Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Of Academic Achievement For Middle School Students, Kelly Geary

Integrated Studies

Factors contributing to academic achievement in elementary, middle, and high school students; is a very important topic that has been researched for many years. There have been key points that have been identified as assisting students to reach full academic achievement. This research paper will cover various topics regarding education, beginning with; students developmental stages, theories, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, gender, educators’ responsibilities, methods, strategies, and curriculum. This paper will acknowledge the importance that extracurricular activities, arts, and humanities plays on academic achievement. As well as how factors such as low socio-economic status and retention can hinder students achievement.

The Impact Of Social Play On Young Children, Elizabeth Whitman

Integrated Studies

Play is an essential part of child development. Children learn about their world through playing. If children had one job, play would be it. Children are social beings and desire interaction and communication. When children play, they can learn about themselves as well as others. Through play, children are able to learn to regulate their emotions, interact with peers, teachers, and their environment. Play enables children to expand their attention span and to enhance intrinsic motivation. Play is a meaningful part of child development because it allows children to grow in all areas of development. This enhances their ability to …

Book Reviews

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Book Reviews:

The Historic Reelfoot Lake Region: An Early History of the People and Places of Western Obion and Present Day Lake County by David G. Hayes

Bobbie Bryant

The Wild World of the Jackson Purchase by Richard Dwayne Parker

Melissa Webb Earnest

Tariff Wars and the Politics of Jacksonian America by William K. Bolt

Jonathan Dunning

For Slavery and Union: Benjamin Buckner and Kentucky Loyalties in the Civil War by Patrick A. Lewis.

Stephen Powell

On A Burning Deck, The Road to Akron: An Oral History of the Great Migration, Vol. 1, and On A Burning Deck, …

Testing Performance As It Relates To Academic Self-Concept And Test Anxiety In Students With And Without Adhd, Kyrstin Sutton-Davis

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Students who are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comprise 25% of students with disabilities who receive educational accommodations in post-secondary settings, and represent roughly 2 - 4% of college students (Weyandt et al., 2013). However, there are mixed results regarding the efficacy of testing accommodations, specifically extended time, and whether these accommodations may offer an advantage to students with ADHD (Gregg & Nelson, 2012). In addition to extended test time, students with ADHD commonly use minimal disturbance rooms. However, there is little research regarding the efficacy of the accommodation. The relationship among academic self-concept, test anxiety, test performance, and testing …

Omnivore Density Affects Community Structure Through Multiple Trophic Cascades, Donald J. Benkendorf

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Omnivores can dampen trophic cascades by feeding at multiple trophic levels, yet few studies have evaluated how intraspecific variation influences the effect of omnivores on community structure. The Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is an omnivorous cyprinid that consumes algae and invertebrates and is abundant throughout the western United States. I sought to identify the effects of size and size structure on top-down control by dace and learn how these effects scaled with density. Dace were manipulated in a mesocosm experiment and resulting changes in invertebrate and algal communities and measures of ecosystem function were monitored. Omnivores affected experimental …

Horse Use And Care In Therapeutic Horseback Riding Programs, Emily Watson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) is an organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding (THR) and other equine-assisted activities and therapies in the United States. Research on how horses are used and cared for in PATH Intl.-affiliated THR programs is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to gather data regarding horse use and care to form a baseline. A survey developed via SurveyMonkey® and distributed through Google Mail Merge to 659 PATH Intl.-affiliated programs in September 2017. A total of 270 responses were received; 264 were eligible for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to …

Effects Of Various Anthelmintic Treatments On Fecal Egg Counts, Performance Variables, Blood Parameters, And Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity In Stocker Calves, Cheyenne Auburn Hooks

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Anthelmintic treatment is known to improve cattle performance; however, effects of long-acting eprinomectin (LAE) and co-treatment (Co-Trt) use has not been widely evaluated. Lactate dehydrogenase is an important cytoplasmic enzyme which can serve as an indicator of cellular damage but little information is available regarding differences in activity of calves receiving various anthelmintics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various anthelmintic treatments on fecal egg counts (FEC), performance, blood parameters, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of newly received stocker calves. This study consisted of 125 Angus based cross bred steers grazed during summer months …

