Digital Commons Network^™

Relationship Between Undergraduate Students Study Abroad Experiences In The Mediterranean Region And Changes To Dietary And Functional Movement Habits, Katherine Heublein

Honors Theses

This research explored the relationship between study abroad experiences within the Mediterranean region and their impact on dietary and functional movement habits. College students are at a critical juncture for establishing lifelong health behaviors. Understanding the influence of cultural immersion on food and movement choices can provide valuable insights into strategies to promote healthier lifestyles among college students. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, beans/lentils, and fish, and low consumption of red meat and processed foods, along with increased functional movement from walking and biking. This lifestyle has been correlated with lower …

Developing Adult Glioma Model In Drosophila, Anna Lindenmuth

Honors Theses

Glial brain tumors typically occur in older adults and have no known cure. Therefore, it is important to study the growth and physiological effects that this disease causes in hopes of finding an adequate solution. A great and inexpensive model to study glial cell tumors is flies because they share similar neurological pathways with humans. Our lab studies glioma brain tumors in larval stages of Drosophila, but no adult models have been made to account for and match the occurrence of cancer developing in older adults. Therefore, this study’s purpose is to create and study the growth of glial cell …

Gender-Based Violence In El Salvador: The Role Of Political Developments And The Impact On The Rights Of Salvadoran Women, Maison E. Mclean

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the ways women in El Salvador are subjected to genderbased violence (GBV), including domestic violence, reproductive violence, economic violence, and marital rape. It examines the institutional social and political conditions that shape women’s experiences with violence, with particular attention to recent policy changes under the Bukele administration. Through literature and media analysis, as well as interviews with activists, researchers, solidarity groups, and human rights organizations, this research explores how shifts in government policy and institutional practices have impacted protections and resources available to women facing GBV. In addition to examining legal frameworks, this thesis highlights the obstacles …

"Of Good Blood In Good Standing”: Nation-Building And The Politics Of Belonging In The Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Caleb Molseed

Honors Theses

Between 1734 and 1856, the Stockbridge Mohicans and Munsee Lenape endured five major displacements from their ancestral homelands in Massachusetts and New York to their present-day reservation in Wisconsin. Despite shifting federal structures and nation-to-nation policies, these two distinct peoples formed a unified political entity: the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. This thesis examines the colonial systems that enabled, complicated, and recorded how this community engaged in their own nation-building through their interpretation and production of religious, economic, and political documents. This documentary culture is highlighted by the exclusion of John Lewis from the nation following his 1856 killing of a fellow tribal …

Testing The Influence Of Lithology And Ice Sheet Dynamics On Waterfall Formation In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, Usa, Magdelyn R. Stewart

Honors Theses

Hocking Hills State Park contains one of the highest densities of waterfalls in the midwestern United States, yet their origin remains unresolved. Waterfalls, or knickpoints (abrupt changes in channel slope where water is in the state of freefall), are sensitive indicators of landscape disturbance and base-level change. This study evaluates whether these features are formed through steady differential erosion or in response to a transient base-level fall associated with glacial drainage reorganization. High-resolution LiDAR analysis identified 707 knickpoints within the Salt Creek watershed, substantially more than previously documented, and revealed asymmetric distribution, with dense clustering in the northern sub-watershed and …

Ud College Student Health Literacy And Well-Being, Olivia R. Upchurch

Honors Theses

In my Honors Thesis Research Project, I studied University of Dayton (UD) students' health literacy and well-being. Well-being is a state of being comfortable and happy. It includes mental well-being and physical activity. Mental well-being is a state of positive psychological, social, and emotional health. Physical activity is bodily movement that promotes physical health. Health literacy is the ability of someone to understand and effectively use health information to make well-informed decisions regarding their health. This project is important because college represents a time when young adults begin to manage their well-being and healthcare independently from their parents or guardians. …

Characterization And Reliability Of Amorphous Oxide Thin-Film Field-Effect Transistors, David Weaver

Honors Theses

This work investigates the electrical performance and reliability of thin-film amorphous oxide field-effect transistors based on titanium-doped indium oxide (In_₂O_₃:Ti) as the channel material. Devices were fabricated and systematically characterized through current-voltage (I-V) measurements to extract key parameters including threshold voltage, subthreshold swing, and on/off current ratio. Devices were also characterized using a positive and negative bias temperature instability (PBTI/NBTI) to determine the reliability of the devices.

