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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract Booklet Credits ............................................................................................................................... 2
The Abstracts ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Department of Biology .................................................................................................................................. 4
Department of Chemistry ........................................................................................................................... 14
Department of Communication .................................................................................................................. 21
Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies ............................................................. 38
Department of English ................................................................................................................................ 45
Department of Geography .......................................................................................................................... 46
Department of History ................................................................................................................................ 50
Department of Mathematics ...................................................................................................................... 56
Department of Philosophy .......................................................................................................................... 57
Department of Physics and Engineering ..................................................................................................... 58
Department of Political Science .................................................................................................................. 66
Department of Psychology ......................................................................................................................... 67
Department of Social Work ........................................................................................................................ 72
Department of Sociology ............................................................................................................................ 73
Department of Theatre and Dance………………………………………………………………………………………………………..74
Department of Visual Arts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..75
Special Thanks ............................................................................................................................................. 76
Map of the ARMAH.....................................................................................................................................77
ABSTRACT BOOKLET CREDITS
Cover Design ................................................................................ Andrew D. Ravenscroft, Mr. Robert Hein
Program Editing and Layout ................................................................................................ Dr. Karen Keller
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
3 May 6, 2016
THE ABSTRACTS
This Symposium includes 127 presentations featuring the work of 221 students,
mentored by 73 Faculty and Staff across 16 departments. The projects presented at this
Symposium took place in 2015 and 2016 and include coursework and independent study
activities. Abstracts are organized alphabetically by department and by project title. The
Presentation number in parentheses following the title refers to the table locations of
the Poster and/or Physical Displays in the ARMAH. A map of the ARMAH is on the last
page of this booklet. Oral presentations are scheduled in Lane Center 108, 110, 111 and
113 and a schedule for the oral presentations will be available at the Registration Table.
Each presentation includes the following information:
Project Title (Poster, Physical Display, Oral Presentation, Table #)
Name(s) of presenting student(s) Name(s) of contributing student(s) (if applicable) Name(s) of faculty/staff mentor(s)
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
May 6, 2016 4
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Essential Oils on Microbes (Poster, Table 9) Presenting Students: Nelson Dozier, Ruth Fabre Mentor: Dr. Catherine Vrentas The goal of this experiment (completed as a part of the Biology 304—General Microbiology—
course) was to test various types of organic oils for their antimicrobial properties. Orange,
grapefruit, lemon and clove essential oils were each tested. These oils have a variety of
everyday uses, from cleaning products to dentistry. The experiment was performed by first
creating spread plates of E. coli and B. subtilis on TSA (Trypticase Soy) agar. Next, we took
forceps sterilized with ethanol and coated paper disks with the various oils, and placed them on
the lawns of bacteria; bacterial plates were incubated at 37 °C before observation. To measure
the efficacy of each of the oils’ antimicrobial properties, the zone of inhibition around each disk
was measured using a ruler. We hypothesized that the lemon oil would have a larger zone of
inhibition on both plates because of the acidic nature of lemons and their uses in cleaning
products. However, our hypothesis was incorrect; clove oil had the largest zone of inhibition.
Clove oil is known to have antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral uses. Clove oils are present in
several of today’s oral health care products, skin care products and vitamins. Eugenol is in clove
oil and is used by dentists around the world for pain relief.
Characterization of Structure‐Function Relationships of a Gram‐Positive Bacterial Hfq (Poster, Table 10) Presenting Students: Lorenzo Jones, Harrison Shore, Alexcia Aka, Elizabeth Meredith,
Serge Owoukor, Bethany Henson Mentor: Dr. Catherine Vrentas The Hfq family of proteins is important in RNA binding and regulation in Gram‐negative
bacteria, such as E. coli. Deletion of Hfq from some bacteria leads to defects in growth and/or
virulence. Hfq3 is a homolog of the protein from the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus
anthracis, the causative agent of the lethal disease anthrax. Lower levels of His‐Hfq3
expression can complement Hfq regulatory phenotypes in E. coli, whereas higher levels of His‐
Hfq3 expression are toxic to E. coli as well as the Bacillus anthracis cell itself. Here, we
examined the activity of the Hfq3 protein via a genetic screen. A variety of mutants of the Hfq
gene were produced via mutagenic PCR. The PCR mutants were cloned into a plasmid and then
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were transformed into Δhfq E. coli and plated to MacConkey agar. The MacConkey agar is
differential based on the fermentation of lactose. Only the bacteria with the gene of interest
(Hfq3) broke down lactose. Lactose breakdown causes plated mutants with Hfq3 function to
turn pink, while those that lack Hfq function turn tan. Bacteria that had changes in color were
cultured further. The Hfq3 plasmids were extracted from the cells by minipreps and sequenced
in order to display the location of mutations on the Hfq protein structure.
Confirmation of a SNP in the Anthocyaninless Gene of Wisconsin Fast Plant (Poster, Table 8) Presenting Student: Mitchell Mills Mentor: Dr. David Puthoff This project’s purpose is to identify and amplify the dihydroflavanol‐4‐reductase (DFR) portion
of the anthocyaninless gene of Wisconsin Fast Plant (WFP), where a single nucleotide
polymorphism is thought to be the cause of the purple and non‐purple phenotypic variation.
DNA was first isolated from 10 purple individuals and 10 non‐purple individuals followed by PCR
reactions using 4 different combinations of primers, in order to determine the most consistent
amplification combination. The primer pair combination resulting in the best PCR was using the
primers DFR forward and RC anl reverse. Amplified fragments were purified and subjected to
enzymatic digestion with restriction endonucleases. It was determined that the fragments were
too small and an intron was present. Using B. rapa new primers were determined that would
produce a significantly larger length of DNA. PCR optimization was done to determine the best
primer combination. This was found to be DFR Forward, and Reverse #2. Finally these were
used followed by digestion to produce a favorable result.
Conservation Implications of Decreasing Misidentification among the Genus Actaea (Poster, Table 8) Presenting Students: Karen Johnson, Laura Price Mentor: Dr. Sunshine Brosi State imperiled mountain bugbane (Actaea podocarpa DC, Ranunculaceae) is threatened by
ecological and anthropogenic pressures such as species misidentification, resulting in
unintentional harvesting. By developing comparative outreach material for herb diggers, lay
botanists, and the general public that differentiates A. podocarpa from similar‐looking related
species such as A. rubifolia, A. pachypoda, and A. racemosa, the anthropogenic pressures on A.
podocarpa will be decreased. Outreach material using simple observation techniques with both
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
May 6, 2016 6
textual and online resources will ensure positive access and usability. With a decreased
knowledge gap of species in the genus Actaea, there is further protection and benefit for both
the subordinate taxa as well as the herb‐identifiers.
Creation and Phenotypic Characterization of Mutations in the Hfq3 Protein of Bacillus anthracis (Poster, Table 11) Presenting Student: Eugenia Asare Mentor: Dr. Catherine Vrentas Bacillus anthracis, a Gram‐positive and highly resistant spore‐forming bacterium, is the
causative agent of anthrax. This bacterium is unusual in that it produces three variants of a
small RNA‐binding protein called Hfq: Hfq1, Hfq2, and Hfq3. Hfq plays an important role in
facilitating the interaction between messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and small non‐coding RNAs
(sRNAs) in order to post‐transcriptionally regulate gene expression in eubacteria. While the role
of Hfq in growth and virulence of Gram‐negative bacteria is well described, its role in the
physiology of Gram‐positive bacteria, such as Bacillus anthracis, is less clear. For the purpose of
this study, we focused on the B. anthracis Hfq3 protein, which was previously shown to partially
complement the function of E. coli Hfq. Six specific mutations were created on the proximal and
distal surfaces of the B. anthracis Hfq3 hexamer to observe how these changes would affect the
complementation activity of the protein, as assessed in a Δhfq E.coli strain. Residues were
selected based on their role in E. coli Hfq in binding mRNAs or sRNAs on the Hfq hexamer. On
the proximal surface of the Hfq3 protein, the “Rim Revertant,” Q8A and K56A mutations were
created, and on the distal surface of the protein, the Y25D, K31A and I30D mutations were
created in a His‐Hfq3 expression vector via site‐directed mutagenesis. Using the Basic Local
Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), an algorithmic sequence alignment program, the amino acid
sequences of the mutant Hfq3 plasmids were aligned with the amino acid sequence of
B.anthracis Hfq3 to confirm the presence of each mutation. The mutant plasmids were
transformed into Δhfq E.coli competent cells carrying an Hfq‐dependent lacZ reporter construct
and streaked onto MacConkey agar plates for later observation. After incubating overnight,
both agarose and protein gel electrophoresis were conducted to ensure the retention of DNA
and protein in each strain after mutagenesis. The phenotypes of each Hfq3 mutant were then
observed using the Hfq3 wild‐type strain and the inactive Hfq1 strain as positive and negative
controls, respectively. Three mutations created on the proximal surface of the Hfq3 protein—
the “Rim Revertant,” K56A and Q8A— produced pink phenotypes, thus indicating partial
retention of protein activity. In contrast, mutations created on the distal surface of the
protein—Y25D, K31A and I30D—exhibited complete loss of complementation activity, as
observed from their tan phenotype. Therefore, it appears that that the distal face of the protein
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plays a more critical role in the B.anthracis Hfq3 complementation phenotype and, likewise, the
Hfq protein activity. Further experimentation on Hfq3 protein complementation activity when
assessed without an N‐terminal His‐tag neither supported or contradicted earlier experimental
results, due to the low expression of Hfq3 lacking the His‐tag, as evidenced by the phenotypic
appearance of the strains when streaked on MacConkey agar as well as a protein gel of cell
lysates. The His‐tag may reduce degradation of Hfq3 in this system.
Developing Microscale Biology Outreach Activities Using a Pocket Refractometer to Measure Sugar Concentrations (Poster, Table 11)
Presenting Student: Cameren Jennifer Mentor: Dr. Catherine Vrentas Creating homemade products, such as fruit juices and soft drinks, can become a hassle if one
does not know the amount of sugar in the product and cannot rely on simple taste tests.
Similarly, farmers and gardeners may be interested in tracking the sugars and/or total solids in
their fruit and vegetable crops over time. Microscale activities for the general public were
developed around the use of a pocket refractometer to increase awareness of ways to measure
these biochemical differences. A refractometer is a simple optical device that is able to measure
the concentration of sugar contained in a liquid. Currently, one activity in development utilizes
the refractometer and different types of grapes to measure and compare grape juice sugar
concentrations while creating a puzzle for people to think about the science and real world
applications of the activity. Progress has been made in the lab with the use of the
refractometer, development of a handout, and testing of the microscale refractometer
activities, with plans to test this activity in the field in a larger group setting for the impact on
participant learning.
Dietary Analysis of Black Bears in South Central Pennsylvania (Poster, Table 8) Presenting Student: Jonathan Yoder Mentor: Dr. Thomas Lambert The North American Black Bear is an economically important species that is not only harvested,
but can cause significant crop damage and can be a nuisance in peri‐urban environments. Black
bears are opportunistic in their use of habitat and considered dietary generalists. Therefore
their diet likely varies depending on location. A fuller understanding of how habitat influences
the diet of the black bear could aid in bear management and mitigating the negative impacts of
nuisance bear. In order to evaluate black bear diet, scats were collected from two different
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sites in South Central Pennsylvania; a heavily forested area with little to no agricultural
influence and a primarily agricultural region. In order to search for scat, I would locate a
potential food source and follow tracks until a sample was found. Alternatively edges of laurel
stands and corn fields, as well as stream were searched. More scats were located in the fall
than in the spring, likely as a result of spring detections being hindered by rain, melting snow,
and fallen leaves and trees. After samples were collected, they were weighed and percentage
of vegetation, mammal bone, avian bone and feather were estimated for each scat. In Both
regions most samples collected contained vegetation but, samples collected from the
mountainous forested area contained a higher percentage of hair and bone from small
mammals and birds. Based on rates of scat detection, bears in the agriculture area were active
earlier in the spring than the forest area bear population with bears active in February and early
March in the agricultural areas whereas the forest bears not becoming active until the middle
part of March. The sample locations varied throughout the agriculture area region but in the
forested region samples where usually found near logging roads, streams, or laurel stands.
Food Production for Migrating Waterfowl at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey (Poster, Table 9) Presenting Student: Edward McDonald Contributing Student: Sean Knox Mentor: Dr. Frank Ammer Managed wetlands at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey serve as
valuable stop over sites where waterfowl can rest and feed. To effectively manage wetlands for
certain waterfowl species, knowledge of area‐specific migration trends, wetland food
production, and water depth is key. This study will document food production of five managed
freshwater wetlands located within the refuge. A total of 100 invertebrate samples were
collected in the spring and fall of 2015. Invertebrate samples are currently being classified to
the family level. Samples are also being measured for length‐mass regression analysis to
determine total biomass. Preliminary results suggest that the Gammaridae and Coenagrionidae
families comprise the majority of the collected samples. Invertebrate sampling will continue in
the spring and fall of 2016. Final results will provide an estimate of available food for migrating
waterfowl using the refuge. These data will be incorporated in future management plans for
the impoundments on the refuge.
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Habitat Selection of Spotted Salamanders in Western Maryland (Poster, Table 9) Presenting Student: Crystal Tippett Mentor: Dr. Frank Ammer The purpose of this study is to determine what physical characteristics aid spotted salamanders
in selecting vernal pool habitats in western Maryland. The study sites selected provide a
mixture of habitats that will allow estimates of amphibian use. Measured characteristics at each
site include pH, size of vernal pool, temperature, depth of leaf litter in pool, and canopy cover.
By using Visual Encounter surveys and double observer protocols, vernal pools will be identified
as occupied or unoccupied. A student t‐test will compare the pH levels and a one‐way ANOVA
will be used to examine leaf litter depth and canopy cover. These comparisons will provide
preferred characteristics as well as differences between occupied and unoccupied vernal pools
in the region.
Hydrogen Isotope Ecology: Analysis and Application to the Study of Bat Movement (Poster, Table 8) Presenting Students: Jake Blakely, Kamren Jefferson Contributing Student: Crystal Tippett Mentors: Ms. Caitlin Campbell, Dr. David Nelson The study of animal movement is important to understanding ecological and environmental
factors crucial to conservation efforts. Animal migration is particularly vulnerable to disruption,
but traditional methods of tracking long‐distance animal movement can’t be applied to many
species due to small size, difficulty of capture, and unpredictable movement. Stable hydrogen
isotope ratio analysis presents a solution, as it necessitates only a single sampling event to infer
the geographic origin of animal tissue. Inferring the origin of animal tissue using stable
hydrogen isotope data requires three inferences: (1) The variation of hydrogen isotope ratios
within precipitation, (2) the tissue‐specific discrimination factors affecting how stable hydrogen
isotope ratios change when incorporated into animal tissue, and (3) the time period over which
environmental isotopes are incorporated and retained within tissue. We will discuss the
process of determining precipitation baseline values, tissue sample acquisition and preparation,
chemical analysis and standardization, and incorporation into probability‐of‐origin models.
These methods are being applied as part of a study of the seasonal migrations of wind‐
development impacted tree bat species.
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Lyme Disease in Western Maryland: Analysis of Ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and Tissue Samples from White‐footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus) by PCR and Immunofluorescence Microscopy (Poster, Table 10) Presenting Students: Drew Brown, Mallary Granger, Nicole Lloyd, Fred Nyachieo,
Amy Weakland, William Wygal Mentors: Dr. Rebekah Taylor, Dr. Karen Keller Lyme disease is the most common vector‐borne disease in the United States. The bacteria that
causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to mammals by the bite of an infected
blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). The white‐footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, is the most
common reservoir host of the bacterium. The prevalence of Lyme disease in humans has
increased dramatically over the past 20 years, spreading westward and southward from its
origins in coastal New England. The aim of this project was to test samples of ticks and blood
samples from white‐footed mice that were locally captured. DNA was extracted from these
samples and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of a Borrelia gene.
Futhermore, tissues from mice whose blood tested positive for Borrelia antibody were
harvested, sectioned, and analyzed for the presence of Borrelia bacteria by
immunofluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, Borrelia bacteria were found in the red pulp
and in specific locations of the white pulp in the spleen of one of the mice.
