April 30 – May 3, 2018
All talks will be in Klein Lecture Hall. Click on a student’s name to skip to his or her abstract.
HONORS WEEK PRESENTATION SCHEDULE 2018 |
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| MONDAY, April 30 | Title | Department (advisor) | |
| 4:20 p.m. | Zachary Griffith | Civilian Airliner Accident Investigations in the U.S. and France and Their Impact on Aviation Safety | Political Science (Palmer) |
| 4:40 p.m. | Garrett Solomon | One-Hander: A Play in One Act | Theater (Fotis) |
| 5 p.m. | Kyle Bernadyn | “We been waitin’ for you:” An Analysis of the Poetical, Literary, and Political Realities of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly | English (Gilliams) |
| 5:20 p.m. | Casandra Belizaire | To Hip Hop, with Love | English (Gilliams) |
| 5:40 p.m. | Thomas Harrison | Personality Traits: Predicting Objectively Measured Levels of Exercise and Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Towards Exercise | Psychology (Hearon) |
| TUESDAY, May 1 | |||
| 4 p.m. | Sarah Boothman | Investigation into the possible mitogenic role of an epidermal growth factor ortholog expressed by ectromelia virus | Biology (Hersperger) |
| 4:20 p.m. | Stephanie Dea | Effects of ectoparasites on survivorship and reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus | Biology (Mech) |
| 4:40 p.m. | Rebekah Turbett | Parental attitudes concerning children’s beliefs in secular and nonsecular entities | Psychology (Heberle) |
| WEDNESDAY, May 2 | |||
| 4 p.m. | Kylie Johnston | Female Performers in Non-classical Music: Focusing on the Individual and Individuality | Music (J. Clark) |
| 4:20 p.m. | Elizabeth Eberwein | Voyaging Colonialism: Seafaring Patriarchy, Toxic Heroism, and the Construction of Gendered and Racialized Hierarchies in Sexing the Cherry and A Mercy | English (Goodman) |
| 4:40 p.m. | Angela Manfredi | Animation: The Creative Process | Digital Studio Art (Garrison) |
| THURSDAY, May 3 POSTER SESSION 4-5 p.m. | |||
| Sydney Baybayan | Trivialization vs. Romanticism: How Language Can Impact Implicit and Explicit Perceptions of Mental Illness and Stigma Endorsement | Psychology (Seidman) | |
| Elena Brown | Mate Choices, Matching Voices: An Examination of Matching Romantic Partner Voices | Psychology (Hughes) | |
| Tracy Celestin | The Relationship between Vocal, Trait, and Physical Markers of Dominance | Psychology (Hughes) | |
| Geovanni Charles | Police Brutality and Youtube | Sociology (Rice) | |
| Adam Dalessandro | Effects of Virtual Reality-Induced Eye Strain on Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity | Psychology (Feigenson) | |
| Courtney Gehman | Ingestion of diadzein leads to an increase in ERR-dependent larval lethality in Drosophila melanogaster | Biology (Ventresca) | |
| Justin Hoffman | Rescuing of long-distance DNA interactions required for CSR by YY1 | Biochemistry (Campbell) | |
| William Holl | Loss of Akt expression protects Drosophila larva from diadzein-dependent death | Biology (Ventresca) | |
| Renee Hunsberger | Effects of Self-Esteem, Grit, and Resilience on Physiological Stress Response | Psychology (Feigenson) | |
| Lindsey Jones | Design for Dance: A Tribute to Marcia Dale Weary and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet | Fashion (Trimpey) | |
| Sandy Lee | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Protein-Ligand Interaction Models | Chemistry & Biochemistry (Artz) | |
| Chanel Lepone | The Role of Motivations and Attachment Style in Understanding Romantic Partner Monitoring on Social Media | Psychology (Seidman) | |
| Ashley Lipshaw | Structural Analysis of Glass Materials using Raman Spectroscopy | Chemistry & Biochemistry (Sonntag) | |
| Khoi Luong | Use of Technology in Buddhist Philosophy and Practice as a Form of Skillful Means | Religious Studies (Forte) | |
| Paige Naseef | A Nutritional Analysis of Phaseolus vulgaris Grown in an Aquaponics System vs. Grown Commercially vs. Grown Organically | Biology (Brylawski) | |
| Aubrie Potteiger | Framing Effects on Exercise Behavior | Psychology (Hearon) | |
| Brittany Slaughterbeck | Analysis of parabens in over-the-counter cosmetics by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their binding affinity to bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy | Chemistry & Biochemistry (Artz) | |
| Tiana Van Leuven | The Fashion Industry’s Response to their Ever-Changing and very Diverse Consumer Base | Fashion (Burdalski) | |
| All talks will be in Klein Lecture Hall. Students presenting posters will be taking questions about their work from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, May 3 in the Center for the Arts Mezzanine. All posters will be up from 4 p.m. Monday until 6 p.m. Thursday. | |||
Zach Griffith
Civilian Airliner Accident Investigations in the U.S. and France and Their Impact on Aviation Safety
