Research Days Posters 2024

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  Effects of Diet and Alcohol Consumption on Mindfulness

  Angelina Chiu, Dan Silverman, Alex Melnichuk, and Emily Li

  College students engage in binge drinking which may result in negative mindfulness, especially when accompanied by an unhealthy diet. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of diet and alcohol consumption on the mindfulness of college students. Our group conducted an anonymous online survey administered through Google Forms. The survey assessed the demographics of participants, frequency of alcohol consumption, dietary habits, and the overall mindfulness of college students. Pearsons’s Correlation Analysis was utilized using SPSS version 28.0. Our results indicated that there is a relationship between drinking alcohol, diet quality and mindfulness. Our results suggest that elevating lifestyle choices may have an impact on mindfulness.

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  Impacts Of Daily Diet On Stress Levels Among College Students

  Natalia Chojnowska, Cathy Lin, Akash Patel, and Lina Begdache

  The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of dietary habits and stress levels among college students. We hypothesize that implementing healthier dietary habits will lead to less stress among college students. An anonymous online survey was administered through social media on platforms such as GroupMe, Instagram, iMessage, Reddit, and Facebook. The survey included basic demographic questions including types of food consumed, alcohol and drug use, physical activity, and mental health status such as anxiety, depression, stress, and motivation. Pearson’s Correlation Analysis was utilized using SPSS version 28.0. Results showed a association between dietary choices, alcohol consumption, and stress levels. The ultimate goal of this study was to determine if diet choice and alcohol consumption were contributing factors to the stress levels among college students. Future interventions are needed for improving college students' dietary habits and overall health and well-being.

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  Rapid Increase of Female but not Male Obesity: Analysis of the 2023 Vanuatu Health Transition Project Survey on Aneityum

  Matthew Christian, Olivia LaSalle, Zhiqiao Huang, Ricky Chen, and Hannah Chen

  Developing nations are undergoing a health transition alongside rapid economic modernization. Vanuatu is experiencing such a transition marked by decreased cases of infectious disease and increased incidence of chronic and non-communicable diseases. Aneityum is a small island in Vanuatu and is behind more developed islands in its transition. This research sought to continue tracking the population health on Aneityum, analyze health differences between sexes, and compare findings to previous data in Vanuatu. In July and August of 2023, adult males [n=41] and females [n=62] were surveyed and had their anthropometric measurements taken. Mean anthropometric measurements continued to be significantly greater among women than men (P-value < 0.05). Women exhibited higher rates of obesity in all metrics, while men remained relatively unchanged. This poster provides valuable insights into the state of Vanuatu's health in its transitional period and a greater understanding of the interplay between sexes and health.

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  College Students’ Perception of Autistic Adults Using Word Association Frequency Analyses

  Olivia Cino and Diego Aragon-Guevara

  Autistic college students may be negatively impacted by peer stigma due to a lack of knowledge and limited understanding of Autism (Kuzminski et al., 2019). Research on autism stigma has revealed that non-autistic peers of all ages make ‘thin-slice judgments’ about autistic individuals resulting in reduced intentions to pursue social interaction (Sasson et al., 2017). Improving understanding of how non-autistic students perceive their autistic peers may be useful to inform future efforts to educate non-autistic students and reduce stigma. The aim of this study was to assess non-autistic students’ perception of their autistic peers by using NVivo software to analyze word associations used to describe autism. A total of 822 words were collected from participants. The most used adjectives to describe autism were smart (N=76), awkward (N=28), and sensitive (N=27). The results indicate that common stereotypes associated with autism concern primarily social and cognitive abilities.

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  Snake Pills and Angry Tennyson: A Deep Dive into the Advertising Network within Charles Dickens’ Dombey and Son

  Mia Colangelo

  Dombey and Son (In Parts) by Charles Dickens is a nineteen-part novel that was released between 1846-1848 in England. Each section of the story is surrounded by advertisements. This makes it uniquely valuable for learning more about English society at the time as well as the growth of marketing. My research analyzes the various advertisements present in the pamphlets– especially medical and cosmetic. What are the possibly harmful effects of the unregulated medical advertisements? What do the cosmetic marketing campaigns say about beauty standards for women? How do these advertisements compare to those from the modern era? In the second part of my project, I delve into the lyrical advertisements commissioned by E. Moses and Son, and their possible interaction with British poet Alfred Tennyson. Ultimately, I reflect on the role of print sales campaigns in 1840s England and the cultural, social, and sometimes literary implications.

