URAC•2019 PROGRAM OF ABSTRACTS

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Sponsored by the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research WELCOME FROM THE DRINKO CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

WELCOME to URAC 2019!

Westminster College is proud to host the 2019 Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration. Today, approximately 320 students will present their research and creative projects through oral presentations, poster sessions, films, music and theatre performances, and art displays. Nearly every academic program on campus is represented in the outstanding work being showcased today, and students at all levels, from first years to seniors, will be engaged in the activities.

The Westminster College mission statement includes eight essential outcomes: to reason logically and evaluate critically; to communicate effectively; to think creatively and appreciate aesthetic expressions; to demonstrate intellectual curiosity; to acquire knowledge of self, society, human cultures, the natural world, and human relationships to God; to apply knowledge to contemporary issues; to demonstrate moral and ethical commitments to neighbor, society, and the natural world; and to demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning and the acquisition of skills for careers and responsible service as world citizens. The student work being presented, performed, and displayed today embodies all of these outcomes and is a testament to the value of a Westminster education.

Our 2019 URAC participants are excited to share their work with the community today. Much of what you will see today is the culmination of years of study or countless hours of rehearsal. For some students, URAC 2019 will be their first formal presentation in college, and for others, participating in URAC 2019 is a final milestone before graduation. We are enormously proud of all of the students sharing their work today.

Today’s artists, performers, and scholars were supported in their endeavors by Westminster College faculty, staff, administration, and campus offices, as well as by parents and friends. We would like to thank everyone for providing this support and helping Westminster students to shine. Special thanks go out to the members of the Undergraduate Research Advisory Council, Library and Information Services, and Marketing and Communications. Their efforts made URAC 2019 possible.

We hope you enjoy today’s events! Thank you for joining us at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration.

Karen K. Resendes and Pamela A. Richardson Co-Directors, Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research

9 AM COFFEE & PASTRIES URAC •Carlson Atrium,• 3rd Floor• McKelvey• 9 - 10 AM POSTER SESSION A • •Witherspoon•• Rooms• •••• 9 - 10 AM PUBLIC SPEECH PERFORMANCES 2019 • •Mueller• Theater•••••• #WCURAC 9 - 10:55 AM CONCURRENT STUDENT SPEAKERS SESSION I • •Patterson• Hall•••••• 9 - 11 AM • •LIVE •MUSIC• PERFORMANCES••• •• Patterson Hall Music Gallery 9:30 AM - 2 PM •LIVE MUSIC• PERFORMANCES• • 1st floor McKelvey 10:00– 11:00 AM THE NEWILMINGTONIAN Berlin Lounge 10:00-11:20 AM ART GALLERY TALKS • • • • • Foster Art Gallery, Patterson Hall 10:30 - 11:30 AM POSTER SESSION B • •••• •••••• Witherspoon Rooms 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM POETRY SLAM • •••• •••••• Berlin Lounge • •••• 11:45•• AM• - •3:00• PM• VIDEO PRESENTATIONS Mueller Theater 12:30 - 1:30 PM ART DISPLAY • •••••••••• rd Carlson Atrium, 3 Floor McKelvey • •••• ••12:30• -• 1:30• PM• POSTER SESSION C Witherspoon Rooms • •••• ••12:30• -• 1:40• PM• LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES • •••• •••••• Patteron Hall Music Gallery 12:30 - 2 PM CONCURRENT STUDENT SPEAKERS SESSION II • •••• •••••• Patterson Hall 2 - 3 PM POSTER SESSION D • •••• •••••• Witherspoon Rooms • •••• •••••• • ••••••••••

• ••EVENT •••SCHEDULE ••••• • • • • • ABSTRACTS

FIRST-YEAR PRIZE CANDIDATE ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE CANDIDATE LIBRARY TROPHY CANDIDATE

Erin Ahearn Theatre Faculty Sponsor: Karen Dabney Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 10:50-11:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Musical Theatre Intensive Audition Material

I will be performing two of my audition pieces from the Musical Theatre Intensive and Open Jar Institute auditions at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival this past January at Montclair State University.

Kayla Ammons Broadcasting and Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 1:50 – 2:10 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Unconventional Art: The Art of Cosplay Conventions

Kayla Ammons will be screening her capstone documentary. The film covers the inner-workings of a cosplay convention from the perspective of three different conventions, as well as interviews with people who attend and participate in cosplay. After the screening, there will be time for questions.

Justin Anuszek Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Exploring Sustainable Communities with the New Wilmington Borough and the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification

As an intern with the New Wilmington Borough this semester, I am researching the certification process with Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification. This certification is voluntary and is designed to help municipalities save money, conserve resources and encourage innovation. The certification involves point-earning criteria in different areas. A few of those areas include healthy communities, energy use, conservation and green building, and environmental stewardship. Based on the number of points earned by a municipality, a certain level of certification is granted, ranging from associate to platinum. Some local communities have already undergone the certification process including the Borough of Slippery Rock and the city of New Castle, both of which have a silver certification level. I am involved with researching what criteria the Borough already has met using publicly available resources and information available from Borough documents.

4 Jace Armentrout Broadcasting and Media Production Faculty Sponsor: Bradley Weaver Co-authors: Atit Amin, Rachael Angermeier, Dwayne Brown, Hannah Erdmann, Jaclyn Bleggi, Tori Zabo McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center First Look: Capstone Documentary Trailers

Broadcast Students give us a sneak peek on their capstone documentaries. Jace Armentrout- “History and Haunts: The Story of Hill View Manor” Atit Amin- “No Borders, No Walls” Rachael Angermeier- “A Lifetime of Fun” Dwayne Brown- “One Last Shot” Hanna Erdmann- “#Travel: New York City” Jaclyn Bleggi- “The Habit of Living” Tori Zabo- “A Titan for Life: The Story of Coach Joe Fusco”

Kelly Avery Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Pataki McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Does Early Childhood Parenting Predict Adult Friendship Quality?

This study investigated the relationship between childhood experiences with parenting behavior and the quality of adult friendships. Seventy undergraduates completed a survey to measure the supportive and controlling behaviors of their parents and the quality of their adult friendships. Two hypotheses were examined to determine if the qualities of the parent-child relationship are modeled in friendships, or whether those who perceived a lack of parental support compensate with more supportive friendships. Results indicated that fathers’ supportive behaviors predicted adult friendship quality for both sons and daughters. Mothers’ supportive behaviors were found to be a significant predictor of adult friendship quality for sons only. The hypothesis that positive behaviors of parenting are modeled in adult friendships was supported. Future research should explore the impact of father’s parenting and the specific ways in which both parents influence their children’s adult friendships.

Nebal Barhoome Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: David Shaffer Patterson Hall 210, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Single Page Web Application to Manage Inventory

Inventory Management systems reduce errors, achieve the highest rate of validity of data entered, and reduce the cost by combining the data shared in a single database. These systems help speed decision-making, planning, and control of the company. The goal of this project is to set up a Single Page Web Application to Manage Inventory. The system will use services available from the server in UNIX Lab. The project will make use of the following existing software Markup Language: HTML, CSS (Cascading-Style Sheet), and a scripting languages JS to design the user interface of a website, and PostgreSQL for Database, Nodejs ( Express.js ) for Webserver, and Vue.js for Client.

5 Ashley Barker Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari Patterson Hall 105, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Sex Differences in the Reinforcement Enhancement Ability of Nicotine in Rodents

Nicotine has previously shown to enhance conditioned place avoidance behavior after a single nicotine exposure in males, but females have been shown to be more sensitive to nicotine in other tests. This study used male (6) and female (12) Sprague-Dawley rats to explore sex differences in nicotine enhancement. Rats were conditioned to avoid a shock conditioned chamber of a place conditioning apparatus. They were tested for a conditioned shock avoidance after injections of saline or nicotine. Shock supported place avoidance in all rats; nicotine enhanced avoidance in all rats, but more significantly in females. These results support the idea that sex may contribute to NIC reinforcement enhancement, and this can help establish a better understanding of why women have a harder time quitting and remaining abstinent from NIC products.

Ashley Barker Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson Co-authors: Emily Fromknecht, Kyle Yatsonsky McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. The Effects of Atezolizumab

Atezolizumab is traditionally used to treat patients with metastatic non-squamous, non-cell lung cancer. This is a type of chemotreatment that is given following a platinum-containing chemotherapy. Atezolizumab is a monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody that has shown results in reducing metastasized cancers. The mechanism by which atezolizumab protects includes binding to programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which inhibits its interactions with PD-1 and B7-1. PD-1 and B7-1 are receptors found on T-lymphocytes and other immune cells that negatively regulate T-cell function through the binding of PD-L1. (Rosenberg et al., 2016)

Brett Bartholomew Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. They Sewed, They Stitched, They Conquered: A Case Study of Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” Campaign

Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” campaign kicked off in 2015 and was designed to reach a specific target audience of DIYer’s and craft enthusiasts alike. In addition, it sought to alter people’s relationships with outerwear preservation. Most companies solely focus on producing and selling new products, while Patagonia’s main focus within this campaign was to encourage consumers to repair and reuse existing items. Therefore, they set out on a country-wide tour originating in the California bay area and stretching across the country into Massachusetts. This case study is comprised of research analyzing their overall results and personal engagement with consumers through various social media platforms.

6 Joshua Bartosh Music Faculty Sponsor: Melinda Crawford Perttu Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 12:30-12:40 p.m. “Kaddisch,” by Maurice Ravel

This piece by Ravel is a musical adaptation of a traditional Jewish mourning prayer. Written in 1914, it offers a different approach to music than standard repertoire. Where pieces like Beethoven or Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerti are very metronomic with dynamic markings, Kaddisch is neither steadily metric nor does it include dynamics. As such, it is part of the study of the piece; I have to play and listen to the piece and feel where the music can last a little bit longer, and where to speed up. I also have to feel where dynamics need to rise and fall. The piece itself is fairly simple, but there is a sort of color needed in each part that needs to be determined. I need to focus on the phrasing and find the best places to shift to higher positions and where to come back down. This research of a piece’s composition and focus on its framework require a much higher level of understanding of music than standard concerti and symphonies. This is an important part of musical development.

Joshua Bartosh Music Faculty Sponsor: Melinda Crawford Perttu Co-authors: Cassie Zimmerman, Katelen Shuler, John Daniels, Truman Antah McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 11:30-11:40 a.m. Ceòl na Teud

Ceòl na Teud is the Scottish Fiddling group at Westminster College under the direction of Dr. Melinda Crawford Perttu. Scottish music is very different from standard classical music in the way melodies are organized, in how one piece or section follows another, and in deciding who plays what. Genre has a significant impact on how the music should sound and be represented. Rhythms can be changed on the spot, notes can be improvised, and ornamentations can be added at the performer’s whim. Ensemble playing requires deciding on how many times to play through a piece, what order to play multiple pieces, and who should play out more than the others at a given time. This gives us a better ability to analyze the music and perform it more expressively. It also helps us understand how music can be manipulated, which can retroactively help us play standard rhythms better.

Mackenzie Basalla Broadcasting & Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 12:05 – 12:20 p.m. Spreading Smiles for Many Miles: How One Person Can Create a Kinder World

In today’s society, we are burdened by lots of terrible actions: school shootings, robbery, terroristic attacks, kidnappings...the list goes on. But no matter what wrong doings are happening, there is always a positive person trying to change the world for the better. In my research, and production of my documentary, I met up with Westminster Alumni Liz Buechele to discuss the progress with her newly founded non-profit, The Smile Project. Within this documentary, it explains and shows the progression of Liz’s success in attempting to make the world a kinder place. Not only did I get the honor of spending Liz’s birthday with her, but I got the honor of capturing a full 24-hours of spreading kindness around the city the never sleeps. Kindness will never get old, no matter if we do, so let’s keep our chins up and our kind hearts shown.

7 Christopher Bezek History Faculty Sponsor: Angela Lahr McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Soweto Throughout the Times

The Soweto Riots in 1976 in South Africa revealed a nation far behind on civil rights. The riots were a consequence of an apartheid government that legally segregated its own citizens by race. On June 16, apartheid law enforcement officers opened fire on young people who were peacefully protesting the use of Afrikaans in education. Press coverage of the riots shaped world opinion about South Africa. Articles focusing on the Soweto riots appeared in two prominent American and British newspapers within days after the violence erupted. New York Times coverage highlighted the victims and linked the events to civil rights conflict in the United States. By contrast, the Times of London focused more on political issues confronting apartheid because of Britain’s colonial history in South Africa. This press coverage of Soweto revealed to the world the consequences of South Africa’s apartheid policy, and it increased transnational pressure on the South African government.

Erika Billman Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Characterization of Gill Pigmentation in Acipenseriformes

Acipenseriformes are an order of ancient fish that have roots that extend as far back as the Jurassic Period. There are only two living families: the Acipenseridae and Polydontidae, sturgeons and paddlefish respectively. The fish in this order have the unique characteristic of melanin pigmentation within the gill filaments. The goal of this study is to discover the rate of pigment deposition in paddlefish, and to compare the gill pigmentation in three species of Acipenseriformes. Samples of American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) were obtained from hatcheries and imaged using a high-resolution scanner. ImageJ was then used to analyze the images. The study showed that there is no difference between the pigmentation in the left and right gill arches of paddlefish at any size or age. There were also similar amounts of pigment in the gills of young American paddlefish, lake sturgeon, and Atlantic sturgeon.

Michaela Bluedorn English Faculty Sponsor: David Swerdlow Patterson Hall 107, 9:00-9:15 a.m. “Which Way to Jump, or Fall”: The Future of Literature in a Technological Age

As the evolution of technology redefines humanity’s relationship with knowledge, literature’s diminishing role in our society manifests itself in a paradigm shift that turns our focus from reading books to interpreting texts. Because each interpretation yields a new meaning for the same manuscript, this perceptual shift signals the end of understandability within literature, irrevocably changing not only how we process literature, but how we value language. By analyzing how Italo Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler (1979), Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (1953), and Alena Graedon’s The Word Exchange (2014) address the value of language, this project will explore our culture’s growing fear of technology and the consequential effect on literature.

8 Michaela Bluedorn Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Margaret Portmann, Caitlyn Peace McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. WRTR: Networking for Writers

WRTR is an online sharing platform where professional and up-and-coming writers alike can share their work. The app allows users to showcase examples of their work as well as see and share the work of other writers. Thus, WRTR serves as an invaluable networking asset as well as a venue for building online portfolios. Users can upload a variety of written works and promote their portfolios by upgrading to a premium account for $55 a month, which will aid in marketing initiatives, primarily by allowing them to see who is viewing their profile, what material their audience viewed, and propose ways to stimulate viewer growth. By using this app, writers can expect to not only connect with friends and family but can find new ways to interact with similar minds as well as potential employers. Our poster will address the growing market for online networking—especially amongst writing professionals— WRTR’s value proposition and competitive strategy, and the app’s revenue and capital model.

Judith Bond Biochemistry Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Sarver McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Effects of N-Terminal Acetylation on the Membrane Binding Behavior of Alpha Synuclein

Asyn is a neuronal protein that acts as a hallmark of Parkinson’s Disease; it is known to bind to membranes. It is of interest to study how membrane binding is affected by N-terminal acetylation. A transformation in the presence of NatB in E coli was carried out to enable this. In order to reduce protein modification for purification, Fast Pressure Liquid Chromatography was utilized. The protein was eluted from the column based on electrostatic interactions. Fractions of interest were analyzed using SDS-PAGE, to validate the the purified protein. Following purification, membrane binding will be analyzed using EPR, by measuring the signal of an unpaired electron, through site- directed spin labeling. Through the binding of the asyn with large unilamellar vesicles, the spectra will demonstrate a reduced peak sharpness, which indicates binding. Changes in the EPR spectra will provide insight into how the post- translational modifications affect the ability of asyn to bind to membranes.

Jessica Booher Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. An Analysis of Worldwide Immunization Data

Immunization averts anywhere from two to three million deaths every single year, often at the cost of less than $1 USD. All over the world, numerous fatal diseases are now preventable due directly to vaccinations, the primary method of immunization. Through data visualizations, we will be considering a data set that focuses on this subject, analyzing a variety of factors including country, coverage of vaccination, and year.

9 Dominic Boston History Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Cuff McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Examining the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

Throughout 1918 and the spring of 1919, influenza raged across the world. This new strain of flu infected an estimated 500 million people. Death estimates range from 50 to 100 million people, making the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 one of the most catastrophic infectious diseases to affect humankind. Pennsylvania suffered some of the highest levels of mortality in the United States. My project focuses on the mortality consequences of the 1918 influenza in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. This poster presents results of an analysis of the characteristics and timing of deaths due to influenza/pneumonia in Lawrence County and illuminates the nature of the pandemic and its impact on a mid-sized industrial town in Pennsylvania. This evidence comes from state registered death certificates for Lawrence County residents and visitors who perished due to either influenza or pneumonia (all forms) from 1916 through 1920.

