Digital Commons Network^™

A Vocation In Preservation: An Ethnographic Study Of Historic Preservation And Allied Trades, Ginny Willoughby

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This research examines younger generational interest in historic preservation (HP) and the preservation trades (PT). Utilizing an ethnographic approach, industry professionals were interviewed about their knowledge and perspectives on issues facing their respective fields (HP and PT). Historic preservation and the preservation trades were both identified to be experiencing a decline in interest and participation from younger individuals, thus negatively impacting incoming supply of future labor. Given the intensive nature of the field, traditionally the preservation trades have required a larger number of specialists. Currently, both fields are facing workforce shortages. High school level career and technical education was examined …

Mentor And Mentee Ratings: Are They The Same Or Different?, Brooke Zarotny

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Mentoring is the pairing of two people where the mentor is meant to be a role model and companion for the mentee in the mentee’s area of struggle or deficit. These relationships are meant to be support systems that encourage positive outcomes in youth through frequent meetings between youth and older volunteers. Participants in this project were undergraduate students (i.e., mentors) and middle-school students (i.e., mentees) attending an alternative school in the east south-central region of the United States. The purpose of this school-based case study was to examine the experiences of five mentor and mentee pairs through weekly survey …

A Study Of Kindergarten Language Screening Performance Across Schools With Variable Demographic Compositions, Baylee Lackey

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Quick Interactive Language Screener (QUILS) for language impairment was designed and normed for children of diverse backgrounds. This study examined the utility of the QUILS in a diverse school district by comparing failure rates across five elementary schools. Schools varied in racial composition (non-White range: 20.45 – 80%) and socioeconomic status (free/reduced lunch qualified range: 35.35 – 100%). Among 321 currently-enrolled kindergartners, 272 completed the QUILS. Using author recommendations for kindergarten-aged cutoff scores, the district-wide screening failure rate for primarily monolingual English speakers (n = 212; via parent questionnaire) was 16.51% (range: 7.69 – 34.29% per school). Failure rates …

The Role Of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier 1 (Mpc1) In Heart Failure And Its Implications For Cardiac Recovery, Obadiah Issachar Kirk

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome with high mortality rates around the world. HF also has diverse etiology as many things contribute such as hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, inflammation, and cardiac arrhythmias. Studies have shown that unloading of a failing heart with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can lead to cardiac recovery in a subpopulation of individuals with advanced HF. RNA-sequencing and protein expression analysis of myocardial tissue from HF patients who underwent the LVAD implant and heart transplant indicated that subpopulation of HF patients who responded to LVAD unloading had significantly lower levels of mitochondrial pyruvate …

Listening Back: A Podcast About Encouraging Social Change Through Theatre Of The Past, Madison Rose

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This CE/T explores the nature of theatre as a tool to encourage social change. Theatre is an important art form that can influence audiences into considering contemporary societal concerns and taking action. This capstone specifically addresses theatre prior to the 2000s as effective commentary on modern issues in America, such as police brutality, discrimination, reproductive rights, and religious hypocrisy. I have created a podcast as a resource for young dramaturgs and activists about existing and accessible plays that can be used to address important societal issues. This project is a culmination of my interest in theatre, history, communication and social …

Identifying Essential Viral Genes Through Genomic Engineering, Amber Carroll

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Bacteria developed resistance to penicillin a mere four years after the groundbreaking antibiotic was first mass produced (Casadevall, 2010). Since then, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has steadily risen, causing millions of difficult to treat infections annually. The challenge is to identify ways to combat these menacing microbes. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and can potentially be used to eliminate deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The number of sequenced bacteriophage genomes has increased tremendously over the past 10 years, but little is known about the function of most bacteriophage genes. The purpose of this study was to expand our understanding of …

Ototoxicity Of Cisplatin, Pyriplatin, And Phenathriplatin In The Auditory Hybridoma Cell Line, Hei-Oc1, Alexandra Johnston

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cisplatin is an anti-cancer drug which is effective against several cancers, but also causes harmful side-effects, including ototoxicity and hearing loss. While cisplatin is a bifunctional compound that forms coordinate covalent bonds with both strands of DNA, recently investigated monofunctional platinum(II) compounds bind to only one DNA strand, and may activate different cell-death mechanisms. As several monofunctional platinum(II) compounds have anti-cancer properties, but could target different cell-death pathways, they could potentially have different and reduced side-effects. In this study, the HEI-OC1 auditory hybridoma cell line was used to investigate the ototoxicity of cisplatin and two monofunctional platinum(II) compounds, phenanthriplatin and …

Mathematical Modeling Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Optimal Design And Mixed-Modeling Techniques, Michael Belcher

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

A mathematical model for the healing response of diabetic foot ulcers was developed using averaged data (Krishna et al., 2015). The model contains four major factors in the healing of wounds using four separate differential equations with 12 parameters. The four differential equations describe the interactions between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the skin, and the fibroblasts, which produce these proteins. Recently, our research group obtained the individual patient data that comprised the averaged data. The research group has since taken several approaches to analyze the model with the individual …

