Adams, Aaron (Albuquerque, NM) [Wang, Xinli]
David Hume and Belief in The Future
David Hume rejects the claim that we can have justified beliefs about the future. Hume holds that necessary causal connections between events are not justifiable, and this is due to his atomistic understanding of perception. He also holds that induction cannot be justified because induction is deductively invalid. In opposition to this, I propose that necessary causal connections between events are justifiable if the understanding of perception is modified to include more than simply the narrow atomistic understanding of perception, which is not to say that the atomistic perception is invalid or unnecessary; it simply is not sufficient. Next, to hold that induction is deductively invalid results in the relegation of necessary causal connection to the faculty of imagination, but this is a misunderstanding which is also owed to Hume's atomistic understanding of perception. Once both these issues are shown to be lacking, it follows that one may have a justifiable belief about the future. Contrary to Hume, the capacity for having a justifiable belief about the future is made possible by the human faculty for categorical or procedural thinking and reaffirmed by Leibniz's Principle of Sufficient Reason.
Adams, Aaron (Albuquerque, NM) T(G) [Dr. Wade Roberts]
Perspectives on The Stoic Philosopher Epictetus
This panel discussion on Epictetus will feature two perspectives on the ancient philosopher.
Liza Thorson: As a Stoic philosopher, Epictetus clearly displays his adherence to accepting what happens in life calmly and dispassionately. The foundation of his beliefs is set upon the idea that one should only be concerned with things that can be personally controlled, everything else is to be discounted. Within the guidelines set in his handbook, The Enchiridon, Epictetus emphasizes the importance of avoiding any and all types of suffering, because if someone lives within the realm of things they can control, they are unable to be harmed. This is seen to be the highest good that there is to be achieved in life. Epictetus compels a strong yet unsound argument. The flaw resides in his misunderstanding of the importance of suffering, and in his reverence of an empty, ergo peaceful existence. Freedom, as Epictetus calls it, is not the ultimate goal of human existence, but true personal happiness, which can only arise from individual suffering.
Aaron Adams: The ethical theory of Epictetus makes use of an autonomous sphere that humans have in their possession. This sphere consists in "Our opinionsâ?¦ our impulses, desires, and aversions â?"in short, whatever is our own doing". Things outside of this sphere are considered external to the self. From this distinction, Epictetus goes on to argue that all things external to the self are not right objects of concern because they do not depend on the autonomous sphere that humans posses. The externals are in the possession of others and therefore subject to the control of those others. Attempting to control externals is a source of misery. Through his ethical theory and autonomous sphere of human control, Epictetus provides an understanding of freedom that is humanizing regardless of one's circumstances in life.
Altevolmer, Jakob (Rheine, Germany) Altevolmer, Jakob(Rheine, Germany);Brügge, Michael(Steinfurt, Germany) [Loren Rhodes]
Security Issues on the iPhone App Store and the Android Marketplace
Our presentation will show the app we developed over the semester for our class Computer Science Research. The aim of our project was to get an overview about how to submit an application to the Apple App Store and the Android market(Google play). At first we will show the two apps we implemented, a gps location based navigation system that does not use any map api and therefore does not need internet connectivity. Further we will compare the two different review processes that an app has to go through while being submitted. Meanwhile we will divide between the first initial publishing process and making an update available.
Ankney, Austin (Somerset, PA) [Dr. James Borgardt]
Measuring Muon Fluence up to 100,000 ft.
Cosmic rays, including muons, occur through the collision of solar protons with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere. When a proton strikes one of these atoms, there is a burst of decaying subatomic particles, resulting in short-lived muons. Since the existence of muons at the surface of earth arises solely from atmospheric collisions, there is a direct correlation between the density of the atmosphere, measured via atmospheric pressure, and the muon flux rate.
This study investigates this correlation over altitudes between near sea level to about 100,000 feet (~20 miles), where the atmospheric pressure drops to under 1/75 its value at the Earth's surface. Utilizing a high-altitude weather balloon, a cosmic-ray detector, along with an array of software, instruments, and a GPS unit, will be attached to the balloon, ascending at ~1,050 feet per minute until bursting at an altitude of ~100,000 feet and falling back to the Earth.
This research will explore and characterize the near-space muon flux rate, along with investigating the climatic parameters of the atmosphere such as temperature and humidity, up to near-space altitudes.
Ankney, Austin (Somerset, PA) Berguson, Timothy(Mansfield, PA) [Dr. James Borgardt]
Cosmic-ray Shielding Simulations for the Majorana Project
Neutrinos are one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe, and yet very little is known about them. The goal of the Majorana project is to detect neutrinoless double beta decay (0�), which could improve upon the knowledge of the neutrino's mass as well as confirm if it is a Majorana particle. This experiment will use enriched germanium detectors, as it not only could theoretically undergo 0�, but has excellent energy resolution as well. One problem is that cosmic radiation activates isotopes within the Ge while it is on the surface. Those unstable isotopes then release energy in the region of interest for 0�, and hence are a background to the sought-after signal. In order to counter this, work was undertaken focusing on shielding the Ge during its transport from Russia, where the Ge material is enriched, to its final destination in the underground facility in South Dakota. In order to determine the ideal shielding materials, Geant4 was used to simulate incoming muons, neutrons, and protons through different materials (concrete, iron, lead, polyethylene, borated polyethylene, and water) with thicknesses ranging from 0-100 cm, in 10 cm increments. The incoming flux was then scaled to the known cosmic background flux at sea level and the simulations were evaluated to determine the most efficient shield based on the outgoing flux of each of the three particles through the shield. Iron and lead provided significantly more shielding than the other materials. The iron flux ratio (outgoing particles to incoming particles) was 0.0121 and 0.0103 for neutrons and protons, respectively, whereas the lead flux ratio was 0.0914 and 0.0039, respectively. Since the neutron flux is significantly greater than the proton flux, and iron provided the best neutron shielding, the ideal shield was determined to consist solely of iron.
Ankney, Austin (Somerset, PA) [Dr. Mark Pearson]
Automating the Data Capture Process from a Berkeley Cosmic Ray Detector
A Berkely Cosmic Ray detector is a small simple detector intended for the undergraduate research of muons. The detector is run manually by controlling the counter and reading a LED screen to obtain data. However, by automating the data capture and storage process, the detector can be left to gather data for long durations of time while unattended.
This study explored the modifications made in order to ready the detector for near space exploration. Along with automating the detector, an array of instrumentation and programming, based upon an Arduino microcontroller, was used to gather atmospheric data (altitude, temperature, atmospheric pressure, gps data). This study will then be utilized into a high altitude weather balloon where it will reach altitudes exceeding 100,000 feet, referred to as near space. This research can be seen in "Measuring Muon Fluence up to 100,000 ft."
Similar studies have implemented a fully automated data collection and storage system in high altitude weather balloons to explore the near space region of the upper atmosphere. Some of these studies include Cosmic Rays Energetics and Mass (CREAM) and Cosmic Rays Electron Synchrotron Telescope (CREST).
Arnold, Christopher (Altoona, Pennsylvania) [Dr. Matthew Beaky]
Humanity's Hunt for Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial Life
'Are we alone in the universe?' has been one of the most enduring questions in the history of civilized humanity. Earth is currently our only known oasis of life in the universe, but how much longer will this remain true? Is it possible that we can find life in our own celestial backyard? If it is possible for extraterrestrial life to exist, why should it be important to us? In this talk, evidence for answers to these questions will be presented and ongoing research in the search for extraterrestrial life will be explored, including the limitations on life in the universe, how rare life in the universe may be, how the Kepler Spacecraft is bringing closer to finding Earth's twin, and how humanity will continue to survive in the cosmos.
Aultman-Moore, Joseph (Morgantown, WV) [Judy Katz]
Why Write?: Language as the Master-Art
This presentation is going to focus on my personal writing process specifically of the essay "The Shoeshiner". The essay will be analyzed through the experience of writing and revising, and how recreating the experience on paper changes your own perceptions and memories of the event.
Bauer, Nicholas (Glen Ridge, NJ) [Jim Borgardt]
Muons Around the World
Muons are subatomic particles created in the upper atmosphere. They are produced by the collision of cosmic rays (high-energy protons from the sun or outer space) with atmospheric nuclei. Other Juniata College students have detected muons in Huntingdon, PA. This poster will describe muon detection in Antarctica, along the Drake Passage and Antarctic Peninsula. A detector was brought to Antarctica and three measurements were made per day throughout the twelve-day voyage. The data shown will describe how muon attenuation and creation will differ given various factors such as time of day, longitude, and latitude. Furthermore, this study will analyze environmental factors in the atmosphere above Antarctica to help explain the findings. The strongest conclusion from this study shows a weak correlation of detection with southern latitude. This finding is contrary to the current theory that the detection would decrease with increased latitudes.
Bauer, Nicholas (Glen Ridge, NJ) Collier, Jamie(Wilmington, DE);Yu, Jordan(Great Falls, VA);State College Friends School(State College, PA) [Jim Borgardt]
Near-Space Photography
This presentation will be an expansion on the presentation given by the State College Friend's School. The Juniata College Physics Department has sponsored their elective based on previous weather balloon launches done by current students. These launches have been done in order to take pictures of the Earth from near-space altitudes. In our presentation, we will explain the basic physics principles that allow us to get our equipment to over 70,000 feet and discuss the issues associated with such extreme conditions. We will present our most interesting photos and analyze temperature and barometric data. These findings provide an opportunity for grade school and college students to observe the Earth in a unique and exciting way.
Becher, Alyssa (Altoona, Pennsylvania) [Peter Goldstein]
Young Adult Literature in the English Classroom
In the 21st century English classroom, there is a movement towards the inclusion of young adult literature. More and more teachers are coming to realize the significance of this genre to adolescents in today's society. The genre is specifically designed for adolescent readers and encompasses the situations, people, and issues that they come into contact with on a daily basis. Thus, by incorporating young adult literature in the English classroom, students will construct deeper meanings from what they are reading because they can easily see the connection to their own lives. If students can interpret true meaning from a novel, then teachers can use this literature to the students' benefit. Assisting struggling readers, teaching empathy, guiding students in how to handle social issues and conflicts, and motivating students are the important student benefits that will be outlined in this presentation.
Begley, Matthew (Hollidaysburg, Pa) [Neil Pelkey]
Testing the Effects of Inert Gas Narcosis Using Simulated Decompression
In popular culture today, most people are aware of "The Bends" with regards to SCUBA diving, but do not fully understand the mechanism behind it. The underlying principle behind "The Bends" has a lesser known effect known as Nitrogen Narcosis. Under hyperbaric pressures, all gases that are biologically inert for humans have a narcotic effect at some level of exposure. Depending on the pressure, certain gases are more narcotic than others. With nitrogen, a continuant making up over 78% of our atmosphere, noticeable narcotic effects usually are not noticed until after diving to depths of over 100ft/33m. However; narcotic effects can be observed at much shallower depths, even though these cases are uncommon. It is well known, established, and documented that the possibility of narcosis increases with depth, and that below 130ft/40m the risk of narcosis is too great for recreational diving. However; the possibility that time exposure might have an effect of narcosis has not been studied very much. In our proposed experiment, we attempt to test the effect of time exposure in regards to inert gas loading in SCUBA diving, to see if narcotic effects from nitrogen can be observed as time under hyperbaric conditions increases.
Begley, Matthew (Hollidaysburg, Pa) [Jill Keeney]
Kinetic Analysis and Structural Elucidation of MBD4
In recent decades, cancer rates have surged in developed countries, especially the United States. The human body has several mechanisms it uses in order to correct changes in its genetic structure that lead to cancerous or otherwise deleterious mutations. DNA repair enzymes are just one of the pathways the body uses to correct itself from such damages. Until recently, one such enzyme, Methyl-CpG-Binding Domain Four (MBD4), had been structurally characterized as the protein would appear in solution (not as it would in the cell, or while bound to DNA). MBD4's native target is a G-T mispair of DNA, which arises from genetic damage at sites that are responsible for regulation of genes. Because of this important recognition site, the gene that transcribed for MBD4 protein has been documented to be mutated (i.e. to not produce a functionally normal enzyme) in 40-45% of cells taken from colorectal tumors. It is important to understand the structure of an enzyme as it appears in a cell, but also as it appears as it is bound to a target to better understand its mechanism of action. MBD4 until the summer of 2011 had never been characterized in complex with a target of mutated DNA. After experiments at the University of Maryland at Baltimore, a complex of mutated DNA with bound MBD4 (catalytic domain) was found to produce an x-ray crystallographic structure, the first ever documented case. Along with this structure, initial turnover rate kinetics were characterized for MBD4 the first time. These kinetics are important to better understand MBD4, but also confirm MBD4's binding specificity and paint a more accurate picture into a specific pathway associated with correction of cancer causing mutations in humans.
Beresford, Vincent (Jeannette, PA) [Larry Mutti]
Microscopic Images of Petrographic Thin Sections
Beresford, Vincent (Jeannette, PA) [Matt Powell]
RATES OF ECOLOGICAL CHANGE OF MARINE BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES DURING DIFFERENT CLIMATE STATES
Little is known about how rates of ecological change are influenced by climate over geological time scales, despite the importance for providing the historical context of the biotic response to anthropogenic warming. We hypothesize that rates of ecological change were faster during warm climates, because evolutionary rates, to which they are precursors, seem to have been particularly slow during cold global climates such as the late Paleozoic ice age, and in cold polar regions of the present day compared to the tropics. To test this hypothesis, we collected marine benthic invertebrate fossils from measured sections of the late Ordovician Reedsville Formation of central Pennsylvania, and compared the observed rate of change over this 6-7 m.y. interval to literature-derived data from other communities that lived in similar environments (muddy foreland basins) but different global climates. We calculated ecological rates by ordinating our abundance data using non-metric multidimensional scaling and plotting the resulting scores against stratigraphic position. Over most of the Reedsville interval, marine community composition and structure is very stable. By comparison, greater rates of change were observed in middle and late Devonian communities, which lived during a somewhat cooler global climate. These patterns preliminarily indicate that ecological rates of change are dependent on global climate, although apparently not in the same direction as evolutionary rates.
Berguson, Timothy (Mansfield) [Matthew Beaky]
Observations of Asteroid and Lunar Occultations
Several times each month, asteroids will pass by stars causing them to blink out for several seconds; these events are known as asteroid occultations and can be observed using even small telescopes. Such observations, especially when there are multiple observations for a given event, can provide the cross sectional shape and size of the asteroid. Lunar occultations, which occur when the star disappears behind the dark limb of the Moon, can also offer valuable information to astronomy. Grazing lunar occultations occur when one of the edges of the moon passes by a star causing it disappear and reappear multiple times, and can be used to help characterize the surface of the moon. We have recorded occultation events using a portable Meade ETX-60AT telescope combined with a PC164CEX super low light video camera. In addition, we used the IOTA-VTI video time inserter to monitor the time and location of each event. We then analyzed the occultations using LiMovie software. On-going research and results of observed occultation events will be presented.
Biglin, Michael (Cresson, PA) Cheslock, Jordan(Altoona, PA);Sassen, Robert(Netherlands);Donovan, Elizabeth(Apalachin, NY );Altevolmer, Jakob(Germany) [Bill Thomas]
Innovations For Industry: Quinn Analytics
The objective of this project is to create an automated train building application for small rail vacation companies. Throughout the Spring semester we have been working with local data intelligence company Quinn Analytics to create a lightweight application which will automatically preform the number of cars needed on a scheduled train based on reservations and logistical factors. We have created a web-based system which allows the user to schedule and manage trains based on the route, number of passengers for each class of car, and car availability. Our algorithm takes this input from the user and databases, and automatically identifies and schedules the correct number and class of cars required for the train. We have developed a functional MySQL database which will allow the user to store data in a central location so that the data can be accessed and updated remotely by multiple users. We have also created an intuitive user-interface using AJAX and php which will allow our users to schedule trains quickly and conveniently.
Bogue, Jonathan (East Berlin, PA) Sharp, Liam(Haddon Heights) [Dr. Beaky]
CCD Camera Characterization (and Possible Observatory Renovations)
Boller, Marie (Kingston, NY) [Xinli Wang]
The Curse of Consciousness: exploring self-reflection through the writings of Camus and Dostoevsky
The moment that plunges us into the Existential Predicament is the moment that we become conscious, or more specifically, self-conscious. This moment is characterized by the sharp realization of oneself in the context of the surrounding world. Self-consciousness is inevitably accompanied by self-reflection, the ability to step back from one's own self to view one's thoughts and actions in the third-person.
Through an analysis of the self-conscious states of three literary characters from the works of Camus and Dostoevsky, I will discuss how their capacity to self-reflect impacts their capacity to live an authentic life, as well as their capacity to live what we might call a happy life. I will explore the tension inherent in the apparent paradox presented for those seeking happiness through self-reflection: self-reflection is a necessary condition for true happiness, yet it provokes misery and guilt through tortured self-analysis. Finally, I will address how one might strike a balance between reflection and lived experience.
Border, Sarah (Williamsport, PA) B(W) [Dr. Tom Fisher]
"Structure determination using NMR: A pedagogical approach for undergraduates"
Elucidation of chemical structure by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy follows a fairly standard protocol. First, a classical 1H spectrum is obtained and integrated. Then 13C is observed, often by employing PENDANT or DEPT-Q, both of which yield additional information in comparison with a decoupled carbon spectrum. Next, an H-H COSY is acquired, and so forth. But this standard approach may not be the most appropriate one in an undergraduate teaching environment. This is because the teaching environment is different from the one encountered at the professional level in several respects: students generally have more time, more sample, and less tolerance for ambiguity. They may also lack access to a mass spectrometer. We propose that students would benefit from a modified protocol which includes determination of approximate molecular mass, suppression of spin multiplicities so that 1H interpretation is simplified, and acquisition of a quantitative 13C spectrum. We believe that this procedure will enable students to begin their spectral interpretation with considerably more certainty.
