Student Academic Conference 2022 Presentations

Mario Peixoto was a Brazilian director who created a heavily influential film by the name of Limite. Limite is notable due to the impact it has had on other directors such as Orson Welles. Mario Peixoto's legacy is significant regardless of his low level of recognition from general audiences and attempts to remedy that unfortunate reality. Using a variety of firsthand experiences and research regarding the film and its director, the study explicates the importance of Limite and the life of Mario Peixoto, referencing his experiences and what led to him creating this singular film, as well as the importance "Limite" has had on the Brazilian film industry specifically. 

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a form of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). CWD is a growing concern for the future of not only deer populations, but for all cervid species, including mule deer, elk, and moose. We want to explore publicly available data from state wildlife agencies with information regarding CWD in wild North American cervids. We plan to look at the geographic distribution of incidence and prevalence of CWD, and genetic variations of CWD using publicly available sequence data from GenBank.

Mental Health is a topic that is always at the forefront of research analysis, critical debate, and heavy discussion. It can be received in a multitude of ways and every person seemingly has their own personal experience with mental health. In our country, severe depression and anxiety is a problem that continues to plague millions of people. In our country, we are deemed the loneliest society in the world. The overwhelming evidence shows that severe depression and anxiety is coupled with this overwhelming feeling of isolation and loneliness. In simpler terms, it is hard to have one without the other. In an attempt to address the issue, the underlying theme is to talk about it. Talk about everything, better your understanding of what makes your mind feel good and what makes it feel not so good. M3 is an organization that has done that and continues to do that.

Working with a number of organizations like Solutions Behavioral Healthcare, Premiere Sports Psychology, Moorhead Youth Hockey Association, and the Minnesota Wild, M3 has a mission to Raise Awareness, Eliminate the Stigma, and Connect Resources to those needed assistance with their Mental Health. Partnered directly with Moorhead Youth Hockey, these two associations do a tremendous job at advocating for making mental health part of everyday conversations in all relationships. These relationships included teammates relationships, player-coach relationship, parent-child, and parent-coach relationships. All of these are extremely important, especially for young adolescent minds that are developing daily at these ages.

In Group and Team Communications, a group project was completed teaching the importance of recycling and taking care of our waterways.  The research found during this project was about different pollutants found in the Fargo - Moorhead area. The team for the group project volunteered for four hours and partnered with the River Keepers. The River Keepers is a nonprofit in Fargo, ND that works to keep the FM area clean. We volunteered in November of 2021, so we were directed by the River Keepers to clean up a portion of a ditch in Fargo, ND. During this time cleaning, we found lots of different pollutants. Those pollutants included plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and styrofoam. We would like to present our findings so people in our area can decide to become better at recycling, gathering trash, and keeping our environment clean. The three of us were not all in the group together.  Abbey L and Sonia were in the group for the class but we are also having Abby M join us as a way to bring light for more general light to recycling as a whole.

In Group and Team Communications, a group project was completed teaching the importance of recycling and taking care of our waterways.  The research found during this project was about different pollutants found in the Fargo - Moorhead area. The team for the group project volunteered for four hours and partnered with the River Keepers. The River Keepers is a nonprofit in Fargo, ND that works to keep the FM area clean. We volunteered in November of 2021, so we were directed by the River Keepers to clean up a portion of a ditch in Fargo, ND. During this time cleaning, we found lots of different pollutants. Those pollutants included plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and styrofoam. We would like to present our findings so people in our area can decide to become better at recycling, gathering trash, and keeping our environment clean. The three of us were not all in the group together.  Abbey L and Sonia were in the group for the class but we are also having Abby M join us as a way to bring light for more general light to recycling as a whole.

Abstract

Speech-language pathologists (SLP) have a unique role in promoting early literacy skills in early education centers. Emergent literacy skills incorporate phonological awareness, print concepts, and vocabulary that children develop to establish knowledge needed for later academic readiness. However, outlying factors can impede a child’s development including limited teacher knowledge of early literacy skills and varying home environments. This literature review analyzes current scholarly sources for determining how the SLP can assist early education centers to provide a literate-enriched environment and teachings through coaching and mentorship of teachers and direct instruction in the classrooms. The literature concludes the SLP has the skillsets to work in collaboration in preventive efforts to cultivate emergent literacy skills. 

The variety of therapy techniques and resources available to speech-language pathologists working with children with language impairments continues to increase. Subsequently, SLPs may find it challenging to navigate the choices available. Current research has shown that music can be an effective language therapy tool to expand skills such as social engagement, turn-taking, joint attention, preliteracy skills, expressive language, and auditory discrimination in children (Moreno et al., 2011; Zoller, 1991). The unique stimulus of music provides an interactive way for children to interact socially and work toward these nonmusical goals (Scho¨n et al., 2008). This project will entail reviewing the available research that examines how speech-language pathologists can use musical activities during therapy sessions to help meet language goals in children. The project will also include sample goals as well as specific therapy activities that can be utilized by speech-language pathologists to target these goals. 

The purpose of this study was to optimize a technique using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer for determining the concentration of various metals in 55 soil and 6 water samples. It is important to identify and quantify the amount of metal in soil and water samples because some metals are toxic. This study obtained baseline data for 10 different metals in soil and water samples at the MSUM Regional Science Center and found all metals in the samples to be either within or below normal ranges for the area. These results will be reported and compared to United States Geological Survey data from the region. Method optimization will be discussed as well as suggestions for improvement of the method.

The purpose of this study was to optimize a technique using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer for determining the concentration of various metals in 55 soil and 6 water samples. It is important to identify and quantify the amount of metal in soil and water samples because some metals are toxic. This study obtained baseline data for 10 different metals in soil and water samples at the MSUM Regional Science Center and found all metals in the samples to be either within or below normal ranges for the area. These results will be reported and compared to United States Geological Survey data from the region. Method optimization will be discussed as well as suggestions for improvement of the method.

Planetariums are spaces to combine aspects of both classrooms and theaters by merging informative content with different types of media. In summer 2021 I worked on developing interdisciplinary planetarium shows which showcased connections between astronomy topics and music. This involved recording an existing planetarium show about Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite, The Planets. It also involved updating planetarium shows still in development to be presented with new planetarium software programs. These programs were Stellarium, which is used for simulation of the night sky, and OpenSpace, which is used for simulation of the solar system and beyond. Details of the recording process, show development, and the use of Stellarium and OpenSpace software will be shared as well as other work I have done this year for the planetarium.

There has been a semiconductor chip shortage in the last two years that has caused issues for many industries. For the automotive industry specifically, the chip shortage has revealed flaws in manufactures’ supply chains. We believe that these flaws can partially be remedied through our proposed short-term and long-term solutions. Our research has revealed that automotive manufacturers could benefit from having more independence when it comes to their supply chains.

This project is a study of South Africa through the prism of reality television. It is motivated by an interest in reality television as dramatized versions of everyday people made for entertainment but played off as realistic. The primary texts for analyses include Big Brother, Our Perfect Wedding, Love island, and Make Your Move. The sample was based on their popularity and notoriety (and, therefore, financial success) in South Africa. The study is framed by theoretical ideas about national cinemas and reality television. By using these frameworks, the study demonstrates knowledge of the reality television genre as it relates to mainstream South African cinema. Unlike previous studies, which tend to focus on only one of these shows, this research scanned for patterns of cultural and racial issues across the most popular shows. 

