Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Co-Culturing Bacteria Upon Antibiotic Production, Zora Westwalewicz

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The lack of new antibiotics capable of treating the ever-increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections reflects the difficulty of finding new antimicrobial compounds. Most antibiotics were originally discovered from microorganisms that were grown in isolation. The interspecies interactions involved in co-culturing microbes, growing two or more strains together, can impact the types and increase production levels of antimicrobial compounds compared to monocultures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether co-culturing antibacterial producers would result in increased antibiotic production. Mixed student samples from the EMU Tiny Earth lab were utilized for this study because there was a higher chance …

The Effect Of Autophagy Related Protein 10 And Its Mutants On Autophagic Activity, Sk Nadia Rahman Silvia

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Autophagy is the cellular degradation process in which cellular contents are encapsulated by double-membrane vesicles, autophagosomes, and delivered to the vacuole to be degraded and recycled. This process is important for cell health and homeostasis. There are approximately 32 different autophagy-related proteins involved. Atg10 is an enzyme that may affect overall autophagic activity by changing autophagosome size and/or number. Our goal is to find mutants that cause a significant, partial loss in Atg10’s activity by mutating some residues near the active site and testing the functionality of these mutants by performing western blots and enzymatic assays. Here we show that …

Synthesis Of A Key Building Block For A Metal-Like Carbon-Based Compound, Chimi Dolker Sherpa

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

More Than De Colores: Expanding Students' Scope Of Spanish Language Songs For Learning And Use Within Music Therapy, Amanda Norman

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Culture is a critical component of a music therapist’s knowledge and mindset. However, undergraduate music therapy students are lacking adequate materials to learn music from a variety of cultural backgrounds. This project seeks to inform current and future music therapists of the variety of music that can be found within a single culture, focusing on music of Latin American, Hispanic, and Latino heritage. This project consists of a songbook of Spanish language songs that will be offered as a resource to current and future music therapy students at Eastern Michigan University.

Storytelling: The Creation Of Animation, Erin Main

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

It is common for amateur animators to feel overwhelmed by the process of animation, especially by the prices of applications used by many big studios. These applications are often thought to be necessary to produce work equivalent to that of bigger productions and can cause artists’ financial strain. While paid applications are useful, often making the animation process faster and easier, they are not the only option. Open-source programs have the same abilities as paid applications but are overlooked for more mainstream products. I am seeking to prove that animators can create festival quality work using low-cost and open-source applications. …

The Relationship Between Introversion/Extroversion And Covid-19 Health Precautions, Kalie Luckett

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic health precautionary measures taken by individuals is an area of great interest in the field of psychology today because of the immense change to social dynamics, safety practices, and interpersonal relationships that occurred. This study looked at 125 U.S. participants and was able to find correlations between introversion/extroversion and the COVID-related precautions taken by individuals. The hypotheses for the study were supported by the data and introverts were more likely to continue taking health precautions throughout the pandemic, while extroverts in the study were less likely to want to continue to take health and …

Vocal Analysis Of The Newly Described Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog, Carrie J. Kosiba

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Urbanization alters animal behaviors and especially impacts amphibians due to their sensitivity to environmental change, small home ranges, and reliance on acoustic communication to locate mates. A newly discovered leopard frog species, Rana kauffeldi, was recently described from the New York City metro area. This species was previously characterized as R. sphenocephala due to their nearly identical morphology, but the two species are distinguished based on genetics and calling characteristics. The goal of this project was to document calling intensity and phenology (timing) differences between urban and rural populations of R. kauffeldi, as well as describe variation across …

Covid-19 And Its Impact On Perceptions Of Healthcare And Health-Related Behaviors, Quinn Higgins

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The purpose of this project was to discover how certain psychological, structural, and demographic variables have contributed to people’s attitudes and perceptions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted people’s everyday lives. The goal of this research was to understand how these variables, as well as individual’s knowledge of the current pandemic, their access to resources, and how they perceive and adhere to suggested safety behaviors can help us to discover why certain populations are significantly affected by COVID- 19. In particular, this research focused on how participants’ perceptions of healthcare and the support that they receive from …