Bornman, Dominic () [Bill Thomas]
Viruses in torrents and P2P networks
Study on the affects, preventions, and how to watch out for harmful materials on torrents and P2P networks
Bowman, Caitlyn (Seven Valleys, PA) [Dr. Vince Buonaccorsi]
Sequencing and de novo assembly of the gopher rockfish transcriptome
Speciation is the result of a continuum of divergence from populations to established species, and there is much to be learned about the nature and time course of the genetic changes that cause speciation. The Sebastes rockfish species flock represents an excellent non-model system to study sympatric speciation, where there are no physical barriers to gene flow. S. carnatus and S. chrysomelas are sympatrically distributed sister taxa with only slight morphological divergence and niche partitioning by depth preference. To characterize genes that produce and maintain differences between these species, the transcriptome of each fish will be sequenced and compared. It is hypothesized that genes such as those involved in mate recognition or habitat specialization may be under positive selection as characterized by a high non-synonymous to synonymous amino acid substitution rate.
Next-generation DNA sequencing technologies permit researchers to study non-model organisms at a level that was previously only attained for model organisms. Here we describe sequencing and de novo assembly of the transcriptome of a gopher rockfish, S. carnatus. Messenger RNA transcripts were isolated from brain, gonad, kidney, and liver tissues, and prepared for sequencing on a Roche 454 platform at the Penn State Genomics Core Facility. The output sequences were trimmed, screened for quality, and the resulting 111,124 reads (average length of 317 bases) were assembled into contigsâ?"longer contiguous sequences that result from the alignment of smaller reads to form a consensus sequence. Assembly metrics were compared between three different assemblers (CLC, Geneious, NextGENe) to determine the best transcriptome assembly method. Gene ontology annotations were ascribed to the transcriptome and were compared to transcriptomes of other teleost fish. This information will allow for comparison of the gopher rockfish transcriptome to that of S. chrysomelas in order to probe the molecular differences that account for the observed species boundaries.
Brown, Katharine () [Dr. Peter Baran]
Copper Complexes with penanthroline N,N'-dioxide
From 1958 until 1999, coordination chemists argued about the existence or nonexistence of 1,10-phenanthroline N,N'-dioxide (phenO2). Over a dozen publications reported synthesis of its metal complexes before phenO2 was finally prepared via oxidation of 1,10-phenanthroline with HOFâ?¢CH3CN.1 We are now presenting the synthesis and characterization of the first transition metal complexes of phenO2 including the crystallographically characterized [Ni(phenO2)3]Cl2.
1 S. Rozen, S. Dayan, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1999, 38, 3471.
Buntin, Mary (Mount Airy, MD) [Dr. Anne Gilman]
Charged Words: Balancing Emotional Valence and Word Frequency for Lexical Decision Stimuli
The emotional valance associated with a word as well as word frequency have been shown to play a crucial role in cognitive processing. For instance, positive high frequency words have been shown to be perceived and responded to much faster in a lexical decision task than high frequency neutral and negative words (Brysbaert & New, 2009; Scott, O'Donnel, Leuthold & Sereno, 2008). In the present study, word frequencies were combined with emotional valence for use as stimuli in a lexical decision task. Scores for emotional valence were taken from a study that measured women's emotional reactions to words on a scale of one to ten. A score of one was associated with the most negative words, five was associated with the most neutral words, and ten was associated with the most positive words (Bradley & Lang, 1999). Word frequencies were taken from SUBTLex, in which both the word frequencies and number of movies or television shows the words were used in was taken into account. After accounting for affect and frequency, 40 positive words, 40 negative words, and 40 neutral words that had similar word frequencies were selected to use as stimuli in future lexical decision tasks.
Burkett, Maggie (Granville, Ohio) W(P) [Chuck Yohn]
Habitat Effect on Owl Distribution
The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds shows a common distribution among Eastern Screech (Megascops asio), Barred (Strix varia), and Great Horned (Bubo virginianus) owls in woodland areas. A study on owls was conducted at four different sites near the Juniata College Raystown Field Station located in Entriken, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the research was to determine owl distribution patterns of three different species (Megascops asio, Strix varia, Bubo virginianus) in managed versus unmanaged fields. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Services owl surveying protocol was used for all data collection. Research projections are expected to show a greater distribution in managed fields, but data is still being collected.
Castro, Gabriel (Vernon, NJ) [Brad Andrew]
"Can WE (you) beat the Market?" A Further Test of Faber's Tactical Asset Allocation Strategy
The recent financial crisis pointed out the weakness in using diversification as a primary means of reducing risk. People possessing well-diversified portfolios still found themselves losing 20-40% of their wealth. Mebane Faber proposed a simple strategy to address this issue in his 2007 article "A Quantitative Approach to Tactical Asset Allocation" in the Journal of Wealth Management. While published prior to the crisis and as such not meant as a response to it, the paper proved prescient. Faber found that the strategy improved an investor's risk-adjusted returns in five common asset classes: The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500), the Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (MSCI EAFE), United States government 10-Year Treasury Bonds, the Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (GSCI), and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Index (NAREIT). Overall the strategy improved the risk-adjusted returns of a portfolio, providing "equity-like returns with bond-like volatility and drawdown." The bond-like drawdown proved the most attractive featureâ?"a simple yet remarkably effective way of addressing risk. We expand upon Faber's findings by testing the strategy on a broader set of asset classes and over a longer period. Our findings are consistent with Faber's, though we are able to generate higher returns and Sharpe ratios (return per unit of added risk). We also extend Faber's work by arguing that this strategy is particularly attractive for endowments.
Chen, Wenli () [Loren Rhodes]
Challenge eBay.com
The business competition between eBay.com and Taobao.com in China, the two online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) giants has received much research attention. However, eBay.com and its sister company PayPal.com almost has no major competitor in the United States and very little research attention has been paid to this field. In my research, I will explore the possibility of building a company that provides free online C2C e-commerce service and challenge eBay's leading position in the U.S.
Cohen, Lauren (New York, NY) [Lynn Cockett]
The Power of Music: A Fantasy Theme Analysis of the Shared Rhetorical Visions Between Musicians and Audiences
The research conducted for this study contributes to an understanding of the artist-audience construction of a shared rhetorical vision by looking at popular songs performed by popular artists. Three songs were chosen to represent the generation that was prominent at the time of the song's release. The songs include: "Let It Be" by the Beatles (1970), "Another Brick In The Wall Part 2" by Pink Floyd (1979), and "Lose Yourself" by Eminem (2002). Reviewing chart placements, sales, as well as the artists and their level of popularity helped to calculate the particular songs that would be the most beneficial to this study. By analyzing the shared rhetorical vision of the artist and their audience, the importance of music with regard to cultures and societies is better understood. Using Ernest Bormann's symbolic convergence theory to anatomize the shared rhetorical vision between listeners and artists, the study examines shared emotions, motives and means that existed at the time of the songs' releases. The focus will be on fantasy themes, composed of settings, characters, and actions. I argue that because listeners can relate to the abstract ideas presented within the three songs, convergence occurs between the artists' and listeners' shared vision, creating a safe environment in which listeners don't feel so alone. A shared rhetorical vision allows listeners to take the words and ideas presented in songs very seriously and co-construct a shared understanding based on commonly held beliefs. These results suggest that understanding the shared rhetorical visions in songs can provide insight into the power and timelessness of some popular culture music.
Cohn, Stephen (Haddonfield, NJ) Sabulsky, Josh(Bainbridge, PA);Lapkowski, Chris(Rockville Centre, NY);Morrison, Elizabeth(Portland, OR) [Dr. Dennis Johnson]
Juniata College Experimental Forest and Watershed
Brumbaugh Acres is a 280 acre property approximately 12 miles south of Huntingdon acquired by Juniata College. The property consists of mixed hardwood trees and multiple watersheds; two of which are fully contained within the property. The goal of the project is to physically delineate each of the two individual watersheds, conduct water quality analyses, and construct two weirs for flow calculations. We have used extensive geographic information systems (GIS) data to create several models of the contained watersheds and surrounding property. Forest management plans are currently in the process of being completed with a local forester. The goal of the management plan is to selectively cut portions of the property. In the future, similar management plans will be used to study the effects of specific cuts on individual watersheds. The experimental watersheds will also serve as future study sites for assorted earth science classes offered at Juniata College. Juniata College will be one of the very few liberal arts colleges in the US with an extensive experimental watershed program.
Cooper, Clay (Hummelstown, PA) [Dr. Amy Frazier-Yoder- Presentation in Spanish]
Popular use of medicinal plants in Ecuador and their increasing use in the United States
El uso de plantas medicinales y otras formas de medicina tradicionales están utilizadas con frecuencia en Ecuador. Existe una gran influencia de la cultura indÃgena sobre la cultura moderna, incluso en la medicina. En áreas rurales, más que en áreas urbanas, la mayorÃa de la medicina es tradicional. En vez de médicos, la gente acude a chamanes, curanderos y mujeres en el mercado que venden plantas medicinales. Aunque hay miles de plantas medicinales, hay algunas que son más comunes. El uso de estas plantas medicinales en los Estados Unidos no es tan común, pero entre los latinos, según estudios recientes, hay más uso cada año. Para poder mejor interactuar con sus pacientes, es de suma importancia que los médicos y profesionales de salud en los Estados Unidos sepan lo que hacen estas plantas y por qué la gente latina las utiliza.
Costello, Brian (Pittsburgh, PA) [Amy Frazier-Yoder]
"La bella durmiente" de Rosario Ferré: Sufrimiento y auto-realización sofocada del personaje de María de los Ángeles
La obra literaria que quiero investigar en este trabajo de investigación se llama "La Bella Durmiente" de la autora puertorriqueña Rosario Ferré. Nosotros, como lectores, nos enteramos de los acontecimientos que han pasado a través de una serie de cartas que nos dan diferentes perspectivas de los varios personajes en la historia. La obra se trata principalmente de la protagonista, una joven que tiene un sueño de ser bailarina que se llama MarÃa de los Ã?ngeles. A través de estas cartas, se revela más de sus deseos, su manera de lograrlos y su vida en general. Su deseo de ser bailarina al final del cuento no se realiza y la historia se vuelve en tragedia en que al final se muere. No es claro si fuera un accidente o un acto a propósito que causó su muerte, pero de todas maneras se ve mucho sufrimiento de esta mujer durante toda la historia de la obra por el choque entre su deseo de ser bailarina y las expectativas que le tiene la sociedad. No hay nada de cómico en esta obra, sino se trata puramente de la tragedia de esta MarÃa de los Ã?ngeles. Entonces, al pensar en todo esto, es bastante claro que esta protagonista sufre por varias razones y por varias personas y que su muerte (accidental o a propósito) al final del cuento es una tragedia.
Coulter-Kern, Mackenzie (North Manchester, Indiana) [Professor Frazier-Yoder]
The Role of Women in International Economic Development in Latin America/El Papel de Mujeres en el Desarrollar de Latin America
"Es que somos muy pobres" es un cuento corto que fue escrito por Juan Rulfo. Este trabajo literario de Rulfo es muy importante para entender la posición de mujeres en los campos de México. Uno de los objetivos del los movimientos feministas es el dar poder a las mujeres. Uno de los problemas mas importantes latino Americanos, es la gran falta de poder y independencia en muchas mujeres. Esto es porque las mujeres que no tienen poder, no tienen opciones para mejorar sus vidas. Lo difÃcil que es la vida para mujeres no tienen dinero o ocupaciones. Rulfo ilustra en sus literarias un vida muy difÃcil para mujeres sin dinero o ocupaciones. Para entender los cuentos de Juan Rulfo, las personas necesitan entender la perspectiva y la vida de Juan. En el cuento de Rulfo, el hermano de una niña que se llama Tacha hablaba sobre las vidas malas para mujeres en los campos de México. El problema que Tacha presente en el cuento, "Es que somos muy pobres" ilustra el problema para muchas mujeres después de la revolución Mexicana durante la reforma agrÃcola. Entre los usos de realismo y naturalismo en su cuento, Rulfo no ofrece buenas soluciones para las mujeres, sin embargo pero hoy en dÃa reformas agriculturas son ofrecidos para mejorar la vida de la mujer.
El clase "Women in Hispanic Fiction" ofrecen teorÃas diferente y literaturas diferente sobre el movimiento feminista para ayuda durante el análisis literaturo de cuentos como los de Rulfo. Concluyo que Rulfo escribió de una perspectiva pesimista porque el vivÃa durante la revolución y perdió muchas tierras cuando era un niño. Pero, el futuro que Rulfo presente no es la único futura de las mujeres. Cooperativas agriculturas y una sociedad igual ofrecen muchos oportunidades para el futuro de las mujeres en México.
Croner, Steven (Berlin, Pennsylvania) [Donna Weimer]
How Does a Medium Influence Storytelling?
Digital Storytelling studies the various aspects of digital media and defines how they influence the process of storytelling. According to Leslie Rule, "Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling". Certain media formats can have an impact on story narrative, the types of characters found within the story, and interactivity. The type of media can affect the linearity of nonlinearity of the story. Each story can use their respective medium to pull the audience into the story. In some cases, the audience can navigate their own paths through the story.
Many forms of new media have emerged in the last two decades, and these new formats are changing the way that we present narratives to audiences. Digital film and photography are the most mainstream elements, but what media take full advantage of digital technology and applies it to storytelling?
Carolyn Handler Miller says that one of the things that distinguish digital storytelling from classical storytelling is that members of the audience can become active players in the narrative and even have a direct impact on it. Storytelling as an interactive tool is also explored.
Curry, John (Greenwich, CT) [Larry Mutti]
Petrography of petroleum fluid inclusions in post-diagenetic quartz found in the Brallier Formation on the margin of the Broad Top Basin
Fluid inclusion investigation of post-diagenetic quartz occurring within crosscutting-vein filled, slicked fractures in the Brallier Formation indicates a plethora of diverse hydrocarbon-rich fluids that flowed through Upper Devonian strata. Euhedral to sub-euhedral quartz was collected along the structurally active Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament on the western limb of the Broad Top Synclinorium. The fluids trapped within these post-diagenetic crystals are mostly composed of complex hydrocarbons, as shown by a UV-light source. The majority of the hydrocarbon inclusions fluoresced blue with some brown fluorescence interspersed. Individual quartz crystals showed a complex history of fluid entrapment, involving multiple types of petroleum fluids, ranging from gas condensates to light oils, indicated by the initial bubble volume. Inclusion bubbles, ranging in size from five to 60 µm, homogenized to either liquid or gas. The temperatures of homogenization that were collected from these petroleum inclusions almost certainly do not reflect the entrapment temperature of the fluid. Homogenization temperatures ranged from 60-140°C The fluids traveling through the Upper Devonian Brallier Formation may have come from either the directly underlying Hamilton Group or deeper Martinsburg Formation. This fluid inclusion study provides a useful record of hydrocarbon migration through the Upper Devonian-aged Brallier Formation, which can be used to trace fluid flow through the Paleozoic stratigraphic column in south-central Pennsylvania. These data undoubtedly have bearing on the oil and gas potential of rocks in the Broad Top Basin.
Davidson, Nora (Clinton, PA) [Alison Fletcher]
Folk Tales, Ballads, Superstition, and Ritual: Women and Tradition in the Scottish Highlands, 1780-1900
Throughout the nineteenth century, the Scottish Highlands experienced a period of upheaval known as the Highland Clearances. During this period, landlords replaced traditional small tenant owners, or crofters, with more profitable sheep and deer parks. Many crofters were moved to coastal areas or shipped off to another country all together. These events culminated in the Highland Land War, during which crofters protested the usurpation of their traditional land rights by landlords. Fairy tales, ballads, and other superstitious cultural beliefs played an important role in Highland life. Women used these tools to express their resistance to being dispossessed and to reassert their identity as Scottish Highland women.
Davis, Sarah (Chevy Chase, Maryland) [Dr. Peter Goldstein]
The Manufacturing Class in Pride and Prejudice and North and South
I will be discussing the novels Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Pride and Prejudice focuses mainly on the landed gentry, however many characters are connected to trade in some way. The manufacturing class and the industrial working class have a more important presence in Gaskell's work due to the changes of industrialization. To understand each author's perspective on class the historical context of each novel must be examined closely, with emphasis on the changes that happened in England between Austen's time and Gaskell's time. Both novels use the romantic plots as vehicles for examining class values, and both novels reflect the peculiar class hierarchies of their respective time periods. By analyzing how North and South differs from Pride and Prejudice we can see how the manufacturing class' place in society changed.
Donovan, Elizabeth (Apalachin, NJ) M(P) [Neil Pelkey]
Identifying Potential Hydrofracturing-Related Threats in Pennsylvania Using ArcGIS Modeling
Central Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale Formation has been estimated to contain over 100 Trillion cubic feet of natural gas. There has been widespread effort throughout the region to extract natural gas using hydrofracturing. This technique introduces a large volume mixture of water and chemical additives under high pressure to facilitate the release of petrochemicals from subsurface reservoir rock formations. In some circumstances the slurries used in hydrofracturing have been found to pollute both surface and groundwater. Predicting the movement of well contaminants could allow agencies to develop containment plans, monitor potentially hazardous sites, and predict the large-scale impact of spills.
We chose to analyze the potential threats to local municipal water supplies, trout streams, and legal requirements (Clean Water Act 303d and PA Stream designations) within the Pine Creek watershed (540 km2) located in the Tiadaghton State Forest, PA. There are 15 hydrofracturing wells located within the watershed. To gauge flow direction and accumulation of potential spills from the well pad, we constructed an ArcGIS model consisting of a series of weighted spatial parameters that included soil permeability and porosity, timber density, and slope variability in relation to each well. Special consideration was given to the chosen set of human values that would be negatively impacted by spill-related pollutants. This classification scheme created a unique threat "value" or weight assigned to each well that gives natural resource managers the ability to forecast the degree of surface water degradation in the event of a spill.
We created Python scripts to perform a sensitivity analysis on our results. This derived dataset was used to visualize and analyze the changes in calculated threat as the parameters and values of the model change.
Our methods allow geospatial datasets to be integrated into a potential risk assessment for surface water systems in any location worldwide.
Dotzel, Kathryn (Montoursville, PA) [Dr. Andrew]
Global University Prestige and Geography: An Application of the Temperature-Income Effect
Ebbets, Elizabeth (Mechanicsburg, PA) [Anne Gilman]
Measuring musical experience: How much is needed to influence auditory perception?
