Digital Commons Network^™

Human Dignity In The Foundational Political Documents Of The United States, Kalista Roades

Honors Theses

Human dignity is integral to modern discussions of human rights and liberties, but this connection can be found stretching back through history to the early developments of human rights. This paper begins with modern philosophical definitions of human dignity, especially from Rosen and Kateb. Rosen discusses four “strands” of dignity- Intrinsic Dignity, Status Dignity, Manner Dignity, and Respect Dignity. This paper then uses that framework to find human dignity implicit within the founding documents of the United States including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as “Common Sense” and the Magna Carta to …

“Under The Fig-Tree”: Post-Revolutionary Literature Influences American Government, Clara Kernodle

Honors Theses

The literary context of post-Revolutionary America developed a broad sense of the American character as virtuous, hardworking, and responsible. In the 1780s, three American writers, representing these three categories of literature, penned their perspectives on human character and society, to much commercial success. J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur, Royall Tyler, and Philip Freneau described their situations and opinions with candor and wit, helped spark a broad sense of the American character, and influenced the authors of the nation’s founding documents. At the end of that same decade, Anti-Federalist political philosophy drew from an established literary conception of the American …

Greeting Death “Sitting Up:” How Children’S Literature Provides Modern Death Education, Reilly Kendrick

Honors Theses

Western culture places a lot of importance on legacy and friendship as important lessons to learn from death. However, children do not have as much experience with death due to changing cultural customs, and our society lacks a formal death education system that can promote these values and teach children how to respond to death in their lives. Literature, though, can fill this gap in children’s knowledge by teaching the basic physical components of death and philosophical understandings of death. These ideas are learned through vicarious reading, in which children experience the character’s emotions and reactions as they read. The …

From Novice To On-Air: Developing A Student Radio Personality At 89.1 Widr Fm, Travis Melson

Honors Theses

This honors thesis explores the full development of my role as a student radio personality at 89.1 WIDR FM, documenting each stage of the process, from the earliest introductory meetings and technical training to the experience of shadowing established shows and launching my own on-air program. The project serves not only as a record of my personal progression through WIDR's broadcasting environment but also as an analysis of the learning curve required to transform from a complete novice into a confident, consistent radio host.

A significant component of this work is my perspective as someone entering the radio space with …

Development Of A Preclinical Model That Can Be Used To Test Novel Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Hayden Anderson

Honors Theses

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a foreign object induces damage to the skull and brain through a forceful blow or whiplash. It is one of the most frequent injuries in the United States, with approximately 250,000 cases of different levels occurring annually. It is well known that severe TBIs can result in persistent physical, cognitive, and socioeconomic consequences and the timing of treatment following this injury can play a critical role in the ultimate outcome. It would be beneficial to develop a safe therapeutic that could be administered rapidly after impact and improve the recovery of the patient. However, …

Mississippi Coastal Bacterial Community Response To Lowered Salinty, Jackson C. Sues

Honors Theses

Microbial communities are essential to the function of coastal ecosystems; however, few studies have examined their response to short-term reductions in salinity. This study used a microcosm approach to examine how decreased salinity over five days affected seawater bacterial community composition, diversity, and richness. Microcosms were assigned to three treatments: unmanipulated seawater (control) collected from the Mississippi coast, seawater amended with natural freshwater, and seawater amended with sterilized freshwater. Length of time bacteria spent in the microcosms was found to have the strongest effect on bacterial community composition, while salinity effects were weaker but still statistically significant. All treatments shifted …

Navigating Study Abroad: Improving Western Michigan University Students' Understanding Of University-Approved Provider Programs Through A Website Redesign, Gillian Gold

Honors Theses

Study abroad is a valuable opportunity for students' personal and professional development and is offered in various study abroad models and frameworks, including university-run or externally-run. Western Michigan University offers various options, including Faculty-Led Programs, WMU Exchange Programs, Partner Study Abroad Programs, University-Approved Provider Programs, International Internships, and Independent Study Abroad Opportunities. The University-Approved Provider Programs option at WMU allows students to study abroad through a provider that could more directly meet their interests and goals due to the personalized options available. Despite the benefits of the University-Approved Provider Programs, participation in these programs is low. The information about this …

“As Though You Could Never Sink”: Gender Euphoria Through Aquatic Embodiment In The Sun Also Rises, Devan Edwards

Honors Theses

Recent scholarship in disability studies and queer theory (2007-2024) reveals that Jake Barnes's war wound in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises functions as something more complex than tragic loss. This paper argues that Jake's swimming and fishing scenes constitute moments of gender euphoria, a term borrowed from contemporary transgender studies, enabled specifically by aquatic embodiment. In these scenes, water functions as the physical and symbolic medium through which Jake's war-wounded body transcends the performative demands of 1920s heteronormative masculinity. Building on Michael Anesko's provocative reading of Jake as "accidentally transgendered" (Literature and Medicine, 2015) and Martina Kübler's argument that impotence …

