Digital Commons Network^™

A Theological Analysis Of Catholic Liturgies Celebrating Those With Disabilities, Jack H. Gorman

Honors Theses

The Catholic Church is at a moment of receiving those with disabilities through catechetics, liturgical accommodations, and structured ecclesial guidelines; the Church realizes that the reception of Catholics with disabilities is necessary. Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has utilized the two poles of Neo-Pelagianism and Gnosticism to speak about this liturgical fragmentation, or “spiritual worldliness”. Working from this insight from the Holy Father, this paper applies these terms to the current reception of Catholics with disabilities in the Mass. In this paper, Neo-Pelagianism is characterized as the temptation to receive those with disabilities in the Mass solely through human means …

Benefits Of A Community Reentry Intervention For Reentry Self-Efficacy In Homeless Shelter Residents With Past Incarceration, Kathryn E. Hurley

Honors Theses

The U.S. has one of the highest levels of incarceration and recidivism in the world (American Civil Liberties Union, 2022; U.S. Department of Justice, n.d). Several factors contribute to recidivism, including the loss of monetary funds and loss of housing upon incarceration. Homelessness especially predicts recidivism. It has been found to increase the risk of recidivism by almost 50% (Jacobs & Gottlieb, 2020). Within the context of a long-term ongoing participatory community action research Project in homeless shelters (Reeb et al., 2024), this study examined the benefit of reentry support sessions within the homeless shelter environment, with an attempt to …

Improving Methods For Enantioselective Organophosphorus Synthesis By A Chiral Nucleophile-Metal Bifunctional Catalytic System, Jackson T. Shuman

Honors Theses

The use of benzotetramisole (BTM) as a catalyst is a promising strategy for enantioselective organophosphorus synthesis since the reaction has been previously reported by Numan and Brichacek and has been tested in Dr. Erb’s research laboratory. However, the yields are only moderate (46-58%) and the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the purified product are poor, with 62% being the highest reported ee. Preliminary computational data performed in the Erb lab has revealed that the cause of the lower ee (and possibly yield) could be the ability of the intermediate to adopt different conformations that are similar in energy and would therefore …

Anti-Predator Behavior In Response To Conspecific Visual, Olfactory, And Damage Cues In Three-Spined Sticklebacks, Claire E. Vanmeter

Honors Theses

Predation is a major source of mortality for prey, which creates a selective pressure to avoid predators whenever possible. By using alarm cues produced by conspecifics, individuals can be alerted of nearby predators without coming into direct contact with them. However, whether individuals can distinguish between different conspecific cues or whether some cues might indicate a more severe predation threat than others is not known. Studied was the three-spined stickleback’s ability to distinguish between environmental cues by exposing conspecifics to four different treatments in a randomized order: 1) Control (control olfactory cues with an unexposed demonstrator), 2) Visual Only (control …

Ud In The News March 22-29, University Of Dayton

News Releases

Local media featured UD's efforts to get 100 percent of its electricity from sustainable waste heat recovery. The Conversation, Scripps News, The National Desk and USA TODAY are among national news outlets tapping faculty expertise.

Linking Street-Level Bureaucracy & Funds Of Knowledge To Identify Core Competencies For Community College Admissions Counselors, Marquez D. Young, Matthew A. Witenstein

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Community college (CC) admissions counselors (ACs) are essential employees who serve as ambassadors of the institution. Their role involves providing valuable information to potential students and their families, leading to CC admissions. However, there is a lack of research exploring their work and how they cope with and adapt to the demands of their job. ACs juggle college fairs, campus visits, and reviewing application materials, which can be physically and emotionally challenging. To maintain stable student enrollment, CC leaders must find ways to keep ACs engaged and motivated. This study identified core competencies needed for communally engaged ACs by examining …

In Perspective: Mary In Catholic Education, Henry Handley

Marian Library Blog Archive

What did Marianist education look like in the 1950s? There are many answers, but this optical illusion takes some time to come into focus.

Scan-Tastic Tech, Emma Isaac

Marian Library Blog Archive

A high-end book scanner is available to Marian Library patrons.

