Copyright (c) 2013 Roger Williams University All rights reserved. http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses Recent documents in Honors Theses en-us Mon, 13 May 2013 11:50:35 PDT 3600 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/18 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/18 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:45:26 PDT This project explored the relationship between sediment size, sediment composition and the concentration of mercury. The samples were taken from Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Knowledge and understanding of the binding ability of heavy metals, specifically mercury, will help to improve remediation efforts in the future. Analysis of elemental composition was conducted using the Elementar Analyzer and much troubleshooting of the instrument was necessary. End result of the project was the ability to work successfully with an advisor, as well as the ability to troubleshoot, operate and maintain the instrument.

]]> Erica Delaney http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/17 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/17 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:21:10 PDT This report presents a solution for the 2012 Environmental Design Contest sponsored by NMSU’s Institute for Energy and the Environment. PROTEUS was proposed as a sustainable alternative to using disposable filters for pretreating turbid water prior to reverse osmosis desalinization. PROTEUS employs a granular media filter followed by a redundant parallel train cartridge filter system each arranged in series. Various experiments were conducted to ensure the functionality and reliability of the system. Ultimately, PROTEUS addresses particulates down to 0.1 micron, consumes 2.25k-W-Hr/Kgal, filters 30,000 gpd, maintenance time is approximately 30 minutes every replacement cycle, occupies 54 ft3 of volume with 20ft3 of storage space, and utilizes no chemicals. The entire process is monitored by a control system to reduce maintenance and optimize pretreatment. PROTEUS meets all task design criteria in an environmentally sound manner and is economically preferable to current pretreatment systems with a base cost of $16,615.29.

]]> Kelilah Wolkowicz et al. http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/16 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/16 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:51:32 PST Kin recognition facilitates the evolution of cooperation in animals, but its relevance in microorganisms and their behavior toward relatives remains unclear. The Entamoeba lineage constitutes an ideal model to determine the behavioral and signaling cues needed for aggregative preference. Chemical cues have been reported for E. histolytica but not E. dispar, suggesting cell-communication between con-specifics and behavioral differences with relevance for disease. Entamoeba varieties have been reported as ‘morphologically undistinguishable’. Two strains of E. invadens have been isolated from different hosts (VK-1: NS - Varanus komodoensis and IP1- serpentes) but were classified within the same ‘species’. Trophozoites of each strain aggregate only with members of their own variety, suggesting they are able to associate based on behavioral and chemical communication. Adaptations to different environments and horizontal gene exchange could have influenced diversification of each lineage. Measurable aggregation and behavioral cues in fluorescence micrographs of Entamoeba varieties suggest that these characteristics should be included in phylogenetic studies.

]]> Katelyn M. Higgins http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/15 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/15 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:06:46 PDT The KCNE gene family codes for five transmembrane accessory proteins, "minK related peptides" or Mirps, involved in the modification of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, K+ selective pores vital in the regulation of membrane potential and repolarization in all organisms. In mammals, all five KCNE gene members are conserved and active in the heart. In the zebrafish Danio rerio, there are no apparent orthologs for KCNE2 or KCNE5, yet they contain Kv channels with homologous structure, function, and Mirp regulatory behavior to other organisms. Sequence analysis of wildtype zebrafish KCNE1, 3 and 4, and rtPCR on RNA from zebrafish tissues to assess adult expression led to the identification of the Mirps in zebrafish and a depiction of their expression patterns. Specifically, zebrafish were phylogenetically identified as homologs to KCNE1 and KCNE4 from other species and KCNE1 and KCNE3 cDNA showed expression in wildtype adult zebrafish heart tissue, implicating that MinK, Mirp2, and Mirp3 play active roles in the regulation of voltage-gated potassium channels in zebrafish, Danio rerio.

