Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Eggshell Coloration On Egg Cannibalism Among Glaucous-Winged Gulls, Isabelle Hwang

Honors Theses

A common source of reproductive loss in gulls is egg cannibalism. At a large Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) colony on Protection Island, Washington, cannibalism accounts for 55% of egg loss. Because cannibalism is a form of predation and birds have a highly developed sense of vision, I hypothesized that visible light coloration of Glaucous-winged Gull eggs plays a role in determining whether they are cannibalized. I used logistic regression to test whether egg fate was related to egg brightness, specific coloration, specific spot coverage, coloration relative to the most common coloration, and spot coverage relative to the most common spot …

An Examination Of Resilience Over Time Between Men And Women In Psychological First Aid, Leiali'i Ruth Edwards

Honors Theses

Research has shown that Psychological First Aid (PFA) crisis intervention helps to promote resilience in individuals affected by traumatic events (Everly, 2012). This study examined differences in resilience levels between genders over time by comparing PFA with a Social Acknowledgment (control) condition. Using the Response to Stressful Events Scale (Johnson et al., 2011) to measure resilience, subject responses (N=41) were analyzed using a mixed between-within subjects ANOVA. Results indicated that there were no statistically significant main effects or interactions. These findings do not support the study's hypotheses that there would be a significant interaction between time and gender.

Crawling Tor's Hidden Services And Depicting Their Interconnectivity, John-Luke N. Navarro

Honors Theses

The Tor network is a popular online privacy platform that enables anonymous browsing, but is also notorious for the vast number of illicit marketplaces, goods and services available to users. Tor's protocols also secure hosted websites, known as hidden services, against unwanted tracking and location. Tor has attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies, who are interested in hidden service data analysis. However, little large-scale analysis is currently performed. To help address this issue, I constructed two tools. A specialized web crawler downloads bulk page-content from Tor's hidden services. This program crawls the Tor Network broadly, securely, and with more …

Ripple Effect: An Examination Of Surfing As A Force For Positive, Lasting Personal And Societal Change, Sam A. Hayworth

Honors Theses

This study aims to demonstrate how the spiritual, sacred, and metaphysical components of surfing empower the activity as a force for positive, personal and societal change in a community. While many surfers are drawn to surfing for its spiritual attributes, traceable to its roots in ancient Polynesia, there are many others who embrace the sport for purely non-spiritual reasons. Quantitative data was collected by the research team to show how the differing views of these two groups of surfers affect three main areas: environmental ethics, personal growth and maturation, and general community outreach. The results of the study proved all …

The History Of The Future: A Creative 26th Century Article On The 2016 Presidential Election, Spencer J. Chowning

Honors Theses

As technology has grown in recent decades, many fields of study have been affected. This thesis will consider how technology might continue to impact the field of the historian and what historical research and writing might look like in the distant future. This project will attempt to demonstrate the potential sources of a future historian, how those sources might have been stored, how historians might interpret those sources, and what historical writing itself might look like. This thesis will demonstrate these aspects in a creative manner in the form of a future historical scholarly article from the 26^th century …

The Race To Zero: Carbon Neutral Construction For Residential Buildings, Josh Grove

Honors Theses

Humanity’s impact on the environment is one of the issues at the forefront of the concerns of society. As more environmentally conscious generations become homeowners, there will be a trend towards the development and purchase of carbon neutral houses. This case study is based on 3D renderings produced from BEopt^TM (Building Energy Optimization), a software developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in support of the U.S. Department of Energy. The software provides a detailed simulation-based analysis that shows the affects that varying construction materials have on the energy consumption of a home. It also shows the how different …

Farm To Liberation: Towards Feminist Food Justice, Elisabeth Spector

Honors Theses

Women are one of the many vulnerable populations experiencing the detrimental effects of human-induced climate change, and our current system of food production is one of the largest contributors to this global problem. Not only do modern methods of food production contribute significantly to climate change, but they devalue women’s knowledge and strip away their opportunities. A number of communities and individuals have begun to work against this system and work towards food justice through small-scale farming and growing their own food. Through the use of ecofeminist scholarship and original interviews, this project examines the problems within our current food …

Herzberg's Two Factor Theory Of Motivation: A Generational Study, Daniel T. Bevins

Honors Theses

Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory of Motivation: A Generational Study

Daniel T. Bevins

Dr. Beth Polin

Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business

This study attempts to fully investigate the well-researched and world-renowned theory—The Two Factor Theory of motivation by Frederick Herzberg. One might notice after being engulfed in the plentiful research of the theory that there is a gap in the research. There is no research on how the Two Factor theory differs among varying generations. This research paper attempts to fill that void by diving into a targeted study of Baby Boomers and Millennials. This study is focused on …

