Penn State Behrend – Sigma Xi
Twenty-Sixth Annual
Undergraduate Student Research and
Creative Accomplishment Conference
Oral Presentations
Session # / Session NameSession I / Biology I
Session II / Biology II
Session III / Biology III
Session IV / Chemistry
Session V / Computer Science
Session VI / Computer Science, Economics, and Engineering
Session VII / Engineering I
Session VIII / Engineering II
Session IX / Environmental Science
Session X / Mathematics
Session XI / Psychology
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION I
BIOLOGY I
NICK 165
Time / Session
8:40 am / Welcome
8:45 am / Role of SCAMP3 in Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Processing
DanielCooney (QuyenAoh), Gannon University
9:00 am / Determination of Heat Shock Proteins in Human Umbilical Veins Endothelial Cells Treated with PBDEs
AustinGrist(MaryVagula), Gannon University
9:15 am / Constructing Variants of Human Serum Albumin Reconstituted with Heme and Testing For Nitrite Reductase Activity
AlexandraAlfonso Castro (Dr. Mary GraceGalinato), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / Mitochondrial Genome Analysis of Two Species of Scale Insects from the Family Ortheziidae
HaleyFlick (MatthewGruwell), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Analysis of cpDNA and nrDNA Molecular Markers to Determine Genetic Diversity of the Ventura Marsh Milkvetch Astralagus pychnostachyus var. lanosissimus
MeganMaar (KristenWebb), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m. / Differentiation of Cat Siblings by Means of Sequencing Mitochondrial Target Region
JeannieChoi (KristenWebb), Allegheny College
11:00 a.m. / Effects of inhaled CO2 on seizures in the febrile seizure mouse model Mus musculus
DanielDaugherty (LeeCoates), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m. / Probiotics and the Gut-Brain Axis: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of a Multispecies and Multi-strain Probiotic Supplement on Theory of Mind, Mood, and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Social Stress in Young Adults
LoraWaybright, ElizabethSever, NinaKikel, andFrancescaCarra (SarahConklin), Allegheny College
11:30 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION II
BIOLOGY II
PRISCHAK 103
Time / Session
8:10 am / Welcome
8:15 am / 2016 Pymatuning State Park Pilot Program: Invasive Species Voluntary Boat Inspections
DaleSnyder1 and StacieHall2 (GregAndraso), Gannon University1 and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources2
8:30 am / Separate vs. combined effects of amphipods, caddisflies, snails, and tadpoles on detritus decomposition in wetlands
LianaLeja (ScottWissinger), Allegheny College
8:45 a.m. / Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) Tadpole: Ontogenetic Shifts of Food Preference, Foraging Behavior, and their Effect on Detritus Breakdown
RachaelFinigan (ScottWissinger), Allegheny College
9:00 a.m. / Variation in food habits and pharyngeal morphology among populations of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Erie County, Pennsylvania
StephanieFry, DeenMeah, andMaryPristello (GregAndraso), Gannon University
9:15 a.m. / A Pseudomonas Strain Isolated from Fern Roots Blocks Male Induction and Alters Gametophyte Development in the Fern Ceratopteris richardii
RachelHiles (MikeGanger and SarahEwing), Gannon University
9:30 a.m. / Analysis of Genetic Diversity in the Pennsylvania State Population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileusvirginianus) 110 years after Bottleneck and Translocation
Michael Arcieri (Dr. Kristen Webb), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Genetic Analysis of Deer Dispersal Patterns through Mitochondria DNA Sequence Analysis
BrendanMcCreath, CatherineHammes, JulianaIrwin, SamuelHenson, StephanieJudd, StephenMcLoughlin, andEthanConto(FredBrenner), Grove City College
10:45 a.m. / Modern Checklist of Lichens in Mercer County
GabrielleGette (DavidKrayesky), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
11:00 a.m. / Census of the Bat Population on the Campus of Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania
NickBengal andErinDebelak (StevenRopski), Gannon University
11:15 a.m. / Determining the Presence and Possible Effects of Round Gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) on Native Benthic Fishes in the French Creek Watershed
AllysonWood, HannahEisemann, JosephShultz, andSamanthaWilliams (CaseyBradshaw-Wilson), Allegheny College
11:30 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION III
BIOLOGY III
NICK 167
Time / Session8:55 a.m. / Welcome
9:00 a.m. / Inactivation of Pathogenic Bacteria on Media Containing Juices and Spices Using Radiant Catalytic Ionization
BrittanyBenjamin, RhyanClark, BrienneKilbert, MichaelSweeney, OladapoAfolabi and AdrianBabel (DavidFulford, WilliamMackay, CraigSteele and NaodKebede), Edinboro University
9:15 a.m. / Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa environmental isolates from college bathrooms to triclosan and amoxicillin
LauraPellegrini (CatharinaCoenen andLisaWhitenack), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m. / Streptococcus mutans Biofilm and Growth Inhibition by Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria in the presence of Garlic and Ginger Extracts
DavidLynn (CatharinaCoenen), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Genetic Analysis of Cytochrome b and Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit III Genes of Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Georgia
MeganRodrigues (KristenWebb), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m. / Targocil, a Wall Teichoic Acid Synthesis Inhibitor, Activates the DesK-DesR Two-Component System of Bacillus anthracis
AlexMetzger (DevinStauff), Grove City College
11:00 a.m. / Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation on Common Catheter Materials in Response to Glucose
RachaelTaylor (CatharinaCoenen),Allegheny College
11:15 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION IV
CHEMISTRY
NICK 169
Time / Session
8:25 a.m. / Welcome
8:30 a.m. / Thermodynamic and Structural Impact of α,α-Dialkylated Residue Incorporation in a β-Hairpin Peptide
ShelbySchettler, GabrielleGette (GeorgeLengyel), Slippery Rock University
8:45 a.m. / Novel Method for the Hydrolysis of a Nickel Schiff-Base Complex Using Conditions Suitable for Retention of Acid-Labile Protecting Groups
TannerGeibel,CoryBontrager (GeorgeLengyel), Slippery Rock University
9:00 a.m. / Development of a Gold Nanoparticle Based Sensor for Lead(II) Ions in Water
Erin Cumming(AliceDeckert), Allegheny College
9:15 a.m. / Technological Integration in the Chemistry Laboratory at Penn State Behrend
NickBanner, and Shannon McDonnell (LucianaAronne, AndrewGeorge), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / Hydrogen Adsorption and Storage on Carbon Nanotubes
ChristianGamboa (RonBrown), Mercyhurst University
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Refinement of Synthesis Parameters for Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters Templated with Double Stranded DNA
RobertPasserotti, IanCampbell (BruceWittmershaus), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Effects of Ultrasound on the Digestive Enzyme Pepsin A
KathyrnKapp, RebeccaHetz, andStevenPham (KeithKrise), Gannon University
11:00 a.m. / Using Electric Conductivity Measurements to Determine Concentration of Electrolytic Contaminants in Commercial Water-Soluble Polymers
LeviKalka, DylanMichalski, JoshuaNorman(KeithKrise), Gannon University
11:15 a.m. / Electrochemical Investigation of Human Serum Albumin-Heme Enzyme with Proximal Tyrosine to Evaluate its Conversion of Nitrite to Nitric Oxide
GaryFye (JasonBennett, Mary GraceGalinato) Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION V
COMPUTER SCIENCE
OBS 117
Time / Session8:55 a.m. / Welcome
9:00 a.m. / Effectiveness of Multimodal Notifications for Disaster, Catastrophe, and Home Disaster Events
LaurenOrzechowski (TerriLenox), Westminster College
9:15 a.m. / Computer Science Outreach and Study: Difference in Interest and Aptitude raised in elementary students through Computer Science Unplugged as Standalone Learning Activities and Activities Supplemented with Lectures
