Digital Commons Network^™

Straight Ahead: The Life, Pedagogy, And Influence Of Dennis L. Schneider, Louie Colton Sperry Eckhardt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The career of Dennis L. ‘Denny’ Schneider, Professor of Trumpet at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1961-1996, was expansive. From small town Nebraska, Schneider graduated from the University of Nebraska and Indiana University. After serving in the USAF Strategic Air Command Band, and teaching public school music, Schneider began teaching at the University of Nebraska. He served as principal trumpet of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony Orchestra, and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra for decades. Schneider also served as principal trumpet for the Cabrillo Summer Festival Orchestra, and performed and recorded with the Summit Brass. He was the recipient of …

Career Development Among College Students: Determining The Influence Of Career Services On Student Persistence To Graduation, Anne Wanjiku Sang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the influence of participation in career services activities and selected demographic characteristics on the persistence to graduation among undergraduate students at a research university-very high research activity (RU/VH) in the Southern portion of the United States. The target population was all undergraduate students enrolled at a research university –very high research activity (RU/VH) in the Southern portion of the United States. The accessible population for this study was undergraduate students at one selected research university –very high research activity (RU/VH) in the Southern portion of the United States and the sample …

Spinoza's Ethology: Recognizing Dynamic Transitions Between Imagination, Reason, And Intuition, Christina Rawls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seventeenth Century lens grinder and Dutch philosopher, Benedict de Spinoza, illuminates a rigorous and dynamic theory of knowledge and action in his major system the Ethics. What we learn by adequately learning Spinoza's epistemology is that within it is a proto-physics of ideational force between the three kinds of knowledge expressed by the attribute of thought and, simultaneously, expressed as ratios of motion and rest, speed and slowness, intensity and transformation by the attribute of extension. Such dynamic processes or ways lead to one's capacity for increased rational thought and action, increased uses of creativity, and the enhanced ability to …

Social Functioning In Schizotypy: An Exploration Of Communicative Effectiveness Through Speech Analysis And Observer Rated Performance In A Socially Demanding Task, Tracey Lauren Auster

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Individuals with schizotypal traits have demonstrated sub-clinical symptoms of psychosis (e.g. perceptual disturbances, self-reported social functioning impairment, self-reported memory problems, and delusions). However, the evidence has been mixed regarding what impairments exist, particularly with regards to social functioning domains. As schizotypy is posited to reflect an underlying vulnerability for development of clinical levels of psychosis/risk conversion, individuals with these traits are an important group to study in order to identify these vulnerabilities. Research has indicated that current measures of social functioning (whether they are localized objective measures of verbal and non-verbal communication or global self-report of functioning) are missing some …

Synthesis With Hypergraphs, Christopher Thomas Alvin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many problems related to synthesis with intelligent tutoring may be phrased as program synthesis problems using AI-style search and formal reasoning techniques. The _x000C_first two results in this dissertation focus on problem synthesis as an aspect of intelligent tutoring systems applied to STEM-based education frameworks, specifically high school geometry. Given a geometric _x000C_figure as input, our technique constructs a hypergraph representing logical deduction of facts, and then traverses the hypergraph to synthesize problems and their corresponding solutions. Using similar techniques, our third result is focused on exhaustive synthesis of molecules. This synthesis process involves bonding sets of basic, molecular `fragments' …

The Impact Of Financial Knowledge On Student Retention From The Second To The Third Year At A Public Research University, Eric N. Monday

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the influence of financial knowledge and selected demographic characteristics on student retention from the second to the third year at a public research university in the southern region of the United States. The accessible population was defined as students in the Fall 2013 entering freshman cohort who were enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester. Measurements including the independent variable represented by the financial knowledge score and 17 other independent variables were collected using a survey instrument and downloaded data from the university’s electronic student information system. A total of 695 students …

