Digital Commons Network^™

"Next Year Is Our Year": An Examination Of Sport Fandom Of Perennial Loser Teams, Ethan Puckett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study set out to examine the relationships between NFL team success and various fan traits like grit, global and collective self-esteem, team fandom, and sport fandom. The main hypotheses of this study were that fans of perennial loser NFL teams would demonstrate significantly higher levels of grit, sport fandom, and team fandom than fans of more successful teams and significantly lower levels of global and collective self-esteem than fans of more successful fans. Participants were recruited via online forums as well as in person via Western Kentucky University’s Study Board. There were a total of 85 participants, all of …

The Impact Of Beliefs About Emotions On Emotion Regulation & Psychological Health, Sarah Brock

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examined the effects of different beliefs about emotions (controllability vs. control value) on emotion regulation strategies and psychological health, specifically depression. Little research has examined how different types of beliefs about emotions may interact to impact the emotion regulation strategies they implement, whether that be cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, or acceptance. Online questionnaires measuring beliefs about emotion controllability, emotion control values (i.e., whether emotions should be controlled), emotion regulation, psychological health, and coping strategies were completed by 164 participants (117 females; 42 males; 4 non-binary). The participants ranged from 18 to 33 years old. The study found evidence …

A Comparison Of Computational Perfusion Imaging Techniques, Shaharina Shoha

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Dynamic contrast agent magnetic resonance perfusion imaging plays a vital role in various medical applications, including tumor grading, distinguishing between tumor types, guiding procedures, and evaluating treatment efficacy. Extracting essential biological parameters, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT), from acquired imaging data is crucial for making critical treatment decisions. However, the accuracy of these parameters can be compromised by the inherent noise and artifacts present in the source images.

This thesis focuses on addressing the challenges associated with parameter estimation in dynamic contrast agent magnetic resonance perfusion imaging. Specifically, we aim …

Utilizing Show Cave Tours To Assess Nonformal Karst Education Outcomes In Youth, Matthew Wisenden

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst landscapes are regions with geological features such as caves created by the dissolution of predominantly carbonate bedrock. The aesthetic, historical, and ecological significance of karst areas results in human modification of some caves to allow public visitation as ‘show caves.’ While show caves can experience higher levels of anthropogenic degradation than non-commercialized caves, they can also be integral to regional economic, societal, and environmental wellbeing. Moreover, show caves serve as primary platforms for disseminating karst education. School fieldtrips to show caves offer a unique setting for assessing karst-related environmental learning outcomes in children through a nonformal education setting. By …

How Gender Roles Impact The Social Perceptions Of Sexual Assault, Autumn Zwakenberg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study set out to examine how different factors such as the gender of the victim, the gender of the perpetrator, and the scenario of sexual assault, can influence an outsider’s opinion of the sexual assault. There were two main hypotheses: the first is male and female participants would perceive the push-away scenario as sexual assault at equal rates, but significantly more female participants would perceive the victim allowing the perpetrator to unbuckle their pants scenario as sexual assault. The second is male and female participants would view the male perpetrator scenarios as sexual assault equally, but significantly more female …

Associations Between Parenting Styles & Parental Self-Efficacy, Brian Richards

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is an association between parenting styles and parental self-efficacy using a United States sample. One hundred twentytwo parents with at least one child between the ages of 5 and 12 years were recruited for the study. Participants were asked to complete a survey with measures for parenting styles and parental self-efficacy as well as demographic information. Results indicated that authoritative parenting style was positively correlated with parental self-efficacy; while authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved styles were negatively correlated. There is a need to replicate these findings to increase confidence that the …

Assessing The Effect Of Reservoirs On Gene Flow In The Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea Cirrigera), Anna Favalon

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Biodiversity is an essential component of natural environmental dynamics. Unfortunately, diversity is threatened by human activities and relies on conservation efforts. An important aspect of biodiversity conservation lies in protecting population connectivity and gene flow. In the mid-1900s, many Kentucky rivers were dammed, creating deep, lentic reservoirs in the valleys once occupied by dynamic, lotic rivers. For species inhabiting the rivers and associated tributaries, the central reservoirs may reduce connectivity among populations and impose a barrier to gene flow. The connectivity of populations on landscapes altered by the creation of reservoirs can be assessed by merging the principles of landscape …

College For What . . . How Middle School Students From Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds Perceived Post-Secondary Education, Michelle Patrick

Dissertations

This study examines the attitudes and perceptions of middle school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds about attending post-secondary institutions. As research continues to explore the experiences of traditional high school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and students' attendance into post-secondary institutions, research concerning middle school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds preparedness for college attendance has been limited. Using a phenomenological research design to obtain the study's results from fifteen students and thirteen parent interviews provided insight into the “lived experience” of the students’ and parents' attitudes and perceptions regarding college attendance. The study found that regardless of the parents’ and …