BryanGallo (DavidShaffer), Westminster College
9:30 a.m. / A Comprehensive Security Assessment of the Westminster College Unix Lab
JacobShodd (DavidShaffer), Westminster College
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Monte Carlo Price Forecasting and Portfolio Optimization
GarrettAshbaugh (DavidShaffer), Westminster College
10:45 a.m. / Exploring Altruism in Emergent Behavior of Evolving Cooperative Robots
AnthonyGroves (C. DavidShaffer), Westminster College
11:00 a.m. / Finding the Difference in Change of Aggression Between the Sexes After Playing Violent Video Games
RustinCasteel (TerriLenox), Westminster College
11:15 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VI
COMPUTER SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, AND ENGINEERING
OBS 118
Time / Session8:40 a.m. / Welcome
8:45 a.m. / Computational Modelingof Seasonal Circulations Patternsfor Lake Erie
Justin Drehs,AliciaMassara, and MahboobeMahdavi, (DavidGee), Gannon University
9:00 a.m. / Data Mining for Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction
RyanMarkle (FaisalAqlan), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m. / Crime Analysis, Prediction and Visualization
HowieSetyono, andMohamedBadawy (FaisalAqlan), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / Patient Flow and Overcrowding in Emergency Departments
EricaCoval, AlyssaAndrzejewski, andHannahSaunders (OmarAshour), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Patient Flow Analysis at UPMC Hamot's Cardiology Outpatient Clinic
NicholasBowers (OmarAshour), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Ergonomic Assessment of Backpack Carriage among High School Students
ChristopherLashway (FaisalAqlan), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m. / Surgery Time Estimation Using Statistical Methods for Cardiology Department at UPMC Hamot
JessicaHocsman (OmarAshour), Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m. / Crime Rates and Income in Erie, PA
NatalieSzalajko (KenLouie), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VII
ENGINEERING I
OBS 120
Time / Session8:40 a.m. / Welcome
8:45 a.m. / Design and Development of a Battery Internal Short Circuit Test Machine
MaryBurbules and ScottDeLaney(AdamHollinger), Penn State Behrend
9:00 a.m. / Effects of Polarity and Current Path in Electrically Assisted Single Point Incremental Forming of 2024-T3 Aluminum
TylerGrimm (JohnRoth and IhabRagai), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m. / Experimental Investigation of the Reuleaux Triangle Tube Forming Process with Steel Tubes
HaydenSeibert andLaurentiuPetrut (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / Experimental Investigation on Carbon Diffusion in Plain Steel Using Electricity
GarySchultz (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Study on Residual Formability of Single Point Incremental Forming
JonathanWarren (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Experimental investigation of springback during bending-reverse-bending of aluminum alloy
HunterAndree (ChetanNIkhare), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m. / Analysis of Cryogenetically Treated Sheet Nylon 6/6
DerekShaffer and CodyReinstadtler (JohnRoth andIhabRagai), Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VIII
ENGINEERING II
OBS 121
Time / Session8:40 a.m. / Welcome
8:45 a.m. / Control of Thermal Enviroment Using Solar Power Application
DavidAlbrecht, EmmanuelFale, KatieBesselman, and SabrinaKosnik (DavidGee), Gannon University
9:00 a.m. / SEM Characterization of Carbides in Low Temperature Tempered (LTT) Advanced High-Strength Low- Alloy (HSLA) Steels
TylerRigby (PaulLynch), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m. / Hole Expansion and Strain Evolution During Biaxial Tension
John RogerNolan (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / Experimental Investigation of Annealing Effect on Spring back of Aluminum Alloy
JonCavalier (Dr. ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Theoretical Study of the Mechanical Properties of Nanoporous SiC
