Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicine and Health Sciences

Stander Symposium project

Articles 1 - 30 of 371

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Evaluation Of Mammalian Stress And Inflammatory Response To A Novel Porphyrin Apr 2016

Evaluation Of Mammalian Stress And Inflammatory Response To A Novel Porphyrin

Stander Symposium Projects

Porphyrins are a specific class of aromatic, heterocyclic compounds that are either naturally occurring or artificially synthesized. Porphyrins have demonstrated robust antibacterial properties, which arise from the generation of singlet oxygen. However, most porphyrins are photodynamic, meaning they require activation by light at an optimal wavelength. A novel porphyrin, developed by Dr. Shawn Swavey (UD Chemistry Department) has shown exceptional antibacterial efficiency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, even without photoactivation. As P. aeruginosa infections are often the root cause behind lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, identifying a way to safely control bacterial presence is a major concern. The ability of this …


Honor's Thesis Proposal: Effects Of Tactile Versus Electronic Games On Attention, Distraction, And Understanding Apr 2016

Honor's Thesis Proposal: Effects Of Tactile Versus Electronic Games On Attention, Distraction, And Understanding

Stander Symposium Projects

The ability to attend to relevant information and resist attention to distractors is important for children’s cognitive development. Difficulties with attention can impede memory development and impact learning. Much has been written in the news about the impact of electronic media on children’s development of attention skills, but little research has been done explicitly comparing children’s attention to relevant information and resistance to distractions across activities that are presented in either tactile or electronic format. The goal of this study is to compare levels of attention and distraction among preschool-aged children while they engage in a common childhood activity, playing …


Greek Life And Catholic Universities: Do The Values Of Greek Life Match With Those Of The Catholic Church? Apr 2016

Greek Life And Catholic Universities: Do The Values Of Greek Life Match With Those Of The Catholic Church?

Stander Symposium Projects

Greek Life organizations face many negative stipulations across the United States due to several allegations of disrespectful actions. Due to these negative actions, there are Catholic institutions across the United States that do not allow Greek Life organizations on their respective campus. Such reasons Catholic institutions give is that Greek Life is not needed on campus for students to live out Catholic values. Instead, students have service, special interest and sports clubs to join to live out Catholic values. As a student apart of Greek Life on the University of Dayton’s campus feel that the values between Greek life and …


Research Exercise: The Development Of A First Year Chemistry Laboratory Apr 2016

Research Exercise: The Development Of A First Year Chemistry Laboratory

Stander Symposium Projects

The purpose for this project was to redesign a past General Chemistry Laboratory experiment with emphasis on student learning objectives in support of lecture material. The experiment was first introduced into the second semester CHM124L course in 1997 as “Preparation and Investigation of Salt Solutions”. For the Fall 2016 curriculum, the modified experiment will be conducted in the first semester General Chemistry course CHM123L as “Equilibrium of Salt Solutions”. This experiment was chosen for modification because the concept of equilibrium, especially when applied to pH of salt solutions, is one that many students find difficult to understand. Experiencing the concept …


Renew Your Interest...So Your Best Potential Can Come To Light! Examining The Effectiveness Of Academic Renewal Course & Coaching (Arcc) Apr 2016

Renew Your Interest...So Your Best Potential Can Come To Light! Examining The Effectiveness Of Academic Renewal Course & Coaching (Arcc)

Stander Symposium Projects

This research explores how the seven week academic intervention course, Academic Renewal Course and Coaching (ARCC) at the University of Dayton, affects student learning development and the parallel to decreasing attrition. The objective of this research was to extract the academic intervention practices and strategies that work best to increase academic performance amongst students who are academically and motivationally challenged. It also explains how and why student learning is affected when the appropriate conditions and resources aren’t identified and/or utilized by students. Academic intervention program assessment of ARCC is the all-encompassing purpose of this research. Through qualitative and quantitative data …


