Digital Commons Network^™

Connection: An Autism-Focused Dating App, Cyrena Johnson

Scholars Week

30% of US internet users 18-29 use dating apps to find partners. Meanwhile, only 9% of adults with autism are married—and there are no popular dating apps designed for ASDs. We propose the app Connection, a dating app designed for the autistic community. Using queries and informal analysis, we created possible features and prototype displays for Connection to show its future application.

Women And Health Care: Exploring The Communication Dynamic Between Women And Their Doctors, Mairin Mccurdy

Scholars Week

This is a qualitative study examining the effects of the communication between patient and doctor on the self-concept of female patients. The researchers will use a combination of the Health Belief Model, which studies the individual constructs and beliefs that one feels and how this affects decisions made about health, and the Spiral of Silence, which explores how minority groups stay silent for fear of retaliation. Through the scope of these theories, the researcher will attempt to understand how insufficient communication on the part of the doctor, both in situations of diagnoses and in general practice, impacts how the female …

Feeding Success Of Harbor Seals In Relation To Hunting Technique At Whatcom Creek, Mackenna Newmarch

Scholars Week

Factors that influence hunting success of seals and sea lions are underrepresented in studies of animal behavior. This is a critical interaction to understand when evaluating the top-down effects of pinnipeds on endangered Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). In the Pacific Northwest, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) consume a very large number of individual salmon, species that are a valuable resource and the subject of costly restorative efforts. A salmon hatchery in Whatcom Creek estuary of downtown Bellingham, Washington, attracts harbor seals that prey on returning adult Pacific salmon. The convenient location and small size of the site allows consistent observation of …

Modeling Current Flow In Nanoparticle Doped Polymer Film Systems, David Seaman, Joshua Spradlin, Janelle Leger, Armin Rahmani

Scholars Week

Nanoparticle-doped polymer systems have elicited great interest for their ability to exhibit an electrical hysteresis, which can be applied to bistable organic memory devices. Such hysteresis is characterized by the ability maintain different currents at the same voltage, upon increasing and decreasing the voltage. Developing a successful theoretical and computational model for this effect could provide insights into what mechanisms are driving the hysteresis. However, while there has been interest in these systems for two decades, there are still open questions regarding modeling their operation mechanism. In this work, we explore a method of modelling these systems that approximates the …

Can Omnivores Mediate The Effects Of Degradation?, Hannah Moore

Scholars Week

Omnivores feed at multiple trophic levels and have large effects on community structuring and stability. The magnitude and direction of such effects, whether omnivores stabilize or destabilize communities, remains unresolved. Shifts in omnivore diet and trophic position may be of particular importance to community stability in degraded habitats, where resources are sparse. For example, omnivores may reduce the severity and duration of community responses to degradationby dampening the effects of any disturbance-mediated trophic cascade. The relatively simple food webs of freshwater systems are ideal for studying trophic ecology, and in the western U.S., streams are heavily degraded by overgrazing, beaver …

Reconstructing Late Holocene Paleofloods Along The Middle Tennessee River And Exploring Links With Climate And Land Use, Lance Stewart

Scholars Week

Sediment stored in floodplains and low alluvial terraces along the middle Tennessee River reflects flood frequency and magnitude during the past ca. 2800 years. This study uses the stratigraphy, sedimentology, and geochronology of three alluvial terraces to infer past flooding and explore links with climate change and anthropogenic land-use practices. Four sites located on different geomorphic landforms adjacent to the Tennessee River preserve records of at least 11 major flood events from 2780 ± 185 BP to 100 ± 10 BP. Buried soils at three sites are older than ca. 1380 BP and suggest a relatively recent period of landscape …

The Effects Of Time And Topography On Deep Carbon Storage In The Clarks River Valley Of Western Kentucky, Benedict W. Ferguson

Scholars Week

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics at depths greater than one meter in valley bottoms are not well understood. This study examines the stock of SOC with depth across alluvial landforms in the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. Nine cores along three transects from terraces to floodplains and adjacent channel bars were collected to depths of 4 meters or refusal. Bulk density, clay content, and loss-on-ignition were used to estimate stocks. Age estimates based on radiocarbon suggest the landforms range in age from 7975 to 52 yr BP. Average SOC and carbon (C) flux varied with values of 1.76 kg/m^{2 …}

Temporal Changes In Dissolved Calcium In Stream And River Waters In Western Kentucky Watershed, Adam Martin

Scholars Week

Temporal Changes in Dissolved Calcium in Stream and River Waters in Western Kentucky Watershed

