Digital Commons Network^™

Differential Diagnosis Of Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction And Exercise-Induced Asthma, Allison Lyman, Allison Lyman

Honors College Theses

Sensations of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are not uncommon, especially among athletes and those who regularly engage in aerobic activities. Often, athletes will seek treatment for their respiratory symptoms and may be diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. Doctors prescribe inhalers to these individuals to help alleviate their symptoms; however, there are occasions in which inhalers fail to lessen the severity of breathing difficulties. This is because asthma is not the only condition that can cause shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. There exists another condition which affects the vocal folds but not the lungs and bronchioles as is …

Voice Therapy Techniques For Male-To-Female Versus Female-To-Male Transgender Individuals And Stereotypical Gender Beliefs That Affect These Techniques, Bailey Lyman

Honors College Theses

This research was conducted to determine the differences and similarities between the therapeutic techniques used with male-to-female versus female-to-male transgender voice clients resulting from their existing and potentially changing anatomy and physiology. It was also conducted to determine the potential impacts of gender stereotyping on therapeutic techniques and a client’s therapeutic course. A review of the literature suggests that although there are quite a few similarities between the therapeutic techniques of male-to-female and female-to-male voice clients, there are crucial differences in these techniques that must also be considered. A few of the differences include considering a degree of change based …

Critical Information Literacy And Collections: Developing Praxis For Public Libraries, Lesley Garrett

Liberal Arts Capstones

Public libraries play an active role in building equitable, democratic communities by promoting critical information literacy, most notably in their collections development. Critical Information Literacy builds on the standard information literacy definitions by adding an analysis of political, economic, social and corporate systems that “have power and influence over information production, dissemination, access, and consumption" (Gregory and Higgins, 2013). This project includes a zine created to introduce an adaptation of Paulo Freire's banking concept of education for libraries, as well as note the continued work needed to develop a praxis for critical public librarianship.

Kiley Cox Art 399 Digital Commons, Kiley Cox

Professional Practices (ART 399)

My artwork uses the organic forms found in nature as metaphors to express human emotions. The incorporation of nature is used as a tool to evoke a sense of community as it is something that we all appreciate collectively. My drawings are made to be relatable in that way so that different viewers can have different interpretations. For some people, they can evoke a sense of happiness or nostalgia, while for others it can create a feeling of sadness or being overwhelmed.

My drawing process is improvisational in nature. I discover the emotion that I want to explore through the …

The Treatment And Management Of Chronic Pain Using Cbd, Emily Davis

Honors College Theses

Chronic pain is a common debilitating condition in the United States. The treatment of chronic pain is complex and can sometimes lead to addiction of opioid medications. However, there is another, more natural option in the treatment of chronic pain—the use of CBD, cannabidiol which is a phytocannabinoid from hemp and marijuana, for the treatment and management of chronic pain. While CBD is labeled a schedule I drug by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, there is evidence that CBD can make an impact on the severity of pain, the amount of opioids in use, and the …

Implementing A Standard Handoff Amongst Nurses, Brennan Kunkel

Scholars Week

For many years the nursing handoff procedure was an informal passing of information between two nurses. While informal this handoff was still very vital to the care of a patient in any given circumstance. It can provide key details and information that could be missed or unknown from a previous shift. The nursing handoff has gone through many changes and improvements throughout the years. This paper looks at the error in nursing handoff and implementing a standard form to reduce error and improve patient safety and satisfaction. Upon inspection it was noticed that this topic has been overlooked in the …

Implementing Mandatory Bedside Report Between Nurses, Tosha Taylor

Scholars Week

Implementing bedside report into nursing practice is shown to be the best evidence based practice. However, many nurses do not implement bedside report into their practice for various reasons such of lack of knowledge on how to properly conduct bedside report. Bedside report can reduce medication errors, increase patient safety, and increase nurse accountability among other issues. This paper reviews the benefits of bedside report as well as how to properly implement mandatory bedside report among nurses through policy.

