All Undergraduate Presentations

Intertidal crustaceans inhabit the area between the average high and low tides on marine coastlines; however, the diversity of these crustaceans is understudied. This diversity of crustaceans varies based on abiotic conditions associated with each ecosystem, including characteristics such as sediment grain size, wave action, and season. Differences in sediment size will allow for different types of organisms to burrow, and increased wave action causes more difficult sampling. With varying sampling techniques, these abiotic factors can be explored. Three different sampling methods were compared in fall and winter based on the diversity and abundance of intertidal crustaceans collected at an exposed and protected beach on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The sampling methods included a yabbi-pump, D-net, and modified beam trawl during low tide. It was hypothesized that the beam trawl would be more efficient in collecting a diverse array of organisms, while the yabbi-pump and D-net would focus more on infaunal organisms. After sampling, the organisms collected were sorted, identified, and quantified to analyze the sampling methods and determine which is most efficient in the collection of intertidal crustaceans. The data suggest that the yabbi-pump yielded the highest numbers of smaller crustaceans including copepods and amphipods, while the D-net yielded the highest numbers of hermit crabs and other large intertidal crustaceans. These results varied between seasons. These findings will allow future studies to more easily target species of interest when documenting species diversity.

The recent success of Perovskite crystal structures in the scientific world has led to an exponential growth in engineering applications and research. Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites () has emerged as a promising candidate for photovoltaic applications. Ab Initio computations are used to compute the properties of the without the input of experimental data, allowing for continuous and cost-effective change in parameters of interest. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively analyze data acquired from simulations. We optimized the structure of solar cells before the prototyping and testing stages of the fabrication process. The open-source application, Avogadro, was used to create the base crystal structure and to simulate their properties which are utilized in other simulations. Methods outlined in this paper have been applied to other materials like perovskites or other substances.

Betta splendens elicit aggressive dominance displays when presented with eliciting stimuli, such as a mirror or conspecific (e.g., Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Previous findings showed alcohol decreased aggression in Betta fish, but its impact was unclear on movement since CNS depressants reduce locomotor behavior (Carvalho et al., 2015). In this study we assessed the effects of alcohol on aggressive dominance displays of Betta fish at varying doses and determined displays impacted by locomotor behavior. Following Carvalho et al. (2015), we assessed motor performance of 11 male Bettas using a 5x5-inch square open-field apparatus following alcohol exposure. The open field features matte white Plexiglas walls, a clear base, and a visible grid-like pattern. Test sessions lasted 15 minutes. Fish were first exposed to the apparatus for 15 minutes a day for three days without exposure to alcohol. Then, fish were tested in the open field after alcohol exposure (0 ml, 0.75 ml, 1.5 ml, or 2.5 ml) per 473 ml of water. Following a 5-minute alcohol exposure period, the fish were placed into the open field. Locomotor activity was calculated by the distance traveled by the number of gridlines crossed. Subsequent dominance display testing was conducted in home tanks once daily. During testing, subjects were exposed to alcohol for 5 minutes prior to exposure to a mirror for 2 minutes. To determine the effects of alcohol on locomotor behavior, we will conduct a one-way within-group ANOVA, with alcohol dose as the independent variable and line crosses in the open field as the dependent variable. To assess alcohol’s effect on aggressive displays, we will conduct a series of one-way within group ANOVAs with alcohol dose as the independent variable and amount and duration of displays as dependent variables. Results will further understanding of Betta fish behavior and psychoactive substances’ impact on aggression.

The integration of creative arts therapies in prisons has contributed to improving socioeconomic factors beyond prison bars. The plausible explanation for this trend is increased opportunities and incentives inmates derive from educational, vocational, and creative means. Previous research has primarily relied on quantitative data to show how demographics correlate with participation and improved mental health outcomes within art-based programs. However, this neglects the purpose of investing these programs in correctional facilities nationwide. Creative arts therapies are a significant mechanism in environments that focus on rehabilitation and producing productive, well-rounded members of society. Across multiple articles, various statistics reflect recidivism rates, employment rates, and social-emotional outcomes. With the acknowledgment of cross-sectional data, connections between creative arts and rehabilitative progression within prisons can be made. This allows for a qualitative study to determine what the arts contribute to prisoners and their re-entry into society. Contrary to popular belief, inmates involved in creative arts programs are not given leniency by participating but as a means to improve their behavior. In fact, their participation allows for purposeful productivity that enhances their mental and physical well-being. Studies have suggested that incarcerated individuals often associate art programs with positive reinforcement. This focus on recovery and opportunity through artistic expression has proven motivational. Consequently, the significance of this overview depicts the social and economic benefits acquired through creative arts therapies in prisons. Keywords: socioeconomic factors, creative arts therapies in prison, rehabilitative progression, positive reinforcement, artistic expression

Background: The transition from high school to college presents a variety of challenges which contributes to the highest incidence of mental illness compared to other life cycle transitions. Eating disorders (EDs) and unhealthy weight control behaviors are common during this transition. Data indicates positive screenings for ED symptoms in 11% - 17% of females. Additionally, 20% - 67% of college students experience subthreshold ED symptoms. Programmatic approaches have attempted to address these behaviors and have displayed varying levels of success. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on college-based eating disorder prevention programs to assess their feasibility, effectiveness, and methodologies. Methods: Through the utilization of Galileo and Google Scholar databases, a systematic literature review was conducted. Keywords included ED prevention program, college or universities, body image, appearance ideals, weight control behaviors, and eating disorders. Results: Studies identify multiple programmatic approaches that have shown success in various settings. The Body Project (TBP), a program endorsed by the National Eating Disorder Association, provides a comprehensive peer-led educational framework that serves to combat ED risk factors such as body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Discussion: Implementation of TBP can be used to promote ED prevention among college-aged women. Through the utilization of peer-led education, participants can confront unrealistic appearance ideals and body image concerns in an inclusive, welcoming setting. Furthermore, this framework allows for continuous implementation of the program which provides avenues for growth and achieving desired long-term health outcomes.

An Exploration of the Prostate Cancer Survivorship Experience of Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in the United States Rae WB¹, Van Voorhis, K¹, Kaninjing E¹, ¹School of Health and Human Performance, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA, USA Background: Prostate cancer (CaP) is a significant public health problem affecting men globally. In 2020, there were over 1.4 million new cases, making it the second most commonly occurring cancer in men worldwide. While CaP disproportionately affects men of African ancestry research studies often characterizes men of African descent as a homogenous group: Black. Subpopulations, such as sub-Saharan African immigrants (SSAI) in the US, are 1.5 times more likely to develop CaP compared to US born blacks. Health behaviors, cultural beliefs, and lived experiences of SSAI may be contributing factors to these disparities. With a 5-year relative survival rate of 97%, men are living longer after CaP diagnoses. This study aimed to explore the survivorship experiences of SSAI living in the US. Methods: 16 SSAI including CaP survivors aged 40 to 70 years participated in this qualitative study guided by Grounded Theory and the NIMHD Framework. A purposeful sampling was employed to ensure diversity in socioeconomic status, age, duration of stay in the US and country of origin. One-on-one interviews were conducted and transcribed, followed by a two-step verification process. Nvivo 12 was utilized for open, axial, and theoretical coding. Results: This study identified four major trends affecting survivors: (a) the impact of CaP on sexual health, (b) emotional health, (c) dietary changes, and (d) changes in physical activity. Participants reported CaP has reduced their ability to perform sexually, which in some cases, resulted in marital strife. Furthermore, major triggers of declining emotional health were mentioned by survivors including partner rejection and difficulties acculturating. Dietary changes were especially difficult due to the major change in available foods options in the US versus their home country. Multiple survivors expressed the hardship of limited access to fresh, healthy foods compared to unhealthy food options, making it challenging for them to have a healthy diet. Lastly, some survivors found it harder to be physically active in the US compared to their home country due to lifestyle, environment, and cultural differences. For instance, in the US, motorized vehicles are the most utilized form of transportation, but in most sub-Saharan African countries, walking is more common. Without walking, it is challenging for some survivors to achieve their physical activity goals in the US. Conclusion: This research illuminates how the CaP survivorship and acculturation experience are heavily intertwined, influencing one another. This interwoven relationship can be utilized in healthcare to facilitate improved CaP survivorship outcomes and to increase other positive health outcomes for SSAI. Key Words: African immigrants, survivorship, prostate cancer, sexual health, emotional health, diet, physical activity. Funding Source: This study is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (1R15MD017012-01A1). This study is also part of the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) network.

Aquagenic urticaria, a rare dermatological condition, is defined by localized hive and pruritus upon skin contact with water, regardless of the temperature or type. In simpler words, this condition is an allergy to water. When an individual with this condition is exposed to water, they develop red itchy hives. Even with the major impact on the daily lives of these patients, this allergy is significantly under-researched in the medical field, leading to limited treatment options that are often reliant on trial and error. Individuals that have been diagnosed deserve a chance at living a regular life, and to achieve that we need to conduct more research to better understand how it works, have better management strategies, and improve the quality of life that they experience. This research proposal is looking to improve the current gap in knowledge within the medical field, focusing on diagnostic testing, management, and treatment options. There is also a need to raise awareness of this condition as many people have never even heard of it. Raising awareness will provide information for those currently experiencing these symptoms, as well as assist physicians in diagnosing, testing, and treatment plans. (First-Year Writers' Showcase)

Mindfulness meditation tasks can increase an individual’s pain tolerance (Brown & Jones, 2010). Immersion in a virtual reality setting can also improve pain tolerance (Dahlquist et. al., 2010). Although research exists on the effects of meditation or virtual reality (separately) on pain, no studies to our knowledge combine the two. Thus, this study will examine if doing meditation in a virtual reality environment will create a bigger impact on pain tolerance than traditional meditation alone. Participants will complete two counterbalanced sessions (VR+ meditation and no-VR + meditation). During these trials, participants will undergo the cold-pressor task described by Eden and Gil (1995). Pain tolerance will be measured by how long participants keep their hand in the water. We hypothesize that people will have a higher tolerance for in the VR + meditation trials than the no-VR + meditation trials. The study is in progress, but results and conclusions will be ready for the conference.

Georgia College was donated an atomic force microscope. We are in the mist repairing up this microscope; replacing pieces of equipment, repairing computer equipment, and updating software and programing.

The creation of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (“ChatGPT”) resulted in a tool that has impacted the education system in beneficial ways. News about ChatGPT’s introduction spread throughout the world instantly, bringing both hope and fear for its future. All our society can do is wait and see how its developments affect the tool’s capabilities. When evaluating how ChatGPT affects the education system, it is evident that students who use the tool in school gain incremental support for their learning. Also, teachers’ use of the tool helps students learn the class’s material in ways that better suits students’ needs. Based on studies conducted on ChatGPT, the tool has already benefited students. This is due to there being an increase in both student motivation to learn and student productivity. Despite these benefits, the tool receives backlash for its various concerns and flaws, the major one being its vulnerability to abuse by students. However, these worries about ChatGPT can be solved through future developments and teachers properly implementing the tool in their classes. It is clear that ChatGPT’s capabilities make it a tool that is beneficial to the education system. Project Four Final Copy English 1102.docx

We sought to determine whether tardigrades could associate caffeine with a neutral blue light stimulus. Our V-shaped apparatuses had central alleys measuring 2.5 mm wide x 25 mm long. A center divider was used during testing to restrict the blue light to half of the apparatus yet allowing tardigrades to freely move along the alley. Prior to trials, tardigrades were isolated in each apparatus and maintained in darkness for 24 hr. Beginning a trial, the CS illuminated the apparatus for 40 sec. Upon terminating the CS, 1 ml of the US (0 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, or 15 mg/ml) was introduced for 4 min. Treatment was ended by flooding the apparatus. After 4 hr of darkness, the CS illuminated one half of the apparatus, which remained on for another 4 hr. The distribution of tardigrades along the length of the apparatus floor was videoed upon termination of the CS. Extraneous variables were handled using multiple control conditions. Chi square tests were used to analyze our data, revealing: no preferences across control groups, 0 mg/ml Forward Pairing (FP) differed from 5 mg/ml FP (χ2(1) = 5.3, p < .05), in the 5 mg/ml FP more tardigrades were in the blue zone than the dark zone (χ2(1) = 10.7, p < .01), and the 5 mg/ml FP differed from the 15 mg/ml FP (χ2(1) = 12.2, p < .001). This suggests 5 mg/ml of caffeine is appetitive to tardigrades while 15 mg/ml is aversive. Keywords: Caffeine, Tardigrades, Classical Conditioning, light stimulus

The CRAAP Test is used to evaluate the credibility of sources. CRAAP stands for: Currency (timeliness), Relevance (applicability), Authority (integrity of the author), Accuracy (correctness), and Purpose (author’s goal) (Muis, 2022). Research suggests this method improves creation and evaluation of visual-based and online information (Muis, 2018; Thompson, 2018). This study investigates whether exposure to the CRAAP Test improves recognition, comprehension, and evaluation of information found in social media (SM). To assess, baseline use of SM and perceptions of personal SM feed is collected. The experimental group views a CRAAP Test informational video and receives a written summary of the video. The control group watches an irrelevant video. All participants complete a demographic survey which serves as a short distractor task, then view a SM feed consisting of 23 posts. Credibility is manipulated by violating 1 or more CRAAP Test criteria. Participants complete another distractor task then recognition, comprehension, and evaluation questions. A follow-up survey containing a subset of questions from the in-person study is emailed to participants 48-hours later to assess the longevity of CRAAP Test exposure effects. Results are analyzed using a series of independent means t-tests to examine the effect of CRAAP Test exposure. It is anticipated that exposure to the CRAAP Test will improve accuracy in evaluating, comprehending, and recognizing SM content, and that this exposure will increase participant’s evaluative behaviors both immediately and after a 2-day delay. This study will illustrate which comprehension levels are affected by exposure to the CRAAP Test.

A silica sol–gel colorimetric sensor was developed for more efficient detection of methamphetamine (MA). A more reliable RGB detector was designed and machined with the goal of consistent and accurate measurements while eliminating errors caused by human differences in the current RGB detector that relies on visual analysis. Simon’s reagents were entrapped within the polymeric network of the silica sol–gel matrix. The resulting sensor solution was contained within a micro-PCR tube, resulting in a more convenient and simple method of on-site testing by directly adding a sample MA solution. The sol–gel colorimetric sensor was synthesized to demonstrate the qualitative analysis of methamphetamine with digital image colorimetry using a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) basic color program. The interaction of the colorimetric Simon’s reagents, the functionality of the reagents, and the structural integrity of the doped silica sol-gel were examined using an RGB color program as well as validated using Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy. These results demonstrate that the sol–gel matrix has the potential to be used as an on-site colorimetric sensor for methamphetamine detection. Furthermore, the inherent nature of sol-gel sensor interaction gives potential for alternative drug sensors to be experimented with and explored. This presentation will highlight the experimental methodology and results of the sensor development.

Have you ever wondered why it matters whether your laptop displays a certain fruit, or why you are attracted to certain products in the grocery store? Consider two goods which are identical but presented to you in different packages. What are the factors that lead you to decide between them? In a world where consumers consult image before anything else, “brand” has become a critical consideration in every company. This study examines the materials, colors, typefaces, shapes, and compositions which make up a brand, specifically a five-star resort named Velvet Villas. My research revealed first how these factors contribute to the brand, and second how to implement the brand to every area of the business. I began with ideation to develop a name, style, logo, and word mark for the resort. Next, I created consumer profiles to narrow the style of typography, color palette, architecture, and overall mood guests might be attracted to. Throughout the design process, I revisited and refined each choice until I created a theoretical brand tailored to Velvet Villas’ target market. Next, I applied the brand to every detail of the resort, including stationery, signage, wayfinding, amenities, advertising, and architecture. Lastly, I compiled my work into a manual guide which outlines all design decisions and guidelines for usage, as well as digital renderings and mockups. The purpose of my research is to demonstrate the design process for creating and implementing a brand while integrating important marketing and consumer behavior concepts. Keywords: graphic design, branding, marketing, consumer behavior, design process, creative problem solving

Amphetamine is used to stimulate the central nervous system in patients with ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This drug is widely abused, including 11.1% of all college students according to recent data¹. The aim of this experiment was to design a forensic lab on the identification and the determination of amphetamine levels in urine samples. In forensic labs, preliminary and confirmatory tests are used to identify unknown substances. For the preliminary test, amphetamine was analyzed in synthetic urine samples through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA kit) that is commercially available and is widely used to qualitatively analyze amphetamine in biological samples. The absorbance values were obtained with a microplate spectrophotometer. The ELISA kit results were mainly qualitative, and unreliable at lower concentrations. The confirmatory aspect of the experiment involved the use of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for better quantification. Amphetamine was extracted from urine using solid-phase extraction and then evaluated using the GC-MS. The quantitative results were analyzed for both the preliminary test and the confirmatory test. The preliminary and confirmatory tests can be used in a forensic science teaching lab. The experimental procedures and results obtained using the two methods will be discussed in the following presentation.

New technology is developed at an astounding rate to satisfy the world’s desire for instant gratification. In response, the value of time rises as people discover they have less of it. How ironic that a world dedicated to fast solutions is home to people who never have enough time. The average American overwhelms their schedule with the demands of mobile technology, while their tasks, calendars, and chores pile up at home. Such individuals have become frustrated with the cyclical black hole of scrolling and long for simpler habits, organized tasks, and slower lifestyles. Meet “Homemaker,” a creative, organizational solution to the hardworking and overwhelmed home manager trapped by disorder and poor time management. Homemaker helps users take control of their time by creating a platform where they can organize tasks, set personalized reminders, and plan for meals and family affairs. They can also track home activities like laundry, grocery shopping, automobile maintenance, and more. With access to articles, recipes, and cleaning solutions through search and voice control, Homemaker is designed to be a home manager’s most trusted companion. Users can add family members to their accounts to share and assign chores or tasks, access a collaborative calendar, send and receive reminders, and locate helpful resources. The typeface and color selection, ever-present navigation bar, and clear icon communicators make navigating the application’s functions simple and intelligible. Homemaker measures its success mostly by users’ long-term lifestyle changes: well-managed homes, lower stress levels, less wasted time, and overall improved well-being for families everywhere.

Keywords: user interface design, user experience design, mobile application, organization, lifestyle

Heavy metal contamination is an important issue because of its negative health and environmental effects. This research investigates the development and reusability of a heavy metal sensor through the entrapment of tetra-hydroxyphenyl porphyrin (H2THPP) in silica sol-gels. Preliminary investigation of sol-gel monoliths confirmed the colorimetric indication of chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) metals. The manufacture of a dip coater was designed and machined to produce thin films with optimal sensing properties. The interaction between the porphyrin and metals, the functionality of the porphyrin, and the structural integrity of the sensor was examined using colorimetric analysis, ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The experimental methodology and preliminary results of the research will be presented.

