Mind-full

Hammond Hall 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Fitchburg State Universityfitchburgstate.edu/studentresearch

REGISTRATION and WELCOME RECEPTION 8:00 – 8:45 AM ................Hammond Hall / Main Lounge

Fitchburg State University Chamber Choir Directed by Jonathan Harvey Student Singers: Corbin Armstrong, Starr Brosseau, Allison Buckless, Lucas Cardwell, Jacob Champagne, Maggie Chase, Meighread Dandenau, DJ Hankins, Kenzie Jacobsen, Sarah Machado, Kaitlyn Mearn, Curtis Monahan, Katie Petkewich, Megan Ptak, and Wylder Tallman

Welcome Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Alberto J.F. Cardelle and Conference Chairs, Katharine Covino-Poutasse and Renée Fratantonio

ORAL PRESENTATIONS 9:00 – 10:00 AM ..............Hammond Hall (various locations—see descriptions)

University Archives / Hammond S03

The Impact of Technological Advancement on the Evolution of Writing Systems ...............Lindsey Ogden

Journalism Roles in the Modern Era: News Creation and Consumption in a Participatory News Culture .....................................Dominique Goyette-Connerty

The Impact the Media Has on Someone’s Decision to Attend College .................................... Jack Gallant

Hammond S08 Geography Internship with the Leominster Department of Planning and Development ................Ed Zink

Geographic Information Systems Intern for the Snow-riders of the Nashaway ..................... Jesse Corbin

Recognizing Environmental Racism and Confronting Ecologic Privilege ................................. Tallie Foster

Hammond G01A

Microplastics in the Nashua River Watershed .............................................................. Samantha Richard

Biological Assessment of Fish in Tributaries of Nashua River Watershed ................................................................. Alesia Burnett and Nicole Zwicker

Nashua River Tributary Health Indicated by Stream Metabolism and Macroinvertebrate Diversity ................................................. Heather Bosworth and Chelsea Lashua

Hammond G01B

Social Media is Changing Peoples’ Opinions on Big Issues ...................................................Clovis Anokye

What is a Sneaker Head and Who Are They? ........................................................................Tyler Morgan

Writing in Aesthetics .......................................................................................................... Mary Johnston

The American Dream ........................................................................................................ Alana Bergeron

Ellis White Lecture Hall

Health Indicators of Fitchburg Residents in Relation to Physical Activity Habits and Park Usage .................................. Emmanuella Agyemang, Alexander Joscelyn, and Lily Price

The Obesity Epidemic .................................................................................................Micalea Goldenberg

The Factors that Affect Recreational Physical Activity Behaviors Among Different Demographic Segments of Adult Residents of Fitchburg ...............Robert Snider, Benjamin Borodawka, and Jacob Elie

Hammond G19

Playlist: A Mobile Application Development Project ............................................................Frank Firicano

Exploring the Knight’s Tour Problem ............................................................................... John Montaquila

Hammond 214 Animals Across Culture ........................................................................................................... Anna Arisco

Aphra Behn: The Bawdy Astrea ..........................................................................................Kaitlynn Chase

Writing a Pilot Script ................................................................................................................. Aidan King

Deconstructing Tennyson: What In Memoriam Can Teach Us About Mourning Culture and Grief ........................................................................................ Haley Quinn

Hammond 314 The Exploration of the Implications of Police Interrogative Methods on False Confessions ................................................................................................Riley Grinkis

Examining the History and Scope of Wrongful Convictions: Where do we go from here? ........................................................................................... Madison Medina

POSTER SESSION 10:00 – 11:00 AM ............ Street Level Lobby, Ground Level Lobby, and Hammond First Floor

ARTERIES GALLERY EXHIBIT Last day of the exhibit .....Ground Level Lobby

CREATIVE WRITING SHOWCASE 10:00 – 11:00 AM ............Ellis White Lecture Hall

Kait Berube ................... The Red

Savanah Hippert ............ Heat Lamp

Connor McPherson ....... Polaris Will Guide You Home (Selections)

Megan Rossetti ............. My ‘Tequila’

Charleyne Stumpf ......... My Little Inspiration

Jennifer Dewing ............ Loathing to Love

Kelly Mansfield .............. Autumn’s End

Jake Movsessian ............ Are You an AMERICAN Shorthair?

