Honors Week
Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
In-person presentations in Klein Lecture hall.
Arylissa Diaz — Wed, May 1st, 4:00pm
How Parental Anxiety, Gender, and Parenting Style Affect Child Eating
Under the direction of Professor Bridget Hearon (Psychology)
The way that parents are involved with the eating practices of their child(ren) can have large implications for the health and psychological development of their child(ren). Several factors can affect a child-parent relationship with feeding practices. Parenting style is one factor that has been extensively examined regarding child feeding, and this study aimed to examine that factor more closely. Parent and child gender are other potential factors being examined in child feeding behaviors. Aggravation in parenting is also being studied as a potential factor. Anxiety sensitivity and parent to child anxiety sensitivity have also been found to relate to child feeding behaviors in previous studies and will continue in this study. The purpose of this study was to expand upon previous findings to obtain an understanding of different factors that can directly affect child feeding behaviors. Parenting style, aggravation in parenting, and parent to child anxiety sensitivity were all found to be significant factors in predicting child feeding behaviors.
Michael Thomas — Wed, May 1st, 4:20pm
Harmful or Helpful: The Effects of Trigger Warnings on Distress Management?
Under the direction of Professor Bridget Hearon (Psychology)
Previous research in the trigger-warning literature has been unable to come to a consensus about their effectiveness (Bridgland et al., 2023). Some lines of research suggest that trigger warnings are counterproductive because of a self-fulfilling prophecy or, at best, are ineffective (e.g, Bruce et al. 2020, Bellet et al., 2018; Bryce et al., 2022). Bridgland and colleagues (2022) have suggested part of the failing of trigger warnings may be that they suggest the possibility of emotional distress, but do not provide help with how to tolerate that distress. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effects of an enhanced trigger warning that also includes instructions for a distress tolerance skill. The study used visual and literary stimuli from the film “Precious” and the novel “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison similar to previous research with undergraduates that did not lead to any enduring distress for participants (Bellet et al., 2018; V. M. Bridgland et al., 2022). Both stimuli depicted domestic violence in graphic detail, and are counterbalanced with each other, with a custom comprehension check presented after to check for recall, as done in previous research. A total of 37 participants completed an experimental survey on Qualtrics under supervision of the researchers, 34 of which completed the study and passed the quality control checks (N=34). The survey included several self-report questionnaires: A modified Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (ACES) Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21 Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3,Taylor et al., 2007) Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS,Watson et al., 1988) Perceived Post-Trauma Vulnerability Scale – Self(citation needed), Words Can Harm Scale(citation needed), and assessments on attitudes towards trigger-warnings and history with therapeutic experiences. Our dependent variables were changes in levels of anxiety and emotional distress. Future directions for research are discussed at the end.
Althea Welsch — Wed, May 1st, 4:40pm
Exploring Limbo: Death and Dying over Centuries
Under the direction of Professor Patricia Turning (History)
Historical fiction is a prime tool for helping people learn about challenging subjects like that of death, creating ghostly narratives to give a voice to those long past. These devices allow us to show death’s transformation, starting as once glorified pagan rituals that celebrated a brutal demise before faltering in the wake of a wholly Christian, Eurocentric world that experienced a malaise unlike any other, scattering the populace’s opinions in a new age of questioning. Such dramatic shifts gave way to global ramifications, shaping the tides of various revolutions and wars that gradually toppled dominant European ideologies through various cultural influences. By the 20th century, mainstream opinions were no longer the norm as the world’s opinions on our inevitable end dramatically fragmented, paving the way for numerous countercultures to make their mark in increasingly diverse societies. The result is not just about anticipating our demise, but the influence of these ideas shaping a greater world in a gradual push towards acceptance. Shaping these views through narrative provides a personal perspective, making an audience far more intimate with ages beyond our reach and, in the end, possibly more understanding of subjects we can never truly grasp in this confusing world.
Libni Rivera — Wed, May 1st, 5:00pm
The Social Acceptability of Explicit Content in Music Video Media
Under the direction of Professor Katherine Lehman (Communications)
This study explores the correlation that occurs due to the differences of age and a changing of ideologies between older generations and younger generations by measuring the acceptance of explicit media content among differing generations. The general acceptance between the varying generations is measured using a convenience sampling of staff and students attending Albright College. These correlations between explicit content, its social acceptability, and the age of those accepting the content are researched through means of a survey of the Albright College campus community. The survey results supported the predicted shifts in trends and generational divides within society since the younger generation, Generation Z, found more content to be considered enjoyable and sharable among their family and peers as opposed to the other participating generations: Millennial Generation, Generation X, and the Baby Boomer Generation.
Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
Poster Session, 4:00-5:00pm, in CFA Mezzanine.
Kathryn Baptiste
3-D Flight Model Reconstruction and Biomechanical Muscle Force Application of the Great Horned Owl
Under the direction of Professor Ian Cost (Biology)
The mechanics of avian flight remains a mystery that researchers continue to investigate. The focus of this project was to create a 3-D computer model based on dissection and force calculation data of the Great Horned Owl to model flight musculature. The flight muscles sculpted on the model were the pectoralis, supracoracoideus, triceps, and biceps. The free sculpting software, Blender, was used with the X-Muscle System which was self-taught over the ACRE summer period. During the research period, improvements on the overall dimensions of the flight muscles were accomplished.