Methane Fluxes From The Peninsular Dam Impoundment In Ypsilanti, Mi, Jacob Fagerstrom

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Dams and reservoirs are a significant source of Methane (CH_⁴), a potent greenhouse gas, due to sediment and organic matter trapping, decomposition, and subsequent anoxia. Most measurements to assess methane production from dams are on large tropical impoundments and reservoirs, with few studies on methane emissions from small, midlatitude impoundments. These small impoundments make up most dams around the world and are underrepresented in the literature. Here, we evaluated methane from low-head dams on a midlatitude river in southeast Michigan. We measured emissions from impoundment and free-flowing sections using static floating chambers and dissolved methane along a longitudinal …

Assessing The Relationship Between Audience And Sport Performance In Competition During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Noah Perrin

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment in sports in which players are performing in the absence of crowds. This study analyzed the performance of 12 teams and 11 players in games played with and without an audience over a period of three years in collegiate basketball. It was expected that in games with crowds, simple tasks (free throws) would be more successful and complex tasks (field goals) would be less successful compared to games without crowds. The second hypothesis predicted that home performances would be better than away performances in seasons with crowds, but there would be no difference …

Decomposition Of Organic Matter Above And Below Dams, Olivia Muntz

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Dams produce hydroelectric power and control flooding, but they also cause negative ecological consequences such as habitat fragmentation and altered water quality. The goal of this study was to determine whether dams alter rates of organic matter decomposition. Decomposition rates in impoundments and in free-flowing sections of the Huron River were measured using the cotton strip assay. We hypothesized that if water temperature is the main driver of decomposition rates, then higher rates of decomposition would be expected behind dams due to anticipated warmer water temperatures in the impoundment. If oxygen concentrations are a main driver of decomposition rates, lower …

How To Vocally Train Transgender Singers: A Thorough Literature Review, Sydney A. Timmer

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The knowledge of training transgender voices is just beginning to make its way into mainstream music education. However, there needs to be more known and a curriculum in place to address this critical topic. Transgender students face many unique challenges in the voice studio, and educators must have the knowledge to teach these students. There are several elements to consider when training transgender students. These elements include the anatomical changes of masculinizing hormones on the body and voice, the anatomical changes of feminizing hormones on the body and voice, vocal exercises for both transfeminine and transmasculine students, how to choose …

Franz Xaver Von Schönwerth's Customs And Tales Of The Upper Palatinate, Vol. 2, Chapter 5: The Animals Of The House: A Translation, Valentyna Standik

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Franz Xaver von Schönwerth (1801-1886) was a German civil servant who collected the folk beliefs of his native Upper Palatinate region in Bavaria, Germany. This project is an original English translation of Schönwerth's primary work, Customs and Legends of the Upper Palatinate (1857-1859), preceded by a summary of the author's life, the reception of his work, and its relevance in the modern day.

Cardiology And The Brain: How An Individual's Cardiovascular Health Relates To Their Mental Health, Megan Shea Kopicko

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

A scoping review was conducted to explore the relationship between the cardiovascular system and neurological system to determine if there is a connection between certain mental illnesses and heart health. This study was guided through implementation of Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework for scoping reviews. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Of the 934,251 sources found, only 21 studies met the study criteria and were ultimately selected for this study. Upon review, three themes were identified: (a) anxiety and cardiovascular disease; (b) schizophrenia and cardiovascular disease; and (c) depression and cardiovascular disease. …

The Impact Of Father Involvement And Socioeconomic Status On Child Behavior Problems, Delaney Hansen

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Research has indicated that child behavior is highly influenced by both the quantity and quality of father involvement. Despite the awareness of the important role father’s play, many parenting studies fail to focus on the father-child relationship. Furthermore, lower income families are especially important to examine due to the increased risk of lower father involvement. Identifying sources of resilience in low-income communities is needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between father involvement, socioeconomic status and child behavior outcomes. The data was derived from a sample of 52 parent-child dyads recruited from an urban Head …