Effects Of Roundup On Behavior, Growth, And Mortality Of Larval Blue Dashers, Pachydiplax Longipennis, Kayleen K. Parker, Claire A. Fuller

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine if Roundup (active ingredient: Glyphosate) causes negative effects on behavior, growth, and mortality of larval Pachydiplax longipennis. Larvae were captured from rainwater-filled mesocosms at Hancock Biological Station in Murray, KY. Larvae were exposed to one of four concentrations of Roundup (0mg/L, 2.5mg/L, 5mg/L, or 10mg/L). Daphnia consumption, seek refuge, and anti-predator trials were conducted at 7 and 14 days post-exposure. Growth and survival trials were carried out for eight weeks using different larvae. There were no significant differences among treatments for whether or not larvae ate offered Daphnia for Day 7 …

At Your Own Risk, Jacob Donaldson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Creative Writing thesis submission. A small town of fiction called Cyrus.

Creativity, Psychopathology, And Psychological Flexibility, Lee Carpenter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between creativity and impairment in quality of life due to psychological disorder has an unclear relationship. Some studies indicate creativity and psychopathology have a significant relationship (Andreasen, 1987) while other studies indicate the two having no connection at all (Karlsson, 1970). The current study examined (1) what direct correlations exist between creative achievement and quality of life impairment, psychological inflexibility and quality of life impairment, and symptoms of psychoticism and quality of life impairment, and (2) how the indirect relationship between creative achievement and quality of life impairment in the context of symptoms of psychoticism changes at varying …

The Relationship Between Social Anxiety And Conforming Behavior In A Computerized Task, Jeremy Vargas

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and conforming behavior in both ambiguous and unambiguous computerized context. The majority of the participants for the sample consisted of Caucasian (78%) females (71%) who completed the task entirely (N = 94). Measures of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) were used to assess social anxiety, while a computer mediated problem-solving task was used to assess conforming behavior. It was hypothesized that conforming behavior would be greater in the ambiguous context compared to the unambiguous context; and that social anxiety scores would be correlated with higher conforming behavior. While a Wilcoxon …

The Effect Of Three Different Mulches On Weed Presence, Soil Characteristics, And Zinnia Growth, Anmar Muttaleb

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Organic and inorganic mulching helps to control weeds. Mulching helps cultivated plants to grow by inhibiting the growth of weeds, retaining soil moisture, and regulating the temperature of soil. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different organic mulches on weed presence, soil characteristics, and growth of Zinnia elegans. The mulches used in studying Zinnia elegans were wheat straw, non-shredded Miscanthus (M. × giganteus), and shredded Miscanthus (M. × giganteus) mulch. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in the study, with different quantitative methods were used to …

Abundance Of Methanosaeta Concilii-Like Species In The Sediment Of Ledbetter Creek Embayment Of Kentucky Lake, Juanita Von Dwingelo

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Reservoirs, including Kentucky Lake, are unique in that they do not follow a natural cycle of rising during the rainy seasons and dropping during the dry summers. The lake is manipulated, mainly for flood control and transportation, so that the water level is increased during the summer months and decreased during the winter months. This manipulation leaves the littoral sediment of the lake submerged in the summer and exposed in the winter. The seasonal water level, along with other factors, like farming practices in the watershed, contributes to the availability of nutrients for organisms inhabiting the sediment of the lake. …

Effects Of Essential Oils And Amino Acid Profile On The Growth And Health Of Receiving Cattle, Kelsey Machens

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of amino acid profile and essential oil products on receiving calf growth and feed efficiency, as well as evaluate the effects of amino acid profile and essential oil products on fecal and blood Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations as a marker for systemic and gastrointestinal tract immune status of receiving calves. One hundred-thirty crossbred calves (500-600 lbs) were transported to the ADM Animal Nutrition Research Facility in Mendon, IL. On d -1, cattle were weighed, dewormed, implanted, vaccinated, and a rectal temperature was recorded. An at-risk group of cattle was targeted …

The Unspoken Psychological Issues With Lesson Horses And How We Need To Address Them, Casey Clark

