Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Exercise On Motor And Non-Motor Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease, Michelle Costa

Academic Festival

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to many symptoms which affect an individual’s motor and non-motor functioning. In this paper, ten studies are examined in order to assess the efficacy of various forms of exercise as an intervention to improve motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. Interventions examined in this paper include but are not limited to physiotherapy, water-based exercises, treadmill training, and cycling. Four of the studies examine the effects of exercise on motor symptoms, two studies examine non-motor symptoms, and three studies examine both motor and non-motor symptoms. The articles were selected from data …

The Use Of Music Intervention In Improving Social And Communicative Behaviors In Children And Adolescents Under The Autism Spectrum, Lara Decastro, Rachel Bellantoni, Kathryn Benatti

Academic Festival

Music intervention serves a variety of remedial purposes. It addresses physical, emotional, cognitive, and overall communicative needs of certain individuals through the provision of music in conjunction with evidence-based clinical approaches within a specialized, methodical setting. In recent years, music therapy has been experimented with various efforts to determine its impact when implemented towards children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the present review is to analyze several studies that were conducted between 2010 and 2017, that were published as evidence relating to the usefulness of music intervention as a means of teaching, or improving, social …

What Progressive Resistance Training Exercises Are Most Effective At Increasing Gait Speed In Chronic Stroke Patients, Kayla Mieczkowski

Academic Festival

Chronic stroke patients are individuals who have suffered from stroke but have underwent long term complications that affect their daily life activities including walking. It appears that the use of a progressive resistance-training program can improve walking ability and increase gait speed. The use of lower body gym equipment machines in a progressive resistance-training program can significantly increase gait speed in patients and therefore help them be more active and be able to do things they were unable to participate in before. The main muscles to target to improve gait speed appear to be the hamstrings and quadriceps and this …

State Legislative Term Limits Impact On Cigarette Taxation, Thomas Ketcham

Academic Festival

Fiscal policy in the United States is impacted by a multitude of factors such as macroeconomic and political factors. In this regard, we explore an overlooked factor that has a major impact on fiscal policy, namely the legislative turnover. In particular, we study the overall impact that state legislative turnover has on federal and state cigarette taxation from 1980-2016. Theoretically, a state with lower turnover of the legislator will influence the cigarette taxation. Lower turnover and thus long tenure may lower the intensity of lobbying thus raise taxes. This result is similar to the evidence found in political competition literature …

The Negative Effects Of Exercise On The Quality And Quantity Of Sleep In Athletes, Christopher Cofrancesco

Academic Festival

The purpose of this study was to review scientific literature to determine if exercise has a negative effect on the quality and quantity of sleep in athletes. Four scientific articles were used to review the effects of exercise on the quality and quantity of sleep. When high intensity exercise was introduced total sleep time and sleep efficiency decreased.

Reliability Of C3logix™ Ability To Detect Postural Sway Compared To A Gold Standard Force Plate System, Christopher Cote, Douglas Terrone

Academic Festival

Context: Postural sway has been identified as a potential marker for measuring concussion severity.1 However, many sports medicine programs cannot afford to purchase force plate systems to assess postural sway. If validated, C3Logix™ could provide a viable alterative to a force plate system at a fraction of the cost. Objective: To determine if the C3Logix™ application is capable of detecting postural sway with the same degree of reliability as the VSR Sport™ by NeuroCom® .2 Study Design: Cross Sectional Analysis Setting: Division I University athletic center. Participants: 45 Division I Lacrosse players, consisting of 27 males (Age = 20.07 ± …

Water You Looking At? Land Usage And Water Quality In Dingle, Ireland, Elizabeth Bouchard, Jenna Rondeau

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Social Media Use And Unfavorable Political Views, Mikaela Sherlock

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Students' Attitudes Towards Mental Illness: A Comparative Analysis, Anna Grace Mclaughlin

