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Brand Attachments And Social Feedback: The Moderating Effect Of Self-Concept Clarity, Lillianna Griggs
Brand Attachments And Social Feedback: The Moderating Effect Of Self-Concept Clarity, Lillianna Griggs
Honors Theses
Just as individuals can develop emotional attachments to other people, places and possessions, they can develop attachments to brands. In the current research, we investigated whether the trait, self-concept clarity (SCC), the extent to which the contents of one’s self concept are stable, consistent and recognizable to the individual, moderates the effect of social feedback on brand attachments. Participants were asked to indicate the brand they feel most attached to and then to indicate the extent of their brand attachment. They were then randomly assigned to receive positive or negative feedback about this brand and then re-report attachment to this …
Developing A Parametric Downconversion Apparatus For Single-Photon Experiments In Quantum Optics, Stephen Dilorio
Developing A Parametric Downconversion Apparatus For Single-Photon Experiments In Quantum Optics, Stephen Dilorio
Honors Theses
We report our progress toward developing a parametric down conversion apparatus for studying single photon quantum optics in undergraduate laboratory classes, following the model of Galvez et al. [1]. We pump a beta barium borate (BBO) crystal with a 405 nm diode laser to produce correlated pairs of single photons that we detect using avalanche photodiodes (APD). We can conduct coincidence and anticoincidence counts and a measurement of the degree of second-order coherence with the apparatus, and we report a g(2) < 1. We also discuss the headway towards developing a single-photon interferometer.
The American Health Care System, Health Care Reform, And The Effects Of The Affordable Care Act, Adam Becker
The American Health Care System, Health Care Reform, And The Effects Of The Affordable Care Act, Adam Becker
Honors Theses
Through the lens of access, quality, and cost I will present and outline the various historical approaches to health care reform, how they have contributed to the formation of our current system, and a preliminary evaluation of the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, I will be analyzing these major reforms in relation to, and their impact, on healthcare payers and providers. By understanding prior health care reform, it will provide the necessary foundation to properly investigate the prospects of success for the ACA. In order to address these questions, I investigated the evolution of the medical professional and modern hospitals, the …
Kinetic Modeling Of Catalytic Aerogels, Yi Cao
Kinetic Modeling Of Catalytic Aerogels, Yi Cao
Honors Theses
As pollution becomes an increasing concern globally, strict regulations have been set on vehicle pollutant emissions. The three-way catalytic converter is capable of converting toxic emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides to less hazardous waste such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen. Current catalysts employ platinum group metals, which are expensive and environmentally damaging to mine. Catalytically-active aerogels such as Co-Al, Cu-Al and V-Al aerogels have shown promise as alternatives to these metals. The work presented here adapts and extends a global kinetic model which predicts the conversion of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide on platinum catalyst …
What It Is To Be Conscious: Exploring The Plasibility Of Consciousness In Deep Learning Computers, Peter Davis
What It Is To Be Conscious: Exploring The Plasibility Of Consciousness In Deep Learning Computers, Peter Davis
Honors Theses
As artificial intelligence and robotics progress further and faster every day, designing and building a conscious computer appears to be on the horizon. Recent technological advances have allowed engineers and computer scientists to create robots and computer programs that were previously impossible. The development of these highly sophisticated robots and AI programs has thus prompted the age-old question: can a computer be conscious? The answer relies on addressing two key sub-problems. The first is the nature of consciousness: what constitutes a system as conscious, or what properties does consciousness have? Secondly, does the physical make-up of the robot or computer …
Power Without Agents? A Theoretical Analysis Of Power In A Complex And Globalized World, Davis Cutter
Power Without Agents? A Theoretical Analysis Of Power In A Complex And Globalized World, Davis Cutter
Honors Theses
What is power? Traditionally, power has been theorized through a lens of agents, their intentions, and their inter-relations. In fact, theorists of late have neglected the notion of power, abandoning it as dispensable, unable to legitimize or explain human action beyond “who has power over whom.” My thesis extends beyond this claim by exploring the concept of power, but relaxing the assumption that it always derives from agents. Although agents are still actors in, and contribute to non-agentic power, the concept is still distinct from traditional notions of power. Rejecting these traditional notions, this thesis suggests power can be found …
