Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Relationships Between Stress, Snake Fungal Disease, And Parasitism In Wild Cottonmouth Snake Populations, Emma Fehlker Campbell

Scholars Week

Chronically raised stress levels are known to correlate with decreased immune function in vertebrates, possible leading to increased susceptibility to infections including parasitism and Snake Fungal Disease (SFD). Helminth endoparasites and Hemoparasites are frequently found in wild populations but little is known about their physiological effects. Additionally, parasite infection may have interactive effects with diseases including SFD. To our knowledge few studies have assessed potential interactions between SFD and parasites in snakes. Thus, the objective of our study is to assess the individual and interactive effects of Helminth endoparasites, hemoparasites, and snake fungal disease on cottonmouth physiological stress. We are …

The Music Of Japanese Animation, Danielle Toney

Scholars Week

Danielle Toney

Graduating in May, Danielle is a Japanese major with a minor in Music. Danielle has been studying Japanese for 6 years, and went to Doshisha University in Kyoto for two semesters in 2019 for an intensive study abroad program. Danielle has been active in Murray State’s Japanese Club for 4 years, which includes being Vice President in Fall of 2020. Danielle is also active in Murray State’s Japanese Language Table and practices speaking Japanese weekly with colleagues and friends. After graduation, Danielle will return to Kyoto to study Music Composition at Kyoto City University of Arts.

The Music …

Impacts Of Digestawell Nrg Supplementation On Post Exercise Muscle Soreness In Unconditioned Horses, A Pilot Study, Jessica K. Suagee-Bedore, Yeting Shen, Shea Porr, Ivan D. Girard, Karen Bennett-Winbrush, Ashley L. Wagner

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Exercising horses are commonly plagued by muscle fatigue and soreness, which can result in reduced performance ability. In the present study, ten unconditioned horses were fed 200g per day DigestaWell NRG, a commercial dietary supplement containing Yucca schidigera and Trigonella foenum-graecum, two herbs shown in other species to reduce post-exercise muscle pain and soreness. A control, unsupplemented group contained ten horses of similar age, breed, and gender. Horses completed a 50 minutes, ridden standardized exercise test of moderate intensity immediately prior to (Period1) and after 28 days of supplementation (Period2). Muscle soreness and tightness were evaluated 24 hours prior …

A Survey Of Horse Use And Management In Horse Clubs In China: A Pilot Study, Zhen Li Ph.D., Msc, Shea Porr Phd

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Rapid development of the Chinese equine industry in the last two decades has resulted in an increased equine population without trained personnel to support industry growth. The purpose of this study was to understand the present profile of horse use in horse clubs in China from the perspective of horse welfare. The survey was distributed to specific personnel in selected Chinese horse clubs, and snowball sampling techniques were used to increase response rates. Of 20 respondents, the oldest club was established in 2002 and the newest in 2018. Fourteen clubs were membership-based, providing services for 40-1000 members and up to …

Pharmacokinetics Of A Single Feeding Of Pelleted Cannabidiol In Horses, Anna L. Draeger, Laura K. Hoffman, Patricia R. Godwin, Amanda J. Davis, Shea A. Porr

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Claims about cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation improving health and behavior are extensive, but research is lacking. Some studies have shown decreased anxiety behavior in rats, and increased activity in osteoarthritic dogs supplemented with CBD, but even less research exists on horses. This study monitored pharmacokinetics and short-term safety for 3 CBD dosages. Eighteen Quarter Horse geldings were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: 50 mg (TXT1), 100 mg (TXT2), and 250 mg (TXT3). Dosage was derived from manufacturer recommendations and existing literature on other species. Horses were fed a single dose of CBD pellets. Blood was collected pre- and post-treatment at …

Gene Alteration In Zebrafish Exposed To A Mixture Of Substances Of Abuse☆, Bikram Subedi, Sydni Anderson, Tara L. Croft, Eric C. Rouchka, Mei Zhang, Dena Weinberger

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

A recent surge in the use and abuse of diverse prescribed psychotic and illicit drugs necessitates the surveillance of drug residues in source water and the associated ecological impacts of chronic exposure to the aquatic organism. Thirty-six psychotic and illicit drug residues were determined in discharged wastewater from two centralized municipal wastewater treatment facilities and two wastewater receiving creeks for seven consecutive days in Kentucky. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were exposed to the environmental relevant mixtures of all drug residues, all illicit drugs, and all prescribed psychotic drugs. The extracted RNA from fish homogenates was sequenced, and differentially …