Lai HinLam (BlairTuttle), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Experimental Investigation of Bend-Unbend Mechanics in the Tube Flaring Process
BradleyPier (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m. / EffectofPerform on Pressure During Low Pressure Tube Hydroforming
Ashley Trott (ChetanNikhare), Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION IX
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
WITKOWSKI 22W
Time / Session8:40 a.m. / Welcome
8:45 a.m. / Design Of Portable Water Filtration Device For Arsenic Removal In Developing Countries
AnnaBarr andSidneySmith (Dr. RickDiz), Gannon University
9:00 a.m. / Green Roof Design And Analysis For Gannon University's Nash Library
AmandaHennessy andDianaMunoz (Dr. RickDiz), Gannon University
9:15 a.m. / Presence of Agricultural Herbicide Atrazine in Water, Foods, and Human Urine Samples
AnthonyConcilla (HeLiu), Gannon University
9:30 a.m. / Heating and Pollution Potential of Various Biomass Fuels
DavidBovkun andMatthewLoughner (Dr. RickDiz), Gannon University
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Aquaponics for Food Production on an Urban College Campus
DrewGrabigel, JeffMiller, JacobNorton, andMaxOnyenwe (Dr. RickDiz), Gannon University
10:45 a.m. / Effects of Biochar and Salt on Festuca arundinacea (Tall Fescue)
JacobMarfin (PamelaSilver), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m. / Varying Reflective Materials for Low Cost, Organic Light Concentrating in Flexible, Photovoltaic Devices
MelissaMcCann (IanCarbone), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION X
MATHEMATICS
NICK 171
Time / Session9:10 a.m. / Welcome
9:15 a.m. / Heroin Epidemic Modeling with PDE's
JamesRichardson andAllisonTorsey (SaziyeBayram), Buffalo State College
9:30 a.m. / Bridge Tournament Scheduling Problem
OliverMiles (PaulOlson), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Examining the Methods for Partial Fraction Decomposition
LaurenMinner (AntonellaCupillari), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Improved Bounds on a Variation on the Classical Waring's Problem
PaulLeVan (DavidPrier), Gannon University
11:00 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION XI
PSYCHOLOGY
HAMMERMILL 144
Time / Session
8:25 am / Welcome
8:30 am / Relationship between Physiological Responses and Participant Self-Report on Bystander Intention to Intervene: Does Relationship to Participants Matter?
KameronLanders, AllisonGage, andRachelZimmerman (Dr. MelanieHetzel-Riggin), Penn State Behrend
8:45 am / Animal Videos and their Influence on Stress Management for College Students
JordanHarakal andAustinHarris (VictoriaKazmerski), Penn State Behrend
9:00 a.m. / Examining the Effectiveness of the Captain McFinn Anti-Bullying Program among Erie Elementary Schools
TaylorMorris, ChelseaPtak, ChristinaMurzynski, andRebeccaDinsmore (CharisseNixon andJamesHodge), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m. / Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Emotional Memory Recall - A Literature Review
MargaretDunlap (VictoriaKazmerski), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m. / More than Just a Pet Peeve- The Possible Cardiovascular Repercussions in a College Sample Exhibiting Misophonic Symptoms
NatashaTorrence (SarahConklin), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m. / Break
10:30 a.m. / Vicarious Embarrassment and Reluctant Student Participation in Classrooms
EmilyGaleza (CarolWilson, VictoriaKazmerski), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m. / Advertisement Effects on Gender Role Perception
TinaRexhepi, AshleyWhite, andClairePetrun (VictoriaKazmerski), Penn State Behrend College
11:00 a.m. / Exploring the Unknown: The Student Perspective on Embedded Travel
GraceWaldfogle andJacobBenedict (DawnBlasko, HeatherLum, andVictoriaKazmerski), Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m. / Mind and Body Responses to Performing Tasks in Contrasting Environments
CassandraVandemerwe and AlexisCobb-Eckstrom (HeatherLum), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m. / End of Presentations
Noon / Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall