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Optimization And Implementation Of Methodology To Investigate The Effects Of P75ntr On The Death Of Dopaminergic Neurons In Mouse Models Of Parkinson's Disease, Isaac Thomas Perkins

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Butterfly Inspired Micro Aerial Vehicle With Figure 8 Wing Motion, Caroline Morgan Waugh

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Market Timing And Managerial Talent, Keming Li

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

Market timing is a well-documented phenomenon in financial markets. This paper tests whether managers with heterogeneous talents and qualities affect capital issuance timing differently. I find that skilled managers raise more capital (especially equity) when the market is overpriced, compared to unskilled managers. However, capable managers are less willing to issue equity when firms have high growth potential and are reluctant to share their future success with newcomers. Additionally, I found no significant effect of managerial ability on the relationship between market misvaluation and subsequent corporate investment. Overall, consistent with the market timing hypothesis, the results suggest that talented managers …

Nervous System, Ashley R. Strong, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

There are two major subdivisions of the nervous system: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord. Whereas the PNS consists of the nerves outside the CNS. These nerves bring sensory information to the CNS and transmit commands (i.e. motor information) from the CNS to the body. The PNS has three components, the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), somatic nervous system (spinal nerves), and the cranial nerves.

Early Stages Of Sociocultural Development, Lisa L. Persinger, Joey D. Persinger

Essays in Developmental Psychology

We often think about the development of a person’s interpersonal skills, relationships, and identity as something that happens after birth, and certainly, it does. However, in practice, prenatal (before birth) interactions between caregivers and the fetus start the sociocultural developmental process that continues after a baby is born. Personality development, interpersonal style, and identity begin before birth and extend far into the life span. Caregivers provide interactions as well as physical care during pregnancy, and after birth, that influence these developments. This chapter will provide an overview of how interactions from conception through age two influence trust and attachment, emotional …

Ibn Al-Haytham (Alhazen), Mithra H. Pirooz, Jonathan B. Santo

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn al-Haytham was an Arab Muslim born around 965 CE and died circa 1040 CE in current-day Iraq.  A scientist, astronomer, philosopher, and mathematician, he is particularly known for his work in astronomy, mathematics, visual perception, and optics.  In medieval Europe, he was referred to as the “Second Ptolemy”.  As the first to determine that vision results from light being reflected from an object to the eye, he is often referred to as “the father of optics”.  He is also praised for being among the first theoretical physicists.  He was one of the first scientists …

Jean Piaget, Kelsey Pegg, Amanda Kracen

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Jean Piaget (1896-1980) is a well-known leader in the field of psychology with a focus on child development and cognition. Piaget was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. As an adolescent, he had interests in the natural sciences including a fascination with mollusks. While studying zoology and receiving a doctoral degree in the natural sciences at the University of Neuchâtel, Piaget attended psychology courses  at the University of Zürich with Carl Jung, an important figure in the field of psychoanalysis. In learning information about psychoanalysis, Piaget became interested in psychology and the complex operations of the human mind.

Memory Development, Suzanna L. Penningroth, Angel Munoz Gomez Andrade, Tesalee K. Sensibaugh

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Human memory shows amazing changes across infancy, childhood, and even through adulthood. But there are many different kinds of memory—each performing a specific function—and these different types show different patterns of change across the lifespan. Both age of onset and improvement rate can differ across memory systems. However, most types of memory show an “inverted U” pattern of development, with individuals showing low performance levels in the early years, increasing levels through young adulthood, and then lower levels again in middle age and old age

Memory Change In Old Age, Suzanna L. Penningroth, Tesalee K. Sensibaugh, Angel Munoz Gomez Andrade

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Scientists who study aging usually define older adulthood as beginning at around age 65. Older adults show many differences in memory functioning compared to young adults, and these differences get progressively larger throughout older adulthood. Although many older adults are afraid of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the vast majority will not; only 7% of people age 90 or older develop this disease. With normal aging, memory systems show a complex pattern of changes: many types of memory decline, but a few show stability and even improvements.

Egocentrism, Sarah M. Pringer, Eric A. Goedereis

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Building upon Sigmund Freud’s concept of ego, defined as the “I” component of an individual and the mediator between oneself and the external world, Jean Piaget developed the concept of egocentrism. Thus, egocentrism refers to an inward-looking cognitive phenomenon defined as having or regarding the self as the center of all things.