Currents Of Culture: Exchange And Interaction In Early Cycladic Greece, Megan Garrett

Honors Theses

In this paper, trade networks and cultural exchange during the Greek Late Neolithic, Final Neolithic, and the Early Bronze Age will be tracked to better understand cultural interaction, seen through material parallels and synchronicities. Dating between the 5th and 3rd millennia BC, cultural practices will be traced geographically and through material cultures around the Cycladic islands, mainland Greece, and into the Aegean, specifically the exchange networks that include Euboea across each of these periods. Euboea is the second largest island in the Cyclades and is directly east of mainland Attica. Based on previous research, the Early Bronze Age material in …

Does The Existence Of Multiple Color Variants Aid In Predator Avoidance For A Common Frog In Southwestern Ohio?, Adelyn Elizabeth Hughes

Honors Theses

Cryptic coloration allows animals to blend in effectively to their backgrounds, reducing the probability of predator detection. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi), is a small, diurnally active frog that can be found across the Midwestern United States. This species exhibits a color polymorphism, with some individuals entirely brown in dorsal coloration, while others have a dorsal stripe that is typically green in coloration. Whether these different colors influence this species ability to blend in better across natural background types, remains unknown. In this study, I investigated whether these different color patterns aid in camouflage and predator avoidance. To …

The Effect Of The Environment On Perceived Distance, Elijah Turner

Honors Theses

Despite our certainty that we experience the world as it really is, humans' perception of the world is not accurate in its entirety. People’s biases play a significant role in their perception of their environments. Researchers have sought to determine exactly how and why human biases impact perceptions, focusing on how biases related to a target (person, animal, object, etc.) impact people’s perception of said target, more specifically, the perceived distance to that target. This is important in understanding situations where, in order to interact with (or avoid) a target person, one must perceive the physical distance between oneself and …

Religion For The Un-Religious: The Nazis’ Use Of Religion Within The Third Reich, Shaun Theewis

Honors Theses

Alfred Rosenberg was born in Revel, Estonia. After moving to Munich in 1918, he became one of the founding members of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei [National-Socialist German Workers Party], NSDAP. In 1930, Rosenberg wrote one of his most influential publications, Der Mythus des 20. Jahrhunderts [The Myth of the 20th Century], which challenges the idea of organized religion. In this three part publication, Rosenberg established values based in German ethnonationalism, which would later amalgamate into a new religion based on neopaganist ideals. Nazi-era neopaganism is a religion rooted in blood, using the history of the Germanic and Nordic people to …

Heavy Metal, Heavy Costs: Soil Copper Contamination Undermines Bee Communities In Urban Agriculture, Penelope Fisher

Honors Theses

As city populations grow, the need for fresh produce in cities to feed people also grows. One such growing urban environment is Dayton, Ohio, which has begun to implement measures aiming to limit the hunger experienced by underserved individuals in the city. According to The Dayton Food Bank, in Montgomery County alone 14.2% of individuals living in the county experience food insecurity, a majority of whom are children. Urban farming has proven to be a lucrative solution to some of these issues. However, these farms are often established in areas where the soil is degraded due to previous land use, …

The Lost Reader: Temptation, Free Will, And Morality In Paradise Lost And Undertale, Serena Hope Labello

Honors Theses

This paper demonstrates that video games expand on a reader’s literary experience and should be characterized as literary artifacts. My thesis research project explores free will and temptation as originally reflected in John Milton’s epic, Paradise Lost, and in Undertale, a 2015 video game where players change the trajectory of the game with their use of free will. Critics of both texts have commented on how the structure of the epic poem and the game place the reader or player in a position to make moral choices. Stanley Fish’s critique of Paradise Lost claims that the reader will fall to …

Exercise As A Non-Pharmacological Intervention For The Prevention And Delay Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia, Eden Culver

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias are rapidly increasing public health concerns due to aging populations and rising life expectancy. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration associated with amyloid-β plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal loss, leading to impairments in memory, cognition, and daily functioning. Because there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, identifying effective non-pharmacological prevention strategies is essential. This paper examines the role of physical exercise as a preventive and protective intervention for delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Current research demonstrates that exercise supports brain health through several …

Euripides, Rhetoric, And The Sophists: Euripides’ Exhortation For Rhetoric And To Hear Each Other, Phillip Bonnes