Recognizing The Beauty And Science Of Diversity: A Tale Of Orchidaceae, Claire M. Kelley

Honors Theses

This honors thesis is a study of the diversity of the Orchidaceae family and the use of science and art to describe that diversity. The scientific topics about orchid diversity that are discussed are morphology, pollinator relationships, and the biogeographical range of the orchid family. These topics helped narrow down the species that were used in the artistic side of this thesis. The artistic aspect of this thesis includes four pieces of artwork that illustrate the beauty of the Orchidaceae family by showcasing specific species and using different mediums to capture the family in all its beauty. The four pieces …

The Emotional Bond Between A Horse And A Child With Autism During Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Sarah K. Cox

Honors Theses

This qualitative case study aimed to determine if the formation of an emotional bond between a horse and a child with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during a Therapeutic Horseback Riding (TR) lesson is a key component to maximizing therapeutic benefits. Before collecting any data, it was initially hypothesized that this emotional bond was something that had to be established over time in order to be significant and a therapist should aim to use the same horse each time in order to maximize other positive therapeutic outcomes. Resources included in this case study will describe all of the …

The Relationship Between Place And Depression: The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Mental Health In Mccreary County, Kentucky, Beth A. Vanover

Honors Theses

There is an increased rate of poor mental health days in McCreary County, Kentucky, related to low socioeconomic status compared to other counties in the Commonwealth. This correlation is shown by examining the area’s socioeconomic indicators, such as the population’s educational attainment, employment rates, average household income, rates of poverty, and comparing these statistics with the rate of poor mental health days. Additionally, as part of the current study, residents of McCreary County were interviewed to elicit feedback on ways in which living and working in McCreary County can contribute to a poor mental health. Subsequently, these qualitative interviews were …

Give Me A Break: The Effects Of Recess In Rural Elementary Schools, Nancy E. Allen

Honors Theses

A qualitative descriptive research approach was conducted to determine the effects of recess on rural elementary schools. Counties in Eastern Kentucky are predominantly rural and ranks among the lowest ten-percent of U.S. counties in poverty, income, and unemployment rate. These variables greatly affect the health and occupations of all citizens in this area, but the researcher looked specifically at its impact on elementary students. Principals and teachers in rural eastern Kentucky elementary schools were interviewed using semi-structured interview protocol about their opinions of recess in their schools and on students. Interview data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed for themes. Results …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of Parenting A Child Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan Wherry

Honors Theses

There is an increasing prevalence of ASD diagnoses, which calls for more research on the caregivers. This study’s goal was to explore primary and secondary sources to identify themes of potential research within this topic. This study analyzed the existing literature and archival data to create seven themes: parental stress, stress-inducing ASD symptomology, ASD vs. other disorders, mothers vs. fathers, coping mechanisms of caregivers, substance use, and incarceration. A potential future research project idea is presented.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Sylvia Plath And Virginia Woolf, Molly King

Honors Theses

Previous research indicates a correlation between creativity and psychopathology, particularly among female authors and poets, possibly heightening this group’s risk for suicide. This article aims to provide a psychohistory containing psychological evaluations and hypothetical treatments plans for two prominent female writers, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf both of whom completed suicide. Primary source material such as Plath’s journals, Woolf’s diaries, and related autobiographies were used as supplemental data for the clinical assessment. Plath is argued to have hypothetically met today’s DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, and Woolf for Bipolar I Disorder in addition to trauma-related difficulties.

Optimization Of Camera Trapping Methods For Surveying Mesopredators In The Appalachian Foothills, Courtney R. Hayes

Honors Theses

The global decline of apex predators has allowed mesopredator populations to increase, a phenomenon described by the mesopredator release hypothesis (MRH). Some mesopredator species, however, are of conservation concern, such as the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). To assess camera deployment strategies and survey for the presence of eastern spotted skunks in the Appalachian Foothills, I conducted baited camera trap surveys in Kentucky, a state for which systematic methodological data is lacking. I surveyed 64 sites across 10 counties over more than 1,200 trap days from October 2017 to April 2018. I detected approximately 400 individual mesopredators of …

Activism As A Source Of Strength For Black College Students At Predominately White Institutions, Caroline M. Reid