There is a vast pool of undiscovered knowledge on bacteriophages and the biochemical mechanisms that allow for a diverse ecosystem of phages. The purpose of this project is to explore the genomics and proteomics of a novel phage, BabyDotz, discovered at MSUM. We obtained long-read and short-read genome data using the Nanopore minION & Illumina sequencing. Genome assemblies using this information were compared to genome sequencing data obtained by the Howard-Hughes medical institute. From the genome data that we acquired, we could then gather information on the structural proteins that make up BabyDotz by using SDS-page and mass spectrometry. The significance of this project will allow us to gain greater understanding on bacteriophage genomics and proteomics, along with the methods and associated biotechniques used in this study.

The ethical dimension of business has long been acknowledged; however, specific frameworks for implementing ethics in business contexts have arisen and garnered attention. This presentation aims to provide a brief overview of the evolution of business ethics throughout history, beginning with broader normative ethical theories that can be applied to businesses and then moving to business-specific theories. An understanding of the past, including both ethical theories and the history of modern business, can illuminate the current situation and lay out potential future directions for the discipline and practice of business ethics. The presentation takes a literature review approach, conducting several searches with no time restrictions, to summarize and understand critical movements in business ethics that impact the practice of modern business. The contributions of this presentation include a high-level overview of the current status of ethics in business as well as future directions for both the research and practice of business ethics.

Automation of labor could eliminate 73 million U.S. jobs by 2030 (Zippia). When firms substitute capital for labor, this decision reduces the financial security of individuals experiencing job losses and the U.S. government in the form of declining payroll and income tax collections. Additional effects extend beyond firms that automate by altering the competitive landscape of firms and industries exhibiting different paces of automation. This research analyzes the effects of the increasing rate of automation present in advanced economies on job growth from 2020-2021. Using publicly available data for years 2020-2021, a regression analysis is used to understand the effects of U.S. labor force characteristics on number of jobs automated. Results of these analyses identify which industries and jobs are most susceptible to the next wave of labor automation, and which factors can inhibit or promote automation. An understanding of these trends can reduce the duration of unemployment for individuals and mitigate negative impacts of unemployment on the U.S. economy.  

American Painter, Clyfford Still (1904-1980), rose to popularity in the late 1940s. Still was integral to popularizing what is commonly referred to as Abstract Expressionism, and in particular, Color Field Painting. Color Field painting can be defined as large expanses of unmodulated color covering the greater part of the canvas. 
In this presentation, I hope to explore how Still’s own works rely on irregularly juxtaposing distinct colors and surfaces in a variety of formations. I plan to examine how his personal style dramatically combines gestural bands of large areas of color that create movement and dimension, and his use of a thick impasto adds allusions of shadows to the painting surfaces.  
Another point I want to examine was Clyfford Still’s belief that the “art world” should revolve around the art and the artist, not the other way around with artists conforming to the art world. Still was passionate about how people experienced his art and how it was displayed, but Still was also adamant about how his collection would be preserved and shown posthumously. 
 

This project examines women’s role in the Temperance Movement and how their efforts brought about Prohibition era America. From the end of Reconstruction to the eventual repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, the Temperance Movement was important for how women made their voices heard. This project analyzes the methods women used to make their voices heard. From advocating for women’s rights, with notable voices like Susan B. Anthony, to the formation of the Anti-Saloon League, women played a major part in pressuring the public and politicians. Without their voices, Prohibition Era in America would never have happened.

       Students with mild disabilities should be taught/ given the correct skills to prepare them for the transformation from school to daily life. This is important because we want future students to thrive in life outside of school. We have seen many individuals who were not given the correct tools they needed to thrive in society without a disability. We want the students with special needs to have that opportunity as well. We are trying to solve the problem of students failing in society after high school because they were not given the tools they needed to thrive. There are so many amazing organizations for students to help with transitional needs. We would set up meetings with families and get them to contact people from those organizations. Informing and preparing these students with social skills and job skills will help students succeed. We are going to solve this problem by informing others on how important social skills and job skills are, by using data and analyzing that data. Teachers, families, schools, and the students themselves can work together to build the best possible outcome for a successful future for students with disabilities. 

Beginning in September of 2020, SARS-CoV-2 quickly swept the nation, leaving many unanswered questions about how the virus affects the population regarding work and school. This project intends to explore how education in children from September 30th of 2020 to March 29th of 2021 is impacted by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and create a comparative representation of influenza’s impact on child education from 2018 to 2019. The project will be carried out using data sets collected from KidsCount and the CDC along with a visual representation of the data that will answer questions about the SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on education and how it is distributed in students ages 6-17. We will explore changes in how students received education when SARS-CoV-2 started and absences due to illness or injury prior to the virus and the impact of quarantine on those students. This project will give us a better understanding of how education is affected during a large pandemic and start conversations about improving education during uncertain times.

According to the United States Census Bureau, childhood disability rates sat at 4.3% in 2019, up 0.4% from 2008, with the most common type of disability being cognitive. In order to assist these children and their families, clinics have been opened to provide individualized care for children with disabilities. One such clinic known as Pope’s Place is located in Centralia, Washington. For this paper, written for my Organizational Communications course,  I interviewed a former Pope’s Place volunteer who worked with the children at the clinic and discussed his experiences there. Using what I gather from him and Pope’s Place’s website, I will analyze and explore their organizational values with focus on cultural value. 

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused an abrupt change in the day-to-day lives of individuals across the world as adults were forced to work from home and children were forced into virtual school environments. For all students, this disruption in schedule and daily routine has been hard, especially for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Mumbardo-Adam et al., 2021). For many students with ASD, school is a place in which they receive many essential services and social interactions, such as speech therapy, that they may not receive in other places. The purpose of this survey research was to understand the speech-language pathologist’s perceptions of the effects distance learning had on the quality and delivery of speech therapy services provided to students with ASD amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  Results revealed that the 2020-2021 school year provided SLPs across the country with a novel experience, that was unique for each individual. Current findings will be discussed and compared to previous research related to the efficacy of distance learning.

Studies have configured immunological responses to Aspergillus fumigatus in mice, leading to advanced understandings. However, the comparisons of the immune responses between juvenile (younger than 6 weeks) male and female C57BL/6J mice after A. fumigatus exposure, remains uninvestigated. In this study, we intranasally inoculated 3 week old male and female mice with  Aspergillus fumigatus spores dilution of 2 106spores per 40 l. They were exposed to the allergen once a week for 8 consecutive weeks and euthanized on day 28 post the last inoculation. As compared to our last report, we increased the sample size for each group in this study. To compare the immune response, we analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage cell counts to quantify macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes after differential staining. We also quantified IgE levels using an ELISA kit to see the allergic response from the repeated exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus. Treatment groups representing both genders have significantly higher lymphocytes. However, macrophages accounted for both the treatment and naive groups have similar quantification.. At the end of the study, our data could indicate that sex differences could be an important factor in shaping the immune response of mice against A. fumigatus which could benefit the design of diagnostics and therapeutics for allergic asthma treatments.

