Digital Commons Network^™

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.

Investigating The Relationshp Between Self-Affirmation, Defensiveness, And Narcissistic Traits, Sandra Lezcano, Sierra Marie Sailer

Academic Festival

The current study was designed to test the effect of selfaffirmation on defensive responses to a hypothetical threat among people high in narcissistic personality traits.

Self-affirmation refers to thinking about and expressing one’s core values in life and has been shown to produce myriad benefits, including reduced stress, increased self-esteem, and decreased defensiveness in response to threats (for a review, see Cohen & Sherman, 2014).

Previous research has found that grandiose narcissism is related to negative emotional responses to achievement threats whereas vulnerable narcissism is related to more negative emotional responses to interpersonal threats (Besser & Priel, 2010).

Hypothesis 1: …

Interpolation And Quadrature, Abigail Poleway

Academic Festival

In this poster, we will first examine polynomial interpolation. Interpolation allows us to construct a polynomial through a given set of data points. Interpolation is also used to develop the Newton-Cotes formulas, which are methods for numerical integration, or quadrature, that can approximate more complicated definite integrals. But, there is a way to arrive at even more precise approximations, and we will discover this through a discussion of Gaussian Quadrature.

Neurotoxicity Of 2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl Ether (Bde-47) During Embryonic Zebrafish Development, Samantha Faeth, Julia Mullane

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

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.

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 …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Aggregate Behaviors In Asian Shore Crabs (Hemigrapsus Sanguineus), James Moore, Paul Jacobson

Academic Festival

Asian shore crabs (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) are invasive along rocky, Northeast coastlines in the United States. Although these crabs often form aggregations between or under rocks to evade predators like birds and fish, they also exhibit cannibalistic behavior during periods of resource scarcity. Our project is part of a comprehensive study on Asian shore crab behavior and physiology when sharing intertidal refuges. We analyzed interactions between Asian shore crabs of varying sizes. During experimental trials, two crabs of different sizes were observed in an experimental arena for 10 minutes. We tracked their movements and proximity using Kinovea and quantified …

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. …

Do Pronouns Matter? The Impact Of Pronouns And Gender Identity In The Workplace, Lauren G. Giesse, Sophia G. Rogers, Chelsea G. Signore, Nicole J. Sperling, Sadie Stevens

Academic Festival

Our research team is interested in exploring how the disclosure of pronouns in job applications affects perceptions of skill and competitiveness for a job position. In other words, if people disclose their pronouns are they viewed as being more deserving for the job? Further, do these attitudes depend on their gender identity? Our study will have participants read a fictional job description and application and rate how qualified the fictional applicant is. We will manipulate the applicant's gender identity (e.g., woman, man, transgender woman, transgender man, non- binary) and whether this applicant includes their pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them) or …

What Was The Worst Part Of Your Day? Refining A Coding System To Examine Daily Experiences Of Minority Stress, Gabrielle H. Lasiw, Chelsea G. Signore, Nicole J. Sperling, Sadie Stevens

Academic Festival

Minority stressors are unique experiences that are specific to marginalized groups, such as sexual minorities (e.g., LGB people). Past research has supported the connection between minority stress and negative physical and mental health; however, little is known about how minority stress is experienced in everyday life. For instance, most research studies include questionnaires that limit examples of minority stress. Similarly, little is known about which stressors are most frequent, and who they affect most (i.e., age, gender, sexual orientation). To address this gap, we are analyzing open-ended responses from a daily diary study in which 112 sexual minorities self-reported stressful …

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

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Protein Targeting Of Amyloid Precursor Protein In Cultured Chick Neurons, Isabella Pace, Joesph Tenedine

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 …

Assessing Patterns Of Parasites In American Horseshoe Crabs In Long Island Sound, Angelina Rabadi

Academic Festival

The American Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an economically and ecologically important species with beneficial connections to human health. Horseshoe crabs in Long Island Sound (LIS) have been on the decline for decades due to habitat loss and overharvesting. Recently additional factors have been analyzed to assess if they are negatively impacting the horseshoe crab population, such as parasite infestation. The horseshoe crab flatworm, Bdelloura candida was analyzed to assess infestation patterns Long Island Sound horseshoe crabs. Data collected from horseshoe crabs (n=495) in 2019 was analyzed to see if there is any relationship between sex, shell condition (age proxy), …

Assessing Variation In Oyster Survival, Growth, And Parasite Community Prevalence Between Aquaculture Methods, Olivia Griffin

Academic Festival

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 growth and survivability. In particular, the relationship between grow-out methods and parasite exposure, and the consequent effects on oyster survival and growth, merit further investigation. Here, we compared survival and growth of oysters grown on-bottom vs floating at four aquaculture sites in Massachusetts, and measured prevalence of micro- and macro-parasites. We found that oysters grown in on-bottom cages from July …

Making History A Living Memory: The Power Of Play And Role Immersion In Enhancing Education, Kathryn Haig

Academic Festival

Reacting to the Past, which employs role-immersion as a collegiate instructional tool, effectively combines active learning and play to create an engaging educational experience. This paper will examine how Reacting to the Past games alter the general disposition of a classroom, enacting a shift from quiet passivity to active and enthusiastic learning. Drawing from the work of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, this paper will consider the ways in which social interactions, assimilation, and accommodation compliment each other in order to enhance learning (Brame 1-2). An explanation as to why kindergarten teaches us so much – it emphasizes an experience …

Relationships Between Personality Factors, Stress And Gpa, Christopher Fusina, Maureen A. Conard, Alexandra S. Louros, Quinn D. Hart, Charles Treston

Academic Festival

We examined correlations among personality traits, stress, and GPA. We compared stress levels from the early 2000s to now.