]]> Lauren Vernlund http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/14 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/14 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:34:25 PDT Through a comparative study of contemporary America and ancient Mesopotamia, the devotional practices directed towards the goddess Inanna in ancient Mesopotamia and towards celebrities in present-day America are analyzed. Celebrities have replaced Inanna in terms of representing exceptional figures exemplifying certain qualities--qualities of motherhood, fertility, sexual appeal, wisdom, intelligence, and even that of the warrior--once associated with the ancient goddess. The position of women within these cultures is an important aspect of the research. In ancient Mesopotamia, the position of women decreased over the millennia, from 4000 BCE to 1000 BCE, in which the people of Sumer, Akkadia, Assyria, and Canaan existed. In the United States, on the other hand, the position of women has increased within society in the past few decades. These changing factors within each respective time-period is reflective of the devotional practices performed, and the popularity felt, towards their respective goddess figures. Further research to include more cultures is needed in order to clarify as to whether societies need to create these figures in some way.

]]> Sierra Helm http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/13 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/13 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:09:22 PDT Research has established that pre-trial publicity increases potential jurors’ awareness to factors that may or may not become evidence at trial. The purpose of the present study was to examine how variations in prior notification of a civil settlement would influence juror decision-making. A sample of jury eligible students (N = 123) read one of three news summaries in which the settlement amount ($14.75M v. $4.25M v. $800,000 v. Control) and prior notification (3 Day v. 3 Week Delay) were manipulated. Results indicated that similar to pre-trial publicity, jurors utilized prior information as a basis for determining award. In addition, participants who experienced a 3-day delay were significantly more likely to award a greater amount in compensatory damages compared to those who experienced a 3-week delay.

]]> Jessica Crawford http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/12 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/12 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:49:35 PDT I am an elementary education major and have a deep love for seeing children make connections, and learn about not only academics but moral values and life lessons. As much as I have learned in different classes over the past four years of my education, I have learned the most during my Practicum and Student Teaching experience as I really have gotten to run my own classroom. I believe that classroom management is the most important tool of strong learning. It provides the atmosphere students need to learn to their best ability. My thesis paper discusses why classroom management is essential to any effective classroom at an elementary school level. I will implement theories of some well-noted authors in the education field, along with sharing my personal experiences in my Practicum and Student Teaching journey. Explored are the reasons behind why a classroom should be managed well, safety issues, relationships, teacher reflection, and more.

]]> Kayla Cotter http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/11 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/11 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:51:07 PDT Study abroad at Roger Williams University allows students to travel to new locations and pursue personal and intercultural development opportunities. This thesis describes a research study that investigated: How does the study abroad experience influence students’ academic, intercultural, and personal development? 28 RWU participants answered survey questions about their semester abroad experiences. Results suggest that a study abroad semester has many positive influences on a college student’s personal life and intercultural development.

]]> Kevin Danaher http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/10 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/10 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:57:21 PDT In this thesis, I will document the creative work I completed for my Senior Acting Project. I will also explore my Senior Acting Project from a more ‘conventional’ academic standpoint. I will explore various definitions of tragedy and argue my own definition; I will also investigate who Euripides was as a writer and human being. I will then apply my findings to three different versions of Euripides’ tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis: a classical translation, a more contemporary translation, and the adaptation I performed for my SAP. I will argue whether or not each meets my criteria for a tragedy, and how truly each conveys Euripides’ spirit.

]]> Danya Gee Martin http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/9 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/9 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:27:36 PDT This paper will discuss the transition from Modernism to Postmodernism in 1960s literature. Specifically, the paper will discuss the deconstruction of the subject and the introduction of subsequent “pluralities.” Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, and Richard Yates’s Revolutionary Road are discussed as texts in unique areas of transition in which the female protagonists embody this sense of plurality and use it to become women freer from patriarchal constraints.

]]> Nicole Foti http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/8 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/8 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:21:05 PDT The aim of this research is to examine the seemingly opposite Legalist outlook of the Qin dynasty against the philosophy of Confucianism, and determine the extent to which they have impacted the government and society of the People’s Republic of China today. It is common in Eastern cultures to blend two seemingly opposite ideas, which is partially how this mixture of Legalism and Confucianism works in the current government. The Qin dynasty employed the legalist governmental philosophy, which allowed one ruler to effectively control all of China. This set up the principle of a concentrated government over the vast Chinese land that has remained throughout the centuries. Aspects of the Qin Dynasty have become ingrained in the culture of China, as evident in their government structure and harsh punishment system, which will be further examined in this paper. Confucianism has impacted the societal makeup of the Chinese culture since the fifth century BCE. Many Chinese today identify themselves as “Confucian in public and Daoist in private.” This paper examines the effects of Confucianism more in depth on both the society and government in China today. The aim of the research is to examine how much Legalism and Confucianism have blended together to create China today.

]]> Elyse Tompkins http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/7 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/7 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:06:08 PDT The thesis assesses the prospects for global conflict or security using both traditionalist and modernist theory of international relations.

]]> Andrew P. Smith http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/5 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/5 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:28:20 PDT The current study asks when, if ever, is it acceptable to use "enhanced" interrogation techniques? A mostly White (90.4%), female (55%) sample of 240 participants read a vignette describing an Italian or Saudi Arabian suspect, who was a U.S. citizen or illegal immigrant, who was interrogated on either a U.S. army base or abroad for one of two crimes: child molestation or terrorism. The study failed to find the hypothesized interaction that participants would be more likely to endorse the use of harsh interrogation tactics when the suspect was Saudi Arabian, an illegal immigrant, accused of terrorism, and interrogated abroad. Instead, an unexpected finding of ethnicity emerged: participants were more likely to endorse the use of harsh techniques when the suspect was Italian. The black sheep effect and reactivity are possible explanations presented, but future research is needed to further explore how these factors affect perceptions of "enhanced" interrogations.

]]> Brianna Correira http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/4 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/4 Wed, 18 May 2011 08:35:24 PDT Today, the idea of social media is radically different from the media of a decade ago. While a decade ago the Internet was considered new media, our society now turns to Facebook, Twitter, and blogs as sources of information. In the United States during election cycles, the use of social media by presidential candidates has become a way for many voters to find out about candidates. As a result, presidential candidates have had to adapt their campaign strategies to work with these media in a way that will effectively target these audiences. This study examines whether campaigns that are more “social media savvy” will ultimately garner more votes, specifically from those aged 18-24. By analyzing social media tactics of the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections and surveying voters in this age range, I ultimately found that there was no relationship between social media use and young voter participation or likelihood of voting for Democratic candidates. However, there was a relationship between social media usage and likelihood of voting for Republican candidates: when social media was used, participants were less likely to vote for the Republican candidate than when no social media use was present.

]]> Samantha Hamilton http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/2 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/2 Wed, 11 May 2011 11:36:12 PDT This study examined the association between corporate transparency and ethical orientation of Fortune 500 companies and the number of females represented on the board of directors from 2010 annual report data. My basis for this judgment was whether or not the firm was listed on either (both) Ethisphere Magazine’s 2010 “World’s Most Corporate Citizens List”. My results indicate that, as the number of women directors increased, the probability of a corporation appearing on these lists increases. I also found that a “critical mass” of women directors was indicated by the data for Ethisphere Magazine’s but not Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list. Finally, while being on one of these lists did not increase corporate return data in a statistically significant sense, it did dramatically reduce the level of negative returns.

]]> Meredith B. Larkin http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/1 http://docs.rwu.edu/honors_theses/1 Wed, 11 May 2011 10:45:23 PDT The impacts of yoga and aerobic exercise on level of concentration and change in feeling-states were examined in this study. They hypothesis was that concentration and feeling-states would improve over a yoga and aerobic exercise session, but yoga, a combination of exercise and meditation, was expected to produce greater positive changes than aerobic exercise. Participants included 70 students from Roger Williams University, 27 male and 43 female. 34 took part in 30 minutes of yoga and 36 took part in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. Concentration levels and feeling-states improved significantly over sessions of both yoga and aerobic exercise sessions equally. Results indicate that aerobic exercise and yoga both produce positive changes in concentration, stress, energy, and well-being while only yoga produces improvements in mood and self-satisfaction.

]]> Elyse J. Dolde