Digital Commons Network^™

English Identity In The Writings Of John Milton, Hannah E. Ryan

Honors Theses

John Milton is an essential writer to the English canon. Understanding his life and thought is necessary to understanding his corpus. This thesis will examine Milton’s nationalism in several major and minor poems as well as in some of Milton’s prose. It will argue that Milton’s nationalism is difficult to trace chronologically, but that education is always essential to Milton’s national vision of England.

Effect Of Msa On Antibiotic Resistance And Allelic Replacement Of Pkor1 In Staphylococcus Aureus, Jordan M. Towne

Honors Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that causes hospital and community-acquired infections (52). These infections are difficult to treat due to resistance to a wide range of antibiotics and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains (13, 52). S. aureus causes infection by regulation of accessory genes encoding for expression of factors contributing to virulence (9, 11, 12, 29, 34, 43, 45), including severe infection, biofilm formation, autolysis, and antibiotic resistance (4, 5, 7, 27, 56). Actually, extracellular DNA and nutrient release during autolysis has been shown to contribute to the ability of bacteria to form and maintain a biofilm as well …

The Homeless Perception Of Services, Alexander K. Pickle

Honors Theses

This study, recognizing a lack of academic research into the homeless population’s needs, approaches the problem of needs assessment of the homeless through the context of customer service. The literature points to a discontentment with the classic shelter model, and potential positives in newer, emerging alternatives. Using the “Gap Model of Service Quality”, qualitative interviews were structured and scheduled with the homeless individuals in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The study encountered many obstacles, including lack of participation. Due to these complications, it could not come to any meaningful conclusions; however, there are multiple avenues for further research that developed through the process.

A Systematic Literature Review Of Household Food Security And Overweight/Obese Status Among Low-Income Children, Meaghan A. Clark

Honors Theses

A systematic literature review approach was used to determine the extent of knowledge regarding low-income children’s BMI and household food insecurity. Recommendations were made for impending research, studies, and practices regarding the consensus of current knowledge in relation to low-income children with higher BMIs that come from a food insecure household. Current studies were analyzed, with special attention to methods and findings.

A Comparison Of Testosterone With Prostate Specific Antigen And Prostatic Acid Phosphatase For The Serodiagnosis Of Prostate Cancer In Adult Males, Annie Chu

Honors Theses

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in men. The American Cancer Society has estimated that there were 240,890 newly diagnosed cases in 2011 and 33,720 deaths from prostate cancer. Diagnosis of this disease has traditionally been done by measuring prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels through sero-chemical testing. The purpose of this study is to compare serum testosterone levels to PSA levels and Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) levels in the search for new and more accurate technology. This study shows that testosterone was not efficient in correctly diagnosing those with prostate cancer. It had a …

Interpersonal Desirability Of The Self-Defeating Humorist, Ashley N. Barnes

Honors Theses

Humor is a multifaceted construct and can be defined in terms of the different ways people tend to use humor, which are referred to as humor styles. The present study examined the potential effects that the four different humor styles (Affiliative, Self-enhancing, Aggressive, and Self-defeating) have on other people’s perceptions of the individual producing the humor, and whether that impact was moderated by the attachment style of the individual perceiving the humorist. The goal was to investigate the interaction between the humor styles and physical attractiveness of a target in predicting how attractive a person is perceived and the degree …

The Effects Of Formatting On Card Fluency For Say-All-Fast-Minute-Each-Day-Shuffled (Safmeds), Tory Roti

Honors Theses

SAFMEDS is a precision teaching technique that promotes fluent responding (Bower & Orgel, 1981; Eshleman, 1985; Korinek & Wolking, 1984). Limited research has been conducted regarding SAFMEDS and stimulus control, but available research suggests irrelevant stimuli affect students responding during a SAFMEDS timing (Meindl, Ivy, Miller, & Neef, 2011). Meindl et al. (2011) questioned whether fluency of SAFMEDS cards couId be affected by altering stimulus features on the card (i.e., location of the words on the card). Results indicated that on testing days, accuracy and fluency of responding decreased when identical terms were presented with the only difference being the …

Improving Rapid Prototyping Through The Installment Of 3d Printers In Automotive Companies, Kelly Mccarthy

Honors Theses

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a relatively new form of additive manufacturing that has the potential to induce a second industrial revolution. This technology utilizes a print head to lay down raw materials in successive layers to fabricate a three dimensional object. There are several techniques in 3D printing, two of which will be discussed hi this proposal: fused deposition modeling (FDM), and inkjet/polyjet matrix 3D printing.

