Abstracts Listed by the project identification number by the title
1 Domestic Violence Myths and Neutralizing Attitudes of Society Towards Victims
Molly Hartsough
This research project intends to investigate the relationship between societal beliefs in domestic violence myths and neutralizing attitudes that serve to minimize the experiences of domestic violence victims. Data will be collected from a mid-size urban university in northeastern Ohio. A purposive sample of 800-1,000 graduate and undergraduate students will be representative of gender, age, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and majors of the student population. The Domestic Violence myths utilized in this study are those previously defined by other researchers, notably Peters (2003), Westbrook (2009), and Policastro et. al. (2013). Neutralizing attitudes are to be defined as actions performed or refused to be performed by members of society towards domestic violence victims (Scott 2007). Examples may include actions such as refusing to call 911 for victims of repeated abuse episodes, not taking a victim’s admittance of being abused seriously, refusal to testify in court on behalf of a victim. The proposed research will test hypotheses of a positive relationship between beliefs in the domestic violence myths and neutralizing attitudes, and if gender, race/ethnicity and student major may influence their beliefs in the domestic violence myths and neutralizing attitudes. If supported, the research findings will have profound real world implications, especially for those students pursuing specific majors and careers related to victim services, such as criminal justice, social work, psychology, and pre-med majors.
2 Capital Punishment
Monica Woolensack & Haley Lapcevich
We are going to compare states with and without the death penalty. We will be comparing them on the variables of their location of the states within the United States, the population size, the average income, unemployment, and the average violent crime rates within the state
4 Perceptions About Dietetics Among Nurses and Student Nurses
Joanne Starkey, Harley Carroll, Emily Gabriel, Gina Kontur, & Jessica Mertens
Improved patient outcomes through collaborative healthcare teams, is the preferred model for medicine in America. This has created a culture of various medical professionals working together to enhance treatment, reduce medical spending and decrease risk of repeat hospitalization. Nurses and registered dietitians working together is just one example of this team approach. The success of the nurse/registered dietitian relationship depends upon a mutual respect for each other’s skills and scope of practice. Many registered dietitians are aware of the job performed by nursing staff, however it is unclear from the literature whether nurses are fully cognizant of dietetics functions. This study will assess current nursing students’ and faculty members’ perceptions about the Registered Dietitian's scope of practice.
9 An Analysis of the Evolution of the American City and Orchestral Music Due to Technology
Todd D. Rossi
This paper evaluates the role of different technologies and how they affected the institutions of both the American City and the classical orchestral concert in the United States.
10 Piracy Through the Centuries
Robert Miller
A compare and contrast essay between Golden Age, Somali, and Internet Piracy. The main points of interest are the the goods taken, the lifestyle of the pirates, and the pirates' reasons for committing piracy.
13 An Analysis of Areas Surrounding Four Former Youngstown City Schools
Jayne Catlos
Prior to the 1970s, public education had a neighborhood orientation. Students attended schools within their neighborhoods. Changing demographics, suburban development, and school busing programs resulted in the demise of the neighborhood school concept. Youngstown schools suffered additional pressures from a declining local economy. This paper explores changing conditions in areas adjacent to four former Youngstown City schools . Each school closed and no longer serves as a neighborhood-based educational facility. One sits vacant, another was converted to an alternative use and the other two sites host new schools that serve wider geographic areas. Land use maps, 1980 and 2010 Census data, and other sources were used to identify trends that occurred over a 30-year period. Demographic and land use data illustrate the effects the absence of these schools had on surrounding neighborhoods. Larger scale issues were also considered in developing a comprehensive explanation of the changes observed in each neighborhood.
14 Development of ProtSecKB: the Protist Secretome and Subcellular Proteome Knowledgebase
Brian Powell, Vamshi Amerishetty, & John Meinken
Protists are a large and diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms, which belong to the kingdom Protista. We developed the protist secretome and subcellular proteome knowledgebase (ProtSecKB) which hosts information on protist protein subcellular locations. The protist protein sequences were retrieved from UniProtKB, consisting of nearly 1 million entries with 84 species having a complete proteome. The assignments of protein subcellular locations were based on curated information and prediction using seven computational tools. The tools used for subcellular location prediction include SignalP4, WoLF PSORT, Phobius, TargetP, TMHMM, FragAnchor, and PS- Scan. A total of 17 subcellular locations were predicted. The protein domain analysis revealed that protist secretomes contained a large proportion of trypanosomal VSG (Variable Surface Glycoprotein) which could have potential applications in studying how parasitic protists evading immune systems, and cysteine proteases which are enzymes that degrade proteins. The database can be searched by users using several different types of identifiers, a gene name or keyword(s). A subcellular proteome from a species can be searched or downloaded. BLAST searching whole protist protein data or secretomes is available. Community annotation of subcelluar locations based on experimental evidence is supported. The database is expected to be an important resource for the protist and biomedical research community. The database is available at http://proteomics.ysu.edu/secretomes/protist/index.php.
15 Gluten-Free Diet: Facts, Fiction, and Perceptions
Chelsey Palumbo, Taylor Entzi, Michael Liposchak, & Greg Durkin
Celiac disease is an inflammatory intestinal condition triggered by the protein gluten which is found primarily in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale. It is estimate that there are about 2 million people living with celiac disease in the United States alone. Symptoms of diagnosed Celiac disease may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cramping, as well as arthritis, fatigue and malnutrition. Recently there have been claims in the media that gluten is toxic and that grain products should be eliminated from the diet. This trend promises health benefits from gluten elimination in the absence of diagnosed celiac disease. A 27-item online survey of faculty, students and staff at YSU was used to gauge their perceptions and knowledge about a gluten-free diet. It is anticipated that less than 50% of participants will correctly identify gluten-containing food products or the symptoms of true celiac disease.
17 Italian Immigration
Elizabeth Miller
My presentation is about the struggles Italians faced coming over to America in the early 1900's. I will discuss the hardships they faced in their home country of Italy to decide to come to America. I will also present the process of going through Ellis Island and what their lives were like once they began their new lives in the United States.
18 A case study of the spatial relationship between bat occurrence and artificial light pollution along a bike trail in Portage County, Ohio
Stefanie Hudzik
Northeastern Ohio bats are important in maintaining insect populations, thus minimizing crop damage and disease spread. However, with bat populations decreasing due to factors such as habitat loss and White Nose Syndrome, a complete understanding of anthropogenic disturbance at known bat habitat is essential for conservation efforts. Light pollution, as an indicator of bat habitat quality, has been historically neglected. Recent studies have shown that the presence of light pollution can alter the behavior of nocturnal species, including bats, which can lead to decreased biodiversity and increased competition. The goal of this thesis research, therefore, is to analyze the relationship between light pollution levels and bat activity.
The field site in Portage County, Ohio, contains forest and wetland habitat transected by a bike trail; however, the property is fragmented from nearby habitat due to the presence of a university campus and residential neighborhoods. In summer 2014, preliminary acoustic sampling along the bike trail revealed the presence of a low-frequency bat population at the site, while preliminary light sampling displayed a variation in light pollution intensities across the site. The spring-summer 2015 field season will include additional sampling for light pollution levels across the property across different seasonal vegetation densities in addition to a bat activity count (measured in bat passes) at pre-determined locations with normal and added light conditions.
19 The Spatial and Temporal Post-fire Vegetative Regrowth Mosaic Associated with Mature Tree Stands and Topography on Sofa Mountain
Erin O'Connor
The study of pre- and post-fire vegetative composition is valuable in understanding ecosystem behavior in response to fire. This information is of particular importance to ecologists, land managers, and park management, particularly in fire-prone mountain regions of North America, in making decisions regarding management practices and strategies as well as conservation efforts of natural, complex landscapes in order to maintain the integrity of these ecosystems. This study examines the effect that topography has on the spatial relationship of reestablished vegetation associated with mature tree stands after a 1998 holdover fire event on Sofa Mountain, Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. A mixed-methods approach was employed to evaluate and determine these associations throughout the Sofa Mountain burn area. Determining current and emergent vegetation was accomplished through the use of ground truthing, remote sensing and GIS. A historical analysis of the fire cycle throughout the area was completed using GIS, aerial imagery, and tree coring data collected during the 2011 field season in order to assess the vegetation ages and determine the spatial occupation of historic fire. Statistical analysis of the data includes spatial autocorrelation, mean patch size, and a binary logistic regression. New growth was determined to be a product of fallen trees and debris, while topographic factors, slope and aspect, are anticipated to influence the survival of tree stands.
20 Entheogens & the Law
Jason Slosnerick
A look at the legal stance that the United States government has taken on the use of entheogenic substances in a religious setting since the controlled substance act of 1964, with a focus on ayahuasca and peyote. Churches looked at include the Unaio Do Vegetal, Santo Daime and the Native American Church.
21 Assessing the Effects of Socioeconomic Status on School District Success
Megan Evans
Focusing on Mahoning County in Ohio, this study will examine whether a relationship exists between the median income of a neighborhood and the academic success of schools in that neighborhood. Research on this topic in other communities has revealed that a relationship does exist. Specifically, three elementary schools in census tract communities in Mahoning County which reflect income levels of (1) poverty; (2) middle income; and (3) upper middle income will be included, as well as their corresponding school districts. Data collected from the following sources will be used to assess whether there is a relationship: the 2013 U.S. Census; the 2013-2014 Ohio Report Card; and the 2013-3014 Ohio Achievement Assessment Test. The theoretical underpinnings for this research focus on the important role of place/neighborhood in determining an individual’s overall quality of life and life chances, including education. If findings from this study confirm what other studies have discovered, suggestions for ways to deal with educational discrepancies based on income inequalities will be offered.
22 Coefficient of Friction Testing Machine: Design and Operation
Dakota Joy
To meet the need of local company Delphi, a friction testing machine was redesigned for the testing of materials including plastics and elastomers. The accuracy of the results from this testing is important for implimentation in the design of manufacturing processes of Delphi's products.
23 Recording of Original Compositions
Lauren Eisenreich & Christopher Rudzinskas
As a recipient of one of the Undergraduate Research Grants this year, we have worked hard to write original music and are currently rehearsing and recording the music. In order to make this an exciting and engaging presentation, I would like to create an interactive composition station. We will have examples of our CD and people to discuss the project but the best part of our presentation will be interactive. We will bring our music composition software and will interact with participants so that they can work with us to write music. This will be a fun way to talk about what we did for this project.
26 Energy Backup for St. Joseph's Hospital Tyce Gall, Anthony Hill, Jason Huey, Jennifer McAnallen, Justin Stellmar, & Blake Walker The goal of our project is to find the most effective ways to conserve energy at St. Joseph’s Hospital as well as backing up the facility’s critical load. With the help of our partners at the National Electrical Contractors Association’s YSU student chapter, we are in the process of finding a way to integrate a backup system into the hospital’s micro grid. The purpose of the backup system is to take on the load in the event of a power failure to give time for the backup generators to come online. In addition to backing up the facility, we plan on retrofitting the hospital’s lighting in order to make it more energy efficient.
30 Complementary Therapy & MS
Justina Rachella & Terri Coffee
Upon the diagnosis of MS for patients, clinicians do their best to get each patient back to his/her level of functioning prior to the diagnosis. Usually, clinicians focus primarily on medication management. Along with medication management, complementary therapies should be included in each patient’s plan of care. Educating MS patients on the benefits of complementary therapies , such as exercise, has the potential to get each MS patient back to his/her previous level of functioning. In addition, when MS patients participate in exercise, the research shows that MS patients have less fatigue and pain with an overall better quality of life.
31 Automation of Semi-Trailer Landing Gear
James Schuster
The shipping industry primarily relies upon hand operated trailer jacks, typically referred to as the landing gear, to raise and lower the semi-trailer. This cranking process takes time and effort from the driver. Utilizing an electrical power source to raise and lower the landing gear significantly reduces the time required to raise and lower the trailer jacks. Also, it could potentially eliminate the injury and risk associated with manually cranking the landing gear up or down. A unit was designed that operates the landing gear using both speeds of the existing gear box located on the trailer, while also retaining manual operation of the landing gear system in case of an electrical failure of the semi-trailer or truck. The automated unit was then installed on a trailer and tested in real world conditions to confirm that all aspects of the design operate as desired.
32 Markov Chains in America's Pastime
Drew Saluga
I studied occurrences of America’s pastime (baseball) to see if any characteristics, trends, appearances, or tendencies could be explained mathematically. After close examination of the game, I made a Markov Chain model of the game, namely the Cleveland Indians’ 2013 season, to model the number of runs scored in an inning, a game, and across the entire season.
33 Using 3D Printing to Understand Customer Engagement During Active Customization
Ashley Martof
Additive manufacturing also known as 3D printing is an emerging technology. Additive manufacturing can displace traditional manufacturing when products have high levels of complexity and/or customization. Today, most consumers have little experience in actively customizing a physical product. The goal is to put the word “custom” back into “customer” by making individuals comfortable in actively designing a product. In order to get a clear understanding of how customers respond to active customization, a survey was designed, disseminated, and the results were analyzed. Individuals were allowed to customize a product in three different ways: Selection Only, Mentored Customization and Self-Directed Customization.
34 Innovation Of Proximal Interphalangeal Finger Joint
Nick Buffa, Ian Schantz, Rana Abu-Hashim, & Matthew Hetzel
The purpose of this project was to design and innovate a Proximal Interphalangeal Joint for use in replacement surgery. Our goal was a 2 piece design which allowed biaxial movement. The model was then brought to life using 3D printing and modified until our goal was achieved.
35 The Effects of Gastric Residual Volume on Aspiration Pneumonia in Mechanically Ventilated Adult Patients
Giacinta Brinsey
Aspiration has been reported as the leading cause of pneumonia in the ICU and the most serious complication of enteral tube feeding (Poulard et al., 2010). The appropriate designated level of gastric residual volume (GRV) that differentiates tolerance from intolerance or correctly identifies a patient at high risk for aspiration is not known (McClave et al.,2005). With the varying protocols and nonstandardized assessments on what constitutes a high GRV, physicians and nurse practitioners are divided on when is it appropriate to hold and or stop enteral feedings in the hopes of preventing aspiration and Ventilator associated Pneumonia (VAP).
36 The Effectiveness of Cupping Technique in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.
Toby Gerez, Corey Vukovic, & Adam Kaufman
Plantar fasciitis is a common source of heel pain among adults of all ages and activity levels. There is a variety of conservative treatment methods used clinically for the management of plantar fasciitis, however there is a lack for any strong research evidence to support the effectiveness of any one treatment method over the other. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effects of the cupping technique in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, compared to a standard physical therapy treatment called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Subjects in the study were randomly assigned to receive one of the two interventions twice a week for duration of 4 weeks. The results indicate that both treatments were equally effective in reducing pain and promoting increased function.
39 Using 3D Printing to Integrate Thermal Management into High-Altitude Flight Vehicle Structure
Caitlyn Rodomsky, Lauren Rodomsky, Michael Seifert, Nick Onderko, Ryan Lewis, Thomas Bobosky, & Matthew Conner
The CubeSat, a small and cost-effective satellite alternative for aerospace education and innovative prototyping, was developed by California Polytechnic University and Stanford University in 1999. This project aimed to fabricate a CubeSat using additive manufacturing processes in the structure to increase structural efficiency and thus increase available space or power for payload. The satellite will also collect data and video. Since the manifest process for rocket launch to orbit takes many years, the team chose to use a high altitude balloon for flight to the near-space environment. The vehicle used an Arduino board to record video, data, and control operations; and used 3d printed materials for the structures. All operations and parameters were tested on the ground before the balloon flight to increase confidence of operation during flight.
42 Design and Construction of an Operational Multwii Quadcopter
Kyle Spickler, Matthew Pilch, Patrick Hyden, Brennen Morrison, & Austin Snovak
Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAV’s) have been evolving to suit a variety of applications, where piloted aircraft is unsatisfactory. The combination of weight restrictions, untethered communications, and harsh environments pose design challenges that require unique solutions. A quadcopter is a UAV which utilizes four counter-rotating propellers to provide adequate thrust for stabilizing and accelerating the onboard power supply, receiver module, body weight, and any auxiliary attachments. The team goal is to design and build a quadcopter with optimal thrust and battery life for various applications through the use of rapid prototyping and experimental data feedback. The quadcopter will be operated via remote control or based on preprogrammed GPS coordinates. Applications associated with a quadcopter comparable in size include: video surveillance, payload delivery, automated rapid charge capabilities, and various methods of control. General quadcopter parameters can be modified through changes in the control program, or physical adjustments to the motor and propeller.
47 Efficiently Generating Network Links for Bluetooth and Other Mobile Networks
Jenna Wise, Sasha Monroe, Tyler McVicker, & Kevin London
A computer algorithm has been implemented that quickly calculates a network configuration for a network with a large number of wireless computing units (or “nodes”.) The algorithm, based on the calculation of a minimal weakly connected dominating set (MWCDS), requires as input the distance from each “node” to each of the other nodes. One of the team previously wrote a computer program that implements an algorithm for finding the MWCDS. Two team members focused on writing a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to “see” the network that has been computed by the main program. The other two team members applied our program to simulate network creation in Bluetooth networks.
48 Predicting Fungal Protein Subcellular Location
James Munyon
Proteins perform many functions within the cells of organisms, and these functions are closely related to their subcellular location: where in a cell they reside. Protein sequences are entering databases faster than their subcellular locations can be empirically measured, so there is a need for predictors that can accurately predict protein subcellular locations. One numerical representation of the amino acid composition of proteins is called Pseudo Amino Acid Composition, turning a long string of amino acids which make up a protein into a length 20 (or greater) vector (whose first 20 values are the normalized occurrence frequencies of the 20 "standard" amino acids). Through this transformation, initial methods of Random Forests, Adaboost, and SAMME will be applied to protein data to establish "baseline" predictive performance results, and then many prediction methods found in the literature such as Support Vector Machines and the Covariant Discriminant Algorithm will be applied as well.
49 How are Institutions of Higher Education Implementing Transition Courses for Student Veterans?
Rebecca McMenamin & Krysta Kurzynski
To better support first-year student veterans in their transition from the military to college life, current literature recommends the use of a transition course (DeSawal, 2013; Livingston & Bauman, 2013; Mikelson & Saunders, 2013; Vacchi, 2014). However, it does not offer empirical research on how institutions are implementing this intervention and if this tool is indeed effective at increasing retention and persistence toward graduation. In this pilot study, five institutions of various size and locations were surveyed to discover common themes related to their courses’ structure, objectives, assignments, and assessment practices. More advanced courses were found to progressively deviate from the traditional first-year seminar model and include content areas specific to veterans’ needs such as translating military experience and vocational discernment/development. 50 Linear Transformations in Computer Graphics
Benjamin Wilson, Jonathon Mudrinich , & Steven Schiffhauer
In this project we researched the use of linear transformations, matrices, and homogeneous coordinates in computer graphics. The transformations researched include translations, rotations, shearings, and scalings. We created a program in MATLAB that allows us to animate an object using these transformations.
53 Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs): A Novel Manufacturing Method through Binder-Jetting
Meshack Kioko
Environmental pollution and continued depletion of fossil fuels are accelerating efforts to harness clean and renewable energy sources. Fuel cells are an electrochemical means of extracting energy from fuels, renewable or nonrenewable with often, twice the efficiency of combustion-based engines at converting chemical energy as electricity. This presentation outlines a new way of fabricating SOFCs, which are a high temperature ceramic cells made from solid state components. The feasibility of using an additive manufacturing (AM) process, known as Binder-Jetting is presented and the opportunity to engineer the porosity and configuration of SOFC is highlighted (which are significant challenges associated with the traditional fabrication methods). The anode, cathode and electrolyte layers were fabricated through binder jet as a complete fuel cell unit. The cell performance was measured as an electrolytic oxygen pump, and as a galvanic electricity generator. Influence of porosity was performed through SEM and permeability testing. Electrical discharge of the SOFC and non- linearity of permeability tests show that, with additional work the porosity of the cell can be modified for optimal performance.
55 Correlation between Magnesium Concentrations in Drinking Water and Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality Rate in Ohio
Nicole Rodomsky. Amanda Seidler, Ralph Roth, Amanda Svenson, & Lydia White (Graduate Student Adviser: Nana Acheampong)
A linear regression analysis evaluated the correlation between concentrations of magnesium in drinking water (surface and aquifer supplies) and ischemic heart disease/death in 69 of the 88 counties of Ohio. Analytical water quality data were from public water treatment plants and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). Ischemic heart disease mortality data were from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Microsoft Excel was used to run the regression analysis. The results indicate a negative correlation with low R-squared values (0.33 to 0.50) for the five groups. We conclude, therefore, that higher magnesium concentrations indicate lower mortality rates from ischemic heart disease. The low R-squared values, however, indicate that health factors other than magnesium concentration also may affect the incidence of this disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease, and lack of physical exercise.
59 Smart Helmet
Fahad Alotaibi, Chad Piccirilli, & Paul Weidle
Concussions in contact sports, especially football, are becoming more and more of a recognized problem. Being able to track concussions from the sideline using a monitor will enable the team trainers and coaches to detect a potential hazard immediately. In today’s world of football, this technology is being used in the professional league, college, and high school. Our design is a concussion detection system that is cost effective and reliable for high school football to minimize the dangers of brain damage to young adults. This was done using special sensors in helmets and transmitting a signal back to a user friendly monitor on the sideline.
60 Sign into School
Allison Fortunato
Young children from families with low- incomes are at - risk for school failure. This is because there is a direct connection between early skills, like name writing, and later abilities, like conventional reading. It is very important for a child to be able to write their own name, as it gives them a sense of identity and introduces them to the ideas that letters and words represent things and actions. The ultimate goal for this research is to study if a professional development intervention will better help children master their name writing, rather than without any type of intervention. While many studies have acknowledged the importance of name writing ability, few have actually addressed the task of helping children master this skill by Kindergarten entry. Teachers will be trained to administer a daily name writing task and children's progress will be tracked throughout the Spring '15 semester. Data will be analyzed and shared with the local participating program. This study will contribute to the Youngstown State University ( YSU) experience by allowing the student to help create and present knowledge to the university and beyond.
61 Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics of the Effects of Impinging Air Jets and Nozzle Diameter
Karen Schilling
The project that will be done for this Quest presentation will be an experiment consisting of the heat transfer and fluid flow of submerged impinging jets which will be done by myself and the professor of Heat Transfer 1. The working fluids in this experiment consist of air. Test data will be measured by thermocouples and micro- manometer. The fluid flow and heat transfer of the fluid will range from 0 to 40 for the dimensionless nozzle-to- plate spacing (H/d), where H is the nozzle-to-plate spacing and d is the nozzle diameter. Previous experiments do not show a relationship between heat transfer and fluid flow for the wide range of nozzle-to-plate spacing. Based on this experiment, new correlations for the normalized stagnation Nusselt number and dimensionless stagnation pressure of the impinging jet will be developed as a function of the dimensionless nozzle-to-plate spacing alone. Finally, a technical analysis paper will be written with the two participants taking part in the experiment/research.
62 Foraminifera Distribution Across San Salvador Island
Brittany Stockmaster
Forty-two grab samples were taken from fourteen beaches situated along the coast of San Salvador, Bahamas. Samples were taken from the north, south, west, and east sides of the island in order to evaluate influences of aspect and hydrology on sedimentology. Each beach yielded three sub-samples from the lower beach, upper beach, and dune environments, respectively. Beach sands were split unbiasedly into manageable quantities, which were examined under a microscope. Foraminifera, a class of unicellular protozoa enclosed within a test, were picked from the samples and glued onto a sample slide for identification and counting. Preliminary analyses show that the most common orders of foraminifera present are: Miliolida, Rotaliida, and Textulariina. Additional work is underway to gain a more complete understanding of species distributions across the island.
