Digital Commons Network^™

Bridging The Gap: Making Modern Dance Accessible To The General Public Through Elements Of Art And Entertainment, Samantha S. Russell

Honors Theses

My senior choreographic project, DoRaMiFaSoDoSiDo, was inspired by and dedicated to the relationships I share with my six siblings. It was set to the song "Attaboy" off of the collaborative album The Goat Rodeo Sessions by Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer. Influenced by the bright and fun atmosphere of barn dances, this seven-person concert dance was performed in the Repertory Dance Company Fall Dance Concert at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center in Hattiesburg, MS in the fall of 2015. This paper investigates different choreographic methods that I discovered through the process of creating my senior project …

Investigation Of How Hydrogen Bonding Affects The Enantiomeric Excess Of Pig Liver Esterase Promoted Hydrolysis Of Pro-Chiral Substrates, Jacob E. Pruett

Honors Theses

Pig Liver Esterase is a cost effective enzyme for ester hydrolysis. In our group, it is vital for creating chiral molecules for the synthesis of unnatural amino acids of potential biological importance. It has been previously found that the enantiomeric excess (%ee) of the PLE hydrolysis reaction increases drastically with the addition of co-solvents that are able to both accept and donate hydrogen bonds. This research endeavors to see if substrates of enhanced hydrogen bonding ability also increase the stereoselectivity of PLE hydrolyses. Diester malonate was covalently linked with a furan ring in both the third and second position from …

Constructing Reality: The Role Of Mass Media In The Hunger Games Series, Jordan E. Nettles

Honors Theses

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is an incredibly popular Young Adult series that has had a large impact on both children and adults. The media environment within The Hunger Games trilogy can provide insight into our own world. This thesis seeks to discuss how governing structures in the trilogy, the Capitol and District 13, manipulate the media to secure their own power. Using contemporary research on media theories, media methods, and media effects, this thesis focuses primarily on the Capitol and District 13’s efforts to create and use the media image of Katniss Everdeen, the central character of …

The Good, The Bad And The Useless: The Perception Of Books In Ray Bradbury’S Fahrenheit 451, Markus Zusak’S The Book Thief, And Gary Shteyngart’S Super Sad True Love Story, Morgan Grace Milburn

Honors Theses

Literature acts as a thought experiment that allows authors to test out theoretical concepts. In dystopian literature, authors test their theories on what leads to a dystopian society, and therefore how to avoid it. In this thesis, I examine three dystopian novels, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, and Gary Shteyngart’s Super Sad True Love Story as well as the theories the authors engage with on how to avoid dystopian futures. All three of the novels suggest that wisdom is the way to avoid a dystopian future, but the ways they define wisdom are different. By examining …

Compassion Fatigue And Educational Preparation Among Mississippi Child Welfare Workers, Meredith D. Mcphail

Honors Theses

The prevalence of trauma among youth involved with the child welfare system affects not only these individuals but also child welfare service providers, namely social workers, who experience this trauma indirectly through interaction with the children. This exposure places service providers at risk for compassion fatigue, in which these workers themselves experience trauma symptoms or are less able to complete job tasks. It is especially important to address the issues of negative personal reactions among this population in order to best care for social service workers in Mississippi and identify strategies to effectively improve Mississippi’s child welfare system. As such, …

Painless Hematophagy: The Functional Role Of Novel Tick Metalloproteases In Pain Suppression, Joseph W. Jelinski

Honors Theses

Ticks secrete a plethora of pharmacologically active molecules in their saliva while feeding. These allow the tick to feed upon a host over prolonged periods of time in an itch free and painless attachment. The exact mechanism of pain suppression by the tick has barely been investigated. In this study, two angiotensin converting enzymes (ACEs), members of the metalloprotease family, are identified as potentially responsible for the degradation of pro-inflammatory peptides. It is hypothesized that these tick ACEs block the function of bradykinin through degradation of the peptide, contributing to the tick’s ability to conduct a pain and itch-free host …

Reporting Rumors In The Reconstruction South: The Aftermath Of The New Orleans Riot Of 1866, Joanna L. Gunnufsen