Previous fMRI research has revealed several distinct brain regions that are selective in the visual elements they respond to. For example, neurons in the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) have been found to respond maximally in the presence of faces, but not other non-face stimuli (Kanwisher et al., 1997). Another brain area, the Parahippocampal Place Area (PPA), is typically activated when someone views indoor and outdoor scenes and places (Aguirre et al., 1998; Epstein et al., 1999). Finally, neurons in the Extrastriate Body Area (EBA) are preferentially activated by human bodies and parts of bodies, excluding faces (Downing et al., 2001). Social media (SM) content often presents these same types of visual stimuli, which suggests that these specialized brain areas would be selectively active as the users view various types of images in their feed. SM users regularly come across posts with images of bodies, faces, locations, and words, and it would be beneficial for content creators on these sites to have access to research informing the impact of the kinds of visual content they post. To our knowledge, there has been little research that specifically examines possible differences in engagement when viewing posts with different types of images as the focal point. Additionally, there appears to be a gap in the literature when it comes to researching how physical user engagement (e.g. likes or comments on a SM post) correlates with cognitive engagement (e.g. memory for specific details in the posts). This study explores whether key determinants of physical engagement on SM posts, as measured by like/comment/reaction activity, and cognitive engagement, as measured by performance on recall questions, change as a result of different types of visual content. We hypothesize that posts activating these brain regions will lead to greater user engagement and greater memory retrieval performance than SM posts lacking such visual elements. Additionally, we are exploring whether participants who are more physically attentive to SM feed also recall the details of the feed better and thus perform more successfully on a multiple-choice recognition survey. In this repeated measures research design, participants scroll through a mock SM feed using The Misinformation Game, a mock SM computer software program (Butler et al., 2023). Within the Misinformation Game, participants encounter four distinct types of SM posts: posts including a face in the picture, posts including body parts, posts including locations/places, and control posts with graphics that do not include any faces, places, or body parts. All participants are presented with 12 mock SM posts, each of which fits within one of the conditions. Participants are asked to interact with the SM feed like they would regularly interact with SM, as they are able to like, comment on, and re-share posts. Once they exit the SM feed, participants will complete a demographics questionnaire on the computer. Then, they respond to a series of multiple-choice recognition questions on the computer to test their level of “cognitive engagement” with specific posts as represented by the accuracy of their memory of the information contained in the 12 posts. To examine whether participants’ physical engagement and cognitive engagement differs across the four different types of posts, we will use repeated measures ANOVAs. Additionally, to test whether there is a positive relationship between one’s physical engagement (number of likes and comments on the posts overall) with the SM feed and one’s cognitive engagement (recognition performance on the multiple-choice tests), we will run Pearson correlations.

Betta splendens are reliable models for aggression and for assessing the effects of psychoactive substances on aggression (Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Richards and colleagues (2023) report that Betta aggression, observed as stereotyped behaviors called “dominance displays,” decreases with increasing doses of alcohol. Inflated variability in these effects also suggests temperament differences may exist. In this study, we assess the effects of alcohol on Betta aggression and the role of temperament in this relationship. Bettas (n = 11) are exposed to a mirror for 2-minutes while in their home tank to elicit aggression following a 5-minute exposure to alcohol in another tank (0.00%, 0.15%, 0.30%, or 0.50%). Non-testing days and a Latin square account for extraneous variables related to dosing. Aggression is video-recorded and coded for amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays (following Foberg, 2003). Temperament is determined by a median-split analysis utilizing baseline aggression data to categorize fish as Aggressive or Submissive (following Lewis, 2021). Baseline data are the median number of cumulative seconds spent displaying Gill Extension and Broadside behavior when administered 0% alcohol. Fish with a total duration above the median will be categorized as Aggressive, and fish with a total duration below the median will be categorized as Submissive. A series of 2 (temperament) x 4 (alcohol dose) Mixed-Model ANOVAs will be used to assess the effects of alcohol and temperament on aggression. The expected outcome of this study is that Submissive fish will display less aggression with increasing doses of alcohol, while Aggressive fish will display more aggression with increasing alcohol doses. This study will further our understanding about how temperament may impact the effects of alcohol on aggressive behavior.

Trait self-compassion has been shown to aid a person in their ability to be kind to themselves when they are going through a hard time. For instance, people with higher levels of self-compassion are more likely to face difficult challenges and are less likely to give up on themselves (Gedik, 2019), two indicators of self-control. Our current investigation explores whether self-compassion leads to a more indulgent mindset (i.e., “treating oneself”) in the context of hypothetical and actual health-behavioral decisions, or to health behavior decisions that indicate more long-term health benefits.We expect that following a difficult challenge, individuals who have undergone a self-compassion induction will exhibit preferences for behaviors indicating self-control over those indicating indulgence when those choices are framed as in the future and have more psychological distance. For more short-term oriented decisions, we expect that self-compassion will lead to preference for short-term indulgence over long-term benefit. All participants complete a baseline measure including demographics, a self-compassion measure (Raes et al., 2011), and a trait self-control measure (Tangney 2004). They then try to solve an unsolvable puzzle which induces frustration. Afterwards, the experimental group answers three questions about their failed puzzle attempt directed at the three components of self-compassion–common humanity, self-kindness, and mindfulness (following Leary et al., 2007). The control group answers three objective questions about their performance on the task. Finally, all participants are given a post-test survey asking them to choose between present and future hypothetical health and wellness behaviors. Everyone is given a choice of healthy and unhealthy snack options to represent short-term indulgence, and then is asked to enter their name in a raffle for a gift card to a restaurant for the long-term indulgence. Once completing the full study, participants are debriefed on the intentions and background of our methods.

There is little research regarding the effects of lying on memory and response latency; however, available research suggests that response time can indicate the use of deception (Walcyzk et al., 2003). The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect that lying has on the response latency of memory recall. Participants watched a movie clip of a bank robbery, and then were asked to answer truthfully about details they actually saw for some questions and asked to lie and make up details that they did not actually witness on other questions. We split participants into two groups: computer and face-to-face. The computer participants viewed the video and then answered the questions on a computer program whereas face-to-face participants were asked the questions by another student. Participants retuned four to five weeks later, and their memory of the video clip was assessed using a yes/no recognition test. Participants either answered yes or no to whether or not they had seen the detail in the video. Some of the questions asked about details they had actually seen, others asked about details that were not witnessed and based on the lies they had provided on day one. The response time for each of the yes/no questions was recorded to determine if reaction time is a diagnostic measure of memory accuracy, if response time differs between truthfully witnessed details or false details they had lied about, and if answering the questions on the computer or face-to-face makes a difference.

Aggressive and submissive dominance displays of Betta splendens have been studied heavily (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Clotfelter et al., 2007; Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Drugs that increase serotonin, including SSRIs, have been shown to decrease aggressive displays in Betta fish (Lynn et al., 2007), but the effects are less well known. Prior work has demonstrated that alcohol decreases aggressive displays of Betta splendens (Richards et al., 2022). The current study extends past research from our lab by assessing the effects of varying alcohol doses on dominance displays of Betta fish. Eleven male Betta splendens will serve as subjects; fish will be tested as part of a larger ongoing study (results reported elsewhere). Fish will be housed and tested in their home tanks, comprised of half-gallon clear plastic tanks. During dominance display testing fish will be exposed to a mirror for 2 minutes, as mirrors are shown to reliably elicit aggressive displays in this species (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Collins et al., 2008). Each test session will be video-recorded, and the amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays will be coded and analyzed (following Foberg, 2003). Dominance display testing will occur following the administration of alcohol at concentrations of 0%, 0.15%, 0.3%, and 0.5%, which will be achieved by administering 0 ml, 0.7ml, 1.5 ml, or 2.5 ml of 95% alcohol to 473ml of water. Fish will be exposed to each concentration of alcohol for 5 minutes prior to testing. To assess the effects of alcohol on the relationship between aggressive and submissive dominance displays, we will perform a series of Pearson r Correlations. We expect that aggressive and submissive displays will negatively correlate with each other. Because alcohol is a known central nervous system depressant (Bushman, 1993), we also expect that as alcohol dose increases, disruption to these correlations will increase. Results will allow us to determine what effects alcohol may have on aggression. More generally, results will add to our knowledge of factors that influence aggression in Betta splendens.

Although there is an abundance of research regarding the effects of music on verbal memory, less has been done to investigate the effects of music on visuospatial memory. In a study by Iwanga and Ito (2002), participants were told to memorize ten different asymmetric patterns while listening to either vocal music, instrumental music, natural sounds, or silence. They found that music did not interfere with performance on the spatial memory task. Another study investigated the effects of non-vocal background music on visuospatial learning and found that performance on visuospatial tasks was worse for both immediate and delayed recall when the task was paired with background music than with silence (Echaide et al., 2019). This suggests that background music might have a detrimental effect on visuospatial learning. The objective of the present study aims to further investigate the impact that different music conditions have on visuospatial memory. Participants are instructed to complete a matching game while listening to one of seven music conditions. The music conditions include “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne with lyrics, “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne without lyrics, “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker with lyrics, “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker without lyrics, brown noise, “Bagatelle no. 25. A minor” by Beethoven, and silence. The matching game is a 5x4, black and white matching game obtained from the website memozor.com. Participants were measured with two dependent measures: 1) the number of moves it took to complete the game and 2) the amount of time it took to complete the game. This process is repeated until participants have been exposed to all seven music conditions. We expect that performance will be worst when the game is paired with music with lyrics, slightly better when paired with music without lyrics, and the best when paired with the brown noise and silence.

COVID-19 had a huge impact on every industry. There have been many studies conducted to measure the impact that this has had on productivity, however, job satisfaction seems to be a mixed result. Research questions for this study include, how does remote work affect job satisfaction and productivity levels among employees? With more jobs becoming “at a distance” or remote in the past few years there are more things for organizations to consider and analyze when looking at job performance and hiring new employees. The research method will be a mixed method starting with exploratory or qualitative research and then moving on to quantitative research. The sample or population that can be tested will include two different types of employees based on their experience with remote work. This will allow us to understand if it is purely remote work or the transition from being in-person to remote that has an effect if there is one. These samples will be people who have newly worked remotely when they have years of experience working in person and another sample of the population would be people who have newly entered the workforce such as recent college graduates and have only ever worked remote jobs. Overall, there has been an increasing number of jobs going remote leaving more room for error and less boss supervision of employees which could affect both job quality and employee productivity.

Snakes in temperate regions undergo a period of general inactivity during the winter season, known as brumation. In populations at high temperate latitudes, a combination of extreme winter temperatures and limited availability of suitable shelter sites often drives the evolution of communal denning strategies. At lower temperate latitudes, less is known regarding the causes and consequences of variable overwintering strategies. More than a decade of research on snake populations across eastern North America has documented the prevalence of Ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), with the widespread recognition that Oo infection signs are greatest in spring after emergence from overwintering shelters. However, nothing is known regarding potential relationships between Oo infection and the use of different overwintering shelter types. Here, we leverage a unique population of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) from middle Georgia to quantify relationships between winter shelter type (rock outcrop, stream bank, stump hole) and strategy (solitary vs. communal) on brumation duration, body mass loss, and Oo infection load. Preliminary results indicate a significantly different distribution of site types used by solitary and communal snakes, with communal sites being predominantly rock outcrops relative to solitary sites often being stump holes and stream banks. Variation in body mass loss, brumation duration, and Oo infection load was not related to winter shelter type (rock outcrop, stream bank, stump hole) or strategy (solitary vs. communal). However, ongoing sampling could strengthen the current trend of communal snakes having higher infection loads and longer brumation durations than solitary individuals.

This study assesses the importance, takeaways, and drawbacks of an undergraduate course titled Women’s Health & Social Issues. Using a mixed methods approach, the investigators surveyed students enrolled in two sections during the Fall 2023 semester. Before data collection, all procedures were approved by the campus IRB. The questionnaire was distributed during class, and five extra credit points were offered for participation. The first two sections of the questionnaire contained items assessing general opinions and overall effectiveness of the course utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. The third section assessed skills that were retained during the course, but also participant demographics. Forty-two students were present on the day of data collection, all of whom participated (100% response rate). A Cronbach Alpha test was run, with a resulting score of 0.93. Nearly all students (97.7%) reported the course taught them to be open to hearing others’ opinions, 90.7% reported being more comfortable informing others about women’s health topics, and 88.4% reported being comfortable with advocating for women’s health issues. The majority of respondents were female, white, heterosexual, and in their third year. Nearly half (48.9%) were public health majors, and 9.3% enrolled in a women & gender studies program. The results of this study suggest there are significant benefits to providing women’s health courses at the undergraduate level. Increasing this curriculum in universities can improve students’ ability to advocate for themselves and others, allow for student self-reflection, and improve students’ general knowledge on topics concerning women’s health.

Amphipod crustaceans are ecologically important in marine habitats worldwide, yet their diversity is poorly documented. They are an important food source and play valuable roles in nutrient cycling. Amphipods belonging to parvorder Amphilochidira comprise greater than 1135 species in 24 families worldwide. Some live amongst groups of algae or in proximity to sessile invertebrate hosts. Amphipods of the family Leucothoidae are known to be endocommensals in sponges, which help to provide nutrition, protection, and reproductive spaces. Many act as deposit or suspension feeders or even predators, playing an important role in various food webs of their ecosystems. They often play an essential role in the diets of different fish, and many amphipods act as intermediate hosts for parasites they may later target a definitive host that is a species of economic importance. Prior to this study, 11 species were documented from Bocas del Toro, Panama; yet collections from 2005, 2021, and 2023 revealed 20 species in the parvorder. The diversity of Amphilochidira is discussed and the host associations of amphipods in the family Leucothoidae are described.

Social-emotional learning is the development of interpersonal skills and emotional regulation (Whitmore et al., 2019). Teachers play significant roles in their students’ social-emotional development (Villaseñor et al., 2017). Meeting these social-emotional needs leads to positive outcomes regarding mental health, interpersonal relationships, and academic performance (Davies et al., 2021). Students whose needs are not met may experience negative outcomes in academic performance, peer relationships, and emotional development. In rural communities, there are unique obstacles that may obstruct meeting these social-emotional needs. Investigations from Nichols et al. (2017) suggest that the challenge of providing social-emotional support is accentuated in rural communities due to the lack of resources like counselors. Solutions have been recognized in the literature. For example, promoting the social-emotional development of teachers is an essential step for creating the environment children need for learning (Mitchell, 2020). CASEL, a leading organization in advocating for social-emotional programs, has identified programs that could be implemented. CASEL (2013) notes different classroom approaches to teaching social-emotional learning, ways to track implementation, and more features for programs. Many of the programs were practiced in samples in suburban or urban locations. Rural schools may face issues when it comes to social-emotional learning programs, as it is not as accessible as it may be in urban schools (Zolkoski et. al, 2021). Lack of personnel trained in teaching social-emotional learning could lead to execution issues (Zolkoski et. al, 2021). Although there is literature about the barriers for rural schools, there is still a dearth of literature exploring potential obstacles in rural communities such as negative perceptions of social development (Shahat et al., 2020). This literature review will explore the existing literature on this topic, identify potential barriers to socio-emotional development in rural schools, and provide insights into possible solutions.

Veteran identity has been operationalized to be a Veteran’s self-concept deriving from their shared military experiences. After separation from service, many Veterans experience “reverse culture shock,” which can negatively impact interpersonal relationships and results in negative feelings such as helplessness, isolation, and emotional disconnection. Understanding how Veterans define themselves in their civilian lives can give us insight that could bridge the gaps between them and their available support systems. We utilized a qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) model which empowers Veterans to use their personal voices to tell their stories and help researchers communicate those stories to the community. In this framework, we employed the Photovoice technique where Veterans take pictures that represent the answer to the following prompt: What does being a Veteran mean to you? This study is part of a larger project using photovoice and lyric analysis to help define the “sights and sounds” of Veteran identity. Veterans were then asked questions individually and as a group to help the researchers understand the meaning of the images relating to the prompt. Transcripts of the interviews are being analyzed to uncover common themes and elements that represent a definition of Veteran identity. The conceptual framework for this project was presented last year. This year, preliminary results of these analyses will be discussed. To allow Veterans’ stories to be told to the public, our next aim is to create an immersive, interactive gallery reflecting their experiences through their photos. We argue that without more emphasis on qualitative CbPAR methodologies, research with special and/or marginalized populations, like Veterans, will continue to be more exploitative than beneficial for them. CbPAR methods help eliminate the distrust in scientists and clinicians already experienced by many in these populations.

Family values base the importance of what kind of environment a household has and how it functions. These guiding principles help individuals and families to make choices. With strong family values it helps others to be resilient and to adapt. For example, family values seem to serve as a psychological protection against negative emotional experiences (Patel et al., 2022) These values differ from family to family and change over time. A 2021 study reflects how family values change throughout the multitude of generations. This study assessed the differences of Generation Z and Generation Y (millennials) in terms of the way they view marriage, parenting, and family relationships. A comparative analysis supported the idea that Generation Z and Generation Y have both similar and different views on family values. Generation Z in comparison to Generation Y, for example, accept the idea of cohabitation between partners and getting married late in life. Moreover, in Generation Z, a shift away from a patriarchal family type is occurring, in which now more egalitarian family types are seen. This means there is a healthy balance between both partners professionally and in their family life. Additionally, Generation Z valued self-development and individuality (Grigoryeva & Khakimova, 2021). Over a multitude of generations, family values have gone through various paradigmatic shifts due to various aspects. Another example of how family values have changed is in the parent-child relationship. A family is to be understood as a very complex, dynamic, but a family is also a unit. A 2015 empirical study suggests that families may impose their values and may succeed in making their children articulate them, but it doesn’t always mean the young learners will live out those values when they are out of the learning environment. In turn, their results indicate that internalized family values of young people are not necessarily identical to parent’s personal values (Ilisko et al., 2015). Therefore, it is important to examine the relationship between the differing family values and the generations involved. Looking further, gender roles seem to contribute a part in accepting or not accepting family values as well. In the past, family values interconnected with what each gender role provided in the home. A study explains that the duties men and women had in the past are not the same as in the present, meaning women have more opportunities to focus on themselves as opposed to being the anchor for a family (Smith 1997). In this study we intend to determine whether each generation's beliefs on family values and gender roles differ from one another. We hypothesize that the younger generation are less open to accepting traditional family values and conforming to gender roles. To obtain this data, a self report survey will be conducted through SONA systems and be completed by GCSU college students.

Family values vary from household to household. Each family has principles that they uphold and unique aspects on how they function and work together. However, when looking at a family with adopted kids, families must work together to accommodate these children, possibly by changing family dynamics and values. Foster and adopted children oftentimes have conflicting feelings on their situation and identification with who they are, and where they stand to fit in a family dynamic (Fineran 2012). Children in foster care who had more of an attachment adoption style to their foster families had more benefits than children who did not. Children who stayed more in contact with their biological family did not seem to mix well with the foster family they were staying with (Sinclair 2005). This finding may suggest that family values may be hard to implement with foster children who are still in contact with their biological families. The immigrant parent(s) many times have family values that the child may not identify with or live by. However, that doesn’t mean that the difference in family values affect the care and importance they have for each other. According to a 2008 study, families create strong emotional ties that bond members together. Even young people who resent parental constraints and obligations feel, at the same time, a complex combination of affection, loyalty, gratitude, responsibility, and a sense of duty to their immigrant parents (Suarez-Orozco et al. 2008). Yet, the impact of having immigrant parents alter and shape their children's family values. This present study is thus aimed to examine how adoptive families and immigrant household values differ. Its purpose is to study how the adopted child adapts or is willing to adapt to the family values of the family. Similarly, the study examines whether the child of an immigrant parent(s) is open to accept their parents' family values or if they choose the family values of the society they are growing up in. The data is being collected through an online self-report survey, distributed to college students in the Southeast of the United States. The results contrasting different types of families, adopted and immigrant, will be shared and discussed at the conference

In this research proposal I discuss the potential effects of streaming services on client preferred music in the music therapy field. As music therapy students we are taught early on that the best way to start finding client preferred music is to play music from the clients late teens and twenties. This “formula” being taught was logically correct before the introduction of music streaming platforms, but may no longer hold true. Preceding music streaming platforms it was much more likely that people would be listening to a smaller range of music because it was less accessible, however, this is no longer the truth for most clients. Clients today have access to every kind of music they could possibly want through Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, ect., so does the formula still hold true or should music therapists be finding new ways to assess client preferred music? I plan to begin assessing this question using survey based research in this proposal.

Advancements in bio-logging technology have transformed the study of animals in nature. Accelerometer (ACTs) dataloggers remotely and continuously log three-dimensional acceleration (upward, downward, and side-to-side) derived from subject-motion. When paired with machine learning techniques, automated classification of distinct behavioral states from these high-resolution data can quantify real-time activity budgets in wild-ranging subjects. The goal of this project is to expand upon a recently validated framework for ACT monitoring of snake behavior. Using Rat Snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) as a model for large-bodied constrictors, we conducted a series of captive behavioral trials with ACT-equipped snakes that stimulated a series of key behaviors: full-body locomotion, immobility, predatory strikes, constriction, and prey swallowing. We then produced an extensive validation dataset for supervised model development containing 38 observations of each behavior class. Model training and testing procedures were conducted using an open-source web application, demonstrating the increasing accessibility of animal-borne ACT studies. The top performing model indicated a combined class accuracy of 82.69%, with class subset accuracies of 95%. Model development is a fundamental step toward field-recording of predatory behaviors in snakes. Translation to wild-ranging individuals require overcoming additional hurdles, including refinement of a method for long-term ACT attachment at 25% of snake snout-to-vent lengths, and assessing the generalizability of our model to field data. We envision this technique transforming field studies of snake behavioral ecology, as unlocking real-time monitoring of foraging efficiency facilitates improved interpretation of the causes and consequences of variation in individual behavior, and its effects on population trajectories.

