Digital Commons Network^™

Two Stories, One War: Arturo Barea, George Orwell, And The Spanish Civil War, Autumn Howard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

While studying abroad in Spain, I learned the Spanish Civil War is a controversial, even taboo, subject not broached outside the classroom, and this sparked a curiosity to know the truth. Both Arturo Barea and George Orwell wrote books about the Spanish Civil War based on their personal experiences in order to portray the truth as they lived it. This essay analyzes Spanish author Barea's La llama and George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia individually and comparatively. Both authors were immersed in similar experiences on paper, but their portrayal differs greatly. I discuss how various literary tools employed - insider versus …

Cave Signs: Assessing Mammoth Cave National Park's Access For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing, Katelyn Lane

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project evaluates the accessibility of cave tours in Mammoth Cave National Park for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community (DHHC). The study was advertised to the DHHC with the use of flyers through the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, First Baptist Church Bowling Green’s Deaf Ministry, WKU social media, and directly to visitors who contacted the park seeking services. Willing participants either joined a group tour or reserved their own cave tour, requesting necessary accommodations. Following these tours, a survey was given inquiring about participants’ general experience with Mammoth Cave, whether all their needs …

Ua35/3 Provost's Message, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

2024 Provost's Messages issued to faculty & staff via email. Discussions of Biochemistry, death of Craig Cobane, awards, freedom of speech, Graduate Studies, Registrar, Research & Commercialization, Gordon Ford College of Business, and Ogden College of Science & Engineering.

The Protective Role Of Melanin Within The Teleost Inner Ear, Gabriel Heckerman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Melanin is the dark pigment responsible for influencing the color of bodily structures, and it is variably present throughout human and animal tissue. Melanin is also found within the mammalian inner ear, and it has been observed that a lack of melanin is associated with greater susceptibility to sensorineural hearing loss. In this study, melanin levels of the inner ears of different color morphs of the fish species Poecilia latipinna and Cyprinus carpio were measured and the potential protective role of that melanin from acoustical stress was examined. Previous research showed that black morphs of both species exhibited less noise-induced …

Carson Weir's Scrapbook, Department Of Library Special Collections

Research Collections

Scrapbook compiled by Carson Weir of Fountain Run and Tompkinsville, KY

Ua60/4 Applied Arts & Health Nursing, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by the department of Nursing.

Effect Of Dietary Flavonoids On Growth In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Vivian Rivera

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Plant foods contain a diversity of biologically active compounds called phytochemicals, produced by plant species as secondary metabolites. A phytochemical group known as flavonoids has received much scientific attention in recent times with respect to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory roles. This investigation examined how quercetin and naringenin, the most common dietary flavonoids, affect growth potential of yeast under optimal and stress conditions (temperature, glucose, and oxidative stress). Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, a dose dependency effect of quercetin and naringenin was observed under optimal conditions when liquid cultures were treated with three different concentrations (75 μM, 150 μM, and …

Biophilic Design And Its Effects On Mental And Physical Health, Alexandria Lahman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The design of interior spaces can greatly impact one’s mental health. Because people are spending more time indoors, the importance of well- designed interior spaces has increased dramatically. Using biophilic design in architecture can increase productivity and creativity and positively impact mental health. Biophilic design involves incorporating organic materials, patterns, colors, textures, and plants into the built environment. This project aims to highlight the importance of biophilic design in architecture and how it can be incorporated into interior architecture.

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment And Dye Trace Of War Fork River In Daniel Boone National Forest, Will Hemenover

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Daniel Boone National Forest plays a key role in preserving much of Kentucky’s karst regions, natural resources including timber, mineral deposits, and biodiversity, including over 300 species of concern. The health of these environments is determined by surface and groundwater streams in the forest, and karst systems are an integral environment where these systems are active. War Fork, a tributary to the Kentucky River in Jackson County, Kentucky, is a remote and understudied hydrologic system in the Daniel Boone National Forest that contains recreational and logging land uses. Due to karst areas being susceptible to contamination because of rapid water …

The Effect Of Ions On The Adsorption Of So2 On A Water Nanoparticle, Nathaniel W. Gillispie

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOAs) have been of interest to atmospheric chemists for their harmful effects on human health and implications for climate change. Here, we explore a likely system from the early stages of SOA formation. Using compu- tational methods, water nanoparticles with and without ions were simulated. We observe the effects of ions on the adsorption of SO2 on this system. SO2 in the at- mosphere is associated with greater production of SOAs, so its study is important to SOA formation. We find that the overall structure of water is the most important observable affecting the location of SO2 …

Sinfonia Concertante In E, Braden Cutright-Head

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The "Sinfonia Concertante in E" was written about my journey overcoming a visual impairment as a college student in a global pandemic. It represents the struggle in the first section, while the second section is a lament for things I don't have (not being able to drive or see facial cues), while also representing my unusual but awesome African connections I made during the height of Covid. The third and last section is a big party for having overcome the visual impairment. The accompanying paper describes the processes, as well as my life story and how I got to this …

Hudson, Hannah Leigh, B. 2000 (Sc 3704), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3704. “Historical Overview of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee,” a paper by WKU student Hannah Hudson.