Abstract: When an airliner crashes for reasons other than terrorism or an intentional act, two kinds of investigations follow: a technical investigation that seeks to answer the question of why the accident occurred and how it can be prevented from recurring in the future; and a criminal investigation which seeks to determine whether any laws were broken that may have led to the accident, and determine which parties might be responsible. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s 1951 Annex 13 to the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation describes the gold standard that signatory countries including the U.S. and France seek to follow for investigating aviation accidents and preventing future ones. Through the examination of the relationship between technical and criminal aviation accident investigation methods in the United States, a common law country, and France, a civil law country, it becomes evident that the primacy of technical investigators and their clear division from criminal investigators in the United States more closely affirms the main objective of ICAO Annex 13, namely to investigate without apportioning blame or liability. By contrast, the French system affords primacy to the criminal investigators and requires the technical investigators to work closely with them, and to assist them as needed. This shift in priorities compromises the gold standard of Annex 13.
Garrett Solomon
One-Hander: A Play in One Act
Abstract: One-Hander is a play in one act about friendship, loneliness, imagination, and what it means to be alive. The play asks what becomes of a man when there is seemingly nothing left for him to live for. I’ve incorporated elements of improvised theatre, theatre of the absurd, sock puppetry, and science fiction to create a narrative that I think stylistically reflects my aesthetic as an artist. In the play, Sergeant James and his sock puppet friend, Sindle, drift through space hoping to find Sergeant James’s wife and child that have been kidnapped by the Colonial Space Initiative. As time passes, Sergeant James must contend with what it means for him to be alive in light of the loss of his family and the failure of his mission. He isn’t sure what’s really left for him to live for. On the other hand, all Spindle wants is to be alive, to exist in the way Sergeant James does. These competing interests make for clashes of wit, comedy, and intense drama that include the audience.
Kyle Bernadyn
“We been waitin’ for you:” An Analysis of the Poetical, Literary, and Political Realities of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly
Abstract: As hip hop has evolved into one the most impactful and sought-after genres of art in our modern context, its creations have become viable representations of the political, racial, and societal realities that constitute the foundation of American culture. Firstly, these representations originate predominately from the perspectives of members of the black community, positioning hip hop as an important link to the philosophies of a historically disenfranchised community. Secondly, hip hop artists have demonstrated themselves to be the preeminent American poets ever since the genre’s initial foray into the mainstream cultural vein, demanding scholarly attention from the literary world at-large. One of the hip hop community’s seminal albums, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly , has forged its way into a leadership role in the community’s evolution into a reputable literary artform. In short, the amalgamation of poetics and politics that lie at the heart of the album deserve concerted critique from the literary world, culminating in its inclusion in the African-American literary canon, which has stood as a monument to excellence in black art as well as activism towards racial justice.
Casandra Belizaire
To Hip Hop, with Love
Abstract: African American art operates on a continuum. Until the condition of black people in America changes, this truth will remain self-evident. The creation of black art within this country traces back to the institution of slavery when the enslaved sung, memorized, and passed on spirituals. These hymns survived the emancipation of black bodies as commodity and continued to carry in their lyrics the weight of racial oppression and the desire for salvation. Black art, however, has ceased to be solely spiritual in the sense of divine salvation; the breadth and depth of the art form has evolved. Yet, the subject matter — what was contested, what was contended with, what was lamented — birthed a tradition of self-expression that is uniquely black in its inception. As one generation of black thinkers and creators passed, another generation — willing to continue the ancestral investigation started by their predecessors — arose. With that exploration came unique expressions of artistry, varying in language and medium, that examined personal experiences, challenged social constructs, and measured the progression of the race. The compilation consists of prose, visual art, and music that is undoubtedly in conversation with one another. Through similar subject matter, voice, and intended audience, Hip Hop demonstrates the extent to which the ancestral origins of black art in America create an intergenerational conversation between artists of past and present.