Justin Brandt Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson Co-authors: Bailey Dunks, Jake Staub McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Alemtuzumab: A Study of the Mechanisms and Effects in vivo

There are two manners of treating cancer in modern medicine: chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy deals with the administration of approved drugs to target cancerous malignant cells in the body. Alemtuzumab is a FDA approved drug issued to combat various forms of lymphoma, specifically Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and T-cell lymphoma. In this study, Alemtuzumab mechanisms within the body will be examined to better understand the targeted cells via receptors, the pathways the drug effects, and the overall effect on an organismal level. The drug’s impact on the immune system will also be analyzed to determine how this affects the malignant cells and immune system’s response. Finally, the side effects will be weighed against the potential curative properties to warrant if this is an effective solution to combatting these types of cancer.

Katarina Braun Broadcasting & Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 12:45 – 1:00 p.m. Theatre Behind the Script

Katarina Braun gives us a documentary on the impact theatre has outside of what people see on the surface. It affects people in more ways than you can immediately see.

10 Anna Brock Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Pataki Patterson Hall 207, 12:55-1:10 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Breaking Boundaries in Israel

Breaking Boundaries is an international dialogue project created to connect American middle school students from Sharpsville, Israeli Arab students from Abu Snan, and Israeli Jewish students from Ma’ale Tzvia. Anna Brock, a senior psychology student, accompanied by Dr. Pataki, traveled to Israel this past summer through funding from the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research. While in Israel, pre- and post-test results were collected from both the Arab and Jewish middle schools, including responses from those both within and outside of the project. Tests included a series of quantitative data that was modeled after the Toni Blair Institute for Global Change, which assessed level of interaction with other cultures and traditions for each student. Qualitative responses assessed personal recollections of interactions with other cultures. All Israeli data was translated with the help of college students from both Western Galilee and Arab Academic College.

Lauren Brooks Theatre Faculty Sponsor: Karen Dabney McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Costume Design for Love’s Labour’s Lost the Musical

In just four weeks and with a budget of just $250, I as a first time designer created the costumes for Theatre Westminster’s Fall 2018 production of Love’s Labour’s Lost The Musical. In January, I presented my design for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, where a group of educators and professionals critiqued my work. I will be sharing my experience designing such a large show as well as my process for creating a dramatic tear-away piece.

Kaylee Brosius Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. A Little Birdie Told Me…:Examining President Trump’s Use of Twitter to Frame the Government Shutdown

Donald Trump’s personal Twitter account was a primary source of how the Trump administration framed the 2019 government shutdown to the American people. This study examines the rhetoric the President of the United States used through his social media. Furthermore, this study will also consider the impact of the POTUS’s personal Twitter on public opinion of the 2019 government shutdown. This study demonstrates how effectively an individual politician can influence the public versus traditional news media.

Vincent Buell Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Winfield Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 12:45-12:55 p.m. Concerto en Ré Majeur

Concerto in D major - Giuseppe Torelli (1650-1708)

11 Andruis Burnelis Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. I Have Potential?

We experimentally measure the patterns of electric potential inside a container of water for two different types of container boundary. Using a non-conducting boundary (Neuman boundary conditions) or a conducting boundary (Dirichlet boundary conditions) enforces different patterns of potential at those boundaries, which in turn affects the whole pattern. Experimental measurements are compared to a theoretical model, in which we have written Python code to solve Laplace’s equation for each of the boundary conditions.

Amber Burrows Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Keely Flynn, Emily Irvine McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. ID On Me

Have you ever lost your student ID? ID On Me is a student ID app for college students and faculty. This app eliminates the problem of lost or forgotten IDs. It’s a business-to-business model that provides access to campus buildings and on-campus purchases. Within the app, students will be able to purchase meals from dining facilities, printing and library access, and buy college merchandise, supplies and textbooks on campus. Users will also be able to add additional funds to dining plans and for other purchases. In the presentation, we will show an analysis of our competitors, including our competitive advantages in the environment. Also, we will discuss our development timeline, starting with research processes, beginning funding for the project and any technological updates. Our subscription and transaction revenue model and marketing technique will be explained. Our app will provide cheaper and easier access to college campuses nationwide. Never worry about losing your ID again.

Connor Byrnes Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: John Bonomo Co-authors: Alexander Michels, Sam Hockenberry, Aaron Signer, Alex Georgescu, Matt Bollinger McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Presentation on the International Collegiate Programming Contest

In the International Collegiate Programming Contest, teams must work to solve real-world problems in innovative ways, and do so while working under pressure. In this presentation, the participants in the 2018 International Collegiate Programming Contest will discuss the problems that we had to solve, the various challenges faced at the contest, and how we attempted to work around these challenges.

12 Matthew Causer Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. “My Fellow Americans”- A Case Study in Presidential Image Preservation

Since the end of World War II, US presidents have become more a centerpiece of the entire government and as such have devoted more time and attention to managing their image and their presidency. The president’s political survival depends on crafting an appropriate image for the media and the people in order to achieve policy victories, be they foreign or domestic. The goal of this study is to examine President Lyndon B. Johnson and his attempts at preserving his image during the war in Vietnam. The study will conduct a content analysis of his most notable speeches and analyze his speech after the Gulf of Tonkin and then his speech announcing he would not seek re-election in 1968. The goal of this study is to understand the steps that the president takes to preserve his image during a crisis and restore it when his approval ratings decline.

Matthew Causer Political Science Faculty Sponsor: Michael Aleprete Co-authors: Derek Bakewell, Megan Beaule, Kaylee Brosius, Jackson Gastmeyer, Cole Keister, Jess Reabe, Jacob Pittman, Bryer Cochenour, Natalie Sperlunto, Andrius Burnelis, Seth Zacherl, Garrett Garlock, Tyler Durbin, Christian Keegan, Sam Kelly, Alina Clough, Brianna Papp, Andrew Piatt McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Westminster Model UN at American Model United Nations

The Westminster Model United Nations team traveled to Chicago, Illinois to compete in the American Model United Nations conference. We simulated global policy making and coalition-building within the United Nations. We simulated global policy as Belarus and Cabo Verde in the various committees and regulatory bodies of the United Nations in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and plenary General Assemblies of the United Nations. The overall goal of this effort is to give students a better understanding of the global landscape in terms of appreciation of other cultures and traditions as well as a better understanding of the global power structure. The Security Council of 1993 team participated in a crisis simulation which sought to measure their ability to create international resolution in a timely manner to resolve it. The group had a hands-on practice at public speaking, writing legislation, and negotiating with their peers.

Chessa Caylor History Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Clark McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. The Northern Mission

Prior to the 9th century, during the Iron Age, Norway was full of warrior-trader Vikings who worshipped a pantheon of pagan gods. During the late 800s, efforts were made to convert the Vikings to Christianity, but these early efforts were unsuccessful. By the 10th and 11th centuries, however, almost all of Scandinavia was converted. How and why did the Vikings convert? Christianity offered Viking tribe leaders a new form of legitimacy and the ability to claim more power. Vikings were not moved by missionaries’ claims of salvation but by the convenience of Christianity as a way to legitimize their power. Through examining biographies of the first missionaries to Scandinavia, stone monuments, and records of Norse Mythology post-Christianization, this paper will investigate the promise of power in spreading Christianity in medieval Norway.

13 Autumn Cejer English Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Mitchell Patterson Hall 208, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Fantasy’s Female: Representing Femininity in Fantasy Literature in J. R. R. Tolkien and George R. R. Martin

Tolkien and Martin approach femininity from two opposing angles: Tolkien glorifies his female characters by placing them on an untouchable pedestal far out of reach, whereas Martin’s women directly involve themselves in the narrative while simultaneously enduring sexual abuse both physically and emotionally. This shift between two opposing extremes reflects a general cultural shift thanks to the feminist movement; however, one is not necessarily better than the other: in each instance, the author continues to view the female as the other.

Ayla Chapman Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Mehmet Iclek Patterson Hall 105, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Lack of Involvement Due to Commuting

The researchers are going to study whether or not being a commuting college student has an effect on involvement in on-campus activities. The hypothesis of the researchers is that if one is a commuting student, you are not as involved in on-campus activities. The hypothesis is going to be tested by sending surveys to various college students asking if they are involved with on-campus activities by a simple yes or no and whether or not they commute or live on campus. The data will be analyzed by comparing the involvement of resident students to commuting students.

Elaina Chapnell Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson Co-authors: Hunter Cox, Sara Morini McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Mechanistic Analysis of Trastuzumab’s Role in Cancer Treatment

The immunotherapy drug trastuzumab is used to treat many types of cancers, including breast, stomach, and esophageal cancers. In this study, we will explore and describe biological pathways of trastuzumab and its effectiveness in cancer treatment. We will specifically explain the underlying mechanisms involved in this treatment, the systems affected, and how trastuzumab targets the specific problems these cancer patients experience.

Devin Cheplic Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: David Shaffer Patterson Hall 210, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Creation of a Portable Attendance Logging Device

14 I will give a presentation on the creation and use of a portable attendance logger with differing modes and features that will allow it to be used in a variety of situations. The physical device was created using a Raspberry Pi, a touch screen display, a Raspberry Pi/ touch screen display case, a mini keyboard, and a magstripe card reader. The software for the device was programmed in Java using the NetBeans IDE.

Connor Chirdon Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Mia Bellante McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. The Effect of Health and Fitness in the Workplace

The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not putting a focus on health and fitness in the workplace increases job performance and the likelihood of employees holding leadership positions and/or demonstrating leadership qualities in their work. This data will show us how many people in these leadership positions hold their health and fitness as a priority compared to employees who do not hold leadership positions. We hypothesize that when health and fitness is implemented in the workplace, job performance increases.

Taylor Chuey Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Dylan Wolford McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Student Involvement on Campus Based on Personality Type

The purpose of this research is to identify whether extroverted or introverted individuals are more involved on campus and how this can be related to improving involvement in a professional setting. Surveys that ask questions determining whether the participant is extroverted or introverted and questioning their activities on the weekends will be distributed campus-wide. Using the responses, data analysis will be conducted to determine if whether the individual is introverted or extroverted has anything to do with their campus involvement on the weekends. From there, the researchers will quantify the amount of campus involvement each category of person has and what reasons they have for these quantities. This information will be instrumental in identifying ways to improve involvement, both on campus and in a professional setting.

Victoria Cidor French Faculty Sponsor: Jesse Mann Patterson Hall 107, 12:55-1:10 p.m. Righteousness is Reaching for Self-Actualization: How Good and Evil In Les Misérables Adhere to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Characters provide the framework for any good story; and when a story grows beyond its traditional boundaries - from light fiction into a linguistic time-capsule encompassing its own world – characters become people. Victor Hugo’sLes Misérables preserves the lives of the poor – “the miserables” – in post-Napoleonic France, and his characters gain such life that they mirror Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a psychological theory on human motivation, as any person would. Hugo’s characters progress, recede, flounder, and defy expectations with human-unpredictability. Only a twist remains; Hugo moves from capturing the essence of humanity to utilizing it to showcase his own ideals – that goodness is reaching for all you can be, and evil is wallowing in base, animalistic desires. In this thesis, the connection between Hugo’s characters, Maslow’s Hierarchy, and the battle between good and evil is established and explored.

15 Bryer Cochenour Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Randy Richardson McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 9:00 – 9:05 a.m. (draw), 9:35-9:45 (speech) Funding received from the Drinko Center Extemporaneous Speech

I will be delivering a five-to-seven-minute current event speech in the extemporaneous style prepared over thirty minutes. Topics covered can include economic, international, domestic, and foreign policy issues. The event requires individuals to be aware of current events and be able to compose a well-structured and understandable script. It requires research skills, critical thinking, coolness under pressure, and capability to improvise and adapt. It improves public speaking skills such as delivery and speech composition, as well, and requires efficiency. Alongside that, it promotes the education of the populace on important and relevant issues.

Natalie Compel Fine Art Faculty Sponsor: Summer Zickefoose McKelvey Campus Center 3rd Floor, 12:30-1:30 p.m. I Used to Be Clean, Before I Was a Teen

In “I Used to Be Clean, Before I Was a Teen,” I will be using a mix of different media on canvas board. I will develop these pieces that center around trending topics that are prevalent in the media and online that influence young adults in their everyday lives. Inspiration is heavily drawn from modern artists such as Carl Pope Jr., Greer Lankton, and Jenny Holzer. The pieces will include chaotic streaks of acrylic and watercolor paint, phrases and poems I have written myself, and drawings with marker, pen, and colored pencil that show my personal thoughts and feelings about these topics that affect me in every aspect of my life. There will be four pieces, each one centered around a different topic. These topics include religion, femininity, mental illness, and sexuality. With these, I hope to create a discussion on what growing up in an increasingly technological world does to the mind of a young adult.

Samantha Connell Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Wachter Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 9:00-9:30 a.m. “A World Turned Upside Down” by Juliana Hall

I will be performing excerpts from Juliana Hall’s song cycle “A World Turned Upside Down,” which is based on entries from The Diary of Anne Frank. In addition to the performance, I will be discussing the composer, the historical era, the composition as a whole, and the ways in which Hall is able to evoke the blend of fear and hope associated with the words of a 13-year-old fearing for her life.

16 Jensine Coudriet Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center

Baseline Anxiety as an Indication of Sucrose Consumption in Rodents

Data suggest sugar consumption might impact anxiety. The current work used rodent models of sucrose consumption and tests of anxiety to explore this relationship. Water, sucrose preference, and 10% sucrose consumption in male Sprague-Dawley rats was compared to anxiety behavior in an elevated plus maze and open field test. Initial results showed a negative correlation between anxiety behavior and both sucrose preference and sucrose and water consumption. Subsequent experiments determined locomotor activity and anxiety were not correlated with water consumption. However, locomotor activity and anxiety behavior were both correlated with sucrose consumption. More research needs to be performed to determine whether these relationships are test and timing dependent in order to fully understand relationships between sucrose preference, consumption, anxiety, and activity.

Madeleine Craig Broadcasting & Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 12:25 – 12:40 p.m. Ending the Cycle of Violence

This is a video documentary about the local crisis shelter in Lawrence County. Experts from the Lawrence Country Crisis Shelter educate you on what violence is and how to end it.

Alexander Cronin Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Structure of the Pyloric Cecum in Acipenseriformes

We are interested in comparative study of structure and function in North American acipenceriform fishes. Here, we characterize structural features of the pyloric cecum in three species – paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). In many fish species, the pyloric cecum is a prominent digestive organ thought to have absorptive and possibly secretory functions. Using preserved specimens of juvenile fish all about the same age and size, we determined morphometric indices that relate pyloric cecum dimensions to digestive tract and whole body measures. In addition, we use histology and image analysis to compare pyloric cecum cell and tissue features in the three species. Comparing the pyloric cecum in different species may offer insight into digestive adaptations associated with the different ways of life and diets of these diverse acipenceriformes.

17 Emily D’Amico Biology Faculty Sponsor: Karen Resendes Patterson Hall 107, 1:45-2:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Thapsigargin Has No Effect on the Ability of 5FU or gem to Induce Apoptosis in HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

Combining chemotherapies may be more effective at inducing apoptosis. Our study focused on three drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5FU), gemcitabine (gem), and thapsigargin (thaps), which have not been combined to treat HeLa cells. Using these drugs, we determined which regimens were most effective in killing HeLa cells. To assess viability changes, 16 replicates of MTT assays were performed. In the assay, cells metabolize a salt to purple formazan which is quantified to determine the number of viable cells. Each drug and all combinations were assessed. The least and most effective treatments were thaps (15%) and 5FU (72%); gem decreased viability by 41%. Adding thaps to gem or 5FU had no significant impact on either drug’s effectiveness. Likewise, adding gem to 5FU had no significant impact on its effectiveness. While thaps or gem may seem to be more effective in combination with other drugs, there is no additive effect. Thus, the drug 5FU is most efficient at killing HeLa cervical cancer cells.

John Daniels Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Melinda Crawford Perttu Co-author: Braden Stesiak Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 10:10-10:15 a.m. Cello and Bass Duet

Dmitri Shostakovich was a prolific composer in the 20th century. He grew to fame under the Soviet Union and despite having a difficult and complex relationship with the government, he received many accolades and awards for his works. A polystylist, Shostakovich developed a hybrid voice, combining a variety of different musical techniques into his works. His music is characterized by sharp contrasts, elements of the grotesque, and ambivalent tonality; the composer was also heavily influenced by the neo-classical style pioneered by Igor Stravinsky and by the late Romanticism of Gustav Mahler. Originally written for Two Violins, this piece has been transcribed by John to be played by Cello and Double Bass. Performed by Braden Stesiak (Cello) and John Daniels (Double Bass) and accompanied by Irina Trenga.

