Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Confidence In Scientific Literacy Amongst General Biology And General Chemistry Students, Amy Sullivan

Honors Theses

Scientific literacy is a term used to describe a person’s ability to understand scientific concepts, read and write those concepts, and link those concepts to situations outside of the classroom in order to make informed decisions in their daily lives. This research paper details a study observing how scientific literacy confidence varies among general biology and chemistry students at the University of Mississippi. The goal of this research is to determine if students in general biology and chemistry classes will have similar self-reported confidence in their science literacy. This research took place at the University of Mississippi amongst Biology 160/161 …

The Sacred And The Supernatural: Christianity And Teutonic Folklore In The Grimms’ Briar Rose, Amelia Stefanescu

Honors Theses

During the nineteenth century, the Brothers Grimm undertook the task of preserving German folklore during a time of cultural upheaval and struggle for national identity. One such tale, Briar Rose, emerges as a site of ideological interplay between Christian themes and Teutonic traditions. By analyzing the Grimms’ 1812 (first) and 1857 (last) editions, this thesis investigates how the text reflects and synthesizes these distinct belief systems into a coherent narrative.

The research explores how Christian and pagan elements co-exist within Briar Rose and what these interactions reveal about the cultural and religious dynamics within the folktale. The study argues that …

A Petrological Characterization Of The Iutzi Member Of Lucas Formation, Michigan Basin, Moira Burns

Honors Theses

It is thought that most Phanerozoic dolomites form via the replacement of precursor calcium carbonate [CaCO₃] with dolomite [CaMg(CO₃)₂] through a dissolution-precipitation reaction with a Mg-bearing fluid. Although this may be widely accepted, the timing, conditions, settings, and mechanisms associated with the dolomitization process are still strongly debated, resulting in the proposal of various dolomitization models. The association between evaporite minerals and dolomite in the rock record is common and has led many to propose a model genetically associating evaporative fluids and dolomitization. The evaporative model posits as marine fluids evaporate and become more …

Development Under Erasure: Deconstruction In Development Discourse, Micah Gill

Honors Theses

Jacques Derrida’s theory of deconstruction has been historically underappreciated in development. Yet Derrida’s critical theory realizes development as an inherently deconstructive field, one which advocates for the Other when disciplines such as economics and international relations overlook them. By examining the history of development through a Derridean lens, we can see how deconstruction was working within some of the development discourse’s prominent shifts leading up to its “impasse” in the 1980s. Heightened critical attention around this time catalyzed a flurry of deconstructive processes in the following years which have reshaped the landscape of development scholarship and practice. The story of …

Writing 'Boleyn Ballads': Exploring Constraints On Sexuality Within The Henrician Court Through A Historical Graphic Narrative, Kyle Smith

Honors Theses

This article outlines my creative process while writing and illustrating the graphic novel Boleyn Ballads for my undergraduate honors thesis. First, this research delves into the medium of graphic novels and its potential for teaching history to young adult readers. Then, this research shifts to focus on the history the graphic novel depicts, that being the fall of Tudor English Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother George. With Boleyn Ballads, the depiction of the fall of Anne Boleyn aligns itself with historian Greg Walker’s theory on her fall. This research then explains the creative decision behind making George Boleyn …

Living Between The Lines: The Multiracial Identity, How It Is Shaped, Perceived, And Embodied On College Campuses, Kiaira Tomlinson

Honors Theses

This research project aims to investigate the feelings of acceptance experienced by multiracial individuals on predominantly white institution (PWI) campuses. The study explores various factors that may influence these feelings, including participation in organizations, relationships with friends and family, and experiences of discrimination on campus. Surveys will be used to collect data on participants' progress toward graduation, gender, classification, racial/ethnic background, first-generation status, participation in student and racial/ethnic organizations, experiences of discrimination, and feelings of acceptance on campus due to positive peer relationships. The multiracial identity is increasingly relevant in the United States, yet the experiences of multiracial individuals at …

Exploration Of Cytotoxicity Of _Rabidosa Rabida_ Venom On Invertebrate And Vertebrate Cell Cultures, Martina Gooden

Honors Theses

Venom has been observed in thousands of species across different taxa. It can be adapted for different purposes, including prey capture or predator defense. Venom is found almost universally in spiders, but there has been little exploration of spiders that are not medically significant. Rabidosa rabida, the rabid wolf spider, is a common species whose venom has not been adequately investigated. Previous studies indicate that they do not require venom to apprehend easy prey in a laboratory setting, raising a question as to what their venom is adapted to do. To evaluate its effect on mammalian cells, L929 murine fibroblasts …

Exploring Narrative Strengths In Animated Storytelling, Amelia Kretzer

Honors Theses

This thesis explores tactics for effective narrative development for animation through the analyses of key works of strong animated films synthesized with literature discussing narrative frameworks. This research resulted in a shortlist of animated storytelling best practices—six principles to reflect on in the creation of effective stories for animation. Additionally, an original 2D animated short film was created utilizing the principles on the shortlist in its development as an outpouring of this research.