Dana Shahar .................. One Hundred Bedtime Stories

Morgan Wynkoop ......... That One Empty Chair

ORAL PRESENTATIONS 11:00 – 11:45 AM ............Hammond Hall (various locations—see descriptions)

University Archives (Hammond S03)

Markets or Morals? The Presidential Election of 1900 ............................................. Emily Autumn Olson

The Issue of Illiteracy in Southern Italy ............................................................................. Joseph Rossano

Hammond S08

The Impact and Analysis of Cash Flows on Different-Sized Companies ............................... Jack Arsenault

A Researched Assessment of the Correlation Between Generational Differences in the U.S. and Marketing Communication Strategies ...........................................................Colleen Kelly

The Effects of Rebranding Strategies of Legacy Brands ....................................................... Robert Snider

Hammond G01A

Simulations of the Nashua River Flooding in Fitchburg ............................................... Caroline Anderson

Designing and Printing a 3D Model of the Nashua River Watershed ................................... Sean Beverly

The Analysis of the Land Use and Land Cover of the Nashua River Watershed .............Samuel Gallagher

Hammond G01B

A Comparison of Heart Rate and Physical Activity Enjoyment in a Self-Selected Treadmill Run vs. a Prescribed Treadmill Workout ..............................................................Natalie Antaya

Massachusetts Middle School Curriculum and Healthy Behavior Education ..................Corinne Richards

Ellis White Lecture Hall

Potential Effects of Childhood Trauma on Gender Variant Identity Development ........... Jason Henriksen

Gender Dysphoria and Its Placement in the DSM 5 .................................................... Cassandra Pillsbury

Analysis of Physicians’ Discourse about Ethical Considerations of Assisted Death ................................................................................................... Kaleala Kadish-Ferriter

Hammond G19

Is Social Media Diluting the Meaning of Friendship? ......................................................... Sophia Laperle

Communications Technologies and Interpersonal Relationships .................................. Catherine Gullage

Hammond 214

Analysis of Stress Resistance in Nematodes to Model Radiation Therapy in Cancer .................Kyle Hofer

GPR89A Rescues Dysferlin Degradation in a Cell Culture Model of Muscular Dystrophy .............................. Anthony Manganaro and Sarah Olson

Hammond 314

Economic Effects of Decision Making in Government: Flint, Michigan Case Study ...................................................................................... Shaina Cruel-Reynoso

The Role of Water in Global Trade and GDP: An Empirical Investigation .......................... Rachel Dunning

Heterogeneity in Returns to College Majors ............................................................................Oliver Titus

Does it pay to play? Testing the impact of college athletic participation on earnings .........Molly Richard

Library HA-101

Use of Color in Cultures Through Films ............................................................................... Kebelin Toloza

Art in Anonymity ................................................................................................................... Daniel Harris

Audio Identities ...................................................................................................................... John Gifford

LUNCH BUFFET FOR CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM .....Falcon Hub / Hammond Hall

The Fitchburg State University Jazz Band Directed by Amy McGlothlin Rala Diakite (piano), Johnny Gifford (tenor sax), John Hayes (drums), Jonathan Medlin (trumpet), Conor Murphy (alto sax), Alex O’Neil (guitar), and Joe Wagher (bass)

12:30 PM

Closing Remarks – Katharine Covino-Poutasse and Renée Fratantonio

POSTER PRESENTATIONS 10:00 – 11:00 AM ............Hammond Hall / Main Lounge

1. Role of DNase 2 Beta in the Chicken Genome ...................................... Heather Bosworth, Jordan Oberg, ............................................................................................................ Sarah Aldrich, and Christian Caban

2. Mutation in Y75B8A.16 Affects Fertility in a Genetic Model of Muscular Dystrophy ..................................... Khianna Del Valle and Nicole Zwicker

3. Evolution of DNase II Gene Family in Vertebrates ...............................Gabrielle Enyim and Maria Rosario

4. Assessing the Effect of High-Quality Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles on Plant Health and Insect Herbivory Using Mathematical Analysis Software......................... James Gay

