Digital Commons Network^™

The Road To Inclusion: Special Education In The United States And Mexico, Elena Hammann

Honors College Theses

This report addresses the laws, views, funding, and school system policies in the United States and Mexico. Children with disabilities are typically subject to misrepresentation, prejudice, and a lack of opportunities. The best chance these children have to succeed is an adequate education. The intention of both countries for the last five decades is to provide an equitable and inclusive education for students with disabilities. Although educational planners and policy makers in each country pass federal legislation and educational policy, there is further work for improvement. The results of current research through a questionnaire shows continued negative social bias towards …

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 …

The Effects Of Music On Dairy Production, Anneliese Kemp

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to find which genre of music dairy cows produce the most milk to in order to aid dairy farmers in yielding maximum product while also keeping their cattle as comfortable as possible. During each lactation a different genre of music will play, basic vital signs, and behavioral observations of the cows will be taken, then the amount of milk produced during that genre will be measured. First, no music will be played, base line vitals will be taken, and milk yield will be measured. This will give an estimate to how positively or negatively …

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 …

Language Learning From The Developmental And Neurocognitive Perspective: An Examination Of The Impact Of Music On Second Language Acquisition, Shelby Grimm

Honors College Theses

This literature review aims to analyze the influence of music as a learning tool throughout the process of second language acquisition. Through the compilation and analysis of recent research conducted on the academic, cultural, and linguistic impacts of music on the four modes of language, which include reading, speaking, writing, and listening, this thesis will demonstrate the effects of incorporating music into the second language learning curriculum. Definitions of both music and language, as well as a description of the components of both areas will be included. An examination of the neurocognitive relationship between music and language, as well as …

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Delaney Rogers

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

Perfection, it is the expectation perpetuated by mass media. We are spoon-fed the propaganda of the American Dream through sex-filled advertisements of beer and food our entire lives. Anything less than a god-fearing nuclear family eating three square name-brand meals a day and wearing the newest clothes is seen as a moral failing. We willingly participate in the capitalist game of conformity, it doesn’t have to be policed, only continually advertised. How far can this go until it becomes a cult mindset? And does any of this actually equate to happiness?

I am depicting a “fictional” world where social conformity …

The Importance Of Having Properly Funded Art Programs And The Benefits It Brings To Public Schools, Chelsey Brown

Liberal Arts Capstones

This presentation is to help raise awareness towards art education in schools and how these programs are losing their funding. The main focus is to present information on how the arts benefit people in both the school and in more public settings. Politics affect how much money is given to the arts and if the school is not art-rich, they may suffer and have a poorly funded arts program. The arts provide cognitive, health, and social benefits that can help kids learn and can also help those who participate in community programs. Students who participate in art, music, theater, or …

Autumn Brown Art399 Portfolio, Autumn Brown

Professional Practices (ART 399)

It is easier to approach a difficult topic if it isn’t immediately posed as threatening or sacred. The viewer’s ability to enjoy my pieces, regardless of their prior experience with the subject matter, is my priority. My primary means of creating my work is through drawing, with the end products taking the form of animations and zines. Sequential art provides a unique opportunity to form a relationship with the viewer during the short time they interact with the piece, which many drawings can’t accomplish in the same way. Zines and animations are highly shareable and exist as an experience as …

Human Migration Rates In Relation To Hdi Scores Of States, Amy E. Docter

Honors College Theses

Migration is a human phenomenon impacting various factors of society, politics, and cultures today that will continue to grow in both domestic and international importance. Despite this profound significance, there are numerous challenges for migration with little control of the flow of populations and limited understanding of the changing trends of migration. Historically, migration has been defined by South-to-North movements, with the main motive being economic opportunities with the allure of developed countries, but many articles today have found more South-to-South movements and myriad other factors influencing migratory decisions. By examining net migration population from 2014 and 2015, in conjunction …

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 …

The Impact Of Hemp Cropping Systems On Soil Quality In Western Kentucky, Jack Eaker

Scholars Week

Recently, hemp farming systems are increasingly popular in Kentucky replacing tobacco cropping systems. However, the study on the impacts of hemp cropping on soil properties is rarely conducted, resulting in limited data on soil’s behavior/changes under these management practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine soil characteristics including compaction, acidity level, moisture level, and water retention. The measurements were collected from three different hemp fields, three crop rotation studies ( in 2020 - corn, soybean and tobacco) and a bare field adjacent to these fields. All fields are located at Murray State University West Farm, Calloway County, …