Morphological Correlates Of Auditory Sensitivity In The Inner Ear Of Two Species Of Invasive Carp, Tyler Patty

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Silver (Hypopthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead (H. nobilis) carp, are invasive species that have negative impacts upon ecosystems. H. molitrix is known to jump completely out of the water in response to broadband sounds, however, this is not observed in H. nobilis. Preliminary experiments reveal that sounds can be used to modify the behavior of carps. Thus, understanding the hearing abilities of these species is important in order to design appropriate acoustical deterrents. Fish heads were preserved in 4% paraformaldehyde and the inner ears dissected and photographed under a light microscope in order to describe the …

Side Effects And Efficacy Of Isotretinoin In College Students, Brittany Smith

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Acne vulgaris is a serious disease that can have serious consequences for the person who has the condition. Acne can occur on the face, chest, back, and among other locations on the body. Its pathogenesis is complex and has many factors. Ahmad (2015), states acne involves abnormal keratinization, hormonal dysfunction and immune hypersensitivity. This condition can range from mild, moderate, or severe. Acne can be debilitating to the person who is struggling with it. Acne can occur at any age, but it is seen more often in adolescents. According to Marron, Tomas-Aragones, and Boira (2013), acne is prevalent in up …

Zephyrus, Western Kentucky University

Student Creative Writing

The fine arts magazine of Western Kentucky University at Bowling Green.

Ua25 Memoranda, Wku Strategy, Operations & Finance

WKU Administration Documents

Memoranda issued by WKU Strategy, Operations & Finance to faculty & staff via email.

• Bookstore
• Staff Excellence Awards
• Campus Update

Ua12/4 Student Affairs Health Services, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by Health Services.

Ua37/44 Faculty Personal Papers Gordon Wilson, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Personal papers of Gordon Wilson.

Ua19/16/2 Athletic Media Relations Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

General WKU athletic press releases for 2020.

Ua19/16/1/1 Hilltopper Baseball 2020 Media Guide, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

2020 baseball media guide produced by WKU Athletic Media Relations, includes athletic records and statistics, photographs, schedule and information regarding opponents.

Ua10/1 Vitality Report, Wku Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex.

• Moore, Mary. From the Director's Desk
• Mudd, Aaron. WKU Breaks Ground on Residential Program for Adults on Autism Spectrum - LifeWorks
• Swietek, Molly. Fellowship Continues at WKU Public Broadcasting
• Kersting, Frank. What is CEC's Value to WKU?
• Whittinghill, Cindi. A Caregiver's Perspective - Renshaw Early Childhood Center
• Sales, Shannon. Financial Education Added for Familes
• Sales, Shannon. Family Fun Day 2020 Date Released
• Schaeffer, Beth. RECC Students Say Hello in Many Languages
• Collins, Peyton. Circle of Support Students Thrive
• Sales, Shannon. Special Needs Expo Offers Families Hope
• Hudson, Caroline. Literacy …

Ua19/16/2 Track & Field Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU track & field teams in 2020.

The Age Of The Advertorial: Incorporating Sponsored Content Into The Newsroom, Hayley Robb

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

During a time when news is fast, frequent and easier to find than ever, it has become harder for news outlets to not only generate revenue but to establish a need with their readers. Sponsored content pieces, also referred to as native advertising, have offered creative solutions to this problem for student media groups and professional news outlets across the country.

Using WKU’s first-ever content agency, Cherry Creative, as a case study and by analyzing various other news outlets in the U.S., this project aims to develop a series of recommendations for the future of Cherry Creative and student media, …

Let My People Stay: A Nonprofit's Role In Immigrant Lives, Karla Villa

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project draws on research that I conducted May to August 2019 with a nonprofit organization, La Casita Center, that provides services to the Hispanic immigrant community in Louisville KY. Despite what appears to be a bleak time in our country for immigrants and immigration reform, there is hope found in the organizations that are working to support and fill the gap that the national government has left. I draw on interviews and participant observation research conducted with staff at La Casita Center to

1. Analyze how La Casita staff decide which resources and projects to implement.

2. Consider how the current …

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Tap For The Times: A Study Of Contemporary Tap Dance, Elise Wilham

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Tap dance is an American art form that began with the blending of traditional dance styles from English and Irish immigrants and African slaves. Throughout the 20th century, tap dance developed many styles in response to cultural changes that took place. Contemporary tap dance emerged in the latter half of that century and continues developing today with the fusion of other dance genres and new technologies. This research examines tap dance history to create an understanding of how it developed through a historical lens and analyzes the current approaches applied to the artform along with the characteristics and creative processes …

Developing The Rapid Assessment Of Problem Solving For Kids (Raps-K), Emily Phillips

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Rapid Assessment of Problem Solving (RAPS) was created by Dr. Robert Marshall in order to assess an individuals’ problem solving abilities. This assessment is set up like the popular twenty-questions game and is used to assess adults with cognitive impairments. An administrator chooses a picture from a board of thirty-two pictures and the subject must ask yes or no questions in order to guess the target picture in as few questions as possible. Analysis assesses integration planning scores, question asking efficiency scores, and question types to determine a level of problem solving abilities.