Lillian Carney
Fostering Growth Mindset in Children
Under the direction of Professor Justin Couchman (Psychology)
This experiment examined the effects of free will on children’s prosocial behaviors. Children aged 5-6 years were tested in their kindergarten classroom, where they were placed into one of two mindset conditions. In the deterministic condition, they watched a puppet attached to strings who could not control their behavior. In the free will condition, they were shown a free-moving puppet who had control over their movements and behaviors. Children in the free will condition reported higher levels of growth mindset ideology and greater prosocial tendencies than those in the deterministic condition. Results also showed a trend towards those in the free will condition having higher GRIT scores and stronger beliefs in the malleability of intelligence. This suggests that educational practices ought to focus on free will and personal agency when promoting growth mindset, changeability of intelligence, and resilience.
Victoria Dyer
Rural Versus Urban Incarceration Rates in Pennsylvania and Ohio Counties
Under the direction of Professor Nathan Henceroth (Political Science)
In this paper, I address the understudied phenomenon of high rural incarceration rates. Despite widespread belief, urban incarceration rates have decreased, while rural county incarceration rates are largely responsible for the overall increase in incarceration (Kang-Brown and Subramanian 2017, 6). I statistically model how religious adherence rates, republican affiliation rates, and poverty affect incarceration rates in Pennsylvania and Ohio measured at the county-level. I find that there is a positive correlation between religious adherence, republican affiliation, and poverty index with incarceration rate when Ohio and Pennsylvania are pooled together. However, upon further testing, findings indicate that there are nuanced differences between Pennsylvania and Ohio. This paper adds to the extant research on incarceration rates by demonstrating how two similar states can display slight differences in predictors of incarceration rates, and by highlighting where future research attention is warranted.
Jason Eidle
Examining Romantic Break-ups and Mate Retention: Relationship Termination as a Function of Attractiveness and Perceived Available Mates
Under the direction of Professor Susan Hughes (Psychology)
This investigation explored third-party predictions of romantic breakups based on assessments of hypothetical couples’ attractiveness and the perceived availability of alternatives from a simulated dating app. In the first study, participants (n=141) were shown hypothetical couples varying in attractiveness and identified who they believed initiated the breakup. Results indicated that the more attractive partner was seen as more inclined to end the relationship. Additionally, perceptions of being capable of moving on after a breakup and selecting a new partner were heightened when presented with a larger pool of potential alternatives from a mock dating app, regardless of whether targets were rejected or did the rejecting. In a second study, when participants (n=194) were presented with hypothetical couples who had broken up, we found that if the person who initiated the breakup was less attractive than their partner, participants thought they were more likely to reconcile with their partner. Participants thought targets were more likely to leave their current partner and select someone new when presented with a larger than smaller pool of potential mates. They also tended to select a more attractive individual in the pool relative to the target’s partner. This investigation is among the first to examine third-party predictions of relationship termination using experimental methods. Perceptions of relationship dissolution, recovery, and reconciliation were influenced by an attractiveness bias and by the presence of potential alternatives.
Tara Huffman
Studying Plasmon-Driven Reactions with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Under the direction of Professor Matthew Sonntag (Chemistry)
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly sensitive analytical method that provides insight on chemical composition and structure on a single-molecule scale. When adsorbed to a substrate of metal nanoparticles, molecules irradiated with light will generate hot electrons which drive photochemical reactions that are identified through the disappearance and emergence of Raman peaks. Rhodanine (2-thio-4-oxothiazolidine) (Rd) is a five-membered heterocyclic molecule that was shown to participate in a plasmon-driven reaction on a silver nanoparticle surface, and the chemical transformation of Rd monomer to Rd dimer was monitored through spectral changes. We are now investigating how changes to Rd structure modifies reactivity with respect to dimerization.
Caroline Parker
Reinventing Textile Waste and Creating Sustainable Garments
Under the direction of Professor Elizabeth Quinn (Fashion)
The fashion industry’s impact on the environment is becoming more significant, year after year. Textile waste is an issue that people should pay more attention to because over 92 million tons of clothing waste is generated each year (Ingini, 2023). This is not the way it used to be, but brands are now encouraging overconsumption and rapidly releasing new collections to stay relevant. There are ethical and sustainable brands putting their product into the market, but many consumers are turned away by the price tag. People often do not know what goes into garments made with natural fibers and workers who are paid livable wages. Current fashion students feel that using responsible design principles like upcycling and zero-waste patternmaking is the new normal for smaller creators. Young designers who have just begun need help from larger organizations to enforce these responsible design principles. The United Nations Fashion Charter for Climate Change has stated their commitment to “explore the whole life cycle of the fiber to provide for a holistic point of view” (Unfcc.int 2021). This project aims to show the process of making garments and textiles from secondhand materials, and how it would be priced based on multiple factors. While it cannot solve the global issue, this project will demonstrate pieces of the solution.