Final Report For Senior Creative Project “Keepupkid”, Selena Fack

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives On Augmentative Communication And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Madison Lambert

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a common strategy that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use to help individuals better communicate. AAC is used to assist or replace verbal communication. This strategy can include pointing at pictures, having a device that speaks typed words, or using gestures such as sign language. AAC is commonly used to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder with communication. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that impacts social communication and interaction. Individuals with ASD also commonly have restrictive or repetitive behaviors. Past research on AAC has focused more on what it is and why …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Substance Use: A Review Of The Literature, Alexandra Scott

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that happen in a child’s life. These experiences can cause multiple negative outcomes for the child even into their adult life. In the United States, roughly one in ten children have experienced three or more ACEs, and nearly half of all children in the United States have experienced at least one ACE. These problems can be physical, mental, personal and social. Of these outcomes, the individual could develop alcoholism or addiction to substances. Substance abuse is the overindulgence or dependence on substances that are addictive, mainly drugs or alcohol. The relevance substance …

Marketing Approaches Between Millennials And Gen-Zs In The Fashion And Beauty Industries, Mariana Gutierrez Chora

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This Honors College Undergraduate Senior Thesis analyzes the marketing practices with respect to Gen-Zs and Millennials’ behavior in regard to the beauty and fashion industries. In order to do so, a survey among Gen-Z and Millennial adults from diverse backgrounds was conducted to gather important data. The survey consists of twenty-three questions, some focusing on the participant demographics and cultural backgrounds and the rest focusing on behaviors they have had with various forms of paid advertising through social- media practices. Additionally, this thesis includes insights regarding some of the literature review topics and includes results that enforce some of the …

X-Ray Crystallography Of Protein Uhrf2 With H3k9me3, Isaak Miller

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Epigenetics is the study of regulating gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Ubiquitin-like containing Plant Homeodomain and Ring-Finger 2 (UHRF2) is an epigenetic protein that is both overexpressed and underexpressed in various types of cancers. Recent studies have shown the Tandem Tudor Domain (TTD) and Planthomeo Domain (PHD) of UHRF2 interact with histone 3 trimethylated at lysine 9 (H3K9me3). However, the structural basis for UHRF2 TTD-PHD binding H3K9me3 has not been determined. This project consists of purification of the UHRF2 TTD-PHD protein construct expressed in E. coli, crystallization of the protein, X-ray diffraction of the crystal, and molecular replacement …

A Historical And Practical Survey Of Quantum Computing Using Qiskit, Kenneth Paul Cook

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Quantum Computing has been a part of computer science literature since the 1960s, but the call for quantum mechanical-based computation came when renowned theoretical physicist Richard Feynman said, “… nature isn't classical, dammit, and if you want to make a simulation of nature, you'd better make it quantum mechanical, and by golly it's a wonderful problem, because it doesn't look so easy.” (Feynman, 486) His words inspired people to begin work on the project immediately. Although the best ideas have not yet been found, there is much active research and experimentation going on to learn how best to use these …

Music, Identity, And Expectation: An Exploration Of Authentic Identity In The Midst Of A Pandemic, Olivia R. Barnaclo

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the author's beliefs, attitudes, and emotions related to performing a recital during a pandemic. This study focuses on the phenomenon of emotion around a senior recital which is a pivotal moment in a student's experiences. Data were collected from journal entries. These data were analyzed to answer the research question, "what are my feelings about the process of planning a recital given a pandemic?" This arts-based, heuristic inquiry utilized reflective writing, dance, and collage as iterative cycles. Three key themes emerged: falling short of expectations, the inability to accept acknowledgement, and navigating …

Being-In-Love: Kierkegaard And Existential Love, John Milkovich

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In this essay, I argue for an adaptation of Plato and Kierkegaard’s conceptions of love based on a style of analysis I call “existential analysis.” The existential analysis requires our conceptions of things to exclude any reference to view-from-nowhere concepts. Plato and Kierkegaard both make use of view-from-nowhere concepts in their theories of love. I argue that specific features of each of these theories–namely the pursuit for infinite beauty, the Absolute Paradox, and the other-self–can be removed from their respective view-from-nowhere concepts and reinterpreted to serve as a possible foundation for a future conception of love generally understood. Although Plato …