The Pussification Of Man: Evangelical Pastor Mark Driscoll And The Construction Of An “Ideal” Evangelical Masculinity, Phillip E. Cicero

Honors Theses

Scandals involving evangelical churches seem to appear daily in the news. Whether the scandals involve a church leader engaging in bullying, sexual harassment, sexual abuse or something else there seems to be no end in sight. One might imagine that people would flee the churches where these leaders have or continue to serve. But, in general, they do not. A good question to ask is why. Why do people continue to follow someone who has been proven through their discourse that they are aggressive, sexist, and sometimes even violent?

To answer this question, this project focuses on the rhetoric utilized …

Beyond Technology: Social Predictors Of Energy Efficiency In Industrial Facilities, Garret B. Cowdery

Honors Theses

Energy is the lifeblood of the industrialized world with electrical energy expected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to increase 25% between 2016 to 2050 in the United States. Combined with the ever-present climate crisis, energy-efficient buildings are becoming increasingly important to conserve resources and alleviate strain on aging energy systems. The Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) program through the US Department of Energy aims to reduce the consumption of large, single-site energy users, industrial and commercial buildings, through comprehensive energy audits. Such investigations find that energy-efficient structures are a technological challenge as much as social. The mentality of building …

Behavioral Responses Of Two Color Morphs Of The Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon Cinereus) To Novel Urban Environments, Amy Q. Friemoth

Honors Theses

Human modified landscapes can provide challenging new environments that can lead to rapid changes in species traits. In temperate forest ecosystems, salamanders play a critical role in forest floor dynamics, but populations are now faced with rapid habitat change, which can lead to local extinction events unless species can adapt behaviorally. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, is the most common salamander species in the northeastern United States and can serve as a model species for examining the effects of anthropogenic change. Further, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander poses two common color morphs (striped and unstriped) that appear to differ in …

Hippo, Wnt, And Jnk Pathway Interactions In A Drosophila Colorectal Cancer Model, Michael K. Gruhot

Honors Theses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) will be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for people under the age of 50 by 2030. Due to increased efforts to spread awareness for regular screenings, the five-year relative survival rate for those diagnosed with colon cancer is 64.4% (www.fightcolorectalcancer.org). Treatment for CRC consists primarily of the excision of the tumor paired with regular doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments cause systemic stress, damaging both cancerous and healthy cells alike. In order to create more efficient treatments, first, we must better understand the biology underlying changes in cells that lead to tumors in the …

Students Developing A More Specific Emotional Vocabulary Through Picture Books, Mary E. Horvath

Honors Theses

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a relatively new set of standards in Ohio’s curriculum. This curriculum teaches students interpersonal and personal skills essential to living a fulfilling life. Because of its novelty, it is essential to find the best practices for teaching SEL to meet the needs of the students. Research has shown that the standard videos, activities, and take-home worksheets referenced in the curriculum are not engaging the students (Pysarenko, 2021, p. 639). Another avenue must be taken for students to truly learn from SEL, which prompted the idea of picture books. Teachers already use picture books throughout the school …

Selective Evolution Of Lithium Ions By Shewanella Loihica, Gabrielle A. Kozurek

Honors Theses

The prevalent use of lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics poses a significant sustainability challenge to both manufacturing and source availability over the next 50 years. There are several methods to extract lithium from salt water that are commercially available but require caustic reagents and environmental hazards. However, several lithium-resistant bacteria can precipitate or mineralize lithium ions into a reduced form of lithium that can be processed readily into a lithium source material for batteries. The goal of this project was to culture, characterize, and selectively evolve Shewanlla loihica using lithium-ion concentration changes both aerobically and anaerobically. This strain has published …

Development Of A Machine Learning-Based Program To Measure Cell Proliferation, Adam J. Jones

Honors Theses

Many tools have emerged to investigate the functioning of biological systems, especially when in contact with foreign substances. In vitro procedures are often used due to their cost effectiveness and suitability for high-throughput experiments. These procedures collect basic measurements, such as toxicity and biocompatibility, that provide insight into the compatibility and safety of a substance. In vitro toxicity tests are favored for their expediency, affordability, and consistent outcomes. Quantitative methodologies, like colorimetric and fluorometric assays, offer objectivity and high-throughput analysis. However, they require lengthy incubation times and only provide a single metric. Microscopy-based methods provide more information in terms of …