Implementing Ppe And Precaution Use Among Patient Families And Visitors, Ashley Dunn

Scholars Week

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current nursing policy regarding education, knowledge, and compliance of PPE (personal protective equipment) among patient families and visitors, and to further assess whether or not the policy in place needs to be strengthened and improved, or changed altogether. Upon investigation, it was found that PPE compliance and knowledge as well as hand hygiene compliance are lacking and are current issues seen among not only families and visitors of families, but nurses as well. There are few studies about this topic due to the fact that it is an issue that is …

Animal-Assisted With Nursing Home Residents, Kierstyn Stevens

Scholars Week

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of animal-assisted therapy in nursing home residents, particularly a Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Paducah, KY. Residents of long term care facilities, like a nursing home, face many challenges due to physical and mental changes. Factors contributing to these changes may include financial changes, loss of autonomy, mobility changes, etc. Various articles concerning animal-assisted therapy in elders, residents of hospitals, and residents of long-term care facilities were gathered to examine potential benefits. Findings indicated significant improvement in variables found often in elders, such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and loneliness. Many of these …

Incel Rhetoric: Origins Of Digital Misogyny, Virginia Sisemore

Honors College Theses

In this paper I outline the basic ideological beliefs of incels, which provide insight into the community’s violent tendencies. In addition, because I believe incel communities are more directly to blame for digital misogyny than a larger and more broad group of men, I examine posts from within their community and comments under Anita Sarkeesian’s video “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” in order to demonstrate that the rhetoric in both online locations is from the same source. Finally, I discuss actions that can be taken to mitigate the online violence perpetrated by the incel community, which will, in turn, …

The Spread Of Medical Information Through Social Media Platforms, Emma Durham

Honors College Theses

Social media has exploded in the past decade making it hard to find a teenager or adult without a smartphone or tablet in their possession at all times. Social media makes it easy for people to access information and friends at the click of a button. Information is easier to spread today than it ever has been; however, with this widespread social media usage comes a rapid spread of information with little fact checking. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of medical information being posted online, and not all of it has been completely accurate. The purpose of …

Preparation (Mis)Perception: Effects Of Involvement On Food Attributes And Desirability, Sarah Lefebvre, Marissa Orlowski

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of involvement in food preparation on estimated calorie content, perception of portion size, and desirability of the food item.

Design/Methodology/Approach: To test the hypotheses, three between-subjects experiments (one online, two in a laboratory setting) were conducted. Across the three experiments, participants were presented with a food item either ready for consumption (low involvement) or with the individual ingredients in need of assembly prior to consumption (high involvement).

Findings: Results showed that when a consumer is involved in the preparation of their food, they perceive the food to be lower …

Group-Based Training On Trial-Based Functional Analysis, Christina Noel, Thomas Gross, Grant Hacherl, Meaghan Ritchie, Matthew Howerton

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

A functional behavior assessment (FBA) of challenging behavior has been identified as a High-Leverage Practice in the social/emotional/behavior area (HLPs; McLeskey et al., 2017). Despite the importance of FBAs to classroom practices, many FBAs are conducted outside of classroom settings. Evidence suggests that FBAs may be more effective when conducted in a child’s typical classroom setting. A trial-based functional assessment (TBFA) is a variant of an FBA that is conducted by practitioners in a child’s classroom environment. The purpose of this paper is to outline the important components that should be included in a TBFA group training designed for practitioners …

Evaluating Preservice Special Education Candidates’ Comfort Level Implementing High Leverage Practices, Cindy Clemson, Sarah N. Merimee

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

Special education teachers are presented with numerous demands within the classroom and must have a specific skill set to adequately address diverse needs. Therefore, 22 high leverage practices (HLPs) for special education teachers were established. This study assessed the impact of a semester of teaching the HLPs, including a final project requirement, on senior teacher candidates’ comfort level implementing the HLPs. Results indicate that the explicit teaching of the HLPs, required project, and practicum led to the students’ increased comfort implementing the HLPs. Additionally, the authors reviewed data gathered and used it to explore their university’s current curriculum to determine …

Effects Of Using Hemp Hearts As A Feed Additive In Broiler Chicks, Brian Parr, Cheyenne Hooks, Mallorie Snider, Huichang Chae, Tony Brannon

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

In this experiment, hemp hearts of differing percentages were fed to broiler chicks for 49 days. The experiment, which was initiated to identify the potential of hemp hearts as a feed source, consisted of four experimental groups and one control group. Each experimental group received a diet containing: 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% hemp hearts; the control group did not contain hemp hearts, but contained soybean meal. As a result, broilers fed a diet containing 20% hemp hearts gained the most weight, t(16) = 2.12, p < 0.05 and feed conversion was also the lowest t(18) = 2.10, p < 0.01. These results indicate the feed efficiency of broilers using 20% hemp hearts was the lowest numerically, but the most efficient qualitatively. The diets consisting of higher percentages of hemp hearts demonstrate a need for additional supplementation.

