Digital Commons Network^™

“You Are Sexist!” “No, I’M A Sports Reporter.” An Analysis Of Females’ And Males’ Portrayal In Print Media, Lauryn Beam

Student Scholar Showcase

Media itself has always been an outlet for the public. It has been used for entertainment, information, and a societal tool from the time when it was first advancing. Sport media is a genre all its own. There has always been a gender divide in sport and sport media. For this critical study, print media sources from different outlets were analyzed to compare two female athletes against two male athletes. The athletes being compared were Serena Williams and John McEnroe, as well as Brandi Chastain and Nicolas Anelka. Each article was analyzed for how the journalist portrayed the athlete, in …

Abiotic Stress And Anthocyanins Biosynthesis In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Carolanne Bekus

Student Scholar Showcase

Crops and farmers today are facing unprecedented challenges due to the changing environment. The plants of the future need to be hardy to survive harsh environmental conditions such as increased temperature, and prolonged droughts. It is imperative to understand the mechanisms plants employ to protect themselves under these types of stresses. Anthocyanins are pigments of the flavonoid subclass produced by plants. They impart red to purple color to flowers, fruits, and seeds. They also have antioxidant properties and they contribute to stress tolerance in plants. They are understood to be produced under abiotic stresses in order to protect the plant. …

Working In A Man’S World — What, Like It’S Hard?: The Perception Of Female Attorneys In The Media, Emily Russell

Student Scholar Showcase

Abstract

The legal drama television series Blue Bloods, The Practice, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife, How to Get Away with Murder, and Ally McBealfollow the various roles of a female attorney. For this study, these six television series were analyzed in order to identify the media’s perception of female attorneys. By completing a critical analysis of the aforementioned series, a multitude of perceptions based on gender was identified. Five themes occurred from those perceptions: physical attributes, relationships, work environment, litigation tactics, and personality traits. While some of these perceptions were positive, the media …

An Anatomical And Functional Analysis Of Digital Arteries, Katie Highsmith

Student Scholar Showcase

Blood flow to the tissue of the hands and digits is efficiently regulated by vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Through a series of cadaveric dissection, we examined arteries in the hands and digits, including ulnar artery, radial artery, palmar arteries, and digital arteries, for their distribution (branching) patterns and morphological parameters (e.g., thickness, length between branches, external and internal diameters). Using data directly collected from three female cadavers as input variables to our mathematical model, we simulated vasoconstriction (-20% and -10% diameter) and vasodilation (+10% and +20 diameter) to evaluate the extent of changes in blood volume and flow within the arteries. …

Exploration Of Prostate Cancer Cells: The Significance Of Active Herv, Dakota Shepherd

Student Scholar Showcase

The second most common cancer in men is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is traditionally diagnosed by a digital rectal exam. Blood tests can also be used to test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen). These two methods can be used together but can sometimes provide both false negative and false positive results. A new method of testing for prostate cancer could prove to be beneficial. Previous studies have shown that active HERV sequences have been identified in some cancers, including prostate cancer. We hypothesize that the presence of active HERV in prostate cancer lines is significant. In this study, rabbit polyclonal antibodies …

Mobilization Of Calcium Across Mineralized Tissues In Yellow Perch, Perca Flavescens, Taylor Bopp

Student Scholar Showcase

Bones in many higher teleost fish, such as percids and centrarchids, lack osteocytes that function as both chemo- and mechano-sensors, and thus, are not actively involved in homeostasis of blood calcium level. Nonetheless, the vertebrae of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (P. flavescens), living in darker and low calcium (Ca) water, have demonstrated adaptive modeling and remodeling of vertebrae to be more mineralized and thus enhance transmission of the axial muscle torque into the thrust force for the C-start predator escape behavior. The prey-predator interaction is expected to occur at closer range between prey fish and predator fish in …

The Effects Of Cognitive Stimulation Of Instagram On Anxiety, Fear Of Missing Out, Memory, And Self-Esteem, Anna Destino

Student Scholar Showcase

With the increasing use of social media in the daily lives of undergraduate college students, it is important to investigate the effects of social media on anxiety level and memory. The current research considered the effect of overstimulation of social media, specifically Instagram, on anxiety level, self-esteem, fear of missing out, and memory. Lillard and Peterson (2011) found that overstimulating children’s televisions shows, such as SpongeBob, negatively impacted children’s impulsive behaviors and attention. Participants were divided into the control (coloring on an Ipad) or experimental (Instagram stimulation) group and after a set of pre-test questions regarding self-esteem and anxiety, participant …