Classifying System Call Traces Using Anomalous Detection, William Doyle
Classifying System Call Traces Using Anomalous Detection, William Doyle
Honors Theses
We used data mining techniques to detect intrusions among system call traces and have outlined our results. Recent work at the intersection of security and machine learning has lead to better understanding of anomalous intrusion detection. There is a need to more thoroughly understand how anomaly detection can be used because of its potential applications and advantages over current standard methods. In this thesis, we report on a new approach of anomalous detection using system call traces. Our goal is to be able to create a system that can accurately detect hacking attacks by analyzing the sequences of system calls …
A Closer Look At Immigrants' Wage Differential In The U.S.: Analysis Correcting The Sample Selection Problem, Mitsuki Fukuda
A Closer Look At Immigrants' Wage Differential In The U.S.: Analysis Correcting The Sample Selection Problem, Mitsuki Fukuda
Honors Theses
Due to the increasing flow of immigrants into the United States in recent years, numerous researchers have been examining the socioeconomic characteristics of immigrants including wage differential. However, the majority of such wage analysis raises a key issue of the sample selection problem. This problem occurs when one has a non-random sample by ignoring the decision process to be participants of the sample, and it has a potential danger of a biased and inconsistent estimation. In the view of this, it is important to estimate the decision factors of employment status – being a wage earner or self-employed – before …
The Effect Of Existential Concerns On Evaluations Of Dating Websites, Rachel Frisch
The Effect Of Existential Concerns On Evaluations Of Dating Websites, Rachel Frisch
Honors Theses
Previous research has indicated that death-related anxieties are the ultimate threat to the human psyche. In an effort to manage these concerns, individuals tend to turn to their romantic relationships. The present research sought to determine how mortality salience (i.e., death awareness) influences the effectiveness of an advertisement and the desirability of dating websites. A fake dating website was created with four different slogans. The first included an overt death-reminder, the second included a subtle death-reminder, the third included a loneliness reminder, and the fourth condition did not include any psychological threats. Participants were randomly assigned to visit a website …
Targeted Online Advertisements: Effectiveness As A Function Of Need-For-Cognition, Katherine Dorothy Drebin
Targeted Online Advertisements: Effectiveness As A Function Of Need-For-Cognition, Katherine Dorothy Drebin
Honors Theses
Previous research has suggested that targeted online advertising is more effective when users have a preexisting interest in a product or service. While technology now allows marketers to track the demographics and behaviors of potential customers, the current research examines online ad-perception at an individual level, specifically focused on differences in need-for-cognition. Participants were asked to read a short online news article and were randomly assigned to view a webpage containing either gender-neutral or gender-targeted advertisements. While it was predicted that advertisement recall would be stronger for targeted than non-targeted advertisements, no such association was found. Additionally, advertisement recall did …
Investigating The Impact Of Marijuana Legalization On Income, Education, And Depression, Wayne Fu
Investigating The Impact Of Marijuana Legalization On Income, Education, And Depression, Wayne Fu
Honors Theses
Over the past two decades, marijuana has been the most widely used illicit drug by adolescents in the US. The drug continues to soar in popularity as both a recreational and medicinal drug despite mounting scientific research that marijuana consumption may impair cognitive function including deficits in learning, memory, motivation, and attention. Marijuana use has also been linked to exacerbation of depression and anxiety symptoms. Though federal laws still classify marijuana as an illegal substance, recent state-level legislation has sparked national debate over its legal status. In fact, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical …
Online Dating And Relationships On Campus: Gender, Religion, And Parental Marital Status Influencing Expectations And Experiences, Carla Gottlich
Online Dating And Relationships On Campus: Gender, Religion, And Parental Marital Status Influencing Expectations And Experiences, Carla Gottlich
Honors Theses
Past research of college campus relationships and dating has found that gender, religion, and parental marital status may each play a role in determining expectations and experiences. Due to the recent popularity with online dating, I explore college student’s expectations and experiences and the roles that gender, religion, and parental marital status play in this pursuit. An anonymous survey was sent to a random sample of 918 student e-mail addresses. Students were asked what they expected from online dating, and what the experiences have been like for those who have participated. The survey, containing both open and closed ended questions, …
