Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Cheese On The Ph Levels In The Oral Cavity, Madison R. Hayden

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the Fall of 2014, research was conducted with 20 participants on the campus of Western Kentucky University. Participants were given two ounces of Coca Cola^® to drink and the pH level in their mouth was tested one minute later. After waiting a minute, the participants were given a one ounce square of mild cheddar cheese to eat and the pH level was tested again one minute later. For further study, this project will be expanded to include more subjects as well as an increased exposure time to Coca Cola^®. This research is conducted to help support …

A Critical Analysis Of Volunteer Tourism And The Implications For Developing Communities, Haley A. Garrison

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The practice of volunteer tourism has recently experienced a rise in both popularity and participation, along with research into the effectiveness of the approaches to service taken in foreign countries. This type of tourism is commonly described as an eco-friendly and economically sustainable alternative to traditional methods of international travel. Participants typically express altruistic motivations behind their desire to travel, as conventional touristic activities are paired with various forms of volunteer work. Though this paper describes significant benefits associated with this growing industry, many critiques have also explored the limitations of a voluntourism approach to community development. In contrast to …

Gendered Legislation: Effects Of Percentages Of Females In Legislatures On Policy, Elizabeth Gribbins

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Does the amount of women in the legislature have an effect on the type of legislation passed? Wide variation exists in gender parity across countries; however, whether or not the amount of women in legislatures has an effect on the type of policy that is proposed and/or passed by the government is largely overlooked. In this analysis, I analyze the percentage of women in the legislature and six measures of women’s rights in 139 countries. I have found that there exists a small positive statistical relationship between the percentage of women in the lower legislature and the more legislation passed …

Ua12/2/1 Graduation Guide, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special graduation edition of the College Heights Herald:

• Ransdell, Gary. Letter to Class of 2015
• Taylor, Nicki. Letter to Class of 2015 – Student Government Association
• Rogers, Shelby. College Heights Herald News Editor
• Havel, Catherine. Spirit Masters
• Patel, Dharmesh. International Student Diplomat
• Beal, Josh. Talisman

Endothelin-1 Promotes Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cell Proliferation Via A Mapk Pathway: Implications For Keratopathy And Deturgescence, Brandon C. Farmer

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The corneal endothelium is vital in maintaining the functions of the cornea, namely hydration, thickness, and transparency. Diseases that impair the corneal endothelium are currently remedied solely via surgery. These surgeries present obstacles to patients of underserved areas due to cost, ineffectiveness, and lack of access. Trachoma, an infection which can cause corneal opacities, is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. In order to eradicate trachoma, epidemiological data is needed. Three villages in Kasigau, Kenya were studied to quantify the occurrence of trachoma in the region. The three villages were found to have adequate access to antibiotics …

Dietary Overlap Of Native White Bass And Introduced Yellow Bass In Barren River, Micaela L. Montgomery

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the Barren River Lake of south central Kentucky, native white bass, Morone chrysops, has experienced a decline in population after the introduction of yellow bass, Morone mississippiensis. These species are competing for resources due to an overlapping diet, likely contributing to the decline of the white bass. To explore this hypothesis, I examined the stomach contents and otoliths of white and yellow bass caught during their spawning time in spring 2012. There were 40 yellow bass and 128 white bass collected in Barren River upstream of Barren River Lake. Analysis of stomach contents revealed that both white and …

From Public Good To Public Disgrace: Eugenics In North Carolina, Meghan M. Mcguirk

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This CE/T project explores the sterilization program in North Carolina in the twentieth century. From 1929 to 1974, over 7,600 men, women, and children were sterilized by the Eugenics Board of North Carolina, a department of the state government of North Carolina. The North Carolina legislature enacted legislation that allowed for the forced sterilization of persons considered “feeble-minded” or a threat to the public good of society. The perceived threat to society changed over the course of the program from patients in mental institutions to low socio-economic women seen as a burden to the public. The mechanism for selection and …

Ua61/16 White Coat Ceremony Program, Wku Physical Therapy

WKU Administration Documents

White coat ceremony program for WKU Physical Therapy class of 2015.