Science Of Climate Change In Agricultural Courses, Iin P. Handayani

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Climate change adaptation is required knowledge for students and graduates from colleges of agriculture since recent crop production and food security are influenced by climate change. Thus, understanding the dynamics of climate change is important to support farmers to adapt to future conditions. However, not all students and graduates understand the concept and application of climate change with regard to the dynamics of food production and future food security. While agriculture faces the challenge of climate change adaptation, agricultural courses have not kept pace by incorporating climate change science into the curricula. To address this issue, eleven syllabi in selected …

The Benefits Of Dogs, Hunter Wade

Integrated Studies

The purpose of this paper is to identify the benefits of dogs. Whether you need a dog for the benefit of having a companion or for physiology benefits. A dog provides love, support, friendship, and assistance to any of our required necessities. A brief discussion about the history of dogs and their responsibilities to the owner will be discussed throughout the paper. A dog is a loyal companion and partner to their owner. They love to aide their benefactor and thrive for love and affection. The next topic section will demonstrate how service dogs can aide in the replacement of …

A Treacherous Journey, Deborah G. Wolf

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses Charles Dickens’ expert weaving of realism into his very entertaining 1838 novel, Oliver Twist. The novel takes the reader through a sometimes-unbelievable obstacle course for the young Oliver, but the true stories of real children in Victorian London are being told as well.

There are several reasons for the state these children existed in, including England’s growing industrialization, the undervaluing of children in general, and The New Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. This paper looks into Dickens’ own childhood as well, in hopes of getting a glimpse into what may have motivated him to step …

Sanctaury:Background Of Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Services, Cynthia Fletcher

Integrated Studies

Domestic Violence and sexual assault are extremely dangerous behaviors that are well known in our society, as well as around the world. Studies and research have shown that places of support through agencies can help restore and prevent repeating occurrences as well as support that is needed for growth. Sanctuary is a non-profit agency committed to the provision of preventive and restorative services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Sanctuary has a vison to deliver caring, comprehensive support to victims of personal violence in the nine-county area of Pennyrile Area Development in Kentucky. Sanctuary seeks to empower through …

The Opioid Epidemic: How Our Society Is Contributing To The Stigma, Nakeisha Wooton

Integrated Studies

The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States is continuing to worsen as prevention strategies for opioid abuse and addiction are ineffective or improperly regulated. Behaviors of the providers, the public, and the patients must all be addressed to create effective prevention strategies because the attitude toward opioid addiction is a significant factor in the treatment of the disease. Many people view substance abuse as a choice and while this may be an accurate assumption in the beginning, citizens across America are not comprehending the full impact these substances have on a person’s body over time, specifically their brain. In …

Effects Of Ototoxic Chemicals And Occupational Exposure To Humans, Kim M. Gonzalez

Integrated Studies

The primary aim of this capstone paper was to review and examine previous works of literature on the effects of ototoxic organic solvents and various heavy metals on the auditory structure due to occupational exposure. Additionally, the research also focused on identifying work environments, which are characterized by such ototoxic toxins. The method for picking organic solvents and heavy metals encompassed the existing data that signified that such chemical substances could induce auditory challenges among workers in divergent work settings. Furthermore, the ambiguities of the publications were also extensively considered before they could be incorporated in this research. References to …

Major U.S. Pandemics A Century Apart: Preparedness And The Socioeconomic Impact Of 1918 Influenza And 2020 Covid-19, Anna Sofia Bryant

Integrated Studies

Examining the U.S. public health response during the 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19 pandemics is instructive to charting a better course of action for future outbreaks. To know where we are going, it often helps to look at where we have been and then take strategic and corrective action. This is especially true when considering structural remedies for poor and minority populations who have been disproportionately affected by health crises, both historically and in the present era, due to a variety of social and economic health determinants. Preventable deaths in nursing homes, unilateral closures of schools, businesses, and churches, and …

The Effects Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports: Legal And Illegal, Eric Johanning

Integrated Studies

This paper offers valuable information that will inform readers about the effects that come with regularly ingesting dietary and performance enhancing drugs and supplements. The paper goes into depth of specific supplements, concerning what the common man or woman believes the supplement does, versus what the supplement is advertised to do. The paper will provide information on certain test trails performed by others as supporting evidence on how the supplement being discussed plays a role in performance enhancement. The motivation behind this paper is to inform young athletes, or any athlete who considers themselves to be uninformed when it comes …

