Honors Thesis Poster Presentations
P-01 The Effects of Celite Formulated Rhizobium rubi and Tryptophan on Velvetleaf Plant Growth
Jonathon Ahn (Robert Zdor, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 and tryptophan may be useful in replacing chemical herbicides as biological control agents. Previous research has shown that Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 produces IAA-like compounds that are deleterious to weed growth. In this project R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 will be formulated in Celite, a granular, diatomaceous earth carrier. The purpose of this research is to analyze if tryptophan influences R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 populations in the velveltleaf rhizosphere, and if this colonization is associated with reduced root weight and shoot length. The experiment design consists of five soil treatments (bacteria+tryptophan+celite, tryptophan+celite, bacteria+celite, celite alone, and soil alone) with 10 velvetleaf plants each. The decreasing trend of the root weights, shoot lengths, and bacterial colony counts of the tryptophan and R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 treatments will be recorded and analyzed using two statistical tests (t-test and ANOVA).
P-02 Service Un-Requited: African American Civil War Soldiers and their Fight for Freedom and Pension Compensation
Clifford Allen (Kathryn Silva, History)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar, Undergraduate Research Scholar, and Earhart Emerging Scholar
My research project consists of delving through over nine hundred pension records from the files of fifteen African American soldiers who participated in the Civil War. These documents are comprised of general affidavits, witness statements, physicians’ certificates, military enlistment records, marriage certificates, military roll/attendance records, certificates for discharge, and documentation of receipt of or rejection of pension requests. Using these documents I investigated the cases of these soldiers in order to discover why they did or did not receive their military pensions, the length of time the process of attaining their pensions required, and explore the stories of the soldiers and their families behind each case. Using a combination of my findings and a variety of secondary source materials, this work will argue that in addition to their opportunities to receive pension assistance, the livelihood, and quality of life of black soldiers and their families after the Civil War were adversely affected by the bureaucracy of the Federal Pension System during the period of Jim Crow. The primary goal of my research is to add a personal dimension to the statistics from my secondary source material, which infers that the military pension system was prejudiced against African American soldiers.
P-03 Republic ‘on Earth as it is in Heaven:’ the Freedom of the Fall in Paradise Lost and His Dark Materials
Jordan Arellano (L. Monique Pittman, English)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The epic poem Paradise Lost (1667, 74) retells the Biblical creation story through the blind eyes of the Christian political-poet John Milton. Three hundred years later, Milton’s work is recast by the atheist children’s and fantasy novelist Philip Pullman in the His Dark Materials trilogy (1995, 97, 2000). Although one might assume that these two writers’ perspectives would contradict one another, Pullman’s adaptation—though a perverted story of the Fall—still pursues the same goal as Milton’s by imagining a new and better social structure. And not only do they share that goal, but they also explore the same mechanism—free will.
P-04 Processing Load and Biopotentials: An Evaluation of a Consumer Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Kristen Bishop (Karl Bailey, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The general public is extremely interested in mental training and the use of brain imaging to study the mind. One device that combines the two and is currently on the market for consumers is a single channel EEG band produced by NeuroSky which claims to measure concentration. However, the claims that they have developed a single channel measure of concentration and meditation have not been tested. EEG power is related to cognitive memory and performance, which both contribute to concentration. In addition to EEG waves, pupil size is a reliable physiological index of processing load and concentration. The first purpose of this study is to replicate the finding of pupil diameter size and concentration. The second purpose is to see if the results of the replication correlate with the proprietary concentration reading from the NeuroSky single channel EEG as a first step towards understanding what, if anything, consumer EEG equipment measures.
P-05 Visual Cognition While Listening to Stories
Nathalie Borges (Karl Bailey, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Different people have different perceptual patterns in response to language. Different language accents may influence one’s visual cognition by referencing to certain objects when listening to stories. The purpose of this study is to record differences in eye movement patterns while listening to stories by manipulating the auditory stimulus and cognitive load. Using the eye tracker, eye movement patterns will be recorded as subjects look at objects on a screen. I posit that subjects will delay eye movement patterns to target objects while listening to stories in a foreign accent as opposed to an American accent because of increased cognitive load. I will discuss my preliminary findings during the poster session.
P-06 The Diversity of Color: An Analysis of Cross-Cultural Color Symbolism
Erica Bradfield (Øystein LaBianca, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Does a person’s perception of color symbolism depend on their cultural geographic origin? As color is often connected to different cultural elements, this study is intended as a contribution to advancing cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The hypothesis states that the color perceived to be symbolic of various life events such as weddings, births, and deaths or emotions such as happiness and sadness, will vary based on a person’s cultural geographic origin. Using eleven basic color terms, as determined by Berlin and Kay (1969), subjects’ perceptions of color symbolism will be explored through responses to an online survey shared with a global convenience sample.
