Digital Commons Network^™

A Solution To Workplace Injuries And Accidents, Reagan C. Cole

Honors Theses

Workplace injuries and accidents are occurring every day and causing problematic situations for both employees and the employer. To achieve a safety culture, and therefore reduce the number of injuries and accidents, employee competency must be achieved. During on-board training it is crucial to embed safety practices within procedural training, to have a seamless transition with completing a task, and doing it safely. During my study I compared the workplace practices I observed during my internship as NASA and contrasted those practices with safety norms within general industry. Many workplace injuries and accidents occur when employees are unaware, they’re committing …

An Experiment Of Modern Music: An Application Of The Modern Production And Distribution Of Independent Music, Jesse W. Klapheke

Honors Theses

The music industry is not what it once was. Currently, there is a much larger burden for the independent artist to bear in regards to producing and marketing their own music, and for many this seems like a mountain too tall to climb. With this thesis, I set out to measure the effectiveness of today’s music production and distribution methods and tools by recording a full length audio recording, documenting its inception, production, and distribution by utilizing 21st century ‘do-it-yourself’ home recording equipment and distribution services, the product of which being the album ‘50,000’.

The metrics by which the success …

The Underlying Determinants And Impacts Of The Substance Abuse Crisis In Knox, Whitley, And Laurel Counties, Mikaela B. Rhodes

Honors Theses

Substance use has become a growing problem on a national, statewide, and local level. While the commonwealth of Kentucky has astonishing rates of substance use and abuse, the areas of Knox, Whitley, and Laurel counties of Kentucky are observing similar results within county lines. There are many social determinants that could potentially lead an individual to substance use or abuse which can often be unique to an area as well as the adverse effects of substance abuse on a community. Interviews were conducted with individuals in professions that directly relate to the substance abuse crisis in Knox, Whitley, and Laurel …

Developing A Campus Resource Guide For The Eku Latino Community, Kasey N. Dearing

Honors Theses

Mental health concerns are a growing problem in the United States. For minority populations and the Latino population in particular, there is a disparity between the number of individuals suffering from mental health issues and those seeking help from mental health services. As the Latino population continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize these concerns and find ways to combat them. The current creative research project utilizes research on the growing mental health concerns for the Latino population within the U.S., with specific focus on Latino students in higher education, to support the creation of a campus …

Gradyear: From Ideation Through Product Delivery, Laura A. Salvador

Honors Theses

This thesis will serve to document the first year of GradYear, from ideation through product delivery. GradYear is a Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) Senior Capstone Project; the GradYear team is comprised of five students with academic disciplines ranging across business, accountancy, and engineering. The goal of the team was to design and manufacture a high-quality, classic wooden picture frame for college or university graduates that highlights their graduating class year. Under the direction of Dr. Jack McClurg, Dr. Matthew O’Keefe and factory floor technician Mr. James McPhail, the team designed the GradYear Classic using principles of DFMA and implementing …

Bacteria In Salt Pans Along The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Lauren A. Lawson

Honors Theses

Salt pans form in shallow depressions in the ground where salt water evaporates leaving a hypersaline environment remaining. These pans become flooded during extremely high tides and as time progresses, this additional salt water is evaporated leaving behind more salt deposits. Marine salt pans can provide habitat for halophilic microorganisms and provide an interesting environment for study as conditions can change with both sediment and water depth. Towards the surface of sediment in salt pans, oxygen is still available, however, deeper sediments have limited oxygen availability and are likely anaerobic. Deeper sediments can also have higher salt concentrations so may …

A Comprehensive Review Of Accounting Through Case Studies, Ellen Duncan

Honors Theses

As a student of both The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and The Patterson School of Accountancy, I have the opportunity to pursue an alternative thesis, comprised of a study of technical accounting through case studies. I compiled this research of accounting theories, principles, and data analytics systems over the course of two semesters, while simultaneously seizing bi-weekly opportunities to network with professional firms and interview for accounting internships. The opportunity to pursue an alternative thesis not only impacted my academic growth, but also my professional success. With the help of Doctor Victoria Dickinson, I was able to put the …

All Parts And Parcels: Unpacking And Analyzing Kentucky Education Reform, Matthew A. Lee