Maggie Danko Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Nancy DeSalvo Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 9:35-9:45 a.m. A Taste of Bach and Debussy

I will be performing two pieces on the piano. The first will be Claude Debussy’s elegant and dreamlike Arabesque No 1, and the second will be Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude No. III in C-sharp Major from the Well-Tempered Clavier book 1; a more technical and exciting work.

18 Nathan Enterline Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Kevin Hart, Zach Dublin McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Introversion and Extroversion in Majors

The purpose of this research is to compare each department at Westminster College to discover the percentage of introverted and extroverted students based on major. The researchers will craft a campus-wide survey which will ask the respondents what their major is and if they are introverted or extroverted. To discover if a student is introverted or extroverted, a link will be provided in the survey that will take the respondents to an online test. The researchers will then take the data and analyze trends to see which majors and departments are more extroverted or introverted. This can help give the professors and other students in that major or department an idea of how they can best tailor the learning experience to work with the personalities of peers or students within their major/department.

Annika Erdely Molecular Biology Faculty Sponsor: Kristen Amick Patterson Hall 107, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Assessing the Need for a Forensic Database of Feline Mitotypes in Budapest, Hungary

Animals can contribute valuable forensic evidence when involved in a crime. Shed hair, which typically lacks the root, contains no nuclear DNA, leaving only mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to link an animal the scene. Unlike nuclear DNA, mtDNA is not unique to an individual. mtDNA is maternally inherited and unrelated individuals can have identical mitochondrial DNA sequences, or mitotypes. Previous studies have identified over 30 unique mitotypes in the domestic cat population, the frequencies of which can vary by geographic region. This regional variation necessitates local databases to accurately represent population diversity. Here we collected mtDNA sequences from 20 cats from Budapest, Hungary. The mitotype frequencies were estimated and compared to those of neighboring countries to determine if a regional database is needed for forensic use. This research will contribute to the development of accurate and representative forensic database of feline mitotypes in eastern Europe.

Emily Eyler Theatre Faculty Sponsor: Karen Dabney Patterson Hall 107, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Folklore of the Monongahela

The purpose of this project was to research the process of creating podcast episodes. In this project, I explored my identity as a performer and my love of folklore. Podcasting culminates in my work as a performer and a designer. As a performer, this project expanded my experience by allowing me to work on my voice acting. It gave me a basis for my research into basic sound design including equipment to use and recommended techniques. For this project, I researched local folklore and organized them by region. Once I had a strong, thorough knowledge of each story, I began the scripts for each episode. After writing and revising these scripts, I began the process of recording, then perfecting the audio files. My goal for this project was to delve deeper into my skills and duality as a performer and designer.

19 Emily Eyler Fine Art Faculty Sponsor: Summer Zickefoose Patterson Hall Foster Art Gallery, 11:00-11:20 a.m.

Women of Tragedy

The purpose of this project is to highlight the women of Shakespearian tragedies and their deaths. Four canvases will be used, with one woman for each. The female characters chosen are Ophelia from Hamlet, Cordelia from King Lear, Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Each woman comes to a tragic death, connecting them to each other. Shakespeare creates depth in his text to these women’s personalities making them lasting characters in our culture. However, they are often overshadowed by their male counterparts. This series will bring these female roles to the forefront of their stories.

Emily Eyler Theatre Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Strangfeld Patterson Hall 208, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Set Design for Hamlet

The purpose of this project is to research and create a set design for our Spring season’s production of Hamlet. In this design, the concept of an abandoned theater under the Nazi Regime will be used, while adding elements of themes and motifs pertaining to the character Ophelia, who I will be playing in this same production. To create this design, research images and textual evidence will be used to support my design work and imagery.

Lauren Faber Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Anne Bentz Patterson Hall 110, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Seasons of Opera

Seasons of Opera is a show written by senior Vocal Performance and Communications double major Lauren Faber, connecting familiar musical themes and songs from popular operas with dialogue between characters. The production used a storybook as the set to guide the narrative throughout all four seasons, appealing to audiences of all ages. The goal of the project, in partnership with the New Castle Lyric Opera, was to promote the arts to the public and pique their interest in opera.

20 Anna Faluszczak Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sandra Webster Patterson Hall 105, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Look Me in the Eyes: Psychopathic Traits Reduce Facial Cues Effect on Emotion Identification

Various facial locale present different levels of information used to identify emotion. The eyes provide a variety of emotional information that may be valuable to the emotion recognition process. Commonly known characteristics of Psychopathy include the inability to focus on the eyes of other people as well as a lack of emotional awareness. In this study, 498 participants answered 5 self-report personality questionnaires relevant to psychopathy. Each participant identified emotion in 126 facial images with varying eye information (full face, eyes only, eyes covered), under a time constraint of 3 seconds. High levels of psychopathic personality traits predicted inaccurate emotion recognition regardless of eye information whereas other participants relied on eye information to identify emotion. These findings suggest that the eyes are important for recognizing emotion, but less so for individuals high in psychopathic personality traits.

Haley Farmerie Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Molly Parker McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Does Personality/Career Have an Effect on Music Choice?

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between one’s personality/career and their taste in music. A survey was sent out to any willing participant of any age asking questions pertaining to demographic, choice in music, career, and a personality quiz. If the relationship does exist, one’s personality and career should have a relationship with their preferred style of music and artists. Information found can be extremely beneficial in the workplace, if certain music styles are preferred in different career paths efficiency may increase.

Andrew Ference Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Nancy DeSalvo Co-author: Maggie Danko Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Ference-Danko Duo

In this performance, I will be performing 3-4 pieces, and Maggie Danko will play the piano parts. Between each piece, I will be giving a short 30 second speech about the pieces. The first piece will be a German piece, “Was Ist Sylvia?” by Franz Schubert. The second piece will be an English piece, “Evening” by John Jacob Niles. The third piece will be an English piece from the opera “The Old Maid and the Thief”, and it is called “When the Air Sings of Summer”. If time permits, I will be performing one more piece, “The Infinite Shining Heavens” by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

21 Montana Ferita Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Characterizing System Spanning & Non-system Spanning Avalanches

An interest in the study of avalanches has arisen due to their unpredictable and potentially life-threatening behavior. In order to characterize avalanches more completely, avalanches have been qualitatively defined in different categories such as local, non-local, system spanning, and non-system spanning avalanches. The exact quantitative definitions of these categories of avalanches is a current aim for those studying avalanche dynamics. Over the years, many experiments and techniques have been developed in order to gain a better sense of the exact parameters of the different categories of avalanches. Avalanches have been studied at the College of Wooster using steel beads, and recent additions to the bead pile apparatus include a video camera and pressure sensors. My research has evolved around striving to develop a more precise way to characterize avalanches as system spanning or non-system spanning.

Nathanael Fleming Music Faculty Sponsor: Jason Howard Co-authors: Joshua Bartosh, Braden Stesiak Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 10:35-10:40 a.m. “The Cathedral”

Soli Deo Gloria - “The Cathedral” “The Cathedral,” written in January 2019, is a piano trio that reflects the sounds heard within this majestic place of worship. Throughout this piece, one can discern chants, organs, bells and prayers. Themes commonly associated with the grand churches are interwoven between violin, cello, and piano. As I was composing, I specifically manipulated the theme ideas so that I could use multiple chords that shared a common note. I also used the texture of certain sounds on the instruments to create the effect I desired. For example, the doubling of the violin and the cello in the beginning creates an organ effect. Later on, the harmonics in the cello help to give the cello a bell-like quality. These examples and more give the piece its defining quality, a reflection of the Cathedral and the Savior the cathedral reflects. (Special thanks to Dr. Jason Howard for compositional advice and my friend Abby Montgomery for violin tips)

Matthew Ford Chemistry Faculty Sponsor: Zachary Rodgers McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center HPLC and UV-VIS Analysis of a Co (II) Catalyst for Photo-Mediated Thiol- ene Click Reactions to Determine Catalytic Effectiveness

In materials science, light-mediated thiol-ene click reactions use light to bio-conjugate proteins and peptides to scaffolds used in 3D cellular manipulation or tissue engineering. However, today’s methods for thiol-ene click reactions rely on using large stoichiometric amounts of photo-initiators and damaging UV-light. Therefore to find a solution, this work examines the efficiency of a Co based complex to catalyze thiol-enes in response to visible light. To determine the success of the catalyst, UV-Vis was first used to determine the optimal catalyst thiol ratios that results in catalyst binding. Reverse phase HPLC was then used to determine the products of microscale reactions and determine if the thiol had reacted with the target substrate. Initial results show an interaction between the thiol and the catalyst at low catalyst concentrations and that, by HPLC, the cobalt-thiol complex reacts with a substrate upon irradiation.

22 Zachary Fryda Biology Faculty Sponsor: Diana Ortiz McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Diagnosis of La Crosse Encephalitis: A Quality Improvement Study

La Crosse Virus (LACV) is the most common neuroinvasive virus among pediatrics. Its correct diagnosis compares an initial and secondary serology. This protocol is susceptible to underdiagnosis because most symptoms subside before a second serology can be performed. To assess this protocol, we conducted a retrospective review of pediatric records from Akron Children’s Hospital between 2010-2017. We hypothesized that <50% of patients would have a correct protocol on record and that confirmed infections would occur in clusters according to zip code. Results showed that 36 patients received the correct diagnostic protocol and 62 did not (N=98), with three counties accounting for nearly 40% of LACV confirmed cases. 52/62 received an incomplete diagnosis. We estimate that as many as 43/52 undetermined patients may likely be positive, which corresponds to an 83% underdiagnosis rate. These results may provide public health personnel with information to improve or change diagnostic procedures.

Zachary Fryda Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson Co-authors: Sarah Conn, Jensine Coudriet McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Anti-CD19 CAR T Cell Therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy refers to an immunotherapy technique that can be used to target hematological malignancies. CARs are recombinant receptors for antigens that can allow a T lymphocyte to redirect its specificity and functionality. Knowing this, cancer cells can be targeted according to the antigens unique to a malignancy. One antigen identified as a likely candidate for CAR therapy is CD19, which stems from B cell malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This study will focus on further understanding Anti-CD19 CAR T Cell therapy.

Rebecca Gallace Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. An Effective Image Management: A Case Study of How Ja Rule Preserved His Image Following Fyre Festival

2017’s Fyre Festival was not executed in a successful manner. From fraud to lawsuits, the festival planners seemed to mishandle their reputation at every turn. However, one of the festival’s co-founders, Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, better known as Ja Rule, seemed to make it out of the event with his reputation unscathed. This case study examined documentaries covering the making of and outcomes of Fyre Festival, social media posts, and magazine and newspaper articles to discover how Atkins was able to preserve his reputation despite the scandal surrounding the failed festival. The implications of this case study highlighted how the management of a client’s reputation is critical in times of crisis, and how one can do this properly.

23 Jessica Garcia Ramirez Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Growth and Structure of Gill Rakers in Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

Shortly after hatching, larval paddlefish go through a profound series of morphological, behavioral and physiological changes – including changes in pigmentation, growth of a rostrum, and shifts in feeding. Another major transformation occurring during this dynamic period is the growth of large numbers of long, fine gill rakers; these structures are critical for the filter-feeding lifestyle of juvenile and adult paddlefish. Using histology and image analysis, this report details the development and growth of gill rakers in larval and juvenile paddlefish. Quantification of features as well as cell and tissues features associated with the growing gill rakers are also characterized for related acipenseriformes - Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Comparison of these species allows consideration of the relationship between gill raker structure and diet and feeding behavior in this family of basal vertebrates.

Taylor Gatesman Biology Faculty Sponsor: Karen Resendes McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center PCID2 is Linked to Centrosome Duplication

Centrosomes are required for cell division. Before division, they duplicate to create a spindle to pull apart chromosomes, evenly distributing DNA to each daughter cell. Centrosomes that duplicate to more than 2 per cell (amplification), are a common hallmark of cancer cells because the abnormal number leads to aberrant chromosome separation. PCID2 is a protein that localizes to centrosomes but its function here is unknown. Previous studies proposed a correlation between PCID2 localization and amplification. In Hela cells, we found PCID2 to have higher centrosome localization in cells with amplified centrosomes, implying a role for PCID2 in duplication. Centrosome amplification was induced using the drugs Leptomycin B (LMB) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Our current work aims to determine if the same result is seen in breast cancer cell line Hs578T. We expect to find that amplified centrosomes have higher localization of PCID2 further supporting PCID2’s role in centrosome duplication.

Alexandru Georgescu Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: David Shaffer Patterson Hall 210, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Trinity Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest Presentation

In this demonstration, I will discuss the various challenges competitors have to face in the Trinity Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest and how I was planning to overcome them using the skills I have learned at Westminster. In the Trinity Robot Contest, my robot has to autonomously maneuver around a maze, put out a candle, and pick up a doll from a crib. There are also additional challenges called “modes” that the Trinity competition offers for higher scores that I will elaborate on. This provides a plethora of problems, and I will discuss some of the software and hardware choices to help surmount them, such as OpenCV and wheel selection. I will also discuss some of the tools I used in designing and testing my robot.

24 Paul Gonzalez Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Tyler Greene McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Aggression between Majors

The research will measure aggression among Westminster students, comparing student’s aggression between different majors. Research will be conducted through the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire, where aggression will be measured in five different categories: Mental, Verbal, Hostility, Anger, and Physical. Researchers will collect quantitative data and differentiate which major is inclined to have students that are more aggressive than others.

Abby Grabigel Music Performance Co-authors: Angela Renninger, Timothy Savage, Liam Horgan Faculty Sponsor: James Flowers McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Westminster College Nasturtium Saxophone Quartet

The Nasturtium Saxophone Quartet was created to give the students in the saxophone studio the opportunity to perform in more than the regular ensembles here on campus. The group consists of four members. These members are chosen based on the chair audition of the Westminster College Wind Ensemble. This group had the opportunity to compete in the Music Teacher’s National Association competition at Temple University and won first place. They advanced to the regional competition round of competition.

Jessica Grady Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan Co-authors: Emma Pollock, Erin Ward, Victoria Lisbon, Sara Small Patterson Hall 205, 12:55-1:10 p.m. ALLARM Team Collaborates with Local Brewery on Wastewater Effluent

The Lawrence and Mercer County Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring group (ALLARM), based at Westminster College, is committed to ongoing research and community involvement related to water resources. As of present, there are no wastewater standards for industrial effluent in New Wilmington Borough. As such, the Hop Asylum and New Wilmington Borough partnered with the ALLARM team to investigate the brewery’s effluent in an effort to help set guidelines for future New Wilmington businesses. The team sampled and tested pH of the brewery’s effluent at different stages in the brewing process. Standard laboratory methods were used to determine biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), phosphate concentration, and total suspended solids. The results are being used by the brewery and the community to ensure optimal wastewater treatment. This research will pave the way for future industrial wastewater standards in the New Wilmington Borough.

25 Jessica Grady Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Ann Throckmorton McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Analysis of the Degradation of the Allelochemical Juglone under Compost Conditions

Plants of the Juglandaceae (walnut) family contain the chemical juglone, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, in their tissues. Due to evidence that juglone can negatively influence the germination and growth of other species, there are warnings against adding Juglans nigra (black walnut) tissues to compost intended for growing other plants. In this research, we tested whether juglone degraded during the composting process and if the compost could be used as a soil additive to germinate and grow tomato plants. J. nigra fruits were composted with coco coir, and reverse phase HPLC analysis was used to determine juglone concentration during the composting process. The compost was applied to the soil of tomato seeds, and germination and growth were assessed. Juglone degraded rapidly, and the compost positively influenced tomato plant growth. The compost did inhibit the germination of tomato seeds. Going forward, this compost process should be repeated and used to grow plants of other species.

Kendall Graham Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Ashley Chorney McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Effects of Campus Involvement on GPA

This project will focus on students’ involvements in clubs, organizations, athletics, etc. and how it affects their overall GPA. Data will be collected by online survey, which ask students their class year, major, numbers of organizations they are actively involved in, and GPA range. The data will be analyzed by sorting responses into class years and subsequently categorized into highest to lowest GPA range. The ranges will then be compared to the level of involvement and analyzed to see if there is a correlation between involvement and GPA. The hypothesis is that students with a higher level of involvement will have higher GPAs due to their time management skills.

Kendall Graham Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Randy Richardson Patterson Hall 208, 9:25-9:40 a.m. “You’re in America - Speak English”: A Fantasy Theme Analysis of YouTube Video Confrontations of Non-Native “Others” in the United States

This project examines video representations of confrontations that occur in public spaces in the United States between citizens and perceived “others.” There are two main players in these confrontations: the citizen aggressor and the non- native “other.” The objective of this project is to describe and analyze the public framing of confrontational reactions to non-native “others” in the United States. While these videos might appear to portray isolated events, their significance is heightened as the YouTube stage provides for mass audiences and larger socially constructed realities. Four main fantasy themes emerged upon analysis of the videos from two fantasy types: consumer space and non-consumer space. The four fantasy themes present are the linguanationalist, the linguistic “other,” confrontational control, and simplistic solvency. Given the fantasy themes and types, a rhetorical vision emerged.