64 The Difference of Violent Crime Between Men and Women
Stephen E. Dempsey
The purpose of this study was to see if men are more likely to commit more severe crimes than women and women are more likely to commit less severe crimes than men. This study drew upon research from the ADDHEALTH (2008 Wave IV) research study. There were several crimes that were involved with this study which included homicide to theft. Upon the analysis of the data, there were relationships between different types of crime and the person's gender, socioeconomic status and age convicted.
68 Study of Effects on Production Economics using 3D Printed Sand Casting Molds
James Limperos, Dakesha Jordan, Matthew Manna, & Dylan Pflager
Sand casting is one of the oldest manufacturing processes used to produce components of varying sizes for several applications ranging from an engine block to complex manifolds. The basic principle of sand casting is the pouring of molten metal into a ‘cavity’ with the desired shape in a sand mold and solidification. Complex part designs which have internal cavities require molds with cores which are very expensive and time-consuming for each casting run. Additive Manufacturing has revitalized the traditional sand casting process through ‘binder- jetting’ to produce the molds directly without patterns, cores, etc. This study presents the economic advantages of using binder-jetting to produce complex parts. A case study is presented to develop decision criteria for traditional molds and additive manufacturing molds.
69 Analysis of Gene Expression in Developing C2C12: Changes in the Proteome, Titin, and Myosin
Susan Rashid, Lorna Gallagher, & Robert Giles
Myogenesis is a tightly regulated process resulting in unique structures called myotubes or myofibers, which compose skeletal muscle. Myotubes are multi-nucleated fibers containing a functional unit composed of cytoskeletal proteins called the sarcomere. The specific arrangement of these proteins in the sarcomere works to contract and relax muscles. During embryonic and post-embryonic development, fluctuations in expression of growth factors throughout the program account for the dramatic structural changes from cell to mature muscle fiber. In vivo, these growth factors are strictly spatiotemporally regulated according to a ‘myogenic program’. In order to assess the dynamics of protein expression throughout this program, we conducted a time course study using the mouse myoblast cell line C2C12, in which cells were allowed to differentiate and insoluble protein fractions were collected at seven time points. The insoluble protein fraction accounts for cytoskeletal proteins, involved in the dramatic remodeling of cells. In order to discover influence of growth factors on protein expression, a similar time course was conducted with the addition of growth factors (serum) at specific time points after induction of myogenesis. The cells were allowed to differentiate through the time course and the insoluble-protein fractions were collected. Analysis of protein expression during myogenesis shows significant changes in the insoluble proteome. Furthermore a targeted gene expression study was conducted using quantitative PCR. Expression of the sarcomeric proteins actin, myosin, and titin also fluctuated throughout the time course, indicative of a developmental program.
70 The Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Against HIV-1 Viral Protein r using Hybridoma Technology
Ogunwumi Olumide
In order to better our understanding of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), an accessory protein known as Viral protein R (Vpr) is being studied. Vpr has been noted for important functions during HIV-1 replication. Due to the multifunctionality of Vpr in HIV-1, this study aims to develop and purify monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific to HIV-1 Vpr, that would aid in the identification of HIV-1 Vpr in cells. Hybridomas capable of secreting anti HIV-1 Vpr were developed by fusing murine plasma cells from a Vpr immunized mouse with murine myeloma cells. Subcloning of the hybridomas in order to generate anti HIV-1 Vpr Mabs was done by limiting dilution. The specificity of the Mabs was determined using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). DL.VPR.D4 and DL.VPR.DI.G6 Mabs had the best ELISA results. DL.VPR.D4 and DL.VPR.DI.G6 Mabs were further subcloned to assure purity. These new subclones were grown to collect 500ml of supernatant containing secreted antibodies and the antibodies were purified by hydroxyapatite column chromatography. Further investigation of the specificity of the purified Mabs was performed by indirect ELISA and western blotting to determine the specificity of the antibodies.
71 Dental Hygienists’ Opinions on Dental Hygiene Appointment Length
Michele Sosnick & Hannah Ropp
Dental hygienists are considered to be dental disease prevention specialists and are licensed to perform preventive services during a dental appointment including an oral exam, dental charting, radiographs, periodontal probing, scaling and polishing procedures. However, dental hygienists are under a time restraint to provide all the recommended services necessary during the allotted dental hygiene appointment. The purpose of this study was to survey dental hygienists on average appointment length and their opinions on the time constraints to provide comprehensive care. An electronic eight question survey was emailed to 252 members of the Tri-County Dental Hygienists Association in Youngstown, Ohio. A 17.4% (n=44) response rate was achieved. The survey questions were designed to collect information on the average appointment length, services provided during a routine dental hygiene visit, and if the respondents felt there was adequate time to provide all of the services they deemed necessary. Lastly, participants were asked if additional time for the dental hygiene appointment would be needed and how much additional time would be adequate. The results reported that 47.2% (n=20) felt that they did not have enough time to provide comprehensive care. Of those hygienist who stated they did not have enough time, 52.9 % (n=23) stated an additional fifteen minutes would be needed to provide services they felt were necessary. The length of dental hygiene appointments is typically established by the dentist who owns the practice. Dental hygienists should be encouraged to negotiate appointment lengt
74 Dental Hygienists Use of Dental Anxiety Management Protocols
Nichelle Bilotto & Jonna Omerzo
Dental anxiety is very common among dental patients. Dental hygienists can use a variety of techniques to reduce fear among dental patients. The purpose of the study was to identify which anxiety management techniques are currently being used and the rationale for their selection. For this study, 252 electronic surveys were distributed via email. Dental hygienists that participate in the Yahoo e-mailing list for to the Tri-County Dental Hygienists’ Association were selected as the study population. This chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association consists of Registered Dental Hygienists from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. A seventeen percent (n=44) response rate to the study was achieved. Results showed that utilizing the “tell, show, do” method was the most commonly selected anxiety reducing intervention. One hundred percent of participants that responded to this question (n=30) indicated that this method was used within their workplace. The second most commonly used intervention, selected by ninety percent of participants (n=27) was positive reinforcement. Respondents reported that the most common rationale for not using certain anxiety reducing interventions was time constraints. Fifty percent of responders (n=15) indicated that they would feel more comfortable implementing new or different methods if they had additional training or education. The study suggests that a multifaceted approach is regularly utilized by dental hygienists to manage anxiety. It is essential for dental professionals to employ management techniques to reduce dental anxiety.
75 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Reported by Dental Hygiene Faculty
Cynthia Zatroch & Migdalia Feliciano
Numerous Studies have been conducted indicating an increased amount of hand problems including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among dental hygienists. Hand scaling instruments have been identified as a contributor to hand problems because of the repetitive motion needed to properly use the instruments. Dental hygienists typically utilize hand scaling instruments to remove plaque and calculus during dental hygiene treatment. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify reported symptoms and reported prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among the Youngstown State University dental hygiene faculty members. Data was gathered through an electronic survey via Survey Monkey. Ten survey questions were used to identify the number of dental hygienists who report to have experienced signs or symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. An 86% (n=12) response rate was achieved. The results show that 66.67% (n=8) reported signs of numbness and weakness in the wrist. The survey results show that 33.33% (n=4) had mild weakness, and tingling in the hands, while 50% (n=6) had mild tingling in the hands. There were no (n=0) reports of dental hygiene faculty members having CTS. While the results show no reports of CTS, more research is needed. To show a direct relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome and dental hygiene practice there must be a larger sample size, longer period of observation, and a clinical based simulation in order avoid the limitation of self-reporting signs and symptoms. Future research should focus on the effects of hand instrumentation and ultra-sonic scalers since dental hygienists often use a combination of instrumentation techniques when treating patients.
77 A Qualitative Exploration of Clinicians' Perceptions of Addiction Measures
Lyndsie Smith
Using mixed methods, this study explored views of clinicians regarding addiction measures. Results indicate that clinicians feel current measures are useful but too time-consuming. They also indicate the import of clincianexperience beyond measures. This research can help close the research-to-practice gap that exists in addiction.
78 Consent Education at YSU
Krista Phillips
Sexual assaults on college campuses are becoming a major issue. Many colleges are beginning to offer consent education courses which teach decision-making skills and proper communication between partners. This study aims to research whether YSU students would be interested in learning about consent education. This study sampled both female and male students currently enrolled at YSU. The students ranged in both age and majors as well. A survey was sent out via email in which participation was voluntary. This study found that females were more likely to enroll in a consent education course than males which is consistent with the original hypothesis.
79 ACTIVate your Asthma
Doug Sposetta
Asthma has many contributory factors to both aggravating and alleviating symptoms. Physical activity is known to play a large roll in both decreasing symptom severity and frequency, directly and indirectly. These benefits can only be put into effect when patients are aware of them. Patient education is far to often overlooked or minimized, especially for patients that have chronic conditions. The aim at this educational poster is to inform patients with asthma on the definite benefits that physical activity can have on asthma, as well as defining what physical activity truly is, to help better manage asthmatic attacks and overall control of the disease.
82 Mechanical and Pharmacological Approaches to the Prevention of VTE Following Major Orthopedic Surgery
Jennifer Love
Traditionally, orthopedic surgeons have relied on standard methods both mechanically and pharmacologically to prevent VTE following major orthopedic surgery. Mechanical procedures used after surgery to prevent clot formation include such methods as lower extremity exercises to increase blood flow to the lower extremities, compression elastic stockings, also known as “ted hose”, pneumatic compression devices or (PCD’s) that apply pressure to the lower extremities that mimics normal walking, and in rare cases a filter device can be inserted into a large vein that will help “filter” out clots. Pharmacological methods include the use of certain medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) and low molecular weight heparin such as Lovenox. Although these traditional methods have been effective in the prevention of VTE, new oral anticoagulants (NAC) such as Xarelto, Pradaxa, and Eliquis are now being approved and utilized for VTE prevention and may in fact prove to be safer and more effective than the traditional medications usually used following orthopedic surgery. Nurses must be aware that all patients who undergo orthopedic surgery are at risk for developing a VTE. Therefore they must remain educated about the various forms of mechanical and pharmacological treatments and how they are used in VTE prevention.
83 Exposing Myths of Childhood Immunizations: An Approach to Patient Education
Ciara Candle The increase of resources on the Internet provide the luxury of patients to turn to Google to answer all of their medical concerns and questions. Patients may not know if the information they read is credible. There is an increased hesitancy in parents to vaccinate their children because of the conflicting information they find. Immunizations were invented to eradicate deadly diseases and are one of the greatest public health achievements . Everyone should be vaccinated not only for their own safety but for heard immunization. There are 22 million children every year that go unvaccinated (Hill et al., 2013). The purpose of this study is to conclude if education on childhood vaccinations increases rates of vaccinations and decrease parents fears.
84 Enhanced Wound Healing Using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Raymond Vaio
Chronic (non-healing) wounds affect many elderly and diabetic patients, and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Cellular-based therapies have previously utilized cultured skin cells such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts to enhance healing of chronic wounds, with moderate success. New research using bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) shows great promise in the field of wound healing. Many properties of the BM-MSC make it a desired choice for cellular-based treatment, such as its multipotent nature and its apparent ability to suppress the host’s immune response in order to avoid complications associated with tissue rejection (negating the need for lengthy tissue matching processes). Many minimally- invasive methods of applying BM-MSC have been used with positive results, including MSC-impregnated surgical tape and a topical spray-on form. Studies in rats have shown that BM-MSC enhance wound healing by increasing collagen deposition, increasing angiogenesis, and modulating inflammation leading to increased tissue strength and more rapid healing. A review of the use of MSCs to promote wound healing will be presented.
85 Characterization of Predicted Bacterial Glutathione Transferase, YliJ
Ashten Gibson & Shelby Woodward
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide that is present in all mammalian tissues as the most abundant non-protein thiol that defends against oxidative stress. Glutathione transferases (GST) are a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of the reduced form of glutathione to various electrophiles. Although the function for GST is known for mammals and plants, microbial GST data is lacking. We have targeted the characterization of protein YliJ from E. coli, which is predicted to be a GST with special function - the conjugation of GSH to bromoacetate. Using spectrophotometry, enzymatic activity of YliJ toward several halogenated compounds and antibiotic fosfomycin were evaluated. The agar disc diffusion sensitivity test was used to determine whether the growth of the E. coli cells lacking the ability to synthesize YliJ protein is affected by the presence of potential substrates.
86 Student Academic Anxieties are Not Influenced by Teaching Styles
Kayleigh Perline
This study applies parenting styles to professor teaching styles in a college classroom setting. Participants watched a short video of different teaching styles and completed a math quiz and math/test anxiety measures. Results failed to show significant group differences for the hypotheses, but implications for college classrooms are still evident. Results did show a significant interaction for household parenting style and the teaching style viewed on math anxiety.
87 Socio-Economic Status of Youngstown, Ohio during the Early 20th Century: Archaeological Examination of Glassware Use and Production
Zaakiyah Cua
During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the areas in and around Youngstown, Ohio consisted of farmland, local businesses, and local industries. Today much of this farmland has been divided into city lots owned by various individuals. During October 2014, Youngstown State University carried out archaeological excavations of a garbage dump associated with a local farm from the late 1800’s. The dump yielded enormous amounts of glassware, ceramics, metals, and various other finds. This project focused on examining a sample of the glassware recovered from the site. Analysis of the glassware has allowed us to develop a better understanding of the bottling industries in the Youngstown, Ohio area, trade throughout the eastern United States, and the socioeconomic status of individuals living in this region during the late 19th century.
90 Removable Multilayer Polymer Appliques as Wavelength Selective Filters for Mirrors When Night Driving
Gwen Dmitruk
A growing highway safety concern is the use of high-temperature Xenon HID headlights, which have a much brighter and bluer output than the long-term standard headlight, the halogen headlamp. Studies have shown that the HID headlight’s combined brightness and blueness distracts and discomforts other drivers when compared to halogen lights and can impair driver reaction times. Unlike halogen lights, whose spectra features a broad spectral output peaked toward red, the HID headlamps output several narrow spikes at fixed wavelengths in the blue region. A proposed partial remedy to this problem, then, is the design of a rear view mirror multilayer applique featuring a dual feature design: (i) a multilayer thin film designed to reflect most blue light, but transmit small spectral regions where the HID output spikes are located, layered over (ii) a narrowly absorbing film, which will absorb the blue spikes specific to the HID headlamp while allowing the ordinary mirror reflectance of the other wavelengths. In this way, the brightness and blueness of the headlamp will be significantly decreased while not altering the reflected image so much that it would impair the driver’s view.
92 Gene Expression of the Quinic Acid (qa) Gene Cluster in Neurospora cassa
Kayla Brown
As a filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa serves as an ideal model for eukaryotic organisms. Like many fungi, Neurospora is able to utilize many different carbon sources for energy. This however, requires the presence of genes that code for a variety of metabolic pathways that are not always needed. An example of such a group of genes would be the genes involved in utilizing quinic acid. When Neurospora grows in the presence of a less preferred carbon source, such as quinic acid, gene expression of the quinic acid (qa) gene cluster is up-regulated. This allows the organism to metabolize quinic acid and survive in the less favorable conditions. In contrast, when in the presence of a preferred carbon source, such as dextrose or sucrose, the qa genes are repressed.
This study examines how changing the carbon source effects gene expression in wild-type N.crassa. N.crassa was first grown in presence of either quinic acid or sucrose and harvested for tissue. Then, protein was extracted from this tissue and analyzed by 1-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis (1-DGE). Differences in protein expression was compared using the Quantity One® 1-D analysis software. Proteins unique to growth on quinic acid will be identified. Future studies will include quantitation of the transcription of genes coding for proteins expressed only in the presence of quinic acid by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
95 Work Sampling for CCL Container
Ariana Zebrasky & Daniel Delahunty
Two Industrial Engineering students performed a work process analysis at CCL Container in Hermitage, Pa. This time study was conducted in accordance with the Methods Engineering of Dr. Martin Cala, a course that serves the foundation of the Industrial Engineering curriculum. The team observed the critical process step of preparing the aluminum slugs by un-packaging and loading them in the tumbler of the extrusion press in order to form an aluminum aerosol can. The process was captured and recorded using a computer-based video analysis system. Using the video analysis software, the standard elemental times and overall standard cycle time was found. The team then used the analytical techniques of MTM-1, MTM-2, and MOST to also generate standard cycle times for the elements and an overall standard time for comparison to the modern computer-based video results. The team had an opportunity to conduct a complete methods study and then present criteria on which the process may be improved.
96 Work Analysis of an Ignition System Packing Process at Altronic of Girard
Jordan Thomson & Alex Waggoner
A team of two Industrial and Systems Engineering students examined a work process at Altronic, of Girard, Ohio. A time study was conducted in connection with the Methods Engineering class. The design of the project provided the authors the opportunity to communicate with businesses throughout the community that employ Youngstown State graduates. This activity required the students to reach out to a local industry and work with management and production personnel in order to record a work process. The process of packing an ignition system was filmed and analyzed using computer analysis software. Methods Engineering tools such as predetermined time standards were also used to verify a standard time for the process. Students also utilized computer software to analyze each motion of the process by determining essential and non-essential movements. Beyond the initial analysis, students had the opportunity to analyze the essential and non-essential Therblig elements within the process.
99 Applying Work Study Processes to Thermocouple Manufacturing at Fireline Inc.
Sarah Staley & Mia Barchetti
Two Industrial and Systems Engineering students analyzed a work study process at Fireline Inc. of Youngstown, Ohio, a producer of ceramic castings. The purpose of the study was to obtain experience using different work study methods to improve the efficiency of the job being performed. The students were welcomed to the factory to observe a worker transferring Thermocouples from a vacuum molding machine to a high-powered dryer. Video analysis was used to conduct a time study through observation of task elements. The work study techniques such as MTM-1, MTM-2, and MOST were performed alternatively for comparison to the original time study. The students reviewed all available results from their studies in order to find improvements of the task. The current process was compared to the proposed process through the use of process charts, plant diagrams, flow charts, and other work study tools. Proposed improvements were discussed with management and engineering at Fireline to advance the efficiency of Thermocouple manufacturing and productivity.
101 Methods Engineering Analysis and Work Design at Brainard Rivet for Quality Improvement
James Mayor & Mazen Jamaan Brainard Rivet, a manufacturer of cold headed fasteners in Girard, OH, was the subject of a video analysis aimed toward productivity and quality improvement. This time study and the ensuing motion analysis at Brainard Rivet was executed as part of a methods engineering research project. The authors used several techniques and procedures that involved studying, documenting, and analyzing the process for possible improvement. Techniques that were applied included classic work measurement approaches as well as modern computer based digital video analysis. Through the collection of results obtained improvements toward productivity and safety were proposed. Thus the steps were completed that would be used by Industrial Engineers to implement and validate proposed improvements. The research activity provided the team with experience using captured video for time study. This resulted in a fuller understanding of work performance analysis and modern data collection techniques. In addition to the opportunity to perform as an Industrial Engineer, it showcased the importance of industrial engineering to a manufacturing partner.
102 Analysis of Time Study at Resco Products Inc.
Johnny Medina & Mike Kunzer
A team of two mechanical engineering (ME) students, whose minor is in industrial engineering and systems engineering (ISE), conducted a time study with the employees of Resco Products, located in Warren, Ohio. Resco Products, is a company that manufactures a variety of materials such as plastic, clay-graphite, castables, and many other products.The study that was gave the students an opportunity to apply principles from the ISE Methods course. These principles consisted of the following; time study, motion analysis, MTM analysis and MOST analysis as well as including the application of computer based video analysis. Using the video analysis, the students classified individual elements of the study. When the elements were identified, proper performance rating factors and allowances were determined. After the study was conducted and the report was finished, the authors obtained vital experience that would serve them in real world applications.
104 Analysis of Work Design at Gasser Chair
Devon Rambo & Jeremiah Kibler
A team of industrial and systems engineering students performed a time study at Gasser Chair, a manufacturer of chairs, tables and booths for commercial and private use. The goal of the study was to get practical hands-on experience inside the industry and a further understanding of industrial engineering methods. The time study was performed on the processes of measuring, CNC milling and deburring aluminum backbones for a specific model of chair. The process was documented for break-down into task elements for analysis using the predetermined time system techniques, MTM-1, MTM-2 and MOST. A standard time was established and potential areas of improvement for the process were identified. This collaboration provided further opportunity for the team to engage in random work sampling for different non-repetitive processes performed at Gasser Chair.
106 Elucidation and Characterization of Commercially Produced CMA Road Deicer
Jennifer R. Miller, Matthew J. LaLama, Darian E. Wilson, Paije M. Kiraly, & Samuel W. Dickson CMA (calcium magnesium acetate) road deicers have gained popularity in recent years as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional rock salt. Despite its increasing commercial use, its exact composition and structure remain unknown, with subsequent problems in evaluating properties of commercial CMA. The purpose of this project was to elucidate the composition and structure of CMA using single crystal X-ray diffraction, SC-XRD. Attempts to grow crystals suitable for SC-XRD from aqueous solution failed due to formation of various calcium acetate hydrates. Crystals of a mixed metal calcium-magnesium acetate were eventually obtained under mostly water-free conditions from hot glacial acetic acid by slow evaporation of solvent. SC-XRD revealed CMA to crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with a formula of Mg2Ca(OAc)6 (OAc = acetate anion), with no water included in the crystal lattice. Analysis of commercial CMA by powder XRD, x-ray fluorescence, and SEM-EDS did match the results from SC-XRD.
112 Nikola Tesla: Father of Modern Technology
Ryan Thomas, Stuart Blank, Donald Koehler, Nathan Niemi, Bradlee Roberts, & William Santos
Ever since the early inklings of mankind’s growing intelligence, we have sought to master the forces of nature to make our lives better in a dangerous world. Long ago we conquered fire, which began a great series of other discoveries. Then a man named Nikola Tesla wanted to master lightning, one of nature’s supreme forces. Tesla was also a great visionary and is responsible for many of the inventions leading to many modern conveniences. Everything from AC electric power to wireless transmission were basically initiated by him. We will demonstrate some of these principles with a small singing Tesla coil, and consider the impact these technologies have on society.
113 Determining the Viscocities of Motor Oils at Various Temperatures
Kyle Bryan, Justin Getz, Michael Craver, & Jesse Saluga
The intention of our project is to determine viscosities of different motor oils at varying temperatures. Through our research, we concluded that the viscosity of engine oil directly affects the efficiency of the engine. In our testing, we used 5W-30 for a gasoline engine, and 15W-40 for diesel engines. In general, as the temperature had a direct effect on the viscosity of each oil that was used. The results obtained from our experiment will show how engines react in different climates.
116 Understanding a Novice Programmer’s Progression of Reading and Summarizing Source Code
Andrew Morgan
Most institutions begin by teaching students how to start writing code, before learning the fundamentals of reading code first. In order to understand the process novices use to read code, a team of researchers collected eye tracking data on several novice programmers while they self- taught themselves Java through an online course. The poster presents observations on two such novices over the course of three months. The programmer was asked to read and summarize a program after completing three sets of lessons from an online course. We report on the patterns and strategies a novice programmer uses while reading source code. Results indicate that the method of reading source code gets harder as the novice attempts to comprehend more difficult concepts. This work is part of an ongoing project at the software engineering research and empirical studies lab in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at Youngstown State University.
118 The Cost of Language Attitudes: What Price do Nonnative English Speakers Pay for Nonnative English Pronunciations?
Shannon Lutz
One of the many concerns pervading the field of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) consists of the discrimination nonnative English speakers (NNESs) experience based on their nonnative English pronunciations. However, to compartmentalize such a profound concern to the professional community or to limit it to the field of TESOL would omit the importance of recognizing the plethora of research in other fields of academia, including sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, sociology, psychology, etc., as well as to dismiss the discrimination NNESs experience outside the realm of academia. Through a literature review, this ongoing research explores the multifaceted range of language attitudes, in particular language attitudes involving NNESs’ pronunciations. The objective of this research is to develop a foundation for a future study that focuses on language attitudes through classroom interventions of world Englishes with a focus on language attitudes.