When studying auditory perception, it is useful to consider the differences between those with musical experience and those without. However, there is no clear definition as to what constitutes sufficient experience to cause a change in auditory perception. Some studies place participants into two groups, those with some musical experience and those with none. Other studies also use two groups, but divide them into less than ten years of experience or greater than ten years of experience. It is also possible to separate participants into three, more precise, groups, those with less than two years, those with between two and five years, and those with greater than five years of experience. I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods and make recommendations for further research.
Edgerton, Jared () [Emil Nagengast]
Kosovo's Lessons: Waging Modern War in Libya
In 1999, NATO forces launched a bombing campaign on the Serbian military after failing to find a peaceful solution to the Kosovar independence issue. The NATO airstrike campaign was unable to prevent the Serbian military from systematically killing and displacing Kosovar citizens during the war, which was the primary objective of the intervention. After the Kosovo War, General Wesley K. Clark outlined specific failures of the intervention. To address the Kosovo War's failures, he offered several policy proposals in his memoir, Waging Modern War. First, General Clark proposed the international community adequately prepare for the intervention. Second, General Clark advised that policy makers provide commanders with a broader mandate for the war. Third, General Clark argued that NATO should coordinate attacks against the perpetrator of the conflict. In 2011, NATO conducted its second peacekeeping intervention in Libya during the Arab Spring protests. NATO intervened after Libyan President Muammar Gadhafi's forces surrounded Benghazi and threatened to destroy the rebels. After eight months of fighting, NATO successfully defeated President Gadhafi's forces and transferred power to the Libyan Transitional Council. Although the Libyan campaign was successful, coalition forces only partially addressed the shortcomings of the Kosovo campaign. NATO's ability to wage a more effective war in Libya was due to commanders having more experience, improved military technology, and changing international norms.
Engle, Elyzabeth (Millheim, PA) R(P) [Dr. Norris Muth]
Collection of Expert Knowledge on Productive Seed Cultivars Used on Small Farms in Huntingdon and Centre Counties
The lack of diversity in modern conventional agricultural practices has become an alarming issue. Today, much of the world's population is fed by a dozen varieties of plants, a situation much different than historically experienced by humans. Continents, countries, states, and communities all used to possess their own varieties of produce seed, specific to their culture and environment, but now agriculture is much more homogenous. To determine the amount of diversity present in our own local agriculture, we examined eight different small farms in Huntingdon and Centre Counties of Pennsylvania. We interviewed the managers of these farms in order to understand what motivates their seed variety choices and the ways in which their crops are raised. The interviews also included questions about the terms 'hybrid' and 'heirloom' so that we could create working definitions that may be easier to understand how they apply to agriculture. To compare vegetable variety selections from farm to farm, we obtained copies of their 2012 seed orders and searched for common choices. We learned that there were multiple factors that influenced farmers' vegetable and variety choices (including market pressure, crop security, climate, soil type, personal preference, colleagues' and university recommendations, etc.) and that each farmer has their own specific definition for 'hybrid,' 'heirloom,' and reasons for using either type of seed. Many of the farms we visited grew upwards of 100 plant varieties, surpassing our expectations of on-farm diversity. As for diversity between farms, we expect there to be significant overlap between the specific varieties grown in our area due to similar climates, soils, and markets.
Fantozzi, Danielle (Torrington, CT) [Dr. Peter Baran]
Metamorphoses of N-oxide ligands in the presence of copper(II) nitrate
Condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde N-oxide with 1,2-phenylenediamine in ethanol yields a bidentate Schiff base, 2-(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine N-oxide, instead of the expected tetradentate Schiff base. However, a corresponding tridentate Schiff base is isolated when sodium hydroxide in methanol is used in a stoichiometric 1:1 (aldehyde : amine) reaction. The tridentate Schiff base cyclizes to 2-(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine N-oxide during complexation reactions with copper(II) nitrate under various stoichiometries. It is speculated that copper(II) nitrate as the catalyst favors nucleophilic attack of the amino group of the Schiff base on the imine carbon rather than stabilizing the tridentate Schiff base. In contrast to the observed cyclization reaction, a complex of copper(II) nitrate with a tetradentate Schiff base has been isolated using a templated synthesis in a stoichiometric 2:1:1 (aldehyde : amine : metal) reaction. The resulting tetradentate Schiff base is an N-oxide analog of the salen-like ligand in the Jacobsen's catalyst. Isolating the tetradentate Schiff base will open a route to synthesis of other metal complexes that can be tested for potential catalytic activity.
Frederick, Amidia (Huntingdon, PA) P(D) [Chuck Yohn]
Difference in Species Richness in Fungi between Abrupt Cut & Border Cut Edge Habitats
The organisms within the kingdom Fungi, anchor themselves to detritus littered among the forest floor, decomposing dead matter and converting it into biomass. Dead organic matter serves as the sole, largest reservoir of energy within a forest ecosystem (Molles, 2010). Having multiple species of fungi within an ecosystem increases the carry capacity of forest soils for all plant species. A research project was conducted spring of 2012 at the Raystown Field Station located in Huntingdon County, PA. The study compared two edge habitats, abrupt cut and border cut, and their affect on fungi species diversity. If higher fungal species diversity occurs more in abrupt cut edge habitats, this would show better soil quality in areas that have established mature forest growth and a greater quality of detritus food source. If border cut edge habitats have higher fungal species diversity, this would show better soil quality in areas that have more densely packed juvenile forest growth and a higher quantity of detritus food source. Forests provide commercial, biological as well aesthetic value; therefore field studies of species diversity are vital for the health of forest ecosystems. Surveys of fungal species diversity are valuable indicators of nutrient-rich soil for land management agencies and agriculture.
Gaisior, Danielle (McVeytown, PA) [Dr. Belle Tuten]
Good Wolf, Bad Wolf: Werewolves in the Harry Potter series
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has become internationally recongnized as a superb piece of both children's and young adult literature. Within the context of the series, Rowling uses standard mythical creatures from folklore including two werewolves, Remus Lupin and Fenrir Greyback. Each of these characters embody a different view of the werewolf through contrasting historical associations with lycanthropy and the symbolic associations created by their given names. This paper is going to examine Lupin and Greyback in order to explain how their personalities are set by the historical implications connected to them.
Garside (Sunbury, PA) [Dr. Kathy Jones, Dr. Mark Pearson]
Affordable Labs for a High School Physics Class
Hands-on learning is one of the most effective teaching strategies an educator can use in a classroom. For a secondary science teacher, much of this hands-on learning comes from assigning labs to the students in class. While these labs are extremely useful, they can be severely limited in a public school setting due to the high cost of equipment needed to perform certain labs. A budget for a typical high school science teacher in the state of Pennsylvania is around $900. However, this budget is not just used to buy equipment but also basics such as stationary. This study has looked at creatively developing physics labs using affordable, or readily available, equipment to meet a public high school budget. Such labs will include a vector lab and a shoot-for-your-grade projectile motion lab, using basic materials like meter sticks and stopwatches. Also, the prospect of building equipment for labs and demonstrations will be discussed, such as building a simple trebuchet for projectile motion.
Garside, Sara (Sunbury, PA) Michalak, Kristin(Stonington, CT);Partsch, Danielle(Salix, PA);Rodkey, Kristin(Taneytown, MD);Oswald, Sean(Huntingdon, PA);Peretin, Amanda(Sidman, PA);Amrod, Kim(Ridgefield, CT) [Dr. Kathy Jones]
The Bird Olympics
Pre-student teachers develop and execute a field trip based on Pennsylvania songbirds for an 8th grade class, held at the Juniata College Field Station. The pre-student teachers broke up into five groups and each group planned an activity on their content area . From start to finish, they designed the concept, developed a video to show in a pre-trip visit, and then created hands-on, mind-engaging activities for the Bird Olympics.
Gianella, Lyndsey (Pittsburgh, PA) Treshcer, Sarah(Hersey, PA);Beck, Alyssa(Pittsburgh, PA) [Phil Dunwoody]
"Aggression and Submission: Key Predictors of Authoritarian Attitudes"
Authoritarianism became a popular research topic for psychologists in the early 1950's with the publication of Adorno et al, the goal of which was to measure and predict prejudice and political intolerance. In the 1980s, Altemeyer proposed the Right Wing Authoritarianism scale that included three traits: aggression, submission, and conventionalism. While Altemeyer's scale is still the most commonly used, it has been criticized on psychometric grounds. The Dunwoody Authoritarianism Scale (DAS) attempts to build on the work of later researchers to create a better measure of authoritarianism. The DAS has new items developed to more directly tap the three constructs hypothesized by Altemeyer. We predicted that Dunwoody's three-factor scales should show convergent and discriminant validity when compared to target variables known to correlate with authoritarianism. Surveys were administered to 4 convenience samples at a small private college. The results suggest that aggression and submission are the key predictors of authoritarian attitudes on the DAS and indicate that DAS is less biased in regard to cultural indicators of aggression than conventional measures.
Gianella, Lyndsey (Pittsburgh, PA) Trescher, Sarah(Hersey, PA);Beck, Alyssa(Pittsburgh, PA) [Phil Dunwoody]
"The Effects of Perceived Threat on Authoritarianism."
The effect of perceived threat on authoritarianism has been a salient research topic since September 11th, 2001. Marc Hetherington proposed the theory that as perceived threat increases, the difference on political tolerance and prejudice between authoritarians and nonauthoritarians decrease. On the other hand, Feldman argues that as perceived threat increases, the differences increase. Participants filled out a survey measuring items such as anti-Arab attitudes, anti-Black attitudes, preference for restriction of civil liberties among other items. The survey also included a measure of Dunwoody Authoritarianism Scale and Social Dominance Orientation. Our results indicated that both authoritarianism and SDO predict prejudice towards Arabs. More importantly, the interaction between SDO and threat and authoritarianism and threat were found to be marginally significant on predicting prejudice towards Arabs. This study gives support to Feldman's theory of perceived threat and prejudice. We found that SDO and DAS are best at predicting anti-Arab attitudes.
Gianella, Lyndsey (Pittsburgh, PA) [J. Mark McKellop]
Death Anxiety and Belief in an Afterlife in College Students
Terror Management Theory states that people seek to overcome anxiety and fear of death by increasing self-esteem through various cultural worldviews. People are then able to decrease feelings of death anxiety by adopting beliefs in an afterlife. Using a pre/post design, we collected data on undergraduate students' death anxiety and beliefs about death, dying, and the afterlife as part of a module examining end-of-life issues in an upper-level Health Psychology class. A Death Anxiety Scale was given to the class along with and End-of-Life Issues Questionnaire and Spiritual Values Important to Your Medical Decision. It is hypothesized that students who believe in an afterlife or are religious or spiritual will have lower levels of death anxiety than students who do not. It was found that perceived religiosity/spirituality and belief in an afterlife did not have a significant effect on death anxiety scores. College students may be too young to have anxiety about death because death is thought to not be relevant to their life.
Glass, Alyson (Duncannon, PA) [Emil Nagengast]
The Failure of International Water Law: A Case Study of the Tigris-Euphrates River Basin
In 1999, NATO forces launched a bombing campaign on the Serbian military after failing to find a peaceful solution to the Kosovar independence issue. The NATO airstrike campaign was unable to prevent the Serbian military from systematically killing and displacing Kosovar citizens during the war, which was the primary objective of the intervention. After the Kosovo War, General Wesley K. Clark outlined specific failures of the intervention. To address the Kosovo War's failures, he offered several policy proposals in his memoir, Waging Modern War. First, General Clark proposed the international community adequately prepare for the intervention. Second, General Clark advised that policy makers provide commanders with a broader mandate for the war. Third, General Clark argued that NATO should coordinate attacks against the perpetrator of the conflict. In 2011, NATO conducted its second peacekeeping intervention in Libya during the Arab Spring protests. NATO intervened after Libyan President Muammar Gadhafi's forces surrounded Benghazi and threatened to destroy the rebels. After eight months of fighting, NATO successfully defeated President Gadhafi's forces and transferred power to the Libyan Transitional Council. Although the Libyan campaign was successful, coalition forces only partially addressed the shortcomings of the Kosovo campaign. NATO's ability to wage a more effective war in Libya was due to commanders having more experience, improved military technology, and changing international norms.
Goehring, Steven () Yeager, Leanna();Baumgarten, Kirk();Cowgill, Chelsea() [Bill Thomas]
I4I Mutual Benefit Group project Spring 2012
This poster describes the two-phase data transfer project completed by two teams of IT students. The teams worked with local insurance provider Mutual Benefit Group through Juniata's Innovations 4 Industry program. The project involved mapping how data corresponds between MBG's existing database and the desired standard data format, then coding a program to automatically generate files in the usable data format. When completed, this project will remove significant problems from MBG's recent custom data entry program, giving the company a competitive advantage among insurance sales agents due to the ease of using MBG's customized system.
Gotowski, Megan (Elizabethtown, PA) [Dr. Henderson]
First Language Acquisition: Differences between Anglophone and Francophone Children
The purpose of this project is to explore the momentum anomaly observed in financial markets, and apply this anomaly to a hypothetical portfolio to show that using this method will improve returns and reduce risk. The traditional investment strategy of "buy and hold" is still the dominant theory for investors, but the momentum anomaly has the potential to greatly outperform the standard method. The momentum anomaly in securities is the idea that their price is more likely to keep moving in the same direction than to change directions. The model we are using will find the three assets with the strongest momentum. Investors through analyzing the price movements of various assets and taking either a long or short position can exploit this anomaly. It was found that through applying the momentum method of investing to a portfolio containing three different asset classes, overall growth increased, while risks and volatility decreased.
Greenawalt (Clarion, Pa) [Dr. Jill Keeney]
Colocalization with Fluorescence Microscopy of Ty1 Mobility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Ty1 is a retroelement of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is comparable biochemically to HIV. Rtt105 is a yeast host protein that has an unknown function in Ty1 mobility. Fluorescence microscopy is capable of unveiling vital information about the complex interplay between molecules and their environments. Multiple molecules, either fluorescently tagged or dyed, can be monitored under varying conditions and times. Processing bodies (P-bodies) and stress granules, RNA-protein granules visible as foci by fluorescence microscopy, contain mRNA that is in a latent state of translation. Under normal conditions, stress granules are barely noticeable in the cell, while processing bodies are present in moderation. Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag protein also form distinct foci in the cytoplasm. Using colocalization techniques and deconvolution software to maximize resolution, my project is to analyze colocalization of Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag gene. I have found evidence suggesting colocalization of Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag gene, indicating that Rtt105 has some role in Ty1 mobility.
Grim, David (Boalsburg, PA) [Dr. Emil Nagengast]
American Foreign Policy Towards Iran: Change or Continuance Under President Barack Obama
After his third year serving in the White House, the public has still been unable to reach a consensus on the basic nature of President Barack Obama's foreign policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. The questions surrounding the President's policies are plentiful: Is he a realist? An idealist? Has he repudiated the foreign policies of the Bush administration, in both rhetoric and practice, as he promised the American public during his 2008 campaign? Or has his administration perpetuated its predecessors' unpopular foreign policy platform? One thing is certain. As mere observers, we cannot pretend to fully understand the intricacies and complexities of twenty-first century foreign relations without analyzing Obama's campaign and presidential foreign policy platforms. None of the aforementioned questions can be answered with one hundred percent certainty and conviction. However, through the evaluation of Obama administration policies and past actions, an educated inference can be generated:
As a result of the political and economic conditions of 2008, Barack Obama incorporated and rejected aspects of George W. Bush's foreign policy towards Iran, and also upheld and disregarded certain facets of his campaign platform while implementing his overall presidential foreign policy. Specifically, Obama incorporated Bush's policies of unilateralism and threatening military rhetoric, while also retaining his own policy of multilateralism. Obama's signature policy of direct diplomacy without preconditions, however, has been relatively absent throughout his term. Instead, relations between Washington and Tehran have remained hostile and unfriendly, reminiscent of relations during the Bush administration.
Gring, Jeffrey (Mechanicsburg, PA) [Dr. Douglas Glazier]
The effects of temperature and body size on the metabolic rate of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus minus, a comparison of two models
Metabolic rate is affected mainly by an organism's body size and temperature. The Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE) proposes that these factors interact in an independent and multiplicative fashion. The MTE predicts that temperature should affect the elevation of the scaling relationship between metabolic rate and body mass, but not the scaling exponent (b: slope in a log-log plot), which should stay near 3/4. However, the Metabolic-Level Boundaries (MLB) hypothesis predicts that increasing temperature should not only increase the elevation of the metabolic scaling relationship, but also decrease its scaling exponent (b). Deviations from the suggested scaling exponent of 3/4 have been recently documented for several taxa. We compared these two alternative models by examining the effects of temperature on the body-mass scaling of resting metabolic rate in the amphipod Gammarus minus from four thermally stable springs in Huntingdon and Perry Counties, Pennsylvania. We found b to deviate from 3/4 and vary significantly in several cases between amphipods from different springs exposed to the same temperature and between amphipods from the same spring exposed to different temperatures. Our data did not consistently support either the MTE or MLB hypothesis because no repeatable pattern was observed among all four springs. As a general trend, temperature had less of an effect on b for amphipods from the warmer springs (Huntingdon Warm and Perry County Warm Springs: ~16o C) than the colder springs (Petersburg and Blue Springs: ~10o C). Excluding the coldest test group (4o C), there were no significant differences in b between temperatures (10,16, and 22o C) at either of the warmer springs, varying from 0.519-0.738 for Perry County Warm Spring and 0.523-0.672 for Huntingdon Warm Spring. Also, in many cases, b was lower in the springs with fish predation (Blue and Huntingdon Warm Springs), than those without (Petersburg and Perry County Warm Springs).
