Digital Commons Network^™

Reforging Sales: The Rise Of The Sales Bricoleur In Dynamic Ecosystems, Donovan Gordon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bricolage refers to the ability of individual actors to intuitively and creatively integrate and orchestrate resources within a firm's ecosystem to provide solutions and co-create value in constrained environments. Recently introduced to the sales literature, bricolage is a dynamic capability that enables salespeople to adapt, reallocate, innovate, and navigate their ecosystem with constrained resources to drive performance (Epler et al., 2024; Epler & Leach, 2021). Despite roots in management and entrepreneurial research, bricolage remains underexplored within the sales literature. The purpose of this research is to advance the sales literature by integrating Service-Dominant Logic (SDL), Resource-Based View (RBV), Knowledge-Based View …

Coexisting In A Changing World: Humans And Insects In Urban Environments, Clover Smith

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The urban environment is viewed as a space exclusively for humans, an idea that has been built into the structure of cities during the process of urbanization, which transforms the landscape in a given area for anthropogenic activity. The process of urbanization can be characterized primarily by the widespread use of asphalt and concrete, as well as the introduction of ornamental plant species, which leaves urban environments more vulnerable to impacts of climate change such as flooding and excessive heat. This transformation also negatively impacts the insect species living within these environments, leading to species extirpation from these spaces. As …

Expanding Access To Noninvasive Spinal Neuromodulation For Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Comparative Device Study, Alice E C Palmer

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI) has traditionally been considered permanent due to the disruption of supraspinal input to spinal motor circuits. However, growing evidence suggests that spinal networks below the level of injury retain intrinsic motor-generating capabilities through central pattern generators. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (scTS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers electrical stimulation through the skin to reactivate these spinal networks. Although prior studies demonstrate that scTS delivered through research-grade devices is safe and effective in adults and children with chronic SCI, clinical translation remains limited by lack of FDA-approved systems, high costs, and restricted access to …

Balance Due: A Cross-Sectional Examination Of The Role Of Financial Stress And Dissociation In Suicidal Ideation, Caden Reynolds

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Prediction of suicide risk has not improved despite decades of research (e.g., Franklin et al., 2017). Given this, researchers have highlighted the importance of integrating multiple risk factors to better understand the suicidal phenomenon, including suicidal ideation (SI), and propel the field forward. Two factors that may influence suicide risk independently and in concert include: financial stress, the subjective stress that individuals face in response to their financial circumstances, which can amplify suicide risk (Elbogen et al., 2020), and dissociation, a complex internal psychological process that impacts memory, perception, and identity (Macia et al., 2023). Independently, financial stress and dissociation …

The After For What We Leave Behind, Cierra Marquardt

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This creative thesis discusses how art has failed to depict death through the promise of an ideal or an absolute, which is why my speculative solution is to create art that builds out the spectrum of nuance not currently found. I critique the idea of death as a precise moment instead of a network of changes; in understanding death to be an endpoint, the function of death within larger cyclical processes is lost. Through the analysis of the Memento Mori genres of historical and contemporary art work, a methodology is created which informs the creation of a pair of paintings …

Believe It Or Not: An Examination Of The Nature And Implications Of Evidence-Resistant Beliefs, Jack Geruc

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The aim of this thesis is to contribute to a growing body of academic research regarding the nature and origin of evidence-resistant belief systems and examine the influence that they have upon our lives. This examination of the origin of these beliefs draws on two intellectual disciplines: psychology and epistemology. A psychological approach examines the cognitive mechanisms that allow for the formation and persistence of these beliefs. The psychological approach focuses on the biological drives of belief formation and resilience. Furthermore, an examination of the psychology of identity shows an entanglement of one’s identity with belief systems that allows for …

Using A Toxic Aging Coin To Assess Hexavalent Chromium Neurotoxicity: Impact Of Cr(Vi) On The Blood-Brain Barrier, Liam Buchanan

