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Accepting The Monster Within: Addressing Mental Illness Through Young Adult Literature, Jenna Ellis

Honors Theses

This creative research project discusses the importance and practice of implementing a unit on mental health in young adult literature in secondary-level ELA curriculum. The first portion of this thesis is an original short story, entitled “Beneath the Surface,” which portrays a middle-schooler, Leith, whose anxiety manifests itself as a monster. “Beneath the Surface” explores mental illness through a metaphor of the ocean, utilizing water imagery to depict Leith’s experiences with and symptoms of anxiety. Following the short story is an annotated bibliography describing mental health texts for students to read in an ELA unit on mental health as well …

The Effects Of Strength, Flexibility, And Aerobic Training On The Management And Improvement Of Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia In Women: A Systematic Review., Lainey Whittle

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Daca On Education & Employment And The Need For A Permanent Solution, Autumn Roemer

Honors Theses

On June 15, 2012 the Department of Homeland Security announced Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an executive order from the President Barack Obama Administration, providing relief for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. when they were children. The move followed decades of litigation and failed actions in Congress, such as the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, attempting to address the group, known as DREAMers. DACA itself has also faced numerous challenges concerning its legality and application, the most recent of which have declared the program illegal, resulting in a halt on new applications and …

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists' Academic Preparation In Craniofacial Anomalies, Francesca Myerski

Honors Theses

Craniofacial anomalies occur in 1 of 750 newborns a year with the three main types being cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip and/or cleft palate. There are six main factors that affect craniofacial anomalies that are focused on in this research, including genetics, environmental factors, medications, diet, health risks, and surgical procedures/surgeons. The research found that there is a lot of information on craniofacial anomalies and speech-language pathologists need to learn about as much as possible. The lack of knowledge and academic preparations speech-language pathologists have in craniofacial anomalies has decreased their awareness in the birth defect and has …

Understanding Cnc Capacity Through Production Time Estimation, Kaitlin Bluhm

Honors Theses

Landscape Forms is a high-end outdoor furniture company. This thesis was completed at the Landscape Forms woodshop located in Kalamazoo, MI. Landscape Forms initially reached out regarding their CNC machines being the bottleneck and it was determined that the current product standards and capacity of the CNC machines at Landscape Forms were not accurate. This causes issues when planning and scheduling their incoming orders. During this thesis, two tools were developed over the course of two semesters. The first tool helped to create accurate product standards for their CNC machines depending on the different product types and second, a CNC …

Critically Observing The Challenges And Changes: An Analysis On Covid-19’S Impact With An Emphasis On Students In Higher Education, Landon Perkins

Honors Theses

This project involves comparing different visualizations related to COVID-19 and higher education in order to determine key impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students in higher education, as well as higher education as a whole. The main metrics used to determine the impact were mental health indicators for anxiety or depressive disorders, enrollment numbers by control type (public, private non-profit, or private for-profit) and state for 2020 and 2021, and state mandate lift dates for a variety of mandates implemented across the United States. These metrics were analyzed both individually and against each other to determine if they had any …

Sexual Harassment In An Overlooked Occupation: Experiences Of Cna And The Influence Of Nurses, Audrey Pennington

Honors Theses

The prevalence of sexual harassment (SH) in health care facilities has been documented in previous research, but few studies have focused on Certified Nursing assistants (CNA; Burgess et al., 2018; Dean, 2020; Deery et al., 2011; Hibino et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to explore SH that CNA experience from their patients and what influence supervising nurses may have in impacting the negative outcomes of SH. Participants (N = 95) were recruited to take an online survey through social media and snowball recruiting. The hypotheses of this study were not supported by the data, but results may …

Opening The Vault: An Osteobiography Of Three Individuals From A New Orleans Cemetery, Jordan Butler

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the lives of three individuals buried in Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans through osteobiographies, which combines knowledge gained from human remains, material culture, and mortuary practices. The opportunity for analysis arose since the vault was being demolished due to its dilapidated condition.

