Kentucky Honors Roundtable – September 20-21, 2019, Eastern Kentucky University

Complete Program

Friday, September 20

5:00 p.m. – Registration – Stratton Building

6:00 – Dinner – Stratton Café

Saturday, September 21 – New Science Building (NSB)

8:00-9:00 a.m. – Registration and Welcome, NSB Atrium

9:00-10:00 – Session 1

NSB 3101: Sciences: Ecology and Geology

 Nicholas Gaubatz (Murray State University) “Improving Seismic Interpretation: Convolutional Neural Networks with Wavelets” Seismic images show rock boundaries in the subsurface, generated by recording reflections of sound waves propagated through the ground. The TGS Salt Identification Challenge was an online competition in 2018 to build a neural network that could accurately identify salt pockets in thousands of seismic images in order to predict underground oil locations. The goal of this work is to test if adding discrete or continuous wavelet transforms to inputs for a high-placing solution to the challenge will increase salt prediction accuracy.  William Caldbeck, Lexi Gauger, Bella Mazza, Isabelle Pethtel, Felicity Shirkey (University of Kentucky) “Honeysuckle Encroachment Reduced Diversity and Richness of Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers in Central Kentucky” Invasive plant species often suppress the richness and diversity of native forest ecosystems. This study focuses on the impacts of bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) on spring ephemeral wildflowers in Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington, KY. Plots were surveyed for percent groundcover and total flowering individuals at three levels of honeysuckle density: no (0% coverage), low (0%-5% coverage) and high (15%-20% coverage). Results suggested that honeysuckle encroachment significantly suppressed the species richness and diversity of the native wildflowers. Further research may aid in site selection for honeysuckle removal to maximize potential for native biodiversity recovery.

NSB 4101: Psychologies: Myth, History and Narrative

 Amara Stroud (Murray State University) “Mythology and Mental Health” In recent years, there’s been a wealth of literary interest in mental health and its effects on characters. However, the intrinsic struggle between a man and his brain can be traced back to ancient Greece. This presentation will show a correlation between ancient Greek heroes and mental health issues in order to today’s society to feel more connected to these stories than before.  Emma Jones (University of Louisville) “The Rise and Fall of Freud” This presentation will illuminate the idiosyncratic rise of one of the most infamous characters in the field of psychology and American history, Sigmund Freud, and how personal trauma influenced the development of his controversial theories. The rejection of many of Freud's theories and plunge in his reputation demonstrate how personal experiences and syllogisms are not enough to justify one’s inferences. As a result, Freud's position in academic limbo remains a valuable lesson regarding the ideal passion and drive needed to pursue a claim, as well as exposing the consequences of allowing personal biases to impact the validity and clarity of one's assertions.  Kenzi Gooley (Bellarmine University) “Synthetic Experience in Mental Illness Narratives” It is the responsibility of artists to respond to stigmas surrounding mental illness by creating empathy through art. One way in which writers answer this call is by creating synthetic experiences of mental illnesses through narrative. I will focus on the narrative choices of Jean Rhys in Wide Sargasso Sea and Tim O’Brien in The Things They Carried and on how these choices embody the perspective of the mentally ill to evoke empathy and deepen understanding of what it means to be human. This research will fuel my final creative nonfiction project based on interviews with early onset dementia patients.

NSB 4105: Politics, Media and Technology

 Kaylie Butler (Lindsey Wilson College) “Communication and Collaboration in American Politics” It is important to examine the power and prominence of the Democratic and Republican parties within American politics in order to understand the politics of American government. This paper explains the purpose and origins of political parties in America, the evolution of the dominant bi-partisan scenario, and the current state of American politics, through a variety of scholarly sources. Through exploration of the interrelationship between American political research and critical thinking and communication concepts, this paper also provides an approach to resolving political issues of present day America.  Sam Guernsey (University of Louisville) “American Idiots? Complacency and Technology Use” While the American Dream might have one believe that innovation is a part of daily life, this paper argues that American minds have become more static as technology has continued to encroach upon our daily lives. The comfortable misery we live in has been created by numerous factors both within and without the classroom—social media and sensationalized headlines are only part of the story. This presentation reveals how Green Day's hit song “American Idiot” rings true today, from “one nation ruled by the media” to “television dreams of tomorrow.”  Avery Crews (Lindsey Wilson College) “The Power of Language: Subjectivity and Repression in Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Harrison Bergeron’” This paper focuses on Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron," which is a work set in a future dystopian society that heavily emphasizes the concept of true equality. Harrison, the main character, is a threat to this society because he is aware of the false consciousness that is enforced upon the people by the government and he pushes the boundaries and deviates from the social norms that are enforced. Utilizing the theories of Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser, this paper focuses on the impact of power and knowledge on language as a means of enforcing obedience within a disciplinary society.