Subgingival Air Polishing In Dentistry, Chelsea T-P. Howell

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Modern statistics have shown that periodontal disease is highly prevalent in today’s society. Periodontal disease has detrimental effects to the oral cavity, including: bone less, recession, and tooth mobility. A strong correlation has been linked to the use of the subgingival air polisher on patients with active periodontal disease and the regression of the disease after being treated with the device. This is being compared to traditional hand-scaling beneath the gingiva margin which is less efficient in removing biofilm subgingivally. Recent studies (Petersilka et al.) are confirming this to be true by treating patients with both hand-scaling and the subgingival …

Ua42/3/2 Commencement Program, Wku Glasgow

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program for WKU Glasgow Graduand Ceremony.

Bone Stimulation Implemented Using The L-Prf Technique Within The Clinical Setting In Kentucky And Tennessee, Kyndall A. Hudson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Leukocyte Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) is an autologous graft that is obtained from the patient’s blood. This provides a condensed network of fibrin that is saturated with cytokines, growth factors, and platelets. L-PRF speeds up the healing process and also optimizes bone grafting results.

Dental treatment options are expanding and new techniques within the office setting are constantly being developed. Present treatment modalities can assist with the stimulation of tissue formation after dental surgical procedures, leading to various results. The placement of L-PRF provides enhanced healing following specific dental procedures using the patient’s donor tissue; therefore, reducing the opportunity for …

Trypanosoma Cruzi Prevalence In The Domestic Canine Population In Central And Eastern Kentucky, Katelyn Cox

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Domestic canines are regarded as natural sentinelsfor the transmission of vector-borne pathogens since infection in an owner’s dog suggests the presence of the vector in or around the household. In collaboration with the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Lexington, Kentucky, we have investigated the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi (the causative agent of Chagas disease) in canines from central and eastern Kentucky via a serological test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing. In addition, Canine SNAP 4Dx plus tests (Idexx Laboratories, Inc.) were used to determine the prevalence of four other vector-borne pathogens: Ehrlichia canis/ewingii, Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 90, No. 53, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Rogers, Shelby. Administrators Start Filling $7.7 Million Gap – Budget
• Rogers, Shelby. New Building for College of Business on Horizon
• Ponder, Abby. Students Unwind at Valleypalooza – Housing & Residence Life
• Ponder, Abby. WKU Owensboro Campus Becomes Small-Scale Main Campus
• Pettway, Shantel. Building Maintenance Headline Summer Construction Projects – Facilities Management
• Marsupial Awards
• Profumo, Morgan. Finals Are Finally Here But Stay Calm
• Wagner, Nick. Tobacco Worker Struggles to Support Family – Santiago Garcia, Migrant Workers
• Henderson, Andrew & Trey Crumbie. Paper Cranes to Wish Good Luck on Finals – …

The Influence Of Emotional Intelligence On Leadership Emergence And Leadership Styles, Grace E. Mccullough

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership emergence and transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant leadership styles. Prior research has indicated that emotional intelligence is positively correlated with leader effectiveness. However, the relationship between emotional intelligence and additional aspects of leadership and leadership styles has not been thoroughly investigated. The current study hypothesized that emotional intelligence would be positively correlated with leadership emergence, and transformational and transactional leadership styles, and negatively correlated with a passive-avoidant leadership style. Additionally, it was hypothesized that leadership emergence would be positively correlated with transformational and transactional leadership …

Is Younger Really Better? Age Differences In Emotion Perception, Kaitlyn Snyder

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Previous research suggests that younger adults outperform older adults on emotion-matching tasks because emotion recognition ability declines with age. These studies involved tasks in which participants identified a target emotion by selecting from multiple verbal labels. The use of multiple verbal labels placed great cognitive demand on participants, influencing the results that were found in such studies. In the present study, a computer emotion-matching task was used to determine differences between younger and older adults when presented with a target stimulus expressing one of five emotions (anger, fear, disgust, happiness, and sadness) and asked to match the target emotion to …