Grubb, Harrison (Bedford, PA) D(M) [Brad Andrew]
Tradition Vs. Momentum: A Comparison of Investing Methods
The purpose of this project is to explore the momentum anomaly observed in financial markets, and apply this anomaly to a hypothetical portfolio to show that using this method will improve returns and reduce risk. Â The traditional investment strategy of "buy and hold" is still the dominant theory for investors, but the momentum anomaly has the potential to greatly outperform the standard method. Â The momentum anomaly in securities is the idea that their price is more likely to keep moving in the same direction than to change directions. Â The model we are using will find the three assets with the strongest momentum. Â Investors through analyzing the price movements of various assets and taking either a long or short position can exploit this anomaly. Â It was found that through applying the momentum method of investing to a portfolio containing three different asset classes, overall growth increased, while risks and volatility decreased.
Grube, Alyssa (Lititz, PA) [Dr. Jill B. Keeney]
Ty1 Retrotransposon and the Transposition Assay
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as baker's yeast, can serve as a model to study the phenomenon of retrotransposition, the process by which a retroelement is inserted into a host cell genome. Retrotransposition is a mechanism shared by retrotransposons and retroviruses, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Decoding retrotransposition in eukaryotic cells, therefore, offers increased understanding of retroviral replication mechanisms. Specifically, the Ty1 retrotransposon of S. cerevisiae has been studied extensively as a model system for retrotransposition. Our lab has previously identified the gene RTT105 as a positive regulator of Ty1 retrotransposition; however, its exact function is unknown. I am currently working to determine the phenotype of several previously created mutant strains with unconfirmed deletion mutations of genes thought to function similarly to RTT105, including rad52, rad54, mms22, zou1, and rtt10 deletions. Several of these genes are associated with homologous recombination and/or double-stranded break repair, integral components of retrotransposition. Endogenous and galactose-induced assays were used to verify RTT105 phenotype similarity, while genomic PCR is currently being performed to verify gene deletions.
Hall, Meghan (Alexandria, PA) [Belle Tuten]
Them's Fighting Words: War of the Roses Accounts from Yorkist and Lancastrian Chronicles
Medieval chronicles provide historians with the most complete and detailed accounts of what actually occurred during the Middle Ages and more specifically during the War of the Roses. The chronicles created during the War of the Roses time period were overall very sporadic in topic yet many provide important details about individual battles and political actions. The selected chronicles focus more on a timeline of history rather than the enumeration of specific occurrences. Because the War of the Roses involved two rival houses, Lancaster and York, vying for the same throne, the authors of the chronicles found it difficult to write without choosing sides. As such, many endorsed one side over the other and these decisions are reflected throughout their chronicles. The History of the Arrival of Edward IV in England and the Final Recover of His Kingdoms from Henry VI and Holinshed's Chronicles constitute the York chronicles examined. Warkworth's Chronicle and The Concordance of Histories also known as The Chronicle of Fabian provided sufficient evidence detailing the Lancastrian stance.
By examining chronicles from both sides of the conflict, it is possible to see that in writing these accounts, the authors hoped to further their political ambitions, portray their chosen sides' goals and aims, and ultimately to damage the reputation of the opposition for their readers. These aims would have lasting effects both for the contemporary understanding of events and for the historians who study the chronicles to evaluate what life in the Middle Ages was really like.
Halstead, Nikki (Hookstown, PA) C(L) [Cynthia Merriwether-De Vries]
Tolerance at Juniata: the LGBTQ Community and Beyond
How tolerant really is Juniata College? We will explore this notion through an analysis of two different surveys with numerous different perspectives: one will show the basic tolerance of Juniata students, and the other will shoe students' opinions on Gender Neutral Housing here. With this information, what will we find out about Juniata College?
Hamill, Megan (Bayport, NY) [Alison Fletcher]
Hypocritical Oath: Medical Ethics in the Case of Steve Biko
The apartheid era in South Africa was a period characterized by extreme violence, which grew in frequency and intensity by the 1970s. Under apartheid, racist ideas extended to every area of life, including health care. In 1977, Steven Biko, the black anti-apartheid activist who founded the Black Consciousness Movement, died while in police detention. This case study examines the actions of three of the physicians who examined Biko during his imprisonment and argues that their failure to diagnose and treat Biko for the serious head injuries he sustained while in custody ultimately led to his death in September of 1977. It also examines the reaction of the medical community of South Africa as a whole, who condoned the physicians' actions though evidence against them proved their behavior constituted medical malpractice.
Hammaker, Krista (Mechanicsburg, PA) H(M) [Kathy Jones]
Dirt's Monologue
Hi. My name is Dirt, and this is my monologue. Some people call me Soil, but you can call me Dirt, because I prefer to keep it casual. We need to have a heart-to-heart, because I have been feeling very under-appreciated lately. This discussion is about two of my frustrations regarding the dissolution of my symbiotic relationship with the human race. I will clearly state two human behaviors that I need to see changed, I will walk you through the consequences of these behaviors and I will limit your feelings of hopelessness by citing incidences of progress towards the sustainable behavior. If the human race continues to employ the farming practices that began with the industrialization of agriculture, and the "traditional" burial techniques that began during the 5th century, this relationship will not be pretty. Humans spend their whole lives taking food from the soil for both money and health, but they give nothing back when their lives are over. As a consequence, we see 75% soil depletion in the United States. When humans die, their loved ones put them into reinforced concrete, preventing the nutrients stored in their bodies from going back to the soil. Embalming fluids that accompany "traditional" burial practices create further damage, because they are toxic to the organisms living in the soil.
Harris, Patrick (Export Pa) Hauck, Danielle(Easton PA) [Jeff Krause]
Analysis of soil characteristics and American Chestnut Growth at Raystown Lake Breeding Orchard
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once the dominant canopy species in the Eastern United States' forests until it was decimated by the chestnut blight. Recent restoration efforts have focused on cross-breeding the American chestnut with the blight resistant Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) to develop a blight resistant American chestnut to be reintroduced into the environment. The Army Corps of Engineers are partnering with the American Chestnut Foundation to assist in this effort at Raystown Lake. Determining the optimal growing conditions for the American chestnut will assist in providing recommendations at future restoration plantings sites. A geospatial hotspot analysis was conducted to compare the areas of highest and lowest tree stem growth at an existing Raystown Lake Orchard. A significant difference in tree height was shown between high and low areas. Within these high and low growth areas, random soil samples were collected for testing. To determine if soil variables were responsible for high or low growth rates, testing of abiotic factors including pH, Ca2+, K, Mg, and P content of the soil were conducted among the different sites. Initial results indicate that there were no significant differences found among the general soil parameters except cation exchange capacity. Further results from additional testing will be analyzed to determine if soil conditions are related to increased growth at the Raystown site that may help in identifying ideal growing conditions.
He, Shuyunan (Huntingdon, PA) [Neil Pelkey]
Employment in Environmental Economics
Environmental Economics as a major is very newly established, but it has generated tremendously outstanding achievements in its studies already. And people in general thinking this is a bright field to major in. However, college students in China respond that they have very hard time to find jobs.
Environmental Economics is promising, which uses economic aspects to analyze and solve environmental problems. The majority of countries in the world are facing different levels of lose from environmental damages. The essential incentive behind these ruins is benefits. They associate with economics, while people cannot eliminate the importance of environment. Additionally, China, the growing power, is at the peak of environmental pollutions. It shows abundant needs of efforts devoting to ease environmental stresses. Therefore, a sustainable economics becomes our universal goal in 21st century. In other words, the society highly needs professional people in this field.
Environmental Economics crosses diverse fields. Its major trains students comprehensive and knowledgeable. After an advanced and intensive study, students would have a lot of career path choices. The course setting evolves economics, ecology, politics, and math. Students would learn skills benefiting them in different kinds of work.
Then, questions rise up: How would people concern to get a job while this field seems so popular? How would college students prepare themselves better in competing for their dreamed jobs? How would the China's job market look like?
Overall, this research is meaning to study the employment issue in the field, Environmental Economics. For more and more people hope to protect our home green, it become urgent and crucial to show the public the feasible career path. And build up confidence in them to keep studying Environmental Economics.
Heinrichs, Pamela (Spring Mills, PA) [Jim Roney]
The Politics of International Food Aid
Food insecurity in developing nations has made hunger the world's leading health risk, affecting present and future development and welfare. To counter this insecurity, developed countries send food aid in the form of payments or shipments of grains to these affected areas. These shipments have sparked international disagreements that have greatly politicized the entire concept of food aid in donor countries. This presentation discusses contemporary American and international food aid policies and assesses the two major debates concerning modern food aid: its geographic origins and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It concludes that U.S. food aid is structured using inefficient and resource-wasting practices which have not allowed the program to reach its full humanitarian potential.
Hilferding, Keith (fawn grove, PA) T(L) [Peter Baran]
The Synthesis of Purine N-Oxide Complexes for Potential Medicinal Use
Purines and their N-oxide derivatives have shown biological activity that makes them promising anti-cancer agents. It has been shown that this biological activity increases upon coordination, but there are some purine N-oxides that have not been biologically tested. With this in mind, two copper complexes containing guanine 3-N-oxide (L), (H3O)[Cu3(µ3-L)2(µ-Cl)(µ-OMe)(OMe)Cl4]â??6H2O and (H3O)[Cu3(µ3-L)2(µ-H2O)(µ-Cl)Cl6]â??3H2O, were synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction techniques. Progress towards synthesis of water soluble analogues of the above complexes that could be used for biological testing will be presented.
Hiller, Alden (South Williamsport, PA) H(S) [Dr. Kathy Westcott]
Cultural Events on Campus: What influences student attendance?
In higher education, much attention has been dedicated to student engagement and the positive outcomes it carries for college students (Kuh 1996, Terenzini 1999). This study intends to explore how institutional policies may shape student engagement as it relates to their attendance of on campus, cultural events. For this study, first year students enrolled in multiple sections of a first semester writing seminar during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years completed surveys on what events they attended during that semester. Across the two years, different requirements for attendance at events were set for the various course sections. This study examines how the differing course requirements altered student rates of attendance at the cultural events.
Hoffman, Casandra (Coplay, PA) [Jill Keeney]
Stress Granule Induction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, more commonly known as budding yeast, have a group of Ty mobile retroelements that are able to copy themselves from the genome and paste themselves at another location. Retroviruses, like HIV replicate in a similar manner. Specifically, Ty1 is a mobile element that can be assayed using either an endogenous element, or an element on a plasmid containing a galactose inducible promoter (pGTy1). The Ty1 element doesn't retrotranspose itself, though; it is under checks and balances of the host cell, as are retroviruses. A host gene, RTT105 was found to be a regulator of Ty1 mobility in yeast. In the endogenous assay, RTT105 acts as a negative regulator, but changes its phenotype to a positive regulator in the galactose-induced assay. Preliminary studies show that upon galactose induction of cells with pGTy1 plasmid, there is an increase in the size and number of Pab1-GFP foci, indicative of a stress response. Pab1 is a common stress granule protein and is often used to visualize stress granule size, number and location. This study focuses on accurate analysis of galactose induction, stress granule and P body formation, and other common known cell stressors. Cells with and with out the pGTy1 plasmid were observed under multiple conditions and it was found that the presence of the pGTy1 plasmid alone is creating an irregular intracellular response, in the context of Pab1-GFP. Further studies with P body proteins may reinforce this idea, as well as a refinement of the process of analyzing and imaging stress granules and P bodies in yeast.
Homes, CHelsea (Glen Rock, PA) G(L) [Dr. Peter Baran]
Methodical Study of Metal-Phenolic Complexes in Wine
Metals play a large role in the overall composition of wine. Within the wine matrix, metals form complexes with different ligands present such as organic acids, phenols, alcohols, and sugars. These complexes have direct effects on the overall perception of the wine adding to its aroma, flavor, and appearance. While it is known that metal complexes exist within the wine, their exact composition and structures are not known. Our research looks at the complexation of phenolic compounds quercetin, hesperidin methyl chalcone, umbelliferone, 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, and naringenin with metal salts of iron, copper, and zinc. Our goal is to contribute to the understanding of composition and structure of complexes formed by phenolics in wine with different metals, examine the equilibrium conditions of the complexes under conditions similar to the wine matrix and determine the effect that formed complexes have on the overall perception of the wine.
Houck, Nicole (Hollidaysburg, PA) [Emil Nagengast]
The Politics of Fracking
The state of Pennsylvania is home to one of the most organic-rich gas producing shale formations in the United States: the Marcellus Shale. The development of this shale has required the use of new and innovative drilling techniques like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). The use of fracking has led to a split of opinion. Policymakers have shown broad support for the exploration of the gas industry because it will mean an economic advantage for Pennsylvania. Environmental experts are critical of the industry's practices because of the extreme risk of environmental disasters (specifically water contamination that could lead to public health risks). This study examines scientific evidence of the impact fracking has on the environment. Additionally, it analyzes federal and state policies that regulate fracking in Pennsylvania. Finally this paper will determine if the legislation regulates the industry based on evidence found by environmental experts and the driving forces behind fracking policies in Pennsylvania.
Houston, Katelyn (Morrisdale, PA) [Dr. Richard Hark]
Spectroscopic analysis of pigments in late 18th and early 19th century portrait miniatures by William Wood
Raman microscopy (RM) and X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) are important techniques commonly used for the identification of pigments and dyes on manuscripts, paintings, papyri, and other artifacts and are powerful tools to aid in the dating and authentication, conservation, and restoration of these objects. Nine portrait miniatures by William Wood (1769-1810) were analyzed using in situ, non-intrusive techniques including RM and XRF, UV and visible microscopy, and X-radiography. Wood made detailed ledger entries for over 1200 miniatures produced over a 15-year period using watercolor pigments on ivory. The goal of this project, conducted at the Victoria and Albert Museum, was to identify the pigments on the miniatures and then cross-check the results with information given in the manuscripts to help decipher the numerical code Wood utilized to record which pigments he employed and to gain insight into the materials and techniques used to create portrait miniatures at the peak of their popularity.
Hu, Zhongwei (Chengdu, Sichuan, China) [Dr. Henry Escuadro]
On the Zero Forcing Number of Circulant Graphs
We define a graph to be a set of dots (called vertices), some of which are joined by lines (called edges). Vertices v and w are said to be neighbors if v and w are joined by and edge. Color every vertex either black or white. The color change rule says, "convert a white vertex to black if the given vertex is the only white neighbor of some black vertex". The original set of black vertices is called a zero forcing set if repeated applications of the color change rule results in all vertices being colored black. The problem of finding the smallest zero forcing sets of a graph has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this paper, we answer this question for some circulant graphs â?" a family of graphs that is highly symmetric and regular.
Hu, Zhongwei (Chengdu, Sichuan, China) Oswald, Sean(Huntingdon, PA) [Dr. Paul Schettler]
Utilizing Molecular Modeling for Stationary Phase Design
Molecular modeling has been utilized in myriad fashions, ranging from the modeling of protein folding to the characterization of complex chemical systems in intricate detail. The field of chromatography is such an area that could stand to benefit from all of the insight that molecular modeling can provide. CASPD (Computer Aided Stationary Phase Design) is a computer program designed by our group that employs two well known force fields, CHARMM and TraPPE, to predict separation for various analyte pairs with a specific stationary phase. This program makes use of the Metropolis Monte Carlo method to ultimately determine the difference in retention times between two components. Through examination of these differences, a higher degree of precision in calculating separation can theoretically be obtained and if successful, the program would allow for the pre-screening of novel stationary phases prior to synthesis.
Hulse, Samuel (Baltimore, MD) Healy, Keegan(Glastonbury, CT);Lesur, Louis(Nantes, France) [Chuck Yohn]
Temporal Distribution of Avian Song Activity Compared Between Managed and Unmanaged Habitats
The objective of our study was to determine if there are differences in the temporal distribution of calling activity for common central Pennsylvania birds based on habitat. Bird call counts were taken in two locations: a managed feeding hedgerow surrounded by open field and an interior forest location typical of the area. Bird species were selected for their presence in both open fields and interior forest; we recorded data for Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor), White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), and American Robin (Turdus migratorius) call frequency. Observational data was collected for two hours during morning feeding times at both sites simultaneously during late March and early April of 2012. The number of unique bird calls were recorded for one minute in five minute intervals, and then adjusted to compensate for sunrise. Significant differences in avian activity times were found for several species.
Hulse, Samuel () [Neil Pelkey]
Local and Regional Climatic Effects on Radial Tree Growth
The objective of our study was to examine the dendroclimatic response of white oaks (Quercus alba) on either side of a ridge running parallel to Raystown Lake, an artificial lake in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Eleven tree core samples were taken on either side of Terrace Mountain in Trough Creek State Park, Pennsylvania. Sampling was conducted between October and November of 2011. Our tree ring chronology was compared with historical precipitation data, showing some correlation (r2 = 0.3). There was no apparent trend in the residual, indicating factors such light competition and individual success are adding noise to the data. There were significant differences found in the radial growth time series for trees on opposite sides of the ridge. This is possibly due to changes in aspect, as well as introduced ecologic factors resulting from the creation of Raystown Lake. Further inferences into the historical ecology of the area were made by comparing our sample with other trees in different geographical regions. This allowed us to compare the effects and extend of drought across geographical ranges.
Hunt, Amy (Lexington, KY) [Alison Fletcher]
More Than "Cheesecake": Drum Magazine, Politics, and Black Urban Identity in South Africa in the 1950s
In 1951, three years after the apartheid Nationalist Party came to power in South Africa, Drum magazine hit the newsstands and, throughout the decade, grew in popularity among the urban black population. Scholars have examined the fiction published in Drum and the lives of its writers, but they have ignored how Drum documented the formation of political ideology. Because Drum's editors hoped to influence party politics and gain support for the anti-apartheid effort, the writers were unafraid to criticize the African National Congress and to promote an urban identity among their readers. This paper will analyze how Drum aimed to connect the urban black population and create a unified, politicized urban identity.
Ickes, Andrew () [Peter Baran]
The use of 3-methylcatechol as a model compound for urushiol
Urushiol, an allergen found in poison ivy and several other plants, interacts with skin cell receptors causing an irritation on the skin which would otherwise be harmless. Urushiol is a mixture of several dozens of compounds with similar composition featuring 3-substituted catechols containing a 15-17 carbon long chain with none or several double bonds. 3-Methylcatechol is a much simpler and cheaper analog of active components of urushiol and is used in our studies as a model compound for mimicking urushiol. Metal coordination complexes with 3-methylcatechol were studied in order to understand if urushiol can be inactivated before it penetrates the skin. When Iron(III) and Copper(II) salts combined with 3-methylcatechol, a dark insoluble solid was formed. An alternative approach was followed in an effort to yield soluble ternary complexes with 3-methylcatechol and ligands like 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline. These are efforts to modify a complex which might fully inactivate urushiol upon contact. Complexation reactions with natural active components of urushiol obtained directly from the poison ivy plant will also be discussed.