2020-08-27, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Syke, Aurora Zwyghuizen

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

“Colour is, on the evidence of language alone, very bound up with feelings.” -Marion Milner

The psychology behind color has intrigued me greatly. I’ve wondered how exactly it affects people and their mood. There are many similar meanings to every color. I have been researching a set of colors and what psychologists have to respond with. With this research, I am creating an article about color and fashion; and how it can affect the wearer. I created this product using my photography and asking people how a certain color makes them feel. Every person was photographed in a public place …

Simulation Game Outcomes: A Multilevel Examination Of Knowledge Sharing Norms, Transactive Memory Systems, And Individual Learning Goal Orientations, Janice Francis Super Ph.D., Teresa K. Betts Ph.D., Heath Keller Ph.D., Joy Humphreys Ph.D.

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Background. Because computer-based simulation games are widely used in university classrooms, it is important to investigate factors which can lead to effective student team performance and positive individual outcomes.

Aim. This correlational study aimed to examine the effects of knowledge sharing norms, transactive memory systems, and individual learning goal orientations on game outcomes.

Method. The setting for this study was an undergraduate logistics and supply chain class. The class uses a serious simulation game which is designed to realistically mimic the business transactions within an enterprise resource planning system (ERP). Cross-sectional surveys captured individual learning goal …

The Role Of Blocked Gratitude In Non-Voluntary Tipping, Ismail Karabas, Jeff Joireman

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Purpose: Non-voluntary tipping (e.g., automatic gratuity) has received growing attention in the service industry. Existing research suggests customers respond unfavorably to non-voluntary tipping, yet little research has examined why. The current studies address this question, with particular interest in response to non-voluntary tipping under high quality service.

Design/methodology/approach: Two scenario-based experiments tested the proposed hypotheses in between-participants design using ANOVA, hierarchical regression, and PROCESS.

Findings: Study 1 showed that non-voluntary tipping resulted in higher negative emotions, which led to lower return intentions. Surprisingly, the negative effect of non-voluntary tipping was as strong (or stronger) under high (vs. low) quality service. …

Low Income And Access To Healthy Food: The Case Of Milk, Jeffrey Young, James K. Binkley

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Even with abundant dietary research and knowledge about healthy eating, there is still a considerable shortfall in dietary quality of low-income households in the US. Chen et al. (2012) proposed that this problem is at least in part due to low-income individuals’ having less expected future earnings and thus, reduced incentive to pursue longevity by means of healthy eating. We further their analysis, offering improvement by controlling for access to low-fat milk. We find that even when allegedly crucial factors such as cost and access are not issues, relative purchasing of low-fat milk is still linked to higher income.

Site Selection Of Pyrococcus Horikoshi Rada Intein, Madison Paige White

Honors College Theses

Inteins are polypeptides translated within host proteins that undergo an autocatalytic protein splicing reaction to join the flanking sequences, termed N- and C- extiens. Long considered molecular parasites, recent work has demonstrated that protein splicing can be regulated by environmental signals, representing an exciting new form of post-translational regulation. A landmark example comes from the homologous recombinase RadA of the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii, which splices in response to substrate single-stranded DNA. Interestingly, while the P. horikoshii RadA intein splices efficiently when inserted into foreign exteins under all conditions tested, splicing is inhibited in native exteins in absence of ssDNA. In …

What Am I Tipping You For? Customer Response To Tipping Requests At Limited-Service Restaurants, Ismail Karabas, Marissa Orlowski, Sarah Lefebvre

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Tipping within the foodservice industry has traditionally been reserved for full-service restaurants. However, there is a growing trend of tip requests at limited-service restaurants, where tipping occurs prior to consuming the product. This research aims to examine the effect of a point-of-sale tip request at limited-service restaurants on return intentions via customer irritation. It also aims to analyze the moderating effects of check amount and perceived deservingness.