Thomas Harrison
Personality Traits: Predicting Objectively Measured Levels of Exercise and Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Towards Exercise
Abstract: The effects of personality traits from the NEO-five-factor model have been well established as predictors of exercise. However, past research has failed to examine these factors using objectively measured levels of exercise, instead relying on self-report measures. In the current study, 35 participants completed questionnaires assessing, explicit attitudes towards exercise, and personality traits as measured by the NEO-PI-3 as well as an exercise implicit association task (IAT) to assess unconscious attitudes toward exercise. Participants then wore an activity monitor for one week. Results demonstrated that agreeableness was a significant predictor of overall physical activity levels, such that greater levels of agreeableness were associated with less overall exercise. Conscientiousness and openness were associated with beliefs about the mental health benefits of exercise at a trend level, such that higher levels of each trait were associated with greater belief that exercise has mental health benefits. In addition, neuroticism emerged as a significant predictor of negative explicit attitudes about exercise such that higher levels were associated with increased belief in exercise being unpleasant/negative. Lastly, contrary to hypotheses, none of the NEO Big 5 traits emerged as significant predictors of implicit attitudes towards exercise. These results can help healthcare providers better identify individuals at risk for exercise avoidance.
Sarah Boothman
Investigation into the possible mitogenic role of an epidermal growth factor ortholog expressed by ectromelia virus
Abstract: It has been demonstrated that poxviruses express proteins with high sequence homology to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Upon analysis of the ectromelia virus genome, a gene with sequence homology to EGF has been identified. The product of this gene is predicted to be shorter than EGF and other poxvirus growth factors, but may still retain functionality due to the presence of six conserved cysteine residues in its primary structure. This gene and its product have not been previously studied, so in this study, we seek to investigate the possible mitogenic role of the growth factor homolog encoded by ectromelia virus during infection. Using 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine assays, we observe an upregulation of DNA synthesis in cells infected with ectromelia and vaccinia viruses, indicating the viruses likely have mitogenic properties.
Stephanie Dea
Effects of ectoparasites on survivorship and reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus
Abstract: White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) are important members of the forest community for seed dispersal and as potential prey items. These mice are frequently parasitized by botflies (Cuterebra fontinella) and other ectoparasites. Botflies can minimally affect P. leucopus or increase survivorship, and there is no evidence of fleas or ticks affecting mouse survivorship. There is, however, evidence of increased botfly parasitism on white-footed mice near woodland edge. Because logged areas resemble forest edge habitat, mice in logged areas may have higher infestation of botflies. We examined the effect of ectoparasite load on survivorship and other population demographics of white-footed mice in a managed forest near Reading, PA. We tested two hypotheses: 1) the frequency of infestation will be greater in a disturbed site; 2) mice with more parasites will have reduced cues of reproductive ability; and 3) mice with bot flies will have a greater survivorship. We used mark-recapture, χ2, and log-linear analyses to test our hypotheses. Our first hypothesis was partially supported, the second hypothesis was not supported, and third hypothesis was supported. The variation seen in infection rates among parasites may be due to the effects of various edge habitat types and should be investigated further.
Rebekah Turbett
Parental attitudes concerning children’s beliefs in secular and nonsecular entities
Abstract: The present study examined the potential differences between how religious and nonreligious parents think about their child’s acquisition and loss/retention of belief in Santa Claus, God, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy. Parents of first-born children between the ages of 4 and 10 years of age were given a survey and asked to rate how they thought, worried, and talked about these four entities, both secular and nonsecular, to that child. Results suggest differing levels of concern between religious and non-religious parents. Nonreligious parents were more concerned with their child’s belief in secular entities, while religious parents were more concerned with their child’s belief in nonsecular entities. All parents indicated that they were not concerned that their child would lose their belief in entities. A possible explanation is that parents have either accepted that their child will no longer believe in the entity, or that they hope their child retains their belief. Future directions include looking at the time period that children begin believing in entities, and why parents have a low level of concern.