Irrera, Alexandra (Houston,TX) [Dr. Karen Rosell]
Art Sees Itself. Art Sees You: The Seriously Playful Art of Vik Muniz
The definition of what art is and can be has dramatically expanded throughout the modern and post-modern epochs. Although it is well understood that the consumption of art has historically been defined by class, the advent of affordable media and technology has also made art and ideas more accessible to a wider range of the population than ever before. Within these changing times, a number of artists are working to redefine the intellectualism of art and the accessibility of its ideas. These artists possess an understanding of the dynamic relationship between art and the public, first cultivated by earlier 20th century movements such as Dada and Fluxus. In their creative hands, this essential art-audience link is realized as the artists both employ and interact with the underprivileged in their works. An educational relationship between art and the public that goes beyond overt political or religious propaganda has been addressed within the most recent era, but has only been scantily explored throughout history.
One contemporary artist who explores this relationship is Vik Muniz. Originally from Brazil, Muniz is a conceptual sculptor and photographer with a highly developed understanding of the symbiotic relationship that exists between art and the general public. Although Muniz's work is characteristically humorous and playful, the ideas behind his major works engender an understanding of national or global identity, social inequality, and the role of the artist as a public educator. As Muniz states, "I was never fond of art that sets up to be political from the onset. I have always believed that true political ideas happen out of necessity, not theory, only after their execution." With this paper, I will address his work by drawing on Marxist perceptions of art and by contextualizing Muniz's art within the works of his peers Ai Weiwei and JR.
Jade, Jazmine (Spring Lake, Michigan) [Kate Clarke]
Scene Design: Madame Butterfly
This exhibition is of a the set design process for the opera Madame Butterfly that I completed for an independent study. It shows the beginning stages of set design research, image gathering, preliminary sketches, finalized hand drafting, and a video documenting the painting and lighting techniques used for a portion of the design.
Jaroszewicz, Marcin (Pittsburgh, Pa) [Dr. Pelkey]
Student Food Cooperative: Feeding yourself and your community
Huntingdon suffers from a high rate of food insecurity, obesity, and diet related disease. In addition, Huntingdon is located in a county that is classified as a food desert, a county in which many suppliers of wholesome and fresh produce are increasingly struggling to connect with the people who need it most. Exploring the ways that students and cooperative business models can be a part of a practical and overlapping solution to these issues is the topic of this research. Specifically in analyzing the demand for a student cooperative in Huntingdon the research traces out the willingness to pay for various cooperative meal configurations and putting together a feasibility plan, budget and asset map for the creation of a community food cooperative in the 2012-2013 school year. The research is part of larger set of projects designed to initiate a community kitchen that would offer meals at local community centers on a sliding scale basis, creating a dining experience that combines the energy and needs of students and the needs of the community members All the while providing an affordable, environmental stalwartly and community centered alternative dining option.
Jiazuo Xie (Sichuan, China) [Kimberly Roth]
Time Series Analysis of Financial Data for Shengtai Food Company
Shengtai Food Company is an international food company located in China and does business with U.S. companies. The company has provided us its financial data, including profit, revenue, manufacturing costs, management costs and operating costs from 2009 to 2011. Based on this information, Shengtai Food Company wishes to know how its financial data is going to behave in the near future. Since the data is recorded monthly, the entire data collection can be referred to as time series data. Rather than using simple linear regression, we apply the type of analysis that is used specifically for time series data. The steps of our analysis include modifying data, selecting a model, testing the model and predicting future values by using the selected model. Finally, to see how accurate our prediction is, we will compare the predicted values to the actual data given to us by the company.
Joumana El Alaoui () [Dr. Nagengast]
Political Islam and Secularism in Egypt
During the elections following the Arab Spring, political parties with an Islamist ideology won the highest number of votes throughout the Arab world. Secularism and political Islam did not equally affect every region of the Middle East and North Africa. Since the 1950s, Egypt became the epicenter of the two ideologies. This paper argues that the absence of a democratization process helped political Islam to prosper. This paper also argues that political Islam became popular in Egypt after the war of 1967 against Israel. To underpin this argument this paper first, discusses how the presidencies of Sadat and Nasser were profitable to the Islamist ideology. Second, the paper analyzes the historical origins of both secularism and political Islam. Third, it emphasizes the cultural discrepancy that Egypt went through after 1967 and how that discrepancy is representative of the absence of freedoms necessary in a democracy.
Kelly, Melissa (Gibsonia, Pa) Thornton, Victoria(Millington, NJ) [Kathleen Jones]
Bird Olympics: Integrating Math and Science Education
Join us to discover what it is like for pre-service math and science students when they are given an interesting challenge. We created an integated math and science field trip for a group of eighth graders using an unfamiliar topic - the song birds of Pennsylvania.
Korch, Katerina (Shillington, PA) [David Reingold]
Investigation of Allenes as Ligands in the Cu(II)-Promoted Cross-Coupling of Vinylboronate Esters and Alcohols
Vinyl ethers are useful in transformations such as the Claisen rearrangement; however, they are a deceptively difficult functional group to synthesize. Recent work in the field of copper(II)-based coupling has investigated variations of the modern Ullmann reaction to identify mild reaction conditions that generate the vinyl ether product in relatively high yield. These mild conditions use a vinyl pinacol boronate ester as the substrate. The yield can often be further increased by the addition of an alkyne ligand, which serves to stabilize the Cu(I) and Cu(III) species that are generated during the coupling. However, the reaction still relies on an excess of alcohol, and it is limited to primary alcohols and mono-substituted vinyl boronate esters. Alternative ligands may alleviate some of the difficulties with this reaction by creating a more activated form of copper. A variety of substituted allene compounds have been synthesized and screened for coupling reactions of several vinyl boronate and alcohol partners. In almost all reactions, the use of an allene ligand improved the yield of the vinyl ether product compared to the use of an alkyne ligand. Future work is aimed at optimizing and utilizing the new ligand in the coupling of other sterically hindered substrates, as well investigating the alcohol coupling partner.
Korch, Katerina (Shillington, PA) [David Reingold]
Investigation of Selenium Dioxide in Oxidations and Dehydrogenations
The use of selenium reagents in organic synthesis has a long history beginning in the late 1800s. One selenium reagent that has found considerable use is selenium dioxide. This reagent first found use in the oxidation of ketones to form alpha diketones. Later, selenium dioxide's use in dehydrogenating ketones to form enone species was exploited in the synthesis of steroids. However, the mechanisms for these two transformations are not well understood, and it is unclear if the selenium dioxide reaction of a ketone can be driven to either the alpha-diketone or the enone product. Prior work in the Reingold lab has found that water may play a role in driving the reaction to form the oxidation product. Recent work has investigated a number of drying agents to determine which are the most effective in driving the reaction towards the enone product. Also, the role of acidity and basicity as well as the influence of acetic anhydride on the reaction has been investigated. Ideally, optimized conditions to drive a reaction towards diketone formation or enone formation will be developed.
Kreiger, David (Harrisburg, PA) S(E) [Peter Baran]
Transition Metal Complexes with Poxbta
Transition metal complexes are frequently used as catalysts. New transition-metal complexes using aromatic amine pyridine N-oxide ligands have been developed and will be tested for catalytic activity. The ligands used were 2-(benzthiazolidene)pyridine N-oxide (H2poxbta) and 2-(benzthiazol)pyridine N-oxide(poxbta). Both are cyclization products of 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde N-oxide and 2-aminothiophenol. The initial condensation product is H2poxbta, which is oxidized to poxbta in the next step. Synthesis of poxbta with zinc(II) and copper(II) salts yielded complexes in crystalline state. Their composition, [Cu(poxbta)(NO3)2)] and [Zn(poxbta)Br2], have been established by X-ray crystallography. When similar reactions using H2poxbta were attempted, oxidation of the ligand occurred which led to formation of a mixed-valent complex, {CuII(poxbta)2CuI2Cl4}n. Characterization of the above complexes using spectroscopic and magneto-chemical methods is being carried out.
Kuhling, Nicolai (Calw, Germany) [Xinli Wang]
Condemned to be free ? but free to be fearless
The paper treats Sartre's view on human nature. He states that people are "condemned to be free". The attempt to escape this absolute freedom leads to "bad faith", a state of self-deceptive pseudo escape from the responsibility that comes with the freedom. I will explain why human beings, according to Sartre, are condemed to freedom, which mechanisms lead to their bad faith, and give examples of how bad faith is manifested in our everyday life.
Finally, I appeal to the reader/the audience, not to try fall for the fallcies of bad faith, but instead embrace their freedom, and live and decide with full awareness.
Kulbacki, Skylar (Hershey, Pennsylvania) [Amy Frazier-Yoder]
La influencia de la sociedad patriarcal en la identidad de la mujer en Querido Diego, te abraza Quiela
Elena Poniatowska, una autora y periodista distinguida, es destacada por sus obras de novela-testimonio y su llama de atención a las clases marginadas. Su obra Querido Diego, te abraza Quiela recibió mucha atención del público y las criticas; muchas persona han mis interpretado su intención en escribir esta novela y ella ha dicho, "se ha prestado a grandes confusiones y yo llegué a lamentarlo publicado" sobre su novela. Su obra esta basada en uno de los capÃtulos de Bertram Wolfe's The Fabulous Life of Diego Rivera. Wolfe pinta Beloff, la compañera de Rivera por diez años, como una mujer desilusionada y obsesionada con Diego Rivera. La obra de Poniatowska también exhibe esta relación rara entre Diego y Angelina después de la salida de Diego a México, pero en vez de clasificarla como una persona viviendo en locura como Wolfe, Poniatowska da luz a la situación de Angelina Beloff mientras que le da una voz. La novela Querido Diego, te abraza Quiela funciona como una proyección de la relación entre los dos artistas, Angelina Beloff y Diego Rivera, pero es más; el lector puede concluir mucho las expectativas de las mujeres durante esta época. En este presentacion yo examinará cómo Quiela ilustra los efectos de las presiones patriarcales, las cuales fuerzan ella a conformar su identidad a las expectativas que impone un figura masculina, Diego Rivera. Fuera de la presión patriarcal inmediata, Quiela sufre una crisis de "identidad perdida" sin la figura masculina en su vida, ella lucha para redescubrir su propia identidad como una mujer independiente.
Kump (State College, PA) [Douglas Glazier]
The preferential feeding habits of the watercress snail
Despite the relatively large abundance and wide geographic distribution of the watercress snail, Fontigens nickliniana, little is actually known about its true feeding habits. F. nickliniana is a freshwater prosobranch gastropod that is between 3.5-4.5mm in length. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. Many questions arise as to what its actual diet consists of. Does F. nickliniana feed on watercress itself, or just the layer of biofilm on the leaves or other surfaces of rocks or sediment, and which of these food sources does it prefer? To answer these questions, both lab and field experiments were conducted at Ell Spring, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Five 30mL substrate samples were taken from each of the four different possible food sources (watercress, sand, cobble and silt). The total snail count from each sample was found. The null hypothesis of no preferential feeding was rejected using a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, returning a P-value of 0.023. F. nickliniana showed an overwhelming preference for silt as their food source. Qualitative lab experiments were conducted to determine whether or not F. nickliniana feeds on the leaves of watercress or the biofilm. Ten snails were placed in 30mL of spring water along with either a segment of a watercress root, juvenile leaf or a mature leaf for 7 days. The controls did not contain any snails. "Before and after" pictures were taken of a wet-mount cross section using bright field 4-40x. Both the mature and juvenile leaves showed obvious signs of consumption past the biofilm layer and into the leaf tissue compared to the control. The root segment did not show any significant consumption. Further analysis will need to be done to see whether, in the presence of both silt and watercress leaves, there is still significant leaf consumption.
Lackey, Mike (Towson, MD) [Sarah Worley]
Football Office Intern
Lawler, Carrie (Petersburg, PA) [Belle Tuten]
A Woman's Secret: Medieval Birth Control
Prior to the second half of the 20th century, the use and methods of birth control were not prominent in daily discourse despite the fact that people wanted to use birth control and often did. Although the precise time period of the development of both contraceptives and abortifacients remains unknown, historians can date their uses back to ancient Egypt. In early antiquity, birth control was used for various purposes, like population control or for more personal reasons and was not generally understood as morally wrong. With the rise of Christianity in Western Europe, however, ethical questions rose and by the Middle Ages the use of birth control was deemed morally unacceptable and was forced to become a woman's secret. This paper will examine these shifts in ideologies by comparing two medical texts written by contemporary women, Trota of Salerno, a secular author, and Hildegard of Bingen, a Christian abbess, in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Leibensperger, Krista (Reading, Pennsylvania) [Chris Grant]
The Juniata Redbelly Dace: divergent lineages in fish.
While surveying 32 streams in central Pennsylvania we found two streams with fishes in the Phoxinus genus, none of which were known to occur in Pennsylvania. These specimens are morphologically distinct from all known Phoxinus species. Genetic analysis of the cytochrome b sequence revealed the two populations of individuals were separated by an average of 0.022±0.004 base pair substitutions out of a total of 1130bp. The mean substitution number between individuals from the Unnamed Tributary and Virginian P. oreas samples was 0.009±0.002. Mean bp substitutions between individuals from SHH and Virginia's P. oreas was 0.022±0.004. This degree of divergence suggests the two populations were isolated long ago and evolved separately as opposed to being a recent "bucket-transfer". All individuals from the same stream had identical cytochrome b sequences, a level of homogeny not seen in the Virginian samples of P. oreas, suggesting the founding populations in each stream were very small. Though 2% genetic divergence is typically enough to classify a new species, this single locus analysis is insufficient grounds for such a call. In freshwater fish this could be considered deep divergence within a single species. Future investigations are necessary to more firmly place the Juniata Dace within the Phoxinus phylogeny.
Lieberman, Sarah (Wyomissing, Pa) [Henry Thurston-Griswold]
Literary Representation of the Spanish Civil War in Hispanic Fiction
The Spanish Civil War occurred during the late 1930s and is a dark and violent time period in Spain's history. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were murdered, and many more were imprisoned or forced to flee the country. The end of the war led to the dictatorship of a fascist general, Francisco Franco, who ruled until his death in the 1970s. The time period during the dictatorship of Franco was extremely oppressive and citizens were forced to comply with Franco and his regime's ideals. I analyze how the effects of the Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship of Franco are reflected in the characterization of the main protagonists of each of the seven fictional novels that are used as the basis for this project. This presentation will focus on the novel, La voz dormida, which is a story about several women who are imprisoned in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War. I analyze how this imprisonment affects their lives, as well as the lives of their families and friends. I also analyze how La voz dormida portrays the role of women during this tragic period of history in Spain.
Lieberman, Sarah (Wyomissing, Pa) [Amy Frazier-Yoder]
El juego de poder en la Guerra Sucia representado en la obra de ficción "Cambio de armas" por Luisa Valenzuela.
La Guerra Sucia era una época de terror, violencia y miedo en Argentina durante los años setentas. Las fuerzas armadas tenÃan el control de todos y miles de personas fueron desaparecidos y matados a manos de los militares. Las mujeres, especialmente las mujeres solteras, sufrÃan violaciones y raptos, y el secuestro de sus hijos, en parte porque las mujeres empezaron a defenderse y luchar por sus derechos. HabÃan mujeres que luchaban como guerrilleras y que protestaban contra la guerra. Los hombres militares veÃan estas mujeres como una amenaza a su poder. La Guerra Sucia y los cambios sociales que iniciaron como resultado de la guerra, se ven reflejados en la obra "Cambio de armas" por Luisa Valenzuela. La violencia que empleaban los hombres militares hacÃa las mujeres durante la Guerra Sucia está muy destacado dentro del cuento por las relaciones entre la mujer principal, Laura, y su supuesto marido, Roque. Sin embargo, en la progresión del cuento, como en la progresión de la sociedad argentina, hay pasos hacÃa un "cambio de armas" o un cambio en cuanto a quién tiene el poder. El paralelismo entre el cuento y la sociedad es lo que este trabajo propone analizar.
Loughran, Alex (Monroeville, Pa) [Donna Weimer]
Directing Actors into Characters
A director's communication with the actors is paramount to creating memorable characters resulting in a solid story. Through research and some experimenting, I have found that in directing, there are many of styles and techniques, but only some are appropriate for certain films. In the case of the film projects I undertook, the most appropriate style of directing was one that focused heavily on the actors, character building, and rehearsal.
In order to explore or even begin compiling a theory about directing I had to actually direct something. Instead of attempting to direct a short film it was decided that this project should be kept as simple as possible and as directing centered as possible. In order to accomplish this I chose three scenes from movies that dealt with a theme I was familiar with, coming of age. The three movies were The Breakfast Club (1985), Chasing Amy (1997), and Diner (1982). In addition to the theme, these movies were chosen because they were character and relationship based movies.
From each movie I chose a scene that I wanted to direct. The production of these scenes was purposefully done in the simplest way possible. Lighting, cinematography, sound design, costuming, and other aspects of filmmaking were either borrowed directly from the original film or largely ignored. The idea was to isolate the director/actor relationship as it appears on screen.
Throughout the process of filming I researched directing techniques and styles. By combining what I was learning from working with actors with what I was researching I developed the understanding that while there is no one "correct way" of directing, in order to achieve the best results when directing material similar to The Breakfast Club, Chasing Amy, and Diner, I need to focus on my communication with the actors and rehearse frequently.
Lutz, Abby (Oil City, PA) [Henry Escuadro]
The Chromatic Number of the Generalized Petersen Graphs
A graph in the mathematical field of Graph Theory consists of points, called vertices, and lines that join (some of) them, called edges. Given a graph G, the chromatic number of G is the least number of colors needed in order to color all of the vertices of G such that no two vertices joined by an edge are colored the same. In this paper, we examine the family of graphs called the generalized Petersen graphs and determine their chromatic numbers.