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Every day all over the world horses provide much needed therapy and treatment to people in need. They provide physical, emotional, and mental training and healing. Humans depend on them for so much and we have a moral and ethical obligation to be good stewards of our equine companions. This close proximity can take a toll on horses physically and psychologically even in the realm of experienced equine professionals. So many times though it is the small lesson facility that sees hundreds of people each year and makes a profound difference in people’s lives. This can be at a 4-H …

Trophic Interactions And Niche Partitioning Within A Post-White-Nose Syndrome Temperate Bat Community, Macy Kailing

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The decline of cave-dwelling bats since the introduction of white-nose syndrome (WNS) to North America changed the way communities interact. Disease-mediated competition at the community level can influence the ability of imperiled species to recover because of competitive exclusion. In western Kentucky, tri-colored bats, Perimyotis subflavus, which are susceptible to WNS severely declined following WNS occurrence. During that same period, evening bats, Nycticeius humeralis, which are not susceptible to WNS increased markedly. To investigate the influence of WNS on community structure, the diets of sympatric tri-colored and evening bats were assessed. Guano was collected from evening (n=37) and …

Predator Presence And Size Variation Alters Community Structure Through Multiple Trophic Cascades, Robin Baker, Howard Whiteman Ph.D.

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Predation plays a crucial role in shaping community structure and can initiate trophic cascades that can alter abundances across adjacent trophic levels. Recent research has suggested that variation among individual predators may have stronger effects on ecological dynamics than previously appreciated. Intraspecific variation within predators could lead to differential levels of top-down control with implications for trophic cascade strength. In this experiment, we manipulated the body size variation of predatory mole salamanders (Ambystoma talpoideum) within experimental mesocosms and monitored a suite of abiotic and biotic response variables. We predicted that predator populations with increased body size variation would …

The Dichotomous Model Of Substance Abuse: The Elephant In The Room, Shelby Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Addiction can be defined as a repetitive use of a substance or drug that occurs despite any negative outcomes associated with its use. Substance use addiction affects many different areas of an individual’s life, and is often associated with stigma which can result in shame, secrecy, or rejection. There are many theoretical models behind the etiology and maintenance of substance use addiction that include biological, sociological, physiological, and other factors. This investigation examines college-aged individuals’ beliefs about which theoretical model best explains substance use addiction, and if those beliefs can be manipulated when presented with new or opposing information. …

A Study Of Kentucky School District Websites: They’Re Colorful And Informative….But Are They Ada Compliant?, John A. Huss, Shannon Eastep

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

An often-overlooked component of a school district website is the necessity for that website to be accessible to those with disabilities, while following the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Workforce Rehabilitation Act. This study investigated the accessibility of school district websites in Kentucky by selecting a random sample of 50 school districts and analyzing their home pages using WAVE (Web Accessibility Versatile Evaluator), which reports accessibility violations by annotating a copy of the page that was evaluated and presenting embedded icons and indicators to disclose breaches with ADA. Out of 50 districts, …

Walton Kromer: Narratives, Walton Kromer

Professional Practices (ART 399)

11/1/17

Walton Kromer

Mid Degree Review

. I’ve always been driven by good stories with the hope to create my own someday. Whether it be from a movie, book, or video game, if it has the ability to captivate me, and my creativity, I’ll try to incorporate it in my work. My main focus is Illustration, mostly in either an ink or graphite medium, with the aim to create a narrative image with some semblance of storytelling. I have more than a soft spot for the realm of science fiction. Practically everything from the entire genre has inspired me one …

Professional Practices (Art 399), Madison Henderson

Professional Practices (ART 399)

I’ve always had a passion for art and design as well as assisting those with mental and physical disabilities. When I was searching for a career in the arts and I discovered Art Therapy I knew I had found my calling. Art has always assisted me through my life experiences. I want to be able to help those with mental and physical disabilities do the same.