Breaking The Stigma: Integrating Psychology And Therapy Approaches In Modern-Day Video Games For Mental Health And Well-Being, Sabrina A. Thompson

Honors Theses

This review presents a comprehensive exploration of the positive psychological effects of video games, challenging prevalent negative stereotypes. It explains how video games contribute to the cognitive enhancement of problem-solving abilities and improve working memory. Moreover, the emergence of Video Game Therapy is discussed, highlighting its potential as an extension of traditional therapy by providing a virtual platform for individuals to confront and manage complex emotions in a controlled setting. Additionally, video games are shown to enhance well-being by fostering self-determination, empathy, social interaction, and stress relief. Notably, beloved titles like The Legend of Zelda are cited as prime examples …

Addressing The Cultural Mistrust Of The U.S. Healthcare System: Creating And Illustrating A Bilingual Children's Book, Ximena Patino Enriquez

Honors Theses

This thesis delves into the healthcare disparities faced by Latino Spanish-speaking populations in the United States and proposes multifaceted approaches to address these inequities. Drawing on empirical research and critical analysis, the paper explores the roots of cultural mistrust, systemic discrimination, and language barriers that may hinder access to quality healthcare for Latinos. Through a review of literature, the thesis underscores the detrimental health outcomes experienced by these communities, particularly concerning chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it examines the role of children's literature in shaping attitudes towards healthcare from an early age, emphasizing the need for accurate …

The Core Collapse Of The Rising Sun, Elisabeth J. Craft

Honors Theses

There are many different types of literature in the world so it is no surprise that some gets overlooked in the sheer volume. This is more so seen in Western literature overpowering Eastern literature’s importance. One such place overlooked is Japan. There is plenty to unpack in Japanese literature, but one such area is the changes it has due to cultural events. Using well known events can make Japanese literature more accessible for other audiences. One of these events is WWII because of Japan’s incredibly active role in it. WWII changed Japanese literature from Romanticism and Naturalism to a more …

Fueling Success: How Effective Supplier Relationship Management Affects Automotive Supply Chain Performance, Alexa M. Dickenson

Honors Theses

Since the invention of the first automobile, more than one hundred and thirty-six years ago, the amount of people owning or traveling via automobiles has grown substantially. Over time, the automotive industry has continued to grow into a massive organization delivering vehicles to consumers everywhere. To understand how the automotive industry has evolved over the years, one must look at the various aspects that go into creating the parts needed for each vehicle. Understanding how effective supplier relationships affect supply chain performance begins with buyers who can efficiently select adequate suppliers. Once a buyer can do so, they then must …

The Influence Of Race: College Students’ Sense Of Belonging At Their Predominantly White University, Jaelyn Barker

Honors Theses

Racism, underrepresentation, and anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) movements are current, ongoing battles on college campuses across the nation, specifically at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and universities. This study will examine the influence of race and other relevant factors on undergraduate students’ sense of belonging on their college campuses by understanding how students define and use race to shape and change their lives. The researcher created and distributed an original survey to undergraduate students at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), collecting a total of 466 responses. The study found that race, divided by white and nonwhite categorizations, did not have a …

The Gendered Room And The Lock On The Door: Women Writers And The Patriarchy In Virginia Woolf’S A Room Of One's Own, Lauren Kelley

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the life of Virginia Woolf and her foundational feminist text, A Room of One’s Own (AROO) to understand women’s need for control in their journey to become Authors through Woolf’s requirements of “500 a year and a room with a lock on the door.” It discusses the significance of becoming a capital A Author and how authorship impacted women’s lives in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and even twentieth centuries. Through a summary of Woolf’s historicizing of women writers’ struggles this thesis investigates the impact these struggles had on how women wrote—often resulting in anger and anonymous authorship. Through …

What Are The Barriers? An Examination Of College Students' Perspectives On Mental Health Care Utilization, Isabella Robbins

Honors Theses

This study delves into the perceptions and experiences of college students regarding the utilization of mental health services at a university in the central Appalachian region of the United States. Focusing on understanding barriers to help-seeking, perceived stressors, and preferences for mental health resources, the research aims to inform strategies for enhancing mental health support on campus. A total of 91 undergraduate students completed an electronic survey at Eastern Kentucky University, providing insights into their attitudes towards seeking professional help, perceived stressors, and factors influencing help-seeking behavior. Contrary to expectations, demographic factors showed no significant correlation with willingness to seek …