P-07 The Role of Sabbath Keeping Internalization, Need Satisfaction, and Parental Environment in Well-Being
Paola Caceres (Karl Bailey, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Identifying which specific religious practices promote religious internalization is crucial in understanding the relationship between religious practice and well-being. The current study seeks to use an episodic memory recall technique along with surveys to examine whether the relationship between internalization of Sabbath-keeping and well-being is mediated by basic need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and parental environment. The relationships between Sabbath-keeping narratives, well-being, Sabbath-keeping internalization, need satisfaction, and perception of parental environment among life-long Adventists are also examined. I will discuss internalization of religion using the Self-Determination Theory-based models of Sabbath keeping proposed by Diddams, Surdyk, & Daniels (2004).
P-08 A Composition Project: An Original 12-tone Fugue Modeled after J.S. Bach’s BWV 847
Ilana Cady (Carlos Flores, Music)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar and Earhart Emerging Scholar
The specific goal of this project is to explore the compositional techniques of the 12-tone system developed by Arnold Schoenberg in 1921 and apply these techniques to fugal writing. In this process I am taking Bach’s fugue, BWV 847, and using it as the blueprint for my original 12-tone fugue. I will follow the same overarching structural pattern of BWV 847—retaining the number of voices, subject entries, and usage of the middle development section, while submitting them to the paradigms of 12-tone serialism. My composition will push the fugue form in an unexpected and more progressive direction. The 12-tone system negates the use of tonal centers and common practice harmony. To successfully compose a fugue no longer built on tonal relationships, I will employ unconventional techniques such as complex rhythmic patterns, pitch selection based on 20th-century practices, and serial relationships that will create the feeling of the traditional components of the fugue. This creative compositional project will result in an amalgamation of traditional and modern musical techniques in fugal writing.
P-09 What’s Important to Us? Understanding Cultural Differences between Science Disciplines
Samantha Easton (Margarita Mattingly, Physics)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
By identifying the different cultural aspects and learning styles of the departmental disciplines that take General Physics I hope to foster a better understanding of how our students learn and to build more effective teaching principles for the Physics Small Group Learning Program. To develop a list of disciplinary areas of emphasis I took notes during a number of conversations with both students and faculty in Math, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. From these important areas of difference I have chosen to focus on the Biological emphasis of system discovery as a guiding principle for the creation of a series of interrelated Small Group Lessons.
P-10 The Effect of Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility on Share Returns in Indonesia
Stephen Erich (LeRoy Ruhupatty, Accounting, Economics and Finance)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The purpose of this study is to reveal investor perceptions regarding the relatively new phenomenon of government involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To accomplish this we use an event-study methodology to analyze the effect of the Limited Liability Company Act of 2007, passed by the Indonesian government, on share prices during a three-day window in July 2007. Drawing from the vast amounts of event-study literature, we are applying this method to share prices for the first time. As more countries begin exploring this type of legislation, our findings will provide a foundation for other lawmakers to consider, as well as help to shape corporate attitudes toward such legislation.
P-11 Cytosolic Carboxypeptidase 5 (CCP5) and Cilia Development in Zebrafish
Philip Giddings (Peter Lyons, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
My research project is focused around a specific gene—cytosolic carboxypeptidase 5 (CCP5). Previous research suggests that the CCP5 gene is essential for the modification of α-tubulin which is necessary for normal growth of cilia in the olfactory pit of zebrafish. It is my goal to confirm the role of the CCP5 gene in olfactory ciliary growth using scanning electron microscopy. Using a CCP5-MO to knockdown, the gene I can compare the resulting phenotype to that of a control specimen in order to determine any visible differences with respect to cilia morphology.
P-12 A study on the relationship between GRE Scores of Pre-Physical Therapy Students and National Physical Therapy Examination Scores: A Retrospective Study of One Midwestern Physical Therapy Program
Givan Hinds (Lori Walton, Physical Therapy)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Background: This study explored relationships between Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) scores. Methodology: This is a retrospective correlational design utilizing a purposive sample (n = 102) of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from three consecutive cohorts. Correlations were examined between GRE Verbal (GREV), GRE Quantitative (GREQ), and GRE Total (GRET) scores with the NPTE pass rate utilizing a Spearman rho correlation coefficient. Discriminant analysis was used to calculate the cut-off score that would correlate with a passing score of 600 on the NPTE. Results: The results showed a weak, but significant correlation between GREV and NPTE scores (r = .454, p < .001), GREQ and NPTE scores (r = .420, p < .001) and GRET and NPTE scores (r = .484. p < .001). Discriminant analysis revealed cut-off scores for GREV (450), GREQ (540), and GRET (980). Conclusion: The cut-off score results from this study reflect an acceptable pass rate according to the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Programs and the program goals for this institution. The significant correlations may be considered by the faculty of this DPT program when admitting students.