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  The Effect of Diet Quality on Mood

  Danielle Crivelli, Riley Bivona, Emily Gao, Ashley Marmolejos, and Lina Begdache

  Diet can have a major impact on mood based on nutrient quality. However, research on the effect of individual food groups on mood is limited. An anonymous online survey was administered through Text Message, Instagram, GroupMe, Reddit and Discord. The survey included basic demographic questions and general questions on respondent’s diets, including how frequently certain food groups were consumed per week, and their mood over the previous month. Pearsons’s Correlation Analysis was utilized using SPSS version 28.0. A correlation was found between quality of food groups and overall mood. These findings suggest that eating a higher quality diet has an effect on overall mood.

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  The Impact of Food Insecurity and Diet on Intensity of Physical Activity

  Danielle Crivelli, Katerina Nagorny, Sarah Livshits, Alexis Valerius, Elliot Ifraimov, Sabrina Bubis, Gabrielle Castillo, and Ushima Chowdhury

  Food insecurity is a pressing issue among the college population, leading to poor diet quality and increased stress. However, research on the relationship between food insecurity and physical activity is limited. To study this relationship, an anonymous online survey was distributed using social media platforms. The survey included questions regarding food insecurity, physical activity, and diet quality. Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient in SPSS Version 28.0. Food insecurity was negatively correlated with the number of days spent doing physical activity (r = -0.164, p < 0.01). The number of days spent exercising was positively correlated with consuming dark leafy vegetables (r = 0.229, p<0.01). These findings suggest that students experiencing food insecurity are less likely to participate in physical activity, and those participating in more physical activity have better diet quality. Hence, decreasing food insecurity among college students may promote overall health and wellbeing.

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  How Federal Law Assess Animal Pain: The Case of Lab Animals

  Ellie Cukor

  US federal and state laws distinguish lab animals from companion animals, livestock, zoo animals, and wild animals. As a result, similar forms of suffering and abuse are treated as legally different depending on the species and its relation to humans, despite the fact that all mammals feel pain similarly (and evidence suggests birds and fish do as well). This research examines one aspect of this uneven legal patchwork by reviewing legal statutes and rulings from laboratory animal abuse cases. In the 1980s, significant changes were made to the Animal Welfare Act, the key federal law regulating lab animals, and this project seeks to understand how courts have taken account of the suffering of laboratory animals since these reforms. Additionally, this research explores how other legal statutes on animal testing compare with the Animal Welfare Act, to understand how their recognition of animal suffering corresponds or differs.

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  Exploring Children's Uncertainty with Engineering Kits: The Influence of Parental STEM Backgrounds

  Kameron Cummings, Cianna Burr, Hayleigh Moran, and Sophia Ryan

  Uncertainty is an essential part of the learning process in STEM; yet, less is known as to how parents with different careers support children’s learning through uncertainties. This study examined the kinds of uncertainties observed in children to determine if these uncertainties differ based on whether or not their parent(s) have a background in STEM. Parents with both STEM and non-STEM backgrounds were provided with kits consisting of instructions and materials that can be used to create engineering projects in their home environment. Video data recorded via Zoom of children and parents engaging with the engineering kits was analyzed to quantify children's uncertainties. We hypothesize that children of parents from non-STEM backgrounds will exhibit higher levels of uncertainty in tasks related to engineering. A deeper understanding of the uncertainties children face when tackling STEM challenges will provide insight on how to better support children's involvement and achievement in STEM.