Vermiculture: A Viable Solution For Sustainable Agriculture, Heather Staggs

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Vermiculture is the cultivation of worms to produce compost. Worm farming for agricultural purposes uses specific worms that consume the organic waste in which they live and breed. Vermicomposting is biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into nutrient-rich agriculture amendments. The application of these amendments can improve the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil. Worm excrement enhances soil health, which improves plant health. When our plant and crop performance are enhanced, we see increased yields and improved quality. Vermicompost can boost crop production without the synthetic fertilizers that pollute our environment and decrease the health of people …

The Role Of Teachers And Parents For Students With Learning And Behavior Disorders, Tamesha Stone

Integrated Studies

Teacher collaboration is crucial to student success. The achievement of the student’s goals and objectives is ultimately up to the student but relies on the teacher’s ability to set up the correct educational plans. Teachers should be looking at students’ progress and struggles individually so that those students who need to be accommodated for are not neglected. It is easy to overlook a learning disability when students react to their educational weaknesses with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors. Generally, in cases like these, a student would need to be assessed for learning and behavior disorders. By definition, a learning disorder is …

The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Education, Addye Sawyers, Addye Olivia Sawyers

Integrated Studies

While the origins and purpose of childhood play has been discovered and documented for some time, the inclusion of play in early childhood education is a concept which has not found its way into the core structure of early childhood classrooms until more recent years. As the need for early learning programs continues to grow, so does the need for developmentally appropriate and beneficial early childhood learning intervention. In this paper, we will review prominent theories and recent research on stages of childhood development and learning, the purpose of early childhood education in the U.S., the nature of play and …

The Role Of The Monomyth In Star Wars, Charles Reynolds

Integrated Studies

The concept of the monomyth has figured prominently throughout the millennia. From the Bible to Greek mythology, Jesus to Hercules, the monomyth linked the past and the present storytelling into a shared belief that transcended culture and background. One example of the monomyth come to life was Luke Skywalker, the hero of Star Wars Episode Four, Five, and Six. Throughout the three films, Luke undertook much of the journey of the hero as defined by Joseph Campbell. Yet, despite the friendship between the director George Lucas and Campbell, there are differences in both timeline and depth in the monomyth and …

A Need For Change; Critical Issues Facing Kentucky's Correctional System, Candace Harper

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Protecting the public, rehabilitating offenders, and reducing recidivism while increasing desistance are essential goals for the Department of Corrections. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the department, several areas need evaluation, and improvement. The focus on reducing recidivism should begin with reconsideration of the methods used to measure an offender's progress and success. The theory that the current measurement of recidivism is unreliable data needs to be investigated and other methods of measurement should be considered. Another aspect that needs inspection is how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect the positive progression that evidence-based programming provides, and how PTSD …

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Ltc Facilities, Rachael M. Simcox, Rachael Simcox

Integrated Studies

Historically, viruses have had major impact on society. Some viruses are relatively harmless, while other are a death sentence. We are currently facing a highly communicable virus that is vigorously making its way around the globe, having a devastating impact on the management and delivery of everyday care in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF’s). In December 2019, a new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan China. While rapidly spreading in China, it only took a month to make its way to the United States, resulting in the Trump Administration declaring a national emergency, only two months later, on March 13, 2020. Shortly …

Climate Change, Pollution, And Green Energy, Irene R. Robertson

Integrated Studies

Two of the largest issue’s humanity faces today is climate change and pollution. What needs to be sought out for is why climate change is happening at an accelerated rate and what can be done to either slow it down or completely stop it. Pollution is another problem that is causing detrimental damage to the planet. Future generations are at risk if people today do not change and look for cleaner solutions. The intent of this projects is to give clear information on climate change, pollution, the scientific research it is currently undergoing, and green technology. Having a complete understanding …

Esg Investing: Past, Present, Future, And Why You Should Care, Amy L. Harvey

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) investing, also known as socially responsible investing, green investing, and ethical investing. This paper will inform the reader on the past, present, and future of ESG investing. It will dive deeper into each category and discuss the correlation between the issues and investing principles. Different business philosophies will be compared along with corporate responsibility. The pros and cons of ESG rating systems will be discussed and reviewed. This paper will answer if ESG investing is profitable for the business and help determine the impact it has on our planet.