Effects Of Using Behavioral Skills Training To Teach Interview Skills To College Students With Autism, Kimberly Degroot

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Unemployment and underemployment rates for college students with autism following graduation are higher than other college graduates. One area of need identified for students with autism is interview skill development. Therefore, it is important for them to improve their interviewing skills to help them better succeed in their search for employment. Currently, there are a variety of procedures used for improving interviewing skills with individuals with autism (e.g., video modeling, applied behavior analytic techniques, and virtual interviews). This study replicated the procedures of Stocco et al. (2017) and Roberts et al. (2021) who evaluated the effects of behavioral skills training …

Hydrological Dynamics Of Surface-Groundwater Interactions Between Major Springs Of Mammoth Cave And The Green River, Kentucky, Usa, Matthew Cecil

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Mammoth Cave is an iconic example of the cave and karst systems that underlie over 50% of the United States and provide around 13% of the world’s population with water resources. These environmental features are vulnerable to drought, pollution, and human impacts. The complex hydrological regime of the Mammoth Cave system has been studied in the past, but there are improvements and updates that can be made to the past research. The dynamics of the surface-groundwater system, particularly reversals of the Green River and how it backfloods into the cave, are some examples. Echo River and River Styx Springs provide …

Characterization Of Legionella Pneumophila Effector Proteins, Lneb And Mava, Kayode Adeyemi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The crucial virulence factor of accidental human pathogen Legionella pneumophila during the course of Legionnaire disease is the over 300 effector proteins secreted from its Dot/Icm secretion system. Eukaryotic host cells usually elicit an arsenal of immune responses against invading L. pneumophila. Nonetheless, the bacteria unexpectedly subvert these defense mechanisms to survive and proliferate unhindered in the host. Although some effector proteins have been proposed to play a significant role in this host-pathogen interaction, many still need to be characterized. The LneB and MavA proteins are examples of those effectors that need characterization. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the …

Mammalian & Avian Community Response To African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Habitat Modification In Southeastern Kenya, Dakota Vaccaro

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) play a significant role in the modification of their habitat, foremost by decreasing woody vegetation cover and density and in some parts of Africa high elephant densities damage small sanctuaries and preserves. For wildlife that depend on forested patches, this increased modification could lead to displacement and/or decreases in abundance. If suitable habitat is not available elsewhere, elephants and other wildlife may move closer to humans in search of resources, which can result in increased human-wildlife conflict. Evaluating this impact was one of the goals of the Elephants and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya (ESAK) …

Investigating Visuospatial Working Memory For Facial Emotion And Identity, Brianna Lowe

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The central executive plays a key role in the encoding of visual stimuli in working memory, including the memory for faces in a social context. Faces often contain important details about the identity of social targets as well as the emotion that these targets are expressing. Encoding accuracy requires that we have resources to consider and organize facial features into a holistic representation of a target. Of course, emotion recognition accuracy may be critical to encoding success. The cognitive demand on the participant when evaluating facial stimuli impacts emotion recognition accuracy and therefore the encoding of facial features and emotion …

Preliminary Evaluation For Lean Implementation In A Small Manufacturing Company, Ronald Lynch

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Lean management and tools have many positive effects on a company including increased profitability, and efficiency. Lean tools can be implemented in any type of company with a proper evaluation through the creation of Value Stream Map. This paper will demonstrate how a Value Stream Map (VSM) will provide an easier transition to a lean environment. A local company of about 100 employees will be analyzed to create a current and a future VSM. The areas of opportunity for improvement in a lean environment includes recommended lean implementations and the future VSM. Functions of the company that will be analyzed …

Physical Profile Of Air Force Special Warfare Trainees, Kim A. Feeney, Bridget F. Melton, Helen W. Bland, Greg A. Ryan, Cody R. Butler

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 924-931, 2023. Physical fitness testing in the military is commonly used to assess whether service members are physically capable of performing the diverse physical tasks that may be required for their job. Body composition can influence an individual’s ability to physically perform. This study aimed to analyze the general physical profile of U.S. Air Force (USAF) special warfare candidates by assessing body composition results and physical assessment scores collected over the past four years. Male candidates (n = 1036) were 18.2 years to 39.5 years of age (M = 23.5, SD = …

Test-Retest Reliability Of A 4-Minute All-Out Critical Force Test In Rock Climbers, Zachary J. Mcclean, Keenan Macdougall, Jared R. Fletcher, Saied J. Aboodarda, Brian R. Macintosh