Honors Theses

At the end of the American Civil War, political divisiveness, economic turmoil, and violence plagued the South. Riots occurred across the Reconstruction South, from New Orleans to Memphis. Though scholars have examined the causes of Reconstruction violence, this study examines the role of newspapers in promulgating fear, paranoia, and violence in Southern communities in the wake of the New Orleans Riot of 1866. This thesis analyzes nine Louisiana newspapers to investigate whether newspapers published local and national rumors of violence or potential uprisings in the first three months after the riot. Though the rise of telegraphic news aided the rapid …

The Impact Of Amputation On Body Image, Anna C. Gilg

Honors Theses

There is a lack of history regarding appearance-related concerns in healthcare. There are roughly two million people living with limb loss in the United States with nearly 185,000 amputations occurring each year. Alterations in body image are due to individuals being unable to adapt to appearance change and can take them far from their ideal body image. It has previously been discovered that amputees generally disclose negative feelings regarding their bodies.

The sample included 207 adults aged 21 years and older with lower-limb amputations. The participants completed a survey composed of demographics and the Amputee Body Image Scale. Statistical analysis …

A Comparative Analysis Between The Histories And Methods Of The Pro-Life And Lgbt Movements, Savanna B. Fox

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the connection between the elite theory and social movements by comparing the success of the pro-life and gay rights movements in America and investigating the effects that elite influence has had on these movements. The research is deductive in nature, investigating the elite theory in relation to social movements. The methodology of this project is organized as a comparative analysis between the gay rights and pro-life causes. The research discovers that elite influence, whether a social movement appeals to morality politics or interest group politics, and what kind of policy changes a movement seeks to affect all …

Sensitivity Of The Vasoactive Range In Determining Aerobic Fitness, Preston L. Bell

Honors Theses

Previous work has demonstrated a direct relationship between aerobic fitness and indices of vasodilatory function (i.e., Flow-mediated Dilation; FMD). Importantly, recent evidence suggests that vasoconstrictor function to reductions in blood flow (i.e., Low-Flow Mediated Constriction; L-FMC), as well as during sympatho-excitation (i.e., Cold Pressor Test), may compliment the FMD measure, thus, providing an overall range of vascular responsiveness. The purpose of this thesis project was to test the hypothesis that vasoactive range indices (peak vasodilation + nadir vasoconstriction) are sensitive to aerobic fitness levels in healthy young men. Fourteen males (age: 22±4 yrs) were recruited, and divided evenly into a …

Ethics In The Nonprofit Sector: A Study On The American Red Cross, Emily Smith

Honors Theses

When disaster strikes in the United States, there is one organization that is on everyone’s mind, the American Red Cross. It has operated for over a hundred years on the simple premise of delivering aid to those in need. The organization does this by reacting effectively and efficiently to natural and man-made disasters and delivering humanitarian aid to those affected. In recent years, though, the American Red Cross has come under scrutiny for mismanagement and ineffective disaster relief. The purpose of this paper is to use ethical standards of the nonprofit sector to evaluate and explain the performance of the …

An Empirical Investigation Into The Adoption Rates Of Abc In The United States, Samantha House

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Russian Justice On Trial: A Slavophile's Perspective On Judicial Reform In Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov, Michael Beck

Honors Theses

As the Crimean War drew to a close in 1856, two things were clear: the combined forces of the British, French and Ottoman empires had routed the Russian military and that this defeat marked the end of imperial Russian strength and the beginning of grand changes in the political arena. Financially weakened and trailing the West both socially and industrially, Russia demanded change. This change was shaped by the sweeping arm of the Great Reforms spanning from 1861-1864. It marked Russia’s most extensive regime changes since the Petrine Reforms as it aimed to solve the backwards nature of Imperial Russia. …

Mindfulness And Prevention In Western Medicine: Focus On Physician Assistant, Amber Bernelis

Honors Theses

The health and wellness of the mind has been an important aspect that has been recognized by different cultures and medical traditions for thousands of years, but was generally neglected in the United States until recently. The beginning of the western mindfulness revolution started when Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced the concept and practice of mindfulness to care for the health and wellness of our mind. “Mindfulness is a simple concept in which one pays attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, 1994, p. 4). Research indicates that mindfulness helps to treat aspects of chronic diseases, pain, as well as …

Using Focus Groups To Identify Ways To Reduce Infant Mortality In Kalamazoo, Leah Dries

