Digital Commons Network^™

Use Of The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool In Implementing, Shannon Talbot

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Phonological Variation & Dialectal Origins: A Study Of Irish Gaeltacht And American English Dialects, Bridget Hosey

Academic Festival

While studying abroad in Dingle, Ireland, I took a social and cultural linguistics class that sparked my interest in how dialects differ—especially between Irish Gaelic in the Gaeltacht regions and various American English dialects. This project explores how these dialects have developed their unique phonological features over time, and the historical and social factors that helped shape them.

As a future speech-language pathologist, I wanted to understand why recognizing these differences matters in clinical settings. Too often, dialectal variations are mistaken for speech disorders. My research emphasizes the importance of cultural and linguistic awareness in SLP work, and how we …

Evaluating Skeletal Muscle Mass And Peak Torque Deficits Post-Acl Reconstruction In Soccer Athletes With The Biodex, Julianna Razza, Jenna Riccardi, Sophia Gatto

Academic Festival

This project explores the application of Biodex testing to evaluate muscular strength, balance and neuromuscular control of soccer players post ACLR. Our study includes one female and two male soccer players recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery. The goal is to evaluate their readiness to safely return to play by identifying strength imbalances and monitoring recovery process. As part of the assessment, the SECA machine was used to measure body composition, including muscle and fat mass, by sending a safe, low intensity electrical signal through the body. This data helps establish a baseline for lean muscle mass, supporting interpretation of strength …

Agreement Of Body Composition Estimates Using Air Displacement Plethysmography And Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, Ryan Mcgann, Matthew Schafrick

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Strength & Conditioning Training In Optimizing Competitive Rowing Performance, Julia Casubolo

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Capturing The Moment With Chemistry, Ryan M. Lopes, Jake Fitzsimons, Christopher Besnilian, Ailani Aybar

Academic Festival

The goal of our student affiliate ACS chapter at Sacred Heart University (SHU) is to bring chemistry to the community. The poster will capture our chemistry moments throughout the year. Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, a campus-wide Halloween Haunted house, and scavenger hunt are a few ways our club brings chemistry to SHU. In the larger community the club participates in our local ACS section’s mole bowl and is also engaged with our local ACS Section by attending their local monthly meetings which feature speakers on a wide variety of chemistry topics. Monthly, we aim to bring in scientists with a …

The Effectiveness Of Video Discharge Teaching To Post-Anesthesia Patients Following Orthopedic Surgery, Jessica Nelson

Academic Festival

Aim to implement discharging patients home from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) with discharge instructions that contain QR codes to videos. Patients can access these videos at any time which contain further explanation and visuals of important topics for their discharge instructions such as properly using crutches, pain management after surgery, and isometric exercises. By implementing this, it will lead to a safer recovery for patients who were discharged home from the PACU following an orthopedic surgery.

Physical Activity Among Remote Workers, Afrodite Koulouris, Tyler Settanni

Academic Festival

With the rise of remote and hybrid work environments, many individuals are experiencing increased sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity. This shift presents new challenges for maintaining health and wellness, as well as workplace engagement. Our project evaluates a range of programs designed to promote physical activity among remote workers, including virtual group exercise sessions, walking challenges, wellness app incentives, and partnerships offering discounted local gym memberships. By analyzing the effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability of these initiatives, we aim to identify strategies that not only encourage movement but also foster a stronger sense of community and support within remote workforces. …

Program Development For 18-Year Old Female Targeting Body Recomposition, Anthony Alison, Aidan Connolly, Katie Musser

Academic Festival

Our client, a healthy and motivated 18-year-old, approached us with the goal of reducing body fat while building lean muscle mass, with a particular emphasis on developing upper body strength. She currently maintains a consistent exercise routine, training six days per week, and has expressed a strong interest in more challenging workouts aimed at hypertrophy. Based on her goals and training history, we developed a structured hypertrophy-focused resistance training program, consisting of four days of resistance training complemented by two days of conditioning to support fat loss and improve overall fitness.

The Impact Of Step Challenges On Workplace Wellness, Amanda Larow, Alayna Lovelace, Robert Mcgrath, Veronica Tierney

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Case Study: Gait Analysis Of A Collegiate Middle Distance Runner, Emily Arthur, Ava Gaul, Makenzie Quick

Academic Festival

Running performance is closely tied to the efficiency and mechanics of an athlete’s gait. At the Sacred Heart University Pioneer Performance Center (PPC), we utilize advanced gait analysis to help runners gain valuable insight into their biomechanics. Through comprehensive musculoskeletal testing and state-of-the-art motion capture technology, athletes are provided with actionable data that can lead to improvements in running economy, form, and injury prevention.