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The US population faces simultaneous public health threats from both aging and environmental pollutants. Chief among these is hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], whose toxic effects in peripheral tissues are well-established but its effects on the brain are still understudied. Following previous results indicating hippocampal metals dyshomeostasis after Cr(VI) exposure, we aim to assess Cr(VI)’s impact on the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a key structure for brain protection. We exposed young, middle-aged, and geriatric rats of both sexes to low levels of Cr(VI) in their drinking water for 90 days, after which we used immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy to analyze tissues for evidence …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Factors That Affect Breastfeeding In Public, Caroline E. Bene

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this review was to explore factors that impact women’s decision to breastfeed in public or not. The PICOT question used was: ‘What Factors Affect Women’s Decision to Breastfeed in Public or Not?’ Two platforms, EBSCOhost and The National Library of Medicine, were used to identify 15 peer-reviewed journal articles on factors affecting women’s decision to breastfeed in public or not. The factors that impact a women’s decision on whether it is acceptable to breastfeed in public stems from the media stigmatizing that breastfeeding should be a private action. Research done yielded results of both positive and negative …

Exploring Perceived Structural Barriers And Access Related To Menstruation And Menstruation Education, Rylie Sisengrath

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Menstrual health is an important component of women’s health. However, many adolescents in the United States report feeling unprepared for menarche due to limited menstruation education. Menstruation education is limited, exclusively taught in schools with sex education courses, limiting the scope of female developmental education. Period poverty, limited access to menstrual education and hygiene products, continues to affect a large group of women. This study aimed to understand adolescents’ experiences with menstrual education, identify gaps in menstruation education, and explore structural and policy barriers affecting access to menstrual health resources. Using a cross-sectional survey with Likert-scale and open-response questions, quantitative …

Industrial Organization Of The U.S. Short-Term Rental Industry A Layered Structure–Conduct–Performance Analysis, Carlos Rodriguez

Theses & ETDs

This thesis analyzes the U.S. short-term rental industry using a Structure–Conduct–Performance framework to explain how control over demand access is centralized at the platform level, while pricing, revenue generation, and competition play out across distinct local markets at the operator level. The industry does not operate as a simple platform-versus-host model. It runs in layers that are connected through supply. At the top, platforms control demand access through search rankings, platform rules, and distribution, which allows them to influence visibility and booking flow across the entire system. In the middle sits the supply layer. Homeowners and investors decide whether to …

The Racial And Ethnocentric Implications Of Modern Chemical Warfare In Asia, Caitlin Lipscomb

History

This thesis examines the relationship between racial and ethnocentric ideologies and the use of chemical weapons in twentieth‑century Asia. While chemical warfare is often analyzed as a technological or legal issue, this study argues that its deployment was deeply shaped by racial hierarchies that rendered Asian populations acceptable targets for forms of violence considered illegitimate in Europe. Chemical weapons were not merely military tools but instruments embedded in imperial, colonial, and Cold War worldviews. Through six case studies—the Second Sino‑Japanese War, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Vietnam War, and covert American operations in Laos and Cambodia—this project traces …

Ai And The Ethos Of Education: Reflections On Human Learning Past And Present, Melanie Trotochaud

Yale Divinity School Theses

This thesis reflects on contemporary issues of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI), while also bringing into conversation 12th century Christian mystic and polymath Hildegard Von Bingen and 18th century Humanist philosopher Giambattista Vico. Hildegard’s and Vico’s contexts philosophically and historically share similarities to our present moment: reassessing our humanity and learning in times of technological, economic, and social shifts. Holding up their writing to various conversations about our contemporary world helps illuminate the present. Key aspects of the discussion include what constitutes tools or technologies, the agency we have in choosing to use or not to use them, and how we make …

Can Deviations In Age-Performance Be Used To Statistically Identify Steroid Use In Major League Baseball, Alex Alba-Del Valle

