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The Role Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus In The Growth, Toxicity, And Distribution Of The Toxic Cyanobacteria, Microcystis Aeruginosa, James Parrish

Master's Projects and Capstones

Microcystis aeruginosa is among the most common harmful algal-blooming species in the world. Potent microcystins released by M. aeruginosa have been linked to liver failure and death in aquatic mammals, like the endangered California sea otter, and provide a serious public health risk to humans. Once characterized as a freshwater problem, M. aeruginosa is expanding on a global scale, making persistent returns in freshwater, brackish, and coastal marine ecosystems. Though commonly observed dominating aquatic ecosystems in low N:P atomic ratios less than 44:1, the reliability of N:P ratios as a tool for managing and predicting M. aeruginosa blooms is explored …

Vegetarian Meal Consumption And The Influence On College Success And Health, Sarah Marie Jochem

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Studies reveal there are many health benefits to following a vegetarian diet such as lower body mass index (BMI) compared to non-vegetarians, and lowered risk for obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between consuming vegetarian meals and the academic success and health status of college students. All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at James Madison University during the Fall 2013 semester were contacted to participate in an online questionnaire. Seven hundred and twenty eight students enrolled during the 2013-2014 school year participated in the online questionnaire. In comparison to …

Psychological Effects Of Intensified Cycle Training And Effectiveness Testing Of The Mental/Physical State And Trait Energy And Fatigue Scale, Jack Dyer Crouch Iii

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Questionnaires such as the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) have been used to detect changes in mood and perceived feelings of fatigue/vigor in athletes. The present study tested the efficacy of a more recent questionnaire, Mental Physical State and Trait Energy and Fatigue Scales (MPSTEFS), to detect changes in perceived feelings of energy and fatigue during heavy exercise training. Sub-scales of the MPSTEFS include Physical Energy, Physical Fatigue, Mental Energy, and Mental Fatigue. POMS and DALDA questionnaire scores were used for comparison. Eight trained cyclists performed two exercise-training protocols. Each training …

The Influence Of Carbohydrate Content And Type On Gastrointestinal Tolerance During Endurance Cycling, Sarah Allston Smyth

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of carbohydrate ingestion on cycling time trial performance and gastrointestinal tolerance during endurance exercise. Eight trained male cyclists (age: 25  6 years old, height: 180  4 cm, weight: 77  9 kg, and VO2max: 62  6 ml/kg/min) completed the study. Subjects consumed either a placebo beverage (PL), a high glucose beverage (HG: 1.5 g/min), a moderate glucose beverage (MG: 1.0 g/min), or a glucose and fructose beverage (1.5 g/min; 2:1 ratio) during approximately 3 hours of exercise, which consisted of 2 hours of constant load cycling (55% …

The Relationship Between Food Bloggers And Public Relations Professionals, Hannah Michelle Cox

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Blogs, a relatively new medium in the Internet sphere, offer public relations professionals another outlet to communicate with influential opinion leaders. Food is a popular blogging topic and an outlet public relations professionals with food clients use. Public relations professionals use blogs as a form of strategic research, a medium to share content, and a method to communicate with readers. The working relationship between bloggers and public relations professionals can help both entities succeed. This qualitative interview study examines the method, outcome and value of the relationship between food bloggers and public relations professionals. The study found that food bloggers …

Effects Of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Bone Mineral Density And Overuse Injuries In Collegiate Female Athletes, Lena Marie Husnay

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Lower limb overuse injuries are prevalent in female athletes and can lead to significant time lost in participation. Overuse injuries such as stress fractures occur with repeated microdamage to bone, ligaments and tendons. Numerous geometric features of bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), have been associated with stress fracture risk. While Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been associated with reducing inflammation, increasing BMD, and reducing incidence of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly, no studies have addressed the role of Omega-3 PUFAs in reduction of injury risk in young individuals. Studies indicate that Omega-3 PUFAs act on cytokines to inhibit …

Role Of Interleukin-3 In Blood-Stage Malaria Infection Caused By Plasmodium Berghei Anka, Abdalla Sheikh

