Digital Commons Network^™

Dual Anion-Cation Ionic Liquid Crystal For Battery Applications, Seth Taylor, Cameron Woods, Turner Purdue, Sourav Chatterjee, Jason E. Bara, Daniel R. Johnson, Soenke Seifert

Scholars Week

Ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) are a special class of compounds that not only contains mesogens group but also have cationic and/or anionic components. ILCs can self-organize into assemblies with varying degrees of orientational order resulting into formation of unique liquid crystal phases. Thermotropic ionic liquid crystals are special subclass of liquid crystal containing ionic liquid moiety that self- assemble with application of heat to form liquid crystal phases. Thermotropic ionic liquid crystal materials may exhibit several mesogenic phases at differing temperatures, distinguishable by the degree of order.

This work mainly focuses on synthesis and characterization of Ionic liquid Crystals containing …

Creating A Power System For A Robot, Nolan Hays

Scholars Week

I will be describing the process of creating the power system for the robot that will be competing in the 2023 IEEE Hardware Competition.

Characterization Of The Principal And Secondary Islets During Pancreatic Development In Zebrafish With A Crispr-Mediated Glis3 Knockout, Caleb Harsin

Honors College Theses

The Krüppel-like transcription factor, Gli-similar 3 (Glis3) has been implicated in several human pathologies including neonatal diabetes, congenital hypothyroidism, and polycystic kidney disease. Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have additionally identified Glis3 as a risk locus for the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our previous data suggest possible roles for Glis3 in endocrine pancreas specification in mice, but despite its clinical significance, much remains unknown about the role(s) Glis3 plays during development. To elucidate Glis3 gene function, a CRISPR-mediated knockout line of zebrafish was developed by deleting a segment of the Glis3 coding region …

"Barriers Between Client Education/Communication And Exotic Animal Husbandry", Caileigh M. Linton

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to quantify the knowledge gap between clientele and veterinary staff about exotic animal husbandry corresponding to housing and diet specifically. With the rise of social media platforms and influencers, the spread of misinformation and stigma revolving around the mistrust of veterinary staff has created strife between clients and veterinary professionals. Misinformation influences pet owners to implement aspects of care into their pets lives that may be unnecessary or harmful. Consequently, as veterinary professionals attempt to educate their clients they are not always trusting of the information being provided to them. This can lead to …

Paek- And Pes-Like Perarylated Phosphonium Ionenes: Synthesis, Thermal Properties, And Conductivity, Samantha M. Sims, Hannah Brown, Jalisha R. Hunter, R. Daniel Johnson, Rachel E. Whittaker, Kevin M. Miller

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Perarylated phosphonium salts are known to exhibit high degrees of thermal stability, often in excess of 400 °C. Here, the thermal and conductive properties of a series of perarylated phosphonium ionenes, prepared utilizing a PAEK-/PES-like synthetic approach, is described. All of the ionenes were found to display Td5% values in excess of 365 °C. Structural changes in the polymer backbone were found to have a prominent impact on Tg, with the meta-analogs exhibiting values ∼45 °C below the para-analogs, emphasizing the significant impact that solid-state packing can have on thermal transitions. All of the phosphonium ionenes …

2023-02-24, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

"Semiclassical Mastermind", Curtis Bair, Alexa S. Cunningham, Joshua Qualls

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Games are often used in the classroom to teach mathematical and physical concepts. Yet the available activities used to introduce quantum mechanics are often overwhelming even to upper-level students. Further, the "games" in question range in focus and complexity from superficial introductions to games where quantum strategies result in decidedly nonclassical advantages, making it nearly impossible for people interested in quantum mechanics to have a simple introduction to the topic. In this talk, we introduce a straightforward and newly developed "Semiclassical Mastermind" based on the original version of mastermind but replace the colored pegs with 6 possible qubits (x+, x-, …