How Social Media Impacts Movie Consumers In our society, it seems like any new product, clothing item, or sports event comes with a reaction video of people giving their opinions of it on social media. This especially includes the film industry and new movie releases. When the new movie Anyone But You came out, 63,000 videos were posted with the hashtag #anyonebutyou on TikTok talking about their personal opinions and observations of the movie. The US has one of the largest social media advertising markets in the world and it continues to grow. This study will look to see if these social media posts have an affect on the attitude and behaviors of consumers when it comes to movies. Social media has made it easy for consumers to self-advertise new movies like Saltburn, Mean Girls, and Anyone But You through any platform. According to researchers, around 52% of active users on TikTok claim to have discovered a new actor, TV show, or movie on the app. Consumers on social media apps also use hashtags and repost each other's videos which only grows the exposure of the content. The traditional way of advertisement for the movie industry has always involved billboards, commercials, and even bus advertisements, but this society has now moved to a world where word-of-mouth, viral marketing, and social influence is very important. For this study, our sample population will be college students in their late teens to early 20’s. We will be using a mixed method which means starting with a qualitative exploratory research process and then quantitative descriptive research to answer the question how social media has impacted movie consumers.

Introduction This research project’s main purpose is to explore the impact that occurred on the city of Glendale, Arizona due to them hosting last year’s biggest football event in the country, Super Bowl 57. Every year, the Super Bowl is widely renowned as the most popular sports event in the nation. Because of all the attention built around the event, this study seeks to understand how it contributes to the success, image, and economy of the city. Research Questions How do social and cultural factors contribute to the overall economic impact of the Super Bowl on host cities? What are the long-term effects, both positive and negative, on the local economy and community after hosting the Super Bowl? Relevance Around this time of the year, the Super Bowl is televised to be broadcasted for all of the United States to see. It is also frequently the most watched televised event every year. Because of this, every city that the sporting event is held in looks forward to the benefits that the city is expected to reap. Method The research will employ a mixed-method approach: Collect economic data from host cities pre- and post-Super Bowl, focusing on key indicators such as employment rates, local business revenue, and tourism statistics. Analyze media coverage and public sentiment to gauge the overall perception of the event. Sample or Population of Interest The study will focus on people who reside in Glendale or have connections to the city. This includes business owners, residents, and sports fans. The research will also consist of opinions from neutral people who watched the Super Bowl and have an understanding of the effects big events have on cities.

Background: Social media engagement (SME) may provide a meaningful source of such social contact, however it is unclear whether contact via social media is effective for managing negative life experiences. The current study proposes to examine these ideas jointly. We hypothesize that passive scrolling on Instagram will exacerbate negative feelings following ostracism, while passive scrolling through TikTok will work as an effective coping mechanism, decreasing negative feelings following ostracism. Methods: For the current ongoing study, participants first complete a survey measuring their baseline mood, demographics, and dispositional measures. Then, all participants are ostracized using Cyberball (Williams et al., 2006). The Cyberball paradigm will employ 40 throws of a ball among 4 “online participants.” 3 of the “participants” are computer generated. After the first twenty throws, the computer generated participants begin to leave out the real subject. After the 40 throws participants complete a collection of state measure surveys including state self-esteem, mood, and envy. They are then randomly assigned to passively scroll through TikTok or Instagram for 10 minutes. After that, they are given a final state survey measure. Following this, they are fully debriefed and thanked for their participation. Results: We predict that passively scrolling on TikTok will be a more effective mechanism for coping with induced ostracism than Instagram. Specifically, we expect that using TikTok following ostracism will result in improved mood and state self-esteem, and less envy compared to using Instagram following ostracism. Implications: If our hypotheses are supported, the results would suggest that TikTok helps with college students coping with feeling ostracized, and that Instagram is not an effective coping mechanism. This may provide college-aged individuals with a more effective strategy for engaging with social media during or after facing stressful events.

Background: Substance misuse is prevalent on college campuses, and students face increased risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD). Students with a SUD who seek to restrict or abstain from substance use in a traditional collegiate environment face unique socioecological hardship. To provide structure and support for these students, many campuses have adopted Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs): a university-supported network that provides peer support and other resources for students in recovery. The proliferation of these programs creates a need to evaluate how CRPs measure success. Purpose: To systematically review the variables used by researchers to determine what criteria define success in a collegiate recovery program. Methods: The PRISMA four-phase article extraction process was conducted separately by two reviewers who ensured articles met the inclusion criteria. The JBI quality appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of each study. Results: 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Due to the variety of methodology used to evaluate CRPs, measures of success vary. Two literature reviews note this variety of approaches does not enable researchers to assume CRP participation has causal influence on outcomes measured. Despite inconsistencies in study type, measures of success that emerge from the literature include Quality of Life; risk of relapse; perceived value of CRP membership; members’ GPAs, graduation, and retention rates; and measures linked to recovery success—which is also identified as recovery capital. Conclusion: Evidence from this systematic review indicates consistency in study type as a limitation to further CRP development. While some units of measurement are recurring in the body of literature — such as recovery capital, GPA, and relapse— a standardized approach is needed to unify the assessment of CRP success.

In this case study, the student music therapist co-led group sessions with H., a 45-year-old African American male, twice a week at a skilled nursing facility. After doing an assessment and taking baseline data, two music therapy goals were established. These goals and their objectives were as followed: To increase participation as operationally defined by eye contact during the song, playing an instrument, movement or dance, and participating in decision making activities. To increase quality of life which is operationally defined as the amount of times H smiles or presents positive emotion within the session. Music was used as a mediator, reinforcer, and a structure in order to achieve these goals. Elements such as lyrics, rhythm and tempo were used specifically to help facilitate the desired response. Throughout the session, H. was met with verbal continuous reinforcement each time he participated or presented a positive emotion. By the end of the practicum contract, music therapy was shown to be effective as H. ended up meeting both of his goals. He is recommended to continue music therapy treatment on new goals and objectives.

A Literacy Narrative about my Abuelo's death, his legacy, changing my name, and the burden that comes with responsibility. I also explore the topic of an ungrateful heir, and the loss of that which grounds your reality.

With the rising cost of groceries in the US, it is more important than ever to reduce food waste. My Pantry is an app that helps users reduce their food waste by keeping track of items in your kitchen and their expiration dates. Notifications will tell users when they need to put items in the freezer to prevent them from going bad and will help them identify if items are bad at all, even past their best by date. My Pantry also helps users get new recipes and keep old ones in a virtual cookbook. An online database lets users browse recipes and AI can create recipes based off of what is already in their pantry. Users can then use those recipes to meal plan, where My Pantry will notify you when to put things out to thaw, when to start cooking, and what you should buy for the recipe. My Pantry will help users organize their meals, shopping, and pantry as well as reduce food waste.

In eukaryotes, including humans, translation of the genetic message is an essential process that needs to be carefully controlled. Cells have procedures to measure conditions and can accordingly promote or block mRNA translation for protein synthesis. Normally, mRNA translation requires a series of steps - (a) recognizing the mRNA 5’ end, (b) assembly of translation factors and the pre-initiation complex, and (c) scanning to find the start signal. This multi-step initiation process allows efficient control of translation, a resource-hungry process that is turned off when cells have other priorities. However, some genes defy the cells' priorities and continue making proteins when most genes have been turned off due to cellular stress. This phenomenon is broadly defined as non-canonical translation. Our goal is to investigate the role of RNA structure and interactions in non-canonical translation. To achieve this, we apply the SHAPE-MaP chemical probing strategy – a technology that allows us to determine the folding patterns of regulatory RNA regions. Here we describe the SHAPE-MaP methodology and present structure probing data for a control RNA and a target regulatory RNA, the RPA2 (Replication protein A2) mRNA 5’untranslated region. RPA2 has been reported to undergo non-canonical translation however the mechanism remains poorly described. Our work aims to fill a critical gap in understanding the regulation of RPA2 gene expression, which not only plays a role in normal cellular processes but is also implicated in cancer development. Our work is still at a preliminary stage, but already we have implemented many innovative technologies including human cell culture, RNA extraction & quantitation, reverse-transcription, PCR, library preparation, and next-generation sequencing. In future experiments, we will compare initial RNA structure analysis with live cell conditions under distinct types of cellular stress. We also describe the experimental design for an upcoming validation study using dual luciferase reporter assays.

Nostalgic Neverland is an original piece of writing that highlights the desire to stay a child forever. Along with the research part of the project is an original poem with a creative aspect to it. Simran Puri emphasizes on why Peter Pan inspires her and the poem is from the point of view of one who lives in Neverland and why they want to live there. Simran Puri wants her readers to resonate with her piece as most share the feeling of not wanting to grow up.

This is an early stage research. Companies are now sending extensive PR packages to influencers. Even micro influencers, the ones just starting out, have companies sending them products to hopefully promote on their platforms. It has been said over 80% of consumers trust the opinions of their favorite influencers. Influencers such as Alix Earle have the ability to sell an entire company out of a product for months at a time; solely by the act of showing the audience once in a TikTok video. Therefore, even if the influencer is just showing the product without having used or tried it to give an educated opinion, some consumers have already hit purchase. Some influencers get so many packages that they will give some away to their followers. These products can accumulate and cause a massive amount of waste and plastic wrapping. In this research, we will determine how the general public views this phenomenon. The research aims to address what the effect of PR packages on consumers is. How do followers view influencers who receive these packages in relation to authenticity and credibility? We will be using a mixed method to conduct this research. We will start with exploratory, qualitative and move to quantitative.

When someone has perfectionism, they often hold themselves to exceedingly high standards and have a strong desire to be flawless. However, while it is often viewed in a positive light, the reality of it is much darker and detrimental. It has two key dimensions: perfectionistic strivings, which refers to pursuing excellence, and perfectionistic concerns, which describes the inability to take satisfaction in one’s performance. Therefore, maladaptive perfectionistic concerns are strongly linked to poorer mental health like depression. This paper aims to examine perfectionism among Asian American students, finding self-critical perfectionism tied to greater depressive symptoms as a result of perceived discrimination and unrestricted mobility. It also analyzes the impact on families through relationships between parental and youth perfectionism, contributing to adolescent depression. Lastly, it discusses perfectionism and therapist burnout in relation to compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. In all, comprehending the complexity of perfectionism allows for people to better understand the negative mental health impacts it can bring and how to relieve this and improve the lives of others. Keywords: Personal standards perfectionism, evaluative concerns perfectionism, adaptive perfectionism, maladaptive perfectionism, perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, unrestricted mobility, perceived discrimination, self-critical perfectionism, depression, adolescent perfectionism

Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that cause common upper respiratory infections. Early viral proteins generate an ideal environment to promote viral replication. One early viral protein, E4 11k, has multiple functions, including the redistribution of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies and cytoplasmic p bodies, leading to a potential alteration of their functions. The cell will attempt to respond to viral infection through nucleic acid sensors, such as retinoic-acid inducible gene I (RIG-I), that will induce type I interferon transcription, which can lead to inhibition of viral replication. RIG-I is a viral RNA sensor that activates a signaling cascade to stimulate a type I interferon response. DEAD-box helicase 6 (Ddx6) was recently shown to bind to RIG-I to enhance its functions. E4 11k has been shown to colocalize with and bind to Ddx6, causing Ddx6 to go into aggresomes. Influenza and EV71, both single-stranded RNA viruses, have also been shown to interact with Ddx6, leading to the modulation of RIG-I. Therefore, we hypothesize that E4 11k is binding to Ddx6 to modulate RIG-I, leading to a decrease of expression of interferon-beta. Human lung carcinoma cells (A549) were infected with an Ad 5 wild-type virus and an E4 11k deleted virus for 12, 24, 30, 36, or 48 hours, and RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate expression of RIG-I and IFNB1. When the expression of RIG-I and IFNB1 was normalized to GAPDH, an internal control, a biphasic expression of both RIG-I and IFNB1 was present during the wild-type infection with peaks at 24 and 36 hours post-infection (hpi) and was decreased at 30 and 40 hpi. When E4 11k was not present, a similar expression pattern occurred; however, there was a sustained increase of IFNB1 expression present after 36 hpi, suggesting that E4 11k is necessary toward the reduction of interferon-beta protein expression.

For decades literature has shown that hair analysis is one of the most common methods to test for substance abuse, one which allows for drugs to be detected after significant periods of time. An experimental method for qualitative analysis of drugs in hair samples was developed and validated. Hair samples were decontaminated with dichloromethane and cut into small pieces before extraction with methanol. After heating, the extracts were divided into two parts. One half of the extract was derivatized using N-Methyl-bis-trifluoroacetamide (MBTFA) for analysis of amphetamines, and the other half was derivatized using N-methyl-N-t-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) for analysis of other illicit drugs. Deuterated methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA-d5), deuterated oxazepam (oxazepam- d5), and deuterated phencylidine (PCP-d5) were used as the internal standards. Standard solutions were prepared by mixing all three internal standards at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL in methanol. The samples were analyzed using electron-impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for analysis of commonly abused drugs. The experimental design of this research project and preliminary results will be presented.

Evolution into aquatic habitats, including lacustrine (lake) environments, required vascular land plants to adapt by acquiring conservative growth forms and tissue types. These growth forms are found in zones ringing the shoreline of lakes. Plant distribution is strongly correlated with the duration and depth of water. Therefore, paleobotanist can contribute useful data regarding aquatic plant diversity, to aid in reconstructing ancient lake environments. In this contribution, we illustrate how the aquatic plants present, their preservation, and the sedimentology can help discern past wetland environments. Our study employs field data, collections, and published results to document the diversity and growth form of aquatic plants present at two localities: Paleocene localities in North Dakota and later environments from the Eocene Age Okanagan highland floras. Based on our findings, the North Dakota site represents deposits in a meandering stream system with oxbow lakes. In contrast, the Eocene lake systems in the Okanagan floras were deposited in deep lakes, in grabens, in a tectonically active region. The habits of the aquatic fossil plants found in the Okanagan floras, with the exception of water ferns, indicate that material from the river system feeding the lake contained marshes and oxbow lakes. These results indicate that fossil plant form is a good proxy to help sedimentologists assess surrounding environments to the those documented by a stratigraphic section.

One of the most common drugs available for cancer treatment is cis-platin. This drug is utilized in chemotherapy treatments, yet it is expensive to make. Our goal for this experiment is to repeat one of the literature procedures that synthesizes cis-platin in aqueous media, and then repeat the synthesis under hydrothermal conditions using the Monowave 50. The Monowave 50 is a synthesis reactor apparatus that can elevate solvents above their normal boiling points, potentially increasing yields and lowering the time of reaction. Several reactions were conducted to synthesize the precursor to cis-platin from potassium tetrachloroplatinate salt (K2[PtCl4], KI, ammonium hydroxide, and silver nitrate. The reactions yielded yellow to brown powders which were characterized via spectroscopic methods such as NMR, and IR. Further, melting points were taken of the solids. These precursors are utilized in the total synthesis of cis-platin. The goal is to develop a “one-pot” reaction that provides better yields of cis-platin. Preliminary results of the use of the cis-platin precursor to prepare cis-platin, and the reactions using Monowave 50 are also presented.

The Airline industry is a 500-billion-dollar global market. Within this market there are high levels of competition due to competing airlines. There are two sides to this market, high-class luxury airlines, and discount airlines. This begs the question, has the increase in airfare caused consumers to throw comfort and convenience to the wayside? The relevance of this topic is the recent explosion of low-cost airlines, and the market share that they have been able to capture over the past years. However, these low-cost airlines typically trade price for time. Taking a flight in the early hours of the morning, or late at night could be the new normal as airline prices continue to inflate while consumer income stays consistent. To conduct this research, I will be using the format of the mixed method. The sample will consist of US adults who travel, and pay for the cost from their own pocket.

In response to constant shifts in consumer attitudes and pressures to continuously deliver and satisfy the market, the makeup industry has wrestled with the critical issue concerning diversity and inclusion. Despite the industry's vast reach and influence, there exists noticeable gaps in the representation of diverse skin tones and ethnicities in things like company product offerings or marketing campaigns. 64% of women of all ages and ethnicities in the U.S. expect beauty brands to be more diverse in their marketing.¹ Statistics like these are powerful reminders of the underrepresentation and the failures in reflecting diversity of the population. Additionally, there are findings of change as progressive steps have been and are being taken to address and accommodate ongoing inclusion issues. For instance, as of 2021, 40% of the top 25 mainstream beauty brands offer 40 or more shades of foundation.² To answer inquiries related to this specific issue, I propose a marketing research study aimed at exploring the extent of these gaps seen within makeup industries and felt by, specifically, online beauty communities. This will be conducted through a combination of exploratory research and qualitative observations to better identify barriers/opportunities for improvement. The study’s population of interest focuses makeup consumers across various demographics, including individuals of different skin tones, varying ages, regional influences, etc. Overall, the goal is to shed light towards a more inclusive and representative future and to foster positive change in product development, beauty marketing, and brand positioning. The outcomes of this study will not only equip cosmetic-based organizations valuable insights, but more importantly contribute to broader understanding and awareness of diversity and inclusion efforts to be considered in the world of beauty.

The impact of COVID-19 on social-emotional development in young children has significant implications. Studies currently show mixed findings. Young children missed essential experiences early in life relating to social, emotional, and language development due to COVID-19, which correlated with worsened adult-child relationships in children under six years of age (Erwin & Frey, 2023). The strongest predictor for all child reactions was family stress and instability (Larsen et al., 2022). Other studies indicated that lack of socio-affective and physical stimuli emerge as two of the main concerns for children aged 3-12 after COVID-19. This is particularly true in socioeconomically deprived children (López-Bueno et al., 2021). There also seems to be a difference among age groups. A longitudinal study done in Japan found that the social quarantine did influence children’s social relationships with others. However, the main effect was found in elementary school-aged children while infants and preschoolers were found to have no significant difference in social-emotional behavior after the quarantine (Hagihara et al., 2022). Another study observed how teachers were able to use reading and discussing children's books related to social-emotional learning, using visuals, and engaging children in targeted conversations that allow the child to use and expand upon those social and emotional skills that they learn to teach social and emotional learning skills to preschool students. With mixed findings, the current project aims to examine COVID-19’s impact on social-emotional behaviors in young children (ages 3-4) after three years of COVID-19. Teachers are asked to rate children’s behaviors in the classroom. In addition, teachers are also asked to report overall children’s social-emotional behaviors in classroom during the pandemic time. The data collected following COVID-19 are used to compare with the data collected before 2020 to document the potential differences in social-emotional behaviors.

Spectrophotometric determination of the chelating behavior of metal ions and EDTA encapsulated in sol-gel matrix Carter Barnes and Catrena H. Lisse, Ph.D. Department of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy Georgia College and State University Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has numerous medicinal applications across a wide variety of fields, including veterinary medicine. Magnesium and calcium ions, in excess, can negatively affect the quality of life for many animals and can be destructive to certain medical devices due to mineralization. Using the chelating ability of EDTA, the complexation of metal cations with EDTA can result in decreased amounts of metals in the system. This project investigated EDTA encapsulated within a silica sol-gel matrix with a metal cation sensitive dye, pontachrome violet SW. When placed in a cation rich environment, ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy was used at 575 nm to determine the concentration levels of the target ions isolated by the EDTA sol-gel matrix. This presentation will highlight the experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study.

