Honors College

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The Effect of Background Music on Math Test Performance of High School Students
(2013-05-27) Maas, Sarah; Grossman, Jerrold
There is often a general presumption that music and academics have a positive relationship. Researchers have investigated this relationship using a variety of subjects and testing many different variables. Since there was very little research done on the effect of background music on tests, I sought out to test if classical, rock, or rap background music has a positive effect on quiz scores. The experiment was done over four weeks with four Algebra II classes, two regular Algebra II classes and two accelerated Algebra II classes. To account for the four music types (classical, rap, rock, no music), and for the four quizzes over four weeks, a Latin Square design was used. When analyzing the results, a mixed effect linear model fit was used to accommodate absences, weeks, hours and music types. The data revealed that classical music had the most positive relationship with the quiz scores, even though most of the students confessed that they do not typically listen to classical music while doing their homework.
Crisis, Conflict, and Creativity: The Cultural Impact of the WPA Arts Projects in Michigan, 1935-1943
(2013-05-28) Marsh, Olivia; Miller, Karen
The WPA of the 1930s was the umbrella organization for many programs that ranged from strengthening infrastructure to producing art work. Besides providing employment to thousands of creative Michiganders and exposing the general public to original art for the first time, Michigan Federal One artists strove to separate art from the trappings of social class by using art to foster agitation and social awareness in order to delegitimize the federal idyllic aesthetic and expose the numerous levels of conflict between the elite and the working class, professionals and amateurs, politicians and artists, as well as between artists and their audience. By making art a part of as many Michiganders’ lives as possible as a vehicle for expression and personal enrichment, the project was recourse against those who had historically held a monopoly on beauty and aesthetics. Federal One, with all its faults, provided a constructive outlet for rebellion in Michigan and defined the duty of artists as producing work with a purpose, not just art for art’s sake, while at the same time to open a dialogue between artists and society that had not existed in the state before.
An Investigation of Mathematics Education in the United States and Asian Countries: Comparing and Contrasting Teaching Strategies and Practices
(2013-05-28) Strickler, Ann Meredith; Tracy, Dyanne
In the subject of mathematics, students in the United States score below their counterparts in other nations. Namely, students in Asian countries consistently outscore students in the United States. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides scores for mathematics and science achievement for fourth and eighth grade students. Data for the TIMSS study has been collected in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. Most recently, in 2011, data was collected for fourth grade students in 57 countries and other education systems and eighth grade students in 56 countries and other education systems. The scale average for the TIMSS study is set at 500. According to TIMSS (2011) fourth grade data, eight education systems had average scores higher than the United States. Among these eight education systems are: Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Japan. Similarly, eighth grade U.S. students scored lower than eleven education systems. Again, these systems include: Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Japan. Previous TIMSS data also supports the superior performance of Asian students.
The Future of Child Life in Pediatrics and Its Implications for Health Care Professionals
(2013-05-29) Tobin, David; Jarski, Robert Ph.D.
In the pediatric setting, the child life specialist is a unique member of the health care team, specifically trained in addressing the psychosocial needs of young patients. This is accomplished through a variety of techniques aimed at reducing anxiety and creating a sense of normalcy in the patient’s life. Currently, the presence of child life programs varies from hospital to hospital, and the amount of participation by other health care professionals, namely physicians, is limited. This thesis explores the history of child life and the current state of the profession through a case study examining two excellent programs within the United States. The final portion of the project addresses current weaknesses and challenges faced in pediatric medicine, offering novel suggestions aimed at improving collaboration between child life and the physician community. Such a partnership could have an invaluable, lasting effect on pediatric medicine and the future style of care provided to children.