Physical Characteristics, Movement Pattern And Heart Rate Response Of Indian Cricketers During Batting In Twenty20 (T20) Matches, Subhashis Biswas, Rupayan Bhattacharya, Arnab Das

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(6): 1413-1425, 2023. The study aims to provide a morphological profile of Indian cricketers and find physiological demands and positional differences of the batsmen in T20 matches according to their batting order. Eighty-three male cricketers (age: 17.93 ± 2.23 years) participated in this study and categorized into upper-order (n = 36), middle-order (n = 35) and lower-order (n = 12) batsmen. Height, weight, body fat%, and somatotype were measured. Movement analysis and heart rate (HR) responses were recorded during batting in T20 matches using PolarV800 smart-watch and H7 HR sensor. Descriptive statistics, …

Comparison Of Muscle Activity During A Ring Muscle Up And A Bar Muscle Up, Cody W. Walker, Adam J. Bruenger, W. Steven Tucker, Hyung Rock Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(1): 1451-1460, 2023. The muscle up (MU) is a variation of a common gymnastics movement that combines a pull up and a dip. It can be performed on a bar (BMU) or a set of rings (RMU). The difference in upper extremity muscle recruitment (MR) between BMU and RMU has not been evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the MR of select muscles during BMU and RMU. Ten active males (27.6 ± 7.9 years) performed 5 repetitions of BMU and RMU in randomized order. Muscle recruitment of the upper (UT) and …

Using Improvement Science To Address Early Elementary Teacher Efficacy And Competency When Addressing Trauma-Induced Behavior, Laura Hayes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

As more research sheds light on the effects of trauma on school-age children, educators must learn to apply the research and make adaptations in the classroom and school settings. While the body of literature has grown, limitations still exist in research focused on specific strategies and applications for classroom teachers. Many teachers feel ill-equipped and exhibit low self-efficacy when working with students affected by trauma. As a result, many students receive disciplinary action rather than constructive practices that promote healing. Some teachers feel that more targeted and specific training and resources would improve efficacy, confidence, and effectiveness. In this study, …

Social Media & Mental Health: An Examination Of Tiktok & Mental Health Outcomes, Jessica Maddox

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The goal of this research study was to examine the relationship between amount of Tiktok use and the results of various mental health scales. The hypothesis was that increased Tiktok use would be correlated with a decrease in self-esteem, and an increase in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and overall loneliness. Participants were recruited on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and paid a small monetary benefit in exchange for completion of the study. There were a total of 285 participants. Correlations and linear regression analysis were used to determine statistical significance; results showed no statistical significance and none of the hypotheses were …

Pollutant Forecasting Using Neural Network-Based Temporal Models, Richard Pike

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Jing-Jin-Ji region of China is a highly industrialized and populated area of the country. Its periodic high pollution and smog includes particles smaller than 2.5 μm, known as PM2.5, linked to many respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. PM2.5 concentration around Jing-Jin-Ji has exceeded China’s urban air quality safety threshold for over 20% of all days in 2017 through 2020.

The quantity of ground weather stations that measure the concentrations of these pollutants, and their valuable data, is unfortunately small. By employing many machine learning strategies, many researchers have focused on interpolating finer spatial grids of PM2.5, or hindcasting PM2.5. However, …

Landscape/Atmosphere Interactions And Carbon-Dioxide Dynamics In The Great Onyx Groundwater Basin, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, Meghan Raines

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An increase in atmospheric CO2 since the Industrial Revolution has altered rates of global climate change and has motivated a need to better quantify the flux of carbon between Earth’s reservoirs. Attempts to quantify the exchange of atmospheric carbon between sources and sinks have led to an increasing interest in the terrestrial landscape, including the continental carbon sink associated with carbonate-mineral dissolution. This research sought to better inform an understanding of karst landscapes and their relationship with global climate change through carbon cycling. The study utilized high-resolution data collection of pH, temperature, and specific conductance of waters in the Cascade …