P-13 The Relationship Between Student Motivation, Resilience, and Parental Environment
Eliana Iller (Melissa Ponce-Rodas and Karl Bailey, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar and Undergraduate Research Scholar
The goal of this research is to better understand how student motivation and resilience are related to parental environment, distinguishing between parental involvement and parental conflict. Student motivation was measured based on the reasons that students endorse for why they are studying. I predict that parental involvement will be positively related to motivation and resilience and that parental conflict will be negatively related to motivation and resilience. I will also be examining the interactions between parental and child genders and environment, motivation, and resilience. I will discuss the correlations among these variables and their implications.
P-14 Synthesis and Spectroscopic Studies of Chalbenes
Michelle Imperio (Desmond Murray, Chemistry & Biochemistry)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
This study initially aimed to develop a method for synthesizing structural hybrids of chalcones and stilbenes, two classes of organic phytochemicals. A second goal was to examine the spectroscopic properties of these hybrids, which we have designated “chalbenes.” The proposed method of synthesizing these chalcone-stilbene hybrids, or chalbenes, had two steps: first, the conversion from cyanostilbenes to methyl stilbene ketones using Grignard reagents; and second, a Claisen Schmidt reaction converting the methyl stilbene ketone to the final chalbene. When attempting to carry out the first step, however, spectroscopic analysis found the conversion to the methyl stilbene ketone to have been unsuccessful. In light of this outcome, the focus of this study has evolved to optimizing the conversion of cyanostilbenes to methyl stilbene ketones. So far, our work has focused on three experimental variables: catalyst, time, and solvent.
P-15 Evolution Over Revolution: A Generic Criticism of the Muscle Car’s Past and Present Hierarchy
John Irvine (Ivan Davis, English)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Since the early 1960’s the Muscle Car has been seen as representative of American cultural idealism; a post-war expression of Americanism through the medium of octane obsession. Muscle Cars are seen abstractly as an embodiment of several cultural principles; however, what physically constitutes this embodiment, the convergence of these features into the ‘soul’ of the muscle car, is broadly the subject of speculation. The ‘soul’, or formative characteristics, will be established through the generic criticism of a cross section of First Generation 1960’s Muscle Cars. Through analysis of physical features and technical specifications, the substantive and stylistic elements necessary for participation in the Muscle Car Genre, as shaped around an organizing principle, will be generically described. This descriptive yardstick will then be applied against modern incarnations of the muscle car to judge if they generically participate in the muscle car genre, as demonstrated by the 1960’s First Generation of their ‘lineage’. Conditions for future participation in the genre will then be established upon the First Generation’s generic characteristics.
P-16 Constructing Short Fiction: The Creative Writing Process
Mark Joslin (Scott Moncrieff, English)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
This project explores a creative fiction writer’s process through writing four pieces of short fiction. Documenting his progress along the way, the writer uses peer-revision to refine his work. This method means to improve early drafts by both interacting with readers and utilizing the examples of well-known authors. The writer’s stories will be considered successful if their plot moves at a bright pace, if the characters and settings are authentic, and if they come to a satisfying conclusion. The project will consist of these stories and an accompanying writer’s notebook, which examines certain revisions representative of a move to good fiction writing.
P-17 Investigation of spatial isotope ratios in soil and the effects of fertilizer on plant isotope ratios
Jamie Kim (H. Thomas Goodwin, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar and Undergraduate Research Scholar
A previous Honors study analyzed diet of thirteen-lined ground squirrels at the Andrews University Airpark by studying δ13C and δ15N isotope values of their fecal pellets. Fecal samples collected within 25 m of a cornfield had higher mean values of δ13C and δ15N than those outside that range. High δ13C values indicate greater consumption of C4 plants, such as corn, while high δ15N values may indicate increased consumption of insects. However, the spatial pattern might simply reflect spatial variation in the isotope values of the soil itself, reflecting long-term pattern isotope values in vegetation. In this experiment, soil samples were taken throughout the airpark and analyzed for δ13C and δ15N; these baseline values were removed from fecal isotope values. The spatial isotope patterns of fecal pellets still held after baseline removal. Therefore, it appears that the spatial pattern of δ13C seen in the fecal samples of the thirteen-lined ground squirrels is indeed due to greater consumption of corn. The pattern of δ15N could either be due to increased consumption of insects or enrichment of corn in δ15N due to fertilizer application. Further study is in progress to see the effects of fertilizer application on plant δ13C and δ15N.
