Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

What Do You Expect? An Invesitgation of How Caffeine Expectancies Affect College Students' Cognitive Performances

Katie Berg — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:40:03 PST

Caffeine use is common, but few studies have examined how the expectancies that people hold about caffeine relate to the effects they experience after consuming it. My study examined how typical caffeine consumption and students' expectancies about how caffeine generally affects them influence their decisions about caffeine use as well as their performance on memory and attention tests. I hypothesized that expectations about how caffeine affects students would interact with their beliefs about how much caffeine they had consumed to impact performance on tests of attention and memory. Undergraduate students were divided into four groups: high consumption and high expectancy, high consumption and low expectancy, low consumption and high expectancy, low consumption and low expectancy. After being told they would compete for the best scores on memory and attention tests, participants chose a high (80mg), moderate (35mg), or no caffeine drink. They were then informed that they had been randomly assigned to consume either the high caffeine (80mg) or no caffeine drink, although both drinks were in reality caffeine-free. After 20 minutes, participants completed several tests of attention and memory. Students' typical consumption patterns and expectancies did not influence the frequency with which they selected the high, moderate, or no caffeine drink; however, males chose drinks with more extreme amounts of caffeine (Omg or 80mg), whereas females chose drinks with low (Omg) or moderate (35mg) amounts of caffeine most frequently. Performance on memory and attention tasks was not generally influenced by students' caffeine expectancies and the drink they believed they consumed. Significant effects, in a pattern opposite to my hypothesis, emerged on one attention measure. CAFFEINE EXPECTANCY.

The Effect of Tidal DIsruptions on GIant Stars in the Galactic Center

Brian B. Geiss — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:34:04 PST

Recent observational data suggest the depletion of late-type giant stars in the inner most region of the Galactive Nucleus. Using dynamically evolving Fokker-Planck models of the Galactic Nucleus, we have followed in detail the stellar distribution as it evolves through the postmain-sequence phases. Of particular interest was the effect of stellar collisions and tidal disruptions by the central massive black hole on post main sequence stars as they expand in size. B y modeling tidal disruptions and stellar collisions, we have found that there should be a significant depletion of the giant stars in the innermost regions of the nucleus. Our models also suggest that tidal disruptions were found to have a larger effect on the depletion of giant stars than stellar collisions in this region.

Representaciones del Otro en el cine espanol y el resurgimiento de la ideologia franquista

Anthonay Erlandson — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:11:46 PST

Abstract not available.

Reception and Influence of a Postmodern opera: John Adam's Nixon in China, 1987-2011

Casey Jo Brege — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:47:14 PST

Reviews of these later performances indicate resurgence in popularity and a greater critical grasp of the work's fundamental dramatic and musical dynamic. In the intervening years since the work's premiere, the power negative feelings associated with its principle characters have dimmed in cultural memory, allowing for the overarching statement of the opera to be foremost in the audience's minds. Elements of the production first analyzed as politically naive, have been reexamined as insightful, if not prophetic.

A Textual Analysis of Barack Obama's Campaign Discourse Regarding His Race

Andrea Dawn Andrews — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:30:20 PST

This study is a textual analysis of Barack Obama's nine most noteworthy speeches from 2004 to 2009 during his rise to prominence and presidential campaign. Because Obama was considered an inspiring speaker and because he was the first African American to win either a major party's presidential nomination or a general • • presidential election, this study examines how Obama's use of language about his race may have contributed to his success. Previous research has shown that use of six rhetorical devices resonates with the American people: abstraction, democratic speech conversational speech, valence messages, conciliatory messages and imagery. The study analyzed Obama's speeches for use of these devices in relation to his race. In the nine speeches studied, Obama addressed his race twenty-nine times and used all six rhetorical devices frequently when doing so. Recurring themes he discussed using these devices were the American dream, heritage and family, and unity. His overarching message about his race was that racial differences and a negative history of race relations could be overcome because the U.S. is a land of possibility, and he offered himself as proof of that idea. Previous research shows that the rhetorical devices Obama used to present this message about his race are those that would have helped him connect with his audience and appeal to the public. Thus, Obama's use of rhetorical devices and presentation of a positive message about his race may have helped him win votes to become the first African American president of the United States.

