Phylum Phantasma, Hannah Robards

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

In my work, I explore how comfort can be found in discomfort and harrowing situations and how we seek shelter in the world around us. My art takes the form of a ceramic world that is devoid of human life and explores the habitats of various unique creatures and species. My work evokes the feeling of searching for a sense of belonging and how this search can be a complicated one, filled with a variety of different relationships, including beneficial, parasitical, and more. These relationships are present in my ceramic creatures and exemplify the complexity of interaction within our species. …

The Pop Culture Classroom: Advocating Education For The Digital Adolescent, T'Khiyah Trice-Wilford

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to analyze visual mass media and its effects on adolescents' identity and their psychological, cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral development within educational settings. A particular emphasis is on how mass media has influenced adolescents since the turn of the century. Emphasis will also be placed on how ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identification are represented in these types of media. Furthermore, strategies and recommendations will be proposed as a response to this critical need during these formative years of adolescent development.

Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome In Canine Patients, Morgan Powell

Honors College Theses

Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS) is a perplexing and debilitating ocular condition that affects canine patients primarily in the form of the sudden onset of total vision loss. Veterinary literature will be reviewed to discuss the basic anatomy of the canine eye and retina, as well as to investigate various diagnostic techniques to evaluate ophthalmic function and hypotheses of the pathogenesis of SARDS. The complexity of this disease and the absence of research leads to veterinarians and clients grappling with unanswered questions. This research surveys veterinarians to gain a perspective of the rareness of the disease, the most frequent …

Simply Snake Sprites And Sounds: Snake Detection Theory In Video Games, Entropy Cramer

Scholars Week

Snake Detection Theory states that there is an innate evolutionary advantage to respond to snake stimuli stronger and faster than non-snake stimuli. This theory has been supported by studies measuring brain activity in infants looking at images of snakes (Bertels et al., 2020), reactions in wild monkeys and marmosets (Wombolt & Caine, 2016; Isbell & Etings, 2017; Van Strien et al, 2016; Dinh et al., 2021), and in peripheral attention tasks in adults (Kawai & He, 2016; Kawai & Qui, 2020; Gallup & Meyers, 2021). Also, over 53% of UK citizens report anxiety around snakes, and it is one of …

Oh My Stars, Abbi Moore

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

I am of the opinion that everyone judges a book by its cover. Why else would books have covers? Visuals are the ultimate first impression. This concept has interested me for a long time. In my work, I try to make the viewer pay attention to information that might otherwise be overlooked by building a connection with the audience when words are the only thing to work with. This is where my love and appreciation of graphic design came from. The idea of organizing art is an interesting concept in itself, but seeing how effective it is when it's carried …

Buried Treasure, Maggie Quertermous

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

One of my most cherished dreams as a child was to have a dog. This past year I was able to adopt a four legged friend that forever changed my life for the better. When walking into that shelter, I immediately wanted to take her home and away from that sad interior. Being able to rescue a dog that I so deeply connected with was something indescribable, but it was sad for the ones left behind. From that experience sprang the idea of Buried Treasure. A bright, exciting place that is full of possibilities for both dogs and people.

Brand …

Animal Liberation Front: Threat To Kentucky, Zoe E. Hunt

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is a global terrorist organization that was founded in 1976. Since the creation of ALF, the group has spread rapidly as well as turned into a domestic terrorist organization in the United States. With this project, the group's potential threat to Kentucky was evaluated. ALF was evaluated using four structured analytic techniques and an intelligence collection plan. A better understanding of what ALF is was formed by the discussion of the group’s origins, ideology, and organization. In addition, the group's goals, objectives, and capabilities were discussed. Using the information gathered during the threat profile, the …

Iequity: An Augmented Reality Theatre Production, Amy Pan, Kristina Arnold Dr, Alan White, Truth Tran

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Augmented reality is commonly seen being used in game development and design, typically seen through a mobile device such as a phone. However, it has rarely been tested and pushed to its limits in other settings. The main focus of this project was trying to deploy augmented reality in settings that are seen as more traditional. This will be done by taking a play, pre-written and performed by a professor at Western Kentucky University, and building an augmented reality set for the play in the background. The main software that will be used is Unity and Blender. Unity will be …