The purpose of my research was to analyze the relationship between mental health and social media use. With social media use on the rise amongst Generation Z, there has also been increased mental health and suicidal ideation treatment. Mental health conditions include, but are not limited to anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and panic disorder. This study analyzes two different branches of social media use: passive and active. Passive being not interacting, such as liking or commenting on posts, and active being liking or commenting. This study involved analyzing the quantity of social media use and severity of mental health conditions.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a method of 3D printing where layers of thermoplastics are extruded in a pattern to create an object. To print an object, a 3D model file must be converted into machine language that can be processed by the printer. This process, called slicing, produces a G-Code file. With entry-level 3D printers, G-Code files are uploaded to a microSD card from a computer, and then the microSD card is inserted into the 3D printer. After the object has been printed, it is removed from the build surface by hand before a new print can begin. In this project, a plugin was created for a software called Octoprint. Users can remotely control and monitor their 3D printers with Octoprint by installing it on a Raspberry Pi and connecting it directly to their 3D printers using micro-USB. Using Python, this plugin will allow for multiple print files to be added to a queue through Octoprint’s web interface, and after each object has finished printing, the program will instruct the printer to remove the print from the build plate using a 3D printed “scraper” that is attached to the extruder gantry.

This literature review discusses the paper “Ethical Considerations with End of Life and Palliative Care: The Role of the SLP.” The presentation will begin by covering the role and responsibilities of the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) when serving patients in either of these settings and the ethical dilemmas they face. The presenter will continue by breaking down the roles and responsibilities within the SLP’s scope of practice, including swallowing, communication and cognition, patient education, and advocacy. Following this, he will discuss the five approaches to ethical reasoning used by SLPs in the ethical situations they encounter. The presenter will then review the literature involving ethical situations during end-of-life and palliative care. The presentation will conclude by highlighting the previous material and covering the obstacles to ethical care, such as the need for advanced care planning, the limited evidence base, further education for patients and clinicians, and ethical reasoning training for practicing clinicians. The target audience for this presentation is Speech-Language Pathologists, medical professionals who work with patients receiving end-of-life or palliative care, and individuals interested in medical ethics.

With the rise of deep learning, computer vision applications have significantly increased operation efficiency and increased application efficiency. Testing the capabilities of such applications creates better understanding of tools that might be feared by some. To illustrate this, I have created a surveillance system that tracks multiple objects in real-time. Displaying a bounding box around each object along with characteristics of each object (person). To make this happen an algorithm must be able to track and detect objects, perform accurately, and be viable for security cameras FPS (Frames Per Second). In all my research, I found that deepSORT (Simple Online Real-time Tracking) was found to have a higher FPS (frames per second), prediction rate, and easier to understand compared to its other competitors including Tracktor++, FDE, and TrackR-CNN. Using this algorithm, I plan to create a surveillance system that contains all the capabilities list above, while also maintaining an FPS that is sufficient for real-time applications.  

During Fall 2021 semester, students of GID458 Interactive Media Studio, completed two games using the game engine, Construct3. Students were asked to develop game ideas that included Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) considerations. Team 1 developed an isometric diner-dash styled game set in the cities of Fargo and Moorhead in which the player controls a food delivery vehicle and must strategize orders to maximize profits. They created the project to highlight the unique restaurants in the cities of Fargo and Moorhead, and show players businesses that they may not have known of otherwise. Team 2 developed a platformer game centered around a Halloween inspired cast of characters. Users play as Arora the witch, and help her save her friends from the dilemma brought on by a mischievous spirit. Their purpose was to explore how storytelling and worldbuilding look in a design and UX project that included character design, visual atmosphere, and conceptualized game building. Their DEI goal was to highlight a sense of inclusion by bending stereotypes of the characters they created.

Friendship is an important, complex part of life, as it has many implications for development, quality of life, and mental health. However, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have many unique challenges and needs when it comes to making and maintaining quality friendships (Barber et al., 2015; Brady et al., 2020; Finke, 2016; Frankel et al., 2010). A prevalent way this problem has been addressed is through social skills training. In this literature review, multiple studies will be examined to determine the usefulness of social skills training and to consider other intervention options for increasing friendship quality for children with ASD. The importance of having friendship-centered goals and outcome measures, as well as involving peers in intervention, will be discussed. It will be demonstrated that skill-based interventions must be met with a more inclusive, accepting environment in order to increase social initiation and response (Donaldson et al., 2018; Kasari et al., 2012). Implications for clinical practice will also be discussed, including the need to include peers in interventions, provide peers with education about disabilities, write goals with social validity, and provide positive social opportunities for children with disabilities in both their schools and communities.

The goal for this project was to investigate structural phage proteins and identify the presence of proteins with unknown functions in phage structure. This project is of interest because we currently have diverse phages at MSUM whose gene homology doesn’t clearly indicate what proteins are functional, and this project allowed us to identify if the proteins are structural. Phage research is relevant to therapeutic applications in treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Protein identification was done through proteomic analysis of phage lysates. Phages were amplified from archived stock until a high titer was reached, and proteins were extracted through ultracentrifugation. Purified proteins were isolated by 2D gel electrophoresis and individual spots were run on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer at NDSU. The identity of isolated proteins was determined by peptide mass fingerprinting and BLAST and compared to known genomic sequences. 

This project involves the characterization and genome assembly of novel bacteria species isolated from the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Isolates analyzed were CG9_1, CG9_6, CG23_3, CanAir1, CanAir2, CanAir214, MP1.5, MP2.3, and Cryoconite5. Microbiological tests performed include gram staining, catalase testing, and carbon source testing. Genome assembly used short-read sequencing data and Unicycler assembly programming. PATRIC was used to test the quality of the genome with analysis metrics of coarse consistency, fine consistency, contamination, and completeness. These tests provide insight into the cell wall, enzymatic, and metabolic qualities of the bacteria. Characterization and genome assembly allow us to perform more advanced genetic, biochemical, and proteomic experiments in the future. 

Suicide loss has been referred to as having a ‘ripple effect’ as noted by Kevin Hines (2018), a prominent mental health advocate, public speaker, and survivor of a suicide attempt. The ripple effect of suicide can cause a major disruption in schools. In 2014, suicide surpassed homicide as the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents, followed by accidents. Teen suicide has continued to increase over the years. As mental health professionals, school psychologists need to be prepared for the event of a suicide. Suicide postvention (SPV) is how an organization responds in the aftermath of a suicide. SPV ideally facilitates the healing of grief and distress of a suicide loss through mitigation of negative effects to the exposure of a suicide. By identifying and supporting those impacted by the suicide and responding appropriately, we can further assist the whole community. School Psychologists must actively participate in suicide postvention in schools. This poster presentation will consist of information about SPV plans and key considerations to address for SPV plan prior to a suicide loss.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was described by Lai et al. (2014, p. 1) as a “set of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions, characterized by early-onset difficulties in social communication and unusually restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests.” Autism is a life-long diagnosis that is often common within families. While there is no definite cause, possible causes may include genetic differences, differences in brain development, or exposure to harmful chemicals within the environment (ASHA, nd.). Research has found that teenagers who are diagnosed with ASD are interested in having close, intimate relationships with others, including friendships, sexual relationships, and marriage (Mogavero et al., 2020). The diagnosis of ASD creates unique challenges for individuals who are pursuing these types of relationships, specifically in the areas of unwritten social norms, boundaries, consent, and online dating.