Discourse And Discography: The Pushback Of Female Writers, Characters, And Pop Stars, Amara D. Stroud

Honors College Theses

In my senior thesis, I will be analyzing and comparing early modern literature and “pop” music in order to follow the development of women’s ability to gain power. Throughout history, there has been an ongoing struggle for women’s equity in education, publishing, and socially acceptable actions. While it may seem that comparing literature from the 17^th Century to current pop lyrics, there are major connections that show a consistent female struggle - the inability to voice one’s true feelings due to the reaction of an educated man or an unchanging society. My thesis will focus on literary works such …

Discourse And Discography: The Pushback Of Female Writers, Characters, And Pop Stars, Amara D. Stroud

Honors College Theses

In my senior thesis, I will be analyzing and comparing early modern literature and contemporary popular music in order to follow the development of women’s ability to gain power. Throughout history, there has been an ongoing struggle for women’s equity in education, publishing, and socially acceptable actions. Though the connection between literature and pop music is unordinary, there are major connections that show a consistent female struggle - the inability to voice one’s true feelings due to the reaction of an educated man or an unchanging society. Overall, the response of female characters, authors, and artists is to show their …

Exploring Relationships Between Perfectionism, Social Anxiety, And Post-Event Rumination, Xavier Brown, Patrick Cushen

Scholars Week

Disruptive cognitive biases are often problems for people with anxiety-related disorders. For those individuals with social anxiety, one common bias is negative post-event rumination. This bias involves people with social anxiety remembering and distorting past experiences by focusing on negative details and perceptions. This bias may also be key to maintaining social anxiety as it feeds into the cycle of distress associated with social experiences. Another factor that may relate to a person’s likelihood of demonstrating this bias is their level of perfectionism. Two aspects of perfectionism may be related to post-event rumination: socially prescribed perfectionism (thinking that others expect …

Growth To Healthy Perfectionism: An Investigation Of Perfectionist Tendencies With Gifted And Talented Adolescents, Phoebe Pohlman

Scholars Week

The present study includes the creation, implementation, and results of an eight-session, school-based, primary-prevention program designed for gifted and talented middle school students. The unit, “Growth to Healthy Perfectionism” is designed to address each of the six dimensions of perfectionism according to Dr. Randy Frost, which include Parental Expectations (PE), Parental Concern (PC), Personal Standards (PS), Doubts About Actions (DA), Concern Over Mistakes (CM), and Organization (O) with the intent of decreasing unhealthy perfectionism and increasing healthy perfectionism in students.

The study was conducted in a southern middle school in a classroom of gifted and talented students in seventh and …

The Nature Of Genes Expressed Differently After Environmental Drug Exposure, Nicci Siffel

Scholars Week

The Nature of Genes Expressed Differently after Environmental Drug Exposure

N. Siffel, S. Anderson, B. Subedi, D.R. Hammond-Weinberger

Drug use, of prescription or illicit varieties, alter bodily functions in different ways, especially in the nervous system. These drugs are found in sources of drinking water because they are not removed by wastewater treatment facilities. To investigate the effects of these drugs as they appear in mixtures, we exposed groups of zebrafish embryos to cocktails of drugs and screened for genes that were differentially expressed between the experimental and control groups and could thus give more insight into their biological functions. …

Identification Of Non-Cholinergic Receptors In Embryonic Zebrafish Skeletal Muscle, Rhiannon Huffines

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Implementing The Use Of Nasal Midazolam During Acute Seizures, Elizabeth Armstrong

Scholars Week

The first line emergency drug used for seizures is rectal diazepam. The use of nasal midazolam should be the priority drug used. This research develops reasoning as to why schools, hospitals, and clinics should switch to NM. The key findings included ease of administration, quicker action time, with cheaper cost. Patients will greatly benefit from this medication change because a shortened seizure provides for a greater quality of life.