Theses & ETDs

This study investigates whether deviations in age-performance trajectories can be used to statistically identify patterns consistent with anabolic steroid use in Major League Baseball (MLB). Athletic performance typically follows a predictable biological trajectory, characterized by growth in early ages, a peak in the late twenties to early thirties, and a decline thereafter. Due to anabolic androgenic steroids being known to enhance muscle mass, strength, and recovery, their use may alter this natural progression, producing detectable distortions in performance over time. Using data from the Lahman Baseball Database, this analysis examines performance metrics for MLB players, with a primary focus on …

Numerical And Harmonic Analysis Of Simplex Number Parity, Hunter Dm Hannula

All NMU Master's Theses

The primary object of this thesis is the study of periodicity in the parity of simplex numbers by number-theoretic and harmonic methods. The regular d-simplex numbers are introduced geometrically, arithmetically, and combinatorially. We demonstrate that all sequences indexing even d-simplex numbers are defined by finitely many congruences in a single modulus, and are thus quasiperiodic. We therefore show that these "even index-sequences" are  particular elements in an affine space of functions, providing a natural decomposition result. We then introduce the discrete Fourier transform to construct the periodic parts of each index sequence, enabling the development of explicit forms for the …

A Comparative Analysis Of Jean Sizing And Fit Across Popular Denim Brands, Brooke R. Sterbens

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Denim jeans have been a staple in closets for many decades. In more recent times, human bodies have changed and have a larger variety in shapes than in the past. Brands are looking to create the perfect denim jean for their customer but lack putting in the time and research to make sure their measurement are accurately fitting. Variability in jean sizing among brands creates challenges for consumers to have a consistent fit among different styles and brands. This study aims to examine jean fit through different garment measurement sizing charts across multiple brands at different clothing stores. A quantitative …

Adaptive Leggings For Crohn’S/Colitis/Isbs Patients With A Colostomy Bag, Sarah E. Liebbe

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

As the prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, continues to rise in the United States, an increasing number of individuals undergo colostomy or ileostomy procedures requiring the use of an ostomy bag (Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, 2023). While these medical devices are essential for maintaining health and quality of life, they often introduce challenges related to clothing, including discomfort, lack of support, limited concealment, and restricted self-expression (Hubbard et al., 2019). Despite growing attention to inclusive design within the fashion industry, adaptive apparel for ostomy patients remains limited in availability, style, and affordability, leaving …

The Role Of Executive Functions In Creativity, Gavin R. Kyer

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The present study investigates the relationship between executive functions and creativity, measured through divergent thinking. Literature review determines that there should be a positive correlation between executive functioning and creative idea generation, however, findings are mixed. This study tested the level of correlation/predictability between executive functions, specifically, updating, shifting, and inhibition, and creativity. Participants (N=112) completed tasks assessing updating (letter memory), shifting (number letter) and inhibition (Stroop). They also completed the Alternative Uses Task (AUT) that measures divergent thinking. Pearson’s correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine any individual or combined relationship between executive functions and creativity. Results …

Cholesterol Effect On The P-Glycoprotein Conformational Dynamics, Zane Bunn

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) is a human efflux pump that belongs to the ABC transporter family. This protein consists of two transmembrane domains (TMD) that convert between inward to outward facing configurations to remove a wide variety of structurally different compounds from the intracellular membrane into the extracellular space using ATP.  This non-specific efflux of compounds has brought Pgp to scientific light as having a major role in multi-drug resistance of many diseases, and researchers are focused on developing a deeper understanding of the protein. To further this understanding, this study analyzed how the structure of Pgp is affected by a 10% …

From Admission To Achievement: Evaluating The Predictive Validity Of Entrance Exams And Grade Point Average In Nursing Education, Kristen Fenlason