Telemedicine’s underutilization ended when the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to isolate and kept them from seeking healthcare services at their local hospitals and clinics. With the aid of the CARES Act of March 2020, healthcare providers quickly implemented telemedicine services to meet the various needs of their patients. During the pandemic, healthcare systems saw a significant increase in telemedicine visits. Essential industries turned to healthcare providers for assistance in keeping their workers healthy and to maintain production in the country’s critical infrastructure. Telemedicine services could quickly address health concerns and help address these industry needs and combat workforce shortages. As quickly as telemedicine services grew, and people have started to move closer to a pre-pandemic lifestyle, telemedicine service utilization waned. An in-depth literature review followed by a fishbone diagram and SWOT analysis occurred to examine the potential factors related to telemedicine utilization. To promote telemedicine utilization, application of Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation theory supports recommendations for the benefits of telemedicine and building on opportunities brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Implication for practice could include establishing virtual clinics for industries plagued with workforce shortages.

At 9:34 am on December 14, 2012, the first gunshot was heard at Sandy Hook Elementary. Multiple gunshots were fired in the few short minutes after. 26 people were murdered, 20 of which were children, ages six and seven. Newtown, Connecticut experienced one of America’s worst school shootings.

This presentation will cover three main areas: (1) the timeline of the Sandy Hook shooting, in which 26 people were murdered in six minutes. (2) The reality of gun violence and how owning a gun is more likely to cause harm than prevent a crime from happening. (3) The creation of the non-profit organization Sandy Hook Promise and their mission of preventing shootings from happening by educating communities on recognizing troubling behavior. 

Chatbots have found a place in contemporary businesses, typically as standins for traditional customer support employees, but what if you wanted to build a chatbot of your very own? What if you also wanted that chatbot to suggest music based on how you talk to it? Well, through the power of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and some Python code, you can. APIs act as a translator between different pieces of software and are used in software development all the time to add functionality to an application without having to write entirely new code. Python is a high level programming language that emphasizes code readability without sacrificing performance.

Students with busy schedules have a hard time planning their day-to-day activities and are motivated enough to get schoolwork done. By following the Lean Start-up method and interviewing 15 potential customers, we create the app that offers multifunctional and customized options for students on how to plan their day/life with aesthetic look/features. Our app does the thinking for you and helps you pursue your goals. 

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine students' cognitive, normative, and behavioral beliefs or perceived preferences regarding online learning versus face-to-face. The researchers hope to gain insight into the numerous factors that play into students' decision-making. This information will be worthwhile in helping instructors create formats to meet students' preferred learning modalities. This project aims to supply feedback to understand the educational landscape, current environment, and how instructional delivery affects student beliefs and perceptions. 

This exploratory study aims to identify the forces that drive students' enrollment in distinct delivery methods of courses in an ever-evolving educational experience. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many students and instructors into the world of online learning, mostly without preparation. 

 Once identified, these driving forces may help us better understand what leads a student to take a course in one form versus another. What, if any, are the differences between students who prefer online versus face-to-face learning. The research plan is to conduct an electronic survey tool created using Qualtrics. The survey will be distributed via email within the small to moderate-sized midwestern university and potentially shared through the snowball method to increase the participant pool.

Modern technology has transformed how we interact with the world around us. Gone are the days when the mobile phone's only capabilities were talk and text. Today we carry tiny pocket computers, or smartphones, with limitless functions to distract us. This study examined how situational and relational contexts shape perceptions of smartphone multitasking during social interactions.  

Above was the research question in place. It began with a look at the world through "my lying eyes." Tasked with conducting a project for an online synchronous research methods class, herein lies a tale of the ebb and flow of learning the ropes and finding a passion in the study of people communicating. A look backward to recap and revisit the idea of phubbing and how I've grown as an emerging communication scholar, from sophomore to senior.

This project will seek to gauge the scale of Solomon G. Comstock’s contributions to the development of Fargo-Moorhead from a lawless tent town of the Wild West to the thriving center it is today. To fully assess how integral Mr. Comstock was to this community, this paper will examine his life story, from his childhood in Maine to his law school education, to his dramatic move out West in the pursuit of the illusive American Dream. This paper will focus on his accomplishments in Moorhead, particularly his advocacy for Moorhead throughout his career as a state and nation representative, his role as a prominent businessman and investor, and his role as a prominent supporter of attention. Special attention will be paid to Comstock’s role as a townsite locator for James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railroad and the impact that the railroads had in developing Fargo-Moorhead as a center of trade in the Upper Midwest. The research presented will show that Solomon Comstock, like many of the other magnates of America’s industrial age, played an integral role in the formation of Fargo-Moorhead as a prominent center, and will illustrate that without him, the community would not be what it is today.  

This project is a study of supernatural themes and folklore in the cinemas of Southern Africa. The study is based on the sociological premise that the stories a society tells and how it tells them will reflect what it fears, and by extension, what it values. The main films analyzed in the project include I Am Not a Witch by Zambian director Rungano Nyoni, Gaia by South African director Jaco Bouwer, and The Tokoloshe by South African director Jerome Pikwane. The project draws on theories of folklore and national cinemas and suggests how viewers might approach representations of the supernatural in Southern African cinemas and internationally.

Part planetarium, part escape room, all fun. A rogue AI has cut off your communication from mission control and opened all of the airlocks as you are conducting deep space exploration. Can you and your crew escape before time runs out? Come to hear how students in the MSUM Planetarium are collaborating to combine technology, animation, astronomy, and puzzle crafting to create MSUM's first ever planetarium escape room.

Previous studies have shown that fictional crime dramas tend to utilize the ideal victim stereotype by disproportionately portraying White female victims (i.e., Parrott & Parrott, 2015). However, research findings are mixed with regard to the ideal offender being stereotypically portrayed as a minority male. The current content analysis will explore these stereotypes over a 22-year period as depicted in the television crime drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), by observing the pattern of differences in crime details, demographics, and trial outcomes in randomly selected episodes from seasons 1 and 23. Specifically, we will observe and code variables such as crime type, weapon use, various offender and victim demographic characteristics, trial outcomes, and sentencing terms using a modified coding scheme based on one created by Parrott and Parrott (2015). We expect to detect greater diversity in the race and gender of perpetrators and victims in season 23 compared to season 1. The current content analysis will extend earlier work in this area that has produced contrasting results in the past.

Past studies have found that when a name on a resume is perceived to be a person of color (e.g., Arab, Black African, Black American) they receive fewer call backs or are hired at a lower rate compared to Caucasian applicants (Howard & Borgella, 2020; Widner & Chicoine, 2011). Furthermore, Howard and Borgella (2020) found within-race differences when changing applicant ethnicity: Black Americans were less likely to receive an interview and be offered the job compared to Black Africans. The current study will further examine this within race difference with a White American applicant name serving as the control. Color blindness will also be measured as a moderator using the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS), since past research has shown an association between higher scores and greater racial prejudice (Neville et al., 2000). Undergraduate college students will be asked to review a resume and determine applicant suitability and hiring outcomes for a fictional office manager position, then complete the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS) and provide other neutral judgments. It is expected that the resume with the White American applicant name will receive more job offers and a higher starting salary than that with Black American and Black African names, with the Black American applicant receiving the fewest job offers and the lowest starting salary overall. If the hypothesis is supported, results will have implications on the association between colorblindness attitudes and racial discrimination in the workplace.

Education is a major part of the MSUM Planetarium. After the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person field trips were put on hold. This year we were able to resume field trips in the planetarium for K-12 schools in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Providing opportunities for students to engage with their state science standards in a hands-on way allows them to grapple with the content in unique ways and helps them visualize the concepts in the real world. In this presentation I will discuss the importance of education in the planetarium, how we use the state standards to form the content of our field trips as well as how that content is taught to students.