Magnotta, Derrick (Tafton, PA) [Dr. Dennis Plane]
Media Coverage of U.S. Federal Debt
This project examines media coverage of the U.S. Federal debt by analyzing two similar events: the 1995 government shutdown and the 2011 negotiations over the debt ceiling. The project analyzes two 30 day periods of front page stories of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times. The front page stories pertaining to the two policy events were scored based on their coverage of political strategy, government policies and hot button issues, impacts of a shutdown or default, and discussion of compromise or gridlock. By using these indicators, the project examines how the media covered these two policy events, searches for changes in media coverage over time, and tests theories of media evolution in political coverage
Managing Advanced Technology (rockville, md) ();();Reid, Tristan(rockville, md);Biglin, Michael(Cresson, PA);Altevolmer, Jakob(Rheine, Germany);Bruegge, Michael(Steinfurt, Germany);Jaron, Brian(Severna Park, MD);Elgabrowny, Abdullah(Huntingdon, Pa);();Smith, Vincent(Butler, PA);Swiger, Kelsey(Grove City, PA) [Marlene Burkhardt]
Interactive Map of Huntingdon
Juniata College is in need of an interactive way to show prospective and current students about the attractions of huntingdon. Our class created a google map to help orient new students on campus as well as provide a reference for current students on what the town has to offer.
Mandley, Tyler (Altoona, PA) [Sarah May Clarkson]
Warming up to Alternative Energies: Consumers Choose Solar, Biodiesel, and Ethanol
This poster will examine the advantages and disadvantages of three particular rising energy sources for consumer use: solar, biodiesel, and ethanol. Drawing from recent research in the development of these alternative fuels, the presenter will demonstrate that consumer energy usage will, in future, draw more and more from the alternative energy spectrum as finite energy sources are diminished.
Mariani, Cheryl (Delran, NJ) [Michael Henderson]
Internet Freedom: The clash of values in a new global territory
What does it mean to promote internet freedom? The struggle to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and protecting users from cybercrime reflects the value systems of different countries. Perspectives on intellectual property rights, reasons for censorship, and classification of internet access as a right or privilege are at the center of the discussion to define how "free" the internet should be. Differing cultural viewpoints make it difficult to determine to what extent global internet regulation or prohibitions could be based on shared values. Using information obtained by observing meetings at the Council of Europe, this research examines the Council of Europe's actions both to protect internet freedom and prevent cybercrime. It also compares these to similar efforts by the United States and explores how these entities work together to find multilateral solutions.
Mattas, Cory (York, PA) L(A) [Chuck Yohn]
Does implementing an attractant affect Whitetail deer population?
Salt licks are used as attractants in environments to increase the area's population density of Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). This study looked at two field sites, one that was managed as a wildlife restoration area and one that was not, and how introducing a salt lick changes the population density of Whitetail Deer in both fields. Before introducing the salt licks, the managed restoration area showed an average Whitetail Deer density of 5.04E-04 deer/m2 (±2.54E-04) and the unmanaged field showed 0 deer/m2 (±0). After implementing the salt licks, there was no change in deer population density in both fields (p value 0.56). Data was collected one hour after sunset in March 2012 at fields located near Entriken, PA.
McCleaf, Miranda (Biglerville, Pennsylvania) Ciancitto, Michael( Milford, Pennsylvania) [Roy Nagle]
Overwintering Ecology of the Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)at the Raystown Field Station
We studied the overwintering ecology of box turtles (Terrapene carolina) at Juniata's Raystown Field Station. Box turtles are Pennsylvania's only terrestrial turtle species and are very long-lived. We used radio telemetry to track the movements of four adult T. carolina in relation to overwintering. GIS was used to plot movements and overwintering locations on an aerial map. To monitor the thermal environment experienced by turtles, temperature datalogger probes were placed against the plastron of each animal during winter. All turtles entered overwintering sites before 14 November 2011 and exited them between 20 and 27 March 2012. Although overwintering locations were very shallow (max depth < 10 cm), no turtles experienced sub-freezing temperatures during the relatively mild winter. Ground temperatures of 12-14 C were associated with spring emergence. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the natural history of T. carolina and may support conservation management plans.
McGrath, Monica (Warrington, PA) [Larry Mutti]
A Petrographic Study of Vein Mineralization within Paleozoic Rocks Units in the Central Pennsylvania Region
High angle, cross cutting fractures found in Paleozoic rock outcrops in Central Pennsylvania are mineralized with quartz and/or calcite. Samples were collected from mineralized veins in several formations along the Tyrone-Mount Union Lineament, where these fractures are especially prevalent. Cathodoluminescence imaging of polished samples on the scanning electron microscope allowed for the recognition of multiple mineralization events with distinctive growth signatures. Calcite-only veins exhibited no recognizable growth features, suggesting a single, uniform calcite-precipitating event. Other material collected was dominated by quartz filled veins. Quartz-CL images, in contrast to calcite, show complex patterns. Most of the vein quartz grains showed quasi-concentric growth with alternating CL-bright and CL-dark bands foreshadowing final crystal morphology. Conditions during mineralization must have fluctuated as shown by the oscillatory CL patterns. There is also evidence of crack-seal textures, and refracturing and secondary mineralization. This complicates the story of simple progressive growth. Overgrowths of previously formed grains are seen along with asymmetric infilling of open fractures with quartz and other minerals. These patterns are distinct from those revealed in Curry's investigation of similar material from the Brallier Formation just east of Huntingdon (2011, 2012). Ongoing studies hope to define more clearly the mineralizing events and fluids that affected the Paleozoic rocks, as well as to geographically constrain the region of petroleum migration documented by Curry (2012) for the Braillier section.
McGuire, James (Sussex, NJ) [Nagengast, Emil]
Heaven, Hell, or Hoboken: A Story of Gentrification
This presentation Heaven, Hell, or Hoboken will look at a problem facing most modern cities in the United States. This growing problem, known as gentrification, is the migration of new wealthier residents into low income sections of the city. Although gentrification is known for renewing cities and fixing up slums, it does not improve the quality of life for low income residents. When the process of gentrification occurs, the low income residents are displaced because of increased rent. These individuals continue to live in poverty, just in a different area. Therefore, it is the duty of the government to intervene and address the problems of the people before they are driven from the city. The question posed here is how the Government can improve the city without removing the people they are trying to help? In order to address this question, I looked at three different case studies of cities that have gone through gentrification using either free market tactics or government policy. Some authors studying the issue have tried to justify that gentrification is the only way a city can sustainably improve. The research here will point to the fact that through cooperation and balance of government, community organizations, and private industry, cities across America can redevelop while simultaneously sustaining diversity, culture, and affordable housing.
Medlyn, Andrew (Towson, MD) M(T) [Doug Stiffler]
Chinese Urbanization
Michael Lackey (Towson, MD) ();();();();();();();();Miller, Justin(Bellwood, PA);Fuller, Kelsey(York, PA);Wolff, Ben(Meadville, PA);Fenton, Dan(Johnstown, PA);Curry, Lance(Palmyra, PA);Penzo, Joe(Grassflat, PA);Andrews, Scott(Holidaysburg, PA);Risso, Zach(Millville, PA);Fritz, Matt(Schnecksville, PA) [Marlene Burkhardt]
Improving JCEL
This project prepared a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT)analysis of JCEL and developed projects to improve JCEL based on the results.
Milligan, David (Eighty Four, Pennsylvania) [Mark Pearson]
Arduino applications in Physics Experimentation
Throughout the last 5 years, Arduino microcontrollers have been applied to many technological applications, from robotic toys to security and medical devices. Arduinos are well accepted by designers and experimentalists because they are powerful yet relatively easy to apply to a wide range of applications using components such as sensors, specific modules, output control, and data storage. In particular, this technology can be applied to make new methods of experimentation including "portable, stand alone" setups, monitoring systems over time, and responding to certain events.
This study has involved developing Arduino based modules that perform specific tasks such as monitoring light, sound, frequency, pressure and temperature over time and storing data on a memory card on the Arduino. These types of general modules can then be applied to specific experiments such as monitoring the power output of a laser over time. The potential of applying Arduino technology to physics based applications has only just begun to be realized.
Moledina, Anwar (Lakeland, Florida) [Richard Mahoney]
Returning to the Fold: Understanding the Process of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Failed States
Moreno, Marjorie (Philadelphia, PA) [Dr. Amy Frazier-Yoder]
La belleza plastificada de la mujer: Un analisis de las normas de belleza en dos cuentos de J.J. Arreola
El objetivó de este análisis es de explicar qué significa ser bella en Latino América. Las teorÃas de Sandra Lee Bartky en The Beauty Myth son usadas para analizar dos trabajos de el famoso escritor mexicano, Juan José Arreola: "Parábola del trueque" y "Anuncio". En estos dos trabajos se presenta una idea muy común de la belleza femenina. Algunos comentarios crÃticos sobre las dos obras literarias de Arreola son también usados para incrementar el nivel de análisis. Este estudio no pretende definir la ideologÃa personal de Juan José Arreola sobre la belleza de la mujer, por el contrario es un análisis de las mujeres representadas en estas dos obras. Las dos obras literarias de Arreola presentan normas de belleza femenina, pero la diferencia entre las dos es que en "Anuncio" las mujeres siguen estas normas para satisfacer a el cliente, el hombre; y en "Parábola del trueque" las mujeres siguen estas normas para ser aceptadas por las otras mujeres en la sociedad.
Morillo, Andrea (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) [Amy Frazier-Yoder]
Women in Hispanic Fiction
La mujer, como elemento central en la sociedad, siempre se ha tenido que someter a ciertas expectativas de la sociedad dominada por el orden patriarcal. Siempre han estado encasilladas a este papel de sumisión, alejadas del poder y de la esfera pública. Paloma Pedrero, Alfonsina Storni y Rosario Castellanos exponen personajes que se someten ante las absurdas expectativas sobre la castidad que tiene la sociedad en sus obras El color de agosto, Tú me quieres blanca, y Lección de cocina. En todas las obras hay personajes con mujeres conscientes de su lugar en la sociedad. Son mujeres educadas, feministas e independientes. Sin embargo, se conforman a las expectativas en diferentes niveles. En "Tu me quieres blanca" la poeta critica estas expectativas, burlándose de lo que pide el hombre y rechazando por completo la idea de la castidad en la mujer. En El color de agosto Laura y MarÃa se liberan, pero aún asà no se rebelan ante la sociedad. Deciden seguir la farsa de la mujer ideal. El conformismo se manifiesta por los personajes como una comedia. En Lección de cocina, la protagonista cumple con el papel de una mujer pura al conservarse intacta hasta el matrimonio, al casarse de blanco, al dejar atrás sus logros académicos por la cocina y al ignorar su propio placer al hacer el amor para poder complacer a su esposo. Al igual que la voz poética en "Tu me quieres blanca", la protagonista está consciente que estar en la cocina limita sus habilidades, pero a diferencia de la voz poética, la ama de casa decide continuar jugando el papel de la mujer sumisa a pesar de estar lidiando con un fuerte conflicto interno.
Mueller, Anne (Cheswick, PA) [Peter Goldstein]
What We Are Teaching Our Young Girls?
Female Protagonists in Young Adult Literature
Between the ages of 12 and 21, young adults struggle to find answers to create their own identity by asking questions such as "Who am I?" and "What can I be?" During this important time of self-discovery, adolescent females often have difficulty defining themselves due to their fear of rejection from their peer group. The widespread use of Young Adult Literature in middle and high schools can provide struggling adolescents with characters who act as guides and role models during this time of identity construction. Through novels, students are given a literary peer and a character to whom they can relate.
In the six novels analyzed in my study: Anatomy of a Boyfriend, Before I Die, Good Girls, Gossip Girl, The Hunger Games, and Intensely Alice, female protagonists attempt to define their place in society. Defining factors in creating identity include: academic accomplishments, social acceptance and status, economic status, and sexual orientation and activity. The study will examine each protagonist's attempt to find their sense of self before the conclusion of the novel. Additionally, the study will examine the protagonists' actions in order to must question whether the characters should be seen as role models for girls as they attempt to construct their own identities.
Nelson, Kayci (Morrisdale, Pa) Steele, Adam(Huntingdon, Pa);Bornman, Dominic(Mechanicsburg, Pa);Schmidt, Amanda(Boswell, Pa);Schindler, James(New York, NY) [Bill Thomas]
Glendale Area Medical Association Voice over IP System
The Glendale Area Medical Association is a medical and dental facility that has been allocated a $20,000 government grant to update their current analog technology. With the introduction of VoIP phone technology, administration and staff will be able to operate more efficiently and conveniently with the advanced features these phones offer compared to normal analog lines. With implementation of this new phone system, Glendale Area Medical Association can reduce call wait times and free staff resources for other daily tasks.
The I4I project team will research the current technology and options associated with the VoIP systems and communicate with the administrators to choose the best option. The project team will also work with staff members to customize the new phone features in a way that will make the transition from analog technology to the VoIP technology go smoothly. The team will then implement, test and troubleshoot the system to ensure its proper installation and that it meets the criteria of the client.
Criteria for the system include:
Stability
Stay under the Budget ($20,000)
Functionality/Ease of Use
Call Tracking
'Soft Phone'
Music on Hold
Power-outage Plan
Completed by Deadline
Noe, Jessica (East McKeesport, PA) Bernardo, Elizabeth(Mountain Top, PA);Haskins, Genevieve(Fairfax, VA);Kostick, Heather(Media, PA);Shope, Trey(James Creek, PA);Wilson, Erick(Pittsgrove, NJ) [Dr. Dennis Johnson]
Life Is Like A Tree Plot
The Permanent Forest Plot Project takes place in nine plots over three different sites located in central Pennsylvania near Raystown Lake. The plots were set up in order to conduct a long-term carbon sequestration study in Huntingdon, PA. The data collected was incorporated into the national Ecological Research as Education Network (EREN) website, along with other undergraduate institutions across the United States. The accumulation of biomass within the nine plots will serve as a historical reference for further analysis to compare the magnitude of biomass. Future plans to alter the forest in these regions by either Juniata College students or forest management programs overseen by the Army Corps will allow students to measure change over time in some of these plots.
Oldham, Margaret (Windber, PA) [Dr. Peter Goldstein]
Mystery in the Old English Advent Lyrics
The Advent Lyrics are a set of Old English poems written in the late 8th or early 9th century by an unknown poet. These poems are based on antiphons from the Christian liturgical cycle and prepare for the incarnation of Christ. The incarnation is a mystery that mankind needs in order to be saved. As with all mysteries, man cannot and should not try to understand how the incarnation happened. Mary the Mother of God, as the vessel of the incarnation, becomes in the Advent Lyrics a model of how to accept mystery without trying to understand it. Following her example, man is to praise God for allowing the mystery of the incarnation to happen, and the Advent Lyrics suggest this course for man and serve that purpose. Their two-fold purpose is to teach man and praise God.
Olthoff () [Dr. Mahoney]
"Nigeria: Democracy Building"
What is the Nigerian phenomenon known as Boko Haram and should we be worried about it? Analysis of the Nigerian democratic experiment demonstrates that Boko Haram is the product of a long struggle within Nigeria over issues of ethnicity, oil, religion, poverty, geographic divisions, poor governance, and brutality. These same issues threaten the stability of Nigeria's flagging democracy. By establishing the relationship between these three variables of democracy, underlying issues, and Boko Haram, this presentation aims to show how the international community can understand and act to improve the prospects for a stable democratic Nigeria.
Olthoff, Michael () [Grace Fala]
"A Life Philosophy"
Peters, Katherine (Mechanicsburg, PA) [Dr. Lynn Cockett]
Kaffeekultur: An Ethnography of Communication in a Multicultural Meeting Space
Communication scholars view culture on the level between people, the way each individual's expression of culture affects others as well as how these sometimes conflicting expressions are negotiated together for the individual. It is in this way that each individual expresses not the totality of the culture that they live in, but rather aspects of it that have been learned, negotiated, and altered. John Dewey said "of all things communication is the most wonderful." This statement sets up the framework for the entire field of communication which seeks to understand and explain not only how people communicate, but why, to what effect, and for what purpose. This ethnography of communication seeks to describe communicative acts and then, based on these descriptions, infer the meaning that these acts hold for the communicators. Dell Hymes (1964) proposes the ethnography of communication as a method of looking at language and communication within the context that it is communicated. Gerry Philipsen (1975) used this method to study the values of speaking and expressions of masculinity in a neighborhood of Chicago. This qualitative research focuses on the aspects of culture communicated by the observed actors and seeks to describe displays of culture from a communication perspective. Data were gathered in the form of field notes taken during five months of participant observation in a coffee shop in Essen, Germany. These data were then analyzed through the frameworks of grounded theory, set out by Glaser and Strauss (1967). This paper examines the "everyday" through the eyes of a non-native immersed in German culture. Through the conversations, actions, and observations of others, this research aims to describe everyday communicative acts as they display the uniquely wonderful viewpoints, attitudes, and beliefs of the people who frequent this multicultural meeting place.
Potter, Ian (Altoona, PA) [Richard Hark]
Geochemical fingerprinting of potential 'conflict minerals': Analysis of cassiterite using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral (SnO2) that from ancient times to the present has been the chief source of metallic tin. Unfortunately, it is sometimes mined in areas associated with armed conflict and human rights abuses, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and can therefore be considered a 'conflict mineral'. Recent legislation holds U.S. companies responsible for exercising due diligence in determining the source of the raw materials used in their products. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is an atomic spectroscopy technique that provides a chemical "fingerprint" allowing for classification of mineral samples based on geographic origin. A large suite of cassiterite ore concentrates from geographically diverse locations was analyzed with a commercial LIBS instrument followed by chemometric data using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA). High levels of correct classification were obtained with regard to sampling site and country of origin.