Parental Behaviors In Response To Childhood Internalizing And Externalizing Problems, Quinn Ryan Willerton

Honors Theses

Parents and children have been shown to mutually influence parenting behaviors (Burke et al., 2008). Abnormal behaviors in children, namely externalizing and internalizing problems, offer a route of observation that can further demonstrate the bidirectionality of the parent-child relationship. Externalizing problems (i.e. Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Conduct Disorder) are easier for parents to see because of their overt and outward nature, but they pose more difficult challenges for both parental response and treatment approaches. Internalizing problems (i.e. anxiety or depression) are more emotion-based, making them harder to recognize and diagnose. Our research is observing the presence …

Effects Of Landscape Transformation On Mammalian Biodiversity Within Protected Areas Across The Twin Valley Area, Ohio, Trevor Martin

Honors Theses

The transformation of natural landscapes stemming from anthropogenic activities can have profound impacts on wildlife. Significant tracts of impervious surfaces and extensive agricultural land use fragment habitats, influencing the assemblage and diversity of mammalian wildlife communities therein. Understanding how mammals respond to changes in the landscape within and surrounding protected parks and natural areas is of particular concern for land managers who are interested in both facilitating biodiversity, while also maintaining recreational opportunities for the public. This project aimed to assess the relative status of terrestrial mammal communities by quantifying species richness and diversity in three Five Rivers MetroParks protected …

The Evolution And Impact Of Fashion Marketing In The Age Of Social Media, Lillie L. Warrington

Honors Theses

This research paper aims to analyze the effect of social media on consumer behavior in fashion marketing by investigating how fashion brands have adapted their strategies to leverage social media platforms effectively and exploring the role of social media influencers in shaping brand perception and consumer loyalty. By addressing these objectives, this research seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on digital marketing in the fashion industry, offering valuable insights.

The study will be conducted through a comprehensive review of existing research and primary research, including a survey of 143 participants, to better understand how social media affects …

Mental Stress, Physical Activity And Reproductive Health: A Pilot Study On College-Aged Females In Stem, Ellie Nichols

Honors Theses

Introduction: Undergraduate students enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs face rigorous academic demands that place them under immense stress. Chronic exposure to stress elevates cortisol, a key hormone known to disrupt endocrine function, including the reproductive system; such disruptions may contribute to menstrual irregularities. Among mediators that help the body return to homeostasis, physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as an effective tool for managing stress. Previous literature has documented the relationship between stress and reproductive health, however limited research has examined how PA may buffer stress related reproductive disruptions within the undergraduate STEM student population. This …

The Lost Reader: Temptation, Free Will, And Morality In Paradise Lost And Undertale, Serena Hope Labello

Honors Theses

This paper demonstrates that video games expand on a reader’s literary experience and should be characterized as literary artifacts. My thesis research project explores free will and temptation as originally reflected in John Milton’s epic, Paradise Lost, and in Undertale, a 2015 video game where players change the trajectory of the game with their use of free will. Critics of both texts have commented on how the structure of the epic poem and the game place the reader or player in a position to make moral choices. Stanley Fish’s critique of Paradise Lost claims that the reader will fall to …

Real Horror: The Supernatural And Its Connection To Abuse In Late 20th Century Horror, John Sebastian

Honors Theses

Horror authors from the late 20th century explain the turmoil of domestic and childhood abuse through supernatural elements to represent the loss of autonomy of victims. Several horror authors from the late 20th century showcase abuse through the supernatural not to exploit the experiences of victims of abuse but allow for spaces for readers to encounter truly horrifying stories and process them. Works explored include Stephen King’s The Shining and Carrie, as well as Ira Levin’s Rosemary's Baby and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.

Space Degradable Pyrotechnic Fastener, Jonathan Baker

Honors Theses

Space debris has become a critical threat to orbital operations, with over 30,000 tracked objects currently circling Earth. Traditional separation charges used in satellite launches contribute significantly to this problem by generating unpredictable shrapnel that can remain in orbit for decades or centuries. This project proposes the design and development of a spacedegradable explosive bolt that exploits the harsh space environment to accelerate material breakdown after use.