Kylie Johnston
Female Performers in Non-classical Music: Focusing on the Individual and Individuality
Abstract: The ideal of focusing on women as individuals began to be emphasized in the 1970s. Many well-known women in the realm of non-Classical Music performance, including performers like Janis Joplin and Annie Lenox, have run with the idea of individualism and used it to advance how female musical performers are viewed in society. This thesis intends to highlight the individuality of non-Classical female performing musicians and how they navigate their identities within their art while also dealing with adversity and their professional environment. To do so, I have conducted multiple interviews with non-Classical female performing musicians across multiple genres and scales. I researched multiple female musicians labeled as “non-conforming” in order to pose questions that would allow the women interviewed to illustrate the obstacles they face within their profession as well as how they view their professional environment. The final goal of the thesis is to highlight the individuality of women within the field of non-Classical performance through interviews and a companion paper detailing important points of interest.
Elizabeth Eberwein
Voyaging Colonialism: Seafaring Patriarchy, Toxic Heroism, and the Construction of Gendered and Racialized Hierarchies in Sexing the Cherry and A Mercy
Abstract: In colonial times, mobility and societal freedom were largely restricted to men. This sanctioned male mobility and the accompanying restriction and immobility of women is demonstrated by the historiographic metafictions Sexing the Cherry and A Mercy, which depict women under male subjugation, left behind as the men of the novels set out to voyage. This gendered difference in mobility is portrayed chiefly in nautical terms – only men own and sail ships, and the ways in which the men and women of the novel interact with and utilize water are vastly different. The mentality of the seafaring adventurer is closely linked to the mentality of the colonizer, the slave trader, and a toxic sense of patriarchal masculinity, which seeks to collect and conquer in order to achieve status and wealth, to rise in a social hierarchy – necessarily at the expense of oppressed lower categories. The construction of racial categories in America, layered over the preexisting European gender categories – expressed by Winterson as a “hero/home-maker” binary – birthed a doubly dehumanizing and oppressive hierarchy which weighs down upon the minority women of Jacob Vaark’s farm in A Mercy. Morrison and Winterson demonstrate the detrimental effects of these hierarchies and the mentality underlying them, as the well-meaning male protagonists of each novel nonetheless fall into patterns of voyaging patriarchy and ultimately feed the same oppressive system they initially claim to oppose.
Angela Manfredi
Animation: The Creative Process
Abstract: This study looks into the history and creative process that goes into creating animated stories and films. Animation is a vast field and has evolved and shifted many times throughout time. Three major forms of animation that have been used to tell stories that often stand out the most are traditional hand drawn animation, stop-motion, and computer generated animation. Along with a study of how these three forms have evolved and the creation behind them has been shaped, a short animation has been arranged to visually express these forms of animating. The short will showcase three characters, each animated using a different form of animation, where they will interact and relate to one another.
Sydney Baybayan
Trivialization vs. Romanticism: How Language Can Impact Implicit and Explicit Perceptions of Mental Illness and Stigma Endorsement
Abstract: This study examined the association between language describing mental illness and explicit and implicit mental illness stigma. Previous research has shown that misrepresenting mental illness in the media can increase negative attitudes about mental illness. Related research has found that people tend to have more negative implicit attitudes toward mentally ill persons. There is also rising interest in romanticism of mental illness. Glorification can affect the occurrence of disordered eating, negative affect, and suicide. However, there is little research on how it affects stigma endorsement. In the current study, 55 students read one of three blog posts that framed depression in a romanticizing, trivializing, or neutral manner. Participants completed Go/No-Go Association Tasks (GNAT) to measure implicit attitudes toward mental illness in 3 domains: good/bad, competent/helpless, and innocent/blameworthy, and self-report measures to test explicit attitudes toward depression. Participants in the trivialization condition had the highest mean scores on the explicit measures for the competence and innocence domains, showing that they had more positive explicit attitudes. Unexpectedly, participants in all conditions implicitly associated mental illness with competence. However, only participants in the romanticism condition had higher GNAT scores for good/bad, indicating a general implicit bias against mental illness.
