Digital Commons Network^™

Reversible Inhibition Of Mycobacterial Dnab Protein Splicing By Zinc, Gabrielle Hardison

Honors College Theses

Inteins are emerging as post-translational regulatory elements, undergoing conditional protein splicing in response to a variety of environmental cues. Inteins are seamlessly removed by self-splicing from exteins, or flanking portions of the host protein, which they interrupt. DnaB of Mycobacterium smegmatis, a helicase essential for replication, harbors two inteins known as DnaBi1 and DnaBi2, each with discrete structural characteristics and insertion positions. DnaBi1 was used here to design a reporter system which links splicing with resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. We built a construct that strictly requires catalytically active DnaBi1 for survival in the presence of kanamycin and used …

Barkedin Bs Graphic Design Exhibition, Katlyn Hall

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

Katlyn Hall

BS/BFA Group Exhibition

April 28th, 2020

Barkedin Animal Rescue

My design project is based on local animal rescues. I am inspired by communities that volunteer time and money into the welfare of animals. The animal rescue brand is called Barkedin. This is a made up rescue as a case study for my exhibition. The name Barkedin is a play on from the word Linkedin as a way to connect veiwers of the purpouse of the rescue.To connect with potential adopters and find homes for strays and animals that are on the euthanasia list in shelters due to overcrowding. …

A Ceiling And Four Walls, Cara Crowley

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

When someone presents nothing about themselves to anyone other people rush in to fill the gaps in this person’s behavior. In my work I like to explore the tension between craving vulnerability and trying to hide yourself away. When I create an image, I try to think about what I can obscure and what I can reveal in the picture plane and how that impacts the meaning of the work. Layering imagery allows me to cover up and reveal different things in the composition, through this method, I can push certain things backwards and accentuate others by pulling them forward. …

Perspectives, Eriko Whittaker, Eriko Whittaker

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

My current body of work raises consciousness for individuals or groups who are marginalized as other based on one’s nationality, religion, race, culture and more. I use painting to illustrate difficult ideas and make them more accessible, thus creating a space of dialogue and representation. By showing new ideas and stories, the stories of people’s lives and the complexities of the human experience are extended.

I paint in a vibrant color palette, utilizing color to express emotions and place the subject in an environment tailored to their stories. A specific mark-making style, consisting of colorful ‘dots,’ are included in the …

Optimization Of The Mechanochemical Synthesis Of Several Distinct Compounds., Joseph Ryan Williams

Honors College Theses

Mechanochemical synthesis, as used in this work, is the mechanical milling of reagents to drive reaction. It is often considered a greener alternative to traditional solution-based methods of synthesis. This work will describe the mechanochemical synthesis of furan-2-yl(pyrrolidin-1-yl)methanethione and N-hexadecylfuran-2-carbothioamide, the optimization of the mechanochemical synthesis of 1,3-dibenzylbenzimidazolium bromide as well as the kinetics of this reaction, and finally the ongoing development of the mechanochemical synthesis of N,N′-dioctyl-2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxamide.

This work studied both the traditional method and mechanochemical method for synthesis of furan-2-yl(pyrrolidin-1-yl)methanethione, as well as the mechanochemical method for N-hexadecylfuran-2-carbothioamide. While initial work was promising, it was …

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 …

2020-04-24, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Whole Shabang, Bohui Liu

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

We all live on the same planet, but we look very different. Sometimes people can be criticized by their skin color or country they are from. People always define a person in a glance, simply through someone's appearance can be concluded that he or she has some characteristics. But in addition to skin color and language is different, everyone has their own personality, there are advantages and disadvantages. If we just see the appearance then to comment on a person is also irrational and unfair. In this theme, I represent that we have lots of differences outside but we are …

Terra Incognita, Savannah Jane Walton

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

Seduction is not about the culmination or gratification of desire; it is about the thrill of the desire itself. I am the architect of my own wonderland, creating ‘Terra Incognita’— unknown or unexplored territory— through my large scale compositions. I compose my acoustic map with expressive mark making to enhance the experience of movement, space, and perception through the abstract structure. Interlocked with the expressive marks, I pull from music theory to create controlled nonsense, developing an overwhelming geometric pattern that translates sound through movement of time. Where there is order there is language— if you explore, you get rewarded …

Roby Joe Dreamboat, Roby Blackwell

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

Roby Joe Dream Boat is a perfect play date, Roby Joe Dream Boat is brunch with florals adorning the majority of the table. It is escape. Escapism finding the most beautiful parts of the past and curating a make believe world. Arriving where choices revert back to a surreal childlike viewpoint. Everything is more unapologetic and completely sure of itself. It’s dreaming—it’s dress up!