In Search Of Empire's Monsters: Horror And American Imperialism, 1890-1910, Cj Seals

Honors Theses

Horror is a commonly recognized concept that is closely associated with notions of fear and disturbance. However, horror can also serve as a valuable historical tool to learn about the people of the past through what they feared most. As such, this project adopts this historical approach to horror in investigating an often overlooked period of American history: American imperialism in the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. Namely, this project examines the connection between horror and American imperialism to understand how horror shaped and informed imperialism. Performing this examination through the analysis of historical sources that employed …

Investigating The Theory-Practice Gap In Sales Engineering Transitions, Jack K. Doll

Honors Theses

This research paper reports the investigation of the theory-practice gap that exists for engineering graduates transitioning into sales engineering or technical sales roles. Sales engineering is the practice of employing technical knowledge to facilitate the sales process of complex engineered products and services, acting as a bridge between engineers and customers. A balance of technical knowledge and sales acumen are critical to success in these positions. To investigate this theory-practice gap, the researcher employs a mixed-method design consisting of self-assessment surveys directed at current and previous sales engineers to gauge their readiness and skills at graduation versus the skills they …

Error Analysis Of Numerical Weather Prediction Forecasts And Remotely Sensed Air Properties, Caleb R. Sease

Honors Theses

Communication and sensing technologies are influenced by atmospheric properties such as the air’s index of refraction, humidity, and temperature in the marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL). Recent research has demonstrated that radar can remotely sense the index of refraction in the MASL and, sometimes, numerical weather prediction models (NWP) can be used to aid this process. These developments are important because they allow for larger spatial coverage and finer temporal resolution than is possible with in-situ atmospheric sensors. More recently, on-going research is working toward extending this remote sensing capability to humidity using refraction as an intermediary. In order to …

Estimating Direction Of Arrival For Multi-Arm Spiral Antennas Using Machine Learning, Samuel Pearson

Honors Theses

Military systems require monitoring a wide frequency range of the RF spectrum to detect and monitor enemy targets. A vital component of that is calculating the direction of arrival of enemy radars. The use of compressive sensing architectures like the Nyquist Folding Receiver (NyFR) allow for computationally cheap capturing of wideband signals; however, these techniques make traditional direction of arrival (DOA) estimation techniques difficult. Given the advantages of compressive sensing, this research aims to apply machine learning (ML) techniques to multi-arm spiral antennas to estimate the incoming DOA. Software like MATLAB was used to simulate the multi-arm spiral antenna and …

Anti-Predator Behavior In Response To Conspecific Visual, Olfactory, And Damage Cues In Three-Spined Sticklebacks, Claire E. Vanmeter

Honors Theses

Predation is a major source of mortality for prey, which creates a selective pressure to avoid predators whenever possible. By using alarm cues produced by conspecifics, individuals can be alerted of nearby predators without coming into direct contact with them. However, whether individuals can distinguish between different conspecific cues or whether some cues might indicate a more severe predation threat than others is not known. Studied was the three-spined stickleback’s ability to distinguish between environmental cues by exposing conspecifics to four different treatments in a randomized order: 1) Control (control olfactory cues with an unexposed demonstrator), 2) Visual Only (control …

Differential Gene Expressions Patterns In Diabetes In Relation To Cognitive Declines Associated With Diabetes, Dylan Downs

Honors Theses

The chronic metabolic disorder classified as diabetes, is growing at an alarming rate in many countries all across the globe. Diabetes is characterized by an above average blood glucose measurement, due to insulin production and insulin response abnormalities within the body. This increase in blood glucose has detrimental effects on all physiological systems, commonly associated with organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. One of the less understood and commonly disregarded side effects of diabetes is related to the cognitive declines associated with the disease. Cognitive declines associated with diabetes include memory loss, speech impairments, and decreased motor …

Toward Cyber-Attack Detection For Industrial Internet Of Things Systems Using Machine Learning, Cayden Cather

Honors Theses

In recent years, the way we interact with daily life and industrial environments has changed dramatically due to the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), from smart homes to industrial control systems. In particular, industry devices, sensors, and actuators can be connected to form various Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks and controlled using operational technologies, such as ICS and SCADA. However, the vulnerabilities and limited security features pose significant challenges in preserving IIoT systems' security as cyber-attacks increase and become more frequent, dynamic, and complex. Additionally, the lack of IIoT testbeds has made it more difficult to find …