The design utilizes advanced polymer materials selected for their susceptibility to degradation from UV radiation — an environmental factor abundant in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Our prototype will be engineered to meet industry-standard …

Mason Avenue Culvert, Caden Boynton

Honors Theses

This project addressed the replacement of a culvert crossing Wabascon Creek along North Mason Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan. Following significant flooding caused by snowmelt in 2023, the existing wooden box culvert—originally constructed in the 1960s—sustained damage when inlet wingwalls detached from the structure, requiring temporary repairs. Design alternatives were developed to provide a durable and reliable replacement, incorporating structural, water resources, transportation, and construction engineering considerations. The design process also addressed environmental sustainability requirements, cost-effectiveness and constructability. Final deliverables included engineering calculations, plans and specifications, a cost estimate and a project schedule to support implementation of a resilient long-term …

Ergonomic And Material Flow Improvements For A Medical Device Assembly Line, Matthew Kobus

Honors Theses

This project evaluated material handling inefficiencies and ergonomic concerns within Stryker’s Neptune medical device assembly line. Two primary issues were identified: lack of a standardized part-location system in the supermarket and excessive operator travel between subassembly and main assembly. These issues resulted in search waste, motion waste, lost production time, and increased ergonomic strain.

To address the labeling issue, a standardized bin labeling system was developed and tested. A time study comparing labeled and unlabeled conditions showed that average retrieval time decreased from approximately 120 seconds to 22 seconds, an 81% reduction. Statistical analysis confirmed that this improvement was significant …

Investigating The Cost And Efficiency Of Two Chemical Pathways To Produce The Plant-Based Coagulants, Taylor Nixon

Honors Theses

Plant-based coagulants are promising sustainable alternatives for water treatment due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and reduced risk of secondary pollution. Unlike conventional inorganic coagulants, they generate less sludge and avoid secondary contamination in the environment. This project examines two chemical modification strategies for producing cationic cellulose coagulants. The first involves direct amination of cellulose using CHPTAC, while the second employs periodate-oxidized dialdehyde cellulose, which enables reductive amination through reactive aldehyde groups. These approaches are expected to yield materials with differing charges, surface functionalities, and structural properties that may influence coagulation performance. The study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility …

Effective Courts Of Last Resort: The Supreme Court’S Limited Docket And The Rise Of The Courts Of Appeals As Final Arbiter On Minors’ First Amendment Rights, Lillian Powers

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how the Supreme Court’s power of selecting its own docket has resulted in fewer cases being addressed annually and its effect on minors’ First Amendment rights. Minors’ First Amendment rights is one of the many niche areas of law that do not receive hearings in front of the Supreme Court. My research shows that the Supreme Court’s neglect of these issues led to Court of Appeals taking on the role of a court of last resort. As precedent from select Supreme Court cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), Bethel School District …

Glass From The Past: A Chemical And Spatial Analysis Of French Container Glass From Fort St. Joseph, Ian Walraven

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Narratives, Neurons And Narcotics: The Neurological Impacts Of Biased Crime Media And How It Disproportionately Impacts Black And Brown Drug Defendants, Jade Celestine

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how crime media and neurological bias shape the experiences of Black and Brown drug defendants in the United States criminal justice system. Drawing on existing research in psychology and neuroscience, this explanation outlines the role of perception and threat detection in the formation of implicit bias while also emphasizing a need to expand the use of neurocriminology to all legal actors. Particular attention is given towards the influence of media portrayals of criminal cases, especially for drug-related offenses and how that impacts the audiences on a neurological level. An analysis of historical factors, such as the War …

Development Of A Grease Resistant Barrier For Food Industry Applications, Mira Marino

Honors Theses

The objective of this project is to develop a grease-resistant barrier coating for paper-based food packaging and to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing this coating system at an industrial scale. As demand increases, this project focuses on identifying an optimal pigment and binder combination that enhances barrier performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The primary goal was to maximize grease and moisture resistance of coated paper while ensuring the process is economically viable and compatible with existing paper mill operations.

The final plant design consists of one continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and three centrifugal pumps integrated into an existing paper …

Analyzing Proposed Unmanned Aerial System Regulations And Their Impact On Manned Aircraft Operations, Kordell Irish

Honors Theses

The purpose of the thesis is to investigate the current state of the proposed Part 108 regulations and to find possible solutions to the problems faced by Part 108 implementation, with a focus on the interactions between manned and unmanned aircraft. The thesis covers upcoming changes to federal aviation regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding unmanned aircraft systems and their integration into the national airspace system. Currently, most unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are regulated under Part 107 of the federal aviation regulation. A brief literature review will provide a background and timeline in the lead-up to the Part …

Navigating Screens For Neurodivergent Individuals, Avery Wilson

Honors Theses

As technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, it is important to consider the implications that this may have for one's mind and well-being. These implications are particularly important for vulnerable populations, such as neurodivergent individuals, who may have unique sensitivities to technology consumption. This paper reviews current literature to provide an overview of the implications of using media on the neurodivergent population, such as individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), who often possess unique brain sensitivities that influence technology consumption.