3d Procedural Maze & Cave Generation, Jacob Sharp

Student Scholar Showcase

The goal of this project is to generate a maze or cave procedurally so that a player may be able to explore infinitely without a reoccurring pattern. The project also utilizes Virtual Reality (VR); the user will be able to put on a VR Headset and become more immersed in a procedural environment. One of the challenges that needed to be overcome was simple random number generators did not generate natural looking worlds. Introducing VR to the project created the additional challenge of preventing the user from becoming motion sick. These challenges were both addressed through many hours of research …

Autonomous Watercraft Simulation And Programming, Nicholas J. Savino

Student Scholar Showcase

Automation of various modes of transportation is thought to make travel more safe and efficient. Over the past several decades, advances to semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles have led to advanced autopilot systems on planes and boats, and an increasing popularity of self-driving cars. We predicted the motion of an autonomous vehicle using simulations in Python. The simulation models the motion of a small scale watercraft, which can then be built and programmed using an Arduino Microcontroller. We examined different control methods for a simulated rescue craft to reach a target. We also examined the effects of different factors, such as …

The Effects Of Framing On Perceptions Of Others, Emily Brown, Ashley Kohinke

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to further research the effects of framing social issues (privilege or discrimination) on racial attitudes and willingness to confront prejudice. In our study, we used two dependent measures, the Race Implicit Attitudes Test (IAT) and the White Privilege Attitudes Scale (WPAS). Participants were separated s into three conditions: framing discrimination (group 1), framing white privilege (group 2) and a control group (group 3). A pretest-posttest design was used to examine if scores on the WPAS and Race IAT would change when participants were given statements framed towards white privilege and discrimination. A control group …

Mathematical Modeling: Lanchester Equations And The Zombie Apocalypse, Hailey Bauer

Student Scholar Showcase

Mathematical models are systems using mathematical concepts to explain various problems. Mathematical models examine realistic issues such as the different outcomes of wars and fictional problems such as the upcoming zombie apocalypse. The original predictor models of warfare were the Lanchester models, while the zombie apocalypse is a fictional expansion upon mathematical models for infectious diseases. In this paper, we examined and compared the basic versions of these dynamic models by analyzing each model’s set of variables, assumptions, and objectives. The basic versions of the Lanchester equations are the area aimed model and the aimed fire model. While the zombie …

The Perception Of Head Impacts Sustained By Collegiate Baseball Catchers: A Pilot Study, Caleb Johnston

Student Scholar Showcase

Repetitive subconcussive head impacts have been studied in a variety of contact sports and have been found to impair performance in football, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse athletes. To our knowledge no one has investigated the frequency of head impacts in the sport of collegiate baseball. To date, athlete perceived number of head impacts and actual head impacts recorded during participation have not been compared. A sample of 3 baseball catchers from one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III baseball team were studied.Our results indicated perceived game impacts did not differ from actual game impacts (t₂=1.76, P=.23; …

The Role Of Income Inequality As A Predictor Of Per Capita Gross Domestic Product, Daniel Friedberg

Student Scholar Showcase

The role of income inequality in relation to gross domestic product is of great importance in modern time. Income inequality is a pressing phenomenon in the fields of economics, politics, and sociology, while Gross Domestic Product is the benchmark statistic in measuring the health of any economy. But how well does income inequality serve as a predictor for the level of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) GDP per capita within a nation? This cross-sectional study determines that the GINI Index has no significant statistical relationship with PPP GDP per capita level. While income inequality is a major economic variable that contributes …

Comparative Methodology For Analyzing Nitric Oxide Production In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages In Response To Lipopolysaccharide Treatment, Cassandra Robertson

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this experiment is to develop comparative methodology for analyzing RAW 264.7 murine macrophage responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These results will yield two endpoints relative to nitric oxide production: nitrites in solution from the Greiss assay, and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The RAW 264.7 cell line is a standard culture model of macrophage activity and stimulation with LPS induces inflammatory reactions. This process has evolved to kill ingested pathogens and activate local immune responses, including the production of nitric oxide, synthesized by iNOS. RAW 264.7 cells are stimulated with LPS doses from 1 …

The Effects Of A Non-Traditional Lacrosse Season On Functional Stability In Collegiate Lacrosse Athletes, Christopher Rosenborough

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of a non-traditional lacrosse fall season on functional movement and stability in both male and female collegiate lacrosse athletes.