119 Creating A Display for Archaeological Artifacts Recovered from YSU Archaeological Excavations on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas.
Chelsey Hammond
Youngstown State University faculty and students have been engaged in archaeological investigations on Sand Salvador Island in the Bahamas since 1995. Artifacts have been recovered from the primary excavation site at the Woodstar Site (SS-4) on North Storr's Lake. In 2012, a second site was opened at Fresh Lake (SS-7). Hundreds of artifacts have been recovered. Some of these artifacts are quite unique. The recovered material has been kept in storage at the Gerace Research Centre on San Salvador Island. In December 2014, we created two displays utilizing artifacts recovered by YSU archaeological crews. One case focused on pottery. The second case was designed to accommodate a broad range of artifacts including trade items and common tools. Some of the items in the second case included beads made from stone and shell, fish teeth, minerals and even a turtle shell and bone. I discuss the procedure used to select artifacts for inclusion in the display cases and the processes used to mount and label the individual artifacts.
120 Modeling the Spread of an Infectious Disease in a Semi-Closed Environment
Crystal Mackey
In 2014 there have been several mumps outbreaks in colleges and universities across the United States. We focus on the mumps outbreak at Ohio State University (OSU). A model was developed to represent the student population at OSU. This model has two sub-models. The first sub-model is the movement of students from one building to another building. The second sub-model occurs inside the classroom and we track where the students sit in relation to each other and the chance of transmission. Factors that contribute to the outbreak of mumps include being in a crowded environment like attending the same class, playing on the same sports team or living in a dormitory with someone who has mumps. The incubation period of mumps is typically 16-18 days but can range from 12-25 days; therefore, we assume that students will continue to go to class until these symptoms appear. However, transmission occurs before the salivary glands swell and may continue up to 5 days afterwards. This means there exists an infectious period where those individuals are highly contagious and show no symptoms. Symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days; therefore, symptomatic students will remain at home or in their dorms, away from the main student population. The model was developed to assume a semi- constant population because the majority of OSU students are non-commuter and live on campus.
122 Removal of Pharmaceuticals From Water by Charcoal Filtration
Allison Guerrieri, Taylor Baum, Samantha Mock, Rachel Centofanti, & Tayah Turocy
Pharmaceuticals often contaminate waters which is a cause for concern because of the health effects these chemicals may inflict upon humans. In this study we tested whether water bottles with filters can remove pharmaceuticals from water. Two anti-inflammatory drugs, Tylenol and Aspirin, and two antibiotics, ampicillin and kanamycin, were tested. Solutions containing pharmaceuticals were filtered through three different systems: a BRITA water bottle filter, a BOBBLE water bottle filter, and a filter containing activated charcoal. For anti-inflammatory drugs, the amount of compounds remaining in the solutions after filtering was evaluated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Disc diffusion sensitivity test on bacterial plates was used to observe the removal of antibiotics. Our results show that in the removal of both Aspirin and Tylenol charcoal column was more efficient than the water bottle filters; however, neither the pure charcoal filter nor the water bottle filters effectively filtered out the antibiotics.
123 Vision Pursue™ Mentor Project
Sarah N. Northcott
This project is focused a system called Vision Pursue™(VP), expressed through a website at visionpursue.com. The VP system is designed to improve thought and feeling patterns to create a state of inspiration that will increase some of the positive character traits and lead to happiness and greater achievement. We want to determine the effect of learning and practicing the VP concept for 9 weeks on a sample of 20-25 sixth and/or seventh grade girl mentees for each of three different school districts (Struthers Middle School, Guy Middle School, and Boardman Center). On a weekly basis, participants (with parent consent), were mentored using the VP system by local business and community women selected by the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Each mentor had 1 or 2 mentees. The mentees took an awareness assessment at the beginning and end of the 9-week period and a survey about the process. Mentors, parents, and teachers familiar with the mentees completed an exit survey regarding possible changes in mentees happiness, optimism, confidence, and motivation. The intention is to see mentees responses regarding their perceived happiness, inspiration, motivation, confidence, mindfulness, awareness and other character traits before and after the 9-week VP program. If the results are positive it will provide some evidence that we can improve awareness, mindfulness, happiness, inspiration, and other positive character traits in children by teaching them about the power of thought and guiding them to improve their thought patterns. It would also provide some evidence that we could teach children how to significantly improve their circumstances. Results not yet available.
124 A Descriptive Analysis of Cleft Neural Arches in the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection
Shannon Klainer
Biocultural anthropology is a growing field whereupon the biological factors of humans are examined within a cultural context. Cultural context can establish a basis for pathological lesions and growth disruptions on skeletons, and conversely, the pathologies of a skeleton can help one make assumptions about a past culture’s socioeconomic status and knowledge of health. This research seeks to discover whether the skeletons of the Hamann-Todd collection from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History with congenital cleft neural arches can create a picture of the health of Cleveland and northeast Ohio residents in the 1920s-1930s as well as specific hypotheses for the following: ancestry, age and sex. The database of the Hamann-Todd was used to provide age, sex and ancestry of a sample of 127 skeletons that are all diagnosed with cleft neural arch disorders, which are caused by a lack of folic acid by the mother while the fetus is in development. The results of this study were generally inconclusive statistically due to sampling error, however, clear pictures were able to be taken for analysis.
125 Richard III: Bad to the Bone?
Brittany Trask
Richard III (2 October 1452- 22 August 1485) was the last Plantagenet king of England during the English civil succession wars known as, “The Wars of the Roses” from 1483 to 1485. Portrayed as a sociopathic hunchback by Tudor propaganda and Shakespearean prose, Richard’s maligned reputation solidified itself in the public mindset and continues to do so despite the recent discovery of his remains in 2012. This paper seeks to explore the evolution of his negative reputation through Disability Studies and memory construction lenses by analyzing the changes in his image over time and the information obtained by interpretation of his skeletal remains.
126 Obsessive Dieter’s Excessive Supplement Use: Advantages of Incorporating Objectivity into Existing Questionnaires for Orthorexia Nervosa.
Garrett Zuzik
Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is the obsession with consuming healthy and pure foods, despite a decline in all other aspects of life. Ambiguity regarding the true prevalence of ON-individuals (ONIs) has led to a decline in patient care; meanwhile these ONI’s can develop permanent deficiencies due to their progressively restrictive dietary tendencies. Estimates for the prevalence of ON vary from as low as 6.9% to as high as 81.8% of the general population. In general, supplement advertising has been identified as a potent influence for intensifying one’s viewpoint concerning ideal nutritive intake. Supplement marketing appeals to those predisposed to perfectionist desires, especially ONIs. Research proposes a positive correlation between ON and excessive supplement usage during the earliest phase. If this objectivity was incorporated into existing diagnostic screens, ON would be treated and prevented more appropriately.
127 LED³
Shayne Brown, Justin Moff, & Jacob Straccola
The LED³, which is a lattice of LEDs is a display of various shapes, letters and 3D games. It could be used in different forms of music entertainment where the cube will run an appealing display that corresponds to the music being performed; or as a decoration that cycles through different displays including text displays. The cube is made up of 512 LEDs and is controlled via an FPGA board using GPIOs and two-input AND gates. The circuit design allows for control of the individual lights without having each LED controlled with an exclusive I/O. Through this design the programming becomes easier and allows for more control over the system. The final product will have a music visualizer, 3D shapes and 3D text program.
131 The Welcome Center
Daniel Eich, Laura Corson, Joshua Henson, & David Peterson
This presentation’s purpose is to provide information about the Senior Design project that our group has designed and prototyped. As a group of YSU seniors in the Electrical Engineering Department we were required to design a project that uses the skills acquired during our educational experiences. A problem on YSU’s campus that we have found during our time as students is the lack of knowledge about the campus and the whereabouts of certain buildings, departments, and other locations. The goal for our project was to design a program that could solve these problems for future students.
134 R.O.V.R. (Remotely Operated Video Reconnaissance)
Mark Calautti, Michael Slavens, & Ryan Melichar
Our design is a tank-like vehicle which can navigate various terrain, both indoor and outdoor. The vehicle uses an application based interface to wirelessly control the movement of the vehicle. Also incorporated into the design is a pan-tilt, 2 way audio security camera. This will enable the user to see and hear while navigating the surroundings. 3D printing technology was used to design and create the shell of R.O.V.R. The goal of the project is to showcase the opportunities that are available to Youngstown State University’s STEM college students. It will act as a demonstration to attract potential students and will be used at various recruitment events.
136 Baja Car Body Panel Attachment
Alexander Fitzgerald, Richard Ferry, & Carmen Marinucci
Our group was assigned to work with the Baja Car team. Focusing on the attachment method for the body panels, the main purpose of the research project was to reduce the total weight of the car to make it faster. We researched multiple methods, but also had to consider SAE safety and regulation constraints. Attachment methods such as metal ring clamps or zip ties are extremely light, but do not meet these requirements. We determined that welding short segments of 3/32’’ diameter carbon steel rod to the frame of the car was comparable to the strength of the fastener tabs that are normally used, but significantly lighter. This is demonstrated on a small test frame that we welded together to represent the frame of the car.
140 The JuiceBox
Jordan Brown, Corey Dunbar, & Nick Getsy
The JuiceBox is a home automated bartending system. Our goal with this design is to promote drinking at home rather than drinking at an establishment that would require driving home. This will potentially save lives and reduce the amount of DUI charges in the United States. Our design will allow users to select a beverage of their choice from a set list of possibilities using an Android app. Once a drink is selected, the app will communicate to an Arduino microcontroller via Bluetooth connection. Using a stepper motor, a tray will then carry a cup along a track to move to different positions for dispensing of the proper liquid depending on what drink was selected.
141 Early Initiation of Adequate Calcium Intake for Osteoporosis Prevention
Larissa Roth
Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue which causes increased bone fragility. This disease process results in an increased risk of skeletal fractures, most which occur later in life. Research continues to validate early intervention to hopefully prevent future osteoporosis. With adequate calcium intake reaching peak bone mass and obtaining a high bone mass as a young adult will decrease future chances of developing osteoporosis. Increasing calcium with vitamin D intake increases bone mass density, decreases risk of fracture, and theoretically prevents the onset of osteoporosis. Keywords: osteoporosis, calcium, vitamin D, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, supplementation, prevention
142 Mindfulness and Writing Exercises Increased Compassion
Kelsey Ault, Ken Juart, Alexandra Fontaine, & Jerrilyn Guy
This study addressed the question of whether mindfulness and writing impacts individuals’ compassion for others. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Preliminary findings indicated that mindfulness and writing enhanced individuals’ compassion for others compared to controls.
143 Humor and Writing Reduced Negative Affect
Amy Nash, Chelsea Thompson, & Mary Gaudio
This study addressed the question of whether humor and writing impact positive affect and attributions of blame. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. We hypothesized that using humor in combination with the “Saying is Believing” Writing Exercise will have the strongest impact on nonjudgmental attributions and positive affect compared to writing only or a control group. Preliminary results indicate that the writing exercise combined with humor significantly reduced respondents’ negative affect.
144 The Connection Between Police Officer's Stress and Domestic Violence
Abigail Frohnapfel
The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between domestic violence and stress among police officers. Using data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999 study. Stress of the police officers was measured by burned out from the job, feelings of moody, irritable, and impatience, officers having high blood pressure, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The data from the Baltimore police officer study was ran in SPSS using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate techniques. The results showed a correlation between domestic violence and feelings of moody, irritable, and impatience. Police officers with the highest reporting of feeling burned out from the job were officers who held the rank of agent. Limitations of this project included small population and region and potential non-response bias.
145 Hot Vehicle Alert System
Ahmad Omishat, Tom Bauer, & Mike Modelski
Since 1998, 336 children have died inside of a vehicle due to being forgotten by a caregiver. Children that have died are between the ages 5 days old to 14 years, and of these, more than half have occurred with children under the age of two. During a hot summer day, the ambient temperature of the interior of a vehicle can reach over 150°F, with a dark colored dashboard or seat reaching surface temperatures of up to 200°F. (Null) Under these dangerous conditions, a child could die in minutes. Our goal is to design a device that will alert a passersby that a child or pet is trapped in a dangerous situation. This device will measure the temperature within the vehicle, determine if a child or animal is present through multiple inputs, and sound an alarm to anyone nearby.
150 The Effects of Training on Reducing Academic Anxieties
Brooke R. Fusco
Anxiety can be experienced as specific anxieties including in academic environments. It is important to understand how to reduce students’ math anxiety to improve their learning experiences. The current study explores the implementation of mindfulness training or self-efficacy training in reducing students’ levels of math anxiety. Using data collected from 39 undergraduate students, the current research found that students who received mindfulness training saw an almost 2.5 point reduction in their math anxiety scores from pre-training to post-training. These findings may have important implications for both therapists and educators.
151 Automated Brewing System
Jonathan Doran, Patrick Bollinger, & Jeffrey Wormley
The presentation will showcase an automated home-brewing system, which is our senior design project. The design is meant to address a gap in the market for automated home-brewers that are easy to use and affordable. In order to reach this market, we used our engineering skills to design an automated brewing system from scratch. The design is centered around programmable electrical control and easy to use interface consisting of buttons and a tablet PC. The brewing process consists of seven (7) discrete stages starting with adding ingredients and ending with wort.
152 Myosin Fiber Type in the Vertbebral Extensors of Eastern Cottain Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Brock DeAngelo Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms are the primary determinants of muscle fiber contractile properties and performance; thus, the distribution of slow and fast isoforms reflects functional adaptations of muscles. Rabbits have large hip, ankle, and vertebral extensor muscles that allow them to accelerate rapidly during locomotion. Because the MHC isoform composition in these muscles is largely unknown, this study will identify MHC fiber types that may indicate intrinsic muscular advantages for power in juvenile versus adult cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). The distribution of slow and fast MHC fibers are being quantified from selected muscles by gel electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. The results will test the hypothesis that the extensor muscles of juveniles are physiologically capable of performing similar amounts of work and power as those of adults. Initial findings reveal an overall larger composition of the fastest-contracting isoforms in the musculature of juveniles compared with that of adult rabbits.
153 Optimizing Nutrition in Athletes: Nutrition Assessment and Intervention
William H. Masters, Gina Kontur, & Jessica Romeo
Body composition, a key factor in athletic performance, is affected by nutrient intake and exercise training. Herein we describe a study, the aim of which is to evaluate the effect of nutrition assessment and intervention on body composition in athletes. We will evaluate nutrient intake patterns of ten college athletes (NCAA Division I ) via smartphone applications such as Myfitnesspal®, NutriHand®, or Loseit!®. Participants will subsequently receive individualized dietary advisement overseen by a Registered Dietitian. Body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) will be assessed over a ten-week period, using both BIA and skin-fold thickness while REE will be measured via indirect calorimetry (MedGem®). Fasting lipid profile of participants will be measured at baseline and ten-week time points. This study will demonstrate the positive effects that dietary advisement has on body composition and blood lipids. A multifactorial approach to nutrition support will help researchers develop new ways to measure performance outcomes to detect even the smallest improvements in body composition which translate into improved athletic performance.
154 The Effect of Previous Victimization and Environment on Perceived Risk of a School Shooting in Urban and Rural Schools
Amanda Hernandez, Amber Durkin, Shelby Santullo, & Brytani Grier
Numerous studies have been conducted on students and their perceived risk and fears of school shootings, while few have been conducted on teacher’s perceptions of these situations. In reality, teachers are the ones who spend the most amount of time in school settings over the course of the day and years leaving them most at risk for school violence. The purpose of this survey was to study and collect data on the perceived fears of teachers involved in school shootings. The groups examined were high and middle school teachers. Survey data was collected from six schools and two school districts. Of the schools three were high schools and three were middle schools. The schools were recruited from rural and urban areas. Perceived risked was examined using indexes that looked at knowledge/ awareness of school policy and procedures, fear/trust, threat, preparedness, and school safety measures. The results showed correlations between many of the indexes. The results of the findings showed that there was a difference in perceived fears of teachers between different demographics (urban vs. rural). Overall, teachers in urban areas experienced more ‘fear’ than teachers in rural areas, as indicated by a number of co-relational relationships assessing their perceptions of safety in their environment.
156 The use of arylsulfonyl azides as precursors to organic derivatives
Michael Delost
Arylsulfonyl azides provide a safe one-pot alternative to the synthesis of alkyl azides, as compared to the classic two-pot method that uses sodium azide and produces hydrazoic acid. Azides are very versatile organic compounds, especially in the fields of biochemistry and medicinal chemistry. In this laboratory arylsulfonyl azides, such as 4-nitrobenzene sulfonyl azide ( p-NBSA), are used as azide sources for the synthesis of alkyl azides. In developing methodology, biphenyl-4-methanol is treated with p-NBSA in the presence of n-butyl lithium, a base, to produce biphenyl-4-methylazide. This one-pot reaction occurs at room temperature, eliminating the risks associated with heating azides. After the azide is purified, organic derivatives such as imines, amides, and amines can be produced via Aza-Wittig (Staudinger) Chemistry. DPPE (1,2- Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane has been utilized as the azide reducing agent to form the aza-ylide. Both biphenyl-4-methanol and DPPE have the advantages of being cost-effective materials, as well as readily available.
157 Inflammation, Habitation and Nociception: Are they interrelated?
Jillian Billeck, Olivia Roy, & Katherine Stiff
Millions of people suffer from chronic pain, despite an arsenal of existing medications and treatment methods. Recent research has suggested that there is a neural basis for empathy, but little investigation of the two principles’ influence on each other has been conducted. To explore this relationship, the present experiment examined the effects of social support during acute, localized inflammation. Subjects were housed in social groups of four or in isolation. In the social group housing, 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 subjects were injected with Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) in order to produce a short-term inflammation and the remaining subjects in the group were injected with a saline (SAL) control. A total of seven housing groups were examined: (A) 1 per cage, CFA, (B) 1 per cage, SAL, (C) 4 per cage, 4 CFA, (D) 4 per cage, 3 CFA, 1 SAL (E) 4 per cage, 2 CFA, 2 SAL (F) 4 per cage, 1 CFA, 3 SAL, (G) 4 per cage, 4 SAL. Data were collected prior to and for 8 weeks post-injection, including weight, hind paw thickness and mean paw withdraw latency. These parameters indicate level of nociceptive behavior and overall health in each subject. Data were manually collected and analyzed using SPSS Statistical Software.
158 Advancing Heat Transfer with Impinging Jets, Channel Flow and Two Phase Mediums
Brian Friedrich
An impinging jet is widely used in many engineering applications for the heating, cooling, and drying of surfaces as it offers high rates of heat and mass transfer coefficients. There are several parameters which affect heat transfer performance of impinging jets, such as Reynold number, Prandtl number, lateral distance, inclination angel, pumping power, nozzle-to-plate spacing, and etc. This study focuses on the effect of nozzle-to-plate spacing on heat transfer performance of impinging jets since the heat transfer mechanism changes from impinging jet to channel flow when nozzle-to-plate spacing decreases. The purpose of this study is to find a transition nozzle-to-plate spacing which distinguish impinging jet from channel flow.
159 Design of an Open World Obstacle Creation System for Novice Driver Training
Andrew Smiles
Novice drivers, while taught the basics of driving, are often not adequately prepared for real-life driving hazards. In the pursuit of an open world multiplayer driving simulation game for increasing the skill and observational capabilities of novice drivers, reasonable hazards must be designed such that the driver both encounters them with fair predictability, but is still allowed to take any path to the destination they wish, while allowing normal traffic flow at other times, and without interfering with the experience of other players. This project accomplishes this by creating a virtual bubble around the player in which these hazards may be created and executed, which then disappear once a player has passed them.
160 Optomized Parameters for Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Powders
Matthew Caputo
Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging technology for creating near-net-shape solid parts. Three dimensional printing (3DP) resembles ink jet printing, but with multiple passes to build materials upward into a 3D part. The goal of this work is to determine manufacturing parameters for 3DP of Ni-Mn-Ga metallic powders produced by spark erosion process. Stainless steel powder is being used as a reference material because of pervious successful work done to determine similar manufacturing parameters. An artifact of the spark erosion process is irregular shape and size of obtained metallic powders. Using mechanical separation spherical particles were refined from initial material, distributed into size classifications, investigated using scanning electron microscopy, and the micro graphs analyzed using image processing. This paper will report on the methodology of separation to increase spherical particle yield and the effects of binder saturation to optimize 3DP parameters of Ni-Mn-Ga metallic powders.
161 Educational Preparation for Outcomes and Practice-Based Research in Dietetics
William Masters Outcomes/practice-based research (OPBR) is imperative for the sustained viability of the Dietetics profession, and responsibility for reliable fulfillment of this need rests with future practitioners. Consequently, it is the obligation of Dietetics Educators (DE) to provide OPBR training that is both adequate in quality and practical applicability. Research education is highly emphasized in discipline-related literature, and research proficiency of Dietetics students is mandated by the Accreditation Council on Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Recommendations for fulfillment of research competencies exist, however they typically allude to much broader steps of the research process rather than development and integration of methodologies. A preliminary step in advancing OBPR is to understand the association of research competencies with educational preparation and the way in which current DEs and preceptors of Dietetics students perceive its curricular priority and importance to the profession. To further explore these constructs, we developed a set of questions centered around several common research training and/or education scenarios. Using questions based on these scenarios, we solicited feedback from ACEND approved program directors via a National Survey. Feedback from DE’s indicated a need to consider alternative instructional models and novel teaching approaches so that OPBR methods attain a higher level of curricular priority.
162 Use of Phage Display to Identify Specfic Peptide Ligands that Bind to Human Serum Albumin
Bill Rees
Phage display is a molecular technique that allows for the display of proteins, peptides, or antibody fragments on the surface of a phage (a virus that infects bacteria). We report here the use of Ph.D.-7, a New England Biolabs library with random peptides displayed on the surface of the phage. We will select for phage displaying peptides that bind to the most abundant protein in blood, human serum albumin (HSA). To accomplish this goal, our library of phage was amplified by infecting E.coli strain ER2738 to produce phage pools having titers (count of the number of phage) of up to (2.9�1012pfu/ml, AmpB). After amplification, an ELISA was performed to confirm specific binding to HSA. Phage was diluted in sodium carbonate to allow binding of the protein to the polyvinyl chloride plate, subsequently followed by adding block (1% casein in TBS) to assure nonspecific binding, then Anti-M13 antibody coupled to HRP was added to detect binding of the phage. Future experiments include three rounds of panning without intermediate amplification to select for high affinity peptides specific for HSA, followed by DNA sequencing of phage peptides. The DNA from unique clones that bind to HSA will be transferred to an expression vector for purification of peptides. Purified peptides will be coupled to nanofibers (collaboration with Dr. Pedro Cortes) and tested for their ability to detect human blood.
163 Sustainable Self-Heating Garment
Katina Darkadakis
For almost two years solar sustainable clothing and self-heating has been researched. Heating the body is often a vital need for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, elderly people as well as policemen and military personnel during cold-weather training, and extensive outdoor exposure. Thermotherapy or heat therapy increases tissue temperature, blood flow, metabolism, and connective tissue extensibility (Nadler, Kruse, & Weingand, 2004). Physical therapy patients upon joint surgery require heat therapy, which can be a very cumbersome process due to the use of external power supplies, cords and heating pads, which restrict the body movements and prevent self-care. In this study, a flexible, active heating smart garment is proposed for heat therapy and for cold- weather protection. This device will have the capabilities to be advantageous in the use for heat therapy in health care and heat protection against the cold. Solar energy technologies provide obvious environmental advantages in comparison to the conventional energy sources, which have contributed to the sustainable development of human activities (Tsoutsos, Frantzeskaki, & Gekas, 2005). Solar energy has the power to harvest energy and transmit it into power. Integration of flexible solar cells into clothing can provide power for portable electronic devices (Stoppa and Chiolerio, 2014). Solar cells are integrated into the garment design and connected to a rechargeable battery using electrically conductive threads. This wearable product will allow ease of use, flexibility, versatility and will be beneficial to innumerable occupations and communities as a whole.