Disaster Area Lora Mesh Communications, Joel Bulkley

Posters-at-the-Capitol

In the aftermath of the December 2021 tornado disaster that swept through Western Kentucky causing 57 fatalities, 500+ critical injuries, and millions of dollars’ worth in damages, one of the first things that became apparent was the lack of communications and underlying power infrastructure. The goal of this project is to create a highly resilient LoRa mesh communications network utilizing low power, low cost, and easy to deploy radios to enable first responders in a disaster area to communicate their location and send critical information in a situation where traditional communications infrastructure has been destroyed or is otherwise unavailable. Through …

Gesture-Based American Sign Language (Asl) Translation System, Kayleigh Moore, Stefano Pecile, Mahdi Yazdanpour

Posters-at-the-Capitol

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 5% of the world's population experiences severe hearing loss. Approximately 9 million people in the U.S. are either functionally deaf or have mild-to-severe hearing loss. In this research, we designed and implemented a translation interface which turns American Sign Language (ASL) gestures captured from a pair of soft robotic gloves into text and speech instantaneously.

We used a combination of flex sensors, tactile sensors, and accelerometers to recognize hand gestures and to record hand and fingers positions, movements, and orientations. The digitized captured gestures were then sent to our proposed translation interface …

Democracy For Some: Greek-American Institutions And The Greek Junta, 1967-1974, Olga Koulisis

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

In 1967 a military junta took over Greece, silencing the democratic process in Democracy’s birthplace with the tacit approval of Democracy’s heir apparent, the United States of America. The tolerance, if not support, of Greek-American institutions to the establishment of the Greek Junta and the U.S. government’s support for that regime offers a case study of why democratic publics accept, if not bolster, their own government’s support for anti-democratic regimes. This case offers an intriguing juxtaposition because of the historical claims that U.S., Greek, and Greek diaspora identities make on democratic practice and commitment. This study examines how junta-tolerant Greek …

Social Media And It's Influence In Today's World, Cinque Hampton

Integrated Studies

Let’s be honest, the pervasive influence of social media is irrefutable. This paper is going to dive into the involvement and impact that social media platforms have on modern society. From your everyday casual platforms like Facebook to videos games children play like Roblox. There are 100 plus social media sites that people have access to. This paper will analyze how social media has shaped trends, beliefs, cultural expression, and even identify formation. Social media has also made an impact on mental health, the way people view themselves and their thought process. This paper will also look at the addiction …

How To Effectively Construct A Preschool Classroom To Provide A Quality Learning Environment, Olivia Groom

Integrated Studies

The design of a preschool classroom is crucial to the success of each student and can have many different roles depending on who you are talking to. For a teacher, a preschool classroom is somewhere they spend an abundance of time and energy with the goal that their students will be successful. For a student, the preschool classroom can be a place where they are discovering themselves for the very first time. In addition, they might see their classroom as a haven, away from all their worries and difficulties. In order to incorporate all these needs, the design of a …

Artificial Intelligence: Challenges For Future Growth, Jeffrey Forguson, Jeffrey Forguson

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses the challenges facing artificial intelligence (AI) as it relates to replicating the human brain and how these challenges are perceived by the human employee. Through my research I found approximately 19 challenges facing the growth and future development of A.I. in the workplace. A.I. is in 93% of all global industries and the remaining 7% are seriously looking into it. I reviewed academic sources to determine the challenges facing the advancement of A.I. in the workplace. A.I. extends all the way back to the 18^th century Industrial Revolution. Since that time, human employees have feared becoming …

An Analysis Of Prominent Historical Figures Throughout History The Character Traits That Defined Them, Jake Mayo

Integrated Studies

Studying Social Sciences and historical figures is a great avenue for understanding ourselves and the greater world surrounding us. Understanding social sciences is important as it allows us to use different systems to better understand ourselves as people and our place in the world. Understanding historical events and historical figures allows us to better understand those who came before us and what made them who they are. We can use both social sciences and understanding historical figures to better understand the present, appreciate diversity, develop empathy and understanding, inspire change, learn from our mistakes, better understand our culture, and enhance …

Teaching Elementary Students In Public Schools Today Versus Twenty Years Ago, Elizabeth Blake