Methods: We recruited 50 male (age=19.38+1.24 years, height=182.63+6.16 cm, mass=82.37+8.46 kg) and 22 female (age=19.68+1.17 years, height=165.10+6.88 cm, mass=64.09+8.72 kg) volunteers from National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III lacrosse teams for the study. Independent variable was time (pre, post). Main outcome measures included pre- and postseason extremity measurements for the Y-Balance Test (YBT, reliability=0.67-0.96) as well as dorsiflexion (right, left) range of motion (ROM) via goniometer. Data …

A Chemical In Filter Paper Interferes With Trail Following Behavior In The Termite Reticulitermes Hesperus (Banks), Kathryn Vest

Student Scholar Showcase

Termites follow chemical trails. In previous experiments we dissolved and diluted chemicals in acetone to test if they elicited trail following. Each trail was a straight line across the arena drawn with 10 µl using a glass capillary (Microcaps). We noticed a minor but stable response to trails laid with pure acetone. The response could be caused by contaminated acetone or by a chemical in the filter paper (Watman #5) that lined our arena (petri dish, 10cm diameter). We could confirm that the termites respond to acetone alone. Soxkhlet extraction for 8 hours removed the signal from the filter paper. …

Functional Movement Patterns And Perceived Mobility In Collegiate Lacrosse Athletes, Christopher J. Rosenborough

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: The stress on the body from sport participation may play a role in an athlete’s ability to function throughout a season. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of a non-traditional lacrosse fall season on functional movement patterns for both males and females. Our second objective was to observe how collegiate lacrosse athletes perceived mobility.

Methods: Fifty males (age=19.38+1.24 years, height=182.63+6.16 cm, mass=82.37+8.46 kg) and 22 females (age=19.68+1.17 years, height=165.10+6.88 cm, mass=64.09+8.72 kg) who participated on National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III lacrosse teams volunteered to participate. Independent variable was time (pre, post). …

Comparing The Incidence Of Head Impacts Sustained In Conference Versus Non-Conference Women’S Soccer Games, Courtney Acors

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: Investigating head impacts in women’s soccer has become of increased interest due to women’s soccer having one of the highest concussion injury rates among organized sports.

Objective: To determine frequency and magnitude differences in head impacts sustained by collegiate women’s soccer players during conference and non-conference game. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting: Soccer fields. Participants: 24 intercollegiate women’s soccer players (age=19.65±1.27 years, height=165.80±4.87 cm, mass = 64.45±7.38 kg). Interventions: Game type served as the independent variable (non-conference and conference). We measured frequency and magnitude (peak linear accelerations in g-forces and peak rotational accelerations in deg/sec2) of head impacts with …

How Competing With Male Athletes Affects The Way Female Athletes Perceive Their Worth As An Athlete, Cierra Brown

Student Scholar Showcase

This research aims to discover what female athletes thought about playing with male athletes and how that may affect their perceptions on themselves. To figure out the different perspectives on the subject, articles were utilized in the study and female athletes on a liberal arts college campus in Central Virginia as well. Some of these articles include, Mixed-team Sports: Why Gender Doesn’t Matter and Why Co-Ed Sports Leagues Are Never Really Co-Ed . For the research it was important to formulate a survey for a women’s basketball team, women’s soccer team, and women’s lacrosse team at a liberal arts college …

Navicular Drop In Collegiate Distance Runners, Virginia Johns, Debbie Bradney, Patricia Aronson, Jill Lucas

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: Although previous research has shown that navicular drop increases with fatigue of the foot intrinsics, it is unclear whether or not this occurs in a functional setting.

Objective: To evaluate navicular drop in collegiate distance runners before and after distance runs and track workouts.

Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study

Setting: University outdoor practice facilities

Participants: Fifteen healthy collegiate cross country runners (10 males, 5 females)

Intervention: None

Main Outcome Measures: Navicular drop (cm)

Results: There was a significant interaction between workout and time for WBAH (F1,14=9.333, p=.009, η2=.400). Main effect for time was significant (F1.14=6.512, p=.023, η2=.317). Post hoc tests …

The Effects Of Soft Tissue Flossing On Hamstring Flexibility And Lower Extremity Power, Zack Maust

Student Scholar Showcase

Flossing includes wrapping a latex band around a joint or muscle group providing compression and partially occluding blood flow followed by performing exercises. Flossing is hypothesized to improve flexibility by dissipating myofascial adhesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if applying a floss band to the thigh would increase hamstring flexibility as well as lower extremity power. Our study included 21 active individuals(8 male, 13 female, 22.62±2.99 years, 171.52±9.08 cm, 73.57±11.37 kg).The participant first warmed up on a stationary bike, followed by hamstring flexibility measurement of supine hip flexion. After the flexibility test, we used a single-leg vertical …

Age Status Effects On Female Silk Production And Male Courtship Response In Dolomedes Scriptus, Joseph Osborne

Student Scholar Showcase

Female Dolomedes scriptus, the striped fishing spider, serve as model organisms exhibiting pheromone production as a means of chemical signaling. Previous work has shown that male fishing spiders are responsive to female silk, and preferentially court in the presence of silk from mature virgins. In our research, we hypothesized that mature females produced larger quantities of silk than penultimate females in an attempt to elicit greater male mating response. Female spiders of both age statuses were kept for two days in a gridded tank. Sub-sampling of silk lines that crossed a random portion of the grid produced results signifying …