164 3D Printed Clothing
Katrina Darkadakis
Additive manufacturing or with its more popular name 3D printing is a process of creating physical objects from a digital model by fusing materials layer by layer successively with light, heat or chemicals (Karagöl, 2015). Three-dimensional printed or additive manufacturing is a growing trend in the fashion industry. 3D printing methods hold great promise in terms of providing a way for architects and designers to design the behavior of their own materials that in turn can transform how building is done (Davis, 2012). Up until recent years 3D printed fashion has been an outlier to the runways and has mostly been considered to be haute couture. 3D printed fashion has the potential for mass customization of clothing. Furthermore, 3D printed fashion possesses the benefits of limiting environmental concerns that typical clothing manufacturing causes. There is an extreme exigency for the development of alternative types of clothing. 3D printed clothing has the capabilities of substantially reducing costs, promoting sustainability, limiting further ecological damage and increasing rapid production and customization. Simulating mechanical properties of a fabric through 3D printing also offers many possibilities in the area of wearable technology. 3D printed fashion is essentially the future of fashion. In this study, the primary goal is to develop a detachable and adjustable 3D printed garment, produced in a knitted fabric structure.
167 Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Use in Wound Repair
Zachary Morse
The use of biological products such as platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has become an incredibly promising and advantageous product in modern regenerative therapeutics. Using a rat model, MSCs derived from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) were applied to the surgical site following an abdominal laparotomy. The wound was analyzed after allowing healing for either 4 or 8 weeks. Histological examination of wound sites treated with BM-MSCs showed important differences in specific events involved in the wound healing process, including angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and connective tissue organization. Current studies examine the characteristics of the BM-MSCs, including their ability to differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, and osteoblasts. This data will be used to confirm the cells’ stem potential. The surface protein expression of the isolated cells will also be analyzed in order insure the absence of any other cell types other than MSCs in the materials applied to the healing wounds.
168 A Review of the Current State of Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy
Gabriella Vaturi
Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and current treatments only manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease. This poster reviews two clinical trials of stem cell-based therapies demonstrating that cardiac function can be restored by cardiac regeneration promoted by mesenchymal stem cells (Bartunek et al. (2013) J Am Coll Cardiol 2329-38; Perin et al. (2014) Am Heart J 88-95). Data from these trails shows that stem cells contain promising therapeutic potential with self-renewing capabilities of myocardial tissue. By understanding and utilizing all of the advancements in regenerative cardiac cell therapy, researchers come closer to finding a treatment to reduce the morbidities and mortalities due to cardiac failure.
169 Effects of Aging on Rho Kinase Activity in Aortic Smooth Muscle of Rats
Michelle Kordupel
This study examined the effects of aging on Rho kinase activity in aortic smooth muscle of male rats. The aortas of young (6 month) or old (21 month) rats were isolated, cut into approximately 3 mm ring sections, attached to a force transducer, and placed in water-jacketed bath chambers (to maintain temperature at 37oC) containing a modified Krebs buffer solution at pH 7.4. The chambers were also bubbled with a gas mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2, ensuring adequate oxygenation and maintaining pH. All tissues were contracted with phenylephrine (PE; 10-4 M) and relaxed by the addition of Y-27632 (10-6 M), a Rho kinase inhibitor. Data was collected with the iWorx data acquisition and analysis system. Results demonstrated that the total tension developed after addition of PE was significantly reduced in tissues from old rats. Additionally, the rate of relaxation was significantly inhibited in tissues from old rats after treatment with Y-27632. These results suggest Rho kinase activity is reduced in aortic tissue of aged rats.
170 Characterizing High-Strain Rate Behavior of Stainless Steel Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing
Ashley Bowers
The world relies heavily on conventional manufacturing processes focused on mass manufacturing. However with the recent initiatives and advances in additive manufacturing, several are rethinking their strategies. Additive manufacturing allows one to develop products with great complexity and customization, two things conventional practices cannot achieve. In order to adopt additive manufacturing, properties data must be obtained for potential applications. There is little data available on the impact resistance of structures fabricated using additive manufacturing and relevant applications include armor (both personnel and vehicular), gas turbine engine components requiring foreign object damage resistance, and vehicular crashworthy components. This research utilizes additive manufacturing by fabricating stainless steel using a Selective Laser Melting system provided by America Makes/NAMII. Once the stainless steel was produced, the strength of the additive manufactured stainless steel was compared to the strength of the wrought stainless steel using ballistic impacts through a gas gun. The gas gun is capable of shooting up to 1000 m/s with various projectiles. During the testing phase, the projectiles were shot at increasing velocities until a complete penetration on the stainless steels was achieved. Once the ballistic phase was completed, photographic examination was conducted to determine the specific impact on each steel. Additive manufacturing is a rising topic in today’s manufacturing world; therefore the results of this research will be utilized in determining the maximum strengths of additive produced products.
171 Musical Medicine: Jazzing Up the Therapy World
Tayah Turocy
Since its use in the 1940s as a method to relieve pain from WWI and WWII veterans, music therapy has been a debated form of rehabilitation because of its uncertain effectiveness. Although some scientists have their doubts on whether it is the actual music causing the positive effects, music therapy is a recovery method that should be implemented for patients with a wide variety of problems or disorders. In scholarly journal articles, interviews, and books spanning from 2005 to 2015, case studies, scientists, and personal stories reveal the successful use of music therapy. Music has been used for sleep treatment, receptive therapy, and active therapy methods including listening and creating music. As a growing healing technique, the practice of music therapy should increase as a profession and an accepted alternative to more traditional practices in the following decades.
174 The Construction and Deployment of High-Altitude Systems
Richard Elrod & James Carter
We describe a series of high altitude balloon payloads and a ground station system to aid in their recovery and record telemetry data. Our focus has been on producing a robust telemetry system which is vital to the recovery of these payloads. During our experimentation, we have deployed three high altitude balloons with various payloads. We reflect on the successes, failures, and results of these flights. Much of our emphasis has been placed into ensuring the robustness of our systems. We conclude by enumerating some of the objectives we plan to include in future revisions of our systems.
177 Effectiveness of Cleaning Methods for Dental Appliances
Dana Powell, Nicole Bodnar, & Krystal Fuller
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of five common cleaning methods for removable oral and dental appliances. There are a variety of appliances used in the mouth including splints, retainers, mouth guards and those used to replace missing teeth such as partials or dentures. Appliances harbor microorganisms and should be thoroughly cleaned each day. The five methods that were tested included: 1) tooth paste and tooth brushing 2) dish soap and tooth brushing 3) tap water and tooth brushing 4) soaking in diluted mouthwash (1:1) and 5) soaking in a common dental appliance cleaner. Bacteria obtained from the appliance, both before and after the cleaning method, were incubated at 95 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Bacterial colonies were counted from the initial swab and were compared to the findings from the final swab. The average decrease in bacteria was as follows; brushing with tap water reduced the bacteria by 7.8%, brushing with toothpaste decreased bacteria by 14.07%, brushing with dish soap resulted in a bacterial reduction of 26.27%, the use of an oral appliance cleaning product decreased the bacteria by 32.93% and lastly, soaking in diluted mouthwash (1:1) for five minutes resulted in a bacterial reduction of 54.01%. The results indicate the most effective method was soaking the appliance in mouthwash. These results are inconsistent with the literature that suggests tooth brushing with tap water as the most effective method of reducing bacteria. Dental hygienists should educate patients on methods to clean their removable oral appliances that are safe, easy and effective.
178 Math Self-Efficacy Mediates the Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Performance in an Adult Population
James Palestro
Much research has indicated an inverse relationship between math anxiety and math performance and math anxiety and self-efficacy. However, not all highly anxious persons score poorly in math, and recent research with children suggests that their confidence in their ability to regulate their emotions moderates this relationship. Research with adults in this area has not been explored, and that is the purpose of this research. Measures of math self-efficacy, emotional self-efficacy, math anxiety, and math performance were obtained from 115 college students. A series of regression analyses and an indirect effects mediation analysis showed that math self- efficacy served as a mediator in the relationship between math anxiety and performance. These results have implications for possible interventions when dealing with highly math anxious individuals at the college level.
181 Attenuating Perceptual Bias through Instructional Sets
Elizabeth Hanna, Krystle Van Dyke, & Rae'ven Crum
This study investigated how effectively instructional sets could reduce a well-documented perceptual bias (Illusory Correlation). Illusory correlation is the tendency to see patterns and correlations when they do not exist. This has been notably demonstrated in the use of projective psychological tests. This study used college students as subjects. The subjects were shown 30 Draw-A-Person (DAP) drawings with two symptom statements on each. This test asks clients to draw a person and from the nature of the drawing and what features are emphasized in the drawing, the psychologist tries to ascertain aspects of the client’s personality or current emotional problems. After reviewing the drawings, subjects are asked which characteristics are most often paired with each symptom statement. These 30 stimuli were carefully constructed so there were no relationships between symptom problems and the characteristics of the drawing. Therefore, any relationships that subjects reported were illusions. There were three conditions, each with a different set of instructions, and each progressively giving more specific suggestions designed to decrease the bias represented by illusory correlations. Though there is no correlation between the drawing characteristics and the statements in our set of 30 drawings, we expected the participants to see patterns unless our instructions were able to get them to think more critically and more systematically. However, we found that participants still see patterns, even with the strongest instructions, suggesting that instructions alone are insufficient to overcome this powerful perceptual bias of seeing relationships even when they do not exist.
182 The Benefits of Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological therapy in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Linda Thomas
Behavior and attention in children are dependent upon pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. The treatments required to ensure safety and effectiveness need to be researched and updated to provide caregivers, families and teachers the evidence needed to support how safety and effectiveness of treatment will be met. The purpose of this poster is to present a review of literature about ADHD. This is one way to show caregivers, families and teachers the interventions and benefits of intervention for ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity which leads to social and/or academic impairment. Initiating treatment will improve attention, decrease hyperactivity and impulsivity, therefore improving social and academic impairment at school, home and into adulthood. Intervention includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. This poster describes initiating intervention, types of intervention and benefits of intervention to provide evidence to support treating symptoms of ADHD.
184 Controlling Supramolecular Structure of Anionic Metal Organic Frameworks with Cationic Nitrogen Containing Additives.
Joseph Mihaly & Michael Bellas
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are three dimensional porous crystalline coordination polymers that have promising applications in myriad fields including catalysis, small molecule storage and separation. Currently controlling and predicting the 1D, 2D, and 3D supramolecular structure during the MOF synthesis process is an unmet challenge. Our current study is focused on evaluating the synthesis parameters for controlling supramolecular structure, and focusing on the use of cationic additives in the synthesis of anionic MOFs. Starting with known 3D anionic MOF ATF-1 , synthesized from InCl3, thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, and dimethylammoium cation we have developed the ability to produce different 2D and 1D structures through the addition of cationic nitrogen containing additives. Notably, morpholinium, piperidinium, pyridinium, and triethyl ammonium salts have produced a variety of diverse structures that were all confirmed through single-crystal X- ray diffraction. More specifically, nitrogen derived salts with no H-bond donor have yielded two dimensional structures. Interestingly, pyridinium hydrogenchloride yielded a chloride incorporated one dimensional structure. This poster will present the structure of 4 new MOFs and discuss the role of cationic and anionic interactions during the MOF growing process.
187 Grand Valley Hunting Ranch Collaboration and Planning
Eric Shehadi, Nathaniel Simmons, & Donnie Ferns
Western Reserve Land Conservancy buys land and creates ideas to restore, preserve, and maintain the good qualities of the land in order to benefit the surrounding communities. In collaboration with Western Reserve Land Conservancy, a large parcel of land was identified for planning, creating, and implementing solutions for a vacant property. The vacant property, also known as Grand Valley Hunting Ranch, is a parcel of land that has variations of landscape, terrain, and landuse. It was determined that the most beneficial use for this parcel of land would be to turn it into a multiuse park, which includes: birding and other wildlife observer opportunities, walking and hiking, and possibly biking paths. Trails for the Grand Valley Hunting Ranch were created using ArcGIS. Trail placement was decided from placement of those trails from the analysis of the site by means of field visits, examining a digital elevation model and digital surface model of the area, all while respecting the trail specifications in regards to wetland and upland areas. Consideration of the varying the landscapes, elevations, wildlife and vegetation, and the scenery were crucial to the trail placement. The elements also taken into trail placement consideration were the history of the land, geology, hydrology, vegetation, animal life, demographics of the surrounding population, and future use of the property.
189 Effect of Nutrients on the Growth of E. coli Cells Overexpressing beta-Glucosidase BglX
Tara L. Pickens In E. coli the bglX gene encodes a BglX protein having the assigned function of beta-glucosidase. It has recently been shown that the BglX enzyme can hydrolyze the beta (1-4) glycosidic bond between galactose and glucose in the milk sugar lactose. In this study we investigated the ability of E. coli cells that overexpress wild type BglX or its less active mutants D111N and D287G to utilize various carbohydrates as sources of carbon. The results show that bacterial cultures grew similarly well in the medium rich with nutrients; however, cells expressing wild type BglX grew better in the presence of lactose than those that expressed the mutant protein. These data support the previous findings that the BglX enzyme has wider substrate specificity than was originally predicted.
190 Purification and Biochemical Studies of Glutathione Transferase YliJ from Escherichia coli
Collins Aboagye
Glutathione transferases protect cellular components from the dangers posed by electrophiles by catalyzing the conjugation of the electrophilic molecules with glutathione. This makes them very successful detoxifying agents in most organisms. Glutathione transferase YliJ, also known as GstB, has been postulated to catalyze the glutathione mediated dehalogenation of bromoacetate. YliJ was overexpressed in E. coli cells and purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. The presence and purity of YliJ was verified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The YliJ catalytic parameters, KM and kcat were determined to be 0.8 mM and 1.40 s-1 using the spectrophotometric enzymatic assay. YliJ displays exceptional specificity towards bromoacetate when compared to other halogenated compounds. Both the wild type E. coli cells and knockout strains lacking YliJ showed very high sensitivity towards iodoacetate and iodoacetamide. However, the knockout strain was more resistant to bromoacetate than the wild type cells.
192 Geomorphology of a Sandy Barrier Complex along Eastern Lake Ontario Evaluated from GPR Data and Aerial Photographs: A Study of Lake-barrier Inlet Dynamics
Derrick Allen & Josh Fowler
North Sandy Pond is a ~18 square km pond connecting to Lake Ontario’s eastern shore through a ~50 m wide inlet situated within a ~5 km-long sandy barrier system. The modern barrier varies in width from 40 to 360 m. The evolution of this sandy barrier system is investigated from GPR data and aerial photographs to document response to high-energy events that can impact this shoreline given a 300 km-long W-E fetch in alignment with prevailing wind patterns. Of particular interest is a former inlet that has fi¬lled in, which varies little in terms of size and morphology to the currently open inlet. Vibracores were analyzed to identify reflectors interpreted in the GPR data. Features linked to former inlet positions, in addition to inlet-channel remnants and recurved spits, include fan-shaped sand body extending from the backbarrier spits into Sandy Pond. Subsurface data reveal that the barrier has experienced multiple episodes of inlet formation, migration, and closing.
195 You're Smoking What?
Alexandria Baugh
The purpose of this study was to investigate if vaporizing pens were used more often than cigarettes in smoking cessation. The prevalence of smoking habits, smoking cessation opinions, and vaporizing pen usage were all explored. One hypothesis was tested: Vaporizing pens while designed for tobacco cessation are commonly used more often than traditional cigarettes. Methods: A 10 question survey was utilized to show smoking habits as well as information on vaporizing pens. Informed consent was obtained. The survey was distributed at local area smoke shops near Youngstown, Ohio. Results: A total of thirty- two participants completed the survey. Vaporizing pens were used by 21.88% for a smoking cessation tool where an alarming 53.13% utilized them for social recreation. The study showed that 43.75% thought vaporizing pens were effective in smoking cessation. However, 80.65% were using their vaporizing pens more than they would regular cigarettes. Conclusions: Vaporizing Pens are aggressively advertised on television, the radio, on the internet, in magazines and shopping centers. Although most of the participants in this study had a prior history with smoking traditional cigarettes, 25% of participants indicated initiation use of the vaporizing pen which contains the addictive drug nicotine. With this study alone there is not enough data to determine if vaporizing pens are a proper form of smoking cessation, however we can now see how often people are utilizing vaporizing pen devices and for what purpose.
196 Fear as a Weapon: The Evolution of Terrorism, 1945-2015
Brandon M. Lehnert
Throughout the course of history, terrorism has run rampant. Beginning with the Assassins and Jewish Zealots, continuing through the centuries until we arrive back in the Middle East with the rise of the Islamic State, terrorism has proliferated societies across the globe during each major time period. Due to the incredible timeline of terrorism in combination with a lack of credible research conducted on the topic in previous centuries, this article focuses on the evolution of terrorism throughout the twentieth century up to the present day. More specifically, the period of time between 1945 and 2015 is addressed. For simplicity, this 70-year period will be split into three distinct “waves” of terrorism. A few prominent groups of each period will be assessed. Various themes included in the assessments are: the area of conflict associated with each organization; the effects each organization had on the area of conflict; and the methods used to achieve a victory of terror. The factors leading to the development of terror groups will be discussed, as will the factors influencing the survivability of terrorism. Finally, I will give my proposal for potential counterterrorism reforms.
197 Mental Health and College Retention--A Collaborative Student Support Proposal
Timothy Wince
One in four Americans experiences a diagnosable mental illness. Nearly two-thirds of said populations are people who would like to attend college (Corrigan, 2008). Recent studies indicate a significant correlation between student mental health and college retention. A majority (86%) of students with a diagnosable mental illness will drop out of college (Hartley, 2006; Kessler et al., 1995). Studies also suggest that institutions of higher learning are not adequately prepared to meet the needs of these individuals. Youngstown State now records a consistent loss (8%) of student enrollment since 2009. State and local demographics of the area reveal that the rate of individuals seeking care at mental institutions has triple since 2010. Moreover, the focus of this presentation is to examine the gravity of this crisis, consider programs which other institutions have successfully implemented to assist the student population, and to propose a model approach to help students with mental health issues. The proposal will take into account the local trends which are known or identified as stressors or precursors which negatively affect student mental health and college retention. Detailed there in is a triangular approach towards planning and implementing strategies that effectively address the concerns of this population and aid in student retention. Keywords: Mental Health, College Retention, National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Faculty Learning Committee (FLC), Supported Education (Sed), Supported Education Enhancing Rehabilitation (SEER).
198 Hospital Menus and Food Allergies in Children
Tori Heverly
The purpose of this study was to ensure the safety of hospitalized children by making certain that hospitals have prepared their menus with adequate attention to food allergies. Hospital menus were analyzed for presence of allergens, availability of safe, allergen-free food, and overall attention to food allergy. A menu was considered technically safe if it contained at least five allergen-free foods, allergen-free meaning free of the five most common allergens: milk, fish, nuts, gluten, and eggs. The menus were also examined to find evidence of the availability of safe substitutions. Six out of ten menus were deemed technically safe according to the standard of having at least five allergen-free meals. Four out of the ten menus were considered unsafe according to these same standards. Variability of choices was extremely low for allergen-free options. In conclusion, some hospital menus have not been prepared with adequate attention to food allergy. Modifications should be made due to the risk food allergy presents in order to ensure the safety of patients.
199 Histological Study of Hair Follicles and Fiber Characteristics of the Huacaya and Suri Alpaca
April Chestnut
The market for alpaca fiber has increased with the demand for natural fiber textiles. When comparing fleece obtained from the wide variety of fleece-producing animals, the most important traits are fiber length, diameter, strength, uniformity, medullation, and yield weight. Selective alpaca breeding has refined these characteristics to a level far superior than that of the indigenous highland animals of the Andes Mountains. The source of fleece is the hair follicle, an accessory structure of the skin. Therefore, this study is using microscopic analyses of alpaca skin biopsies and fiber samples to examine hair follicles, associated glands, and hair structure to provide quantitative data on fleece quality. Skin biopsies and fiber samples were collected from mid-side regions of suri and huacaya alpacas, an area that is indicative of an animal’s prime fiber quality. Yocom-McColl Wool Testing Labs (Denver, CO) analyzed the fiber samples for mean diameter, comfort factor, prickle factor and curvature. Light and scanning electron microscopy are being performed to measure hair follicle structure, organization, and density, as well as sebaceous gland size and distribution, the organization of surrounding connective tissues, and primary to secondary fiber ratios. Our findings will be compared to the fiber characteristics defined by the Yocom-McColl analysis. It is expected that similarities in tissue structure, fiber ratios, diameter, and sebaceous gland distribution between genetically related animals will be observed. The results will provide quantitative support for future breeding decisions seeking to improve fleece quality.
200 In The Media We Trust?
Mia Daly
Our team took to the streets of the Mahoning Valley and collected video of a group of diverse people and asked them a series of questions about their personal consumption and feelings towards the media. We presented it to media professionals in one video and asked them questions about their reactions and thoughts about the video.
201 Medication: A Critical Element in Treating Veterans with Mental Health Issues
Lawrence Reents
With multiple, large war-time operations over the past decade there has been a huge influx of veterans with disabilities. Due to the experiences of combat and war time operations; the vast majority of those disabilities are mental health issues and finding the best possible treatment for them is critical. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not, Military Veterans who adhere to using prescribed medications are more likely to continue mental health treatment. The dependent variable is Medication for Mental Health in the Past Year. In reviewing past research there is a strong correlation with medication and the successful treatment of Veteran’s with PTSD and other mental health issues. This continued research will include basics like age, sex, race, income, marital status and ethnicity but will also include more in depth factors like whether there was a major depression episode in the last year, whether medication was received for depression in the last year, any mental health treatment in the last year, if they experienced combat and also alcohol abuse. The information was gathered from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2013) which is sponsored and distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Many people do not understand the problems a human being can experience after serving in combat; but to understand what can help them is a critical element in starting the treatment process. Medication, used correctly, might possibly be the most important factor.
202 Attitudes About Gender Behavior
Colleen Sturgeon
Gender norms and roles have always been an important aspect of society that has been studied and researched. Certain behaviors have been viewed as more acceptable based upon gender. Recent news stories and protests have focused on gender responsibility regarding sexual behavior and assault. Attitudes regarding these behaviors are an important aspect to focus on to prevent and educate individuals on sexual assault and activity. This research was designed to analyze attitudes regarding gender behavior with sexual activity or prevention of sexual assault specifically among college students. A questionnaire was developed and administered via email to students currently enrolled at Youngstown State University, of various majors and ages, to examine these attitudes, as well as demographics. The sample included both female and male students. All participation in the survey was completely voluntary. It was expected that certain sexual behaviors would be viewed as acceptable based upon one’s gender. Results from the survey varied based on the specific behavior. A few behaviors demonstrated to be gender neutral, while others did depend upon the gender of the performer of the behavior. Hopefully this research can help prevent some occurrences of sexual assault in the future by raising awareness to these behaviors, and becoming an important aspect of sex education.
