Digital Commons Network^™

The Relations Between The Financial Wellbeing Of Custodial Grandparents, Their Overall Wellbeing, And Their Perceived Social Support, Paige L. Miller

Honors Theses

There have been numerous studies on how the financial wellbeing of custodial grandparents affects their overall wellbeing, and how the amount of social support custodial grandparents receive impacts their depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, little is known regarding the ways in which all three variables are related – financial wellbeing, overall wellbeing, and social support – or their impact on custodial grandparents. We examined the relations between these variables, as well as the moderating relation of financial wellbeing on social support and wellbeing. The data used in the current study was collected as part of a larger project, during which …

Parenting Practices And Attachment Levels In Relation To Externalizing Behaviors In Children Raised By Nonparental Caregivers, Kourtney Mia Barfield

Honors Theses

Current literature supports parenting practices and the quality of child-caregiver attachments are correlated with child externalizing behavior. However, these results typically come from samples of biological parents and their children. It is unknown if parenting practices (i.e. poor supervision, inconsistent discipline, and positive parenting) predict attachment and externalizing behavior among children of grandparents and foster parents. Previous studies have also found
that attachment mediates the relation between parenting practices and externalizing behavior among children raised by biological parents. This study aims to determine if similar relations will be found among grandchildren and foster children and if the level of attachment …

Wearable Technology In Intercollegiate Sport: Ethical And Legal Considerations Of Collecting Student-Athlete Biometric Data, Taryn Deshane

Honors Theses

As wearable technology becomes increasingly integrated into athletic performance tracking, questions surrounding privacy, consent, and data ownership emerge. This research investigates how universities and athletic organizations navigate the complex issues surrounding athlete biometric data (ABD) collection and usage, with a particular emphasis on intercollegiate athletics. While the use of biometric data is widespread across both professional and amateur sports, this study hones in on the college sports environment, examining how ABD is collected, the ethical concerns it raises, and how it impacts student-athletes and institutions.

This pilot study centers on student-athletes at Western Michigan University, specifically focusing on Division 1 …

Aerodynamic Noise Reduction Of Wind Turbine Blades, Steven Davenport

Honors Theses

This project is presented to meet Western Michigan University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Senior Design requirements. With wind turbines becoming increasingly popular as a form of energy generation, the need to reduce the aerodynamic noise is needed. Most commercial wind farms use turbines with a NACA 0012 airfoil. Thus, that is the only profile shape considered in this research. Seven modifications were made to a NACA 0012 airfoil to reduce aerodynamic noise. The airfoils were designed in SolidWorks and 3D printed at the WMU College of Aviation. The airfoils were simulated in Ansys Fluent and experimentally tested in …

Sir Nicholas: Chivalric Tropes And Dickens's Critique Of The Aristocracy In Nicholas Nickleby, Erin Quinn

Honors Theses

One of the most prominent themes in Charles Dickens’s 1838-39 novel Nicholas Nickleby is the theme of class. In particular, Dickens highlights the tension between the middle and upper classes through the contrast between the middle-class titular protagonist and the novel’s two aristocrats, Sir Mulberry Hawk and Lord Frederick Verisopht. In this thesis, I argue that Dickens foregrounds this contrast through his consistent deployment of tropes of chivalry and knighthood to describe Nicholas and his friends despite their middle-class status. I analyze the application of chivalric language, concepts, and characteristics to the actions and attitudes of the middle-class characters and …

Deployable Assembly Structure And Harnessing For A Langmuir Probe (Dash-Lp), Sean Cowell

Honors Theses

The nanosatellite being designed by the Western Aerospace Launch Initiative (WALI) will demonstrate the technology of single-polarity electrospray thrusters. Essential to the mission is the collection of information from the ionospheric plasma surrounding the CubeSat in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Due to the plasma sheath generated by the spacecraft, a 1.75 m boom is required to extend the Langmuir probe (LP) outside of the region of disturbed plasma. This project, Deployable Assembly Structure and Harnessing for a Langmuir Probe (DASH-LP), developed components that accompany the boom deployment system. In particular, a cable stowage system to store the RG403 shielded triaxial …

Advocating For The Role Of An Occupational Therapy Assistant In The Mental Health Field, Aleah Snell

Honors Theses

As a student in the WMU OTA Bachelor's of Science program, I completed a baccalaureate project. I chose to advocate for the role of occupational therapy in traditional mental health settings. I chose this topic as I have had several close loved ones struggle with mental health, and I wanted to push my learning of occupational therapy's role in this setting further. Upon choosing my topic, I learned although occupational therapy initially started in mental health aiding veterans returning from war, only 2-3% of OT practitioners work in a mental health setting today. I wanted to understand this decline, and …

“The Wonderful Improvement”: Landscape And Morals In Jane Austen’S Mansfield Park, Montanah Middleton

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Jane Austen uses depictions of landscapes and estates in her novel Mansfield Park to explore questions of morality, comment on society, and explore humanity's relationship with the natural world. While previous scholarship has analyzed Austen's symbolic use of places like Sotherton and Mansfield Park itself, this study provides a more comprehensive investigation by closely reading the descriptions and judgments passed on two other estates featured in the novel not analyzed by the scholarship explored. Developing a nuanced definition of "landscape,” the analysis is grounded in Austen's verbal depictions that imbue the physical settings with moral significance. …

Influence Of Head Sway On The Availability Of Visual Information In An Affordance Task, Ron Dickson Jr.