Attitudes Of South-Central Kentucky Residents Towards Coyotes And Their Management, Andrew T. Mcqueen, Stephen Sumithran Phd

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The existence of the coyote in the eastern U.S. is a recent development and the public’s perception of coyotes has been widely studied in urban areas. However, perceptions in rural areas, especially rural Appalachia, have been largely unstudied. It is necessary for wildlife managers to understand the public’s perceptions of coyotes and coyote management when creating management plans. We conducted a public survey in South-central Kentucky to determine perceptions toward coyotes and coyote management methods. The survey contained questions about demographics (age, gender, county of residence, landownership, etc.), perceptions (fears, opinions), knowledge (true/false questions), and preferred management practices (hunting, trapping, …

Theater And Film Through The 20th Century: The Positive Impact, Nicholai Stroupe

Integrated Studies

20th Century theater and film overall had a positive impact on society. This essay will cover how theater and film can positively but also how some events negatively had an impact or affect on theater and film itself. Here, you will be led through the many things related to theater and film that have affected all countries and cultures, in ways some have, and some have never realized. All matters of economic, political and social events will be discussed as they relate to theater and film. The reader will be led through in decades. The reader will first be informed …

An Analysis Of The Challenges Facing The Electric Car Revolution, Matthew Morales

Integrated Studies

The US and other developed countries are working to transition from the internal combustion engine to all electric clean car technology. The electric car does have a long history that is greatly unknown, but it has failed to evolve over time. With the current legislation and increased awareness on global warming, there is a push to go electric that has sparked a revolution. This is an important distinction as it will impact us all.

However, there are serious challenges that face the electric car revolution. Those challenges include, but are not limited to, material procurement, national defense, infrastructure, cost, and …

Tools And Strategies For Successful Classroom Education, Madalyn Peterson

Integrated Studies

The purpose of this paper will be to discuss resources and tools that can be used in the classroom. These tools will involve successfully establishing classroom management. Classroom management is as simple as creating a routine for the students in the classroom, which will also guide the students through the classroom expectations. Setting expectations is crucial and will assist students by helping them gain an understanding of what is expected of them while in the classroom, and while they are working. This also establishes what kind of role model the teacher plans to be in the classroom. When a teacher …

Inventing The Magic: The Story And Success Of The Walt Disney Company, Camryn Grogan

Integrated Studies

The Walt Disney Company has influenced the worldwide travel market with its massive success in marketing, immersive experiences, and communications. In this BIS437 paper, I will be outlining their history, influence, and success by discovering everything that happens behind the scenes in order to make magic happen for children and families all over the world.

The Cascading Effect Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Urgency For A Trauma-Informed Approach, Whitney Lovett

Integrated Studies

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to any traumatic event from birth to 18 years of age that can have negative effects to a child’s development and health. Any form of abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction constitutes an adverse childhood experience initiating immediate and long-term outcomes. Reoccurring and prolonged exposures to adversity can turn into toxic stress. These experiences take a toll on children’s brain development, growth, immune and other regulatory systems, learning, behavior, and genetic outcomes. Although ACEs are common, some populations may be more susceptible to adversities. Families who have limited economic advantages and histories of ACEs, racism, and …

Book Reviews

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Book Reviews

Bourbon's Backroads: A Journey Through Kentucky's Distilling Landscape

River Shows, Blues, Ragtime, Jazz and Country Music: It All Equals Rockabilly, Part One

We Shall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare In 1862 Western Kentucky

Faith in Politics: Southern Political Battles Past and Present

Kentucky Quilts and Quiltmakers: Three Centuries of Creativity, Community, and Commerce

Across the Kentucky Color Line: Cultural Landscapes of Race from the Lost Cause to Integration

Rebels on the Border: Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction of Kentucky and Missouri

Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace

Drowned Town

New Perspectives on Civil War Era Kentucky

The …

Burnout Of Women In Agriculture, Ashley Rivers

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture is considered one of the foundations of the United States. Women have played an important but often overlooked role in the history of agriculture. Despite many significant contributions, women have been left out of the history and advancements of agriculture. This research examined the lived experiences of 56 women who are involved in production agriculture and the factors that can contribute to stress and burnout in this area. By identifying how females view their roles and various aspects of their work, valuable insights can be gained into the experiences women face. Financial challenges and gender bias were identified as …