Women In Alcoholics Anonymous: A Qualitative Research Study, Ariel Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research looks at how women in particular navigate the complicated power dynamics of twelve-step programs, specifically AA, to achieve long-term sobriety. This study attempts to understand how women in AA are appropriating and shaping AA and its reliance on the twelve-steps in unique and resourceful ways to make recovery their own. The methodological approach of this study is empirical-phenomenological. Interviews with five female members of Alcoholics Anonymous were conducted, transcribed and analyzed in an attempt to identify and understand how women approach and adapt recovery strategies and technologies that evolved during the twentieth century to meet the needs of …

U.S. State Social Spending And Economic Growth, Chris Heitzig

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

U.S. state social spending has increased both as a percentage of national GDP and a percentage of the national budget since 1960. Growth in spending across states, however, has not been uniform. Those advocating for more conservative spending argue that large social expenditure budgets dampen the growth of society as a whole. In this paper, I examine the effect that state social spending has on the growth rate of personal income per capita. I follow the model proposed by Peter Lindert (2004), who studied the relationship between social spending and economic growth at the national level. I examine the period …

Truth In Sight: The Effect Of Physical Cues On Emotion, Daniel R. Green

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

This study explored whether an actor taking a physical pose, normally associated with a specific emotion, affected the emotional state of an actor and whether this state was observable as well as transferable to an observer in an empathic fashion. The study consisted of 53 students from CSB/SJU obtained through convenience sampling. Dyads of the participants where observed who alternated in the roles of actors, who took on a posture normally associated with an emotion, and observers, who watched the pose taken by the actor. There were two conditions. One denoting confidence and one denoting sadness. Actors had their faces …

Modular Biped Robotic Base, Lawrence T. Chiavaroli, Andrew J. Forchione, Wesley A. Miller, Joseph M. Drockton

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report contains the final developments and research involved with the modular biped robotic base. A need was first identified in 2011 when President Obama announced the National Robotics Initiative, an initiative focused on the funding of robotic development to work alongside or cooperatively with humans. This scope of this project concerns building a robotic base modeled after human legs and hips, capable of interfacing with future modular subsystems depending on what tasks are trying to be accomplished. Firstly, a mathematical torque simulation of the hip, knee, and ankle joints was developed in MATLAB. Using this information, complimentary actuators and …

Multi-Modal Communication In School-Age Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Lauren Dougherty

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a difficult time communicating on a daily basis. To help enhance and sometimes substitute speech altogether, they require Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. A review of literature found that school-age children with ASD utilize multiple modes of communication. The observation conducted looked at six school-age children, grades 6-8, with ASD and their use of multimodal communication. Each child was observed throughout their school day in settings such as the classroom, lunch/recess, and the speech therapy room. Data was collected for the number of times a child was given the opportunity to use …

A Survey Of Speech-Language Pathologists On Facilitating Support Groups For Those With Communication Disorders, Danielle A. Hower, K. Todd Houston Ph.D

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Support groups are used in a variety of settings and can be helpful for group members to develop coping strategies. This research aims to evaluate Ohio Speech-Language Pathologists’ perceived knowledge of planning and implementing support groups. Another goal for this research is to gain information on how many Speech-Language Pathologists are using this knowledge to conduct a support group, what type of populations are benefiting, and in what setting type utilizes support groups.

Philosophy Of Mathematics: Theories And Defense, Amy E. Maffit

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this paper I discuss six philosophical theories of mathematics including logicism, intuitionism, formalism, platonism, structuralism, and moderate realism. I also discuss problems that arise within these theories and attempts to solve them. Finally, I attempt to harmonize the best features of moderate realism and structuralism, presenting a theory that I take to best describe current mathematical practice.

