Digital Commons Network^™

Presence Of Semi-Aquatic Turtles In Indianapolis Golf Course Ponds, Melissa Anne Jones

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The consequences of increasing urbanization in many areas have led to an increase in environmental awareness. Urban green spaces, such as golf courses, can increase biodiversity and serve as valuable wildlife habitats in otherwise inhospitable areas. Golf course ponds have the potential to provide suitable habitats for semi-aquatic turtles in urban areas. Previous research on semi-aquatic turtle inhabitation has been conducted on suburban golf courses. This study investigates the viability of urban Indianapolis golf courses as habitats for semi-aquatic turtles. Golf course ponds show similar turtle occupancy compared to nearby control ponds. However, when compared to a past random pond …

Generalized Mandelbrot Sets, Aaron Schlenker

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

A complex point Z₀ is defined to be a member of the famous Mandelbrot set fractal when the iterative process using the function Z² stays bounded when applied to Z₀. We investigate what happens if we change the iterative process so that Z² is now composed with, for example, a Mobius transformation, indexed on a parameter a. The Mandelbrot set corresponds to a = O. What happens when we change a = 0 to other values, repeating the iterative process and then drawing the sets? Do these Generalized Mandelbrot sets have similar properties to …

The Impacts Of Social Interaction On Literacy Learning, Megan Marie Donisch

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This thesis will show the importance of including social interaction in the classroom and how it can help students to develop their literacy skills. In my teaching, I intend to find a balance of direction instruction, practice and socially based interaction that best serves students. After doing this research I see that this balance will be heavily weighted by the interactive aspects. So much of what effective teachers do puts children in contact with peers or teachers. They must observe others practicing the skills of literacy if they are to learn these skills.

Synthesis And Resolution Of A Substituted Dioxolane From Glycerol, Susannah Dawn Cox

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Glycerol (Figure 1) is one of the major byproducts in the manufacturing of biofuels. As the interest in biodiesel grows, production of glycerol will also increase. Investigating glycerol's potential as a chemical feedstock could lead to the discovery of new uses for this byproduct created from biofuel production. By developing pathways to use glycerol as a starting material and as a solvent we will be able to synthesize other chemically relevant compounds.

The Evolution Of American Microtargeting: An Examination Of Modern Electoral Messaging, Luke Dietrik Bunting

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The original intent of this work was slightly different than what follows. In an effort to provide information on the current state of micro targeting, 1 had planned to research the campaign tactics of the 2012 Obama and Romney presidential campaigns in Ohio. This goal quickly became unattainable due to time restrictions and a lack of available interviewees. Several requests for interviews went unanswered, and state political parties were not able to provide adequate information on the efforts of the campaigns. Through searching the Internet for information on campaign officials responsible for the Ohio presence of the Romney and Obama …

Quantification Of Salicylic Acid And Analysis Of Defense-Related Genes In The Moss Physcomitrella Patens, Ryan Jospeh Eller

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The moss Physcomitrella patens is an invaluable non-vascular plant specimen to study genetic interactions because its entire genome is sequenced. Therefore, any gene studies conducted in more evolved vascular plants can be transferred to this specimen fairly easily by utilizing comparative genomic techniques made possible through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The questions that were asked in this thesis revolved around the Systemic Acquired Resistance, or the basic mechanism that allows plants to protect themselves against biotic and abiotic stressors. Two main approaches were used to analyze this complex system. First, an analytical chemistry technique was used to …

The Passive Perching Mechanism In Passeriformes Birds, Deena Ahmed Elsahy

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Passeriformes, or perching birds and songbirds, are an order of birds that includes crows, jays, starlings, wrens, cardinals, finches and many other species. It has been suggested that these birds are able to passively perch due to a tendon locking mechanism. This mechanism allows them to rest for hours in trees without falling. When the bird's foot is placed on a perch, the weight of the bird causes the tendons to pull, thus closing the toes around the perch. However, there is currently much debate about whether the mechanism is entirely passive. Recent studies argue that the mechanism must be …

The New York Times Influence On Stem Cell Research, Elizabeth Huntley Hamilton

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Stern cells are regarded as holding the secrets to disease eradication and alleviation, longevity, and genetic modification. In the not too distant past, it was considered a futuristic concept meant for the generations to come. Now, in 2014, stern cells are being used in practices for a wide variety of once incurable ailments. The history of stern cells is one of amazing discovery, controversy, and political setbacks. Throughout its exciting journey, print newspapers have provided all the information to its readers, and the potential of stern cells gained popular approval for its research.