This research explores the transformative impact of social media on students' academic prowess and mental health, presenting a unique opportunity to optimize educational outcomes. By investigating the correlation between social media usage and academic performance, we aim to provide actionable insights for educators, parents, and policymakers to enhance student success. Employing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, this study combines surveys, interviews, and academic performance data analysis to capture the nuanced relationship between social media, academic achievement, and mental well-being. The survey will delve into students' social media habits, academic performance metrics, and mental health indicators, while interviews will offer qualitative depth to their experiences. Academic data analysis will further illuminate patterns and correlations. This research is pivotal for devising strategies that leverage social media's potential to boost academic excellence while safeguarding students' mental health. The findings will equip stakeholders with evidence-based approaches to support students in achieving their academic goals while nurturing their overall well-being.

Social media is a way for people to connect, share, and engage with other people, celebrities, companies, and brands. The influence of social media in the beauty industry has increased significantly from 2019 to 2024, tripling revenue from $6.5 billion to $24 billion, with the expectation to grow to $249.65 billion in the next decade. TikTok is the most popular platform beauty influencers utilize to market products and engage with beauty consumers. The goal of this research is to analyze how effective TikTok influencers are at encouraging users to buy beauty products, to answer the question of if social media marketing on TikTok works, or if people are conditioned to tune out to sponsored and advertised content. We want to research what factors make the TikTok influencer effective or ineffective amongst the 167 beauty influencers on the platform. This research project will utilize a mixed method procedure using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. We will be seeking out people who use TikTok regularly to determine the effectiveness of influencer marketing on attitudes and behaviors.

Multiphase flow measurements have widespread industrial applications in the petrochemical industry. Most methods are costly and require invasive mounting of a device in the pipeline. Invasive multiphase flow meters are costly to install due to the shutdown of production of material flowing through the pipe. A technique outlined in US patent 10,578,471 B2 utilizes a passive acoustic device that measures sound propagation with and against the flow of the material in the pipeline. The global market for multiphase flowmeters is projected to be $380 million for 2023 with the United States the second largest market behind the Asian Pacific market. Current invasive methods release methane gas causing a negative environmental impact that could be avoided with the passive flowmeter.

This is a story of a Boy Scout campout going wrong, and the impact the events of that night had on the author.

My memoir depicts the comparison of childhood trauma to the person I have become today. Our prompt was to write a memoir based on some aspect of what a student considers their "cultural heritage." I took it in another direction and depicted how I will not be my culture’s daughter because of the way I was raised. There is a direct correlation depicted in my piece on how my mother acted a certain way, and how I act the complete opposite. Also, the beginning of my memoir reflects on a reoccurring nightmare I had as a child that I have now realized depicted my unconscious thoughts on how I felt about my mother. This memoir was a very interesting topic for me as it led myself to give myself closure on trauma as well as dive deeper into my emotions as being a teenage girl. This memoir helps others view that the abused does not always become the abuser, especially in my case.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left both physical and psychological scars. Data from the 2023 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA NCHA) indicates that at Georgia College & State University, 37.1% of students report anxiety and 39.6% reported stress as being impediments to their academic performance, which is a slight increase from the 2021 data at 33.5% for anxiety and 39.1% for stress. Social isolation, financial concerns, fear of loved ones or themselves getting sick, and food insecurity are some explanations for these trends (Knolle et al., 2021). At present, we are grappling with the long-term effects of the pandemic and processing what we have witnessed and experienced. We addressed two broad questions in the current study: 1) How have college students been coping with COVID-19 related stress both in the past and presently and 2) What is the impact of different coping strategies on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic? We asked college students to reflect on the coping strategies they used to cope with COVID-19 related stress in the past, defined as from March 2020 to July 2022, as well as what strategies they were currently using, defined as from August 2022 to May 2023. We used the 28-item Brief COPE scale and separated the subscales into two categories for analysis: Adaptive and maladaptive strategies. We measured emotional, social, and psychological mental well-being using the Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (MCHC-SF). We predicted that students who use more adaptive coping strategies, both in the past and present, would demonstrate higher scores in all three domains of the MCHC-SF than students who use more maladaptive coping strategies. This research is an important piece for building a better understanding of the impact of the pandemic on mental health in vulnerable populations.

This piece is a memoir that covers the topic of how deciding to take a risk and join the cross country team in high school changed my life. It is about how my life was negatively impacted by COVID, and how running cross country helped me find myself and overcome the battles I faced mentally. It is supposed to be an inspiring piece with a positive ending.

This study aims to unravel the complex aspects influencing golfers decisions to buy equipment in the constantly changing golf equipment market. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study aims to provide a subtle picture of the processes impacting consumer behavior by integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Brand loyalty, product attributes, pricing schemes, and the influence of peer recommendations are among the important variables that are being examined. After obtaining Results, they should demonstrate how important brand reputation is to seasoned golfers, whereas inexperienced players prioritize affordability and easy-to-use designs. Furthermore, distinct preferences among different age groups, genders, and skill levels are shown by demographic differentials. Golfers in their twenties are particularly interested in new technology in golf equipment, whereas older players value quality and dependability. This research also aims to give corporate stakeholders useful consequences in addition to adding information to the academic conversation. Manufacturers and marketers are able to customize their methods to satisfy the needs of the golfing community by comprehending the distinctive needs of various consumer categories. Therefore, this study acts as a guide for improving marketing strategies and assuring a focused and successful interaction with the differing tastes of golf lovers. Key words: Golf Equipment, Consumer behavior, Brand loyalty, Purchasing decisions, market segmentation, marketing strategies, technological advancements.

A growing threat commonly referred to as saltwater intrusion has several drivers, such as rising sea levels, the frequency/duration of droughts, natural disasters, and anthropogenic influences, all compounded by climate change. Saline moving further inland due to these factors poses threats to freshwater environments with ecological consequences such as shifts in vegetation communities and, more visibly, tree mortality. If salt water is not readily detected, sudden loss of coastal vegetation is a visible indicator of possible inland saltwater infiltration. One of the goals of this study is to investigate the possible cause of observed tree mortality on Sapelo Island and map the extent of saltwater intrusion there. The second goal is to identify if current climatic changes potentially influence saltwater intrusion and if they threaten freshwater ecosystems and vegetation. This study used the SYSCAL Junior SWITCH 48 equipment to map the subsurface distribution of electrical resistance employing the Wenner-Schlumberger array configuration. This device allowed for a saltwater intrusion to be mapped during high and low tide events at two sites on the island (Nanny Goat Beach and Cedar Hammock Trail). Three survey lines were run at Nanny Goat Beach, and salinity data piezometers were used to measure the duration during tidal changes. It was necessary to survey the beach location to project the presence of salinity moving further inland toward saline-sensitive communities. A single-line survey was conducted at Cedar Hammock Trail due to the observed tree mortality in the inland location.

Cannabinoids are secondary compounds produced by the plants of the genus Cannabis. The most notable cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD), which has therapeutic but no psychoactive properties, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has therapeutic and psychoactive properties, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), the precursor to THC which doesn’t have any psychoactive properties. THC-A is converted to THC by a process known as decarboxylation. This process occurs naturally over time, but is most pronounced after the harvesting of the plant material. Given that THC is highly relevant for therapeutic and legal reasons, research into the extent that environmental factors affect the rate of decarboxylation is important for successfully navigating the complicated laws surrounding cannabis as well as more efficient handling of cannabis by the cannabis industry. This study aims to evaluate how fresh vs. cured plant material, air exposure, and temperature all affect the rate of decarboxylation. This will be accomplished by storing fresh and cured cannabis plant material in open air containers and vacuum sealed bags in –20℃, 5℃, and 25℃. Once per week, each sample will be tested for its cannabinoid contents using high pressure/liquid chromatography (HPLC). We expect to find that the rate of decarboxylation will follow an exponential decay pattern, and will be accelerated by higher temperatures.

A notable discussion that is frequently debated in everyday culture is the topic of veganism and ethical consumption. Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of food that is derived from animals. Vegans eat a plant-based diet and base many of their purchase decisions on whether or not an animal was involved in the manufacturing process in an attempt to limit exploitation and cruelty towards animals. In countries like Morocco, live animals such as chickens are often sold at fresh markets, unlike American grocery stores where meat is prepackaged in plastic wrapping. Since most American markets allow customers to purchase meat that has already been slaughtered, processed, and packaged, would Americans eat less meat if they saw the live animal they were going to eat? Despite only making up 4.23 percent of the world’s population, the United States is a leading consumer of animal products with the average resident eating approximately 219 pounds of meat in 2018. This was followed by Australia whose average was 203 pounds per resident. In America, about 95 percent of the country consumes meat, and the amount of meat produced has been steadily rising over the years. If the general perception of the morality of meat consumption was shifted in any way, it would have a significant impact on agricultural industries and other industries as a result. A mixed-method approach will be utilized starting with exploratory qualitative and quantitative research. The sample will ultimately comprise of students enrolled at GCSU.

Carbaryl is a wide-spectrum synthetic insecticide used outdoors to control a wide variety of insect pests both in largescale farms and in small gardens and lawns. Unfortunately, the synthesis route used in the industrial production of carbaryl requires the use of the highly toxic and poisonous methyl isocyanate (MIC). Due to the toxicity of MIC, the synthesis of carbaryl and its derivatives poses a huge challenge for teaching and research labs curtailing structure and activity studies. The synthesis of carbaryl we propose here avoids the use of MIC and should allow for access to a wide variety of N-derivatives of carbaryl. Carbaryl was obtained via a 4-nitrophenyl carbamate intermediate in a two-step reaction. The synthesized carbaryl was spectroscopically comparable to carbaryl isolated from commercially available Sevin® insecticide

Excavations at the late-Pleistocene Clark Quarry, Glynn County, Georgia have recovered the remains of Columbian mammoths, long-horned bison, deer, rodents, various amphibians and reptiles, and birds. Recent infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) ages suggest that the site was deposited approximately between 52-68 thousand years ago. The current study presents an examination of the avian fauna from the site. The objective of this study is to describe recently excavated bird specimens from Clark Quarry to produce a more complete inventory of the avifauna. While building on the species list from previous studies, we hope to identify species new to the site. Adding our new descriptions to information from prior projects, such as the master’s thesis by Kelly Clark in 2009, we hope to better understand the paleoenvironmental setting suggested by the avifauna. Preliminary analysis of the avifauna indicates a diverse environment, with evidence pointing to the occurrence of at least nine different genera. By understanding the avian diversity within the Clark Quarry fauna, this study contributes crucial data to refining our understanding of the paleoenvironmental condition in Georgia during this time.

This short film is a personified depiction of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a disorder that is vastly misunderstood by the general public, so I wanted to shine a light on some of the parts of OCD that don’t get talked about as much. Compulsion is about a college aged woman, Scarlett, with OCD who is prescribed a controversial new treatment called TheruroProx for the chronic condition. At first everything seems perfect, but things take a turn for the worse. I was inspired to write this film for my Mass Communication-Digital Media Production Capstone because I think it is important for people to see that OCD is not just about cleaning. Contamination OCD is a real thing and people do struggle from it, but it’s not the only type of OCD. There are certain types of OCD, such as Harm OCD which plays a role in the film, that people are scared to talk about with others because it makes them feel like a bad person. OCD attacks your values. Having Harm OCD related intrusive thoughts can make you feel like a violent person, when in reality those thoughts are there because it is not something you would ever do. I hope that people watch this film with an open mind and can learn more about OCD because awareness about it is so important. https://youtu.be/v-0bJSLD4wU

A wealth of research has shown that false memories can result from erroneous eyewitness reports (e.g. Zaragoza et al., 2006). Additionally, recent research has shown that confidence on false reports can be high when involving insertions of elements on key events (Faucz et al., 2021). Instead of looking at the confidence of participants when misinformation was given to them, we wanted to look at the confidence of participants when they generated misinformation themselves through lying. This study researched confidence as a predictor of participants’ memories as true or false for the false details they had previously lied about. Participants were assigned to watch a twenty-minute video on a bank robbery. After watching the video, they were given a questionnaire of 16 questions. Eight of these questions were asked about things in the video that happened, and the participants were told to answer truthfully. Eight of the questions asked about things in the video that never happened, and the participants were instructed to create believable lies as a response to the questions. Some of the participants were presented face to face with another individual asking them questions about the video, while others were presented with the questions on a computer. Participants then returned four weeks later to receive three different tests, in which they were instructed to answer all the questions truthfully. The test we looked at specifically asked them about their confidence in whether they think the events happened in the video. Their confidence was rated on a point slider from not at all confident to extremely confident, which was later converted to a numerical value. We wanted to see if there was a difference in confidence between questions they got correct and questions they got incorrect.

There is a great need for a reproducible and reusable method for the detection of nitroaromatic explosives and various precursors for many industries, especially homeland security. Fluorescent porphyrin molecules immobilized within silica sol-gels were synthesized and used to study the binding of various nitroaromatics, including 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, and 1,3-dinitrobenzene. Free-base meso-tetrakis-4-carboxyphenyl porphyrin (H2TCPP) was entrapped within silica sol-gels during the polycondensation process. The interaction of the porphyrin with nitroaromatics, the porphyrin functionality, and the structural integrity of the doped sol-gels were examined using fluorescence and ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study will be presented.

Zelia Griffith, Kolton Wilburn, and Wade Cooney Abstract: Topic: Binding or divisive? What is the impact of Detroit Lions winning impact on local community ties in Detroit? This research project dives into the dynamic relationship between the performance of the Detroit Lions, a prominent National Football League (NFL) team, and its impact on the community of Detroit. Employing a mixed-method approach, the research aims to investigate the effects of the team's success on various aspects of the community, including local businesses, engagement, and overall morale. Through a combination of quantitative analyses and qualitative assessments, we seek to identify patterns and correlations between the team's performance and indicators of community well-being. Key elements of the study include an examination of the community members and their perceptions of the economic impact, the influence of team success on civic pride and community cohesion, and the potential long-term impact on the city's image and development in the eyes of the community. This research not only contributes to the understanding of the relationship between professional sports teams and their communities but also provides insights that may inform future strategies for community development and engagement initiatives. Ultimately, our findings aim to shed light on the broader implications of sports success for urban communities, with specific relevance to the unique context of Detroit and its cherished football franchise, the Detroit Lions.

Evidence suggests that allocating additional pay to certain positions can affect the percentage of games won in a season for Major League Baseball teams. Previous literature finds interesting and varying results when it comes to payroll allocation by player position. To add to the existing literature, I use the most up-to-date team-level panel data from 2021 to 2023 to test whether pitcher payroll allocation affects team win percentage. I expect to find that allocating more of your payroll to pitcher positions has a positive but diminishing effect on win percentage.

World War II stands as the most horrific war in human history, not only reshaping borders, but, more importantly, people’s lives. For the second time, the world was engulfed in war. In the history books, most students learn the famed stories of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy, and the atomic bombs dropped onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These events of extreme sacrifice by soldiers on the battlefield, though unquestionably monumental, often overshadow the stories of sacrifice made by the countless citizens on the homefront, predominantly women and children. While the war-torn countries of Europe felt these sacrifices deeply, it is important to recognize the hardships and changes that American women and children also suffered through in support of the Allied cause. The intense migration of families due to the vacuum left in the American workforce caused changes in family dynamics, education, and the overall living practices of citizens on the Homefront.

Certain plant species can hyperaccumulate heavy metals and are used to remediate contaminated sites. This study compares the hyperaccumulation potential of five plant species in soils contaminated with lead and copper. In addition, the study evaluates the ability of these plants to sequester carbon, which can help mitigate climate change. Soil and plant samples were collected from the field as contaminated sites. Using X-Ray Fluorescence, heavy metal concentrations were measured in the samples. Decomposition rates of plant biomass were indirectly measured using in-situ CO2chambers and directly in the lab using decomposition chambers and CO2sensors. These rates were used to compare carbon sequestration potential of the plants. Preliminary results showed Tithonia rotundifolia to have the greatest rates of decomposition while Typha domingensishad the lowest rates both in the field and in the lab. Tithonia rotundifolia leaves were found to have the highest amount of lead and copper accumulation while Lantana camara was second. This research will provide insights into the potential use of these plants for both heavy metal remediation and carbon sequestration in contaminated soils. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2107177.

Mining is essential for acquiring a lot of the natural resources that humans require in their daily lives. Unfortunately, mining activities have resulted in widespread contamination of soils and negatively impacted people and the environment around the world. This project is part of a larger NSF IRES project and assesses the impacts of various soil amendments on the bioavailability and mobility of lead in soils. The objective of the study is to understand how these amendments affect the leaching of heavy metals and nutrients from polluted soils into groundwater. A greenhouse pot-study was conducted using heavy metal-contaminated soils, biochar, compost, and hyperaccumulator plants to investigate the influence of soil amendments on heavy metal leaching. X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry was used to analyze the initial and final concentrations of lead in the soils, while spectrophotometry and chromatography were employed to analyze the leachate collected. Then a study was conducted in the field to investigate naturally contaminated sites in Zambia. Intact soil cores for laboratory column experiments were collected from the contaminated sites. Leachate from the soil cores was collected and analyzed for lead and nutrients. Preliminary results suggest that compost retains lead in the soils by about 30% when compared to unamended soils and other treatments. Being able to determine which amendments minimize the leaching of lead can be used to develop best management practices and guidelines for amending mining wastelands and tailing dumps. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2107177.

Compared to knowledge on other animals, including in the field of entomology, knowledge of millipede range and movement is limited. No effective method of marking millipedes has been developed, making it impossible to track individuals, determine species ranges, perform mark-recapture studies, and so much more. Markers and paint rub off of millipedes’ smooth tergites, especially as they rub their bodies against surfaces, and substances like nail polish are toxic for these animals. Millipedes, even larger species, are too small to carry transmitters or other marking objects. Some millipedes, especially in the order Polydesmida, are naturally fluorescent under a black light, but there is no way to differentiate individuals from one another. Fluorescent UV powder has been used to mark insects. This powder is extremely fine and easily sticks to surfaces, has shown to be nontoxic, shows up well under UV lights, and is easily available in a variety of colors. This study examines the effectiveness in using fluorescent UV powder in millipede marking and its effect on millipede mortality. We ran a three-week study to test mortality and the durability of fluorescent powder on ten individuals of Ptyoiulus (Julida: Parajulidae), with ten individuals used as a control. Although some powder came off due to abrasion and moisture, it remained apparent in crevices on legs. Marking also had no impact on survival and behavior. From these results, fluorescent powder shows potential as an effective marking method for millipedes and other arthropods, allowing us to expand our knowledge about the natural world.

Patterns of animal movement vary in response to the spatiotemporal distribution of fitness-determining resources in the environment. In this context, a common objective of research in wildlife ecology is to identify landscape features that are related to the occurrence, or absence, of these key resources, and to in turn explore how variation in resource distribution effects wildlife movement and space use. In the southeastern United States, the mechanical clearing of vegetation is a widely applied management technique that is primarily aimed at increasing available edge habitat for important game species. However, far less is known on the effects these prominent landscape features might have on smaller or more secretive wildlife taxa, such as many non-avian reptiles. Although historically overlooked in such studies, large-bodied snakes represent an ideal model for exploring these "hidden” effects of mechanical wildlife clearings on the movement behavior of predators. We are leveraging three years of continuous radio telemetry and accelerometry monitoring of movement behavior in Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) to evaluate associations between varying use of human-made forest clearings, and variation in home range sizes and activity patterns. Broadly, our aim is to guide habitat enhancements for C. horridus and other pit vipers of conservation concern.

The esterification reaction of 4-Methoxyphenylacetic acid with 4-Ethylphenol is used to create commercial chemicals with floral properties and is largely demanded by perfume-related industries. Routine esterification reactions use corrosive acids as catalysts and require excess reagents that are unrecoverable. The purpose of this study is to synthesize an ester product under mild conditions using a heterogeneous acid catalyst that is used compared to the traditional, more problematic homogenous acid catalyst under these conditions, excess reagents and catalyst can be recovered. This reaction is aimed at promoting green chemistry to minimize waste. The reaction is carried out through reflux reacting an excess amount of 4-Ethylphenol with 4-Methoxyphenylacetic acid with the addition of the catalyst amberlyst-15 to enhance the rate of the reaction and increase yields. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of the desired ester product along with the recovery of the catalyst and 4-Ethylphenol. Current studies are aimed at recycling the recovered reagents in esterification reactions in line with green chemistry principles.