Integrated Studies

Public education has changed so much over the last twenty years in many different ways prior to the ways of earlier technology. This has affected elementary education levels, parental involvement, and standardized testing in so many ways. Over time these three studies of education have adapted and evolved into what they are today. The use of technology has changed from Wikipedia searches to Google searches and classrooms for remote learning mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning environment has changed through the use of technology by incorporating interactive videos and games during instruction. Interviews with elementary educators who were just …

Navigation Of The Usace As An Army Officer, Sawyer Towery

Integrated Studies

The navigation of becoming an Army officer does not guarantee certain roles, positions, or a specific job in any regard. It may seem as though it can be very specific to lead soldiers with the many different aspects of the Army Corps of Engineers. However, it is very broad in terms of the many different ways an engineering officer may lead a group of individuals and make plans for success. Some officers will see the most success in themselves as a leader who is in the action and a part of a combat-focused job set. Whereas other officers will find …

"The Dash In-Between": The Life And Lnfluence Of Ned Mcwherter, 46th Governor Of The Great State Of Tennessee

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

"The Dash In-Between": The Life and Influence of Ned McWherter, 46th Governor of the Great State of Tennessee

Gail Perkins Barton

Evaluating Gizzard Shad Dorosoma Cepedianum And Threadfin Shad D. Petenense Populations In Two Kentucky Reservoirs Recently Invaded With Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix, Nathan Klein

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum and Threadfin Shad D. petenense are ecologically important fish species found in many reservoirs throughout the southeastern United States, such as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. One current challenge that Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad may face in these two reservoirs is competition with the invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. However, quantifying the effects of this competition may be difficult because of limited baseline population data for Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad in these two reservoirs. Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad were collected by boat electrofishing and surface trawling in cove and main channel locations …

An Exploratory Study Of Ergonomics In College Students, Wesley Ryan Tinker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between poor ergonomic conditions and student physiological discrepancies. This examination provided great insight into students’ daily experiences and concerns for their futures. The methodology used for this study was quantitative as two source data sets were collected and analyzed. The tool REBA was used to measure the specific body angles while students sat working. A survey yielded great results, giving the students an opportunity to subjectively choose options.

This exploratory study allowed the researcher to use quantitative data to answer this study’s research questions. The research questions asked from this study were …

Can Middle School Students Learn Agriculture From Behind A Computer Screen? A Comparative Analysis Case Study Of Online Vs Traditional Middle School Agricultural Courses In Rural Georgia, Roseanna Volz

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Online education is growing in popularity. Traditional schooling is losing the monopoly of being the only teaching method available to students (Nguyen, 2015). Online learning has evolved throughout the development of online education (Sun & Chen, 2016). Many schools focus on the core content classes for online education like math, science, social studies, and English language arts, but school systems are starting to grow their curricula (Bedard & Knox-Pipes, 2006). This quantitative study was a comparative analysis of an online and traditionally taught agricultural education course. Middle school students completed 12 assignments throughout six weeks. The grades from the assignments …

Women Pursuing An Agricultural Systems Technology Degree, Tanya Milam

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This phenomenological research study examined the factors influencing women to pursue an Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) degree and their self-efficacy in that field of study. Two research questions guided this study and data was analyzed from interviewing women enrolled in an Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) program at a mid-western university. The resulting four categories of Agricultural Experiences, Aptitude, Support, and Motivation were broken down into themes. The results were also applied to the theoretical framework of self-efficacy associated with career choice theories. Limitations of scope and generalizability indicate that further investigation of this topic is highly recommended.