There is a sense of complication through maximalism that I find interesting. My generation is inspired by the endless influx of media; how Instagram profiles have turned into perfectly planned out color schemes, with set saturations …

Terra Internum, Cameron Savage

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

Cameron Savage

BFA: Printmaker

Scientists can trace the modern human’s beginnings to western Africa and map out migrations that moved hominids into the rest of the world. Mankind traversed a vast and unknown wilderness for the pursuit of food and resources. We have always been explorers, desperately searching for anything new. I’m interested in mankind’s thirst for knowledge of the unknown, and the possibilities that exist outside our little blue rock. Will Earth’s resources eventually be exhausted? Are other planets suitable for the continuation of humanity? Can civilization exist outside our solar system?

Contemplating these questions and being influenced by …

Bloom, Claire Wilson

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

The sense of home and spending time in nature has been rooted in my heart since I was a child. The beauty of the natural world brings me freedom as well as peace, tying many of my memories together in a single gesture. Summers spent running barefoot through freshly cut grass, picking daffodils from the side of backroads, and planting a sunflower garden in the backyard have all been formative experiences for me. Nature has been a theme I have been continually drawn to throughout my art career and it seemed to be the perfect fit to pair with my …

Simon Mcneil, A Bfa Pecha Kucha, Simon Mcneil

Scholars Week

An assigned Pecha Kucha of my BFA work while under the Covid 19 pandemic

Invisible, Talitha Cunningham

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

I have explored a number of ideas and media since starting my journey to become an art educator. One theme that I find myself returning to are issues related to mental illness. This interest derives from my own personal experience as well as those of people in my life who also deal with mental health problems. My exhibition, titled ‘Invisible’, seeks to illustrate the hidden aspects of mental illness.

I have chosen to use furniture as the main structures within my show because of the implication of human form, even in the absence of people. Furniture can be individualized and …

Consumer Response To Foundations And Firms When Firms Own Or Sponsor A Foundation, Amanda Swift

Scholars Week

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a norm in the business world as consumers call for businesses to be more involved in improving the world. CSR takes many forms ranging from corporate philanthropy to a focus on sustainability. Corporate foundations have been an increasingly popular practice of CSR to enhance public image, although alliances with non-profit organizations and foundations are still quite prevalent. Current research examines how corporate philanthropy can be effective in building trust and perceived impact on the cause being supported. Because there is a plethora of corporate philanthropy practices, businesses must decide on the best possible avenue …

Lifting Teams In The Acute Care Settings, Mary Makalyn Smith

Scholars Week

Research studies have analyzed the importance of lifting teams in the acute care settings of the hospital. Lifting teams provide nurses with the trained assistance they need to refrain from reoccurring musculoskeletal injuries. These lift team members are scheduled and trained staff members who are able to focus on patients’ needs and modes of transportation. The focus of these lift teams would be to add efficiency to the healthcare system and increase patient skin integrity and satisfaction rates. In my first study it examined the effectiveness of a multifaceted minimal-lifting environment on nursing areas. The study was focused on musculoskeletal …

Integrating Autism-Specific Care Plans For Pediatrics: Increasing Satisfaction, Madison S. Vandiver

Scholars Week

Abstract

Recent studies have explored the importance on integrating Autism-Specific Care Plans (ACP) into practice. These care plans provide patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or their caregivers the opportunity to identify individualized needs that are imperative for healthcare providers to provide personalized care and accommodations. These ACPs identify baseline characteristics, behavior patterns, communication techniques and management strategies for the patient with ASD during hospitalization. The focus of the ACP is to recognize patient needs and make those available to those providing care. Understanding the patient’s normal behavior variations can alert providers to a problems or stressors of the patient …

An Ergonomic Analysis Of Ingredient Batching In A Dairy Bottling Facility, Hayden Johnson, Laila Elhidmi

Scholars Week

Dairy production facilities rely on batching operators to unload palletized ingredients and mix them to meet ingredient specifications. Batching operators in the dairy industry are frequently required to work for prolonged periods of time in awkward postures while performing repetitive and forceful exertions. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) typically impact workers’ performance and increase job discomfort. Such incidents are generally costly to employers as they often result in workers compensation claims and increased insurance premiums. The purpose of this study was to characterize the ergonomic risk factors associated with commonly performed batching processes and evaluate possible solutions to reduce exposure to …

An Ergonomic Assessment Of Healthcare Rehabilitation Workers, William Shepherd, Laramie Locke, Katherine Archibong

Scholars Week

Patient handling is a common task within the healthcare industry. Rehabilitation Therapists (RTs) and Rehabilitation Therapist Assistants (RTAs) report a significantly high incidence rate of low-back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The purpose of this study was to characterize the ergonomic risks associated with patient transfers and assisted gait therapy. Exposure to ergonomic risk factors were assessed using the Strain Index (SI), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and 3-Dimensional Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP). Subjects included three RTs and one RTA at a local assisted living and rehabilitation healthcare facility. Preliminary results indicate a high risk of developing MSDs …

Karli Steinbruegge, Karli Steinbruegge

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Remnants, Sara Talwalkar

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

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 Analysis Of Pre-Service Agricultural Educators’ Self-Efficacy With Exceptional Learners, Sara Edwards, Sara Edwards