The esterification of 4-ethoxyphenol with phenylacetic acid yields (4-ethoxyphenyl) 2-phenylacetate, a commercial chemical with floral properties largely demanded by perfume-related industries. The purpose of this study is to conduct the benign synthesis of a perfumery grade product with the use of a heterogeneous acid catalyst, rather than a traditional problematic homogeneous acid catalyst, under solventless conditions. Furthermore, the reaction we present is aligned with the principles of green chemistry, which emphasizes benign reagents, minimum waste, and allows for the recycling of recovered and unreacted reagents. The reaction was carried out with an excess amount of 4-ethoxyphenol with limiting phenylacetic acid via a reflux system with the addition of amberlyst-15 to enhance the rate of the reaction and the yield of the desired product. Additionally, the esterification of isoamyl alcohol with glacial acetic acid yields isohexyl acetate, a food flavoring-agent. The on-going synthesis of isohexyl acetate is used as a precursor reaction for the preliminary investigation into solvent-free conditions. In future studies, the heterogeneous catalyst conditions will be applied to the synthesis of isohexyl acetate, in addition to the continuation of solvent-free conditions. Currently, studies are being carried out to reuse the recovered 4-ethoxyphenol and recycled catalyst in future esterification reactions. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) was used to confirm the formation and purity of each product.

Researchers attempt to define what it means to be a Veteran, but it is rare for that question to be directly asked of Veterans. Traditionally, experimenters define variables and ask the group of interest to provide responses without being included in the research process or reaping any direct benefit from participation. A high degree of distrust and disenfranchisement is present within the Veteran community towards the mental health care system and scientists. We aim to use a Community-based Participatory Action Research (CbPAR) model to amplify their voices and focus on what is important to them. We are seeking to allow Veterans to define their identity in their own words. Researchers serve as messengers to help amplify Veteran voices and disseminate their stories to the larger community. This study is part of a larger research project using both photovoice and lyric analysis to help define the “sights and sounds” of Veteran identity. In this study, we asked Veterans to identify songs that answered the question, “What does being a Veteran mean to you?” Veterans worked individually and in groups with researchers through the process of lyric analysis and thematic exploration. Lyric analysis is a music therapy intervention in which the client and therapist listen to a song together and discuss the connection the lyrics have to the client’s life experiences. Transcripts of interviews are being analyzed to uncover shared themes that help researchers understand how they conceptualize their identity as Veterans. External validity will be addressed through member checking, in which participants will review transcripts, discuss identified themes, and choose songs to present as a part of an immersive, interactive gallery experience for the community to allow for their stories to be told. We assert that more research should be done with the Veteran community, not to them

Chromium (III), also known as trivalent chromium, is a toxin found in seawater that poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems. This trivalent chromium combines with several macromolecules including genetic material and results in chromium being taken up either through gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract.1 This project investigates the removal of Cr(III) ions in seawater samples by complexation with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). A colorimetric sensor was designed using EDTA encapsulated in a silica sol-gel-derived optically transparent glass. The complexation of Cr(III) with EDTA in solutions and in gels was evidenced by the visible transition of colors from green to violet. Ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) and Raman spectroscopy were used to determine the identification and removal of Cr(III) by the EDTA sol-gel sensor. This presentation will highlight the experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study.

Music Effects on Memory Music's impact on memory and cognition has long been discussed. Echaide and colleagues (2019) found neither a benefit nor decreased recall for verbal information when background music was present. Participants in their study listened to music while memorizing a word list. Their words were shown for four seconds at a time, and the participants were given a two-second interval between each word. An immediate free recall test took place after they memorized the word lists. Echaide claims that while his results reveal that music does not affect memory, a wide variety of results still claim that it would otherwise prove harmful or beneficial to the listener’s memory. The present study seeks to explore lyrical music's impact relative to music without lyrics and to observe recall when music is no longer playing. Participants in this study were given lists of twenty words to memorize while a sound condition was being played. Each list contained 15 concrete non-related words, and each word was presented on the screen for five seconds before moving on to the next word in the list. The music conditions were Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker, Wagon Wheel (without lyrics), Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, Crazy Train (without lyrics), brown noise, Bagatelle No. 25 by Beethoven, and Silence. After being presented with the word list, the participants completed a matching game to activate a delayed recall. The music was paused for participants to complete a free-recall test. This was repeated seven times, with each condition having a separate word list and sound played. We hypothesize that participants’ verbal memory will be better with music that does not have lyrics. We further hypothesize that participants of non-lyrical versions of songs will perform better than the same set of lyrical songs.

The LOFAR Two Meter Sky Survey (LOTSS) and the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm. Survey (FIRST) have both been creating catalogues of radio emitting galaxies across the Northern sky. We analyze detections and radio fluxes of binary interacting galaxies from the preliminary results of FIRST along with data from the newly released LOTSS catalogs. The sample of interacting galaxies was chosen from the K-band selected; Herschel observed set of gravitationally bound major merger candidates (H-KPAIRS) which include star forming members. These pairs have been the subject of studies with the Herschel Space Telescope. Our sample has IR derived dust masses and star formation rates (SFRs) based on the assumptions that IR emission is created by thermal sources. Newly measured spectral indexes (144-1400 MHz) including data from this early LOTSS reveal the contributions of thermal vs. non-thermal sources contributing to any far-infrared derived star formation rates (SFR) such as active nuclei. We also examine any morphological type dependence of our results such as statistical differences among the pairs categorized as spiral-spiral pairs of spiral elliptical pairs.

The Methylammonium Lead Iodide () Perovskite was researched due to its prevalence in recent literature. One-dimensional computations are used to predict the performance of as an absorber layer, allowing for continuous and cost-effective optimization in parameters of interest. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively analyze data acquired from simulations to optimize the structure of solar cells before the prototyping and testing stages of the manufacturing process. Different open-source applications can be used to aid in calculating such parameters; SCAPS-1D was the software used to analyze . The physical properties of the perovskite material are required for one dimensional calculations of solar cell parameters. Properties of the perovskite were found through literature as well as calculated through Ab Initio simulations.

The Pearls of Majorca is a fictional piece that comments on the importance of choice and freedom through a socioeconomic lens. It follows the story of a fisherman who catches a fish with pearls for eyes. As he struggles to decide what to use the pearls on, the increasing pressure of the poor fishing village escalates. The fisherman struggles with how best to use the pearls, and whether he should hold this fortune or share it with his village. A short fiction piece (14 pages), it encapsulates indecisiveness, needs versus necessities, the relationship of power and wealth, and the overwhelming pressure humans assign to retrospectively small choices.

Intro: Sleep concordance, the total time someone spends co-sleeping with their partner, is an important marker of sleep quality and relationship functioning in couples (Elsey et al., 2019; Hasler & Troxel, 2020). The aim of the current study is to examine co-rumination and its associations between relationship closeness and sleep concordance. It is hypothesized that for women, greater relationship closeness will be associated with greater co-rumination and greater sleep concordance, while for men, it is hypothesized that greater relationship closeness will be associated with greater sleep concordance. Method: Participants are 202 adults recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (Mturk) for a larger project investigating couple sleep. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires including a measure of relationship closeness, a measure of co-rumination, and questions about their sleep routines which were used to create a measure of sleep concordance, then calculating a sleep concordance interval (SCI), or the total amount of time both partners were in bed together, and finally calculating a sleep concordance percentage score by dividing the TDRI by the SCI and multiplying by 100 (Elsey et al., 2019). Results: Indirect effects of relationship closeness on sleep concordance via co-rumination were evaluated using regression models. For women, relationship closeness was associated with increased co-rumination, which was associated with increased sleep concordance, ab = 0.81, 95% CI [0.07, 1.81]. For men, the association between relationship closeness and sleep concordance was not significantly mediated by co-rumination ab = 0.49, 95% CI [-0.25, 1.89]. Conclusion: Findings are consistent with the possibility that greater relationship closeness is associated with greater sleep concordance for women, in part because of increased co-rumination. For men however, the association between relationship closeness and sleep concordance was not mediated by co-rumination. This study adds to literature about the importance of sleep concordance within romantic relationships.

This research proposal aims to explore the differential perceptions of micro (1,000 to 100,000 followers) and macro (100,000 to 1 million followers) influencers on Instagram, focusing on authenticity, trust, engagement, and their influence on purchasing decisions. Despite the growing reliance on influencer marketing, limited research exists on how the size of an influencer's following impacts audience perceptions and behaviors. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study will combine quantitative surveys with qualitative analyses of online community discussions and social media comment sections. The survey will target a diverse pool of social media users, employing stratified sampling to ensure representation across demographics. Concurrently, online communities will be engaged through polls and discussions, while comment sections under posts by both micro and macro influencers will undergo thematic analysis to gauge sentiment and thematic patterns related to the research hypotheses. This dual approach aims to uncover nuanced insights into the authenticity, trustworthiness, and engagement levels attributed to influencers by their followers, and how these perceptions influence consumer behavior. The findings are expected to contribute to the evolving discourse on influencer marketing, offering empirical evidence on the efficacy of micro versus macro influencers. This research will not only fill a gap in academic literature but also provide practical recommendations for marketers on optimizing influencer partnerships for enhanced consumer engagement and trust.

A recent study says in 2022, more than 75% of brands have a dedicated budget for influencer marketing. Influencers affect their viewers to buy what they are promoting, but does this affect their relationship if the product is not as good as they say? Some influencers seem to have perfect lives and create an unrealistic reality which can make some viewers feel down on themselves. Do Social Media Influencers have negative effects on viewers' mental health? Influencers have a great impact on brand promoting as well as setting trends for people. The main source of marketing nowadays is from social media. It is very common for people to post certain things in order to make money, but many influencers do not post the other realistic side of their lives. We are going to use netnography and mixed marketing research to compare the relationship between influencers and their audience. Our sample will mostly consist of college students that use Tik Tok and Instagram that love to watch influencer videos.

Ceramics have been around for thousands of years and have often been the pinnacle of civilization. Particularly of interest are clays and glazes. These are ceramic materials that when fired undergo irreversible changes to their molecular composition and structures, and thus to their properties. There are, in general, 3 types of clay; earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain in order from least pure to most pure. Clay comes from kaolinite deposits in the earth, called primary clay. This primary clay can also travel downstream, collecting impurities and other minerals along the way and thus becoming secondary clay. Porcelain is a primary clay, consisting of mostly just kaolinite but can also contain other minerals like feldspar and mica. Stoneware clay is a form of secondary clay found further downstream from the original source and contains more impurities. Impurities make clay less strong, but more plastic and malleable to handle when wet. Earthenware clay is found even further and countians the most impurities such as iron which give it a characteristic red color. Redart clay is a type of earthenware clay, and fires at a lower temperature because it has impurities such as iron in it. Impurities in the clay also reduce its firing temperature, so porcelain has the highest firing temperature while earthenware has the lowest. Ceramic glazes give clay a glossy sheen, as well as making the clay non-porous and food safe. The primary ingredient of glazes is SiO2, which is a “glass former” and gives glazes their sealing properties and glass-like finish. Glazes also contain other minerals such as alumina. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the composition of Redart clay and various components of glaze before firing through FT-IR spectroscopy. Preliminary results on TGA analysis will also be presented.

Past studies showed intensive speech therapy increased confidence and social participation (Pennington et al., 2020). Parents of children in intensive speech therapy reported improvements in speech production and speech intelligibility in their children, and they indicated that the therapy led to more successful conversations with people from a wide range of environments (Pennington et al., 2020). Parents of children in another program noted improvements in both expressive and receptive language and also described that their child’s quality of life improved after therapy due to increased interaction with siblings and friends, improved attention, emotions, and academic performance (Thomas-Stonell et al., 2009). They had a more positive self-concept, higher self-esteem, better social relationships, and less anxiety compared to peers in a control group. (Peyvandi et al., 2018). Additionally, greater parental participation predicted better therapy outcomes by increased self-confidence (Souza et al., 2015). Other studies recently showed that preschool children affected by COVID-19 are experiencing significant problems with verbal language and social communication (Erbay & Tarman, 2022). Increased screen time, distance education, limited exposure to the social environment, and lower family interaction likely contributed to the negative impact (Erbay & Tarman, 2022). Children with already-known language delays experienced a higher decrease in language production as a consequence of COVID-19 interruptions (Hsu & Wong, 2023). This study examines the relationship between different types of speech therapy and the social-emotional outcomes in young children (ages 3 to 5). This is a group of children who are most likely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers are asked to rate these children's social-emotional behaviors using Social Competence Behavioral Evaluation forms (LaFreniere, et at. 1995) before and after the therapies, and children are being observed for their classroom behaviors. Results will be shared at the conference.

Metal nanoparticles have become useful in drug delivery. In this project, mesalamine capped nanoparticles are investigated for their possible use in IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease. This experiment used copper specifically, as copper is a low cost, readily available alternative to both gold and silver metals, and contains anti-inflammatory properties. Copper acetate and mesalamine were combined in a chemical reduction synthesis under basic conditions using hydrazine as a reducing agent, affording the copper nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were also tested under different pH’s, revealing that there is need to increase the pH to induce chemical reduction. Alternatives for hydrazine and basic conditions are currently being studied. This work presents spectroscopical evidence of the synthesis of the mesalamine capped copper nanoparticles, and preliminary results detailing the tuning of reaction conditions.

While HIV and AIDS incidence has optimistically decreased in the United States, African Americans remain the foremost racial group implicated in burgeoning diagnoses. This disproportionate affinity is substantially forged from the scarce and discriminatory prevention care (PrEp) to which they are predisposed. Diverging from conventional routes of drug delivery will increase ease of use, thereby improving patient compliance and optimizing patient outcomes - the fundamental motivation for this undergraduate research project. Many biomolecules including drugs like Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), HIV antiviral, can be released from sol-gels and the quantity and duration of the release can vary widely. Processing parameters render these release properties exquisitely versatile. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-based hydrogels, with drug-releasing properties, were formulated through TEOS hydrolysis followed by modifications to the volume and pH of the colloidal suspension. After entrapping and encapsulating fluorescein as a prototypical drug, the drug-release properties were investigated by altering the pH and age of the sol-gel nanoparticles. Ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to monitor the fluorescein release. Future work includes imaging of the sol-gel nanoparticle using scanning electron microscope (SEM).  The experimental methodology and preliminary results will be highlighted in the presentation.

This year’s Super Bowl, Super Bowl LVIII was hosted at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event took place on Sunday, February 11th. The two teams that competed for the title were the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, and the Chiefs came out on top. This year’s NFL season and seasons moving forward are extra controversial as pop culture is brought into the picture. The famous music artist Taylor Swift is now dating the Kansas City Chief’s tight end, Travis Kelce. How is Taylor Swift and her fan base affecting the attitudes of NFL fans around the country? Taylor Swift’s massive audience consists of mostly women; more specifically, young women. This is a demographic that would normally be considered the minority when it comes to those who watch the NFL, and more specifically, the Super Bowl each year. But an estimated of 47.5% of viewers from Super Bowl LVIII were women, around 5 million more than last year. Since Taylor Swift is dating one of the competitors in the NFL, there are hundreds of thousands of extra Chief’s supporters coming from her fan base. The number of women who watch the NFL and view the Super Bowl is rapidly increasing each year, but due to this added controversy there was an all-time high of female viewers for this event. This study was conducted using a mixed methods approach that will begin with an exploratory, qualitative study which will be followed by a quantitative study.

Conflict is a common occurrence in romantic relationships and has an impact on multiple areas of couples’ lives, including sleep (El-Sheikh et al., 2014). While the association between poor sleep and impaired romantic relationship functioning has been established in previous research (Gordon & Chen, 2014), there is less research on the association between greater romantic relationship conflict and sleep problems (Troxel et al., 2007). Cognitive pre-sleep arousal is an important marker of sleep problems (Wuyts et al., 2012) and may explain some of the reason romantic relationship conflict negatively impacts sleep. The aim of the current study is to address the association between romantic relationship conflict and cognitive pre-sleep arousal. Relationship conflict is associated with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression and anger all of which are associated with increased thoughts and sleep problems (El-Sheikh et al., 2014). It is hypothesized that greater romantic relationship conflict will be associated with greater sleep problems, in part due to greater cognitive pre-sleep arousal. Participants are 204 adults (66 male, 138 female) recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (Mturk) for a larger research project investigating couple sleep. Participants completed questionnaires including a measure of relationship conflict: the frequency subscale of the Conflicts and Problem-Solving Scales (Kerig, 1996), a measure of cognitive pre-sleep arousal: the cognitive subscale of the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (Nicassio et al., 1985), and a measure of sleep problems: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989). Indirect effects of relationship conflict on sleep problems via cognitive pre-sleep arousal were evaluated using regression models and the SPSS Process macro (Hayes, 2017). Relationship conflict was related to increased cognitive pre-sleep arousal, which was associated with increased sleep problems. Results are consistent with the hypothesis; such that greater relationship conflict was associated with greater cognitive pre-sleep arousal and thus greater sleep problems.

Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is a double-stranded DNA virus that can cause upper respiratory infections and conjunctivitis. One of the viral proteins, E4 11k, supports early viral infection by promoting late gene expression. E4 11k has been shown to disrupt cellular function by relocalizing processing body (p body) proteins to cytoplasmic aggresomes. Aggresomes are perinuclear formations that are sites of misfolded protein storage and only arise when there is cellular stress. The scaffolding p body protein, Ddx6, has been shown to colocalize with E4 11k in aggresomes during a wild-type Ad5 infection. Ddx6, however, was not relocalized to chemically induced (cadmium chloride-treated) aggresomes. This suggests that E4 11k is necessary for the relocalization of Ddx6. We observed the localization of additional p body proteins, Lsm1, Edc3, and Pat1b, in human lung carcinoma cells following wild-type Ad5 infection and cadmium chloride (CdCl2 ) treatment. Lsm1 and Edc3 were relocalized to both infection and chemically induced aggresomes. Pat1b, however, was not relocalized to either infection or chemically induced aggresomes. To further characterize the role of E4 11k in p body localization, we will infect with E4 11k only, L103A mutant, and D105A L106A mutant viruses and observe the localization of several p body proteins. Currently, the ability of L103A and D105A L106A mutant viruses to induce aggresome formation has not been studied. The L103A mutant cannot oligomerize but has the ability to dimerize. Using this mutant virus, we hope to determine if the oligomerization from E4 11k is required for aggresome formation. In addition, we want to observe the different p body proteins to determine if their localization during mutant virus infection is altered. The study’s significance is to understand better the dynamics of p body and aggresome formation in human cells.

Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is a double-stranded (ds) DNA virus that causes upper respiratory infections and conjunctivitis. The Ad5 viral genome can be broken down into 5 early and 5 late regions. An important viral protein of the E4 region, E4 11k, aids in the manipulation shutdown of host cell machinery to allow for viral replication by stimulating late mRNA splicing and preventing the inhibition of viral DNA replication. One mechanism is through the inhibition of the DNA damage response (DDR). Part of the DDR is responsible for repairing double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) through non-homologous end joining. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) facilitates this type of DSB repair and activates further DDR. During an infection, Ad5’s linear dsDNA genome triggers the DSB repair pathway. DDR tries to “repair” the viral genome resulting in the concatenation and inactivation of the virus. Ad5, however, has evolved mechanisms to prevent the DDR from functioning normally, allowing effective infection. Previously, E4 proteins have been shown to regulate the activation of DNA-PK by autophosphorylation. In this study, we aim to determine if E4 11k can inhibit DNA-PK activation. To determine if E4 11k can inhibit DNA-PK activation, wWe pre-treated HeLa (cervical cancer) cells with E4 11k or, Nu7441 (a known DNA-PK activation inhibitor) treatment and then induced DSBs with the chemotherapy drug, etoposide. We then analyzed DNA-PK activation based on the level of phosphorylation by Western blotting. To induce DSBs, we used the chemotherapy drug, etoposide. It has also been shown that etoposide treatment and DNA-PK activation inhibition result in cancer cells becoming less adherent and remove their ability to repair the DNA damage. These findings suggest a potential mechanism for which E4 11k can be used as a novel chemosensitizer for therapy-resistant cancer cells.