The Art and Rhetoric of Letter Writing: How Letter Writing Manuals Have Evolved and Preserved Rhetorical Strategies Throughout Centuries
(2013-05-29) Cerku, Ashley; Driscoll, Dana
Rhetorical strategies can be traced back to ancient rhetoricians of the Classical period through the examination of the evolution of letter writing. Letters took the art of oral rhetoric and transferred it to the art of writing in the early Medieval period. Because of the need for documentation, especially in the Church, letter writing became important in order to preserve historical speeches. The art of letter writing soon evolved into the Renaissance period, in which letters became more private and personable. However, although some of the intentions of letter writing changed throughout the centuries, rhetorical techniques have progressed or have been adapted in order to teach basic letter writing today. This paper will research how the art and rhetoric of letter writing has evolved from the Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance periods, through the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and how some of the techniques and strategies of letter writing from these periods can still be found in different writing genres today.
A Comparison Between the Firefly Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization
(2013-05-29) Lohrer, Michael; Hanna, Darrin
When a problem is large or difficult to solve, computers are often used to find the solution. But when the problem becomes too large, traditional methods of finding the answer may not be enough. It is in turning to nature that inspiration can be found to solve these difficult problems. Artificial intelligence seeks to emulate creatures and processes found in nature, and turn their techniques for solving a problem into an algorithm. Many such metaheuristic algorithms have been developed, but there is a continuous search for better, faster algorithms. The recently developed Firefly Algorithm has been shown to outperform the longstanding Particle Swarm Optimization, and this work aims to verify those results and improve upon them by comparing the two algorithms with a large scale application. A direct hardware implementation of the Firefly Algorithm is also proposed, to speed up performance in embedded systems applications.
UVB-Induced Activation of PARP-1 in Cultured Human Lens Epithelial Cells
(2013-05-30) Feldmann, Daniel Jr; Giblin, Frank
According to the World Health Organization, cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Photo-oxidation by ultraviolet (UV) light has been linked to cataract development with evidence suggesting that UVB irradiation may cause cortical (the periphery of the lens) and posterior subcapsular (the back of the lens) cataract by damaging DNA within lens epithelial cells. Therefore we irradiated cultured human lens epithelial cells with UVB light and investigated the effects of the radiation on a DNA repair enzyme (PARP-1) located in the cell nucleus. We found that after cells were treated with UVB light and allowed to re-incubate at 37°C, PARP-1 activation increased within the nucleus of the cells. We conclude that PARP-1 may play a role in protecting human lens epithelial cells from UVB-induced DNA damage.
An Investigation of Mathematics Education in the United States and Asian Countries: Comparing and Contrasting Teaching Strategies and Practices
(2013-06-10) Strickler, Ann; Tracy, Dyanne
In the subject of mathematics, students in the United States score below their counterparts in other nations. Namely, students in Asian countries consistently outscore students in the United States. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides scores for mathematics and science achievement for fourth and eighth grade students. Data for the TIMSS study has been collected in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. Most recently, in 2011, data was collected for fourth grade students in 57 countries and other education systems and eighth grade students in 56 countries and other education systems. The scale average for the TIMSS study is set at 500. According to TIMSS (2011) fourth grade data, eight education systems had average scores higher than the United States. Among these eight education systems are: Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Japan. Similarly, eighth grade U.S. students scored lower than eleven education systems. Again, these systems include: Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Japan. Previous TIMSS data also supports the superior performance of Asian students.
Effects of Oncology Rehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancers- a Systematic Review
(2013-06-10) Roscoe, Elizabeth; Doherty, Deb
Purpose: Head and neck cancer (HNC) affects three to five percent of Americans. Few studies have focused on the effect of rehabilitation exercise on the common symptoms of head and neck cancer. Hence, the purpose of this literature review was to study current research regarding the effects of physical therapy implemented exercise. Method: An extensive literature search was conducted using search engines: Google scholar, PubMed, Chinhal Plus, Cochrane library, Medline and Library OneSearch. Search results: 26 sources including studies and reviews were included based on their relevance to rehabilitation exercise and head and neck cancer survivors. Conclusion: Rehabilitation exercise has been shown to have positive outcomes of quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors. Most evidence in existence is preliminary trials regarding fatigue, oral health, lymphedema, and shoulder dysfunction. A high adherence and feasibility rates for rehabilitation exercise has been found in head and neck cancer patients despite high morbidity of oncology treatment. More research on the effects of rehabilitation exercise is needed to validate the effectiveness of interventions shown in the current research available.