Lyme Disease in Western Maryland: Collection of Ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and Blood Samples from White‐footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus) (Poster, Table 10) Presenting Students: Drew Brown, Mallary Granger, Nicole Lloyd, Kassondra Greis,
Amy Weakland, William Wygal Mentors: Dr. Rebekah Taylor, Dr. Karen Keller Lyme disease is the most common vector‐borne disease in the United States. The bacteria that
causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to mammals by the bite of an infected
blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). The white‐footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, is the most
common reservoir host of the bacterium. The prevalence of Lyme disease in humans has
increased dramatically over the past 20 years, spreading westward and southward from its
origins in coastal New England. The aim of this project was to survey tick and mouse
populations in our area for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi. The presence of Borrelia in
local ticks and mice presents a higher risk of human contraction of Lyme disease. Here we
present our methods of collecting ticks and blood samples from white‐footed mice. Some of
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the blood samples tested positive for Borrelia antibodies, indicating that the mice were infected
(or had been infected) with Lyme‐causing bacteria.
Molecular Characterization of the Microbiome—Using 16S PCR to Explore the Microbial Community (Poster, Table 11) Presenting Students: Alyssa Savage, Alexa Gallagher, Olivia Hager, Kylan O’Baker,
Casey Hymiller, Maci Quintanilla Mentor: Dr. Catherine Vrentas The purpose of this project was to characterize the microbiome of soil and environmental
samples from the Frostburg area. A microbiome is a community of microbes that are present in
a location or biome. A test run of PCR (with the 27F and 1492R universal bacterial primers) and
gel electrophoresis was conducted with B.burgdorferi (Lyme disease bacterium) genomic DNA
in order to ensure that the methods used here would successfully amplify the 16S ribosomal
DNA sequences that are specific to each bacterial species. This test proved successful, so two
soil samples were obtained from Frostburg, MD; two soil samples were obtained from
Grantsville, MD; and four swab samples were obtained from the Brady Health Center on
campus for microbiome characterization. Additionally, sediment samples were retrieved from
sediment cores taken from Cranberry Swamp in western Maryland by graduate student Jade
Llewellyn and Professor Phillip Allen. Swamp sediment samples included recent sediments as
well as samples dated to >7000 years old. To extract genomic DNA from the associated
microbial communities, DNA purification of each of the 12 samples was performed using the
Purelink Microbiome DNA purification kit. Next, PCR was performed on the purified DNA
samples to amplify the 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. PCR cleanup will be completed and a
cloning kit and bacterial transformation will be used to create a library of 16S RNAs from each
sample. By sequencing of a sample of the 16S library and comparison to reference genomes of
bacterial species, a sample of the bacterial microbiome of each soil or environmental
community will be determined this summer.
Optimizing the Technique of Isolating Chromosomes from Dividing Cells and the Production of a Karyotype (Poster, Table 12) Presenting Student: Colby Swisher Mentor: Dr. Rebekah Taylor For the project I’m presenting at the CLAS Undergraduate Research Symposium, I plan to do
multiple variations of a metaphase chromosome spread protocol. Each variation will test the
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
May 6, 2016 12
most effective way to carry out different steps of the protocol to achieve the best chromosome
spread, such as the length of exposure to colchicine, distance the cell solution is dropped onto
slides from, and concentration of the lysing buffer. Not only will this improve the results of the
protocol, but demonstrate the role of each step and allow observation of which cellular
conditions display the best results with this technique. I believe the altering of each condition
of the experiment will cause observable differences in the resulting karyotype, allowing the
conditions to be adjusted for a more desirable product.
Reevaluating Appalachian Cottontail Status Using Fecal Pellet mtDNA Analysis (Poster, Table 9) Presenting Student: Alicia Matthews Contributing Student: Kelly Russo Mentor: Dr. Frank Ammer The Appalachian Cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is dispersed across patchy mountainous ranges
and is suspected to be in decline in MD due to habitat fragmentation caused by development,
degradation, conversion. The Appalachian Cottontail and the Eastern Cottontail are similar in
appearance and are difficult to differentiate the species using morphological characteristics.
Fecal pellets are a non‐invasive method that can be used to discriminate the Appalachian
Cottontail from the Eastern Cottontail without disturbance or stress on the populations.
Analysis of the mtDNA genome using fecal samples allows the reevaluation of the Appalachian
Cottontails status, relative abundance, and habitat associations in western Maryland. Habitat
assessment and pellet surveys were conducted at historic sites in western Maryland from Jan.1
to April 1, 2016. DNA from the fecal samples is currently being isolated using modified
protocols to maximize DNA concentrations. Data obtained from this study will facilitate the
conservation, management and recovery of the species in this region.
The Effect of Acetaminophen on the Growth of Murine Splenocytes, Lymphocytes, and Hepatocytes (Poster, Table 12) Presenting Student: William Wygal Mentor: Dr. Rebekah Taylor The purpose of this experiment will be to study the effect of acetaminophen on the spleen,
liver, and lymph nodes of a mouse. The experiment will expose the three types of tissue cells to
varying concentrations of acetaminophen. The effects of the drug on the cells of the three types
of tissues will be monitored over a total period of three weeks. During that time cell growth and
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cell death will be recorded. Acetaminophen is known to cause liver damage in high doses, with
that in mind the cells from the liver tissue should experience the most cell death at each
concentration. The lymph node and spleen tissues should be affected minimally, if at all. None
of the tissues should show expansive growth regardless of the acetaminophen concentration.
The Effect of Osmotic Pressure on Transfection Efficiency in Mammalian Cells (Poster, Table 10) Presenting Student: Harrison Shore Mentor: Dr. Rebekah Taylor Transfection is necessary to introduce genetic materials into mammalian cells. The
Lipofectamine 3000 reagent protocol was used to introduce a gene of interest (green
fluorescent protein) into HEK‐293 human kidney cells. This reagent produces a lipid‐DNA
complex that allows the cells to uptake the DNA through their phospholipid membrane. This
experiment focuses on finding the most effective transfection conditions. RPMI media at
different concentrations was used to produce an array of cellular stress. Transfection rates will
be calculated to find the effect of osmotic pressure on transfection efficiency.
Using Molecular Genetics to Determine River Otter Genders (Poster, Table 11) Presenting Student: Holy Mbah Mentors: Dr. David Puthoff, Dr. Thomas Serfass While North American river otters are not endangered, their populations are still threatened by
humans through habitat destruction, water pollution and fur trade. In order to understand
more aspects of otter biology such as otter group structure, the relatedness of otters occupying
a specific area will be important. In addition, the breeding of captive river otters in order to
introduce offspring into wild populations could have a detrimental impact on the genetic
diversity of future populations. Therefore, the result of this project (a noninvasive method)
reduces contact from little to no contact with the organism. This study examines only the
gender of individual otters, but could be applied to other more specific genetic testing. From a
“big picture” point of view results from this and future studies will highlight the important
evolutionary implications for river otter conservation.
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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Analysis of Heavy Metal Content in Ginseng Berry Juice (Poster, Table 5) Presenting Student: Lauren Rosch Mentors: Dr. Peggy Biser, Mr. Blair Knouse Recent studies suggest that ginseng berry juice is linked to reducing blood sugar levels and aids
in weight loss. It is believed that ginseng berry juice has components that are beneficial to
consumers with diabetes. Chromium dietary supplements are consumed to aid in the treatment
of type 2 diabetes. This research is designed to explore the chromium content in ginseng berry
juice and if the levels of chromium might contribute to the health benefits of ginseng berry
juice. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was utilized to determine
various metal concentrations in a sample of berry juice. Samples are analyzed for chromium
content using atomic absorbance spectroscopy.
Analysis of Volatile Compounds in Local Honeycomb using Headspace Gas Chromatography (Poster, Table 4) Presenting Student: Kaitlyn Crissinger Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Norris If bees collect pollen and nectar from locations with specific types of flowers, then the volatile
compounds from the resulting honey comb should be able to show differentiation between the
locations. To determine the volatile compounds in honey comb, we developed a method of
using head‐space gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This method consists of
agitating and heating vials of honeycomb to cause pyrolysis and release of the volatile
compounds. We anticipate that the profile of volatile compounds will vary depending on the
pollination source or location. We will then compare the volatile compound profiles of honey
comb from multiple locations within the Mid‐Atlantic region.
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Biomedical Applications to Nanotechnology (Poster, Table 3 and Oral Presentation) Presenting Students: Steven Lowery, Brian Day Mentor: Dr. Robert Larivee Nanotechnology is a growing buzz word amongst scientists and engineers because it is directly
applicable to every area of science. By definition, nanotechnology is the controlled variation of
materials that measures from 1 nm to 100 nm; however, this range can be flexible and can be
considered to be nanotechnology up to 1000 nm. Some of the more common examples of
nanotechnology include integrated circuits, light emitting diodes, and solar cells. Lately,
nanotechnology has made a huge presence in the field of medicine giving the size of cells and
cellular organelles. The area we are most interested in is designing nanoparticles for
biomedical drug delivery, microfluidic assays, and novel therapeutic techniques. With drug
delivery, there are two major mechanisms. The first involves a solid nanoparticle which has
dendrimers attached and the drugs are then attached to the dendrimers. Typically these
particles are on the order of 10s of nm in diameter. This mechanism has shown to increase the
potency of the drugs by directly targeting the area of interest. The other mechanism involves a
hollow core nanoparticle which is able to house a drug within such as a liposome. The
advantage with this mechanism is that the fabrication of a liposome is facile. These particles
can also be functionalized with shells and/or dendrimers. This is the particular area of interest
in our research. Liposomes are made at the 200 nm size then coated in silica and then gold. The
nanocomposites are analyzed and characterized with a particle size analyzer, scanning electron
microscope, and UV‐vis‐NIR spectrometer. This nanostructure shows strong promise for the
future of drug delivery because of its versatility. This structure can potentially house insulin and
be used as a vehicle for diabetes therapy. Also, this structure could potentially be functionalized
to be an antibiotic.
Comparison of Metal Ion Selectivity of Fluorophore 1,4‐bis(2‐quinolyl)‐2,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene in THF/Water and Acetonitrile (Poster, Table 4) Presenting Student: Connor Riahin Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Norris In 2010 and 2011, two separate papers were published on the fluorescence enhancement
selectivity of the fluorophore 1,4‐bis(2‐quinoyl)‐2,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadiene (Compound L). Suresh,
et al, reported that Compound L showed selective fluorescence enhancement selectivity
towards Hg2+ when excited at 330 nm in a THF/Water mixture (60:40 v/v), producing a single
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium
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peak. Ichimura, et al, confirmed the Hg2+ peak, but also reported a moderate fluorescence
enhancement from Cu2+ over a wider range of excitation wavelengths in acetonitrile. The
purpose of this study was to determine if the different solvents used in the two experiments
caused these different results. As of now, experiments have only been performed in the
THF/Water mixture. Despite great effort, Compound L would not dissolve in acetonitrile. A test
of Compound L’s solubility in a range of solvents showed that it only dissolved in THF and
chloroform. It should be noted that we used Ichimura’s synthesis method; but only Suresh’s
experimental procedure has worked up to this point. This greatly reduces the possibility that
the cause of the differing results was an impurity in either of the two synthesis procedures. The
data that has been collected does not support either paper. A fluorescence study showed that
all metal ions added to Compound L produced fluorescence enhancement. Furthermore,
Compound L produced some fluorescence on its own; which was not previously reported. A test
of the metal and L standards used in the experiments showed that their pH had decreased
significantly over time. This would suggest that H+ ions in the standards are interfering with the
metal ions and producing erroneous results. To reduce this error, future experiments will
employ a neutral buffer to maintain H+ concentrations well below experimental parameters.
This should give us much more accurate data on Compound L’s fluorescence selectivity in
THF/Water.
Determination of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) in Cosmetics (Poster, Table 3) Presenting Student: Amie Lette Mentors: Dr. Benjamin Norris, Dr. Robert Larivee, Mr. Blair Knouse The quantity of butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) will be
determined in two different cosmetic brands: a foundation from MAC cosmetics (an expensive
brand of make‐up) and a foundation from Maybelline (a less expensive brand). BHA and BHT
are both antioxidant preservatives for food and personal care products which are known to
cause cancer depending on the amount being consumed or exposed to the skin. The purpose of
the experiment is to see if these cosmetics brands contain “safe” amounts (1‐2% in the
products being analyzed, thus 0.5‐1 μg/mL according to the first peer reviewed journal). The
European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also determined that there is strong
evidence that BHA is a human endocrine disruptor (chemicals that cause birth defects, cancer
tumors and disorders). This project is designed to help educate the Frostburg community and
beyond of what is actually going on in their skins when they apply these cosmetic products,
thus determining the quantity of these two parabens. Stock solutions of the compound (BHA
and BHT) will be prepared using acetone. Followed by 5 standards. The cosmetic samples will
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be collected by weighing out 0.5 g of each, adding acetone and extracting it using soxhlet. After
extraction is done, the products will be analyzed using GC/MS, the expected results that will be
used for statistical Analysis is that there will be more BHT and BHA in each of the cosmetics.
Determining the Identity of Liberated Gases Produced by the Oxidation‐Reduction Reaction between Sodium Hypochlorite and Hydrogen Peroxide (Poster, Table 5) Presenting Student: Scott Bingaman Mentor: Dr. Matthew Crawford, Mr. Blair Knouse It has been proposed in the past that hydrogen peroxide can be used to neutralize sodium
hypochlorite. This is important because many households use hydrogen peroxide to neutralize
spills of bleach. The exact mechanism of this reaction is unknown, which has led to
counterproposals on what is actually produced from a mixture of the two compounds. One of
these counterproposals actually liberates chlorine gas as well as oxygen. This idea stems from
the fact that this reaction most likely involves the production of radicals due to the presence of
hydrogen peroxide, and thus the production of chlorine radicals would not be impossible. Using
gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy, the gaseous product(s) of this reaction will be
analyzed to determine if oxygen gas, chlorine gas, or a mixture of the two are produced. This
will be accomplished by injecting one reagent into an air tight vial of the other reagent, and
then having the gases inside the vial analyzed by the aforementioned instrument.
Extraction of Essential Oils (Poster, Table 3) Presenting Students: James Larrimore, James West Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Norris The goal of this project was to design an experiment for undergraduate organic chemistry
courses that introduces isolation and characterization of natural products from plant sources
using extraction, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The essential oils of three spices
(caraway, clove, and cumin) would be extracted using one of two solvents (acetone or
methanol). The essential oils would then be isolated from other compounds that were
extracted using microscale column chromatography, using either silica or C18 as a stationary
phase. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry would be used to identify the compounds that
remained in the solvent and determine their relative abundances. Initial testing using caraway
in acetone has shown the microscale chromatography to be sufficiently effective at isolating the
desired essential oils, with few other compounds remaining in the solutions. Further testing will
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be done to determine if there is an optimal combination of spice, solvent, and stationary phase
that will yield higher purities and clear chromatograms.
Quantitative Analysis of Theobromine and Caffeine in Chocolate (Poster, Table 4) Presenting Students: Robert Mfuh, Amie Lette, Zachary Bosley Mentor: Dr. Matthew Crawford The purpose was to extract caffeine and theobromine from nestle dark chocolate, white
chocolate, and baker’s chocolate to see if the amount in the product is similar to the amount
set forward by the companies online. This experiment utilizes a high performance liquid
chromatography instrument as a means to measure signals produced when samples of
different concentrations are run. The techniques of normal standard calibration and standard
addition provided two methods to determine the unknown concentrations of chocolate
samples. Further testing is needed to validate the results.
Soil Analysis by Ion Chromatography (Poster, Table 3) Presenting Student: Steven Lowery Mentors: Dr. Robert Larivee, Dr. Philip Allen, Mr. Blair Knouse Soil analysis has become increasingly popular because not only does soil affect the diet of many
individuals but has a large impact on air quality, stabilizing lands, medicines, fiber, and climate
control. Two of the most popular instruments for soil analysis are atomic absorbance
spectroscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy. The problem with both of these techniques is
that neither can measure polyatomic ions. Polyatomic ions such as nitrate and phosphate play a
very important role in soils. High performance liquid chromatography for ion exchange (IC) has
the ability to detect these polyatomic ions. Frostburg State University’s geochemistry lab had
an IC system that was not functioning. The IC system needed to be reconfigured, plumbed, and
wired. Our research project was to make this instrument operational again. This required
putting the instrument back in operational order and testing to ensure the different
components were working correctly. The pump was tested by timing the pump at a constant
flow rate then weighing the tared beaker. Next, the mixer was tested with UV‐vis spectroscopy
by observing the absorbance at �=500 nm as the concentration of a red solution increased.