Effects Of Body Weight Loading On Arch Height Apr 2016

Effects Of Body Weight Loading On Arch Height

Stander Symposium Projects

Foot functionality is integral to normal human locomotion. The most commonly assessed area of the human body studied during locomotion is the medial longitudinal arch and its deformation. The Arch Height Index Measurement System (AHIMS) is the most reliable tool to measure this arch. This system typically measures arch deformation in two baseline conditions, sitting and standing. The sitting condition is considered unweighted and approximately 10% of a person’s body weight. The standing condition is considered a loaded condition and represents 50% of body weight. The first aim of this study was to see if the baseline measurements traditionally taken …


Portfolio Weights And Capture Ratio Analysis: A Look At Performance In The Consumers Staples Sector 2010-2015 Apr 2016

Portfolio Weights And Capture Ratio Analysis: A Look At Performance In The Consumers Staples Sector 2010-2015

Stander Symposium Projects

Since the recession in 2008, the stock market has experienced periods of extreme volatility, with market moves of 200-400 points on almost a daily basis. One sector that should do well when market volatility is high and rising is consumer staples. In this study I use a dynamic pricing model to determine the portfolio weights for the 10 largest value weighted stocks in the consumer staples sector. The model relies on the upside/downside Capture Ratios (U/D) for each stock to calculate the portfolio weights and dollar investment in each stock. I test the following hypotheses: (1) Stocks with higher U/D …


Creating Value Through Sustainable Manufacturing Apr 2016

Creating Value Through Sustainable Manufacturing

Stander Symposium Projects

To support movement toward a more sustainable worldview, increasing manufacturing efficiency or productivity to improve business profitability and return to shareholders alone is no longer sufficient. Today, leading manufacturers employ business practices that generate sustainable value—that is, creating economic, environmental, and societal value for all stakeholders. Progressive company culture, environmental and energy management systems, carbon neutrality, and becoming landfill free are all valuable outcomes of sustainable manufacturing. This poster outlines the the value of these outcomes as well as methods to achieve sustainable manufacturing.


Fall Risk Assessment Of Older Adults With Dementia Attending Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Services Programs Apr 2016

Fall Risk Assessment Of Older Adults With Dementia Attending Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Services Programs

Stander Symposium Projects

Older adults with dementia are at an increased risk for falls. However, little is known about what specific factors increase fall risk in this population. The purpose of this study was to assess performance based fall risk factors among older adults with dementia who attend day service programs in the Miami Valley so that more specific interventions can be designed to reduce future falls. To be included in this study, participants had to attend Goodwill Easter Seals Adult Day Service and have a diagnosis of dementia. There were 19 participants in this study (8 male) with an average age of …


Identification Of English Learners As Gifted Students Apr 2016

Identification Of English Learners As Gifted Students

Stander Symposium Projects

The United States educational system has faced several challenges and reforms regarding assessment and identification in the past fifty years which continue to change as the nation develops new goals and needs (Giuliani & Pierangelo 2012). In recent years, schools have included a large population of immigrant students from families with native languages other than English (Carter 2005). The need for educating students in English as a second language has led to new policies and programs developed specifically for ELL or English Language Learners (Elizalde-Utnick 2008). Another current topic of educational policy concerns the emphasis on assessment and high-stakes testing. …


Internship Experience Through The Wild Encounters Program Of The Cincinnati Zoo Apr 2016

Internship Experience Through The Wild Encounters Program Of The Cincinnati Zoo

Stander Symposium Projects

In the summer of 2015, I participated in an internship in the Wild Encounters department at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. The internship required an extensive amount of training in proper animal handling, husbandry, and interpretation. This training allowed me the opportunity to work with a wide diversity of wildlife including several endangered species. The internship gave me access to a wide range of biodiversity including invertebrates such as the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, and smaller vertebrates, such as Sand Boas and Spiny Tailed Lizards. In addition, I spent time interacting and educating the public on larger species of wildlife, …


Size, Value And Momentum In Stock Returns: An Empirical Analysis, 2010-2014 Apr 2016

Size, Value And Momentum In Stock Returns: An Empirical Analysis, 2010-2014

Stander Symposium Projects

Based on the landmark studies of Eugene Fama and Kenneth French in the 1990's, most financial economists consider a firm's market capitalization (size) and price to book as two of the most important factors affecting the cross section of stock market returns. In recent years, other factors including stock price momentum have been accepted as predictors of stock returns in the cross section. In this study, I develop a three factor analysis of S&P 500 stock returns for the period 2010-2014. This period was chosen because it is not included in more recent studies. It also reflects a period of …