It’s an observation of the media representation of Black Women and Girls and its evolution. The focus of the research is an analysis of patterns present on books' covers, and how they fall into the respectability politics of the natural hair movement. The goal is to see how the notion of Misogynoir, Featurism and colorism might play a role in these cases. This work will be a thematic analysis of work of fiction written by black African descents, African Americans, and well as non-black individuals. The goal will be accomplish through the inspection of books publish between 2011 and 2021. 

Literacy skills such as reading, writing, communicating, interpreting, and computing are vital skills in the academic success of a student. Literacy in the classroom is an important measure of academic success for students (Wilson et. al., 2016). Both speech-language pathologists (SLP) and general education teachers play a role in the learning and acquisition of literacy skills. An SLP’s role is to assist with phonemic awareness and vocabulary development to improve oral and written language in students (Squires et. al., 2013). In most cases an SLP has more knowledge in print awareness and phoneme awareness than teachers and/or literary specialists (Wilson et. al., 2016). An SLP typically works with students who have a developmental language disorder and other communication impairments, but they are also knowledgeable in literacy intervention as well (Archibald, 2017). A general educator focuses on language skills and spelling to prepare students for reading. The general education instructor would also focus on the understanding of the curriculum (Wilson et. al., 2016). Through interprofessional collaboration (IPP), SLP’s and general education teachers can work together using classroom-based instruction to develop students phonemic and print awareness skills. Collaboration between SLPs and general educators, will decrease the risk for literacy learning difficulties in students by preventing written and oral language difficulties (Wilson et. al., 2016). Students may benefit from receiving instruction in their most natural and least restrictive environment to obtain and apply literacy skills in the areas of writing, reading, and oral language. Therefore, the collaboration of SLP’s and general educators to provide instruction within the classroom will benefit a multitude of students (Squires et. al., 2013). There is more research needed to better understand the benefits of IPP between SLP’s and general education teachers on the acquisition of literacy skills in school-aged children. 

In this experiment our goal is to use gene knockout to edit the genome of a bacteria with the goal to discover the proteins responsible for bacteria’s defense to bacteriophages. The importance of this is to form a deeper understanding about the interactions between bacteria and bacteriophage. The reasoning behind the desire to discover this is because these interactions are not widely understood and are still trying to be understood. We hope to use the genes of a mutated Microbacterium foliorum that is known to have changes in how it is infected by the bacteriophage BabyDotz. With this and data from other bacterial species with sequenced DNA and gene functions found, we hope to discover the genes responsible for the immune response of Microbacterium foliorum, and thus furthering the understanding of host-virus relationships.

Ben Reynolds is a Business Analtics major at the Paseka School of Business. As part of his capstone project he put together a presentation for this event. The presentation is about analytics in the early stage of app development. Through defining problems Ben was faced with at the fargo startup Lykkly, Ben provided analytics based solutions. The presentation focuses on the 3 areas of analytics: predictive, descriptive, and prescriptive. The presentation is aimed for people that have little understanding of analytics and by the end of the presentation the auidence will be able to better undstand analytics at a startup.  

Conventional economic theory explains many interactions between buyers and sellers with clarity.  However, the rapid growth in the sale of virtual goods from 2019 to 2022 exposes gaps between explaining behaviors in markets trading physical versus virtual goods. For the past three decades, economists have explored the market interactions occurring within massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. This paper reviews 21st-century literature focused on online gaming behaviors and compares these findings to the virtual markets of today. These findings recognize how physical and virtual markets differ and define expectations for future virtual markets. This research highlights an opportunity for economists to aid market interactions between consumers and firms in virtual space.

This review examines the topic of early Australian filmmaking and the rise in popularity of the horror genre with it. Discussed in this review are articles “Australian Cinema's Dark Sun: The Boom in Australian Horror Film Production,” written by Mark David Ryan, “Outward-Looking Australian Cinema” by Ben Goldsmith, and “The ‘Other’ in Film: Exclusions of Aboriginal Identity from Australian Cinema,” written by Suneeti Rekhari. These articles discuss the beginnings of filmmaking in Australia throughout the mid to late 1900’s. The writings have a focus on the emergence of the horror genre within Australian filmmaking as well as the genre’s boom in popularity in more recent decades. Many of these horror films are the first creations by their directors, and many of the films broke new ground regarding the world of Australian filmmaking. Australian horror films focus on a wide variety of subjects and themes, from the ‘ozploitation’ of the continent and its wildlife to the vast plains and the desolate locations between. What this study focuses on is how horror films were structural in the emergence of Aboriginal Australian cinema.

This project seeks to examine women within the Australian National Cinema to gain a better understanding of the relationship between gender and nationhood. I wish to identify reoccurring themes within the cinema as I delve into areas such as feminist filmmaking, as well as the history of female filmmaking in Australia. The primary sources for the project are the films of Gillian May Armstrongs films, My Brilliant Career (1979), Mrs. Soffel (1984), and Women He's Undressed (2015) to find how these works participate in a national cinema project. I intend to address questions of gender within the cinema as well as gain understanding on how films assist viewers in understanding concepts of nationhood in Australia. Theories such as psychoanalytical film theory, concepts of national cinema, and psychological realism will be explored throughout this project, allowing for deeper connections to be made.

Children are vulnerable to experiencing maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Additionally, children with diagnosed disabilities and/or speech and language impairments are at an increased risk for child maltreatment compared to those without a diagnosed disability or impairment. Since speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often work with these children, they should be knowledgeable about the effects of maltreatment on a child’s language development and skills; children who have experienced abuse or neglect may demonstrate challenges with language. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of maltreatment on a child’s expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language and the SLPs role in child maltreatment. SLPs should be mindful of the impact of maltreatment, signs of abuse and/or neglect, and ways to best support the child.

The partisan divide in American politics is ever-present and intensifying with each election, issue, and speech. The gap between Democrats and Republicans brings about a deep ideological split. This rhetorical analysis of President Joseph R. Biden’s January 6th capitol attack anniversary speech critically examines the ways that partisanship lenses can influence how we perceive messages in political communication. This examination goes to show the influence that our ideologies and biased information sources can bring. 

Volcanoes in our Solar System, written by G. Jeffrey Taylor, includes information on volcanic activity, formation, structure, and importance in our solar system. With the help of Dr. Sara Shultz and NASA, the revision of Volcanoes in our Solar System flows into multiple facets from types of volcanoes found on planets, lunar volcanoes, volcanic activity on planetary satellites and asteroids, how volcanism can determine planetary origins, and more. The purpose is to reintroduce the book with updated data and information through the NASA grant and online library given to MSUM’s Planetarium. 

Prior to its ban in 1996, leaded gasoline was universally available for use in all vehicles. Lead, a soil contaminant, can still be measured by its content through X-Ray Fluorescence, or XRF Analysis. In our research, we conducted experiments measuring the composition of soils in varied proximities of Highway 10, a roadway used before the ban of leaded gasoline. The purpose of the experiment is to determine the levels and remaining concentrations of lead (Pb) in the soils surrounding the Highway and its relation to how Pb partitions and deposits in soil. 

