Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Microbreaks In The Workplace, Olivia Mcgrath

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Deep-Sea And The Complex Ethical Conundrum Of Mining The Seafloor, Aaron Martino

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Four-Week Vertical Jump Training Program To Increase Lower Body Power In Women Collegiate Rowers, Andrew Dekovics

Academic Festival

Rowing is a sport that requires the use of the entirety of the body for each stroke, with a large portion of the movement coming from the lower body. Because each stroke occurs rapidly, lower body power is essential to achieve high performance. This exercise program was written up with the intention of increasing the lower body power of the Sacred Heart University women’s rowing team. Vertical jumps are a common activity to assess lower body power, so an increase in vertical jump height would mean an increase in lower body power. Through the use ofplyometrics and other lower body …

Breast Cancer Prevalence In Obese Women In The United States, Macie Phillips, Kaitlyn Purdy, Alexandra Piehler

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Haywire Ii: Redefining American Elections, William Kurnik, Abby Conrad, Liam Conway, Ava Hufford, Ciara Mooney

Academic Festival

This represents a longterm study regarding the 2020 presidential contest, the time during which President Trump was out of office, and his attempt to regain the presidency in 2024. The time period of the study is supplemented with an informative body of data, graphs, and photographic images.

Get Out Of The River! Rainfall And River Rise In Three Watersheds Of The Dingle Peninsula, Charlotte Ribaudo, Emma Scheibl

Academic Festival

Land-use and Land-cover (LULC), coupled with climatic conditions are important components of ecosystems that affect water quality in the streams and rivers of a watershed. The conjoined Feohanagh, Milltown, and Owenmore River basins of the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland are similar in size but vary significantly in LULC. Previous work had shown substantial differences in the microbial communities of the three main rivers in the watersheds. Our current work focuses on understanding how differences in micro-climate affects the water-level and other physical parameters of the rivers and informs investigations of the differences observed in the microbial communities between the rivers. …

Walk, Don't Run For Employee Wellness, Francesca Citro, Danielle Cassidy, Maura Bednarcik

Academic Festival

There are a multitude of factors that have an impact on individuals’ physical activity. Specifically, implementing walking initiatives has proven to be beneficial when it comes to workplace wellness and can contribute to the increased physical activity level among employees in the workplace. The implementation of wearables and walking treadmills are one of many ways to initiate the increase of physical activity among employees.

Visualization And Exploration Of Laptop Price Dataset, Kelly E. Ernst

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of False Step Starting Preference In Track & Field Middle Distance Runners, Kayla Perez

Academic Festival

Middle distance track & field runners start from a non-parallel, staggered foot stance utilizing either a forward- or false-step technique. Previous studies have investigated these starting techniques with most investigations determining that the false step is both preferred and faster, however, it is currently unknown which technique is commonly performed within the 800-meter race.

Purpose: Determine starting type prevalence rates (forward, false step) in high school (HS), collegiate (C), and senior (S) runners competing in the 800-meter race distance. Additionally, to classify variants of false step within this same population.

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study evaluated publicly available YouTube videos …

Comparison Of Aquatic Invertebrates Communities Abundance On Connecticut’S Native Coontail (Ceratophyllum Demersum) & Invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Spicatum), Gianna Lobasso

Academic Festival

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide face significant challenges due to the introduction and spread of invasive plant species, which often outcompete native vegetation and disrupt ecological balance. Understanding the dynamics between native and invasive aquatic plants is crucial for effective ecosystem management and conservation efforts. Likewise, the impact of invasive plants can contribute to changes in aquatic invertebrate communities. After basic methods are applied, an analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) compared invertebrate community abundance on native and invasive plants. Samples of native coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) and invasive Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) were collected from Pickett’s Pond in Derby, Connecticut. …

How Income Affects Depression In Adults Aged 25-65, Stephanie Capito, Jillian F. Spindel, Claudia Uva

Academic Festival

In this paper, we explore socioeconomic status and how it is related to depression rates. This is an important topic to study because economic status determines an individual's standing in life. Furthermore, as the transfer from childhood to adulthood occurs, finding a stable job that will support the individual becomes extremely important and without it moving into adulthood becomes much more difficult. This is an issue that impacts millions of Americans as 37.2 million people live in poverty (Bureau, U.C, 2021). The number of people living in poverty increased by 11.4 percent from 2015 to 2020. Adults living in poverty …