Kids, Why Eat Your Greens (Or Your Reds or Your Yellows)?: A Nutrition Education Intervention
(2013-06-10) Drogowski, Jessica; Lucarelli, Jennifer
America’s children battle a plethora of negative influences related to their health and overall wellness. A growing obesity epidemic, poor eating habits, negative influences and various health conditions are all struggles today's children face. This is in part due to a lack of proper nutritional education. Educational programs that teach children about wellness, nutrition, and the role their choices play in their health are needed for the enhancement of today’s youth and their health. This project sought to teach children the importance of proper nutrition and the impact it has on overall wellness. This report also sought to analyze the educational approach as well as the current nutritional knowledge of children. It is crucial that children are taught from a young age the skills they need to make healthy nutritional choices, as the knowledge they possess will impact their health and overall wellness status for the whole of their lives. This project showed some positive trends in participants’ preferences and nutrition knowledge; it also resulted in suggestions for future projects utilizing this or similar educational methods.
Christianity in Dystopia
(2013-06-11) Halabu, Peter; Anderson, Robert
A dystopian novel addresses societal concerns by asking "what if": what if automation made labor completely superfluous? what if we could divorce life from the realities of reproduction, birth, and death? what if society became utterly captivated by entertainment? For the author of a dystopian novel, the answer is always bad. The "dystopian project," the attempt to solve human problems and create a future Utopia, always ends in disaster. The author of this thesis was struck by the similarity between this "dystopian project," as portrayed by various authors, and Christianity, which also claims to address a human problem (sin) and promises a future utopia (Heaven, the New Jerusalem). Is this similarity coincidental, or purposeful? How does Christianity figure into the dystopian genre? In the course of answering this question, the author proposes a definition of the dystopian novel, and then explores several popular examples for Christian references and elements. The works studied include We (Eugene Zamiatin, 1924), Brave New World (Aldous Huxley, 1932), Anthem (Ayn Rand, 1946), 1984 (George Orwell, 1949), Player Piano (Kurt Vonnegut, 1952), Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury, 1953), and The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood, 1986).
The Dream Act: Assessing its Effects on Immigration & Higher Education Institutions
(2013-06-11) Ring, Amy; Snyder, Mary Beth; Piskulich, Pat
The debate of immigration reform is about finding the most effective way to retain a legal means of entry, reorganizing the interests of millions of undocumented aliens living in the U.S., and to also ensure integrity of the U.S. borders. One piece of legislation entitled The DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act was presented to the United States Senate in 2003 by Senator Richard R. Durbin (D-Illinois) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) as a proposed way of dealing with one aspect of the immigration issue. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented aliens who live in the United States the opportunity to gain citizenship by completing a college degree within six years or by serving two years of military service. In this paper, I take a holistic view of the potential consequences of the DREAM Act by looking at how it affects immigration in the United States, and our system of higher education.
Hands at Oakland University: Are They as Clean as You Think?
(2013-06-11) Evangelista, Andrea; Lal, Shailesh
According to the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, “Hand washing is critical to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.” There are a few readily identified simple steps involved in properly washing your hands. First, wet hands with warm water and thoroughly scrub the entire hand for about 20 seconds. Next, rinse your hands and dry with a paper towel or air dryer. Do not touch the dirty faucet to turn off the water with your clean hands; instead, use a paper towel. Hands should be meticulously washed before and after a variety of different activities: preparing food, eating food, using the toilet, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing and touching animals (CDC, 2010). The primary aim of this research was to affirm my opinion that not enough people wash their hands, and in failing to do so, are instrumental in spreading potentially harmful microorganisms around Oakland University’s campus. This project’s secondary aim is connected with the use of social media in research. The personal goals of my research were to provoke both staff and students into developing better hand washing habits. An argument for this is that if enough people become more 7 knowledgeable about the negative effects of bad hand hygiene and change their hand washing habits, it should significantly help control the spread of harmful pathogens on and around campus. This paper will assess whether the research I compiled and posted onto a Facebook page impacted hand hygiene habits or not, and it will consider the role of social media in such socially specific research.
