Research Days Posters 2024

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  Family Acceptance of LGBT Youths in Media and Parasocial Empathy

  Haille Mark and Ann Merriwether

  This study examined the effects of familial acceptance of LGBT teens in TV shows and how these representations affect viewer empathy. Fifty-four participants aged 18-54 were sampled. Participants responded to a survey in which they viewed 3 video clips of coming-out scenes, one from Glee (low acceptance), one from Love, Victor (medium acceptance), and one from Heartstopper (high acceptance). Participants then gave Likert scale responses to questions measuring how accurately they recognized interpersonal dynamics in the scenes. Preliminary results show that the most amount of variation in reaction comes from the clip from Love, Victor (?=0.996), and the least comes from the clip from Heartstopper (?=0.366). It was also found that participants strongly agreed the interactions were negative in low-acceptance clips, participants neither agree nor disagree the interaction was positive or negative in medium-acceptance clips, and participants strongly agreed the interaction was positive in high-acceptance clips. Thus far, the results indicate that participants have the most empathy for positive coming out scenes, as measured in accurate emotional recognition with the least amount of variance, where the character is accepted and supported.

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  Flood Mitigation Through Reinforcing Riparian Buffers

  Lauren Marshall, Arianna Edwards, Taylor Block, and Natalie Stanton

  The City of Binghamton and Town of Conklin contain many communities within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain map for massive 100- and 500-year events. Damage from flooded river banks has devastated infrastructure and countless homes in the Greater Binghamton Area over the past few decades. Anthropogenic global climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and severity of these massive flooding events, leaving Susquehanna River flooding as a looming and increasingly potent threat to the Greater Binghamton community. This project aims to mitigate the extent of future flood events in the Greater Binghamton Area through the implementation of natural riparian buffers and the removal of invasive species at sites along the Susquehanna River.

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  Spooky Psychology: The Therapeutics and Ethics of Horror

  Shaelyn McGowan

  Research suggests that horror media psychologically affects viewers in starkly different ways. Some fans use the genre to manage their anxiety: fictional stories can create safe environments in which to experience panic and dread, making it easier to develop functional coping mechanisms for use in stressful real-world situations. Other viewers, however, find horror so anxiety-inducing or even traumatic that it becomes unhelpful as a tool for emotional learning. Moreover, stereotypes in the horror genre can hurt marginalized groups more than stereotypes in other genres, as associating fear with a certain group is a powerful way of promoting bigotry. This research explores how certain people can benefit psychologically from consuming horror. It also discusses ways in which the genre can be made more inclusive. To that end, it analyzes how social commentary horror movies, such as Get Out, convey the fear and frustration that marginalized communities feel when facing bigotry, as well as movies such as The Silence of the Lambs, which villainize marginalized communities and contribute to said bigotry.

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  Green Infrastructure: The Limits and Restrictions Concerning Previous Floods

  Vincent McLoughlin

  Green infrastructure has been seen recently in the media as a “cure-all” to flood relief, prevention, and air quality and opening jobs for many people. However, its high installation costs and its small water storage capacity question its effectiveness. This paper will highlight the limitations of green infrastructure in the context of past floods, more specifically the floods in Binghamton in 2006 and 2011, as well as the 2023 flooding in New York City as a result of tropical storms. Even with the implementation of green infrastructure in areas, floods can still cause significant damage, raising questions about the efficiency of green infrastructure. By researching the performance of green infrastructure in several scenarios and comparing it to other flood prevention methods, this study aims to identify the restrictions and limitations of green infrastructure and raise more effective flood mitigation methods.

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  Reduced Intraspecific Variation in Foliar Micro and Macronutrients among Quercus Garryana Trees in the Expanded Range May Contribute to Outbreaks of a Range Expanding Insect

  Kelly Medina and Aly Milks

  Due to the effects of rising global temperatures and the abrupt changes in ecosystems, phytophagous insects are expanding their ranges poleward. An oak gall wasp,Neuroterous saltatoris, has expanded its range from mainland North America to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and is outbreaking in its expanded range causing damage to its host plants Quercus garryana. Q. garryana has reduced genetic diversity with decreased intraspecific variation towards the poles. This research group collected leaves from trees that ranged from low to highly infested. Leaves were dried and ground and levels of macronutrients and micronutrients were measured. Higher intraspecific variation in nutrients were found among trees in the native compared to the expanded range, which may underlie patterns of higher patchiness of N. saltatorius-infested trees in the native range. It was also determined what nutrients are influencing the infestation of N. saltatorius.