26 Chelsea Gregley Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sandra Webster Co-author: Gianna Serignese McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Passion for Sports: A Predictor of Performance in Student Athletes

According to Vallerand (2003), passion is defined as “a strong inclination toward an activity that people like, that they find important, and in which they invest time and energy.” The dualistic model of passion suggests two types of passion: Harmonious and Obsessive. These form through autonomous and controlled internalizations. It is hypothesized that harmonious passion will have a stronger correlation with performance than obsessive passion. Participants consisted of 159 Division III student-athletes, from 13 different sports teams. Data was collected during a practicing period for athletes in the spring of 2017-2018, and performance scores were used from the 2017-2018 sports season. Results showed that only 5.2% of the variance of performance can be predicted by passion. They also showed that obsessive passion has a stronger predictive ability than harmonious passion. These findings can be used to help coaches know what passions to bolster to improve performance for their team.

Emily Grimes Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Rhodes Co-authors: Justin Mondry McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Ahhh, Spiders!: A Novel Measure of Arachnophobia

An extreme, unreasonable fear of spiders, otherwise known as arachnophobia, has been examined under the theoretical lens of evolutionary psychology as an instinctive response. Contrasting research suggests that this aversion to arachnids has its roots in cultural differences, with the emphasis of fear stemming from primarily Western societies. This study investigates levels of anxiety associated with arachnids through the use of self-report measures, which serves as an assessment technique for measuring an overall sense of specific phobia towards spiders in individuals. Understandings of specific phobias are important in the realm of clinical psychology. The goal of this research is to test the psychometric properties of this novel measure in relation to extant spider phobia research. Although we cannot use this measure as a replacement for diagnosing specific phobia, this test serves to provide additional validity for similar measures of anxiety and current phobia literature.

Mackenzie Gruber Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Mandy Medvin McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Association between Sensory Modulation Irregularities and Inhibitory Control in Preschool-Aged Children

Response inhibition was assessed alongside an evaluation of sensory modulation irregularities in a population of 36 at-risk preschool children. To quantify sensory difficulties, two modified versions of Schoen’s Sensory Processing Scale Inventory were completed per child. Children’s response inhibition abilities were measured using the inhibitory control task, Day/Night. It was predicted that a higher number of sensory modulation irregularities would lead to a lower score on the Day/Night task. Correlational analyses indicated no relationship between scores on either version of the scale and response inhibition scores. Although results were statistically insignificant, a strength of this study was the development of a new teacher scale. Future research directed at a larger population of children clinically diagnosed with Sensory Modulation Disorder could demonstrate how sensory irregularities affect executive functioning and academic success of young children. 27 Mackenzie Gruber Spanish Faculty Sponsor: Joel Postema Co-authors: Angela Bowell, Carli Sebest, Josie Toporcer Patterson Hall 207, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Medical Mission Trip in the Dominican Republic

We travelled to the Dominican Republic from March 15-23 to help medically underserved communities in Sabaneta de Yásica. As students, we helped translate for medical professionals including physicians, therapists, pharmacists, and an audiologist. We will talk about our experiences and observations from this eye-opening and meaningful week.

Mackenzie Gruber Biology Faculty Sponsor: John Robertson Co-authors: Jessica Garcia Ramirez, Olivia Wright Patterson Hall 207, 1:20-1:35 p.m. Structure-Function Analysis of TLR9 agonist and anti-OX40

We investigated the structure-function integration of TLR9 agonist and anti-OX40 as cancer treatments with an overall focus on immune system activity of these therapies.

Vincent Guerrieri Marketing and Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Darius Doty, Evan Vent McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Beer Run

Do you enjoy drinking beer, wine, and liquor? We have developed an app that promotes the consumption of alcohol at the tips of consumers’ fingers. Being inspired by the lack of alcohol distribution on the personal level, and the safety aspect it brings, we constructed Beer Run. Our app enables anyone over the age of 21 to have alcohol delivered to them pending a valid driver’s license. Our B2C model will be launched through several social media outlets by encouraging consumer engagements with the company. Our poster will go in depth of our timeline, market opportunity, competitive environment, revenue model, competitive advantage, organization capital, and provide examples of consultant agreements. Beer Run allows users to look at recipes for drinks, driver ratings, and reviews on different types of drinks. This app allows consumers to grow as a community in a safe and responsible way. Time is money, so why waste it? Don’t worry about going on the run - we’ll go for you.

Vincent Guerrieri Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-author: Tyler Barnot McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. College Degrees in the Workforce

The purpose of this research is to determine if there is a correlation between college degrees and career titles. Surveys will be issued on several social media outlets to anyone with a college degree in the workforce. Using the responses, data analysis will be conducted to determine any significant differences in the results. Identifying the differences between an education and career may influence the younger generations on college and university opportunities.

28 Julianne Halmo Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Pataki McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Student Use of Accommodations in College Classes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to students with registered disabilities choosing to use accommodations for some classes but not others. A mental health related disability, negative student-faculty relationship, and high academic efficacy were expected to reduce the likelihood of using accommodations. Analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in the means for academic efficacy and student-professor relationships between classes with accommodations and classes without but a strong, negative correlation between attitudes related to accommodations and the number of classes without accommodations. There were also significant differences between students with learning disabilities and without regarding anxiety towards faculty and confidence in self-regulated learning behaviors in classes with accommodations and between students with visible and invisible disabilities regarding connectedness towards faculty in classes with accommodations.

Sarah Harris Biochemistry Faculty Sponsor: Patrick Lackey Patterson Hall 107, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Uridylated Histone mRNA Degradation Intermediates Bind SLBP and 3’hEXO Individually and Together

Histone mRNAs are a tightly cell-cycled regulated group of mRNAs that are expressed only during S-phase and possess a 3’ stem-loop rather than the traditional poly(A) tail. Their expression and degradation is controlled by the unique 3’ end and two key protein binding partners: the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) and the 3’ human exonuclease (3’hEXO). At the beginning of degradation, 3’hEXO trims 2-7 nucleotides from the 3’ end which are then replaced by a short uridylation. We characterized the structure of a uridylated degradation intermediate through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to show that a stem-loop forms, despite the trimming and replacement mechanism that turns the six-membered stem into a nine-membered stem. We also characterized the interactions between this stem-loop, SLBP, and 3’hEXO through electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and found that the uridylated RNA complexes with both proteins formerly thought to require a specific stem-loop sequence for binding.

Kevin Hart Sports Management Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Travis Lauster McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Conquering the Challenges of Our Future – A Content Analysis of Division II Athletic Department Websites in Pennsylvania

29 Division II intercollegiate athletic departments face a publicity challenge with respect to gaining coverage from traditional media. The optimization of an athletic website is vital to maximizing the stakeholders’ utilization. This exploratory research aspires to build off previous research of Division I websites through a content analysis. Content analysis of the 23 Pennsylvania Division II websites allows for the objective and systematic evaluation then coding of the findings into categories of product, price, promotion and place. This content analysis examines each website to address three research questions: what content is present on the Division II athletic websites, what content category is most prevalent on the Division II websites, and what social media medium was most widely used? The results and recommendations can assist Division II schools in the commonwealth to ensure they are utilizing best practices in their online and technological publicity efforts.

Tyler Helvin Broadcasting and Media Production Faculty Sponsor: Bradley Weaver McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center BEA on location: Award of Excellence

I went to Houston to accept my award of excellence for my tv package titled “Coaches Coping with Strict Social Media Rules”. I’ll be detailing the video itself, as well as covering my trip to Houston for the BEA.

Tyler Helvin Broadcasting and Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 1:25 – 1:45 p.m. Nagzz21: Spark of a Community

I will be showing my senior capstone documentary on Nagzz21, a man who went from nothing to a rise in prominence in the span of a few months, creating a massive community in the process. He lives off online content creation.

Brett Henderson Sports Management Facutly Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Zach Dublin McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Conquering the Challenges of Our Future: Declining Intramural Participation

Current research exists to assess effects of intramural sports participation, motivation for participation, marketing strategies, and the many benefits of recreational sports programs. Sports management students conducted a survey of Westminster College students to examine their perceptions towards the campus intramural offerings. The research generated questions in such areas as: student demographics, intramural programming options, publicity strategies, preferred day/time of programming, motivation for participating, the use of incentives, and reasons for lack of interest. The development of the research project enabled undergraduate students to design, collect, analyze and report their own “customer” data that may serve to aid intramurals in the future. Given that intramurals can foster aid in student success and development and help with recruitment and retention, it is imperative that a strong intramurals program remains an integral part of the undergraduate student’s experience.

30 Rachel Henry Music Co-authors: Samantha Connell, Zoey Povlick, Taylor Powell, Lauren Faber, Allison Savage, Ashlinn Meechan, Chrissy Cannella, Jenna Toohey, Rebecca Zanaglio, Allison Sherman Faculty Sponsor: William Ambert McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 12:30-12:50 p.m. The Sweet Trebles

Sweet Trebles is a group of 11 women from Westminster College who share a passion for music and enjoy sharing their time and talents with the community. We will sing a set of 3 a cappella pieces.

Zachary Herndon Psychology Faculty Sponser: Sandra Webster Patterson Hall 208, 1:20-1:35 p.m. Crime Severity’s Effect on Facial Recognition in Pristine Lineups

The focus of this study is to determine if crime severity outcome can influence facial identification accuracy in pristine lineups. Fifty-nine men and women of Westminster College watched a short video of a regular office scene. The participants then filled out a 16PF personality test. Depending on their severity group, participants were told that the researcher needed them to identify a particular person, the person had stolen $10,000, or that he had a bomb. First was a sequential lineup, and the participants answered “Yes” or “No” to identify suspects followed by a confidence measure. Lastly, a simultaneous lineup in which the participants identified a suspect or stated “Not Here” followed by a confidence scale. The data supports the conclusion that crime severity does not have an influence in accurate facial identification in a lineup. However, there was a statistical significance between the relationship of accuracy and confidence.

Christopher Hilbert Business Administration Facutly Sponsor: Robert Badowski McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Social Media: Does It Attract More Extroverts or More Introverts?

In my Business Organization and Management class, we learned about how introverts and extroverts are very different with how they live, react to situations, and communicate. For this presentation/experiment, I will figure out if social media attracts more introverts or more extroverts. The way I am going to run my experiment is by having a demographic of 50 people take a questionnaire that will ask them certain questions. After they are finished, I will collect the questionnaire and record the data. I will present the data through different graphs.

Samuel Hockenberry Mathematics Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff Patterson Hall 108, 9:00-9:15 a.m. Investigation of Ohio Adjudicated Youth Through Cluster Analysis

In 2009, the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute published a report on a new tool called the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) that identifies the needs and risks of juvenile offenders. This report describes five tools

31 that make up the OYAS and their initial results on arrested and rearrested youth. This project uses the results of this report as a base to recreate representative data and discover new findings. Through cluster analysis, we hope to identify common characteristics of arrested and rearrested youth to allow for more informed decisions concerning the health and safety of adjudicated youth.

Samuel Hockenberry Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan Co-authors: Jamie Thompson Patterson Hall 108, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Improving Accessibility to Westminster College’s Field Station Weather and Solar Data

The Westminster College Field Station has been collecting weather data in analog form since the 1980’s and digital weather data since 2001. With the addition of solar panels to the Field Station in 2010, solar energy data has been added to the compiled information. In its current form, accessibility to the raw solar and weather data is limited because it is housed on a local machine or because summary data is available on a network drive. Through the creation of a database and user-friendly user interface, we hope to provide immediate access to the large weather and/or solar data sets, in a format of the user’s choosing, from the Field Station. By providing access to these large data sets, we will provide students the opportunity to study climate change, sustainability, and real-world environmental issues.

Samuel Hockenberry Mathematics Faculty Sponsor: James Anthony Patterson Hall 108, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Songs in the Key of Mathematics

In 2018, research was conducted on visualizing chords through the use of fractals. This research showed similarities between different chords and tambres. This project attempts to further existing research by representing notes and chords differently to create a fractal that represents an entire song.

Troy Holden Biochemistry Faculty Sponsor: Erin Wilson McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Function of the Bone Mineralization Protein Osteocalcin on Hydroxyapatite Formation in a Crowded Environment

It has been proven that a protein’s immediate environment influences its structure and function. One important factor that affects the three-dimensional structure (and thus the function) of the protein is crowding. Bone mineralization proteins have a vital function in controlling the amount of bone mineralization. However, they are often only studied in dilute, in vitro environments, despite that fact that the bone matrix is a highly crowded environment. Osteocalcin is the most prevalent noncollagenous protein in bone and has a high affinity for the primary mineral in bone, hydroxyapatite. Osteocalcin is closely associated with bone metabolism, but its function in regulating hydroxyapatite formation has yet to be ascertained. Osteoporosis and an increase in bone fractures are related to the lack of post-translational γ-carboxylation modifications of osteocalcin. We will be examining osteocalcin’s role in hydroxyapatite formation in the presence of a crowding agent.

32 Madison Huff Physics Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Oberst Patterson Hall 105, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Improving Size and Habitability Estimates of Exoplanets

This presentation will discuss the potential habitability of 690 exoplanets and the revised radii and density for 320 exoplanets. Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. Determining characteristics of exoplanets relies on accurate knowledge of the properties of their host stars. The European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft recently released distance, luminosity, and radius measurements for 1.6 billion stars measured to a higher precision than ever before. For those stars known to harbor planets, the properties of the exoplanets can be revised. This research was performed at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia during the summer of 2018 as part of a National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students (NSF IRES) grant awarded to Westminster College.

Mackenzie Hupp Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Mandy Medvin McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. The Effects of the Cultural Focus on Female Empowerment and the Influence of Parents and Peers

This study examines the impact of today’s female empowerment culture on gender schema theory. According to gender schema theory, children determine whether an object or action is masculine or feminine, then use this determination to decide whether or not they should partake in the situation. Ten preschool and ten fifth-grade students will be questioned about the appropriateness of multiple fine and gross motor activities for girls versus boys, as well as the influence of parents and peers. It is hypothesized that the gender schema theory will apply less to girls compared to boys; therefore, girls will be more likely to believe that they have the ability to partake in a cross-gendered activity and will be more accepting of the idea of others partaking in cross-gendered activities. Also, it is hypothesized that the older age group will be more flexible in their thinking compared to the younger age group.

Daniel Jackson Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: John Bonomo Co-authors: David Windsor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Baseball Season Simulation

Baseball has been America’s pastime since the early 1800s. However, accurate statistics have only been available to fans since 1951. Since then, a system known as sabermetrics has been continuously developed which analyzes baseball statistics to measure in-game activity. The goal of this project is to develop a baseball simulation based on sabermetrics and determine which statistic or combination of statistics are crucial to deciding the outcome of a season.

33 Sydney Kaboly Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Rhodes Co-authors: Chessie Stitzel McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. The Reliability and Validity of a Self-Report Measure of Procrastination

This study will focus on creating a measure of procrastination utilizing PSY101 students and evaluating the overall validity and reliability of the measure. Often, procrastination accompanies academic distress that is prevalent and common among today’s college students. The measure will be created using an assortment of questions relating to academic performance, stress levels, productivity, and actions describing behaviors of procrastination that were evaluated to give an overall procrastination score. To assess the reliability of this measure, we will evaluate Cronbach’s alpha. Additionally, we will check content validity by ensuring it measured equal portions of each aspect of procrastination.

Joshua Kaiser Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Bradley Dickinson, Matt Blahnik McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tispy Guru

Are you sick of drinking the same alcoholic beverages every single weekend? Tispy Guru is a beer, wine, and spirits social app where users can keep track of adult beverages that they have consumed before, as well as discover new drinks that are suggested based on their favorites. Each user will have a profile in which they can bookmark their favorite drinks, connect with friends, and discover drinks that they would not know existed without this app. It will also include Google Maps to show users where to buy certain beverages at distributors and bars. Tispy Guru will partner with various restaurants and bars in order to increase their business and provide us a source of revenue. There will always be a market for alcohol consumption, and our app will be the perfect tool for the segment of adults who enjoy collecting and trying new beverages as a hobby. Tispy Guru offers consumers an easy way to expand their knowledge of the alcoholic market and branch away from generic drinks.

Eve Kammerdiener Chemistry Faculty Sponsor: Zachary Rodgers Patterson Hall 208, 12:55-1:10 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center HPLC and GCMS Analysis of Photo-degraded Organic Pollutants

The removal and remediation of environmental contaminants such as chemical warfare agents, farm pollution, and industrial runoff is a critical environmental concern. One way that these pollutants can degrade is through the use of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photo-sensitizers, aided by readily available air and sunlight. Due to the reactive nature of this process, the degradation products can be hard to predict. In this study, three photo-sensitizers were synthesized and reacted with an organic pollutant. The reacted complex mixtures were analyzed using GCMS and HPLC to quantify degradation products. The ratios of these products were compared to identify dominating compounds that will be analyzed for toxicity.