This project is a part of a long-term study done on western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii). This long-term study started in 2001 and continued to 2019. No data were collected in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the study continued in 2021 while following CDC guidelines. Turtles were caught in three sloughs located near Rollag, MN, using basking traps. The data collected from captured turtles included weight, sex, plastron length, and carapace length, width, and curvature. Turtles were identified using PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags, scute notches, and colored nail polish. We used data from 2021 to compare the movement of painted turtles within and between sloughs based on age (body size) and sex. The 2021 data were collected in drought conditions. Preliminary results indicated there were no major differences in movements between sexes and sizes of turtles. We plan to later compare movements of turtles captured in 2021 (drought year) with movements of turtles captured in 2019 (non-drought year) to see if there are any significant differences.

This literature review focuses on Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate student stress and why this is a significant issue. It is essential that ways to mitigate these stressors be explored by students and faculty to aid both parties by creating an experience for these students that is as positive and effective as possible. As SLP graduate students can present with a form of perfectionism called “maladaptive perfectionism,” where they set lofty standards for themselves, but have a challenging time believing that they are able to reach their goals. It is especially important to identify what their stressors are, whether they be academic or external, and find ways for these students to mitigate their stressors. This will lead to students being at peak performance levels for both themselves as well as the clients that they are serving now in clinical practicum experiences as well as all future clients that they will see. By teaching them or suggesting to them ways to mitigate these stressors, it is creating an overall healthier environment as well as increasing engagement and academic performance.  

Vocabulary is one of the pillars of language development.  Vocabulary growth is an early indicator of academic performance in school (Duff, 2015).  However, accurately measuring vocabulary can be challenging.  How do you assess vocabulary levels and growth during kindergarten?  This study explored the expressive vocabulary of 125 kindergarten students from two schools in the upper Midwest.  The students took a 21 item “Tell Me” vocabulary test in Fall and Winter.   Students were asked to describe 21 words selected from grade level read aloud books. Data are presented on growth on test scores from Fall to Winter overall and disaggregated by ELL and nonELL students.  Analysis of item difficulty (easy, moderate, or difficult) based on word selection compared to actual student response patterns also will be presented.  Challenges and future research directions will be discussed.

Few studies have investigated the intersection of competitiveness and state self-esteem. Additionally, there is little research on the impact of both competitiveness and self-esteem on task performance when it is applied to athletes and sports/exercise psychology. The proposed research study aims to investigate this intersection through manipulating a success/failure condition to affect state self-esteem, then measuring performance on an anagram task as a function of competitiveness. The researcher expects participants who are both in the success condition and have a high level of competitiveness to perform best on the anagram task. Conversely, participants who are in the failure condition and have a low level of competitiveness are expected to perform worse on the task. Additionally, it is predicted that participants who are highly competitive will perform worse in the failure condition but still perform better than low competitive participants in the success condition. We also plan to investigate the potential role of performance contingent self-worth within this success-failure paradigm. If these results are supported, they may have implications for various areas in which a competitive drive can be beneficial such as athletics, academics, or business.

An aspect of sportsmanship in athletics involves a player’s tendency to help those around him or her in competition. Few studies have investigated the intersection of sportsmanship (prosocial behaviors) and gender. The proposed content analysis aims to investigate this intersection through analyzing player behavior from the 2022 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament. This content analysis seeks to answer the research question of whether one gender exhibits more prosocial behavior during competition than the other. Numerous prosocial behaviors will be recorded, such as congratulating a teammate through high fives or pointing at them, helping a teammate or opponent to their feet when they have fallen, and breaking up a fight between others. Additionally, antisocial behaviors will be observed, such as arguing with the referee or opponents and throwing chairs. This information will be coded as a function of gender and race of the individual who performs the behavior. The results of this content analysis may have implications on societal gender roles, sports broadcasting, and the coaching and socialization of prosocial behaviors.

My paper is a study on the genre of Outback Gothic cinema in Aboriginal Australia. I found this topic to be fascinating because of the way that many of the genre tropes connect to Australia’s dark colonial history. Some of the primary sources I am choosing to focus on for my national cinema project include films such as: Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Walkabout (1971), and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978). My secondary (academic) sources relate to the unique soundscapes featured in this genre, the basis of Australian New Cinema in 18th and 19th century Australian literature, and the development of Australia’s cinematic identity. I hope to distinguish my work from previous scholars by unifying these concepts into a coherent overview of this specific national genre of the Outback Gothic film, of which there does not seem to be an analysis so specific.

Our presentation will involve a demonstration and explanation of our innovation, a handle that can comfortably accomodate the large number of shopping bags that shoppers have to carry into their apartments/homes every day. We will also discuss our process of developing our product and devising an effective business plan.

Morphological Analysis of Birds in the Atlantic Forest of South America
Ecogeographic rules explain variation within a species using biogeography. Allen's rule states that body surface-area-to-volume ratio for animals varies with the average temperature of their habitat. Typically, latitude is used as the temperature variable. However, this rule should hold true over any type of temperature variable. We want to know, is there a correlation between altitude and ratio of mass to length of birds in The Atlantic Forest? To answer this question, we will be using the Atlantic Bird Traits data set. This data set has been compiled over two centuries by tens of researchers (1820-2018) and includes data on 80% of the bird populations found in The Atlantic Forest. We will perform an exploratory analysis on this data set looking for correlations between altitude and ratio of mass to length of bird species. Based on other similar analyses, we expect to see a positive correlation between these variables.

The MSUM Planetarium has only ever presented shows in English. Though there is a significant percentage of Spanish-speaking people in the Fargo-Moorhead community, the MSUM Planetarium has never had the ability to present shows in Spanish. Not only are there many Spanish-speaking families in our area but there are also Spanish Immersion elementary classes in the elementary school right down the street. The addition of Spanish shows to the Planetarium is of great value to MSUM and the surrounding F-M area. This gives the opportunity for people to enjoy the planetarium if they only speak Spanish. It also supplies a great learning opportunity for Spanish language learners.  

In today’s modern world of web application development, there are many frameworks that allow for quick and easy website application creation.  In this presentation, I will display a simple bookmark manager web application made with the Angular framework and Firebase backend service.  Angular and Firebase provide quick project startup and smooth development with many developer-friendly features and tools that cut out the need to worry about extraneous detail.  This allows the creative mind of the developer to flourish and create applications that users will truly enjoy.  

The Planetarium is not only an incredible facet for our students, but it has become a staple form of entertainment for families within the Fargo/Moorhead area. This year our shows are in person again, and as manager of the Planetarium social medias, I have learned creative and eye-catching ways to draw the attention of the public to come to our shows. Through navigating Hootsuite and Canva, I have been able to work alongside many coworkers in creating an effective way to advertise. The Planetarium not only puts on various shows, but also holds a biweekly media night, hosts field trips, movie nights, and so much more. 

Misconceptions are a driving topic in the world of public health, even more so now with the prevalence of COVID-19. This study intends to investigate misconceptions related to vaccine usage among undergraduate students. Five True or False questions related to the topic of vaccines were distributed among students who provided 941 total responses. The data was analyzed to find the relative frequency of true or false answers per each question. Our preliminary analyses showed  that 27% of the responses were incorrect and 73% of the 941 responses were correct. Thematic coding will help analyze the overarching misconceptions related to the topic of vaccines, and help planning educational interventions to address the misconceptions about vaccines, which has a relevance in our communities, at large.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports also known as PBIS is a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) evidence-based practice that works to promote school safety and functional behaviors for students. Often PBIS is not implemented with fidelity and does not work as well as it should. The purpose of our research is to understand how to implement PBIS effectively in all classrooms. Our research specifically focuses on finding PBIS strategies that are appropriate for each student in tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 of PBIS. PBIS applies to all students and their needs. PBIS can also be implemented in a variety of settings. Being able to implement PBIS within each tier using evidence-based practices can provide proactive approaches to preventing behaviors and restorative practices if the proactive did not work. Within each tier, there is a variety of evidence-based practices that work for each student. Positively addressing behaviors can lead to better outcomes for the school and can eliminate the need for ineffective exclusionary measures such as suspensions and expulsions. 