Honors Theses

Study goals were to explore maternal perceptions of possible ways to reduce infant mortality in Kalamazoo County, with specific regards to the infant mortality rates of non-Hispanic African American babies versus non-Hispanic Caucasian babies. Two focus groups were conducted of voluntary, anonymous, participants from the YWCA domestic violence shelter and clients of home visiting services provided by the Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Community Services. The focus groups were guided allowing women to voice their opinions about ways to prevent infant mortality in Kalamazoo. Women were also asked to respond to the goals created by a community planning committee …

College Student Development And Emerging Adulthood, Gina Cavanaugh

Honors Theses

College student development theories focus on the experiences and growth that individuals and groups encounter throughout their time attending colleges and universities. During this time, many traditionally aged college students are in the period of emerging adulthood. In industrialized societies, this age range is characterized by a prolonged period of adolescence and a lack of taking on adult responsibilities. This exploration highlights the emerging adult college student population in the United States and the development these individuals may undergo.

Can A Student Write A Novel In A Month?, Julia Tanner

Honors Theses

Drew knew that if he had the power to pick the soundtrack of his heaven he would choose the drop of the beat as his Cessna’s tires touching down on a landing. Faye did not put much stock in heaven, but she liked the idea of spending eternity bathed in colors, ones she could fathom now and new ones her mortal eyes couldn’t see. For Louis all he wanted was the feeling of a warm hand in his leading him to the afterlife. Drew, Faye, nor Louis planned on dying any time soon but for varying reasons they knew death …

Employers’ Perspectives Of The Ideal Accounting Graduate: Is Accounting Curriculum Consistent With Employer Requirements?, Mary K. Mccreight

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Increasing Vocalizations In Children With Autism, Nicholette Christodoulou

Honors Theses

This study focuses on increasing vocalizations for students with Autism spectrum disorder. A three-part intervention was used to attempt to establish an echoic repertoire in students who had little to no vocalizations. Both students attended an early intervention classroom with a special education school. Students were selected from their classroom if they showed little to no vocalization or echoic skills. The goal during the first phase was to collect all sounds being made by the student to increase the overall number of vocalizations being made. This was done by continuous reinforcement using edible reinforcers. In phase two, the student’s dominant …

Behavioral Sensitization Following Concurrent Exposure To 4-Methylmethcathinone (4-Mmc) And 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Mdma) In Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Trent Bullock

Honors Theses

Recreational use of a new class of stimulant drugs known as synthetic cathinones is a recent public health concern. Although the Drug Enforcement Administration placed several of the most common of these substances permanently on schedule 1, their use is still prevalent as they remain low cost, accessible, and potent. Concomitant use of cathinone derivatives with other psychostimulant drugs is commonly reported by recreational users. Despite the prevalence of synthetic cathinone abuse, there is currently a paucity of scientific research regarding the behavioral and neurochemical effects of these drugs in mixtures with other drugs of abuse. The behavioral sensitization paradigm …

Extended Gamut Printing In Flexographic Packaging And The Impact Of Brand Management, Andrew Bogan

Honors Theses

Flexography is the dominant print process in regards to the reproduction of packaging products. Packaging, particular the color and graphics, is an essential tangible element for brand owners striving for brand management. Extended gamut printing is a printing technique that can produce high color saturations on packaging samples, which can have positive implications for brand management. Currently, most information on extended gamut printing is proprietary, making it very difficult for non-print industry members to obtain and utilize information relating to the benefits of extended gamut printing. The aim of this study was to provide evidence that packaging samples with extended …

News In Virtual Reality, Samantha Macy

Honors Theses

Virtual reality (VR) is the next frontier of news media, but we know little about the impact is has on viewers. The goal of this experiment is to gain a better understanding of the social presence and information retained by watching news in VR. Participants will either consumer news in a VR setting, a highly interactive online format, or print. Then, using a survey, social presence and information retention were assessed. Research participants were undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university. It is expected that VR news will result in higher social presence and information retention than news in highly …