P-18 The Relationship Between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Diet Pattern in Andrews University Students
Travis King (Fiona Lewis, Public Health and Wellness)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The goal of this research is to discover whether there is a relationship between diet pattern (vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, etc.) and fruit and vegetable consumption. This research project has several hypotheses: There is a relationship between diet pattern and fruit and vegetable consumption; there is a relationship between one’s reason for vegetarianism and the level of fruit and vegetable consumption; and there is a difference between fruit and vegetable consumption among different schools and departments in the university. This will be accomplished using data collected from lifestyle and food frequency questionnaires that have been distributed to undergraduate students. Comparative statistics will be used to assess the differences in fruit and vegetable intake among participants between the six groups. Correlation analyses will be used to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and diet pattern.
P-19 hcnABC Operon Transcription of Pseudomonas putida under Varying Iron and Oxygen Concentrations and Culture Age
Christine Lee (Robert Zdor, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The species Pseudomonas putida produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN) through the transcription of the hcnABC operon. The purpose of this experiment is to determine how the hcnABC operon is affected by varying levels of iron and oxygen, and age of bacteria culture. To test this, P. putida is grown under five conditions: the presence of iron, the absence of iron, with aeration, without aeration, and without iron and aeration. At 8, 18, and 30 hours, the cultures are assessed for HCN production and cell density. HCN production is measured via bioluminescence; light emission occurs whenever HCN is produced because the modified form of P. putida contains the luciferase gene. The cell density is determined using agar plating and a spectrophotometer. Bacterial cultures with iron and minimal aeration tend to have greater bioluminescence and result in higher cell densities, increasing HCN production.
P-20 Isolation and Disconnection
Lynda Lee (Kari Friestad, Visual Art & Design)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
As one of the most recurrent subjects of visual art, the human form has been an important means of communicating human experiences and expressing the philosophical and scientific thoughts of a society. During the early 20th century, artists in Europe began distorting and abstracting the human figure in ways that were unprecedented and often times visually unsettling to emphasize its withdrawn and isolated condition while also suggesting a sense of fragility and vulnerability. Although there are various forms of isolation that can result from a number of different causes, this project explores the concept of social isolation brought about by an impermeability of boundaries, or a disconnection between the self and other identities through the creation of a body of work. It also examines how W.E.B. Du Bois’ notion of a double consciousness, defined as looking at one’s self through the eyes of the other, functions in the formation of the self. Finally, my creative project considers how vulnerability and the idea of an other-self entity can function as a means of relating or forming a connection with the other.
P-21 Teaching Strategy: Explaining the History and Themes of Abstract Expressionism to High School Students Through the Integrative Model
Kirk Maynard (Rhonda Root, Visual Art & Design)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The purpose of my thesis is to create a blueprint for teachers to explain art history to students in an efficient way without many blueprints and precedence to guide them. I have chosen to focus my topic on Abstract Expressionism and the model that I will be using to present the concept of Abstract Expressionism will be the integrated model instructional strategy. This integrated model will serve as the guide to creating well crafted art history lessons in the classroom. This integrated model will also be laid out and summarized in a lesson plan designed to give the teacher direction in the lesson presented.
P-22 Te Amo Mujer
Ivan Ruiz (Steven Hansen and Paul Kim, Visual Art & Design)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Te Amo Mujer is a documentary film project exploring the story of Don Gustavo Jiménez, an old man who lives in a small village in the south of Mexico, and the grandfather of the filmmaker. The film seeks to use the narrative of Don Gustavo to explore the question of why we live where we live. The thesis of the film, or more accurately the suggestion, as the film is a very personal work, is that we live where we do, and how we do, out of love for the people that are closest to us.
P-23 Worldview 2.0: Revisiting, Refinding, and Refining Faith in the University Years
Jacina Shultz (Beverly Matiko, English)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
In this non-fiction, creative extended essay, I revisit my worldview essay from Western Heritage, specifically focusing on my belief in a loving God. I trace my path to this belief, beginning with my freshmen year of college when I first started to question its legitimacy. Though teetering on the edge of agnosticism, I eventually learned how a belief in a loving God is not a blind one. I came to understand what it means to have a relationship with God. The project reconstructs the reasoning that verified to me that a faith in God does not have to be ignorant. This is the story of my journey to finding God’s love.