Education Doctorate Dissertations

At a critical time of nursing shortages, nursing programs must examine admission gatekeeping practices. The two common admission metrics, grade point average (GPA) and entrance exam scores, are inconsistently supported in the literature, particularly within the understudied population of practical nursing students. This quantitative, retrospective, correlational study examined the relationship between admission criteria and three measures of practical nursing student success: on-time first-semester completion, on-time program completion, and first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate. Data were collected from historical records of five cohorts of practical nursing students (n = 94) at a medium-sized community college from Fall 2020 to Fall 2024. …

Integrated Management Of Procambarus Clarkii Through Habitat Manipulation And Chemosensory Predator Avoidance, Allarae J. Prigan

Biology Theses

Aquatic invasive species pose a significant threat to native biodiversity, water quality, and local economies. The Laurentian Great Lakes are especially at risk with over 180 established non-native species. In particular, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is a recent invader to the Lake Erie eastern watershed and requires sustained management to prevent its spread further into the region. This thesis explores a multi-faceted approach to managing this species via a habitat manipulation study and a laboratory behavior experiment.

I assessed the outcomes of winter stream dewatering on population catch per unit effort (CPUE), mean animal size, and …

Hormonal, Cytokinetic, And Skeletal Response To A Single Weighted Vest Exercise Treatment: A Pilot Study To Determine Weighted Vest “Rucking” Treatment For Osteoporosis In Post-Menopausal Women, Eleanor Pell

Master's Theses

Osteoporosis is characterized by a deteriorating of bone tissue leading to brittleness and increased fracture risk that affects both men and women as they age. Postmenopausal women are of particular interest due to high risk of declining bone density, a characteristic of this population. Treatments for osteoporosis range from menopause hormone therapy, bisphosphonates, biologics, nutritional changes, and exercise. Load bearing exercise interventions have shown effectiveness for stimulating bone growth, but many factors such as lack of access, motivation, self-confidence or knowledge, prevent long term compliance. “Weighted vest rucking” refers to a variation of rucking, which is a form of exercise …

Companion Parrot Vocal Learning And Reproduction Of Human Speech Sounds, Karla Vilches Castaño

Master's Theses

Vocal learning is rare among animals but is well developed in parrots, which can imitate novel sounds and, in captive settings, reproduce human speech. This study helps address a larger evolutionary question about vocal learning. Specifically, whether vocal learning ability is best understood as a single generalized trait or as a multi-dimensional system in which different acoustic features can be learned and reproduced with varying degrees of fidelity. This thesis quantifies how closely companion parrots match their human tutors across three acoustic dimensions (spectrographic structure, intensity contour, and pitch contour) and tests whether mimicry accuracy varies among individuals, differs between …

Investigating The Taxonomic Uncertainties Of Potentilla Rupincola, Natalie Elizabeth Hieber

Master's Theses

Landscape stewardship is an integral role for land managers that becomes more important when rare or endangered species occur within managed areas. Conservation across the landscape is a primary concern for land managers, but resources allocated for conservation can be limited due to many competing goals. Taxonomic uncertainty surrounding rare and endangered taxa, particularly plant taxa, that have historically been classified solely using morphological features further complicates conservation planning. One such taxon is Potentilla rupincola, a rare plant endemic to the eastern Rocky Mountains in Colorado. For over a century, botanists have debated whether P. rupincola is a distinct species …

Technology-Supported Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms (K-5): Perspectives Of Student Teachers In Western Kentucky, Ila B. Shirrell

Honors College Theses

The use of technology in elementary classrooms (kindergarten–fifth grade) has increased significantly with the goal of enhancing instruction. Additionally, educational technology is being used to improve literacy skills, reading recovery, and comprehension. This study examined how technology supports literacy development and instruction in elementary classrooms by drawing upon the perspectives of current student teachers. Student teachers from Murray State University, placed in third through fifth grade classrooms in Western Kentucky, were interviewed. The interviews assessed how technology was used for literacy instruction, including the extent of its effectiveness and potential challenges. Responses were transcribed and analyzed. The themes of evidence-based …

Evaluating The Rural/Urban Divide In Conservation: Methods Of Improvement In Conservation Programming Across Kentucky, Lauren Tackett