Lastly, the detector was tested by letting a salt solution flow through the system. The system
was standardized and methods were developed for optimal chromatography. The plans for the
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geochemistry lab are to create better analytical software for the IC system, explore the
possibility for a soap extraction, and to do general soil surveys.
Sun Grown Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) Polyphenol Analysis (Poster, Table 5) Presenting Student: Ian Cheek Mentors: Dr. Peggy Biser, Mr. Blair Knouse Black cohosh, Actaea racemosa, is an herbaceous perennial native to the Appalachian region
that has been, and continues to be overharvested for the medicinal plant trade. It is commonly
used to treat menopausal symptoms, and menstrual disorders or discomfort. It has been
hypothesized that specimens grown in full sun contain higher levels of medicinally active
compounds than specimens grown in full to partial shade. Evergreen Heritage Center, a non‐
profit located in Mount Savage Maryland is home to a sun grown black cohosh plot that was
transplanted into woodland plots in the fall of 2015. To begin testing this hypothesis, sun
grown rhizomes were donated from the Evergreen Heritage Center in the fall of 2015 for
chemical analysis of 3 common polyphenols using high performance light chromatography and
PDA. These polyphenols are active medicinal constituents of the plant and can be used as a
measure of medicinal activity. The results of this study could later be compared to an
analogous study of shade grown black cohosh rhizomes from the same population at Evergreen
Heritage Center. These studies could then be applied to the question of whether large scale
field cultivation of black cohosh is feasible for sustainable future supplies of the plant to the
medicinal trade. Currently cultivation of this perennial is very limited, but cultivation of this
plant on a large scale is necessary to the long term survivability of the plant in the wild and for
continuing supplies for medical use to meet growing demands.
Upper Potomac River Water and Soil Analysis (Poster, Table 4) Presenting Students: Alison Sappe, Jericka Murphy Mentor: Dr. Matthew Crawford The Potomac River is an important part of Maryland for recreation, the water we drink, and the
food we eat. Its condition is affected by various wastes and can ultimately impact the
Chesapeake Bay. The purpose of this research is to assess the quality of the upper Potomac
River by analyzing the chemical components of the soil and water at different sites. In this
experiment, soil and water samples are collected from Allegany, Washington, and Frederick
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Counties to determine the anion levels and pH of the soil and the turbidity, absorbance and pH
of the water.
Using Differential Refractive Indexes and Light Scattering to Determine Molecular Weight (Poster, Table 5) Presenting Students: Lauren Rosch, Christopher Shore, William Wygal, Colby Swisher Mentor: Dr. Peggy Biser A new method for calculating the differential refractive indexes of proteins is explored. A graph
of refractive index values of solutions with increasing concentrations of protein is plotted. The
slope of the curve represents the differential refractive index. Using statistics, the experimental
values are compared to known literature values for specific proteins. If the values are not
significantly different, then this method can be used to obtain differential refractive index
values for the protein lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The experimentally determined differential
refractive indexes can then be used to measure the molecular weight of LDH with light
scattering technology.
Using Picazoplatin to Detect and Quantify DNA in Solution (Poster, Table 12) Presenting Students: Nanxi Xu, Christopher Lodder Mentor: Dr. Jerald Simon Our overall goal is to develop an undergraduate laboratory experiment for the Research
Methods in Chemistry class based on the results presented in the paper “Picazoplatin, an Azide‐
Containing Platinum(II) Derivative for Target Analysis by Click Chemistry”, by V. DeRose, et. al.,
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135, 11683, 2013. Currently, procedures are being
developed to utilize the previously synthesized picazoplatin complex in detecting and
quantifying DNA in solution using luminescence methods. Work is proceeding to determine the
optimal reaction conditions for the binding of the picazoplatin to the DNA, attachment of the
dansyl alkyne fluorophore to the azide moiety of the picazoplatin using “Click” chemistry and
separating fully assembled fluorophore‐picazoplatin‐DNA complexes from partial products
using size exclusion chromatography. Reactions are being monitored using UV‐Vis, IR, and
fluorescence spectroscopy.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION #JeSuisCharlie (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Justice Sifford Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington This paper looks at the #JeSuisCharlie movement which took place in 2015 following the Charlie
Hebdo shooting in January of that year, in which twelve people were killed. The gunmen were
Islamic extremists who committed the attack in response to a comic which was featured in the
magazine and painted the Prophet Muhammad in a bad light. The gunmen shot security guards,
cartoonists, as well as a front desk clerk. Charlie Hebdo is a magazine that is well known for
pushing the limits with its political cartoons, so the cartoon which sparked this attack did not
come as a major shock to many. After the massacre, artist Joachim Roncin started the
movement by creating the now famous graphic which reads “Je Suis Charlie.” The social media
hashtag and phrase itself became a way for people all around the world to show support for
freedom of speech and especially freedom of the press. The hashtag started trending quickly
after its conception as news began to break of the attack. Social media outlets such as Twitter,
Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat all had its users posting using the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie. It
was used as a simple way for the common person to show support for the families of the
people who were killed as well as a way for them to show their opposition against censorship.
This research looks into the issues of freedom of speech and freedom of the press as related to
magazines such as Charlie Hebdo and political cartoons as a medium for published opinions. It
will also examine how freedom of the press and freedom of speech differ between different
places (e.g. countries in Europe versus countries in the Middle East.)
African Americans in the Area: Creating a Diverse Frostburg (Poster, Table 14) Presenting Students: Melani Finney, Kendra Stephenson Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Amy Branham Armiento In Frostburg, there aren't many businesses geared toward the African American community. If
there were more places such as salons, barber shops, and music stores, African Americans
would feel more welcome in the Frostburg area. Business owners from years ago, such as Cecil
Randolph of the blacksmith shop; the Redman’s The Lunch Box; and the Jackson’s The Blue
Room helped to create diversity in the Frostburg area. Minority‐owned businesses that are still
in operation today include the Frostburg Bridge Program (a day care and preschool), A Place to
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Eat, and Paradise Home Improvements. Today, however, more businesses like that are needed
to help this community flourish. Many African American students that attend Frostburg State
reside in the Baltimore and Washington DC area, and these students are used to a more
integrated culture. When students come to college, they long for the “home away from home”
feeling. By conducting surveys and researching the growth of the African American population
over the past decades, this presentation will explore the opportunities for African Americans to
feel like Frostburg can be their permanent home.
Analyzing Friendships through the Eyes of Aristotle and the Attachment Theory (Poster, Table 14) Presenting Students: Ashleigh Eisentrout, Kaytie Riley Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski Have you ever wondered why some of your friends' personalities differ from yours? Or perhaps
you have that friend of whom you have known for years who went through a traumatic event in
their life and now seems like a completely different person. Based off these and similar
inquiries of why people act, think, and respond the way they do, this presentation analyzes
friendships using Aristotle's three levels of friendship, as well as the communication theory of
attachment and various attachment styles. Personal examples of friendships are used to better
relate understandings of friendships and what makes them tick as well as how to understand
better those with different attachment or personality styles.
Capital Punishment: History, Methodologies, and Opinions (Poster, Table 14) Presenting Students: Tezeta Gant, Nicholas Morris Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Mr. Skott Brill, Ms. Melinda Farrington Many aspects of the death penalty will be shown, with a focus on the history of its
implementation in the United States and the population’s consensus on the pros and cons and
how those pros and cons have impacted methodologies of implementation in the United
States. This research will focus on cases throughout time explaining how the death penalty has
changed. Different sides of the argument will be shown and how those arguments have
changed throughout time, including where the state of Maryland stands on the death penalty.
Several questions will be explored: Is the death penalty practical and a cost effective method?
Is the death penalty an effective crime deterrent?
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Changes in Leadership in Latin America: A Brazilian Focus (Poster, Table 14) Presenting Student: Ebony Brawner Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Jeffrey McClellan The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 settled disagreements of newly found land. The Spanish Pope,
one of great power at the time, issued a line of demarcation in order to divide the territory
between Spain and Portugal. The treaty awarded Spain any land West of the line and Portugal
any land East of the line, thus awarding present day Brazil to Portugal and the rest of South
America to Spain. This historical event shaped a very different culture and the way leaders lead
in Brazil than in the rest of South America. This presentation will discuss the differences in
culture and leadership theories. This will include research on transformational leadership as it
relates to organizational culture, cultural schemes, and a Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip
that exposed students to the leadership of Brazil. This research will then help suggest a
leadership model that will help understand and appreciate Brazilian organizational leadership.
Coke Bottle Body: Why is My Body Type Not Represented? A Content Analysis of the Top 30 Hip Hop Music Videos Ideal Body Figure (Poster, Table 20) Presenting Student: Dominique Francine Elias Mentors: Dr. Marcus Hill, Dr. Elesha Ruminski In today’s society, images are constantly being presented to young women, and such images
shape their idea of what is deemed attractive in reference to their bodies and ultimately what
they should strive to obtain physically in their appearance. This exposure affects the way they
see themselves in comparison to the body figures they see and to the rest of the world. A
plethora of research has been done on hip hop culture’s influence on society and women, but
specifically on hip hop music videos’ influence on our society’s ideologies of what is an
attractive body type. The portrayal of women in the hip hop culture is a topic as well as a
concern for many researchers and how it affects our society today. In this research project the
focus will be on the various body images and the platform African American women hold in
relationship to other races and ethnicities. It is relevant for our society to ask what hip hop is
saying to our women.
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Cognitive Dissonance and Our Daily Encounters: What The Boondocks Reveals (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Asean Townsend Mentors: Dr. David Stern, Dr. Elesha Ruminski Cognitive dissonance is the fork in the road within your morality and decision you truly want to
make. This presentation will explain what cognitive dissonance is and help people understand
how it impacts their daily lives. The show The Boondocks will be analyzed to reveal sample
situations in which cognitive dissonance appear and how it effects everyone involved.
Do Black Lives Really Matter? (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Alexis Harvey Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington African Americans are not only suffering from police brutality at the hands of white police
officers, but also recently black police officers as well. African Americans are dying at a faster
rate than any other race, and by the same people who swore under oath to protect the citizens,
that is all‐inclusive. The African American deaths committed by police officers appear to be
committed for some sort of personal gain. African Americans barely can walk down the street
without being scrutinized by the police because they are black. Segregated laws and
regulations were abolished in the late 1960s; yet today, police officers are able to murder
innocent African Americans will little to no consequence. A 25 year‐old African American
Baltimore Maryland civilian was murdered at the hands of six officers: three black officers and
three white officers. Freddy Gray was being arrested by the officers on weapon charges. The
officers then proceeded to put Gray in the police van handcuffed. Gray screamed and yelled
stating he could not breathe as he was put into the police van. When the officers finally made it
to the police station after answering other calls and not strapping him in taking him on a rough
ride through the city, Gray was unconscious. It was at that point, that the officers called an
ambulance and discovered Gray suffered from a spinal injury from which he later died. In this
paper, research will be conducted on police brutality enacted on African Americans, to include
the multiple cases that stream from such actions, and the history of violence against African
Americans. When many Americans think about racially influenced police brutality, they think of
just white police officers committing these injustices, but in reality there is no specified race of
officers committing unjust crimes against African Americans. Statistics show that African
Americans are four times more likely to die while in police custody than whites. Statistics have
also shown that 776 African American people have been killed by police officers, and 161 of
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them were completely unarmed. African Americans do not intend to be deemed victims to
America, but we are tired of being falsely perceived due to the color of our skin.
Do the Right Thing: Strong Ethics and Its Impact on Leadership (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Brandon Stover Mentors: Dr. Evan Offstein, Dr. Jeffrey McClellan, Dr. Elesha Ruminski The purpose of this research is to examine ethics and emphasize its profound effect on leaders
and their decision‐making. According to Business Dictionary, leadership is defined as the action
of leading a group of people or an organization. The role of leadership includes directly
influencing one’s immediate followers and aiming to accomplish set goals. In attempting to
perform the role successfully, individuals in the position exhibit personal characteristics that
affect their unique leadership style. This research will provide information on specific types of
leadership and various styles of leaders. Though leader’s styles differ in technique and
execution, the foundation of strong ethics is imperative to the effectiveness of an honorable
leader. Ethics serves as the primacy of honorable leadership, according to Merriam‐Webster; it
is defined as rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good or bad. This focus
draws on the fundamental need for leaders to develop and portray a strong ethical base and
applies it to the influence on one’s followers and ability in making critical decisions. Cases that
involved corruption at the executive level in organizations will be analyzed. The cases will then
be cross‐examined to describe the impact a strong ethical base in leadership would have had on
the outcome of those organizations. This research will also offer steps toward building that
strong ethical base, which will ultimately translate to honorable leadership.
“Forced Job”: Women and Society’s Inconceivable Expectations (Poster, Table 15 and Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Gabrielle Atwell Mentors: Ms. Christine Willingham, Dr. Elesha Ruminski Using Bakhtin's theory of dialogics, the formation of societal expectations placed on women are
analyzed. Ideas, or what Bakhtin calls “utterances,” of who women are and what they need to
be are pushed and perpetuated through media. Research initially began with an optimistic
critique of the amateur porn industry and quickly brought light to every media for all ages
showing oppressive and confusing ideas for women's roles in society. A “forced job” is a specific
act popular in pornography made to look nonconsensual; women are insulted and obligated to
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perform. Just as these women are forced and demeaned for this job in pornography, everyday
women are required to work a full time job of comprehending the conflicting presumptions.
This research reveals that the sexism in the amateur porn industry is a symptom of the overall
epidemic of accepted cultural misogyny girls have to grow up with and women have to navigate
through every day.
Have No Fear, Printable Organs are Here: A Look at the New Technology of 3‐D Printing a Functional Human Organ (Poster, Table 13) Presenting Students: Jacob Turskey, Nicole Leighty Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. William Seddon This presentation will explain what 3‐D printing is and highlight the implementations and future
uses for 3‐D printed organs. The presenters have combined their personal and scholarly
experience to develop this unique presentation. Leighty, whose father passed away recently
from heart disease, has been heavily interested in medical treatments for those with heart
complications, and Turskey has a strong passion for the healthcare field and is currently
pursuing new technologies for the medical sales world. The technology of printing organs is
now advanced enough to create working and reliable products, meaning that there are more
possibilities to enhance the quality of life for patients in need. However, this technology is not
quite advanced enough to be in full production and worldwide use. Due to the current price
point of a printed organ, this is also a very expensive option. Whether the patient’s liver is
failing or a kidney is needed, an organ is able to be printed using the patient’s own cells. Organs
can be printed in roughly eight hours, and the patient receiving the printed organ does not
need to worry about the common issues associated with a donor transplant (such as finding a
donor, finding a donor of matching blood type, transporting the organ, possible infection, and
fighting the body’s rejection process). The 3‐D printed organs are tailored to the individual,
greatly reducing the risks associated with a regular transplant, all the while reducing the wait
time for the patient in need. The technology to print a working human organ has limitless
possibilities, and it is only a matter of time before society realizes just how world changing this
medical breakthrough is.
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How Culture Based Organizations have a Positive Impact at Predominantly White Institutions (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Dasia Scott Contributing Student: Shaniya Johnson Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Daniel Fiscus, Dr. Terri Massie‐Burrell This research will present how African American students attending Frostburg State University
(FSU), a predominately white institution, finds FSU very welcoming because of the numerous
culture‐based organizations that the university has to offer. These culture‐based organizations
have positively impacted the campus and have ultimately increased the retention rates of
minority groups at FSU. Due to the high retention and involvement rates of minority groups at
FSU, this presentation suggests that cultural minority groups should receive more funding for
the programming of cultural, educational, and social activities/events. This research will consist
of surveys derived from minority students, as well as research with the Center for Academic
Advising and Retention (CAAR) office.
How Skill Players and Athletic Players Impact the Game of Basketball (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Isaiah Sutton Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Marcus Hill The National Basketball Association consists of players that occupy either one of two attributes,
athleticism and skill. The difference between the two attributes can be accurately measured
through statistics from the game. For example, a more skilled player may acquire more assists
or three‐point shots, while a more athletic player may acquire more rebounds or dunks. The
purpose of this research is to come to a conclusion of which attribute is more valuable to an
NBA team in the 21st century. A few questions that one may ask to research this topic include,
"Are assists more important than rebounding in basketball? At the point guard position, is it
more important for the starter to have a higher IQ, or to be able to physically outwork
opponents? And lastly, do the league’s most successful teams have star players that acquire
more hustle stats (athletic stats) or skill stats?"