The individuals were White and of middle-class status and date to the later nineteenth century. One burial is a middle-aged man who was of average height and showed no evidence of pathology; his muscle markers do suggest he was relatively Physically active during his life. Another individual is an …

Impact Of Social Distancing On Physical Activity In College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carrington E. Brown

Honors Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic was one that affected everyone in some way. From mandatory lockdowns to vaccinations, the pandemic took a toll on everyone. This study focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic’s mandates on undergraduate college students’ rate of physical activity prior, during, and after the pandemic. A sample of 41 college students was recruited via student email. Participants were of all races, ages, and male and female, and they answered questions determining how the pandemic affected them in their physical activity routine, if applicable. As hypothesized, many individuals’ physical activity routine was interrupted because of the mandates from …

Esg Is Fiduciary Duty, Katherine Held

Honors Theses

This Thesis defends the validity of ESG Investing (Environmental, Social, Governance Investing) as an advisor’s fiduciary responsibility. The financial industry is increasingly including ESG considerations when calculating the intrinsic value of a stock. In opposition to this valuation trend, nineteen state attorney generals (Nineteen) have attacked ESG, challenging its legality by claiming that it violates state and federal law and the fiduciary responsibilities that hold investment advisors accountable to their clients. After identifying key elements of fiduciary responsibility that are being ignored by the Nineteen’s position, several key and relevant United States statutes are reviewed and applied to their argument. …

Relationships Between Vertical Ground Reaction Forces And Clubhead Velocity In Ncaa Division I Female Golfers, Jared Bush

Honors Theses

Golf biomechanics research has focused on clubhead velocity (CHV) for over a decade with the intent of discovering the physical attributes that contribute the most to CHV. Previous research has displayed the significant correlations of strength and power attributes to CHV, giving evidence for practitioners to integrate training to improve these attributes. Recent studies have referenced vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) and how they affect CHV. In this study, vGRFs are tested for their correlations to CHV in NCAA Division I female golfers. Clubs of various lengths were used to determine correlations between each club and vGRFs. Correlations between CHV …

The Effects Of Virtual Reality On Mental Health Software User Satisfaction And Retention, William Hooten

Honors Theses

Mental health issues have become increasingly important in today's society. With that being said, researchers and consumers are looking for new ways to manage and treat mental health using new technologies in labs and the consumer space. This innovation has led to the presence of mobile self-help mental health applications, applications for peoples’ phones that are used to manage symptoms of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, track goals, meditate, and more. However, mobile mental health applications, and mobile applications in general, have a problem concerning user satisfaction and overall user retention – studies have shown that 95% …

Exploring The Effects Of Fatty Acids (Pufas) On The Antimicrobial Resistance In Vibrio Cholerae, Naina Patel

Honors Theses

As antibiotic resistance becomes a major challenge for public health professionals, our research objectives aimed to investigate the potential for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to create membrane vulnerability in the gram-negative pathogen Vibrio cholerae to help improve the efficacy of several antibiotics. V. cholerae, normally residing in aquatic environments, is capable of altering its phospholipid composition through the uptake and assimilation of exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids. The purpose of this study was to measure PUFA-mediated changes in the membrane permeability and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae. The three physiologically relevant PUFAs used were linoleic acid [18:2], arachidonic acid [20:4], and …

Neurotypes: Do Ocd, Adhd, And Autism Play A Role In Life Satisfaction?, Morgan Mcleod Evans

Honors Theses

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are neurotypes that impact every aspect of life, including daily activities and socialization, which is why they have been shown in prior studies to negatively impact life satisfaction. This study compared the levels of life satisfaction now and before the COVID-19 pandemic in young adults (n = 324) with typical neurotypes, those with only ASD (autism), with only OCD, with only ADHD, with two of the neurotypes, and with all three neurotypes. Contrary to predictions from prior research, life satisfaction did not decrease after the onset …

Study Of Collective Self-Esteem And Academic Motivation Examining Perceptions Of Academic Statistics Of Black Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending A Pwi, Ariyah Robinson

Honors Theses

College enrollment for black traditional college-age students has been on the rise. Matriculation experienced a seven percent increase from 2000 to 2018 (NCES, 2020). However, Cokley et al. (2013) found that black students exhibit the highest minority stress among college students. Researchers also found that students may feel pressured to break stereotypes and perform well academically (Smith & Hope, 2020; Brooms, 2019; Mary et al., 2018). As more black students enroll in colleges nationwide, there is more than reasonable cause to continue examining how the matriculation of black students into predominantly white institutions impacts black students and their perceptions of …

Money Moves: An Analysis Of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment In Europe, Susan Soh

Honors Theses

In recent years, China has begun engaging in outward foreign direct investment (FDI). There is a significant amount of literature dedicated to understanding China’s FDI in developing nations. However, very little research has been conducted over Chinese FDI in advanced economies. As a result of this gap in existing literature, the question arises, what explains Chinese FDI in Europe?