Bioarchaeology Of The Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Through Bioarchaeology Of Care Model, Cassandra Anderson

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is caused by compression of the nerves of the brachial plexus leading to paresthesia, muscle and bone atrophy, and pain in the affected arm. TOS can be identified on the skeleton through multiple skeletal indicators such as cervical ribs or bone atrophy. The lack of identification of TOS in bioarchaeological remains limits the amount of knowledge that can be gained from archeological populations in relation to social care and respect for physically disabled individuals. This study explores bioarchaeological evidence of TOS, including evidence of prehistoric medical procedures and community support to the disabled. Novel differential diagnoses …

Overview Of U.S. Foreign Language Education Policy, Karin P. Hartmaier

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Foreign language education policy has been a topic of concern in the USA since the time of the founding fathers. A paradox of American society is that it is a nation formed from a “melting pot” of immigrants, while the pressure to assimilate to a uniform American culture has resulted in a dominantly monolingual population. With changes in immigration rates and shifts in the national origins of immigrants, the attitudes and perspectives of the general public toward foreigners and foreign languages have also adjusted over time. This literature review will give an overview of how current events and public opinion …

Introducing An H113a Mutation Into Atg10 Y73q To Reduce Autophagic Activity And Understand The Effect Of Atg On Autophagosome Size And Number, Konrad L. Lautenschlager

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Autophagy is an essential recycling process that occurs within eukaryotic cells, however, the individual functions of the current thirty-two known autophagic proteins are not yet entirely understood. At this time, it is known that the autophagic protein Atg7 works upstream of both Atg3 and Atg10. Atg3 is affected by Atg7 and allows for the attachment of Atg8 and the lipid PE which is part of the autophagosome membrane. The Atg10 pathway is also affected by Atg7 but attaches Atg12 to Atg5 which upregulates the function of Atg3 and ultimately Atg8 lipidation. These protein interactions are necessary for forming autophagosomes, large …

The Prevalence Of Substance Abuse Within The Nursing Profession, Kaylie Paige Cox

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Determining Thermal Properties Via Parameter Estimation Of A One-Dimensional, Analytical Model, Lauren B. Tomanek

Doctoral Dissertations

“In thermal applications, thermal conductivity is used to predict how well a material conducts heat. The accuracy of the magnitude of the thermal conductivity becomes increasingly essential to optimize part geometry. Thermal conductivity can vary significantly from the nominal value due to post-processing. The ASTM standards available to measure thermal conductivity are challenging to reproduce because of the insulated and prescribed temperature boundary conditions that are needed. The research introduces two new methods for estimating thermal conductivity that deliver the same accuracy as the existing ASTM standards and are easier to implement. The methods account for losses in the heating …

Changing Snowmelt Conditions In The Western Canadian Arctic, Matthew Y. T. Tsui

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Multidecadal Changes in Spring Snowmelt in the Western Canadian Arctic

This study investigates the changes in key aspects of snowmelt in the western Canadian Arctic. Specifically, we will look at changes in the onset of snowmelt and the duration of snowmelt between 1999 and 2019, and extended air temperature between 1957 and 2019. In addition, we will look at changes in eight meteorological variables during the melt period. It was found that the onset of snowmelt occurred 14 days earlier, while the melt period ends 20 days earlier than 20 years ago. As a result, the duration of melt period …

Thinking About Making A Connection: Exploring The Role Of Metacognition In Recognition Memory For Associative Information, Mario E. Doyle

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In a set of six experiments, the relation between metacognition and associative memory was explored. The purpose was to determine whether the metacognitive behaviors that are used with item memory are also used with associative memory. Different memory systems have separate underlying processes which can cause mnemonic strategies to only be useful for some types of memory. People use metacognition to monitor and control their memory; however, it is uncertain whether metacognitive monitoring and control are the same for different types of memory. The research presented in this dissertation demonstrates the similarities and differences between metacognitive behavior for item and …