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“I’m a dude! He’s a dude! She’s a dude! Cause we’re all dudes!”: A Look At Gender Self Identification and How it Affects the Way We Communicate (Oral Communication) Presenting Student: China Pinkney Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Amanda Vandivier In the 1997 movie Good Burger, the character Ed casually refers to everyone as a “dude.” This
may seem meaningless enough at first, but upon closer inspection, it can be seen that the use
of language can tell a lot not only about how a person identifies themselves, but also how they
characterize others. The topic of gender is a very controversial one in our world today. Where,
in decades past, gender was a stricter and more explicit concept, in more recent years these
clear perimeters have become increasingly blurred. The American Psychological Association
defines gender as, “Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture
associates with a person’s biological sex. Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations
is referred to as gender‐normative; behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with these
expectations constitute gender non‐conformity.” The way people communicate with one
another is a large part of this social and cultural behavior. This presentation will explore how
elements such as the words we use and the way we use them affect our self‐identification and
perceptions of others. This is an important topic to consider because the way people
communicate and perceive others, as a result, has a great impact on their daily lives in careers,
friendships, and romantic relationships.
Is Cultural Appropriation Within the Media a Byproduct of Racism Against Colored People? (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Najah James Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington, Dr. David Stern While the physical appearances of colored people are rejected, their practices and customs are
idolized and domesticated for media purposes without consent. Racism is evident in the
undertones of cultural appropriation throughout the prejudiced view of people of color within
society and the mockery of their norms through poor imitation within the media (as this is the
only way for their cultural norms to be accepted). Spike Lee addresses this issue throughout his
film, Do the Right Thing and evidence of cultural appropriation is insultingly consistent within
pop culture and American traditions such as Halloween. I was inspired to conduct my research
on Cultural Appropriation during the fall semester of my sophomore year after reading an
article on Cosmopolitan that expressed “hair tattoos” as a new trend within the fashion
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industry. The article showcased a picture of a Caucasian, teenaged girl sporting an undercut (or
buzz‐cut) on the back of her head that I noticed African American men and women have been
doing for decades. The purpose of this presentation is to redefine “cultural appropriation” to
create a better understanding of what is an acceptable adaptation of culture versus a joke to
the masses. The struggle of any human being should not be taken lightly, but the mockery of
the attempted elimination against groups of people through offensive impressions is
unacceptable.
One Communication Leadership Lab, A World of Experiences: Supporting Communication and Leadership Competencies through Student‐led Experiential Learning at FSU (Poster, Table 15) Presenting Students: Waleed Alsahli, Manir Alandijani Contributing Students: Alexis Harvey, Austin Riley, Phillip Wheeler, Lekia Clark, LEAD 101 and CMST 345 classes Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham This presentation will provide an overview of two student‐led experiential learning projects
during the Spring 2016 semester. These projects were supported through the newly formed
“communication leadership lab,” a hub of communication projects, internships, and
partnerships that support campus and regional oral competency and communication
leadership. Students in CMST 215/Small Group Communication and CMST 322/Presentational
Communication learned what TED Talks are and worked on a strategic plan to host a “TEDx
Frostburg” in the future. Their learning included a field trip to the TEDx Foggy Bottom, funded
by a PELEF grant. The other project involved students in CMST 345/Conflict Management and
LEAD 101/Introduction to Leadership Studies working across three committees to plan, host,
and facilitate a potluck dinner dialogue called “Eat, Learn, Shift” that featured Middle Eastern
cuisine and culture as a starting point to cross‐cultural dialogue. Students learned how to work
together, how to facilitate dialogue, and how to lead efforts to build campus and community
relationships. Through the dialogue, people had a chance to understand each other’s culture
and enjoy the food at the same time. The food was prepared by Jes Clay of Shift Restaurant,
along with students on the Food and Culture Committee. Other students planned the event and
learned how to facilitate dialogue, working with FSU leader‐in‐residence Blaine Siegel of
Conflict Kitchen of Pittsburgh, which serves international cuisine of countries with which the US
has conflict. Students were inspired to do their event after traveling to Conflict Kitchen with
support from an FSU Foundation grant. Finally, students on the Promotion and Outreach
Committee worked with Charles Schelle, new communication specialist at FSU, to invite
participants, build relationships with community members, and tell the story of the event using
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photography, video, and a hashtag social media campaign using #eatlearnshift. This
presentation will capture what students learned about communication leadership by these
projects being integrated into their classes and will share information about the vision and
strategic planning process of the lab, which is supported by the Kettering Foundation.
Overcoming Cultural Differences: Expectancy Violations in North and South (Poster, Table 15) Presenting Student: Caitlin Taylor Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Christine Willingham The conflict between Margaret Hale and John Thornton comprises a significant portion of
Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South, which was adapted into a film miniseries by the BBC
that is this research's artifact of study. The two characters appear to be diametrically opposed
in nearly every conceivable area, yet the story ends with Margaret and Mr. Thornton confessing
their love for each other. The journey to that place, however, is long and rocky due to their
many initial differences, many of which stem from their different cultural backgrounds; neither
behaves in the manner in which the other expects. For this reason, expectancy violations theory
is an excellent theory to apply to North and South. Although Margaret and Mr. Thornton
initially frequently violate the other's expectancies, which are generally negatively evaluated,
learning about the other's culture and the other as an individual gradually shift their
expectancies, leading to fewer violations and a better relationship. The conclusions drawn by
this research are applicable to current campus and community diversity struggles; by better
understanding a different culture and learning to appreciate individual differences,
communicators can help bridge cultural differences to help foster a thriving diverse community
in Frostburg.
Police Brutality: A Closer Examination of the Possible Influences (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Jordyn Chaplin Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington Police brutality is a widespread problem across the United States. There are many possible
causes and influencing aspects that may lead to police brutality, but within this presentation
only three factors will be examined: 1) the media influences that could possibly contribute to
the issue, such as terms and images used for certain races in news broadcasting; 2) next, the
culture, such as the set norms and values among differing races; and 3) physiological factors,
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including research that shows how the brain reacts to different races versus the same race. This
presentation will reveal how all of these influences could be play a factor in the problem with
police brutality.
Prevention and Awareness of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus for Frostburg Student Athletes (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Tiffany Cancel Mentors: Dr. John Wright, Dr. Elesha Ruminski Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that can be obtained
through direct contact with an infected wound or by sharing personal items. MRSA is a
dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and can cause skin and
other infections. Recognizing the symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and precautions for MRSA
can help empower students and athletic directors to reduce the risk of infection at Frostburg
State University. Participants will not only test their knowledge of MRSA through this
interactive presentation but will be able equipped to take action and use resources available on
campus.
Promoting Positive Discourse: An Analysis of the Impact Campus Efforts Have in Building the Relationship between the Frostburg Community and African America Students (Poster, Table 15) Presenting Student: Davone Walker Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Cristine Willingham As tensions increase between the Frostburg community and Frostburg State University (FSU)
students, the need for positive discourse on the issues of race is at an all‐time high. Social
media has become the main source for information on what’s happening around campus.
Information about negative events that have taken place on and off‐campus involving primarily
African America students has spread through social media platforms such as Facebook and
Twitter. This study’s objective is to analyze the effectiveness of University efforts to create
positive dialogue between the community and the students when it comes to the issue of race.
A qualitative survey of local community members and FSU students will be conducted. The
results will be used to suggest alternative ways the university can create positive dialogue
between campus and local community members.
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Sustainable Living in Western Maryland: The Benefits of Raised‐Bed Growing (Oral Presentation) Presenting Students: Victoria Tucker, Brittany Ebb Contributing Students: Aldo Batubara, Angelina Darling, Derek Yoder Mentors: Mr. Corey Armstrong, Dr. Daniel Fiscus, Dr. Elesha Ruminski Based on research from the previous semester for Frostburg Grows, this
presentation will educate the community on sustainable growing and living. This presentation
will show the benefits that individuals and communities can gain through sustainable growing
practices, such as raised‐bed growing. This research looks deeper into national trends in this
market, such as who is buying/growing sustainable products, how much it costs to be
"green," the economic benefits of sustainable practices, and the individual health benefits from
living a sustainable lifestyle. By presenting findings from a survey of potential users
of Frostburg Grows' products and services, local trends will be revealed concerning
living healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.
The Effect of Social Media on Attention Span and Relationship Dynamics (Poster, Table 16) Presenting Students: Ramone Turner, Dana Gordon Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington This project is aimed to look into the effects that social media and cell phones have on various
communication skills within our current generation. Specifically, the goal is to show the effects
on people's attention span as well as how relationships have been redefined due to the
constantly updating technology and social media. The research includes interviews with people
of different age groups to help compare and contrast the difference effects. This research will
show some of the negative effects that social media and cell phones could have on our
upcoming youth in future generations.
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The Historical and Contemporary Relevance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Trevor Jones Mentors: Mr. Timothy Magrath, Dr. Elesha Ruminski Like many other pieces of Civil Rights legislation, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the
most monumental bills passed in the history of the United States. After a century of deliberate
and violent denial of the right to vote for African‐Americans, the signing of this legislation into
law would have not been possible without the perseverance and determination of senators,
representatives, special interest groups (i.e. civil rights leaders), and more importantly
President Lyndon B Johnson. Ever since its enactment, the Voting Rights Act has been
reauthorized and amended five times: in 1970, 1975, 1982, 1992, and 2006. However, judiciary
actions to this day are still working to eliminate the most important features of this legislation.
This presentation will explain in rich detail the historic legislative actions that ultimately
propelled this bill forward to being signed by President Johnson and will elaborate on recent
Supreme Court rulings that are having a major impact on voting rights today.
The Impact of Media and Marketing on Children's Health (Poster, Table 16) Presenting Student: Anna D’Agostino Mentors: Ms. Michele Bennett, Dr. Elesha Ruminski This presentation will show how marketers target children to eat unhealthy food, one of the
contributing factors to the rise in childhood diabetes and obesity. Multiple documentaries have
documented the rise in childhood obesity/diabetes and how it is linked to marketers trying
exposing them to unhealthily food. For example, film Fed Up focuses on the childhood diabetes
and obesity epidemic our nation is currently facing and marketing’s role in this epidemic.
Another film Consuming Kids focuses on marketers’ efforts to target children to sell their
unhealthy products. This presentation was developed because there is a need to show people
how much the media and marketers play a role in the childhood obesity and diabetes epidemic
and how to deal with it.
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The Manifestation of White Privilege through Lack of Awareness and Denial (Poster, Table 16) Presenting Student: Samuel Smith Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Marcus Hill White privilege isn't something white people individually do, create or enjoy purposely
(Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, Inc., 2000); white privilege has to do with systematic racism
that has been institutionalized over hundreds of years that has shaped the world we live in
today. Lack of awareness and the denial of this privilege only manifests institutional racial
discrimination, while the awareness of it can help society combat this issue. This presentation
aims to shed light on the issue by identifying situations that would be a symptom of white
privilege and giving specific examples of white privilege to make people think more broadly of
the term "equal opportunity."
The Portrayal of Transgender Women in the Media (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Imani Martin Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Ms. Melinda Farrington In the year of 2015, twenty‐one transgender women have been murdered. With little to no
media coverage, there has been a consistency in these specific crimes. In the first seven weeks
of the 2015, seven transgender women were murdered. News stations have covered this issue
very little in the past; but recently have reported more on the transgender community, after
celebrity transgendered women began bringing attention to the issue. Popular women such as
Caitlyn Jenner, father of the Kardashians, Lavern Cox, star of Orange is the New Black, and Janet
Mock, author and writer, help bring awareness and continue to show their bravery in support
of their community. Although it is not easy going through the transformation, these women
should be treated like anyone else which supports the Judeo‐Christian ethic of treating other
the way someone would expect to be treated. The media seems to gravitate towards issues
when they are addressed by celebrities who are experiencing something similar. The media has
budged in covering transgender murders but not completely in instances such as the murder of
Zella Ziona, a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Gwen Araujo of Newark, California. While
researching cases studies and the consistency of the murders the Judeo‐Christian ethnic comes
into play. The Golden Mean, which is also known as the Judeo‐Christian ethic, describes treating
others the way a person wants to be treated. All persons have the right to equality and the
coverage of murders, no matter the gender identity. News stations have begun choosing what
they consider important based on significance and popularity. The topic of the transgender
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community tend to make it onto talk show platforms rather than news stations. In this instance,
murders of transgender women have not been covered by the media. Categorizing people
because of ideals violates their First Amendment rights and discourages their ability to express
and inform others on incidents in their environment. Julie Hollar, of Extra! Magazine, explains
that transgender news is not serious enough for news programs (28). Rhonda Gibson
conducted a content analysis on the coverage of LGBT community in newspapers and found
that relatively few stories deal with lifestyle issues, but are more about popular entertainment
such as: books, television shows, plays, or movies (2). Julie Hollar, broadcasters’ coverage of
this issue has been flooded with uniformity and more absorbed with their anatomy rather than
justice for these persons (Hollar 28). I will show that if news broadcasters follow the Judeo
Christian ethic the issue needs to be covered and broadcasted just as any other crime.
The Tension between the Regression of Reproductive Rights and Self‐Disclosure Consciousness Raising about the Importance of Safe Access to Abortion (Poster, Table 16) Presenting Student: Cesi Taboada Mentor: Dr. Elesha Ruminski Similar to many other civil rights issues, the discourse of abortion is currently in a state of
regression. The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of how recent cases and
legislation are making it difficult for women to receive safe access to terminate their pregnancy.
Additionally, this analysis will reveal a tension between those diminishing rights and a
movement of women using self‐disclosure of their own experiences to bring awareness to the
pro‐choice argument. Finally, the position of each political candidate for the upcoming
presidential election concerning reproductive rights will be shared to reveal the significance of
understanding this tension.
Three Innovative Ways of Solving Food Deserts in American Cities (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Patrick Broussoul Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Daniel Fiscus The research will consist of three methods previously used to reduce the amount of food
deserts in our American cities. Food deserts are defined as parts of the country vapid of fresh
fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is
largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers. There
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have been many methods of solving this nationwide epidemic, but the three this study will
research are grocery incubators, farmers’ markets, and nutritional training. Grocery incubating
was implemented by Detroit to bring grocery stores to its low‐income residents. The approach
aims to combat food deserts by increasing the number of grocery stores in impoverished
areas. Even with the addition of grocery stores, fresh fruits and vegetables often cost
significantly more than processed, and package foods, so affording these products can be too
much for low‐income families. Farmers markets are working diligently to expand not only the
accessibility of healthy produce but, also accommodating for the lack of income in certain
areas. Grocery stores and farmers’ markets are only half the battle; providing education is
arguably the most important factor in diminishing food deserts. Teaching hands‐on nutritional
training can go a long way in cutting the habits of unhealthy living. Frostburg Grows, located in
Western Allegany County, provides sustainable farming and training programs. However,
providing the necessary tools for a healthy lifestyle does not promise a better outcome in food
deserts, which is why efforts must be aimed at educating the public on how to provide for
themselves.
What Does Your Name Say About You? A Look into How Names Can Affect Our Lives Personally and Professionally (Oral Presentation) Presenting Students: Shavonne Hamilton, Nelson Mwanza Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. David Stern Have you ever thought that if you had a better name, you would have a greater destiny? Names
can influence how people are perceived in today's world. Judgment not only comes
intrapersonally but also in individual’s personal lives and in the workforce. Exploring factors
such as race, gender, and social class, this research will discuss how names can affect
individual’s lives as a whole. This presentation can help those who struggle with their names
and identity while also giving insight on how to adjust to those challenges.
Where Words Fail, Music Speaks: Using Music as a Teaching Tool (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Samantha Politis Mentors: Dr. Elesha Ruminski, Dr. Keith Hanlon This study looks at the importance of using music in a learning environment. Music is an
important component of multisensory learning. It adds variety and interest to the curriculum
while providing an enjoyable opportunity for socialization and learning. Combining music with
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lessons in teaching does not negatively affect learning or prevent children's performance in the
classroom. It serves to help children learn to express themselves, be creative, learn while
having fun, and develop a variety of skills.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
2D top‐down Dungeon Adventure Unity C# Game (Poster, Table 1) Presenting Student: Kristopher Misey Contributing Students: Andrew Brust, Eric McNally, Kuo Zhang, Cameron Shaffer Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy 2D top‐down Dungeon Adventure Unity C# Game is game software developed in Unity 3D using
C# language scripts. This project is mainly to experiment with how game programming works.
