Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Parental Divorce On Young Adults Attitudes Towards Divorce, Cierra Branch-Harris, Amber Cox

Honors Theses

Participants will be students taking an Introduction Psychology course at a large Midwestern University ages 18-25 years. Participants will be evaluated on their attitudes towards marriage based on their parents' marital status. The measures being used in this study are the Attitudes toward Marriage Scale (Kinnard & Gerrard, 1986), Attitudes towards Divorce Scale (Kinnard & Gerrard 1986), Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (Seid & Fincham 1992), Couples Satisfaction Index (Funk & Rogge 2007), Commitment Scale (Rusbult, Kusashiro, Kubabcka & Finkel 2009), and Adult Romantic Attachment Questionnaire (Frayler, Waller & Brenan 2000) . We hypothesize that parental divorce will have …

Depression And Social Functioning : Examining Two Interpersonal Theories, Caroline B. Smith

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to test the specific predictions of two theories of depression and social functioning. One, the Social Navigation Hypothesis, is an adaptationist approach that predicts that depression functions to increase an individual’s ability to analyze and solve problems in their social system. The individual engages in behaviors such as feedback seeking in order to identify potential problems and develop solutions. In contrast, Interpersonal Theory predicts that depression is related to aversive social behaviors that can lead to rejection. Adult American participants (n=155) were recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. They completed an online survey …

Black Male Student Success In U.S Higher Education: Lessons From The Institute For Responsible Citizenship, Robert A. Fisher

Honors Theses

The social conditions that afflict black males in the pursuit of post-secondary education are manifest. Though decades of academic literature have revealed the disproportionately low graduation statistics of black males in higher education, this subgroup still persists to degree completion at far lower rates than their other minority and female counterparts (Palmer, 2010; Washington, 2013; Harper, 2013). Prior studies have used a deficit-based approach to understanding black male student success (Davis, 1994; Palmer, 2010b). This study, however, identifies the factors that appear among black men who are already on pace to attain degrees at four year universities. Employing the anti-deficit …

The Relationship Between Receptacle Design, Normative Conduct, Environmental Concerns, And Recycling Behavior, Molly Arnold

Honors Theses

Conservation psychology is a growing field that explores how people interact with and interpret their roles in the environment. I conducted a three part study that incorporates conservation psychology principles to examine the effects of recycling bin design and normative conduct on recycling behavior as well as the ecological orientation of UTC students based on survey responses. Experiment 1 compared two recycling bin conditions (non-lidded bin vs. bin covered with a lid with two holes indicating the shape of recyclables) to determine which bin design was more effective in promoting recycling behavior. No difference was found between the two designs. …

The Role Of The Tiger And The Elephant In The Ascent Of Africa: Partners Or Neocolonialists?, Charlotte A. Hill

Honors Theses

This paper focuses on the relationships between Africa and China and Africa and India. The goal of this paper is to analyze these relationships and determine if they are exploitative or mutually beneficial through the two case study countries of Angola and Ethiopia. I analyze the relationships through the theoretical frameworks of the dependency theory and neocolonialism. Through my research I found that the investment by China and India in Africa is not merely exploitative, but that it is different from Western countries investment in Africa. This difference could be incredibly beneficial to Africa if African countries are able to …

Synthesis Of Novel Dienes And Cyclic Compounds Via Olefin Metathesis Reactions Catalyzed By The Second Generation Grubbs Catalyst, Patrick Joseph Carey

Honors Theses

Transition metal-catalyzed olefin metathesis reactions play a significant role in chemical synthesis. These reactions are currently applied across several disciplines, and their full potential has not yet been reached. This project details the synthesis of spiro[3-cyclopentene-1,9’-[9H]fluorene], 1-(1-amino-2-methylpropyl)-3-cyclopentenol, and the eugenol dimer via olefin metathesis reactions catalyzed by the second generation Grubbs catalyst. The unique structural properties of each compound help demonstrate the widespread abilities of these reactions. Also reported are the novel three-dimensional crystal structures of both spiro[3-cyclopentene-1,9’-[9H]fluorene] and the eugenol dimer. These structures were determined via X-ray diffraction crystallography methods using a Bruker SMART X2S Single Crystal Diffractometer. Both …

State Vs. Federal: Marijuana Legislation And Its Effect On Taxes, Mamie G. Duckworth

Honors Theses

Marijuana is becoming increasingly popular and accepted within our society; so much so that certain states have legalized it for medical or recreational use, despite marijuana remaining illegal with regards to the federal government. This has lead, and will continue to lead, to complicated and uncertain tax scenarios for the businesses that produce and sell marijuana. Many problems stem from the federal government being unable to recognize or associate with businesses that deal with marijuana. This affects these otherwise legitimate businesses by disallowing the use of federally insured banks as well as taking away the ability to seek federal bankruptcy …

