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Detection And Extraction Of Pfoa And Pfos Via Mips, Joseph Redding May 2024

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 …


Using Story In Postsecondary Theological Education To Increase Student Engagement And Formation, Jake Abrams May 2024

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 May 2024

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 May 2024

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 …


Machine Learning Image Classifier For Identifying Composition In Landscape Paintings, David Bryant May 2024

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 …


A Review Of Rheb Activation Of Mtorc1 And The Great Mystery Of One Missing Gef, Jack Gregory May 2024

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 …


The Applied Music Theory Ensemble: An Approach To Undergraduate Music Theory Education, Karissa Juhas May 2024

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 …


Developing General Purpose Apps To Automate Image Analysis Of Wave-Augmented-Varicose-Explosion Atomization And Other Multi-Phase Interfacial Flows, Ethan Newkirk May 2024

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 …


The Evolving Crime Of Sex Trafficking, Madison Krause Apr 2024

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 Apr 2024

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 …


The Influence Of Culture On Graphic Design: Rebranding Glossier For The Japanese Market, Hannah Kuvshinov Apr 2024

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 …


The Alexander Technique Applied To Dance And The Choreographic Process: Freeing Physical Expression From Trauma-Based Tension, Julia Johnston Apr 2024

The Alexander Technique Applied To Dance And The Choreographic Process: Freeing Physical Expression From Trauma-Based Tension, Julia Johnston

Senior Honors Theses

Ballet, contemporary, and modern dancers have expressed incurring trauma during their training and professional dance experiences; in a 2020 survey, 41% of professional dancers and 30% of ballet students reported experiencing or witnessing sexually inappropriate behavior in their respective workplaces and schools (DDP). This is just one example of a potential source of trauma for dancers. The physiological effects of trauma cause physical effects, creating tension in a dancer’s body. Dance relies on physical expression, the expression of thought and feeling through movement, to connect with the audience. Trauma-based tension inhibits a dancer’s range of physical expression and connection to …


Improving Student Engagement Despite Lowering Attention Spans In The Classroom, Kaycee Lee Apr 2024

Improving Student Engagement Despite Lowering Attention Spans In The Classroom, Kaycee Lee

Senior Honors Theses

Attention spans have been decreasing throughout society for many years, partially due to the constant increase of technological advances. The average human attention span of eight seconds is particularly concerning to teachers and others in the classroom. It does not seem that the average attention span is ever going to increase, so teachers must implement intentional methods and strategies within their classroom to keep their students’ attention. Physical activities, technology and hands-on supports, small group instruction, shorter lessons, making intentional mistakes, flexible seating, and differentiated instruction are all strategies supported by research to improve student engagement within the classroom. Every …


The Impact Of Testimonies On Partner Development Strategies: Mission Work In Europe, Kimberly Witte Apr 2024

The Impact Of Testimonies On Partner Development Strategies: Mission Work In Europe, Kimberly Witte

Senior Honors Theses

This study seeks to answer how first-world missionaries can utilize research findings on the effectiveness of testimonials and apply that knowledge to partner development strategies. Research trends demonstrate that most missionaries are being sent to countries with the largest practicing Christian populations, such as those in Africa or South America, and are more likely to receive financial partnerships. Europe has a high rate of non-practicing Christians and is a cultural intersection due to the refugee crisis, leading to a need for mission work. This research will culminate in the creation of a prayer guide, highlighting testimonies of individuals impacted by …


Implementing Effective And Meaningful Environmental Graphic Design Within Modern Protestant Church Buildings In The U.S., Hannah Gilmer Apr 2024

Implementing Effective And Meaningful Environmental Graphic Design Within Modern Protestant Church Buildings In The U.S., Hannah Gilmer

Senior Honors Theses

The Church, the body of Christ, is filled with people gifted in visual arts, which should present boundless creative opportunities to encourage the body and glorify Christ. However, many modern Protestant churches in the U.S. do not reflect this creative potential in their interior spaces. Christian graphic designers have the unique gift of bringing all the visual arts together into a whole solution that communicates the message of the gospel with richness, power, and beauty. This thesis will show the process of creating environmental graphic design solutions that are intended to encourage a local church and glorify the Lord, building …


U.S. Army's Reaction To The Liberation Of Concentration Camps: Attempts To Handle The Crises Of Displaced Persons From April To October 1945, Adisson Elyse Alexander Apr 2024

U.S. Army's Reaction To The Liberation Of Concentration Camps: Attempts To Handle The Crises Of Displaced Persons From April To October 1945, Adisson Elyse Alexander

Senior Honors Theses

On April 4, 1945, the United States Army was tasked with something its soldiers never received training for. As the Allies advanced into Nazi-occupied territory, they began uncovering the horrid realities of Hitler’s regime. No blueprint was available for what to do when the soldiers stumbled across concentration camps. Now, in addition to combat, the American soldier’s job consisted of delousing the survivors, and providing medical care, food, and temporary housing. As the summer progressed, another question arose as to what would happen to the displaced persons in the camps. April to October 1945 is a window of time that …