10:00-10:15 – Break

10:15-11:15 – Session 2

NSB 3101: Health Sciences

 Peyton Brock (Eastern Kentucky University) “Rural Health Care Disparities: Appalachia vs. Thailand” Rural communities generally suffer from lower socioeconomic status, less education, and poorer health outcomes. These health statistics identifying rural health inequality are consistent globally. In this presentation, the health status of rural areas is explored using global comparisons of Appalachia and a region of northern Thailand. This presentation focuses on health care disparities within the two diverse, rural areas and the various public health initiatives used to resolve them.  Hailee Bray (Bellarmine University) “Peripheral Sensory Plasticity in the Development of Chronic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury” The development of pain following a spinal cord injury (SCI) is prevalent and poses significant clinical challenge. Recent evidence suggests that this pain may be due in part to the maladaptive growth of sensory fibers. We hypothesize that the GSK-3β signaling pathway is responsible for regulating this sensory growth. The aims of this project were (1) to define the expression of GSK-3β signaling in sensory processing regions, and (2) to correlate this expression with the presence and severity of SCI pain. Our results support that SCI is associated sensory growth and provide information on a therapeutic target to prevent SCI pain.  Estefania Benavides (Murray State University) “Long-term Implications of Neonatal Caudectomies on Canines” Tail docking is an ongoing practice of several breeders to preserve the expected appearance of certain breeds, disregarding the possible pain it may inflict. Severing the caudal vertebrae is done without any anesthetics, local or general, on a neonate. These neonates have been witnessed whimpering during the procedure, an indication of pain deemed unethical. More than twenty-five countries have already banned tail docking, especially for cosmetic purposes, but not the United States. This research is an investigation of the long-term complications of tail docking and the implications for canine health.

NSB 4101: Theater, Marketing and Money

 Madeline Kurtz (Bellarmine University) “Social Media and Marketing for Non-Profit Theatres” In this applied thesis project, I outline my work over the past year and a half as the Social Media Manager for the Bellarmine University Theatre Program. During this time, I’ve designed and initiated several marketing campaigns intended to increase engagement with our social media followers, drive ticket sales, and aid in capturing a larger audience among 18-25 year olds. In this presentation, I will discuss the design of these campaigns, the data I’ve collected, and the significance of these findings to the non-profit theatre market.  Corey Sparkman, Flynn Blanchet (Eastern Kentucky University) “Stoner Loaner” This is a sketch about a man who comes to the bank for a loan on a big breakout business opportunity, but little does he know that the bank’s loan manager is a stoner, a 90’s Bill & Ted-esque individual with nothing on his mind but baking delicious pastries! Not your traditional day at the bank by any means but indeed a zany turn in any respectable business man’s day. This sketch is filled with twists, and develops a heartfelt theme of leaving stereotypes behind us where they belong!