This study examines the smartphone usage patterns of Generation Z individuals, specifically focusing on college students. With the pervasive influence of technology and social media, our generation has become increasingly reliant on smartphones, particularly for accessing social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. This research seeks to address the following question: "What is the frequency of use college students spend on TikTok, Snapchat, & Instagram compared to other apps?" The relevance of this study lies in understanding the impact of technology on our generation, as well as exploring potential implications for social interactions, mental well-being, and academic engagement. Drawing on recent research indicating that college scholars allocate a significant portion of their time to social media platforms, we aim to gather empirical data to validate this trend among college students. First, we will engage in netnographic research. Additionally, we will design a survey to collect detailed information on time spent on various apps. This survey will be distributed through college aged group chats and Facebook groups to ensure a representative sample. By analyzing the collected data, we aim to provide insights into the smartphone usage habits of college students, particularly regarding social media platforms, and contribute to the broader discourse on technology's influence on our generation.

Conventional phthalein dyes are used as pH indicators due to their distinct color change in solutions of different pHs. For example, a solution of phenolphthalein in water turns from colorless to pink as the pH of the solution is increased from acidic to basic. Here, we propose a two-step synthesis of a novel phthalein based pH indicator from commercially available materials that utilizes reactions commonly encountered in undergraduate organic chemistry courses. In step one, the pure product of 1-phenyl-2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydride was obtained which was used in step two by reacting it with phenol. The final product obtained contained acid base color change indicator properties similar to phenolphthalein. Currently, we are attempting to purify the final indicator product to better characterize it through NMR and melting point analysis. Once the pure indicator product is obtained, the synthesis will be incorporated into the organic chemistry and quantitative analysis laboratory curriculum at Georgia College with the aim of enhancing student learning outcomes through a student-centered hands-on pedagogy.

Amines are very resourceful as electron pair donors due to the lone pair on their nitrogen’s which allows for them to form coordinate bonds with a central transition metal ion. Transition metal amine complexes have found uses in both medicine and chemical synthesis in the form of anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin and reagents like Reinecke’s salt. Through the chelate effect, these amines can be displaced in favor of molecules with multiple binding sites; bidentate or polydentate ligands such as ethylenediamine or EDTA for example. The goals of this research were to synthesize amine complexes of various transition metals, observe the chelate effect initiated by ethylenediamine and acetylacetone, and characterize each amine and chelate complex with the equipment available. Complexes of iron (II), iron (III), nickel (II), and cobalt (II) were successfully synthesized from their metal sulfate or metal acetate form. Each was analyzed by means of IR and UV-Vis.

Social identity is, in short, how a social group defines itself and separates itself from other groups. Roman social identity changed Britain through various metrics such as material culture, agriculture, and language, but these changes can be seen to have less initial impact and fade much more quickly than expected when compared to continental Europe, even accounting for the Germanic Invasion shortly following the relinquishment of Roman control. Through these metrics it can be demonstrated that British Celtic social identity was strong and that many populations resisted assimilation, unlike Continental Celts. This pattern is strongest in northern and rural areas. By comparing the longevity of Roman social identity in southern/metropolitan vs northern/rural areas, it is possible to track where the Roman empire had greatest social influence.

Previous literature has questioned whether the number of parental restrictions affect a child’s self-esteem; however, it has not been questioned if a child’s previous grades affect the number of future parental restrictions. To analyze this question, I am using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, courtesy of Harris, et al. (1994-2018). My preliminary results show that there is no statistically significant effect of previous grades on future parental restrictions; however, the father figure’s level of education, the child’s past level of self-esteem, and child’s grade level proved to have an effect on parental restrictions. I found that a father figure’s level of education and a child’s grade level reduce the number of restrictions, while a child’s self-esteem increases the number of restrictions.

Dukkha, commonly translated as suffering, pervades all life. At least that is the view of Buddhists and Jains. This sentiment is core to each of their respective traditions and heavily informs their thought processes and consequently their ethics. In The Bodhicaryāvatāra, originally recited by the Buddhist monk Śāntideva, the ethics of Buddhist monks and how they conduct themselves are discussed. Interestingly, he focuses on giving shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, and medicine to the sick. These issues are, unfortunately, still heavily prominent in today’s society. I argue that to actively combat the excessive suffering we witness every day there must be a political platform for the masses to rally behind. In my research, I show that the intersection between Buddhist ethics and Marxist politics provides a proper foundation for a new political platform focused on the ending of suffering. I also will raise questions about how these similarities affect Jainism and the role that Jains can play within such a movement.

In recent years, historians have focused increasingly on queer victims of the Holocaust. Building on this scholarship, this study draws on recorded testimony from survivors to explore the queer experience during and after the war. The Nazis censored queer media and revised Paragraph 175 of the German criminal code to forbid the practice of homosexuality between men in Germany and in any land that German forces occupied. The Nazis oppressed lesbians as well, finding ways to incriminate them for other offenses or bribing officers to take advantage of them. Ultimately, queer individuals were sent to concentration camps, where they were persecuted by both the SS and their heterosexual peers. Other prisoners believed homosexuality to be a choice, so they did not believe homosexual victims were oppressed the same way they were. This led to exclusion from prisoner-run communities. Queer prisoners who were sent to concentration camps for other reasons, such as Judaism, often disguised their homosexuality to avoid such treatment. Jewish victims who were unable to hide their homosexuality often were assigned to the most strenuous tasks. Nazi oppression wrecked or ended the lives of tens of thousands of queer people through torture, medical experiments, and the dismantling of their reputations. When the Holocaust ended, the queer survivors were forced to live as ex-convicts, rarely receiving the same compensation or safety net that other victims received. What Hitler and the Nazis did to homosexuals must be discussed to acknowledge and prevent the tyrannical treatment of LGBT+ people in society.

The HIF1A gene is a transcriptional activator that regulates cellular responses to hypoxia by inducing transcription in many other genes, and plays an essential role in embryonic vascularization, tumor angiogenesis, and ischemic diseases. Overexpressed HIF1A gene has been found to be linked to many forms of carcinoma, breast, ovarian, and lung cancer. The gene is reported to exhibit internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity. IRES activity uses regulatory structures located in the 5ʹ untranslated region of the mRNA allowing cap-independent translation. In the case of the HIF1A mRNA, IRES activity must be specifically activated under hypoxic stress. The mechanism of this process is unclear. To address this, we are interested in measuring changes in the structure and interactions of the regulatory region subjected to chemically-induced hypoxia. We have applied SHAPE-MaP to investigate the secondary structure of the regulatory region of the HIF1A mRNA in human cell lines to better understand the mechanisms of stress-induced initiation. We compare SHAPE data collected using gene-specific targeting of the HIF1A mRNA under (a) cell-free, (b) in-cell normoxic, and (c) in-cell hypoxic conditions. Our cell-free structure model reveals a highly structured 5ʹ UTR with multiple short hairpins motifs. Next, we closely compare live cell SHAPE data identifying regions that are affected by hypoxia. In addition to changes in SHAPE reactivity, we have detected changing patterns of protein interactions within the 5ʹ UTR under the varying conditions. Future directions include utilizing RNP-MaP, a UV-crosslinking strategy to examine specific protein-motif interactions affecting hypoxic translation, along with DMS-MaP to directly evaluate base-pairing with more specificity. Lastly, we identify orthogonal strategies to validate the HIF1A mRNA structure and interactions.

This research paper explores the interplay among Americans' education levels, political party affiliations, while controlling for demographic factors such as race, age, and gender. The study aims to investigate how education levels (college-educated and non-college-educated) influence political party affiliation, considering the impact of control variables such as gender, race, and age. Political analysts frequently emphasize voter turnout and voting patterns across various demographic groups, including educated and non-educated Americans. The research holds significance for political campaigns seeking to identify and target specific voting blocs for effective campaigning and advertising strategies. The study contributes to the existing literature by addressing a gap in research conducted by political scientists and scholars on this topic. The research was conducted utilizing the 2023 National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) dataset sourced from the Pew Research Center to investigate relationships among variables. Methodologically, the study employed various analytical techniques, including frequency tables, crosstabs, bi-variate analysis, chi-square tests, multivariate analysis, and multiple regression. The comprehensive findings reveal a significant relationship between party affiliation and education level, indicating a higher likelihood of college-educated individuals leaning towards the Democratic party. Additionally, the observed relationship exhibited variations across gender, race, and age demographics.

Donald Trump has been involved in many different legal trials, some of these overlaps while others stand on their own. This project sets out to create a map using digital tools to depict these legal battles. The trials will be divided into seven categories, these cover six main trails that directly impact either Trump’s political aspirations, or his business. The seventh category is set aside to connect all the other trials that Trump is involved in. The different lawyers, defendants, prosecutors, and judges involved will be logged, categorized, and summarized to give an overview of who they are, what their role is, and how they are connected. This map can then be used to educate the public on the different legal battles by showing how some of them are connected and some are not, as well as the different levels of government these trials are taking place. The map will be free for public use to encourage the education of the public at large.

Passion Project Sub-Saharan Africa grapples with three distinct healthcare systems: Biomedical care, Traditional healing, and General Knowledge. Despite the push for modern Biomedical healthcare, traditional healing accounts for over half of the healthcare in several African countries, often overshadowing domestic knowledge, particularly that of mothers employing herb remedies for child healthcare (Towns, 2014). A study in Western Africa emphasizes the need to prioritize domestic knowledge in medical research, especially for those in rural villages lacking adequate healthcare and child vaccination. A critical challenge faced by many African communities, including Cameroon, is limited access to healthcare. Financial constraints and geographical barriers hinder many Cameroonian children from obtaining sufficient healthcare. Rural villages often rely on traditional medicine, yet its efficacy is limited. The scarcity of well-trained doctors in smaller communities exacerbates the healthcare gap, as most doctors serve larger cities like Douala and Yaounde. Personal experiences and discussions with healthcare professionals reveal the complexity of integrating Traditional and Biomedical medicine. Dr. Anthony Mutiti in Zambia notes that patients may turn to traditional medicine before seeking Biomedical treatment, creating obstacles for doctors. Furthermore, traditional medicine, inadequately tested, can complicate treatment. Conversations with Dr. Samuel Mutiti, a Geology professor at Georgia College and State University, shed light on efforts to study traditional medicine's components. Dr. Mutiti's passion for medicine and environmental improvement in Zambia underscores the need to scrutinize traditional medicine under a microscope to enhance its effectiveness. The dream and goal are to transform healthcare conditions, particularly in impoverished communities of Cameroon and surrounding areas. Limited resources in many African countries, including Cameroon, often result in fatal outcomes that could be easily treated in more developed nations. The aim is not to erase traditional medicine, but rather to expand biomedical hospitals and resources, reducing the need for patients to travel great distances for healthcare. A personal anecdote about a family member's cancer diagnosis highlights the harsh reality of limited resources, forcing individuals to seek treatment abroad. The aspiration is to foster healthcare development in Cameroon, recognizing that the younger generation holds the potential to shape a brighter healthcare future for Africa.

During the Fall semester of 2023, my undergraduate Public Policy Making class was given the amazing opportunity to work on a Public Art Ordinance for the city of Milledgeville. The first half of the semester was filled with literature to better our understanding of how a policy becomes a law. We learned the analysist of policies and how to ensure best practices are being followed. The second half of the semester, our class was split into teams. There was the design team, implementation, maintenance and evaluation, and communications team. I had the honor of being a part of the design team. Our job was to write the ordinance, so how we did this was by looking at other municipalities in Georgia. We used Atlanta, Macon, Milledgeville, and Rome to form our ordinance. By using the structure of Milledgeville's ordinances and seeing how other cities in Georgia laid out their ordinance, our team was equipped with creating an ordinance that fit the city of Milledgeville. By using other cities as a framework, it was important that our ordinance complied with all relevant laws and regulations. After creating the ordinance, we put together an executive summary to present to the Milledgeville City Council. We are on the calendar to present our draft ordinance in January. My research will be about the different ways of teaching public policy. My professor, Dr. Max Harleman, has created surveys that shows what students like more. The choice being the first half of the semester when students were allowed to learn about public policy, policy analysis, and how to ensure policies are working, compared to the second half of the semester when students were applying that knowledge to a real-world policy problem. Public Policy Making, Report.docx

There has been a lack of research and discussion regarding the topic of maternal mortality within the United States, especially in regards to women of color. The point of this presentation is to bring forth awareness of the issue that is plaguing this country. To effectively do this, the presentation shows statistics throughout numerous years and how rates of maternal mortality have consistently grown. This presentation also specifically highlights Georgia, as Georgia has the second highest rate of maternal mortality in the country, just behind Louisiana. There’s also discussion regarding the higher rates of death in women of color and centers around racism within the medical system. Through an interview with a labor and delivery nurse, this presentation brings forth the views of a woman working with mothers consistently and witnessing the truth behind postpartum deaths. There’s also the use of different government agencies and nonprofits to help spread awareness in regards to the problems discussed. https://sites.google.com/view/passion-project-miller-ansley?usp=sharing

The NFL (National Football League) generated $18.6 billion in revenue in 2022, and the best tool teams have to improve their quality—and in turn, value—is at the NFL Draft. Teams use the NFL Combine as a guide for which players to draft. The 40-yard dash is generally viewed as the most impactful test on draft position. I test whether 40-yard dash times affect player performance in the NFL, and whether NFL teams are overvaluing the physical tests at the NFL Combine. Preliminary results from my research indicate that 40-yard dash times have a very positive impact on player performance at the NFL level.

The NFL (National Football League) generated $18.6 billion in revenue in 2022, and the best tool teams have to improve their quality—and in turn, value—is at the NFL Draft. Teams use the NFL Combine as a guide for which players to draft. The 40-yard dash is generally viewed as the most impactful test on draft position. I test whether 40-yard dash times affect player performance in the NFL, and whether NFL teams are overvaluing the physical tests at the NFL Combine. Preliminary results from my research indicate that 40-yard dash times have a very positive impact on player performance at the NFL level

In the early 1900s, Vaudeville was well-known for eccentric talents, slapstick comedy, and elaborate tap dances. With the rise of television, Vaudevillian entertainment was adapted for the screen. In my presentation, “Mirroring Vaudeville,” I explore the styles and techniques of early film tappers who were and/or took great influence from Vaudevillian styles. Though there are a plethora of incredible tappers from the 1930s on, I focused my research on two major icons of the time. My research contrasts the work of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and The Nicholas Brothers with my knowledge of modern tap. Differences in stance, posture, foot technique, audience appeal, image, and tricks create stark differences within the same dance form. The influence of Vaudevillian tappers can today be seen stylistically in musical theatre tap. Studying the works of these two artists has increased my appreciation for the mainstream origins of the tap. From its origins to the modern day, tap has boldly unified diverse groups of individuals through dance.

My research examines the impacts of World War II on children living on the American home front, as they experienced the challenges of war during such a critical stage in their lives. Although various primary and secondary resources were used throughout my project, the research is primarily based on (1) an interview with Mrs. Helen Muse of Madison, GA, and (2) Mr. Byron Earheart’s memoir, At Grandma’s House: World War II Homefront in Havana, Illinois. Both during and after the war, children such as Muse and Earheart witnessed the cruel realities of war and the advantages of a nation banded together against adversity and injustice. As children navigated the complexities of the home front, several factors impressed upon them different values regarding war, politics, and patriotism, and many of those values shaped their opinions and ideals for the rest of their lives. Through shifting family and community dynamics, school experiences, patriotic propaganda, and post-war experiences, World War II instilled in many children values of civil service and obedience, patriotism, and national unity that those children and now their descendants still hold today. Although later challenged by constant military involvement throughout the twentieth century, in many cases these values have stood the test of time and today are part of the patriotic legacy of World War II.

Hydrogels are composed of networks of hydrophilic polymer chains, which make great in aqueous environments and extremely biocompatible. Today, hydrogels are being used for controlled drug delivery, fluid control, nerve regeneration and tissue engineering.1 This undergraduate research project will demonstrate the experimental design and multi-step synthesis for the production of remote-activated, polyacrylamide hydrogels utilized for wound care. The first step is the synthesis of the DOPA derivative monomer, N-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenethyl) methacrylamide (DMA). This was achieved by reacting the starting material dopamine hydrochloride and methacrylic anhydride with reaction mediators, sodium tetraborate decahydrate and sodium bicarbonate. The second step in the synthesis was a free radical polymerization of acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide and, N-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl) methacrylamide, with azobis- (isobutyronitrile) as a catalyst under a nitrogen atmosphere to synthesize poly(dopamine-methacrylamide-co-N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide). Followed by the final step with the gelation of a hydrogel composed of the synthesized polymer in a pH sensitive complex with aqueous iron (III). To allow for remote deterioration of the hydrogel structure through exposure to intense UV radiation, a photoacidproducer was added to the hydrogel. The presentation will highlight the experimental methodology and results of the project.

Syracuse University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Florida, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Iowa all have one thing in common- they have all been previously ranked as a top party school in the US. I estimate whether being named the top party school has effect on university applications by using panel institution-level application data from IPEDS and party school rankings from Princeton Review. My preliminary results show there is no statistically significant effect on applications from being ranked as the top party school.

To date, there has never been a concrete explanation for why the Japanese invaded the Aleutians Islands. However, many theories were proffered to explain the campaign. One prominent theory at the time of the invasion was that Japan was planning on launching an assault into the United States. Today, the most widespread theory is that the fleet in the Aleutians was intended to divert a portion of the American fleet away from the battle of Midway. However, evidence suggests that the campaign had a much larger role in Japan’s plans for domination of the Pacific Theatre and everything east of the seventieth degree of longitude.

Rasa theory is a theory of Indian aesthetics that defines a difference between the normal, everyday, personal emotions we experience, and the transcendent, universal emotions evoked by good art. Rasa theory attempts to define ‘good’ art, as well as explain how the universal transcendent art-emotions can be reached by looking at classic examples of theater, poetry, music, painting, and sculpture. Only recently in Western academia has architecture become a consideration in the application of rasa theory. With the beautiful and extravagant details major Jain temples such as Ranakpur, Dilwara, and Ellora are renowned for, I hope to investigate how these spaces can evoke rasa through their intended design and the application thereof. I hope to do this by first examining the basic concepts of rasa theory introduced by ancient Indian scholar Bharata Muni and explaining the importance of his theory in the study of understanding aesthetic philosophy, and then applying his theory by looking at how various aspects of rasa are applied in Jain temple architecture.

My presentation will delve into the intricate landscape of migration in Nigeria, detailing the catalysts, consequences, and individual experiences that influence immigration and emigration. My research details the economic factors behind migration, specifically focusing on Nigeria's brain drain in the healthcare sector, as well as remittances in the country's GDP. Highly skilled workers emigrating from Nigeria is one of the leading causes of instability in the country. Other factors that contribute to the instability are the country’s political turmoil, climate change, and lack of natural resources. Emigration from Nigeria is driven by political controversy and climate change. Recent elections were fraught with corruption, and the Nigerian people lack confidence in their governing body. Because a significant portion of Nigeria consists of nomadic tribal communities, the lack of natural resources creates tension. Although emigrating is a beneficial option for some, family loyalty is incredibly strong among Nigerian tribes, and the choice to leave can have negative impacts on tribal relations and family bonds. My research is unique because it utilizes a personal account to explore the issues of immigration and emigration in Nigeria, colloquially referred to as a “global villager.” By following the life of my villager, Dara Umar, I created a narrative supported by research to approach the immigration crisis from a human perspective and detail the emotional and practical challenges faced by migrants. To thoroughly understand this multifaceted topic, one must also understand the cultural perspectives surrounding emigrating from Nigeria. When analyzing the intricate immigration processes through a personal lens, I utilized interviews, podcast episodes, and various narratives of Nigerians who either had immigrated from Nigeria, or had remained in the country after other family members left. This study offers a unique perspective on migration in Nigeria and provides a dynamic portrayal of the issues migrants face.

After every flight accident in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board releases a report determining the probable cause of the accident and flight characteristics. The characteristics include weather, flight training, purpose of flight, and type of aircraft. After analyzing over 300 flight accidents for single-engine aircrafts in 2019, my results do not indicate a statistically significant effect between a pilot's level of training and the fatality of an accident. However, my results show that when a flight’s purpose is instructive, there is a robust negative negative effect on the likelihood an accident will be fatal. Furthermore, I conclude that if the weather during a flight was classified as Instrument Conditions, the likelihood that an accident would be fatal is positive.