Modifications Of Lysozyme By Substituted Benzoquinones, Hendrik J. Greve

Honors Theses

Amyloidosis, which involves the precipitation of mis-folded protein aggregates, is a prominent process that occurs in many neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease; the protein aggregates being amyloid-β for Alzheimer’s disease and α-synuclein for Parkinson’s disease. This study has focused on lysozyme modifications induced by metabolites of the commonly found pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are found in substances ranging from grilled meats to cigarette smoke to cosmetics, and they can be metabolized into a family of biological toxins known as benzoquinones. The molecules of interest for this study were 1,4-benzoquinone (pBQ), 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (CBQ), …

A Negotiation In Meaning: Identifying American Cultural Touchstones, Jayne Jaya Todai

Honors Theses

How can discussing a poem lead to a meaningful conversation? What if Americans used common poems as their nation's cultural touchstones? In my essay, I will explore how poems that serve as American cultural touchstones might develop better communicators within the United States. I will propose a template that determines which poems would qualify as these national touchstones.

A Review Of The Accounting Treatment For Contingencies Arising From Environmental Issues, Colleen M. Sauser

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project is to review the U.S. GAAP treatment of issues arising from environmental contingencies. This review consists of accounting literature and pronouncements issued by the FASB and SEC as well as environmental legislation, most notably CERCLA. The results of this review showed that the accounting industry has been one step behind environmental legislation and continues in its endeavor to provide financial statement users with useful information.

Intertwining Discourse: An Examination Of Suffrage And Antisuffrage Rhetoric, Emilee L. Cutright

Honors Theses

Throughout the progression of history and human life, individuals have used rhetoric to convey emotions, dictate meaning, persuade others, and better lives, empowering ideas, individuals, communities, nations, and the entire world. In stark contrast, women have consistently experienced extreme oppression that has hindered their right to speak. The expansion and reconstruction of the United States during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century parallels the fact that “women were reconstructing their lives in these years as well” (DuBois and Dumenil 325). These years created an era for women defined by female assertion, unparalleled …

An Examination Of Relocation Videos And Their Ability To Persuade Entrepreneurs, Julia N. Martin

Honors Theses

With the Information Age well underway, knowing the best way to reach an audience through digital mediums is more important than ever. Businesses and cities must learn these methods in order to recruit employees and convince people to relocate their companies to a specific city. Online videos are an effective way of attracting and persuading individuals. This study examines two different videos in order to see which of these videos would be more likely according to persuasive theories to change the opinions of individuals in their willingness to relocate. Through a stylistic analysis we find that the first of the …

The Uptake And Incorporation Of Exogenous Fatty Acids Confer Phenotypic Advantages To Acinetobacter Baumannii, Saba A. Munir

Honors Theses

AIM: Acinetobacter baumannii is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacterium found on a variety of surfaces that include skin, hair, and soil. Some gram-negative bacteria like A. baumannii have the ability to acquire and incorporate fatty acids into their phospholipid membranes. Known as ‘Iraqibacter,’ A. baumannii has emerged as a significant cause of nosocomial infections in the United States and abroad. This study was designed to determine whether structural alterations occur in A. baumannii upon exposure to a wide range of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as well as the significance of this phenomenon in terms of survival and resistance to stress. Thin …

Language And Essence: A Comparative Study Of Identity Among Celtic Language Speakers In Wales And Brittany, Elizabeth G. Shields

Honors Theses

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis maintains, “No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality. The worlds in which different cultures live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached” (Abley 47). Language offers insight into how people within specific cultures view themselves, but to what extent is identity shaped by or in response to the language and culture of the greater society? What does language tell us about the history of its speakers and the development and preservation of their identities throughout its evolution? What is the value of linguistic …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Amazon Prime Air, Adrienne Welch

Honors Theses

This paper analyzes the costs and benefits of the newly proposed Amazon Prime Air delivery system that uses drone technology to deliver packages to customers’ doorsteps. The paper sets forth a benefit-cost analytical framework to examine the technology for the benefits of labor-saving technology, faster delivery, and the advantage of being first versus the costs of operating the drone system. This analysis is conducted by modeling the Prime Air system for Chattanooga, TN. The model addresses FAA regulations, drone design, logistics, and related factors to predict how Amazon might set up and operate the drone system. Amazon’s goal is to …

Facebook | Panopticon: An Analysis Of Facebook And Its Parallels To The Foucaultian Panopticon, Stephanie A. Fast

Honors Theses

A panopticon—the ideal mechanism for surveillance and control—has become embedded in our smartphones and our web browsers. It now pervades the fabric of approximately 890 million daily lives. It is called Facebook. This platform, on which users document their own lives in front of an audience while simultaneously surveilling the lives of their “friends,” shares startling similarities to a prison model, the Panopticon, designed in the late eighteenth-century by Jeremy Bentham, and analyzed by French philosopher, Michel Foucault. Through an analysis of Facebook’s structure and function, parallels will be suggested between the structure of Facebook and the structure of the …