Provias, Eleanor (Indiana, PA) Engle, Elly(Millheim, PA);Fischer, Logan(Crystal Spring, PA);Belonis, Alex(Edison, NJ);Burt, Erin(Spring, TX) [Neil Pelkey]
Juniata College Farm Improvement and 5 Year Plan
This is a Senior Capstone project for environmental science, studies, and wildlife conservation students with 5 different elements. Each element revolves around improvement of the Juniata College Farm. These elements include: implementation of a composting program in Baker Refectory, a feasibility assessment of putting student housing on the farm, general improvements of the farm, creating a space for vegetable gardens and planting for the upcoming season, and incorporating biodiesel production and usage on the farm.
The culmination of these different elements is the creation of a 5 year farm plan to which future students can continue to expand and improve upon the Juniata College Farm. We will present on our current progress, and our vision for the farm in the future.
Raputa, Tomas (Brno, Czech Republic) [Bradley Andrew]
Investing to volatility - how to make money on ups and downs
I developed an investment strategy that is based on a simple mathematical model which takes advantage of swings in the market prices. The strategy works especially well when we are confident an asset will soon revert to its mean value. Then we can profit from purchasing more at low prices and selling at high prices regardless of which direction will market go in the short-term. My strategy delivered returns as high as 25% annually using the VIX index, which measures the anticipated volatility of stocks in the S&P 500 index. The VIX index tends to rise during uncertain times when stocks fall, therefore adding VIX to a portfolio smooth out returns so an investor is not subject to as deep losses as he/she would face without using VIX.
Rathey, Madeline (Lancaster, PA) [James Tuten]
The Divergent Paths of Union and Confederate Scouts and Spies in the War of the Rebellion
Despite the large amount of scholarly research and popular literature that has been written on the topic of intelligence gathering during the U.S. Civil War, a set distinction has not yet been made between the activities of scouts and the activities of spies from this particular war. In history, a difference between these two forms of intelligence gathering exists; however, the pattern in Civil War literature is to treat both together, or to focus entirely on the adventures of spies. Too often, the contributions made by scouts are overlooked. Similarly overlooked, is the subdivision between an intellectual spy and a spy of opportunity, or a person who did not set out to become an espionage agent, but happened to be in the right place, at the right time. These two types of spies were significantly different in their motivations and preparations, therefore, require two separate classifications.
This paper examines specific cases of scouts and spies, including Berry Benson, Rose Greenhow, Elizabeth Van Lew, Belle Boyd, and Ambrose Hayward. Benson's work helps to define the role of scouts for both armies. Rose Greenhow and Elizabeth Van Lew are ideal examples of what it meant to be an active spy. Each woman set out to have a career as an espionage agent during the war, and subsequently created a network of spies. Belle Boyd and Robert Ford were both spies of opportunity. They happened to hear valuable intelligence information and made the decision to convey it to the opposing army. This paper will argue that clear distinctions exist between the duties of scouts, spies, and spies of opportunity. These distinctions become evident when studying specific agents, their motivations and impact, as well as their fates.
Redmond, Gus (Bethesda, MD) R(B) [Kate Clarke]
One Flew Over the cuckoo's Nest
a theatrical set design for the play One Flew Over The Cuckoo's nest
Rehr, Victoria (Wernersville, PA) [Anne Gilman]
Bilingual Education in Hispanic Communities: Effectiveness in Elementary School Curriculum
The increasing number of Latino immigrants and youth in the United States has necessitated a review of bilingual educational practices in the school curriculum. The existing bilingual model has produced controversial results and creates heavy pressure to integrate ESL learners into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible, often at the expense of Spanish literacy. However, retention of Spanish is linked to academic success, higher self-esteem, and closer parental relationships in Latino students. Two-way immersion programs teach Spanish and English language skills concurrently to elementary and middle school students in a manner that encourages equal evaluation of both languages and ethnicities, and may present an effective way to teach English while maintaining Spanish proficiency. The nationwide implementation of the two-way immersion program is threatened by current public antagonism towards a multicultural curriculum, specifically in the no-assimilationist movement.
Reimer, Rachel (Altoona, PA) Costello, Brian(Cranberry Township, PA);Medley, Chelsea(Sarasota, Florida) [Dr. Phil Dunwoody]
Linking Departmental and Institutional Assessment of Critical Thinking
This poster describes an attempt to link a homegrown measure of psychological critical thinking (PCT) with other measures of critical thinking. Scores on our Psychological Critical Thinking Inventory are correlated with those on the Collegiate Learning Assessment and the Psychology Area Concentration Achievement Test. Overall, the senior capstone scores were significantly greater than the scores of freshmen enrolled in Introduction to Psychology. In addition, longitudinal data for students enrolled in Research Methods is in progress for investigation. In conclusion, our findings show that our new measure can detect differences between freshman and seniors, as well as pre-post differences within a course. However, due to the small sample sizes more research is needed.
Reitman, Maxwell (Huntingdon, PA) [Jill Keeney]
Evaluation of the Efficacy of RTT105p homologs ZYRO0B03520p / KLTH0C06512p in Regulating Ty1 Retromobility via Experimental and Computational Methods
Characterization of RTT105 Orthologs in Yeast Species Closely Related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Maxwell R. Reitman and Jill B. Keeney
The prevalence and regulation of retroelements in fungal genomes varies widely; some such as Pichia gulliermondii possess literally none, while others have thousands of elements. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RTT105 regulates the expression of the Ty1/Copia subfamily of retroelements. RTT105 has no homology to any fully characterized protein, however through deletion experiments a functional role in transposition has been established. RTT105 has uncharacterized orthologs in several other yeasts. This project explores the potential function of various domains of RTT105 through its other uncharacterized orthologs. The project utilized software designed to detect retroelements in order to determine the prevalence of Ty1 retrotransposons in the genomes of RTT105-orthologous yeasts. The project has then sought to evaluate whether there is any significant correlation between unconserved domains between orthologs and the count of functional Ty1 elements. This data will be used to inform analysis of assays for retrotransposition events in S. cerevisiae transformed with vectors containing RTT105 orthologs from the analyzed species, beginning with Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Kluyveromyces thermotolerans. The transformed yeast will be assayed using the pGTy1mhis3AI system, in which retrotransposition events expressed from the plasmid restore histidine metabolism in the transformed yeast, allowing for selective growth. By establishing the relative efficacy of multiple orthologs we may be able to evaluate the roles of various domains in RTT105, and thus better understand the mechanisms by which RTT105 regulates the retrotransposition process.
Richard, Barrett (Harrisburg, PA) Parker, Robert(Lansdale, PA) [Dr. Keith Krise]
Effects of ultrasound on protein structure
Medical procedures such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) use high frequency sound waves to produce images. To understand the potential molecular effects of ultrasound, aqueous pepsin (from porcine gastric mucosa) solutions were sonicated for up to 15 minutes in a 55 kHz ultrasonic bath. The data obtained are used to assess whether the primary structure of pepsin is degraded and, if so, to determine whether reactions with radicals (generated by the thermally-induced homolysis of water) and/or hydrodynamic sheer stress resulting from acoustic cavitation are the principal causes of degradation.
Rigg, Bryce (Bellefonte, PA) Reich, William(Frederick, MD);Rodgers, Christopher(Mar Lin, PA) [Daniel Welliver, Cynthia Merriwether-De Vries]
The Town-Gown Divide:Bridging the Gap with Service Learning
Justice Studies Senior Seminar is a non-traditional student led course focused on the partnerships and interactions within the community and the classroom. We as emergent professionals are creating and facilitating relationships focused on "working with as opposed to working for," with the Huntingdon County United Way and the Huntingdon County Prison Society. Through these relationships, we plan to raise awareness for our community partners and promote opportunities to engage in service learning in the Huntingdon Community.
Rodland, Jennifer (Lyndhurst, NJ) [Peter Goldstein]
Defining Dictionaries in the Internet Age
Despite the increasing usage of online dictionaries, little has been studied of their content and features. As dictionaries catalog the meaning and significance of language, they serve both as a gauge of the knowledge of their time and the methods of understanding it. The process of translating paper dictionaries into a digital medium has been undertaken in several different ways, leading to a great variation among online dictionaries. This work analyzes the results of these endeavors with an aim to highlight the contrasts to traditional dictionaries in their authorship, resources, scope, organization, and illustration. Significant paper and online dictionaries are compared in order to determine how online dictionaries are challenging fundamental assumptions of what a dictionary is and why.
Roman, Kelsey (Chambersburg, PA) [Anne Gilman]
Nonconscious priming: Motivated by thoughts about caffeine-induced states or positive liking ratings?
Motivational states, whether positive or negative, can influence everyday behavior even without conscious awareness. Our first study suggested that reading about caffeine could prime a caffeine-induced state leading to faster reaction times in a lexical decision task (LDT) (Roman & Adams, 2010). However, results after participants read a story about energy drinks failed to show a significant effect of caffeine on reaction times. Participant interest in an activity could bring about nonconscious priming of goal states, explaining the faster response times in our initial study.
In our current study, we are continuing to examine motivational states, behavior, and nonconscious priming to look at the factors that are contributing and motivating faster response times such as positive and negative affect and gender. Research has shown that liking and disliking are linked asymmetrically, where positivity and liking are considered spontaneously and automatically before disliking is accessed and considered (Herr & Page, 2004). Disliking judgments and negative affect require more time and cognitive processing to recall and convey. Participant gender was also a significant factor in our earlier studies, and a pilot study suggested that some of the activities mentioned were more of interest to one gender than to the other.
Our results showed significant individual differences in interest in activities and response times after considering the ratings of each activity. We are continuing to collect data in this experiment, which will allow us to evaluate whether participant gender interacts with interest in the activities presented. As we continue our research, we want to focus on the effects of liking and disliking ratings of activities that could lead to individual differences in response times.
Rowan, Brianne (Port Townsend, WA) [Dr. James Roney]
Global Health vs. International Health: A Case Study on the Emergence of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
The last 20 - 30 years have seen the emergence of global health, a new approach to addressing worldwide health issues, which has distinguished itself from the traditional international health approach. Whereas the international health approach focuses on specific diseases and their spread, and maintains a top-down framework for health policy, the global health approach includes a wider variety of social, economic and cultural factors in policy-making, and focuses on coordination among local health care systems and providers. The emergence and increasing prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), largely in developing nations, has raised questions among members of the international community about whether or not the traditional international health approach is adequate when dealing with diseases that are highly associated with poverty, such as tuberculosis (TB). This presentation highlights the characteristics of the international health approach that can be linked to the failure to prevent the emergence of MDR-TB. It argues that the global health approach, by addressing the fact that factors such as poverty and inequality are linked to MDR-TB, is both a more efficient and a morally preferable approach to controlling TB worldwide.
Savadkin (Columbia) [Cynthia Merriwether deVries]
Contextual Expressions: Agency and Fluidity in Gender Expression
This project explores gender diversity with the intention of reframing rhetoric to affirm transgender and gender expansive individuals as crucial to our understanding gender diversity. The concept of transgender is framed outside of the binary and essentialist rhetoric of a conflict between mind and body, but rather in terms of a conflict between the individual and (both internal and external) expectations for the individual. This will hopefully help reconcile the conceptual differences between feminist and queer theory in terms of gender identity and expression. Furthermore, the goal is to document the fluidity and contextualization of gender expression in the way that transgender individuals use language and symbolic performance as a tool to invite an affirming gender attribution. This research will help create avenues for institutions and communities to create safe and affirming environments for people of diverse genders, as well as including gendered perceptions into framings of transgender identities and experiences.
Schmidt, Matthew Z (Baltimore, Maryland) [Lynn Cockett]
Deception Cues and Gender
Schrayer, E. Toria () [Cy Merriweather-deVries]
A Paradigm Shift: Rethinking Conceptualizations of Gender
This work leads the reader through models used to represent and conceptualize gender throughout time, culminating in a paradigm-shifting new model, which is focused on highlighting different aspects of gender, allowing for diversity, and reducing oppositional sexism.
Sharp, Liam (Haddon Heights, NJ) Bogue, Jonathan(East Berlin, PA) [Dr. Beaky]
CCD Camera Characterization (and Possible Observatory Renovations)
Charge-coupled device cameras, or CCD cameras, collect photons and convert them into electrons, which can be read by a computer pixel-by-pixel to create an image. CCD's are highly sensitive, making them ideal for low-light situations, especially celestial observing. The characterization of a CCD camera involves running a number of tests to evaluate the properties of the physical chip using a CCD testing apparatus that we have constructed. With a complete characterization of the camera, we can compare the camera-specific operational capacities with those provided by the manufacturer, which provides a greater understanding of the camera's functional limits in addition to simply confirming proper function. We have measured the dark current, read noise, and gain of two recently purchased CCD cameras, the ST-8XME and ST-402ME cameras manufactured by Santa Barbara Instruments Group. It is our hope to use this new understanding to contribute to the continuing upgrades to the Paul E. Hickes Observatory, and improve the accuracy of observational astronomy research at Juniata College. We also divulge future technological upgrades taking place to the Observatory on campus and strides towards a computer-controlled off-campus observatory.
Sheeler, Rebekah (Boyertown, PA) Egas Villacres, Milagros(Quito, Ecuador);Navas Ruiz, Diana C(Quito, Ecuador);Costello, Brian K(Cranberry Twp, PA);Mazuera Arana, Israel J(Merida, Venezuela);Glass, Julie(Harleysville, PA);Wilson, Nathan(Altoona, PA);Kester, Kendra(Robesonia, PA) [Amy Frazier-Yoder]
La Casa Hispánica
Sheets, Benjamin (Athens, Ohio) [Dr. Peter Baran]
Synthesis of Transition Metal Complexes with amine N-oxides for Single Molecule Magnets
Investigation into the use of N-Oxides for the synthesis of poly-nuclear complexes as Single Molecule Magnets
Ben Sheets, Juniata College
Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs) have been the topic of much research over the past decade due to the incredible technological advance that they could represent. We are interested in the synthesis of new SMMs because of problems with known SMMs having low blocking temperatures. By using 1-hydroxypyrazole as a bridging ligand in synthesis of transition metal complexes, we hypothesize that we can isolate polynuclear metal complexes, which could potentially be used as SMMs. Our study could also shed light on the coordination properties of 1-hydroxypyrazole and other similar N-oxides that, to the best of our knowledge, have not been studied as organic ligands in coordination chemistry. We have successfully synthesized 1-hydroxypyrazole, and are in the process of complexation studies with copper(II) salts. Obtained complexes will be analyzed for their composition, crystal structure, and magnetic properties to verify the above hypothesis about formation of multinuclear complexes.
Sinnes, Edward () [Wang, Xinli]
Transhumanism Nature
Does Human Nature Define Us or Do We Humans Define Our Nature?
Human nature is a defining feature and topic of philosophical discussion and has been since the time of Socrates and Plato. Through time, numerous theories of human nature have been thought up and debated and the discussion rages on, now with one new feature in this age: technology. Advances in technology have started to change the way we humans live our day to day lives and it seems future inventions may change our very nature, at least biologically. If humans reach a state no longer recognizable on the quest to transcend our current state of living, some claim our human nature will be lost, transcended. Human nature cannot be transcended as some claim however, for there is no agreed upon definition of human nature to transcend. Rather, human nature is changing and able to be altered, and as a species what we recognize collectively as our nature will evolve with us based off of our actions and states of existing. For these reasons it is not possible for humans, as we presently know them, as a collective species, to transcend human nature if we choose to or not. It is permanently attached to our existence and lives. Our nature has and will change and evolve from environmental and technological pressures as we do. As we mold and shape ourselves to needs and desire to change and grow our nature will remain with us. With the future, we may become transhumans or post-humans, but as we define and shape our nature, it will forever be intrinsically our changing human nature.
Smale, Nicole (Coopersburg, PA) Hu, Helen(Zhengzhou, China);Rehr, Victoria(Wernersville, PA);Vooys, Nancy(Mount Holly Springs, PA) [Dr. Anne Gilman]
Selecting Recognizable Images for Bilingual Priming
Studies show that when a bilingual participant hears a word and is presented with a target image and a cross-lingual distracter, it takes them longer than monolinguals to identify the target picture. Cross-lingual distracters have similar phonological make-up to the target word. For example, the word "eagle" is shown and a distracter image would be a church or "iglesia" in Spanish, which has phonological overlap with "eagle". The bilingual speaker is known to take a longer time to respond to the target image, "eagle", because it is sidetracked by the distracter image, a "church" or in Spanish, "iglesia". However, before we were able to select appropriate distract words with similar phonemes to recreate these studies, we had to select the visual images that would be involved in the experiment. Twenty-four undergraduates from Juniata College were used to determine which pictures would work best in the lexical decision task. The pictures were chosen from a small group of research assistants from the same education level and social class. Once the pictures are chosen through this study they will be used to determine reaction times between target and distractor images in a lexical decision task.
Smith, Nathan (York, Pennsylvania) [Dr. Jill Keeney]
The Characterization of RTT105 Orthologs in Yeast Species Closely Related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Ty1 is a retroelement of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is comparable biochemically to HIV. Rtt105 is a yeast host protein that has an unknown function in Ty1 mobility. Fluorescence microscopy is capable of unveiling vital information about the complex interplay between molecules and their environments. Multiple molecules, either fluorescently tagged or dyed, can be monitored under varying conditions and times. Processing bodies (P-bodies) and stress granules, RNA-protein granules visible as foci by fluorescence microscopy, contain mRNA that is in a latent state of translation. Under normal conditions, stress granules are barely noticeable in the cell, while processing bodies are present in moderation. Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag protein also form distinct foci in the cytoplasm. Using colocalization techniques and deconvolution software to maximize resolution, my project is to analyze colocalization of Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag gene. I have found evidence suggesting colocalization of Rtt105 and the Ty1 Gag gene, indicating that Rtt105 has some role in Ty1 mobility.
State College Friends School () Berger, Martin(Huntingdon, PA);Berger, Matias(Huntingdon, PA);Borgardt, Soren(Huntingdon, PA);Symons, Madison (State College, PA);Gamble, Jeremy (State College, PA);Moose, Devlin (Huntingdon, PA) [Jim Borgardt]
Near Space Measurements using a Weather Balloon
This presentation will cover our efforts to take pictures and collect scientific data in near-space. Our weather balloon project provides a fun educational opportunity for us to work with students from Juniata College. Our project focused on how to send a weather balloon into near-space while recording data throughout the flight. We recorded data using a barometer, thermometer, GPS, and camera. All the instruments were enclosed in a foam ice cooler with hand warmers to keep the equipment from freezing. We will present our best pictures as well as temperature, pressure, speed, and altitude extremes. We will also discuss the troubles we had constructing, launching, and recovering the experiment. We found many exciting photographs and discovered how temperature, speed, and pressure change with altitude. We also had an opportunity to participate in an exciting project that few other students our age have done.
