Digital Commons Network^™

Recidivism Rates In The United States Versus Europe: How And Why Are They Different?, Madalyn Hayden

Honors Theses

Recidivism rates in the United States (70%) are almost triple that of most European countries (20% in Norway). The question that this project aims to answer is “How and Why are Recidivism Rates in the United States and Europe Different?”. High recidivism rates like the ones we have in the United States indicate that a criminal justice system is perpetuating a crime cycle, rather than rehabilitating or reforming its prisoners. High recidivism rates in the United States are first and foremost caused by high incarceration rates and high juvenile incarceration rates. Other causes are a focus on punishment in our …

Computer Organization And Assembly Language Embedded Firmware Overhaul, Elaine Yun Ru Chan

Honors Theses

The WMU Computer Organization and Assembly Language class has encountered some difficulties in the past several years regarding the procurement of required hardware and software for the curriculum. This has led to a number of challenges for students, including:

• Difficulty in obtaining the necessary hardware and software

• Inability to complete assignments and projects due to hardware or software failures

• Frustration and anxiety caused by the challenges of the course

To address these challenges, a new choice of embedded firmware was researched and developed. This firmware allows for more reliable flashing of the MSP430 Microcontroller and remains reliable on modern operating …

Thermal Control For A Miniaturized Fabry-Perot Interferometer In A Cubesat, Callie Pilkington

Honors Theses

The evaluation of neutral winds is critical in understanding the ever-changing weather and climate of the thermosphere, which can develop into a hostile environment for satellites. To measure these neutral winds, Michigan Aerospace Corporation is developing a 6U CubeSat that utilizes a miniaturized Fabry-Perot interferometer. For ideal operation, the Fabry-Perot interferometer requires a closely maintained thermal environment. These requirements are crucial in obtaining accurate measurements and for sustaining instrument and mission life due to the vast temperature range experienced in the thermosphere. With the solutions outlined in this proposal, the goal is to provide Michigan Aerospace with an optimized configuration …

Perceptions Of Long Distance Relationships, Kayli Maucione

Honors Theses

In an era of technological innovation, individuals are more likely than ever to participate in long-distance romantic relationships. Previous research indicates that technology plays an important role in the maintenance of LDRRs, yet young adults seem to have a negative predisposition toward the prospect of being in an LDRR themselves despite their prevalence. A mixed-method online survey distributed to 311 undergraduate students revealed that strong indicators of attitude toward LDRRs are based on observations, opinions of others, past experiences, and TV shows/movies. Ultimately, these responses indicate that a predisposition toward LDRRs does exist, yet most young adults continue to engage …

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex In Parkinson's Disease: A Longitudinal Study, Kaler Terry

Honors Theses

Understanding the role of brain network reallocation and adaptation within neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, is key in tracking disease progression and identifying potential biomarkers. In recent years, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has been applied in order to better understand the cognitive decline and overall pathophysiology in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The present study aimed to determine the potential role of functional connectivity changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This is a key brain region associated with cognitive skills and executive functions. Using rs-fMRI, clinical, and demographic data obtained from the Parkinson's …

Communication Techniques For Nursing Students, Karlee Coddens

Honors Theses

This thesis will discuss the effects nursing preceptors have on nursing students' clinical experience. This thesis will explore multiple factors that negatively impact nursing student’s communication with their preceptors. It has been found that clinical experiences are extremely important for the future of nursing students. However, there is often a communication barrier between nursing students and their preceptors. This barrier can lead to negative outcomes for new nurses entering the field. Strained communication can also create dangerous situations for patients. Students who fear harsh comments or vertical violence may be reluctant to disclose the limitations of their knowledge. We completed …

Approachability And Mask-Wearing During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review, Lauren Dehaan

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic greatly impacted many aspects of life. Due to the airborne transmission of this respiratory disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement in early April of 2020 recommending that people wear face masks as part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus (CDC, 2020). Mask-wearing presented a plethora of adjustments in many areas of life. In this literature review, we focus on the sociological impacts that mask-wearing had on sociability and approachability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying the sociological impact of COVID-19 serves to inform both mental …

Approachability And Mask-Wearing During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review, Lindsay Kovach

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic greatly impacted many aspects of life. Due to the airborne transmission of this respiratory disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement in early April of 2020 recommending that people wear face masks as part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus (CDC, 2020). Mask-wearing presented a plethora of adjustments in many areas of life. In this literature review, we focus on the sociological impacts that mask-wearing had on sociability and approachability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying the sociological impact of COVID-19 serves to inform both mental …