Discovering Ameena in Morocco: An Auto Ethnographic Study on Identity
(2013-06-11) Sheikh, Ameena; Howell, Sharon; Shepherd, Daniel
Three months ago I left my comfortable life in the swanky suburbs of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to embark on a life-changing journey. This journey took me all the way to Fes, Morocco. With a ninety-eight percent Muslim population who predominantly speak Arabic and French, Morocco was nothing, absolutely nothing, like my home. As expected, before leaving I questioned how my identity would be altered by this experience. More specifically, how stereotyping and cognitive dissonance would impact my identity in this foreign country. Having a multi-cultural upbringing as both a Pakistani Muslim and Caucasian Christian, this auto-ethnographic study was extremely important because I have been deeply affected by this unique heritage and not always in a positive manner. I chose Morocco because it is a culture so different from anything I had ever known would shed light and give answers on how biracial people can create an identity that suite all situations without compromising any aspect of themselves.
A Retrospective Chart Review on Oxygen Saturation During Shoulder Arthroscopies in Lateral Decubitus and Beach Chair Positions
(2013-06-11) Schmitt, Kayla; Kondratek, Melodie
Purpose: This review provides a comprehensive comparison between the lateral decubitus and beach chair positions utilized while performing a shoulder arthroscopy. The intention is to determine whether one position is more advantageous over the other while comparing set-‐up, cost, orientation, visualization, effectiveness of anesthesia and risk. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 32 de-‐identified charts, 16 from each operative position: lateral decubitus and beach chair. The 16 for each position contain exactly 50% male and 50% female patients, with ages ranging from 19 to 85. Data gathered includes oxygen saturation and oxygen administered at 15-‐minute intervals throughout surgery, as well as de-‐identified patient health history. Results: Lateral decubitus patients recorded a higher initial peripheral oxygen saturation percentage at 0 minutes than beach chair patients (96.2% beach chair, 97.8% lateral decubitus). However, beach chair patients recorded a higher peripheral oxygen saturation percentage at 45 minutes, near the end of surgery, than lateral decubitus patients (97.9% beach chair, 97.3% lateral decubitus). Lateral decubitus patients required less oxygen to be administered to maintain healthy peripheral oxygen saturation levels throughout the entire surgery on average (2.2 L/min lateral decubitus, 2.7 L/min beach chair). Conclusions: This study refuted the hypothesis that the peripheral oxygen saturation in beach chair-‐positioned patients is higher than in the lateral decubitus position. Broad analysis of literature supports that most surgeons prefer the same operative position throughout all of their arthroscopic shoulder procedures, regardless of the circumstances.
How Wolverine fits into the Decades: Heroic Depictions of America from the Mid 1970’s to the Early 2010’s Through the Lens of the Comic Book Hero, Wolverine
(2013-06-27) Bond, David, II; Chapman, Jeff
To his fans, Wolverine could be known by several different names, but depending on the decade they read him in, they might call him something different. Like his titles, his role throughout Marvel history and American history changes constantly. What they haven’t acknowledged is that each decade, Wolverine has managed to transform into something that his current readers need. Relating to the decade of which he resides, writers have used Wolverine to express issues that each decade experiences.