Examining Tax Planning, Tax Shelters, Antitrust Laws And The History Of Mergers And Acquisitions, Austin Grant Yarber

Honors Theses

Throughout the Accounting 420 course our class was given the opportunity to network and attend lectures hosted by a wide array of Accounting firms, companies and individuals. This class opened my eyes to how diverse the accounting field is and the countless opportunities available to me as I begin my career in accounting. During this class I was able to participate in two accounting competitions hosted by KPMG and PWC, meet accounting professionals form the Big 4 and the FBI and examine a complex accounting issue I was interested in. I focused much of my research on Tax based issues …

Activation Of Nf-Κb Transcription Factor During In Vitro Differentiation Of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, Natalya A. Ortolano

Honors Theses

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine. However, recent studies indicated that ESCs and ESC-derived cells (ESC-DCs) lack functional innate immunity against various pathogens and inflammatory cytokines. This presents a barrier to clinical application, as ESC-DCs would be placed in a wound site and exposed to pathogens and inflammatory cytokines. Using mouse ESCs (mESCs) as a model, we recently demonstrated that they are deficient in expressing type I interferons (IFN) and inflammatory cytokines. To determine the molecular basis for this finding, this study examined the activation state of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor that …

A Queen’S Reputation: A Feminist Analysis Of The Cultural Appropriations Of Cleopatra, Chamara Moore

Honors Theses

While there is no doubt that Cleopatra is considered a notable historical figure and popularly regarded character throughout modern media, there is a distinct pattern in her portrayal throughout time as a woman whose power is defined by her sexual promiscuity. Even throughout periods of powerful female monarchs, political change, and social progress her prowess as a leader has been assumingly attributed to her affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. The purpose of this study is to examine how literature and media has contributed to this sexualized reputation of a queen who yielded authority over such a prosperous nation. …

Modeling The Diffusion Of Heat Energy Within Composites Of Homogeneous Materials Using The Uncertainty Principle, Elyse M. Garon

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project is to model the diffusion of heat energy in one space dimension, such as within a rod, in the case where the heat flow is through a medium consisting of two or more homogeneous materials. The challenge of creating such a mathematical model is that the diffusivity will be represented using a piecewise constant function, because the diffusivity changes based on the material. The resulting model cannot be solved using analytical methods, and is impractical to solve using existing numerical methods, thus necessitating a novel approach.

The approach presented in this thesis is to represent …

Species Delimitation And Phylogenetic Relationships Of The Wild Yams (Dioscorea) Native To Eastern North America, Tori A. Collins

Honors Theses

Most taxonomic treatments currently recognize two to three species of native yams in eastern North America: Dioscorea villosa, D. floridana, and sometimes D. quaternata, a segregate of D. villosa. Earlier authors (e.g., J. K. Small) had recognized as many as five species (with D. hirticaulis and D. glauca also as segregates of D. villosa). Key morphological features in distinguishing these putative species are rhizome morphology (long and cord-like vs. thick and contorted), number of first leaves (1–3 vs. 4–7), and habitat (sandy, rocky, swampy). Unfortunately, these critical features are rarely collected and preserved on herbarium …

The Missing Link: The Impact Of Nutrition Education And The School Lunch Program, Rachel E. Calhoun

Honors Theses

In the U.S., the weight status of overweight and obesity in children is increasing from recent decades (Carrol & Ogden, 2010). Research shows that the prevalence of children developing chronic diseases is influenced by obesity and overweight statuses, shown by existing risk factors (Freedman, Dietz, Srinivasan, & Berenson, 1999). Recent legislation of the National School Lunch Program has aimed to improve the nutritional value of school lunches in elementary schools by requiring fruit and vegetable meal components be provided on each lunch tray (Nutrition Standards, 2012). This quasi experimental study aimed to increase fourth graders nutrition knowledge and fruit and …

The Effects Of Recreational Rock Climbing On Vascular And Nonvascular Plant Communities In Southeastern Tennessee, Caitlin A. Ruby

Honors Theses

Popularity for non-consumptive outdoor recreations has rapidly increased over the past decades. With many national and state park regulations failing to regulate rock climbing, scholars are concerned for the amount of ecological disturbance that may occur if left unmonitored. Visual assessments to disturbance disparities between remote climbing locales and contradictory scientific literature confirmed the need for further research on the effects of rock climbing on cliff ecology. Two climbing centers were focused in Southeastern Tennessee: Foster Falls in Sequatchie County and Leda in Hamilton County. Convenience sampling was used to collect 24 transects from intermediately graded routes and 24 transects …