Group Theoretical Analysis Of Arbitrarily Large, Colored Square Grids, Brett Ehrman

Student Scholar Showcase

In this research, we examine n x n grids whose individual squares are each colored with one of k distinct colors. We seek a general formula for the number of colored grids that are distinct up to rotations, reflections, and color reversals. We examine the problem using a group theoretical approach. We define a specific group action that allows us to incorporate Burnside’s Lemma, which leads us to the desired general results

Music In Japanese Prisoner Of War Camps, Zerai Thornton

Student Scholar Showcase

During World War II, both the Axis and Allied powers held enemy soldiers and civilians in prisoner of war (POW) camps with little recreational activities. Although some Japanese POW camps did not allow their prisoners to engage in recreational activities, inmates transformed songs into acceptable performance practices. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to investigate music in Japanese POW camps. The particular problems of this study were to (1) examine traditional practices in Japanese POW camps; (2) determine how music developed a Japanese POW camp; and (3) create a POW camp song, entitled …

The Clarinet From Antiquity To Today, Nathaniel Estes

Student Scholar Showcase

The clarinet, coming from simple cane instruments with a slit cut into the cane to create a reed, to the modern clarinet with scientific advancements in the instrument and reed making process, not only shows how the clarinet has evolved, but how technology itself has evolved over hundreds of years. With the intent of improving music pedagogy and performance, the purpose of this research is to investigate how the clarinet evolved to become the modern clarinet. The particular problems of this study were to (1) trace historical development of the clarinet, (2) identify mechanical and stylistic characteristics between the Basset …

Lipoarabinomannan From Mycobacterium Smegmatis Stimulates An Inflammatory Response In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Aysha Zaman

Student Scholar Showcase

Macrophages are a key leukocyte in defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The precise mechanism by which M. tuberculosis evades host macrophage defenses remains unknown, so understanding how macrophages interact with cell wall components of mycobacteria is critical. Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is a glycolipid Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) ligand found on the cell wall of mycobacteria, and is thought to contribute to the cell wall structural integrity. When LAM binds to TLR on host leukocytes, this activates cellular responses and phagocytosis by host macrophages. Nitric oxide production can be used as a measure of inflammatory response and can be evaluated via nitrite response …

Death Arena Game, Ryan Deasy, Nick Snan, Albert Anderson, David Cole, Shahzada Aqib Gill

Student Scholar Showcase

Death Arena is a 3D first-person action shooter with a horror twist. The player has 30 seconds to collect guns and health before a monster spawns. The map will be large with indoor and outdoor play. In each round a more powerful boss spawns with minions. Our goal is to appeal to horror and action fans alike.

Co-Occurrence Of Manganese Oxidase Genes Indicates Lateral Transfer Between Classes Of Proteobacteria, Jacob Olichney

Student Scholar Showcase

Pseudomonas putida GB-1 is a model organism for the study of manganese oxidation in bacteria, however, the frequency of co-localization of multiple known and suspected manganese oxidizing proteins, as well as their occurrence between species, is unknown. Eight different genes isolated from known manganese oxidizing bacteria (MnxG, MopA, McoA, PputGB1_2552, PputGB1_2553, MoxA, MofA, and Bacillus MnxG) were tested individually using BioPython and BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) on multiple genomic databases. BLAST searches had an expect value cutoff of 1e-50, limiting gene homologs to those with high sequence similarity. The abundance of homologous genes across classes of proteobacteria point …

Effects Of Reading Poetry Versus Facts On Level Of Anxiety, Sedona Mccabe

Student Scholar Showcase

A large number of the United States’ adult population are affected by anxiety disorders, about 18.1% in any given year (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2018). The primary goal of the research was to study the effects of poetry on anxiety, furthermore, to test if poetry had an effect on anxiety levels and if there was a difference in the effect of poetry on anxiety levels of participants with high and low anxiety levels. Forty college-aged participants read 6 short poems and 6 interesting facts and completed a self-report of anxiety. Heart rate and skin conductance (GSR) were measured …

Effect Of Environmental Conditions On Biomass Of Symplocarpus Foetidus, Christy Lemay

Student Scholar Showcase

Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage) is an obligate wetland plant that occurs sporadically in wetlands throughout Virginia. Its life cycle is well studied with flowers budding in late January to early February through a process known as thermogenesis that heats the soil surrounding the plant. Pollination of fruits by flies and distribution of fruits/seeds through wildlife. Leaves appear in March with full growth above ground by early May. The leaves die back by July. Reproduction and distribution is sensitive to disturbance and environmental factors such as soil moisture, hydrology, and seed distribution. We collected environmental data in eight designated wetland plots …