Honors Theses

From the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., professional teachers travelled throughout Greece, teaching a wide variety of subjects from music to grammar. One subject that these sophists taught earned massive notoriety for them and, consequently, their trade: rhetoric. Within Athenian democracy, this craft of speaking well to persuade others became both valuable for those who are politically active and dangerous for demagogues. Coinciding with this emerging art of rhetoric was the emergence of Athenian tragedy. These tragedies served to speak about and encourage reflection upon their own contemporary politics and culture. This paper explores how Euripides examines and encourages wariness …

Development Of A Grease Resistant Barrier For Food Industry Applications, Mira Marino

Honors Theses

The objective of this project is to develop a grease-resistant barrier coating for paper-based food packaging and to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing this coating system at an industrial scale. As demand increases, this project focuses on identifying an optimal pigment and binder combination that enhances barrier performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The primary goal was to maximize grease and moisture resistance of coated paper while ensuring the process is economically viable and compatible with existing paper mill operations.

The final plant design consists of one continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and three centrifugal pumps integrated into an existing paper …

The Impact Of Sex Education On College Student’S Perceptions Of Sexual Taboos, Noel Gamon

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to explore how college students' differing levels of sex education are associated with their views about sexual behavior, particularly behaviors defined as taboo. In comparison to 25 years ago, adolescents are less likely to receive important sex education today; and are unlikely to receive valuable information until after their first sexual experience. Conventionally, the benefits of a sex education program are linked with its ability to lower STI rates, unplanned pregnancies, unwanted behavior, etc. Sexual taboos are sexual practices excluded from the hegemonic heterosexual monogamous relationship model. Presently, society acknowledges a wider range of …

Evaluating Sand Characteristics And Their Influence On Sea Turtle Nest Incubation Conditions, Thomas Naylor

Honors Theses

The embryonic development of sea turtles is strongly influenced by the environmental factors experienced during incubation within the nest. These environmental factors can influence hatchling sex ratios, body condition, and their success emerging from nests. Adult female sea turtles lay nests across a range of sites throughout the nesting season, resulting in each nest encountering unique abiotic conditions. This study aims to identify how variation in sand characteristics, such as grain size proportions, permeability, and color, influences nest temperature and subsequent hatchling outcomes of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) and Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from …

Neurodivergence In Children's Literature: A Tool For Raising Young Readers’ Awareness To Lived Experiences Beyond The Neurotypical, Taylor Mellett

Honors Theses

This creative thesis explores the lack of accurate and authentic representation of neurodivergence in children’s literature by creating an original picture book and paired lesson plan. The project highlights how literature has evolved since the 1960s while emphasizing the prevalent underrepresentation and misrepresentation of neurodivergent characters. Utilizing foundational scholarship and a review of current studies, the thesis identifies a gap in both literature and research regarding how children respond to neurodivergent characters and how such portrayals influence people's perceptions. In response, the creation of “Better Together: A Story of Three Thinkers” was developed as a picture book centered on three …

Invasive Honeysuckle: Using Remotely Sensed Imagery To Map Landcover Change At Taylor Fork Ecological Area, Avery Krahwinkel

Honors Theses

Invasive species can have detrimental impacts on biodiversity and local ecosystems and are frequently targeted by natural area management for treatment and removal. Two common species of invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii and Lonicera japonica) decrease plant diversity and alter ecological systems such as food webs in Kentucky. Both species are found in abundance at Taylor Fork Ecological Area (TFEA) and difficult to effectively manage. Remote sensing tools like multispectral imagery can be used to efficiently locate and quantify the abundance of invasive honeysuckle at TFEA because of the unique spectral signatures of various landcovers. This study used a …

Gender Differences In Autism Diagnosis: The Need For Female-Specific Diagnostic Criteria, Leslieann R. Mahl

Honors Theses

Autism has a vastly growing diagnosis rate as more people are understanding the signs of this disorder. This thesis investigates how gender differences affect the presentation of autism in people. Also acknowledging the impact of how these different presentations can lead to misdiagnosis or late diagnosis in females specifically. Using a narrative analysis method, 23 articles were analyzed talking about how autism presents differently in different genders. Results show that females are better able to unconsciously or consciously match their behavior to those around them, allowing for them to not be recognized for their possible autism symptoms. This study describes …

Analyzing Antibody Immune Response In Α1,3galt-Ko Mice After Intranasal Vaccination Of Α-Gal Virus-Like Particle, Faith Brown

Honors Theses

In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of intranasal immunization with α-Gal-conjugated virus-like particles (VLPs) in an α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout (α1,3GalT-KO) mouse model that mimics the human immune response to the α-Gal epitope. The carbohydrate epitope galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) is expressed on the cell surface of several pathogens, including Leishmania species. This molecule is absent in humans and has emerged as a promising immunogenic vaccine target. α1,3GalT-KO mice were intranasally immunized with 10 μg either Qβ-α-Gal or Qβ per nostril and boosted twice prior to sample collection. Blood and lung lavage samples were used to evaluate the antibody response. The Qβ-α-Gal group developed …