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 912-923, 2023. The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of a 4-minute all-out critical force test in well-trained rock climbers. Thirteen rock climbers (n=4 females) completed a familiarization session and two all-out critical force tests on different days. During each trial, participants completed 24 repetitions of 7s right-handed, maximal effort hangs from a 20mm edge interspersed with 3 s rest. The end-test force (EF; i.e., critical force), impulse above EF (IEF), and peak force achieved durin g the test were analyzed with paired t-tests to determine differences between trials. Intraclass …

Mas And Mans Predicts Repeated Sprint Ability In Youth Soccer Players, Jørgen D. Olsen, Henrik R. Rognhaug, Daniel Kvamme, Øyvind Støren, Eva Maria Støa

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(6): 846-854, 2023. The study investigated the impact of maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and maximal anaerobic sprint (MANS) on repeated sprint ability (RSA) in soccer. Methods: 17 amateur-to semi-professional soccer players, age 19 (± 4) years, were tested for maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max), oxygen cost of running (C_r), RSA consisting of 15×20m sprint each divided by a 100 seconds dribble track, and 40-meter sprint performance. MAS was calculated as VO_2max × C_r ⁻¹, and MANS was defined as the highest velocity in the 40-meter sprint. Results: There was …

Carbon Fiber Insoles Enhance Perception Of Performance Despite Variable Objective Outcomes: Specific To The Moderately Active Individual, Erin E. Dierickx, Cody R. Butler, Robert A. Huggins, Emma Zuk, Lea C. Mason, Lindsay J. Distefano, Douglas J. Casa

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 885-897, 2023. Carbon fiber insoles (CFIs) may benefit performance in elite athletes, however, their use in moderately active individuals has been adopted without evidence supporting such enhancements in this population. Fifteen male subjects performed vertical jump (VJ) and repeat treadmill sprint tests before and after a VO_2peak while wearing 1) CFIs and 2) control insoles (CON). Subjects completed a subjective survey regarding their perceived performance abilities for both conditions. There were no significant differences between CFIs and CON in VJ height, sprint distance, heart rate following sprints; and rate of oxygen consumption, perceived …

Body Composition (Dxa) And Maximal Strength Of Powerlifters: A Descriptive Quantitative And Longitudinal Study, Pierre-Marc Ferland, Jérémie Charron, Mathieu Brisebois-Boies, Fanie St-Jean Miron, Alain Steve Comtois Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 828-845, 2023. The purpose of this study was to present the relationships between maximal strength and body composition and to conduct yearly follow-ups presenting the chronic effects of maximal strength training on body composition. Thirty-four (age = 28.8 ± 8.7 yrs) classic powerlifters (M = 21; F = 13) completed at least one Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) 43.97 ± 23.93 days after a sanctioned international powerlifting federation affiliate competition (Squat + Bench Press + Deadlift = Total (kg)). In addition, thirteen subjects (n = 13) completed at least one yearly follow up. Paired …

The Acute Effect Of Tissue Flossing On Pain, Function, And Perception Of Movement, Christopher Kelly, Zachary Oliveri, Joseph Saladino, Joseph Senatore, Amy Kamat, Jordan Zarour, Peter C. Douris

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 855-865, 2023. Tissue flossing (TF) is a novel device that has been shown to cause peripheral compression and concurrent change in joint range of motion, perception of mobility and muscular performance. However, the effect of tissue flossing on pain, perception of mobility and function at the elbow joint has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the acute effect of TF on pain and upper extremity functional performance in subjects with musculoskeletal-related complaints of pain surrounding the elbow joint. We utilized a randomized crossover design. Nine resistance trained …

The Impact Of The Cold Pressor Test On Inter-Arm Differences In Blood Pressure, Alyssa C. Watts, Lauren A. Naylor, Michael E. Holmstrup, Brock T. Jensen

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(2): 875-884, 2023. A large inter-arm difference (IAD+; ≥10mmHg between arms at rest) in blood pressure (BP) at rest is linked to cardiovascular risk, and exercise can change this difference. As mechanisms for IAD are elusive, unique physiological stimuli may provide insight towards a better understanding of this phenomenon. The cold pressor test (CPT) has a potent effect on BP and acts primarily through sympathetic nervous system (SNS) stimulation, though the effects of SNS stimulation on IAD are unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of the CPT on …

Effects Of Different Surfaces On Metabolic Cost During Repetitive Jumping: A Pilot Study, Scott Lyons, Kyle Reason, Danilo Tolusso, Ariel Weddle

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(2): 866-874, 2023. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if there is a difference in metabolic cost when jumping on platforms of varying thickness, as well as whether a difference exists in metabolic cost between genders exists on the different platforms. Fourteen participants (seven males and seven females) completed three repetitive jumping trials on the DigiJump machine. Each trial was performed at a cadence of 120 jumps per minute and at a minimum height of 1/2” per jump. Trials were completed on platforms of 1/2”, 3/8”, and 1/4” thickness. Participants were instructed …

The Art Of A Slugslayer: An Exploration Of The Process Of Extracting Radulae From Lehmannia Valentiana For The Purpose Of Viewing In The Scanning Electron Microscope, Elizabeth Gannon

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

A radula is an anatomical structure found exclusively in mollusks that acts as both tongue and teeth in feeding. Its structure has been studied for more than a century, yet published methods for identifying, dissecting, and cleaning radulae for microscopy are almost unintelligible to anyone not already familiar with molluscan anatomy. The purpose of this project was to identify the best method of garden slug radula isolation and present it in a manner that anyone could understand and successfully use.

