Digital Commons Network^™

Di-Butyl Phthalate Disrupts Muscle, Motor And Sensory Neuron Development In Embryonic Zebrafish, John Paul Giacalone, Michael Fumo, Evelyn Paquette, Nicole Roy

Academic Festival

Phthalates are added to plastics to enhance its flexibility, durability and transparency. Phthalates are found in a wide range of goods including household, agricultural and medical products as well as building and industrial materials. Phthalates are not covalently bound to plastics and leach into the environment. Phthalates are now pervasive and ubiquitously present in the atmosphere, soil and sediment, surface and wastewater. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and their effects on male and female reproduction are well noted. However, studies on the developmental effects of di-butyl phthalate (DBP) are limited. Here we investigate the developmental toxicity of DBP on motor …

Hypersensitive Narcissism's Relationship To Defensiveness, Sandra Lezcano, Rosalyn Gutierrez

Academic Festival

The current pilot study tested five hypothetical scenarios that were designed to induce defensiveness. We created high and low threat hypothetical scenarios within these domains: academic, health, romantic, alcohol use, and friendship. Participants were randomly assigned to read and respond to one high threat scenario and one low threat scenario. This poster will focus on the participants who received the high threat scenario first. Post-scenario questions included open-ended questions about how they feel and would respond to the hypothetical scenario and likert-scale questions about their level of defensiveness and sense of responsibility. This poster presents the results for an individual …

Rise In Vaccine Distrust As A Result Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katherine Sandt

Academic Festival

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, there has been a decrease in vaccine administration due to the increased spread of misinformation and disinformation. This is a result of distrust in healthcare following the global pandemic. The spread of misinformation and disinformation in social media about the Covid-19 vaccine has caused parents to question routine childhood vaccines as well. This has increased the cases of viral outbreaks that could be prevented by vaccination and lead to reemergence of previously tamed viruses and an ultimate downfall in global health. These risks are preventable by spreading awareness of the problem of the …

What Happens When Hyperactivity Turns Inward; Adhd Presentation In Females, Kaitlyn Brooks

Academic Festival

ADHD is a neurodevelopmentaldisorder most oftencharacterized by hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsive behavior.Societal gender norms, misunderstandings of ADHD presentation in females, and a lack of inclusion in research and education leads to underdiagnosis of ADHD in females and results in problems in academic success, mental health, and social relationships.

Bilateral Symmetry Of Tibial Loads During A 5-Week Training Block In Dancers, Kaitlin Broyles

Academic Festival

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between tibial acceleration and dance is a limited field of study. Injuries, both from overuse and asymmetry, are prevalent in the dance world, especially towards a dancer’s dominant leg.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of asymmetry among contemporary and ballet dancers in their typical classes.

METHODS: Two experienced female dancers (22/22 years of age, 177.8/160cm, 83.9/55kg, 13/19 years experience) participated in the study and wore tibia-mounted IMU devices bilaterally during five routine dance classes (one ballet, one contemporary). A custom Python script filtered tri-axial accelerations collected at 1600Hz, computed resultant acceleration …

The Marijuana Dilemma, Michael Salvo

Academic Festival

After a long day of work or school, it is the human response to want to go relax and relieve some of the stress they have. People achieve this in many ways by exercising, watching television, having a drink, or more common in recent times; smoking marijuana. With an increase in the legalization of the drug, it is important to see if this is the right decision. Are the effects worth the long-term effects that it could be causing? That is something often overlooked by many people while looking for a quick way to achieve relaxation.