Elena Brown
Mate Choices, Matching Voices: An Examination of Matching Romantic Partner Voices
Abstract: This study examined whether people would be able to match the voices of romantic couples to one another. Voice samples of 20 romantic couples were obtained and presented to 61 independent raters in an experimental task. Raters were able to match the voices of romantic couples with a greater than chance accuracy. The greater the difference in rated vocal attractiveness between couples’ voices, the less likely a rater could correctly match the couple’s voices. Likewise, the greater the difference in vocal hoarseness between a couple’s voices, the less likely raters could correctly match their voice to one another. Several factors regarding the couples’ relationship (e.g., relationship length, relationship contentment, and perceived similarities in interests, attitudes, and personalities), as well as differences between self-perceived and partner mate value of couples, and differences in vocal pitch of couples had not predicted whether a rater was more likely to correctly match couples’ voices with one another. Further, couples perceived their partner’s voice as being more attractive than their own voice, more attractive than their partner’s perception of their own voice, and more attractive than how others rated their partner’s voice. These findings contribute to our understanding of what the human voice can reveal to others as examined in the field of evolutionary psychology.
Tracy Celestin
The Relationship between Vocal, Trait, and Physical Markers of Dominance
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a relationship between different physical, personality trait, and vocal markers of dominance. Participants were measured for several traits related to dominance that included handgrip strength, height, shoulder-to-hip ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, and participants completed personality inventories measuring dominance. Participants also provided voice samples that independent raters evaluated for vocal dominance and used to estimate speakers’ height. For both sexes, perceived vocal dominance was positively correlated to a speaker’s perceived height, but not their actual height. The taller a woman was, and the broader her shoulder-to-hip ratio was, and the greater her hand-grip strength. The shorter in height a man was, the broader his shoulder-to-hip ratio was. There were also several acoustic measures of the voices that related to markers of dominance. For instance, lower female pitch was positively related to perceived vocal dominance, and vocal hoarseness was positively related to female height. Further, pitch variability negatively related to women’s social dominance orientation (SDO), perceived vocal dominance, and perceived height, and positively related to men’s perceived vocal dominance and dominant personality trait. These findings demonstrate that some, but not all features that signal dominance are related to one another.
Geovanni Charles
Police Brutality and Youtube
Abstract: With the advent of cameras on smart phones, many things are being captured on video and shared publicly that were previously undisclosed. This has resulted in new opportunities for insight into police citizen interaction. Similarly, this has caused a reawakened public outrage in regard to police brutality and it is curiosity about that outrage that has inspired this study. Changes in public sentiment can have ripple effects throughout the police system, including erosion of trust, and damaged citizen cooperation. The question remains what is the greatest way to gain new insight on this phenomenon when the thoughts and opinions about police and their interactions are generally communicated in private. For this study I chose five videos on Youtube that showcased police brutality (Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Milton Hall, Terrence Crutcher, and Kelly Thomas) and used as many as fourteen different codes in order to analyze the perceptions Youtubers had when it came to these videos. In the end, people seemed to victim blame or use different methods and ways as a defense out of fear of brutality happening to them, shifting the status quo. Indeed, those supporting police brutality and using race as an oppressive card could have used it as a defense against the shift of social order that has privileges built into it. Some might see racial minorities as a threat, a competitor for resources. Fear of losing the dominant power structure played a dominant role as well, as law enforcement is an institution that preserves the power of the status quo through force.
Adam Dalessandro
Effects of Virtual Reality-Induced Eye Strain on Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity
Abstract: This study has the potential to explore the possible impact of virtual reality (VR), a relatively new technological development in the mainstream commercial market, on short term visual ability and health. Low-wavelength blue light is constantly being emitted from widely used viewing screens, including cell phones and computer monitors. Anterior structures of the human eye, such as the cornea and lens, are effective at blocking ultraviolet rays from reaching the retina; however, virtually all visible blue light is able to pass through these structures to reach the back of the eye. With the advent of VR, viewing distance from eye to screen is decreased and could put greater demand upon ocular convergence and accommodative mechanisms of the eye and lens. Higher-energy, low wavelength light, such as blue light, can also cause damage to the retina and underlying neurons in the long term. Here, participants took the Freiburg Vision Test to obtain a baseline measurement of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, engaged in a 20-minute- VR experience, then retook the Freiburg Vision Test. There were two groups: one with a normal VR headset and one with the same headset containing blue light filtering lenses. Results suggest little difference in visual acuity change between individuals who wore the blue-filtering lenses while engaged in VR compared to those who did not. However, contrast sensitivity appeared to worsen slightly after usage of the blue-filtering lenses. We interpret these results to suggest that blue light filtering lenses may have a negative effect on vision in short term use which could represent a degree of discomfort that people would need to be overcome to maintain the longevity of their eye health.