Administrator Perceptions Of Factors Distinguishing School-Based Agricultural Education Programs As Successful, Mckinley Hunter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural education is a vital component of the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) framework that encompasses classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience (SAE), and involvement in the National FFA Organization. This study gathered Georgia high school administrators’ perceptions of factors distinguishing school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs as successful. Administrators identified various components important to program success for each are of the agricultural three-component model. Administrators in this study, prioritized involvement in the National FFA Organization over the other constructs, indicating that the traditional view of the three-component model can be dependent upon local needs and priorities. This research can be …

Perceptions Of Benefits From Middle School Agricultural Education Programs, Michael Hunter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

As agriculture education continues to evolve across the state of Georgia and the country, leaders need to understand the dynamic vision and the importance of this industry. Utilizing P-20 education initiatives and new concepts, leaders can implement agriculture education in more schools to increase diversity and provide students with opportunities to participate in the three-component model of agriculture education. This research aimed to explore the perceived benefits that high school principals, CTAE directors, and agriculture teachers have on middle school agriculture education programs. This research was confined to the Georgia FFA North Region. Findings indicated no significant evidence that middle …

Silence Is Not Golden: Exploring The Trade-Offs Between Transparency And Burden In Dirs Reporting, Katie Nelson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the United States federal government's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), which is an instrument that is used during emergencies to gather information on what five communication avenues are not actively working at the time of the emergency or during the recovery process. The synthesis provides a framework for characteristics that cite the necessities for this study on DIRS. Examining DIRS will help us understand its strengths, limitations, and potential improvements. Evaluating the details of historical and global research on emergency communications are gathered. The analysis provides insights into DIRS's past, present, and future. Bring to light future …

The Effects Of Early Exposure To Prescription/Illicit Drugs And Drug Metabolites On Larval Zebrafish Behavioral And Motor Function Development, Jacob Thomas, Dena Weinberger, Bikram Subedi, Brandon Capps

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO PRESCRIPTION/ILLICIT DRUGS AND DRUG METABOLITES ON LARVAL ZEBRAFISH BEHAVIORAL AND MOTOR FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters In Science

By Jacob Thomas, B.S., Murray State University

December 2024

Acknowledgements

Brandon Capps, who pretty much did a whole third of the legwork on this project and saved me lots of headaches;

Chandler Maddox, one of the University of Kentucky’s finest undergrads who came in from the top rope with a folding chair …

Early-Career Georgia Agriculture Teachers' Agricultural Mechanics Professional Development Needs, Christopher Crump

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural mechanics is a prominent topic in Georgia Agricultural Education, as it is the agricultural subject matter area with the second-largest enrollment across all school systems in the state. However, with Georgia agricultural teacher preparation programs only requiring three credit hours in the subject matter area, questions arise as to whether Georgia agriculture teachers are properly prepared to teach this subject matter area, especially if those teachers did not complete a traditional teacher preparation program. This nonexperimental, quantitative study assessed early-career Georgia agriculture teachers’ professional developmental (PD) needs in agricultural mechanics. Qualtrics was utilized to collect responses to a research …

Factors That Influence Males To Teach Agricultural Education, Ashley Thoron

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The need for more males entering the teaching profession is linked to the idea of the gender gap in school with females outperforming males, and the need for young men to have strong role models. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine factors that influence males to teach agricultural education. This study utilized an adapted version of the Ag-Ed FIT Choice Instrument to collect data through a modified version of Dillman’s Tailored Design Method, with three contacts of a pre-notice letter, emailed instrument, and a thank you/reminder. The population consisted of male agricultural education students enrolled in teacher …

Georgia Elementary Agriculture Education Pilot Program: An Extensive Look Into The History, Development, And Success, Christa Steinkamp

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Georgia Elementary Agricultural Education (EAE) was formally introduced through the 2018 Senate Bill 330 (SB33); a two-part bill passed with unanimous support in both the House & the Senate. The first part of the bill included the three-component model of school-based agricultural education for high schools and middle schools which includes classroom/laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development through the National FFA Organization. The second part of SB330 introduced an elementary agricultural education (EAE) pilot program. The three-year pilot program started in the 2019-2020 school year with twenty-five schools; and concluded with thirty-one schools at the end of the …