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Malaria is a blood-borne disease caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium. Currently, 300-500 million cases are reported each year and 1.3 million deaths occur world-wide, with the majority taking place in developing nations. Four major species of Plasmodium cause disease in humans, the most wide-spread of them being Plasmodium falciparum. Typical symptoms of malaria include fever, lethargy, splenomegaly, and anemia, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms may arise. Interleukin-3 (IL-3), a cytokine released primarily by activated T-cells and mast cells, is known for its hematopoietic growth functions. It has also been shown to play a protective role in nematode …

Influence Of A Caffeine Mouth-Rinse On 3-Kilometer Cycling Performance, Jenna Louise Goffe

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: Caffeine ingestion is widely accepted for its ergogenic properties. Recent evidence suggests that mouth rinsing with caffeine prior to exercise can improve short duration sprint performance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the benefits of caffeine mouth rinsing can be extended to include sustained high intensity performance and whether a caffeine rinse can provide additive value to the performance benefits of caffeine intake (i.e. caffeine ingestion plus caffeine rinse > caffeine ingestion). Methods: 25 recreational cyclists performed six separate 3-km time trials (2 familiarization and 4 treatment trials), each trial separated by 3-7 days. Subjects were given …

Aquaponics: Economics And Social Potential For Sustainable Food Production, Brandon Collins Walraven

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Aquaponics is a soilless agriculture system that combines hydroponics and aquaculture to grow both fish and produce. Aquaponics relies on a recirculating closed loop system that can allow for a 90 – 97% reduction in water usage compared to irrigation in convention agriculture. Aquaponics also greatly reduces the possibility of water contamination because there is no runoff. The energy investment in agriculture can also be greatly reduced through the low energy fertilizer source presented by the fish. When used as a local food source aquaponics also has the benefit of reducing food miles, improving food security, and participating in the …

2014 Spring Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Harding University Commencements on May 10.

Commencement Speakers:
9a.m.: Cathleen Shultz
noon: Paul Pollard
3p.m.: Authur Shearin

High School Female Recruiting Guide To College Soccer, Elizabeth Sinclair

Senior Theses

Ask any athlete how she got to where she is today. Did she play on an Olympic Development Team (ODP), or did she get recruited from a showcase tournament? There are a variety of paths when trying to play collegiate soccer, and one path is not better than the other. Even the thirty girls on the same college team may experience a vastly different recruiting process, but, somehow, they all end up in the same place. This paper offers mere overall guidance to the recruiting process for female high school soccer players, with helpful tips to use along the way. …

"Transforming Care Through Disruptive Design": Incorporating A Midwifery Model Of Care Into Obstetric Practices, Lauren Marsh

Senior Theses

Maternal and child health outcomes in the United States are far poorer than in other industrialized nations. To improve women’s experiences with the maternity care system, nurse-midwife Sharon Schindler-Rising developed the CenteringPregnancy (CP) group model of prenatal care (PNC). Research comparing CP with ‘traditional’ one-on-one PNC has found that implementing CP results in decreased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight, increased rates of breastfeeding, and improved outcomes for women who typically experience health disparities, including African Americans. Documented success of the model in the Greenville Health System convinced the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services of …

What's Wrong With The Christian West, Joseph Studemeyer

Senior Theses

Western Christian groups are losing significant numbers of adherents in the area formerly known as Christendom (Western Europe and European-dominated former colonies), a trend which seems to be quickening with time. In addition, the same Western Christian denominations are in the midst of an unprecedented period of fragmentation, with many splitting over questions of doctrine and practice. More controversially, traditionalists both within the Western churches and outside of them have claimed that the Western denominations are also experiencing a qualitative decline, asserting that the Christianity of the West has been doctrinally compromised. This thesis posits an underlying philosophical reason for …

Exploring Obstacles To Perinatal Care-Seeking Behavior In Women Of Rural Odisha, India Using A Community Based Participatory Research Approach, Sarah Law, Runjhun Bhatia

Senior Theses

This project resulted from collaboration between USC student organization GlobeMed and the Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM), a non-governmental organization in Odisha, India. Rajendra Rana, the head of ARM, expressed the need to delineate the factors underlying the tendency of rural Odishan women to deliver with unskilled birth attendants as opposed to institutionally. A literature review was conducted to explore possible economic, cultural, and social factors. During five weeks in Odisha, discussions with women's groups, community health workers, and ARM staff members built on the literature review. A preliminary survey and plan for its dissemination were developed. The community based …