34 Maura Kardasz Music Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Perrtu Co-authors: Abbey Senatore, Heather Zeitler, Christian Daviduk Patterson Hall 110, 9:00-9:15 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center PMEA Convention Review: Applications of Music in Education

The PMEA All-State Convention coincides with the NAfME All-Eastern Division Conference this year. On April 4-6, a group of 27 students from the music department will attend this conference and participate in various performances, presentations, and panels pertaining to music and music education. This presentation at URAC is a time for all of us who attended to meet and discuss the different events that we went to and how what we learned can be applied to our further development as music majors at Westminster College.

Maura Kardasz Music Education Faculty Sponsor: Tad Greig Co-authors: Timothy Savage, Sean Evanick Patterson Hall 110, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Relationship Between Performers, Composers, and Conductors During Rehearsal and Performance

Sean Evanick, Maura Kardasz, and Timothy Savage are three music majors at Westminster College that auditioned for the opportunity to perform with the CBDNA (Collegiate Band Director’s National Association) National Small College Intercollegiate Band at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.. All three students placed high in their respective sections and had the privilege of working with renown conductor Rodney Dorsey. During rehearsals for the concert, some of the composers of the pieces came to listen to rehearsals and give feedback both to the conductor and to the performers. This presentation will detail our experiences at the convention and the connections that we made with our ensemble director, other small college band directors, music composers, and fellow musicians from other small college band programs across the country.

John Karson Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Randy Richardson McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 9:05 – 9:15 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Impromptu Sales Presentation

I will be performing a series of impromptu sales speeches in which I am presented with a product that I will promote to the audience with limited preparation. Two minutes of preparation will be allotted for a seven-minute speech. Products that may be presented to me are physical objects, services, slogans, vacation destinations, and potential business investments. In practicing for this forensic event, I have researched rhetorical theory and persuasive techniques. I will employ the knowledge that I’ve gained from my research by telling the audience how the product in question satisfies their daily needs. The main goal of my presentation is to persuade the audience to purchase or consume my product.

35 Erin Keich International Business Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Cultures around the World

In the 1970’s, Geert Hofstede, a researcher from IBM, collected global data to better understand the cultural differences between nations based on six different criteria. Again in 2007, GLOBE (Global Leadership & Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) collected this data and made it more comprehensive. There is a great interest in the changes in culture over this 30+ year span. This study analyzed multiple facets of culture regarding location, economics, and political structure.

Keely Kennedy Education Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Co-authors: Erin McLaughlin, Emily Cornman Patterson Hall 207, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Moments: Living and Learning in Samaná, Dominican Republic

In February, three Westminster College students and Dr. Lynch traveled to Samaná , Dominican Republic with Steel City Mission Group to aid in the distribution of water filters and to educate members of local communities about clean and safe drinking water. The trip provided the WC students the opportunity to teach in Dominican classrooms and interact with communities in the distribution of water filters. Student participants will discuss their experiences on the trip and what they learned.

Steven Knight Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Tyler Nordby McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Does Your Vehicle Identify Introversion vs Extroversion?

This study compares different personality types in relation to the type of vehicle they drive. Our hypothesis is that introverted individuals will drive a more conservative car. To gather our data, we will sample from the population of Westminster through an online survey assessing the make and model of the vehicle as well as a quick test to determine personality type. This relates to personality type in the workplace, how they spend their money, and what kind of lifestyle each type tends to live. Results can be beneficially used to promote stronger teamwork and personal connections in the workplace. This is done by properly understanding an individual’s morals and grouping by thought and what motivates them.

36 Benjamin Kotch Computer Information Systems Faculty Sponsor: John Bonomo Patterson Hall 205, 1:20-1:35 p.m. Creating Adaptable Displays for Spatial Data

The purpose of this project is to create an application that allows the simple display of spatial data using a web-based platform. This will be done using a combination of database and web development tools to create a simple-to-use platform for describing layered spatial data. The need for this application arose while searching for a user-friendly web- based heat map display. The functionality of this application will be demonstrated by displaying wireless access point usage across Westminster College’s campus.

Tia Kowalo Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan Co-authors: Jessica Grady, Hanna Morris, Alana Moberg, Ian Miller, Victoria Lisbon, Ethan Brady, Sammie Parsons, Zak Kemmer Patterson Hall 205, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Westminster Students Participate in Merry Lea’s Sustainability Summit

Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center is a nature sanctuary tied to Goshen College. From February 15th-17th, a group of Westminster College students attended Merry Lea’s Sustainability Summit in Albion, Indiana. It is a conference held to explore developing sustainable rural and urban communities. The event featured speakers presenting workshops about rural and urban sustainability, “placemaking”, and building sustainable communities. Dr. John Mischler, Merry Lea’s Director of Agroecology, described his research in domestic and international rural areas. Therese Dorau, director of the Office of Sustainability in South Bend, and Lauren Lounsbury, a Bethel College student, described working with the community of South Bend. Jonathan Brooks (Pastah J) described his work in Chicago, explaining that to live somewhere, it’s necessary to become a part of the community. The students brought back ideas for improving sustainability efforts in the campus community and their home communities.

Tia Kowalo Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan Co-authors: Justin Anuszek, Matthew Balczon, Andrew Kearney McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Investigating Microplastics in Macroinvertebrates Collected from the Little Neshannock Creek, Using Clean Air Processing Methods

Microplastics have unknown effects on aquatic organisms such as macroinvertebrates. The goal of this study was to investigate the microplastic levels in macroinvertebrates found in Little Neshannock Creek and compare the levels found in macroinvertebrates sampled up and downstream of the New Wilmington Borough wastewater treatment plant. To prevent atmospheric contamination, a laminar flow hood was constructed and tested for processing and analyzing the samples. We retrieved samples up and downstream from the wastewater treatment plant effluent over a 4-week span, collecting mayflies, caddisflies and crayfish. Our samples were dried, crushed, digested, density separated, and filtered to isolate the microplastics from the samples. The microplastics were classified by type. We predicted increased levels of microplastics in the downstream samples. T-tests reveal that the microplastic levels in the crayfish were significantly different from the levels measured in the mayflies.

37 Tia Kowalo Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Diana Ortiz McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Host Preference of Mosquitoes Collected at the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, Costa Rica

“Fur-rubbing” is a behavior in neotropical monkeys in which plants are rubbed on monkeys’ fur which is believed to be used as mosquito repellent, although there is little evidence. This research focuses on the relationship between fur-rubbing behavior and mosquito vectors. We collected mosquitoes using Prokopack aspirators near monkey habitats and identified each by species. After extracting blood meal DNA, we targeted the vertebrate mitochondrial cytochrome b genes by PCR amplification, then sequenced using GenBank. A total of 3,632 mosquitoes were collected, and 38 were selected for sequencing. Of the processed blood meals, 11 host species were identified, including reptiles, birds and mammals. This is one of the first studies examining the potential ecological connection between fur- rubbing behavior and mosquito feeding behavior and may provide a better understanding on mosquito-borne disease transmission dynamics and the potential development of plant-derived mosquito repellents.

Matthew Kwalick Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Student Co-author: Caitlyn Peace McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Leadership Styles in the Workplace

We will research the various kinds of leadership styles, their impact on the workplace, and their effectiveness. We will also look into the leadership styles used by large and influential companies and CEOs (such as Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.) and conduct research and survey peers to find what people look for and like in a leader. We will determine relevant skills for becoming a successful leader, along with factors that affect a leader’s success (like subordinate personalities and character). Ultimately, the research will include the relevant information for the upcoming leaders entering the workplace.

Courtney Labritz Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Winfield Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 1:00-1:10 p.m. Rustiques

Courtney Labritz will be performing a 20th century French piece for trumpet and piano, Rustiques, by Eugene Bozza. She is a junior Trumpet Performance major, and will be assisted by Nancy DeSalvo on piano.

38 Emily Lamark Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Winfield Co-authors: Allison Savage, Ian Ollila, Courtney Labritz, Benjamin Patosky McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 9:30-9:40 a.m. Shenandoah Brass Quintet

We will be performing two pieces, the first one being a jazz piece titled “St. Louis Blues,” written by W.C. Handy, arr. Ken Abeling. The second piece will be”Scherzo,” written by John Cheetham.

April Larrison Biology Faculty Sponsor: Diana Ortiz McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Risk Factors for Lyme Disease in Canines of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio

While incidence of human Lyme disease (LD) is well studied, less is known of LD in canines despite their increased vector exposure and risk of LD. We aimed to improve understanding of LD in canines by determining if Lyme-positive canines are more likely to display symptoms of LD than Lyme-negative canines and by identifying risk factors of canine LD such as age, gender and breed group. In this study, a case-control design utilizing the review of canine medical records was carried out in northwest Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. X2 contingency tests revealed no difference in the number of Lyme-positive and Lyme-negative canines displaying symptoms of LD. Analysis also revealed canines aged ≤3 were less likely to contract the disease, indicating young age may be protective of LD. The remaining factors analyzed showed no association with LD. The lack of association between these factors and LD may indicate these do not increase canine risk of LD and do not represent risk factors.

Mark Leblanc Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nonlinear Damping in a Resonant Circuit

The RLC circuit (consisting of a resistance R, an inductance L, and a capacitance C) is a well-known example of a system displaying damped resonance behavior, described by a linear differential equation. We describe circuit behavior when a pair of anti-parallel diodes are added, leading to a non-linear term in the differential equations describing the circuit. As one result of this change, the resonance frequency of the circuit becomes a function of the driving amplitude.

39 John Lima Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Personal Space Point Charges The problem of selecting N approximately equally-spaced points on the surface of a sphere has widespread applications. Using the VPython programming environment, we have implemented a classic Coulomb energy- minimization algorithm by simulating N electrical charges reaching an equilibrium configuration as they repel each other while constrained to move on the surface of a sphere. By observing the set of nearest-neighbor distances as a function of time, we show that the charges occupy points approaching an evenly-distributed pattern on the surface of the sphere.

Anna Lish Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Effects of CB1 Agonist WIN55,212-2 on Anxiety Behaviors in Zebrafish Exposed to a Novel Environment

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States. Current first-line pharmacotherapy treatments (SSRIs) are not consistently effective. Drugs that target the cannabinoid system (CB) may serve as alternative therapies. Zebrafish have highly developed cannabinoid systems and are excellent models to test pharmacological treatment of anxiety. The current study measured the effects of dietary exposure to the CB1 agonist, WIN, on anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish tested in the novel tank dive paradigm. Anxiolytic effects of WIN were expected to be dose dependent. Results revealed that the medium and high doses of WIN resulted in significantly increased time spent in the top of the tank and decreased latency in comparison to the control and low dose groups. These results are indicative of decreased anxiety-like behaviors in the zebrafish after medium and high dose CB1 agonisms and justifies targeting the endocannabinoid system for anxiety medications.

Maggie Long Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari Patterson Hall 208, 9:00-9:15 a.m. The Effects of Acute and Prolonged Flavonoid Exposure on the Memory Performance of Zebrafish

The current study used a zebrafish model to explore the potential neuroprotective benefits of flavonoid exposure against Alzheimer’s Disease like induced memory deficits. Zebrafish were exposed to green tea extract in tank water for 0, 1, or 7 days. Scopolamine was administered to induce a temporary memory deficit state. Memory performance was then assessed on the novel-object paradigm. Results revealed a statistically non-significant trend of increased memory performance with increasing days of flavonoid exposure. Green tea dosage and the use of water exposure were insufficient to elicit an effect. The findings suggest standardization of the novel-object paradigm are needed to make it a more reliable and valuable tool for exploring the potential pharmacological and lifestyle interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease.

40 Patricia Loughney Materials Science Faculty Sponsor: Peter Smith Patterson Hall 108, 12:55-1:10 p.m. Synthesis and Comparative Light Emissions of Mixed Europium/Terbium Silicates

Nicknamed “critical materials”, the rare earth elements, numbered 57-71 on the periodic table, exhibit a special form of luminescence known as phosphorescence and show promise for advanced electronics and green energy. While these materials are important for the advancement of technology, the abundance of some of these elements is especially low and therefore costly to use. In this research, europium silicate and terbium silicate sol-gels are synthesized by methods from previous syntheses for lutetium oxyorthosilicate. Europium and terbium were chosen because they are more abundant than lutetium, and also because they emit red and green light, respectively, under phosphorescence. Thin films of these rare earth silicates have been formed using spin-coating techniques, and the phosphorescence of these films was analyzed through luminescence spectroscopy.

Hannah Love International Studies Faculty Sponsor: Edward Cohen Patterson Hall 108, 1:20-1:35 p.m. The European Union: Identity and Immigration

In an increasingly polarized world, domestic and international cooperation is the only way to create and maintain a stable world order for all. Yet, cooperation is becoming increasingly difficult, and the European Union (EU) is no exception. The EU, created to ensure a peaceful European continent based on economic integration, has faced a plethora of issues undermining its idealistic vision of European unity, such as the Euro Crisis and Migration Crisis. Remarkably, the EU has ultimately failed in forming a collective European identity. To better understand why this has not occurred, this research examined four member-states of the European Union (the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Ireland) and looked at two factors (national identity and immigration) that may have effects on European identity. It is hypothesized that when citizens of a member state hold strong national identities and experience high levels of immigration, then they will not also hold strong European identities.

Kathryn Ludwig Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Amanda McCreary, Taylor Moon McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Meet & Eat

Meet & Eat is an app designed to allow people of all types to connect with others in their geographic location. The idea behind the app is simple: to bring people together through at least one commonality- food. By using the Meet & Eat app, you don’t ever have to eat alone. Schedule lunch appointments with others in your area to establish a dating relationship, mentorship, an academic tutor, meet someone new at work, or even just to find a friend. When the app has been downloaded and opened, it will prompt the user to create a profile which collects information such as your location, your favorite foods, your intent for using the app, and what your interests are. Meet & Eat ensures that you won’t have to eat alone and you can make a friend while doing it! Our poster examines the many different steps in launching a successful app while also taking into consideration our competitive market environment, revenue model, and initial capital needs.

41 Nicholas Lutz Spanish Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Bersett Patterson Hall 107, 1:20-1:35 p.m. War of the Spanish Succession

The War of Spanish Succession created a power vacuum in Europe that would be hotly contested in the years following the death of Charles II of Spain. A multi-faceted affair, it brought several European monarchies into a war that would determine the future prospects of not only their respective kingdoms, but Europe as a whole. This war had lasting effects on the dynamics of power in Europe, the cultures that surrounded the monarchies, and the way in which power would now be inherited.

Reid Lutz Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Alex Kennedy, Tristin Ireland McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Titan App

After partnering with the bookstore, we have now made purchasing clothing and items easier than ever. With our new app, we will target people who have ties with Westminster College, specifically prospective, current, and graduated students, friends and family. To gain students’ attention, we also look to provide an incentive policy for those students who use our app. Those can be broken down into different segments for marketing reasons, but they will all be driven to the same app. This new market could also translate to other departments selling other various items as well. While working with campus bookstores, we hope to spread our brand to other campuses across the nation, as well. Come to our poster to find out why our app is part of the next generation of online shopping!

Mia Magnotti Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Nate Piocquidio, Aadil Mirza McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. A.N.M. Outdoor Home Services

A.N.M. Outdoor Home Services is a mobile app which provides an array of outdoor services to your home. We have a business to consumer model where we provide our services to your doorstep. We specialize in grass cutting, shoveling and salting driveways and sidewalks, power washing driveways and sidewalks, trimming bushes, taking care of gardens, cleaning windows and screens, touching up paint on house/deck, cleaning out gutters, and pulling weeds. This will be beneficial for those who are on a busy work schedule and cannot get house work done. It will also help out the people who cannot get around physically like the elderly folks. Our poster will examine the industry growth and revenues of the outdoor home services industry. It will show our competitive and strategic advantage in this industry. Our revenue model will be a fee for service, because of the services we offer customers. Let us make your weekends more enjoyable. Visit our poster to learn more about our app’s business model.

42 Mackenzie Marino History Faculty Sponsor: Patricia Clark Patterson Hall 105, 12:55-1:10 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Missionaries in China During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Missionaries went to China in droves in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the early twentieth century, religious leaders began to change the purpose of medical missions in particular, which impacted the care that the Chinese received during the 1918-1920 Spanish Influenza. Evidence is clear that missionaries traveled to China to care for those affected by the pandemic. Did these medical missionaries who aided the Chinese during this crisis truly stop using medical missions only as a vector for evangelism, or was this a newly established rule that was not truly followed? The purpose of this paper is to answer this question about missionaries in China during the Spanish Influenza of 1918. This paper compares medical missions from different eras, examines the shift in motive behind medical missionaries, and the change in political climate in China, using missionaries’ contemporary letters, journal entries, and newspaper articles.