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

The number of people with mental illnesses continues to increase greatly, yet these remain some of the most stigmatized illnesses in the U.S. The stigma held about mental illness can affect the way individuals are treated in society. This study examinines attitudes towards mental illness among college students. Given that attitudes may vary by areas of study, this research specifically compares social work and non-social work students’ attitudes. Comparing the attitudes of social work students with those of other students could gauge the adequacy of the education that social work students are receiving on mental illness. The study employed a …

The Presentation Of The Chasuble To San Ildefonso: An Exploration Of Its Origins, Nikolyn Garner

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

The Presentation of the Chasuble to San Ildefonso is a 15^th-century Spanish altarpiece panel that has been part of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture’s permanent collection since 1957. However, it was donated with little information about the artist who created it, the circumstances of its commission, the area of Spain where it originated, or its provenance from the time of its creation to the time of its donation to the University of Montana. Without research into these questions, this unique piece has not been exhibited as often as it deserves. I have explored these questions as …

Examining Parent Training Acceptability Among High And Low-Income Undergraduates, Justin Gibson

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Examining Parent Training Acceptability Among High and Low-Income Undergraduates

Gibson, J., Johnson, C., Hunter, A., Tiano, J.

Approximately 6% of parents report that their 4-17 year-old children exhibit behavioral or emotional difficulties. Across levels of socio-economic status (SES), behavior problems are generally more common among children from low SES backgrounds. When Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) programs are available to this population, acceptance and attendance rates are low, as well as adherence. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an effective BPT for parents and children between the ages of 2 and 7 with significant behavior problems. However, acceptability of PCIT has not …

The Influence Of Hunger On Perceived Mood, Ryan Patrick

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

This study seeks to shine a light on the phenomenon known as “hanger.” The phenomenon suggests as an individual becomes hungry they will, in turn, become angry and also likely to be short tempered. In this study, we surveyed 41 individuals (11 males and 30 females), using the POMS questionnaire, we assess how situational hunger effects the following mood categories; tension, depression, confusion, anger, fatigue, vigor, and a general total mood disturbance. The questionnaire was done online, participants were asked to respond to the 65 question survey as accurately as possible to the way they would feel if a meal …

Probability-Based Confidence Assessment Of Transposable Element Annotation Helps Explain Confusing Annotation Results, Kaitlin Carey

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

No abstract provided.

Needle Return In Needle Exchange Programs, Stephanie Spaulding

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Needle Return in Needle Exchange Programs

The first NEP (Needle Exchange Program) was in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1984, followed four years later by the first U.S. NEP in 1988 in Tacoma, Washington (The Center for Innovative Public Policies, 2012). NEPs have been shown to reduce risk of disease, and prior studies suggest that individuals who participate in such programs are more likely to enter recovery from opioid addiction, making them an important public health intervention. The worldwide average for needle return in NEPs is around 90% (Ksobiech, 2004). With the needle return rate in Huntington being around 60%-70%, it is …

Comparing Acceptability Of A Parent Training Program Among Rural And Urban Undergraduates, Abigail Hunter

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Comparing Acceptability of a Parent Training Program Among Rural and Urban Undergraduates

Hunter, A., Johnson, C., Gibson, J., & Tiano, J.

Abstract

Approximately 3.5% of children ages three to thirteen are diagnosed with behavioral or conduct problems. Literature indicates that the prevalence of behavioral problems is increasing. Children residing in rural areas are more likely to display behavioral problems as compared to children residing in urban areas. Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) aids caregivers by altering parenting behavior toward children with challenging behaviors. Research on rates of BPT acceptability have found mixed results. Parent-Children Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically supported …

Intentional Danger: Understanding Risk And Identity Within Mountaineering, Mira Cleveland

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

This study seeks to examine how identity is navigated within ‘risky’ situations, and ultimately how this may contribute to crisis situations. From understanding and accepting the inherent dangers of driving a car, to the potential of falling off of a step ladder when reaching for a dish on the top shelf, risk is an accepted part of life. However, there are risks fundamental to extreme adventure sports that reach beyond the everyday accepted risks. In the case of mountaineering above 26,000 feet, climbers accept the risk of lost money in the event of a summit failure, frostbite when unexpected time …