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  Investigating the Impact of Parenting Styles on Empathetic Development

  Rachel Melamed

  While empathy is widely held to be a desirable trait, there is disagreement about whether it is primarily an instinctual or learned behavior and, if the latter, how it is fostered. Research on the development of empathy in children suggests that reinforcement and modeling by parents are key contributors to the teaching of prosocial norms. Baumrind (1971) established three distinct parenting styles – authoritative, authoritarian, permissive – that describe varying child-rearing practices. This research considers whether certain parenting styles are associated with levels of empathy in children and young adults via a literature review and a survey distributed to Binghamton Students. The survey collected participants’ demographics and scores from the Baron-Cohen Empathy Quotient (2004) and an adapted version of Buri’s Parental Authority Questionnaire (1991). Further statistical analysis will investigate the possible relationship between parenting style and empathy within social and demographic contexts.

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  Barriers to SNAP Participation: A Case Study of Broome County

  Kaelem Michel

  Despite its immense wealth, the United States has failed to end food insecurity. Data from the Census Bureau demonstrates that a staggering 10.2 percent of households were food insecure in 2021–including 12.1 percent in Broome County. The largest federal program that tackles food insecurity is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides vouchers for non-prepared food to eligible households. Despite the arguable success of the program, certain groups—particularly immigrants, the elderly, and college students—experience unique barriers to enrollment and thus have low participation rates. Drawing on government statistics and interviews with local welfare advocates, this research examines barriers to SNAP enrollment in Broome County to understand how these obstacles might be eliminated. It is also considered whether government assistance to reduce food insecurity should take the form of cash or vouchers, and whether a universal basic income could effectively address SNAP’s targeting problems and its so-called “welfare trap” effect.

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  Memorable & Demeaning: Rugby Nicknaming Culture in Upstate New York

  Benjamin Miller

  Rugby’s social culture in the United States is rare topic of anthropological interest. Similarly, nicknaming conventions have infrequently been acknowledged as an anthropological phenomenon despite being a critical aspect of the way humans conceptualize each other and create group identities. Nicknames among rugby players are usually pejorative, sexually vulgar, and profane. These nicknames stem from two main factors: situational experiences and the personal characteristics of the player. Through participant observation ethnography, I document nicknaming practices among a variety of rugby players in upstate New York. This paper uses four original case studies to illustrate four major rugby nicknaming concepts: origins, usage, group evolution, and intolerance of self-dubbing. Additionally, I discuss a dubbing that occurred as a direct result of a player’s participation in this ongoing ethnography.

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  Stabilization of the G-quadruplex in Oncogenes MYC and KRAS as a Potential Ovarian Cancer Treatment

  Tessa Miller

  The G-quadruplex (G4) is an alternate state of DNA, formed when guanines hydrogen bond to each other and stack to form a unique structure. G4s cluster in DNA regions controlling replication, translation, transcription, and repair. The G4s in the promoter regions of cancer genes MYC and KRAS are frequently dysregulated in ovarian cancer. MYC is a proto-oncogene that regulates cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. KRAS is a proto-oncogene that regulates cell growth and apoptosis. The goal of this project was to test various compounds for their interaction with the G4 using the FRET Melt2 assay. Stabilization of the G4 indicates that a compound may decrease the expression of MYC or KRAS and limit cancer growth. The compounds identified as stabilizers of G4 were then tested for cytotoxicity in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Of these compounds, KN242 was shown to increase the stabilization of the G-quadruplex and decrease cellular viability.

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  Drag Reduction System for Binghamton Motorsports Electric Formula 1 Car

  Brian Mirchin, Matthew Baker, Jake Vecchio, Evan Renauld, and Caleb Penny-Kosser

  Active aerodynamics is key in Formula 1 racing. In this project, an active Drag Reduction System (DRS) is designed for the Binghamton Motorsports Formula SAE car's three-element rear wing, allowing the driver to decrease drag on straightaways and improve lap time. The driver can activate the DRS by pressing a steering wheel button, triggering two servo motors to adjust the wing position. We used ANSYS Fluent for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of previously optimized rear wing at closed and open positions and SolidWorks for motion analysis to identify maximum forces during DRS activation. These forces informed a finite element analysis (FEA) in ANSYS Workbench guiding material selection for safe operation of the DRS.

