Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Ert) To Wetland Hydrogeology: An Assessment Of The Efficacy Of Array Configurations, Wynter Monjarez

Honors Theses

Abstract — Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a geophysical technique used to measure and map the resistivity of the subsurface. Resistivity (expressed in units of Ohm-meters), the inverse of conductivity, is an intrinsic property of earth materials that is a function of their material composition, void space, and water content. ERT is frequently used for mineral and groundwater exploration, but this technique can be used for any study that requires information of the near-surface environment. Resistivity is determined by applying a known direct current on one electrode pair (labeled C1 and C2) and taking measurements of the voltage potential on …

Is Lineage C A Distinct Species?, Shiza Khan

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Process Of Developing A Piece Of Children’S Literature Over The 12 Cranial Nerves For The School Aged Child To Comprehend And Retain, Macey Kanaman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Neutron Star Binding Energies Using Rotating Accreting Models, Nathan Moore

Honors Theses

Neutron star binding energy increases due to accreting matter from neighboring astronomical bodies, and decreases due to the star spinning up, increasing its angular velocity. We present a novel set of models that account for both increasing angular velocity and accreting matter to track a neutron star’s evolution. We arrive at these models through studying and reconfiguring computational investigations from the past, particularly a code which generates a model for a given fixed baryon mass and angular velocity and another that takes it from one baryon mass and angular velocity to the next one through accretion, to obtain a full …

Effects Of Actin-Destabilizing Drugs On Motor Function In Drosophila Melanogaster, Caden Sullivan

Honors Theses

Actin dynamics influence many cellular processes including neural connectivity and function. One way to better understand and study the regulation of these dynamics is to manipulate actin dynamics and observe the effects in motor function as a proxy to changes on the neuromuscular junctions in developing neural tissue. On that line, this investigation hypothesized that changing the actin dynamics during development via drug manipulation results in observable effects in locomotion. One of the common actin regulatory drugs used throughout the literature includes Latrunculin A, which was used in this study. Methods included applying this actin destabilizing drug on developing wildtype …

Firefighter: 24/48 Versus 48/96; Sleep, Strain, And Recovery, Amy Sprague

Honors Theses

Firefighters provide important safety services for a 24-hour society. Sleep is very important to the human body. Without sleep a person can experience both short- and long-term side effects. These side effects not only put the sleep deprived person in danger but can also put the public in danger as well. There are many different shift schedules that fire departments can run on. While on duty firefighters must be ready to respond to any emergency call, they receive no matter the time. This can impact the amount of sleep they get while on duty. The current study used biometric straps …

Computational Investigation Of Porphyrin-Based Host Design For Anions And Ion Pairs, Symphony Hill

Honors Theses

Little research has heretofore been devoted to studying the binding interactions between porphyrin-based molecular hosts and anions or ion pairs. Such interactions could be important in synthesizing molecules capable of detecting, binding, extracting, and transporting ions of biological, environmental, and industrial significance. With this in mind, computational studies of nine different porphyrin hosts were performed to examine the structural and binding properties of each molecule and potential ion guests. Using the Spartan computational chemistry software, each porphyrin was modeled and binding was tested with a number of ions of different shapes and sizes. Data was then collected regarding the distances …

Folding Collision Probability In The Nyquist Folding Receiver, Hunter J. D. Miller

Honors Theses

As the radio-frequency spectrum becomes more crowded, there is a growing need for signal processing technology that can instantaneously interpret an ultra-wideband range of frequencies. Existing conventional systems, however, are not the most efficient solution due to the processing capability limitations of current analog-to-digital converter technology. Specifically, with regard to radars, traditional receivers are required to process large amounts of unused data, wasting time and energy. This project highlights a newer analog-to-information receiver that utilizes compressive sensing which is seeking to overcome these challenges. The innovative technology being evaluated allows users to sample far below the standard Nyquist/Shannon sample rates …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On The Home Court Advantage, Dempsey Horton

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Capital Embodiment: White Beauty And Bodies In Sally Rooney’S Conversations With Friends, Josie K. Forsthoff

Honors Theses

Beauty standards that have long been understood by feminist theorists as sexist also have a history of being rooted in racism. By reproducing the white, slender representations of beauty uncritically, authors potentially perpetuate the racist, classist, and sexist hierarchies in which our cultural norms are rooted. Popular, contemporary author Sally Rooney consciously writes about the privileges of wealth but fails to write in the same way about the capital of beauty and slender bodies. My literary analysis focuses on the political power and implications of the white beauty and embodiment of Frances in her debut novel from 2017. Rooney’s representation …

Evaluation Of Potential Risk Factors For Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Gabriel C. Janus

