Digital Commons Network^™

Anti-Icing Properties Of 3d-Printed Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Nathan Kling

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to investigate how textured microscopic surfaces can reduce ice adhesion, utilizing 3D-printed resin materials. By varying the size and shape of these surface imperfections, the research seeks to identify configurations that minimize ice formation and facilitate easier ice removal. The trapped air between the imperfections is expected to hinder water droplet adhesion, promoting detachment through gravity or motion. The study’s applications could extend to preventing icing on power lines, roads, and aircraft. Methodologically, the project will build on prior research, applying water to textured surfaces under controlled temperature conditions to assess ice formation and removal efficiency. Key …

Prediction Of Glass Transition Temperature Of Polymers Using Structure-Based Models, Nicholas Wolfe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The focus for this study is prediction of glass transition temperatures of polymers using machine learning models. The preprocessing of the data included the generation of descriptors, the scaling of the data, the principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction, and the clustering of the data. Three methods of property predictions were utilized including Linear Regression, Random Forest, and a Feedforward Neural Network. The dataset consisted of over 7000 polymers each with their respective glass transition temperatures. This study found that the Random Forest model returned the best results followed by the Feedforward Neural Network then the Linear Regression model. Each …

High Voltage Junction Box For Demonstrator Vehicle, Benjamin Lubowicki, Ryan Dorste

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Schaeffler, our industry sponsor for this project, is designing a battery pack for a demonstration vehicle that requires a high voltage junction box to route power to the vehicle. The project type is a unique design of a mechanical component, mechanism, and process. Our objective for this project is to assemble provided electro-mechanical components into an enclosure following a provided electrical diagram. The expected deliverables are the following: 3D CAD assembly of final product, FEA analysis of designed components, 2D print of final product, fabrication and assembly of designed parts, technical report documenting design process and installation. The skills required …

Qualitative Analysis Of Surface Modification On Wiffleball Aerodynamics, Cole Lanni

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigated how surface modifications to a Wiffleball affect its aerodynamic behavior, particularly its vertical and horizontal movement when thrown. The study tested the hypothesis that altering surface texture through cutting or sanding would influence airflow and pressure differentials, thereby changing the ball's movement. Six ball conditions: including unmodified, sanded, and various cut patterns were tested using a pitching machine in a controlled indoor environment. Each variation was pitched ten times, and movement was analyzed through measurements of contact points on posterboards and performing statistical testing, specifically ANOVA with Post Hoc analysis. Results indicated that surface modifications significantly increased …

Urotropine As A Corrosion Inhibitor In Steel Rebar: A Molecular Dynamics Study, Tyler Zadrozny

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigates the behavior of corrosion in rebar, a critical component in infrastructure such as roads and skyscrapers. Corrosion of rebar can lead to structural instability, visible as cracks or pitting on the surface. The primary focus is on the potential of urotropine as a corrosion inhibitor. Urotropine, known for its ability to inhibit corrosion in mild steel in acidic environments, is hypothesized to be effective in preventing corrosion on rebar. To explore this, molecular dynamics simulations using LAMMPS were conducted, modeling urotropine molecules in an acidic solution (PH = 1) interacting with iron atoms, mimicking rebar. Simulations were …

Modeling The Thermodynamics Of Butadiene And Carbon Dioxide Coupling Reactions, Alexis Sarantos

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will analyze the synthesis reaction of ethenylated 𝛿-valerolactone (EVL), specifically to determine certain thermodynamic properties of EVL and its coproducts. The thermodynamic properties of the reaction products can then be utilized to make the development of a large-scale process simpler and safer. The properties that will be determined are the heats of formations, heat capacities, and changes in enthalpy caused by each product during the reaction, and these will be used to determine whether the energy produced by the reaction is sufficient to maintain formation of the desired product. Additionally, a process model of heat flows and energy …

To Be Or Not To Be Controlled: The Making Of Thespians In Nineteenth-Century Asylums, Olivia Kurylo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Throughout the 1800s, superintendents of insane asylums incorporated the works of Shakespeare into their medical practices. Shakespearean plays became a conduit of power for the asylum superintendents, providing them with a literary model of sanity that they imposed on patients while simultaneously becoming a mode of communication for asylum patients to perform as ‘sane’ in accordance to the superintendents’ definitions. While the superintendents imposed a Shakespearean model of social normalcy onto the patients, the asylum patients used Shakespeare’s plays as a conduit for verbal expression. Essentially, asylums became Shakespearean plays as both the medical staff and the asylum patients employed …