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  Critical Reading in STEM

  Lucas Moore

  Critical Reading (CR) is the process of analyzing a scientific paper with the intent to determine the validity, reliability, rigor and contributions to the scientific scholarly conversation. CR is becoming an increasingly important skill for undergraduate students due to the increased publication of scientific literature, and the need to appraise the quality of that literature. CR skills have historically been an understudied topic, but there are documented methods for its instruction. These instruction methods range from one day faculty created activities and student-led course topics, such as POGIL, to courses centered around scientific literature comprehension using the C.R.E.A.T.E approach. The research presented will focus on the benefits of CR as a skill for STEM students and educators, the adaptability and limitations of several methods of instruction of CR, as well as recommendations to implement CR instruction.

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  Parenting Styles and Child Epistemic Uncertainty: Exploring the Connection

  Hayleigh Moran, Gianna Burr, and Kameron Cummings

  During child-parent interactions, children are often influenced by parent/guardian behavior as demonstrated in attachment theories (Flaherty & Sadler, 2010) and modeling behavior theories (Mazzuchhelli, 2018). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between child epistemic uncertainties and parenting type. First, video data from eight child-parent interactions constructing at home engineering kits were analyzed for children’s epistemic uncertainties. Second, parenting styles were analyzed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Coding Scheme including authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive along with subsequent subscales codes 1-5 (Sheh, 2013). The hypothesized result is children who have parents on the Authoritative parenting scale and display high on the connection dimension subscale will display the least amount of epistemic uncertainty. The potential significance may inform how to support parents in making changes in their behavior to benefit their child’s certainty level when completing tasks.

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  Synthesis and Characterization of Derivatives of UCPH-101 as Novel Inhibitors Targeting SLC1 Amino Acid Transporter Family

  Minh-Hung Nguyen, Jeremiah Mulu, Yang Dong, and Christof Grewer

  Nitrogen is an important element that exists in many biological compounds essential for the cells’ survivability. Due to rapid growth and proliferation, cancer cells demand large amounts of nitrogen, specifically from glutamine. ASCT2 transporters are found to be overexpressed in many types of cancers. The inhibition of ASCT2 is proposed to induce cell starvation. EAAT1 (SLC1A3) and ASCT2 (SLC1A5) exhibit similar allosteric inhibition mechanisms. Previous experiments showed that UCPH-101 allosterically binds to EAATs and inhibits their translocation activity. While the mechanism is unknown, the molecule was shown to be a partial inhibitor of ASCT2. We hypothesized that alteration of the side chain of UCPH-101 is expected to lead to different inhibition constants (Ki) and percentages of the molecules on ASCT2 and the inhibition mechanism of UCPH-101 can be obtained from inhibition studies using UCPH derivatives. These inhibitors are chemically synthesized, characterized using patch-clamp electrophysiology, and tested using cytotoxicity assay.

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  The Impact of Improper Face Mask Disposal on the Early Growth and Development of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum)

  Minh-Hung Nguyen, Anthony Yang, Jeremy S. Serras, and Miranda Kearney

  Disposable face masks (DFMs) play an important preventive factor in the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased use of DFMs leads to the increased load of face mask litter in the environment. This study focuses on the effects of DFMs leachate on plants with a variety of DFM (traditional, black, leopard, camouflage, holiday, and rainbow) and conditions (new and used). The mortality, shoot size, number of visible leaves, average leaf size, total root length, number of roots, root convex area, and mass of the shoots and roots were collected. The data was analyzed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and pairwise tests. There were no statistically significant differences in mortality between the groups, however, there were some statistically significant differences in other measures between types of DFMs and between the conditions of the traditional and black groups.

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  Tolstoy and the Single-Tax Movement: Tracking the Later Fiction's Political Impact

  Laura Nothstine

  Leo Tolstoy, a prominent author of the late nineteenth century, used his fiction to explore philosophical concepts and societal issues. His works gained popularity worldwide despite their plethora of radical ideas. In particular, the novel Resurrection discusses American economist Henry George’s single-tax proposal, which aligned with Tolstoy’s ethical and religious views. It proposed collecting rent from land use to fund public goods. Scholars have thoroughly explored the connections between Resurrection and Henry George; however, the cultural impacts of those connections remain ambiguous. Using Tolstoy’s later fiction, adaptations of Resurrection, personal letters, and journal articles discussing Tolstoy’s works, a clearer picture arises. I argue that Tolstoy had an extensive impact on several American politicians and his writings helped make single-tax ideas more digestible to the public. Additionally, the complicated reception of Tolstoy’s later work indicates why single-tax policies were never enacted on a large scale despite their apparent popularity.