Keywords: …

A Geospatial Analysis Of Crime Hotspots, Campus Safety Measures, And The Campus Community’S Perceived Safety At Murray State University, Rachel Stuckey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Murray State University (Murray State) is in far Western Kentucky. Murray State prides itself on being a safe campus for prospective students. In this study spatial analysis was used to analyze the relationship among crime hotspots, campus safety measures, and students’ perception of safety on campus the campus of Murray State. A survey was distributed to students to determine the areas of the campus where students feel safe and unsafe. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to determine the location of crime hotspots over eight years (2014-2022) to measure the spatial relationship between logged crime hotspots and perceived safe and …

Book Reviews

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Book Reviews

Traces: a novel

The Gospel of Freedom: Black Evangelicals and the Underground Railroad

The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee's David Crockett

Liberty Brought Us Here: The True Story of American Slaves Who Migrated to Liberia

The Finest Place We Know: A Centennial History of Murray State University

A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South

Modernizing Warfare: Us Grant And Military Engineering In The Middle Mississippi Valley During The Civil War

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Modernizing Warfare: US Grant and Military Engineering in the Middle Mississippi Valley during the Civil War

William H. Mulligan, Jr.

"Ideal Press Work": The Contributions Of Kentucky Suffrage Press Superintendents To Public Relations History

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

"Ideal Press Work": The Contributions of Kentucky Suffrage Press Superintendents to Public Relations History

Melony Shemberger

Sequencing Of Extended Reality Welder Training, Monica Donohue

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the efficacy of integrating XR welding simulations into traditional training programs. The performance outcomes of participants were assessed by an independent American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Instructor (CWI). Participants were evaluated using the NCCER Performance Accreditation Tasks evaluation. After 20 hours of training, the participants used a traditional welder to perform a vertical 3F weld on a steel weld coupon. Three treatment groups were used to evaluate the sequence of extended reality welding simulators in a traditional welding program. Results indicate that sequencing XR practice before live welding did not …

The Effect Of An Afterschool Makerspace Program On Academic Achievement Of Sixth-Eighth Grade Students, Teresa Lampe

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of participation in an afterschool makerspace program on middle school students' academic achievement, grades, and school attendance. An experimental group of 237 sixth-eighth grade students participated in an afterschool makerspace program during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years. A control group was selected using stratified random sampling of students from the same schools, grades, and special education designation who did not participate. The data included science and math NWEA scores, science and math grades, program attendance, school attendance, and gender. The data were analyzed using an independent t test with a 95% confidence …

The Role Affiliation Membership Plays In An Ffa Chapter: A Qualitative View From Kentucky, Jacob Falwell, Kristie B. Guffey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research exists to demonstrate the benefits of FFA membership and the three-circle model of agriculture education. FFA membership had shown minimal growth in the 20 years following the rebranding. The innovative approach of affiliation membership has ushered in a steady growth of FFA membership, but not all chapters are participating in affiliation. FFA membership is provided to every student who is enrolled in agriculture education classes with affiliation, and the dues collection process is eliminated. This study investigated the view of affiliation membership in Kentucky High School Agriculture Education programs by researching the enrollment, involvement, and educational outcomes of affiliated …

Link Between Mathematics Pedagogy And Missouri Assessment, Mary E. Hartnett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The researcher studied the correlation between mathematics pedagogy and fifth grade test scores on the Missouri Achievement Program Mathematics Test, utilizing data from 2019 to avoid the effects Covid-19 had on the education system. All fifth graders attending public schools in Saint Louis County were studied using the data released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The first research question pertained to a correlation between mathematics pedagogy (Spiral, Strand or Blended Method) and overall fifth grade test scores on the Missouri Assessment Program Mathematics Test. The second question tested whether correlation existed between mathematics pedagogy and test …

Doctoral Students’ Experiences Of The Pandemic And Their Perceptions Of Grit, Josie Bryant

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The pandemic has significantly changed societal structures and individuals’ lives. The early tragedies and stress of the pandemic affected health, relationships, families, education, work, travel, and immigration. Students who entered doctoral programs in 2020 chose a unique time to pursue an already arduous goal amidst unprecedented challenges. Using a phenomenological approach, this study explored doctoral students’ experiences during the pandemic and sought to understand their perspectives of grit. The study aimed to offer first-hand insight into the pandemic’s effects on doctoral students, and add critical contributions to understanding the necessary actions, support systems, and policies for a life in a …