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Art & Leadership Program was founded in 1988 to foster leadership, confidence, self-esteem, and self-expression in middle school girls. Today, the program welcomes all genders and focuses on the exploration of creativity through art making, music, creative writing, and self-expression. In the program, students experiment with a variety of mediums, learn about different artists, and visit historical landmarks within New Mexico. The program is free to all students and workshops are led by museum staff and assisted by interns. Interns are selected through an interview progress and funded by the Kappa Delta Foundation and the Georgia O’Keeffe foundation. Internships at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum are given the opportunity to network with other New Mexico museum professionals and contribute by developing lesson plans. My research will expand upon the contributions and experiences of my role as an intern within the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Art & Leadership Program. I will write about Georgia O’Keeffe, the Museum and programming, and my contributions to youth programs. My goal is to actively keep Georgia O'Keeffe's legacy alive through cultivating talent, diligence, confidence, and leadership in New Mexico's youth.

One of the most common philosophical arguments in favor of eschatological annihilationism is that immortality is solely guaranteed by one’s faith in Christ, rather than being guaranteed to all people. The thesis of this argument strikes to the core of universalism and infernalism: Both doctrines hold that the non-saved and saved have immortal souls. Universalism believes all people will eventually be saved and so they must have an immortal soul. Infernalism believes that some people will be saved, and others will not be but will still retain their immortal soul. Annihilationism turns this common assumption on its head and claims that immortality is conditionally guaranteed. If one holds to a punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue that God destroys the soul. If one holds to a non-punitive form of annihilationism, they may argue the soul simply ceases to exist because the person did not accept Christ in their life. Either way, those who do not accept Christ will not be immortal and hence will stop existing at some point in time. In this paper, I examine several arguments in favor of the soul’s immortality and conclude there are both plausible philosophical reasons to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal and there are plausible reasons from the history of Christian doctrine to believe the soul is unconditionally immortal.

Levee-style ponds are constructed to impound water and prevent flooding. While humans benefit from the flooding mitigation downstream, it leaves streams with slow moving water that doesn’t allow for proper recharge of the aquifers and can disrupt nutrient cycles. Nitrate, a producer-available form of nitrogen (N), is often a limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems. Nitrate can enter a pond through a variety of fluxes, including surface runoff and biomass decay. Factors such as landscaping clippings, leaf litter, fertilizer and even stocked fish can add nitrate to a system. Weather and climate changes also have the potential to alter the nitrate level. In our observational study of the Lockerly Arboretum levee-constructed pond system located in Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, we assessed the nitrogen budget of the system, and the impacts of landscaping practices and fish stocking. Nitrate concentration was assessed on water samples collected from each of our four sites using a HACH colorimeter. Two sites were located within the pond itself, one was located upstream in a feeder creek, and one was located downstream under the levee. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured using EXtech field meters in situ at all four study sites. The feeder stream site had the highest nitrate measurements (average 1.64 mg/L) of all locations, likely due to sunlight being a limiting factor for photosynthesis in this shaded area, and the substantial addition of allochthonous biomass. Measurements of pH, DO, and EC changed temporally. A macroinvertebrate survey was performed to find bioindicator organisms and assign a water quality rating following Adopt-a-Stream procedures. Landcover data, RULSE, and digital elevation models were used to delineate the watershed and indicate possible sources of sediment/nutrient runoff.

I composed a project that revolved around environmental science and environmental engineering. This project is a showcase of my passion and I utilize this project to explain different environmental aspects that we need to be aware of, how engineering plays an imperative part in reversing negative anthropogenic impacts, different available jobs that involve reversing these effects, and how I have begun to apply my knowledge in real-world situations. The background for my project covers certain aspects that are prominent within environmental science such as carbon in the atmosphere, sources of carbon, ozone depletion, the impacts that ozone depletion has on the planet, water quality regarding carbon emissions in the oceans, and an overview of information about environmental science and environmental engineering. This project is essentially me showing my passion for environmental science. I have included various information regarding the specific interests I desire to continue researching in the future and my journey through understanding environmental science and engineering as a whole. Through research papers, networking, volunteering, and reflecting on what I have learned over the years, I have begun to understand different environmental concepts, how to adequately communicate problems and solutions, and the personal attributes required to reverse the negative effects of human activities. Environmental Science and Engineering Passion Project

The research I will be presenting was a collaboration between Emmaline Wellborn, Emma Grace Avery, and myself, Emma Kate Leach. This project began as research about the letter press in Georgia. It soon became a deeper project about different kinds of letterpresses, the different letterpress companies in Georgia, and the history of letterpress. We explore the different types of letterpresses and their uses. The research dives into why the letter press is still relevant today, and how it has changed literacy rates and education throughout history. Our research also includes a timeline that shows the progression of the letterpress, and how it has evolved and eventually faded from everyday use. By presenting on the current letterpress community in Georgia, it has allowed companies, artists, and engineers in Georgia to be highlighted. Our research is showing the way the letter press has changed throughout history and is now used as a unique art form.

Founded at Georgia College & State University, Trax on the Trail is a website and research project that tracks and catalogs the soundscapes of US presidential campaigns. Our mission is to promote a more critical evaluation of how music and sound shape the public’s perceptions of presidential candidates. To accomplish this goal, we created Trail Trax, a database which allows end users to research the music strategies of individual candidates. At present, our team is closely following the 2024 election. For this panel, the researchers on our vertically integrated project team will offer insights on the music strategies of current (and former) 2024 candidates, including Joe Biden (Austin Butts), Donald Trump (Claire Kosobud), Nikki Haley (Riley Greer), Vivek Ramaswamy (Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak), and Ron DeSantis (Victoriyah Friend). Relying on audio visual analysis and digital ethnography, our project brings together diverse disciplinary perspectives to shed light on how candidates articulate their values and vision through the medium of sound. This abstract is a part of Dr. Gorzelany-Mostak’s panel Hearing Music on the 2024 Campaign Trail.

In 2011, the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that 70% of married women with children were working, up from the 10% working in 1940. Using national, cross-sectional data from Add Health, I estimate whether having a stay-at-home mother affects childhood academic outcomes. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for families to live on one income in the United States, and it is important to understand whether this affects children’s academic development. Previous work focused on smaller populations indicates a positive effect on test scores and grade point averages among adolescents with an unemployed or part-time working mother, as opposed to full-time working mothers. My dependent variable is a score that follows the 4.0 GPA scale that I calculated based on students' self-reported grades in grades 7-12 for the previous quarter in 4 main subjects. My key independent variable “homemaker” is a dummy variable equal to one if the student listed their mother’s profession as “homemaker.” Using a more nationally representative sample, I found that stay-at-home mothers have a negative effect on their children’s academic outcomes.

How does policy limiting the discussion of sociopolitical issues and racial topics in educational settings affect minority enrollment in institutions of higher education? There is literature surrounding educational changes following elections and policy, but because of how recently legislation that restricts conversations about racial inequality have been implemented, there are no published research articles yet on how this new legislation targeting Critical Race Theory effects enrollment of minority students in institutions of tertiary education. I will be addressing this question using a Difference-in-differences design, which will allow me to analyze the pre period and post period based upon when legislation was passed and to have two different treatment conditions. My methodology will involve comparing student enrollment before legislation prohibiting or limiting sociopolitical topics and racial education, during the beginning of the education debacle, and enrollment for this current academic year. My hypothesis is that this type of racially restrictive legislation will result in a decrease in minority enrollment in the states with the policy. The data will be separated by racial identity of students enrolled in college to determine if there has been a shift since the new policy implementation.

This senior thesis is an investigation of the impact of Union General William T. Sherman’s actions during the Civil War, specifically those within his March to the Sea, had on Reconstruction, done through an analysis of primary references to Sherman in postwar works by politicians, freedmen, women, and others involved in three areas of Reconstruction efforts. The three areas are: harshness of treatment, race relations, and military presence. Sherman’s harsh treatment of the Confederate states as a result of his policies of hard war during his March to the Sea can be paralleled with the Radical Republicans’ policies for Reconstruction and their belief that such treatment was the only way to subdue that states and bring them back into the union. In this way, Sherman used force in war to defeat the Confederacy, and the Radical Republicans used force in peace to metaphorically do the same. In terms of race relations, Sherman treated freedmen as an issue to be dealt with, just as the federal government did in the Reconstruction era. Sherman’s military presence and takeover of Georgia during his March to the Sea played a role in influencing the federal government to implement statewide military regimes into each of the former Confederate states as a means of keeping them in check and “helping them” along in the Reconstruction process. Thus, Sherman was a semi- prototype for federal policies in the Reconstruction South and a precursor for the fates of those who lived in the states: the expansion of Northern influence on the South and hollow attempts at equality and reformation.

Milledgeville, Georgia is infamous for what is now known as Central State Hospital (CSH). Originally founded as the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum in 1842, it quickly became the largest in-patient mental health facility in the Southeast. In its time, CSH was considered innovative in its approach to mental health treatment and its treatment of their patients. However, many of those treatments utilized methods that would be considered at best questionable and at worst barbaric through a modern lens. The shadow cast from the history of mental facilities contributed to the stigma for seeking mental health care today. I analyze the use of moral therapy and eugenics in CHS’s past and how they impact the public perception of mental health facilities today.

The psychological effect of bilingualism is an ongoing study introducing information on all levels regarding the social, cognitive and emotional impact that it has on an individual who speaks two or more languages. This presentation will explore how the brain processes information, how the knowledge of two or more languages can improve metalinguistic awareness, memory and problem-solving skills all known as the “bilingual advantages”. The research also explores the neuroprotective benefits that engaging with multiple languages has. On the social front, bilingualism promotes cultural awareness, empathy, and an extraordinary capacity for perspective- taking. Bilingual individuals absorb diverse cultural and linguistic tactics to develop a flexible mindset which allows them to thrive in multicultural environments. In conclusion, bilingualism unfolds many rich layers of the mind that it affects throughout a person's life. This presentation reveals the social and cognitive advantages that all contribute to a holistic view of the psychological benefits that a bilingual individual can contribute to any environment they're in.

Tetris is an iconic puzzle game that has had countless variations and implementations since its inception in 1985 by Alexey Pajitnov. There have been official and unofficial releases with unique data structures and algorithms, new game modes, varied programming languages, etcetera. With these come a diverse assortment of approaches to constructing the famed game, each oriented around goals like optimization and innovation. The objective of this project and study is to delve into the numerous intricacies and implementations of Tetris through documenting the development process of creating a unique, modified Tetris program and analyzing other Tetris renditions that have come prior. The documentation and analysis provide insight into optimal coding techniques, common struggles, and version comparisons, providing programmers across multiple platforms with practical knowledge and inspiration for any future Tetris projects. Through these avenues, this examination of Tetris aims to form an improved technical and creative understanding of the game.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 10.9 million one-parent family groups with a child under 18 in 2022, and this number continues to increase. Utilizing cross-sectional data from Add Health Waves One and Four, I estimate whether growing up in a one-parent household impacts the probability of marriage later on. Previous work has covered other devastating impacts on children’s mental health from growing up in a one-parent home, but none have mentioned the effects on marriage. I find that not having a mother in the home increases the probability of that child getting married by 6.5 percentage points, while not having a father has no statistically significant effect.

This paper is a retelling of experiences relating to that of the oldest daughter in an autoethnographic format. By combining poetic elements, personal journal entries, narratives, and research, I have been able to further analyze birth order theory. More specifically, I wanted this research to explore deeper into a phenomenon, known as parentification, which is not a common dinner table topic. My research is intended to add to dialogue among oldest daughters who are struggling to find their place in the world outside of their designated familial role. I also touch on the stigmas surrounding other familial positions and how their roles intertwine with the oldest daughter’s role. I bring these points together by presenting research that helps to categorize different traumas and bring them into a broader light to make them more accessible for all those who are interested. Due to the heavy nature of this piece, I included references to a beloved childhood movie as my conclusion because being the oldest daughter is both a heavy burden as well as a beautiful blessing.

"From Latin Rhythms to Southern Rhymes'' narrates the unexpected journey of a Chilean mom and daughter transplanted from the arid landscapes of the Atacama desert to the lush, drawling heart of Georgia. Through the eyes of a daughter caught between two worlds, the story unfolds, touching on cultural differences, the challenges of love after divorce, and the complexity of identity. The audience is invited into an exploration of assimilation, accent, and the unforeseen twists of life that lead to adopting Southern colloquialisms. From the initial discomfort of foreign words to the transformative embrace of a new family, the story celebrates the resilience of love and the beauty found in the unexpected crossroads of diverse life landscapes. This proposal is part of Dr. Colin Whitworth's panel on Storytelling.

In this Digital Humanities panel, undergraduate students share their journey using Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) in a GC1Y course that explores the novel Don Quixote in cultural production. Tasked with using Gen-AI to reproduce compositional elements of a book illustration, the panel presenters share their experience in prompting – through input narrative – their chosen Gen-AI to recreate the illustration as closely as possible. Gen-AI’s quixotic tendencies are highlighted through their quests to produce an acceptable image as output. Presenters: Abbey Howell, abbey.howell@bobcats.gcsu.edu Hampton Sapp, richard.sapp@bobcats.gcsu.edu Jorja MacKenzie, jorja.mackenzie@bobcats.gcsu.edu Hannah Savage, hannah.savage@bobcats.gcsu.edu Presenters and Presentation Titles: Abbey Howell: “Capabilities and Challenges of AI: Replicating Illustrations and Narratives of Don Quixote” Hampton Sapp: “‘Don Pixelote’: Quixotic Artificial Intelligence Image Generation” Jorja MacKenzie: “Recreating Iconography of Don Quixote with Artificial Intelligence” Hannah Savage: “Nuanced Narratives Matter: Prompting Artificial Intelligence to Reduplicate a Book Illustration of Don Quixote” Abstracts: Abbey Howell This presentation explores the complexity behind reduplicating book illustrations from the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This concept poses the question: “Is AI able to effectively replicate important elements shown in the illustration while also maintaining vital elements that make up the narratives of the novel?” To answer this, I began with an original illustration depicting a classic scene from Don Quixote. Desiring to fulfill his knight errantry duties, Don Quixote valiantly charges into a flock of sheep that he believes are two rival armies, creating a comical scene. The image I chose was created by Gaetan Evrard in 1986, a Belgian author and illustrator who specialized in children’s novels. In his illustration, Evrard places Don Quixote in the middle of the herd of sheep, and his artistic style gives the characters a very animated and cartoonish appearance, which is relevant considering the illustration is aimed towards a young audience. This presentation explores how proficient AI is at replicating scenes from Don Quixote while maintaining the important compositional elements relevant to both the illustration and novel. Using Dall-E 3, I provided the program with several prompts until I was given an image that related to the original illustration as closely as possible. The differences between my first and last AI prompts were drastically different, ultimately showing the complexity behind using AI to get desired images and highlighting its questionable reliability. Keywords: Accuracy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Don Quixote, Complex, Illustration, Image, Prompt Hampton Sapp Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generating programs have become exponentially more effective at creating precise imagery. While Dall-E 3 and other AI generators are more popular, lesser-known programs are now available, including Adobe’s Firefly. This presentation examines Firefly’s ability to accurately recreate a work of art, and the user prompts that yielded the best results. To achieve this, a 1905 illustration by Spanish artist José Jiménez Aranda from a special edition of Don Quixote was used as a reference for recreation. The Chinese ink illustration depicts a crucial part of the novel’s plot in which the storyline comes to a halt. The narrator finds the rest of the story written in Arabic. This is a very unique part of the novel that yields unique illustrations. There are very few illustrations pertaining to this portion of the book, making it particularly interesting to see how the AI recreated it in its output. The results of the experiment show that Firefly was unsuccessful in recreating the 1905 illustration. This presentation discusses the project details by analyzing AI prompt specifications, Adobe Firefly abilities, and its limitations. Keywords: Adobe Firefly, Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI Art, AI prompts, Book Illustrations, Don Quixote, Cervantes Jorja MacKenzie This presentation explores a project that recreated an iconic scene from Don Quixote via AI image generation, revealing both promises and limitations. I aimed to replicate a 2005 book illustration by Spanish artist Antonio Mingote Barrachina that showed Sancho Panza's comical tossing in a blanket using the platform wepik.com. Barrachina was known for his expressive etched illustrations depicting Spanish life and literature. His sketches utilized flowing contours and energetic linework to capture a sense of motion and emotion. Barrachina's cartoonish style featured exaggerated gestures and comedic absurdity. These unique artistic qualities presented an ambitious challenge for AI recreation. Through five rounds of refinement and adjusting details like actions, positioning, and emotions, the AI images gradually transformed toward the dynamism and relationships in Barrachina’s original. Adding verbs like “catapulted” and imagery like Sancho’s “chubby limbs splayed” injected palpable chaos. Interactive phrases linking foreground and background also improved coherence. The final AI-generated image contained noticeable similarities to key components like Sancho's suspended figure and the gleeful men below. However, finer artistic intricacies requiring discernment remained difficult for the AI. It struggled to replicate Barrachina's finer artistic details, which require human discernment. This exercise showed AI’s promise for recreating renowned scenes once only achievable by master illustrators. However, limitations arose revealing human creativity still exceeds AI’s visual replication capabilities. While the vigorous AI facsimile fell short of flawless accuracy, this demonstrates the technology’s future potential if evolution continues. Recreating cultural images remains an aspirational yet partially fulfilled goal for AI. Keywords: Antonio Mingote Barrachina, Artificial Intelligence, Book Illustration, cartoon, Don Quixote, wepik.com Hannah Savage Artificial Intelligence, although constantly evolving, is known to produce errors when asked to complete highly specific tasks. This challenge is especially prevalent in image creation, since using AI to produce images as output relies on the descriptive narrative input provided by the user. This presentation analyzes how Dall-E 3, accessed through Microsoft Bing Image Creator, can reduplicate a book illustration of Miguel de Cervantes’s novel Don Quixote of la Mancha. The illustration selected is “Disappearance of Don Quixote’s Library by the Enchanter Freston” (1950) by Spanish artist Enrique Herreros. Seven narratives were required to produce an image that resembles the original illustration. Analyses of these narratives and each corresponding AI-generated image reveal the efficiency of certain word choices that in turn helped the AI produce the desired images. As each narrative input expanded upon the previous one, and was slightly altered to produce specific changes, nuanced phrasing was revealed that resulted in improved AI-generated images. While the style of the AI image is partly dependent on the specific software used, as some AIs are better at producing distinct types of images than others, it is apparent that using concise, well-known phrases and vocabulary in the input is essential to create an image in which the AI did not confuse the details. Keywords:

My research covers interpersonal storytelling and the way that everyone, whether they understand it or not, shares similar experiences and emotions that connect people. My demonstration of this will cover experiences in my personal life through storytelling, dramatic recounting of events, thematic topics, and persuasive vocabulary. Because my story will be apart of a panel of other students who are practicing the same craft and vein of research, the diversity of our histories will provide further evidence of the point we are trying to make: that everyone can learn something from everyone else. The group of students participating will provide depth and brevity to the rhetorical field by demonstrating the ways that rhetoric surpasses the basis of academics and crosses the threshold into emotions. We will be able to tap into people’s various emotions with our own life stories to prove that we, as humans, are capable of reaching other humans we otherwise had no connection with.