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated how varying postural conditions and environmental challenges influence human affordance perception in virtual environments, focusing specifically on participants’ judgments about whether they could stand upright on sloped surfaces. Using virtual reality (VR) to simulate ramps at various inclines, participants assessed their ability to stand on these slopes under different postural constraints (unaided standing, leaning, and touch-supported). Data was collected on head movement dynamics, including movement magnitude, variability, and complexity, using measures such as Euclidean distance and effort-to-compress (ETC). Logistic and linear regression analyses revealed that slope angle and stance significantly impacted participants' affordance judgments and movement patterns, …

A Rose By Any Other Name: Impressionism As Definition And Aesthetic In The Music Of Claude Debussy, Erin Smith

Honors Theses

The premiere of Parisian composer Claude Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune created a link between his music and the artistic Impressionism movement, which began in 1874 as a rejection of Realism. Musical Impressionism, initially an ill-fitting title, would gradually shift to encompass the compositional techniques of Debussy, and would also inspire new musical styles as a rejection of musical Impressionism. This project compares the defining features of Impressionism across artistic mediums, analyzes Debussy's music in relation to Impressionist painting, and examines his resistance to the label within a broader dialogue on evoking sensation through abstract forms. In doing so, …

A Linguistic Analysis Of The Language Surrounding Witchcraft In France From The 16th To 20th Centuries, Kaleigh Landers

Honors Theses

While the history of witchcraft in France is a subject that has received significant scholarly attention, little research has been conducted on the linguistic implications of the language used in regard to the subject. This study attempts to analyze the texts written about witchcraft between the 16^th and 20^th centuries in order to draw conclusions as to how language and culture affect each other. The aim of this study was to conduct a discourse analysis of these texts to identify cultural connotations, language trends, and insights regarding how the French language has evolved to communicate complex, dividing concepts …

Effects Of Experimenter Behaviors On Participants' Mood, Jackson Everett

Honors Theses

This study investigated whether experimenter behaviors affected self-reported levels of state and trait anxiety, emotional valence memory, and projective interpretations of ambiguous stimuli. I hypothesized that participants exposed to anxious experimenters would report higher levels of state anxiety, recall more negative words, and render more negative interpretations while warm experimenters would lead participants to report lower levels of state anxiety, recall more positive words, and produce more positive interpretations. Participants (N = 98) were randomly assigned to either an anxious, flat, or warm experimenter condition and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger et al., 1983), heard a list of …

Study Of The Effect Of Social Anxiety And Social Support On Third Place Perceptions In Student Samples, Lillian M. Lestrange

Honors Theses

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and perceived social support are well-documented to influence social interaction styles and behaviors. Some data suggests that SAD and social support relate to perceptions and familiarity with various public spaces outside of home and work (i.e., third places). This study assessed relations among social anxiety, self-perceived social support, and attitudes/beliefs about ten common third places (i.e., perceived degree of restorativeness, preference, and sentiment for these places) among undergraduate psychology students (n = 92). Contrary to predictions based on prior research (Fong et al, 2021, Case & Hunter, 2012), social anxiety symptoms did not correlate with any …

Theoretical Investigation Of Hydrogen Abstraction From Fluorinated Propanones And Fluorinated Propanals, Laurel Washburn

Honors Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of industrially used compounds often called “forever” chemicals because of their slow degradation process that leads to accumulation in soil, dust, drinking water, and the body. PFAS are used for their grease and water resistance properties but some of these compounds are toxic at extremely low levels. To better understand the effects of these types of compounds, the main pathways of their degradation need to be further investigated. This study analyzes computationally the hydrogen abstraction reactions by both hydroxyl radical and triplet oxygen atom for all possible fluorinated propanones and …

Evaluating The Duckweeds Lemna Minor And Spirodela Polyrhiza As Alternative Aquatic Hosts For The Spread Of The Bacterial Wilt Pathogen, Ralstonia Solanacearum, Irelynn Smith