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  The Impact of Brooding Rumination on Stress Generation in Youth

  Jennifer Cunneen and Brandon Gibb

  Stress is a known risk factor for depression (Santee, 2023). Previous research has indicated that depression increases risk for additional stress in particular, interpersonal stress, a process known as stress generation (Hammen, 2008). It is unclear however if vulnerabilities for depression might also increase risk for stress generation. Brooding rumination, a type of negative self-referential thinking, has been identified as a risk factor for depression (Hilt & Pollak, 2013). This study examined whether brooding rumination predicts an increase in stress generation in children over a 6 month perio. Participants were 8-14 year old children and their mothers. Mothers were required to have a history of major depressive disorder during the children’s lives or no history of any depressive disorder. UCLA Episodic Life Stress Interviews were used to assess levels of dependent stress at two time points, six months apart. Children’s levels of brooding rumination were assessed using a self-report questionnaire at the first time point. Analyses revealed that higher levels of brooding rumination significantly predicted an increase in levels of dependent stress over the 6 month period, suggesting that brooding can lead to stress generation in children.

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  Why is Binghamton School District Amongst the Lowest Graduation Rates in New York State?

  John Cunningham

  In the past twenty years, the City of Binghamton school district has had some of the lowest test scores and lowest graduation rates in New York State. Furthermore, they are also among the worst in state test scores. I intended to shed some light on why the school district had this very poor reputation but instead found something much more interesting. It was found that since students have returned to in-person schooling after COVID-19, the state testing scores have risen by a significant margin in addition to the dropout rate going down by a few percent since 2021. Programs have been put in place by the school district in the past to improve their terrible reputation and these programs only recently finding success ended up being a much larger part of this project than originally intended.

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  Werewolves? There Wolves: Outcast Renegades and Paragons in Tales From Antiquity to the Middle Ages

  Leah Dascoli

  Werewolves are prevalent in tales throughout Greco-Roman antiquity and the later Middle Ages. While werewolves are typically the main characters in these tales, they are outcasted from society while transformed and only sometimes accepted back when human again. This research aims to explore the various factors contributing to a former werewolf’s acceptance or rejection back into society, specifically by focusing on the werewolf’s class, gender, characteristics while transformed as well as what event transformed them. Ultimately, the results implied that men of higher class who are transformed by women are generally accepted back into society whereas men of lower class who transform themselves are rejected. It was also found the medieval tales to be more sympathetic to the higher-class werewolves while antiquity tales are often unsympathetic. By developing a categorizing method, this research contributes to the overall understanding of antiquity and medieval outcasts and how their literature reflects society’s own reaction of outsiders.

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  Women’s Fashion in England 1800-1834 and its Effects on the Socio-Economic Status of the Working Class

  Ruby Davis

  The first quarter of the nineteenth century saw the evolution of how women in England thought of fashion and the effect it had on their social and economic status. Poor and working-class women were passed over for higher-paying opportunities due to their clothes' misalignment with the major fashion trends of the day. The study of the development of social conditions and the change in clothing and designs contributes to an understanding of why those in the lower class were denied mobility in their status.

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  Substantial Events and the Economic Status of Binghamton

  Alyssa De Jesus

  Have you ever wondered how distinct events and policies can affect the economic state of your city? Substantial events can heavily influence the economic pattern and therefore sway population numbers within the city. In my research I explore multiple events / policies that demonstrate different severities and the impact on the economic status of Binghamton. During the times of selected changes -for example the closing of EJ Shoe Factory - I pinpoint the economic phases and analyze how these circumstances caused a change within the economic cycle. The research will also contain an analysis of how the cycle change of the city holds power - if any - over the population of Binghamton. The information produced from this project can assist in preparing the population of Binghamton in case of life-altering events that may occur in the upcoming years, as well as help in the understanding of the connections between policies, economics, and population.

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  “With the BIG we never had to suffer, but now we are suffering.” Examining the Aftermath of Namibia's Basic Income Grant

  Halina de Jong-Lambert

  Press coverage on Universal Basic Income pilot programs, which give everyone in a region an unconditional stipend, follows a predictable pattern: a flurry of attention when the project is announced and a second burst with the results. But once the researchers leave, there is little interest in the aftereffects of the experiments. This neglect is particularly stark with pilots in developing countries. Past studies in such regions have shown that even a small stipend can transform people's lives, move them out of poverty: but how long does this last? This project investigates what happened to the village of Otjivero, Namibia, after their Basic Income Grant from 2008-2010 ended with a few questions. Why wasn’t the BIG implemented nationally post-pilot, as its chief architect promised? Was the government’s investment of facilities in Otjivero truly beneficial to residents? And why were resident’s economic gains so difficult to sustain past the trial period?