Honors Theses

Since the mid-twentieth century, public education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky has often faced opposition from its General Assembly. Historically underfunded, Kentucky’s public education system has consistently placed near the bottom in all measures of student assessment and school finance in the nation, according to data published annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Over the last thirty years, however, the General Assembly has taken some steps toward improvement. The purpose of this paper is to present a historical record of these reform efforts and to analyze whether these alterations have been effective. To assess the state’s role …

Two Sides Of The Same Coin: Panpsychism As A Solution To The Mind-Body Problem, Andrew Coyle

Honors Theses

The Mind-Body problem in philosophy has haunted philosophers for years. It asks, “what is the relationship between the mind and the body in a human being?” Is the mind something distinct from the body? Or is it nothing more than matter within the brain? Various theories have been proposed over the years as attempts to answer these pivotal questions. This paper provides a history of the mind-body problem, along with an analysis of many of the theories that have been proposed to answer the problem. After reviewing dualism, materialism, and panpsychism as theories of mind, I defend panpsychism as the …

How Small Business Owners And Managers Make Marketing Decisions Based On The Success Of The Local College Football Team, Sarah L. Rychlak

Honors Theses

Existing literature suggests that while many people, especially business owners, believe that their local economy suffers when the nearby sports team is not performing well, that is not the case. Student enrollment can take a dip when this occurs in college towns, but economic growth and prosperity is not dependent on a successful sports team. Studies have explored these effects in large cities, but less attention has been paid to the cities that would be more affected by the performance of sports teams, which is small college towns. This research explores the relationship between college football team success and small …

How Non-Centrist Parties Gain Electoral Success In German Politics: An Analysis Of The Alternative Für Deutschland’S Success In The 2017 Federal Election., Madison B. Bickert

Honors Theses

[No Abstract was provided]

Two Arguments For Extending Legal Personhood To Nature, Hailey Walley

Honors Theses

This thesis will articulate new sorts of arguments under a legal philosophy framework that I believe can be used to protect the environment, but which also have a chance at convincing a wide range of citizens and politicians. The conclusion for which I will argue is that the United States should extend legal personhood to Nature. I will first provide detailed analyses of two countries that have already extended rights to nature, Ecuador and Bolivia. I will then proceed to compare the two cases and discuss what aspects of their models can and cannot be applied to the United States, …

When Life Gives You Lemons: Comparing Two Diffusion Methods For A Psychological Screening Tool In The Medical Field, Jessica Tran

Honors Theses

E.M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory is used to explain the process of how an idea or technology gains momentum and spreads through a particular population. The result of the diffusion is called adoption, meaning that over time the group has changed their initial behavior (i.e. using the new technology, purchasing and performing new behavior, etc.). There is considerable evidence for successful use of this theory in various fields. The study investigates the theory using a new psychological screening technology. A solicitation to hear information about the tool was presented to 19 physicians who were separated into two randomized groups, …

From Foreign To Familiar Mac And Cheese's Journey To America's Comfort Food, Emily Buice

Honors Theses

This project explores the evolution of macaroni and cheese through recipes ranging from Thomas Jefferson to Wolfgang Puck. These recipes reveal historical trends that coincide with changes in American society and culture. Specifically the role of macaroni and cheese in soul food, as a mass produced commodity, comfort food, and as an example of American overindulgence.

Encoding A 1-D Heisenberg Spin 1/2 Chain In A Simulated Annealing Algorithm For Machine Learning, Daniel Pompa

Honors Theses

The application areas of machine learning techniques are becoming broader and increasingly ubiquitous in the natural sciences and engineering. One such field of interest within the physics community is the training and implementation of neural networks to aid in quantum many-body computations. Conversely, research exploring the possible computational benefits of using quantum many-body dynamics in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning has also recently started to gain traction. The marriage of these fields comes naturally with the complementary nature of their mathematical frameworks. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of encoding a quantum spin …

Becoming Inhuman, Becoming Monstrous: Representation And Sacrifice In J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace And Lauren Beukes's Broken Monsters, Anna Catherine Bills

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Model Validation Of The Thermospheric Neutral Mass Densit, Martin Geary Mccandless

