Digital Commons Network^™

Determining Localization Of Surf-4 In Drosophila Melanogaster In The Secretory Pathway, Jada Scott

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The purpose of this research is to determine the role of the Surfeit-4 gene, or Surf-4 locus protein, during Drosophila melanogaster development. Surf-4 was identified in the Srivastava lab in a biochemical screen for proteins that associate with the basement membrane (BM): a structure needed and required for normal development and its degradation is a hallmark of tumor metastasis. Surf-4 has been predicted to function within intracellular compartments and is known to be expressed in many parts of the developing fly. We are currently determining why Surf-4 is important in development and what role, if any, it could play during …

Möbius Transformations And Hyperbolic Geometry In The Upper Half-Plane, Emma Bunch

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In this thesis, we discuss several properties of Möbius transformations and hyperbolic geometry, a type of non-Euclidean geometry, in the upper half-plane using tools of complex analysis. We begin with preliminaries for our work, comprising the stereographic projection, the representation of circles and lines in the complex plane, conformal maps, and a result on cross-products, which we include for further development. We proceed to Möbius transformations and discuss their properties, cross-ratios, and various mappings. We additionally provide useful calculations. Lastly, we conclude with the hyperbolic metric in the upper half-plane and explore hyperbolic distance, including its invariance under Möbius transformations. …

Identifying Isaac Tabor's First Wife, Department Of Library Special Collections

Research Collections

Identifying the First Wife of Isaac Tabor b. 1770 NC – d. 1844 KY

Teaching Object-Oriented Design Through Interactive Uml: A Dual-Approach Framework For Code-Based Generation And Direct Diagram Manipulation, Moses Kayuni

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis introduces an interactive educational framework for teaching object-oriented design through UML class diagrams. The framework implements a dual-approach methodology: code-based generation, where students write Java code that automatically transforms into UML diagrams, and direct diagram manipulation, where students build diagrams by interacting with highlighted terms in problem descriptions. This approach addresses common challenges in teaching UML, including cognitive load difficulties, visualization problems, and the disconnect between code implementation and visual design. Built on the Mermaid diagramming framework, the system features a React frontend for diagram creation and manipulation, and a Flask backend that handles some code parsing and …

Bibliography, Mary P. Bennett

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Mary Bennett.

Equipping Financial Coaches: Training And Resource Department At Western Kentucky University Center For Financial Success, Lily Martin

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Established in 2011, The Center for Financial Success (CFS) housed in the Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University, seeks to aid the university and regional community in becoming financially informed and independent. This is achieved through peer-to-peer coaching and applied financial education. The student financial coaches are at the heart of this project, as they are essential to the CFS fulfilling its mission. Their responsibilities include conducting one-on-one financial coaching sessions with students, managing an applied personal budgeting experience for the Personal Finance class (FIN 161), and delivering presentations on financial literacy topics to various organizations, both …

Examining The Impact Of Political Affiliation And Related Images On False Memories, Shawn Sullivan

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The 2024 election, similar to the 2020 election, promised political divide and rampant misinformation (Pennycook & Rand 2021). Given the intensity of this polarization, the season provided a unique opportunity to gain insight into public perceptions and false memories. False memories can impact how we view and disseminate mass media; further contributing to the emergence and circulation of misinformation, leading to significant implications for digital literacy. This study aims to understand how individuals' self-identified political affiliation contributes to their susceptibility to misinformation. Furthermore, I aim to understand how viewing related images may influence the memory of fictional events. Although both …

Developments On Quantum Phase Space Dynamics And Foundations, Gabriel Nowaskie

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This work explores the development and unification of quantum theory within phase space, with a particular focus on new mathematical structures and solution techniques that extend the standard quantum formalism. Building upon the Quantum Phase Space Representation (QPSR) introduced by Torres-Vega and Frederick, we present several advancements that address longstanding gaps in the formulation and solvability of quantum systems in this framework. We introduce the Half-Transform Ansatz, a novel method for solving the Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation by recasting it into a hypergeometric form, enabling the application of the Nikiforov-Uvarov method. This approach is demonstrated through the analysis of quarkonium systems …

Gender, Victimization, And Delinquency: Examining Gendered Pathways To Crime Among Juveniles, Caitlin Hinds