Exploring The Impact Of Globalization On Linguistic Culture, Autumn Kearney

Honors Theses

Awareness and mastery of a country’s cultural norms provides a person with access to public services, ceremonies, traditions and an unlimited number of other dimensions that would be otherwise unavailable. This study looks specifically at linguistic culture, which is the entirety of views, attitudes, assumptions and other ideas people acquire about language (Schiffman, 2012). Although the linguistic climate in the U.S Midwest is different than that in Senegal, one cannot fully understand either culture without knowledge of the linguistic culture in both country contexts. This study examines the linguistic cultures in both country contexts and uses ethnomethodology to examine the …

The Effects Of Globalization On English Language Learning: Perspectives From Senegal And The United States, Anna Poggensee

Honors Theses

This study is an analytical comparison among perspectives about English as a nonnative language and its function in Senegal, West Africa and the U.S. Midwest. The purpose of this study is to establish a better understanding of the effects of globalization in both countries by focusing on the increasing use of the English language (Crystal, 2003) and how it is used within diverse societies. Globalization can be defined as “the interconnections of global economic, political, cultural and environmental processes that continually transform present conditions” (Steger, 2003, p.7-8).Within the context of globalization, this topic allows for a broader understanding of the …

Using Sbirt As An Intervention For Substance Use In Public Schools, Amanda Higgins

Honors Theses

In Kalamazoo County, youth substance use is on the rise. In recent years (2012-2014), alcohol use has nearly doubled in the adolescent population. With the easy accessibility of alcohol in Kalamazoo, alcohol use among adolescents will continue to rise if early intervention protocols are not implemented. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), could be the model of intervention within Kalamazoo public schools, if implemented correctly. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. Public …

Audio Software (Vst Plugin) Development With Practical Application, Zachary Hummel

Honors Theses

Audio engineers around the world routinely utilize small pieces of software, known as “plugins,” to help shape the sound of the media they are working with. These plugins are inserted into a digital audio workstation (DAW) and contain digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms that can affect audio in a number of ways limited only by the creativity of the software developer. Common implementations of plugins include equalizers, compressors and limiters, gain, phase rotation or polarity inversion algorithms, reverb and delay, and emulation of the non-linearities of analog audio equipment. The intent of this thesis project is to design and produce …

Allied Paper Landfill, A Case Study Of Superfund, Kaitlin Braunschweig

Honors Theses

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980), more commonly known as Superfund, delegates the responsibility for cleanup of more than 1,300 hazardous waste sites to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This thesis is designed as a case study to investigate the Superfund program through the lens of the Allied Paper Landfill portion of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. Through interviews with key stakeholders an evaluation was completed based on the following research questions: 1) are the current goals of Superfund appropriate, 2) is the funding mechanism sufficient to fulfill the goals of Superfund, and 3) is the …

Senegal's Language Problem: A Discourse Of Disparity, Monica Naida

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to assess the deficiencies of the Senegalese education system and to evaluate improvements to the system so that it works for the Senegalese, instead of against them. My research is mostly concerned with the process in which the French language is taught in schools. I explain these deficiencies in the education system through elucidation of the discourse used by the French colonizer, politicians, non-governmental organizations, teachers, and parents. My approach to this research includes an extensive literature review as well as my own personal observations during a faculty-led research trip to Dakar, Senegal during …

The Clean Power Plan: A Legal Analysis Of The E.P.A.'S Final Rule, Robert Paul

Honors Theses

The consensus among scientists is that climate change and its consequences are upon us as the result of human activity. The necessary reductions of emissions of greenhouse gases to mitigate these consequences have long been identified. The continued failure of the United States Congress to pass any national legislation directly addressing climate change has led President Obama to pursue executive action, through the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency, to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act section 111(d). Collectively known as the Clean Power Plan, the heart of this action is the carbon dioxide emissions Final Rule …

Alcoholism, Domestic Violence, & Mental Illness: As A Graphic Novel, Abigail Jackson

Honors Theses

My inspiration for my project, “A Day on the Back Forty”, came from my personal experiences with domestic violence and alcoholism and my interest in not only sharing and hopefully lifting the taboo of having these experiences cast a negative light on my life, but to expose these issues and hopefully bring awareness to those who are not close to domesticviolence or alcoholism and to also offer a connection to those who have experienced these issues. My thought process for this project was to be able to create a thought-provoking familiarity that could be experienced on both an intimate and …