To begin, the paper examines the changes in brain structure and functioning in children …

Students' Preferred Teaching Methods, Hannah Lancaster

Honors Theses

This paper focuses on students’ preferences for teaching and instructional methods in the social studies classroom. From previous literature, it became apparent that students have a variety of unique needs within each classroom, and individual students require different methods to best support effective learning. This study was conducted within an urban high school in Southwest Michigan. Students completed a cross-sectional survey that encouraged them to express their desired teaching and instructional methods within the classroom. Data revealed a shift from standard teacher-focused learning to more student-focused learning to better accommodate students’ learning styles. With survey data focusing on a limited …

The Impact Of Cannabis Use On Pulmonary Function Among Young Adults: A Literature Review, Ava Petersen

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug among young adults and many of these users perceive cannabis as harmless and do not believe the drug to be addictive. Cannabis is derived from the flower of the hemp plant and contains cannabinoids THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the psychoactive component that interacts with the endocannabinoid system to produce a coveted euphoric state among users. Cannabis can be consumed in an edible or combusted and inhaled via joint, pipe, bong, etc. The purpose of this review is to examine the effects of inhaled cannabis on pulmonary function with a specific …

Math In Melody: How Music Strikes A Chord With Memory And Learning, Aidan V. Waters

Honors Theses

As a result of personal curiosity, this thesis seeks to understand the current status of music integration within educational settings, discussing its importance and potential impact. By considering existing literature, it analyzes music’s effectiveness in K-12 education, particularly within the mathematics classroom. Based on the current body of research, the study identifies three key features of music integration: its effectiveness as an energizer, a memory tool, and a means of creating structure within the classroom. Building on these findings, a proposed ten-day, music-integrated Algebra I unit on functions is presented, applying the research in a variety of ways. The unit …

Examination Of The Hiring Process: Bias In Selection, Conor Johanson

Honors Theses

Racial discrimination in the hiring process remains a persistent problem despite decades of anti-discrimination legislation and widespread bias-awareness training. The present study examined whether resume quality and candidate race jointly influence hiring evaluations among human resource professionals, a population with formal training in equitable selection practices. Using a 2 × 2 between-subjects design, 129 HR professionals recruited through Prolific were randomly assigned to evaluate a high- or low-quality resume attributed to either a Black or White candidate. Participant evaluations were assessed across warmth-related and competence-related dimensions derived from the Stereotype Content Model, with Aversive Racism Theory guiding predictions about when …

Causes, Effects, And Solutions Of Wrongful Convictions, Allison B. Gobuzzi

Honors Theses

This study examines the wrongful conviction of Anthony Hinton and other examples that illustrate the causes of wrongful convictions in the United States and the effects that wrongful convictions have on the wrongfully accused and their families. This study uses research from scholarly articles and legal cases to analyze the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions and the impact on the wrongfully accused and their families. The research concludes that wrongful convictions are frequently the result of both evidentiary and procedural issues within the criminal justice system.

Analyzing Social Media Content Strategies That Drive Engagement For Independent Hairstylists, Aurora Batts

Honors Theses

This study explores how social media, has changed the way independent hairstylists market themselves and connect with clients. Social media has become a huge tool in the beauty industry, allowing stylists to showcase their work, build their brand, and attract new clients. Because platforms like Instagram act as a digital portfolio, clients are making decisions based on what they see online rather than just location or recommendations.

Due to this shift, it is important to understand which types of content perform well and generate engagement. This study focuses on identifying the specific content characteristics that lead to higher engagement for …

Green And Clean: Case Studies Featuring The Shift Toward Healthier Consumption, Mckay Orwig

Honors Theses

This thesis is composed of eight accounting case studies investigating the impact of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement on corporate operations, and other narratives. Dr. Dickenson assigned and advised the case studies throughout the course of Honors Accountancy 420. During the fall semester, we were assigned several individual case studies that broadened our background knowledge on legislation and the MAHA movement, as well as having the opportunity to hear from professionals from leading firms.  During the spring semester, Dr. Dickenson placed us in groups to research our assigned companies, my group ultimately assigned the international snacking company, Kellanova. …