NSB 4105: Representations: the Female

 Elizabeth Von Mann (Morehead State University) “Penning Consciousness: A Study of Female Poets throughout American Literature” This project seeks to analyze three American women poets over the course of North American literary history in order to track the evolution of female poetry, from H.D. and Gertrude Stein to Audre Lorde. These three women will be used as case studies to determine possible gaps in literary canon formation. The ways in which creativity, politics and women’s rights interrelate form the crux of this work.  Tejaswini Sudhakar (University of Kentucky) “History of Sexism in Medicine” Professional practices are often affected by cultural phenomena, and the field of medicine is no exception. In particular, sexism has been an inherent aspect of the history of medicine that still permeates medical practice today. Sexism can be observed in the origins of medical theory, dating back to Aristotle’s descriptions of the female body. These misconstrued theories result in misunderstandings of female health issues such as menstruation and mental illness. Consequently, this sexist legacy continues to negatively impact medical treatment of women today, from the exclusion of female subjects from research studies to the misdiagnosis of many disorders affecting women.  Heyna Suit (University of Kentucky) “Companionship and Consent in the Uncanny Valley of the Dolls: Digital Ethnography of the Modern Sex Doll User” Tension between man and machine has fascinated for millennia. Feminist scholarship has complicated the human-machine’s constitution, suggesting women are discursively constructed as the ultimate cyborgs: hybrid, technoscience, post-humans (Harraway 1985). Now, hyperrealistic sex dolls are replacing autonomous human women. Masquerading as toys, they’re closer to concubines and inability to consent isn’t a side effect for men: it’s a draw. As doll-user relationships evolve, we must investigate them as companions, rather than plastic orifices. Digital ethnography sourced from doll owner discussion forums and content analysis of RealDoll’s website explore the ways fantasy can bridge reality and victimize human women.

11:15-12:15 – Poster Session, NSB Atrium

 Full list of presenters at end of program

12:15-1:15 – Lunch, Case Kitchen (across street from NSB)

1:30-2:30 – Session 3

NSB 3101: Representations: Queering and Questioning Masculinities

 Danica Moon (University of Kentucky) “Hosier as Lesbian Icon” Irish singer-songwriter Hozier first rose to prominence with the release of his song, “Take Me To Church,” with lyrics and a music video based on LGBT discrimination in the Catholic church. In the years following, Hozier has gained a significant following of lesbian women. His self-described “doom-folk” lyrics lend themselves easily to the trials of queer youth, and the tone used to talk about female love interests is one of reverence, rather than objectification. This lyricism, coupled with his progressive politics and his physical appearance, result in Hozier’s alternate masculinity, and the cementation of his status as a lesbian icon.  Adrianna Navia (University of Kentucky) “Bad Bunny: Redefined Masculinity” Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known by his stage moniker, Bad Bunny, is a 24 year old Puerto Rican trap artist. Since bursting onto the rap/trap scene in late 2016, his success and fame have been on an astronomical trajectory. Despite being taken under the wing of reggaeton legends such as Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Arcangel, Ozuna and Farruko, Bad Bunny has been distinct in his refusal to echo the outright misogyny, sexism, violence and homophobia of the trap and reggaeton pioneers that came before him. Though he has always maintained an underlying touch of rebellion and included hidden messages about mental health, battling with oneself, criticisms of society, and challenging masculinity, his latest music is characterized by a much more blatant, unapologetic societal critique.  Lucas Urbanski (University of Kentucky) “‘I Am a Fucking Unicorn’: A Queer Deconstruction of Tyler, The Creator’s Sincere Whimsicality and Futuristic Uncontainability” This paper examines the career of Tyler, The Creator in order to highlight longstanding patterns in his personal and professional life that have subversively established him as an unexpected queer hero. Emphasis is given not to his queer lyrics but to his active and conscious resistance to the categorization of his identity “in such a way that it seems he does not even conceive of his identity as susceptible to categories.” I argue that Tyler’s dynamic and futuristic indefinability, and his vulnerable “alternate masculinity,” among other things, mark him as an especially empowering figure to his queer fans.