Navigating Social Commerce: Analyzing The Economic Impact And Practical Strategies For Small E-Commerce Ventures Utilizing Social Networks For Sales And Brand Loyalty, Zachary Redmon

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Hippo, Wnt, And Jnk Pathway Interactions In A Drosophila Colorectal Cancer Model, Michael K. Gruhot

Honors Theses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) will be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for people under the age of 50 by 2030. Due to increased efforts to spread awareness for regular screenings, the five-year relative survival rate for those diagnosed with colon cancer is 64.4% (www.fightcolorectalcancer.org). Treatment for CRC consists primarily of the excision of the tumor paired with regular doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments cause systemic stress, damaging both cancerous and healthy cells alike. In order to create more efficient treatments, first, we must better understand the biology underlying changes in cells that lead to tumors in the …

Far From First Kill: Sapphic Fan Campaigns + The Fight For Queer Television, Lake Best

Honors Theses

Over the decades, LGBTQ+ media has had a long history of, despite getting better, more popular, more powerful each time, being canceled, delayed, even simply never seen again. This has led to justified anger, sorrow, + distress from the queer fandom communities, who, already inspired by the sense of activism that their community is founded on, have created over 8 years of online fan campaigning to fight back, maybe even bring the shows from the grave to a new life. This case study will examine 6 of those campaigns, ranging from the birth of modern queer fandom in We Deserve …

Dispelling Delusion And Seeing Nature: A Comparative Analysis Of Lucretius’ _De Rerum Natura_ And Hui-Neng’S _Platform Sutra_, Isaac Raymond

Honors Theses

Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura and Hui-neng’s Platform Sutra have never been compared in a scholarly context; as such, this paper builds a new bridge between Western and Eastern philosophical literature, examining language, narrative, ethics, teleology, theology, and departures from orthodox philosophies in order to synthesize a clear and complete view of the two works in dialogue. De Rerum Natura, or On the Nature of Things, is a first-century BC epic poem composed in Latin by Titus Lucretius Carus which explains Epicurean philosophy in great detail through verse. The Platform Sutra is an eighth-century AD Chinese Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist sermon, …

Relationship Exploration Through Music: Music Therapy Treatment Considerations For Adolescents With Attachment Trauma, Jaylee A. Sowders

Honors Theses

Interpersonal relationships are key to navigating our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world. However, our ability to form and maintain healthy relationships depends greatly on our experiences as children. Attachment theory suggests that our initial relationships and their characteristics can impact our sense of comfort and safety in later attachments (Bretherton, 1992). Challenges and trauma in attachment at a young age may hinder a child’s development into adulthood where interpersonal relationships are key to navigating our academic, professional, and personal environments. If left unaddressed, these challenges can become exacerbated in adolescence as teenagers form more concrete understandings of themselves …

Shedding Light On Shadow Casts, Kiara Durbin

Honors Theses

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, Kalamazoo’s pioneer American Sign Language-interpreted shadow cast performance took place in Shaw Theatre at Western Michigan University. Clue is a mystery-comedy based on the beloved board game, loaded with witty dialogue and physical comedy. It was the perfect vehicle for the Kalamazoo county’s premiere American Sign Language (ASL) shadow cast—a special performance where the interpreters are directly onstage following the movements, dialogue, and intonation of the actors. It was produced through a unique collaborative effort of Western Michigan University’s Department of Theatre, Stage Hands, a Michigan-based ASL performance interpreting company, and Theatre Kalamazoo, a local …

Accessibility In Asl Through Dance, Jocelyn Supanich

Honors Theses

My honors thesis project was a dance for camera or a dance film that I created as my senior capstone project for my BA dance degree. I wanted to create a film that increased awareness surrounding the accessibility of American Sign Language (ASL) for dancers and through dance. I wanted to show how dance and ASL can be seen as similar through the lense of them both being languages and ways of communicating using movement of the body. This idea is where the title stems from: “Expression in Motion”. Both ASL and dance are forms of expressing oneself, and they …

The Power Of Polish: Exploring The Impact Of Nail Adornments On Perceptions Of Attraction, Sara Demichele

Honors Theses

Understanding the significance of nail adornments in shaping perceptions of attractiveness and mate value provides insights into human behavior and preferences. In the current investigation, participants rated human nail length and color on physical attractiveness and partner desirability measures. Results revealed significant effects of nail length and color across different demographic groups. Medium-length nails consistently received higher ratings for physical attractiveness, cuteness, and partner desirability compared to short and long nails. White-colored nails were generally rated most attractive, while blue and black nails received the lowest ratings. Additionally, participants reported a moderate association between having manicured nails and feelings of …