5. The Process and Optimization of Electron Transfer in Enzymatic Fuel Cells .............................. James Gay

6. The Discovery of the First Exons in DNaseII Chicken Gene to Determine How DNaseII Compensates for the Loss of DNaseIIa ............Rhiannon Greene, Anh Vo, Chelsie Clarkson ..................................................................................................... Rebecca Quintong, and Nicholas Manu

7. Intra- and Inter-individual Differences in Fish Scale Size ............................Myrca Joseph, Ashley Thibault ................................................................................................................Kelsie Bacon, and Kevin Fenelon

8. Analysis of Potential First Exonsin the Chicken DNase2 Gene ..................... Noah Milliard, Nicole Zwicker ............................................................................................................... Katie Doughty, and Ethan Borges

9. Preparing Electrolyte Solutions for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries ...................................Joshua Muzyk

10. Effectiveness of HPLC-MS on Analyzing Methamphetamine in Hair Samples .......................Thao Nguyen

11. Formation of Ozone from Wildfire Emissions ....................................................................Vanessa Pressat

12. Raman Spectroscopy: An Efficient Method for Identification of Counterfeit Drugs .......... Jeremy Castillo

13. Using Fungi to Adsorb Hexavalent Chromium in Wastewater Treatment ..............................Kyle Robbins

14. Perovskite Solar Cells: Crystal Structure Components Examined .......................................... Nicole Skerry

15. Arylation of 3-Fluorobutenone – Effect of ZnI2 Amounts on Product Yield ....................... Veronica Torres

16. Water Quality Assessment of the Nashua River Watershed Using Macroinvertebrate Tolerances ............................................... Courtney Aulden and Alesia Burnett

17. A Greener Approach to Synthesizing Gold Nanoparticles Using Natural Reagents ......... Joshua Veronesi

18. Death and Dying: A Nursing Focus on the Care of the Patient .......................................... Kerry Brodbeck

19. Prevention of pressure ulcers in older adults ................................................Sonia Mendoca, Lily Clouter, ..........................................................................................................Nicole Melanson, and Taylor Nelson

20. A Comparison of Wearable Lactate Threshold Technology to Acceptable Methods of Lactate Threshold Determination .........................................Danielle Patton, Brittany Benoit

21. CAUTI Prevention ..................................................Mackenzie Remillard, Haylee Hebert, Aaron Kowalski, ................................................................................................................George Ledoux, and Hope Lively

22. Nurses Role in Screening for Domestic Violence .............Brianna Young, Jannia Thomas, Alexia Andrews .........................................................................................................Rebecca Fisher, and Mikayla Rouette

Hammond Tower Lobby 23. Smart City: A Pilot Study .................................................................. Nicholas Desmond and Jackson Vara

24. 3D Printing in Construction Industry ................Adam Gentile, Brett Smith, Jared Citizen, and Tyler Leger

25. Use of Solar Panels and Sensors in Roadways .....Luke Gilchrest, Tyler Souther, and Anthony Temperino

26. Multi-Analog Signal Alarm System ..........................................................Ismael Lacombe and Ian Holder

27. Industrial and Household Circuit Management for Temperature Sensing Safety .................................................................... Brandon Lovely and Cory Lo

28. Net Zero Energy Building: A Case Study ............................................. Luke Maglio and Christian Lucchesi

29. Smart Bridge: A Future Bridge Technology ..................................................Luke Maglio, Colin O’Hearne, ...................................................................................................... Cameron Stalters, and Benjamin Lapin

30. Robotics in Construction ..................................... Guarav Patel, Jonathan Levesque, and Greyson DePina

31. Automation of Indoor Heating ................................ Danielle Samarjian, Samuel Robertson, David Hilton ................................................................................................... Chima Ebele, Jason Pinto, and Kevin Foe

32. How Passive House Design Reduces Energy Consumption in Buildings ............................ Carissa Ciccone

Gallucci-Cirio Library Lobby 33. A Submerging Paradise: Climate Change in the Polynesian Islands ........................................ Anne Saball

34. Climate Change and Its Grasp on Egypt .........................................................................Nina Pappacostas

35. The Challenges of Climate Change in Indonesia ...................................................................... Silas Belvin

36. Feeding the World’s Population One Underwater Plant at a Time ...................................... Maeve Ahern

37. Phyto-Remediation and Environmental Pollutants .................................................................. Rose Kelley