Poverty's Role In Shaping The Childhood Obesity Epidemic, Leah Demko, Megan Gaffney, Abby Hudson, Katherin Mazzarelli, Sabrina Palen

Academic Festival

Childhood obesity is a major healthcare concern, as millions of children are classified as overweight and obese. Socioeconomic status (SES) influences the prevalence of childhood obesity, especially individuals from low SES. A child's living environment, attending low income schools, parental education, and low family income all impact a child's risk of becoming obese. The National Survey of Children's Health 2021 data was used to observe the relationship between Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and identification of being overweight by a doctor. Family poverty level is significantly associated with obesity among children aged 5-12. This hypothesis was tested used cross-tabulation with chi-square …

From Elderly To Boomer: Understanding The Impact Of Ageist Labels, Ava K. Bjelka, Samantha A. Cavalea, Francesca L. Davenport, Lauren G. Giesse, Gabrielle H. Lasiw, Sophia G. Rogers, Chelsea G. Signore, Nicole J. Sperling, Sadie Stevens, Angelina M. Wargo

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Smartwatch Vulnerability Analysis: Focusing On Bluetooth Low Energy, Hannah Fawle, Danielle Leblanc

Academic Festival

Security must be built into the core of any product or technological advancement during the early design stages. Unfortunately, many software companies still treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. Smartwatches are portable devices worn on the wrist, designed to enhance functionality and convenience by connecting to a mobile phone, providing many similar features, and improving the overall user experience. Despite smartwatches and fitness trackers having the largest market share of the wearable device market, they lack basic security features, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. Consumers are unaware of the risks associated with wearable technology, assuming that developers have their best interests …

Exploring The Interplay Among Lignin Content: A Comparative Analysis Of Age, Restoration Condition And Shoot Size In Spartina Alterniflora, Aviana Finocchiaro

Academic Festival

This study explored the role of salt marshes in supporting marine ecosystems, focusing on Spartina alterniflora and its lignin content, a key plant structural element. This research investigated how lignin correlates with age, restoration condition, and size of S. alterniflora. We hypothesized that younger, smaller plants from remnant areas would exhibit lower lignin content. Samples from remnant, recolonizing, and planted locations were collected at Stratford Point, Connecticut, and the acetyl bromide method was used to measure lignin in protein free-cell walls from each sample. A Two-factor ANOVA revealed significant differences between locations, but not between age groups or their …

The Effectiveness Of The Braden Scale In The Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers, Noelle Fallon

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Prevention Of Pressure Injuries In Pediatric Patients Through The Implementation Of A Uniform Turning Schedule., Ailie Daley

Academic Festival

This project involves the implementation of a uniform turning schedule, in the form of a clock denoting which position (right lying, left lying, supine) a patient should be in at certain times, with the goal to decrease the incidence of pressure injuries on a pediatric medical-surgical unit.

Efficacy Of Low-Tech Visual Scene Displays On Communication Outcomes In Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Julia Linhares, Jessica Bevacqua

Academic Festival

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that diagnosed in 1 out of 36 children and is characterized by restrictive, repetitive behaviors and social-communication deficits. Approximately 25-30% of children with ASD do not develop spoken language and require the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems. This study utilized a single-subject, experimental design to assess the efficacy of low-tech visual scene displays on communication outcomes in minimally speaking toddlers diagnosed with ASD. Five baseline sessions were followed by 10 treatment sessions. All three of our participants demonstrated significant gains in using new vocabulary terms and in participating in conversational …

Program Development For 59-Year-Old Female With Knee Osteoarthritis Targeting Balance, Increased Lean Body Mass And Strength, Caitlin Knapp

Academic Festival

Our client came to us with the goal of increasing her fitness activity level. Her long-term goal was to reduce body fat while increasing her lean body mass. She is a healthy 59-year-old who isn't very active but takes daily walks on her lunch and does free weight exercises for about 20 minutes every morning. She is interested in incorporating greater resistance exercises while still partaking in her walks. With our clients goals we have created an exercise program designed to her specific needs.

Can Markerless Motion Capture Software Consistently And Reliably Auto Detect Important Pitch Event Markers For Baseball Players?, Jenna Engels, Sarah Mandelkow, Jacqueline Lage

Academic Festival

Markerless motion capture systems offer promising data for analyzing athletic performance with high precision; however, the camera systems utilized as part of the Pioneer Performance Center have not been tested with higher speed motions. Theia 3D software, mainly used for gait analyses previously, was utilized to examine the effectiveness of the SONY RX 0II camera system and consistency of identifying key event markers during fast moving motions, such as pitching.