NSB 4101: Representations: History and Memory

 Lane Gentry (Lindsey Wilson College) “Born of Battle: American Nationalism and European Nation-Building in the Civil War Era” Beginning with the Enlightenment in the early 18th Century, ideas about government and the rights of the people began to shift away from divine monarchy and towards republicanism and, more importantly, nationalism. These liberal ideas became popular in Europe after the French Revolution and Napoleon’s conquest spread them to the rest of Europe. Then, in 1848, a wave of nationalist revolutions rose up and were swiftly put down. This didn’t stop it in the end and by 1871 both Germany and Italy had successfully unified into nation-states. All of these things, while it may not seem so, had a profound impact on the American Civil War (1861-1865). Framed by the story of my ancestor who fought for the Union during the War, this essay explains and examines the interconnectedness of the Civil War in America with the nationalist revolutions and wars of unification in Europe during the 19th Century.  Gage Overton (Murray State University) “Reflections of Our Pain: A Comparison of Cinema in Weimar Germany and 1970s America” The 1920s and 1970s were dark times for Germany and the United States, respectively, as their pride had been shattered by humiliating military disasters, worsened by great political and economic upheavals that brought trauma and uncertainty to their peoples. The prevailing moods of these nations were often reflected in cinema, with films of these eras carrying themes of identity crisis, nihilism and an overall sense of doom. My presentation will demonstrate what certain films say about these times and what this comparison of Weimar German cinema and 1970s American cinema says about the overall history of cinema.  Justin Sturgeon (Lindsey Wilson College) “Postmemory as Cigarettes in Art Spiegelman’s Maus” Many philosophers and literary critics argue that there are certain demands and limitations that must be addressed when representing the Holocaust, in terms of aporias surrounding language, memory, witnessing, and testimony, and thus literary genre becomes especially important when depicting the Holocaust. This paper presents a close reading of the highly reflexive, comic book/graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman. Dictated by the aftermath of an event which occurred before his birth, causing him to suffer from a unique form of second-generation trauma called postmemory, Spiegelman utilizes symbols such as cigarettes to embody how ever-present his postmemory is. I argue that Maus’ comic book aesthetic features allow him to show the survivor’s guilt his father experiences, as well as his own second-generation experience of trauma.

NSB 4105: Representations: Women in Poetry and Music

 Gin Sisemore (Murray State University) “Reconciling Grief and Faith: Donne’s Angry Holy Sonnet 17” An examination of Donne's sonnets as an attempt to reconcile the loss of his wife with his faith in God, with a focus on Holy Sonnet 17.  Emma Turner (Lindsey Wilson College) “‘Folks Like Me on the Job from 9 to 5’: Reflections on Marxism and Feminism in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs Album” This project uses the theoretical lenses of Marxism and Feminism to survey the work of country singer Dolly Parton in her album, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. The songs examined in this project all express the woes of the laboring class and they work together to create a larger narrative surrounding the place of women in the working class. Parton’s work, while exemplary of the country music genre, creates a space for a larger conversation in critical theory in an analysis of American capitalist society and how subjects living within this society are impacted by it.  Haley Hintz (University of Kentucky) “Reclaiming the Narrative of the Bisexual Woman: A Content Analysis of Representations of Bisexuality in American Popular Music” This paper closes the gap in research which has previously neglected the study of bisexuality in American popular music by categorizing released singles (n=184) of Billboard’s “Top 40 Year-End Artists,” from 2008-2018 which portray women/women narratives into the following three categories: 1) portraying behavioral bisexuality, 2) portraying stereotypes of bisexual women, or 3) portraying romantic scenes of same-sex female attraction. Examining how gender expression has an influence on the way music videos are perceived, this analysis also considers varying manners in which sexualized scenes are depicted. The findings reveal that representations of bisexual women have been scarce and often negative. 2:30-3:30 – Group Meetings

NSB 3104: Student Meeting

NSB 3101: Faculty Meeting

END of Conference – Thank You, and Have a Great Fall Semester!

