Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Multi-Objective Bayesian Optimization To Elucidate The Trade-Off Between The Solar Fraction And Cost Of Parabolic Trough Solar Industrial Process Heat With Thermal Energy Storage, Mario Ramos, Luke J. Venstrom, Jonathan Ogland-Hand

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Decarbonizing process heat in the industrial and building sectors is the next frontier in the energy transition. With over 50% of industrial processes requiring process heat at temperatures below 300℃, parabolic trough concentrating solar collectors and other moderately concentrating solar systems hold out promise as technology to usher in a transition away from fossil-based heat sources. Prior studies consider two plant designs, one with a fixed size of the solar field without thermal energy storage and one with a larger solar field size with thermal energy storage fixed in size. In the present work, we demonstrate how to extend prior …

Does Pleasurable Music Indirectly Better Learning?: A Multimodal Approach, Ellie Roeglin

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Recent research has shown that musical pleasure is due to the combination of uncertainty and surprise a musical piece elicits. Additionally, research has demonstrated that music influences arousal and mood and that both affect learning. However, current research has not adequately tested whether pleasurable music indirectly improves learning by influencing mood/arousal. This study attempts to do so. Twenty-seven participants completed a survey that included the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire. Eighteen participants, whose scores demonstrated that they feel emotion-evoking and/or mood-regulatory pleasure from listening to music, came in for further testing. These participants experienced a music condition, in which they listened …

Unveiling The Silence: Examining Mental Health Treatment In Japanese American Incarceration Camps And Its Legacy On Subsequent Generations, Katie Masano Hill

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The Japanese American incarceration during World War II under Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt remains a poignant chapter in American history. Unknown and not appropriately understood for so long, this research paper delves into the psychological repercussions of this dark period, exploring the mental health treatment within the camps and the enduring legacy on subsequent generations. Drawing from primary archival records, medical documents, oral histories, statistical analyses, and personal accounts, this research hopes to shed light on the emotional distress, institutionalizations, suicides, and the silent yet profound psychological scars left by this traumatic experience in order …

The Increased Polarization And Political Ideology Among Us Senators, Keith Szczepanski, James Old

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The study investigates the in depth relationship between the rise in voter polarization and its influence on senators and their political ideologies. It dives into various factors that contribute to this dynamic, including representation and accountability, party dynamics, media influence, institutional factors, and personal beliefs and values. The research posits that increased electorate polarization can lead senators to align more closely with extreme party positions, influenced by the need to secure nominations in primary elections dominated by ideologically extreme voters and the desire to gain attention and support through media exposure. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interconnection …

The Influence Of Government And Private Assistance On Refugee Labor Force Participation In The United States, Erin Bigler

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Refugee policy in the United States is decentralized, providing individual states with the power to implement different policies with various levels of private and government assistance. Previous research analyzing state policy has often focused on one policy and providing suggestions for improvement. Using the 2020 data provided from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, this study looks to provide a comprehensive review of how government or private assistance influences refugee labor force participation across the United States. The findings are then used to provide recommendations for policy makers, based on the three policies already offered in the United States — State-Administered …

The Black Maternal Mortality Rate: Furthering The Discussion On The Deadly Symptomatic Reflections Of Structural Racism On Black Mothers And Analyzing State-Level Policies' Effectiveness In Lowering The Black Maternal Mortality Rate, Allison Howard

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

In the US, Black women are more likely to die during pregnancy when compared to their White counterparts. Black Maternal Mortality is not only a vast issue nationwide but a challenging one to solve. Previous research has identified structural racism as a primary factor in the Black Maternal Mortality Rate. This form of racism in the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods can turn into deadly symptoms that are problematic to the mother's health. Most existing research has developed from this root cause and turned to national-level policies as key to rectifying this problem. However, there has been little focus on …

Before The Dam Breaks: How Transparency In Negotiations Influence The Outcome Of Large Scale Hydroelectric Projects, Merrick Adams

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The negotiation phase of hydroelectric dam development is vital to ensuring a satisfying outcome for most people, but those who will be affected are often left out of this process, resulting in human rights violations and wasted resources. Organizations that attempt to moderate these negotiations and make them more equitable often fail to insulate themselves from the influence of private industries and governments, which results in policy outcomes that are highly unpopular. Given the increasing demand for hydroelectric power, it is clear that a more just and independent negotiation process is necessary to avoid human rights violations and improve efficiency. …

Testing Different Methods Of Total Rna Extraction From Candida Albicans For Effective Pcr, Sara Tewoldemedhin, George Gundelach, Patrice Bouyer