Flaher For Wind Ensemble, Benjamin W. Lee

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Music compositions are vehicles of communication. Organized music ensembles in schools allow for students to share in the process of music-making and extramusical expression within the curriculum. As of late, school districts have made a push in mental health awareness and suicide prevention within professional development seminars. This project views the music classroom as an important, open environment for such pressing social subjects. In such, my composition—Flaher (pronounced “flare”)—pays homage to a friend, Anthony Flaherty, who committed suicide (keeping his namesake in the work’s title). Flaher is an accessible piece for high school or college band that directors can …

The Physiological Effects Of A Cross Country Bike Ride On Novice Cyclists, Wade Weatherholt

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Purpose: The physiological responses and adaptations experienced by novices engaging in cross-country cycling have received little attention in the scientific literature. Such endeavors typically involve a sizeable increase in physical activity for most individuals, but the acute and chronic effects of such an endurance feat are not well understood. Similarly, research shows that experienced cyclists often demonstrate osteoporosis in the spine, linked to many years of training accompanied by little or no weight bearing stress upon the axial skeleton. Greater understanding of these issues is needed, as long distance cycling has increased in popularity in recent years, and exercise professionals …

Barriers To Care And Buyer Behavior In Relation To Oral Hygiene, Allison E. Mccutchen

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

How much of an impact do advertising, brand loyalty, and socioeconomic status have on the overall oral-health knowledge and dental care product purchases of consumers? A survey was distributed to collect data on consumers’ background, oral hygiene purchasing habits, and decision making rationales. It was assumed that those with minimal access to care and minimal oral-health knowledge would be purchasing products based on sale prices, or the promise of improved esthetics, whereas consumers with increased access to care would likely make their purchasing decisions based on the recommendations of a dental professional and be potentially more interested in trying new …

The Importance Of Educating Dental And Dental Hygiene Students On The Correlation Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Dental Caries, Sara Brown

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Recent studies from the U.S. National Library of Medicine have shown that vitamin D deficiency is rapidly increasing among the adult population. Vitamin D deficiency has many effects on the body, such as bone pain and muscle weakness. A strong correlation has been noticed in humans with vitamin D deficiency and decreased exposure to natural sunlight, which is vital to absorb the vitamin D they have ingested. Those suffering from milk allergies or are following a strict vegan diet may also have some implication of a vitamin D deficiency. Recent studies (Hujoel, 2012) have also shown that there is a …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 90, No. 52, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Crumbie, Trey. WKU 2016 Fiscal Budget to Be Reallocated
• Voorhees, Jessica. Full Stocked: Food Pantry Helps Advance Food Security
• Wright, Samantha. New Director Coming to Gender & Women’s Studies – Kristi Branham
• Harney, Lashana. President-Elect Hopes to Continue Successes in Student Government Association – Jay Richey
• Editorial Cartoon The Paw Print Makes the Master
• Together for a Better Future: Semester Accomplishments Positively Reflect on University – Parking, Insurance, Confucius Center, Racism
• French, Jackson. Avengers: Age of Ultron Is Boundless & Relentlessly Fun – Movie Review
• Pace Setter Photo Spread …

A Critical Evaluation Of Selective Attention Measures, Hannah K. Wilson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Selective attention is comprised of two simultaneous processes—the inhibition of distractors and the focus of attention on target stimuli; yet, many existing selective attention measures only measure one aspect of selective attention. This leads to a high possibility of Type I errors as high interference control or high working memory capacity may be mistaken for high selective attention. This paper proposes several criteria for high construct validity and external validity in selective attention measures.

Concerning construct validity, the test must allow participants to exercise selective attention, adequately measure the level of attention to the distractor stimuli, and adequately measure level …

Ua3/9/7 Budget Summary, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding budget.