Steele, Adam (Huntingdon, PA) [William Thomas]
Router Security
There are consistent reminders in the news and media today that the vulnerabilities in our computer security systems lead to massive amounts of user data theft. Though major companies have huge security divisions dedicated to protecting user data, the average user lacks basic security knowledge altogether. An analysis of current trends during my security engineering class this semester led me to see uninformed users help to create the worst security gaps. I will discuss three security tools commonly misused, the ways that hackers can exploit in their absence, and ways to stay protected from now on.
Strasser, Charles (Asbury, NJ) Chambers, Lauren(Freedom, PA);Daniels, Jewel(Bloomfield, NJ);Deak, Nicholas(New York, NY);Floyd, Meagan(New York, NY);Hagerich, Kara(Mineral Point, PA);Jackson, Erica(Ebensburg, PA);Kelleher, Lauren(Media, PA);Krantz, Rachel(Bradford, PA);Lasinsky, Jacob(Colver, PA);Leland, Marshall(Washington, DC);Matthews, Nora(Sea Girt, NJ);Murphy, Rachel(Durham, NH);Rowley, Emily(Vandergrift, PA);Swanger, Chloe(Altoona, PA);Tallman, Katherine(Westminster, MD);Vawter, Michela(Needham, MA);Wade, Bridget(Montgomery Village, MD);Willis, Alexandra(Mechanicsburg, PA) [Henry Thurston-Griswold]
Spanish Theater Project: El hombre que se convirtió en perro
The Introduction to Hispanic Literature class will screen the world premiere of its production of the Argentine absurdist one-act play, Historia del hombre que se convirtió en perro (Story of the Man Who Turned into a Dog). Following the viewing, class members will present their interpretation and critique of the play as well as reflect on the process of staging, filming, and editing it in order to create the final digital product.
Supenia, Emily () [Jeffrey Demarest]
Macromolecular Crowding Affects the Diffusion of Calmodulin
Cytoplasm is a densely crowded environment containing a vast array of organelles, large molecular weight proteins, and other molecules. The resulting macromolecular crowding may affect the diffusion of molecules, protein folding and conformation, cell signaling pathways and other cellular processes. Calmodulin (CaM) is a small, 148 amino acid calcium (Ca2+) binding protein that binds to a variety of target proteins to initiate cellular responses in Ca2+ dependent signaling pathways 1. Upon binding Ca2+,CaM undergoes a conformational change from a compact to a dumbbell shape, allowing it to bind to and activate, specific target proteins (e.g., protein kinases), and the rate that at which these processes occur is expected to depend on the diffusion rates of Ca2+ and CaM4. The purpose of our study was to replicate cytoplasmic macromolecular crowding (up to 400mg/ml high molecular weight molecules) in order to measure its effects on the diffusion of CaM5. The 2Ca2+, 4Ca2+, and apo-CaM complexes at concentrations of 250 µM were crowded with 100 and 270 mg-ml Ficoll-70, a large spherical sucrose polymer, and their diffusion constants were measured by PFG- NMR. Our findings indicate a 66% and 61% decrease in the 4Ca-CaM and 2Ca-CaM diffusion coefficients in the presence of 270 mg/ml Ficoll respectively. This decrease indicates that the degree of molecular crowding is a likely variable for signaling and other processes that depend on intracellular calcium.
Talisman, Nick (Bethesda, MD) [Dr. Kathryn Westcott]
Cultural Event Attendance: A Qualitative Analysis of Impact
This study attempted to measure the impact of attendance at cultural events (college-sponsored, intellectual spectator events) for first year college students. Specifically, students were required to attend five cultural events on campus and write a short reaction paper about their experiences. Cultural event reaction papers (n=763) were coded across six categories. For purposes of this study, only the sixth category, impact, was further analyzed. Data were categorized into two categories of impact: positive or negative. Using grounded theory, these categories were further developed into eight distinct categories of positive impact and three distinct categories of negative impact. A review of 19% of the essays supported the validity of the categories. This study helps to improve understanding of the first year experience of college students and begins to identify how cultural events can benefit students and help to facilitate positive student outcomes.
Tanaka, Yoriko () [Nagengast]
Japan's Response to North Korean Threats
This paper analyzes Japan's reactions to threats by North Korea between 1993 and fall 2009 until the end of the Aso Cabinet. Whereas the US's main concern in the US-North Korean relations is the weapons of mass destruction, this paper argues that the Japanese government's top priority in Japan-North Korean relations was the resolution of the abductions conducted by North Korea mostly in the 1970's and the 1980's since 2002. The abduction issue largely shaped the Japanese government's attitude toward North Korea since then, and the Japanese government's stance on North Korea became firmer. The Japanese government reinforced defense capabilities as the North Korean threats grew. However, the Japanese government's defense policies remained defensive. Based on the debates over a nuclear option during this period, Japan will probably decide not to possess nuclear weapons in the near future.
Tansi, Benjamin (Wrentham, MA) [Dr. Richard Hark]
Geographical analysis of 'conflict minerals' utilizing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a method of atomic spectroscopy used for rapid elemental analysis in a variety of samples. LIBS data can be viewed as a unique chemical "fingerprint" of a sample that can be used for classification.
Columbite-tantalite, "coltan," is the ore from which the bulk of the world's Niobium and Tantalum are extracted. These metals are found in most modern day electronics. Many coltan mines are located within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a prominent conflict region. The mining of coltan has further perpetuated the fighting. Recently, Legislation was passed holding companies accountable for how they acquire coltan for their products. There is currently no analytical method to detect minerals from conflict regions. LIBS has the ability to classify materials based on their geographic provenance.
Thirty-two foreign and domestic coltan samples were analyzed by a commercial LIBS system (RT100-HP, Applied Spectra, Inc.), and processed by Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). The results showed excellent classification of samples by geographic origin.
Tesauro, Melissa () Weiss, David();Lundberg, Nicole();Jordan, Brittany();Leibensperger, Krista() [Thorpe Halloran]
An assessment of headwater stream microhabitats in south-central Pennsylvania
Over the last two centuries, native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations throughout eastern North America have been negatively impacted by widespread habitat fragmentation and the introduction of non-native salmonids. Further, landscape-stream dynamics across the region have become increasingly variable resulting in non-normal geochemical cycles (e.g., acid mine runoff) that tend to produce sub-optimal water quality. This combination of conditions has substantially reduced the range of brook trout and as a result there has been an emphasis on documenting the presence of remnant trout populations in previously unassessed watersheds.
In this regard, we sampled Yellow Branch, a 4-km first-order cold headwater creek in south-central Pennsylvania, suspected of sustaining native brook trout. The study included a survey of the existing fish and benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) communities across multiple in-stream microhabitats. Our analysis compares the composition of BMI from dissimilar stream sections to establish which environmental phenomena, specifically, physicochemical parameters and riparian zone types, structure biota in the system. After establishing the presence and distribution of brook trout in the system, we subsequently examined stomach contents to determine the seasonal feeding ecology.
Thompson, Michael (Ann Arbor, MI) [Dr. Emil Nagengast]
China and Sudan: Adherence, Aberrance and Identity in Rhetoric and Policy
Chinese involvement in Africa has been the subject of increasing international scrutiny. It is sometimes labeled a "rogue" donor or criticized for engaging and trading with ostracized and autocratic regimes with poor human rights records. This has led to questions about Chinese indifference towards human rights in the name of a different engagement model in Africa. The Chinese government claims that its involvement is consistent with the interests of all parties and is based on a set of guiding principles. This paper addresses the question of whether or not Chinese engagement has been consistent or inconsistent with these principles by exploring one principle in depth: non-interference in internal affairs. This principle is examined through a qualitative analysis of Chinese behavior in the United Nations Security Council concerning the Darfur crisis. The paper concludes that, in this case, the principle is indeed consistent with China's actions regarding Sudan and Darfur. However, it also argues that this is part of a broadening understanding of "non-interference" that indicates a tension between principles and actions. The paper argues that the origins of this tension are a function of the conflicts between material interests, national identity, and social pressures in the international sphere.
Thorpe, David (State College, PA) Bruegge, Michael(Steinfurt, Germany);Moffa, Austin(Huntingdon, PA);Lewis, Michelle(Damascus, Maryland) [William Thomas]
comScore: Lookup / Update tool
comScore has several department verticals and each vertical produces numerous products. Many of these products have lookup tables in SQL Server. Typically, these lookups are maintained by Client Service analysts but require someone from Custom Analytics to perform the SQL modifications. The need for Custom Analytics to execute the updates allows for a wide range of errors and miscommunication. They were looking to eliminate the lookup updating roll for Custom Analytics. We were to build an editable web-based lookup update tool. The page will connect to tables that reside in SQL server and changes made on the pages will be reflected in the SQL tables. Our poster will include an introduction of our client, the problem that they had and what we were to do for our project, screen shots of our design, the roles of our group members, and acknowledgments.
Trescher, Sarah (Hershey, PA) Beck, Alyssa(Pittsburg, PA) [Dr. Philip Dunwoody]
Aggression and Submission: Key Predictors of Authoritarian Attitudes
Trescher, Sarah (Hershey, PA) Beck, Alyssa(Pittsburg, PA);Gianella, Lyndsey(Pittsburg, PA) [Dr. Philip Dunwoody]
The Effects of Perceived Threat on Authoritarianism
Trexler, Ryan (Altoona, Pa) [Dr. Jill Keeney]
Structural Analysis of S100B-P53 Inhibitors
S100B has been used as a biomarker for AJCC stage III/IV malignant melanoma and is found in elevated plasma concentrations in patients with malignant melanoma. S100B, named because it is soluble in 100% ammonium sulfate, is a 10.5 kD protein that belongs to the S100 Ca2+-binding protein family. Moreover, S100B is able to bind the tumor suppressor protein p53 in a calcium dependent manner. As a consequence of triggering pro-apoptotic and deactivating apoptotic pathways, p53 is an up-regulator of apoptosis and is modulated through complex cellular signaling. Formation of a p53-S100B complex results in inactivation of wild type p53 and uncontrolled cellular growth. Hindering the formation of the p53-S100B complex is a key therapeutic target for controlling malignant melanoma. Candidates for small molecule inhibitors of the S100B-p53 interaction have been characterized using computer-aided drug design (CADD). Recently a class of S100B inhibitors (termed SBiX) related to the drug pentamidine has gained interest. Specifically, the SBi4225-S100B interaction was examined via X-ray diffraction methods in order to characterize the small molecule inhibitor binding scheme. The crystal structure of the SBi4225-S100B complex can be used in tandem with additional NMR spectroscopy and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry analyses in order to determine the practicality of SBi4225 as a therapeutic drug for malignant melanoma therapy.
Varga, Zeljana (Montpelier, Vermont) [Dr. Mahoney]
Dayton Accords: What Now?
The Dayton peace accord was constructed under the negative peace model. Although this put an immediate end to the violent conflict, it failed to recognize the institutional, legal, and identity politics issues on a deeper level. This study will be searching for a positive peace solution to the institutional, legal, and identity politics issues that resided strongly in the aftermath of the terminated violent conflict.
Wang, Yuan (Beijing,China) [Emil Nagengast]
How has China reacted to the U.S. Defense Act?
The 2012 U.S. Defense Act as well as the U.S. military cooperation with China's neighboring countries is often discussed by the Chinese general public in fear of encirclement. The Chinese leaders welcomed U.S. cooperation with regional countries to develop the Asia Pacific region but they have asked the United States to understand Asian cultures and respect the interests of the Asian countries, including China. The analyses done by scholars and military experts provide theoretical support for why China should not see the U.S. actions as containment. The objective of this research paper is to present the reactions of the Chinese government as well as of the Chinese intellectuals to recent U.S. strategic actions and announcements.
WANG,Yuan (Beijing,China) [Bradley Andrew]
Causes of Recent Relative Price Change in China
Due to the commodity price inflation in China since 2008, the price levels for essential necessities, such as food and oil, have increased rapidly. Its long-term impacts include falling real incomes and lower living standards. The objective of this research paper is to examine the causes of the inflation, such as higher labor costs, monopoly of the middlemen, monetary policy, taxation system, as well as the increasing international energy prices.
Warack, Kristina (Great Falls, VA) McCleaf, Miranda(Biglerville, PA);Valencia, Talia(Hagerstown, MD);Zoschg, Abram(Emporium, PA);Zimbicki, Alexa(Shippensburg, PA) [Uma Ramakrishnan]
A comparative analysis of LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) technology.
The objective of our study was to compare different methods of measuring heavy metals in coyote livers using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in order to find a way to more effectively measure heavy metal toxicity in wildlife. For the study, 113 coyote livers were gathered throughout the month of February at coyote hunt check points, including the February 19th Mosquito Creek Hunt in Frenchville, PA. The comparison was done by analyzing the coyote livers while they were fresh and then analyzing them after they had been dehydrated. Additionally, wet livers dipped in liquid nitrogen were analyzed while being sprayed with argon gas. However, this method did not work. Using Principal Component Analysis on 13 pairs of livers, we determined that the wet livers, while more difficult to analyze with the LIBS, produced cleaner data than the dry samples, meaning that it could be possible to use a portable LIBS in the field to analyze fresh samples.
Webster, Arielle (Trappe, PA) [Neil Pelkey]
Auditory and Visual Recognition of Familiar versus Non-Familiar Persons by Octopus vulgaris
After a few months of casual interaction and observation on October, a common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, he seemed to be showing preference toward certain individuals. This suggests that there is some cue to our presence that he is able to definitively recognize as familiar. It seems reasonable that visual recognition plays a key role in October's familiarity with us, as octopuses have highly developed eyes. It is also possible, though, that O. vulgaris is capable of discerning different voices and that this can also lead to recognition. Olfaction and tactile stimuli seem to help confirm the suggested recognition, possibly enough to overcome doubts about whether or not we are familiar to October. This study combines observations developed through interactions primarily based on feeding and play with October from a number of individuals, some of which he had previously interacted with and others who he had not.
Wilson, Nathan (Altoona, PA) [Jill Keeney]
Characterization of Rtt105p: Finding Functional Domains via Transposition Assay
Saccharomyces cervisiae, baker's yeast, is commonly used in the field of biology as a simple, eukaryotic model for studying molecular genetics. Retrotransposition in yeast is of particular interest as it shares a mechanism similar to retroviruses, such as HIV. The Ty1 retroelement is responsible for retrotransposition in S. cervisiae, and is well-studied. RTT105, a gene that has been determined to be a negative regulator for transposition, was discovered in a genome-wide screen for genes that regulate Ty1 mobility. This gene codes for a relatively small protein (210 amino acids), and the aim of my research has been to characterize the protein by attempting to find functional domains. Assessing mutants created by a previous student, Mark Weir, I have been able to compare the transposition activity of rtt105 mutants to the normal protein as well as to an rtt105 deletion strain. Using the known locations of the mutations on the mature protein, I have been able to create a map of Rtt105p mutations. From this data, I am then able to compare my results to sequences of RTT105 from other yeasts with the possibility of seeing a conserved domain.
Wisniewski, Justin (Moorestown, NJ) Good, Tucker(Gettysburg, PA);Kaplan-Bie, Jessica(Lexington, MA);Adams, Aaron(Albuquerque, NM) [Dr. Wade Roberts]
A New Theory of Morality
Harvard style debate, arguing over a new form of evaluating an individual's morality. Arguments will outline the positives and negatives of focusing on intent and desires while eliminating both positive and negative results as part of evaluating the agent as moral or immoral. Both teams will be informed of the prepared arguments and the winner will be decided by the quantity of minds changed.
Yip, Christopher (Briarwood, New York) [Michael Boyle]
Identification of a Putative Ovalbumin Binding Protein
Binding proteins for mammalian albumin have been previously identified and described on the surface of a number of bacterial species; these proteins have been linked to resource acquisition and possible virulence factors. Ovalbumin, the avian homolog of albumin, may perform biochemical functions similar to mammalian albumin. We hypothesize that the benefits of having albumin binding proteins may also extend to bacteria that naturally infect or colonize Aves. Currently, no ovalbumin binding proteins expressed by bacteria have been reported. The goal of this study is to test our hypothesis that ovalbumin binding proteins may exist in bacteria found in birds. During the initial studies, bacteria derived from Gallus domesticus were screened for their ability to bind to an ovalbumin coated ELISA plate. Though sub-culturing, screening on differential media, amplifying and sequencing the 16s rRNA, an isolate expressing a putative ovalbumin-binding protein was identified to be B. cereus, a gram positive, rod-shaped bacterium. Using affinity purification, a possible ovalbumin binding protein has been isolated and has been sent out for LC-MS/MS tandem analysis. A biotinylated form of the putative ovalbumin-binding protein binds retentively to ovalbumin in dot blot analyses. Future studies will be conducted to confirm and to better characterize the functionality of the putative ovalbumin-binding protein. Alternatively, a protein expression library from the positive ovalbumin-binding organism will be generated and screened to identify the open reading frame associated with ovalbumin binding reactivity.
Zupko, Kristin () [Dr. Chuck Yohn]
Is there a preference of where woodchucks create their burrows?
In order to determine the preferences of where groundhogs (Marmota monax) excavate their burrows, I compared the distribution of groundhog burrows between several managed fields and unmanaged fields at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania during the winter of 2012. Managed fields were differentiated from unmanaged fields by the presence of crops, such as clover. The average densities of the managed fields were (5.349 ± 2.830 burrows/ha) and the unmanaged fields were (2.918 ± 2.453 burrows/ha). Distance between burrows and the fields varied, but no burrows were found beyond 50 m of a field. I concluded from my data that groundhogs more often than not chose open areas around the edges of managed fields to dig their burrows.