Although this technology has been around since the 1980s, it is constantly evolving and new materials, uses, and objects are created daily. This technology presents the potential to manufacture a variety of objects across …

A Novel Spin-Light Polarimeter For The Electron Ion Collider, Prajwal Mohanmurthy

Honors Theses

A novel precision polarimeter will go a long way in satisfying the requirements of the precision experiments being planned for a future facility such as the Electron Ion Collider. A polarimeter based on the asymmetry in the spacial distribution of the spin light component of synchrotron radiation will make for a fine addition to the existing conventional Møller and Compton polarimeters. The spin light polarimeter consists of a set of wriggler magnet along the beam that generate synchrotron radiation. The spacial distribution of synchrotron radiation will be measured by an ionization chamber after being collimated. The up-down spacial asymmetry in …

Around The World In 180 Days, Laura Rogers

Honors Theses

For years, multicultural curriculum has been accepted as "normal curriculum" sprinkled with various holidays celebrated by non-white cultures and the occasional multicultural book. As a result, many students graduate from high school and college ignorant of the various cultures present in our communities, states, our country, and our world. Myself, and others such as Paulo Friere (educator and author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed) and Susan Piazza (associate professor of literacy studies at Western Michigan University), believe that multicultural curriculum should be much more. For teachers to create a thoughtful, reflective, substantive multicultural curriculum they must intentionally create what Susan …

Kayleigh's Australian Adventure: A Story For Children, Diane A. Wetmore

Honors Theses

This is a children's book for upper elementary students (3rd/4th grade) as an introduction to Australian culture

Insights From India, Nora Tkac

Honors Theses

This thesis chronicles a twenty-one year old American college student's volunteer experience in India. Photographs and first-person narrative are used to illustrate the insights gained over the course of a month living with a Tibetan host family in northern India. Teaching English to Buddhist monks, volunteering general assistance at a daycare center, and exploring the city of Dharamsala are among the various experiences that shed light on the cultural and societal differences between two very different worlds, the developing and the developed. Photographs bookend each chapter to help illustrate scenes described in the prose and captions are paired with each …

The Physician Assistant Profession: A Handbook For Students, Jami L. Cynecki

Honors Theses

This document extensively covers the physician assistant career and can be used as a handbook for students who are interested in learning more about the career. This thesis explores the question, what is the process of becoming a physician assistant? More specifically, I will cover the progression from a student to a fully licensed PA. Topics that are discussed include: how to prepare for a career as a PA (including the pathway to being admitted to an accredited program), the training received in an accredited program and information on certification maintenance required as a licensed physician assistant Furthermore, this document …

Process Journal, Abby Mcqueary

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

History Of The Honors College Phenomenon, Allison Pricer

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Human Heart Rna Responsible For Rescuing Mutant Axolotl Hearts, William Lian

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Creation And Implementation Of A Free Day Camp For Children, Kayla Ernst

Honors Theses

No abstract available.

Building Experience Beyond Academics, Katherine M. Ragan

Honors Theses

The object of this study is to determine the perceived benefits of building experience beyond academics. This study consisted of online survey through Question Pro with questions about what co-curricular activities students participated in, whether or not the student had held a previous leadership position, perceptions of benefits of extracurricular activities, holding a job on campus, and academics, demographics, and academic status.

Western Michigan University students were invited to participate in the survey via emails from professors and through social media site invites such as Facebook. Students were able to complete the survey at their convenience from Monday, June 18, …

Emergent Worship: A Study On "Contemplation" In The Emerging Church, Filip Milosavljevic

Honors Theses

Due to great interest and popularity of various contemplative practices among youth leaders, clergy, and church members across all denominational—including Seventh-day Adventism—and religious lines, this project will analyze the nature of selected Emergent contemplative practices, in particular those promulgated by the CAC. The primary goal is to find out whether “contemplation” and contemplative practices, as promoted by Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and their Emergent colleagues, are appropriate in Christian worship. This study will also contrast such contemplative practices and spirituality with the concept of contemplation in the Bible and in the writings of Ellen G. White. As a scientific addendum …

The Sound And The Fury: Comparative Sociolinguistic Studies In German, Logan C. Pecinovsky

Honors Theses

The German nation has a long history of fragmentation, from the mini-states of the Middle Ages to the eastern and western republics of the recent past. These barriers affected the speech community in particular. Among the various borders that shifted through Central and Eastern Europe for centuries, dialects arose as a result of strong political and cultural identities. Without a strong centralizing force to integrate them, the many communities remained relatively homogenous, which provided fertile soil for unique linguistic development. The most recent partition of East and West scarcely lasted half a century and did not create a discrete speech …

College Admissions Use Of Social Media In Recruitment Marketing: A Literature Review & Strategic Plan For Western Michigan University's Office Of Admissions, Natalie Faculak

Honors Theses

Social media technology is a rapidly growing communication phenomenon that digital natives, the generation of current 18-29 years old have embraced and revolutionized daily interactions. Social media technology is defined as “web-based and mobile applications that allow individuals and organizations to create, engage, and share new user-generated or existing content, in digital environment through multi-way communication” (Davis, Deil-Amen, Rios-Aguilar, & Gonzalez Canche, 2011). Emerging social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow users to create and maintain relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and organizations. The “always connected” generation of digital natives expects constant communication and instantaneous access to information …