Positive Affect During Goal Adoption : Why Happiness Breeds Success

Katherine Wainwright — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:22:24 PST

Prior research has shown that positive affect helps individuals to achieve their goals. typically by energizing individuals' performance during goal pursuit. However, questions remain as to whether other mechanisms might exist by which positive affect could facilitate success. Specifically, researchers have yet to address the role that positive affect might play during the process of goal adoption. In the current study, I examined whether positive affect experienced at the time of goal adoption facilitates goal achievement. Participants were induced into either a positive or neutral affective state by watching a video clip. They were also asked to adopt the goal of performing well on a mental rotation task. All participants then completed the mental rotation task; performance on the task was analyzed in terms of speed and accuracy. Task performance was significantly better for the positive affect groups compared to the neutral affect group. indicating that positive affect during goal formation may be beneficial. However. the induced positive affect persisted longer than anticipated, and many of the participants in the positive affect groups began the task while still in a positive affective state. Thus, improved performance may have been due to the ' energizing' effects of positive affect instead of the hypothesized effect during goal adoption. This research may help identify what conditions are ideal for goal adoption and explain why people are better able to achieve some goals and not others.

"Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Wave Propagation with Application to Geophysical Prospecting"

Andrew Maven Smith — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:29:42 PST

Ultimately the goal of this research is to better map geological formations beneath the Earth's surface.

How Sweet is it, really? The Anomalous Effects of Glucose at Retrieval

Sarah A. Gillott — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:20:08 PST

151 participants gave free recall and probed response memories for best kisses and The Lion King. Blood-glucose levels were manipulated at retrieval with glucose (50g) or saccharin (35mg) in the form of a lemonade drink. Memories for best kisses were more elaborate than memories for The Lion King. This may be due to the fact that best kiss memories were rated as more arousing than film memories. Regardless, high blood-glucose levels as a result of glucose consumption significantly impaired autobiographical kiss memory, yet enhanced semantic memory for The Lion King in the free recall section. The effect of glucose was found for either memory type in the probed response section. Furthermore, when arousal was covaried, the effects of glucose on free recall memory disappeared. In summary, glucose administration at retrieval had differential effects on memory depending upon memory type.

Ending the Cycle of Female Child Sex Slavery in Cambodia: Prevention, Prosecution and Sustainable Freedom

Carmen Marie Murphy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:04:10 PST

As I had the chance to visit Cambodia and talk to actual victims, I planned to use ethnographic methodology to incorporate testimonies and personal interaction to supplement the lack of specific research in this field. I believed ethnography would be an effective method as it takes a holistic perspective of all contributing factors, such as history, geography, religion, government, and population. My plan was to conduct an ethnographic case study of Cambodia using current scholarship on these areas, and then contribute my personal experiences. To ensure quality control and unbiased research. I used contextualization by conducting my research in Cambodia, triangulation and nonjudgmentaI orientation. Because this is an ongoing problem, one that is skillfully hidden by perpetrators, I compared numerous accounts and figures to get the most accurate description possible.

"Effects of exposure to low, ecologically relevant doses of atrazine on somatic and gonadal development in American

Tyler Davis Hoskins — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:44:19 PST

Atrazine is the most commonly used herbicide in the United States, with 80 million pounds applied annually, making it the most common contaminant of ground and surface water nationwide. It has been shown to act as a potent endocrine disrupter in amphibians, causing altered somatic and gonadal development in the ecologically relevant part per billion range; as a result, it has been hypothesized that atrazine may be a major factor behind amphibian declines. However, responses of different species to the chemical vary widely, and have made predicting susceptibility difficult. Recently, it has been shown that life history can serve as a strong predictor of vulnerability, as the speed of somatic development and the timing of gonadal differentiation may determine the effects of exposure. However, previous studies leading to these conclusions have examined atrazine under stable laboratory conditions, although it is widely accepted that chemical contaminants can interact synergistically with natural stressors in the wild, producing exaggerated effects. To test whether more stressful conditions alter the effects of atrazine with respect to existing data, we raised Bufoamericanus tadpoles under more stressful conditions, including a high larval density and simulated pond drying, and exposure to ecologically relevant doses of atrazine (0, 0.1, 1, 25 ppb). We measured markers of somatic development (mass, time, survival at metamorphosis) and gonadal differentiation (ovarian stage in females, presence of testicular oocytes in males). Our results do not suggest that stressful conditions worsen the effects of atrazine, as only mass at metamorphosis was affected by exposure. Our results are interesting, however, in that they support the hypothesis that atrazine displays a non-monotonic dose-response curve, with very low concentrations (0.1,1 ppb) producing the most severe effects, an important implication for any conservation policy regarding the chemical.