Holding Water: The Political And Economic Debates Of The New York State Canal System 1895 – 1903, Erich Grome
Holding Water: The Political And Economic Debates Of The New York State Canal System 1895 – 1903, Erich Grome
Honors Theses
With the allure of the famed Erie Canal deteriorating as swiftly as its traffic and physical condition by the latter half of the nineteenth century, New Yorkers gave serious thought to the future of the waterway. As the commerce of the state and its renowned metropolis of New York City declined relative to its rival states and ports during this period, many questioned if enlarging the canal system would lead to its revival and produce similar results for the economy of the state at large. An ever frequent scene of partisan conflict, the proposals to radically enlarge the Erie Canal …
The Effect Of Circadian Rhythm On Cortisol And Perceived Stress Correlations, Adam Bender
The Effect Of Circadian Rhythm On Cortisol And Perceived Stress Correlations, Adam Bender
Honors Theses
Stress is a known trigger of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis which leads to the production and secretion of the catabolic steroid cortisol by the adrenal gland. Since cortisol production is affected by stress, it follows that a high self-perception of stress would be correlated with high blood and saliva cortisol levels. Literature generally shows a gap in identifying this correlation, perhaps because of the interconnected nature of endocrine pathways. New experimental methods that control for the effects of circadian rhythm have shown limited success in demonstrating this correlation. Our purpose is to continue exploring the relationship between cortisol, perceived stress, …
Optimizations For Rendering Realistic Lens Flares In Polynomial Optics, Stephen Dilorio
Optimizations For Rendering Realistic Lens Flares In Polynomial Optics, Stephen Dilorio
Honors Theses
Lens flare is a common optical phenomenon exhibited by lens systems, like those used for professional photography or film. As light travels from the front of a lens system towards the sensor at the back, it can either refract through or reflect off of the surfaces of the lenses. A lens flare is the result of (typically) unwanted reflections and scattering caused by imperfections in the lenses. This reflected or scattered light then travels to the sensor following unexpected paths. While considered by some to be degrading artifacts, lens flares have grown to become an essential ingredient for realistic imagery …
America’S First Ladies: A Catalyst For Change In Female Leadership, Power And Influence Or A Reinforcement Of Gender Norms In American Society?, Deborah Kim Grinhaus
America’S First Ladies: A Catalyst For Change In Female Leadership, Power And Influence Or A Reinforcement Of Gender Norms In American Society?, Deborah Kim Grinhaus
Honors Theses
My work examines the nature of The Office of the First Lady of the United States as a lens through which to view female leadership, power and influence in America. Through analyzing the singular experiences of four controversial First Ladies; Abigail Adams, Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, this dissertation illustrates the ambiguities and challenges associated with The Office of First Lady as a metaphor for female power. Why analyze the First Ladyship as compared to other political posts held by women? The Office itself is not elected, appointed, institutionalized or legal. Therefore, how do these women use The …
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Impact On The Acoustic Startle Response, Daniel Grossman
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Impact On The Acoustic Startle Response, Daniel Grossman
Honors Theses
Previous research has demonstrated that the magnitude and duration of the acoustic startle response can be modulated by a number of psychological factors. Mindfulness meditation, being a form of mental training known to produce benefits in affect and attention regulation as well as other domains, may modulate factors of the acoustic startle response. The present study investigated participants’ skin conductance responses to an acoustic startle stimulus before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, and paired this assessment with self-reported trait mindfulness and positive and negative affect. There was significant startle habituation across the intervention, but no between …
Undergraduate Student Attitudes On Concierge Medicine, Sushane Gupta
Undergraduate Student Attitudes On Concierge Medicine, Sushane Gupta
Honors Theses
The purpose of this thesis was to examine the opinions of undergraduate students on a field of personalized primary care known as concierge medicine, as well as assess their satisfaction with their current non-concierge healthcare providers. Concierge medicine aims to provide patients with a high level of customer service and satisfaction, and in exchange for an annual fee, they receive benefits such as lower waiting times for appointments, access to the physician by phone or e-mail, and a stronger patient-physician relationship focused on preventative care. The current literature on non-concierge healthcare reveals several deficiencies including poor insurance coverage, poor patient …