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The intersection of gender, crime, and victimization is a critical area of study within criminology, particularly as it relates to understanding the differing pathways men and women take into criminal behavior. Historically, crime statistics have shown a significant male predominance, particularly in violent offenses. Feminist criminology has played an essential role in reframing the narrative around gender and crime, emphasizing the need to examine the gender pathways that shape male and female experiences differently. While men may employ violence more overtly, women often rely on more subtle strategies to navigate criminal activities, avoiding physical confrontation when possible. Feminist criminologists argue …

Exploring The Role Of Bingocize® Workshops In Enhancing Health And Well-Being In Older Adults, Kaitlyn Gray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the population of older adults grows, the need for better health and well-being also grows, making it necessary to implement effective strategies for healthy aging to improve the length and quality of life of older adults (CDC, 2024). This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Bingocize^® Workshop in improving the physical health of older adults. Bingocize^®, a unique program combining bingo with exercise, is designed to increase physical activity. Eleven (11) participants aged 68.55 ± 6.235 attended a ten-week workshop, two times per week focusing on physical exercises tailored to their abilities. The primary objective was …

The Impacts Of Land Use And Groundwater Inputs On Stream Health And Habitat Of Jennings Creek, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Allison Francis

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Jennings Creek watershed encompasses the entire city and surrounding area; however, little work has been completed focused on assessing the Creek’s water quality, habitat, and biological indicators. Jennings Creek is fed by several karst groundwater springs, making it highly vulnerable to contamination due to the rapid connection between the surface and subsurface via sinkholes and underground rivers. An examination of Jennings Creek’s water quality, habitat, and biological indicators provides an assessment of the watershed’s health.

The methodology closely followed the methods for assessing habitat by Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet and was approved for the …

Fluid Intake And Hydration Responses To Mass Participation Gravel Cycling, Carly Schuerger, Brandon Raik, Francis Salmon, Kian Foote, Angelo Madlambayan, Maya Vega, Grace Handler, Matthew M. Schubert

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1648-1662, 2024. Gravel cycling is a relatively new cycling discipline, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) hosting their first World Championships in 2022. Gravel races combine features of road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking, including terrain of varying technical difficulty, long distances, substantial elevation gain, obstacles, and limited opportunities to stop for in-race nutrition. This study assessed hydration responses to gravel races of three different distances. Data were collected on saliva osmolarity (SOsm), body mass (BM), fluid intake, and nutrition knowledge at a gravel cycling race in April 2023. A total of 121 participants …

Assessment Of The Accuracy Of A Deep Learning Algorithm- And Video-Based Motion Capture System In Estimating Snatch Kinematics, Federico Thiele, Florian K. Paternoster, Chris Hummel, Fabian Stöcker, Denis Holzer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 1629-1647, 2024. In weightlifting, quantitative kinematic analysis is essential for evaluating snatch performance. While marker-based (MB) approaches are commonly used, they are impractical for training or competitions. Markerless video-based (VB) systems utilizing deep learning-based pose estimation algorithms could address this issue. This study assessed the comparability and applicability of VB systems in obtaining snatch kinematics by comparing the outcomes to an MB reference system. 21 weightlifters (15 Male, 6 Female) performed 2–3 snatches at 65%, 75%, and 80% of their one-repetition maximum. Snatch kinematics were analyzed using an MB (Vicon Nexus) and VB (Contemplas …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 2, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period November 11 - December 5, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Homecoming
• Vickers, Abigail. Homecoming Royalty – Milie LeJeune, Sarah Burke, Katie Burch, Jennifer Smith, Alice Waddell
• A New Era for Social Sciences at WKU – Society, Culture, Crime & Justice
• Steps from WKU, Miles of Charm – Walk2Campus
• Wilborn, Price. Martha Sales Reflects on Life, Leadership & Growth
• Leasing Agents Lending a Friendly Face & Helping Hand – Columns
• Smith, Kane. How Local Businesses Prepare for Homecoming Crowds
• Downtown Bowling Green – Restaurants & Businesses
• Home Sweet …

Reaction Of A Chiral Platinum Triamine Compound With Key Amino Acid And Guanine Analog, Onu Emmanuel Chukwu