The Second Frontier, A Senior Recital, Jasanna Tayler

Honors Theses

The senior recital, The Second Frontier, and honors thesis defense of Jasanna Tayler, Soprano, occurred on Friday, April 14th, 2023. The recital was completed in collaboration with pianist, Cindy Hunter. Selections sung for this recital which incorporated 5 different languages and spanning 4 compositional periods with contrasting pieces including operatic literature and art song. This successfully fulfilled the requirements set forth in the Western Michigan University, voice area handbook. The overarching goal for the recital was to demonstrate the culmination of knowledge gained through attending the Irving School of Music. The musical selections furthered this as they were challenging while …

Paige Mulick Bfa Dance Graduating Presentation, Paige Mulick

Honors Theses

Paige Mulick’s Graduating Presentation/Honors Thesis was created to be a piece that explored recurring dreams and built a dream on stage. Mulick developed this piece beginning with a concept, auditioning dancers, developing choreography, designing costumes, developing a lighting design, and rehearsing the piece for multiple months before it was performed on stage. As supporting research for this choreographic project, Mulick drew on her personal experiences, the experiences of her dancers, and readings from texts about the science and history of dreams. In addition to her work in choreography, Mulick took on the roles of Production Coordinator and Schedule Coordinator for …

Mary Grace Geise Bfa Graduating Presentation, Mary Grace Geise

Honors Theses

The Bathers takes inspiration from the late 19th-century impressionist painter Paul Cézanne and his series of paintings known as Bathers. Cézanne believed in the harmony between art, emotion, and nature. This piece explores the healing powers of nature and how it reflects the human experience, beauty, ugliness, and inner peace. The Bathers endure a journey to rebirth by ways of nature, traversing through moments of desertion, cleansing, surrender, ecstasy, and freedom.

Early Life Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure Of F0 Zebrafish Causes Hyperactivity In F1 Offspring, Jenna Cripe

Honors Theses

As cannabis increases in its accessibility, potency, and acceptance across the United States, investigation into the multigenerational effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure during key stages of development is critical. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there would be behavioral impacts in the F1 offspring following a dose-response of THC exposure (0.08, 0.4, or 1 µM) during development in the F0 generation. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were utilized in this study. Behaviors (locomotive activity and anxiety-like behavior) in the F1 generation were evaluated at 120 hours post-fertilization (hpf) with the larval photometer response (LPR) assay, and at 3, 11, …

Communication Theory Analysis Of Coda Movie, Lindsay Casey

Honors Theses

This undergraduate honors thesis addresses how the hearing community views and treats the d/Deaf community. The contents of this thesis include a literature review, communication theory, and qualitative analysis of the film, CODA (2021). Findings leave the hearing community with three main suggestions to implement when interacting with the d/Deaf community. These suggestions include acknowledging the daily communication struggle amongst members of the d/Deaf community, maintenance in a conversation may lead to exploitation and finally, due to different speech codes we should enact cultural respect towards others.

The literature review consists of an overview of the d/Deaf community’s history including …

The Role Of The Pcc And Acc In Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional Connectivity Study, Claudia Gonzalez

Honors Theses

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts behavior control and social skills. Currently, ASD diagnoses are largely qualitative; thus, having more quantitative means of identification would aid in earlier diagnosis of ASD. However, more research is needed to pinpoint observable neurobiological markers of ASD. Our study focused on the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) due to past evidence suggesting its involvement in ASD symptomatology. The PCC has been linked to behavioral control and executive functioning. Moreover, previous studies support executive functioning’s responsibility for the repetitive and restricted behaviors (RRB) in ASD.

Method: Our study sought to …

Screaming For Love: An Analysis Of The Horror Film Industry Through The Lens Of The Six Love Styles Theory, Emilee Mcqueen

Honors Theses

This research focuses on the influential nature of the horror film industry on its typical young viewers in the realm of romance. An analysis of five films was done through the lens of John Alan Lee’s Six Love Styles theory. The results were used to determine if the typical horror films present healthy or unhealthy relationships. The importance of the findings is discussed, with an emphasis on the idea that parents and older viewers can use this study as a springboard to start typically difficult conversations about romance with teens and young adults.

Case Study: Investigation Into The Ownership Of Jean-Honore Fragonard's Blind Man's Buff (1750-1752), Trinity Ghering

Honors Theses

During World War II, Nazis stole 60,000 pieces of Jewish-owned cultural valuables from French collections. German leaders were fascinated with art and saw it as a vehicle to bolster their status and power. Art was specifically stolen on behalf of Adolf Hitler, who intended to build his own museum: the Fuhrermuseum.