Honors Theses

Accurately predicting the thermospheric neutral mass density is crucial for estimating the trajectory of low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft since satellite drag introduces errors in orbit determination solutions for the rapidly increasing number of man-made objects. The purpose of this study is to quantify the degree of variability in the thermospheric neutral mass density during the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm utilizing the coupled Whole Atmosphere Model and Ionosphere-PlasmasphereElectrodynamics model (WAM-IPE). The neutral mass density variations for various geophysical conditions from WAM-IPE are compared between the accelerometer satellite observations from Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) and …

The Impact Of High Intensity Training On The Fitness Of Middle School Students, Hailey Wimmenauer, Christine Rockey, Justin Guilkey

Honors Theses

Obesity and lack of physical activity (PA) pose a risk to an individual’s physical health through both short-term and long-term effects. A decline in PA occurs between 5^th and 8^th grades, with the greatest decreases in activity being seen between the ages of 13-19. Further, many students in that grade range are unable to reach the healthy fitness zones (HFZ) on the Fitnessgram, the assessment used in physical education classes to gauge health status. Many interventions have been tried in schools to increase fitness but few have been successful. High intensity training (HIT) has been shown to be …

“Liberation From What?”: French Muslim Women’S Bodies As A Site Of National Boundaries And Identity, Mae H. Stuart

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how dominant French discursive frames conceptualize Muslim and French-Algerian women's gender performance as related to their level of assimilation into France politically and socially. It examines how these modern discursive derive from colonial sentiments and policies towards Muslim Algerian women. Then, I outlines the specific frames used in discussion of French-Muslim women's bodies and consider the international and national political contexts in which these frames developed. Finally, the thesis presents four interviews that I conducted in June 2018 with French-Algerian women, providing them a space to respond to elite framings of their decisions about how to present …

The Vietnam War At Home And Abroad: Soldiers, Military Leadership, And The Antiwar Movement, Mason E. Fox

Honors Theses

During the 1960s and 1970s, youth activism and culture shaped American society. Pre- and college-age youth participated in the civil rights movement, engaged in politics to improve their education and equality, and called for a true democracy in American culture. The youth were passionately standing up for what they believed in, shaping the mold of America’s future. One of the most remembered youth protests of the 1970s was the antiwar movements. What began as peaceful demonstrations in 1964, quickly turned into draft card burnings, antiwar music recordings, and even went as far as torching ROTC buildings. The Kent State shooting …

Oddities And Evens: Pares Y Nones, Tanesha Colquitt

Honors Theses

Oddities and Evens: Pares y nones is a collection of poetry and short stories in English and Spanish meant for young adults. I have had the creative desire to make a universe of fictional literature like this since my own childhood. As a young girl, I dreamt of being able to communicate imaginary dimensions I was experiencing. As I played, I imagined otherworldly creatures and scenarios that I could not yet describe. This collection of writings has given me the opportunity to introduce my own twisted and paranormal ideas, in English and Spanish, to young readers. I hope that the …

Technology In Theatre: Breaking The Fourth Wall, Samantha Burns

Honors Theses

For a long time, theatre has been seen as a medium of the past. With new technologies such as cellphones being more commonplace, there could be a way to utilize them in theatre. This thesis is a reflection on writing an interactive script, figuring out the best way for an audience to interact with a performance utilizing their phones. The play comments on women in not only theatre, but all sorts of media and how they are portrayed.

Relations Between Subclinical Narcissism, Effortful Control, And Well-Being In Emerging Adulthood, Beth M. Rachlin

Honors Theses

The present study evaluates relations between subclinical grandiose narcissism, facets of effortful control, and hedonic well-being in a sample of emerging adults. The goal of this study was threefold. First, to assess the relation between subclinical grandiose narcissism and hedonic well-being. Correlational analyses provided support for increased grandiose narcissistic tendencies being associated with increased hedonic well-being. Second, the study sought to examine the relation between effortful control and hedonic well-being. Regression analyses revealed a lack of support for this relationship; however, this could be due to lurking variables such as self-esteem. Last, the study aimed to explore whether there is …

The Need To Believe: Belief In Science & Religious Belief Examined As More General Components Of Positive Psychological Functioning, Jordan Madrigal