Honors College Theses

Kentucky’s lands and waterways have always defined the state. Our unique karst landscape, combined with the Appalachian Mountains and Ohio River, help characterize the state and its identity. However, across Kentucky conservation efforts within recent years have been under attack. Through legislation changes and policy challenges, various bills have sought to repeal Kentucky’s conservation efforts regarding water, soil, and land use. Furthermore, there has been a rise in environmental disasters within the state that cause long term issues for both rural and urban communities to contend with. The responsibility of land stewardship falls on a variety of entities but weighs …

Perfectionism And Cognitive Flexibility: Comparing The Impacts Of Perfectionism Vs Excellencism On Cognitive Flexibility, Lillian R. Blackburn

Honors College Theses

Perfectionism is often defined as “high standards of performance which are accompanied by tendencies for overly critical evaluations of one’s own behavior” (Frost et al., 1990, p. 450). Although striving for high standards is characteristic of perfectionism, it is also a central concept of the construct of excellencism, that is striving for standards that are both high and attainable. Research has made a distinction between the pursuit of perfection and pursuit of excellence, suggesting perfectionists strive for high unattainable standards, whereas excellencists strive for high yet reasonable standards with more areas of flexibility (Gaudreau et al., 2022).  These differences have …

The Effects Of Impervious Land Cover And Red Tide (Karenia Brevis) On The Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) In The Gulf Coast Of Florida, Anna Compton

Honors College Theses

Red tide, caused by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, is an algal bloom event that occurs annually in the West Florida Continental Shelf. The algae releases brevetoxin, a toxin that can be fatal to wildlife in high concentrations. These algal bloom events are thought to be exacerbated by warming ocean temperatures and increased nutrient runoff from urbanization. Red tide is responsible for the mass mortality of various marine organisms like the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). This study analyzes the changes in nutrient runoff and sea surface temperatures, and how these factors affected red tide cell concentrations and Florida manatee mortalities …

Minimizing Musculoskeletal Injury Risk In Health Care Professionals With Education On Physical Activity Recommendations, Emma H. Foran

Honors College Theses

Working in healthcare settings that require patient handling is physically demanding - over 80% of providers involved in patient handling report work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Injuries or exacerbation of a previous injury may occur if the individual cannot tolerate heavy workloads. Injuries that cause lost work time or work restrictions impact the healthcare team, may alter quality of life, and impact employee income. A practical way to minimize these effects is to prevent WMSDs. Training providers to use proper body mechanics, practice patient handling, and engage in regular exercise designed to increase muscular strength and endurance through resistance training improves …

Community Vitality: Establishing Blue Zone Based Education For Elementary Students, Eliza G. Heinrich

Honors College Theses

Blue Zones are areas of the world where people live longer and healthier lives. These areas share several key characteristics called the Power 9 (Buettner & Skemp, 2016). The goal of this study was to increase general knowledge of Blue Zones as well as the implementation of healthy habits to increase the longevity of the population of Calloway County, Kentucky through educational sessions of elementary students. Researchers involved in this study asked participants to fill out a pre-test to gauge knowledge of Blue Zones. Participants then underwent several educational sessions and activities surrounding the Power 9. Participants were then asked …

Beyond Challenging Up: How Organizational Climate Shapes Externally-Oriented Courage In The Workplace, Morgan Chandler

All Dissertations

Employees often face situations that confront them with the decision to do the right thing at work despite risk, which requires courage. This dissertation introduces a new form of workplace courage: challenging-around, which, in the context of the present study, involves pushing back against external stakeholders to uphold issues like ethical standards, organizational integrity, or professional judgement. Guided by Worthwhile Risk Theory, the study examined how organizational climate and moral courage influence this behavior. Results show that supportive, goal-promoting climates increase challenging-around, while moral courage independently predicts challenging-around. Additionally, the study validates a researcher-developed measure of challenging-around. Overall, findings suggest …