203 Why Are College Students Saying No to Organ Donation?
Deanna Robertson
The purpose to this study was to investigate whether or not college students are misinformed on organ donation, have beliefs that prohibit donation, or are an organ donor. One hypothesis was tested: Misconceptions in regards to organ donation cause college students to say no when asked to donate their organs in fear of not being given proper care in emergency situations. Methods: A college student population was given a survey that had a total of 11 questions and one open ended question to address any questions or concerns. The survey was sent through a blast email system to the entire student population. The survey included basic questions focusing on whether college students are misinformed on organ donation, have beliefs that prohibit donation, or are a current organ donor. Informed consent was obtained. Results: Out of 54 participants, 66% were organ donors. Twenty seven percent (27%) of those surveyed have been persuaded not to donate at some point in time. Participants indicated beliefs that proper care would not be given if they were an organ donor (40%), had a fear that their organs would be taken before all measures were utilized to save their life (50%), and they have had a bad experience with organ donation (20%.) When those surveyed were asked if they would donate their loved ones organs if the situation arose, 35.19% were very likely, 33.33% were somewhat likely, 20.37% were not very likely, and 11.11% were not at all likely. Conclusions: When thinking about organ donation, many people would say they would definitely take an organ for a dying loved one. They would be grateful for the family of the donor, but when it came down to it, would they have done the same thing? This is a major issue with organ donation today. More education is needed about donation and the process, so people understand that the misconceptions are not true.
205 Personal Bar Tap
Zachary Abraham & Dominic Sikora
The Personal Bar Tap has many capabilities that differentiate itself from previous keggerator designs. These capabilities include the ability to cool the beer as it flows from the beer keg, increased power efficiency, and a decreased waiting time for users of the product. It has many safeguards in place, such as a temperature control unit, pressure control, and conforms to FDA regulations. Utilizing a double pipe heat exchanger submerged in a whirlpool, the design achieves an adequate temperature for the beer without flash freezing or bruising occurring. Using materials found in general stores, the amount of money spent to build this design was relatively low when compared to
206 Recombineering Strategies for Isolating, Cloning, and Deleting Genes in Enterobacter Species YSU and S. maltophilia OR02
Christine Curtis
Recombineering, also known as recombination-mediated genetic engineering, is a molecular genetics technique that utilizes homologous recombination to modify the genome of prokaryotes and eukaryotes in vivo. One recombination system is the lambda Red recombination system that is controlled by the lambda bacteriophage, which contains the Red genes and encodes for the Exo, Beta, and Gam proteins. The Exo, Beta, and Gam proteins are involved in the process of double strand break repair and are responsible for homologous recombination. This method of recombination has replaced the more conventional and time-consuming genome modification technique using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase. I hypothesize that the lambda Red recombination system will be successful in Enterobacter Species YSU as well as S. maltophilia OR02 because it has been proven to be successful in E. coli and S. cerevisiae in previous experimental studies. A chloramphenicol and kanamycin resistance gene was PCR amplified, mixed with pkD46 and treated with PNK to construct the ligated plasmid. The lambda Red recombination system will be used as a plasmid and then placed onto a transposon and introduced into YSU and S. maltophilia.
207 Developing a Protocol that Characterizes and Quantitates Collagen Oxidation at Methionine Residues
Kayshala Symonette, Muhammad Erfan Uddin, & David Yash
Previous studies have demonstrated that bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) therapy significantly improves the fascial (scar) healing of abdominal incisions and results in more durable scar tissue. Analysis of the scar-associated collagen protein suggests that the properties of the more durable BM-MSC scar tissue might be attributed to changes in the structure and composition of this protein. Collagen deposited in the scar like many extracellular proteins is potentially susceptible to oxidation by reactive oxygen species. The goal of this project is to develop a protocol that characterizes and quantitates the oxidation of collagen molecules at methionine (MET) residues using 2-D gel electrophoresis. Preliminary studies using another extracellular protein, albumen, indicate that this technique can be used to identify and assess the level of MET oxidation of proteins. This protocol will be used in the future to characterize oxidation of MET residues of collagen secreted by fibroblasts derived from bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stromal cells.
208 Epinephrine Pen Training at Grades k-12 Schools
Sarah McCann
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not faculty in a k-12 school environment were properly trained in Epinephrine (Epi) Pen administration. The presence of trained staff, previous training with or without certification, and thoughts toward reacting to various situations were all explored. One hypothesis was tested: Faculty in grades kindergarten through grade twelve (k-12) are not properly trained to administer epinephrine (epi) pen treatment while in the work environment. Methods: A local school district was utilized to investigate the understanding of Epinephrine Pen (Epi) usage. The school district has a total of four schools on the school districts premises. A grade K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and a 9-12 school were surveyed. Within these four schools focus was on the faculty, staff, cafeteria staff and transportation departments skill set and knowledge base on the Epinephrine (Epi) Pen. The faculty was given a survey to complete that had a total of twenty questions and one open ended question for questions or comments. The survey was sent out through the director of instruction in an email blast. The surveys included basic questions focusing on their beliefs on the benefits of obtaining Epi Pen training and First Aid certification for themselves and their school, comfort of their skill level, seeing how many individuals in the elementary school faculty are actually certified without need of their job title, and how many faculty would be willing to become trained or certified. Results: A total of 144 participants (44%) of participants completed the survey. The results show that although 64% of those who responded have had Epinephrine (Epi) Pen training, 80% said they are not First Aid certified, and 97% have never utilized an Epinephrine (Epi) Pen on a student or colleague. Another major response showed that it was split between yes and no responses when asked if they could name 5 signs of an allergic reaction and if they were able to tell an Epinephrine (Epi) Pen had expired. Conclusions: Although many of those asked said they had training of Epinephrine (Epi) Pen administration it was split down the middle in regards to whether or not they knew what allergic reaction appeared as and how to tell if an Epinephrine (Epi) Pen was expired. Furthermore in depth questioning of staff may need to be utilized as well as small group training for proper administration of Epinephrine (Epi) Pen in life threatening situations.
210 Development of Contemporary Political Parties in Puerto Rico
Pedro Sanchez
Politics play a key role in everyone’s life and they are always a source of controversy within a culture. On the island of Puerto Rico the issue of political status is more recognized than in many other nations. The United States’ active presence on the island of Puerto Rico began at the turn of the 19th century has helped and hindered the political status of the island. Puerto Ricans can be categorized as having three different attitudes; independentistas (independence supporters), who favor separation and complete sovereignty for their nation; estadolibristas (supporters of the free associated state), who favor a permanent legal and political relationship with the mainland; lastly estadistas (supporters of statehood), favoring becoming a state in the union. These ideologies have been the corner-stone of political action within the nation. Throughout the 20th century multiple parties where created and then separated, changed and disbanded. The primary influential parties currently are the Partido Popular Democratico (Popular Democratic Party), Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) and the Partido independentista Puertorriqueno (Independent Party). These contemporary philosophies have changed little over the last several decades as they still reflect the values of Puerto Ricans both on the island and the mainland. This presentation demonstrates that the values of the parties are reflective of the cultural identity of contemporary Puerto Ricans.
212 Religion, Gender and Identity in a Hmong Village
Glynnis Gunnett
This research examines the gender roles of Hmong women in Northern Thailand. The Hmong are an ethnic minority group with a diasporic history. Hmong women grow up in a culture with patriarchal gender role beliefs. Parents and affines, especially mothers-in-law, socialize girls and young brides to occupy traditional gender roles. These beliefs and roles are reinforced through use of the common phrase Good Hmong Girl. This research analyzes data gathered during a 30 day stay in a Hmong village. Using an ethnographic approach, I lived in the household of a Hmong family. Through observation and multiple in depth interviews with Hmong women, I attempted to unpack the meanings of Good Hmong Girl and explore their significance for maintaining social integration and Hmong identity. I conclude a Good Hmong Girl’s identity varies according to traditional roles, religious afflictions, educational and work opportunities outside the village and the process of socialization.
213 Quantitation and Characterization of Collagen Oxidation in TGF-beta stimulated Fibroblast Culture
Muhammad Erfan Uddin, Kayshala L. Symonette, & David Yash
Hernia repair is one of the major problems faced by surgeons. Approximately 10% of abdominal surgical incisions result in incisional hernias and approximately 40% of these require additional corrective surgery. Although surgical techniques are constantly improving, cell-based therapies that augmentsurgical scar formation have been utilized more and more frequently as an alternative. Cell-based therapies have been particularly effective in animal models and have gained increasing application in clinical studies. Studies have identified a variety endogenous signaling molecules that direct the events of wound healing, however, little is known about how these signal molecules impact /modulate cell-based therapy and scar repair. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in collagen structure and composition in a cell culture preparation that simulates the events and conditions found during wound healing. Specifically, we examine changes in collagen oxidation in cultures of fibroblast cells which arehomologous to those cells responsible for collagen formation in scar tissue.Fibroblast cell cultures are treated with Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF- beta), a signaling molecule that plays a key role in stimulating and directing wound healing events. Collagen oxidation products for fibroblast culture collagen are visualized and quantitated using a 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis protocol. Collagen oxidation in untreated (control) fibroblast cultures will be compared to TGF- betatreated cultures and the amount of collagen secreted and extent of collagen oxidation that occurs at MET residues will be assessed.
214 Morphological Support Effects in Metal-CeO2 Catalysts for CO Oxidation
Samantha Mock & Thomas Stoner
Surface facet orientation of CeO2 Nanoparticles plays a vital role in the oxygen vacancy formation/elimination under reducing/oxidizing conditions. These formations and eliminations of oxygen vacancies directly correlate to the Oxygen Storage Capacity (OSC) and the catalytic activity of CeO2-supported metal catalysts. Reported is a detailed kinetic behavior study of the effect that metal has on the catalytic activity of CeO2 catalysts with well defined CeO2 surface planes. Shape and size controlled CeO2 nanocrystals were prepared by facile hydrothermal reactions. The metal was then impregnated, and the catalytic activity was characterized. The catalytic activity of CeO2 supported metals is believed to depend on the number of perimeter metal atoms and the metal-CeO2 interaction at the interface. In this study, the catalytic activity of the impregnated catalysts was compared using various metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Ag) on the same shape of CeO2 naoncrystal supports using numerous instruments and techniques (XRD, Raman, BET, TPR, and catalytic activity characterization). This allows for a better understanding of the detailed metal-CeO2 interaction and its effect on low temperature CO oxidation reactions.
216 Genomics of Biobutanol from Clostridium beijerinckii
Eric Cargal The world consumption of energy is increasing at an exponential rate. Furthermore, the availability of our fuel of choice, fossil fuels, is declining, with estimates that reserves will be gone within fifty years. As such, the search for alternative fuel sources has begun. One promising source of energy is biomass, solar energy stored in the form of sugars by plants. Currently, the focus is on ethanol as a biomass energy source, but it is not without its problems. An emerging alternative to ethanol is butanol, which is chemically more similar to gasoline. Exploiting the Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol Fermentation pathway found in certain species of bacteria can produce butanol. However, this has its own problems in that the butanol is itself toxic to the bacteria. We have identified targets for gene manipulation in order to improve the bacterial resistance to butanol in order to facilitate the production of more butanol.
218 The Effect of Auditory Distractors on Stress-evoked Galvanic Skin Responses
Kaylin Camp, Rae'ven Crum, Christopher Leymarie, Thomas Rebracca, & Tyler Tsangaris-Braatz
Environmental stimuli such images and music can have a profound influence on an individual’s response to stress. Some studies suggest that certain environmental stimuli can serve as distractors and may reduce the physiological responses to stress. In this study we examine how an auditory distraction can influence a subject’s response to stress as measured by the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). Two auditory distractors were tested in this protocol, 1) an 8 min segment of a boring audio book, representing a minimal auditory distraction and 2) an 8 min segment of popular music, representing a moderate distraction. Twenty minutes of baseline GSR data was collected from 30 subjects. At the end of this period the subjects listened to one of the auditory distractors and were then presented with 2 stressors, an alarm sound and a series of sensitive personal questions. GSR for each event was evaluated and preliminary results reported here.
219 Wait, College Students Sleep?
Safah Esmail
The purpose of the research project is to investigate college student’s sleep patterns, grade point averages (GPA) and current academic colleges. The lack of sleep, academic curriculum, and certain college requirements of students may make them vulnerable to lower GPA’s. The prevalence of sleep patterns, school schedules, and Epworth Sleepiness scores (EES) were all explored. One hypothesis was tested: Some college students get better grade point averages than others because the major or “college” they are in allow them to get more sleep. Methods: A 17 question survey and an 8 question Epworth Sleepiness Scale gleaned data to evaluate university student’s predisposition to lower grade point averages (GPA). Informed consent was obtained. The survey was distributed on a local college campus to university students. A significant correlation was made between student’s “college”, ESS and GPA. The students of the College of Health and Human Services reported having an average ESS of 8.69 and GPA of 3.276, where on the opposite side of the issue, the students of the College of Education reported having an average ESS of 4.25 and GPA of 3.905. Conclusions: There is a huge emphasis on the need for sleep education in today’s society. In the college world grade point averages are the most important factor while in school and can either make or break a student. Grade point averages can assist to admit a student into an academic program, enable scholarships or even provide more ample job opportunities over students with lower grade point averages. Data shows that GPAs are influenced by majors, a heavy school workload and higher ESS scores.
220 Smart Power Strip
Josh Foor, Cassie George, & Ruth Lin
Each year 2555 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for electrical shock due messing with a wall outlet. This is equivalent to 7 children per day, and of those 7 children per day 70% of the cases actually happen under parental supervision while at home. Our device can not only decrease the number of electrical shock injuries pertaining to children but if in the right hands, our device could even decrease the number of electrical shock within any home for any given person. The smart power strip is not just any ordinary power strip. While having the same appearance, it can function as a toggle wirelessly and serve as a power monitor. You are able to turn off unused outlets so that there is no need to worry about any chance of shock.
221 Archaeology on San Salvador Island: The Woodstar Site
Zaakiyah Cua & Danamarie Donatelli
Youngstown State University has carried out long-term archaeological excavations at the North Storr's Lake (SS- 4) archaeology site on San Salvador Island, Bahamas since 1995. Each March and December YSU students and faculty travel to San Salvador to perform archaeological excavations. From around 600 A.D. to 1500 A.D., San Salvador Island was inhabited by the Lucayan Indians, a formative level culture that practiced agriculture and harvested resources from the sea. In December 2014 a group of YSU students returned to the Woodstar Site to continue field evaluation of the site. They excavated at two previously unexcavated locations which were adjacent to areas that had been excavated in 2013. A wealth of artifacts such as Palmetto ware pottery and shell beads were recovered in great abundance. They have also uncovered numerous trade items from several islands in the Caribbean. San Salvador Island is considered by most researchers to be the island of Columbus's first landfall in the New World. The very people that YSU students study were in all possibilities the first people to discover Columbus in the America's.
222 Toward the Synthesis of the First Perfluorinated Anionic Indium MOF
Mariah D. DeFuria & Douglas T. Genna Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline coordination polymers composed of inorganic and organic repeating units respectively. These materials have great potential for use in solid phase catalysis as well as small molecule sorption and separation. Anionic MOFs describe a subset of MOF chemistry and contain negatively-charged pores in which they house cationic, or positively-charged, molecules. This project aims to produce perfluorinated anionic MOFs, which are water-repellent and therefore can be used to protect water- sensitive carbocationic species. Reaction conditions were chosen based on those of MOF syntheses found in current scientific literature. In the attempts to make a perfluorinated anionic MOF, a novel perfluorinated MOF with no net charge was grown. This structure can be best characterized by an infinite indium (In) chain secondary building unit and to our knowledge is the first example of a perfluorinated In-MOF.
223 Pulse Jet Engine
Tim Shreeve, Mike Bestic, Zachary Bromley, Sam Faykus, & Mike Savopoulous
Valveless pulse jet engines are a simple means of propulsion with very little practical application to date. They were however considered the predecessor of the valved pulse jet engine utilized on the German V1 cruise missile. A valveless pulse jet is composed of three main parts, the intake, the combustion chamber and the exhaust. The pulse jets operation can be attributed to the Kadenacy Effect and acoustic resonance, which are both related to the inertial forces and movements of the gases through pressure waves. The combustion of the fuel-air mixture begins a series of pressure waves which enables the continuous cycle. The initial aim was to construct a pulse jet based off an existing design, and design a water jacket to cool the pulse jet. While the water jacket was determined to be the most effective means of cooling, it would also remove a large portion of the jets efficiency. The next thought was to design a finned system to increase the surface area and enable cooling through natural and limited forced convection. This method would not provide substantial cooling, due to the exorbitantly high operating temperatures. An analysis of the heat transfer yielded that the greatest factor was radiation, and a radiation shielding system was designed. A method for lowering the excessive decibel levels was also to be designed, and a simple baffle system was chosen as the most effective without cutting down performance. The pulse jet was analyzed with and without the radiation shielding and baffles, with the critical values being thrust, temperature and noise levels. The values were then compared to determine the effectiveness of the implemented design aspects.
224 Natural Waterfalls of the Youngstown Region
Charles Chavara The Youngstown Region, which is defined as the city of Youngstown and adjacent counties has numerous named, natural waterfalls due to its unique landscape. However, there lacked a means by which the public can quickly access information about specific waterfalls, such as geological data and location. In order to provide a way in which the public can readily have information about the waterfalls in the region an ArcGIS Map Tour was created. A Map Tour is an online application software in which the researcher creates a thematic map with numerous georeferenced points which contains an image for each location. For each waterfall point there was information about the height, source, and waterfall classification. Previously, some of this information was not accessible. This new map tour now provides a way for people in the Youngstown metropolitan area to plan a visit to each location.
225 Use of Guns Among Adolescents
Chelsey Haney
Common perception that youth gun violence is often related to youth with mental conditions. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health provides opportunity to assess whether mentally ill youth have weapons as believed. The models that I ran show that there is no relationship between gun carrying and depression but the effect did come up once the control for males was added. The carrying rate was 37% higher. The study hypothesizes that carrying a gun increases with the occurrence of a depressive episode with statistical controls for age, ethnicity, and gender.
226 Spatio-temporal patterns in beaver pond complexes as habitat for Eastern Spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) in a hemlock-northern-hardwood zone in Western New York State forest
Shannon J. Doherty
Amphibians are among the most threatened of animal groups, so understanding the nature and dynamics of their habitats is essential to their conservation. The Eastern Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) strongly prefers shallow quiescent soft-bottomed habitat, generally in small streams and pools. An increasingly abundant and widespread source of such habitat in the Northeast has been beaver ponds. Within the 27K ha Allegany State Park, NY (our study site), beaver populations have recovered to where there are now hundreds of active sites among the 1st – 4th-order streams within the park. The main objective of this study is to determine the influence of size, age, and stability of beaver ponds on their use as spotted newt habitat. Georeferenced aerial and satellite imagery of four multi-pond beaver complexes, coupled with ground-truthing, are used to assess the spatio-temporal framework of ponds, including patterns of senescence and reestablishment of dams. Flow regime, sedimentary environment, and submerged/emergent vegetation are being described for various micro- habitat types at each pond. Simple but non-invasive visual surveys of newts in shallow water within 1 m of shoreline are being used to estimate their use of habitat.
229 Development of a PCR-Based Assay to Detect Penicillium marneffei in Insects
Jamielynn Doyle, Kristen Latessa, Jason Gilmore, & Sara Johnson
Penicillium marneffei is a pathogenic fungus endemic solely to Southeast Asia. The fungus infects humans, mainly those who have developed AIDS. The fungus is also found in bamboo rats, but there is no evidence to suggest that the disease is transmitted from rats to animals. In fact, the exact reservoir of P. marneffei is unknown despite decades of investigations. We hypothesize that insects may be the carriers of this infectious disease agent. To assess this hypothesis, we are attempting to develop molecular methods to detect P. marneffei in insects based upon previously published procedures that employed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Such procedures should be more efficacious than traditional culture methods. To this end, we have demonstrated that the PCR assay works in vitro to detect the fungus. However, while culture results of haemocoel (“blood”) have been positive for P. marneffei infected wax moth larvae, PCR assays of raw whole organism extracts or unpurified haemocoel have not yielded amplification products. Future developmental efforts will focus upon using purified haemocoel extracts in the PCR assay. Nonetheless, we have demonstrated by culture techniques that wax moth larvae are capable of carrying P. marneffei, thus supporting the basis of our hypothesis.
230 Utilizing stable hydrogen isotopes to understand range shifts with the Magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Elizabeth Abraham & Lucas DeGroote
Stable isotopes have become increasingly useful in ecological studies over the past decade and many scientists are using them to study the changes a species may experience across a large region. Stable hydrogen isotopes, more specifically may be useful in indicating global range shifts as a consequence of climate change. In birds, each feather contains a hydrogen isotope signature that indicates the latitude at which the feather was grown. By analyzing these isotopes in feather samples collected from individuals, the average breeding latitude can be determined. This technique might be especially useful for neotropical migrants, like the Magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia), that shows significant local variation. The Magnolia Warbler are an ideal study species as they also undergo a complete molt before they migrate south, replacing all of their feathers on the breeding grounds. In the spring and the fall of 2014, two tail feathers were pulled from Magnolia warblers as a representation of the current breeding range. Samples were also collected from study skins at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to provide data on historic breeding latitudes. Each feather sample was sent to the Stable Isotope Lab at Cornell University for analysis. The data provided by the stable hydrogen isotopes was manipulated using GIS (geographic information system) to create a more accurate representation of the historic and modern breeding range. These images were then overlaid and analyzed for change. The information garnered from this analysis will be extremely valuable. If a species is shifting over time, natural resource managers can adapt management plans accordingly.
231 Towards An Automated Approach for Correcting Eye tracking Data on Source Code
Chris Palmer
Biometric sensors such as eye trackers provide researchers with valuable information on where a person is looking at on a screen. The downside is that all eye trackers produce some noise or drift as they are being used. In addition to this inherent trait, there is always a probability that the participant using the eye tracker will shift in their seat or move their head, causing the collected data to drift from the actual location of their gaze on the screen. This data can and is usually corrected manually. There are two problems with manual correction. First, it is a time consuming process and second, there is a high chance that the corrections that are done by humans will either contain errors themselves or be inconsistent with each other (if two humans are correcting the data). In order to automate the correction of errors we will use an time-based lookback queue and hill climbing algorithm together to find occurrences of drift, and correct data which has been affected by drift. The hill climbing algorithm is scored based on how many eye tracking points are contained within an area of interest while being moved the least distance. The automatically corrected data will then be compared against a large set of manually corrected eye tracking results to see how closely the correction algorithm matches the manually corrected data. We present some initial results on the current state of our approach that is mainly focused on source code files.
233 Attitudes Toward Tattoo Culture
Jennifer Waltman
Tattoos have often been seen as a deviant practice within the United States, reserved as something only for sailors, bikers, and prisoners, but have begun to appear in the mainstream more and more since the 1990s. The practice of tattooing is one that has been around for centuries, though the reasoning for getting tattoos and the attitudes toward tattoos and tattooed individuals has changed over the years. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship individuals have to tattoos, if there has been an increase in the acceptance of tattoos and tattoo culture, and what societal factors influence that relationship. Data has been collected from individuals while trying to ensure a representative sample from many ages, races, sexes, genders and social classes. One-on-one interviews have been conducted with individuals to gather information on their attitudes toward tattoos, tattooed individuals, and their discernment of how others perceived them and their tattoos. Preliminary results suggest a much wider acceptance of tattoos and tattooed individuals within the United States.
234 "But What Can I Do?" Online Harassment and the Bystander Effect
Alexander Acri
This poster will focus on the harassment of women in online space, and theories as to why that occurs. Due to recent events it will focus on the harassment of women in gaming culture and the video game industry. Information on and examples of harassment will be collected from multiple sources focused largely on online spaces where the harassment occurs, such as Twitter and Xbox Live. Along with these examples of harassment, theories as to why this harassment is so widespread online will be presented. These theories will be backed up with academic literature on anthropological ideas such as the bystander effect and group dynamics, in particular group dynamics in online social settings.