As FDI is a transaction to which both the donor and recipient countries must agree, this thesis has a dual focus. One chapter of the thesis analyzes the effects of and motivations for Chinese FDI on European nations. In this chapter, …

Wait, Is That Legal?: A Defense Of The Rights Of The Mentally Ill In The United States Prison System, Sophie Owen

Honors Theses

The ever-evolving question of what the legal requirements are regarding providing mental health care in prisons has been debated for decades. This thesis presents a meta-analysis that examines the Eighth Amendment Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause in regards to the mentally ill in the Criminal Justice System and applies it to present day prison systems in the United States. This research creates a clear picture of the inadequate care that is provided and the systemic issues that allow this level of mistreatment and lack of care to prevail. It examines the requirements for mental health care as set by the …

The Mutagenic And Cytotoxic Effects Of Exposure To Heavy Metals And Other Oxidative Species From E-Cigarettes On Epithelial Cells, Braxton A. Chafin

Honors Theses

The goal of this project was to investigate the effects that the products present in the components of e-cigarettes would have on the cellular level. It was postulated that the presence of heavy metals or other reactive oxidative species (ROS) would cause damage and either mutate the cells or result in cellular death. The experiments that were carried out focused heating element and the vape juice. The experiments regarding the heating element involved treating the media with an electrified heating element then observing the effect on the cells. There were significant limitations with this study so most of the data …

Kentucky Dental Health With Regards To Social Factors, John Pattison

Honors Theses

This honors thesis researched the current dental standing of Kentucky compared to the other US States in a variety of factors. The information collected was compared to the national average dental health and will be used to expand on the statewide education on dental health. A wide range of demographics were be surveyed from across the state to get the most accurate representation of the true population. The survey included questions regarding the participants background dental information and social statuses. Also included were questions regarding county of residence, income, race, age, gender, consumption of certain foods and drinks, status of …

Rejecting The Paradigm: Reimagining The Philosophy Of Punishment To Address The Criminal Justice Crisis In Twenty-First Century America, Jon E. Mcgee

Honors Theses

Legal punishment has been subject to cacophonous debate and transformation throughout the history of American political and philosophical discourse. As a growing body of academic literature indicates a failure in the punitive techniques practiced by American institutions, the necessity for a precise diagnosis of such ailments paired with a new model addressing American concerns for reform remains increasingly pertinent. With due consideration to the previous recommendations of scholars, this paper illustrates the crisis in criminal justice currently felt in the United States. Through statistical, theoretical, and comparative analyses, existing alternatives are examined and an alternative fit to serve the United …

The Shadow Of Fast Fashion: The Quilting Industry, Elizabeth Y. Barnes

Honors Theses

The purpose behind this creative research project is to bring the contemporary quilting industry to attention when discussing environmental concerns that are typically associated with the textile industry. Quilting, despite its origins in inadvertent conservatism, has evolved into a consumerist business that can be most adequately compared to that of fast fashion. Through analysis of the different types of fibers, manufacturing processes, and environmental implications, an extensive background of the textile industry was given so that the consequences discussed later in the paper can be fully realized. By comparing examples of need-based quilting, like the quilts of Gee’s Bend, to …

“What Is The Environment Doing To Our Genes?”: A Pedigree Analysis Of The Possible Genetic Basis Of A Set Of Familial Clinical Disorders, Emily N. Goodman

Honors Theses

The exact contribution the environment plays in human health is unknown; however, it is estimated that 24% of the global disease burden and 23% of deaths are attributed to environmental factors (Remoundou and Koundouri 2009). With the statistics from previous studies drawing attention to the impact of the environment on humans, it makes sense why the number of clinical disorders is on the rise. Many are being impacted more frequently than in previous generations by clinical disorders. This study was conducted to investigate a personal pedigree to gain insight and analysis to determine a possible connection between the environment and …