Social Support Influences In Graduate International Student Engagement Apr 2016

Social Support Influences In Graduate International Student Engagement

Stander Symposium Projects

Changes that graduate international students face in acculturating to U.S. educational environments can often impact the ways they engage on campus, and their subsequent personal and career success. This poses the question of “What are the key themes that institutions can build upon to better support and encourage their growth?” In conducting a mixed-methods study on the lived experiences of graduate students from India, main findings suggested that mentoring relationships, social ties, and factors of perception were crucial to influencing students’ academic and social engagement.


Finding Physicians Fast: Making Finding A Doctor Easier For Esl Students Apr 2016

Finding Physicians Fast: Making Finding A Doctor Easier For Esl Students

Stander Symposium Projects

In the realm of healthcare, it is often difficult to decipher how to locate personal and primary physicians. Those living in the United States are familiar with the role of family care physicians, however, individuals who have immigrated to the U.S. may not fully understand how to find a family physician. The topic of family physicians is important because many other countries do not have primary care physicians that require appointments. For our project, we took two documents that tested at a reading level of 12th grade. We did this by testing the original documents with the SMOG test and …


Electrical Characterization Of Tungsten Oxide Based Memristor For Improved Resistive Switching Apr 2016

Electrical Characterization Of Tungsten Oxide Based Memristor For Improved Resistive Switching

Stander Symposium Projects

Memristor,the forth fundamental circuit element, has opened new phase in the realm of thin film semiconducting device. The non-volatility of memristors, used as Resistive switching RAM, is promising for applications such as DRAM, hard disks etc. The implementation of a memristor device with Tungsten Oxide (WOx) is presented in this work. The presentation addresses fundamental electrical characterization of the memristor devices for their switching performance. Resistive switching in WOx is bipolar in nature. The Pd/WOx/W made memristors become more conductive (resistive) when applied with a positive (negative) bias voltage. The conductance or resistance change is controlled by the re-distribution of …


Design And Prototyping Of A Variable Geometry Extrusion Die To Exhibit Significant Alteration In Shape Apr 2016

Design And Prototyping Of A Variable Geometry Extrusion Die To Exhibit Significant Alteration In Shape

Stander Symposium Projects

Extruded parts are conventionally made by forcing melted plastic through a steel die having a fixed opening that matches the shape of the part. Plastic parts made by extrusion include weather stripping, PVC pipe, and composite lumber. Variable geometry dies can change their opening shape during the extrusion process. Developing shape-changing dies technology offers the possibility of making parts with varying cross-sections that currently need to be made through injection molding. This is desirable as, compared to molding, extrusion tends to be faster and less expensive. Variable geometry extrusion dies have been designed and prototyped by the University of Dayton …


Producer Prices, Cost-Push-Inflation And Stock Market Returns Apr 2016

Producer Prices, Cost-Push-Inflation And Stock Market Returns

Stander Symposium Projects

Although the Fed looks at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditure index (PCE) as the key measures of inflation, in this study I focus my attention on Producer Prices (PPI) as a leading indicator of inflation in final goods produced. I want to test three hypotheses. First there is a high pass through rate for prices in the 4 basic stages of production identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Using regression analysis to measure the pass through rate, I expect the b coefficients to be greater than zero and close to one. This would …


Investigation Of The Role Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction As A Trigger For Neurodegeneration In Alzheimer’S Disease Apr 2016

Investigation Of The Role Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction As A Trigger For Neurodegeneration In Alzheimer’S Disease

Stander Symposium Projects

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognitive function and memory of the patient. It results from plaques formed by the abnormal cleavage of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), which result in the formation of 42 amino acid polypeptide, also known as amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42). Accumulation of Aβ42 peptide triggers cell death in the neuronal cell population of central nervous system. However, the trigger for this abnormal cell death is unknown. I will investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction as the trigger for neurodegeneration. Since the mitochondria is the site for triggering neurodegeneration, its malfunction or loss …