The Divorce Revolution: The Macro And Micro-Level Factors In The Risk Of Divorce, Arielle Homer
The Divorce Revolution: The Macro And Micro-Level Factors In The Risk Of Divorce, Arielle Homer
Honors Theses
Over the past fifty or so years, American society has endured overwhelming changes, affecting nearly all aspects of life. A new set of values emerged and families began adopting more liberal mindsets, leading to an increase in the divorce rate. The first aim of this study is to explain the social, macro-level causes of divorce. Literature on the 1960s identifies these influences as the importance of “the self”, feminism, birth control, no-fault divorce laws, and religious teachings. Further, I use data from the General Social Survey to determine whether micro-level factors influence an individual’s risk of divorce, both during this …
A Comparative Analysis Of Medical Pluralism In Fiji And The United States, Meaghan Jain
A Comparative Analysis Of Medical Pluralism In Fiji And The United States, Meaghan Jain
Honors Theses
Both indigenous Fijians and Americans practice a medically pluralistic style of healing that includes biomedicine, herbal medicines, and spiritual healing. People in both cultures use alternative medicinal styles to fill in around gaps left by biomedicine, but the reasons why they do this, and how they do this, are different. Urban indigenous Fijians supplement biomedicine with healing styles that utilize their social networks. Fijians have a sociocentric sense of self and the body; they feel uncomfortable with impersonal treatment by doctors and feel better about treatments that bring social support. Americans, on the other hand, follow a rhetoric strongly oriented …
The Battery Charging Hand-Powered Washing Machine “Project Uwash”, Catherine Victoria Kennedy
The Battery Charging Hand-Powered Washing Machine “Project Uwash”, Catherine Victoria Kennedy
Honors Theses
Project UWash consists of converting the mechanical energy that goes into hand washing laundry into usable electricity. Our proof-of-concept system is composed of: an energy source (salad spinner), an energy harvester (AC generator), a regulating circuit (voltage regulator), a storage component (lithium ion batteries), and an application (charging an iPhone and USB based LED flashlight). The goal is to fully charge the LED flashlight after a one hour use and charge an iPhone to at least 50% after a 6 hour use. We were able to fully charge the flashlight in about 15 minutes but were only able to charge …
Understanding Childhood Hunger: A Qualitative Look At The Issues Hindering Progress In The United States, Samantha Kropp
Understanding Childhood Hunger: A Qualitative Look At The Issues Hindering Progress In The United States, Samantha Kropp
Honors Theses
This thesis examines childhood hunger as roughly 1 in 5 kids live in households that struggle to put food on the table. These children experience physical problems as a result of their food instability, but this problem is connected to other personal and societal issues, such as poor education. To understand how hunger affects children, this study began with a historical analysis of the past 60 years of government supported programs and policies, such as the school breakfasts and summer lunch programs. Four interviews were conducted with different experts in the field, specifically three individuals from a prominent national non‐profit …
Lack Of Glucocorticoid Receptor Hypersensitivity-Related Polymorphisms In An Undergraduate Population, Evan Leibovitz
Lack Of Glucocorticoid Receptor Hypersensitivity-Related Polymorphisms In An Undergraduate Population, Evan Leibovitz
Honors Theses
Obesity is a currently a major problem plaguing the world as a whole. The International Obese Task Force (IOTF) estimates at least 1.1 billion adults are overweight with some 312 million of those obese, globally. 1 As of 2004, in less than twenty years, the prevalence of obesity had more than doubled in adults with childhood obesity prevalence rising even more rapidly. Obesity, however, can be classified as a disease of its own or as a symptom of another disease. Two such diseases that have obesity as a symptom are Metabolic Syndrome and Cushing ’s syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome is a …
Le Diagnostic Social De L'Autisme : Un Examen Du Processus De Diagnostic De L'Autisme En France, Mary Katherine Mackenzie
Le Diagnostic Social De L'Autisme : Un Examen Du Processus De Diagnostic De L'Autisme En France, Mary Katherine Mackenzie
Honors Theses