235 Assessing Cultural Competency: An Initial Exploration of Assessing Self-Reported Competency in BSW Students
Ashley Rossi
In social work education, cultural competency training begins at the bachelor’s level, often times before students have any experience in the field. Current literature examines the pedagogy techniques for optimizing cultural competency education in a variety of mental health fields; despite this, no psychometric tool currently exists to assess learning attainment in bachelor level social work students. Current assessments available include terms and activities not associated with bachelor level social work practice and they are not geared to address the specific standards highlighted by the Council on Social Work Education. The present study aims to refine an existing instrument for measuring cultural competency by integrating the California Brief Multicultural Competence Scale with Educational and Policy Accreditation Standards of CSWE. Through the development of a revised measure geared specifically toward BSW students, it will be possible to more accurately assess students’ perceived levels of cultural competency.
236 Synthesis and Characterization of CdSxSex-1 Alloyed Quantum Dots and Silica-Shell Coating
Jennifer Miller & Swayandipta Dey
Quantum dots (QDs) are inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals (usually of the order 2-10nm) with distinct, tunable photophysical properties. These properties make QDs ideal candidates for many optical and biological applications. The purpose of this work was to synthesize and characterize CdSxSex-1 (cadmium sulfur selenide) alloyed QDs and silica-encapsulated core/shell and alloyed QDs. The first phase of this research focused on the synthesis of alloyed QDs and the effect of reaction time on their size-dependent tunability. The QDs were synthesized using colloidal techniques and capped using hexadecylamine (HDA). The steady state absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed and the QDs were further characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD). Allowing the QDs to react over a longer period yielded larger, red-shifted QDs, while reducing the reaction time yielded smaller, blue-shifted QDs. The second phase of this research focused on the synthesis of a silica-shell on both commercially available core/shell QDs and the alloyed QDs described above. Functionalizing the QDs and making them water-soluble reduces their cytotoxicity and allows them to be used in biological applications. The synthesis was performed using a reverse microemulsion technique, and the silica-capped QDs were characterized using TEM. Core/shell QDs were successfully encapsulated in silica, but alloyed QDs quenched when the synthesis was attempted. This appears to be due to the increased susceptibility of the alloyed QDs to oxidation; however, further studies are needed to optimize the synthetic procedure.
237 The Comparison of Different Water Quality Characteristics along Yellow Creek, Northeastern Ohio
Kayla Coldsnow, Nicholas Karousis, & Justin Waldern
In Northeast Ohio, shallow streams are subject to variations different from those in a deeper water ecosystem, such as runoff, temperature fluctuations, and urbanization. In shallow water ecosystems, fluctuations can be more extreme than those found in deeper waters. This is due to factors such as a greater surface area exposure to environmental conditions and the flow over varied terrain. Changes in temperature or water volume can have exponentially large impacts on small streams because the initial volume is low. This study examines spatial variation in water quality at three sites along Yellow Creek in Poland, Ohio and how water quality is affected by temperature. Water quality was determined by measuring temperature, along with other variables such as pH and conductivity, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform abundance, along with multiple chemical anions. The hypothesis is that sites with similar physical characteristics that are subject to similar urban impacts will demonstrate similar corresponding changes in water quality characteristics. We also hypothesized that temperature will have great impact on the multiple measured variables. Sites were chosen with similar depth, shade, and stream bank characteristics.
238 Anthropogenic Effects on the Costal Ecosystems in Vieques, Puerto Rico
Kayla Coldsnow & Justin Waldern
The oceans of today are very different from how they were in the past. Humans have had a significant impact on the oceans, including all the organisms that inhabit the coastal ecosystem. Oceans cover approximately 70% of the planet and provide vital resources for many species from all forms of life. Some habitats of the ocean rival the rainforest in both species richness and primary productivity. Still, the ocean’s environments and the surrounding areas are being overfished, polluted, and destroyed. On this trip, we set out to see what the oceans were like around Vieques, an island that is a territory of Puerto Rico. Vieques was used as a US military site from the early 1940’s to 2003. Since then, people have moved to the island, it has become a tourist site, and fishing has become an important factor in the community. As with many ocean environments, eutrophication (the influx of nutrients), chemical pollution, overfishing, and recreational use are cause for concern, along with residual effects from the military presence. Vieques is home to the largest wildlife refuge in the Caribbean, which prevents further human impact from entering the area, but it was questioned how the quality of the oceans in the areas accessible to humans would be.
239 Teaching Children Circuits at Oh Wow! Science Center
Eduardo Bustillos & Mike Kunzer
One way to increase scientific and technological literacy in young kids is to take a hands-on approach. One very simple way to allow kids to learn is the use of something called “Circuit Blocks.” Circuit Blocks are a simple way to help kids be hands-on and creative to build simple circuits. To build a set of circuit blocks, we took small blocks of wood and nailed in basic electrical components, such as power sources (batteries), LED lights, resistors, DC motors, etc. Once nailed in and soldered, different blocks can be connected with small jumper wires and circuits can be made, demonstrating how electricity flows. In addition to Circuit Blocks, modeling clay (Play-Doh) is electrically conductive and can be used to make circuits. To achieve better results, two batches of homemade clay were made; one batch that was more conductive than conventional Play-Doh and one that was more resistive. By using wires to connect clay with different components, circuits can be made. Using this approach, kids can really use their imagination and their hands, all while learning how circuits work.
240 Towards Understanding Student Problem Solving Behavior via Eye Tracking
Jessica Whitely & Jenna Wise
How do students learn? What makes a novice different from an expert? Do the answers to the above questions depend on the task being performed? All these questions have deep and important implications in the study of understanding students’ behavior in learning specific topics. In this project, we try to study how students solve algorithm-related problems after they were enrolled in an algorithms course as part of their undergraduate study. In order to do this, we designed a set of tasks related to problem-solving, all derived from the material students learned throughout the course. We record students’ eye movements as they perform the tasks. An eye tracker is used to unobtrusively capture eye movements. We determine if it is possible to predict the level of student understanding of the material from eye movements. Results on task accuracy, task speed, as well as eye gaze information are reported. The results from the study will help better understand how students go about solving algorithm related problems. Implications and future work are also discussed.
241 Spinel-Based TCON Composites via Transformation of Printed Precursor Shapes
Monica Ramunno
In accordance with the TCON methods developed by the Youngstown company Fireline, Inc., interpenetrating phase composites of ceramic and metal were created. Such a method involves the immersion of a sacrificial ceramic preform into a bath of molten aluminum, which produces a new ceramic phase interwoven with microscopic layers of metal. The final composite possesses the original shape and dimensions of the preform.The use of sacrificial silica (SiO2) to form alumina (Al2O3) is the most common reaction in the TCON method. However, there is great interest in using more complex precursor systems to achieve a desired end product. Here, the desired end product is magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4). This spinel has been previously achieved using geikielite (MgTiO3), but the final product is impure, containing many other ceramic phases. Now, magnesium silicates (MgSiO3, Mg2SiO4, etc.) are being investigated for their potential to produce a pure composite of spinel and aluminum.
242 Methods for the Synthesis of Directional Amphiphilic Ligands for Use in Biological Systems
Jennifer Moore, Matthew Torres, & Abigail Ansah
Highly functionalized amphiphiles are attractive candidates for biological ligands, which are invaluable tools for the study of macromolecular systems. However, factors such as high expense and complicated syntheses serve as hindrances to the development of such compounds. Two synthetic schemes are proposed for the facile generation of utile directional ligands, exploiting two very different chemical linkages: the ester linkage and the 1,2,3-triazole linkage. Work has been done to optimize reaction conditions for the synthesis of meta- and para- bis esters possessing ester-linked carbohydrate or lipid molecules and a hydrophobic phenyl core. Structurally intriguing by-products have been generated and characterized throughout the course of the various reaction trials. Additionally, the determination of a synthetic route to 1,2,3-triazole-linked amphiphiles is underway, in which biological molecules of differing polarity are coupled. The results of the synthetic optimization studies for both classes of amphiphiles will be examined.
243 The Efficacy of Drug Use Resistance Education: A Statistical Analysis of Self-Report Data
Christopher Adkins
Approximately 80% of the school districts in the U.S. teach D.A.R.E or a similar drug use resistance program, while the overwhelming majority of research claims that drug use resistance education is ineffective. This research is a statistical analysis of a public use data set that provides statistics regarding drug use and drug use resistance education of high school students. Bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques were used to determine if relationships exist between drug use education and drug use. The results of this analysis show that drug use education has no limiting effect on marijuana use. However, it does have a significant limiting relationship with cocaine, crack, and heroin use. Lastly, this research supports the belief that those who have used marijuana in high school, and have had drug use education, are less likely to use cocaine, crack, and heroin, thus, reducing the “gateway drug” effect.
245 Ontogeny of Locomotor Performance in Rabbits: They Do It By Putting Their Back Into It
Zachary Glenn It is hypothesized that younger rabbits have morphological advantages that increase their chances of survival to sexual maturity. Extension at their lumbosacral joints during running has been shown to provide the most work of acceleration, thus emphasizing the importance of powerful vertebral extensor muscles to escape predation. This study focuses on the force and power properties of these muscles throughout development in cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Dissections were conducted on juvenile and adult rabbits, providing the following muscle measurements: muscle mass, belly length, fiber length, fiber angle, and physiological cross-sectional area (PSCA). Results show the muscles longissimus dorsi and sacrospinalis are massive, and capable of similar amounts of high force and power output across development. These findings indicate a distinct advantage in younger rabbits, and provide support for the hypothesis that juveniles are capable of performing at similar levels to those of adult rabbits. Supported by NSF IOS-1146916.
246 Choosing a Neuromuscular Blocking Agent: Succinylcholine v. Rocuronium to Reduce the Risk of Gastric Aspiration during Rapid Sequence Induction
Sarbjit Kaur
The purpose of this quantitative, systematic review of randomized controlled trials of Succinylcholine versus Rocuronium is to explore which medication is better in reducing the incidents of aspiration during rapid- sequence induction. The purpose of the rapid-sequence induction is to decrease the incidence of the occurrence of aspiration of gastric contents during intubation. Rapid-sequence induction requires the use of fast-acting neuromuscular blocking agents such as Rocuronium and succinylcholine. This study will evaluate 50 adult patients needing endotracheal intubation for surgery using the rapid-sequence induction method. These patients will receive either Rocuronium or succinylcholine before endotracheal intubation. Patients will be carefully observed for hemodynamic stability, and signs and symptoms of aspiration of gastric contents. These fast-acting neuromuscular blocking medications are mostly used for the rapid induction and intubation of patients. The chances of aspiration are multifold during rapid sequence induction. The benefits of determining which medication used in rapid-sequence induction results in decreased incidents of aspiration, and would increase patient safety.
249 Artifact Curation for Youngstown State University Archaeological Excavations at San Salvador Island, Bahamas
Alexa Kensinger, Hannah Scarazzo, & Zaakiyah Cua
Youngstown State University has been heading archaeological excavations on San Salvador Island since 1996 as a way for students to get in-the-field experience involving hands-on excavations as well as lab work experience such as cleaning and cataloging artifacts. In December of 2014 there was finally an opportunity for YSU to curate two museum cases for display at the Gerace Research Center library in hopes of eventual display in a museum dedicated to the history of San Salvador Island. The cases included one case devoted to pottery created by the Lucayans, and another dedicated to what YSU students and professors have deemed as “special finds”. The pottery case includes impressed pottery items, impressive rim pieces, and a griddle piece. The “special finds” case has a large number of items including a rare stone bead, a shell that had been most likely used as a ladle, two pieces of green serpentine stone (not native to the island), and a large turtle shell. All of these items have been recovered by YSU students and faculty throughout the years.
250 Synthons of UDP-N-acetyl-L-fucosamine (UDP-L-FucNAc) and D-ManNAcA as potential inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis
Philemon Ngoje & Emmanuel R. Buabeng
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nocosomial infections in hospitals worldwide and it has become increasingly difficult to treat due to its prevalence resistance to antibiotics. Stereotype 5 and 8 of staphylococcus aureus are most virulence strains of bacteria in the staphylococcal species due to the formation of polysaccharide capsules which served as a protective barrier in preventing phagocytosis thereby enabling these invasive pathogens to exist in the bloodstream multiplying and destroy host cells. Our research group is focused on use of different stereoselective synthetic methodologies to synthesize novel synthons of UDP-N-acetyl-L- Fucosamine and D-ManNAcA that serves as inhibitors of or substrates for bacterial glycosyltransfares and UDP- GlcNAc-2-epimerase, responsible for the biosynthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of staphyloccous aureus.
251 What Contributes to Crime?
Laurie Bridge, Alexis Feronti, & Robert Duncan
What exactly causes crime? There are many known variables that have an effect on crime, but our group decided to look at a city’s population size, the median household income, the median age of the city, the poverty rates, crime rates and murder rates, to see how they correlate with crime. We gathered our information from city data for the 30 cities. We chose to do our sample on the state capitals so we had a more representative sample of the United States. Using this information we made a data set and summarized the information. We found the minimum, maximum, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and arithmetic mean. Once we had all our data and our levels of measurement completed, we made a chart/visual for each of the variables. Then we came to a conclusion, which was that the only statistically significant results that we gathered was that population and the poverty level were very correlated to crime.
254 A Classical Analog of a Kerr Black Hole
Connor J. Hetzel
By examining the orbits around a black hole, cosmologists have known that Kerr black holes (those with angular momentum, but no charge) have certain characteristic multipole expansions. These multipoles exhibit a key dependence on the angular momentum itself. From relativity, we know that the angular momentum is bounded. We simulated a classical mass distribution whose far-field matches these characteristic multipole expansions. We then numerically perturbed the angular momentum to approach and exceed the relativistic bounds. By finding classically unphysical situations in the mass distribution, we found that classical physics may imply bounds more strictly imposed by relativity.
256 The Influence of Social Media on Eyewitness Accounts
Torrian M. Pace
Using data from the surveys that will be administered to the two classes, a Pearson’s R correlation analysis will be used to predict that the accuracy of the description is inversely proportional to the time spent on social media. The purpose of this study is to illustrate through the description of an individual and/or what influence social media or instant/digital messaging has on the accuracy of that description. The statistics show that the use of social media, emailing, and text messaging is steadily rising. I am not implying that it is a bad thing, but what affect does that have on manipulating human memory when an individual gives an eyewitness testimony? The independent variable is an ordinal scale constructed from time spent on social media and membership. The dependent variable is the accuracy of respondent’s description of the individual.One of the main benefits of this study is how relatively new it is to the criminal justice and human behavioral fields.
258 Internal Architecture of a Washover-Fan, San Salvador Island, Bahamas
Richard D. Yovichin III
San Salvador is an isolated carbonate island located in the Bahamas. As this most easterly Bahamian island faces the open Atlantic Ocean, its coastline is frequently inundated by hurricanes and other strong storm events. Coastal overwash deposits are associated with such events. One of the most prominent overwash features is located on the southeastern side of the island, separated from the open ocean by a ~3 m-high dune ridge. This fan-shaped sand body extends northward into a stagnant pond formerly connected to a tidal lagoon. Aerial photographs suggest that this feature has been inexistence since at least the 1940s. Current research is underway to map the internal architecture of this washover feature using GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) and core analyses. Preliminary findings suggest that this fan was deposited by multiple events. Cores collected from the back-fan show sandy overwash deposits interlaid with organic rich muds and silts, deposits affiliated with stagnant water bodies. Additional work will expand on the nature of the fan evolution, the controls on the geomorphology of this fan, and the extent of which this fan extends to the pond basin located to the north.
260 Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Diversity as Indicators of Potential Residual Effects of Mirex Leaching: An Investigation of the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek in Salem, Ohio Jennifer Libbey & Kathryn Hamilton
The southern reach of the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek is located along state Route 14, northwest of Salem, Ohio. The watershed contains several point and non-point sources of pollution, most notably the Nease Chemical plant. This plant is known for having produced a variety of products, including the organochloride insecticide known as Mirex, which leached into the soil and groundwater from 1961-73 as a result of unlined treatment ponds and substandard storage drums. Other sources of pollution in the watershed include agricultural runoff, stormwater, and wastewater treatment effluent. Water quality conditions were determined through use of macroinvertebrate sampling and selected chemical analyses of four sites located along the east side of Nease Chemical during the summer and fall of 2014. Comparisons of the biological and chemical data suggest a relationship exists between proximity to the Nease site and decreased water quality which could indicate that the chemical spill is continuing to affect the watershed. More sampling and analysis is needed to confirm these results.
262 The Second Gilded Age: The Government's Resposibility to the Wealth Gap
Mark Holland
The income inequality between the poor, middle-class, and the superrich has been a controversial topic since the recession of 2008. The unrest was apparent in the citizens’ movement, Occupy Wall Street, and it demanded most of the attention from the economic portion of the more recent debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Both sides of the debate presented logical evidence, but ultimately, both foreign and domestic examples showed that the conservatives’ theoretical solutions were ineffective. Since these debates took place, books, newspaper articles, and experts have all been calling for action on the government’s part to address the problem of the wealth gap. The calls have gone unanswered due to the slowness of partisanship, and the effects have been obvious. The wealth gap continues to grow, the citizens continue to see rising prices of goods, and things that were fought over before have only been amplified.
263 Novel Approaches to Acyl Nitrenes
Christopher Copeland & Cephas Afeke
Carbamate chemistry has a wide variety of applications in both synthetic chemistry as well as in biology. These carbon-nitrogen bonds are what are known as peptide bonds, which are displayed in many potential pharmaceutical agents and in a vast variety of biological systems. These linkages are not only found in naturally occurring substances, however, and can be synthesized in the lab under quite facile conditions via different routes. Organic azides are excellent precursors for these reactions in an efficient one-pot synthesis to yield the carbamate product.
264 Adding Fuel to the Fire: An in Depth Look At
The Absorption of Medical Oxygen in the Home
Melissa James Fires in the homes of individuals who are using medical oxygen are a common phenomenon in the United States. Fire investigators and medical personnel are aware that it is dangerous to have an open flame near an oxygen source, and properly inform oxygen patients of this fire hazard. However, a review of the literature shows that there is little documentation on the saturation of oxygen into surrounding clothing, upholstery, and bedding. Which leads to the question- where does the oxygen go? The most recent study focused on fires in the homes of people who are using medical oxygen. A recent vacant house fire experiment demonstrated comparison ignition /burn rates of fabrics that are saturated with oxygen, versus the same fabrics that have not been exposed to an oxygenated environment. Findings signified oxygenated fabric had a higher burn rate while non-oxygenated clothing was slower to burn. While it is apparent oxygenated fabric ignites more quickly, and burns more freely, than non-oxygenated fabrics, it is unclear whether prolonged exposure to oxygen results in shorter ignition times and/or faster burn rates.
265 Factors that Affect the Mental Health of Combat Veterans: Social Support vs. Substance Abuse
Joshua Hall
The purpose for the present research is to examine combat zone war veterans in terms of their mental health and behavioral tendencies with marijuana use and religious service attendance. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked veterans if they have ever served in an active combat zone. In the present research, it is hypothesized through secondary analysis that combat zone veterans with a moderate or serious mental illness will be more likely to use marijuana as well as attend religious services less often. I chose this variable to examine because war veterans are often portrayed as individuals who struggle to find adequate coping methods. Since 2013 was the first time the survey asked about active war service, the population is small in the secondary analysis data set (672). In order to compensate, I compared combat zone veterans to non-combat zone veterans as well as civilians who have never served in the military. The present research is a preliminary examination into the behaviors of war veterans that are suffering from mental illnesses and offers explanations of this population’s behavior through statistical tendencies. This variable is a significant addition to this data set; it will not only aid in answering questions about this understudied population, but will also bring forth new questions and encourage future research.
267 Classification of Observed Stacking Faults in ZnO Thin Films Using High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Electron Crystallography
Matthew W. Kelly
ZnO thin films were deposited on c-plane sapphire substrates using the radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique. During deposition, substrates were heated and held at various temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 900 °C, and post-deposition annealing was performed at 900 °C for 3 min. in a high- purity O2 atmosphere. Low-temperature (12 K) photoluminescence (PL) spectra were obtained from all samples. All samples exhibited PL peaks at 3.361 eV, which is characteristic of undoped ZnO. Peaks were also observed at 3.317 eV, which are uncharacteristic of undoped ZnO. This peak was significantly more prominent in the lower temperature samples. Multiple independent studies have attributed this emission peak to be the result of a free-electron to neutral acceptor-bound hole recombination (e, A0), originating from basal-plane stacking faults. In wurtzite-structure materials, such as ZnO, basal-plane stacking faults are classified as intrinsic (I1, I2) or extrinsic (E), based upon the displacement (Burgers) vector. In order to quantify such defects, information about the crystallographic orientation, as well as the magnitude of deviation from the perfect crystal structure is needed. Crystallographic information was obtained using selected-area electron diffraction in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Through high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) imaging at atomic resolution, direct observation of stacking faults is possible. From HRTEM imaging, the Burgers vector is obtained. Ultimately, classification of atomic defects, along with other microstructural properties such as grain size, surface morphology, and interface characteristics will be used to draw a corr
269 The Effects of Probiotics on Stress and the Microbial Community of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Daniel Lisko & Justin Waldern
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a diverse and complex ecosystem with nearly 100 trillion microbes, which assist in nutrient uptake, immune development, and host digestion. Various factors such as antibiotics and probiotics can cause fluctuations. Animal models have demonstrated that the gut microbiota can influence the brain and the stress response, but these studies have yet to be confirmed in human subjects. Salivary cortisol has been shown to be an indicator of stress in human test subjects. The aim of this study was to determine 1) the effect of probiotic use on microbial community composition over time and 2) the effect probiotics have on daily, perceived, and induced stress. Using Next Generation Sequencing, we will determine the microbial community composition of human test subjects. Collected saliva samples (morning, before, and after stress induction) for cortisol analysis were used to determine physiological stress levels. Perceived stress questionnaires were used to determine perceived stress.
271 Elevator Design
Cory Merlo, Nicolette Allen,Abdulrhman Alshahrani, & Jon Bancroft
Control systems are fundamental to the makeup of many things we use every day. We set out to learn the basics of these systems and to design our own project using what we learned in the process. A familiar control system we encounter on a regular basis is the elevator. An elevator embodies the three major components of a control system. First there is a mechanism that needs to be controlled, such as an elevator carriage. Next there is a controller to send signals and direct the motion of the mechanism. And finally there is the logic inside the controller which determines when and how to execute an operation. Learning these control systems though designing an elevator will help to develop our skills as future engineers.
274 Biological Stream Quality Evaluation of Pine Run (Sharon, PA)
Suzanne Kepple
A biological water quality assessment of Pine Run in Sharon, PA (Shenango River Watershed) was completed in September 2014. The aim of the assessment was to determine a possible correlative relationship between the Pine Run stream habitat quality and the surrounding land use, through macroinvertebrate population analysis evaluating water quality based on organismal presence or absence. It was hypothesized for the purpose of this study, that there would be a progressive decline in habitat quality and presence of macroinvertebrates evident as surrounding land use became more developed (residential, industrial, and urbanized uses) in the downstream flow of Pine Run. Overall, Site 3 (near the stream origin point) displayed better habitat quality and presence of quality macroinvertebrates in comparison to sampling Sites 1 and 2, located further downstream in the testing area. In comparison of Sites 1 and 2, the resultant data was similar with the exception of the number of organisms collected. Again, because the organism count for Site 1 was so low (23 organisms), the % EPT abundance was not valid, but had more organisms been collected for this site, values for Site 1 would likely have valued similar to the recorded Site 2 values. In addition, the data results confirmed initial predictions for the Reference Site (Chestnut Run), confirming superior water quality, especially when compared with Pine Run.