Brainstorm Radiation Systems Inc, Calia Battista, Leah Krichbaum, Lauren Wickert, Cody George, Ryan Manges

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Many different designs have been created to immobilize patients for radiation therapy of the head and neck. Options exist which result in varying degrees of patient comfort, radiation attenuation, and limitation of movement. While one requirement can be met effectively, it is difficult to design a system which adequately meets all requirements for radiation therapy. Brainstorm Radiation Systems aims to address all of these variables and transform the patient and technician experience during radiation treatment. The requirements for our head and neck immobilization design were to immobilize the patient within 3mm of movement for at least 30 minutes, and must …

Tourism In Crisis: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Seaworld's Twitter Response To Blackfish, Nicholas E. Marek

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Released on July 19, 2013, the documentary Blackfish highlighted the mistreatment of dangerous sea-life and the lack of employee training at the aquatic zoological theme park SeaWorld. Considering the immense reputational damage suffered by SeaWorld, this study uses qualitative content analysis to examine SeaWorld’s Twitter (twitter.com) response to the Blackfish crisis. An inductive method of coding highlights overall themes present in SeaWorld’s tweets while the deductive method of coding utilizes Benoit’s (1997) image repair theory to determine how this tourism organization utilizes Twitter as a medium of image restoration. The results prompt suggestions for clarifying image repair theory as well …

Exploring The Benefits Of Embedded And Sustained Field Placements For Pre-Service Teachers And Students Through Research Of The F.A.C.E Collaboration, Marie Corrigan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Liberty Valley Church Network, Timothy D. Fuhry

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Free-Range Pre-Programmed Rc Car, Alexander L. Aubihl, Andrew S. Hopwood, Benjamin J. Riggs, Tyler P. Vance

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There is a growing interest in the capabilities and utilization of autonomous vehicles. The objective of this project is to design a small scale illustration of an autonomous vehicle driven by user input. An application will be designed that will allow a user to create a track that an RC car will accurately follow. As the car follows the track, a microcontroller on the vehicle will send movement information back to the application. This information is used by the application to process where the vehicle is currently at and where it needs to go. While in motion, on-board sensors will …

Stable Isotopes In Seabirds, Kimberly Gosciak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Seabirds are a highly endangered group of vertebrates; they are more threatened than any other group of bird. However, the Common Murre is one species that is showing an increasing population trend; I found that Common Murres have shown a significant increase in δ¹⁵N since 1994, in contrast to the threatened Marbled Murrelet, which has a similar biology but has shown decreasing δ¹⁵ N values that typically correlate with declining population size. This is potentially due to sexual dimorphism that allows for the Common Murre to fill a larger niche. While I found no statistical difference between …

Characteristics Of Salafi Jihadist Activists, Emily N. Mayfield

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper will compare and contrast the personal characteristics among individuals who were born in Middle Eastern countries and have committed violent acts of terror in the name of Salafi Jihadism against Western countries. First, a review of the current literature on the pre-conditions for Salafi-jihadist radicalization and activism in general will be conducted. Next, the study will focus on those issues most salient to the Middle East. This research will serve as a precursor for further study on ways to build a characteristic based profile on at risk individuals for Salafi jihadist radicalization, recruitment, and activism.

Low Cost Shear And Pressure Sensor, Kyle L. Rohrig, Phaethon D. Kotantoulas, Brandon J. Lloyd, Hazim H. Abualola, Tao Ruan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Elevated pressure and shearing stresses at the foot-shoe interface are believed to play a role in diabetic foot ulceration. The main goal of this project was to design a simple insole that could distinguish between sites of high pressure and sites of excessive shearing stresses at the foot-shoe interface. Wear patterns that relate specifically to shear and pressure acting on the plantar surface of a patient’s foot also needed to be exhibited. The team used reflective tape that was applied to the surface to various types of insoles to look for visible wear patterns. These wear patterns were identified by …

An Analysis Of Microbial Involvement In Biospeleogenesis Within Lechuguilla Cave System, Garrett Sonntag

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Caves are geologic systems, shaped by inorganic chemical processes (speleogenesis). Nonetheless, there is increasing evidence that biological processes also play a role in the origin and development of caves (biospeleogenesis). In order to examine the role that microorganisms may play in secondary passage enlargement we collected samples from Lechuguilla Cave, a deep cave system that is largely shielded from human impact. Samples were collected from areas where rock corrosion was obvious. In order to determine if microorganisms were involved with the observed corrosion, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify apparent microbial pitting of the rock surface. To establish …

Literature Review And Case Study Of The Functionality Of Video Self Modeling, Carly Conklin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report includes a literature review and case study examination to determine the functionality and effectiveness of video self-modeling as a speech-language therapy technique for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has shown that video modeling is effective to teach language skills to individuals with ASD. This case study focused on teaching a child with ASD receptive language skills to identify emotions based on body language and tone of voice. A single subject pretest posttest design was used to measure the results for the case study participant.