Ua66 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter, Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

Acute Sleep Fragmentation Induces Tissue-Specific Changes In Cytokine Gene Expression And Increases Serum Corticosterone Concentration, Jennifer Dumaine

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sleep fragmentation induces acute inflammation and increases glucocorticosteroids in vertebrates. Obesity and sleep fragmentation are often concurrent pro-inflammatory conditions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Despite the association between the two, their simultaneous effects on immune and endocrine profiles have not been explored. In the first experiment, we investigated changes in proinflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β1) cytokine gene expression in the periphery (liver, spleen, fat, and heart) and brain (hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus) in mice exposed to various intervals of sleep fragmentation. Serum corticosterone concentration was also assessed. Sleep was disrupted in male C57BL/6J mice using an automated …

Eye Movements Of Highly Identified Sport Fans, Michele N. Murdock

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Individuals who are highly identified with a sport team have a strong psychological connection with the team (Wann et al., 2001). Sport team identification can be beneficial to communities and individuals. It provides entertainment, helps form group affiliation, and improves self-esteem. Because team identification is important to people, they notice environmental cues related to the team. Individuals are more likely to attend to a stimulus that is liked or one that is familiar. When an individual has accessible attitudes toward an object, he or she is more likely to attend to and notice the object (Roskos-Ewoldsen & Fazio, 1992). The …

Emissions From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations During Wet And Dry Periods In The Southeastern United States, Jesse N. F. Winchester

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Air quality modeling is a recent development in atmospheric science dedicated to simulating the characteristics of surface emissions within the context of a variety of meteorological conditions. In western Kentucky, there are several concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that emit a variety of gases, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The hypothesis was that the concentration and spread of SO₂ emissions from these sources would differ between wet and dry periods over the CAFO locations. In this thesis, point emissions from locations representing CAFOs in western Kentucky and the transit of SO₂throughout the southeastern U.S. were simulated …

Corrosion Behaviors Of Coated Aluminum Alloys In Simulated Corrosive Environment, Jingyi Yue

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigated the corrosion of an aluminum alloy with and without coatings under simulated corrosive environments. Coatings were selected and applied from commercial materials and techniques, consisting of microceramic, epoxy primer, and topcoat. The experiments for coated specimens were carried out under various corrosive conditions, specifically, hydrodynamic flow, immersion in salt water and DI water, varying temperatures, and simulated sun light. The hydrodynamic conditions were simulated using a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) with rotational speeds of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 rpm. The immersion in saltwater and sunlight illumination tests were applied for 8 hours, and the simulated …

Facets Of Narcissism In Relation To Muscle Dysmorphia And Eating Disorder Symptomotology, Chanceton K. Littrell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Previous research exploring the relationship between muscle dysmorphia, drive for muscularity, and disordered eating behaviors in relation to personality characteristics, particularly narcissism, has yielded interesting, though often conflictual, results. The current study attempts to further explore these relationships through assessing muscle dysmorphia, drive for muscularity, and disordered eating in relation different facets of narcissism: grandiose and hypersensitive. Participants for the current study included 173 male students that were recruited via departmental Study Board. Participants completed demographic information, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-40, the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, the Muscle Dysmorphia Questionnaire, the Drive for Muscularity Scale, and the Eating Attitudes Test-26. Results …

A Quasi-Experimental Study Of Teaching Intercultural Sensitivity On Foreign Language Learning Motivation, Chunling Niu

Dissertations

Through an experimental intervention of a four-week cultural project based on the intergroup contact theory, this study sought to (a) explore the possible pedagogical effects on participants’ levels of Intercultural Sensitivity; and (b) investigate the complex interactions between learners’ Intercultural Sensitivity, Foreign Language Motivation, and their Language and Cultural Backgrounds. Sixty-eight Chinese learning students from a southcentral American university initially participated in the study, whereas only 43 participants completed the required activities and were pretested and posttested on Intercultural Sensitivity and Foreign Language Motivation. The 21 experimental group participants were instructed to complete four cultural assignments during February 2014, namely, …

Perceptions Of Incivility In Nursing Education: A Survey Of Associate And Baccalaureate Program Nursing Students, Kim Elaine Young Vickous

Dissertations

This study explored differences of nursing students’ perceptions of student and faculty incivility, measured using the Incivility in Nursing Education survey, across semesters and between Associate and Baccalaureate of Science nursing students. A sample of 262 Associate and Baccalaureate of Science nursing program students enrolled in second, third, and fourth semesters from a state university located in the mid-south participated in the study. Descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance, and Independent t-tests were conducted to examine the research questions. These questions explored what student and faculty behaviors were perceived as uncivil and most frequently occurring (disruptive and threatening) uncivil behavior in …