A Contemporary Pauline Apologetic Toolkit, Jayne Bertovich Apr 2024

A Contemporary Pauline Apologetic Toolkit, Jayne Bertovich

Masters Theses

This thesis recounts that societal history is repeating itself in modern times whereby there is a pattern of similarity with the Millennials and Generation Z and ancient audiences of the Apostle Paul in terms of paganism and humanism at the forefront of hearts and minds pushing back on Christianity (albeit today’s exposure to post-modernism and digital influences do not present in the ancient world of the Apostle Paul). Similarly, the ancient world was interested in the advances of its day of science and philosophy. The Millennials and Generation Z population, a majority of the population globally, are ripe for the …


Noticing The Brush Strokes: Literary Markers In Hebrew Narratives, Shelbey Hunt Apr 2024

Noticing The Brush Strokes: Literary Markers In Hebrew Narratives, Shelbey Hunt

Masters Theses

As the people who set out to write, edit, and form the Bible may have used embellishments to enhance their narratives, could they also have left literary markers to help the reader chart a course between the historical and the enhanced? The purpose of this thesis is to find these literary markers. Exposing any potential grammatical or syntactical signpost can help the reader understand how they should view a given Biblical story and help reveal the messages the authors behind the scripture were sharing. The book of Jonah will be used as a case study to both discover and elaborate …


Charge The Cockpit Or Die: An Anatomy Of Fear-Driven Political Rhetoric In American Conservatism, Daniel Hostetter Apr 2024

Charge The Cockpit Or Die: An Anatomy Of Fear-Driven Political Rhetoric In American Conservatism, Daniel Hostetter

Senior Honors Theses

Subthreshold negative emotions have superseded conscious reason as the initial and strongest motivators of political behavior. Political neuroscience uses the concepts of negativity bias and terror management theory to explore why fear-driven rhetoric plays such an outsized role in determining human political actions. These mechanisms of human anthropology are explored by competing explanations from biblical and evolutionary scholars who attempt to understand their contribution to human vulnerabilities to fear. When these mechanisms are observed in fear-driven political rhetoric, three common characteristics emerge: exaggerated threat, tribal combat, and religious apocalypse, which provide a new framework for explaining how modern populist leaders …


Can Time Really Heal: The Long-Term Impacts Of Joint Custody Arrangements, Savannah Mccullough Apr 2024

Can Time Really Heal: The Long-Term Impacts Of Joint Custody Arrangements, Savannah Mccullough

Senior Honors Theses

Due to a growing diversity of family structures, children grow up in a variety of living arrangements, especially if their parents are separated or divorced. The most common solution for these divorced families is joint custody or dual-residence arrangements, where children spend up to 50% of their time in each parent's household. The current literature on the effects of joint custody arrangements shows mixed results for children's overall adjustment and well-being, which seem to depend more on moderating factors like the child's age, exposure to interparental conflict, and parent-child relationship quality. This thesis reviews the existing literature on the advantages …


Autism And The Body Of Christ: Understanding, Accommodating, And Accepting Autistic Believers In The Church, Kaitlyn Cook Apr 2024

Autism And The Body Of Christ: Understanding, Accommodating, And Accepting Autistic Believers In The Church, Kaitlyn Cook

Senior Honors Theses

Autism is a neurotype that causes a different set of strengths and weaknesses and thus should be embraced and accommodated within the church. Not only are autistic believers able to grasp Christian concepts, but they also have different perspectives and skills that can be instrumental in building up the church. Promoting a correct view of autism and accommodating neurodiversity within the church will allow autistic believers to follow God’s command to be part of a body and build up the church. The church can employ several strategies to create an accessible environment for believers on the spectrum, including creating sensory-safe …


An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees Apr 2024

An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand the expectations Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha), those born between 2010 and 2024, has on educational technology (edtech) in learning environments and how those students rate their grit with 12 participants in third through ninth grade. The theory guiding this study was grit theory by Angela Duckworth regarding grit. This qualitative study was conducted with 12 student participants in their learning environment using a qualitative questionnaire, student interview, and student observation during their dedicated homework time. Memoing was used during observations and interviews to record common phrases between participants when describing …


A Predictive Correlation And Causal-Comparative Study On Early Childhood Social-Emotional Scores, Socioeconomic Status, And Academic Achievement, Denise A. Ashley Apr 2024

A Predictive Correlation And Causal-Comparative Study On Early Childhood Social-Emotional Scores, Socioeconomic Status, And Academic Achievement, Denise A. Ashley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative predictive correlational and causal-comparative study aimed to explore the relationship between early childhood social-emotional scores, SES, and academic achievement in elementary school students located in the western Midlands of South Carolina. The predictive correlational study aimed to determine if early childhood social-emotional scores could predict academic achievement in elementary students and explore the strength of those variables on academic achievement. The causal-comparative research design attempted to explore whether there was a difference in academic achievement for those who have PIP and those who do not. Utilizing data from the Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2), 70 …