Emotionally Unavailable: A Comparison On The Ability Of Children With Developmental Language Disorders To Interpret Emotions In Humans And Inanimate Objects, Savanna B. Gullett

Honors Theses

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neuro-developmental condition that emerges in early childhood and can persist into adulthood, manifesting as a variety of symptoms that can be significantly different in each individual. It has an estimated prevalence of 7.58% and is nearly 7 times more common in children than autism spectrum disorder (McGregor, 2020). As a population, individuals with DLD are at risk of facing significant issues in associating areas of language, including reading comprehension, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. Professionals have noticed emotional disconnect amongst individuals with DLD, leading to the proposition that those with DLD may have a …

Indirectly And Directly Involved Students' Perspectives On Multi-Modal Communication Treatment In Persons With Aphasia, Emily Lewis

Honors Theses

Our study investigated the perspectives of students who were either directly or indirectly involved in the Multi-modal communication treatment (MCT) sessions for persons with aphasia. Two undergraduate and two graduate students were recruited from the University of Mississippi who participated in the MCT sessions. We collected their perspectives through semi-structured interviews and used thematic qualitative analysis to analyze our data. We reported themes from the indirectly involved students and the directly involved students and compared how the themes were similar and different between the indirectly and directly involved students. We discussed that both direct and indirect experience for clinical therapy …

The Effects Of Cross-Training On A Barrel Horse, Autumn Gallagher

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Use Of Naturally Occurring Free Radical Scavengers Against Uv Light Damage In Cancer Prevention, Tanner Justice

Honors Theses

A strong association has been found between mutated p53 tumor suppressor genes and cancers in humans. Cancers arise from a culmination of genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Prolonged exposure to UV has proven negative effects on cell homeostasis. Much of the damage caused by UV light exposure is through generation of free radicals. Zeaxanthin and melatonin are known antioxidant/free radical scavengers which protect cells by neutralizing damage causing free radical molecules. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of zeaxanthin and melatonin in preventing the negative effects of UV light on …

Environmental Pollutants And Adverse Health: An Environmental Health Perspective On Living Conditions In Rubbertown, Kentucky, Elizabeth Carter

Honors Theses

Rubbertown, located in west-end downtown Louisville stretching along the Ohio River started producing synthetic rubber during World War II in the 1940s has since evolved into a span of 19 facilities, with the majority of which being chemical plants. The population surrounding Rubbertown has expanded with the adjacent neighborhoods housing approximately 5,000 people, and has been projected to continue to gain population. Those living near Rubbertown are prone to a variety of environmental factors due to the large emittance of products, ranging from oil products, calcium carbide, plastics, paint products, polymers, rubbers, and many more. These volatile compounds can be …

Anxious Attachment As A Mediator Between Parental Abuse In Childhood And Partner Attributions In Adulthood, Naomi Michele Pearson

Honors Theses

Parenting in childhood can positively or negatively affect physical and mental health and behaviors in adulthood. When a child undergoes abuse or neglect from their caregiver, they often develop inadequate adjustment, due to insecurity in close relationships, which may continue throughout their lives. Furthermore, this insecurity, established in childhood, can manifest in adult romantic relationships, as assurance-seeking, jealousy, and hostility, causing insecurely-attached individuals to attribute blame onto their partners, internal attributes, or circumstances.

These pessimistic attributions, caused by parental- influenced feelings of ambivalence and separation anxiety, may lead to increased tension and dissatisfaction within close relationships. A sample of 150 …

Elastomer O-Ring Seal Swell Measurements For Sustainable Aviation Fuel Material Compatibility, Conor J. Faulhaber

Honors Theses

As efforts continue to fight climate change by transitioning energy sources away from fossil fuels and towards renewable alternative, the commercial aviation sector finds itself at danger of falling behind in emissions reductions. To combat this, the best term opportunity to reduce the industry’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions has been identified as sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, derived from renewable feedstocks like agricultural waste or used cooking oil. Currently, SAF is regulated to a 50%v blending limit with conventional petroleum-based fuel to maintain certain jet fuel properties, including material compatibility with elastomer o-ring seals. When these seals come in …

Communication Techniques For Nursing Students, Erin Raby

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 …