Honors Theses

Osgood Schlatter Disease (OSD) is a condition of inflammation of the patellar tendon and tibial tuberosity that can lead to pain and discomfort. It is most common in adolescents aged 8-15 years who are physically active or participate in sports. Adolescents participating in sports and going through puberty struggle to handle the load put on their lower body. The few studies that have determined OSD risk factors have performed retrospective studies that consist of subjects who have already been diagnosed with OSD. Some of the commonly accepted risk factors are overuse, performing movements such as jumping or cutting, and an …

Foreign Detainee Operations Post 9/11: An Example Of The United States’ Ethical Compromise, Seth Longstreth

Honors Theses

Abstract: After 9/11, the United States government issued a series of policies that allowed tortuous interrogations to extract actionable information. After being a member of the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture, the U.S. directly defied these international treaties purely because it suited their interests during the retaliation against al-Qaeda. This paper seeks to address the lack of accountability that was present in the Bush administration and supporting departments while attempting to draft doctrine that capitalized on the subjectivity of torture laws, as well as the implications these actions have on the nation. This research takes a multi-case study …

Faces Of Faith: Monastic Identity And Protestant Theology In The Swiss Reformation, Kevin O'Gorman

Honors Theses

Religious orders were ever-present in medieval life. Their influence was not limited just to the pulpit and the physical area around monasteries but extended into the daily life of entire kingdoms. Each religious community was unique in the interpretation and expression of its Rule of life, both between and within orders. During the Reformation, religious communities faced pressure from newly converted Protestant authorities alongside theological conversations within their own walls. New Protestant theologies carried with them anti-monastic ideas that challenged religious communities to fundamentally reexamine their lives. Nowhere were these choices as complicated as in Switzerland, where monks and nuns …

Validation Of Effective Removal Of Pfas From Glassware Sampling Train Used For Evaluation Of Thermal Treatment Of Pfas, Elizabeth Riedel

Honors Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals that are extremely stable and highly toxic to the environment and human health. PFAS are used in a myriad of common products including nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, personal care products, cosmetics, and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Because of their widespread use and resistance to degradation, PFAS have infiltrated the environment, including drinking water sources. To combat the spread of PFAS, various methods for treatment and removal of PFAS are being researched. A promising solution that has been identified for PFAS removal is thermal treatment, where degradation of PFAS occurs after exposure …

Determining The Role Of Propionate And Sigb On Benzalkonium Chloride Resistance In Listeria Monocytogenes, Emma C. Schaefer

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a deadly food borne pathogen that causes listeriosis infection in humans with a high mortality rate. L. monocytogenes can form biofilms in food processing environments and become resistant to antimicrobial agents such as benzalkonium chloride (BC) and other quaternary ammonium chlorides (QACs). BC is used for cleaning and disinfection of food processing areas and is known to disrupt cell membranes of L. monocytogenes, causing cytosol leakage and the degradation of proteins and nucleic acids. Previous research shows that QAC resistance is associated with the upregulation of certain efflux pump genes (mdrL, brcABC, …

Vo2max And Playing Time In Female Collegiate Soccer Players, Lauren Shaw

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Gender And Sexuality In Desperate Housewives, Berkley Smith

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Tracking System Effectiveness For Texas Police Departments In Low-Income Communities, Jakob Scarcelli

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Beyond Dna: An Analysis Of A Designer Baby Dystopia And The Genre Of Dystopia, Cassidy Stevens

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Substituent Effect Analysis On Halogen Bonding Interactions, Summer Hanson

Honors Theses

This study was used to determine the significance of substituents placed on aromatic molecules and how electron-donating groups (EDG) and electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) affect the strength of the halogen bond. Each study involved the same substituents, each differing in electron-withdrawing and electron-donating capability. Five different systems were created on computational software to evaluate the distance between the halogen bond donor and halogen bond acceptor. In two studies, the goal was to find the best electron-donor on the halogen bond acceptor (donor of electron density) while the halogen bond donor remained constant. For one study, the goal was to determine the …

Music From The Other Side Of The Page, Holly Richey

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

From Page To Panel: Navigating Intertextuality And Multimodality In A Neil Gaiman Graphic Adaptation, Kassandra Whitehurst

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Anxious Attachment As A Mediator Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Relationship Satisfaction, Rachel Banks

Honors Theses

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in childhood. Items considered to be ACEs can include physical abuse, neglect, or negative issues occurring in a household. These traumatic occurrences have been shown to cause physical health and behavioral issues among individuals later in life, more so when an individual has experienced multiple ACE events. Additionally, behavioral issues caused by ACEs could lead to complications in developing healthy attachment styles in their relationships with family and peers. An attachment style is molded throughout childhood, usually by one’s relationship with their guardians and how they were raised. Attachment style determines …