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Platinum compounds can exhibit cytotoxic activity through reaction with DNA; however, interaction with proteins and DNA bases, especially with methionine residues and Guanine analogs, is another common biological reaction. Our lab has synthesized Chloro[2-(4-Methyl-1,4- diazepan-1-yl) ethanamine]platinum(II) chloride ([Pt(L)Cl]Cl), which has a tridentate binding mode for the amine ligand. This study focused on the reaction of the chiral platinum triamine with key amino acids (methionine and 2-hydroxybutyric acid) and guanine analogs under different pH and temperature conditions. The mass spectrometry of N-AcMet Interaction with [Pt(L)Cl]+ showed a m/z of 542 and 579 for reactions at pH 4. The m/z of 542 …

Aquila And Predator: The Failure And Momentum Of Drone Technologies In The U.S., 1970-2015, Michael Rasak

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This article examines the technological and intellectual histories of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) development in the U.S. from the 1970s until 2015. Borrowing from the field of science and technology studies, the author argues that although early drone development demonstrated a significant degree of heterogeneity (i.e., interpretive flexibility), the spectacular failure in 1987 of one program in particular—the Aquila Remotely Piloted Vehicle—thereafter contributed to a significant restricting of UAS potentialities. Aquila’s demise prompted a Congressional directive in 1988 to consolidate the disparate UAS development efforts within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) under one joint program, ushering in a means …

The Grateful Dead: An Imperfect Symbol Of The Hippie Movement, Vanessa Sharfe

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The emergence of the band, the Grateful Dead, took San Francisco by storm in the 1960s as the hippie counterculture movement increased in popularity in the United States. The Grateful Dead’s career spanned thirty years from 1965 to the passing of their lead singer, Jerry Garcia in 1995. My work will focus on the political and social context of the 1960s and 1970s because the time period was shaped by major political issues and events that influenced the ideologies of the various protest movements such the Free Speech Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and controversial topics such as the Hell’s …

Newsletter, Wku Staff Senate

Staff Council

Newsletter created by WKU Staff Council to report on work accomplished.

Photogeneration, Characterization, And Kinetic Study Of A New Phthalocyanine Species, Sobenna Onyeso

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In the search for green chemistry, the development of synthetic metal complexes that model enzyme function has been extensively studied. Phthalocyanine metal complexes, closely related to these heme-containing macrocycles, have gained continued interest due to their ease of direct synthesis, efficient redox, and optical properties. Despite the significant progress in phthalocyanine metal complexes, much more work needs to be done in the characterization and identification of their metal-oxo species, as well as mechanistic insights into their catalytic oxidations. To date, the reactivity of metal-oxo species on phthalocyanine platforms has not been probed.

In this study, metal phthalocyanine complexes have been …

Using Improvement Science To Enhance Paraprofessional Development To Foster Supportive Classroom Environments And Impact Teacher Retention, Althea Hurt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified teachers continues to be a problem in the United States and in many other countries, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, many teachers express dissatisfaction with pay, but other factors – including dissatisfaction with the level of support received, stress brought on by the workload, and struggles with challenging student behavior – have also contributed to high teacher turnover rates. To support student learning outcomes, administrators and policymakers must be aware of, and address, why teachers are leaving.

This study used an improvement science approach to address the reasons why teachers left a suburban school …

Fat Deposition, Β- Carotene, And Vitamin A Metabolism In Bulls, Steers, And Heifers, Tesla Trammell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research highlights the impact of Vitamin A on cattle growth and meat quality. Supplementing Vitamin A early in life has been linked to enhanced IMF content and growth rates in calves, especially when administered at birth or during early developmental stages. This is attributed to the role of the ZFP423 gene in adipocyte formation, with studies noting its involvement in the development of IMF during the finishing phase.

This study aims to add to the present research by evaluate the effect of calves’ sexual class on blood β-carotene and Vitamin A before weaning. The second study evaluated the β- carotene …

Peer Teasing And Muscle Dysmorphia, Jasmine Arnold

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of bodily-related teasing during childhood and adolescence on Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) symptomology during adulthood. Another goal of this study was to investigate the connection between bodily peer teasing to lowself- esteem and negative affect, two factors that have been argued to be contributing factors of MD. 79 individuals who identified as male and were 18 years old or order were recruited to participate in the study. However, only 70 people completed the questionnaires to completion. Participants completed the Muscle Dysmorphia Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety …

Nondisclosure Of Trans Group Status Among Transgender Individuals, Alexander Williams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study was to investigate motivations for concealment of transgender group status beyond a qualitative scale. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the role one’s identity centrality, salience, and valence played in concealment behavior and attitudes. It was hypothesized that factors found in the extant literature (i.e., gender dysphoria, lack of connection, safety, stigma, and discrimination concerns) would apply presently. It was hypothesized that those individuals with low identity centrality, salience, and valence would be less likely to disclose their trans status. Results indicated that the previously named factors for concealment were present among participants with particularly …

Impact Of Campus Recreation On Student Success At A Small, Private Institution, Abe Cross

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Institutions of higher education are seeing a decline in enrollment and state funding. These matters are compounded by a smaller number of graduating high school seniors than years past (Pell Institute, 2022). Considering that it costs more to recruit new students compared to retaining current students, colleges and universities are focusing on effective retention strategies (Pell Institute, 2022).

Meanwhile, Misener (2019), Battjes (2019), and Zegre (2019) have found a correlation between campus recreation utilization and student success at NCAA Division 1 schools. Each of these schools enrolls more than 25,000 students. Their work is built on Tinto’s (1975, 1993) Theory …

Subconcussive Impacts And Their Effect On Attention, Scott York

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent years, concussions have become a focal point for athletic competition and athletes beginning in grade school. The long-term implications of concussions are becoming more widely known and accepted; however, there are still areas of literature that are lacking. One of these areas is subconcussive impacts. Subconcussive impacts are defined as impacts that do not meet the threshold for diagnosed concussion but may still have clinical impact. While concussions and their effects on cognition have been examined heavily, these subconcussive impacts, and their effects, have been studied less so. The purpose of this study is to examine the possible …

Observing Dynamic Emotional Faces From Many Generations, Tashaunda Grimmett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study sought to further understand emotion perception capabilities in younger and older adults. Previous studies examining emotion perception have consistently found emotion recognition deficits with age. The most common technique used to investigate age differences in emotion perception is a label selection task that presents static images of actors expressing emotion. More recently, dynamic stimuli have been developed; they portray realistic facial expressions that are more comparable to what one sees in real life. The use of dynamic stimuli has been found to ameliorate most age differences in the recognition of basic emotion categories. The current study presented dynamic …

Student Employment: Analysis On Perceived Academic Progress Of Undergraduate Students Who Are Employed On-Campus Vs. Offcampus, Minnette Ellis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explores the perceived academic progress of student employment, specifically differences between undergraduate students who are employed on-campus versus off-campus. The study used quantitative methodology and analyzed data from 342 students at a regional university to examine their self-reported GPA, time spent on schoolwork, and perceptions of how their employment impacted their academic success. The analysis indicated that students who were employed on-campus perceived their employment in a more positive terms related to their academic pursuits than students who were employed off-campus. There was no significant difference in the amount study hours spent between students who were employed on-campus …

Evaluation Of Biochar As A Remediation Tool For Aminopyralid Contaminated Compost, Steven James Parris

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Aminopyralid is a synthetic auxin herbicide which is applied to grass pastures to control broadleaf weed populations. Aminopyralid can contaminate compost through inputs derived from treated pastures such as manure and grass clippings. This possibility poses the threat of inadvertent herbicide exposure to sensitive vegetable plants through using compost contaminated with aminopyralid. Biochar can absorb pollutants and has a synergistic effect with compost when applied to the compost mixture. This study examined the relationship between biochar and aminopyralid through compost consisting of dairy manure and sawdust 1:1 mixture, aminopyralid (10μg/kg), and biochar at four treatment levels of total mass of …

The Effects Of Tiktok Use On Mental Health Outcomes And Stigma, Alecia Hatfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between TikTok use, mental health, and mental health stigma. There were three hypotheses for this study: TikTok use would be associated with decreased mental health stigma, TikTok use would be associated with increased anxiety, and TikTok use would be associated with increased depression. A total of 115 participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and they completed an online Qualtrics survey. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between TikTok use and anxiety, depression, and mental health stigma. Results indicated that increased time spent on TikTok was associated with an …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 33. The Story In Evolution., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) is best known for his independent formulation of the principle of natural selection. In this work I first review my understanding of Wallace’s intellectual development on this subject, including the notion that he had no model for the evolution of higher consciousness as of his first treatment of natural selection in 1858. This leads to some conclusions about his approach to the subject, and links to parallel ideas inherent in the philosophy of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677).