Substance Use And Subclinical Psychosis Symptoms, Kelsey Hurm

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Research shows that there may be a connection between substance use and the expression of positive psychosis symptoms, most notably delusions and hallucinations (Stefanis, et al. 2004). While substances such as marijuana have received the most attention in the literature (e.g., Grech et aI.., 2005), other substances such as stimulants (e.g., Curran et aI., 2004), tobacco (e.g., Baeza et aI., 2009), and alcohol (e.g., Compton et aI., 2009) have been implicated in exacerbating the risk of psychosis onset. Further, there is mounting evidence that many psychiatric disorders are not discrete categories but rather the tails of dimensions distributed in the …

Evaluating Agentic Female Job Candidates: The Effects Of Gender And Qualification Of Comparison Candidates, Sarah Grace Kern

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Previous research has demonstrated that agentic women experience backlash in the hiring process when being considered for leadership positions. For example, Rudman et al. (2012) found that when participants evaluated an agentic female target candidate on measures of competence, likability, and hirability, although the female candidate received equal ratings of competence to an agentic male candidate, she received backlash in the form of lower ratings of likability and hirability than the agentic male candidate. In the current study, I investigated whether these backlash effects are consistent when the agentic female target candidate is evaluated in comparison to a male or …

Fox Squirrel Response To Bark Calls, Michael Ryan Keller

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Sciurus niger (fox squirrel) produces a characteristic bark call that has long been assumed to serve as an alarm call. However, to date, no definitive research has been conducted to support these assumptions. Over the course of six months, I executed an audio playback study with free-living fox squirrels in central Indiana. When a squirrel came into view, its behavior was video recorded during a 30 second playing of either an S. niger bark call or a cardinal (Cardinalis cardinals) control call. The subjects were also filmed thirty seconds prior to and immediately following the call. Each squirrel's behavior was …

Investigation Of Fshr-L Protein Function In Regulating Synaptic Transmission At The Neuromuscular Junction In C. Elegans, Julie Christine Kolnik

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

euronal communication (synaptic transmission) is critical for nervous system function. This communication occurs at specialized junctions called synapses where chemical neurotransmitters signal from presynaptic to postsynaptic cells. Additional signaling via neuropeptide activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) fine-tunes synaptic communication. GPCRs are a large family of transmembrane receptor proteins that bind extracellular neurotransmitters and neuropeptides to activate intracellular signaling pathways. My project investigated the function of FSHR-l, a GPCR and potential neuropeptide receptor, in regulating synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in Caenorhabditis elegans roundworms, which share conservation of nervous system structure and function with humans. Worms lacking the fshr-I …

Liberation Theology: Why Should The Nations Be Glad?, Marianne Burris Richardson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The role a just God ought to have in the struggle for sociopolitical liberation has frustrated theologians for centuries; in the twentieth century, Latin American theologians proposed that while God loves all people, God unequivocally sides with the poor in the fight for social justice, and so should the church. The relative success of this teaching in Latin American churches led to increased participation of the laity in the fight for democracy. This project will analyze liberation theology's efficacy as the motivation for social justice in Latin America, focusing on the writing of Leonardo Boff (a Brazilian theologian) and the …

Suzuki-Miyaura Reactions Are Used To Synthesize Z-Alkenes From Cyclic Boronic Half-Acids, Daniel Lee French

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Cis-Alkenes provide the basic structure and reactivity for a variety of compounds, from the common chemicals found in any organic laboratory to advanced drugs used to treat cancer or suppress the immune system (Littke & Fu, 2002). Synthetically, alkenes are also of use in that they serve as a site for further chemistry. Historically, Z-alkenes have been more difficult to synthesize than their E-counterparts (McNulty et al., 2010; Siau, Zhang, & Zhao, 2012). Furthermore, in many reactions, a mixture of E- and Z- conformations of the alkene is produced. Such differences may seem trivial upon first inspection, but because there …

Latinos In America: A Consideration Of Food Accessibility Factors With Implications For The Indianapolis Community, Abigail C. Robison