An Insight Into Mediation Analysis, Nicholas Mccracken

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Mediation is an ideology often present in the social sciences. A mediator is meant to serve as the middle point between one party and another, taking the communications from one party and ensuring that the other party can comprehend that of the original party. Though this is very popular in social sciences, we can apply a statistical concept to it as well. We can explain the relationship between two parties and a mediator through a series of statistical equations, known as Baron and Kenny’s Equations. With these equations, we can determine how one variable is meant to impact another variable …

Smart Goal-Setting On Behaviors To Enhance Intrinsic Motivation For Exercise: A Pilot Study With Orangetheory Fitness Participants, Adam Relitz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: Sustaining long-term motivation for exercise remains a challenge within health and fitness, particularly when extrinsic factors like weight loss dominate motivational strategies. This study investigates the role of behavioral SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal-setting in fostering intrinsic motivation, a self-driven form of engagement, among participants in a structured fitness program. The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a SMART goal-setting curriculum in promoting intrinsic motivation and behavior-based goals over external outcomes like losing weight. METHODS: Participants (N = 24) were recruited from a fitness challenge program and selected one behavioral SMART goal from a …

Understanding The Impact Of Foster Care On Child Development, Catherine Pleska

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to explore the developmental impact of the foster care system on children, focusing on how early trauma and systemic factors influence emotional, social, and cognitive development. Through a systematic literature review, the project will highlight the unique experiences foster children face, examining how early adversity shapes their long-term outcomes. The project will emphasize the importance of trauma-informed care in educational environments, advocating for strategies that create supportive and empathetic classrooms. The objectives include identifying key challenges for foster children and offering recommendations for teachers and school administrators to effectively engage students impacted by trauma. The study also …

University Of Akron Commuter Rideshare Service (Uacrs), Nicholas Szijarto

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

At the University of Akron, a large number of students commute to and from the campus. A majority of them use their own personal vehicles every day. I propose a web-based application that would benefit the University by offering ridesharing services for commuting students and faculty. This would be made with an Angular frontend, a Spring Boot Java backend, and a MySQL database. I would hope to allow this application to have users register and then input their schedules of travel, including starting point, destination, and the time of this transfer. The program could suggest groups of students to travel …

Automatic Scoring Cornhole Board System, Eric Diffendal, Jonah Harsh, Connor Lengel, Brett Sukie

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective is to create a self-scoring cornhole board that can detect and calculate each team's score based on the bags thrown each round and to be created at a low cost/eventually being sold at the current cost of a normal board. When playing cornhole, the game is simple: throw a bag on the board; however, the scores are variable (deduct and add) across each round. The most common issue when playing cornhole is miscalculations of the scores and forgetting the correct scores. Thus, this invention will make gameplay easy for all to play.

Zips Racing Electric - Vehicle Control Unit, Ryan Stoller, Brian Glen, John Wozencraft, Tetra Engdahl

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Zips Racing Electric is a design team at the university that builds and races electric cars. The racing team wants to design a four-wheel drive system to increase performance, but the current computer on the vehicle cannot control the more complex power train. The goal of the project will be to build a hardware device that can read sensor inputs and control the torque output to each motor individually. The control device being designed will need to interface with the existing systems on the car and control regenerative breaking, torque vectoring, and other auxilliary systems on the car.

Unveiling Legacies: Exploring And Analyzing Cultural Artifacts In The Higbee Collection, Samantha Staller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Anthropology and the Cummings Center to find ways to properly analyze an archaeological collection's artifacts to understand the overall significance of everything better. Before starting my research, I came up with the following questions: Can any artifacts be considered culturally affiliated? Is everything in the collection authentic? What is the overall background of the collection? Does this collection have any connection to Ohio history? Can anything in the collection be dated? Throughout the research, I will create an Excel inventory list to include qualitative and quantitative data from the artifacts to give insight into what is included in the Higbee …

Skinrisk Ai, Spencer Simms

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

SkinRisk AI is an exploration of the opportunities for implementing machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical technology field, specifically in the early detection of skin cancer. This project presents the design, development, and evaluation of a mobile application that allows users to capture images of skin lesions and receive a machine learning assisted risk assessment. The system combines a convolutional neural network (CNN) for image analysis with an intuitive mobile app built using Flutter, FastAPI, and Supabase to deliver real time screening.