Smith and Jones (2018) used the …

Book Proposal: Reimagining Higher Education: A Guide To Creating The Competent College Graduate, Molly Kerby

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Given the climate of distrust, colleges and universities are examining strategies to enable them to remain relevant. Efforts to answer the recent outcry for productive, effective, and evidencedbased outcomes include adapting curricula and degree programs to better prepare graduates for employment. Competency-based education (CBE) programs are at the forefront of these approaches. Although not a new concept, CBE has shifted from its vocational training roots to its current attention on student results. The acquisition of competence requires an engaged learner who practices self-reflection (Dreyfus, 2004). Albanese, et al. (2008) suggest competencies should be outcome focused, emphasize applied-learning, and be measurable. …

"Change Is The Essential Process Of All Existence:" Transformation Through Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement's Theory, Molly Kerby

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

During the early years of the American Association of State Colleges & Universities’ (AASCU) American Democracy Project (ADP), a handful of civic-minded leaders in higher education began to grapple with what it meant to teach students to be engaged citizens. The project began with seven initiatives focusing on efforts such as voting, stewardship of land, political engagement, and citizenship to build a foundation for increasing civic literacy, democratic agency, and community engagement among college students (American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 2019). Membership and participation in ADP grew quickly and it seemed an organic revolution of sorts was building …

Tichenor Collection (Mss 678), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 678. Correspondence, papers and photographs of the Tichenor family of McLean County, Kentucky, and related families, especially Cherry, Short, and Hutchison. Much relates to the home front during World War II during the Navy service of high school teacher Thomas Cherry Tichenor.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 95, No. 14, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. This issue contains articles:

• Dobbs, Jack. Experienced Staff Members Exit Finance Office – Paula Jarboe, Jim Cummings
• Deppen, Laurel. 3^rd Racial Slur Incident Prompts Greek Life Review – Alpha Tau Omega
• Nutter, Abbey. Students Study the Forgotten History Under Their Feet – Jonesville
• Chisenhall, Jeremy. A Senior Sign-off: Thanks for Reading This Semester’s News
• Heichelbech, Evan. Letter from the (Former) Editor: Dear Herald, Thank You
• Collins, Michael. THC Vapes Continue to Pose a Danger to Public Health – Tetrahydrocannabinol
• Williams, Matthew. WKU Middle of the Road in Student …

Ua12/2/1 Grad Guide, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special graduation magazine issue of the College Heights Herald includes articles:

• Robb, Hayley. Dear Fall 2019 Graduates
• Graduation Weekend Schedule
• College of Education & Behavioral Sciences Graduates
• Norvell, Abbey & Ryan Goodlett. Topping Off the College Years – Mortarboards
• Gordon Ford College of Business Graduates
• College of Health & Human Services Graduates
• Benningfield, Chloe. Graduate Christmas List
• Ogden College of Science & Engineering Graduates
• Norvell, Abbey. Picking the Perfect Pair – Shoes
• Potter College of Arts & Letters Graduates
• Brandt, Jess. What Kind of Co-Worker Are You?

Ricketts, Hunter Christian, B. 1997 (Fa 1382), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1382. Project completed by Hunter Ricketts in fall 2019 regarding Mennonite health practices as part of a WKU folk studies class on Field Methods in Ethnography.

Effects Of Active Sitting On Reading And Typing Task Productivity, Claire Doroff, Emily Langford, Ronald L. Snarr Jr.

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(5): 1216-1224, 2019. Increased sedentary behavior and reduced physical activity among children and adults has led to the advent of various active devices to combat these behaviors. Active sitting, consisting of modified chairs or stability balls, allows the body to stay dynamic while seated. While research has evaluated the health benefits of active sitting, minimal research has shown the effects of active sitting on productivity in adult populations. The purpose was to evaluate the effects of various chairs (active versus non-active) on typing and reading task productivity. Twenty adult participants performed typing and reading tasks …

Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Recess-Based Fitness Intervention In Elementary School Children, Christine W. St. Laurent, Sarah Burkart, Sofiya Alhassan

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(4): 1225-1243, 2019. Although fitness may benefit cognition in youth, most attention has been given to cardiorespiratory fitness despite the health benefits of muscular fitness. Few studies have examined interventions that incorporate both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness or have been offered during school recess. Furthermore, most fitness intervention studies examining cognitive outcomes have not reported on implementation information. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy on fitness and cognition of a recess intervention in elementary school children. Two schools were randomized to either a 3-month cardiorespiratory and …