Consuming marijuana has become …

Evaluating High- And Low-Tech Visual Scene Displays In Children With Complex Communication Needs, Colleen Goldrick, Tara Shipos, Gabrielle D'Andrea

Academic Festival

Visual Scene Displays (VSDs) are a form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) that utilize pictured scenes with hot spots to provide individuals with the opportunity to develop language in a contextualized environment. This investigation identified and assessed 12 peer-reviewed articles pertaining to the implementation of high- and low- tech VSDs for children and adolescents presenting with a range of complex communication needs. All articles were evaluated and scored using a published rating scale consisting of 11 predetermined criteria. Following assessment of the articles, it was found that VSDs are an effective form of AAC for children and adolescents with …

The Relationship Between Attention And Working Memory In Healthy Individuals, Mia Greenberg, Jessica Longa, Erin Dobson, Sydney Collier

Academic Festival

Research Question : Does performance on tasks of non- verbal attention and non-verbal working memory impact performance on lexical retrieval for both young adults and older adults?

Hypothesis: Attention and working memory will have additive impact on lexical retrieval. The impact will be most significant for older individuals.

Native And Invasive Aquatic Plant Responses To Amphipod And Snail Grazing, Xanthe Robinson, Latina Steele

Academic Festival

Invasive species can negatively affect biodiversity and may be connected to plant chemical defenses. However, the extent to which small grazers affect growth and chemical defenses in native and invasive aquatic plants is not well understood. The effect of amphipod (mostly Hyalella azteca) and snail (Physella sp.) grazing on growth and phenolic content was compared in a native aquatic plant (coontail, Ceratophyllum demersum) and an invasive aquatic plant (Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum) in two laboratory experiments. In each experiment, growth of each plant was measured as changed in wet mass, and at the end of the …

Exploring The Advantages Of A Four-Day School Week: ​ Improving Learning, Wellness, And Work-Life Balance​, Kaylee Bowman

Academic Festival

A four-day instructional school week will allow teachers to become more effective educators and empower students to be creative and explore their interests. In the United States, education is the second most awarded Masters degree, yet there is a nationwide teacher shortage. A four day school week should not be implemented with the intention of cutting costs, rather it should be implemented to further develop student learning and improve careers in education.

Entertainme!, Trevor Neal, Brandon Cassidy, Remi Rosa

Academic Festival

In an ever-expanding ecosystem of streaming services, how does one wade through thousands of TV shows and movies to get recommended the right content, especially when they are split between dozens of different streaming services? This is where EntertainMe! steps in to fill the gap. EntertainMe! allows a user to enter a movie or series and find alternate titles to watch based on what was entered across various streaming services. Users can create watchlists that contain all their previously watched content, where selecting a title will recommend titles based on that selected title. Furthermore, EntertainMe! allows users to perform user …

Optimization Of A Dna Extraction Protocol For Meiofaunal Identification, Joanna Coreno, Lilly Bove

Academic Festival

Meiofauna are a diverse group of benthic invertebrates that range between 0.04 mm and 1mm in size. They represent 24 of the 35 animal phyla and are ideal for biomonitoring. Their fast population turnover means that community composition can indicate anthropogenic influence and environmental health. The long-term goal of this project is to determine if visual identification of meiofauna at the level of phyla is sufficient to investigate community changes along a disturbed shoreline (Seaside Park; Bridgeport, CT); or if it is necessary to identify lower taxonomic levels via DNA metabarcoding. The latter would allow for the identification of taxa …

The Crossroads Of Shu Saacs, Stephanie Campbell

Academic Festival

The student Chapter of the American Chemical Society at Sacred Heart University aims to bring science to the community and bring Sacred Heart closer to chemistry.

The Inclusion Of Transgender Athletes In Higher Level Athletics, Sydney Abitanto

Academic Festival

In recent years, the presence of the transgender community has increased in our society. Although identifying as a transgender person has become more supported and normalized, transgender athletes are still struggling in the participation of sports. The issue of transgender participation in sports is becoming a more widely recognized and discussed topic in the media as well as within many different sports organizations. Specifically with transgender females competing in cisgender female sports; many believe transgender females have a physiological advantage. The NCAA recently updated the transgender participation policy by supporting a sport-by-sport approach which appears to be the best current …

The Silent Killer, Irene Katehis

Academic Festival

Mental health is not considered, valued or treated correctly based on individuals needs due to the stigma that surrounds it, the cost it takes to treat it, and the lack of education for individuals in our society about what mental illness is.