Cheap Labor And The Effects On The American Economy And Worker, Brian Proctor, Brian Proctor

Integrated Studies

Abstract

This study shows how American companies have used cheap labor in the past and present to do smaller jobs or to make individual pieces or parts that were to be put together and used in larger products. This cheap labor came from both foreign and domestic sources. In recent times, however, these companies have picked up and moved their entire productions outside of the United States greatly impacting the American economy and workers. These moves have been called outsourcing or off-shoring and have played a major part in the decline of some of the larger manufacturing cities such as …

Attuning To Need: Reconceptualizing “Help” In Poor Rural Areas, Jennifer M. Frank, Laura Brierton Granruth, Brittany Leffler, Rachel Preibisch, Dawn Watson, Heather Girvin, Mary Glazier

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Social isolation is closely linked to overall health and well-being and is a serious concern for those in rural areas. Our research seeks insights into the needs experienced in poor rural areas by utilizing letter writing between students and community agency participants as a research methodology. In the letters, we observed that community participants relied upon friend and family style relationships and even viewed their agency relationships as such. This suggests that transforming "professional helping relationships" into alliances that are less impersonal might be in order. Such relationships and connections seemed conducive to the development of empowering self-efficacy. This finding …

The Confederate Surrender At Tiptonville And The Conclusion Of The Island No. 10 Campaign

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

The Confederate Surrender at Tiptonville and the Conclusion of the Island No. 10 Campaign

Dieter C. Ullrich

An Evaluation Of College Preparedness On Natural Selection Principles Following The Completion Of An Entry-Level Biology Course, Amy Bell

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Evolution education in secondary education has long been a topic of research. The level of knowledge and acceptance of students upon entering college has been studied using various methods; however, no study had provided the perception of preparedness from the student perspective nor had analyzed the individual Natural Selection principles. This study analyzed college freshmen (n=162) in an entry-level BIO 101 course. Participants were given the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection Instrument (CINSI) and perception survey questions upon completion of the course. The CINSI data was then analyzed for each of the four Natural Selection principles as well as …

Dirofilaria Immitis Prevalence In Canis Latrans In Kentucky, Melanie Ann Brandon

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) was found in forty-two (42) of the two hundred seventy-five (275) Canis latrans (coyote) necropsied in the state of Kentucky from November 27, 2019 through March 3, 2021. Thirty-five (35) of the positive cases were from western Kentucky region with the other seven spread across the state. With this group of coyotes, one hundred fifty-eight (158) were male and the other one hundred six-teen (116) were female. The estimated age ranged from a pup to senior dogs. A little over forty percent of the dogs were obtained through coyote/predator tournaments; the remaining were acquired from pest …

Georgia Agricultural Education Teachers’ Perceived Barriers Of Delivering Instruction Through Internet-Based Distance Learning, Cecily Gunter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

In the late fall of 2019 and early spring 2020 educators across the world were abruptly faced with the issue of teaching curriculum through distance learning platforms. This challenge was even greater for agricultural education teachers to accomplish due to the goal of providing students opportunities for leadership development, personal growth, and career success through hands-on learning opportunities. The researcher conducted a study to examine the perceived barriers of internet –based distance learning by agricultural education teachers in Georgia and to explore the relationship between their perceived barriers and the perception of their level of computer and internet access, their …

Monitoring Relationships Between Corticosterone And Snake Fungal Disease In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus) In Western Kentucky, John Bromley Hewlett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Over the past four decades, emergent fungal diseases have been the most devastating relative to species declines and extinctions. While most research has focused on fungal diseases affecting amphibians and bats, less has focused on diseases like snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo). SFD was first described in 2006 in North America within a Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) population in New Hampshire. Since then SFD has been documented in 19 US states, one US territory (Puerto Rico), and Europe. SFD causes high mortality in some species, including the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus …

Males Of The Wolf Spider Rabidosa Rabida Use Two Mechanisms To Stun Females During Copulation, Daniel Schoenberg

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The differences in energetic input between the sexes required to produce gametes translates to the differences in reproductive behavior and overall mating systems seen in a species. Females generally produce a few energetically and resource expensive eggs and typically choose a high-quality suitor to ensure she has high quality offspring. In contrast, males produce abundant energetically cheap sperm and attempt to fertilize as many eggs as possible in as many females as possible. Both sexes are trying to maximize their inclusive fitness, but the dichotomy of interests can lead to sexual conflict and perhaps extreme or unusual behaviors such as …