Identifying The Effects Of Environmental Conditions On Listeria Monocytogenes Fitness And Pathogenesis Modified By Transcription Factor Cody, Elizabeth K. Herr

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen with the capability of causing severe illness in individuals who consume contaminated foods. Many foods have been found to harbor the bacterium, but dairy products, produce, and other prepackaged foods are particularly susceptible to contamination. Contaminated foods are exposed to a variety of environmental conditions during packaging, processing, consumption, and digestion, all of which play an essential role in modulating the survival and pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes. Conditions of particular interest include cold storage, presence of food additives, and activity of antimicrobial enzymes such as lysozyme. My honors thesis research has focused on elucidating how …

Political Representation, Democracy, And The Electoral College: An Applied Theoretical Analysis, Jordan A. Marsh

Honors Theses

Though a key institution in the United States presidential election, the Electoral College has often been overlooked for close theoretical analysis and even less frequently dissected for a deeper understanding of its consistency with theories of representative democracy. As such, this presentation summarizes a study of the Electoral College through a theoretical perspective to ultimately investigate the degree to which it is democratically representative. The first section of this thesis analyzes the Electoral College through both a historical and a modern contextual lens. The second section explores various theories of representation, highlighting the works of Pitkin, Rehfeld, and Manin. The …

The Effect Of Floor Stiffness On Acl And Meniscus Tear And Chondromalacia Susceptibility In Dancers, Kate J. Moreira

Honors Theses

Dance is a physically demanding art form, placing repeated strain on the joints and muscles of the body. Western dance technique emphasizes use of the lower extremity, resulting in a high volume of injury to the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Dance companies attempt to combat injury by installing low- stiffness floors in studios and performance spaces. These floors exert less pressure on dancers’ joints during intense movement sequences. The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of floor stiffness on dancers’ susceptibility to ACL and meniscus injuries and chondromalacia, specifically. Participants were asked about past and present …

The Effect Of Threat Perception On Judging Interpersonal Distance, Connor N. Kuntz

Honors Theses

This study examined the potential impact of threat perception on judgments of interpersonal distance. A growing body of research suggests that the perception of space and objects within space can be impacted by non-visual factors. For instance, research illustrates a connection between threat perception and spatial judgments, in that objects that pose a danger are seen as being closer or farther than they really are. Stereotypes, which are generalized beliefs about a group, can result in threat perception, which, by extension, means that stereotypes could impact the perception of interpersonal distance. The perceived distance between oneself and another object or …

The Effects Of Fatigue On Landing Forces In Competitive Female Irish Dancers, Anna G. Robinson

Honors Theses

Lower extremity injuries are highly prevalent within the Irish dance population, yet research surrounding potential determinants is scarce. Many movements, particularly jumps, in Irish dance are constituted by a one-foot landing with the ankle in a plantarflexed position and the knee fully extended. This unique landing technique is contrary to other forms of dance, such as ballet, where landings typically allow for some knee flexion in a plie-like position. Subsequently, this aesthetic constraint requires large amounts of strength and balance, in addition to forcing the structures of the foot and ankle to absorb the entire shock of the landing. This …

Unhappy Endings: Queer Time In Evelyn Waugh’S Brideshead Revisited, Caitlin G. Spicer

Honors Theses

This thesis examines Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 Catholic novel, Brideshead Revisited, through the lens of queer theory. My work focuses on reproductive heteronormativity and queer time and how these concepts can be used to analyze Waugh’s text. I argue that Charles and Sebastian, among other characters, step out of the traditional—or heterosexual—timeline in a way that queers temporality. I examine Sebastian, Charles, and Julia to understand how their lonely yet holy lives contribute to a larger tradition of unhappy endings in queer and Catholic fiction. In this thesis, I define reproductive heteronormativity as the assumption that people will follow a heterosexual …

Russian War Crimes Against Ukraine, Katherine J. Hoener

Honors Theses

Russia and Ukraine have a long and complicated history. The conflict escalated with Russia’s invasion in February 2022 designed to challenge Ukraine's right to statehood on the dubious pretext they were governed by “extremists” who persecuted the Russian minority. According to treaties, war crimes can be defined as acts committed during armed conflict that violate international humanitarian laws. This research explored the alleged war crimes Russia has committed. There have been systematic and intentional attacks against civilian targets such as hospitals, schools and churches; survivors of torture report they were beaten and waterboarded; victims of sexual violence recount their experiences …