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Studies discuss personal choices or cultural influences of food consumption, but they may not integrate these findings with the accessibility of food. These factors cannot be ignored when considering the health of populations. Understanding the intricate relationship between food choices and food accessibility is vital to the realm of urban public health. This paper attempts to investigate these relationships and relate the findings to the local sphere, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Folk Songs, Youth, And Propaganda: Music Of The Third Reich, Patrick Scott Peterson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As the world watched the rise of a new political power in Central Europe, the German youth perceived a new, exciting movement sweep through their backyard. The Third Reich gained control over Germany through the planning and organization of Hitler and his Nazis. Hitler sought to construct his pure society, accomplished through the orzanization of the sovernment and the National Socialist German Workers' Party b . b (NSDAP). While their nation made drastic shifts politically, the rich history of German art music and folk music played into the changes during the rise of the Nazi party. German culture was formed …

Window On Eternity: A Study In The Characteristics Of Orthodox Christian Iconography, Moira Allison Leroy Frazier

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Different works of art are used for a variety of purposes, with a multitude of intentions behind them. One of the most important distinctions in the world of art is secular art versus sacred art. Secular art can express the opinions of many different types of people, and it can be used for several things. Secular art "reflects the personality of the artist. It is something like the materialization of his thought and his vision of the world" (Quenot 71). Sacred art, on the other hand, has a more focused intention and use. Sacred art serves a different purpose, one …

Take It But Don't Fake It: Using Self-Awareness To Reduce Fabrications On Personality Tests, Rebekah Lynn Hale

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Applicants have been shown to fake responses on personality tests when applying for a job to appear as if they have characteristics most similar to ones that management defines as ideal for the given position. The purpose of this study was to propose and test a method to decrease faking on personality tests. Participants took a cognitive ability test, an emotional intelligence measure, and personality scales online. In the second part of the study, participants read an accountant job description and then either played a hand-held game (control condition) or filled out a biographical questionnaire (treatment condition) designed to increase …

Message Framing In Political Advocacy Campaigns: A Media Study Of The 2014 Scottish Referendum For Independence From The United Kingdom, Christine Willette Todd

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Message framing is considered to be an important aspect in delivering a simplified and unified message in public relations. The use of media in political advocacy messaging is often the greatest influence in affecting voter interpretations and perceptions. According to several researchers (Hallahan, 1999; Putnam & Majia, 1992; Entman, 1993), message framing is used by various organizations to simplify complex ideas or gain emotional currency in political advocacy campaigns.

The present study seeks to identify the main framed messages that are currently being implemented in two political advocacy campaigns in the United Kingdom as conveyed by the UK news media. …

The Effects Of Jasmonic Acid And Chemicals In The Ja Pathway On The Defense Systems And Gene Expression In Moss, Physcomitrella Patens And Amblystegium Serpens, Allison Shanks

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a defense system used by plants that results in increased resistance to future pathogen infection following an initial pathogen exposure. SAR in vascular plants has been well documented; however, a similar defense system has only recently been documented in non-vascular plants. It is believed that chemicals in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway are able to activate the SAR response in vascular plants. The non-vascular plant, Amb/ystegium serpens, will be used as a model to test if SAR is triggered by JA and two other molecules in the JA pathway, 12-oxo-phytodieonic acid, and methyl jasmonate. To …

Eritrean Resettlement In Indianapolis, John Andrew Traylor

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This project has been designed to look into the challenges of resettlement for Eritreans moving to live in Indianapolis. The discussion of this work follows the footsteps of research on refugee resettlement by asking and responding to some of the common questions surrounding resettlement: why choose to resettle; what is a refugee'S initial response to entry into a host country; what is the resettlement process like; how does a refugee cope with their resettlement difficulties; and what are the prospects for future generations? This work will provide answers to these questions by analyzing the case of three resettled immigrants living …

Lew Wallace: An Unsung Hoosier Hero, Jordan C. Lee

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The way in which the American Civil War is remembered varies from one region to another. People, places, and events bring moments of pride and sorrow for those who remember, and distinct figures rise and fade into memory over time. Some individuals, however, cling to their place in history through the words of those who remember them. For the state ofIndiana, I feel as if one individual in question is overlooked. We remember Benjamin Harrison, the future president, born in Ohio, serving as a colonel to the 70th Indiana, and eventually a general over an entire brigade. We remember Governor …

Revisiting Modernism And The Ballets Russes: What Contemporary Choreography Can Learn From Diaghilev, Kelly Oden

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In order to discover some of the features of what contemporary choreographers, dancers, artists, and musicians can learn from the Ballets Russes and the defining artistic movement of which they were a part-modernism-we must first take a journey back to Paris in the early twentieth century and work to unravel modernism's meaning in relation to different artistic media. We must ask complicated questions: What is modernism? What defines artistic success? What does it take to make something truly new? By asking such questions we can come to a deeper understanding of the conditions necessary to create a thriving artistic environment …