In this case study, data were collected using Theia"); border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; background-size: 5px; color: rgb(99, 37, 35); font-size: 24pt; font-family: Rockwell, Rockwell_EmbeddedFont, Rockwell_MSFontService, Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, Rockwell_MSFontService, Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; font-kerning: normal; line-height: …

Combination Resistance And Plyometric Training For Adolescent Baseball Athletes, Dakota Asuncion

Academic Festival

Resistance training is important for developing youth baseball athletes and reducing the risks of injury. Most youth athletes can benefit from resistance training and baseball athletes especially can improve performance through a well-structured resistance and plyometric training program. A program combining traditional resistance training, plyometrics, speed and agility, and isometrics was implemented with our athlete over 11 months. 5-10-5 and 10-yard dash were measured using laser timing gates, the broad jump was measured using a tape measure on the floor and fastball velocity was measured using a radar gun. Testing was performed pre- and post-training program to measure improvement. Overall …

Strength Training Program For A Competitive Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Athlete, Marisa Imme

Academic Festival

The strength and conditioning program of an amateur mixed martial arts athlete was followed for 12 weeks at Gold Coast Strength and Conditioning in Norwalk, CT. The observation and analysis began with initial testing, and followed the athlete through his competition phase. This poster highlights sport-specific exercises that are implemented into a training program to optimize characteristics that that enhance MMA performance and help prevent injury. Key aspects of programming such as periodization, exercise selection, and overload and specificity are also featured on this poster.

Case Study: Onset Of Gluten Ataxia In A Senior Patient, Elizabeth Portelli

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

“Mind The Gap”: How A Simple Cue Changes Heel Distance And Shuffle Speed​, Alexander Gregory

Academic Festival

 Lateral motion plays a crucial role in multidirectional sports, where athletes must rapidly accelerate, decelerate, and change direction in small spaces.1 A common technique in these situations is the lateral shuffle.2 However, coaching cues that alter natural mechanics such as instructing athletes not to let their feet come together, may influence both movement strategy and performance outcomes.3 This study aimed to determine whether athletes respond to this coaching cue and, if so, how it impacts performance.4

 Twelve physically active individuals (7 females, 5 males) without recent lower limb injuries participated in the study. Each completed lateral shuffle trials under two …

The Expression Pattern Of Α6 And Β4 Integrin Receptor Subunits In Cultured Chick Forebrain Neurons, Jenna Jacinto

Academic Festival

Previous data suggest that a laminin receptor is localized in the axons of chick forebrain neurons mediating the axon-growth promoting properties of laminin. Many heterodimers from the integrin family of proteins have previously been identified as laminin receptors, including the α6β4 heterodimer. We tested the role of β4, β1, and α6 integrins in laminin-induced increases in axonal growth using function blocking antibodies. Axons of neurons grown on laminin treated with β4 integrin function blocking antibodies or α6 integrin function blocking antibodies were significantly shorter compared to untreated cultures or cultures treated with a β1 integrin function-blocking antibody. These data are …

The Influence Of Social Media On Substance Use Tendencies, Alyssa Sawka

Academic Festival

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the relationship between social media usage and substance use tendencies among college students. Our study surveys Sacred Heart University students with an aim to understand their attitude towards social media’s influence on substance use on college campuses and collect data to analyze if there is a positive correlation between higher levels of substance use and higher levels of social media use.

Comparing The Effects Of Elevated Temperatures On Flowering Of A Foundation Species In Natural Versus Restored Marshes, Emma M. Murphy

Academic Festival

Globally, many plants are experiencing elevated temperatures as a result of climate change, which can affect survival, growth, and reproduction and have far-reaching impacts on populations and communities, particularly in plant-dominated ecosystems. In addition, these effects may vary depending on whether a system is composed mainly of a natural population that has existed for decades with minimal human interference versus a restored population that has been created or modified by human activity. Here, we focus on the effects of ambient versus elevated temperatures on the reproduction of Spartina alterniflora, a foundation species in natural versus restored salt marshes, to …

Determining How Oyster Health And Parasite Prevalence Differ Between Aquaculture Grow-Out Methods, Olivia Griffin

Academic Festival

Oyster aquaculture provides a variety of valuable ecosystem services and is a critical component of sustainable seafood production in the United States. However, a number of stressors, such as pollutants and parasites, hamper the sustainability of oyster aquaculture. Oyster aquaculture uses multiple farming techniques, such as on-bottom cages and floating bags, to optimize oyster survival, growth, condition, and marketability. These different methods expose oysters to a variety of abiotic and biotic factors that can independently and interactively affect oyster health metrics. In particular, the relationship between grow-out methods and parasite exposure, and the consequent effects on oyster survival and growth, …

Comparing Behavioral And Physiological Methods Of Pain Assessment Used In Veterinary Medicine, Julia Calvi