A Comparison Of Student Achievement On Agriculture Mechanics End Of Pathway Assessments Among Agriculture Programs In Georgia, William Burt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture education programs in Georgia are held to the same standards and evaluations regardless of their location, resource availability, and student clientele. For schools with agriculture mechanics programs specifically, students are expected to obtain proficient skills in welding, electrical wiring, woodworking, small engines, concrete, and machinery. Students' are expected to obtain skill sets in these various content areas, yet the equipment and resources available to the educator differs among schools. The experience that a student encounters also differs among schools. For instance, some schools have multiple agriculture pathways for a student to enroll in, while other schools have minimal. The …

Can Edna Be Used To Locate Shawnee Hills Cavefish Forbesichthys Papilliferus?, Megan Brandt, Timothy Spier Phd, Gary Zeruth Phd

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Traditional stream fish sampling methods, such as seining and electrofishing, are time consuming, expensive, and limited to short stretches of stream. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting fish. The streams of the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area (LBL) are unique, undisturbed streams which contain many interesting fish species for which little information exists. One such rare species is the Shawnee Hills Cavefish Forbesichthys papilliferus, which is known to exist in a few LBL streams. However, the complete distribution of the Shawnee Hills Cavefish in LBL …

Examining The Role That Agricultural Education Programs Play In Student Choice Of Production Agriculture Careers, Wesley Estes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the influence that Agriculture Education programs, at all levels, have on student choice of careers in production agriculture. The average age of a farmer in the United States is increasing, and the shortage of young people returning to family farming operations (or beginning operations of their own) becomes more apparent each year. This study utilizes focus groups of professionals to gather information about the factors that influence student choice in agriculture careers, and the ability of agriculture education programs to either enhance or mitigate those factors. For the purposes of this study, Agriculture Education programs of all …

Portrayals Of Gender And Race In Instagram Advertising: An Exploratory Content Analysis, Taylor Moore

Honors College Theses

Race and gender stereotyping is a longstanding problem in the world of advertising. This research utilized content and statistical analysis to answer three questions regarding race and gender stereotyping in Instagram advertising: (1) what portrayals are being shown? (2) how are these portrayals being shown? And (3) are diverse advertisements reinforcing or challenging stereotypes? Tweny advertisements were chosen off Instagram to analyze. Through an analysis of literature on the topic, a code book defining race, person of color, sex, gender, and gender expression was created. Using these variables and classifying the ads as a stereotype/counterstereotype/neutral, allowed for the creation of …

Exigency, Laurie Snellen

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

Birds are very sensitive to environmental changes and indicators to issues surrounding the biodiversity crisis. Exigency, by highlighting common beloved songbirds, allows for a link to the crisis that is so much closer than what many are used to seeing in the news. It also encourages users to explore solutions they can apply in their everyday lives like window stickers for bird strikes or bird boxes for bluebirds.

The relationship between the complexity of nature and the part people play in it has always been of interest. These current works act as a bridge between the environment and the people. …

Michael Ridenour 399 Art Portfolio, Michael Ridenour

Professional Practices (ART 399)

A plethora of my artwork is based on imaginary animals and their role in reality or fantasy. I utilize pencil and charcoal to add depth and feeling to the piece whether it is colored or monochromatic. To make the drawings, I first gather some ideas from creatures from mythology or the virtual landscape and add some features of my own design. This passion for capturing creatures, real or fictional, can utilize their unusual adaptations from a scientific point of view as a way to merge two of my interests. I have always been fascinated by animals, especially mythical ones or …

Teresa Hill Art 399 Portfolio, Teresa Hill

Professional Practices (ART 399)

Aside from the aesthetics of cartoons and video games that I was attracted to in childhood; other influences that often guide where works would go are personal experiences, our connection with nature and others, the development of the imagination, and the human eye. The pieces made from that influence contain something tied back to others, whether it is the use of various warm/cool hues, the use of nature and flowers, colorful clothing on figures, or hands and legs being slightly longer than the rest of a figure’s proportions. Artists like Yayoi Kusama, Bonnie Seeman, and Hayao Miyazaki have also impacted …