Covid-19 Web Archives: Evolving Catholic And Marian Devotional Practices, Kayla Harris, Stephanie Shreffler

Books and Book Chapters by University of Dayton Faculty

The COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on the work of academic librarians and archivists. Stay-at-home orders meant that librarians often had to set aside in-progress tasks and identify new remote projects. For archivists who primarily work with physical items, the pandemic also meant reassessing how to provide services to patrons, steward the collections, and continue to acquire new material that falls within the collecting scope. The Archivists at the University of Dayton used some of their time at home to start web archive collections that recorded how the pandemic affected Catholic life in the United States and the world. …

Academic Achievement Gap Of Ell Students After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan K. Buzzanca

Honors Theses

As ELLs continue to be the fastest-growing population of K-12 public school students, it is critical to examine how ELLs were impacted by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. ELL students struggled to transition from in-class to remote learning because many educational materials were not appropriate for their learning style, both before and because of COVID. (Long, 2022). Now, some of these ELL students are approximately 2-3 years behind their English native peers in terms of academic progress. The following research will have a foundation through a literature review as well as a focus qualitative study on ELL students and …

Relationship Exploration Through Music: Music Therapy Treatment Considerations For Adolescents With Attachment Trauma, Jaylee A. Sowders

Honors Theses

Interpersonal relationships are key to navigating our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world. However, our ability to form and maintain healthy relationships depends greatly on our experiences as children. Attachment theory suggests that our initial relationships and their characteristics can impact our sense of comfort and safety in later attachments (Bretherton, 1992). Challenges and trauma in attachment at a young age may hinder a child’s development into adulthood where interpersonal relationships are key to navigating our academic, professional, and personal environments. If left unaddressed, these challenges can become exacerbated in adolescence as teenagers form more concrete understandings of themselves …

House Calls, Jerry Zezima

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Blog

My wife and I are in better shape than our house. That’s saying something — I don’t know what, but it probably can’t be repeated in polite company — because Sue and I are 70 and our house is 50.

Lamps Shining In The Night, Eric F. Spina

President's Blog: From the Heart

"Let our celebration of Easter renew our faith in the healing power of light over darkness. Let us be a community that walks by faith, lighting the way for our world," University of Dayton President Eric Spina writes in an Easter message to the campus community.

Optimizing Energy Efficiency In Healthcare Facilities: The Pivotal Role Of Building Management Systems, Vibhu Sharma, Salahaldin Alshatshati

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Graduate Student Publications

This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive energy audit conducted at a large healthcare facility in North America, highlighting the critical role of Building Management Systems (BMS) in optimizing energy efficiency and driving sustainability. The audit identified opportunities for energy savings through chiller and boiler system improvements, retro-commissioning of the BAS, lighting upgrades, and minor repairs. The study emphasizes the importance of real-time energy monitoring and control, predictive maintenance, and staff training and engagement to ensure a truly optimized system. The implications for BMS include enhanced operational efficiency, integration with renewable energy sources, data-driven decision-making, policy compliance, and future-proofing …

Demystifying Shibboleth: Adapting To Web Browser Privacy Changes, Simon Robins, Ben Daigle

Roesch Library Faculty Publications

University of Dayton Libraries added Shibboleth as an additional form of authentication for its licensed e-resources beginning in summer 2023. A major impetus for pursuing Shibboleth are the upcoming web browser changes that will obfuscate users’ IP addresses, set to occur in later 2023 and 2024 and something which will likely disrupt on-campus IP range access via EZproxy. Implementation of Shibboleth for an initial round of fifty-five e-resource platforms was relatively quick as a result of the University of Dayton’s participation in the InCommon Federation of U.S. higher education institutions, also known as an “authentication federation.” Methods for achieving the …

All Things Marian: Mary Within Easter, University Of Dayton. International Marian Research Institute, Michele Foley, M. Jean Frisk I.S.S.M.

Podcast: All Things Marian

Transcript is available using the "Download" button.