The main goal of the project is to focus on making completely playable video game from
beginning to end. Some ideas are taken from RPG styled games by using a stats system to
calculate damage, and to keep track of the player’s score and level. It is still based mainly off of
an adventured styled game. Throughout the game the player will be able to talk to NPCs and
attack enemies to move their way throughout the game. The software displays established
Object‐Oriented Programming principles and exercises object interaction and software
engineering.
Bobcat‐Chat: From Framework to Fruition (Poster, Table 25) Presenting Students: Benjamin Childs, Nicholas Revell Mentor: Dr. Michael Flinn In modern society, many rely on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to
stay connected. However, there is not a product that can be used to connect with fellow
classmates, professors, and other campus support at the local level. The purpose of this project
was to explore connecting people at a local level, such as at Frostburg State University. Our
project uses Node.JS, javascript, HTML5, and CSS to begin creating a responsive website/app,
BobCat‐Chat, to connect people at FSU. This project enabled the developers to gain valuable
experience using modern development techniques. The project is currently in the alpha stage
of development and will be expanded upon over the summer and fall semester.
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Creating Art with Object Oriented Programing (Poster, Table 1) Presenting Students: Casey Hayes, Rasheed Billy Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy Our motivation was the desire to understand how to create systems using objects in our own
creative manner. We wanted to use this experience to help draw inspiration for other projects
further down the road. We knew that working with large groups of objects to simulate various
systems can help us understand how to use objects more effectively. Our main goal with these
projects was to independently build on our own understanding of what is possible with regards
to object oriented programing. After creating a few simple projects involving manipulating
particles we learned how to effectively manage objects. The first couple projects we made have
particles that bounce off of walls or spawn new particles with slight changes in color and
direction. We chose to use similar particles in the background of Free Faller (a free falling bird
smashing game) and in the animations of Storm Runner (a moonwalking ‘stunt on them’ game).
CSIT Running Game for K‐12 CS (Poster, Table 1) Presenting Student: Matthew Dameron Contributing Students: Rebecca Flinn, Alexander Onukwugh Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy CSIT Runner is local multiplayer running game developed within the Computer Science and
Information Technology department in order to reach out and give taste of various projects
done in the department. The game features multiple methods of input via the Arduino micro
controller and the Makey Makey board. CSIT runner was created using the Unity game engine
and features art made by various people in the department.
Encrypted Key File Chat (Poster, Table 1) Presenting Student: Christopher Gill Mentor: Dr. Xunyu Pan Encryption is important to many of the applications that are in used in the modern world.
Everything from banking details to messages posted on Social media goes through encryption
schemes. The mathematics behind the algorithms which do this when properly implemented
would require someone with more computer power than present on Earth to break the
encryption and read the hidden messages. On a daily basis however encryption is broken and
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data is exposed, this is due to the ever present factor in computer security that cannot be
improved. The Human being. A human selected password is the most vulnerable aspect of an
encryption scheme, and a remedy is not easily found. One method to circumvent the human
factor is to rely on key files, where instead of a password for which an encryption scheme is
based the (to a human at least) random data inside of any particular file is used. This vastly
increases the security of the encrypted data, and reduces the human factor to one of security
through obscurity. If someone wanted to then break the encryption they would have to possess
an identical file. Given that even a modern smart phone has millions of different files on them
this is a near impossibility. This does not eliminate human factors with encryption, but it does
lessen the effect. The chat program is a demonstration of this principal. Two or more users are
able to communicate with one another through a process that is almost impossible to decrypt
using standard password guessing attacks. No computer security system will ever be foolproof,
but this does eliminate some of the risks.
Exploring Artificial Intelligence through the Sims (Poster, Table 26) Presenting Students: Rebecca Flinn, Rebecca Lee, Alexandria Alvarez Mentor: Dr. Michael Flinn Artificial intelligence (A.I) is currently applied in most video games. In gaming, A.I is used to
emulate the behavior and actions of non‐playable characters (NPCs). In video game
development A.I has made NPCs more human‐like and able to function without specific
directions given from the user. The purpose of this research project was to explore
advancements in artificial intelligence via the Sims game series. In the Sims, A.I is used to
process the Sims’ needs, movements, and decisions during the game. The Sims utilizes goal‐
oriented behavior as a technique to satisfy their needs, and actions, in the game. The
complexity of A.I in the Sims has improved over the four editions. Artificial intelligence is
explored by observing the outcomes of decisions made by the NPCs across the Sims games. A
video was compiled which compares NPC decision making in similar situation across the four
editions of the game. Exploring artificial intelligence through games has allowed the team to
gain better understanding of the exponential growth A.I. Further, it has allowed them to begin
exploring how A.I. will impact humanities’ future.
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Indoor Automated Hydroponics (Poster, Table 27) Presenting Student: Jackson Burton Contributing Student: Alison Jamison Mentor: Mr. Steven Moon The goal in creating an automated hydroponics system is to improve accessibility of cultivating
one’s own produce in an urban environment while avoiding problems associated with growing
plants in small enclosed areas. Living in a flat or apartment building causes challenges in
growing plants and herbs. In addition to dealing with space constraints, this project aims to
automate the provision of light and water to the plants. The anticipated outcome of this project
is to have a device that provides fresh vegetables and herbs with the ability to sustain itself for
over a week without human interaction. Data associated with temperature, humidity, light
amount, and water salinity will also be collected for further research purposes. Analysis of this
data will be useful in innovating hydroponic systems and providing fresh produce to those
within restrictive environments.
Itinerary Builder (Poster, Table 28) Presenting Students: Kerwin Yoder, Russell Gilmore, Dakota Fearon, Seyed Raoofi,
Peter Wolodkin, Alexander Treasure Contributing Student: Jonathan Butler Mentors: Dr. Michael Flinn, Dr. Brad Rinard, Dr. Xinliang Zheng Frostburg State University department of Computer Science & Information Technologies was
awarded a Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) grant in conjunction with Silicon Travel, a
local business. Student workers were hired to develop an itinerary builder application. The
purpose of the itinerary builder was to supplement a vacationers trip at a managed Silicon
Travel destination. The itinerary builder helps vacation goers plan their trips by showing them
local activities, allowing them to manage group activities, fetching information about the area,
and providing group coordination tools to help communicate preparations and activities. The
itinerary builder is a web application created with Symfony, a PHP Model‐View‐Controller
framework that has libraries such as Twig and Doctrine to generate HTML and create database
queries, respectively. Students working on the grant received valuable insight into
development practices, project management skills, and many other experiential skills to better
prepare them for industry.
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Japanese Kanji Trainer (Poster, Table 2) Presenting Student: Daniel Wojnar Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy This presentation is about a tool for learning to read and write Japanese kanji and vocabulary
words. The tool uses a handwriting recognition algorithm based on the dynamic time warping
algorithm to check user‐drawn kanji for correctness. Additionally, a spaced repetition algorithm
is used to maximize memory retention per time spent studying. The result can be used to
effectively learn around 2,000 kanji and 6,000 vocabulary words in one to two years.
Musical Instrument Simulator on Smartphone (Poster, Table 2) Presenting Students: Keon Triplett, Ibrahima Barry Mentor: Dr. Xunyu Pan In this project, we develop a mobile app which simulates the musical instruments on
smartphones. In practice, we create a friendly user interface on the touch screen of mobile
devices to simulate a string or keyboard instrument. The action of finger touch is also visualized
on the touch screen in a graphic format. The fusion of music playing and visual responding
provides users tactile feedback and better playing experiences. We also intend to color code
the keys on the app to change color when they are pressed. The program will mostly be
developed in Android Studio and should be ported to the actual phones. This system
incorporates many different tones and keystrokes to make different sounds that the user can
play with. The app is developed for an Android phone and should work fine whenever accessed.
The ultimate goal of the mobile musical system is to demonstrate the feasibility and the
potential for converting mobile devices into a particular musical instrument. The described
system plays an important role in not only serving as a powerful tool for personal
entertainment, but also assisting individuals interested in learning and editing electronic music.
Penetration Testing on Android Mobile Phone (Poster, Table 29) Presenting Students: Kelvin Coates, Martika Trimble, Jeremy Johnson, Cedric Dyer Mentor: Dr. Wenjuan Xu Now‐a‐days, mobile phones are more and more functioning like a personal computer. A lot of
people are using their mobile phones for activities such as browsing news, viewing emails,
depositing money, paying bills, downloading and uploading files and applications. As an open
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source operating system, Android is rapidly increasing in the mobile phone industry. At the same
time, due to the increasing applications developed on the Android phone, more security risks are
facing in the Android phone. However, a lot of users are often unknowing about the security risks
they are facing while they use their phones. Our work focuses on the security testing of the
Android phone through penetration testing. We will apply the different hacking technologies on
the Android phone. Through applying these technologies, we will identify what technologies can
successfully exploit the mobile phone, what may bring security risks and what cannot work well.
Based on the result of our practice, we will further discuss how secure the Android phone is and
how much trust that we can put on it.
Raspberry Pi Magic Mirror OS (Poster, Table 29) Presenting Student: Matthew Benson Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy This project involves creating a distribution of Linux with the purpose of displaying up‐to‐date
information about the user’s day such as schedule and weather. The goal is to embed a
Raspberry Pi in a housing that contains a one‐way mirror in front of an LCD display with a touch
screen over the front so the user can interact with the system. This was accomplished by
bringing together the necessary Linux packages for a simple interface controlled by a Raspberry
Pi and using a USB touch panel with driver support for Linux systems. This project shows how
simple it can be to make a unique Linux distribution and create a simple computer system with
a big impact.
Touchscreen Research Application for Cotton‐Top Tamarins (Poster, Table 2) Presenting Student: Johnathan Tripp Mentor: Mr. Steven Kennedy The purpose of this project is to develop a touchscreen desktop application in collaboration
with FSU Psychology students conducting research with Cotton‐Top Tamarins. Through a
configuration interface within the application, the researchers are able to prepare trials during
which they will study Tamarin behavior as they interact with the application. The interaction
interface is comprised of an image centered at the top of the screen, known as the sample, and
two buttons, which also contain images. One button on the screen contains the image at the
top of the screen, while the other button displays another image. The side of the screen on
which the matching image displays is randomized, and the matching images are randomly
selected from a collection of images. Data collection for this application consists of determining
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whether or not the test subjects are accurately selecting the button that matches the sample
image, the image contained in the selected button, and information concerning the duration of
each trial. The intended use of this application is to study Tamarin behavior as it relates to
understanding similarities between objects.
Utilizing Scapy for Penetration Testing (Poster, Table 2) Presenting Students: Daniel Wade, Thomas Kraemer, Jarrod Williams, Raphael Azenadaga Mentor: Dr. Wenjuan Xu As a powerful interactive packet manipulation program, Scapy is applied widely in the
penetration testing field. Scapy can be used to forge or decode packets, send packets on the wire,
capture packet and so one. It can be used easily for handling port scanning, tracerouting, probing,
unit testing, attacking and network discovery. Especially, Scapy can run with python for providing
more penetration testing abilities for the penetration testers. In this presentation, we are going
to demonstrate how we apply the Scapy tool to perform different penetration testing and how
to utilize python in scapy for more complex penetration testing tasks.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Drinking Water Quality Testing Using Test Strips and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP) (Poster, Table 32) Presenting Students: Edwin Pitt, Tommelynn Raine Contributing Students: Brandy Barnes, Connor Riahan, Michelle Dunaway, Ijeoma Ugah Mentor: Dr. Dawn Armfield The purpose of this research was to determine the water quality of the different buildings on
campus: Old Main, Pullen, Gunter, Annapolis, Dunkle, Fine Arts, Westminster, Chesapeake, Lane
University Center, Cambridge, Ort Library, Cordts P.E. Center, Guild, Performing Arts Center
(PAC), Compton, Edgewood, Center for Communications and Information Technology (CCIT), and
the Veteran’s Center. We proposed that the water in each building tasted slightly different as a
result of the buildings being built at different times. Because the buildings were built at different
times, water fountains are different and might affect the water. To test the water quality, we
collected samples from the 16 buildings on campus in sterile bottles and kept them cold until we
were ready to test them. For each sample we tested the pH, alkalinity, total hardness, and free
and total chlorine using Aquacheck Water Quality Test Strips for 5‐in‐1 by Hach. The metal
concentrations in the water samples were found using inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (ICP). The results of the study indicated that the water around campus meet the
EPA requirements and are relatively the same. There were no correlations between the age of
the buildings and the water quality.
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DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
A Tourist Map for Greater Grantsville Business Association (Poster, Table 19) Presenting Student: Kaitlyn Roush Mentor: Dr. James Saku Tourism is an important component of Garrett County’s economy. About 1.2 million people
travel to the county each year to enjoy the natural geographic landscape, Deep Creek Lake,
trails and State Parks. During the winter, the Wisp Ski Resort serves as an excellent destination
for urban dwellers. When visiting Garrett County, tourists patronize a variety of businesses.
These businesses may include those that are owned, and operated by The Greater Grantsville
Business Association (GGBA). To make these businesses known, and accessible to tourist visiting
or travelling through Garrett County, GGBA initiated a tourist map making project. The purpose
of this project is to use ArcGIS to create a tourist map of the Greater Grantsville area. Two
maps, including a street map and a map detailing local businesses within the Grantsville area,
have been created for distribution to tourist centers around the county. Businesses that are
GGBA members are especially highlighted on the map to encourage their patronage by
tourists.
How the Eruption of Yellow Stone Could Impact the Climate of North America (Physical Display, Table 20) Presenting Student: Katrina Wesley Mentor: Dr. Tianna Bogart Yellow Stone is popularly known to be a super volcano that resides in Yellow Stone National
Park, Wyoming. Volcanologists and scientists make sure that they are as up to date as possible
on the activity and behavior of this volcano. Research has been conducted to infer that the
eruption of this volcano could cause detrimental issues in North America as a whole. Wyoming
alone, could be completely wiped out, as well as the entire west coast of the U.S. Overall the
entire North American continent could experience an era of below normal temperatures due to
volcanic debris blocking out incoming solar radiation. This, in‐turn, will have traumatic effects
on the environment, for instance, certain forms of vegetation that need warmer weather to
survive (e.g. Florida palm trees) may not have the ability to survive such an extreme
temperature change. Animals and insects that are used to thriving in a warm environment, will
find it elusive, since it is not in their nature to be exposed to such cool temperatures. The only
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way to predict whether or not this is true, is to do prehistoric research on the behavior of the
Yellow Stone super volcano, which is what I plan to accomplish.
Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels in Correlation to Transportation (Poster, Table 19) Presenting Student: Wyatt Rudasill Mentors: Dr. Tianna Bogart, Dr. James Saku Transportation has been one of the most innovative and impacting forces on the past century.
Mass production of transportation as well as advancement in technology of current
transportation has led to some of the most ground‐breaking systems of transportation,
including the movement of information, freight, and the population. Unfortunately just about
every system of transportation or at least the greater percentage of the total transportation
systems emit carbon dioxide. Through this research, factors of transportation that play a role in
emissions are looked at and studied. Problems that arise with carbon dioxide are also reviewed
as well as potential solutions at cost effective levels.
Socio‐Economic Indicators of Nunavut (Poster, Table 19) Presenting Student: Andrew Boch Mentor: Dr. James Saku The focus of this research is to examine selected socio‐economic variables in Nunavut. As a
remote territory in the Canadian Arctic, Nunavut was created in 1999 and consists of small
Aboriginal communities. The objective of this research is to examine Nunavut as a territory and
its socio‐economic characteristics. Specifically, the population structure, ethnic origin, use of
non‐official languages spoken and income within the territory are examined. While this analysis
focuses primarily on the 2011 National Household Survey, Nunavut is characterized by very
young population, the dominance of Inuktitut language and low income.
The Effect of Location on Climatic Variables (Poster, Table 20) Presenting Student: Kashaud Bowman Mentor: Dr. Tianna Bogart The purpose of the research is to examine the effect of certain climatic variables on
temperature and precipitation recorded in the Northeast region of the United States. Large
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scale and global events such as teleconnections (ENSO) and sunspot frequencies were
investigated. The direct correlation between these variables and weather in the region were
found to be weak. However, through a locational analysis a strong relationship from climate
control factors was established. Latitude and proximity to large bodies of water were among
the few of the recorded trends, the region was compared to the regional analysis report by the
National Climate Assessment.