A Three-Part Study In The Connections Between Music And Mathematics, Molly Elizabeth Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The idea for this thesis originated from my fascination with the studies of both music and mathematics throughout my entire life. As a triple major in Middle/Secondary Math Education, Mathematics, and Music, I have learned more than I thought possible of music and math. In proposing this thesis, I desired to use my knowledge of arithmetic and aesthetics to research how music and mathematics are intertwined. I am confident that the following three chapters have allowed me to develop as an academic in both music and mathematics. This thesis serves as a presentation of the connections of music and math …

Role Of 12-Oxo-Phytodienoic Acid And Β-Glucan Elicitor In Prevention Of Fungal Infection In Mnium Cuspidatum, Robert E. Spiller

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The moss, Mnium cuspidatum and the fungus, Pythium irregulare, were used to study the role of the plant hormone, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) and the elicitor, β-glucan in the prevention of fungal infection. Each compound was applied before the inoculation of a fungal cube and a combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses were done in order to determine the degree of infection within the moss. It was found that P. irregulare does infect and kill the cells of M. cuspidatum through chloroplast degradation, stem browning and appressoria injections within 24 hours. The pre-application of OPDA or β-glucan were unable to prevent …

An Evaluation Of The East Indianapolis Food Desert, Angelina Qin

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The Indy East Food Desert (IEFD) appears to suffer from many common conditions noted by various scholars as food desert identifiers. Yet, its situation still remains unique. Though there is a prevalence of minority populations, low-income households, and low-education attainment levels, there are also factors of low-access, poor food options (within the limited food outlets in the neighborhoods), and poor eating habits which shape the situation of the community. In an attempt to alleviate the food desert problems, the Indy East Food Desert Coalition (IEFDC) was formed. IEFDC partnered with Butler University's Center for Urban Ecology in order to assess …

Amino Acid Methyl Ester Chiral Ionic Liquids: A Concentration Study, Christopher J. Brown

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This project will investigate novel amino acid methyl ester chiral ionic liquids and determine how increased concentration of lanthanide solute and changes in size of counter ions tetramethylammonium and tetrabutylammonium affects interaction between the ionic liquid and the fluorescent lanthanide solute. Both concentration dependence and temperature dependence were discovered. The chiral ionic liquid [L-prolineCl][TfiN] reacted uniquely to the change in concentration.

Reproduction And Nesting In Teleost Fish, With A Focus On Reproduction In Centrarchids And Specific Analysis Of Nesting In Lepomis Megalotis, Rebecca Irene Allee

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Fish represent the most diverse and oldest living class of vertebrates, making up approximately 48% of all known members of the subphylum Vertebrata (Bolis, et al. 2001). They are able to live in a wide variety of habitats, from salt water to fresh water and from cold polar seas to areas of intense pressure in the depths of the ocean (Moyle and Cech 1996). Because of this overwhelming diversity, the evolution and ecology of fishes has been a dynamic field of study (Moyle and Cech 1996). Researchers have generally divided fish into three distinct groups: jawless fishes (Class Agnatha), …

Chronic, Lethal Versus Acute, Non-Lethal Threats: A Look Inside The Memories Of Cancer Patients At The Time Of Their Diagnosis, Angeline M. Modesti

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Consequentiality, affect, and rehearsal are also important components that help contribute to the recall of autobiographical memories. Traditionally, these features have been assessed in public dramatic events in the past such as the Challenger explosion and the 9/11 terrorist attack. In opposition to these traditionally studied events, the present study examined the effects of these features on five different private events. An analysis of these different experiences was assessed to determine the role of consequentiality, affect, and rehearsal play on memory recall. These three components were assessed in five different events during different points of the lifetime. Adults diagnosed with …

Revolutionizing The Revolution: An Examination Of Social Media's Role In The Egyptian Arab Spring, Needa A. Malik

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

By asserting that no revolution occurs singularly, I propose that revolutions occur in a multiplicity. Within the framework of the Arab Spring Revolutions, another revolution has been occurring concurrently: a social media revolution. This revolution is taking place in the digital, social media age. It is a revolution that has been tweeted, facebooked, recorded, documented and shared instantaneously on platforms that obeys few lines of political sovereignty. Revolution and political action can now truly be shown from the perspective of the common citizen. Activists have discovered a greater platform for their voices to be distributed and causes promoted. The Arab …