The major inspiration for my work is being able to assist individuals with mental and physical disabilities and seeing their everyday struggles and how they overcome them, that your typical individual would take for …

Evaluating The Impact Of Two Contrasting Tillage Practices On Soil Properties In Central Kentucky, Emily Cook

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Farming practices such as no tillage and plowing can institute change on soil physical and chemical characteristics. In this research, the effects of long-term conventional and no-tillage systems on the selected soil properties were determined in a continuous corn system on a farm with Maury silt loam soil. These samples were taken from University of Kentucky's Research Farm (Spindletop Farm). The field used was tilled in 1969 from bluegrass sod and the first time research was conduced was in 1970. Each plot is 20 ft. by 40 ft. and for many years each plot was split with winter cover crop …

Pam-1 Localizations In The Regulation Of Autophagy During Caenorhabditis Elegans Oogenesis, Ashley N. Munie

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Autophagy, the cell's recycling system, is a highly-conserved survival mechanism of the cell. Autophagy has been implicated in the mediation of the removal of cytotoxic aggregates, such as those linked to neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington and Alzheimer disease. Studies in several model organisms have identified numerous genes involved in mediating autophagy, including the Puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase (Psa). The Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue of Psa, pam-1, also governs fertility. Along with apoptosis, a form of regulated cell death, autophagy has been found to be required for efficient C. elegans oogenesis. When autophagy is suppressed through RNAi in worms harboring …

Neuronal Degeneration And Short-Term Memory Impairment After Tbi, Obiamaraije Igwe

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was associated with impaired short-term memory with causes of vehicle accidents and falls. Protein plaques containing fibrinogen (Fg), are associated with memory loss. After TBI, Fg in blood was higher than normal (>~2 mg/ml), which resulted in increased Fg in extravascular space. Therefore, Fg bonded to its endothelial receptor intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Fg then interacted with cellular prion protein (PrPC), which had a strong effect on the loss of memory and cognition. Mechanisms of Fg and PrPC complex formation and its functional implication are not known. This present study tested the level of Fg-PrPC …

Hawthorne: Heavy Handed?, Natalie Dueker

Scholars Week

Abstract

This paper will take a formalist approach and focus on the symbolism in numerous works by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper will not only discuss in detail Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, but will also discuss a select few of Hawthorne’s short stories such as “The Birthmark,” “Young Goodman Brown,” and “The Minister’s Black Veil.” This paper will cover the symbolism in the short stories and the novel, how those symbols affect or relate to the characters and how they affect or alter the story as a whole. Common symbolism found throughout Hawthorne’s …

I Know You Are, But What Am I? Hawthorne's Projection Within The Minister's Black Veil, Coral Serrano

Scholars Week

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” has been analyzed from various perspectives, but thus far in the published literature, very few have examined this work using psychoanalytic criticism. It is even more rare to find research over “The Minister’s Black Veil” addressing the use of psychological projection. Through the character of Mr. Hooper in “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Hawthorne projects his difficulties publicly expressing his criticism and opinion of religion because of the overshadowing actions of his forefathers. Evidence of this is laced within the short story: references to mental illness, the connotations of adjectives and other words …

Pop-Up Aesop, Lacey Ellis

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

In Pop-up Aesop, I connect traditional Aesop Fables to their moral lessons uniquely through sequential illustration, typographical technique, muted colors, textured material and handcraft. Aesop Fables are usually represented by a singular illustration, if any, but the application of multiple illustrations and pop-up techniques give the morals of the stories a new opportunity to connect with the material of the books and have a more lasting and meaningful effect for the viewer.

By reading to my daughter I have been re-exposed to children’s literature. Experiencing the enjoyment a book can bring a child has inspired me to create children’s books …

2017-08-24, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Don’T Get The Epizootus! Challenges And Promises Of Modern Rural Health Care, Michael Daley

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Rural communities face a crisis in terms of access, funding for health care, and the overall health needs of these communities. There are also shortages of health care professionals in rural areas. As national priorities shift away from health care to border security, small towns may be hard pressed to meet their residents’ health care needs. Professional advocacy for rural people to address these issues is recommended.

Paws-Abilities, Taylor Davis, Madelyn Day, Kendall Dulaney, Jordanne Howard, Cierra Monroe, Jordan Tapp

GSP at Murray State University

PAWS-abilities is our non-profit business idea. Our goal for PAWS-abilities is to provide a safe environment for local stray dogs and rehabilitate them to become service or therapy dogs in the future. The trainers will be local inmates who have passed a strict screening process to ensure the safety of all who are involved. The inmates will be supervised by licensed, professional dog trainers who specialize in service and therapy training. We plan to partner with several local organizations, businesses, and veterinarians to place the service dogs with their new families and to promote the health of the dogs at …