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Method Development For The Determination Of Β–Defensins In Bovine Milk, Elisha Ogbebor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bovine mastitis is caused by a wide range of pathogens which results in a substantial economic loss for the dairy cattle livestock industry. β-defensins are a part of the innate immune system and act as the first line of defense against mastitis in bovine. β-defensins (~6- 10kDa) are antimicrobial peptides that contain about 28 to 67 amino acids, the presence of six cysteine residues results in their three disulfide bonds and a β-sheet structure. A few β- defensins have been identified in cows based on the site of occurrence and time of expression in tissue, but not in milk. A …

Towards The Quantification Of Estrone And 17Β-Estradiol Conjugates In Dairy Cattle Urine Sorptive Stir Bar Extraction And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectometry, S.M. Istiak Ahmed

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The global concern regarding the presence of compounds with estrogenic properties in the environment has grown significantly. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are environmental pollutants that disrupt the endocrine systems of both wildlife and humans. Estrogens, with their potent estrogenic effects, are particularly noteworthy among the various substances with endocrine-disrupting properties. They are of concern due to their prevalence in the environment, especially due to dairy waste contamination. These lipophilic compounds can accumulate in livestock fat tissues, potentially entering the human food chain. Sulfated forms of estrone and β- estriol, which exhibit a higher degree of saturation than their non-conjugated counterparts, have …

Bioactivity And Structural Properties Of Hydroxyapatite On Ti6a|4v And Si(100) Surfaces By Pulsed Laser Deposition, Salizhan Kylchbekov

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Although biomedical implant technology is very advanced, there are still caveats in terms of biocompatibility properties because metals are inert to biological processes such as osseointegration, cell growth, and cell adhesion. This results in statistically significant complications and opens rooms for improvements. Among many techniques to improve this problem, coating the metal surface with biologically functional materials has resulted in the best performances. Hydroxyapatite (HAP), Ca_₁₀(PO_₄)_₆(OH)_₂, is the most stable form of calcium phosphates in human body environment and is functional in key processes such as ion exchange, osteoblast (bone cells) formation, …

The Socialization Of Social Media: Examining The Impact Of Social Media Use On Interpersonal Skills During Face-To-Face Interaction, Tenille Thomas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research has well established that the use of social networking sites (SNS) has increased accessibility and connectivity to people with limitless boundaries. SNS have progressively become the preferred source of communication. However, often overlooked is the impact SNS use has on face-to-face interactions, specifically on interpersonal skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between SNS use and face-to-face interaction. Specifically, this study examines the participant’s ability to recognize and interpret nonverbal cues with increased SNS use. This was a correlational study utilizing a quantitative design of self-reported questionnaires. A total of 178 participants, ranging in age …

Adaptable Object And Animation System For Game Development, Isaiah Turner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In contemporary times, video games have swiftly evolved into a prominent medium, excelling in both entertainment and narrative delivery, positioning themselves as significant rivals to traditional forms such as film and theater. The burgeoning popularity of gaming has led to a surge in aspiring game developers seeking to craft their own creations, driven by both commercial aspirations and personal passion. However, a common challenge faced by these individuals involves the considerable time investment required to acquire essential skills and establish a foundational framework for their projects. Accessible game development engines that offer a diverse range of fundamental features play a …

The Role Of Leaders In Implementing Effective Leadership Strategies Towards The Educational Barriers Of Us-Based Refugee Students: A Qualitative Case Study Of Congolese Refugee Students, Faustin Busane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This qualitative research study explored the experiences of three families of refugee school students, two school officials (a Superintendent and a Principal), three teachers, and one humanitarian agent all living in a Southeastern U.S. city. The results of the study revealed that the language barrier is the main academic challenge that refugee students encounter when they enroll in U.S. schools. The study also found that educators conceptualize their responsibilities toward refugee children by emphasizing the importance of high-quality teaching, and establishing through establishing strong relationships between parents, school officials, and exercising patience in the process. This study poses important implications …

Exploring College Student Experiences In A Kinesiology Course Using A Gamified Grading System, Rachel E. Williams, Jedediah E. Blanton, Christopher D. Kilgore, Matthew Jones

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Past findings indicate mixed results on the effectiveness of gamification in college courses. The use of a gamified version of specifications-based grading (e.g., gamified grading) is not yet well understood. The purpose of this two-part study was to understand students’ perceptions of intrinsic motivation and engagement in a kinesiology course using gamified grading, facilitated by a gamified grading platform called GradeCraft©. We used qualitative inquiry to capture a robust description of the student experience across a semester, identifying themes describing the course management (e.g., comparison with traditional course, individual approach), and the psychological experience (e.g., autonomy, stress). The following semester, …