Chinese Chess Site, Andrew M. Krigline

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project was an effort to demonstrate my technical abilities gained during my time at the University of Akron to design and develop a website dedicated to educating English speakers about Chinese Chess. The design was mocked up and prototyped with sketches and Photoshop. I used a multitude of web techniques when developing the website, including HTML5, CSS3, SASS, jQuery, and Bootstrap. My overall approach was to design a site that felt Asian by way of aesthetics and typography, but also to break the information down into digestible chunks.

Inspiring Piety: The Influence Of Caravaggio’S Paintings In Santa Maria Del Popolo, Cara Coleman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This article looks at the way Italian Baroque painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio broke from the artistic conventions of the Renaissance and Mannerist styles in his religious paintings to create an entirely new style that reflected the needs of the post-Tridentine Catholic Church. Caravaggio pushed painting throughout Europe in a new direction, away from the idealization of the Renaissance and the artistic extremes of Mannerism, by popularizing realism in art. Caravaggio’s unique style is examined through comparisons of his paintings, The Conversion of Paul, c.1601 and The Martyrdom of Saint Peter, c.1601 in the Roman basilica, Santa Maria del Popolo …

Implementing Is-Is Routing And Dhcp Services In An Ipv4 Network, Laura Thompson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project explores the operation of the IS-IS routing protocol, as well as DHCP and DNS services provided by a Raspberry Pi computer. IS-IS is a routing protocol that is commonly ignored in most training and certification programs, because it is most frequently used by service providers. However, IS-IS solutions are also deployed in some large enterprise networks, making experience with the protocol a valuable skill.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the routing domains, route propagation, and general operation of IS-IS, additional services were implemented in this project. A Raspberry Pi computer was used as an …

Sketching The Stories Of The Ausbund, Carita B. Keim Ms.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigates the ballads compiled into the Ausbund, which literally means “a true selection or sampling. This hymnbook is the oldest one continuously in use in the world. Although the hymnbook was compiled by Amish and Mennonite ancestors, only the Amish use it today. Through creative non-fiction, this series of essays sketches ways in which the hymnbook continues to influence the Amish and Mennonite community. It attempts to prove that the Ausbund is a unique piece of art that has literary, cultural, and spiritual value. It had value in the sixteenth century, when most of the hymns were penned, …

An Investigation In Implementing A C++ Voxel Game Engine With Destructible Terrain, Michael W. Wilder

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In video games today, world geometry is often represented as a polygon mesh. While this representation is able to represent terrain, it must be done so using an elevation grid. For each X and Z location, an elevation grid stores the height of the terrain at that location. This has a major drawback: it is unable to allow terrain with overhangs and caves, and is unable to allow for destructible terrain. In this project, an alternative technique using voxels is explored to overcome these limitations for a game engine. A voxel is the 3D equivalent of a pixel and allows …

An Order Of Worlds, Rachel Mast

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Order of Worlds is a creative writing project of personal essays and poems that begins with the story of my Amish grandpa and his world and ends with my transition from a rural farming community to a university campus. It is a journey of love and loss, overcoming odds, and finding that community can be found in places I never thought of looking.

"Lean"Ing Towards Improvement, Katie Wojciechowski

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

According to Balzer (2010) and Liebtag (2014), Lean Six Sigma is ubiquitous in the workforce, including areas of higher education institutions and accounting firms. Lean Six Sigma is primarily prevalent in areas of healthcare and manufacturing. Having knowledge in Lean Six Sigma can drastically improve the way people think about implementing and evaluating projects and processes. This paper describes research conducted, applied, and executed to help departments within the Division of Student Success at The University of Akron. These departments have significantly reduced the amount of waste and are now producing more revenue due to the Lean Six Sigma processes …