Using Geospatial Imagery to Assess Impacts of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) Mining: Central Appalachia Case Study (Poster, Table 32) Presenting Students: Erik Geiser, Olivia Lewis, Austin Hampshire Mentor: Dr. Matthew Ramspott The Central Appalachia region is populated with numerous Mountain Top Removal (MTR)
mining sites which are producing disastrous impacts on basic life support systems such as clean
air, water, surrounding soil and Earth’s rich bio‐diversity. Coal companies engaging in MTR
mining blast away ridge tops with explosives to expose the coal seams underneath. When all
the available coal has been removed, giant earthmovers dump the “spoil” (any part of the
mountain that isn’t coal) into the valleys below. Monitoring these sites with geospatial imagery
will aid in understanding the scope and severity of these impacts. The objective of this project
is to examine the environmental impacts of MTR mining through the lens of Earth remote
sensing. The project makes use of moderate‐resolution image data from the USGS Landsat
archive, complemented at specific sites with high‐resolution imagery. Assessments of
landscape change are developed using individual image bands, multiband composites, and
computed indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. These results are presented
to document the growth and impacts of MTR in Central Appalachia. Multi‐temporal image
compositing techniques provide effective visualizations of MTR growth over time, and are
supplemented by other Landsat‐derived visualizations and datasets available through Google
Earth Engine and the National Land Cover Database. MTR growth is readily observable over
time scales ranging from years to decades. This study highlights two geographical areas, each
containing several MTR sites. The first extends from western Maryland into southwest
Pennsylvania, and the second includes a swath of central to southern West Virginia.
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Utilizing GIS Technology to Predict Local Predatory Animal Movement (Poster, Table 19) Presenting Student: Jacob Wheel Mentor: Dr. Francis Precht This project utilizes GIS (Geographic Information System) technology to model Eastern Coyote
behavior in Garret County, Maryland. It was hypothesized that a deforested high speed
transmission line right of way provided an ideal movement corridor for coyotes to travel
between more developed and open lands around the Frostburg‐ Carlos area in the east and
isolated public forestland in the Grantsville area to the west. Field research at study areas
yielded numerous instances of coyote sign, concentrated on and nearby the proposed
movement corridor. The studied section of the right of way and the theorized animal origin/
destination areas were digitized into GIS ready files (ESRI polygons) generated from satellite
imagery of the sites. After acquiring publicly available land use/ land cover, elevation, and
public land boundaries data from the state of Maryland and federal databases, elevation rates
of change and land cover types were weighted by favorability to movement. A “movement cost
analysis”, considering these weighted factors, was performed along this right of way to
determine the suitability of this route for animal movement. Results were then visually
displayed across multiple overlay layers on several ArcGIS map documents. The movement cost
analysis did indeed support the hypothesis that the studied terrain was favorable for animal
movement.
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DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
Effectiveness of Cleaning the Chesapeake Bay (Poster, Table 17) Presenting Students: Lyle Fugate, Christopher Ranker Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell For years before the EPA was created the United States was polluting its natural resources with
everything from dumping waste into the Chesapeake to clearing forest buffers to make way for
developing the region. The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 and grants the EPA the power
“to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”.
Over the decades the EPA has used this ambiguous and open statement to establish Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TDML) of pollution. This sets strict limits on the amount Nitrogen and
phosphorous in the bay that can be discharged through the 478 major facilities in the
watershed. The theory of regulating pollution seems like a great idea and will help the bay
become fishable and swimmable again but is it actually working? Research says that the push to
clean the bay is certainly helping the water quality of the bay but it is a slower process than
anticipated and may be too little too late.
Environmental Impacts in the Unique Chesapeake Bay Environment (Poster, Table 17) Presenting Student: Kerry O’Malley Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell Early accounts of the Chesapeake environment include crystal clear waterways and an
abundance of flora, fauna, and other resources that were critical to the survival of early
settlers. Since then, the unique ecology of the Chesapeake region have shaped industry in a
way that is different from other parts of the U.S., and the plants and animals of this region have
made these industries incredibly successful and lucrative. However, changing demographic,
social, economic, and cultural factors in the Chesapeake has had a strong influence on the
ecology of the region has led to major challenges to sustaining Maryland’s quality of life. This
project will examine the people and industry of the Chesapeake, such as the watermen and
fishing industry, while looking for potential methods of aiding the effort to conserve the
environment and the future of the Chesapeake.
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Life and Work on the C&O Canal (Poster, Table 17) Presenting Students: Mike Wright, Jacob Davis Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell Spurred on early by George Washington, the C&O Canal was to be a life line from the coast to
points further west. The Canal, which ran from Washington D.C. to Cumberland Maryland, had
74 locks which required families to live in nearby lock house to operate them. During the canals
peak operation as many as 500 boats moved goods up and down the canal. These boats were
typically manned by whole families, some who were born, lived and died on their canal boats.
This project is focused on the workers and their families who lived and worked on the C&O
Canal. From canal boats to lock houses there were many different life styles that were seen on
and along the C&O Canal from Washington D.C. to Cumberland Maryland.
Maryland Newspapers: The Nile’s Weekly Register (Poster, Table 17) Presenting Students: Mia McCaslin, Micah Ross Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell In America’s formative years, newspapers were abundant. If there was a demographic with a
bias, they published and distributed their ideas. While many publications were centered on an
idea, some newspapers were more modern in their content and were a collaboration of reports
on local events and happenings. The Niles’s Weekly Register was one such newspaper. The
Weekly Register was founded in Baltimore by Hezekiah Niles in 1811. The Weekly Register, as it
was located in the central locale of Baltimore, covered many national events, and had a
surprisingly large circulation for the time period. Because of its size and location, The Weekly
Register covered and subsequently shaped much of 19th century Maryland history. This paper
will illuminate some of the more notable coverings from the Weekly Register, including their in
depth coverage of the War of 1812.
Maryland’s Seafood Identity (Poster, Table 18) Presenting Students: Andrew Ryznar, Jasper Tasker Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell Our project has to deal with the rise of the seafood industry in our home state of Maryland.
Today, Maryland is characterized by their seafood industry and is one of the highest producers
and distributors of this type of food. We will start our project by discussing how our colonial
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ancestors fished and how they relied on the seafood for their survival. This part of the project
will cover the strategies, techniques, and how important the new fishing industry was to the
people. At this time, commercial fishing was not as widespread, however, thousands of pounds
of fish were still caught for food and to trade for other good. Now, the seafood industry of
Maryland did not expand and boom until the 19th century. Seeing as this is when the seafood
industry takes off, we will jump to this era in Maryland history. For the section, we will include
data and statistics involved with the amount of seafood caught and sold around the world. We
will also include how the creation of refrigeration helped the boom and the regulations that
were established in order to control the number of seafood being caught and sold. The seafood
industry of Maryland revolutionized the economy, major cities, amount traded and the amount
of jobs available. When the seafood industry takes off in the 19th century, people were hired to
catch the fish, package the fish, ship the fish, and deliver the fish to market. We are talking
about the creation of thousands of jobs that helped stimulate the Maryland economy and
provide work for countless Maryland citizens. We will be discussing the how at the end of the
Civil War African Americans residing in Maryland will now be able to find jobs in order to
support themselves. The seafood industry offered great jobs for these African Americans, and
many flocked to these new jobs while they were still available. When the United States made it
possible to ship seafood, countless packaging companies and seafood distributors arose in the
city of Baltimore. This is where many people relocated in order to find work in the new seafood
industry. After discussing how the seafood industry expanded and helped change the economy
and job availability of Maryland, we will shift our attention to the economy today. The project
will include facts, statistics and data covering the amount of seafood Maryland produces. After
this we will be comparing the two eras and explaining how much the industry has increased as
time went on. At the end, we will include how Maryland is characterized and identified by their
seafood. They dominate the seafood industry within the United States, and even
internationally. Since we have shifted to more modern times, we will also provide a
comparison of Maryland to other coastal cities such as Delaware or California.
Monetary Contraction: The Great Depression Revisited (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Andrew Blank Mentor: Dr. Sally Boniece The United States economy during the Roaring Twenties experienced one of the greatest
economic expansions in history. However, by the early 1930s, the United States economy and
the world economy contracted into a massive depression. What triggered this massive financial
crisis? Where did the Great Depression originate? First published in 1963, Milton Friedman and
Anna Schwartz’s A Monetary History of the United States 1867‐1960 redefined how economic
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historians perceived the Great Depression in the United States. Friedman and Schwartz
empirically proposed that the quantity of money within the United States economy declined,
resulting in the “Great Contraction” from 1929‐1933. While Friedman and Schwartz criticized
the Federal Reserve for not implementing a preemptive monetary policy to combat the market,
I argue that the Federal Reserve acted in accordance with the polices and given circumstances
of the era to combat an unprecedentedly weakened economy in the United States.
Prohibition: Bootleggin’ in Maryland (Poster, Table 18) Presenting Students: Billy Ward, Hart Weaver, Renay Aubel Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell National prohibition took affect January of 1920. Although prohibition lasted for almost
thirteen years, it has been ridiculed and scrutinized, and many American historians see it as a
failure. The biggest state to see prohibition as a failure was no other than Maryland.
Throughout the roaring twenties and early thirties, Maryland had a very uncommon reaction,
compared to other states, to prohibition. Under a nation that was supposedly “dry”, Maryland
didn’t follow Federal laws. Out of all the states, at this time, Maryland was the only one who
didn’t pass a state enforcement act. With that being said, Maryland labeled itself as a “wet”
state. With Maryland being a leader in the Temperance Movement, its location on the
Chesapeake Bay also gave it an undisputed advantage for bootlegging. The variations in
topography throughout Maryland’s regions also played a big role in the fabrication, selling, and
transportation of alcohol. The City of Baltimore was considered and perceived as Maryland’s
“center of resistance to prohibition.” Maryland’s views on prohibition, during the 1920’s, was
shaped and molded by Governor Albert C. Ritchie. He believed that it was Maryland’s right to
create, enforce, and control the liquor trafficking within the Maryland’s boarders.
Rediscovering Forgotten Battles: The Battle of the Monocacy River (Poster, Table 18) Presenting Students: Eric Dodson, Kayla Hutson Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell During the nineteenth century the city of Frederick, Maryland was a thriving industrial and
commercial hub that was centrally located along many major transportation routes.
Unfortunately, this factor made the city a prime target during the American Civil War as its
location was a strategic position for either side who could maintain control over this territory.
In this study we will conduct an in depth analysis of the Battle of the Monocacy River that took
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place on July 9th, 1864. By closely analyzing the elements that led up to this armed conflict,
interpreting primary documents from soldiers, and evaluating the outcome of this battle, we
can then fully understand the impact it had on the American Civil War.
Religious and Cultural Effects in Maryland between 1600‐1800 (Oral Presentation) Presenting Students: Nicholas Tressler, Kayla Johnson Mentor: Dr. Eleanor McConnell In this paper, we will examine and evaluate the religious and cultural makeup of Maryland by
researching Maryland’s Immigration records from 1600 to 1800. Maryland is made up of
several different types of religion, and several different cultures. Looking over this time period
will help connect modern day Maryland to past events. In order to makes these connections the
research will be based off of primary sources such as census’s, docking records, immigration
records, newspapers, etc.; as well as secondary sources like research papers and journals that
discuss the cultures that have come into Maryland over the time period. The research will be
presented at the Undergraduate Symposium along with a Power Point Presentation to show
our findings. Our findings will be collected in the form of numbers, charts and graphs. We will
use these finding to explain how these religions and cultures affected the development of
Maryland. The collections of census documents and docking records will be our primary source
of information to gather numbers of people. We will be looking specifically for people who
were Catholic, Puritans, Quakers, African American, Irish, German and English. The Maryland
Census will also allow us to take a deeper look at the growth of Maryland and explain why
specific areas, like Western Maryland, have slowed in growth over the years. We hope to make
connections between the people living in these areas and area growth by the end of our
research.
The Financial, Social, and Political Costs of the US War in Iraq (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: David Harper Mentor: Dr. Gregory Wood This paper examines the many costs that accompanied the US war in Iraq that began in 2003
and lasted until 2011. It considers the financial costs of the conflict and the occupation, as well
as the social, political, and cultural consequences of the war. This paper argues that the US war
in Iraq and the long occupation rank among the costliest of America’s wars.
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“The Two‐Fisted Types”: Nixon, the AFL‐CIO, and the Blue‐Collar Strategy” (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: William H. Fey Mentor: Dr. Paul Charney After Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968, organized labor, especially the AFL‐CIO,
entered into a crisis of identity. All one had to do is look at any of the many chaotic scenes at
the 1968 Democratic National Convention to understand why labor would be enthusiastic to
possibly find a new partisan home. Meanwhile, many ordinary lower middle‐class or working‐
class white Americans were becoming distanced by the Democratic Party, a party they had
called home ever since Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspired them or their parents and
grandparents to support the Democratic Party during the Great Depression. A feeling of
“working‐class backlash” started to take a serious toll on how the Democratic Party related to
its base. Richard Nixon looked upon this state of affairs in absolute jubilation and sought to try
and reform the Roosevelt coalition into a coalition of conservatives who voted on commonly
shared values like patriotism, hard work, and law and order, not economic interests and
concerns. In seeking out this coalition (a “new majority” in the words of Nixon) Nixon targeted
Southern and Northern blue‐collar workers for Republican cultivation. Nixon also, unlike his
Republican predecessors, sought out a serious relationship with the organized labor
establishment, especially the AFL‐CIO and its head, George Meany. At the same time,
disturbances inside organized labor’s long time partisan home, the Democratic Party, only
ended up strengthening a potential relationship between the Republican Party and American
workers. In trying to court both the average white blue‐collar worker and organized labor,
Nixon and his cabinet had mixed results. In seeking a new Republican majority, Nixon failed to
create a sustained relationship with organized labor, but he did set an unmitigated precedent
for a strong relationship between the white working‐class and the Republican Party.
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DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
On the Number and Distribution of the Primes (Poster, Table 18) Presenting Student: Jocelyn Williams Mentor: Dr. Mark Hughes Prime numbers have been one of the most closely studied phenomena in all of mathematics.
The early Greeks recognized the profound nature of prime numbers, and Euclid proved that
there are infinitely many primes. In the eighteenth century, Euler obtained another proof of
the infinitude of the primes through the development of his formula relating a particular
infinite product involving primes to the harmonic series. This formula, referred to as Euler’s
product formula, is viewed as the birth of the field of analytic number theory. Euler further
proved the divergence of the reciprocals of the prime numbers. The infinite nature of prime
numbers led to a critical question: can we determine how many primes there are within a given
interval? The distribution of the primes is described by the prime number theorem, which was
first published by Legendre in 1808 and gives an estimate for the number of primes less than or
equal to a given number. Gauss made a more refined conjecture, and nearly 100 years later,
the prime number theorem was proven independently by Jacques Hadamard and Charles de la
Vallée Poussin. An application of this theorem answers the earlier question of how many
primes there are within some interval. This project explores the details of the aforementioned
proofs and other important proofs in prime number theory, as well as applications of the prime
number theorem.
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DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Karl Marx and Henry David Thoreau as Defenders of Individualism (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Dillon James Mentor: Dr. Jean‐Marie Makang At a cursory glance, the theories of Karl Marx appear to promote collectivism and reject
individualism. Marx does indeed emphasize a collectivist mode of production and social
organization as a way of achieving an egalitarian society and relations of production. But the
ultimate goal of Marx’s ideal society is to promote the growth and development of all
individuals. This paper examines ways in which Marx’s philosophical principles are compatible
with individualism. This may seem shocking to a number of Marx’s critics, but it may not be so
when compared with the kind of individualism that was promoted by the 19th century
American philosopher and civil rights activist Henry David Thoreau. In this paper, we argue that
Marx and Thoreau share similar values concerning the importance of intellectual and spiritual
cultivation. Both see these aspects of self‐development as more necessary to the flourishing of
the individual than the procurement of material wealth. The goal of Marx’s project of society is
to allow each member of society to be free from industrial servitude so that each can
concentrate on living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Concepts such as alienated labor and quiet
desperation are examined for congruencies, and Marx’s own vision of what a fully Marxian
society might look like is examined for ways which it may promote individuality (in the
Thoreauvian sense) among its members.