Music Therapy As A Means Of Pain Reduction And Decreased Opioid Use In The Icu Setting, Dakota Shemwell

Scholars Week

Abstract

Being in the ICU as a patient is not a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination. Patients in the ICU have recently had major surgery, are ventilated, or are critically ill in other ways. On top of this are the painful procedures that take place in the ICU; repositioning the patient and endotracheal suctioning are just two such procedures that take place in the ICU. Music therapy has been proven effective in reducing a patient’s pain thus, leading to fewer needed doses of PRN opioid pain medications. With our nation in the midst of an opioid epidemic, …

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 Trauma-Informed Care Early In The Lives Of Children And Adults, Carley Clymer

Scholars Week

Throughout the health care industry, providers are failing to recognize the implications that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have upon adult health. As a result, these patients not only have to endure these traumas, but they’re also faced with crippling health conditions that accompany them including depression, heart disease and obesity. The prevalence of common high-risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking and illicit drug use can also co-exist with adversity, which leads to an exacerbation of already poor health. This presentation aims to relay the significance of adopting a trauma informed care (TIC) approach early in the lives of clients to …

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.

Couplet Care, Melanie Husk

Scholars Week

Abstract

In many recent studies, maternity units in hospitals have been making the transition from traditional separate care for the mother and baby to couplet care for the mother and baby. (Brenneman, 2014; Abney-Roberts, 2012; Backus, 2017) Couplet care is family-centered care in which the mother and the baby stay together from childbirth until discharge. (Emory-Decatur, 2019) Studies have shown that this form of care has many benefits for both the mother and the baby. Parents become more educated on how to care for their newborn and infants gain the foundation for how they will develop socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. …

Implementing Mandatory Psychiatric Training For Medical-Surgical Nurses, Hannah Berry

Scholars Week

Hospitals worldwide experience poor outcomes for patients with mental illnesses. Psychiatric patients have a lesser likelihood of surviving a particular illness than does a person with that same illness who does not have a psychiatric comorbidity. This is a bleak reality that nurses have the unique opportunity to influence for the better. Destigmatizing mental illness is perhaps the largest component of stepping toward this goal. Our nurses being more educated on the nature of mental illnesses—their signs, symptoms, and common treatments—will improve care outcomes for patients who suffer from them. Not only should we educate nurses on mental illness for …

Music Therapy In The Labor & Delivery Setting, Erin Windham

Scholars Week

My presentation addresses the need as well as informs you of the benefits of having a policy that allows for music therapy interventions to be implemented in the labor and delivery setting to aid in pain and stress management.

Family Presence During Resuscitation, Brittany Whistle

Scholars Week

Background:

Families want more involvement in their loved one’s care than they did just twenty years ago. Especially, in the matter of resuscitation efforts, this involvement remains controversial.

Evidence and Findings:

Based on research, theories, and multiple educated opinions, family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) needs to be implemented in hospitals. Theories by Kolcaba and Helvie demonstrate a need for comfort and positive energy around patients to enhance the healing process. Evidence has shown multiple benefits of FPDR. The patient receives a holistic approach of care, the family gains closure and feeling of participation of care, and provides a plan for …

Implementation Of Music Therapy To Reduce Anxiety In Icu Patients, Calley Womack

Scholars Week

Current practice in intensive care units regarding anxiety commonly results in administration of an anxiolytic, which can potentially increase patient’s time admitted, increase costs due to adverse effects, and decrease patient involvement in care. An analysis of multiple research studies was conducted to explore the best practice for management of anxiety, particularly the implementation of music therapy. Studies have been conducted on the implementation of music therapy to reduce levels of anxiety in patients on intensive care floors. Specifically, extensive research with music therapy has been conducted on patients receiving ventilation in the ICU. Consequentially, these studies have shown that …

Implementing Dysphagia Screenings In Stroke Patients, Meredith Buller

Scholars Week

Dysphagia screenings are important to be done for all stroke patients in order to prevent aspiration, pneumonia, and other complications. All patients should be screened regardless of severity of stroke. Many policies outline that all patients should be screened, but many floors are not implementing the policy on all patients. This article reviews research associated with dysphagia screenings and how to properly perform one. Dysphagia screenings should be performed on all stroke patients at the hospital to achieve the best outcomes post-stroke.

Keywords: Stroke, aspiration, screening, dysphagia

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 …

Recommending That School Nurses Provide Mental Health Screenings To Students, Mariah Dufault

Scholars Week

Childhood mental health issues not being identified early, caused by a lack of knowledge and awareness in childhood mental health, can lead to lifelong debilitating issues. The Center for Disease Control states, “Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause distress and problems getting through the day” (CDC 2020). These issues can lead to negative self-worth, a lack of ambition, thoughts of self-harm, aggression towards others, and suicidal ideations. Studies have even shown that, “Half of adults with mental health disorders report or have been shown …