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  Preventing and Treating Staphylococcal Biofilm Infection with an Ancient Medicine

  Arthur O'Sullivan, Kevin Tan, Anna Armandi, and Reem Nada

  Before the antibiotic age, medicaments composed of natural substances were prescribed to clean, seal, and heal wounds. The De Materia Medica of Pedanius Dioscorides and the Historia Naturalis of Pliny the Elder, for instance, prescribed a combination of honey and narcissus (daffodil) for burn wounds. Liam McGuirk’s 2022 Honors Thesis found that this remedy inhibits Staphylococcus growth on bare well-plates and agar. This expanded project found that the treatment inhibits bacterial growth over several days, even when diluted in Brain-Heart Infusion medium (BHI). Furthermore, this medicament can stunt biofilms after two days of growth, both on keratinocytes (human skin cell constructs) and bare well plates. Biofilm infections of wounds pose a major threat to human health, both in classical antiquity and modernity, due to their resistance to antibiotic treatment. More investigation into this medicament’s biochemical components may yield a useful alternative treatment for wounds of all kinds.

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  Diversifying the Archival Record Through Community Archiving

  Natalie Pan

  Archives have long ostracized marginalized communities, owing to their lack of representation in mainstream archiving. In turn, communities have opted to create their own archives that become the catalyst for more dialogue surrounding their histories, called community archives. This study looks at how other universities have partnered with their local communities to document richer local histories that help maintain partnerships between the two. Conversing with other community archivists helps to realize the process of making a community archive in their respective institutions, which furthers the relationships between the university and local communities and institutions. By generating important dialogues that concern their history, underrepresented communities now create their narrative through their own archives. The study also proposes a list of local organizations and communities central to the fuller understanding of the region's local history that may be useful for any institution looking to create their own community archives.

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  The Collaborative Research Process of Curating a Museum Exhibit

  Rachel Pasternack, Jason Anglum, Afeini Cayetano, and Autumn Weston

  In order to interpret objects for public consumption, the method of collaboration is extremely necessary in the research process of curating a museum exhibit. The collaboration with professionals from various fields and studies aids curators in deciding which works should be displayed. The research topic, whether it be the maternal bonds in Madonna pieces, intimacy in Larry Fink’s Social Graces, how contemporary Mexican artwork as a form of protest, or the transition after abuse, all require inclusivity, access, and sensitivity as they are interlocking aspects in a curator’s investigation and exploration. As seen through the curatorial interns of Binghamton University Art Museum’s projects, the methodology of curators is motivated by a goal of displaying diverse stories to a diverse audience and building on a museum’s idea of not only collecting and preserving but furthermore interpreting and displaying significant works.

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  Author or Archetype: The Importance of Philaenis As a Historical Figure and Subject of Ridicule

  Nina Patel

  When we talk about ancient Greek and Latin literature, we tend to think of the epics of Homer or the poetry of Ovid. However, we often overlook other genres––especially those including crude language and subject matters. This paper explores a series of texts describing Philaenis, the alleged author of an ancient sex and courtship manual, whose existence is still debated. It looks at a variety of authors, analyzing the language used to describe Philaenis and drawing conclusions about the legitimacy of her existence. This research argues that due to the widespread knowledge of her name and what it represents, Philaenis was a real historical figure. However, most of the writings in which her name appears use her as an archetype embodying female sexual promiscuity. This research displays how sexually autonomous women in ancient societies had their personas skewed by male authors, eventually becoming symbols for how women shouldn’t act.

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  Breaking the Mold: Exploring the Anomaly of Italian-American Voters in Broome County, New York

  Brett Patrick

  During the interwar period, Italian Americans typically gravitated towards the Democratic Party, drawn by its promise of social and economic reform. However, Italian-Americans in Broome County, New York, defied this trend, aligning predominantly with the Republican Party. Scholars have often overlooked this, treating ethnic voters as homogeneous. This study aims to uncover the reasons behind this anomaly and thoroughly examine its roots. This research highlights the influential leaders — including George F. Johnson — and organizations that shaped local politics, drawing on diverse sources such as newspapers, oral history interviews, and archival records. This study examines the community’s behavior from 1925 to 1945, seeking to challenge the prevailing notion that Italian Americans were an electoral monolith. The case of Broome County's Italian Americans underscores the transformative power of local context in shaping political identity, thus offering insights into complex ethnic voting patterns in the Southern Tier and beyond.