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Warning! Revising Academic Warning Notifications To Support Students’ Emotions, Motivation, And Help-Seeking, Sophia Grace Rogers, Magdalene Martha Corrodino, Michele L. Chu, Gianna Ivette Quintana

Academic Festival

Struggling college students who receive academic warning notifications often have higher dropout rates than similarly performing peers who do not receive such notifications. This trend is partly driven by feelings of failure and shame, which undermine academic perseverance. To address this, we revised academic warning notifications to be more psychologically attuned—specifically, to support students’ self-worth, capability, and sense of belonging. In Study 1 (N = 247 SHU students), we compared students’ perceptions of a revised academic notification (v. 2.0) to a standard notification (v. 1.0). As expected, most students preferred the revised notification (83.6%) over the standard (16.4%). Further, students …

Protein Targeting Of Amyloid Precursor Protein In Cultured Neurons, Julianna Koman, Joseph Tenedine, Benedetto Galluzzo, Mark Jareb Phd

Academic Festival

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) has commonly shown to lead to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease through its cleavage into amyloid-β plaques that aggregate in the brain, causing neurodegeneration. To better understand the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, researching the normal targeting and processing of APP in neurons can reveal many of the processes that lead to the aggregation of senile plaques in the brain. We have expressed a FLAG-tagged human APP construct in cultured embryonic chick forebrain neurons and visualized its distribution using immunocytochemistry and fluorescent microscopy. Initial findings show that APP is expressed in cell body, dendrites, and axons …

Using Markov Chains To Analyze Board Games, Francesca Daniele

Academic Festival

A Markov chain records the outcomes of a sequence of chance experiments. We will define Markov chains and introduce some general theory about them. This theory will be applied to model two board games, Chutes and Ladders and Monopoly, as Markov chains. We will use the results obtained from modeling them as Markov chains to analyze each board game individually.

Role Of Environmental Conditions In Determining Plant Size Differences In Restored And Natural Spartina Alterniflora, Allegra Simon

Academic Festival

Sediment composition plays a crucial role in plant growth, nutrient availability, water retention, and soil stability, factors that often differ between restored and natural salt marshes. Understanding these differences is essential for wetland restoration and environmental management. This study investigated how differences in physical conditions at a restored and a natural marsh in Connecticut impact smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) growth. Measurements of S. alterniflora height were taken at each site and estimated energy at each site via plaster erosion in the field. Plants and sediment were collected from Milford Point (natural) and Stratford Point (restored) and grown in a common-garden …

Exploring Interspecies Relationships Through Differential Equations, Isabella Zanni

Academic Festival

A differential equation relates an unknown function to one or more of its derivatives. Systems of differential equations can be used to model interspecies relationships. This paper will consider predator-prey and competition models. The equilibria of a system represent when the population rates of species are zero such that the populations are constant. We perform a stability analysis of the equilibria to determine if they are stable, unstable, or borderline. This stability will help us predict the population dynamics of the species modeled by the system.

Levels Of Cannabis Use And Their Association With Stress, Academic Performance, And Daily Activities Among College Students, Jessica Samuolis, Juliana Anderson, Samantha Major, Ashlyn Spinelli

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Binge Drinking And Depression Symptoms Among Female College Students, Jessica Samuolis, Fallon Gearty, Rachael Johnson, Brayden Wihbey

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

How Poor Classroom Management And Negative Student Behavior Can Impact Student Learning And Teaching Ability, Giuliana Mazzaferro

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Combined Screening Of Different Beta-Lactamases Enzymes And Cipp Protease From Staphylococcus Aureus To Identify Pharmaceutical Hits, Makayla Quinn, Daniel Witt

Academic Festival

Bacteria has evolved in much more rigorous conditions that today; they have developed mechanisms to survive. A need is for novel antibiotics is imperative. Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by bacteria that provide multi-resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Beta-lactamase provides antibiotic resistance by changing the antibiotics' structure. We are also investigating a protease ClpP that is in S. aureus maintaining protein homeostasis. Here, we describe the use of an iterative in silico and in vitro workflow for identifying novel beta-lactamase and protease ClpP inhibitors. Utilizing Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) as the software for our virtual screens. Our virtual screen model evaluates compounds …

In Process: The Mind Of A Dancer As Seen Through The Eyes Of Ai, William D. Kasheta

Academic Festival

Being one of the most changing forms of art, dance is a construct that grows with the body overtime. This process is one that is personal to every dancer, and one that I wanted to translate for myself. Through the eyes of AI, I was able to create abstract images that represent three stages of my personal process. Notice how each dancer in all three categories looks exactly the same in size, stature, and body type. The eyes of AI prove quite clearly that there is one type of dancer. Therefore, that translates to one process. It is important to …