After identifying the location of the radula in the slug, the easiest means of removal proved to be simply regurgitating …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 54, Summer 2023), Elizabeth Joyce Editor, Western Kentucky University

Gifted Studies Publications

Magazine created by and about the WKU Center for Gifted Studies.

Energy Costs Of Chair Sitting And Standing Video Exercises In Chinese Older Adults, Ages 60 To 89 Years, Zhenghua Cai, Minghui Quan, Muyang Huan, Guangli Sun, Stephen D. Herrmann, Barbara E. Ainsworth, Peijie Chen

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(7): 814-827, 2023. Home-based video exercise interventions improve older adults’ physiological performance and functional capacity. Little is known about the energy costs of video exercises in older adults. The Compendium of Physical Activities (PAs) has few items with PA metabolic equivalents (METs) in older adults. This study measured the energy costs of four chair and two standing exercises (sitting Tai Chi, Yoga, mobility ball, aerobics: standing, slow aerobics, and fast aerobics). Fifteen females and 14 males, 62-87 years (M ± SD, 73 ± 7.7 years), were categorized into three age groups (60-69, 70-79, 80-89). Oxygen …

Two Different Approaches To Dry-Land Training Do Not Improve The Water Performance Of Swimmers, Matheus Silva Norberto, Carlos Augusto Kalva-Filho, Guilherme Navarro Schneider, Eduardo Zapaterra Campos, Marcelo Papoti

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(6): 770-790, 2023. Literature diverges about the performance improvement after dry-land training. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the effect of two models of dry-land training. Twenty-nine swimmers were divided into three groups, combined strength and power training (PTG), only strength training (STG), and a control group (CG). Measurements were taken for six weeks, before dry-land exposure (M1), after four weeks of specific training with exposure to dry-land training by two groups (M2), and after two weeks of taper without exposure to dry-land training (M3). Strength in specific exercises, jumping tests, …

Influence Of Systematic Training On Morpho-Physiological And Motor Ability Profiles Of Indian Young Female Rowers, Kayakers And Canoers, Tamoghni Manna, Snehunsu Adhikari, Alak Kumar Syamal

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(6): 744-755, 2023. Our study was carried on junior female athletes (22 rowers, 11 kayakers and 7 canoers) adopting systemic training to explore the possible training manipulation that can be implicated in these three kinds of water sports, might be in a different way. Several morpho-physiological parameters and motor ability profiles were measured by standard methods. Accordingly, body weight (kg), performing time of 2.4 km run (sec), 6×10 meters shuttle run/agility (sec) of female rowers were reduced progressively and significantly from Preparatory Period (PP1) to General Practice Period (GPP) i.e., from (59.41±4.84) to (52.23±5.34), (773.04±92.64) …

Psychological And Physiological Responses Across Six Weeks Of Hiit And Mict In Previously Inactive Young Adults, Emily R. Dunston, Katrina Taylor

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(5): 756-769, 2023. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is suggested as a public health strategy to increase engagement in, and adherence to, physical activity. However, debate exists regarding the efficacy in inactive individuals. PURPOSE: To determine the physiological and psychological responses to three weeks of supervised and three weeks of unsupervised HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in previously inactive adults. METHODS: Young adults (n = 20; 21.4 ± 2.2 years; 13 females) were randomized to six weeks of HIIT or MICT. Pre- and post-testing included anthropometric measures, an incremental exercise test, and body composition. …

The Effects Of Hiit Versus Mict And Sedentary Controls On Blood Lipid Concentrations In Nondiabetic Overweight And Obese Young Adults: A Meta-Analysis., Christian P. Mccormick, Garrett Mamikunian, David B. Thorp

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 791-813, 2023. With rates of obesity and dyslipidemia rising among young adults, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and sedentary controls (CON) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in nondiabetic overweight and obese young adults to determine if HIIT or MICT is more efficacious in improving dyslipidemia. Studies included in the analysis had to be randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies, comparing the effects of HIIT versus MICT or CON on at least three variables of …

Sodium Density Associates With Nighttime Systolic Blood Pressure In Young Healthy Adults, M R. Axler, A J. Lobene, K E. Kaseman, Y Awayes, S L. Lennon

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

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