Christopher Mazur Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: David Shaffer Patterson Hall 210, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Genetic Algorithm Evolution of Walking Gaits of Robots with 8 Axes of Symmetry Using Minimalistic Physical Simulations

A minimalistic physical simulation for an eight-legged robot that possesses eight axes of symmetry is being written. A genetic algorithm will be used to develop a walking gait for the simulated robot, using the physical simulation. Scoring for the algorithm will largely be based on a combination of stability and total distance travelled by the robot. After an effective gait has been determined by the algorithm, we will discuss applying this gait to a physical robot. The differences between the theoretical and actual results will be compared to determine the efficacy of the minimalistic physical simulation, assuming the theoretical results can in fact be properly applied to the physical robot.

Meg McCarthy Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Can Your Preferred Learning Style in School Suggest the Style of Management You Will Lean Toward after Graduation?

The purpose of this experiment is to gain insight on the best-suited learning style for an individual and how to apply this information after graduation. This experiment was sparked from the range of learning styles and management styles that exist. The hypothesis is that each learning style (spatial, aural, verbal, physical, logical, social, solitary) will correlate with a specific style of management (autocratic, permissive, democratic, persuasive, laissez-faire). The results of this experiment will be utilized to help recent graduates decide which companies to work for after graduation based on the office culture of said companies.

43 Dakota McFall Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: John Bonomo Patterson Hall 105, 1:45-2:00 p.m. Creating a Side-Scrolling Platform Video Game

Platform video games originated in the early 1980s and are defined by their gameplay in which players control a character who runs, jumps, or climbs onto floors, ledges, or other objects depicted on a single or scrolling game screen. My goal with this project is to create a complete platform video game while also exploring all facets of video game development, including character design, level design, and story lining. The game is a “side-scroller” where the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters can move to the left or right. My game is about a brave young boy named Fuego Diego who is trying to save his neighborhood from a devastating forest fire using his water guns. The game is designed using Unity.

Jordin McGehee Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Rhodes Co-authors: Alex Bowes, Maddie Morgan McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Confidence Is Key: Measuring Self-confidence Among Undergraduate Students

The purpose of this study will be to determine how self-confidence varies across a wide range of undergraduate students. Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, judgement, and qualities. Different levels of self- confidence can affect multiple aspects of his or her life. This study will specifically focus on undergraduate students and measuring the psychometric properties of this self-confidence in this group. Each participant will be given the first Confidence Test on a Monday and the second Confidence Test on a Friday to determine how a typical school week affects the self-confidence and motivation of an undergraduate individual. In addition to the original test, each Confidence Test will have a mood scale, along with the second Confidence Test having questions asking about possible stressors. The items we plan to include in the Confidence Test cover multiple domains such as motivation, academic success, and personal views that the subject has of his or herself.

Peter McMaster History Faculty Sponsor: Angela Lahr Patterson Hall 108, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Honor, Respectability, and the Cultural Climate at Nuremberg: Nuremberg Trial Defenses of Karl Doenitz and Albert Speer

After World War II, the Allied powers created an International Military Tribunal to try Third Reich leaders for crimes committed during the war. Two of the defendants, Karl Doenitz and Albert Speer, avoided the hangman’s noose by utilizing the cultural climate to their advantage. Doenitz defended against a charge of unrestricted submarine warfare with the help of his lawyer. He portrayed himself as a chivalrous military commander, distancing himself from the horrors of the Nazi crimes. Albert Speer defended against charges that he had orchestrated slave labor by noting mitigating circumstances, including his refusal to carry out Hitler’s destruction orders. Speer utilized a mea culpa defense, recognizing the cultural power taking some responsibility for his actions would yield with Allied officials. Both men avoided death by drawing on ways in which cultural notions of honor and responsibility influenced Allied conceptions of justice.

44 Hannah McMichael Molecular Biology Faculty Sponsor: Joshua Corrette-Bennett Patterson Hall 205, 9:00-9:15 a.m. The Effect of Ethanol on Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Production

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a commensalistic bacterium that can have pathogenic effects once entering a host’s body. Under certain conditions, S. aureus will produce a biofilm that makes it resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Treating these infections can a be long-term and invasive process; therefore, researchers are looking into novel therapies. This study will be looking at biofilm synthesis under varying ethanol (EtOH) concentrations. Crystal violet staining techniques will be used to measure and analyze the amount of biofilm produced. Using gene expression protocols, we will also analyze the effects of EtOH on icaR expression levels. An ANOVA test was used to analyze all data. This project will expand the current knowledge on biofilm synthesis and how gene regulation impacts biofilm synthesis under different growth conditions.

Alexander Michels Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff Patterson Hall 210, 9:00-9:15 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Computational Fact-Checking through Relational Similarity based Path Mining

The volume of information today is outpacing the capacity of experts to fact-check it, and in the Information Age the real-world consequences of misinformation are becoming increasingly dire. Recently, computational methods for tackling this problem have been proposed with many of them revolving around knowledge graphs. We present a novel computational fact-checking algorithm, RelPredPath, inspired by and improving on the techniques used in state-of- the-art fact-checking algorithms, PredPath and Knowledge Stream. This solution views the problem of fact-checking as a link-prediction problem which relies on discriminative path mining, but draws on relational similarity and node generality to redefine path length. RelPredPath shows performance at-par with other state-of-the-art fact-checking algorithms, but leads to a more robust and intuitive model for computational fact-checking.

Alexander Michels Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: David Shaffer Patterson Hall 105, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Capturing the Predictive Power of Cortical Learning Algorithms

Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is a model of intelligence based on the the interactions of pyramidal neurons in the mammalian neocortex which is currently being developed by Numenta. It has stood out due to high noise tolerance and learning capacity, which makes it well-suited for anomaly detection, prediction, signal processing, and sensorimotor processes. We seek to find a mathematical analogy to the predictive power of this biologically constrained theory using models from time series analysis. To do this, we statistically analyzed the predictions of HTM networks which were asked to predict outputs of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models, varying the parameters of both the networks and the ARMA models. We hope to to find a relation between sets of HTM network parameters and ARMA model parameters to better explain cortical learning algorithms and the neocortex.

45 Morgan Miller Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Rhodes Patterson Hall 108, 12:30-12:45 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Conscientiousness and Disgust Sensitivity Predicting Distress in Undergraduate Students

Although effective treatments exist for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it is often a debilitating condition for those with the disorder. Research has demonstrated that individuals with OCD tend to rate highly on conscientious and disgust sensitivity scales. The current study evaluated the interaction of conscientiousness and disgust sensitivity in predicting distress following a disgust induction. The hypothesis was that higher conscientiousness and disgust sensitivity would predict higher distress immediately after viewing disturbing images, and again after a prolonged amount of time. Results found that disgust sensitivity was significantly related to conscientiousness and distress. Importantly, the present results demonstrated that individuals who report high levels of disgust sensitivity report elevated distress even at baseline. This pattern demonstrated that an individual’s disgust sensitivity might be more impactful to their distress response than their conscientiousness.

Alana Moberg Fine Art Faculty Sponsor: Summer Zickefoose Patterson Hall Foster Art Gallery, 10:00-10:20 a.m. My Time, Thus Far, At Westminster

Nearing the end of my Junior year, I take time to reflect upon my time at Westminster with artwork made this semester. These drawings come from my Drawing Explorations class, which I am taking as part of my Fine Arts minor. The pieces show the important aspects of my time here, while the materials and mark-making used showcase some of the skills I’ve acquired here. Since I still have a year left, my gallery’s still a work in progress, with more memories yet to be had and more techniques waiting to be uncovered.

Rachel Moore Education Faculty Sponsors: Amy Camardese, Jane Dean Co-author: Makena Baumgardner McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Mindfulness for Preservice Teachers

The burnout rate for special educators remains at a frightening level: Approximately 50% of special educators leave their positions after 5 years. So, it is essential for teacher preparation programs to examine their curriculum and think about preparing preservice teachers with strategies to maintain social-emotional health. This poster presentation shares the results of a study examining the use of mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety in teacher candidates.

46 Rachel Moore Education Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Patterson Hall 108, 1:45-2:00 p.m. Study on the Effectiveness of Computer Programming Instruction for Third- grade Students

With science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) being integrated into the early childhood education curriculum, there has been an increase of computer programming education within elementary school classrooms. In this study, researchers used the knowledge of coding and apply it in teaching a group of third-grade students the basics of computer coding. This study examines the benefits of the coding instruction, along with teaching methods that could be useful within future teaching of coding based on the research findings.

Rachel Moore Education Faculty Sponsor: Alison DuBois Co-authors: Dante Greco, Makena Baumgardner Patterson Hall 205, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Power of Influence: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Educational Leaders

Why is leadership a critical component for today’s young educators? The complexity of student issues can be staggering for inexperienced teachers. Possessing effective communication skills and strong leadership traits can be critical in early classroom success. This interactive, engaging session will introduce participants to various Leadership Styles and Traits from a strength-based approach. Participants will examine various aspects of communication, including micro-skills, emotional intelligence, and conflict management. This session will also help participants create a professional vision for their classroom and schools.

Anna Muraca Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sherri Pataki McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Misattribution of Arousal: The Impact of Exercise on Romantic Attraction in Friendship

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether arousal causes people to be more romantically attracted to their different-sex friends. There were 20 males and 20 female participants from Westminster College who were randomly assigned to an arousal or a non-arousal condition. A stationary bike was used to induce physiological arousal. Participants in the non-arousal condition filled out a word search puzzle. All participants were asked to think of a different-sex friend and rate their level of romantic attraction. It was hypothesized that participants in the arousal condition would report more romantic attraction towards their different-sex friends than the participants in the no arousal condition. Results indicated that there was no significant difference on whether they felt sexually attracted to their different-sex friend. There was a significant gender difference on whether participants felt protected when with their different-sex friend; women reported feeling more protected.

47 Jessica Nelson Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. An Electronic Simulation of Slow Light

In physical media, light pulses can be dramatically slowed by careful tuning of the refractive index. We simulate this slowed light through the use of an electronic circuit, composed of a series of stages, each of which slows an electrical pulse by a tunable amount. An LED in each stage allows for real-time visualization of the slowed electrical signal. We investigate the behavior of electrical pulses in this model system as they move into a series of stages where the degree of slowing changes.

Frank Pantano Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Technology and its Effect on Student Career Choice

This research project will study the effect of technology, specifically social media, on students’ career choice. A survey of Westminster college students aged 18-22 will be used to collect data. The results of the survey compared with secondary data will determine if students now have increased interest in entrepreneurship, creating online businesses and what platforms they work on. The study will also provide insight to what social media platforms are most prevalent, what this demographic seeks from influencers on these platforms, if they support these influencers through donations or purchasing merchandise, and if they are motivated to purchase products promoted by these influencers as well.

Molly Parker Psychology Faulty Sponsor: Sherri Pataki Patterson Hall 208, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Empathy, Social Desirability and Political Affiliation and its Relation to Views on Current Events

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether childhood exposure to diversity was related to support for U.S. minority groups. The study also investigated whether political beliefs and individual differences in empathy and social desirability predicted support. Sixty Westminster undergraduates were asked to complete a survey assessing individuals in exposure to diversity, political beliefs, empathy (Baron-Cohen, 2004) and support for minority groups in connection to current events (e.g. athletes kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality). Participants also completed a measure of social desirability (Crowne & Marlow, 1960) to examine whether the desire to appear positively was related to more support. It was concluded that higher exposure to diversity is related to greater support for the recent actions of minority groups in the U.S. Individuals that also had more democratic views showed more support to minority groups in the U.S. as well.

48 Molly Parker Business Administration Faulty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Travis Lauster, Zach Medarac McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Hop the Line

Tired of standing at a bar and waiting for a beer for 20 minutes? We are creating an app that will allow businesses in the beer, wine, and bar industry to more efficiently run their business. Our app allows for customers to order drinks right from the palm of their hand with no wait time. When bars start using this app, it will enhance efficiency and will improve their sales; this will yield happy customers. We are marketing this app not only to bars and wineries but also to people who are 21 and older. This app will work because today’s society is faster paced, lazier, and more technological. With the creation of this app, we will be marketing to a large industry that will be easy to enter because there are not many competitors. The revenue model we will follow for our mobile app is through transaction fees, and we would take 7% of sales that are made through the app. Now, can you see yourself ordering, paying and grabbing a drink from your phone, with no wait time?

Tsubomi Poley Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Robots without Processors

We construct an inexpensive autonomous robot using only basic circuit elements. Without the utilization of computer code, the robot is capable of completing tasks involving light following, line following, edge avoiding, and obstacle avoiding with only slight changes in its circuitry.

Emma Pollock Chemistry Faculty Sponsor: Peter Smith McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Cobalt from Concentrated HCl Solutions

Rare earth elements are often found in common electronics and engineering. The growth of these industries, coupled with their continual expansion into new markets, means an increasing accumulation of wastes containing these metals. Many rare earth elements can be extracted from scrap electronics using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DES), which are alternatives to the more hazardous and waste-generating traditional extraction methods. In this research, a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent was equilibrated with 8 M HCl and used to extract cobalt from an 8 M HCl solution containing a known concentration of cobalt. After phase separation, the aqueous layer was analyzed for cobalt concentrations via ICP-OES in an effort to elucidate the extraction mechanism of cobalt. Knowing the extraction mechanism for cobalt and rare earths allows for a better understanding of these solvents and the potential reversibility of this extraction for both solvent and metal reuse.

Margaret Portmann English Faculty Sponsor: Kristianne Kalata Co-authors: John Karson, Emily Krinos, Krislina Mercer, Tsubomi Poley, Amanda Young McKelvey Campus Center Berlin Lounge, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

49 2019 Poetry Slam

Join Sigma Tau Delta and Scrawl for the 2019 Poetry Slam! This year’s selected participants read their works aloud, are scored according to a judging panel, and a winner is declared. Stop by to enjoy light refreshments and great poetry!

Margaret Portmann English Faculty Sponsor: David Swerdlow Patterson Hall 107, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Invisible: Identity Development, Character Devolution, and Rhythmic Motifs in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man (1952) has solidified its place among the great African American novels of the twentieth century, giving readers an intimate account of the social, political, and cognitive issues faced by its protagonist. Taking place during the Harlem Renaissance, the text lends itself to analyses in structuralism, postcolonialism, racism, hierarchies of power, and-- most importantly-- identity development.

Kaelyn Puhalla Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Brooke Lyczek McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. What Type of Athlete Are You?

This experiment will compare the number of captains and players that are extroverted and introverted that participate in athletics and whether you must be extroverted to be a captain of your team. The researchers will be sending out a personality test that will show whether the person is extroverted or introverted and whether they are a captain or not. The data will be analyzed to see if there is a trend among athletes and furthermore, if there is a trend among captains. The researchers believe that athletes are more likely to be extroverted people and that captains will be more extroverted, as well.

Hope Radvinski Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Colleen Merrick McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Diversity-Inclusive Advertising and Product Availibilty - Effect on Consumer Self-Perception

This study aims to research the effects of diversity-inclusive advertising and product availability on consumers. Various brands making an effort to include products and advertisements for a larger, more complete representation of consumers, including people of color, people of various size and weight, and disabled people, were examined. This study examines if consumer self-perception is affected by a more varied representation of individuals in advertisements and product availability. Furthermore, if a consumer identifies personally with a brand’s advertisement, does this affect their self-perception, and are they more likely to support that brand? Although a majority—but not all—participants felt there was a lack of diversity-inclusive brands, the vast majority of participants felt that diversity- inclusive brands would have a positive impact on not only consumer self-perception and body image, but also in relieving the societal pressure of socially-constructed beauty ideals.

50 Jordon Randall Marketing & Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Brett Steinmiller, Hunter Paff McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Westminster College Homecoming Market Research

During the 2018 fall semester, the BA 305 Marketing course developed and conducted a market research project. The students were responsible for preliminary research, creating a survey instrument and collecting their data. The problem was identified as the following: what homecoming ideas would the student body like to see implemented? The research objectives were to examine programming of similar size colleges in our region, to gather student feedback on existing homecoming programming on campus, to gather student feedback on potential homecoming programming, and to determine effective publicity mediums and preferred days/time for the homecoming. The market research also examined students’ motivation for homecoming participation as well as incentives that might heighten participation. Students’ lack of interest towards homecoming programming was also examined. Demographic information was gathered based on student year, gender, housing, athletic participation and Greek participation.

Vanessa Restifo Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius Patterson Hall 207, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Student Travel: The Key to College Recruitment Success?

As student enrollment in higher education declines across the nation, colleges and institutions must find new, unique ways to entice an upcoming generation of prospective students. This thesis proposes that student travel is an effective and unique appeal for prospective students that would ensure recruitment success. Founded on secondary and primary research, a multi-platform public relations campaign was created to promote Westminster College’s short-term travel opportunities as a recruitment strategy. In today’s national enrollment crisis, Westminster and other institutions can benefit from a recruitment strategy that leverages student travel as a unique tactic to boost enrollment and ensure the college’s advancement into the future.