Consumer Choice Tactics for Common Repeat Purchase

Alicia Elizabeth Dixon — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:27:11 PST

Currently there is limited research on the consumer decision-making process for low involvement products. The purpose of my study was to better understand the consumer decision-making process for common, repeat purchase products. Specifically, I was looking at how gender and generational differences impacted the decision-making process when purchasing two low-involvement products, tissues and deodorant. One hundred and ten students, staff and faculty were asked to look at a constructed store aisle and purchase both a box of tissues and stick of deodorant and complete a questionnaire responding to questions regarding their decision choice. The questiOl1J1ai re collected information regarding six dependent variables including brand loyalty, involvement level, and four choice heuristics: performance, price, affect, and normative. Through open ended and closed-ended questions as well as observational data that was collected, I developed a better understanding of each participant's decision-making process. There was support for my hypothesis that would be more influenced by normative and affective choice tactics than Baby Boomers or Gen Xers. Overall we found that Millenials tended to be the most in influenced by the choice heuristics while Baby Boomers were the least influenced. Data suggested that this might have occurred because the decision-making of Baby Boomers was more influenced by brand loyalty, There were also few statistically significant differences found between the dependent variables measured based on gender.

Chiral Recognition Study of a Bimolecular Process in Amino Acid Chiral Ionic Liquids

Laurel Millikan Heckman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:58:52 PST

In this study, chiral ionic liquid (CIL) solvents were prepared and tested for their chiral discrimination ability by probing with luminescence quenching. The CIL's were also tested for their impurities, viscosity and density. These experiments will help to determine the ability of CIL's to act as solvents in asymmetric catalysis. The chiral ionic liquids in this study were composed of amino acid methyl ester cations and bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide or bistri flimide anions (i.e. I-alanine methyl ester bistriflimid e, d-alanine methyl ester bistr iflim ide and I-leuci ne methyl ester bistriflimde). Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and its quenching in the chiral ionic liq uid solvent was probed using a racemic mi xture of Eu(dpa)/ (where dpa = 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylate) and (+)-cobalt complexes as quencher molecules. CPL measurements of the europium complex dissolved in each of the three CIL's resulted in dissymmetry factors not equal to zero, illustrating that the CIL solvent was structurally interacting with th e europium complex and affecting its racemic equilibrium. D- AlaC 1Tf2N had an opposite and equall y dissymmetry factor than L- AlaC1Tf2N emphasizing the abi lity of the CIL to di ffe rentiate between the right and left hands of a chiral molecule. When both the racemic europium and (+)-cobalt complexes were dissolved in CIL, their wellcharacterized interaction in water, an achiral solvent, was diffe rent than their interaction in the CIL's. Both L-LeuC1Tf2N and L-AlaC 1Tf2N lessened the cobalt 's preference with one hand in an achiral solvent. L- LeuCI Tf2N actuall y changed the sign of the dissymmetry fac tor of the stereochemical interacti on between the europium and cobalt complexes in water. However, L-AlaCI Tf2N had a smaller affect, only making the dissymmetry factor less positive in compari son to the EuI(+)Co complex interaction in 8 water. These data show that the CIL is working as an effective chrial selector in a bimolecular interaction.

Characteri zation of esterase activity from the bacteria, Francisella tlliarensis, the causative agent of tularemia

Leigh Anna Weston — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:38:40 PST

Francisella tularensis is the bacteria responsible for causing the disease tularemia and is listed as one of the top three-biowarfare agents. Among the proteins essential to the virulence and infectivity of F.tularensis are multiple esterases, which are enzymes that break down various ester, thioester, and amide bonds. In this project, the catalytic activity, substrate speci fi city, and structure of a putative esterase from F.tularensis was studied. Latent fluorophores based on the molecule, fluorescein, were unmasked by the enzymatic activity of the esterase and the increase in fluorescence was measured over time to determine how well the e tcrase recognized different substrates. The esterase FlT258 from F. IIJlarensis activated a variety of simple latent fluorophore substrates with catalytic efficiencies ranging from 5075 M"s" for a simple propyl ester to 294.8 M' 's" for a teniary e ter. These simple substrates were recognized by the esterase with KM va lues ranging from 0.54 to 2 1.4 f,M , and sterically occluded substrates had significantly reduced kinetic turnover (kc",) compared to the simplest substrates. In addition to the wild type esterase, the kinetic a tivity of five different variants of the esterase with single amino acid mutations were characterized against two latent fluorophore substrates to determine more information about the binding pocket of the esterase. The kinetic activity of each of the variants decreased significantly from the wild-type enzyme activity and indicated that the binding pocket is fairly invariant to substitution. Activity, 3D structure, and primary structure comparisons suggest that this esterase belongs to the carboxylesterasc family. Although lillie is known about the specific biological role of FTI 0258C and other carboxylesterases from its fanlily, the promiscuity of its enzymatic eclJ\ll) ould Ix uoollO dc\ I P f'OlmlJ:tl Jru m,>dcl thaI ulIlll 1M Unl

"We'll Make Our History": Israeli and Palestinian Youth as Poetic Agents

Caleb Hamman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:01:58 PST

This paper, in short, analyzes and argue for recognition of a particular form of political action as exercised by a particular type of political agent in the spatial and 3 symbolic context of "Israel-Palestine."