38. The Meat Industry: What’s at Steak?.......................................................................................Loryn Killay

39. Conservation of Biodiversity Hotspots: Critical Regions of the World .....................................Erinn Melus

40. The Sedimentation and Geomorphology of the Nashua River ............................................ Jace Petterson

41. Increasing Degradation Along Coastlines ......................................................................... Ashley Thibault

42. Mapping the Opioid Epidemic in Fitchburg .................................................................. Caroline Anderson

43. Costa Rica: A Sustainability Leader of the World .......................................................... Samantha Richard

Ground Level Lobby 44. Cinderella to Cinderfella: Do Characters’ Gender Affect Audience Interpretation of a Story? .................................................................................. Rachael DeLisle

45. Reflection: Critical Retell ................................................................................................... Sarah Desiderio

46. Gender Identity and Non-Traditional Families in Children’s Literature .................................Kelly Doherty

47. The Importance of Representation in Secondary English Classrooms ........................... Heather Ferguson

48. The Star Wars Franchise as an Assemblage ..........................................................................Buffy Cautela

49. Dark World Burger .......................... Lucas Remington, Kristie Morrison, Garrett Bryant, Quintin Connell ............................................Matthew Spillane, James Vasquez, Lucas Acevedo, Sam Gomes, TJ Mitchell

50. How the Boston Red Sox Have Built Role Models ..................................................................Dean Roussel

51. World Building Through Detail .......................................................................................... Shamus Tibbert

52. Personas in Social Media .................................................................................................. Rebecca Landry

53. Vulnerability Within Theatre ............................................................................................... Felipe Ferreira

Street Level Lobby Posters 54. Homophobic Microaggressions and Homophobic Name-calling in Schools .............. Cammy Aukstikalnis

55. Motor Vehicle Theft: A Crime of Necessity? ............................................................................ Ryan Carter

56. Gender Dysphoria: A Review of Current Literature and Treatment Options .....................Rachel Dunning

57. Accessing Health Information: College Students’ Health Literacy and Resource Use ...... Andrew Gagnon

58. Investigation: Earplugs................................................................................................... Heather Gureckis

59. Bystander Actions in Cyberbullying ....................................................................................Devon Lapierre

60. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Relationship to Gender and Ethnicity ....................................... Angel McAvoy

61. Cyberbullying Among College Students: Perpetrator Behavior ...................................... Katelyn Robinson

62. Competitive Balance in Sports: Are Dynasties Good for the Economic Well-being of Professional Sports? ...................................................... Brandon Ecklund

63. Lookin’ Smart .......................................................................................................................Karen Jackson

64. Redistribution and Equality ...............................................................................................Kennedy Owino

65. How Birth Date Impacts Education and Labor Market Outcomes ........................................ Ricky Kramer

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Thank you to the sponsors: Dennis Awasabisah • Soumitra Basu • Deborah Benes • DeMisty Bellinger-Delfeld • Catherine Buell • Robert Carr

D. Keith Chenot • Katharine Covino-Poutasse • Christine Dee • Daneen Deptula • Emma Downs • Nancy Duphily • Lena Ficco

Laura Garofoli • Liz Gordon • Randal Grometstein • Carolyn Gustason • Robert Harris • Meg Hoey • Michael Hove • Jane Huang

Ronald Krieser • Lindsay (Parisi) Laamann • Ben Lieberman • Viera Lorencova • John Ludlum • Frank Mabee • Nadimpalli Mahadev

Nirajan Mani • Tara Mariolis • Christa Marr • Irene Martyniuk • Philip D. McCormack • Jannette McMenamy • Zachary Miner

Kyle Moody • Benjamin Railton • Erin Rehrig • Billy Samulak • Daniel Sarefield • Renee Scapparone • Peter Staab • J.J. Sylvia IV

Teresa Thomas • Jeff Warmouth • Amy Wehe • Daniel Welsh • Danielle Wigmore • Eric Williams • Hong Yu

Thank you to our partners: The Amelia Gallucci-Cirio Library • Marketing and Integrated Communications

Print Services • ALFA (Adult Learners in the Fitchburg Area)

Cover artwork by Arianna Martinez