Spatial Mechanism Analysis And Synthesis By Dual Special Unitary Matrices Apr 2016

Spatial Mechanism Analysis And Synthesis By Dual Special Unitary Matrices

Stander Symposium Projects

Numerical algebraic geometry is the field that studies the computation and manipulation of the solution sets of systems of polynomial equations. The goal of this work is to formulate spatial mechanism analysis and design problems via a method suited to employ the tools of numerical algebraic geometry. Specifically, equations are developed using dual special unitary matrices that naturally use complex numbers to express physical and joint parameters in a mechanical system. Unknown parameters expressed as complex numbers readily admit solution by the methods of numerical algebraic geometry. This work illustrates their use by analyzing the spatial RCCC and RRRCC linkages. …


Star Decompositions Of The Complete Split Graph Apr 2016

Star Decompositions Of The Complete Split Graph

Stander Symposium Projects

A graph is a discrete mathematical structure that consists of a set of vertices and a set of edges between pairs of vertices. A problem of interest in graph theory is that of graph decomposition, partitioning the set of edges into disjoint sets, producing subgraphs which are isomorphic to each other. Here we consider the problem of decomposing a class of graphs called complete split graphs into stars of a fixed size. We present conditions for the decomposition as well as an algorithm for the decomposition when it is possible.


Can Airplane Recycling Take Off? Apr 2016

Can Airplane Recycling Take Off?

Stander Symposium Projects

As of 2015, the worldwide air transportation industry is expected to contain an estimated 10,000 aircraft ready for retirement. In order to offset the introduction of waste from aircraft disposal into landfills, as well as to cope with the depletion of natural resources, the recycling of airplanes is becoming more prevalent. Aircraft Recycling is a process of highly variable economic revenues. Often, the difference between having a loss and a profit is with the resale of aircraft parts, namely the engines. Recycling companies often have to charge the owner of an aircraft for the recycling process in order to make …


Research Exercise: Vocation And Arts Apr 2016

Research Exercise: Vocation And Arts

Stander Symposium Projects

The Chaminade Scholars 'Vocation and Arts' class have been preparing all semester for an in-depth pilgrimage to Italy in May. The interactive Stander Symposium experience introduces participants to the Art, Culture and Spirituality of Assisi and Rome. Included is an exhibit of students' photography and "Awakening to Beauty publication.


Research Exercise: Amplifying Signals Via Riboswitch Biosensors Apr 2016

Research Exercise: Amplifying Signals Via Riboswitch Biosensors

Stander Symposium Projects

The Air Force is always in search of new and efficient ways to protect the lives of their Airman and equipment. Biosensors are self-sufficient, natural systems that can report a signal based on the presence of a specific molecule. However, biosensors are limited by a low signal output. Here we describe how a biological amplification circuit, loosely based on concepts similar to electrical circuitry, will be used to produce and amplify a signal. The biosensor consists of sensing cells and reporter cells that are ‘wired’ together via quorum-sensing signal molecules. The sensing cells contain a riboswitch that activates the reporter …


Robust Nonlinear Adaptive Control For Longitudinal Dynamics Of Hypersonic Aircraft Vehicle Model Apr 2016

Robust Nonlinear Adaptive Control For Longitudinal Dynamics Of Hypersonic Aircraft Vehicle Model

Stander Symposium Projects

A hypersonic aircraft vehicle is a highly complex nonlinear system, which includes uncertainties in the dynamics. This paper presents the design of robust nonlinear adaptive control for a hypersonic aircraft vehicle model. The complexity of the dynamic system is considered into the design structure of the control in order to address robustness issues. Design of a robust control system should decouple the longitudinal and lateral dynamics to handle the flight of hypersonic vehicle under certain specific conditions. In this paper, we only consider longitudinal dynamics, which are divided into aircraft speed subsystem and flight-path angle subsystem. A robust control design …


Monetary Policy And Unemployment Rates: Is There A Relationship? An Empirical Analysis: 2001-2015 Apr 2016

Monetary Policy And Unemployment Rates: Is There A Relationship? An Empirical Analysis: 2001-2015

