Ensemble: An Approach To Undergraduate Music Theory Education, Karissa Juhas

Senior Honors Theses

Music theory is currently taught in a classroom setting through lectures, worksheets, tests, and limited amounts of praxis, or applied learning through playing one’s instrument. However, musicians in these classes often struggle to comprehend concepts, maintain good grades, and view music theory in a positive light. This thesis proposes the teaching of music theory in an applied setting—specifically, an ensemble setting. In such a setting, praxis through immediate hands-on application of concepts to the student’s instrument would be just as prevalent a part of the curriculum as lectures, worksheets, and the like. Songs specifically crafted to impart both the theoretical …

An Analysis Of Strength Training Implementation In Ballet, Claire Hoover

Senior Honors Theses

Ballet, a style of dance that is known for its 180-degree external rotation, extreme precision, discipline, and aesthetics, is an athletic activity that is undertaken by many young people, particularly females. Although ballet has many athletic components, recent studies have shown there are a variety of weaknesses that impact its participants, including the female athlete triad, lack of lower extremity muscular strength, risk of injury, and overtraining. According to recent research, strength training, although not historically paired with ballet, could minimize ballet dancers’ deficiencies by increasing muscular strength and reducing risk of injury and incidence of the female athlete triad. …

Using Story In Postsecondary Theological Education To Increase Student Engagement And Formation, Jake Abrams

Senior Honors Theses

Due to the formative power of stories and their ability to captivate an audience, we should be supplementing contemporary postsecondary theological education (which typically relies upon the relaying of facts and fails to engage students on an emotional level) with story. This article takes a look at three studies that have tested similar concepts in other disciplines. Their findings suggest that stories do, in fact, increase and sustain student engagement, as well as increase the formative impact of the knowledge they impart. Based on their findings and my own analysis of their methods, I conclude that story would be an …

The Impact Of Federalism On Immigration: A Reconstruction Of The System To Alleviate The Immigration Crisis In America, Theresa Lam

Senior Honors Theses

Illegal immigration is a complex and relevant issue in the United States. In particular, its long-term implications for American communities has elevated its significance. Within America’s federalist system, the immigration dilemma has raised tension among federal, state, and local governments, which have different perspectives on how to approach the matter. The federal government is responsible for enforcing immigration laws but delegates numerous immigration responsibilities to state and local law enforcement. However, the degree to which local officials should cooperate with federal authorities is the subject of intense debate. Should immigration enforcement be a federal or local responsibility? Under federalism and …

A Red Awakening: An Analysis Of China’S Quest For Global Dominance Through Economic Alternative Warfare Methods, Sarah Beddingfield

Senior Honors Theses

In the 2023 annual meeting of China’s parliament, Chinese President Xi made it clear to his political leaders and the world that he was preparing for war. This should come as no surprise after analysis of China's grand strategy points clearly to the intent to surpass the U.S. as the premier global superpower in all respects. China has been building towards this goal for years through untraditional methods of warfare, forcing the national security community to reevaluate its own strategy and assess the Chinese threat through a different lens. This thesis seeks to address one specific area in which China …

A Review Of Rheb Activation Of Mtorc1 And The Great Mystery Of One Missing Gef, Jack Gregory

Senior Honors Theses

The mTORC1 pathway is involved in the regulation of cell growth and translation. The pathway has a complex web of activators and inhibitors to activate mTORC1. mTORC1 is regulated via a small GTPase called Rheb, which interacts directly with mTORC1. This GTPase and its GTPase activating protein (GAP), TSC1/2, have been widely studied to understand how the variety of regulators of mTORC1 interact with these proteins. Despite this, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of Rheb has yet to be identified. This review broadly analyzes Rheb and mTORC1, their structures, regulations, and interactions, and explores the mystery of the missing …

Developing General Purpose Apps To Automate Image Analysis Of Wave-Augmented-Varicose-Explosion Atomization And Other Multi-Phase Interfacial Flows, Ethan Newkirk