Have you heard of it? There is a silent killer. Yes, you heard it right there is a silent killer out there, and it is one that lives in your own brain. Did you know that one in four teenagers over the age of 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental illness? Did you know that suicide has become …

Black Women's Journey To Self-Worth, Shikeda Paucar

Academic Festival

The purpose of this study is to explore Black women's societal standards and upbringing within their community, and how it impacts their mental health awareness and self-esteem.

Research has supported the hypothesis that Black women live up to impossible standards set up by a society that has been built off racism. Overall, not being themselves have begun to take a toll on this marginalized community. Because of this the self-love/ self-worth in Black women particularly dark skin women has been sustained. "Dark skin females remember the terms White, you’re right, if you’re yellow, you’re mellow, if you’re brown, stick around, …

The Psychology Behind The Lack Of Female Ceos, Isabella Scarmack

Academic Festival

The most vigorous and highly regarded title in business is the CEO, the chief executive officer. When thinking of a chief executive officer, CEO, what comes to mind. Do you think of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, Tim Cook, and Mark Zuckerberg automatically? What do these individuals all have in common? They are all men. There is very limited diversity in the executive office of American corporations and an underrepresentation of women in these positions. In business school, individuals are taught to have a mindset of a CEO however, the examples that are given are of those who are …

The Relationship Between Resolution Of Semantic Interference And Non-Verbal Inhibition, Sydney Collier, Mia Greenberg, Jessica Longa, Erin Dobson

Academic Festival

Research Question: Is difficulty with resolution of semantic interference correlated with non verbal inhibition ability in healthy controls and individuals with Alzheimer's?

Hypothesis: Individuals who have difficulty with nonverbal inhibition will also have difficulty with resolution of semantic interference.

Effect Of Caffeine Ingestion On Softball Pitching Velocity And Accuracy, Rebecca Del Toro

Academic Festival

The efficacy of caffeine on sports performance has been extensively researched during steady-state sports, but the influence on motor skills remain understudied. Purpose: The present pilot investigation sought to determine the effects of moderately low caffeine ingestion on softball pitching accuracy and ball velocity. Methods: In a single blind design, five (n=5) female club softball players were either given a pill containing either caffeine (3 mg/kg body weight) (CAFF) from a commercially available product or a non-stimulant carbohydrate-based powder (maltodextrin) as a placebo (PLAC).After an hour of rest and self-selected warm-up post-ingestion, participants performed a total of 30 pitches (20 …

Jail Reform: An Examination Of United States Justice System, Dominick Scardigno

Academic Festival

1 in 100. Those are the approximate odds of a U.S. citizen being incarcerated during their lifetime. This statistic alone is enough to prompt discussion regarding the efficiency of the United States criminal justice System. According to the National Institute of justice, an estimated 44% people that have been arrested in the United States are arrested again within the span of a single year and 77% are arrested again within 5 years. These statistics provoke conversations on a global level as to what the actual goals of a criminal justice system should be. It seems nearly impossible to declare an …

Marijuana Legalization, Grace Langdon

Academic Festival

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug used for both recreational and medical purposes which can be smoked or consumed. It is a term for the dried flowers and leaves of the plant Cannabis sativa. This drug is used by millions of individuals across the United States, both legally and illegally. While some of these users are smoking prescribed medical marijuana (CBD-based) to treat concerns such as anxiety, epilepsy, and pain, the majority of marijuana usage is recreational (THC-based). Within the past several years, more and more states have been continuously legalizing this drug in both its medical and recreational form. These …

Enhancing Health & Performance: The Benefits Of Ped Use In Pro Sports, Greg Aldrich

Academic Festival

Thesis: It would take just one open minded executive in a pro sports league to introduce a new era of sports where medically supervised performance enhancing drug use would be allowed for health benefits of the athletes.