Honors Theses

Furthered by the spectacular innovations of technological advancement over the recent centuries, empirical science has yielded a depth of knowledge about the universe that early naturalistic philosophers could not imagine. Present-day scientists seem to have a much stronger motivation to espouse naturalistic worldviews than do early philosophers – the explanatory power of science appears to render null the need for explanations via numinous religious beliefs. Why do so many people maintain religious beliefs, then? A large body of literature suggests that religious belief is strongly associated with positive psychological functioning. However, other research suggests that religious belief is sometimes associated …

The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Therapy On Participation In Rehabilitation In A Patient Post-Stroke: A Case Study, Chloe Cross

Honors Theses

The human-animal bond is a powerful and emotional connection. The bond between dogs and people can provide numerous physiological and psychological benefits as well as potentially increasing the human’s quality of life. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) utilizes the human-animal bond by incorporating a dog into the patient’s rehabilitation therapy. This case study examines if AAT sessions increase a stroke patient’s participation in the rehabilitation sessions when compared to normal sessions. Participation in therapy reduces the length of stay for patients, improves outcome measures, and lessens the effects of depression.A key part of stroke rehabilitation is incorporating exercises that increase neuroplasticity. One …

Evaluation Of Different Research Methodologies For Acoustic Monitoring Of Anuran Populations, Richard Alexander Schwartz

Honors Theses

Amphibians are important for a wide variety of reasons. However, in recent years their global populations have seen a sharp decline. It is therefore increasingly important to conduct research relevant to their protection and success. The main way this is accomplished with anurans is through the monitoring of male vocalizations. This can take the form of Manual Call Surveys, Automated Recording Systems, or some hybridization of the two. However, selection of the proper research method can be complex and time-consuming, and use of the incorrect method can result in wasted funding and useless data. Very few studies have been recently …

Religion, Institutionalism, Legalism, And Same-Sex Marriage: Comparative Experiences Of Non-Heterosexual Males In Northern Ireland And Tennessee, Reaghan Gough

Honors Theses

The intersection of religion, legalism, institutionalism, and sexuality is historically one of controversy. Consequential discord often leads to the marginalization of certain members of a community, which creates lasting psychological and social effects that shape how these individuals define themselves within their culture. This study identifies shared experiences between two groups of non-heterosexual adult males near Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where same-sex marriage is illegal, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the practice is federally accepted. The samples provide a look into the effects of religiously-motivated, discriminatory legislation on the personal lives of the subsequent population. Specifically, participants are asked to reflect on …

Analysis And Proposed Improvement Of Hamilton County Vw Elab Equipment, Hiroshi Yanagida

Honors Theses

Digital fabrication laboratories have revolutionized project based learning within K-12 STEAM education curriculum. However, classroom utilization of the labs often requires excessive machine hours to accomplish, and this often leads to rapid machine depreciation and disrepair. Many educators do not have the time to repair their equipment while developing curriculum and engaging with their students. This study focuses on building a repair history for common digital fabrication equipment, which includes Prusa i3 Mk2S FDM 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers. Data were collected over a 6 month period to find which machines encountered the most issues. The 3D printers …

The Bcl11a Gene And The 3d Printing Of An Adjustable Hyperextension Orthotic Knee Brace For Patients With Hypotonia, Reilly Reeves

Honors Theses

The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene plays an important role in the development of the brain. A mutation of the BCL11A gene causes individuals to have developmental delays among other abnormalities. Two of the key symptoms are hypotonia and hypermobility. These two issues contribute to hyperextension of the knee joint. To help limit the hyperextension presented in the patient studied, this project utilizes rapid-prototyping technology through 3D-printing to develop an adjustable, custom knee brace that will attach to the patient’s current ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). Through a series of qualitative and quantitative assessments, the effectiveness of this patient-specific knee brace will …

A Psychoanalytic Reading Of William Blake's Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience, Serenah Minasian

Honors Theses

This Undergraduate Thesis enters the scholarly conversation regarding William Blake and psychoanalytic theory. This work provides a reading of Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience from the viewing of psychoanalysis. Jungian and Freudian theories of psychoanalysis are mostly used with incorporation of Lacan as well. Overall, this Undergraduate Thesis provides a look at Blake's works psychoanalytically and provides interpretation of them through this specific lens.