Honors College Theses

The total program of agricultural education has established that the inclusion of all students is a priority, including students who fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other similar legislation. However, upon reviewing the literature, a significant deficit has been identified in terms of training and preparation to work with students with disabilities within agricultural education. Literature and philosophy regarding the concepts of self-efficacy and experiential learning theories are explored. Additionally, works regarding special education in the agriculture classroom and primary challenges faced by agriculture educators are reviewed. A need to establish better preparatory training within preservice …

Willingness To Protest Over Resource Extraction In Latin America, Moises Arce, Marc S. Polizzi, Bryce Reeder

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Protests over resource extraction have increased in Latin America in recent years. However, significant variation exists in the region in terms of citizen’s willingness to protest against resource extraction. We argue that this variation is based on the interaction of factors at both the individual and state levels. Individual-level characteristics, such as social engagement, influence the likelihood of protest activity. State-level characteristics, such as the quality of governance, also present opportunities for engaged individuals to challenge resource extraction. Following political mediation theory, we argue that collective action strategies are likely to be more productive in some political contexts than in …

Prosthetic Ontology Into Pedagogy: Applying Garoian’S Theory To The Performing Arts, Elise L. Kieffer Phd

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Prosthetic pedagogy, as developed by Charles Garoian, provides a framework for using artificial-real worlds created by the arts to influence and impact teaching practice. The prosthetic space is artificial, separate, from the artist and audience, yet it is felt authentically, as if it were part of their being. Garoian explored prosthetic pedagogy through visual arts and museum experiences. This research further examines prosthetic pedagogy by applying it the Theatre. The art of theatre builds worlds onstage and through performance that allow performers to be and exist apart from their physical selves in the realm of prosthetic reality. The artist and …

Building A Foundation: Lessons From Vygotsky Applied In Appalachia, Elise L. Kieffer Phd

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Before I knew anything about learning theories, I was a constructivist. I am not completely sure why my methods so perfectly followed this learning theory, but one sure reason, comes directly from my discipline. In my own study of musical theatre, I experienced constructivist instruction. This article follows an autoethnographic reflection of constructivism at work in and through me as I taught in a small community in the Appalachian region of Kentucky.

The Whole Shabang, Allison Pitt

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

My art is a combination of my two favorite things; painting and food. I use my paintings to communicate my relationship with food. Over time, my love for food has transformed into a disgusting obsession. This is shown in my work, as I display all of my favorite foods and drinks, in a manner that is unsettling. This reflects my feelings after a binge of food or my ever changing relationship with the foods that I love. I also discuss the image of my own body, and how I see myself in my own head. Like in my head, the …

Healing, Hsuan Hsiu Cheng

Professional Practices (ART 399)

I am from Taiwan, and I transferred from Ming Dao University (MDU) in Taiwan. When I was in Taiwan, most of my artworks were metalworking. After I came to Murray State, my artworks are mostly ceramics and sculpture. For my ceramics, I’m attracted to do hand-building, casting, and molding.

Some of my artworks ideas are influenced by my Christian faith. For example, one of my sculptures is an ocean wave. I used the movement of waves to represent God’s power. Also, there is a series of bottles I made; I used that series to describe my life with different stages …

Hops Noir, Simon Mcneil

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

Hops Noir

Simon McNeil

I thrive inside confinement; I have to know the boundaries of the box in order to think outside it, so the formidable task of constructing my own box required a certain amount of self reflection. During a wistful trip down the six-pack aisle, I had an epiphany; in a sea of Millers and Bud Lights, I always ended up choosing drinks with interesting packaging/design, be it heavy illustration, bold color, or at the very least a logo with a ‘handmade’ quality. As a designer, that was how I wanted my work to be consumed, and it …

How Ell And Mainstream Teachers Foster A Culturally Responsive Classroom Environment, Mariah G. Cox

Honors College Theses

This study explores the culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices of mainstream and English language learner (ELL) teachers as well as how to foster such practices. The study was completed with surveys, interviews, and an observation used to determine the knowledge of and practices concerning CRT. Participants of the study included 20 ELL teachers and 11 mainstream teachers from 11 different public-school districts. Due to pandemic restrictions, there was only one observation participant. ELL teachers reported incorporating CRT through class discussions and activities on diverse cultures. Mainstream teachers gave varied answers, but most spoke about differentiation methods and appeared to lack …

Entertainment Media Perceptions Of Minorities In Young Adult Adaptations, Kynnadie Bennett

Honors College Theses

This is an exploration of stereotypical and racist portrayals of minorities, specifically African-American, Latinx, and Native American communities, in film and television in the past and how that has affected representation in film adaptations of young adult literature. Young adult literature is one of the highest-selling genres in literature, purchased by both young adults and actual adults. In recent years, young adult literature has been adapted into film and television series and while representation has improved since the early years of entertainment history, there are still problems in the industry: many of the stereotypes remain, some minorities lack representation, and …