Honors Theses

Racism is deeply ingrained in American society, and white supremacy and the oppression of people of color has greatly contributed to the establishment of the very institutions that continue to perpetuate its existence today. Racism manifests itself in a variety of ways, and its most constant and daily appearance is in instances of microaggressions. These experiences contribute to feelings of invisibility, frustration, and anger, an experience known as racism-related stress, which research has shown to severely and negatively impact mental health. In order to combat the insidious effects of racism, Black Americans have utilized coping mechanisms for generations. This resiliency …

“Thy Kingdom Come”: Catholicism And The Nueva Canción, 1966-1982, Elizabeth Turnwald

Honors Theses

Within Latin America’s tumultuous political atmosphere during the 1960s through the 1980s, a grassroots musical genre called the Nueva Canción emerged. Meaning “new song,” it sought to unify the poor and marginalized through a combination of folk influences, indigenous musical styles, and politically-charged lyrics. Although they achieved similar commercial success to U.S. contemporaries such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Joan Baez, the folkloristas [folksingers] of the Nueva Canción often incorporated references to and elements of Catholic liturgical practice. Considering the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and the advent of a Latin American Liberation Theology, the time was ripe …

Development Of A Self-Orienting Cubesat Solar Array, Eric Mcgill

Honors Theses

The sponsor of this conceptual design project was the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at WrightPatterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. AFIT was striving to give CubeSats more capability to conduct research, reconnaissance, and other functions. One of the major barriers for AFIT to overcome to give CubeSats more capability was the ability of the CubeSat to generate usable power while in orbit. All of AFIT’s CubeSats generated the power needed while in orbit with solar panels that are rigidly mounted to the outside of the craft. AFIT believes that a new design for the solar array used …

When Necessary Is Not Enough: A Study In The Effectiveness Of U.S. Military Force To Combat Terrorism In The Middle East, Lora Christine Vonderhaar

Honors Theses

This thesis will examine the relationship between the number and size of U.S. military bases in the Middle East and instances of terrorism in the same region. It seeks to analyze the complex set of impacts that U.S. military presence has on the area and determine if U.S. presence is overall more helpful or harmful to the situation on the ground. While size and number of U.S. bases is not a perfect measure of U.S. presence, it is a fair representation and a useful empirical starting point. This thesis will focus specifically on terrorism as a non-state actor and not …

Determining The Role Of Fatty Acid Composition In Antibiotic Resistance, Andrew Deak

Honors Theses

Bacterial infections that can no longer be treated by antibiotics because of bacterial mutations cause many infections and deaths each year. My research conducted aims to study how membrane fatty acid composition can affect membrane susceptibility to antibiotics. Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-negative facultative anaerobe, is the bacterium that I am testing. Listeria has 80-90% branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) which allow membrane fluidity and sufficient protection against invaders. When Listeria is grown in the presence of butyrate, the BCFAs become straight-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and make the once fluid membrane more rigid. This allows for easier antibiotic penetration of the phospholipid …

The Influence Of Self-Enhancement And Stress On Weight Gain: A Biopsychosocial Approach, Olivia G. Grondalski

Honors Theses

The current longitudinal study was conducted to test if people perceive their physical body size to be smaller than it is, and if people do self-enhance their body size, then how do body self-enhancement and stress interact to predict subsequent Body Mass Index (BMI). This study toke a biopsychosocial approach to understanding why people make health decisions by measuring participants’ self-enhancement, perceived stress, cortisol baseline levels, and stress reactivity and observing their associations and interactions with subsequent weight gain. Self-enhancement is a type of positive illusion characterized by overly positive attitudes people have towards themselves, which is used for promotion …

The Other Woman: Mate Poaching Across The Menstrual Cycle, Margaret M. Jaeger

Honors Theses

The goal of the present work was to empirically examine how mate poaching, or romantically pursuing an individual already in a committed relationship (Schmitt & Buss, 2001), varies across the menstrual cycle. The existing literature strongly suggests that partnered women are wary of ovulating women because they are deemed threatening rivals (Krems, Neel, Neuberg, Puts, & Kenrick, 2016). The series of experiments described here tested this assumption by examining both the mate poaching behaviors and perceptions of ovulating women across the menstrual cycle. The first experiment examined if ovulating women would be more willing to mate poach an attractive man. …

Characterization Of The Glycosylation Of Aquaglyceroporin Hc-3 In Erythrocytes From The Freeze Tolerant Anuran, Dryophytes Chrysoscelis, Dante L. Pezzutti