The Philosophy of Perception (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Darik vonRigler Mentor: Dr. Shoshana Brassfield Perception is something we do every day. In an average day we smell, we taste, we hear, we
see, and we feel, yet we take them for granted. But, have you ever wondered what perception
really is? Are there things that I perceive that others cannot? If I don’t perceive something does
that mean it does not exist? If a tree falls, and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Could we
be “seeing” an illusion without knowing that there is one? Should we believe in reality if our
perceptions might be illusions? Do things really exist outside of our minds? These puzzles about
perception will be introduced and possible answers considered.
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DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
2 Meter Kilowatt Linear Amplifier (Poster, Table 24) Presenting Student: W. Michael Prohonic, III Mentor: Dr. Gregory Latta This research looks at the mechanical and electrical design, as well as test and assembly of a
144MHz, 1000 watt RF amplifier. The goal is to produce a design that appeals to the market
and is easily mass produced. The amplifier is designed around a preassembled 1kW LDMOS
amplifier pallet. The first part of this research determined which electrical parts were
necessary to create a working control and safety support system for the amplifier pallet. Next
were design calculations and testing of the amplifier support systems. Finally, the mechanical
drawings were produced, and the parts were assembled to specifications to produce a viable,
marketable product.
A Shot Heard Around the World (Poster, Table 22) Presenting Students: Vernon Lipscomb, Stephen Linnenkamp Contributing Student: Felix Bruno Mentor: Dr. Marjorie Rawhouser The “Shot Heard around the World” project is devoted to the acquisition and transmission of
data using NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS‐S). The transmission will
originate from the Frostburg State main campus and will be looped back using standard
network protocols. One of the primary goals of the project was to maximize the use of
commercial‐off‐the‐shelf (COTS) hardware and industry standard protocols. A major challenge
was to change the format of the transmitted data at the bit level to match the format used by
NASA’s space network. Changing the format of the transmitted data is what allowed the use of
easily obtainable COTS devices. The TDRS system consists of three segments: the space
segment which has eleven satellites in geosynchronous orbit above the earth, the ground
segment which includes the White Sands Complex (WSC) in New Mexico, and the Guam
Remote Ground Terminal (GRGT). The TDRS system was designed to provide communications
and tracking services to manned space missions and low‐earth orbiting satellites. The “Shot
Heard around the World” project can be subdivided into three subsystems: a data acquisition
subsystem, a transmitter subsystem, and a satellite antenna subsystem. The data acquisition
subsystem is comprised of COTS Wide Area Network (WAN) devices, environmental sensors,
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and low cost micro controllers; while the transmitter subsystem and antenna subsystem are
comprised of NASA issued equipment which was integrated into the final design. Frostburg
students were responsible for collecting environmental data at a remote site designated by
NASA and packaging it with a multimedia image of the person collecting the data. The size of
the data, including the multimedia image, must be less than 10KB. This size restriction is a
direct result of the limited satellite bandwidth available on NASA’s TDRS‐6 satellite. After
acquiring the data, the transmitter and antenna subsystem will be used to send the data via
NASA’s TDRS‐6 satellite. TDRS‐6 will then relay the data to the White Sands Ground Terminal
located at WSC, where the data will be returned to Frostburg students using Internet Protocols.
The “Shot Heard around the World” project was created with mobility in mind. Once fully
developed, the design can be used as an automatic collection point deployed in remote areas to
serve NASA’s global mission in environmental studies, the needs of commercial businesses, and
other government agencies.
At Home Quantum Entanglement (Poster, Table 22) Presenting Student: Dustin Ullery Mentor: Dr. Jason Speights Quantum entanglement, when fully understood, will make science fiction a reality. It will
exponentially increase computing power, and scientists are already using it for experiments in
teleportation. In this poster we demonstrate entanglement arising from the decay of
radioactive Sodium. We use two Geiger counters and a coincident counting circuit to detect
entangled pairs of gamma ray photons. To show that the particles being counted are entangled,
we place aluminum prisms in the path of the emitted photons and place the Geiger counters at
90 degree angles to one another. The entangled photons are “orthogonally polarized” which
will cause them to always scatter at 90 degree angles when passed through the prisms.
Battery Powered Electric Scooter (Poster, Table 22) Presenting Students: Alexander Roman, Papa Amoah Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal The overall goal of this project is to design a regenerative braking circuit that will allow the
scooter to decelerate using the motor turning in the reverse direction. This will also cause a
positive voltage that can be stored in the battery. There are electric bicycles that can be
purchased that utilize regenerative braking circuits similar to this design. However, there are no
small electric toys that implement this concept. It could potentially increase the run time of the
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devices without adding extra battery weight. This allows the device to run longer on a single
charge, which would make the product more appealing to consumers. Some of the weaknesses
of the design involve the fact that only one of the drive wheels of the scooter will produce a
charge. The weight of the scooter will not be significantly large so the potential energy of the
system will not be as significant as a heavier device such as a car. Another concern is how to
safely slow the device using the DC engine as a generator. To safely slow the device we will
incorporate a pulse width modulation circuit that will control the duty ratio of the dc engine.
This will allow the device accelerate or decelerate at different rates.
Beam Deflection Tube Characteristics (Poster, Table 22) Presenting Student: Jerome Burgo Mentor: Dr. Gregory Latta The 7360 beam deflection tube is a miniature particle accelerator and was one of the most
versatile and sophisticated vacuum tubes for balanced modulation and signal mixing of its time.
Balanced modulation and signal mixing are still done today, but with smaller solid state devices.
However, the construction of the 7360 allows one to observe the inner structure of the device
and see the function of each component. I explored the construction of the inner components to
learn and describe their functions and measure their electrical properties to see how they
produce and affect the particle beam. By testing the tube in several circuits I was able to measure
the characteristic curves of the tube and show how the particle beam was affected by external
influences. The process of signal mixing as the multiplication of two cosine functions was studied,
along with how the multiplication is performed by the 7360.
Car Detection Network (Poster, Table 33) Presenting Students: Stephen Rackley, Ryan Aldridge, Craig Reiner Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal The overall goal of this project is to solve a safety issue drivers might encounter; a hidden
driveway. A hidden driveway is a one lane road that intersects with a 2 lane road, where the
one lane road has a limited field of view that can be caused by numerous factors. Currently the
only system in place to help drivers is the use of convex mirrors that are designed to be looked
at by the driver in the driveway. This convex mirror helps expand the driver’s view by 90
degrees. The main issue with these mirrors is that they are very inaccurate. Due to the shape
of the mirror, the image the driver sees is distorted and hard to read. Another issue is it is
difficult to use at night because of the lack of light as well as during the day the sunlight can
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reflect off the mirror making it hard to view. The way we decided to improve that system is to
take the human element out of the decision making process through the use of sensors. Our
design will use different sensors at different locations to alert both the driver in the driveway
and the drivers on the main road of the presence of each other by means of a traffic signal light.
The three sensors we will focus our efforts on will be triggered in different ways, such as by
presence, speed, or weight. These sensors all communicate to an Arduino, a programmable
microprocessor, where we are able to code what the display should be based on the multiple
cases of the input signals. We believe with our new system in place, that this will greatly reduce
the number of accidents caused by the limited field of view in a hidden driveway.
Composite Turbine Blade Modeling & Testing (Poster, Table 34) Presenting Student: Michael Campbell Mentor: Dr. Mahdi Norouzi The goal of the project is to test the XZERES Skystream 3.7 turbine blade to its structural
limitations. There are 3 components to this project ‐ modeling, testing, and analysis. I started by
cutting the blade into cross sections and input all the geometry into SolidWorks. This is called
digitizing. 2nd came the testing. Following ASTM’s I tested the blade for applicable material
characteristics. Last was the analysis. After applying the material properties to the digitized
blade, SolidWorks was able to yield the maximum stresses that the blade can handle using a
process called Finite Element Analysis (FEA). From the maximum stresses, we can determine
when the blade will fail.
Dizzy Microbes: The Effect of Increased Gravitational Fields on the Growth Rate of E. coli (Poster, Table 21) Presenting Students: Nicholas Revell, Benjamin Childs, William Silva, Joseph Becraft,
Matthew Skillman, Alison Sappe, Nelson Dozier, Aili Wade Mentors: Dr. Jason Speights, Dr. Catherine Vrentas, Mr. Duane Miller, Mr. Stephen Bevan Understanding the limits of life is important for exploring the possibility of life on other planets.
The most common type of planets found to date are classified as “Super Earths,” with
gravitational forces greater than that of Earth’s. Microbial life is more likely to be found on
other planets because it is simple and can thrive in extreme environments. In this project we
grew E.coli in a centrifuge to simulate increased gravitational (g) forces. We then calculated the
growth rate of the centrifuged phase and compared it to the growth rate of stationary E. coli.
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Effects of an Electric Field on a Wire (Poster, Table 21) Presenting Student: Stephen Rackley Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal This project explores the relationship of electric fields and circuits. The Electric field is used to
alter the current, voltage or resistance of a circuit. An electric field is described as an electrical
potential difference over a certain distance. This electric field can move and even change
directions of electrons. Electrons moving through a wire is represented by current, which can
power light bulbs, sensors, or any electrical system. An externally applied electric field can have
an effect on these electrons flowing through a wire and cause changes in current and possibly
resistance. In this project, a potential difference (i.e. Voltage) is applied across conducting
washers. A rubber washer is placed in‐between them to prevent short circuits. A wire runs
through the center of the washers and connected to a Multimeter. This Multimeter measures
the current in the wire induced by the electric field from the washers. The Multimeter is also
used to measure voltage changes across a Wheatstone bridge circuit with the washers. This
would show a resistance change in the wire.
Fabrication and Construction of a Composite‐Hybrid Bicycle Frame (Poster, Table 35) Presenting Students: Marcos Crabtree, Jocelyn Williams Mentors: Mr. Craig Wilson, Dr. Mahdi Norouzi Stronger, lighter, faster. In the world of competitive bicycling, these are crucial factors.
Composite materials are recognized in both the industrial and commercial markets for their
favorable characteristics in all three of these categories, and there are a myriad of carbon fiber
bicycle frames available on the market today. Since carbon fiber bicycles are expensive, they
have been predominantly used by professional or competitive bicycling enthusiasts. However,
carbon fiber is not the only composite material with these desirable qualities. Fiberglass, or S‐
glass, is an affordable composite alternative with high tensile strength that is typically used in
applications where structural integrity is of the greatest importance. The objective of this
project was to design and manufacture an affordable, lightweight prototype composite‐and‐
metal hybrid bicycle for amateur bikers. To manufacture fiberglass components for this
project, a composite hand lay‐up process on an open mandrel was utilized. This process
required a metal mandrel as a form, around which sheets of S‐glass were wrapped with epoxy
resin applied between each layer to bind the matrix together. This process produced uniform
S‐glass tubes which were inspected for disparities according to a strict set of project
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requirements and then used to assemble a composite‐hybrid bicycle frame. By removing
critical structural components of the frame of an old mountain bicycle, we were able to
reassemble the frame using S‐glass tubes in place of the removed steel tubes. Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) was conducted using Ansys to assess critical sections of the bicycle frame under
worst‐case loading conditions at locations where stress concentrations were high; this
analytical approach drove the determination of layering methods used during manufacturing.
The resulting composite‐hybrid bicycle provides an alternative to current composite bicycles on
the market at a fraction of the cost, but with increased strength and decreased weight
compared to typical steel‐framed road and mountain bicycles.
Frostburg’s Synthetic Aperture Radar (Poster, Table 36 and Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: Joseph Gleason Mentors: Dr. Jason Speights, Dr. Wudyalew Wondmagegn Synthesis aperture radar (SAR) reads the bounce back patterns from the transmitted signal. In
military applications it is used for tracking targets and flight patterns, commercially, it is
sometimes used to track weather. We built and tested a SAR instrument using simple, off the
shelf components. In this poster we demonstrate some of its abilities.
Iceless Cooler (Physical Display, Table 37) Presenting Students: Jared Michael, James Singo, Daniel Wiacek Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal The idea of portable cooling has remained the same for the last 50 years. Fill a plastic tub with
ice and take it with you to provide refreshments on the go. The issues surrounding traditional
coolers lie in the use of ice as a means to cool food and beverages. Our group wishes to
eliminate this hassle by creating a thermoelectric cooler that is sustainable through solar
irradiation. A stand‐alone system of this type has many benefits over traditional cooling and will
be a must have for anyone who spends time outdoors or traveling. Virtually everyone has used
a cooler at some point in their life and experienced the problems surrounding ice. The iceless
cooler will transform the way we enjoy portable refreshments.
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Oscillating Variable Capacitor (Poster, Table 21) Presenting Student: Craig Reiner Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal The best way to store electricity is the use of capacitors and this technology has been around
for a long time so we know a lot about capacitance. One of the standard configurations that
capacitors use is the parallel plate configuration. There are two plates of the same shape and
size separated by a set distance. This experiment was designed to determine the effect that
oscillating parallel plates had on the capacitance created by the plates. My experiment uses a
similar configuration to the parallel plate configuration; the only difference being that one of
the plates is no longer stationary and instead oscillates back and forth. Through the use of a
piston mechanism I designed and built and a DC gear motor, I was able to build a variable
capacitor that would move back and forth, closer and farther away from the stationary plate.
By connecting the plates to a capacitance meter I recorded the capacitance and the changes
that the oscillation caused. From this experiment, I explored the dependence of capacitance on
speed of motion.
Solar Powered Cell Phone Charger (Poster, Table 23) Presenting Students: Nicholas Huff, Heather Lesniowski Mentor: Dr. Oguz Soysal This project shows two different methods of using the sun as an energy source in order to
charge a cell phone. The chargers will meet requirements for USB 2.0 charging because most
standard cell phones have chargers with a USB connection. One method demonstrates a
portable charger while the other one is fixed onto an umbrella. Both concepts use solar cells to
capture energy from the sun, the energy is manipulated through electrical circuits in order to
convert the energy into usable electrical power. The portable charger is made with
monocrystalline solar cells in order to maximize the efficiency and power production while
minimizing the surface area of the charger. These cells sit on a swivel where the user can
manually adjusted its angle in order to track the sun. The connection for the USB port will be in
the base of the stand for easy access. The umbrella uses flexible thin film amorphous solar cells
that are attached to the top of the umbrella for optimal sunlight. The wiring runs down through
the pole of the umbrella, where the USB port will be at a level for convenient use. The two
different concepts show the versatility of solar cell applications. The chargers contain an
electrical circuit that outputs a constant 5V in order to power the USB port. This allows the user
to plug in a standard USB cell phone cord to charge their phone without a power outlet.
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Stair Assist Dolly (Poster, Table 21) Presenting Students: Heather Lowe, Spenser Love, Alexander Zephir Mentor: Mr. Craig Wilson Currently it is very difficult to move heavy objects up or down multiple stairs without hurting
yourself or dropping the object. Our objective was to design a product that will solve this
problem. We designed a stair assist dolly which is targeted toward a typical household looking
for an affordable, reliable way to move heavy objects up and down stairs. A 28 inch pulley
system was implemented to span 3 steps at a time for ideal stability. This concept utilizes a belt
which moves on pulleys and roller bearings within glide ways. The handcart has a braking
system to increase safety when moving objects down the stairs. Our hand cart has a weight
limit of 700 pounds.
The Rock Picker (Poster, Table 38) Presenting Students: Caleb Friend, Daniel Sisler, Ryan Diehl Mentors: Mr. Craig Wilson, Dr. Mahdi Norouzi, Dr. Eric Moore, Mr. Duane Miller,
Mr. Stephen Bevan The goal of this project was to generate a concept and then proceed through the stages of
engineering design to develop a complete design supported by testing and computer
simulation. This group’s concept is a skid steer attachment that is capable of separating rocks
from usable dirt, thus solving a problem common in farming, landscape and construction
environments. The team’s primary goal for the design was that it should effective at sorting
both large and small sized rocks, while having low cost, high durability, high reparability, and
high versatility. The design process began with three ideas generated by each member of the
team. These ideas were then adjusted and combined into a single concept that was developed
collaboratively between team members. Once the initial concept was created, the team began
the detail design process and developed a complete design using computer modelling software.
It was determined that it would not be feasible to test the entire model physically, so the team
decided to construct a proof of concept that would prove the effectiveness of the design while
limiting cost. All other testing and simulation would then be completed using modelling
software. At this time the team is still in the process of building the proof of concept and has
not yet begun the physical testing. The group plans to complete extensive testing of the proof
of concept and present the results along with the full design at the FSU Research Symposium.