The Effects Of Common Soft Tissue Removal Methods On Skeletal Remains: A Comparative Analysis, Emily Silverman

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

No abstract provided.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: The Impact Of Gender And Race On Personal Space, Hannah Fetty

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Previous research suggests that implicit biases often present themselves out of conscious awareness in actions, behaviors, feelings, and emotions (Dovidio, Kawakami, & Gaertner, 2002; Swim, Aikin, Hall & Hunter, 1995). The present research is an observational study that seeks to investigate these biases by examining cues present in nonverbal behavior. This study will specifically focus on bias surrounding gender and race and will use the distance that individuals stand apart from one another in various lines in public places to do so. There are two general hypotheses. The first hypothesis predicts that individuals will stand closer to those who are …

Sexual Assault And Ptsd, Stephanie Spaulding

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Sexual Assault and PTSD

This literature review examines the relationship between sexual assault and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sexual assault has become more recognized in today’s society due to the recent #MeToo movement. Factors associated with sexual assault such as victimization, revictimization, victim blaming, race, sexual preference, and negative social reactions will all be examined to see how these affect those who were sexually assaulted; specifically, whether they are associated with the development of PTSD. I expect to find that the more victimization, negative comments, and lack of social support the victim receives, the more likely that individual is to …

The Effect Of Police Photo Lineup Structure On Perpetrator Identification Accuracy, Ryan Patrick

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

When the police locate a witness to a crime, the witness is often shown photographs of potential suspects to see if he/she can accurately identify the perpetrator of the crime. Historically, two different photo lineup structures have been used by the police, simultaneous and sequential lineups. In a simultaneous photo lineup, a witness is shown all of the suspects’ photographs at the same time in a photo array. In a sequential photo lineup, a witness is shown one suspect photograph at a time. The primary purpose of the research is to examine the effect of police photo lineup structure on …

Impact Of Identity Conflict On Onset Of Depressive Symptoms In Adolescents: A Review, Jamie Humphrey

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

This literature review aimed to investigate the potential relationship between conflicts in identity development and the onset of depression in adolescence. Much of the research on the matter of depression in adolescents is consistent in identifying the many factors that may contribute to the onset of depressive symptoms. These factors include the individual’s sex, tendency to ruminate or co-ruminate during a depressive episode, the awareness of the individual’s social network in regard to the individual’s depression, cultural and ethnic differences, and parental behaviors. The literature review also revealed a variety of environmental factors which may contribute to depression and which, …

Truce: A Hidden Markov Model For Annotation Of Tandem Repeats, Daniel R. Olson, Travis J. Wheeler

UM Graduate Student Research Conference (GradCon)

Modern technology has provided a plethora of raw scientific data available to be analyzed. There are over 18,000 genomes sequenced to date, and the number is growing faster each year. Scientists can no longer analyze this massive amount of data by hand. Efficient and proficient computational tools are necessary for scientific progress to keep up with the data growth. Computational biology seeks to produce the algorithms and tools necessary to analyze biological data.

Repetitive sequences in genomes are common, comprising more than 3% of the genome. Sequences such as the three-letter repeat, CAGCAGCAG are called short tandem repeats, and are …

Elia Kazan And On The Waterfront: A Legacy, Dillon Mccarty

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

This rhetorical project is meant to explain how Elia Kazan made himself look more sympathetic and likable through his film "On the Waterfront,” which has been seen as a political justification for his decision to testify in front of HUAC. His ideology, which goes against Communism, will be analyzed. Kazan’s ideology will set the stage for how he uses the film “On the Waterfront” to convey his political actions and beliefs. Film metaphors and analogies will be analyzed because they are connected to Kazan's political climate. I will show how the metaphors and analogies are similar, but also twisted in …