Poster Presentations

 Peyton Brock (Eastern Kentucky University) “Puut passa Thai dai nit noy” Interning abroad is a unique opportunity to challenge yourself, learn about a new culture, make lifelong memories and gain critical life and career skills. This summer, I participated in a two-month public health internship in Northern Thailand. In this poster, I discuss my personal experience navigating a language barrier, living at a home-stay, bathing elephants, and trying as much Thai food as humanly possible.  Skylar Carter (Eastern Kentucky University) “Evolving Services in Libraries: An Innovative Approach to Meeting Communities” This presentation examines innovative social programs being implemented in libraries, such as voter registration, GED programs, and connecting clients to welfare services. Placing these services in an unthreatening and easily accessible institution, such as a library, increases the likelihood that the services will be utilized by the general public. The implementation of social services within libraries reflects the social work theory introduced by Jane Addams in the early 1900s, urging welfare workers to “bring the services to the clients.” The expansion of library services to include social services reflects a change in libraries, social work, and our society at large.  Victoria Clemons (University of Louisville) “Influencing Acute Cardiovascular Outcomes through Greenness” This poster is preliminary research in association with Dr. Ray Yeager at the Envirome Institute on a non-randomized control trial investigating the relationship between short-term cardiovascular outcomes (measured by heart beat intervals), traffic-related air pollution, and greenness. As a public health student, I am interested in the wide-reaching effects that the results of this study could have. Applications of this research include informing city-wide tree planting initiatives, learning the specific effects that particular forms of air pollution have on the heart, and adding to the body of literature on greenness and health.  Dorian Cook (Morehead State University) “Constructed Learning in Elementary Mathematics” Math manipulatives are an exciting way to interest elementary school students. Which designs are most useful? In what way(s) do manipulatives affect the learning process? In my Undergraduate Research Fellowship, I explored varying designs of math manipulatives and which could be most effective in teaching elementary school students. I then designed an affordable and easily manufactured manipulative. This poster details research with elementary school students in some of the ways the manipulatives were used to teach lessons on counting, tens places, and money skills.  Clarissa Dennis (Eastern Kentucky University) “Creativity and Madness: The Misunderstandings behind Mental Health” Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story that documents a creative, depressed woman under the treatment of the “rest cure” and the hallucinations that accompany it. The first section of this poster presentation explains Gilman’s mental health history, her experience with the “rest cure,” and analyzes the treatment of women when they spoke on their own mental health. The second section of focuses on creativity and the purpose behind the text. The third section focuses on ideas of freedom, respect, and the ability to make your own decisions, which was limited for patients of the “rest cure.”  Lauren Fuller (Eastern Kentucky University) “The Disruption of Female Education: Exploring the Stigma Surrounding Menstruation and Ways to End It” About half of the world’s population is female, yet there is still a strong stigma that surrounds menstruation, a natural biological process that half of the population experiences monthly. One of the most devastating outcomes from this stigma is the disruption of female education due to inaccessibility of proper hygiene management (especially in underdeveloped and rural locations) and commonly shared thoughts about menstruation. This presentation aims to tackle this stigma by discussing misconceptions and commonly held beliefs about menstruation along with ways others have worked to put an end to this taboo.  Brianna Haynes (Morehead State University) “The Beginning of the Ends: Circularizing Linear Chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” Both circular and linear chromosomes exist in nature. Generally, prokaryotes contain a single circular chromosome while eukaryotes contain multiple linear chromosomes. However, the termini of linear chromosomes cannot be fully replicated. These ends of linear chromosomes are called telomeres, which are composed of repetitive DNA sequences that “cap” and protect DNA ends. To combat the end-replication problem at telomeres, most eukaryotes require the enzyme telomerase. Telomerase synthesizes DNA at the telomere to prevent shortening during been replication. On the other hand, the circular chromosomes of prokaryotes have no telomeres, need no telomerase, and do not shorten over time. This leads one to wonder: why did linear chromosomes evolve if they are unable to replicate their ends and require the presence of telomerase? In this project, we are genetically modifying the simple eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert each of their linear chromosomes into circular chromosomes. I will insert a DNA cassette into the ends of chromosome I and select for a recombination event that circularizes the linear DNA. Once completed, the viability and health of the modified chromosomes will be assessed. This may give us insights as to why linear chromosomes evolved.  Olivia Jennings (Eastern Kentucky University) “International Education: Challenging Perceptions and Cognition through Experiential Learning” The purpose of this investigation was to explore and to challenge prior conceptions regarding foreign travel, study abroad programs, and experiential learning, focusing on student perceptions and experiences of foreign education, culture, diversity, and lifestyle in comparison to their home universities. Research factors included prior language abilities, comfort level in speaking a foreign language, attitudes towards the country, education, and experience in general, involvement in the community and in extracurriculars, past experiences in other countries, and academic and social progress. The results of this investigation of students from over 13 different countries are intended to be used in higher education research and design in order to further improve cultural enrichment, class structure, and overall quality of education in the United States and countries worldwide. This investigation will also describe future possibilities for Honors programs and pedagogy.  Taelor Martin (Eastern Kentucky University) “Disrupting Democracy: Natural Resources and Authoritarianism in Post-Soviet Countries” The fall of the Soviet Union left a legacy of fractured societies that led to a tumultuous development for many former Soviet states. The considerable differences in democratization between post-Soviet states can be explained by the relationship between autocratic regimes and the abundance of natural resources present within the country.  Isabelle Pethtel (University of Kentucky) “Scrap Worth Stealing: Redefining the Value of Scrap Metal at a Ripley, West Virginia Scrapyard” Value creation is a dependent process that relies on and changes with social and personal perspectives, determining what material objects or spectacles are worth (Kratz, 2011). Still, perspective is fickle and subject to change or deception. Scrapped, brass figurines, which are collected and made into exhibits by scrapyard operators, often become targets for spectators as well as thieves, revealing the relation between display and value. The use of gestalt theory, when applied to interpret auto-ethnographic analysis and participant interviews, suggests that ‘junk’ entices in bulk. We covet because we value; why we value is complex.  Austin Spradlin (Morehead State University) “Changes in the Fish Community of Triplett Creek Following Restoration of a Channelized Creek” In the early 1970s, Triplett Creek in Morehead, Kentucky, was straightened, deepened, and widened, resulting in a rather homogenous aquatic habitat, varying little in depth, flow, and substrate. In summer of 2018, a section of the stream was “restored” in order to alleviate the bank instability and flooding problems created by the 1970s channelization, restore the health of its aquatic community, and improve recreational opportunities, including fishing. Our goal was to examine changes in the fish population resulting from the extensive changes to the channel and substrate during the restoration. We studied the fish populations at four sites (two sites in the restored area and two unaltered reference sites) in June and October of 2018, just before and just after, respectively, the restoration work occurred. Fishes were qualitatively sampled using backpack electrofishing and seining. Encountered fishes were identified and counted, which allowed us to assess the fish community health using the Kentucky Index of Biotic Integrity (KIBI).  Minh Tran (Morehead State University) “Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Chick Eyes during Recovery from Induced Myopia” Recent studies from our lab have observed an increase of IL-6, a proinflammatory cytokine, in choroids of chick eyes experiencing myopic defocus, suggesting that an inflammatory-like process may play a role in the eye growth regulation. NAC (N-acetylcysteine) has been shown to reduce inflammatory responses by reducing oxidative stress. We hypothesized that the upregulation of IL-6 expression is caused by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to visual stimuli and that IL-6 expression can be downregulated by decreasing ROS by NAC treatment.  Victoria Walker (Western Kentucky University) “Modifications for an Overnight Camp for Children with Chronic Illnesses” Chronic physical and cognitive diseases plague many children throughout the United States. The Center for Courageous Kids is an overnight camp in Kentucky that provides families of children with chronic illnesses and the children themselves an opportunity to get away from their everyday lives and have fun in a safe environment. I have partnered with this organization to study through observation and interview what modifications they make at camp for these children and how I can apply these to my future practice as a nurse.

 Lisa Wier (Eastern Kentucky University) “Reality versus Fantasy: An Analysis of Emergency Practices Portrayed in Disaster Movies” In Hollywood, disaster films are often highly fictionalized for entertainment purposes, and they often misrepresent the fundamentals of disaster management. The films Jurassic World (2015), San Andreas (2015), and Your Name (2016) misrepresent mass island evacuation and response, earthquake preparedness and mitigation, and near-Earth impacts and protection. However, the disasters exaggerated are based upon real hazards for which emergency management officials must plan. The cinematic disasters portrayed are analyzed using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Goal and its core capabilities in order to demonstrate effective strategies for the incidents, and properly to identify the discrepancies between disaster management in fact versus fiction.