Motivated by the rising skin cancer rates and importance of early detection, SkinRisk AI …

Social Media Through A Binary Lens: The Impact On College Students & Their Mental Health, Piper Mallchok

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

It is important to first understand how individuals use social media so that we can then understand how and why their use will change the individual impact social media will have. Some students experience a decline in their mental health when their social media use changes. There is an abundance of research on college students and social media, respectively, that also addresses gender as a variable. In this review, the research will be studied to further understand the voices of those who are not commonly included in research that operates under a gendered framework. Additionally, these ideas will be compared …

Aviation Guilt: The Role Of Human Factors In Airline Incidents, Alexander Silva

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Human factors play a central role in aviation safety, influencing entire processes in an aviation environment. This paper reviews human factors in aviation as a whole to create a picture of what causes many aviation accidents. Models such as the SHEL model, Swiss Cheese Model, and Wickens MRT will be introduced to illuminate both the ways in which a flight deck should operate and why certain decisions are made in critical situations. Some of the deadliest aviation accidents have resulted from human error, such as the Tenerife airport disaster and AF447. These disasters were seminal in the development and execution …

How Insider-Led Processes Lead To Localization: The Case Of Digital Technology And Humanitarian Protection, O. Kaplan, Emily Paddon Rhoads

Political Science Faculty Works

The humanitarian sector has been increasingly concerned with localizing its activities—devolving capacity, power, and decision-making authority to the local communities and organizations that are the frequent recipients of its assistance. However, the mere “outsider-led” provision of assistance to local actors is not itself sufficient to empower them. Instead, we argue that “insider-led,” locally initiated processes can be an effective approach to localization. We identify how such shifts can occur and distinguish three different configurations of “insider-led” processes: Autonomous Adopters, Balanced Partners, and Exporting Entrepreneurs. We examine “insider-led” localization in the context of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) …

Pumpkin, What Do You Need?, Christine Kim

Kindergarten

No abstract provided.

Exploring Light, Grace Pohodich

1st Grade

No abstract provided.

Seed Dispersal, Emma Cox

2nd Grade

No abstract provided.

Changing Of The Leaves, Eden Jasicki

Kindergarten

No abstract provided.

How Do We Stay Safe In Severe Weather?, Colleen Leonard

Kindergarten

No abstract provided.

Earth And The Solar System Positions, Addison Pantell

1st Grade

No abstract provided.

Trendwatching: Spring 2025, Jonathon Day, Ailin Fei, Filza Armadita, Gurpreet Kour, Kuang Xin, Roya Alavipour

Tourism Insights

No abstract provided.

Thanksgiving Prayer Walk, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Shaping Engineering Technology Students’ Perceptions Of Manufacturing Through Experiential Learning In A Flipped Classroom – A Case Study, Rustin Webster

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This study examined how an introductory, survey-based manufacturing systems and processes course – which uniquely integrated a flipped classroom structure and multiple experiential learning elements – influenced engineering technology (ET) students’ perceptions of careers, workforce expectations, workplace dynamics, and essential industry skills within manufacturing. Pooled qualitative data from 52 ET student’s pre- and post-course reflection surveys, administered across four cohorts, were analyzed using topic modeling, sentiment analysis, comparative assessments, keyword frequency analysis, and/or impact assessment. The data offered valuable insights into students understanding of essential job skills, definitions of a good job, and perceptions of factory work. Before the course, …

The Current State Of Dimensioning And Tolerancing Pedagogy In United States Post-Secondary Engineering And Engineering Technology Programs, Jaime Berez, Rustin Webster, Rudy Ottway

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Dimensioning and tolerancing (D&T) is understood to be a crucial element of the engineering product lifecycle and has been documented as an important skill for various careers, e.g., engineering, design, manufacturing, and metrology. Even so, there is a widely perceived skills gap in today's workforce. In response to this perceived misalignment between employer expectations and student preparation, a survey of post-secondary engineering and engineering technology (ET) degree programs in the United States was conducted to quantitatively characterize the current state of D&T pedagogy. Respondents (n = 67) who identified as being the instructor-of-record for a course(s) that required students to …

A Form-Fitting Model For The Simulation Of Traumatic Brain Injury In Zebrafish, Abigail Armstrong

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Developing a model to study traumatic brain injury (TBI) is important as it allows for the better understanding of mechanisms underlying the disease to develop effective treatments and other strategies. Creating a realistic simulation of TBI, permits the research of different types of impacts and severities that can be seen in brain function and structure. The simulation is also valuable for monitoring progression of injuries over time and developing personalized treatment plans. Zebrafish, in particular, are prime candidates given their status as model organisms, affordability, and ease of direct observation in the research setting. Overall, efficient and accurate TBI models …

The Solar Eclipse, Paige Mitchell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

On April 8, 2024, Akron, Ohio witnessed a total eclipse. Groups around the United States captured images using a telescope for the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) initiative. I was involved in this event at the University of Akron and documented everything I did in a journal. This includes the feelings I had and things I saw. Overall, this experience has gotten me to develop skills and activities that could be used with K-12 children.