Stander Symposium Projects

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate to carry out Policy objectives that bring about full employment in the economy with price stability. On the full employment side, monthly job growth along with unemployment rates are two key metrics that indicate how well the fed is doing in achieving the mandate. In this study, I focus on unemployment rate trends over the period 2001-2015.In 2001, the U.S. economy was dealing with a mild recession and in 2008 a severe recession. I look at the trend in the unemployment rate for the periods 2001-2007 and 2009-2015 to obtain a better understanding …


Wage Costs And Inflation Trends: An Empirical Analysis 2001-2015 Apr 2016

Wage Costs And Inflation Trends: An Empirical Analysis 2001-2015

Stander Symposium Projects

Rising wage costs have often been used as a leading indication of inflation in national economies. In the US since the 2008 recession wage costs growth has, to say the least, been erratic with no discernible upward trend. In 2015, however, wage cost growth showed some signs of picking up steam suggesting that overall spending in the economy will likely pick up. In this study we examine trends in the employee cost index (ECI) from 2001 to 2015, the long term trend period, and 2009 to 2015, an intermediate term period after the 2008 recession. Linear trend equations are developed …


A Numerical Solution Of A Model Of Diabetes Apr 2016

A Numerical Solution Of A Model Of Diabetes

Stander Symposium Projects

Many researchers use mathematical models to understand and predict the behavior of biological systems. In this work we consider a mathematical model for diabetes mellitus presented by Hussain and Zadeng to study a metabolic disease for the regulation of glucose in the body by pancreatic insulin. The mathematical models consists of two ordinary differential equations for glucose concentration and insulin concentration. In particular, this study attempts to numerically solve the model using the Runge-Kutta methods of order 2 and 4. We will also perform a qualitative analysis on the behavior of the system


A Portfolio Weighting Strategy For A Portfolio Of 9 Large Cap Healthcare Stocks: The Case For Capture Ratios, 2010 - 2015 Apr 2016

A Portfolio Weighting Strategy For A Portfolio Of 9 Large Cap Healthcare Stocks: The Case For Capture Ratios, 2010 - 2015

Stander Symposium Projects

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) indicates that individual stocks are systematically influenced by overall price movements in the market. One way of measuring these systematic movements is through capture ratios. In this study I utilize upside/downside capture ratios to develop portfolio weights for 9 large cap Health Care stocks which make up the largest overall weight in the Health Care Sector XLV. I test the following hypotheses: (1) The upside/downside capture ratio weighted portfolio outperforms the market (S&P 500), (2) the upside/downside capture ratio weighted portfolio outperforms XLV. (3) The performance of the upside/downside capture ratio weighted healthcare portfolio …


Cross-Cultural Engagement: Is It Happening? Apr 2016

Cross-Cultural Engagement: Is It Happening?

Stander Symposium Projects

This study examines the cross-cultural engagement between international and domestic undergraduate engineering students at a private, Midwestern university. It uncovers the situations in which international and domestic students are engaging and explores the components which help or hinder the cross-cultural interaction between these students. This study informs higher education professionals endeavoring to provide undergraduate engineering students a greater ability to function in a global world. Data was collected through the use of one-on-one interviews with current international and domestic undergraduate engineering students. The study revealed that while international and domestic engineering students are engaging, the frequency remains low and there …


Avoiding The Guillotine: The Need For Balance And Purpose In Determining Fundamental Rights Under The Fourteenth Amendment Apr 2016

Avoiding The Guillotine: The Need For Balance And Purpose In Determining Fundamental Rights Under The Fourteenth Amendment

Stander Symposium Projects

This paper argues the need for a balanced approach between traditionalism (including history) and rationalism to determine fundamental rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The issue of how to determine fundamental rights has intrigued the Supreme Court of the United States since 1798. The Supreme Court has desired an “objective” approach to determine what rights are “fundamental.” However, the Supreme Court has had difficulty finding an objective approach. This is because, as E.O. Wilson and Joshua Greene observed, rights are naturally subjective creations of an individual’s values. Thus, any test to determine fundamental rights will be subjective …