Bacillus Megaterium And Papiliotrema Laurentii: Competing Roles In Polymer Coating Degradation?, Anna M. Blumberg

Honors Theses

The design of coating formulations that have material properties that can hinder the biodegradation of a protective surface without aggressive or environmentally harmful additives will require a detailed understanding of knowledge gaps at the biotic-abiotic interface involving a variety of microorganisms. This project focused on two isolates extracted from a biofilm which was found to degrade Air Force cargo aircraft topcoats. These organisms, Bacillus megaterium (gram-negative bacterium, non-hydrolytic but alkane oxidizing) and the hydrolytic yeast Papiliotrema laurentii were initially observed as individual cultures and then as a co-culture. The combination of these two organisms (under similar growth conditions) provided a …

Othering The Brother: Toward A Sibling-Oriented Ethics Of Care, William Bryant

Honors Theses

This project is an examination of issues of childcare, gendered responsibilities, and family identity informed by feminist and queer theory. As the second oldest in a family of eight, I have always understood myself primarily as a big brother. Rooted in this experience, this project is an exploration of feminist care ethics as they pertain to existing family structures. I review and build upon feminist conversations surrounding the family, especially concerning motherhood. Then, working with more recent queer and trans discourse, I explore how different familial care practices have been limited, reconfigured, or erased under dominant cis-heteronormative notions of care. …

Assistive And Augmentative Communication: Ethics And Possibilities In Music Therapy With Non-Speaking Clients, Amanda Bursch

Honors Theses

Music therapy is a healthcare field wherein music experiences and the myriad relationships formed between client(s), board-certified music therapist(s), and music activates health-oriented changes (Bruscia, 2014). Within this field there are multiple facets that directly impact the client’s experiences; these include: arrangement of the therapy environment, role and function of music experiences, therapeutic relationships, and communication in verbal and non-verbal forms. However, there is a gap in the education and training of music therapists concerning alternatives to verbal communication, and the use of these alternatives in therapy. Through interviews and analysis, this thesis presents findings regarding the experiences of one …

Effects Of Propionate On Macrophage Migration, Cian J. Callahan

Honors Theses

Macrophages are leukocytes that play an important role in the antibacterial responses by our body’s immune system. The activities and functions of macrophages are influenced by a variety of substances, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) found in the gut. Currently, we know that SCFAs, such as propionate, induce directional recruitment of leukocytes. For intracellular bacterial pathogens, the movement of infected macrophages can contribute to the systemic dissemination of the pathogens. However, little is known whether SCFAs like propionate can modulate the movement of infected macrophages. To fill this knowledge gap, Listeria monocytogenes, a human pathogen capable of causing …

Cybersecurity Of The Cloud And Iot Devices, Caleb Cecil

Honors Theses

The next wave of computing is moving to the cloud. The cloud offers reliable, scalable, and cheap ways for companies to upgrade their business. It has revolutionized how we interact with each other today and is becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. However, when companies move to the cloud they need to set up their cloud architecture or data transmission securely. This leads to huge security risks in which sensitive data could be released. This project outlines the different threats and vulnerabilities that the cloud faces and the specifications needed for security. This research intends to evaluate the …

Determining The Role Of Propionate In Macrophage M1 And M2 Activation, Hannah M. Derespiris

Honors Theses

Macrophages are one of the many essential cells of the innate immune system that help to protect the body from dangerous pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause infections, especially in the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women. The antimicrobial activities of macrophages that are utilized to respond to pathogens such as L. monocytogenes can include phagocytosis, inflammatory responses, and the production of antimicrobial compounds such as nitric oxide. These activities need to be regulated carefully to avoid causing unintentional damages. Typically, macrophages exist in a naive, unactivated state, or can be activated classically …

Skeletal Muscle Reactive Hyperemia Is Dependent On The Deoxygenation Stimulus In Young Healthy Humans, William Durbin

Honors Theses

Reactive hyperemia tests create mismatches in oxygen (O2 ) delivery and demand by occluding blood flow and O2 delivery in the face of stable quiescent skeletal muscle O2 demand. We tested the hypothesis that skeletal muscle reactive hyperemia is dependent on the specific deoxygenation stimulus. We hypothesized that the magnitude of deoxygenation (Δ=nadir-baseline) would correlate with the magnitude of the reactive hyperemic response (Δ=peak-baseline), whereas the total deoxygenation (O2 debt, calculated as the total area under the curve of deoxygenation, below baseline) would correlate with the total reactive hyperemic response (area under the reactive hyperemia curve, above baseline).

In six …