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Candida albicans is a commensal fungal pathogen, and to infect the human body, it must penetrate the intestinal mucosal barrier by changing its morphology from yeast to filamentous. The risk of candida infections increases during pregnancy and estrogen levels are high during pregnancy. Thus, we hypothesized that estrogen could act as a signal for C. albicans to become filamentous. In an ongoing study, we have looked at the effect of estrogen on filamentation, but our approach was qualitative rather than quantitative and could not clearly establish the effect of estrogen on filamentation. To get a better understanding of the effect …

Antimicrobial Activities Of Several Argemone Mexicana-Inspired Phytocompounds, Caleb Vanarragon, Lanna Sirhan, Danielle Orozco-Nunnelly, Jeffrey Pruet

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The creation of novel antimicrobial agents is currently at the forefront of modern healthcare due to a stark decrease in antimicrobial drug development in recent years and due to the increasing rise of “superbugs” that are resistant to more than one type of antimicrobial treatment, which are predicted by 2050 to cause 10 million deaths/year. Our research is focused on testing bacterial and fungal pathogens against methanolic and hexane extracts of various medicinal plants, such as Argemone mexicana. From previous work by our group, several antimicrobial compounds were isolated from the roots and leaves of A. mexicana, including berberine, chelerythrine …

Nanoplastics Are Common In Water: Types Of Formation And Molecular Interactions, Abigail Valicevic, Noah Durlam, Emily Broniewicz

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Plastics are synthetic polymers currently present in nearly every aspect of life. From bottles, foam packaging, and food containers to clothes, electronics, medical equipment, and more, plastic usage has become commonplace. Plastics are widespread, lasting pollutants in all ecosystems. Nanoplastics, defined as plastic pieces less than a micrometer in diameter, are readily formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic pieces. Nanoplastics formed or present in water were studied to determine sources, sizes and quantities as well as interactions with other substances. Polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics were mixed with pure water and a liquid organic compound to create …

Bcon - 1: The Satellite Project, Blair Bram, Ben Jones

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

This student-led project aims to construct a prototype PocketQube satellite. These satellites are designed to be very small, in units of five cubic centimeters. The team will use the QUBIK PocketQube design by Libre Space Foundation to gain experience working with small spacecraft, mission planning, and payload consideration.

Simulating Pulsar Magnetospheres Using Magnetohydrodynamics, Nicholas Gilles

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Pulsars are rotating neutron stars with periodic bursts of radio emission. These enigmatic objects allow us to peer into matter and electromagnetic fields at their most extreme. In this project, we seek to study the evolution of a pulsar's magnetosphere. We use PLUTO, an astrophysical fluid dynamics code, to perform magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations. As a first step, we reproduce the works of other authors simulating a stable hydrodynamical disk. We then aim to study the evolution of various types of accretion disks around neutron stars with the introduction of magnetic fields. Our work focuses on accretion characteristics, such as quasi-periodic …

Applying The Stefan–Boltzmann Law To Filament, Damon Virgo

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Experimental physics is a branch of physics that conducts experiments and is concerned with data acquisition in order to study interesting phenomena. One of these observable phenomena is the Stefan–Boltzmann law, which describes how radiation from a blackbody is dependent on temperature to the fourth power, and is equal to power. An object is called a blackbody when it absorbs all electromagnetic energy that interacts with that object. Blackbody radiation is radiation that is emitted by an object when it is in thermal equilibrium and emits radiation along the continuous spectrum of wavelengths. With the Stefan–Boltzmann law in mind, a …

Using Word2vec And N-Grams To Create Shakespearean Texts, Hexin Liu

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

This research attempts to create poetic texts in the Shakespearean style. Many available technologies can create artworks based on styles of well-known artists. However, it is difficult for the generative models to create texts within the style of a particular author. This study aims to produce sentences in a style of Shakespeare that contain metaphorical meanings without quoting his works. We have trained statistical n-gram models on the complete works of Shakespeare and then used the model to create Shakespearean text. We noticed that, in some cases, the n-gram models will construct sentences that are copied from Shakespeare’s works. We …

College Of Engineering Document Scanner Project, Nicholas Sonntag, Hexin Liu, Hunter Peri

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Engineering students are expected to submit their assignments in a specific paper format. Methods that attempt to address this (such as Camscanner and similar applications) are known to produce issues with quality and legibility. This project aims to create a system that streamlines the document submission process for students. The new tool will allow students to scan their documents and have them sent directly to their email accounts by providing their University ID cards for identification.