Nursing Informatics Competencies: Implications For Safe And Effective Practice, Hayes Greer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the implications and availability of nursing informatics competencies, and to address the current state of informatics competency guidelines and assessment tools. To possess competence in nursing informatics, one must possess the ability to obtain, store, retrieve, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom, which is essential to nursing practice. Nurses must be educated and competent in nursing informatics in order to exhibit safe and effective nursing practice. Many various lists and guidelines exist to address the distinct competencies that nurses must possess; however, very few resources are available to assess the degree …

Financial And Management Records For Wmu Softball, Lindsey M. Truitt

Honors Theses

The major purpose of this thesis is to create new documents, charts, and forms to better organize the financial, recruiting, and travel information for the Western Michigan University (WMU) softball team. The three forms created include a hotel log, recruiting log, and budget form. Each form is essential for recording events and should enhance the efficiency and ease of recordkeeping. The forms will also help with organizing different files and information. The creation of a hotel log will help plan softball trips and provide a history of well-liked hotels with reasonable prices in locations convenient to the playing fields. The …

Student Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Anna Feenstra

Honors Theses

An aging American population means more older adults will be entering the health care system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the attitudes of nursing students toward older adults and to determine if these attitudes change over the course of a nursing program. This study was carried out in a university in the Midwest United States. A pre-test post-test single group design was used for this study. Students were surveyed three times throughout the program using Kogan’s Old People scale (KOP) and a demographic questionnaire. Testing was conducted at the beginning and end of the sophomore geriatric course …

Intelligibility And The Sinewave Speech Carrier Phrase Effect, Danielle R. Werle

Honors Theses

Several studies have examined the perception of sinewave speech. Early work showed that listeners could transcribe sinewave sentences. Recent work on sinewave vowels found that listeners could recognize sinewave speech at the phonetic level with moderate (about 50-55%) accuracy. Sinewave vowel intelligibility scores improve significantly when preceded by a sinewave carrier phrase, an effect that disappears when the carrier phrase is removed. The present study was designed to examine this carrier phrase enhancement effect and analyze whether listeners require the carrier phrase to be intelligible to produce increased intelligibility scores. Sinusoidal carrier phrases and /hVd/ syllables were generated from recordings …

Community Involvement As A Tool For International Policy: Realizing The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Michael D. Eriksen Jr.

Honors Theses

Whether present in abundance or known for its scarcity, water defines the regional and geographical identities of people. It defines political and ecological boundaries globally. Water paucity and quality in burgeoning populations has been a catalyst for creative resource management policies. Conservation of water resources, in practice, has still not improved however. As a result, the health and stability of the Great Lakes as a natural resource is threatened. The Great Lakes region includes two countries, eight states, two provinces, and over 200 tribal and native influences. International agreements, such as the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 (BWT) and the …

Capturing Attention: Advertising In The Internet Age, Tara Crane, Elise Weisengoff

Honors Theses

It is crucial for the advertisement industry to know whether or not their commercials work. According to ComScore.com, 45 percent of Americans see video ads online, for a total of more than 1.7 billion minutes in January alone. Hulu.com accounts for 26 percent of video advertisement views, with 1.1 billion views in January (2011). Companies spent $72 billion in online advertising in 2010, according to ZenithOptimedia.com. That number is projected to increase 8 percent in the next two years. Therefore positive results are critical for business and financial success. This study will attempt to analyze data collected from the generation …

Population Structure Of Tursiops Truncatus In North Inlet, South Carolina And Use Of Inlet As A Nursery Ground, Heather Estep

Honors Theses

Abundance, distribution and movement patterns of bottlenose dolphin populations are becoming more frequently studied along the Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Florida. One aspect of dolphin populations that has not been a focus of study is the use of nursery grounds by females with calves. Nursery grounds for bottlenose dolphin populations have been identified in Sarasota Bay, Florida and near Beaufort, North Carolina. This study analyzed data collected from September 1997 to June 2006 on focal follows and photo identification to determine if females were utilizing North Inlet, South Carolina as a nursery ground. There was no significant difference in …

Countries' Involvement In Whaling And The Impacts On Their Tourism Industries, Kaitlyn Hofeldt

Honors Theses

Since the expansion of whale watching as an industry, many countries have converted from whaling as a source of revenue. There are still some countries that partake in whaling and also conduct whale watching tours. The belief is that these two industries cannot coexist in a country and that whaling will have a negative impact on the whale watching sector and the tourism industry all together. A comparative analysis of scholarly articles was conducted alongside a survey to examine the impacts of whaling on the whale watching industries of certain countries. The results showed whaling and whale watching can coexist …

Golf: An Alternative Form Of Physical Activity For An Aging Population, Lisa Richardson

Honors Theses

It has been found that breaking an exercise into multiple ten minute bouts can provide the same results as a lump bout of the same time (American College of Sports Medicine, 2010). Though little research has been done on its effectiveness as a modality of physical activity, golf, due to the considerable amounts of walking involved and the social and leisure nature of the game, could be used as an option of physical activity for older adults. In this literature review, the primary goal is to investigate the literature regarding how much energy an older adult could predictably expend while …