Honors Theses

Ralstonia solanacearum is a plant pathogen that causes bacterial wilt disease in major crops such as tomatoes and potatoes. Recently, this bacterium was discovered in floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) and Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pennysylvanicum), two previously unsuspected aquatic plants. Duckweed is an aquatic plant with a high level of resilience and short doubling time. Common duckweed (Lemna minor) has previously demonstrated its capability as a versatile high-yield infection model for other types of pathogenic bacteria. Given this newfound branch of aquatic hosts and the fact that duckweed is a common pond weed previously identified in several ponds located nearby infected …

Barriers In Reporting Sexual Violence On College Campuses, Amber Hartman

Honors Theses

This thesis is designed to examine the underreporting of sexual violence on college campuses by exploring the systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers that hinder victims from disclosing their assault. Using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the research identifies three overarching influences for non-reporting. Fear, shame, and lack of resources are presented as the basis of the decision that victims make to not report. Meta-analysis of the research concludes that there is a profound impact of internalized victim-blaming narratives, fear of repercussions and institutional deficiencies in providing accessible support. Recommendations for solutions emphasize creating trauma-informed policies, improving communication and accessibility of …

Effect Of Running Cadence On Tibial Acceleration: Implications For Runners Experiencing Stress Injuries, Victoria Hilfiker

Honors Theses

I. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of cadence modification on tibial acceleration (TA) in the interest of exploring potential methods to reduce the incidence of stress-related running injuries. II. Methods Eleven injury-free distance runners were recruited to run at 6 different cadences with acoustic pacing. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) containing an onboard triaxial accelerometer was mounted on the right medial distal tibia to record acceleration at each of these paces. A repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to determine differences in tibial acceleration over varying cadences. Effect sizes (╖2 and Cohen’s d) were examined to …

Exploring The Relationship Between Nutrition-Related Attitudes And Use Of Scrappy’S Cupboard Among College Students At The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, Emma Rosenberger

Honors Theses

Introduction This thesis examines the relationship between nutrition-related attitudes and the use of Scrappy’s Cupboard, a campus food pantry, among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). This study aims to determine how students’ attitudes toward nutrition influence their likelihood of utilizing campus food resources, highlighting differences between users and non-users of Scrappy’s Cupboard. A correlation between nutrition-related attitudes and the use of Scrappy's Cupboard was expected, with pantry users reporting more positive attitudes towards nutrition compared to non-users. Methods A survey was administered to UTC students to assess their nutrition-related attitudes, food pantry usage, …

A Web Application For Comparing Llm And Knowledge Graph Performance On Cybersecurity Queries, Major Schwartz

Honors Theses

The evolution of cybersecurity has led to a spike in digital threats, both in frequency and complexity, necessitating advanced, intelligent solutions to protect sensitive information. Traditional defense mechanisms are increasingly inadequate, pushing cybersecurity professionals to seek innovative approaches for threat detection, response, and data analysis. This thesis investigates the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Knowledge Graphs into cybersecurity workflows to address these challenges. Specifically, it explores the development of a web application that enables real-time, interactive use of state-of-the-art LLMs, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and similar models, for improved threat response and workflow efficiency. Built with a React …

Racial Disparities In Domestic Violence: Analyzing The Intersection Of Race And Gender, Nia Grace Sharp

Honors Theses

This research explores the intersection of race, gender, and the litigation of domestic violence cases in Memphis, Tennessee. This is explored through qualitative research that combines a theoretical framework with structured interviews of criminal defense attorneys. Utilizing a sample of 5 attorneys with recent exposure to domestic violence cases, this study aims to reveal whether or not intimate partner violence is litigated differently across racial lines. This is done through analysis of the treatment of victims depending on race, sentencing rates, and perceptions of credibility within the justice system. The methodology involves five key steps: conducting a literature review to …

Disney's Postfeminist Follies: Disney’S Postfeminist Portrayal Of Women In The Age Of Fourth Wave Of Feminism, Morgan Crafton

Honors Theses

In 2022, Disney CEO Bob Chepak spoke out against the "Don't Say Gay" bill signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis’ supporters derisively labeled Disney as “woke." However, the company does not warrant the label. Though Fourth Wave feminism has broadened Disney’s idea of a woman, the entertainment company largely operates with a postfeminist lens that prevents its heroines from being feminist representations of women. Audiences see this in "Frozen," (2013), "Moana" (2016), "Encanto" (2021), and "Turning Red" (2022). Disney’s postfeminist rhetoric allows it to portray supposedly progressive women without challenging societal notions of misogyny. Thus, Disney’s criticisms for “wokeness” …

Social Patterns In Physical Infrastructure: Associations Between Socioeconomic Status And Walkability, Kaylee Coursey

Honors Theses

Studies analyzing the relationship between socioeconomic status and physical infrastructure of a city are inconsistent in findings but agree on racial and class disparities. Utilizing walkability (Walk Score) as a measurement for physical infrastructure, this thesis aims to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status and the walkability of a city. The Socio-Ecological framework suggests that environmental experiences are correlated with the social functioning of a community. Thus, socioeconomic status has a significant impact on the quality of one’s built environment.