Individualized Exercise Prescription, Olivia Vadas, Patrick O'Neil

Academic Festival

Individualized exercise program designed for a 45 year old woman on medication for high blood pressure, has had two knee surgeries, diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (causes weight gain), and exercises as much as possible around her children's schedule.

The desired outcome of program is to increase mobility, flexibility, and weight loss to keep up with children.

Validity Of A Computer Vision System To Determine Bar Displacement And Velocity, Padraig Francis

Academic Festival

This study examined the validity of a video-based phone application (VBA) to determine bar speed and velocity. Analysis of the data revealed that for fast and slow repetitions of the bench press, back squat, and deadlift, the VBA is valid alongside motion capture software for the measurement of bar displacement and velocity. This provides a low cost option for coaches to monitor common barbell exercises during training.

Built Environment And Injury, Keegan Pepin

Academic Festival

The Norwalk Bike/Walk Commission was established in 2017 to support and improve the safety and availability of walking and biking as a main form of transportation and recreation in the city of Norwalk, CT. The commission works with the local and state government to modify the built environment, including roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, and more to optimize their safety and use. In collaboration with the commission, the purpose of this research is to identify top incident/crash sites at a specific area of the city (East Avenue) using the University of Connecticut Statewide Crash Repository. The yearly incidence of crashes involving …

The Relationship Of Opponent Ranking And In-Game Dynamics Of Division-1 Women’S Basketball, Allison Keefe

Academic Festival

This study examined the relationship between an opponent’s NCAA ranking and in-game dynamics of division-1 Women’s Basketball. Analysis showed that when playing lower-ranked opponents, athletes covered higher distances, reached higher speeds, and had higher heart rates. This allows coaches to consider additional exertion that may occur from playing opponents of different rankings.

Validity Of Maximal Heart Rate During An Intermittent Cycle Test - A Pilot Test, Ella Frisbie

Academic Festival

The purpose of this study is to validate a cycle ergometer field test to elicit maximal heart rate (HRmax) that can be completed in a fitness setting by the general population. Seventeen participants (F=14, M=3), aged 20 to 21yrs partook in the study. Each subject completed the incremental and a field test in a random order with an average 6.88 ± 1.80 days between the tests. During both test the subjects pedaled at 60 repetitions per minute (rpm) wearing the Polar H10 tracking heart rate (HR). Expired gases were measured by the Parvo metabolic cart. During the incremental test subjects …

Dance Class Intensity And Tibial Load Fluctuations During A 5-Week Training Block In Dancers, Stephanie Svede

Academic Festival

INTRODUCTION: Dancers experience high training loads in training and do not currently have a viable method of measuring external load. Dancers often experience symptoms of overuse as well as an increase in musculoskeletal pain with higher training loads. Previously, PlayerLoad (PL), from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) worn on the upper back, has been observed to increase as intensity and RPE increase in dancers.

PURPOSE: To measure tibial load and load fluctuations during a period of standard dance classes classes as well as assess how PL and RPE relate to these measures.

METHODS: A wearable IMU was secured on both …

Correlates Of Timed-Up-And-Go Temporal Metrics With Cognitive Status In Individuals With Parkinson Disease, Hannah Alexanian

Academic Festival

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 1-3% of the population over the age of 601, increasing 2.5-fold in prevalence over the last generation.2 The Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) Test is a common screening tool used for lower extremity function, mobility, and fall-risk. The assessments requires an individual to complete a sit-stand movement, initiate gait, walk three meters, turn 180 degrees, walk three meters back, and sit down.8A completion time > 12 seconds is associated with an increased risk of falling.

PURPOSE: Assess the correlation between cognitive status and total time and phase time of the TUG …

How The Use Of Social Media Can Lead To Mental Disorders In Teenagers, Rachel Petti

Academic Festival

With social media being so prevalent in our lives and society, it can cause mental health disorders in teenagers who are still in the process of developing into an adult. It can affect their social skills and they might experience anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, or develop body image issues because they are constantly comparing themselves to others on the platforms.