The Influence of Handedness in Face Detection
(2013-07-12) Di Noto, Fara; Purcell, Dean
The brain is contralaterally organized, meaning the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body (Carlson, 2011). Handedness is highly correlated with hemisphere dominance such that it can be predicted that a right-handed individual has a dominant left hemisphere (Levy & Reid, 1978). Face recognition occurs in the right hemisphere of the brain (Reynolds & Jeeves, 1978), while face perception tends to occur in the left hemisphere (Benton, 1980). Yet, there has been no determination as to which hemisphere is specialized for face detection. Handedness also predicts which half of an image, either the right or the left, will be identified easier by an individual (Shuren, Greer, & Heilman, 1996). By comparing how fast and accurate individuals are at detecting faces in the right and left visual field against their degree of handedness and subsequent hemisphere dominance, this study seeks to discover where face detection occurs in the brain.
Energy Assessment, Analysis, Design and Installation of Optimal Photovoltaic Array on a Residential Rooftop
(2013-07-15) Gentry, Ryan; Kobus, Chris J.
Adding a photovoltaic (solar) array to a rooftop could be an overwhelming project for the average do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowner. There are many areas of research and engineering that are involved in properly designing a system that will not only function well, but will last a lifetime and fall within the rules and regulations too. The object of this project is to guide the average DIY homeowner through the process of analyzing, designing, and installing a photovoltaic (PV) solar array on a residential rooftop. The pages below will list the steps needed to design a system and provide an example of a residential design along the way. The occupant envelope provided as the example for this project uses a 16.5 kW solar array and, with government incentives, attained a final payback period of 14 years. With the information provided in this guide, one can design a proper sized PV array, apply the best fit energy efficiencies, analyze a rooftop for proper installation, and determine the payback period associated with the combined improvements.
The Relationship between Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Language in Patient-Physician Encounters among Bangladeshi-Americans
(2013-08-27) Hanif, Subha; Dallo, Florence; Wren, Patricia
This study will investigate the issue of patient-physician communication/relation in the Bangladeshi-American community in Hamtramck, Michigan. The specific components that will be explored are race/ethnicity, language, and sex of patients and providers. The data will be collected to analyze if any of these factors are associated with patient-physician relation in a primary care setting. The patient’s and the provider’s perspective will both be considered. The study proposes to explore whether race/ethnicity, language and sex of the provider affects patient satisfaction and care among the Bangladeshi-American community.
Multimedia Journalism: A Change in Broadcast News
(2013-09-03) Ciavatta, Savana; Youngquist, Jeffrey
For decades, TV reporters in big markets have worked in teams, with the lines of responsibility regulated by union rules or simple tradition (Farhi). The reporters were accompanied by a crew out in the field. They had their own photographer, editor and producer who oversaw their work (and further back there were even sound and lighting technicians). This was how the Detroit market worked at one time. But now, this metropolitan market is seeing a change, from traditional forms of newsgathering to something called multimedia journalism. Multimedia journalism (MMJ) is known as newsgathering done by one person, usually the reporter. They shoot, edit and write the entire story by themselves, without the help of another person. Multimedia journalism is prevalent in this market partially due to the recession that hit the economy a few years ago which caused television businesses to feel the cuts (Beam, Weaver & Brownlee 277). But perhaps the recession wasn’t the only reason why Detroit embraced multimedia journalism. Through qualitative research and thematic analysis, I will attempt to answer the following questions: why does multimedia journalism exist in Detroit and what is the affect of multimedia journalism on reporters? Before answering these questions, the framework of the rest of my thesis must be established. First there will be an outline of the history of technology, the market size of Detroit and the economic troubles impacting the newsmedia. These key subjects in my thesis help work towards the development of multimedia journalism and the influences they have on the industry. This will also help readers understand the significance of conducting research on the surge of multimedia journalism. Second, open-ended interview questions that will help me discover possible themes of MMJ in Detroit will be discussed, along with other aspects of qualitative research. Third, I will discuss the data collection process and the thematic analysis that is used to answer the questions on which my thesis is based.

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