The Undefined Middle: Exploring the Role of the Union Representative in the Modern Teachers Union Structure

Amanda Erin Lee — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:58:31 PST

As an integral part of the teachers union, the union representative works to serve the needs of the union on a local level while also maintaining employment as a teacher within the school system. The continuously evolving political climate that surrounds this organization including shifting educational laws and leadership on the federal and state levels, has left the role of the union representative largely undefined in the current teachers union structure. As a necessary aspect of both the school and the union, the union representative must fulfill role requirements in two structures that are frequently at odds with each other, making it important to assess how the representative functions in these roles and manages the potential conflicts between actors in the structure.

The Parables of the Kingdom of God

Danielle Reist — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:52:30 PST

This paper will be yet another attempt to understand what the historical Jesus may have meant when he spoke of the Kingdom. In particular I will be examining parables attributed to Jesus that are relevant to the idea of Kingdom. However before any exegesis can begin it is important to understand the history of scholarship on the topic. In the brief survey of a variety of opinions that have been put forth that follows my aim is to not only review the history of scholarship on the subject, but also illustrate the variety of issues one encounters when attempting to think critically about the Kingdom as Jesus spoke of it. The differences of opinion that scholars have had over the nature of the Kingdom should serve to bring to light the difficulties a project of this nature will encounter.

The Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Impulsivity in College Students

Myles Elgin Trapp — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:45:23 PST

This study investigated the impact of a brief, introductory mindfulness intervention on attention, executive control, and impulsivity. I randomly assigned forty-seven undergraduate students to a treatment group (TG) receiving mindfulness training and a waiting list control group (WLG). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires and standardized neuropsychological tests before and after the intervention. Participants high in trait mindfulness suffered less interference on a Stroop task, were less impulsive on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, but also evidenced less cognitive flexibility on a dual fluency test at baseline. The TG demonstrated greater improvement than the WLG from baseline to re-test on one cognitive measure (Mental Control). Paradoxically, they also demonstrated a greater increase in impulsivity on the Balloon Analogue Risk Ta k than the WLG. lite its limited effects on attention, executive function, and impulse control, my 2-hour mindfulness intervention successfully motivated college students to engage in the component exercises of meditation, body scanning, and yoga. Perhaps future studies incorporating more extensive training and a longer practice interval will yield larger effects on cognition.

"Speak Softly but Carry a Big Can of Paint"-Banksy, Wall and Piece

Rosemary Reedy Booth — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:35:57 PST

The English street artist Banksy best describes the power of street art as radical activism through his assertion in his 2003 collection, Banging Yallr Head Against a Brick Wall, that "[ It] is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss" ( II ). Banksy is notorious because he is a prolific street artist yet his identity has never been revealed. He plays a prominent role in the current international street art movement. Since the I 970s street art movement in New York City, street art has captured the imaginations of young people around the world as a form of protest and resistance to privatization and oppression of marginalized groups such as youth and people of color. Through the examination of three areas of the world in which street art is prevalent, I posit street art as a radical form of protest to the ageism, racism, and c1assism that Palestinian and Latino youth face today. I also offer suggestions for wider street art applications as radical political activism, as well as ways for the reader to . . . participate 111 street art.

So Many Choices, So Little Time: Religiosity and theStress of Making Decisions

Joshua David Boeke — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:28:51 PST

Numerous studies have appeared in the literature demonstrating that religiosity and mental health are positively related. However, although investigators have identified several variables that partially mediate the effects of religiosity on mental health, much of this relationship remains unexplained. The goal of this survey study was to examine to what extent religious individuals experience better mental health outcomes because they experience less stress when making decisions. Specifically, this study evaluated whether religious individuals reduce the number of decision alternatives they consider when making decisions, which in tum should make decision making easier and reduce decision-making stress. Participants were asked to complete a survey consisting of a variety of previously validated religion and mental health measures. In addition, participants were asked to respond to a series of newly developed decision-making scenarios and to recall decisions made in the past, as well as to complete some ancillary measures. The results of the study did not support the primary hypothesis. Religiosity was shown to correlate significantly with positive aspects of mental health, but general decision-making variables did not mediate this relationship. However, data collected using ancillary measures suggested that religious individuals experience less stress related to a specific type of decision-making, deciding between conflicting goals. Furthermore, amount of goal -conflict was shown to be a significant mediator between religiosity and mental health, suggesting that one of the ways that religion promotes mental health is by reducing stress related to goal-conflict.

Reception and Influence of a Postmodernist Opera : John Adams ' s Nixon in China , 1987-2011

Casey Jo Brege — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:58:43 PST