277 Helping Our Veteran and Military Students Succeed and Persist to Graduation: An Exploratory Study
Jessica Yarab There are many barriers that veteran and military students (VAMS) face during their education. This study examined what the University already offers to these students to assist with rentention and persistence to graduation, in addition to what the University can improve for this particular population. Two focus groups, and three semi-structured interviews were completed to gather information from a diverse set of VAMS. Themes emerged both contingent on questions asked, and from spontaneous answers to questions. Themes included: (a) how VAMS initially decided to go into the military; (b) the transition from military to civilian life - particularly to student civilian life, including skill transfer or transfer credits; (c) sense of belonging or involvement on campus; (d) advisement, including career planning and academic goals; (e) managing multiple stressors and roles, including coping strategies; (f) attitudes about civilian peers, faculty or staff; (g) financial, physical or psychological concerns that may interfere with persisting in college; (h) any concerns about reaching graduation; and (i) recommendations for how the University can assist student veterans to persist to graduation, including orientation on military culture and having VAMS in the classroom.
280 PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)
Chris Judge, Xinyuan Li, Kamal Ennouni, & Ahmed Alghamdi
Computer programming is playing one of the main roles in the present society. Since the market is extending; the needs for the industry is in exponentially growing, and human is not able to control everything at the same time, so we need to program the automation machine to take care the stuffs for us. At this time, we need the PLC device to handle the situation that we don’t want to spend time for it then we could spend our time in some other valuable bossiness problem. PLC is the device that executes the user created program logic, and the program is stored in nonvolatile memory, which it will not be lost without power. The PLC is able to communicate with other programmable device, network, or other PLCs device. The majority of PLC devices are use for the industry machines as the automation controller. Our team is doing the research of “What PLCs are doing in the present industries?” and finalize the research information to build up with a PLC project. The PLC project that we are doing to represent the automation is call “ Arduino Solar Tracker”.
281 Chemistry 3720 Honors Project: Carbohydrate Structures by NMR and Molecular Modeling
Jenna Weems, Cassandra Shaffer, Alexa Schmidt, & Breanna Naylor
For Honors credit in Chemistry 3720 (Organic Chemistry 2) we have been applying nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and molecular modeling (ChemBio3D) to the structures of several carbohydrate compounds. Molecular modeling allows us to see how the molecules relax in the gas phase to their lowest energy conformations from which we are then able to find bond and dihedral angles at various parts of the molecule. Since these angle play a major role in coupling values found in the NMR spectrum we are able to predict values and then compare them with the experimental data found in solution. This presentation will detail the application of Chem3D (MM2), 1-D proton spectra and 2-D spectra (COSY) to the structures of four different carbohydrate derivatives.
282 Synthesis of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) (Z)-vinyl phosphonates from bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) 1- alkynylphosphonates using Lindlar’s catalyst
Brian Kamerer
An improved method for the synthesis of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) (Z)-vinyl phosphonates from bis(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl ) 1-alkynylphosphonates is described. Hydrogenation of 1-alkynylphosphonates, in the presence of Lindlar’s catalyst and 2,2,2,-trifluoroethanol, produces the corresponding (Z)-vinyl phosphonates in good yield.
283 Partly Cloudy and a Chance of Crime: A Crime Analysis through Meteorology
Gary Repasky
To better predict crime, alternate methods and trends must be explored. The significance is if enough is known about weather effecting crime, it can be used to aid police departments in having the correct amount of patrol depending on the weather conditions. There have been numerous studies set out to investigate the factors that induce criminals to commit violent acts. Research on the influence of weather on violent crimes is mixed. This analysis aims to the understanding by using information gathering from a sample of 20 cities in Ohio using a theoretically rich dataset. Weather will be measured four ways: temperature, humidity, sunny days, and precipitation. My hypotheses are that temperature, sunny days, and humidity all have a positive correlation with violent crime whereas precipitation does not. Violent crime will be measured in two ways: homicides and aggravated assaults. The findings of this study will be used to help build a model for police to consider when determining staffing levels and locations.
288 Large Scale Automatic Photovoltaics Manufacturing on Mars
Michael Baker, Nicholas McGuigan, & Martin Strong
The remote exploration of Mars has been of enormous profit from a scientifically, but has also come at great expense due in part to the costs of sending payloads to Mars. Common to all craft exploring the Martian surface is a need for a robust energy source, supplied in many cases by on board photovoltaic cells. To reduce payload weights and make exploration more economical, we examine the possibility of an automated onsite factory with the robotic manufacture of solar cells to replace damaged solar panels on existing rovers, to outfit probes en route to Mars, and to power the factory itself. We examine the feasibility and discuss principal challenges associated with the remote manufacture of Solar cells (i.e. purity constraints in refined silicon and implementing a self-management scheme), and we consider optimal geographical placement on Mars given the available data on the availability of raw materials on the Martian surface.
294 Design and Construction of a High-Voltage Generator Using a Cockroft-Walton Multiplier
Brent Cole, Kyle Spickler, Matthew Pilch, Brennen Morrison, & Stephen Schlitt
High voltage power supplies are a relatively small market. They can be used in many aspects of scientific and engineering research. However, it can be difficult to generate voltages that exceed 30kV from common household 120VAC sources. Our goal is to create a PLC controlled high voltage power supply that will generate upwards of 40kV by pairing a transformer with a Cockroft-Walton Multiplier. Like all transformers the one used in this project works on the principles of electromagnetic fields. Creating a magnetic field by running current through a coil of wire, inducing a current in a coil with a changing magnetic field. Thus, generating a voltage across a coil with a changing current. The Cockroft-Walton Multiplier is voltage multiplier that successively charges stages of capacitors separated by diodes. It allows for high voltage potential with little current. The diodes create a one way path to gate the voltage into successively higher potentials. Each stage adds a 2x supply voltage factor to the total sum. The PLC will be used to monitor output voltage and discharge our voltage once it reaches an acceptable level.
301 Implications for the evolution of speech through a comparative study of modern human, non-human primates and hominine hyoid morphology
Stacy Leigh Deraway & Amanda Osborne
The hyoid is a small u-shaped bone that is located in the throat and aids in the production of language and speech. Therefore, it is crucial to understand changes in the hyoid to understand evolution of speech. However, research is limited on the hyoid due to poor preservation. The objective of this research was to examine the hyoid bone evolution and its implications on the development of speech in both Homo sapiens, ancestors of H. sapiens such as Neandertals, and nonhuman primates. The sample consists of one hundred H. sapiens hyoids and fourteen nonhuman primate hyoids from the Hamann-Todd Collection which is housed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The Neandertal data comes from published descriptions. Ten measurements on the hyoids were taken using standard osteometric and dental calipers. SPSS data analyses were done to determine sexual dimorphism, ancestral variation, age and the differences between humans and nonhuman primates. It can be concluded that there is significant sexual dimorphism in Homo sapiens and variation between ancestries in two measurements. Through a comparison between the Neandertal hyoids, Kebara 2 and SDR-034, and the one hundred H. sapiens sample it was discovered that Neandertals fall within the range of human variation for all measurements except for MMH of the Kebara 2 hyoid. This indicates that the ability for speech may have been present in Neandertals. However, due to the small sample size of Neandertal hyoids available for research it is impossible to determine the variation that existed among Neandertals.
302 Sumo Bot
Chris Poullas, Sultan Almujil, Karan Eunni, Ali Dhiaaaldeen, & Andrew Morgan As the future of the world moves into the advancing technologies of tomorrow, we immediately think of the use of drones and robots to complete our everyday tasks. While these technologies may be used for increasing efficiency, the 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) conference in Columbus, Ohio likes to utilize robots in a very different way. The task for one event was to create a Sumo Bot; simply, create a robot that can “sumo wrestle” another. The concepts contained within the Sumo Bot are foundational as to how drones or robots operate. The main task of the Sumo Bot is essentially to find its competitor and eject it from the ring. Programming the robot with the most efficient algorithm is the biggest part in the design, since the robot is completely autonomous. The Sumo Bot has the ability to track other objects using ultrasonic technology and furthermore follow their every move. Using a photo-resistive light sensor, the robot also has the ability to determine its’ location in the ring. This will further be implemented to control whether the robot must evade a push from another robot, or continue pushing until claimed victor for the challenge. In comparison, many components of this build will be similar to sensors and algorithms used for drones and robots today. Furthermore, our team will utilize 3D printing technologies to create a solid body for Sumo Bot development. Overall, this project will create a great ecosystem for increased knowledge of the concept of drones and autonomous technology.
304 The Autonomy of Religion and Morality
Marissa Cattoi
Since the introduction of philosophy itself, the topic of religious morality has been debated. Despite the various theories involving a theistic morality, logically, it does not make sense for morality and religion to be linked in any way. Many of the root assumptions made when considering religious morality are flawed, which leads to logical fallacies in religious theories, such as Divine Command theory. Conversely, many secular theories, such as Social Contract theory and Secular Humanism, follow much more linearly and are thus more widely accepted among philosophers. Also, today other disciplines, such as science and psychology are involving themselves in the debate, leading to more tangible evidence of the autonomy of morality from religion. These findings, while widely accepted amongst philosophers, are not universal. Philosophy is known for its ambiguity therefore no philosophical debate can have an absolute truth.
305 Homicide in Metro City, Metro County, & Non Metro Areas
John McDole
This research examines homicide in three different types of communities, which are metro city, metro county, and non metro. The secondary research data was gathered from the Uniform Crime Report and there were 13063 respondents. The purpose of this research is to see which of the three areas has the highest homicide occurrence during the summer months. There are four independent variables that were tested during the study which were month of the offense, sex, race, and victim offender relationship. There was a correlation found between the type of place and the month of the offense in the preliminary tests. I believe that this research can help the criminal justice system better understand where and when these types of crimes are most likely to occur.
307 The Effects of Physical Activity on Attention in Student Athletes
Amanda Shuluga
The present study investigated whether physical activity has a positive effect on attention in student athletes. Participants (all female between the ages of 20 and 22) were given a set of two pictures with 12 changes directly after physical activity and asked to recall as many of the changes between to two pictures as they could. The same participants were given a different set of two pictures, also with 12 changes, when no physical activity had occurred and again asked to recall as many changes as they could. The average number of changes recognized after physical activity was in fact slightly more than the average number of changes when physical activity did not occur. Although no significant results were found, the results do show a possibility for significant findings for this specific area in the future.
308 Innovation in Conscious Fashion Design
Elaine Reedy
Ethical fashion incorporates social, environmental, and commercial responsibility to maximize the benefits to individuals, as well as society as a whole. This consciousness in fashion begins with a design that keeps the user in mind, with an aim to provide clever solutions for the wearer to brave the challenges of everyday life. This piece is especially inspired by a conscious consumer, who has a thoughtful appreciation for the world around her. As all users, she has a multi-dimensional experience of fashion and clothing. The challenge of this study is to produce a functional and versatile garment that incorporates technology, as well as environmental and social responsibility, while maintaining the beauty that is fundamental to fashion. The desired outcome of this study is to support the idea that innovation can flourish in a conscious approach to fashion and clothing.
310 Properties and Applications of Shape Memory Polymer Using 3D Printing
Antonio DiSalvo, Samuel Capelli, Daniel Martin, & Kelly Kovaceich
Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) is a material that contains properties comparable to Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs). The property of focus as well as the polymer’s namesake, is the ability to have its shape manipulated/altered at room temperature, then when heat is applied, it will revert to its original form. Essentially, the SMP/SMA can be bent, twisted, smashed, etc., but “remember” what its past shape was and can return back to it after being exposed to heat. This research analysis involves extruding SMPs into 3D printable wire to be used to print specimens for research and study. Potential applications of printed SMPs were discovered, including specimens composed with SMA wire.
314 An Observational Assessment of Mangrove Forests in Vieques, Puerto Rico
Nicholas Karousis & Daniel J. Lisko
Our aim is to present a well preserved site in Vieques, Puerto Rico in contrast to less pristine sites. Mangrove is a term widely used to describe trees ecologically restricted to tropical tidal zones, which reproduce via vivaporous seeds, exhibit aerial roots and tolerate high salinity levels. Mangrove forests are unique in several ways, they are essential for the survival of various organisms by providing nurseries, food, and nutrients necessary for coastal ecology to thrive. Mangroves protect coastal shore lines from erosion, hurricanes, and tsunamis by dissipating wave energy. These ecologically important functions, valuable to life in these habitats are currently being threatened by human encroachment. Mangrove forest products are being harvested for fuel, construction, and medicines. These products are typically harvested on a sustainable scale, and mostly utilized by locals but aquaculture and infrastructure development, which requires the clear cutting of mangroves, is considered a greater threat to the forest. Deforestation collapses the ecological niche that is provided by the mangroves as well as reduces protection from storms.
317 Hydrology, Sedimentology, and Geomorphology as Drivers of Succession vs. Flood Disturbance within Riparian Forests of Middle Order Streams of the Northeast
Leah Kaldy
Composition of riparian forests typically represents varying influences of flood disturbance and/or primary succession. The Zoar Valley Canyon along 6th order Cattaraugus Creek in western New York State displays predominantly successional dynamics, although most riparian sites previously studied in the East appear flood- driven. The main objective of this meta-analysis within the Lake Erie Gorges ecoregion of New York and Pennsylvania is to understand the contributions of geomorphology, hydrology, and sedimentology to a disturbance vs. succession continuum for riparian forests of middle order (4th-6th) streams of the Northeast. Riparian forests in Zoar Valley reflect primary succession driven by spatio-temporal patterns of established coarse-sediment comprised landforms. There is evidence that a similar trajectory also prevails on coarse- sediment aggradational landforms in the riparian zones of other Lake Erie Gorges streams. It is increasingly evident that within this ecoregion various combinations of flood regimes and sedimentary environments drive geomorphology directly, which then provides the physical template for patterns and processes in riparian forest ecology.
318 Sedimentologic Study of Washover Features on San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Determining Their Sediment Sources and History
Ronald N. Kichton
San Salvador Island, Bahamas, is an isolated carbonate island in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is frequently subjected to storm events, including hurricanes, which leave a sedimentary record along coastal areas. This study characterizes the depositional history of a sandy washover feature and surrounding terrain along the very southern island coastline. The feature extends into a stagnant arm of Pigeon Creek, a tidal estuary and is flanked by mangrove marshes; the sandy wash-over fan separates this water body from the Atlantic Ocean. The paleoenvironmental history of this coastal area was examined from core samples of unlithified sediments collected from across the project area. Two cores were collected from Pigeon Creek, three from the surrounding marshes, and three from the sandy wash-over fan. Visual comparisons of sediment layers in cores, grain-size analysis, and shell identifications were used to establish facies models, determine sediment sources, and provide insight into the geologic developmental history of the area.
319 Unmanned Aerial Systems: Theory and Applications
James Carter, Lucas Ciprian, Stephen Koulianos, Garrett McIntyre, & Cory Thomas
Objective: Our goal was to understand the basic operations, systems and applications of unmanned aerial systems, specifically state estimation with respect to inertial navigation and autonomous flight functions. Then using the information and data learned through our research, construct a fully operational quad rotor to aide in our understanding of unmanned aerial systems. The primary purpose behind this project is to gain a base knowledge so we may in the future design and build our own flight control system to operate multi-rotor systems in a variety of applications. Methods: We researched the theory of unmanned aerial systems and settled on a basic design that would allow our group to become very familiar with all the individual components and systems involved in the realization of a operational unmanned aerial vehicle. We designed, assembled and tuned our own quad rotor system. Realizing how critical state estimation was to flight control and guidance we decided to also model a Kalman Filter using MatLab. The Kalman Filter is a form of state estimation that allows for the elimination of noise in signals sent from essential airborne sensors. Results: The end result of our design project was a fully operational multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle equipped for first person video piloting and aerial photography. The Kalman Filter will be a critical aspect in the future design of our own flight control board and guidance systems. Currently, we are discussing the scope our next unmanned aerial system and are in the early stages of design. The ultimate end goal is to design and code our own flight control board which will incorporate autonomous flight capabilities.
320 Medically-Assisted Treatment: Expert Opinion Regarding the Use of Suboxone (buprenorhine) in Response to the Opiate Epidemic
Michael Welsh
The purpose of this study is to examine the use of Suboxone (buprenorphine) as a treatment protocol in response to dramatically increased abuse of opiates. Research shall be based upon semi-structured interviews with local experts from various disciplines that confront the aforementioned health and social dilemma. Studies exhibit controversy as to the administration of this chemotherapy as well as the ancillary problems it can create. Therefore the systematic examination of expert opinion shall provide perspective regarding best practices and efficacy related to the use of Suboxone.
322 Exploring the Objective and Subjective Career Success of Paramedic Program Directors
Cornelia Bryan
Paramedic program directors play an important role in preparing Emergency Medical Service professionals to provide care to ill and injured patients, yet little is known about these individuals. This study explored the career success of paramedic program directors both subjectively and objectively and attempted to assess how they achieved their career success. A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed to 646 paramedic program directors across the United States. Analyses examined the effects of human capital variables, sociodemographic status, stable individual differences and organizational sponsorship variables on the objective career success and subjective career success of the respondents (n=359). Relationships between the variables were found to exist for both subjective career success and objective career success. The findings of this study add to the knowledge about these professionals and may be used by human resource agents to recruit and retain a successful workforce.
324 Transposon mutagenesis of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OR02
Vincent Pilolli, Jeremy Borton, Angel Muns, & Hayley Spalla
A multi-metal resistant strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OR02 (S. maltophilia 02) grows when exposed to toxic salts of gold and selenite. An E-Z Tn5 transposome was introduced into S. maltophilia OR02. Approximately 880 transformants were replica plated onto plates containing gold chloride, sodium selenite, and M-9 minimal salts medium to see if the transposon interrupted genes required for gold resistance, selenite resistance, or growth on minimal media. Three transformants were found to be sensitive to gold and selenite, three were found to be sensitive to selenite, and 7 failed to grow on M-9 minimal salts medium. The transposon contained a kanamycin resistant gene, and an R6Ky replication origin. The genomic DNA from the mutants was purified, digested, ligated and transformed into E. coli. These transformants contained new plasmids consisting of the transposon flanked by the interrupted genes. We used DNA sequencing to identify the genes in 5 mutants (AW34,AX55,AY44,BD14,BF79) that were involved in environmental sensing, amino acid biosynthesis, nucleotide biosynthesis.
326 Who Holds the Paddle: Teacher and Community Involvement in Bullying Prevention
Mackenzi Brozovich
Education has been drastically changing not only in the material and instruments used to facilitate it but also in the roles and responsibilities of those who administer it. In the past, teachers held a role outside of the classroom, overseeing the health and wellbeing of their students. Today, they no longer hold formal roles outside of the academic lives of their students, yet with the onset of bullying, teachers are the ones turned towards by the public to combat the issue – even if it occurs outside of the walls of the school. Although teachers’ responsibilities are confined to the walls of academia, the public is reverting to the old times when teachers had a major role in the social and private lives of their students. Current bullying intervention strategies all incorporate teachers as the main enforcer, and none of them consistently work. The problems lie in the tasks at hand, how they are thrown at educators to solve, and the lack of consideration of the other factors teachers must be responsible for. Law reviews and articles from 2012-2014 explore the shifting environments inside the classroom, outside of it, and even online and are connected to create the argument that the new roles of teachers no longer fit the dated expectations of the public on the current issue of bullying.
330 Geomorphology of a Late Holocene Strandplain on San Salvador, Bahamas
Salam Farhan & Jeremy Grimes
Sandy Hook is a late Holocene, carbonate strandplain, which is located on the southeastern extent of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. A product of seaward progradation during a hurricane hyper activity period, the strand plain complex is comprised of four distinct packages of beach ridges that vary in ridge elevation, spacing, and sediment composition. A multi-proxy approach was developed to characterize the strandplain in an attempt to reveal information pertaining to climate and sediment supply regimes throughout its evolution. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with 200 MHz antennae was used to image the subsurface in an attempt to provide insight to storm frequency and intensity across the complex; while, augur sampling was performed to ground truth those reflectors imaged by GPR, serving as a proxy to determine sediment supply regimes. Collectively these methods have provided insight into the hurricane hyperactivity period of the Caribbean, variances in sediment supplies over space and time and their combined influence on Sandy Hook’s development. It appears these variances may be explained; however, this study lacked chronological constructs due to dating limitations. The strandplain complex at Sandy Hook represents an extensive storm record, which future studies may be able to interpret further.
335 Front Line Supervision within the Construction Industry
Sydney DeMaarco
Total quality management, lean, and six-sigma were all developed in the mid to late 1900’s in the manufacturing and industrial industry as well known process improvement methodologies. Adopting these methodologies and knowing how to properly implement them is a newer concept within the construction industry today. Employers and employees in the construction industry must understand the positive effects of implementing these improvement methodologies within construction company’s through pervious case studies. Also, both employers and employees need to understand the basic concepts of these process improvement methodologies and the benefits of applying them to construction projects their firms bid on or complete. Also, to achieve a better understanding of how the Youngstown, Ohio area general contractors knowledge on these topics a short, anonymous general survey was conducted within industry.
337 The Internet Lock
Brandon Mirto
The Internet Lock is just that, a lock controlled through the internet. There were many goals for the final design, but the core goals for the project were to control a door lock with an Android application that: 1. Allows the user to lock or unlock a door from any location with a stable internet connection. 2.Provides the user with information on the status of the lock (I.e. locked or unlocked)
339 Identification of Saliva Bacteria by 16s rRNA Sequencing
Samantha Bartolone
Human saliva is teeming with bacteria. A previous study of mouth microbiota in 10 healthy individuals found saliva contains bacteria strains of Veillonella, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus and Corynebacterium. To see if it is possible to directly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplify DNA from saliva, 1 microliter of saliva from two different subjects was mixed with 9 microliters of water, heated at 96 for 1 one minute and allowed to cool to room temperature. Then, PCR reagents and primers were added to amplify a 16s rRNA fragment. This fragment was cloned into the plasmid, pUC19, by overlapping PCR. Preliminary sequencing results and Basic Local Alignment Search (BLAST) analysis suggested that the saliva samples contained Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Campylobacter species. This approach will be used to investigate whether dental prothesis are the reservoir of infection for nursing home patients who contract pneumonia.
340 Russia - Ukraine Conflict : An Analysis of the Conflict
Jeffrey Michael Bash, Michael David Hernandez, Catherine Marie Cooper, & Dylan Thomas Edwards
War is a state of armed conflict between different nations or states/different groups within a nation or state. The current conflict in Ukraine can be categorized as a war between pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian forces. It has been one year since the annexation of Crimea by Russia. A lot has changed in one year. Destabilization of states, the rise of global violence and fall of the global markets are but a few changes on the global scene. Currently in Eastern Ukraine pro-Russian forces are invading major cities. The diffusion of pro-Russian forces into Easter Ukraine has been on the rise since June of 2014 after the buildup of Russian forces east of the Ukrainian border. Russia is facing steep economic sanctions for it military actions. Outcomes range from the total annexation of Ukraine or western aid to Ukraine’s growing conflict. There is continued research concerning this ongoing conflict.