Effects Of “Zero Sugar” Energy Drinks On Microbial Proliferation In Relation To The Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Madison Hines

Honors Theses

Energy drinks have rapidly increased in popularity and availability in recent years. With the rise of high-caffeine beverages, complications due to caffeine consumption have become more common in younger populations. The aim of this study was to use controlled laboratory methods to determine the effect of energy drinks on a variety of organisms commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The diverse and dynamic nature of microbes in the gut makes conditions of the GI tract difficult to replicate in a laboratory setting. As an alternative, isolates of bacteria commonly found as normal flora in the GI tract were plated …

Exploring Student Academic And Grief Functioning After Loss: Perceptions And Influence Of Faculty Responses To Student Bereavement, Vivian Hale

Honors Theses

Bereavement is a common yet underrecognized experience among college students, with many experiencing the death of a loved one during their academic careers. The university environment can present unique challenges that may impede the grieving process. Thus, faculty members may play an important role in shaping students’ academic and emotional outcomes following a loss. Understanding how students are affected by their faculty’s response to loss is critical for identifying strategies to support bereaved students within the academic environment. This study builds on previous research demonstrating that bereaved college students experience academic and emotional challenges while specifically examining the role of …

Competitive Reaction Pathways In The Fully Green Synthesis And Surface Modification Of Silver Nanowires Under L-Ascorbic Acid-Limited Conditions, Finley Neal

Honors Theses

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are critical building blocks for transparent conductive films (TCFs) in flexible electronics, yet their commercial viability is hindered by environmentally hazardous, energy-intensive synthesis methods and limited intrinsic chemical stability. This study investigated a fully green, room-temperature (25℃) batch synthesis of pristine AgNWs using tannic acid as a biodegradable dual reducing and capping agent under strict kinetic pH control (pH 1.25). To enhance oxidative resistance, a subsequent surface modification protocol was evaluated to deposit a protective palladium (Pd) shell using L-ascorbic acid (LAA) as a secondary reducing agent. The pristine green synthesis yielded one-dimensional Ag nanostructures with a …

Ai-Assisted 3d Pre-Visualization: Streamlining Animatics For Filmmakers, Nishit Thapa

Honors Theses

Pre-visualization is a core part of film pre-production. Creators use it to test blocking, lighting, camera movement, and spatial relationships before committing to a shot. Despite this, three-dimensional pre-visualization remains out of reach for many entry-level filmmakers, as the software is expensive and takes substantial time to learn.

Recent AI developments have produced generative systems capable of creating highly re-alistic imagery and video from text prompts. These systems open new possibilities for visual sto-rytelling but are not built for the iterative, hands-on process that pre-visualization requires, where creators must adjust scene parameters, camera logic, and spatial configurations throughout.

This thesis …

Synthesis Of Piperidine Heterocycles With Specific Functional Groups Via Sn2 Reactions, Teyanna Monroe

Honors Theses

Piperidine is a heavily utilized nitrogen containing heterocycle found in numerous pharmaceutical agents, solidifying its importance as a building block in drug development. The focus of this research is to investigate different mechanisms of action for adding and replacing various functional groups utilizing readily available lab materials. These findings would lead to determining the overall influence of substitution patterns and functional groups have on stereochemistry, reactivity, and overall conformation of the piperidine ring. The synthetic approach involves the formation of 3-bromo-5-methoxy-tosylpiperidine intermediate through acid promoted cyclization, followed by nucleophilic substitution reactions to introduce various functional groups. Reaction progress and product …

Icarus’S Fall: Villainization In Wicked, Star Wars, And The Untamed, Laura Renfroe

Honors Theses

When looking back on the most beloved, yet infamous, villains of popular culture, one can note an abundant rise of prequels and backstory-driven media exploring the paths that villain characters take that lead them to their tragic fall. Some of those stories include John M. Chu’s Wicked, George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and Chen Jialin and Zheng Weiwin’s The Untamed, each of which explores protagonists who are labeled as “wicked” and depicted as fallen to the “dark side.” While these characters are often studied in existing literary research, there have yet to be explicit ties …

Developing A Range Prediction For The Imperiled Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Badius) Using Species Distribution Modeling, Noah Williamson

Honors Theses

The Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) was once widespread and commonplace throughout the sandhills of the Southeastern United States, providing key ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal and soil aeration. Over recent decades, however, Florida Harvester Ant populations have declined in some areas. Current literature postulates that Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), and the insecticides used to manage them, as well as further human encroachment onto their habitat, all likely contributed to Florida Harvester Ant population declines. Thus, to better protect these organisms, pursue data-driven conservation efforts, and guide management practices, more information about their nest site selection, as well …