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the language dominant hemisphere of the brain.  It results in deficits in an individual’s ability to comprehend or express language as well as read or write. This project discusses a treatment approach used with individuals that have aphasia, known as constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT), in addition to comparing CIAT’s effectiveness against conventional therapy.  CIAT is based on key principles consisting of massed practice, relevant language, and constraint of compensatory communication strategies such as gestures or drawing.  CIAT encourages improvement in communicative functions in a shorter amount of time, compared to conventional therapy.  Results of the research regarding the effectiveness of CIAT and conventional therapy is summarized. 

Superoscillations are a general feature of oscillatory systems wherein interference between modes of different frequencies produces an oscillation over a small region which can be arbitrarily faster than the fastest of those modes. This phenomenon has applications in optics, signal processing, and quantum mechanics and in certain physical scenarios, can raise questions about the meaning and applicability of the law of conservation of energy. I have shown that coupled harmonic oscillator systems can generate superoscillatory behavior and analyzed this behavior in both classical and quantum mechanical regimes. The results of this project may illuminate new paths in experimental physics that will further elucidate the phenomenon of superoscillations and their applications. 

Regression analysis is a set of statistical techniques for estimating the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. The insurance.csv data set includes 7 variables: age, sex, bmi (body mass index), smoker, region, number of children, and charges. We will investigate the data set and explore the numerical and visual representations of each variable. Our goal is to predict the insurance charges using the predictors: age, sex, bmi, smoker, region, and number of children. We will build a multiple linear regression model to do the prediction. The evaluation and the report of the model are provided. 

Growing up as a kid, I always loved to play games on the internet. It was something to do to pass the time. I would always play games with my friends online and we would always try to beat each other’s high scores on games. This was my motivation for my project. I wanted to be able to recreate something like this on my own. Not only did I want to make something that brought back memories of my childhood but also something that was fun to work on. My project is a collection of games that I made all piled into an arcade-like program. I developed the whole program in the python coding language. Each game that I developed is similar to games that have been developed before, but I changed them in ways that I thought would be interesting.

The First World War led to millions of people, both soldiers and civilians, to their deaths. Why did so many people have to die? Why was there a war in the first place? Even if there was going to be a war no matter the circumstances, how did it engulf the entire world? One man’s death, most people at the time could not see the major consequences. However, there were some who desired war and would strive to achieve their goal no matter the cost. With these warhawks and misconception about war, the dominos began to fall to plunge the globe into conflict.

One of the largest concerns with continued technological advancement is digital security. This is a trend that can only continue as new technology will present new ways and methods of breaching security. For this reason, methods to protect digital security are vital to our society. A key aspect of any arms race such as this is to understand the perspective, goals, and abilities of the opposing side, and the same is true in the digital sector. In the technology industry, this understanding comes from what is known as ethical or white hat hacking. To highlight the importance of this process, we will undergo a thorough examination of the history, motivation, and methods of ethical hacking. In doing so, we will hopefully achieve a better understanding and appreciation of this process. Additionally, bringing awareness of this topic to a wider audience is of utmost import as security is not a concern for innovators alone. In order to ensure that society continues to protect itself at the same time it creates new threats for itself, we must all be aware of how security comes about.

Furniture is a necessity that contributes to a healthier lifestyle - both mentally and physically. Furninute Mission of the Red River Valley is a non-profit organization in Fargo/Moorhead with a mission to demonstrate love and compassion by connecting furniture/household items with individuals and families in their time of crisis and challenge. Furniture mission works with other nonprofit organizations such as The New Life Center, American Red Cross, and Churches United. Our goal is to promote awareness to those who may be struggling, know someone in crisis, or are interested in volunteering or donating. Our presentation on Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley began as a group project in COMM 211, Group and Team Communication.

Since the overexposure and mass distribution of antibiotics to combat bacterial infections, the issue of antibiotic resistance has developed into a threat for all humankind. Despite this, inappropriate usage of antibiotics among the general public has continued to run rampant. In 2018, MSUM undergraduates were surveyed about their knowledge and perceptions on antibiotic resistance utilizing a survey tool created by the World Health Organization—which analyzed this same issue on a much broader, international scale. The 2018 MSUM undergraduate study provided an opportunity to observe common antibiotic misconceptions among our undergraduate student body. For example, 60% of freshmen and 43% of upperclassmen responded that Human Immunodeficiency Virus could be cured through antibiotics—despite its viral composition. The public knowledge—or rather, lack of knowledge—on topics related to infectious diseases likely also contributes to both the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Such misinformation among the public is concerning, given the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. Once these misconceptions have been identified, targeted public health education campaigns can be designed.

Mario Peixoto was a Brazilian director who created a heavily influential film by the name of Limite. Limite is notable due to the impact it has had on other directors such as Orson Welles. Mario Peixoto's legacy is significant regardless of his low level of recognition from general audiences and attempts to remedy that unfortunate reality. Using a variety of firsthand experiences and research regarding the film and its director, the study explicates the importance of Limite and the life of Mario Peixoto, referencing his experiences and what led to him creating this singular film, as well as the importance "Limite" has had on the Brazilian film industry specifically. 

With the rising influence of technology, many people in the computer science discipline and outside of it have thought of smart cities. A smart city is defined as a city that runs on advanced technology. It is supposed to be an interconnected world that uses data science and other aspects of the computer science field to serve the people who live there. In a time where 66% of the world in the future is expected to be urban, it is important to know how technology will play a role in the way people live.

Introduction: 
The purpose of this research was to find better ways to find DNA left from pollinators that was left from them. Hopefully to find out what pollinators were visiting the flower, and how long its been since they have visited.  
Methods:  
Collection: Collection was done at the regional science center. Samples were taken from individual flowers and then stored in lysis buffer solution so the Extraction process could be started.  
Extraction: Steps were followed from standard DNA extraction protocol to extract the DNA. This was using standard lab equipment: Plate shakers, incubators.  
Purification: Purification was done using a Zymo research kit. The protocol was slightly modified.  
Testing: Never got to this point due to lack of time.  
Results:  
Purification to find out what pollinators were on a flower appear to be possible. However much care is needed to make sure that the minute quantities of DNA are handled as carefully as possible.  

Next steps: Proceed with sequencing from samples, as well as doing further testing on the samples provided by the minnesota zoo. 

The presence of swallowing disorders in individuals who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease can impair overall quality of life, result in malnutrition, or even cause death. This literature review analyzed viable treatment options available to compensate for existing swallowing deficits in the Parkinson’s Disease population in addition to ways to diminish the risk for future health complications. The dysphagia treatment approaches included were pharmacological intervention, exercise-based swallowing training, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, video assisted swallowing therapy, and modifications related to posture and diet. Results indicated a significantly limited evidence base surrounding the topic of Parkinson’s Disease and dysphagia. Some studies yielded debatable outcomes with intervention success varying across participants, while other studies generated positive outcomes at the small-scale level. Overall, research teams emphasized the need for additional larger-scale studies to be conducted to determine overall efficacy of the described treatment approaches. 