Emerging from the source of African hardship, understanding the trauma behind the culture and its ongoing practices is a challenge beyond chronological years. Armed with will, perseverance, and mental maturity, the inspection of psychological conditions, both personal and communal, unfolds. The African struggle persists as an unending cycle of hardship, entwining societal and internal battles. These grievances find roots in various factors, yet one exerts an overwhelming influence: genetics. External factors play roles in modifying genetics, leading to a gradual shift in how the body interprets DNA sequences—a domain encompassed by epigenetics. This Passion Project explores specific aspects of epigenetics, focusing on alterations linked to illicit drug use and modifications due to trauma, encapsulating the challenges faced by Cameroonians. Illicit drug use within Cameroon perpetuates the diminishing state of epigenetics, prolonging generational trauma. Trauma, as a catalyst for permanent genetic alterations, extends its reach into transgenerational legacies when inherited attributes carry the enduring impact forward. https://sites.google.com/baldwin.k12.ga.us/theendofanera/12th-grade/passion-project?authuser=2

When students register for their classes, they often form predictions about the potential grades they will earn in the course. Factors such as RateMyProfessor scores, the class level, and the department offering the course influence these expectations. The question arises: are these just assumptions or sound projections? This project takes data from Georgia College & State University and RateMyProfessor and studies the association between the grades students earn and RateMyProfessor scores. Utilizing the software RStudio and its statistical tools, we analyzed the data collected on the courses, grades, and professor ratings. This project allows for a deeper understanding of the dynamics between student grades, scores from RateMyProfessor, and course characteristics.

This presentation will explore dubbing and subtitles as they relate to both English and Spanish audiences. Both of these are becoming increasingly important in American film and media as the demand for Spanish translation is on the rise. Dubbed movies also make up 80% of all movies watched in Spain, but there is not much academic research on how dubbing affects English and Spanish translation for international audiences. This presentation will explore questions such as the visual persona of an actor versus the vocal persona of a dubbing actor and how that affects the intended audience. There is also much debate about dubbing versus subtitling and how both affect a film’s enjoyment and comprehension.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) hosts an event known as the Combine each year where college and international basketball players come to show off their skills/strengths to the coaches so that the coaching staff can strategically plan which player(s) they will pick at the NBA draft. There are numerous things that are measured in each player, including some measurements that seem unnecessary, but can actually play a role in the success of an NBA player. This project will be a deep dive into how the anthropometric characteristics and agility statistics of players entering the NBA affect player performance at the professional level. The predictors used in my analysis will not only include players’ height (which its advantage in basketball is quite obvious), but also their wingspan ratio, vertical reach, weight, body fat percentage, hand width/length, vertical leap, and 3-quarter court sprint. A player’s “per game” statistics including points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals will be used to determine the necessity and strength of certain predictors, along with number of championships, All-Star game appearances, and drafted status. This project will also divide the players into the five major positions of basketball in order to observe trends within each position.

The use of Anglicisms, or linguistic borrowings from English into other languages, has become more prevalent in the Spanish language with the increased use of social media in this current generation. With the surge in popularity of digital platforms, the way people communicate has undergone a transformation, leading to a mix of languages and a blending of traditional language distinctions. This shift poses challenges and opportunities for global connectivity, influencing how language evolves, individuals negotiate their identity, and cultural dynamics play out. This presentation will discuss Spanish words influenced by English across different social media platforms while considering demographic factors such as age and location. The presenters will highlight the main linguistic trends observed across various platforms and among different user groups. By shedding light on these linguistic dynamics, the presentation offers insights into the impact of this language mix on cultural expression and provides clarity on the ongoing changes in language and culture in the digital era. It will also discuss how the use of Anglicisms has affected the Spanish language used in social media and how it will continue to change.

Language is seen as rigid to many. That is not the case. Language can be very fluid and very changing. For instance, the use of Spanglish among first generation Americans has been on the rise, almost to the point of becoming a new language itself. Popular American and English figures have a direct impact on the usage of English words and language patterns found in the Spanish language. The aim of this presentation is to analyze how popular figures can influence the usage of anglicisms in the Spanish language. Anglicisms are often spread through leisurely pastimes such as watching sports, listening to music, or following English or American pop culture and television. As the use of global technology has risen, so has the influence of global figures; i.e. pop stars like Taylor Swift or the Beatles, popular athletes, and even influencers. Teenagers, as the biggest demographic of popular media and figures, are the ones to create the biggest change in spoken language regarding the use of Anglicism.

With the evolution of modern society and cultures, new problems surrounding the inclusivity of linguistics have arisen. In the United States, movements involving the cultural awareness of pronoun usage have given way to a new form of language that takes everyone’s identities into account. However, this trend has been more difficult to implement in countries with a more complex set of linguistic rules, such as Spanish-speaking countries. The structure of the Spanish language makes the transition to “lenguaje inclusivo” or inclusive language, a challenge considering the heavy usage of gendered terms in nouns, articles, and adjectives. This has not stopped the Spanish-speaking community from progressing to become all-encompassing of the different identities present in the world today as well as becoming more aware of the “machismo” mindset of the Spanish language. This presentation will present various changes that are being made to the Spanish language to move towards an all-inclusive and progressive culture.

The FGF2 gene encodes the basic fibroblast growth factor which controls cellular growth, proliferation, and cell signaling. Under normal conditions, FGF2 mRNA is translated via cap-dependent translation. However, under certain stress conditions, an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) reportedly bypasses typical regulation switching to cap-independent translation. Cancer cells overexpress FGF2 ultimately leading to tumor growth. Mechanistically, the reported switch from cap-dependent to cap-independent translation remains poorly described. In order to understand the regulation of the FGF2 IRES under cellular stress conditions, we investigate the secondary structure using the SHAPE-MaP chemical probing strategy under different chemically-induced stress factors. Here we describe our experimental strategy and present a secondary structure model of the FGF2 mRNA 5ʹ UTR built using gently extracted total RNA from the A549 human lung carcinoma cell line. We observe a complex arrangement of nucleotides throughout the targeted region (nucleotides 2-426). We compare the cell-free SHAPE reactivity profile with reactivity data from live cells using reagents 5NIA. Prior studies show that FGF2 uses four upstream CUG start codons which are activated in transformed and stressed cells. We present our initial reports on stress-induced cells, where we compare SHAPE profiles to identify the effect of stresses such as hypoxia, nutrient starvation, and heat shock. We aim to elucidate structural mechanisms corresponding to the effects of stress on FGF2 translation control. Lastly, we describe a workflow for future experiments involving DMS-MaP, a strategy for direct nucleotide base-pairing analysis, and RNP-MaP, an RNA-protein interactomics strategy to study the influence of IRES-transacting factors under stress conditions.

This panel of undergraduate and graduate students representing a wide range of perspectives will examine how they are leveraging AI in their academic pursuits and personal lives. The discussion will delve into the exciting possibilities and challenges posed by generative AI, including ethical considerations and the potential future landscape of AI in education and beyond. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Daniel Holcombe, Associate Professor of Spanish from the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

INTRODUCTION: Conducting a Windshield Assessment is a critical component in identifying and addressing community needs around tobacco-related health outcomes. METHODS: The standardized tobacco assessment for retail settings (STARS) surveillance tool was conducted on a random sample of active tobacco retailers to evaluate both interior and exterior marketing of tobacco products in an urban setting in Georgia. Specific criteria evaluated included visibility of products, display of graphic health warnings, proximity to other non-tobacco related products, price promotions, type of products and pricing. Using Qualtrics, the 36 item STARS survey was administered. Data was exported to an Excel analysis template to produce graphs and figures. RESULTS: A total 64 (31%) out of 195 tobacco retailers ranging from convenience stores, general merchandise stores to full-service grocery stores were surveyed. 59% of retailers evaluated did not display graphic health warnings for tobacco related products. The cheapest reported cigarette cost $4.35 prior to sales tax, and $4.70 after sales tax. 81.3% have a cheaper option of cigarettes for customers to choose from. Inappropriate advertisement included advertisement of tobacco products within 3 feet of the floor and/or within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines or ice cream. 1 in 10 retailers had tobacco products within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines or ice cream and 14.1% had E-cigarette ads within 3 feet of the floor. Two-thirds of retailers advertise price promotions and sold cigarillos as singles for less than $1.00. Most retailers (89%) sold Menthol cigarettes of which 50% had visible price promotions inside or outside the store. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the need to address issues with access, marketing, and sale of tobacco related products. Targeted interventions aimed at compliance and education may reduce tobacco use and related health outcomes and disparities.

A common misconception of sign language is that it is a universal language, and that every country uses the same gestures for similar words or phrases. However, most countries have their own specialized version of sign language with different meanings of certain gestures. In the U.S this is called ASL or American Sign Language, while in Spain it is SSL, and in Mexico LSM. Even in the most common aspects such as the alphabet, these languages are completely different. Each variation of sign language also each have their own unique grammar rules, such as spoken English or Spanish. This presentation will mainly explore the differences between the English, Spanish, and Mexican sign languages and how culture and geography can cause a variation of each sign language. This presentation will also explore what Universal Sign Language is, the reasons it was created, and the reasons why it is not used worldwide.

I am doing a research project on the water drainage issue on Florida's coast and what captains for clean water is doing to help. I am talking to people who live in Florida to better understand how this issue is effecting every day life. I am also going to get in touch with some fishing guides in Florida to learn what they are seeing in the water and how the fish are reacting.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure negatively impact the health of individuals and disproportionately so in African Americans and rural communities. We aimed to examine stakeholder perception on tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. METHODS: A listening session following CDC guidelines was used to document residents’ views on tobacco use, secondhand smoke and policy aimed at reducing exposure in public places. Residents 18 years and older were invited to participate through flyers, emails, and social media. Additional key informant interviews by phone call/zoom. The discussion guide collected data on 1) attitudes of participants toward tobacco use and secondhand smoke, 2) barriers, and enablers to smokefree policy implementation, and 3) strategies to implement smokefree policy. Recorded dialogue along with meeting notes were transcribed and assessed using a thematic analysis. Codes and themes were used to create word maps to displays findings. RESULTS: We conducted 3 key informant interviews, and 15 stakeholders attended the listening session ranging from government, non-profit, faith-based organization, community members, and the department of public health. Three themes emerged around community perceptions of tobacco use, with an overall negative perception. Stakeholders expressed concern with health consequences and control measures being implemented. When discussing perceptions of barriers and enablers to smokefree policy implementation, themes identified challenges in implementation related to the imbalance of marketing power and equitable enforcement of existing policies. Stakeholders were motivated toward finding strategies to implement smokefree policies. Emerging themes around policy implementation were “improvement in the delivery of health information related to tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure” and “building community trust”. CONCLUSION: Stakeholders in this rural community perceived tobacco use and secondhand smoke as a public health hazard. The balance of marketing power, equity, improving message delivery and building community trust represents opportunities for intervention by local government and public health bodies.

Neoliberal Privatization, like what can be seen in the United States healthcare system, can be defined as not only separating from the government entity, but transforming via commercialization and commodification, or the process of transformation into a standardized, market-like, business mindset. This describes how service delivery is modeled after a business approach and government oversight is pushed out. Emphasis and value are redirected to managerialism and financial performance (Andrews et. al, 2022, Turner et. al, 2022). The rise in privatization has led to a decrease in the quality of patient-centered care in the United States. Approximately 33% of all services provided by our current US healthcare system are either unnecessary, inappropriate, or even harmful. The US maternal mortality rate has doubled in the past two decades, and the life expectancy rate is shorter than all other advanced countries, making the US the only developed country with an increasing rate (Geyman, 2021). A family of four today spends on average 20% more of their income on health care than in 2001 (Milliman Medical Index). This research uses a collection of health reports of hospitals in Georgia (data source Leapfrog) to compare rates of patient-centered care in public and private hospitals. This will include whether or not a hospital is corporatized, as well as a measure of the size of the corporation controlling each hospital. We expect to find that hospitals that are controlled by a corporate entity have lower rates of patient-centered care, and that these rates become lower as the size of the corporation becomes larger. We hope to use these findings to highlight the negative impacts of privatization in an ongoing process of neoliberalization.

GC THRIVE is an Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Program whereby college-aged individuals with intellectual disabilities take GC courses with their non-disabled peers, work in on-campus internships, and develop friendships with their peers. In bringing them to campus, we are focused on providing them with opportunities and experiences that will help them become successful adults after college. This program developed out of many external (e.g., Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities) and internal collaborations (e.g., Continuing and Professional Studies). The impact of this program has the potential to be far reaching, perhaps even farther reaching than traditional service-learning projects. While engaging students out in the community does impact them in meaningful ways, it does nothing to change the institution of higher education. Bringing THRIVE students to campus forces us to look inward as we contemplate these questions. If we truly value diversity and inclusion, what steps are we willing to take to make campuses more diverse and inclusive? What barriers do we need to address? THRIVE impacts each of us personally. THRIVE students learn college-level academic content, intern on-campus to learn work skills, and build true, authentic friendships. Faculty, staff, and students have changed their perspectives of students with intellectual disabilities. The THRIVE Program is one in which everyone stands to benefit as we work collaboratively to make meaningful change.

Unspoken Brilliance: Unraveling Cultural Implications in Professional Settings The purpose of this presentation is to discuss why and how different cultures use their own non-verbal communication in professional settings. Communicating through actions rather than words is considered to be a completely different language all on its own. It is important to be aware of these differences in order to operate both in various lines of work and professional settings. Each culture possesses a unique way of communicating with one other through means of facial expressions, gestures, and body language. Societies are composed of a variety of what are called, ‘social norms.’ These are tendencies that have been passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, these cultural implications are not taught, but simply shown and learned through the eyes of their society's youngest members. The gestures, body language, and facial expressions are known as second nature and therefore, consequently carried over into professional settings. Examples of these non-verbal communications can be found in Spanish-speaking countries, while comparing these ‘norms’ to those of English-speaking countries.

The 1998 musical Parade, written by Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown, is based on the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan and the subsequent 1915 lynching of Leo Frank as a result of antisemitic rhetoric. This research serves as a dramaturgical casebook on the show, breaking down the historical context of turn-of-the-century Georgia and the legacy of bigotry in the United States in relation to the play. This case study breaks down the authorial intent and background, of past productions while highlighting possible issues of how a show written in 1998 (and set in the 1900’s) would resonate with a current audience. In the musical Parade, Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown show the legacy that white supremacy holds in the United States and the environment that enables bigotry. When performed, it can be an excellent example of how justice can be miscarried in favor of political convenience but also comes with the challenge of portraying sensitive imagery and topics.

Michael Irlbeck and Jacub Gonzalez Social Media and its Impact on the Spanish Language Rises in technology lead to various new opportunities for communication in one’s life in the form of social media.When one communicates, they tend to want to get across their message decisively. A common method people use is slang, which gravitates the attention of the viewer; typically, a younger audience. Within this presentation, there will be an examination of the correlation between social media slang with 13–21-year-old people and their impact on the Spanish language. Across social media sites such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, the vocabulary of slang and abbreviation grows abundant. Jumping from site to site, slang expands and proves to be influential to the Spanish language by finding an alternative method to deliver a message. This research examines the ever-evolving Spanish language lexicon and provides insight on how languages evolve in tandem with technology.

The Harlem Renaissance was a time for Black culture to shine. Additionally, it was the awakening of queer life. The nightlife of Harlem included drag shows, speakeasies, house parties, and most popularly, nightclubs. Harlem was described as a “queer paradise,” the speakeasies offering “another opportunity for queer communion” (Stokes 58). From club to bar and house to apartment, queer culture was unashamedly itself. Different queer writers at the time use night in their writings to freely express their queerness, some more subtly than the others. Langston Hughes was less direct with queer themes, while writer Richard Bruce Nugent was known for his explicitly queer works. Both of these writers are described by Mason Stokes as being on “a preliminary roll call of queer Harlem” (61). The nightlife of Harlem allowed queer writers a time of possibility to freely express themselves, in real life and in their writings. This presentation explores how Hughes and Nugent both use nightlife to break the societal limitations about sexuality at the time. In particular, I analyze Nugent’s short story, “Smoke, Lilies and Jade,” published in the Harlem Renaissance magazine, Fire!!, and Hughes’s poems “Cafe: 3AM” and “Cat and the Saxophone (2 AM).” For example, Hughes contrasts the culture of various times of day to subtly express that queerness is as normal as heterosexuality. Nugent, on the other hand, specifically used nighttime to highlight queer spaces and queer love. Ultimately, these writers provide examples of how Harlem created a space for celebrating queer self-expression. Harlem Renaissance, queer writers, Langston Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent

In today’s market, influencers have a tremendous amount of control over what consumers purchase. The average consumer is able to see a person use the product and see its effects in real time. With that being said, the age in which children are able to use social media is decreasing. Younger children are beginning to have the same information access as adults. While the effects of social media on children have been a major question over the past 10 years, I would like to pose the question of how these young consumers are being affected by the increasing number of influencers. Due to their immense access to the same products that young adults are using, they are skipping over their typical age-appropriate products and jumping towards teen-targeted products. The question I will be researching is are we seeing the diminishing of the tween population? The relevance of this question to the marketing world is how this will affect how these younger generations will respond to future advertising techniques. Since their brains have not fully developed, it is difficult for them to make sound purchasing decisions. Children and young teens also have a huge impact on their parents’ buying practices, and if we see the disappearance of the tween population, this could put many businesses under hot water. The method I will be using for this research proposal will be a mixed method approach in which I will undergo exploratory, qualitative, and quantitative research. The exploratory research will begin with a survey that investigates what industries that various age groups are influenced to purchase. I will then cross analyze the age groups to see if the typical tween ages of 10-13 are influenced to purchase from similar industries as the older age groups

In light of recent political agendas, such as the Tennessee Drag Ban and various gender-affirming care and LGBTQ+ bans, the topic of what it means to dress and behave as one’s assigned sex is continuously challenged. In modern times, the idea of cross-gender performances has become widely ridiculed, especially in the political realm. Mostly associated today with the art of drag shows, this form of self-expression has been falsely accused of contributing to the “grooming” and “sexualization” of minors. However, many fail to recognize that cross-gender casting is as intertwined with theatre as it is the birth of it. Starting with roots in Ancient Greece, women were not traditionally allowed in the theatre, therefore men would play the roles of both genders. Throughout history, women were viewed as inferior or too sexual. Similar stances can be recognized globally, such as with the Japanese tradition of Kabuki theatre. Of course, with time, women eventually found their rightful place on the stage. While a man dressed confidently as a woman may seem threatening and widespread to some today, this was the standard some three hundred years ago and beyond. It is important to highlight that theatre is always a reflection of society, and therefore society will always reflect itself in the theatre. Whether that is political or religious turmoil, it will be present in the theatre setting.

With censorship of the arts becoming more prevalent everyday, I wanted to research the history of censorship in theater. The Theatre Regulation Act censored theatre in Britain from 1843 to 1968. One person, called the Lord Chamberlain, had the power to change or ban plays as he saw fit, in order to promote British ideals. He could censor costumes, stage directions, gestures, sound and lighting effects, and the set along with the script. This led to major censorship of queer representation and feminist ideals. To get around the censors, some theatres would organize subscription series, which would not be available to the general public, and thus be exempt from the Lord Chamberlain's censorship. The Theatre Regulation Act was abolished in 1968, but not because parliament wanted to free theatres. Parliament felt like young people were no longer getting their ideas from theatre, and were now getting their ideas from television.

In the hours following the news breaking concerning Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israel on October 7, social media was inundated with conflicting accounts of the day. In the months that have followed, formal news outlets have continued to cover the progression of Israel’s war on Gaza in dramatically different ways. Given increasing social concern surrounding media literacy, I use this project to develop a five-class lesson plan intended to help college journalism students understand the impact of media framing and bias. I use coverage of the war produced by domestic and international sources, including the BBC, FOX News, CNN, Aljazeera, NPR, and others to explore media bias, the impact of media ownership, consideration of culture and audience when reporting journalism, and how to analyze newsroom coverage strategy. This work both presents up-to-date analysis concerning the framing of the ongoing Middle Eastern war and offers strategies for discussing these issues with students.

While to the common person, Shakespeare can be seen as simply a required playwright to read, there is so much more to consider and look into. I would love to dive in with research of the impact Shakespeare has had on America’s history and how he continues to have relevance both in the literature and theatrical world. Looking into topics such as gender roles, politics, and identity, my research would focus on the themes that are truly applicable throughout the history of our nation. When beginning my research, I have already been intrigued as to how society throughout the centuries has reacted to different takes on performative acts of Shakespeare, not limited to Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and The Merchant of Venice. It is absolutely fascinating to look into the popularity and shifts of direction. Especially in the modern world with adaptations to popular films, it is important to acknowledge the controversial pasts and presents of Shakespeare’s works in America.