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.

Skillforge: The Future Of Learning, Michael Tenam, Chris Seccafico, Declan Coleman, Julia Schuerlein

Academic Festival

SkillForge" is a pioneering e-learning platform integrating Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance online education. Users, as learners or mentors, navigate a plethora of courses enriched with AR modules, offering hands-on interactive experiences. The platform tailors learning paths using AI, adjusting content to users' pace and engagement. Features like real-time feedback, and gamification elements elevate the learning journey. Safety and community engagement are paramount, with strong community guidelines and discussion forums. Utilizing technologies like Tkinter, Ollama, Mistral, SQLite, and Sketchfab api. Skill Resolution stands at the forefront of innovative education.

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 …

Ai Robotic Arm With Hand Tracking, Julia Piascik

Academic Festival

This project aims to build a robotic arm with artificial intelligence. Implementation methods included building a 3D-printed forearm, writing a Python program with OpenCV and MediaPipe to read the webcam footage and give the Arduino Uno a command sequence with five binary values depending on if the fingers were determined to be opened, which is the value ‘1’, or closed which is the value is '0' and writing a C++ program to read the given binary values from the Python program to cause each finger motor to close or open the finger. Although built, the webcam for the arm turns …

Pitt Library Manager, Sarah Elliot, Owen Geis, Danielle Leblanc

Academic Festival

The Student-Athlete Success Center for D1 athletes at Sacred Heart University maintains a library for student-athletes to check out textbooks for free, making it easier for them to obtain course materials. Currently, the Pitt Library is managed through a paper-based system, resulting in a multitude of complications such as inaccurate tracking and missing inventory. The work-study platform will allow those working at the library to add and remove books, check books in and out of the library, and monitor and update the condition of the books. The student-athlete portion of the application allows student-athletes to virtually search the library for …

Fitness Bot, Michael Frieri, Victor Ginart, Hard Shah

Academic Festival

Fitness Bot is a cutting-edge fitness app that seamlessly syncs with the WHOOP fitness band through APIs, gathering essential user data like heart rate, calorie expenditure, sleep patterns, height, weight, and workout duration. This Swift-based application takes user-set fitness goals, such as muscle gain or weight loss, and employs intelligent algorithms to generate personalized workout regimens, sleep schedules, and dietary tracks. With an intuitive interface and real-time progress tracking, Fitness Bot empowers users to take charge of their health journey, harmonizing technology and wellness to redefine personal fitness and promote healthier lifestyles.

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

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Roulette And The Martingale Strategy, David Robillard

Academic Festival

In this poster I discuss the use of Python simulations and mathematical
analysis to evaluate the impact of the Martingale Strategy on win
rate, and expected value of net earnings, when applied to the game
of roulette.

Developing 240 Spanish Word Pair Stimuli For A Psycholinguistic Experiment, Francisco Villa

Student Research Symposium

Metaphors are linguistically interesting because they involve going beyond literal interpretation. For example, “night owl” can refer to an animal or a person who is active at night. Psycholinguistic researchers investigating metaphor comprehension must develop sets of stimuli (linguistic items used in experiments) that include metaphors and literal items as a baseline. One approach is to use metaphorical word pairs, because it lets researchers control several important variables, including how frequent words are within the language. For the first time, we have created a set of word pair stimuli in Spanish, which is particularly challenging because most metaphors consist of …

Using Edna To Assess Impacts Of Oyster Restoration On Ecosystem Biodiversity At A Heavily Impacted Coastal Lagoon, Dominique Di Domenico, Emily Bonacchi, Elizabeth Suter

Molloy Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

The Great South Bay (GSB), a bar-built, temperate, coastal lagoon on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA, is a highly modified estuary due to heavy urbanization and suburbanization in the last century. GSB historically provided up to 50% of the nation’s hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) harvest, and is the legal home of the “Blue Point” oyster (eastern oyster; Crassostrea virginica). However, due to overexploitation as well as persistent stress from ongoing nitrogen pollution and harmful algal blooms, shellfish populations are fractions of their original abundances. Restoration efforts in GSB, driven both by community efforts …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Substance Use Among College Students, Madison M. Wakely, Halle Trahey, Nicholas Bolognini, Jennifer C. Elliott Phd

Molloy Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

Recent studies have shown mixed results on whether substance use has increased in college students over the course of the Coronavirus pandemic. This study surveyed 115 undergraduate students at a largely commuter college in the suburban northeast. The data suggested that mental health issues increased since before the pandemic, while alcohol use has largely stayed the same over the course of the pandemic. Continued research in diverse college settings is needed on this important topic.

The Media’S Influence On Disordered Eating And Body Dysmorphia In Males And Females, Alexis Kotanidis, Jamie Vitrano

Molloy Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

The media typically refers to various means of communication that reach or influence people widely. This includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines, social media platforms, websites, podcasts, and more. Essentially, it has many ways through which information is transmitted to a large audience. The media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, especially with regard to disordered eating and body dysmorphia in both men and women. Disordered eating refers to a wide range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder diagnosis such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. …

Obesity Does Not Mean Death, Elisabeth Luttman

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Ketamine Infusions For Infractable Pain, Lindsay Boyle

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.