Reprogramming Inner Suburbs, Matthew D. Goeser

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The ramifications of suburban sprawl and the American dream are widespread and numerous. In a modern society where the preconditioned value of a three-car garage, large, private backyard and detachment from the city center outweighs the possible shortcoming of suburbia, there is an increasing need to reevaluate the way in which our cities grow. With suburbia already having a strong footing in the way that modern America operates, we have come to an age where it is more feasible to mend our cities through suburban intervention than reshape the entire system of American values. Urban sprawl has become a matter …

Latinos In America: A Consideration Of Food Accessibility Factors With Implications For The Indianapolis Community, Abigail C. Robison

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Studies discuss personal choices or cultural influences of food consumption, but they may not integrate these findings with the accessibility of food. These factors cannot be ignored when considering the health of populations. Understanding the intricate relationship between food choices and food accessibility is vital to the realm of urban public health. This paper attempts to investigate these relationships and relate the findings to the local sphere, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Eritrean Resettlement In Indianapolis, John Andrew Traylor

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This project has been designed to look into the challenges of resettlement for Eritreans moving to live in Indianapolis. The discussion of this work follows the footsteps of research on refugee resettlement by asking and responding to some of the common questions surrounding resettlement: why choose to resettle; what is a refugee'S initial response to entry into a host country; what is the resettlement process like; how does a refugee cope with their resettlement difficulties; and what are the prospects for future generations? This work will provide answers to these questions by analyzing the case of three resettled immigrants living …

The Effects Of Jasmonic Acid And Chemicals In The Ja Pathway On The Defense Systems And Gene Expression In Moss, Physcomitrella Patens And Amblystegium Serpens, Allison Shanks

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a defense system used by plants that results in increased resistance to future pathogen infection following an initial pathogen exposure. SAR in vascular plants has been well documented; however, a similar defense system has only recently been documented in non-vascular plants. It is believed that chemicals in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway are able to activate the SAR response in vascular plants. The non-vascular plant, Amb/ystegium serpens, will be used as a model to test if SAR is triggered by JA and two other molecules in the JA pathway, 12-oxo-phytodieonic acid, and methyl jasmonate. To …

Commencement Convocation Exercises - May 2014, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

Exercise And Diet Program For The College Student, Brooks Briel

Senior Theses

Oftentimes college students can be seen going to the gym with simply no direction in exercise or nutrition. They go through the motions of exercising, but have no real understanding of what they are doing. These students may see some progress, but plateau early and find it discouraging to continue to workout. The goal of this project was to create a personal diet and exercise program that could be used by the average college student to improve their physical fitness levels. The exercise program attempts to improve body composition, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. This is done …

Analysis Of Perceived Stress, Perceived Stress Management, And Symptom Severity In Women With Fibromyalgia, Mavis Leigh Hodges

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this study was to further investigate the relationship between perceived stress and symptom severity in women with fibromyalgia and analyze the relationship between perceived stress management and symptom severity. This quasi-experimental, mixed methods design consisted of an anonymous online survey using three different instruments that measured perceived stress levels, symptom severity, and perceived effectiveness of stress management. Thirty-four women living in Virginia diagnosed with fibromyalgia participated in the study. The women in the sample were separated into groups depending on their perceived level of stress and perceived effectiveness of stress management. T-tests were conducted to compare symptom …

Needs Assessment Of Child Malnutrition In Bolivia, Eloisa Michelle Amaya Sandoval

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The World Health Organization reports that severe acute malnutrition, one of the leading causes of death in the developing world, is not stressed enough on the international agenda, and few countries, have specific comprehensive policies to address it (World Health Organization [WHO], 2007). According to the Central Intelligence Agency (2013), Bolivia, is affected by severe acute malnutrition and is classified as the poorest nation in South America. La Paz, the seat of government, faces poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and poor access to healthcare for impoverished people. The USA non-profit organization Child Family Health International (CFHI) in La Paz, has created …

A Comparison Of Life Satisfaction, Subjective Well-Being, And Physical Health In Undergraduate College Students, Emily Shuenn-Wen Hsu

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

No abstract provided.