P-24 Sabbath-Keeping Experiences: The Relationships Between Religious Internalization, Well-Being, and Need Support
Cheryl Simpson (Karl Bailey, Behavioral Sciences)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
In this study I examine a possible correlation between Sabbath-keeping experiences and well-being as a function of Religious Internalization levels. I also ask whether that relationship is mediated by need satisfaction. My sample included Seventh-day Adventist community church goers. I surveyed various congregations about their Sabbath-keeping experiences, need satisfaction, and overall well-being. To ensure that my sample consisted of church goers, I only surveyed members at the church service. I predict that a higher level of religious internalization of Sabbath-keeping practices and fulfillment of need satisfaction will be more conducive to well-being.
P-25 The Association between Open Market Operations and the S&P 500 Index from 2008-2010
Allegra Stennett (Alan Kirkpatrick, Accounting, Economics, and Finance)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
This research seeks to identify whether a relationship exists between Federal Reserve decisions via the Federal Open Market Committee and the equities market, and detail the specifics of that relationship. After the economic crisis, the Federal Reserve initiated a monetary policy to stimulate the economy known as Quantitative Easing, a strategy wherein the Fed buys securities, providing financial institutions with capital to spark economic growth. Throughout this research, I determine the outcome of the Fed’s role in the behavior of equities market by using Linear Regression. Essentially I hypothesize that the Fed’s Open Market Operations are related to S&P 500 index values from 2008-2010.
P-26 Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Density and the Effect of Pollution Debris on the Crawling Rates of Hawksbill Hatchlings in Utila, Honduras
Kyungje Sung (Stephen Dunbar1,2 and Thomas Goodwin3, 1Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Training, Outreach, and Research, Inc. (ProTECTOR), Colton, CA, 2Marine Research Group, Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 3Department of Biology, Andrews University)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered species. Hence, various conservation efforts by groups such as ProTECTOR are taking place to stabilize its population. To support such efforts, my study focused on the turtle population in and around the island of Utila, Honduras. Specifically, I examined the critical migration period of hawksbill turtle hatchlings from nest to water to determine if various densities of plastic pollution had an effect on crawling times. A reduction in crawling time is critical for it could increase predation time. Furthermore, the pollution debris may deter movement, causing the hatchling to expand additional energy before they reach the ocean. To test the effect of plastic pollution, we constructed four experimental corridors (ranging from 8-10 m in length) with varying densities of pollution and recorded hatchling crawling time from start to finish (10 hatchlings/corridor). Crawling rates differed significantly across corridors (Kruskal-Wallis H test). In addition, a potential baseline pattern of turtle abundance at dive locations around the island was determined through a survey of turtle sightings. Through ArcGIS, these specific GPS points of reported turtle sightings was plotted to observe any patterns of distribution.
P-27 Factors Affecting Phonotactic Responses in Male Acheta domesticus
Erik Thordarson (David Mbungu, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
This research addresses some of the possible factors that affect male Acheta domesticus phonotactic responses to calls of males of the same species. The study examines cricket age and social interaction with females as possible factors affecting this behavior. Through logistic regression analysis, the study attempts to demonstrate a link between these factors and the responsiveness of the male crickets in the study. As the crickets aged, they responded to a wider range of syllable periods, which may imply that they follow a similar pattern of decreasing selectivity in their response with age as their female counterparts. The socialization aspect of the research is still underway. However, if it follows a similar trend as other cricket species, we expect to see socialization with females decrease responsiveness to conspecific calls.
P-28 The Prevalence of Encysted Toxoplasma & Sarcocystis in Consumer-Grade Pork, Beef, and Mutton in Michiana
Ross Trecartin (Bill Chobotar, Biology)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Commonly present in the muscle of animals are the tissue cysts of Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and levels of Toxoplasma/Sarcocystis tissue cysts in retail pork, beef, and mutton throughout the Michiana area. A total of 36 samples, 12 from each species, were exposed to a digestive solution mimicking stomach conditions. The solution consisted of Pepsin 0.75% , NaCl 0.86%, and HCl adjusted to a pH of 1-2. The digested samples were then strained through several layers of cheesecloth, centrifuged, and examined for the presence of parasites.
P-29 “Diagnosis” And Other Essays: Exploration In Personal Writing
Kathleen Wilson (Beverly Matiko, English)
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Revising and expanding work begun in ENGL454 The Writing Life, this creative thesis consists of a collection of six personal essays, ranging in topic from childhood wanderings in the woods of Virginia to missed flights, and medical mishaps. Research on the personal essay as genre, as well as extensive reading of personal essays and other life writings inform the composition process. Fellow essayists, including Joan Didion, Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, E.B. White, and Virginia Woolf, serve as models for both content and form. An epilogue to the collection explores the connections between writing instruction and practice.