Autism is a set of developmental disorders that cause social, behavioral, and communication deficits. This disorder is found throughout the world although its prevalence varies considerably between countries. These international differences in autism rates are inconsistent with scientific evidence that suggests there is a genetic basis for the disorder. This inconsistency indicates that autism rates are not representative of actual variation in prevalence. An analysis of these variations suggests that international divergences are caused by the different social structures that influence the process of diagnosing autism in an individual country. This theory holds that the manifestation of autistic symptoms is …
Causes And Consequences Of Bullying, Molly Maloney
Causes And Consequences Of Bullying, Molly Maloney
Honors Theses
What causes people to bully others? Some evidence suggests that being the victim of bullying can cause a person to become aggressive, but research on the topic is flawed. The current research attempts to improve on prior research to examine (1) whether being bullied causes individuals to become bullies, themselves, and (2) whether there are personality traits or situational variables that predispose individuals to respond to bullying by becoming aggressive. Participants were either included in all three rounds of an online game (Cyberball; Williams et al., 2012), or ostracized to varying degrees. I hypothesized that participants who were ostracized would, …
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Honors Theses
Our dependence on energy sources and depleting fossil fuel reserves are forcing the world to look for efficient and renewable sources of energy. Current renewable technology lacks the efficiency and storage capability necessary to continue our heavy reliance on energy. This project focuses on understanding the physical and electrical properties of nanomaterials for their use as super capacitors and as photovoltaic cells. Using multiple microscopy techniques on the Cascade Probe Station and Veeco Dimension V Atomic Force Microscope, local and bulk conductivity measurements were performed on Laponite RD infused polyaniline (PANI) samples synthesized by Union College Chemistry Department Students. Four …
Combatting Cultures Of Impunity After Insurgent Violence: Case Studies On Nepal, Srilanka, And Peru, Abigail Mcnamee
Combatting Cultures Of Impunity After Insurgent Violence: Case Studies On Nepal, Srilanka, And Peru, Abigail Mcnamee
Honors Theses
Directly contrasting interstate warfare, intrastate violence comprises of violence in an individual state, typically between an opposition of anti-state actors versus the state and its coercive forces. This project particularly examines recent insurgent groups in opposition to the state. These conflicts, rooted in deep embitterment, are often regarded as enduring, lasting several years before cessation. This thesis considers both the legitimate grievances the anti-state insurgency experienced prior to the conflict, as well as the legitimate counterinsurgency initiative the state used to protect its monopoly of violence. These internal conflicts result in countless non-combatant casualties and human rights violations, creating “wounds” …
Russian Military Intervention In The Caucasus, Chelsea Mickel
Russian Military Intervention In The Caucasus, Chelsea Mickel
Honors Theses
My research focuses on Russia's foreign policy interests and actions in the context of the post-soviet space and its relations with western nations and organizations. I used three case studies: the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, the Russo- Georgian War, and the Crimean Crisis. The Russian government has pursued intervention in these areas for various reasons. The most prominent of these reasons are ethnicity, religion, irredentism, great power politics, and economics. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict centers on the Eastern Orthodox Armenian enclave in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, a nation otherwise consisting of a majority of Turkic Sunni Muslims. The Russo-Georgian War was fought …
Automated Aquaponics Design Report, Carson Miller
Automated Aquaponics Design Report, Carson Miller
Honors Theses
Aquaponic systems offer a solution to environmentally conscious, fiscally responsible individuals who wish to produce food products without the use of pesticides, genetic modification, or non-renewable resources. Further, the proliferation of inexpensive microprocessors and high quality sensors offers an opportunity for dynamic monitoring and error correcting within the aquaponic system. These aquaponic and electronic systems will be combined in this project to create an electronically monitored aquaponic ecosystem.
Otaku – A Case Of Assigned Identities, Steven O'Branovich
Otaku – A Case Of Assigned Identities, Steven O'Branovich
Honors Theses
With the international rise in popularity of anime and manga in the 1990s, Japan shattered its image as a nation of soulless salary men and robots and became an entertainment giant. Since then, anime has become an even larger force in the global cultural landscape, growing from a niche tape-trading market at science fiction conventions to inspiring large-scale conventions of its own. The driving force behind this expansion is a group of people known as otaku. Internationally, otaku are often defined simply as enthusiastic fans of Japanese popular culture and of anime and manga in particular. In Japan, however, the …