Examining The Relationship Between Climate And Seasonal Stream Thermal Regimes In A High Desert Ecosystem, Hannah Moore, Melody Feden

Scholars Week

Climate change is negatively affecting ecosystems around the world, and in the coming years, scientists predict that these changes will only intensify and accelerate. In the western mountains of North America, climate change projections predict elevated temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier snowmelt. Elevated air temperatures have the propensity to affect water temperatures in sensitive freshwater ecosystems. Temperature increases may cause streams to reach the upper thermal limit for many aquatic organisms, such as aquatic invertebrates and fish, and result in death or dispersal for these organisms. This makes the availability of cold-water refugia in streams that much more important for …

Can Omnivores Mediate The Effects Of Degradation?, Hannah Moore

Scholars Week

Omnivores feed at multiple trophic levels and have large effects on community structuring and stability. The magnitude and direction of such effects, whether omnivores stabilize or destabilize communities, remains unresolved. Shifts in omnivore diet and trophic position may be of particular importance to community stability in degraded habitats, where resources are sparse. For example, omnivores may reduce the severity and duration of community responses to degradationby dampening the effects of any disturbance-mediated trophic cascade. The relatively simple food webs of freshwater systems are ideal for studying trophic ecology, and in the western U.S., streams are heavily degraded by overgrazing, beaver …

Soil Responses To 48 Years Of Continuous No Till And Conventional Till Corn In Central Kentucky, Usa, Emily Cook

Scholars Week

Cropping systems, fertilizer applications and tillage practices influence soil physical and chemical characteristics. In this study, the impact of long-term conventional and no-tillage systems on selected soil properties were evaluated in a continuous corn system on a Maury silt loam soil. This field for the study is located on the University of Kentucky's Research Farm (Spindletop Farm). The field was tilled in 1969 from bluegrass sod and the first year's data was in 1970. Each plot is 20 ft. by 40 ft. and for many years each plot was split with winter cover crop planted to rye or hairy vetch. …

Nursing Compliance With Vap Bundle, Taylor Meadows

Scholars Week

It has been proposed that by initiating the highest percentages of nursing compliance, overall patient outcomes will improve along with a decrease in the number of ventilator-associated events (VAEs). The aim of the study is to appraise the association between nursing compliance with a ventilator bundle and a successful decline in the number of events of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU). The study also provides evidence-based direction on the best nursing practices essential to reducing the rates of VAP. Objectives include expanding the awareness of critical care staff on prevention and compliance and to improve teamwork …

Assessing Attention, Nicole Hagan

Scholars Week

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder that can be recognized by its symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity (Anderson, 2012). While having these symptoms is not desirable to most, presenting them in a psychological evaluation can be advantageous to some. College students diagnosed with ADHD can receive special benefits, such as prescription medication that can be misused for recreational purposes or to enhance academic and/or athletic performance (Sansone & Sansone, 2011). The current research project looked at feigned ADHD and how one responds to an ADHD measure when instructed to feign, either with or without …

The Impact Of Sound Source Location On Change Deafness, Nicole Hagan

Scholars Week

This research project investigated the impact of sound source location on the phenomenon of change deafness. Change deafness occurs when participants listen to multiple sounds in an auditory scene and are unable to identify which sound disappeared from the scene. This phenomenon is exacerbated when the participants must keep track of four or more stimuli simultaneously. However, how the influence of sound source distance on the ability to detect changes in auditory scenes has not been previously investigated in a change deafness task. This is important because in the distance domain, the signal will be degraded by both decreasing level …

The Netherlands And 20th Century Migration, Clark Travis

Scholars Week

A panel of students presenting on topics relating to the history of migration in the 20th century.

Implementation Of The Banner Mobility Assessment Tool For Bariatric Patients, Nicole Benkert

Scholars Week

Abstract

The prevalence of morbidly obese patient within the United States is on a rapid incline. Evidence correlates an increase in patient falls, comorbidities, and hospital admission among this specific patient group. As a result, there is an increase in workload and injuries to staff as they tend to these patients. Healthcare facilities need to continuously update current patient handling programs and create specific policies for safely handling obese patients. Research suggests that Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Programs, as well as the Banner Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT), have substantially decreased nurse injuries through a wide range of nursing specialties. …

Investigation Of Omnivorous Trophic Position In The Drilling Gastropod, Urosalpinx Cinerea, Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Molly E. Karnes, Michelle M. Casey