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  Correlation Between Alcohol Consumption, a Nutritionally Dense Diet, and Mood

  Eileen Pincus, Victoria Perez, Ethan Gattuso, Alexandra Degen, and Lina Begdache

  College students’ lifestyle often contributes to a poor diet coupled with a high consumption of alcohol. Diet as well as alcohol are important factors that contribute to overall mood. This research aims to assess the association between diet quality, alcohol and mood. An anonymous online survey was administered through GroupMe, iMessage, YikYak, and swap survey. The survey included basic demographic questions and questions on food groups frequency consumption, alcohol consumption, and questions regarding overall mood. Pearsons’s Correlation Analysis was utilized using SPSS version 28.0. Our results suggest that there is a relationship between binge drinking, nutrition, and mood. A lower alcohol consumption and a higher nutritionally dense and varied diet results in a more positive mood. Educating college students on the importance of good nutrition, and dangers of high alcohol consumption can ultimately lead to detrimental effects on mood.

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  Sinful Femininity: How the Villainization of Desire and Curiosity in Pandora’s Box Led to Gendered Biases in Psychology

  Hannah Pitkofsky

  Mythology has a strong influence on societal views surrounding certain topics, including femininity, curiosity, and desire. However, the images presented in these stories are often artificially crafted with implicit biases that allegorize subjectivities of femininity in modern science. This paper examines the relationship between science and culture and the ways that they influence each other. More specifically, it compares the original myth of Pandora’s Box and the corresponding psychological Pandora effect by analyzing written language patterns and examining their scientific implications. This research argues that the current usage of the Pandora myth furthers patriarchal traditionalism by institutionalizing gender stereotypes. It contributes to the growing field of gender studies in antiquity with a historiographical and scientific perspective while also studying the impact that gender biases have on modern views of women in science and culture.

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  The Ideal Woman: How Ancient Medical Beliefs Have Influenced Modern American Women's Health and Place in Society

  Evelyn Polovich

  Scholars often consider Ancient Greek and Roman gynecology the basis of the modern medical field. However, there are other ways that this field has bled into facets of the modern woman’s life in often toxic ways. This research used feminist theories and the idea of male domination to look at the ways in which ancient thoughts on gynecology have influenced modern American society. By looking at ancient medical texts and more modern analysis of women’s medicine and place in ancient society, a clearer path to modern thought can be seen. This research can then introduce some parallels that we see in women’s expected looks, domesticity, lack of bodily autonomy, and sexual repression. By drawing these comparisons and showing connections this research can show that there are still parts of society relying on outdated ideas and barriers that have created the idea of the “ideal woman.”

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  Caffeine Consumption, Sleep Quality and Exercise Among College Students

  Haley Prisinzano, James Keough, Antonietta Raymond, Samantha Bonventre, and Lina Begdache

  Sleep plays an extremely important role in day to day functioning, contributing to improving cognitive, physical, and emotional health. Lifestyle choices such as caffeine intake and exercise frequency may influence sleep quality. This study intends to assess the relationship between caffeine consumption, sleep quality, and exercise. About 1360 individuals participated in an anonymous, self-reported survey including questions regarding sleep quality, caffeine consumption, and exercise. The questionnaire was generated on Google Forms and distributed via social media. Various negative correlations between caffeine consumption and quality sleep were detected. There are negative correlations between caffeine consumption with feeling refreshed after sleep and sleep duration (p<0.01). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between satisfaction with current sleep pattern and average weekly exercise (p<0.01). These findings suggest that increased caffeine consumption is associated with greater sleep disturbances and a reduction in exercise routine and performance.

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  The Sympathetic Sublime: The Unknown and the Universal in the Poetry of William Wordsworth

  Aidan Raudenbush

  In an 1818 letter, John Keats critiqued the “wordsworthian or egotistical sublime,” an approach that transforms every subject in a poem into an extension of the self. Even as Wordsworth studies have evolved, Keats’s charge has remained influential. Sympathy in Wordsworth’s poetry is often frustrated, especially in encounters with solitary rural figures. The result of this frustration does not proliferate the egotistical sublime, but rather generates what is referred to as the sympathetic sublime. In this sublime, the unknowable experience of the other imbues them with irreducible yet universal value. In readings of “The Old Cumberland Beggar” and “The Solitary Reaper,” among other poems, this research explores how the sympathetic sublime functions as a key tenet of Wordsworthian philosophy. This tenet is not a self-absorbed aesthetic, but a vision of human worth, where a person’s value cannot be measured by the utilitarian metrics gaining favor in an industrializing Britain.