24067 research outputs found
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Joel Del Valle, Clarinet
Get PDFJoel Del Valle, Clarinet
Jihye Song, Pianohttps://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2902/thumbnail.jp
Elise Hayen, Oboe
Get PDFElise Hayen, Oboe
Dr. Eric Jenkins, piano
Bailey Matherne, bassoonhttps://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2894/thumbnail.jp
Bailey Matherne, Bassoon
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Dr. Eric Jenkins, Pianohttps://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2887/thumbnail.jp
Aaron Beraki, violin
Get PDFAaron Beraki, violin
Dr. Eric Jenkins, piano
Jake Darron, pianohttps://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2884/thumbnail.jp
Crosswing Hall- A Biophilic Student Hub for Connection, Community, and Growth
Get PDFThe Marietta campus of Kennesaw State University has long been perceived as disconnected and lacking vibrancy compared to its counterpart in Kennesaw. This project seeks to transform that narrative by creating Crosswing Hall, a dynamic student hub that fosters campus pride, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lasting connections. Grounded in biophilic design principles, Crosswing Hall utilizes natural materials and thoughtful spatial planning to reduce student stress, enhance well-being, and create a welcoming environment where students feel supported and engaged.
Current student spaces on the Marietta campus prioritize capacity over adaptability, often leading to overcrowding and diminished effectiveness in fostering a sense of community. This project reimagines these spaces, ensuring they are intentionally designed to meet diverse student needs while promoting interaction among various disciplines. Inspired by the convergence of ideas and movement, Crosswing Hall’s angular, wing-like architecture symbolizes its role as a central point of connection for students, faculty, and alumni. By integrating the 15 Patterns of Biophilic Design, this project strengthens students’ connection to nature, enhances cognitive function, and improves overall campus experience. Ultimately, Crosswing Hall aims to redefine student engagement at KSU’s Marietta campus, transforming it into a place of pride, energy, and identity. More than just a building, it is a lasting symbol of growth and belonging one that continues to draw students and alumni back, fostering a vibrant community that extends beyond graduation
Philosophy, Religion, and The Trolley Problem
No full textTheories of ethics bring a sense of comfort and security to their holders due to their universal nature; they are meant to be practiced and applied to ethical scenarios one might encounter, providing a definitive “right answer” to moral questions. A famous ethical scenario, the Trolley Problem, was created as a philosophical test that challenges conventional tenants of morality, i.e., do not commit murder. The Trolley Problem begins by posing a question: What should a person do when presented with a situation where they must choose between doing nothing, resulting in the deaths of five innocent persons, or spare the five murdering one innocent person instead? This question stands to help the problem-solver think through their own personal philosophy of ethics. The beauty of the Trolley Problem lies in its various iterations or circumstances. In this research, I will examine how different theories of ethics and some religions view the Trolley Problem. The goal of this research is to find a moral overlap amongst a handful of prominent philosophies in American culture; the goal is to articulate a view of morality that synthesizes different theories of ethics and religious viewpoints. Relying on utilitarianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and even AI approaches to ethics, this research finds a universal solution to the Trolley Problem that references different theories and approaches to ethics
What\u27s in a Fish? The Historical Ecology of Parasites of Freshwater Fish in Georgia
No full textWithin the state of Georgia, there are over 260 species of freshwater fish. Despite the large biodiversity, there is very little known about the parasitic diseases within these fish. Understanding these parasites better, and how they may affect their hosts, may give researchers a better understanding of the interactions within our freshwater ecosystems. In order to fill in this gap in research, we studied the parasites of freshwater fish in Georgia to better understand their relationships with their hosts. Specifically, we seek to answer two main questions: How have parasite communities of fish changed over the past two decades in Paulding and Cobb counties? What environmental and host variables contribute to the observed community changes? To gather our data, we dissected fish from Kennesaw State University’s Mountains-to-Metro Biodiversity Collection. We dissected each fish by removing their right eye, right gills, and internal organs. We then examined these specimens underneath a dissecting microscope and carefully extracted any parasites found within. These parasites were identified morphologically, and we analyzed the data with mixed models to determine 1) how parasite diversity and abundance have changed over the past two decades and 2) how hosts and environmental factors contributed to these changes. We will discuss preliminary results. With this project, we hope to better understand the interactions between species within our waterways. This project can also reveal patterns that help us understand how aquatic life is responding to anthropogenic pressures
Morphological variation in white-footed mice across an urban-to-rural gradient in Georgia
No full textUrbanization is a rising concern for species across the globe as the human population continues to increase and human impacts on native ecosystems expand in scope and intensity. With the novel challenges due to human land use, wildlife populations are facing issues with food, mate, and space availability likely leading them to change their natural habitats and preferences. Our study investigates the effects of urbanization on Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) populations across rural, suburban, and urban sites in northern Georgia. Small mammals like P. leucopus are especially susceptible to urbanization and habitat fragmentation due to their limited likelihood to disperse and travel across impervious surfaces such as roadways. We collected P. leucopus individuals from 17 sites along the urban-to-rural gradient extending northward from Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia to rural Bartow County, Georgia. We collected DNA samples, standard measurements (mass, total length, tail length, hindfoot length, and pinna length), and the skull from each individual. We then took 19 measurements from each skull and digitized 21 landmarks from each skull. Assuming that any genetic variation between populations would be reflected in skull morphology, we analyzed the skull measurements using principal components analysis (PCA) to quantify differences between animals captured at urban, suburban, and rural sites. These morphological data may serve as potential indicators of adaptation to selective pressures such as habitat fragmentation, food availability, and changes in predation risk, or simply genetic drift. Our results have the potential to inform not only conservation efforts but also public health by increasing knowledge of the new ecology of these disease vectoring animals
Investigating Seasonal Changes in Sediment Porewater Nutrient Pools in Seagrass Beds of Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico
No full textSeagrass meadows are critical to marine ecosystems, providing habitats and stabilizing sediments. However, human activities contribute to excess nutrient loading, which can alter nutrient budgets and cause eutrophication. While nitrogen cycling in seagrass beds has been studied, limited research examines how seasonal variations in freshwater input influence sediment porewater nutrients, particularly in the tropical estuaries. This study explores the relationship between seasonal precipitation and nitrogen availability in seagrass meadows in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico. The hypothesis predicts that increased rainfall during the wet season (April–November) leads to higher terrestrial runoff, elevating nitrogen concentrations in sediment porewater, particularly in inner bay sites. Sediment cores (~7cm deep) were collected from four sites, stored on dry ice, and transported to the lab for analysis. Samples were centrifuged to extract porewater and analyzed with standard spectrophotometric techniques to quantify ammonium concentrations. Initial findings revealed high but variable, porewater ammonium concentrations at Station 10 (225±134 µM) and Cayo Barca (213±203 µM) in March 2023. Concentrations were 85±28 µM in vegetated sediments and 125±45 µM in unvegetated sediments at the Mar Negro site. Comparisons will be made to measurements made during the wet season (August and October) to determine if seasonal precipitation influences the cycling of nutrients and may have an effect on the production and health of seagrass. Conservation initiatives and management plans to reduce manmade nutrient inputs in coastal ecosystems can benefit from understanding these trends
Analysis and Comparison of Limonene Content in Oranges Using GC/MS
No full textD-Limonene (C10H16) is a fragrant molecule found commonly in the peels of citrus fruits. This monoterpene is notable for its distinctive aroma and has been found to possess some beneficial health properties. Some recent studies have shown that the compound has minor cancer fighting properties, inhibiting certain tumor development pathways. In our quantitative analysis, an optimized extraction procedure has been utilized to obtain limonene from freshly peeled orange rinds followed by the quantification of limonene using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). D-Limonene, as well as the added internal standard used, have been clearly identified and well resolved in a 23-minute gas chromatographic elution, allowing quantification based on both external calibration and quantification using an internal standard to be performed. Limonene content from Cara Cara orange peels extracted by ethyl acetate have shown higher mass percent (2.1% ~ 1.7%) than that from reported values (~ 1.6% wt) in literature using methanol as the extracting solvent. The full dynamic linear range, the limit of detection, and the linearity of this analysis will be explored