Gillian Pierce
Determining Bond Dissociation Free Energies of Base-Appended Radical Cations
Under the direction of Professor Ian Rhile (Chemistry)
Tethering a one-electron oxidant and base can generate a reagent capable of undergoing a mechanism known as coupled proton electron transfer (CPET) in which a proton and electron move in one step but to different sites. Previous work indicates that pyridyl-appended radical cations 10-(pyrid-2-yl)-10H-phenothiazinium undergo CPET with phenols. This work aims to manipulate the bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) through substitution on the pyridine (fluoro- and methyl-substituted) and phenothiazinium (trifluoro- and methoxy-substituted) rings. Titrations allow for determination of pKa’s and consequent changes in the BDFE. The hypothesis is changing the group on the pyridine ring will change the pKa, not the reduction potential, and changing the group on the phenothiazinium ring will change the reduction potential, not the pKa. Hence, the data for these compounds will provide evidence these properties can be tuned independently.
Sarah Robinson
Revolutionizing Mental Health Care: AI-Enhanced MRI Diagnosis of Mood Disorders
Under the direction of Professor Brian Kell (Computer Science)
The aim of this study was to construct a convolutional neural network to function as a binary image classifier. This task was best accomplished with the TensorFlow extension, utilizing the Python programming language. Such deep learning networks have the capability to reveal remarkable information when used in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. MRI diagnosis is an ongoing field, with studies outside of in silico applications persistently investigating the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex as potential regions involved in the functionalities of those with mood disorders. The groups observed in the study for supposed biological identifiers are as follows:
1. Patients with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder.
2. Patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
3. Patients with no history of diagnosed mood disorders.
Overall findings from this study are consistent with the idea that mood disorders are indeed classifiable from one another when simultaneously applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and deep learning models; further, these methodologies have the capability to perform with superiority when compared with diagnosis by a mental health professional.
Tamia Robinson
The Effects of TikTok’s Bold Glamor Filter On TikTok and Self-Esteem
Under the direction of Professor Gwen Seidman (Psychology)
The present research aims to investigate the effects of TikTok’s Bold Glamor Filter on self-esteem and body image. Participants were instructed to film a video on TikTok and were randomly assigned to one of three different video filter conditions: The filter-on condition in which the filter remained on the entire video, the filter-on-off condition in which the filter remained on throughout the video and was turned off at the end revealing participants’ true appearance, or the filter-off condition where participants filmed a video with no filter. Participants completed a measure of body image after filming the video, and a measure of state self-esteem both before and after the video. I predicted that there would be a decrease in self-esteem and worse body image in participants in the filter-on-off condition followed by the filter-on condition. Results showed no significant effect of filter condition on body image. Participants in the control (filter-off) condition experienced an increase in self-esteem after filming the video, while participants in the two filter conditions experienced no change in self-esteem.
Morgan Stuhltrager
Genomic Authentication of Plasmid Gene Sequences for Inducible Bacterial Death
Under the direction of Professor Andy Samuelsen (Biology)
This project aims to verify plasmid gene sequences that are pivotal for constructing systems to facilitate inducible bacterial death. The primary objective involves performing plasmid isolations, followed by sequencing through a third-party vendor, and subsequent comparison of obtained sequences with a published database. Additionally, the isolated plasmids will serve as building blocks for the construction of a final plasmid that is essential for inducing bacterial death. Methodologically, the project will commence with small-scale plasmid isolations and bacterial strain preservation, transitioning into verification of plasmid sequencing. Utilizing the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) will enable comparison of obtained sequences with established database sequences. Upon completion of the gene sequencing validation, an application, SnapGene, will be utilized to construct an online version of the final plasmid that will be utilized for inducible bacterial death. The plasmid will either be built or synthesized. This research contributes to biochemistry as it ensures gene sequencing accuracy, mitigating unintended effects, and enhancing experimental reliability. Potential applications extend to biotechnology, microbiology, and antibiotic resistance research, promising more efficient and reproducible results, with implications for cost-effective agricultural practices.
Alyssa Zerbe
Beyond Skin Deep: Exploring Societal Acceptance of Body Modifications and the Impact of Piercings and Tattoos on Perception
Under the direction of Professor Justin Couchman (Psychology)
Studies show that first impressions are made within seconds of seeing someone’s face. Previous studies have shown that there are numerous evaluations and preconceived notions towards people with tattoos and piercings. Some of these attributions include delinquent behaviors, particularly regarding traits like aggressiveness, irresponsibility, and immaturity. To investigate these biases, one preliminary study and one experiment was conducted, utilizing within-subjects designs and online surveys. They viewed pictures of each photo provided and filled out a Qualtrics questionnaire. The photos contained males with tattoos, piercings, tattoos and piercings, neither and females with tattoos, piercings, tattoos and piercings and neither. Results from both experiments reveal significant effects of body modifications on perceptions.
• Photos courtesy of Professor John Pankratz.