A specialized pipeline was developed to auto detect the frames corresponding to 4 different important event markers: maximum hip flexion, foot touchdown, late cocking, and ball release. The automated data …

Fins And Feminism: Assessing Gender Equality In Discovery’S 'Shark Week', Kaitlyn Hartmann

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Cardiac Rehabilitation On Lvad Patients, Abigail French

Academic Festival

LVADs are used to pump blood into the lower chambers of the heart and are placed in patients with heart failure (EF < 35%) who may not be eligible for a heart transplant. The patient’s blood pressure pre- and post-exercise were recorded, as well as during exercise after 10-15 minutes. An adaptational decrease in systolic blood pressure was the result of 24/36 sessions. There was more variation with pre-exercise heart rate, but post-exercise resting heart rate decreases with chronic aerobic exercise. Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to increase functional capacity and quality of life in those who suffer from various heart conditions over the course of 36 sessions (roughly within three months). Cardiac rehab programs implement cardio, weight training, and stretching, along with education on healthy living and heart health.

Relationship Between Kinematics And Velocity Using 3d Markerless Motion Capture In High School Baseball Pitchers, Kylie Mcnamara, Lindsay Houlihan, Jenna Springer

Academic Festival

Baseball pitching relies on biomechanics and kinetics, where the pitcher's body works to produce power and pitch accuracy. Analyzing movement sequences, from wind-up to ball release, highlights the significance of joint angles and force in relation to the velocity and location of the pitch. Mastering these principles not only improves the pitcher's overall performance, but also helps prevent injuries. The effect of knee flexion at ball release and stride length on velocity were tested and analyzed in high school baseball pitchers. Our research is comparable to other studies when looking at values of knee flexion angle and stride length as …

Unveiling The Silent Struggle: Postpartum Depression In Black Women, Alexa Scaglione

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Object Detection And Avoidance Using Rplidar A2m8 And Jetson Nano, Julia Piascik, Mateo Cappuccio, Logan Ward

Academic Festival

This project aims to design a sensing system that will have the ability to detect objects that could interfere with a drone that is in the process of landing. The implementation of this system includes the use of RPLiDar A2 M8, Jetson Nano, and an Arduino. The system outputs a green light once the program determines it is safe to land and a red light when an object is detected. Notifying the drone of any obstacles is necessary for various reasons, such as military usage. Since this project was built with a two-dimensional sensor, there were issues when adding the …

Effects Of Cardiac Rehabilitation On Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Following A Myocardial Infarction, Stasia Dussault

Academic Festival

•Three phases of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs: in hospital, early outpatient, and maintenance. •Maintenance includes a supervised recovery program, focused on physical activity, health education, mental health and risk factor awareness. •CR has been known to lower the risk of death from future heart problems by 1/3. •Depression and lack of motivation are common amongst people with cardiovascular disease. •CR improves mood and perception of life in addition to cardiovascular health.

The Effect Of Dance Styles On Heart Rate, Katie Zimmer, Danielle Ahern

Academic Festival

Dance is a highly aerobic form of exercise that can play a large role in heart health. Typically, the greater the tempo of a dance style, the more it will impact heart rate.1 Hip-hop and jazz are very fast and upbeat, likely to increase heart rate the most. Contemporary can be either fast or slow depending on the choreographer. Ballet can also be fast or slow, but is extremely demanding on the body, indicating that heart rate could be greatly increased. The purpose of this experiment was to determine which styles of dance increase heart rate the most in experienced …

Social Media Needs To Change, Alexis Benevento

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Tiktok Data Puller, Graig Mcmenamin

Academic Festival

Tiktok’s research API allows users to send HTTP requests to TikTok and receive responses as JSON data. These HTTP requests can be tedious to write and send, as well as the response data being raw and unorganized. This project consists of a python program that works with Tiktok’s research API. It provides an easy to use interface that takes simple information about the data the user wants, and then generates and runs the HTTP requests. It then automatically downloads the JSON Response data cleaned up and ready to use for research.

Creating An Exercise Prescription Plan For A College Athlete, Jonathan Elliott

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.