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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Declining State of Cuba’s Education Policy: How International Relations and Industry Impact Public Education (Oral Presentation) Presenting Student: James Kirk Mentors: Dr. Steven Simpson, Dr. Suzanne McCoskey In this paper, I will discuss how Raúl Castro’s administration prioritized economic growth over
social equity, ultimately leading to a decline in public education and a falling Human
Development Index ranking for Cuba. In the economy’s circular flow, these decisions about
education spending primarily occurred in the government block, where the Cuban government
reduced funding for education. The government also impacted the nation’s education system
within the labor market, where officials reduced enrollment in universities to drive more
citizens towards industrial jobs and away from professional careers. After rising to power in
2008, Raúl Castro has led a series of government reforms that, while intended to grow Cuba’s
economy, have decreased government expenditures on education and limited access to public
schools. I believe these negative effects on the Cuban education system were a result of the
Communist Party’s gradual attempts to transition the economy away from strict command
socialism, but ultimately have damaged the nation’s overall development.
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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Comparisons of Auditory and Visual Enrichment Techniques for Cotton Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) (Poster, Table 30) Presenting Students: Brittany Reed, Alexander Bernett, Lorenzo Jones, Jaron Winters Mentor: Dr. Erica Kennedy In order to determine which stimuli are most effective for enrichment for primate species, a
colony of cotton top tamarins were tested for their preferences for various visual and auditory
stimuli. Tamarins were presented with images from four categories including jungle, desert,
ice/tundra, and savannah trees. Looking time data as well as behavioral data was collected for
tamarin pairs for every trial. Behavioral data was collected to determine if the images had a
positive effect (such as increasing grooming and social activity) or negative effect (such as
increasing alarm calls or scent marking). We also presented a series of nature sounds including
rain and wind in order to determine the effects of these sounds on the behaviors of the
tamarins. Both the visual and auditory stimuli were presented for 10 minute trials. We then
analyzed the behavioral reactions to the various stimuli in order to determine if tamarins have a
preference for certain images or sounds and are which would serve as most effective
enrichment for primates in captivity.
Development of a Scale to Measure Skepticism (Poster, Table 7) Presenting Students: Katrina Gagliano, Maci Quintanilla Contributing Student: Crystal Rainey Mentors: Dr. Alan Bensley, Dr. Christopher Masciocchi The purpose of our study was to develop and test a new self‐report inventory of scientific
skepticism called the Skepticism Scale (SS). Scientific skepticism views skepticism as critical
thinking (CT) disposition, emphasizing that claims should be accepted only after high‐quality,
empirical evidence has supported them. Few researchers have developed skepticism measures
for specific fields. For example, Hurtt (2006) developed a scale to measure skepticism in
auditors. Yuan et al., (2014) developed a scale to measure skepticism as a CT dimension in
medical care professionals. Obermiller and Spangenberg (1998) developed a scale to measure
skepticism toward advertising among consumers. None however, have measured scientific
skepticism in psychology students. Accordingly, we developed the new 32‐item SS,
administered it to psychology students and examined its psychometrics and factor structure.
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We administered the SS to 251 psychology students, mostly psychology majors, aggregating
data from different classes at a small midAtlantic university. Of those reporting, 27.3% were
males, ranging in age from 18 to 54 years (M = 21.2 ; SD = 4.93). After researching the literature
on scientific skepticism and self‐report measures of CT dispositions, the first author drafted an
initial pool of statements from which he selected 32 items. Items were intended to capture the
importance of taking a questioning approach to inquiry, accepting claims when good reasons for
believing them have been provided, questioning the claims of others, and the tendency to self‐
assess a respondent’s reasoning and thinking. The SS instructions ask participants to rate “how
often you experience the thought or action described” in each statement on a 7‐point scale
from 1 = Never to 4 = Sometimes to 7 = Very Often. See Appendix A for the 32 items. The items
were randomized, including 16 positively stated and 16 negatively stated items. We
administered the SS in a booklet of measures during our regular classes. The first two pages
contained the consent form followed by the SS and then measures of psychological knowledge
and CT dispositions. The results from these other measures are reported elsewhere
(Masciocchi, Bensley, Rainey, Gagliano, & Quintanilla, 2015). After recoding the 16 negative
items, we conducted a factor analysis on the 32 items using principal components extraction
and Varimax rotation. Eigenvalues of factors greater than 1 and a Scree plot suggested the
presence of four factors. A second factor analysis, using principal components to extract four
factors and Varimax rotation, revealed that the four factors accounted for 39% of the variance.
The loadings in the rotated factor matrix showed good simple structure for the factors,
corresponding to four different skeptical tendencies, i.e. the tendency to: Factor 1: question,
look for understanding, and evidence (11 items). Factor 2: be reluctant to believe (7 items).
Factor 3: oppose untrue, exaggerated, unsupported claims (6 items). Factor 4: question the
claims of authorities, experts, and others (5 items). Three items with relatively lower loading
did not uniquely load on only one factor. Chronbach’s alpha = .84 for the 32‐item scale,
suggesting good internal consistency.
Examination of Quantity Discrimination in Cotton Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) (Poster, Table 30) Presenting Students: Kathryn Bell, Jeremy Cassidy Mentor: Dr. Erica Kennedy Animals that are able to discriminate quantity have an advantage because they are able to
optimize their decisions about their environment, such as amount of food or number of
predators. We tested the ability of twelve cotton‐top tamarins to discriminate quantities and
examined which cues they used in making these decisions. Two experimental conditions were
used to determine if the tamarins choose quantity using a discrete number or relied on other
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cues. Both conditions involved two plates of food being presented to the tamarins. The first
condition kept the volume of food constant in order to test their choice based on number. The
second condition kept number of food constant and let the volume vary. In each condition,
latency, choice, and amount of food taken for each trial were recorded. Analysis of the data
examined which cues were favored by the tamarins in order to determine how cotton‐top
tamarins make quantity decisions.
Factors Influencing Weaving Behavior in Cotton Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) (Poster, Table 31) Presenting Students: Kathryn Bell, Kristina Kuss, Renee Anderson, Jennifer Tyrell Mentor: Dr. Erica Kennedy Tool use is often seen as a hallmark of higher cognitive abilities in primate species. Cotton‐top
tamarins are a New World primate species who have used simple tools in captivity, but have
not been reported to use tools in the wild. Our colony of twelve cotton‐top tamarins
manipulates small sticks and uses them to “weave” through plastic mesh repeatedly, even
without any associated food reward. The goal of this project was to investigate this unusual
behavior further in order to determine if this object manipulation is a possible precursor to
tool‐use and what properties of objects the tamarins prefer for use when “weaving”. Tamarins
were presented with seven objects that varied in terms of length and flexibility and we
measured the duration of time the monkeys handled these objects and recorded their
interactions with them. We analyzed differences in the properties which the tamarins preferred
and differences in frequency of weaving behavior for individuals. From this study we are hoping
to gain a better understanding of object manipulation in cotton‐top tamarins and attempt to
determine the possible purpose of this unusual weaving behavior.
How Is Skepticism Related to Critical Thinking Dispositions, Misconceptions, and Pseudoscientific Beliefs? (Poster, Table 7) Presenting Students: Maci Quintanilla, Katrina Gagliano, Tyler Black Contributing Student: Crystal Rainey Mentors: Dr. Christopher Masciocchi, Dr. Alan Bensley A skeptical attitude is thought to involve a questioning mindset, an intellectual curiosity, and a
commitment to evidence‐based conclusions and scientific inquiry (Beyer, 1995; McPeck, 1990;
Paul, 1993). Consequently, a skeptical attitude is an intellectual virtue to be fostered in
students. While a few studies have developed measures of skepticism in other fields (e.g.,
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Hurtt, 2006; Obermiller & Spangenberg, 1998; Yuan et al., 2014), we have recently developed a
new scale, the skepticism scale (SS), to evaluate scientific skepticism in psychology students
(Bensley et al., 2016). Specifically, we examined how skepticism is related to the belief of
scientifically accepted knowledge and the concurrent rejection of pseudoscientific ideas and
misconceptions. We also examined how skepticism relates to various critical thinking (CT)
dispositions, such as open‐mindedness, endorsement of a scientific, rational approach to
psychological questions, taking an objective stance to evidence, and intellectual engagement.
We expected that scores on the SS would be positively correlated with correct psychological
knowledge and with measures of CT dispositions as measured by other scales. We administered
the SS to 251 psychology students, mostly psychology majors, aggregating data from different
classes at a small midAtlantic university. Of those reporting, 27.3% were males, ranging in age
from 18 to 54 years (M = 21.2 ; SD = 4.93). We administered the SS, which has four factors and
good internal consistency (Bensley et al., 2016), in a booklet of measures during our regular
classes, along with these scales: Test of Psychological Knowledge and Misconceptions
(TOPKAM): Accurate knowledge and lack of misconceptions in psychology (Bensley, 2015). Test
of Evidence‐Based Theories and Practices–Revised (TEBTP): Knowledge of well supported
versus poorly supported or pseudoscientific practices (Bensley, 2015). Inventory of Thinking
Dispositions in Psychology‐Revised (ITDP‐R): Thinking dispositions related to taking an active,
rational and scientific approach towards psychology (Bensley, 2011b). Objectivism scale: A
disposition to adopt an objective, rational approach to information (Leary et al., 1986). Rational
Experiential Inventory (REI): Need for cognition, openness to experience and need to evaluate
information (Pacini & Epstein, 1999). As expected, we found that scores on the SS were
positively correlated with both measures of psychological knowledge: The TOPKAM , r(179) =
.29, p < .001, and the TEBTP, r(92) = .48, p < .001. Also, scores on the SS were positively
correlated with most measures of CT disposition, including the ITDP‐R, r(145) = .54, p < .001,
the Objectivism scale, r(145) = .44, p < .001, and the rationality scale of the REI, r(141) = .51, p <
.001. SS scores were not correlated with the Experientiality scale of the REI, r(92) = .‐13, p =
12. This pattern of correlations supported both predictions. Psychology students who were
more skeptical had more correct knowledge of psychology and rejected more psychological
misconceptions and pseudoscientific claims. They also had higher scores on the measures of CT
dispositions. Taken together, these results support the concurrent validity of the SS as a
measure of accurate scientific knowledge and tendency to think critically in psychology.
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Touchscreen Match to Sample in Cotton Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) (Poster, Table 31) Presenting Students: Renee Anderson, Danielle Greene Contributing Student: Johnathan Tripp Mentor: Dr. Erica Kennedy Match‐to‐sample (MTS) is a method of testing categorization in animals in which a sample
image (such as a banana) is presented, and then two stimuli (an apple and a banana) are
presented and the animal chooses which of the two stimuli match the original sample stimulus.
A variety of species have been trained to perform this task using touchscreen computer
monitors. The goal of this study was to present our colony of cotton‐top tamarin monkeys with
a MTS task using this touchscreen format in order to analyze their performance. A previous
study trained our colony of tamarins to use the touchscreen monitor. In the current study, 6
tamarins were presented with a MTS task in which a fixed symbol in a specific color was
presented on the screen, with two shapes below for the monkey to press in order to select a
match. Each monkey was presented with trials with a variety of images and we analyzed the
percentage of correct responses as well as the errors the monkeys made. By analyzing the
choices made by the tamarins when performing this touchscreen task, we hope to gain a better
understanding of how tamarins categorize objects in their environment.
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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
Academic Success in Students with Mental Illness (Poster, Table 7) Presenting Student: Joyce Bradshaw Mentor: Dr. Terry Russell To be an efficient and effective social worker research is essential. Bachelor level social work
students are required to take a Basic Research Methods Course. A single system design was
conducted on a social work student throughout the semester. The purpose of the research was
to explore the relationship between receiving a treatment of participating in a research
methods course and academic success of one social work student. Some treatment consisted
of reading textbook assignments before class, note taking, class attendance and class
participation. Outcome was measured by the student’s weekly quiz scores. The visually
significant results indicate class participation improves academic success.
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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
GPA v Types of Video Games (Poster, Table 7) Presenting Student: Joshua Guy Mentor: Dr. Robert Moore My research project is based on video games. I wanted to see if there is a correlation between
certain types of video games and GPA. I feel that Role Playing, Massive Multiplayer, and
Strategy gamers have a better GPA than others because of the excessive amount of reading the
players have to read. The reading is filled with plenty of vocabulary so the players can use it in
real life scenarios. To obtain the data, I needed 40 gamers (juniors through super senior) to fill
out a 7 question free response survey. The items on the survey are age, gender, parental level
of education, college level, favorite type of video game, favorite game from that types, and
GPA. For GPA I made a scale for those whom did not remember the exact number. The project
will be presented on cardboard to avoid electronic difficulties.
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DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: Yesterday and Today (Poster, Table 12) Presenting Student: Kenneth Waters, Jr. Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Goff The opportunity to create lobby content for the stage production of To Kill A Mockingbird,
became a project that went down three different avenues of dramaturgical research. First: I
explored the historical echoes from the novel’s central conflict – social discrimination – with
Emmitt Till, The Scottsboro Boys, Leo Frank, and Matthew Shepard, showed that even today,
social discrimination is still an issue. Through a local connection from a college professor,
information about the book jacket’s little known artist, Shirley Smith, was provided to bring the
artist of this work to light to get the recognition she deserved for creating the original and most
recognizable book jacket in the To Kill A Mockingbird publications, albeit posthumously.
Because of this research, people in our community now know who she is and why she is an
important figure in Women’s History for artists. The death of Harper Lee on February 19th, a
week before the production opened, led to further exploration of the work and words of the
author with pictures and quotes from her past and present, including when she was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature in 2007. Harper Lee left a
mark on American Literature and her legacy will live on with her classic novel and her newest
work, Go Set a Set Watchman. From the three topics of interest, a display was created in the
atrium of the auditorium and in the front lobby of theater for the audience to view, learn from,
and enjoy before coming into the theater, during intermission, and after the play was over.
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DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS
Representations of Nature in Painting and Drawing (Physical Display, Table 6) Presenting Students: Danielle Greene, Tiffany Howe, Emily Martin, Wan‐Hua Lin Mentor: Ms. Judith Dieruf Art students often draw on Nature for inspiration or subject matter. Four students working this
semester have chosen to draw and paint flora and fauna. Danielle Greene, a Wildlife major
with an Art minor, includes a representational life‐size bear, an ocelot, and a wolf from her
studies. Tiffany Howe works with stylized flowers and sea life, designing their configurations to
work with the size and shape of her canvases. Emily Martin has studies the growth and decay
of life from a single window and is working with Expressionism on animal portraits. Wan‐Hua
Lin Lin pictures an Eden of animals living in harmony in a single space.
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CLAS Undergraduate Research Working Group
Karen Keller, Biology (Chair)
Phillip Allen, Geography
Matthew Crawford, Chemistry
Judith Dieruf, Visual Arts
Justin Dunmyer, Mathematics
Robert Hein, Visual Arts
Mark Hughes, Mathematics
Erica Kennedy, Psychology
Jean‐Marie Makang, Philosophy
Eleanor McConnell, History
Jill Morris, English
Benjamin Norris, Chemistry
Xunyu Pan, Computer Science and Information Technologies
Terry Russell, Social Work
Rebekah Taylor, Biology
Catherine Vrentas, Biology
Ahmad Tootoonchi, Interim Provost
(Opening Remarks)
Linda Steele, Program Specialist, CLAS
Cindy Troutman, Executive Administrative Assistant, CLAS
Shannon Gribble, University Advancement
SPECIAL THANKS Additional funding for the Symposium was provided by The FSU Foundation and a PELEF Grant.
In addition, many projects featured in the Symposium were funded by Foundation grants,
Faculty Development grants, PELEF grants, and the Student Government Association.
We would like to thank the staff of the Print Shop, the Lane Center, the Physical Plant, and
Chartwells for all of their assistance in the preparation of the Symposium.
Most importantly, we would like to thank the Students and their Faculty and Staff Mentors for
making the Symposium possible.
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Oral Presentations are in Rooms 108, 110, 111, and 113
Registration
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Food
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Department Biology ChemistryCommunicationCSITEnglish & Foreign
LanguagesGeographyHistoryMathematicsPhysics & Engineering
PsychologySocial WorkSociologyTheatre & Dance Visual Arts
Tables8‐123‐5, 1213‐16, 201, 2, 25‐29
2019, 20, 3217, 1818
21‐24, 33‐387, 30, 3177126
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium 2016
Poster and Physical Displays by Department