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  Investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa Outer Membrane Vesicles

  Christina Dementyeva, Joe Zuccalmaglio, Stephany Henske, Alexandria Scarcella, Victoria Namiganda, Alexandra Diminico, Michael Giraldo, and Mia Hollstein

  The biofilm forming organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known for its virulence and pathogenicity, has 5 main stages of growth, with the final stage being dispersion. Dispersion is characterized by a rupture of the biofilm structure and release of free-floating cells. During this stage, the biofilm is more susceptible to antibiotic treatments. Pseudomonas biofilms produce Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMV's), or membrane-enclosed structures containing toxins and signaling factors. OMV production is elevated during the dispersion stage. This investigation has tracked the impact of exogenous OMV addition on biofilm dispersion. This biofilm is also known to produce cis-2-decenoic acid (cis-DA), a hydrophobic signaling molecule with a similar structure to Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS), which induces OMV formation. This HPLC analysis has aimed to evaluate whether cis-DA is present within biofilm OMV's. The long term impact of this project is to increase understanding of how OMVs increase Pseudomonas biofilms characteristic virulence and antibiotic resistance.

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  Goddess, Murderess, Doctress: An Exploration of the English Suffix “-ess” and Its Decline in Use

  Douglas DiGregorio

  The suffix “-ess” is used to create feminine forms of masculine or gender-neutral nouns in English. However, contemporary usage increasingly favors unmarked, gender-neutral forms for female referents in favor of these explicitly marked feminine forms. Drawing on data from Google’s Ngram Viewer and insights from gender studies and linguistics, this research examines and accounts for the decline in use of words suffixed in “-ess.” This analysis contends that the decline is driven by factors including increasing equality in the workforce, negative associations of words suffixed with “-ess” such as “mistress” and “adultress,” and a rejection of male-centric language norms. The decline in use of the suffix “-ess” is one manifestation of a greater trend toward adopting gender-neutral language and achieving gender equality in language. By examining the decline of the suffix “-ess,” this study gives insight into how a language adjusts to fit the society of its speakers.

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  Intraspecific Variability in Neuroterus saltatorius Populations throughout its Range: Unveiling Dynamics of Anthropogenic-Driven Range Expansions

  Brett Dobert

  Species are expanding their ranges in response to anthropogenic change. Neuroterus saltatorius is an oak gall wasp that is expanding its range poleward in North American western oak savannas. We aim to unravel intraspecific genetic variation in N. saltatorius along a latitudinal gradient, and in the native and expanded range to discern potential genetic differences in wasps collected from different locations, and to attempt to discern the source populations for the range-expanding populations. We performed DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing from N. saltatorius collected from sites along its range. Geneious prime was used to align sequences and create phylogenetic trees to create clades and discern potential genetic differences among populations. Anticipated outcomes may reveal source locations for range-expanding populations. Additionally, this study establishes a groundwork for future investigations, unveiling adaptive strategies in wasps amid environmental shifts.

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  The Significance of Femoral Bicondylar Length & Femoral Head Diameter in Sex Estimation

  Dana Dougherty

  This research examines correlations between femoral measurements and sex estimation, focusing on femoral bicondylar length and femoral head diameter. The study seeks alternative methods for incomplete pelvis or skull cases, utilizing femoral features to indicate sexual dimorphism. It will use the Goldman dataset, which includes several populations with variations in sexual dimorphism, as well as log regression, to create sex estimation methods. Subsequently, these methods will be tested using data from the University of South Florida’s (USF) Donated Skeletal Collection, consisting of over one hundred human skeletal remains for research and educational purposes. The results show that both measurements performed reasonably well in sex estimation, accurately predicting the sex of 55% of individuals in the USF dataset. However, combining both femoral measurements increased accuracy, with 63.2% of individuals accurately predicted. In conclusion, research underscores the reliability of femoral measurements, notably bicondylar length and head diameter, as indicators for sex estimation.