Scholars Week

Drill-holes found in the fossil record are an important tool to study ecological patterns of the past. It is therefore important to gain a better understanding of the role of extant drilling snails in modern ecosystems. Although traditionally considered a predator, trophic position of 3.0, specimens of the muricid Urosalpinx cinerea from Long Island Sound revealed trophic positions between 2.3 and 2.5, suggestive of an omnivorous diet. This study addresses the generality of this result by examining a U. cinerea population from Wilmington, North Carolina. Preliminary whole body, soft tissue stable isotope analysis of nitrogen and carbon was conducted on …

The Sensory And Textural Evaluation Of A St. Louis Style Butter Cake Made With Greek Yogurt As A Fat Replacer, Caprisse Johnson

Scholars Week

In modern America, many nutrition-related health issues are on the rise, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Many nutrition professionals link the rise in these three diseases to the Western Diet, which includes a high fat and sugar content within its foods. Due to the increased consumption of this diet high in sugar and fat, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes rates seem to be rising. However, many people who eat this diet and are at risk for these complications, hesitate to change their diet because they feel that healthier alternatives bland in flavor or have a repugnant taste when compared …

Vte Prevention: A Risk Assessment Tool, Mary Gilkey

Scholars Week

VTEs are a leading cause of hospital deaths and cost healthcare systems billions. A risk assessment tool that correctly identifies at risk patients and provides appropriate prophylactic measures can decrease the rate of hospital acquired VTE.

Nursing Interventions For Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Sierra Harris

Scholars Week

This project serves to explore evidence for three nursing interventions aimed at neonatal abstinence syndrome including: breastfeeding, kangaroo care, and rooming-in. Many nursing interventions and policies are aimed at treating the symptoms despite limited research supporting their effectiveness. Further investigation into these interventions and policies regarding neonatal abstinence syndrome needs to be addressed in order to improve the quality of care for affected neonates and decrease the stigma surrounding neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Migration In The 20th Century With Emphasis On Spain, Jonathan Howard

Scholars Week

This research reflects the most important aspects of migration as it pertains to Spain. This includes migration to the country, from the country, and within the country. Historical analysis previous to the 20th century is included as well as analysis of more contemporary migration. At the end there is an interview comparison with a modern immigrant that lives in the United States, which allows for a comparison of a "normal" migrant story with a real life example.

Flo: The Brand Character's Portrayal And Influence To Progressive Insurance, Sydney Chambers

Scholars Week

In 2008, Progressive Insurance introduced the character “Flo” into their advertisements. Flo is portrayed by comedian Stephanie Courtney. This study aims to investigate how Flo from Progressive was portrayed in commercials, along with Flo’s influence on both Progressive and advertising in general. A content analysis of 11 commercials featuring Flo were analyzed. These commercials portrayed Flo as experienced with age, sexualized, white, fanatical, and needy. Flo influenced Progressive by achieving a brand character’s goals: build trust, approachability, reliability, and identity (Leonhardt & Cruz, 2017). Additionally, Progressive's profits increased after the introduction of Flo. Finally, research regarding women in advertising post-2008 …

Renewable Energy: A Solution To Japan’S Energy Crisis, Sunny Kwan

Scholars Week

As world population increases steadily, fossil fuel deposits around the world continue to be consumed; estimates state that all current known deposits will run dry by 2088. Fossil fuel consumption not only causes environmental pollution, but its resulting greenhouse gases accelerate global warming, leading to destructive changes in climate patterns and rising sea levels. On one hand, fossil fuels are an indispensable part of daily life, but they also cause irreversible damage to the environment. On the other hand, renewable energy sources are more expensive and less convenient to develop compared to fossil fuels, but they are a great alternative …

Dueling Between Critics: The Cuban Healthcare System, Colin Daly

Scholars Week

Colin Daly

MLA 400

Abstract

March 29, 2018

Dueling between Critics: The Cuban Healthcare System

Since Fidel Castro’s health started to deteriorate in 2008, and power was turned over to his brother Raul, many scholars have begun to reflect on his legacy. One area that has attracted considerable attention has been that of the healthcare system that Castro introduced and carried out after the revolution in 1959. Some scholars have cited and explained the positive effects, such as education of the needy, and the introduction of others have isolated the negative sides. Due to the freedom of expression restraints in …

Correlations Of Co2 Levels, Brittney Nelson

Scholars Week

This project looks at the correlation between CO2 levels and human influences as well as the correlation between CO2 levels and global temperatures.