Honors Theses

By utilizing an extreme physiological adaptation known as freeze-tolerance, Cope’s gray tree frog, Dryophytes chrysoscelis, freezes and then subsequently thaws up to 65% of its extracellular fluid to survive the winter. During these periods of freezing and thawing, erythrocytes (RBCs) of D. chrysoscelis utilize a protein, aquaglyceroporin HC-3, that facilitates transmembrane flux of both water and cryoprotective glycerol to mediate osmotic adjustments. RBCs from cold-acclimated tree frogs up-regulate HC-3 protein expression, which coincides with more abundant membrane localization and higher levels of glycosylation. However, the functional significance of HC-3 glycosylation on membrane localization and cellular freeze tolerance is currently not …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of U.S. Anti-Slavery Legislation Through The Lens Of Supply Chain Management, Alexander Marion Mingus

Honors Theses

Whether knowingly or unknowingly, business supply chains are often tainted with slavery and forced labor practices. In an effort to address this reality, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (CTSCA) requires companies in California to publish a statement disclosing companies’ efforts to prevent this potential abuse. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the California legislation by observing media trends and collecting expert interviews and data from business leaders, academics, and legislators. The data reveals both strengths and weaknesses in the California bill, which informs future attempts to create antislavery legislation addressing corporate supply chain abuses. The CTSCA …

The Influence Of Self-Esteem And Stress On Academic Performance In College Students, Angel J. Pagan

Honors Theses

The research sought to examine if there was an association between performance self-esteem (i.e., self-worth regarding academic performance) and stress (perceived and physiological) on end of semester grade point average (GPA) in college students. It is hypothesized that the effect of performance self-esteem on GPA at the end of the semester will vary by stress. In the two part longitudinal study participants completed measures to assess performance self-esteem and perceived stress. Participants also provided two saliva samples to assess the steroid hormone cortisol, before and after an acute lab stressor task. Participants were for permission for the researchers to access …

The Stigma Of Homelessness As An Identity: Homelessness As A Gendered Condition, Jamie Vieson

Honors Theses

The main goal of my thesis is to articulate the problem of homelessness. In order to do this, I examine philosopher Eva Kittay’s work on disability and equality. Throughout her work, Kittay uses the terms human interconnectedness, oppression and citizenship. These three terms serve as the major concepts I explore. Human interconnectedness highlights the links that humans share with one another as interdependent beings. Oppression is the term used to describe how certain individuals or groups in society are treated unequally or are rejected from society. Finally, exploration of citizenship shows the importance of identities in society and how they …

Aircraft Generator Design And Analysis, David Gross

Honors Theses

Aerospace electrical power demands have been growing due to an increased amount of electrical load onboard aircraft. This increased load has come about as electrical power sources for various aircraft subsystems, such as pumps, compressors and flight controls, replace mechanical power sources. The main source of electrical power for an aircraft is a generator. The nature of emerging power demands on an aircraft causes increased temperatures and complex/dynamic loads; many contemporary generators are not necessarily designed to repeatedly tolerate such phenomena. Due to the need for high amounts of reliable electrical power among current and future aircraft, aerospace generators should …

Physiological And Psychological Effects Of Being Weighed In Female Participants, Julia Carroccio

Honors Theses

Stressful experiences such as constantly thinking about one's weight lead to harmful long-term physiological and psychological effects on the body. Many studies have examined the presence of weight stigma in society at large, but fewer studies have sought to determine the physical and psychological outcomes of that stigma. In the short-term, even momentary stressors could have an impact on factors such as blood pressure, for example when patients are stressed due to weighing before blood pressure is measured. This study tested whether female participants’ (N = 55) attitudes about their bodies, anxiety levels, and blood pressures were affected by being …

Changes In Herbaceous Plant Diversity In An Old-Growth Ohio Forest Before And After Emerald Ash Borer Invasion, Taylor Melissa Buskey

Honors Theses

The herbaceous layer of eastern North American deciduous forests is an important contributor to biodiversity in this region. One of the greatest threats to herbaceous plant diversity is the introduction of invasive species, which can suppress native species and alter local environmental conditions. Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) is a non-native insect pest that has caused a mass death of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America since its introduction to the United States. The resultant changes in canopy structure may affect local conditions and thus have indirect impacts on herbaceous layer composition. Drew Woods State Nature Preserve is a …

Fault Lines: Geopolitical Rivalry In The East China Sea, Nicholas A. Dalton

Honors Theses

The Senkaku Islands dispute in the East China Sea stands as a major territorial dispute between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Japan. This dispute has periodically reemerged in the interactions between these two states between 1895, when the Senkaku Islands were definitively administered by Japan, and the present day. The dispute has undergone significant changes both in its emphasis by the PRC and Japan as well as what the dispute is about. At its early stages, the Senkaku Islands dispute was largely ignored by both China and Japan. Between 1971 and 1978, when the Senkaku Islands dispute became …