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  Effect of Mindfulness on Dietary and Drinking Habits

  Emma Duca, Kassandra McDonald, Allison Kramer, and Annamarie Chironis

  There is increasing interest in studying the relationship between mindfulness, dietary habits, and drinking habits. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects mindfulness has on dietary and drinking habits. An anonymous online survey was administered through Instagram, Yik Yak, GroupMe and iMessage. The survey included basic demographic questions and questions on self-reported mindfulness status and consumption frequency of alcohol and proper nutrition. Pearsons’s Correlation Analysis was utilized using SPSS version 28.0. The results suggest that mindfulness is closely related to diet quality and alcohol consumption. Further research is needed to analyze if state versus trait mindfulness has a significant effect on either of these health factors.

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  The Difference in Sustainability Measures Across Fortune 500 Companies

  Andrew Epstein

  How do sustainability measures differ amongst the top 30 Fortune 500 companies? Business performance depends on sustainability practices, which differ from company to company and are prioritized differently across industries. To explore this question, I compiled a list of the top 30 companies and thoroughly investigated their sustainability reports. I then noted the company goals within these reports, assembling an inventory of nearly 100 diverse goals. By breaking down my findings into industrial groupings and averaging the frequency of the goals within the list of companies, I found valuable insights on the predominant focuses across industries. I expect to continue to find distinctions across industry lines, discovering patterns that classify specific goals for specific industries. The study explores the values of the top companies in the world and how they plan on sustaining the environment and their individual success.

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  Theory to Practice: Utilizing Key Philosophical Theories in a Transdisciplinary Approach to Complex Social Problem-solving

  Fabiha Era, Sabrina Benchaabane, and Angelo Pacheco

  Integrating major theoretical principles into transdisciplinary studies allows for a more nuanced evaluation of complex social problems and their respective solutions. Major theoretical principles from the discipline of philosophy, such as transitional anger, the difference principle, and the veil of ignorance, allow for one to reevaluate their initial perceptions of complex social problems, and allow for a “fairer” reaction, which will create a fairer response. This paper argues that these major theoretical principles found in the field of philosophy will be incorporated into transdisciplinary theoretical principles to allow for mindfulness towards initial reactions, biases, and existing privileges.

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  An Essay Towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language: The Rise and Fall of Languages

  Michael Farmer

  Language changes over time. Philosopher John Wilkins developed a language that was intended to be “universal”. But why? In 1668, a time in which the Lingua Franca was gradually transitioning from Latin to French, Wilkins wrote An Essay Towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language. In this essay, Wilkins proposes a language that he intended would be used by scholars all across Europe as a result of the fear that Latin would no longer suffice as the language of scholars. However, his language did not become prominent whatsoever. This research will analyze Wilkins’ language to discover why his language failed and the complications with it that resulted in its failure. Examining his language and other languages, this project can find what causes languages to grow, change, as well as fall and fail. However, not all is lost in Wilkins’ language as his standard unit became the basis of the Metric System.

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  Effects of Reduction in Social Enrichment on a Novel Rat Model of Approach and Avoidance Orientation

  Emily Feldman

  The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a reduction in social enrichment by measuring behavioral changes in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) in male and female rats of High Approach (HAO) and Low Approach Orientation (LAO). The results indicated that at baseline, both total arm entries and open arm entries were affected by HAO vs LAO and sex. The percent change in closed arm entries in LAO females was sensitive to the social environment, whereas those in the HAO were behaviorally unaffected. The experimental LAO female group had an increase in percent change of closed arm entries while their control LAO counterparts had a decrease. Results suggest that the LAO female rats may translate to a population more sensitive to social stress and thus may be useful in identifying biological markers for predicting vulnerability to sudden changes in social environments.

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  Food Insecurity in Broome County & Tompkins County

  Judy Field

  Food Sustainability is a multifaceted issue encompassing global health, environmental conservation, and social equity. This study investigates food insecurity and sustainability initiatives in Broome County and Tompkins County. The research explores the socio-economic impacts of local food initiatives globally and delves into household-level food insecurity as a central focus. By examining the historical context, economic dynamics, and healthcare access, of both counties, the study aims to understand the effectiveness of existing initiatives and identify areas for improvement. The study provides a comparative analysis of sustainable food practices between two counties using data from various sources and insights from interviews with community leaders. The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address food insecurity while fostering sustainable food systems for resilient communities.