Using housing data from the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) and Walk Score, a series of quantitative analyses were conducted …

Predictors In Help-Seeking Intentions For Friends With Eating Disorders, Allie M. Robb

Honors Theses

Emotional intelligence is a significant factor in one’s well-being as high emotional intelligence predicts sound mental well-being and a better quality of life as one can accurately understand emotions (Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). However, low emotional intelligence has also been found to be a predictor not only of the development of mental health disorders but also have the lowest intentions to seek help (Ciarrochi et. al., 2002; Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). Because they are unlikely to seek help, it is important for others who see the potential cause to help intervene. The purpose of this study is to investigate the …

Creating A Space For Relaxation And Wellbeing At The University Of South Alabama, Mary Wolf

Honors Theses

A program to provide supplementary support for the mental health and wellness of students at a midsize Southern University by providing a centrally located “relaxation space” for students on campus during the last two weeks of the semester is proposed and tested. A central location was found on campus to host the space. The researcher also developed an online survey for students to review the space. The trial was run for two weeks, and participants were able to access the online survey throughout those weeks. The results of the survey were analyzed to better understand the students’ responses to the …

Examination Of Urban Spatial Structure After Covid Based On Hedonic Price Model, Shaoting Wen

Honors Theses

The traditional monocentric and polycentric city model assumes that people commute to the urban centers/subcenters (UCS) for work and, thus the houses close to the centers have convenience premium in commuting cost which drives up their prices. However, with more and more people switching to hybrid /remote working, average commute cost decreases, leading to the location of UCS and commute time influence less on housing price. This paper revisited the hedonic price model under the polycentric city context with the introduction of kernel density estimation (KDE). By choosing three of the top ten high-remote potentials and three of the top …

Epistemic Spaces And Fields: A New Framework For Social Epistemology Applied To The Internet, Zizhe Cheng

Honors Theses

This thesis introduces "Epistemic Spaces and Fields," a novel framework for social epistemology inspired by the analogies of space and fields in physics to better elucidate how epistemic environments shape epistemic practices. Part A establishes the theoretical underpinnings of epistemic spaces and fields, demonstrating how social, cultural , and power dynamics distort individuals' capacities to obtain and communicate knowledge. Part B applies this framework to the digital realm, examining how the Internet and social media reshape our epistemic contexts and introduce new challenges to critical thinking.

Dynamic Key-Based Privacy-Preserving Authentication Scheme For Internet Of Drones, Zain Chaudhary

Honors Theses

The Internet of Drones (IoD) proliferation has catalyzed transformative changes across various industries, from agriculture to urban management. However, expanding drone networks also presents significant security challenges concerning secure communication and authentication. This paper introduces a robust privacy-preserving key-based authentication scheme tailored explicitly for the IoD, utilizing a matrix key generated by Hierarchical Message Authentication Codes (HMAC) and the SHA-256 algorithm to address these vulnerabilities. Our system enhances security by ensuring each drone in the network can authenticate securely and reliably with a central unit, preventing unauthorized access and securing communications against common threats like eavesdropping and impersonation attacks. Our …

Downtown Hattiesburg: In History And Memory, Joseph Reosti

Honors Theses

This paper explores how public memory of Downtown Hattiesburg has been shaped by race, class, and historical change, drawing primarily on oral history interviews conducted by the author. Once the heart of the city, Downtown Hattiesburg experienced significant decline from the 1970s onward due to suburbanization, white flight, and demographic shifts. In response, the 1970s saw the emergence of a historic preservation movement focused on revitalizing memories of the city's early 20th-century prosperity (1910-1929), often idealized as a period of economic success even despite racial segregation. Many interviewees identified this era as the city’s "golden age," despite its deeply inequitable …

Characterization Of Aromatic Stationary Phases For Uses In High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anastasia Davis

Honors Theses

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical chemist technique used to separate a sample into its components to characterize and study a specific molecule or compound. Traditionally, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in different industries, such as the environmental and pharmaceutical fields, uses stationary phases that are already well characterized, such as the C18 stationary phase for separation. However, aromatic stationary phases have recently been produced, which have phenyl groups bonded to the interior surface of the column. Still, they have not been well characterized because of how modern they are. This project characterized several aromatic stationary phases (Biphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, and …

Dance Inclusivity For People With Low Vision, Emma Winckler

Honors Theses

The primary concentration of my project was providing education to promote inclusivity in dance for people with low vision. My objectives for this project were to create a literature review relating to my project, create an educational infographic for how to best support those with low vision in a dance class, and share the infographic I created with the WMU dance department and at the Barbra Rider Colloquium.

Dance has been an integral part of my life and in my experience, I’ve never seen dance opportunities provided to people with low vision. After looking more into dance with low vision …