Courtney Gehman
Ingestion of diadzein leads to an increase in ERR-dependent larval lethality in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract: Soy products have been shown to decrease larval survival by preventing larval molting between instar stages. We show that this hormone regulated molting process may be interrupted by the ingestion of isoflavones, an estrogen-like hormone found in soy products. W118 Drosophila fed different concentrations of the isoflavone diadzein saw a significant increase in larval death when compared to the control. Based on its high homology to the estrogen receptor, we hypothesized that this increase in larval death is due to its interaction with the orphan receptor estrogen-related receptor (ERR). Drosophila lacking the ERR were fed similar diadzein concentrations and their larval survival did not increase as the W118 Drosophila had. This not only establishes diadzein as an ERR ligand, but may also be significant in possible dietary considerations in people suffering from triple negative breast cancer, a type of cancer which lacks receptors normally targeted when treating breast cancer, but does show an up regulation of ERR.
Justin M. Hoffman
Rescuing of long-distance DNA interactions required for CSR by YY1
Abstract: Ying Yang1 (YY1) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor, regulating a dazzling list of genes of fundamental biologic processes. Along with cellular proliferation, differentiation, embryogenesis, replication and apoptosis, one of the crucial functions of YY1 is to aid in class-switch recombination (CSR) during B cell development. YY1 conditional knockout in activated splenic B cells interferes with CSR. YY1 is known to perform this process by mediating the long-distance DNA interactions that govern B cell maturation. DNA-bound YY1 provides a platform for recruitment of various protein complexes (directly or indirectly) to mediate long-distance DNA interactions. The different functional domains of YY1 involved in the long-distance DNA loops have been identified; however the partner proteins are yet to be identified. The current study was aimed at elucidating the functional domain of YY1 that dictates long-distance DNA interactions required for CSR. The speculated domain of YY1 responsible for this process was successfully isolated and amplified, however, due to low infectivity of splenic B cells, this project warrants future research.
William Holl
Loss of Akt expression protects Drosophila larva from diadzein-dependent death
Abstract: The fruit fly model, Drosophila melanogaster, has been utilized in different scientific fields spanning from developmental biology to cell signaling to toxicology aiding researchers in the discovery of novel mechanisms and therapeutics. Here, we demonstrated that w118 mutant fruit fly larval survival is not affected by the isoflavone, genistein, whereas the isoflavone, daidzein, decreases survival rates in larval survival assays. Decreased survival rates are attributed to the activation of the Akt signaling pathway after isoflavone binding to the estrogen-related receptor (ERR) within the larval digestive tract. The Akt knockout, yw;P[GMR-Akt1], flies were protected from daidzein consumption-induced larval lethality supporting that the Akt pathway is the cause of death.
Renee Hunsberger
Effects of Self-Esteem, Grit, and Resilience on Physiological Stress Response
Abstract: Physiological stress response is an adaptive, automatic response to increase attention and motivation under threatening conditions. Frequent and maladaptive activation, however, has adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Our study examined the use of a dialectic behavioral technique to alter self-esteem, evaluating the effects of reduced and improved affect on stress response. Measures of pulse, blood oxygenation, and skin conductivity — indicators of stress — were taken during a frightening virtual reality simulation. Trait grit and resilience personality inventories were taken as potential modulators of self-esteem on stress response. We hypothesized that an increase in self-esteem would decrease stress response, and that grit and resilience would enhance this reduction. Results suggested that trait grit modulates the directionality of stress response following self-esteem coping techniques. Results demonstrated that increased self-esteem reduced stress response in individuals with low grit, but increased physiological response in high grit individuals. The current study showed the importance of administering personality assessments before implementation of coping techniques in a therapeutic setting.