Life Story Model Approach To Understanding Personality, Nile Stanley

Essays in Developmental Psychology

McAdams’s life story model of identity is a narrative approach to understanding personality which draws on the psychoanalytic writings of Eric Erikson and the personology theory of Henry A. Murray. Other influences include Jerome Bruner and Theodore R. Sarbin who introduced and popularized the term narrative psychology. McAdams, a professor from Northwestern University, believed understanding human behavior should be grounded in the knowledge that people make sense of their lives by constructing and internalizing stories. According to this model, individuals begin to organize their lives in terms of self-stories in late adolescence and young adulthood. People reconstruct their past and …

Cellular Theories Of Aging, Ashley R. Strong, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

There are multiple theories of aging, which include evolutionary, molecular, cellular, and systemic theories. The focus of this entry will be on the cellular theories of aging. There are two main categories of theories of cellular aging, error theories and programming theories. The error theories suggest that aging is a result of an accumulation of errors as an outcome of environmental insults that leads to damage at various levels of the cell. Error theories also propose that imperfect repair mechanisms are a factor that leads to cellular aging. The second category, programming theories, suggest that aging is a genetically programmed …

Behavioral Genetics, Ashley R. Strong, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Behavioral genetics is a field of scientific research that aims to understand how much genetic and environmental factors contribute to variability in behavior. From a genetics standpoint, numerous genes are influenced by the environment, which results in complex behaviors. Additionally, the physiology and developmental history of an individual, along with its environment, can modify genes and neuronal circuits of the brain. Furthermore, evolution and natural selection shape behaviors to optimize survival of the individual. Behavioral genetics is an evolving field that involves a combination of experimental psychology, genetics, neuroscience, and ethology.

Environmental Teratogens, Ashley R. Strong, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Environmental teratogens are external agents that can increase the risk for carcinogenesis, malformations, mutagenesis, or deficient growth in an embryo or fetus. There are two general categories of teratogenic agents, which include errors in genetic processing, and environmental agents or factors. Both genetic and environmental teratogens can lead to embryopathology, but they have different pathologic processes. Errors in genetic processing can lead to abnormal development via gene abnormalities, chromosome deletion, chromosome excess, or chromosome rearrangement. Environmental teratogens, on the other hand, interact with the embryo during development, which can lead to congenital malformations and a multitude of other deficits. Environmental …

Demographics Of Aging, Lisa Stebbins, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The experience of growing older in the 21st century is vastly different from the past. The advancement in technology, medicine, and lower rates of death at birth has allowed for the population to shift in size. The shift is specifically from the baby boomers generation, which refers to the increase in birth rate from 1940’s to the early 1960’s. This generation is aging and in recent years the first baby boomers began reaching retirement age.  This segment of the U.S. is the fastest growing, so it is essential to understand the growth of the aging population. This aging group is …

Self-Esteem From A Developmental Perspective, Jonathan B. Santo

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Self-esteem is among one of the most well understood components of identity development. It refers to a person’s overall positive or negative assessment of their worth. It’s needs to be noted that self-esteem is not to be confused with self-concept which encompasses the characteristics that a person ascribes to themselves [see self-concept, same volume]. Specifically, self-esteem reflects the degree to which a person feels competent and of worth. Self-esteem has been of interest to psychologists and other social scientists because it is often related to other measures positive development such as satisfaction with life and academic engagement.

Preparation And Synthesis Of Mono-Bridged Carbazolopyridinophane Intermediates, Supriya Bera

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Hydrazine is a toxic compound commonly used in rocketry, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. The severity of hydrazine exposure requires sensors to enforce safety requirements. Traditional methods are irreversible and hindered by response time and sensitivity. Carbazolopyridinophane (CP) was synthesized by the Brown group as a reusable carbazole-based sensor offering real-time detection at thresholds of 100ppb. With the recommended threshold at 10 ppb, there remains a need for a sensor with a lower detection limit. As part of the ongoing effort on CP, this work explores a mono-bridged CP to fill the target threshold. However, the synthesis was hindered by an Åkermark …

Ethanol To Ethylene Via Circlestar Catalyst, Lucca Demarco, Max Puig Powell, Caden Royster

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Ethanol-to-ethylene conversion via catalytic dehydration is optimized using the CircleStar catalyst, whose unique geometry improves heat distribution and site exposure. This enables lower operating temperatures, 99.5% selectivity, and reduced emissions. The process supports renewable feedstocks and yields $70 million in annual profit at scale.

Sustainable Acetylene Synthesis (Sas), Taylor Disharoon, Gene Koifman, Erik Laari, Isabella Luznar

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Sustainable acetylene production process using CO₂ from flue gas, CaO, and water, with an innovative approach to carbon capture and high-purity acetylene generation, supporting industrial demand and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Insecure Adult Attachment, Linsey Whipple

Psychology Student Publications

• Early attachment relationships are theorized to inform one’s internal “working models” of relationships that carry forward into development (Bowlby, 1973) and influence attachment tendencies into adulthood (Collins & Read, 1990; Simpson et al., 1996). • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are strongly associated with the development of insecure attachment patterns—particularly anxious and avoidant. Individuals with higher ACE scores tend to struggle with emotional regulation and relational security, increasing their risk for attachment issues into adulthood (Kuhar et al., 2024). • When avoidant attachment develops in the context of ACEs, it often persists from childhood through adulthood, suggesting a sustained attachment …

Adopted Children, Michael Galobardi, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Adoption is the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities over the care of a child from the birth parents to other adult(s), who will then raise the child. The adoption of children by non-biologically-related adults has a long and complicated history in both the United States and around the world. Over time awareness of adopted individuals, adoptive families, and birth parents and families has increased; all three groups known as the adoption triad, or adoption kinship network.