The project involved an iterative, agile software/system development method, and specialized software selections including Python and Xsane running on Raspberry Pi hardware. The program …

Using Agent-Based Modeling To Reduce Traffic Emissions, Caleb Vanarragon

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Reducing CO2 emissions is currently one of the most pressing challenges in the effort to prevent climate change. In the United States, transportation accounts for 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions, meaning that decreasing CO2 emissions from automobiles should be a priority. In this analysis, I examine the factors that influence traffic CO2 emissions using a traffic model built in NetLogo, an agent-based modeling language. Although other studies have sought to understand the factors that influence traffic emissions, most have done so using observational methods. Although there are certain benefits to these observational studies, my traffic model is advantageous because …

Heteroatom Effects In Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Emily Pavasars

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

There are several peaks in the infrared (IR) spectrum of planetary nebulae (PNe) like NGC 7027 whose origins are unknown. This has been a long-standing puzzle in the study of PNe. This project explores heteroatom substitution in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a possible origin for these unidentified infrared emission (UIE) peaks. The heteroatom elements explored in this study are nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur. Previous work has demonstrated that 3- and 4- ring PAHs emit a spectrum close to current spectrum data for UIE and a previous group tested nitrogen substitution in similar structures with varied results. I …

Modeling Close Binary Systems Within Planetary Nebulae, Lilly Blanton

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Many fascinating and important processes in space occur in binary systems consisting of a white dwarf and a companion star in a very close orbit. Because of this, understanding this type of system is important to our overall understanding of our universe. These binary systems are born within planetary nebulae. However, only 26 such systems within planetary nebulae have been fully modeled, which isn't a large enough number to result in meaningful statistical data. In order to work towards increasing this number, I used the PHOEBE modeling software to obtain ranges for the secondary temperature, primary and secondary radii, secondary …

Discover Radio Astronomy: A Horn Antenna For Hydrogen Line Observations, Laura Floyd

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

The objective of this project is to provide beginner-friendly radio astronomy equipment to the Valparaiso University Physics and Astronomy Department. This equipment can be used to teach students and the community about the field of radio astronomy through lab activities such as hydrogen line observations. The Milky Way Galaxy is made primarily of hydrogen. The hydrogen line is the frequency of electromagnetic energy that hydrogen emits when its electrons change state. A horn antenna that is designed for this frequency can detect the strength of the hydrogen line in any direction it is pointed. The shape of the horn antenna …

The Genetics Of Salt Stress Tolerance In Arabidopsis, Alyssa Suprenant, Jodie Brasseur, Lilli Goss-Peirce

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Rising soil salinity levels are emerging as a significant challenge due to factors such as irrigation practices, climate change-induced sea level rise, soil degradation, and anthropogenic factors such as road salting. Investigating salt tolerance mechanisms in plants is crucial for agricultural sustainability, as high soil salinity inhibits crop growth and reduces yield, threatening global food security. We wondered if certain genes within the plant Arabidopsis thaliana could be linked to higher salt tolerance as understanding the genetic and physiological basis of salt tolerance in an extensively studied plant could guide the development of resilient crop varieties capable of thriving in …

Modeling White Dwarf Binary Systems - A Hubble Space Telescope Project, Hunter Wood

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

White dwarfs are the final stage of stellar evolution for most stars–those less than about eight times the mass of the Sun. In these cases the star has ejected its outer layers, leaving a superheated core behind to cool. White dwarfs that are part of a binary system, or have a companion star, lead to many interesting astrophysical situations, and so are important objects to understand. In this study, we look specifically at binary white dwarf systems where the second object is a main sequence star. After the discovery of a binary system, it is necessary to create a working …

Did My Professor Waste Money?: Computational Cluster Configuration Variations And Cost-Efficiency, Christian Garcia, Nicholas Rosasco

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Parallel and distributed computing (PDC) and high performance computing (HPC) tools and techniques are becoming increasingly common and even necessary in many disciplines, particularly as large data sets and high computational loads become commonly encountered challenges. Experimentation in this space is somewhat constrained by the cost and availability of the assets that handle even small and midsize tasks in this space; initial tests and bench-marking may be the only chance to put systems through their paces. Therefore, it has become important to provide information on optimizing these smaller but still impactful systems. This requires experiments focused on delivering more capability …

Cookin’ Time: Deploying A Satellite Synchronized Oven-Controlled Oscillator Stratum-1 Timekeeping System, Matthew Dembny, Nathan Wessel, Thaddeus Malatlian

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Precision timekeeping is critical in both the sciences and in the operation of large complex computer installations, impacting tasks ranging from distributed database synchronization to cryptography. It also impacts domains like satellite communication and high-volume financial transactions. The accuracy of time is measured not only in the units of time the clock is capable of but also in how far the clock will drift, relative to Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) over a period of time. Most commodity modern computers have clocks that drift a few milliseconds each day, which creates issues across a variety of time-sensitive applications. This project aims …

Liposome Synthesis And Size Control For Lymphatic Filariasis Treatment, Anna Fay, Lauren Sestito