One of the most influential families in France at that time was the Rothschild family. During World War II, the Jewish family was forced to flee their home while over 3,500 pieces of artwork from the Rothschild collection were stolen. Most were never recovered. I suspect that Jean Honoré …

Mountain (Grand)Mamas: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren During The Opioid Epidemic In Appalachia American And Their Portrayal In Media, Rosemary P. Kelley

Honors Theses

Deep within the hills of Appalachia grandparents are stepping into the familiar role of parenting as many have become the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. These grandparent-headed households (GHHs), a form of kinship care, have increased largely in response to the opioid epidemic that has ravaged the region; children are often left in the care of grandparents as parents experience substance use disorders and, in turn, incarceration. According to the US Census Bureau, over seven million grandparents live with their own grandchildren; over 32 percent of which serve as caregivers and are responsible for these children. The impact of kinship …

Occupational Justice In The Justice System: The Impact Of Occupational Therapy On Incarcerated Americans, Cassidy Cain

Honors Theses

In the United States alone, there are two million people being held in prison and four million people on parole or probation. Of those released, over half will return to prison in a year. This is an alarmingly high rate of recidivism and incarceration compared to other developed nations. The United States prison system fails to rehabilitate inmates and instead equips them with maladaptive skills that will hinder their success outside of the prison. Inmates are suffering from occupational injustice, which can be detrimental to their ability to succeed outside of the prison system. Implementing occupational therapists into the prison …

Made In China?: Analyzing The Decline In Offshoring To The Prc, Michael B. Peake

Honors Theses

This paper will primarily discuss globalization, primarily around the movement of manufacturing in and out of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This thesis analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data in order to estimate the true motivators for moving manufacturing to China (i.e., offshoring), and reasons why not to move manufacturing to China, or even reasons to move manufacturing back from China (i.e., reshoring). This thesis also considers potential alternative options for countries in the case that a company may be looking to outsource manufacturing but may still want some of the advantages of offshoring their manufacturing. This thesis thus …

An Examination Of The Vaginal And Endometrial Microbiota Of Heifers And The Effects Of Selenium Supplementation On Microbiome Composition, Kobe S. Perry

Honors Theses

Selenium, an essential trace element, is involved in many biological processes serving catalytic, structural, and regulatory roles through mechanisms that are not entirely understood. Due to its health effects from either deficiency or toxicity, selenium has been well-studied, with an emphasis towards selenium deficiency which has been shown to cause immune and reproductive issues in animals. To address deficiency, different forms of supplementation have been used, yet few studies have examined selenium’s effects on the reproductive microbiome based on the type of supplementation (i.e., inorganic or organic forms). By examining bovine vaginal and endometrial mucosal samples via 16S gene sequencing, …

The Exceptional European Experience: An Analysis Of Education Abroad's Impact On College Students And The Field Of Nutrition And Dietetics, Mckenna Moore

Honors Theses

Education abroad has become a very popular avenue over the past century for college students from the United States to be immersed in a culture different from their own and experience significant growth, personally and professionally. Italy is a country that has a culture different from that of America and the contrast becomes even more evident after time abroad. United States citizens desire immediate satisfaction and this desire is accompanied through services such as drive-thrus, delivery services, and online shopping. Americans also often revolve their food experience around quantity and speed at which it is served. Italians, on the other …

Exploring Selective Mutism And Determining The Best Treatment Options, Austin Arroyo

Honors Theses

Selective mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak or communicate effectively in certain social situations but ability to communicate in settings where they are comfortable and relaxed. This paper seeks to explain selective mutism including the description of theories of anxiety, history and etiology of selective mutism, and common characteristics associated with selective mutism. It also contains information about treatment options and determines which treatment is considered the most effective. The conclusion is that there is not one treatment that is considered the best for selective mutism. Selective mutism manifests differently from person …

The Faces Of Crime: How Municipal Police Department Presence On Social Media Influences The Lives Of Incarcerated Americans, Carley Frost

Honors Theses

This photographic exposé and the complimentary research was designed to highlight the impact of municipal police department presence on social media and the consequences it has on those who are featured on the pages. As social media became a centerpoint of social life, police departments sought to utilize social media in a way that uplifted the department; however, in doing so, incarcerated members of the community were simultaneously being publicly humiliated. Their mugshots and alleged charges were published onto the department social media pages, allowing their family and peers to comment and share freely. These individuals report difficulty finding a …