Free Formal For Now Lifestyle Education Forever, Casey Dauberman, Katelynn Gatens, Stephanie Hansell, Marki Lewis, Christian Moore, Sarfina Seretharan, Sierra Thornton

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Being a teenager can be one of the toughest periods of a person’s life. Often teenagers are searching for themselves while trying to fit in, and these formative years can be filled with many challenges. From 2013-2014 in West Virginia, 9,000 adolescents aged 12-17 reported using illicit drugs within the past month. That same year 30,000 individuals aged 12-20 reported binge alcohol use (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015). When it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STI), 15-24 year olds are responsible for acquiring half of all new STIs and are at higher risk due to a combination …

Promoting Substance Abuse Awareness For College Aged Students, Philip Armstrong-Cheek, Tabitha Ferguson, Jacob Martin, Megan Perry, Allie Robinson

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

The prevalence of alcohol abuse in college students is on the decline. Binge drinking has dropped from 45% in 2005 to 37% in 2014 (Hingson, Zha, & Smyth, 2017). In West Virginia, Cabell County is ranked 15th in binge drinking with 10.9% of the population reporting having consumed more than five drinks on the same occasion in the past month (West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 2016). When it comes to college students, 12.5% of students reported heavy alcohol use in 2015 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015), and 20% met the criteria for Alcohol Use …

Her Huntington: Helping Women In Need, Alicia Carper, Allysa Hess, Kasey Lobo, Amanda Rider, Rodney Sorrell, Denae Williams

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

Rates of homelessness have lowered by 5.6% in West Virginia since 2016 (U.S. Department of Housing and Development, 2017). However, it remains an issue in Cabell County with an estimated 205 sheltered, and an unknown number of unsheltered, individuals in 2015 (WV Department of Health and Human Resources, 2016). Furthermore, funding for homeless shelters is being cut nationally (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2017). In order to combat homelessness, individuals need a reliable source of income, but in West Virginia the unemployment rate is 5.1%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Additionally, individuals facing homelessness encounter difficult barriers when seeking …

Folklore And Myth, Michaela Wells

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

The research focuses on the function of myth and folklore in society, and how different people view local Appalachian lore. Topics discussed also include common themes among myths of different origins. The study will include surveys sent out to Marshall University students and interviews with local residents. The findings from this research should show who engages in folklore and what it means to them.

Socialization And Solidarity In Workers' Unions Of The 21st Century Appalachia, Hannah Smith

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

As industrialization brought new jobs to major cities and coal mining to Appalachia in the late 17^th century, laborers in the steel and coal industries worked sixteen or more hours a day in terrible conditions. These workers formed labor unions to ensure management provided fair wages, hours, and working conditions. From the mistreated coalminers’ violent fight for a union in Appalachia during the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain to the Wildcat strikes of the 1950s, solidarity in unions has been a significant focal point in the history of Appalachia. Therefore, it is important to interpret if a union continues …

Public Library Usage Among College Students, Brianna Shelton

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

In this study, I argue that college students use public libraries in addition to or instead of academic libraries, regardless of whether they are a traditional or nontraditional student. I present research that has been conducted over the last decade about how millennials frequent a public library’s digital services, and that nontraditional students may venture to public libraries to better suit their needs. My own results have generated that students at Marshall University have visited a public library either since coming to college or before coming to Marshall, and that most of the programming and services they suggest would entice …

Halloween House, Madison Flesch, Nick Bonde

Community Engagement Celebration Day

Since 2007, the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society at the University of Northern Iowa has organized a community outreach program called Halloween House. What started out as a one-room chemistry demonstration show 11 years ago, has now evolved into a huge event in collaboration with other STEM clubs on campus. The event brought in between 800-1000 community members, mainly elementary aged-students, last fall. The collaboration amongst different STEM clubs in physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry allows students to have an interdisciplinary experience, exploring all of the sciences and seeing how they all connect. The Halloween House activities …