Welfare-Based Human Rights Diffusion In Global Social Policy: Examining An Extended Spiral Model To Survey Welfare Norms, Kendra L. Duran Apr 2024

Welfare-Based Human Rights Diffusion In Global Social Policy: Examining An Extended Spiral Model To Survey Welfare Norms, Kendra L. Duran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses a gap in research concerning welfare-based human rights diffusion, rights that are also referred to as Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR). This project finds that when states ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), global social policies are created, grow worldwide, and receive greater attention from advocacy organizations. Even so, it is not understood how global social policies affect a state’s compliance with its ICESCR commitment, nor how global social policies affect welfare-based human rights diffusion. Seeking to address this gap in theory and praxis, this research utilizes an extended case study …


Living A Better Story: The Lived Narrative Apologetic In The Book Of Acts, Cedric Lemar Thomas Apr 2024

Living A Better Story: The Lived Narrative Apologetic In The Book Of Acts, Cedric Lemar Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Is it possible to articulate an apologetic practice from the account of Luke-Acts, which is not among the current popular Christian apologetic practices within contemporary apologetic scholarship? Can one consider the narratives in this history of Acts as a description of apologetic methodology, a sort of a first Christian apologetic practice demonstrated by Jesus and then replicated by His disciples? The answer is yes. The historical work of Luke offers an early apologetic practice in which the story of Scripture, the narrative of God, witnessed incarnationally through the life of Jesus and continued by the early church. Like Scripture, the …


A Phenomenological Study Exploring What Integrating Adolescent Identity Means To Christian Public-School Counselors, Todd Christopher Houchin Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Exploring What Integrating Adolescent Identity Means To Christian Public-School Counselors, Todd Christopher Houchin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is a numinous stage of self-discovery fraught with challenges and obscurities that threaten a healthy trajectory. Religion and spirituality are proven coping resources and school counselors can provide identity and meaning-making resources to aid adolescent development. However, religion and spirituality are often avoided in the public-school setting. Exploring what integrating adolescent identity means to Christian public-school counselors is important toward clarifying roles and ensuring best practices. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore what integrating adolescent identity means to Christian public-school counselors. Guiding questions include how Christian school counselors navigate identity and meaning making issues with adolescents, …


Uniform Intelligence: The United States Military Liaison Mission And The Cold War 1947-1990, Frank Christopher Ofner Apr 2024

Uniform Intelligence: The United States Military Liaison Mission And The Cold War 1947-1990, Frank Christopher Ofner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Powers, ending the war in Europe. As such, the Western Allies of Britain, France, and the United States came into direct contact with the Soviet forces in Germany, which they divided into four zones of occupation. With the potential of an armed conflict over Germany, the Western Allies and the Soviets agreed to use military liaison missions to help foster communication in Germany. The British and French maintained their units: British Commanders in Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) and La Mission Militaire Francaise de Liaison (FMLM …


Ministry After A Leadership Failure: Principles For Transitional Worship Leader, Eric R. Medford Apr 2024

Ministry After A Leadership Failure: Principles For Transitional Worship Leader, Eric R. Medford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite much information and attention given to senior leadership transitions after a moral failure in leadership, there is little information regarding supporting pastoral staff moral failures and how to lead a ministry department to a place of healing and restoration. This thesis examined the distinct challenges of transitional leaders assuming the role of guiding a worship ministry department through a previous leader's moral failure. This study analyzes commonalities and themes to demonstrate the unique challenges the worship ministry faces apart from the church. Literature and research on leadership transitions due to moral failures tend to focus on senior pastoral leadership. …


A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith Apr 2024

A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study focused on leadership's role in building relationships among virtual team members. A qualitative case study, the research focused on organizations in the medical device industry within the Charlotte Metropolitan region of North Carolina. The research was formed using 15 open ended questions in an interview of 20 leaders of virtual teams. Each leader was interviewed individually and allowed to elaborate on their answers to help the researcher to thoroughly understand the approach used to help the relationships form among their virtual team members. During the interview, the discussion between the researcher and the leader being interviewed covered …


Comparing Sense Of Community Scores Between Online Information Technology Students Based Domestically And Those Based Internationally, Spencer Degraw Apr 2024

Comparing Sense Of Community Scores Between Online Information Technology Students Based Domestically And Those Based Internationally, Spencer Degraw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to investigate a student’s sense of community within a globally-available, online, asynchronous, Information Technology (IT) course and explore whether there is a difference in the sense of community scores if the student is currently residing in the United States or is currently residing outside of the United States. A sample size of N = 297 students was drawn from a convenience sample of online students who had self-enrolled in IT classes as part of an IT degree program. The Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale was used to calculate the sense of classroom community …