A National Survey To Characterize Industrial Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Production Challenges Under Protected Cultivation, William G. Owen, Bridget Behe

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

A nationwide internet survey (n = 134) was conducted to establish the current status of industrial hemp (IH; Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation and characterize protected culture production challenges in the United States. Of the total participants, 65.7% (n = 88) of the subjects reported current production of IH. These participants were asked to identify all production systems and included growing IH indoors (e.g., shipping containers, buildings or warehouses; 15.9%), in greenhouses (29.5%), in hoop houses or high tunnels (15.9%), or in outdoor fields in-ground (62.5%). Of the respondents who identified as growing under protected culture (e.g., indoors, greenhouses, and hoop …

The Business Of Hemp In North Carolina: Where The Rubber Meets The Road, Obed Quaicoe, Fafanyo Asiseh, Omoanghe S. Isikhuemhen

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

Industrial hemp continues to receive a lot of attention in the United States of America with a projected annual revenue growth rate of 18.4 percent by 2022. The momentum industrial hemp has gathered in the past few years has made it the ‘new lucrative crop’ for people to grow. However, many farmers have jumped into hemp farming without first obtaining a realistic economic analysis of hemp farming. In this paper, we seek to review and explore the economic opportunities and challenges of hemp production as a useful guide for reducing risks and maintaining profitability for farmers in North Carolina. Our …

Occurrence And Mass Loading Of Synthetic Opioids, Synthetic Cathinones, And Synthetic Cannabinoids In Wastewater Treatment Plants In Four U.S. Communities, Catherine O'Rourke, Bikram Subedi

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

A few new psychoactive substances (NPS) that mimic the effects of controlled neuropsychiatric and illicit drugs have been forensically identified in the U.S. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can provide a comprehensive and more cost- and time-effective method of determining the prevalence of NPSs in communities. In this study, an analytical method capable of simultaneous determination of trace-level 40 NPS residues (synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, piperazines, indole, and amphetamine) in wastewater was developed and validated. The developed analytical method was utilized to determine the occurrence of NPSs in four rural communities in southern Illinois. Nine NPSs (carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, methoxyacetyl …

New Journalism: Roots And Influence, Samantha Bainer

Liberal Arts Capstones

New Journalism is a genre of journalism that broadly falls under the feature story category in many newspapers and magazines. The form was pioneered in the 1960s and 1970s by Tom Wolfe of New York Magazine, and it strove to tell nonfiction stories in the style of a novel. New Journalists used elements of fiction such as point of view and dialogue to tell the stories of their subjects. Although they were works of nonfiction, these articles and books more closely resembled fiction in style and form. In this project, New Journalism is defined and characterized by its core …

Introversion, Play, And Childhood: The Ideas Behind The Remnants, Sara Talwalkar, Sara R. Talwalkar

Honors College Theses

Closed and confined spaces provide my introverted personality a place to examine, explore, and unwind. Being an introvert has inspired this senior thesis exhibition, exploring the relationship between interior and exterior spaces and child-like play. Growing up I didn’t crave a social life outside of my nuclear family and home. I spent a majority of my time inside my bedroom, but curious about the lively atmosphere outside of my bedroom. The act of play with my siblings would break down my introverted tendencies and present me with new objects, toys, and materials to explore. Now, my dorm room has become …

An Exploratory Study Of Generational Coffee Preferences, Lindsey Falkner

Honors College Theses

This research focuses on generational differences in preferences towards coffee-style beverages. The aim of this research is to provide recommendations to marketers within the saturated coffee industry. An online exploratory study was conducted with two-hundred and fifty-two participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk. The results show that differences exist between the coffee preferences across all generations, especially when it comes to the current trends (e.g., premiumization, convenience, and sustainability). Further, the results reveal several factors that may cause these generational differences. Finally, the study explored several ways that marketers in the coffee industry can appeal to different generations’ preferences, especially utilizing …

Inclusive Ensembles: Differentiating For The Singer On The Autism Spectrum, Natalie Wilkins, Natalie A. Wilkins

Honors College Theses

Exceptional children belong in music classrooms. Music ensemble directors need to overcome complex challenges to meet the goal of inclusion, because ensembles often include a mixture of ages, grades, social and intellectual development stages, musical skills, and a wide variety of diverse learning needs. This study focuses on how a choral ensemble director may create an inclusive environment for students on the Autism Spectrum.

This study reviewed the current research on inclusive rehearsal environments. Analysis revealed varied methods for differentiation that allows students with special needs to thrive in a music classroom and also revealed that music can be a …

First Trimester Prenatal Screening: Parent Education, Madison Vandiver

Honors College Theses

The healthcare field is constantly evolving, and consequently the ways that medical procedures are done is always changing. Advancements in medicine have made it possible to screen for chromosomal abnormalities earlier and for the screening to be done more accurately than ever before. This is accomplished through a first trimester screening performed between 11- 13 weeks gestation of the pregnancy. With this screening becoming more integrated into routine prenatal care and being offered to various women with a range of risk factors, it is important to offer many educational opportunities about the screening procedure. Provision of education to patients interested …