Vanessa Restifo Education Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Co-authors: Emily Russell, Rachel Moore, Hannah Grippo, Erin McLaughlin Patterson Hall 207, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Education in the Dominican Republic: Past, Present, Future

For the third year in a row, Dr. Lynch and Dr. Postema will take a group of education majors to Sabaneta de Yásica, in the Dominican Republic, for an educational service/research trip in May. The annual trips provide education students the opportunity to assist local teachers and share learning practices while comparing the education systems between the two countries. Student participants will discuss the objectives and history of this ongoing partnership with the Dominican schools and its educators, as well as their experiences during the 2018 trip. They will also share plans for the future and upcoming trips, including the one in May 2019.

Vanessa Restifo Spanish Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Patterson Hall 207, 10:40-10:55 a.m.

51 Study Abroad Opportunities

International Studies Abroad offers many programs around the world for Westminster students to study, volunteer or intern abroad. I have participated in 2 trips, one interning and one studying, so I will be sharing my experiences and information for how students can make their own memories abroad through an International Studies Abroad program.

Jonathan Robison Engineering Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Coupled Oscillations in Suspended Magnets

When suspended by a single thread and treated as a pendulum, a pair of strong magnets exhibits the typical pendulum-like oscillations as expected. However, this system also displays unique behavior in that a different kind of motion, other than what is expected just due to gravity, is also observed. Because of an interaction between the magnetic moment of the magnet pair and earth’s vertical component of magnetic field, a torsional motion is produced. It ends up being the case that the pendulum motion and torsional motion have an energy dependence on one another, and this phenomenon is known as coupling, or in this case, the system is considered a coupled oscillator. This interaction between pendulum motion and torsional motion leads to a strange observable, result. Using research methods, including video recordings and computer software, a closer look at the interesting behavior produced by coupling is obtained.

Emily Russell Education Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Bersett Patterson Hall 207, 1:45-2:00 p.m. The Influence of Different Teaching Methodologies on Second Language Acquisition in the United States and Spain

Many studies and observations show that a difference exists between the proficiency level of a second language that students achieve in the United States and Spain. There are many factors that contribute to this difference. The teaching methodologies that teachers use in classrooms, the proximity of the target country to other countries, and way that the target country values second language acquisition can all determine the level of second-language proficiency that students will acquire. This study aims to analyze these factors and determine if they have measurable effects on the fluency attained by the students in both countries.

Emily Russell Spanish Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Patterson Hall 207, 9:00-9:15 a.m. Student Teaching and Studying Abroad in Seville, Spain

This presentation will highlight the experience of studying and teaching English abroad in Seville, Spain. Acting on behalf of ISA (International Studies Abroad), this presentation will promote the program that allows students to have the life-changing experience of studying abroad while learning more about the field of education in an international setting.

52 Delaney Saxton Criminal Justice Studies Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Chapman Patterson Hall 110, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Probation: How Race, Gender, and Monetary Sanctions Impact Who Recidivates

Criminal probation is both important and under-studied. Starting in the 1990s, criminal justice agencies began diverting convicted offenders to community corrections programs. As a result, almost 4 million Americans are currently on probation (Kaeble and Bonczar 2016). Judges have a wide variety of probation interventions which can be grouped into three categories—punitive, therapeutic, and financial. Despite the widespread use of criminal probation, we know very little about its effectiveness. Recidivism in other studies has been linked with race, gender, and monetary sanctions as predictors and indicators of reoffending. Recidivism rates can be studied in a multitude of ways, but for this study was centered around those who had finished probation in 2014 and recidivated as of December 31, 2017 in Mosquito County, Ohio. As of the three-year mark, approximately 26% of probationers had recidivated, which was then studied by race, gender, and whether monetary sanctions played a role.

Lauren Seelbaugh Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Randy Richardson McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Expository Speech: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

This presentation is an informative (expository) speech designed to explain the emergence of the invasive insect known as the brown marmorated stink bug. Informative speeches require the student to do intensive scientific and scholarly research into contemporary problems and issues. The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive menace in the United States that has been wreaking havoc on farms and in homes across the nation. In this speech, the speaker will provide the audience with basic facts about the brown marmorated stink bug, consider their impact on American agriculture and homeowners, and discuss how researchers are working to eradicate them.

Gianna Serignese Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sandra Webster McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Athletes’ Motivation to Comply with Physical Therapy and Return to Sport

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among physical injury in athletes, their sports motivation, and their compliance to physical therapy. 99 men and 71 women college athletes completed the Sport Motivation Scale and Sports Injury Rehabilitation Beliefs Scale. Intrinsic motivation as measured by knowledge, accomplishment, and stimulation was expected to positively predict the injured athlete’s physical rehabilitation and return to sport. Extrinsic motivation as measured by external, introjected, and identified factors was expected to negatively predict the injured athlete’s success in the process of physical rehabilitation and return to sport. Regression analyses demonstrate that extrinsic motivation negatively predicted compliance with physical therapy and return to sport, and intrinsic motivation positively predicted compliance with physical therapy and return to sport.

53 Samuel Sherlock Music Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Wachter Co-authors: Tim Hering, Nik Guadagnino, Tyler Snodgrass, Maggie Danko, John Daniels, Truman Antah, Patrick Raymond, Christian Daviduk, Scott Wignall McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 1:30-2:00 p.m. The Jazz Cats Combo - A Study in Blues

The Jazz Cats is a group of students mostly originating from the School of Music. The combo performs various classic jazz and blues charts and works on jazz improvisation skills. For URAC, they will perform several pieces, including “Stolen Moments” by Oliver Nelson and “The Girl from Ipanema” by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Katelen Shuler Music Performance Faculty Sponsor: Melinda Crawford Perttu Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 1:15-1:25 p.m. Violin Performance - Beethoven’s Romance in G Major

I will be performing Beethoven’s Romance in G Major. This specific Romance is one of two in the set that Beethoven wrote in 1802. This Romance is crucial for every violinists’ repertoire because of the challenging double-stops throughout the piece. Double-stops can be found in many other major concerti and orchestral pieces. In 1803, a year after this Romance was written, Beethoven wrote the “Heiligenstadt Testament” in which he described the effects of depression he exhibited after he began to lose his hearing. He decided to live through the pieces that he wrote and continued to write exquisite pieces. This piece will be performed by Katelen Shuler accompanied by Dr. Nancy DeSalvo.

Aaron Signer Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: John Bonomo Co-author: Sam Hockenberry McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Parsing Addresses using Neural Networks

Machine learning consists of multiple techniques that allow computers to identify data patterns and make future decisions. Neural networks, a type of machine learning, combine input abstractions with representative weights to identify patterns of interest. The goal of this research is to investigate the efficiency and ability for a neural networks to parse international mailing addresses.

54 Megan Simpson Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. If the Walls Could Tell Stories: Political Murals as a Strategic Public Relations Tactic in Changing Public Perception of Northern Ireland after the Troubles

In the late 1900s, Northern Ireland was consumed by a terroristic war between mainly Protestant Loyalists and Catholic Republicans known as “the Troubles,” during which over 3,500 people were killed. As a result, images related to violence and death became the symbols most commonly associated with Northern Ireland. Murals painted on city corners contributed to this imagery and acted as political propaganda for paramilitary groups in their segregated communities. After the 1994 ceasefires, a peace process began, and tourism increased as travelers hoped to witness the tensions of a war-torn nation by viewing the murals in person. Using Agenda Setting Theory, this study thematically analyzes international news media about Northern Ireland and its murals during and after the Troubles. The study discusses the potential impact of a street art campaign on the perceptions of a nation at war and explores its role in increasing tourism and improving public opinion.

Megan Simpson English Faculty Sponsor: David Swerdlow Co-authors: Brooke Acklin, Kenneth Boeringer, Dominic Boston, Frank Cinicola, Molly Frank, Alyssa Gavlek, Biyanca Gavlek Oliver, Madysen Hackwelder, Christian Keegan, Shania Kennedy, Julie Kerlin, McKenzie Kobbe, Martin Koegler, Emily Krinos, Tomas Maielli, Morgan Miller, Jacob Pittman, Elisabetta Pontillo, Alainna Romeo, Lauren Seelbaugh, Kaitlin Travis, Angeline Vick, Brittany Watson McKelvey Campus Center Berlin Lounge, 10:00-11:00 a.m. The Newilmingtonian

New Wilmington, PA is a cultured hub where Amish country town meets buzzing, college campus. Join us for the debut of The Newilmingtonian—an online, literary publication that will cover the happenings of a small town with an aptitude for hosting an abundance of personalities. The session will give a sampling of The Newilmingtonian and its cultural commentary as student contributors read sections of their featured pieces and reveal the new site. Students from a range of majors will exhibit their writings, as the site is rooted in a variety of disciplines and will be accessible to the campus community, at large. As an online publication founded by Dr. David Swerdlow in Westminster’s English Department, The Newilmingtonian will comment on various subjects relating to the college and its home of New Wilmington. This URAC session will provide an opportunity for Newilmingtonians to tune into their town and discover the cultural enlightenment the publication will offer.

Vanessa Sivie Music Faculty Sponsor: Nancy DeSalvo Co-authors: Gier Chen Patterson Hall Music Gallery, 1:30-1:40 p.m.

Clarinet and Piano Duet

We will be playing Robert Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces” movement 1 and Eugéne Bozza’s “Aria for Clarinet.”

55 Vanessa Sivie Music Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Heasley Co-authors: Samantha Douglas, Abbey Senatore, Nina Silver McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Westminster College Clarinet Quartet

We will be playing Johannes Brahms’s Danza Hungara No. 5 for Clarinet Quintet, W.A. Mozart’s Clarinet Quartet no. 7 in E flat major, and “Viva La Vida for Clarinet Quartet” arranged by Kate Agioritis.

Christopher Slater Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Victoria Pezzuolo, Michael Hamiche McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. What Motivates You?

Using the 16 personalities website, the researchers will be able to discern the three most common personalities, in order to find what motivators drive each of the three personality types. With this information, the researchers will determine what motivates the different personality types. The research will be conducted from a select class, and each student will be asked to take the test and return their results to the researchers. Using the test results, the researchers can determine the three most common personality types in that class and decide the most prevalent motivators for the top three personalities.

Haley Smith Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Colleen Merrick McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Generation Z Buyer Behavior and How It Impacts Marketing Communications

How do marketers decide to communicate with their target market? What is the most important aspect of this communication process? The answer is knowing the target market so well that the marketers know what they desire. Generation Z is an entirely new entity of consumers who are just now beginning to make an impact on consumerism. Why is this so important? Because they are the future of consumption and marketers need to understand them in order to sell to them. This study looks into who Generation Z is, what they want, their characteristics and needs, and their buyer behavior. After discussing and analyzing, the researcher will compose the best way to communicate with Generation Z that will ensure consumer relationships with companies, resulting in overall success.

56 Christen Snyder Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center An Examination of the Relationship between the Free Exploratory Paradigm and the Open Field Test as well as the Effects of Diazepam on Anxiety-related Behavior in the Open Field Test

Recent epidemiological research suggests that anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems faced in the world today, yet many individuals have difficulty finding treatment. Many pharmacological agents used to treat these disorders have been validated in the rat model prior to reaching clinical trials. This study examined the relationship between anxiety-related behaviors displayed by 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats in the open field test (OFT) and free exploratory paradigm (FEP), as well as how well baseline anxiety-related behaviors predicted a response to an anxiolytic drug. Results indicate that anxiety-related behaviors in the OFT and FEP are not correlated, suggesting that these measures are providing insight into different facets of anxiety. Results also indicate that rats displaying higher levels of anxiety-related behaviors at baseline show a greater response to a drug, suggesting that symptom severity may play a role in an individual’s response to treatment.

Casey Spieler Sports Management Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff Co-authors: Maggie Monahan McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Academic and Financial Analysis

The NCAA has a large number of student-athletes that compete in 24 different sports every year. In Division I, many students are given the opportunity to play college sports around the nation. For this project, we consider the finances within different sports and schools and the effect on students athletically and academically. We compare student- athlete graduation rates, eligibility rates, and revenue and expenses.

Emilee Spozarski Mathematics Faculty Sponsor: James Anthony McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Generating Images of Exoplanets

Scientists often seek to generate images of exoplanets they discover and attempt to make them as accurate as possible based on the data they are able to collect. In this study, we aim to generate an image of a hypothetical exoplanet from scratch, modeling properties such as its banding patterns. We will input functions we create into the Processing programming language in order to generate images of exoplanets with the desired characteristics.

Ali Srour Theatre Faculty Sponsor: Karen Dabney McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center

57 Making of a Star Drop

I spent 3 weeks last semester leading a group to create a Star Drop, a massive flat to be flown in on the lineset in the theatre. I learned several leadership and practical skills throughout as I led my team to finish it. I also did the same presentation at KCACTF in January.

Jacob Staub Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. A Physiologically Accurate Model of Neuronal Communication

The electrical membrane potential of a neuron over the course of an action potential is dependent on the opening and closing of ion channels, as well as intracellular and extracellular ion gradients. We construct a circuit to model this neuron behavior, displaying a physiologically accurate pattern of membrane potential in response to an input potential above threshold and a correctly-sequenced opening and closing of the sodium and potassium channels. By linking multiple neurons, we simulate chemical communication at the synapse.

Noah Steiner History Faculty Sponsor: Angele Lahr Patterson Hall 110, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Analyzing the Portrayal of the United States by the U.S.S.R. Through Cartoon Propaganda during the Cold War

Cold War propaganda was an important tool for the East and West that combined the politics and culture of most of the twentieth century. This research analyzes Soviet Union Cold War animated propaganda, specifically those cartoons found in the DVD box set Animated Soviet Propaganda: From the October Revolution to Perestroika. It identifies the main themes of the cartoons and how they portrayed the West (meaning the United States). Soviet animated propaganda demonized the West by discrediting Western and capitalist culture and dichotomizing the Cold War conflict between the East and West. This research will help scholars better understand Soviet Union Cold War ideology and attitudes of the West and highlight important propaganda that has been sparsely studied and seen.

Marisa Stephenson Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Sandra Webster Patterson Hall 105, 1:20-1:35 p.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Effects of Rumination and Ego Depletion on Procrastination and Mood

Response Styles Theory (Hoeksema, 1998) suggests that rumination causes saddened mood and procrastination. Fifty-one undergraduates were randomly assigned to writing tasks in a 3 (rumination: brooding, control, reflective) by 2 (ego depletion: yes/no) between subjects experiment and were measured on mood. Participants completed a survey as part 2 of the experiment that measured behavioral procrastination (days to complete) and trait procrastination. Email reminders were sent for three weeks. There were statistically significant effects of rumination on APS scores, and ego depletion on UPS scores. While controlling for APS, there was a significant effect of ego depletion on depression. Additionally, UPS was significantly and negatively correlated with APS and positively correlated with metacognitions about procrastination. Depression also significantly predicts UPS and APS independently. Results suggest that rumination and ego depletion affect types of procrastination and depression.

58 Catherine Stevens Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Code to Fit Stellar Radial Velocity Data to a Curve

One way to find exoplanets is by looking at a star’s radial velocity (or RV) curve. If the curve shows periodic variations, then there may be something orbiting that star. From the shape of the RV curve, we can learn about the orbiting object’s mass, distance from star, and orbital period. We present a code that can be used to fit an RV curve to data, providing constraints on the orbital parameters.

Jacob Stoyer Education Faculty Sponsor: Sararose Lynch Co-authors: Gabe Roman Patterson Hall 205, 9:25-9:40 a.m. Analyzing Effectiveness of the SCI 100: Hacking STEM Classes Workshop

SCI 100: Hacking STEM Classes workshop was a mixed-methods, remedial workshop designed to equip students with tools to succeed in all levels of classes in the STEM field. In this presentation, we will analyze the effectiveness of this workshop from the perspective of professors, TAs, and students alike to further understand what steps should be taken to improve moving forward.

Hailey Tammaro Biology Faculty Sponsor: Kerri Duerr McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Influence of Weather Variables on Timing of Breeding in American Kestrels

Over the past several decades, the consequences of climate change have affected many populations of bird species around the globe. North American kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations have been declining for an unknown reason. Breeding success may be altered by limited food availability, competition, or unsuitable weather conditions. Our study focuses on three weather variables: average annual precipitation, average spring temperature, and date of last frost between the years 2016 and 2018 in Lawrence and Mercer counties, Pennsylvania. We investigated if these variables affect clutch initiation date (CID) of kestrels. We monitored 65 nest boxes and recorded nest activity. Upon analyzing the data with a generalized linear regression model, timing of CID does not appear to be explained by weather patterns. We hypothesize the long-term breeding trends may not be seen in three years of data. Also, breeding trends may differ between populations of the same or different species.