“Last Flag Standing”: How Traditional Conservative Values And Symbolic Voting In The State Of Mississippi Help Explain The Defense Of The Confederate Flag By Voters In The 2001 Referendum, Joshua Von Herrmann

Honors Theses

Mississippi is the last state in the United States to publicly display the confederate symbol as part of its state flag. In 2001, when given the chance to remove this symbol from its flag, voters in Mississippi supported this symbol by a vote of 2 to 1. Previous studies have documented the importance of race in the outcome of the 2001 referendum, but lack analysis of other potential influential factors specific to the state of Mississippi. This study examines the issue of the Mississippi state flag through a case study analysis using the ballot initiatives of Amendment 1 in 2004, …

Narcissism And Late Adolescent Friendships: Perceived Closeness, Cooperation, Competitiveness, And Friendship Quality, Suzanne Chinyere Amadi

Honors Theses

Pathological and non-pathological dimensions of narcissism are correlated with indices of adolescent internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors, especially in the context of peer relationships. The current study examined 219 (181 females, 38 males) 18 year-olds’ perceptions of their friendships, including closeness, cooperation, competitiveness, and friendship quality in relation to pathological (i.e., grandiose, vulnerable) and non-pathological (i.e., normal) narcissism. Data were collected through online, self-report questionnaires. Grandiose narcissism was significantly correlated with perceived closeness, cooperation, and competitiveness but not with friendship quality. Vulnerable narcissism was significantly positively correlated with perceived competitiveness but unassociated with perceptions of closeness, cooperation, and friendship quality. …

Revenue Recognition – Milestone Method (Topic 605) 2010 Amendment: From The R&D Industry Perspective, Sofia I. Tent

Honors Theses

This paper examines the Revenue Recognition – Milestone Method (RRMM), FASB codification amendment of 2010 and its effect on the health of firms heavily dependent on the Research and Development (R&D), as evidenced by the operating profit margin. By utilizing a two-stage OLS model developed by Lev and Sougiannis (1996), this study measures the effect of the adoption of the RRMM on operating profit margin. The sample includes U.S. firms with significant R&D expenses (a R&D expenses/Sales ratio greater than 2%) for the years 2006-2013. Due to the more rapid recognition of income using the RRMM, I expect the operating …

Out Of The Attic: Agency And Narratives Of Mental Illness By David Foster Wallace And Lauren Slater, Erin L. Mcleod

Honors Theses

Studies of Prozac Diary and Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir illustrate how Slater adapts conventions of fiction to the memoir form to create agency for the mentally ill subject. This study will apply this approach of narrative therapy to David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest to determine if the autobiographical conventions of mental illness may be adapted to fiction. An analysis of these primary texts seeks to address issues related to the therapeutic dimensions of autobiography as these are complicated by the narrative conventions that distinguish memoir and fiction.

College Professors’ And Students’ Perceptions Toward College Students Who Stutter, Patricia N. Chastain

Honors Theses

Research on stuttering has reflected the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (Swartz, Gabel & Irani, 2009; Crichton-Smith, Wright & Stackhouse, 2003; Cooper & Cooper, 1996; Kalinowski, Armson, J., Stuart, A., & Lerman, J. W., 1993; Daniels, Panico, & Sudhoolt, 2011), students (Mayo & Mayo, 2013; Dorsey & Guenther, 2000), and professors (Dorsey & Guenther, 2000; Silverman, 1990; Ruscello et al., 1990) toward people who stutter (PWS). The findings of the aforementioned studies indicated there is neither a wholly positive or negative attitudinal trend in the perceptions towards PWS within or across groups. Only one study was conducted (15 years ago) that …

Alcohol Consumption And Dietary Behavior Among College Greek Students, William B. Stevens

Honors Theses

Background: Alcohol consumption among college students has increased dramatically within the last three decades. Drinking has increased in even higher rates among students involved in Greek fraternities and sororities. The implications that this rise in drinking has on dietary behaviors are an important concern. While several studies have focused on investigating reasons for drinking and negative consequences with regards to drinking, literature is limited that focuses on how alcohol consumption affects dietary habits and behavior.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alcohol consumption on the dietary behaviors of college Greek students.

Methods: …

The Importance Of Appearances In Literature: What Does It Mean To Be A Redhead In Literature?, Chelsea J. Anderson

Honors Theses

In literature, appearances always seem to play a major part of each character. The physical descriptions of each character are important to the development of the story. Therefore, it seems that a character’s physical appearance becomes an important part of character development, and his/her physical traits help to determine the type of character he/she will be. Often times, different hair colors carry associations along with them. Redheads have been associated with certain temperaments and personality traits throughout history. In literature, red-headed characters often have the temperaments, traits, and negative connotations associated with redheads. One of the major assumptions made about …