Lindsey Jones
Design for Dance: A Tribute to Marcia Dale Weary and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
Abstract: For my Senior Thesis, I will collaborate with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet school to design a ballet for use in their June Series performance, a week long theatrical production with performances of favorite ballets and new works. This ballet will be choreographed by Alan Hineline, resident choreographer of CPYB, and will be a homage to Marcia Dale Weary, founder of CPYB. The ballet will encompass designing sixteen costumes for the level seven female dancers. I will keep documentation of all my research, design sketches, recordings of materials budgeted for and bought, and notes taken during production meetings and rehearsals. This thesis is a continuation in my research into traditional ballet dance costumes. Not only have I researched the history of ballet dance and ballet designers, I have focused my research on Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Marcia Dale Weary. This ballet is choreographed and designed to be a tribute to Marcia Dale Weary and her teaching methodology; how she has impacted the dance world during her sixty-five years of teaching.
Sandy Lee
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Protein-Ligand Interaction Models
Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to study various models of protein and ligand interactions as these systems are highly relevant in drug design and discovery. The first model consists of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) with adenosine monophosphate (AMP) or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The second model consists of firefly luciferase with ATP. One and two-dimensional NMR experiments such as 1H NMR, 31P NMR, correlation spectroscopy (COSY), and nuclear Overhauser effect experiments were performed using these model systems. A clear transfer NOE was observed due to through space interactions between the saturated sugar protons and the H8 proton of AMP and ATP, confirming the anti-conformation for both ligands when interacting with YADH (Craik 1991). A clear transfer NOE was also observed between the saturated sugar protons and the H8 proton of ATP when interacting with luciferase, confirming the anti-conformation of the ligand when bound to the protein. Significant changes in linewidth from 31P NMR spectra were observed between bound and unbound ligand for YADH with AMP or ATP. It was determined that NMR is a viable method to study interactions and determine optimal conformations between proteins and ligands.
Chanel Lepone
The Role of Motivations and Attachment Style in Understanding Romantic Partner Monitoring on Social Media
Abstract: Social networking sites (SNS) are associated with both positive and negative effects on relationship quality for users in romantic relationships. The present study examines the role of motivations for SNS activities and attachment style in these processes. College students (N=105) participated in an online 10-day daily diary study, assessing participant’s behavior on social media, their relationship quality, how they perceived their SNS use affected their relationship, and motivations for partner monitoring SNS. Results showed that individuals high in attachment anxiety were more likely to monitor their partner out of distrust, to seek information pertaining to themselves, and out of curiosity about their partners’ daily activities. Multi-level analyses of daily behaviors revealed that on days when participants spent more time monitoring a romantic partner online, they experienced greater feelings of jealousy, and jealousy and conflict due to SNS use. Intimacy avoidance was associated with less satisfaction and more relationship conflict due to SNS use each day. Individuals high in attachment anxiety reported experiencing less daily jealousy due to SNS use. An interaction between attachment anxiety and monitoring frequency revealed individuals low in anxiety experienced more jealousy due to SNS use when they monitored their partner more frequently.
Ashley Lipshaw
Structural Analysis of Glass Materials using Raman Spectroscopy
Abstract: Glassy materials do not possess any long range structural patterns, but are instead composed of numerous short-range structures. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the appearance of structural units in borate, silicate, and borosilicate glasses. By varying the mole fraction of modifiers, the effect of both modifier charge and size on the obtained spectra was observed. The Raman shift and peak intensity were used to analyze the insertion of the cation into the glass network. As the mole fraction of the cation increases, new peaks appear indicating the formation of new structural units that incorporate the cations. Heavier cations also appeared to have a greater influence on the glass network overall. Leaching of structural units in the network was performed through exposure to hydrochloric acid for various lengths of time. Raman spectroscopy was conducted to detect alterations to the glass network during the leaching process. The rate of precipitate formation during the exposures was used to determine the integrity of structural units. Changes in cation modifiers effect the rate of precipitate formation and integrity of the glass network due to the interaction between the cation and glass forming units. The effects of corrosive exposure over time are found to be dependent on modifier identity and modifier to former ratio by the results of this study.