Elizabeth Temple Biology Faculty Sponsor: Kerri Duerr McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

59 Foraging Decisions in Birds: Finding Novel Birdfeeders and Avoiding Predation

In order to survive and maintain fitness, birds must make decisions that allow them to balance nutritional benefits of food with the cost of obtaining it, while still avoiding predators. Researching this is important in looking at how decisions affect the whole population. How fast do resident bird species discover novel food sources, and does the risk of predation modify the use of foraging sites/optimal foraging decisions? Feeders were observed 90-minutes twice a day for a total of 10 hours per replicate for 5 replicates to see how long it took a bird to discover feeders at different risk levels and forage the choices made. Results show feeders were, on average, discovered 28 hours post set up and black- capped chickadees most frequently foraged first. Low-risk feeders were selected more, and high-nutrition food was chosen more at both feeder sites, showing high-nutrition food is favored regardless of risk level, and nutritional benefit outweighs the risk of predation.

Eve Terwilliger Molecular Biology Faculty Sponsor: Karen Resendes Patterson Hall 105, 9:00-9:15 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center

Thapsigargin Counteracts the Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on Nuclear Transport during Apoptosis in HeLa Cells

RanGTP is a small nuclear transport protein maintained in the nucleus by nuclear pore complex (NPC) selective permeability. NPC permeability increases during apoptosis, mislocalizing RanGTP and disrupting nuclear transport. The drugs thapsigargin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alter nuclear transport by mislocalizing Ran to the cytoplasm via a calcium-mediated mechanism. Gemcitabine (gem) mislocalizes Ran to the cytoplasm. This study aimed to determine the nuclear transport effects of thapsigargin combined with gem or 5-FU. We predicted gem would counteract thapsigargin to inhibit Ran mislocalization, while combined thapsigargin and 5-FU would have an additive effect. We determined thapsigargin combined with gem did not have a significant effect on Ran localization, while thapsigargin counteracted 5-FU’s ability to mislocalize Ran. Our results suggest these combined drugs counteract through opposing cellular calcium effects, and thus would prove to be ineffective cancer treatments.

Jamie Thompson Computer Science Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff Co-authors: Marissa Bowers Patterson Hall 108, 9:50-10:05 a.m. Swimming through the History of the Summer Olympic Games

The summer Olympic Games would not be complete without the event of swimming; it has been part of the competition since the first games in 1896. Thus, there is a generous amount of data that is ready to be analyzed. The data set we are working with contains information on the Olympic athlete such as their height, weight, gender, medaling, and time. Also included is the location and year of the games in which the athlete competed and the country they represented. We will transform this boring black and white data into an informative and appealing visualization in order to uncover a story about swimming in the summer Olympic Games.

60 Kenneth Tumblison Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Image Control for Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts received massive negative feedback over a loot box system was presented in Star Wars Battlefront II. This study explores how Electronic Arts reacted to public criticism of the Star Wars Battlefront II release. Using a case study approach, this project analyzes social media posts, company documents, news releases, and internet articles written during the time of the release. The Benoit’s Image Restoration Theory was applied to help critique Electronic Arts actions throughout the process. The study discusses the after effects as well as the legal ramifications from the release of Star Wars Battlefront II.

Lucas Turner Broadcasting & Media Production Faculty Sponsor: David Barner McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 1:05 – 1:20 p.m. Capstone - Night Terrors

This work is a video documentary about sleep paralysis, a condition in which one sees hallucinations while coming out of sleep. I interviewed two people with this condition, one being a licensed professional in the medical field. The video recreates some nightmares and explains the symptoms and treatment of the condition.

Tori Vaughan Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Mandy Medvin McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Influence of Friend or Non-friend on Children’s Moral and Social Conventional Judgments

This study examined the effect of friendship status on children’s moral and social conventional judgments. One hundred 1st to 4th grade students were randomly assigned to verbal peer pressure from a friend or a non-friend in moral hypothetical transgressions, involving cheating and stealing, and social conventional hypothetical transgressions, involving improper greetings and eating with hands. It was expected that a friend would cause greater conformity to peer pressure than a non-friend. Results indicated conformity to peer pressure was greater for a friend, but only regarding moral norms. In moral scenarios, the level of acceptability of the transgression was higher for a friend, whereas in social conventional scenarios, the level of acceptability of the transgression was higher for a non-friend. For all findings, there was no difference concerning grade level. This study demonstrates important implications for early moral and character education.

61 Jennifer Vogel Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski Co-authors: Evan Vent McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Westminster Personality Study

This study will analyze the variety of personalities among Westminster College students. The researchers will distribute a personality quiz, similar to the 16 Personalities and Big 5 Personalities quizzes, in order to group students into distinct categories. The difference between genders as well as differences between class years will be noted and analyzed. The researches will also discuss what personality traits the “average Westminster student” possess and how they will be beneficial in the work place.

Maria Wahal Chemistry Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Sarver Patterson Hall 208, 10:15-10:30 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Parameterization of DPA Using the Force Field Toolkit

DPA (2,2’-dipicolyamine phosphormadite) is a specialized nucleotide that can easily be incorporated into a DNA molecule during initial synthesis. This nucleotide can bind Cu2+ which possesses an unpaired electron, and enables the DNA to be analyzed using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), which provides structural details of the molecule. Previous studies have been conducted to measure the distance of a strand of DNA using EPR and Cu2+-Cu2+ distances. The purpose of this project is to parameterize this nucleotide using Gaussian09 and the Force Field Toolkit plugin for the molecular modeling program, VMD. Once this parameterization process is complete, a detailed model of DNA, along with the parameterized DPA will be used to run MD simulations. These results will then be compared to that of the experiment detailed above. This is done not only to assess the success of the parameterization, but also to assess the accuracy of the distances obtained through Cu2+-Cu2+ measurements.

Maria Wahal Environmental Science Faculty Sponsor: Helen Boylan, Alison DuBois, Brian Petrus Co-authors: Maura Belding, Brice Bokesch, Nick Burks, Shae Cogley, David Durbin, Kaitlyn Fast, Breanna Ferguson, Jake Gard, Brett Henderson, Brady Hogue, Yiannoula Katsadas, Travis Lawrence, Ian Miller, Brianna Papp, Blaine Sorrick, Mike Stevens, Evan Vent, Erin Ward, Emmitt Willis, Emily Wilson McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m., 10:30-11:30 a.m., 12:30-1:30 p.m., 2:00-3:00 p.m. Feasibility Study of Recovered Minerals in AMD Sludge

To combat the detrimental effects of abandoned mine drainage (AMD) in western PA, the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition (SRWC) utilizes passive treatment systems to treat over 1.5 billion gallons of water annually. Passive treatment systems rely on natural processes to improve the quality of affected water but also produce a sludge byproduct that consists of high concentrations of precipitated iron and manganese metals. By utilizing interdisciplinary research, students in the EPMA cluster course aim to analyze the environmental effects and economic value of the sludge. A complete feasibility study will be done to assess the costs associated with removal and marketability of minerals present in the sludge. Comprehensive results of this feasibility study will be presented as a recommendation to the SRWC, as well as similar stakeholders, for further consideration. Our goal is to shed light on the possibility of economic gain and on the environmental dangers associated with AMD.

62 Shamon Walker Marketing and Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Brett Steinmiller, Zach Dublin Patterson Hall 107, 10:15-10:30 a.m. SeatSanity

SeatSanity is a business-to-business app that has a value proposition of fast, efficient, and luxurious services to give you the best experience possible. Tom Brady is back to pass! He throws an out cut to a falling Julian Edelman, and it is picked off by Joe Haden! Gillette Stadium is shocked! It’s the AFC championship game between the Steelers and the Patriots. The time out is your chance to get a beverage, food, or gear, but you don’t want to miss any of the action. That’s okay, SeatSanity is here! SeatSanity is the app that allows you stay in your seat to watch and cheer. Whether it’s a cold beer or your favorite team’s gear, SeatSanity is there! Through this app’s production, we have done our market research on competitor strategies, potential revenues, competitor weaknesses, and market attractiveness. SeatSanity hopes to bring new ideas to the market, move ahead of our competitors, and change the atmosphere of events. Relax! Place your order and watch the game!

Alan Waltenbaugh Physics Faculty Sponsor: Craig Caylor McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Sounds from the Guitar

Oscillating strings have been used in music for centuries. These strings create different sounds by being excited to oscillate in different ways. The sounds they produce will be tested by changing their tension, where they are plucked, and how a constant sinusoidal drive will affect the vibration.

Hannah Westwood Communication Studies Faculty Sponsor: Randy Richardson Co-author: Emily Gellatly McKelvey Campus Center Mueller Theater, 9:50 – 10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Roe

1973 was a host for momentous civil rights cases, but none marked the 1970’s quite like Roe vs. Wade. Lisa Loomer takes this case head on with her original play script entitled Roe. This edited, dramatic duo presentation follows the real-life story of the lawyer, Sarah Weddington, who argued the case before the Supreme Court, and the woman, Norma McCorvey, who would go down in history as “Roe.” Themes of morality, ethics, and the law are discussed as Sarah and Norma analyze the effects and consequences of making abortion legal throughout the country. This dramatic duo was presented at the Novice National Forensics Tournament at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio on March 9th and 10th, 2019.

63 Mikayla Williams Psychology Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Rhodes McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Perceptions of Typical Romantic Relationships

Research has shown that people choose romantic relationships based on past experiences; these preferences may develop from past relationships or from observing others. Undergraduate college students ages 18 to 24 from an introduction to psychology course will be used in measure. The students’ perceptions of typical romantic relationships will be assessed with a survey which measures level of agreement on statements which pertain to common factors of relationships. The statements may include traditional or more progressive statements. The statement, “It is acceptable to live with a partner before marriage”, is an example of a more progressive statement where the participant will indicate the level of agreement. The overall agreement with with statements will be used to assess the students’ overall perception of romantic relationships. This is an assessment which will be used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure of typical romantic relationships.

Emily Wilson Human Resources Management Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Cuff Student Co-author: Nicole Mackenstein McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Examining Attitudes Towards Mental Health Concerns in the Technology Workplace

Mental health is a prominent disease in many sectors of the workplace. In 2014, an international survey was taken by Open Sourcing Mental Illness, LTD, a non-profit corporation focusing on mental wellness in technology communities, to collect data on the perception of employees within this industry. Analyses will be conducted to find characteristics of companies surveyed and the awareness of support offered both in terms of health benefits and attitudes of colleagues and employers toward this issue.

Logan Wilson Fine Art Faculty Sponsor: Summer Zickefoose Patterson Hall Foster Art Gallery, 10:30-10:50 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center Tomorrow’s Trends: Designed by Logan

I was able to complete my Fine Art minor requirements with a fashion design independent study course with a Research Grant to fund supplies and research. With help from my adviser, we established that I would make 3 outfits over the course of the semester. These outfits would be based on trends that were present on the runway and in street style on fashion influencers. The first outfit I made was a summer-inspired look. This was composed of a two-piece gingham print skirt outfit made from a cotton-stuffed waterproof material, with an off-the-shoulder cropped reversible top. The second outfit was a fall-inspired outfit. This was composed of a pair of brown/rust colored fleece-lined leather pants with an attachable overall top and belt, a plaid shirt with a turtleneck necktie design, and a faux fur animal print jacket. The last outfit was spring-inspired. This was composed of a pastel floral printed high-neck style overcoat and a light pink low-back draped silk dress.

64 Logan Wilson Marketing and Professional Sales Faculty Sponsor: Robert Zullo Co-authors: Carina Burns, Theresa Tremmel McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 12:30-1:30 p.m. PLAN – IT

PLAN - IT is an acronym summarizing the features of the app -- Prioritize, Learn, Accountable, Notify - Incentivize, Timeline. This mobile app operates under the productivity market space and can be implemented by institutions of higher education. It is a planner-oriented app that allows users to add events, prioritize time commitments, and be rewarded for completion by a specified deadline. The main purpose of this app is to form a centralized location aimed at helping the target audience of first-year students prioritize and ease the transition into college. The development and incentive-based rewards program of the app will be funded by a yearly subscription fee. The poster will provide a more in-depth description of the funding model and success measurement. This app will bring together academics, athletics, Greek life, clubs and organizations, campus events, as well as personal obligations to be completed by the user. Don’t worry the days away, take time and PLAN - IT!

Logan Wilson Business Administration Faculty Sponsor: Robert Badowski McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Fashion and the Perception of Personality Type Based on Emotion

We have traditionally been taught not to judge a book by its cover, but have you ever given consideration to the cover that fashion gives to one’s emotions and personality type? It is assumed that an introverted individual would make less bold fashion choices in order to fit into a crowd, avoiding drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. On the contrary, it is assumed that an extroverted individual would make bold fashion choices to make a statement or attract attention. Through the conduction of this study, perceptions of one’s personality type were drawn from the evaluation of day-to-day fashion preferences and the emotions associated with those decisions.

Olivia Withers Public Relations Faculty Sponsor: Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. How Do Americans Discuss Food?

The purpose of this study is to discuss the way that Americans discuss food, using how the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) debate frames both sides of the argument. This study will also use store displays to discuss how grocery stores play a role in influencing buyer behavior. The goal of this study is to understand the way that grassroots organizations become popular through information campaigns.

65 Joshua Wrightson Neuroscience Faculty Sponsor: Deanne Buffalari McKelvey Campus Center Witherspoon, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Funding received from the Drinko Center The Analgesic Effects of Methadone in the Presence and Absence of Acetaminophen

Recent studies have shown that NSAIDs hinder morphine’s analgesic efficacy. Whether or not other opioids show this interaction is unclear. Methadone is a well-known alternative to morphine that has a longer duration of action. The current study aims to compare pain responses between male Sprague Dawley rats receiving methadone and acetaminophen together or methadone and acetaminophen separately. A hot plate test and warm water tail flick assay were used to test analgesia. It was predicted that co-administration of methadone and acetaminophen will be more efficacious than the administration of acetaminophen alone. It was also predicted that methadone would be the most effective treatment. Methadone and the combination of drugs showed to provide more pain relief than acetaminophen alone. Results also showed that the methadone group displayed significantly higher latencies than the combination of drugs by 24-hours post-injection, suggesting that a drug interaction occurred.

Michelle Yasenka Spanish Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey Bersett Patterson Hall 205, 10:40-10:55 a.m. The Representation of Migration in Spanish Film: An Analysis of María Jesús “Chus” Gutiérrez’s Films

Migration is a part of the world’s history, and it is still a prominent topic today. Immigration from north Africa to Spain and other parts of Europe has been recurring for centuries. There is controversy over this topic which leads to variation in how welcoming the native population is to the immigrants. This study focuses on how a Spanish director, María Jesús “Chus” Gutiérrez, portrays the immigration of north Africans to modern-day Spain and their lives as immigrants in a new place. Through analysis of two films,Retorno a Hansala and Poniente, along with in-depth background research, this study will focus on the representation of the immigrants as well how they are treated by native populations.

Kyle Youmans Music Faulty Sponsor: Daniel Perrtu Patterson Hall 205, 1:45-2:00 p.m. The Ins and Outs of Running an Online Orchestra

This presentation will detail the steps to starting and maintaining an online orchestra by following the history and inner workings of the Undertale Online Orchestra, an international ensemble started with the purpose of arranging, recording, and publicizing orchestral arrangements of the entire soundtrack from the video game Undertale. The presentation will follow the history of the ensemble, the challenges of getting everything started, and the inner workings that allow it to thrive to this day. This presentation takes three sides, showing a behind-the-scenes perspective, a member perspective, and a consumer perspective.

66 Heather Zeitler Music Faculty Sponsor: Timothy Winfield Co-authors: Sean Evanick, Vincent Buell, George Huncik, Greer Wardlaw McKelvey Campus Center 1st Floor, 10:40-10:55 a.m. Lake Brittain Brass Quintet

The Lake Brittain Brass Quintet will perform the following pieces: • Movements 3 and 5, from the Suite Americana for Brass Quintet, No. 1, written by Enrique Crespo in 1977. The suite is named “Americana” for the South and North American continents. It includes Ragtime, Bossa Nova, Vals Peruano, Zamba Gaucha, and Son de Mexico movements. Movement 3, Vals Peruano, translates to “Peruvian Waltz.” In it, you can hear the waltz and the Spanish style associated with this waltz. Movement 5, Son de Mexico, translates to “They are from Mexico.” In it, you will hear the quintet act as a mariache-style band. • “March in Full Reverse”, written by Courtney Labritz, class of 2020. “March in Full Reverse” is Labritz’s new take on a march. She wrote it for a composition project and took the idea of a standard march, but started at the end, or stinger, and worked her way back to the introduction. In this piece, you will hear the aspects of a standard march, just in a different order.

67 Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research Patterson Hall | Room 315 319 S. Market Street New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001

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