Senior Honors Theses

Atomization involves disrupting a flow of contiguous liquid into small droplets ranging from one submicron to several hundred microns (micrometers) in diameter through the processes of exerting sufficient forces that disrupt the retaining surface tensions of the liquid. Understanding this phenomenon requires high-speed imaging from physical models or rigorous multiphase computational fluid dynamics models. We produce a MATLAB application that utilizes various methods of image analysis to quickly analyze and store mathematical data from detailed image analyses. We present a user with numerous tools and capabilities that provide results that deviate from 1.8% to 8.9% of the original image sequence …

Machine Learning Image Classifier For Identifying Composition In Landscape Paintings, David Bryant

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the usefulness of machine learning in the art world with a simple model. This model is an image classifier designed to identify the type of classical composition present in landscape paintings. After several tests and various modifications, the image classifier achieved around 50% accuracy on images within its dataset. For images outside of the dataset the model’s results were 65% accuracy on an easier image and 15% accuracy on a more difficult image. This renders the model impractical for educational purposes and raises questions as to how current machine learning techniques in …

Detection And Extraction Of Pfoa And Pfos Via Mips, Joseph Redding

Senior Honors Theses

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are utilized as surfactants in many different materials. With an immensely stable structure due to the presence of carbon-fluorine bonds, PFOA and PFOS are resistant to degradation. Known to persist in water resources, these compounds tend to bioaccumulate and impute toxic effects on human health, such as decreased fertility and immune function. To date, there exists no effective approach to the removal of these lingering compounds. Because of the health risks, there is increasing urgency to devise a means by which to detect and withdraw PFOA and PFOS from the environment. In …

The Evolving Crime Of Sex Trafficking, Madison Krause

Senior Honors Theses

Human trafficking is a global crime that occurs in all countries regardless of status or rank. It victimizes both genders and all age groups. The two most common types of human trafficking are for the purposes of forced labor and commercialized sexual exploitation. The demand for commercialized sexual exploitation has increased throughout the United States. Technology and social media have enhanced and made the ability to commit sex trafficking easier and more efficient. The ties between pornography and sexual exploitation have also had an impact on sex trafficking recruiting and grooming.

Methods Of Storytelling In Music: An Analysis Of Tchaikovsky's 'The Tempest', Katherine Cornell

Senior Honors Theses

Throughout history, music has been employed in storytelling. By presenting a story in musical terms, composers can bring stories to life, creating auditory atmospheres which connect the listener to the story in a deeper way. One medium composers have done this through is program music, a musical genre which seeks to tell a story through music in association with a descriptive title or short program, relying on the imagination of the listener instead of spoken word or visible action. One example is Tchaikovsky’s The Tempest, Op. 18, TH 44, an orchestral fantasia meant to convey Shakespeare’s The Tempest …

Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Considerations For Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Elijah Chung

Senior Honors Theses

A product of the Westernized, high-fat diet, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease, affecting one-fourth of the world's population. NAFLD is a progressive disease arising from a multisystem response to excess lipids in the blood, adipose tissue, and liver. Despite the prevalence of NAFLD and its well-studied bidirectional association with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, there is a shocking scarcity of available treatments aside from diet and lifestyle changes. Thus, further research on NAFLD and potential therapies is urgently needed. This paper will illustrate the major pathways associated …

The Influence Of Culture On Graphic Design: Rebranding Glossier For The Japanese Market, Hannah Kuvshinov

Senior Honors Theses

Due to globalization, many companies are expanding their reach into foreign markets that have different cultural contexts. As a result, having versatile branding that can be easily adapted to different cultures becomes extremely important when communicating with consumers from other countries. To develop this branding it is crucial for companies to employ cross-cultural design, which involves much more than simply translating text into the consumers language. In order to successfully expand its products to the Japanese market Glossier will have to apply cross-cultural research to redesign their current branding materials and communication channels. This project focuses on preserving brand cohesiveness …