Khoi Luong
Use of Technology in Buddhist Philosophy and Practice as a Form of Skillful Means
Abstract: Buddhism is becoming a popular religion in America and in the world. The growth of technology is occurring as well, controlling much of the world’s communication. While technology has some harmful sides for users, it can also be quite beneficial. Because of the Buddhist concept of skillful menas, the religion is well-equipped to apply the use of technology in both philosophy and practice. Technology helps to maintain the texts and Buddhist materials online to help people gain access without limitation. In addition, Buddhist teachers also know that human beings are attracted to technology (websites, social media, computer, and so on), using the positive advantages of technology to spread Buddhist materials to people. This paper will provides readers with a basic explanation of advances in mass media technology and Buddhism. Then the paper will explore multiple examples of technology applied by Buddhist organizations. Also, the paper will cover three interviews with Buddhist monks and a Buddhist disciple to ask about their ideas of how technology can be a good tool in Buddhism.
Paige Naseef
A Nutritional Analysis of Phaseolus vulgaris Grown in an Aquaponics System vs. Grown Commercially vs. Grown Organically
Abstract: The purpose of this project was to perform several biochemical analyses on common green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), samples grown in a variety of environments. Seven samples of P. vulgaris from an aquaponics system as well as various modern commercial agricultural and organic sources were obtained, lyophilized, and prepared. Bomb calorimetry, loss on ignition (percent organic content), CHN elemental analysis, BCA protein, and anthrone carbohydrate assays were performed on the sample tissues. There were detectable differences in the nutritional quality of the beans dependent on growing conditions. Aquaponics reared beans had higher protein concentration and may be more nutritious than beans from other growing techniques. These findings support that more research needs to be completed on the nutritional quality of plants grown in aquaponics systems and other alternative sustainable agricultural methods.
Aubrie Potteiger
Framing Effects on Exercise Behavior
Abstract: Framing is a cognitive tool that has been used in decision-making. It also has been used as a tool in fitness intervention for individuals (Hearon, et al. 2016), with results indicating that promoting the mood benefits of exercise to this population led to greater increases in physical activity than promotion of the physical health benefits. Participants viewed one of four types of information on exercise benefits: mental benefits, physical benefits, emotional then physical benefits, or physical then emotional benefits. Then, participants competed questionnaires to measure exercise behavior and emotional states, with a follow-up survey conducted on week later. The study did not find significant results of framing on motivation to exercise, exercise goals, increased exercise at timepoint two, or knowledge retained at timepoint two. Our study found a significant effect of condition on knowledge of information at time one, F(3,67) = 9.55, p<.001, η2=.309. Specifically, those in the physical benefits condition remembered less than those in the mental benefits and physical then mental benefits conditions. This suggests that emotional benefits may be more memorable to participants than the physical benefits of exercise.
Brittany Slaughterbeck
Analysis of parabens in over-the-counter cosmetics by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their binding affinity to bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy
Abstract: Cosmetics are an integral part of the beauty world and by extension, most of what is incorporated in our social lives, therefore, the ingredient contents of cosmetic formulas can influence overall health and well-being. Preservatives are required within their formulas, such as parabens. However, reports correlations between cancers such as breast cancer, and paraben exposure has led to its restricted use and banning of various forms of paraben within cosmetics. Once parabens pass the dermal barrier, they move within the body toward various organs and can bind to estrogenic receptors and affect their function. Foundations from four common drug store cosmetics were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the presence and identify of the parabens contained within. All four formulas contained the preservative methyl paraben, however, each foundation varied with having either propyl, butyl, or ethyl paraben as the additional preservative due to varying cosmetic formulas. Lastly, the binding affinity of each paraben to the major transport protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), was quantified via fluorescence quenching to hypothesize the travelling efficiency of the different parabens within the body.
Tiana Van Leuven
The Fashion Industry’s Response to their Ever-Changing and very Diverse Consumer Base
Abstract: The Fashion Industry serves every person in America that chooses to adorn themselves with clothing. The fashion industry relies on consumers such as any other business, yet in history, has only focused on a single consumer group. Demographics are an efficient source to analyze who exactly makes up the consumers of the Fashion Industry. In this paper, less represented communities like the LGQBTIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Queer, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Asexual, plus) community, people of color, and those with mental and or physical disabilities are evaluated throughout the industry. The traditional ways of the fashion industry are also accessed through current events as well as with a case study focus on Vogue magazines. The Fashion Industry has begun to respond to their consumers as they continue to use outlets such as social media to further their voices.