Altruism And Children, Brizel Trinidad, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Altruism is the combination of willingly and spontaneously helping others. Many studies have focused on the origin of these traits, whether they are innate or learned. Researchers are examining inborn altruism and studying the influence of external forces, such as parental role modeling and prosocial tendencies, that have an influence on children's altruistic behavior (Clay, 2006). Altruism is often associated with altering levels of trust however, in children altruism takes on various forms and definitions with each developmental stage and as more complex interactions with others take place.

Starry Station, Avery Wilson

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

We all long for experiences that make us feel more alive. I strive to make artwork that conveys a sense of wonder and provides happiness as an escape from the mundane. Nature, traveling, and day-trips to theme parks are big influences in my artwork. They have a way of helping me realize the greater picture in life and give me a small escape from reality. Theme parks appeal to me because of the way they make me feel as if I’m in a new world for the day. For my BFA show, I incorporated all of these ideas by designing …

Earthen Tea Company, Dawn M. Critser

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

To many, tea is more than just a drink; it is a meditative ritual. Earthen Tea Company honors this tradition while blending graphic design with the rhythm of ceramics. Through design and ceramics, the fictional company combines rhythm, form, and tradition through earthy tones and natural materials. The company balances digital and tactile art with traditional and modern aesthetics, inviting viewers to pause and find balance in the everyday.

When creating ceramic forms, consideration is given to how the object will be held and used. Traditionally, chawans embrace Wabi-sabi aesthetics, while everyday tea bowls prioritize comfort and function. Carving organic …

Irene And The Buffalo Boys, Matthew C. Best

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

As a creative, music and visual art are constantly intertwining for me. Music is something that has consistently influenced my work, whether it be with evocative imagery, a certain subject, or a narrative. Additionally, themes such as nature, nostalgia, observations on life, and the human experience lay the foundational groundwork for the art I make. Hailing from my upbringing in rural Tennessee, I spent much of my childhood listening to the historic music of Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn, and Willie Nelson, among others, who’s music often touched upon these very themes. The vivid storytelling of country music; songs …

In Her Words, Amber Ryan

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

"Don't bite your nails - it's not ladylike." "You're too big to be in ballet class." "Hey, Thunder Thighs." The whispers I heard in classrooms at a convent girls' school, not only from students but also from my teachers, would eventually crush anybody. This was the same school all the women in my family attended for generations, and the judgment instilled came down through the family. It only got worse as the years went on. Trust should be an inherent part of family and friendship, but time and again, the trust I believed to have built up with my women …

Beyond Remission, Moira C. Johnson

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

In my artistic practice, I delve into the intricate layers of childhood and medical trauma, navigating its impact on my present experiences and highlighting how the lasting effects, both physical and emotional, can be just as painful, isolating, and life-altering as the illness itself. My work merges design, branding, and personal experience by creating service posters, therapeutic products, a website, etc. for a counseling brand that supports people who have suffered from Leukemia or Lymphoma. I use colors that symbolize the illness suffered, balanced with calming tones, and bold shapes that serve as both accents and metaphors.

Graphic design has …

Groups And Development, Jason Jimenez, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Peer interactions often occur in groups. Children spend an increasing amount of time in these groups as they age. Preschoolers begin to interact with each other around playsets, although these early social groups are loosely organized. It is not until they reach school age that children begin to feel as though they are true members of a peer group. A peer group interacts on a regular basis, provides a sense of belonging, has implicit or explicit norms, and has a hierarchical order. Within these groups, social status becomes important, with some members being more popular and having a greater social …

Ali Ibn Sahl Rabban Al-Tabari, Mithra H. Pirooz, Jonathan B. Santo

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari was born to a Persian family in current-day Turkmenistan, but later moved to what is now Northern Iran. Born circa 838 CE, he died around 870 CE. A Muslim hakim (wise man), he is known for his contributions to the field of medicine and psychology. As a teacher, his legacy continued with his student, Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi ("Rhazes").

Fit Class Schedule Planner, Pedro H. Batista De Moura, Jordan Synodis

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

● FIT Class Schedule Planner is a web-based tool for FIT students ● Streamlines Course Registration by simplifying the current process ● Integrates features by combining degree tracking, course scheduling, and filtering into one platform ● User-Friendly Design, built for intuitive and efficient navigation ● Conflict & Prerequisite Management to help students avoid scheduling conflicts and check prerequisites