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical mosquito-borne disease caused by the transmission of parasitic nematodes that nest in the lymphatic system. This causes severe symptoms like lymphedema, and can have socioeconomic effects for the individuals and geographical areas affected. Because of limited drug access to adult worms residing within lymphatic vessels, treatment options for LF are currently limited. Liposomal drug delivery systems show great potential in this field because of their biocompatibility, payload flexibility, and targeting ability. The goal of this research is thus to synthesize a panel of liposomes over a broad size range which will be used …

The Quantitative Genetics Of Plant Growth Response To Precipitation Extremes In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Simranjit Kaur, Abby Boyle, Cassidy Eckstein, Grace Peterson, Marilyn Ives, Sydney Martens, Jane Kenney-Hunt

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Spring floods, summer droughts, and other unpredictable climate events are becoming increasingly common in the Midwestern United States with climate change. Rapid changes in precipitation create challenges to plant life in the region, with impacts on conservation and agriculture. We stimulated the effects of these extremes in precipitation on 100 Arabidposis thaliana recombinant inbred lines (RIL) to investigate gene-by-environment interactions on five growth and development phenotypes. We calculated the genetic variance, correlation, and heritability of the phenotypes. We also preformed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis to identify regions of the genome that have effects on the timing of growth …

Characterizing Drug Loading And Release In Liposomes, Ashley Velasquez, Lauren Sestito

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a significant global health burden, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Current treatment methods have many limitations such as variable efficacy and adverse effects, underscoring the need for new and innovative approaches. The utilization of liposomes as drug delivery vehicles is a promising strategy for the treatment of LF, as they offer unique advantages including lymphatic targeting, biocompatibility, controlled drug release, and the ability to encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs simultaneously. This study aims to characterize drug loading efficiency in and release rates from liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol by using dye molecules as proxies for …

Antimicrobial And Cytotoxic Effects Of Bothrops Atrox Snake Venom, Daryush Mansuri, Jeffrey Pruet, Patrice Bouyer, Danielle Orozco-Nunnelly

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Bothrops atrox, a snake species endemic to South America, is often associated with traditional medicinal practices due to its therapeutic potential against various diseases. Recent studies have identified the presence of unique peptides, enzymes, and proteins in the venom of similar snake species, suggesting their roles in inhibiting the growth of specific bacteria and showing cytotoxic effects against certain mammalian cell lines. Therefore, this research project aims to explore the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties specifically of B. atrox venom by screening aqueous venom extract against twelve distinct prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms (using a Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay), in addition …

Probing Medicinal Plants For Novel Antimicrobial Compounds, Nolan Brezina, Gracie Holt, Daileen Serrano, Jenna Yehyawi

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

According to the W.H.O., infectious diseases account for three of the top ten global causes of death. Antimicrobial drug discovery surged in the mid-twentieth century but has sharply declined in recent years. At the same time, antimicrobial-resistant “superbug” infections are on the rise. Plants produce a robust supply of novel metabolic compounds, including many antimicrobial agents. However, with the advent of modern antibiotic drugs, natural plant-derived antibiotic sources have largely been left unexplored. Therefore, our work is focused on screening poorly explored medicinal plants in the hopes of discovering novel antimicrobial drugs. To do this, we have been testing extracts …

Exploring The Impact Of Diversity On Organizational Leadership: A Gendered Perspective On Strengths And Leadership Experiences Among Students, Allison Plachta

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

This proposed study aims to explore the impact of diversity on organizational leadership, with a particular focus on gendered experiences. Despite the global acknowledgment that diversity enhances organizational performance, leadership paradigms have historically been shaped by attributes predominantly exhibited by men. This research seeks to examine how different strengths, as identified by the StrengthsFinder assessment, influence leadership experiences and perceptions among male and female students in leadership roles. Specifically, the study will explore (1) the impact of StrengthsFinder results on students' leadership practices, (2) the perceived barriers and facilitators to leadership roles and how these may differ by gender, and …

Apparently Healthy College Students: Elevated Blood Pressure And The Need For Cardiovascular Risk Education, Bryn Benzing, Isabella Dietrich, Adalynn Harper, Alyssa Gonzalez, Hannah Lafary

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Elevated blood pressure (BP) at a young age leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Zhang et al., 2019). College students are often unaware of hypertension and its risk factors which could increase the development of these conditions. Our study served to educate, assess BP rates, and identify risk factors to promote health. To frame our research, two theoretical models were utilized: Neuman Systems Model and The Fogg Behavioral Model (TFBM).

Through convenience sampling, BP assessments were performed on participants attending a private midwestern university. At each screening, participants filled out a Google Form, measuring hypertension knowledge, habits, …