Examining The Evidence: Portrayals Of The Careers In Criminal Minds, Natalie Decker

Honors Theses

Within the fields of forensics and criminal justice there is the hot topic of crime show representations and their accuracies/inaccuracies. Some people owe these shows for exposing the career choice to them while others within the field blame these shows for common misconceptions about their career. This study utilizes the research done concerning the two main theories that apply to crime show effects: the cultivation theory and the CSI Effect. By examining the current research, a new study was conducted to further confirm or deny the claims made by both theories which aim to say that these crime shows are …

Exploring Portrayals Of Cults In News Media: Establishing A Continuum, Ashley M. Reynolds

Honors Theses

This thesis examines and analyzes the way cults are portrayed by various news media outlets. The intention of this thesis and my research in general is to convey the power of media influence in forming an individual’s perspective on cults. Each news media outlet (for purposes of this thesis, this includes Fox News, CNN, and the Associated Press) has their own definition of what a cult is, and this determines how they present those “cults” to the public. To understand how individuals form their opinions about cults and what exactly cults are via the media, it is necessary to investigate …

Hollers, Hillbillies, And Higher Education: The Influence Of Dialect And Negative Stereotypes On The Academic Experiences Of Rural Appalachian College Students, Jessica D. Boggs

Honors Theses

Rural Appalachia is presented in popular culture as a region lacking in resources, morals, education, and more. Consequently, Appalachians who speak in the nonstandard language variety representative of the region are often subject to harmful stereotypes. This work examines the impact of negative stereotypes on dialectal Appalachian college students during their pursuit of higher education. This research was conducted via an anonymous survey investigating how students from specified rural Appalachian counties in Kentucky perceived their academic experiences regarding stereotypes, speaking a stigmatized Appalachian dialect, and how these influence others’ perceptions of them when attending any college or university. Hypotheses included …

Legal And Community Input In The Record Of Decision For The Bluegrass Army Depot, Hannah E. Taylor

Honors Theses

The Bluegrass Army Depot of Richmond, Kentucky is owned and operated by the United States Army to demilitarize the chemical weapons stockpile facility. The citizens of Richmond filed a civil suit against the Army for wanting to incinerate the stored chemical weapons. This research compiles an overview of the history of chemical weapons, current laws and legislation regarding the facility, political implications, public opinions surrounding the installation, facility stockpiles and ammunition, chemical weapons dissemination methods, and specific analysis and research dedicated to the Bluegrass Army Depot’s project stages, destruction technologies, and public involvement. The central purpose is to compile a …

Effects Of Actin-Destabilizing Drugs On Motor Function In Drosophila Melanogaster, Caden Sullivan

Honors Theses

Actin dynamics influence many cellular processes including neural connectivity and function. One way to better understand and study the regulation of these dynamics is to manipulate actin dynamics and observe the effects in motor function as a proxy to changes on the neuromuscular junctions in developing neural tissue. On that line, this investigation hypothesized that changing the actin dynamics during development via drug manipulation results in observable effects in locomotion. One of the common actin regulatory drugs used throughout the literature includes Latrunculin A, which was used in this study. Methods included applying this actin destabilizing drug on developing wildtype …

Determining The Role Of Propionate And Sigb On Benzalkonium Chloride Resistance In Listeria Monocytogenes, Emma C. Schaefer

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a deadly food borne pathogen that causes listeriosis infection in humans with a high mortality rate. L. monocytogenes can form biofilms in food processing environments and become resistant to antimicrobial agents such as benzalkonium chloride (BC) and other quaternary ammonium chlorides (QACs). BC is used for cleaning and disinfection of food processing areas and is known to disrupt cell membranes of L. monocytogenes, causing cytosol leakage and the degradation of proteins and nucleic acids. Previous research shows that QAC resistance is associated with the upregulation of certain efflux pump genes (mdrL, brcABC, …

The Effectiveness Of The University Of Southern Mississippi's Marketing And Branding Efforts Among Prospective Students, Amy Clevenger

Honors Theses

With enrollment rates expected to surge over the next decade, the competition

between institutions of higher learning will also increase. Because of this, marketing

material produced by all institutions will need to adjust to become more effective at

establishing brand identity to attract the attention of prospective students. Using Aaker’s

brand identity model as a framework to understand branding methods, this research aims

to identify marketing communication strategies that are more effective in a prospective

student’s decision-making process. The thesis also investigates prospective students’

recall and perception of marketing material produced by USM to determine its overall

effectiveness and differences …