Perceived Fatigue And Physical Activity Enjoyment Following Indoor And Outdoor Moderately Heavy Superset Resistance Training, Korina K. Ziegler, Aaron Mckenzie, Wesley Ziegler, Spencer Maxwell, Bryson Carrier, Charli Aguilar, Alexandra Routsis, Talon Thorton, Jae Bovell, Setareh Zarei, Devin Green, Kathryn Lei A. Lavin, Amanda Hawkes, Jeffrey Cowley, Merrill Funk, James W. Navalta Facsm, Marcus M. Lawrence

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

ACSM has again determined that resistance training (RT) and outdoor activities are two of the top ten worldwide fitness trends for 2023. We previously found that RT outdoors had a significantly lower perception of effort (RPE) compared to indoor RT, despite no physiological differences in heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE). However, no study has examined other feelings during RT in indoor or outdoor settings. PURPOSE: To determine how indoor or outdoor environments effect perceptions of fatigue and physical activity enjoyment following RT in recreationally resistance trained adults. METHODS: Twenty-three adult participants (n=10 female, n=13 male) completed …

Repetition Count Concurrent Validity Of Various Garmin Wrist Watches During Light Circuit Resistance Training, Wesley F. Ziegler, Bryson Carrier, Charli D. Aguilar, David Pearce, Jocelyn M Graffius, Brynlie Ellingford, Wyatt Fullmer, Jeffrey Cowley, Merrill Funk, Nathaniel Bodell, James W. Navalta Facsm, Marcus M. Lawrence

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Wearable technology and strength training with free weights are two of the top 5 fitness trends worldwide. However, minimal physiological research has been conducted on the two together and none have measured the accuracy of devices measuring repetition counts across exercises. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of four wrist-worn Garmin devices, Instinct (x2), Fenix 6 Pro, and Vivoactive 3, to record repetition counts while performing 4 different exercises during circuit resistance training. METHODS: Twenty participants (n=10 female, n=10 male; age: 23.2 ± 7.7 years) completed this study. Participants completed 4 circuits …

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation In A Life-Long Endurance Athlete: A Descriptive Case Study, Timothy Curry, Scott N. Drum

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in lifelong endurance athletes occurs at a greater incidence over a lifetime vs the undertrained, general population. In fact, the more intense an aerobic-oriented person trains or races and over a greater amount of time, the higher the diagnosis of general cardiac arrhythmias. PURPOSE: Therefore, the primary aim was to observe the cumulative effects of life-long endurance training (since the age of 10-yrs old) and the yearly occurrences of paroxysmal AF (PAF) in an otherwise healthy, 53-yr-old male. METHODS: The complete health history of a 53-yr-old male (ht: 1.83 m, wt: 72.7 kg, …

The Effectiveness Of Running Power As A Metric Of Exercise Intensity During Running Interval Training, Eric A. Lambert, Dustin W. Davis, Matahn Blank, Tashari A. Carballo, Elias M. Malek, Kathryn Lei A. Lavin, Thea Sweder, Nicole Argueta, Marcus M. Lawrence, James W. Navalta, Jeffrey Cowley

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Wearable power meters are increasingly popular among runners with Coros and Stryd offering running power as a real-time, trackable of a metric. PURPOSE: This study compared running power (RP) to physiological measures, heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO₂), across high and low intensity running intervals. METHODS: Thirteen adult participants (n = 6 male; height = 174.9 ± 6.9 cm; mass = 72.5 ± 12.0 kg) were equipped with a Stryd 27 RP meter, a Polar H10 HR monitor, and a Cosmed K5 portable metabolic unit. Participants’ self-selected RP was obtained during a 10-min run on …

Lumbopelvic Stability During A Single Leg Step Down Predicts Elbow Varus Torque During Baseball Pitching, Zachary J. Dezee, Adam J. Barrack, Kayla Bucci, Ryan J. Zerega, Rachel K. Straub, Andrew R. Karduna, Lori A. Michener

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

During a baseball pitch, energy is transferred from the lower extremities through the lumbopelvic junction to produce ball velocity. Reduced lumbopelvic stability has been associated with elbow injury in pitchers, and commonly ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears. The primary biomechanical mechanism of UCL tears is high elbow varus torque. Understanding how decreased lumbopelvic stability influences the development of elbow varus torque could identify risk factors of UCL elbow injury. PURPOSE: Characterize the predictive ability of lumbopelvic stability on elbow varus torque during a baseball pitch. METHODS: NCAA Division 1 baseball players (N=44; 19.6+1.3yrs) participated. Pitchers threw ten fastballs from a …