Nutritional Ergogenic Aid Use In Male College Students, Megan Elizabeth Solloway

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The perceived need of nutritional ergogenic aids among college students produces concern regarding the safety and efficacy of such aids. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the rationale and use of nutritional ergogenic aids in male college students ages 18-25. Students participated in an anonymous survey assessing nutritional ergogenic supplementation and rationale behind use. There was no significant difference in supplement use between competitive and non-competitive athletes (p=0.708). However, a significant difference in nutritional ergogenic aid use between heavy and light exercisers was noted, with heavy exercisers more likely to use supplements than light exercisers (p=0.041). The primary …

W. H. Keister Elementary School Garden: Making Environmental Connections, Kinsey Elizabeth Browning

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Development of Harrisonburg’s W.H. Keister Elementary School (KES) Garden was started during fall 2011. KES Principal Anne Lintner and several faculty members from KES worked with the James Madison University Integrated Science and Technology Department, three JMU Geographic capstone students, and the preschool – 4th grade KES students to create a vegetable and wildflower garden. The design of the garden was developed by the JMU Geographic Science capstone students with the objective to create a learning laboratory where KES children could learn about and explore the growth of vegetables and the life science of insects and birds that visit the …

Immunodiagnostic Analysis Of Lacritin In Human Breast Milk, Veronica Christine Vassilev

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: Human breast milk and tears share a number of common proteins including lysozyme, lactoferrin, albumin, secretory immunoglobulins, and mucins. Human breast milk has been used as self-medication for conjunctivitis and has been recently reported to improve corneal healing in an animal model system. Lacritin is prosecretory, mitogenic and when cleaved, antimicrobial. Topical application promotes sustained basal tearing in rabbits. This study aims to determine if lacritin can be detected in human breast milk. Methods: Milk fat from human breast milk was removed by centrifugation and samples were subjected to DEAE and Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) to separate proteins in …

Effects Of Post-Race Nutritional Intervention On Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness And Return To Activity In Ironman Triathletes, Jun Hashiwaki

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a post-race nutritional intervention on DOMS and ability of triathletes to return to activity. Thirty-six triathletes participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group by finish time. The intervention group received recovery shakes (540 kcal, 90g carbohydrate, 40g protein, 16g fat) both 1-hour and 3-hours post-race. DOMS was measured with a 100mm-visual analogue scale (VAS) and 11-point global rating of change (GRC) in standing position (static) and sitting-to-standing motion (active). DOMS was evaluated at 11 time points (pre-race, 1h, 3h, 12h post-race, …

Early Life Rainfall And Later Life Human Capital Outcomes In Bangladesh, Thomas Dreesen

Master's Theses

How does early life rainfall impact later life human capital outcomes in Bangladesh? This paper examines the effect of exogenous rainfall shocks that occur during individuals early-life on later life health, wealth and education outcomes of Bangladeshi women born between 1952-1988. I link historical rainfall for each woman’s birth year and Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) cluster of birth with current outcomes from the 1999/2000, 2004 and 2007 survey rounds of the DHS. This study finds that rural women with 20% higher than mean rainfall in their year and cluster of birth are on average 0.24 cm taller and score …

The Chemistry Of Baking, Jillian Claire

Senior Theses

The processes of cooking and baking can be described by molecular-level chemical reactions. By identifying the key variables of flour-based baked goods, it is possible to manipulate recipes and create an improved overall final product. This thesis explores the effects of manipulating proteins, water, lipids, air, and the biochemical reactions of yeast in baked goods.

The Effects Of Extracurricular Activity On Children And Adolescents: Hosting A Tennis Camp For Children In The Foster Care System, Lauren Armstrong

Senior Theses

In recent years, many studies have been conducted regarding the positive effects of extracurricular activities on the behaviors, actions, and overall well-being of children and adolescents. Whether it is through sports, hobbies, or activities within the community, it is important for all children to be able to have access to and be involved in some kind of extracurricular activities. Participation in activities such as these instills in children the qualities essential for life long success including good work ethic, time management skills, the ability to work in groups, commitment, and focus all while guiding them along the right path as …