341 Glucan Synthase Gene Expression in Penicillium marneffei in Response to Cell-Wall Stressors
Sarah Eisnaugle
Penicillium marneffei is a dimorphic, pathogenic fungus endemic to Southeast Asia. In 2014, Suwunnakorn et al., determined that the P. marneffei yakA gene, coding for a protein kinase, is required for both fungal growth and stress response. Of particular note, a yakA mutant (ΔyakA) exhibited increased resistance to the cell wall stressor Congo Red and a decreased resistance to the antifungal drug Caspofungin. Because both of these stressors have been shown to inhibit proper synthesis of cell-wall glucans in other fungi, these results seem contradictory. This investigation aimed to study this contradiction through analyzing glucan synthase gene expression under different types of cell wall stress in both a wild-type strain (F4) of P. marneffei and the ΔyakA strain. Using qRT-PCR, relative gene expression of the glucan synthase genes fksP, ags2, and kre6 was quantified. Expression levels were normalized to the β-tubulin gene, benA. The results indicate that ΔyakA possesses significantly lower expression levels of glucan synthase in a non-stressing control media when compared to F4. When cultured in stress-inducing media, however, the mutant strain seems to respond with significantly higher levels of glucan synthase expression when compared to the wild type. This non-regulated defensive response may explain why the mutant strain is more resistant to CR, which non-specifically attacks glucan along with other cell wall components, but still susceptible to the highly-specific glucan synthase inhibition due to CAS. Results such as these may shed light on the regulation of cell wall-related enzymes and the potential mechanisms behind cell wall defense in P. marneffei.
343 Characterization of Metals in Urban Soils
Braxton L. Wessell
With the anticipated growth of urban environments globally, it is important to understand the legacy effects of historical pollution. Modern regulations often minimize the release of contaminants, but prior to the early 1970s such regulations were lacking or non-existent. In Youngstown, OH, much of the soil contamination is due to a legacy from the industrial era. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that past industrialization has elevated the levels of various metals (lead, copper, chromium, barium, zinc, manganese). Samples were collected from four land use types: pre 1950 residential soils, post 1950 residential soils, undisturbed soils such as parks and cemeteries, and industrial soils. Initial results suggest that industrial soils have the highest concentrations of lead, copper, chromium, zinc, and manganese. There was also a distinct difference in pre and post 1950 residential soils, with older residential soils having higher metal concentrations.
345 Geographical Variations in the Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Nicole Noday The evolving epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) proposes that environmental factors have a substantial effect on the prevalence and manifestation of the disease. The environmental factors that correlate to the incidence of IBD can fluctuate based upon geographical location. This study examines and evaluates the frequency of IBD in different regions around the world. It also discusses in detail the environmental risk factors that are associated with IBD. The studies that were analyzed had a case-control design. These quantitative studies are examining geographical location and environmental exposure and are comparing these components with the potential outcome of IBD. Future research is aiming to further determine the connections between geographical distribution of environmental risk factors and the incidence of IBD.
346 CNC Multi-Table (Phase 1)
Patrick Hyden
Computer numeric controlled (CNC) machines are typically used in industry for autonomously removing excess material from a product until the part’s final specifications are achieved. More recently, CNC machines have been used for additive applications such as 3D plastic extrusion printing, LASER sintering, and cell deposition for 3D printed organs. The goal of this project is to design and build a 3-axis CNC capable of machining aluminum, multi-plastic 3D extrusion printing, LASER sintering/cutting, and circuit board printing. Phase 1 of the project includes all structural design, part sourcing, and programming. Phase 2 includes structural building, merging major systems, and fine tuning. Each application can be easily implemented into the CNC with easily- interchangeable heads. There are two major design challenges presented with this project; creating a CNC structurally capable of withstanding the torque produced by a milling head, and limiting warping effects caused by rapid cooling of large-volume 3D printed thermoplastics. The system is controlled by a BeagleBone Black microcontroller with a Linux Debian operating system, displayed on a LCD capacitive touchscreen.
348 The Design and Installation of a 2 Ton Jib Crane
Benjamin Tadla & Christopher DeChellis
A jib crane is an ideal mechanism used to lift and transport various materials from one location to another. These jib cranes are often found in numerous shops and manufacturing facilities. The primary dilemma faced for the capstone project was that a jib crane was needed in an industrial shop with a minimal concrete base. The main goal addressed by the team was to build this jib crane in compliance with CMAA (Crane Manufacturing Association of America), AWS (American Welding Society), and AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction). In this study of a semi free standing jib crane, stress and strain analysis was performed on all members and at critical joints. These members and critical joints consisted of the jib, mast, secondary mast, derrick legs, base plate, pin, bushings, and welds. Following the analysis, it was then given to a professional engineer to be checked and signed off for construction.
349 Comparing Natural Language Text and Source Code - An Eye-Tracking Study
Patrick Peachock
Is there an inherent difference in the way programmers read natural language text compared to source code? Does expertise play a role in the reading behavior of programmers? In order to start answering these questions, we conduct a study with novices while they read small short snippets of natural language texts and C++ source code. Students were recruited from an Introduction to Programming class in the Computer Science and Information Systems department. In this presentation, we report on phase 1 of the study that was conducted in the fifth week of the Spring 2015 semester. The students were each given eleven tasks: a set of eight programs and three natural language texts. They were asked some comprehension questions after each task. We analyze and present our results on eye fixation counts and durations as well as the linearity we observe in both natural language texts and source code.
351 Contruction of an MHR1 Gene Knockout to Determine its Effects on mtDNA in p- Yeast
Joanna Peng & Robin McConahy
The mitochondria exists as a irreplaceable organelle within the cell, imperative to the cell's energy metabolism through ATP production from oxidative phosphorylation. Yeast mtDNA from the unicellular Saccharomyces cerevisiae, serves as an effective model for comparison with human mtDNA and its maintenance, due to its ability to function anaerobically through fermentation. Yeast can also exist in multiple mtDNA states, such as p+ (respiring), p- (non-respiring, with mutant mtDNA). It has been shown that mtDNA replication requires recombination. However, only p+ cells and a disruption of the nuclear-encoded MHR1 (mitochondrial homologous recombination) gene were used in the analysis. Our research centers specifically on the MHR1 gene through its complete knockout, which removes the coding region of the gene, as opposed to disrupting it, and its effects on p- mtDNA maintenance, which has shown to have less requirements for maintenance than p+. Before analysis on p- state and knockout can occur, a successful knockout construct must be made. My contribution, therefore, centers specifically on modifying the knockout construct of MHR1 (known as the URA gene) and afterwards, its effects on mtDNA in congruence with previously made MGT1/CCE1 knockout construct. This is done by specifically adjusting the modified knockout construct with different restriction sites, GC clamps, primers in order to eliminate unnecessary DNA repeats to create a functional knockout construct (URA gene) to insert into yeast through recombination.
352 Study Design for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals by Using EDDS
Yener Ulus
Background: Many houses built prior to 1978 had high concentrations of lead in their paint leading to Pb contamination in nearby soil. Many houses in our study site (Warren, Ohio) have been abandoned and demolished due to demand to reduce aged housing stock and were thought to have lead contaminated soil. The aim of this project is to remove lead from soil by planting Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) and observing the effectiveness of the chealator N-(2-Hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine- N,Nʹ,Nʹ-triacetic acid trisodium salt (EDDS). An additional variable to be examined is harvest frequency using two groups of plants; one group will be harvested after 4 weeks, then replanted and grown for another 4 weeks, and the other group having only a single harvest after 8 weeks. Preliminary results collected from 6 different abandoned house locations in Warren, Ohio show soil Pb concentration ranging from 90 ppm to 1000 ppm lead concentration. Many of these samples collected are higher than Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) level of concern for Pb in play areas or vegetable gardens (400 ppm) but is lower that the level of concern (1200 ppm) for non play areas. Currently, we are working on techniques which are soil characterizations including available nutrients, organic matter, texture and soil type, contaminant concentrations, metal extraction and pot experiment design.
353 Development of myosin fiber type expression and prehensile tail function in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)
Dylan Thomas
The expression of slow/fast myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms reflect task-specific uses of muscles. Monodelphis domestica is an opossum that uses its prehensile tail to grasp materials for nest construction. This study tests hypotheses about developmental changes in MHC content with the onset of tail use. Tail flexor muscle was harvested from individuals age 21 days to 2 years old, and MHC gene and protein expression was quantified by qPCR and protein gel densitometry, respectively. In addition, video of tail use from opossums age 3-12 months was analyzed to indicate when prehension is achieved and used for nest construction. At age 5 months, qPCR shows high transcription of developmental MHC and fast MHC-2X that results in a post- translation shift to greater expression of slower 1 and 2A MHC isoform fibers which correlates with increasing tail use between the ages 5 and 7 months.
354 Chitin Synthase Gene Expression in Penicillium marneffei in Response to Cell-Wall Stressors
Joshua Engle
The yakA gene of the dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei, as determined by Suwunnakorn et al. in 2014, possesses unspecified roles in growth regulation and cell-wall-based stress response. This present study aimed to determine yakA’s role in regulation of chitin synthase gene expression when P. marneffei is subjected to cell wall stressors including the diazo dye Congo Red (CR), the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and the chitin-binding agent Calcofluor White (CW). The effects of these stressors on two strains of P. marneffei, a wild-type stain (F4) and a mutant strain lacking a functional yakA gene (ΔyakA), were assessed through the use of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR). qRT-PCR results were normalized to the β-tubulin gene, benA, for relative quantitation. At 25 °C, a temperature at which P. marneffei grows as a mold, strains F4 and ΔyakA showed significant differences in chitin synthase gene expression with and without the influence of cell wall stressors. In a non-stressor control medium, strain ΔyakA showed significantly higher levels of chitin synthase gene expression when compared to strain F4. When incubated in media containing CR and CW, however, ΔyakA showed a somewhat decreased response in terms of chitin synthase gene expression. At 37 °C, a temperature at which P. marneffei grows as a uninucleate yeast, no significant differences in chitin synthase gene expression were observed. Overall, these results hint at the complex regulatory roles that yakA plays in compensating for cell wall stress and regulating normal patterns of cell wall structure.
355 Tracing Software Developers’ Eyes and Interactions for Change Tasks
Timothy Shaffer, Katja Kevic, Braden Walters, Thomas Fritz, & David Shepherd
What are software developers doing during a change task? While an answer to this question opens countless opportunities to support developers in their work, only little is known about developers' detailed navigation behavior for realistic change tasks. Most empirical studies on developers performing change tasks are limited to very small code snippets or are limited by the granularity or the detail of the data collected for the study. In our research, we try to overcome these limitations by combining user interaction monitoring with very fine granular eye-tracking data that is automatically linked to the underlying source code entities in the IDE. In a study with 12 professional and 10 student developers working on three change tasks from an open source system, we used our approach to investigate the detailed navigation of developers for realistic change tasks. The results of our study show, amongst others, that the eye-tracking data captures indeed different aspects than user interaction data and that developers focus on only small parts of methods that are often related by data flow. We discuss our findings and their implications for better developer tool support.
359 Towards Understanding the Context of Student and Professional Developers Using Eye Gaze Features
Ahraz Husain
Context management and retention is one of the biggest problems facing the software industry. Coping with change requests such as feature additions or bug fixes is an ingrained part of every developer's workday. In this work, we investigate two data sources for context management: interaction history managers and eye tracking managers. The interaction history managers collect developer interaction data such as mouse clicks and files edited. Eye tracking managers collect eye tracking data of where developers look while they are working. Most empirical studies on developers performing change tasks are limited to very small code snippets or are limited by the granularity or the detail of the data collected for the study. In this research, we use data collected across 22 developers on 66 change tasks on a large open source system. Using this data, we explore how eye gaze features (such as pupil diameter) can be used to observe context that can transform into actions. We also analyse how our findings can be used in the evolution of development tools to help the developer in change tasks. Keywords: Context Managers, iTrace, Mylyn, Eclipse, Software Engineering, Eye Tracking
360 Talk the Talk: A Case for L2 Acquisition for Academic and Global Success
Megan Factor
Over the past two decades, second language acquisition programs in the United States have been dwindling due to budget constraints and the decreased value that schools have placed on them. Despite what many school administrations believe, learning a second language is a benefit to students beyond being able to converse with a person from another country. L2 acquisition has been linked to increased cognitive abilities, higher standardized test scores in nearly every school subject, and a broader perspective and appreciation for the world we live in. Young children have a much easier time retaining a second language due to their ability to mimic the syntax of native speakers; however, the window of opportunity that they have to firmly grasp another language is short. It is for this reason that more elementary schools should offer second language programs to their students. In the increasingly globalized world in which we live, it is important now more than ever to understand our similarities and embraces our differences. During the course of my research, I analyzed publications that ranged from newspapers to scholarly journals. Both professionals in the language field and parents who advocate for L2 programs were represented along with their research or stance on the argument.
361 Bioluminescence in Mosquito Bay Vieques, Puerto Rico
Erin Freed & Kaitlyn Frederick
Mosquito Bay on the south shores of Vieques, Puerto Rico provides a rare visual display to its visitors. The waters contain about 750,000 photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Pyrodinium bahamense) per gallon. These bioluminescent microorganisms emit a greenish-blue light when disturbed. Mosquito Bay is one of only a few places on earth that has the ideal conditions to harbor such a high number of dinoflagellates. The mangroves surrounding the bay provide nutrients through falling leaves that undergo bacterial decomposition. Furthermore, the shallow, warm bay is only 90 acres and contains a small opening, essentially trapping the dinoflagellates. Changing environmental conditions will cause a decrease in the number of dinoflagellates and the intensity of the bioluminescence. This can be the result of natural changes in weather and wind patterns or human impact. Rules restricting swimming and the number of tourists allowed have been enacted in an attempt to reduce the human impact.
362 Effects of the Workplace and how it moves into the Home
Kelsey M. Adkins
Domestic violence is a violent crime that is on the rise in many professions in today’s society. Often a contributor to this crime is the profession in which the individual works, the home life; such as kids, house work or even the spouse at home. It has also been shown that within a job the job duties can increase the chances of domestic violence in ones’ home. Looking at the number of marriages one has and how many children they have living at home can be a factor in the chances of becoming violent with their spouse and/or children. When looking at the data provided, we focused on if the individual was ever a law enforcement officer prior to their current position or if they have ever become physical with another officer. Becoming married before becoming a law enforcement officer has shown to increase the chances of domestic violence with you children living at home. In contrast, becoming physical with your children has no relationship with becoming physical with your spouse. Keywords: law enforcement, physical, children, spouse
363 Deceptive Mating Strategies
Erin Freed
Deception is prevalent is all aspects of life, and can be observed in the mating strategies of every group of the animal kingdom. The evolution of mating system structure is driven by various forms of selection, including sexual selection, evolutionarily stable strategies and alternative strategies. Deceptive mating behaviors can be grouped into four categories; sensory traps, courtship interference, mimicking and false advertisement. The costs and benefits of each category are discussed along with examples from many species.
364 YSU Archaeological Excavations at the Fresh Lake Site on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas.
Hannah Scarazzo
Since 1995, faculty and students from Youngstown State University have carried out archaeological excavations on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. The island was inhabited from 600 A.D. to 1500 A.D., by Lucayan Indians, a culture that practiced crude cultivation and utilized marine resources in their diet. In December 2012, YSU students under the direction of Dr. Matt O’Mansky and Tom Delvaux opened a new archaeological site in the vicinity of Fresh Lake on San Salvador. Work continued in December 2014 as field crews excavated at SS-7 (the Fresh Lake site). These excavations were conducted adjacent to areas that had been studied during the 2012 and 2013 dig seasons. Excavations produced numerous cultural artifacts; primarily shell beads but also bits of pottery and other remnants of daily life. Artifacts we collected included an assemblage of materials such as: palmetto ware pottery, conch shell beads, chiton, parrot fish teeth and palettes, coral, cadakia, conch shell tools, and related items.
365 Creating 3D Photonic Crystals and GRIN Films Using Sputter Deposition
Cory Merlo
Magnetron sputtering is a method commonly used to deposit materials and build thin films for research purposes. In YSU's wide bandgap semiconductor lab we use many techniques to create a variety of thin films. We have attempted to manufacture a 3D photonic crystal by layering zinc oxide and chromium through an array of holes. The materials passing through the holes build up as pillars on our base material, and this arrangement of pillars is meant to act as our 3D photonic crystal. We have also deposited gradient refractive index, or GRIN, films using zinc oxide and silicon dioxide. Zinc oxide and silicon dioxide have refractive indices of about 2.00 and 1.46 respectively, which means light passing through a boundary of the two materials at an angle will bend. Our GRIN film is made by uniformly increasing the amount of silicon dioxide we are depositing while simultaneously decreasing the amount of zinc oxide being deposited. By mixing the two materials we have created a film that has a refractive index that increases with depth. These samples are now being studied and their properties characterized by taking transmission measurements, using EDX elemental analysis, and using SEM imaging. The results of this analysis on our samples will be presented at quest.
366 Comparison of Uniform and Delta doped p- and n- type ZnO Thin Films
Ravichandra Reddy Gade
The properties of uniform and delta doped p- and n- type ZnO thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering from ZnO, Li3PO4 and Al solid targets on c-plane sapphire substrates have been characterized. The substrates were maintained at a temperature of 300 oC and a film thickness of 1 micrometer was obatined for all the films. Uniform doping in p-type films was achieved by simultaneous deposition of the films from ZnO and Li3PO4 targets, where as for the n-type films the deposition was done using ZnO and Al targets. For delta doping, the deposition from the Li3PO4 and Al targets was blocked for 2 and 6 min. Post-deposition annealing was carried for p-type films in O2 and n-type films in N2 at 500 - 900 °C for 3 min. Hall effect measurements revealed n-type conductivities with average Hall concentrations of 2.71 x 1019 and 2.17 x 1018 cm-3, while p-type films showed average hole concentrations of 2.71 x 1014 and 2.17 x 1015 cm-3 for uniform and delta doped films.These p- type conductivities however were unstable and sometimes yielded n-type conductivities with repeated measurements could be due to lateral inhomogeneity in the hole concentration or small Hall voltages in the measurements. The n-type films exbhited a consistent electron concentration in the repeated trails of hall measurements. Delta doping has increased the carrier concentration and decreased the resistivity in films over the uniform doped one's
369 Core Strengthening vs. Standard Strengthening Protocol When Implemented for Anterior Knee Pain in Young Athletes
Dawnelle Jewell, Meische Cox, & Michael Carson
Background: Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) is common in adolescent athletes. One approach to treating AKP is the incorporating core strengthening. Core and hip strengthening exercises have shown to reduce AKP and demonstrated improvements in pain/disability. There is no evidence comparing core strengthening followed by lower extremity strengthening to standard lower extremity strengthening protocol for effects on AKP. Objective: Compare the treatment effects of an exercise program with core strengthening before lower extremity strengthening with an exercise program for hip, knee, and ankle strength and flexibility in the treatment of adolescent athletes with AKP. Design: Pilot study, RCT Methods: Subjects included 8 athletes (mean age 16.5 +/- 1.2 years). Each patient was randomly assigned to a group. Experimental group completed exercises to increase strength of the trunk stabilizers followed by a knee strengthening program. The control group received only a hip and knee strengthening program. The outcome tools used during the study included: Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (KAKPS), Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Global Rating of Change Scale (GRoC), and Percent Recovery. Results: Analysis was completed based on mean and standard deviation of the outcome tool scores. Scores improved in both groups. No statistical between group comparisons have been made yet. Conclusion: Both groups show improvements in outcome scores. Further study will be required with the acquisition of more subjects in order to reflect a larger population.
370 Efficacy and Safety of Influenza Vaccine
Brandi Carroll
Influenza is a serious illness that affects the majority of people around the world. The influenza vaccine is something that can help many people to lessen illness, time off work, hospitalizations, loss of income, and serious complications due to influenza illness. The CDC recommends that every person 6 months and older should be vaccinated annually. This poster will describe the flu shot, provide information about the flu shot and how it works, who should be vaccinated, show evidence of efficacy and safety, and also describe the flu and complications of having it.
373 Measuring the Daily Well-Being of Accounting Students using Experiential Sampling Techniques
Dominic Jackett
This study measure the daily academic well-being of accounting students. The researcher uses an experiential sampling method, sending 3 – 5 texts a day to students asking the following questions: “Right now, how happy do u feel? RU productive? How meaningful is your day? RU connected with others? RU stressed? 1=not at all...9=extremely. What RU doing?” The researcher collected usable data from 80 students (n = 4330 texts) and analyzed how students felt in real- time about school and/or daily life. Findings include measurements comparing the academic well-being on different aspects of school such as studying, working on projects, presentations, and taking the final exam. In addition, the researcher compares data about many aspects of daily life including eating, working, cooking, partying, driving, relaxing, watching television, etc. In addition to gathering real-time data, the researcher introduced an intervention to a group of accounting students. One group of students practiced a character strength on a daily basis whereas the control group read mundane newspaper articles. The intervention removed two inequities between the groups: (1) improving connectedness for the experimental group and (2) reducing stress for the experimental group. Implications of the study can inform the teaching of accounting as well as suggest the use of interventions to improve feelings of connectedness with others and reducing student stress.
375 Methods of Engineering Time Study Analysis at General Extrusions Inc.
Ben Spencer & Etienne Hall
General Extrusions Incorporated is an aluminum extrusion company that specializes in high quality parts that often require secondary fabrication after extrusion. A team of industrial engineering students performed a time study that analyzed a punch press operation that was being carried out on one such part. The purpose of this study was to find potential improvements that could be made to the process to improve its efficiency. A video was recorded of the process and was analyzed using modern time study software. This allowed the engineers to accurately and thoroughly break down the process into task elements. Upon completion of the time study, other analysis tools such as MTM-1, MTM-2, and MOST were utilized in an attempt to improve the process throughput rate and improve worker ergonomics. The time study gave the team of engineers the chance to interact with members of an industrial setting including management and laborers.
377 End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patient’s Perception of Their Health and Compliance with their Dialysis Prescription.
Linda Robinson
The purpose of this study is to Identify and compare the ESRD (end stage renal disease) patient’s perception of their health and compliance and their dialysis prescription, (diet, fluid restriction, treatment, and medication’s). ESRD patients who have completed one year of dialysis in a chronic dialysis facility will be invited to participate in the study. The study will use a questionnaire which includes the demographic data of each patient. Another questionnaire will consist of six questions regarding the patient’s perception of their health and compliance with their dialysis prescription. The responses will be analyzed using SAS) Statistical Analysis System. Standard descriptive statistical measures will be used to examine the demographics and questionnaire results. T- tests will be used to test the difference between the perception of health and compliance with the prescription.
378 Security Measures for File Sharing in a Cloud Environment
Joseph Gantz
Data storage is an appealing service of the Cloud offered to modern users. The primary concern included with this service is the necessity to trust that one’s data is not manipulated by the service provider. We explain how both commutative and fully homomorphic encryption schemes can provide the user a way to securely store data on the Cloud while maintaining the ability to share among other permitted users. We also examine the Shamir Three-Pass Protocol and introduce a scheme based on the RSA protocol to allow multiple users to share files on an untrusted server.
379 Synthesis of Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) Phosphonates
Jordan Zaluski
Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphonates are good reagents for obtaining (Z)-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons condensation. Treatment of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphite with potassium hexamethyldisilazide in the presence of 18-crown-6, followed by the addition of an alpha-halo ester produces the corresponding bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphonate quantitatively. We are currently optimizing methods for isolation and purification of these useful reagents.
380 Service Learning Project 2015 - Northwest Haiti Christian Mission
Sidney Snyder, Danielle Dutton, Kaitlin Lehner
Service learning projects and volunteering opportunities as well as projects for college students area an important avenue for community service as well as personal growth. Many areas throughout the United States and the globe are in legitimate need of help, and college students can not only help with the improvement of such areas, but also gain a more meaningful insight into their own personal beliefs about community service and service to others through the firsthand knowledge and experience that these service learning projects provide. The objective of this presentation is to highlight the level of growth that the group experienced as a whole, and the level at which college students can help impact both local and global communities through volunteering projects such as the one undertaken by this group.