Aboriginal Identity in the Films of Rachel Perkins
This project focuses on the concept of Aboriginality within Australian national cinema. The primary texts analyzed in the study include the following: Jasper Jones, an adaptation of the same 2009 novel. This film was directed by an indigenous filmmaker, Rachel Perkins. The story follows a young boy as he tries to solve the murder of a young girl and prove the town Aboriginal outcast innocent. The second film is the 2001 musical, One Night the Moon. Also directed by Rachel Perkins, this film follows the story of a young white girl who goes missing in the Australian outback and explores the discourse between the Indigenous people and white settlers. The third text is the 2009 comedy, Bran Nue Dae, a story about a young boy who runs away from his Catholic boarding school to return home to Aboriginal Australia. Through analyses of these films, this project demonstrates the prejudice against Aboriginal identity in Australia and how Aboriginal filmmakers have responded to that history. By focusing on the works of Rachel Perkins, the project also clarifies how a woman director has participated in the project of mapping the progress that has been made by Aboriginal filmmakers in defining what counts as Australian national cinema.

The purpose of this literature review is to gather information on the correlation between low-socioeconomic school-age children and literacy. The literature highlighted information on various factors that impact a student’s ability to learn literacy skills; these include family/school/peer values (Taylor & Graham, 2007; Stack, Moorefield, & Barkdale, 2015), the achievement gaps between low-SES and other students (Foster & Miller, 2007; Hus, 2001), lack of resources (Krashen, 2011; Stack, Moorefield, & Barkdale, 2015), and proposed ideas to improve literacy for low-SES students (Hus, 2001; Kennedy, 2018; Thomas, Colin, & Leybaert, 2020). A common factor reported by many researchers was that a lack of resources is one of the greatest components to impact a child’s literacy development. Krashen (2011) found that low-income families do not have access to books. Having access to books is correlated to increasing reading achievement for low-SES students (Lance, 1994; McQuillan, 1997; Krashen, 2004; & Lindsay, 2010). Having access to books is important, as well as the quality of the books and the reading environment. Information gathered from the literature review can be valuable for the field of speech pathology, education, and school psychology. 

Many animal species cannot adapt to living in an urban environment, while others adapt very well.  Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in the Fargo (ND)-Moorhead (MN) area are one of the latter species.  American Crystal Sugar Company contacted Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) in 2010 to build a partnership to humanely lower the goose population with hopes of lowering the Escherichia coli (E. coli) levels in their water-holding ponds.  These ponds provide an ideal habitat for both migrating and resident goose populations as their water remains open year-round.  Each spring since 2010 (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19), MSUM students count number of geese present and locate and monitor nests.  With proper permits and IACUC protocols, most of the eggs are oiled to prevent further egg development and subsequent growth of the goose population.  Over the years, we have noticed a definite decrease in numbers of nests, starting with 120 nests in 2010, dropping to a low of 5 in 2015, with a slight rise to 16 nests in 2021.  Overall, geese number have also decreased, but average numbers have fluctuated somewhat, probably influenced by weather and time of day that the counts were conducted.  In 2015, we also started counting the numbers of ducks present and noticed that their numbers have appeared to climb as goose numbers have declined.  However, we found no duck nests on the property, indicating ducks might be using the pond habitats only short-term.  Long-term effects of this goose management process are mostly unknown.  

The focus of this research is to design a point-of-sale stand-alone application. It is a common computer system in businesses that improves their daily basis operations by helping them to manage sales, track inventory and sometimes boost revenues with the customer gift cards. The features vary on the size of the business and the preference needed. 

For this research I decided to focus more on the software than the system as a whole. This means that the design and development were strictly the only priorities rather than a complete point-of-sale system which includes the hardware part. The project was successful and included all the features that needed to be implemented because I used the incremental development process. The idea of backtracking algorithm was figuratively very important during the development stages because I would go back to previous steps at any time whenever a problem would rise in future implementations. The programming language I used was C#, and I first designed the user interface. At this stage, there was no need to spend much time because I had already sketched the design by hand and I also used Figma, a designing platform. After, the user interface’s implementation, I decided to use mockaroo to generate mock SQL data for sales and customers. For checking the sales history, I created an analytical sales report form. A login system was created for data security for different types of users. The outcome of this project is crucial to businesses wanting to improve their day-to-day operations

This presentation examines Bong Joon Ho as a South Korean film auteur. Bong uses the medium of film to critique and examine South Korean contemporary life and the global capitalist way of life in general. Bong uses several aspects of film art (characters, mise-en-scène, shot composition, etc.) to emphasize his critique of capitalism. Each film then calls attention to specific problems within the capitalist reality. Several of Bong’s feature-length films will be utilized in this study to trace consistencies in Bong’s directorial style. Secondary sources will be used to develop a background on the social and political climate of South Korea and its relationship with capitalism. This study is anchored in theories of authorship, specifically, Sarris’ concentric circle and Perkins’ unity of image and theme. These theoretical frameworks will be analyzed in relation to Bong’s work. Unlike other studies of Bong, this analysis will take a look at the connecting links throughout Bong’s career and emphasize how this makes Bong an auteur.

This presentation examines Bong Joon Ho as a South Korean film auteur. Bong uses the medium of film to critique and examine South Korean contemporary life and the global capitalist way of life in general. Bong uses several aspects of film art (characters, mise-en-scène, shot composition, etc.) to emphasize his critique of capitalism. Each film then calls attention to specific problems within the capitalist reality. Several of Bong’s feature-length films will be utilized in this study to trace consistencies in Bong’s directorial style. Secondary sources will be used to develop a background on the social and political climate of South Korea and its relationship with capitalism. This study is anchored in theories of authorship, specifically, Sarris’ concentric circle and Perkins’ unity of image and theme. These theoretical frameworks will be analyzed in relation to Bong’s work. Unlike other studies of Bong, this analysis will take a look at the connecting links throughout Bong’s career and emphasize how this makes Bong an auteur.

As a society and as older generations, we need to figure out what social media means to the younger generation and how we can change social media for the better. I will first start by addressing a family, on the Netflix movie “Social Dilemma,” who is affected by screen time. Next, I will be getting personal and walking you through the events that I have heard from close friends. Then, finally, I will discuss in-depth on how we, as older siblings or parents, can protect our children/young siblings from social media. All these questions: What is too young? Who is the most affected group? Can social media be the cause of young children’s anxiety? How can parents protect their kids 24/7? will be addressed in my presentation.

In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness for the neglect of ocean conservation. There have been numerous events that have had a great impact on biodiversity. One example to visualize this is the Great Barrier Reef. The increase in ocean temperatures, due to climate change, has led to vast coral bleaching. In turn, this leads to the death of these organisms, and further damaging the habitats of other organisms, which affects overall biodiversity. What is biodiversity and why is it important? All species are interconnected, with food webs, hierarchal systems, and chemical cycles. Because of this, all organisms to some extent rely on resources from other organisms. In the MSUM Oceanarium, there is an exhibit that is meant to display biodiversity as well as spark discussion on conservation efforts and the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Previous studies have found that time spent on social media plays a key role in university students’ self-esteem (e.g., Niemz et al., 2005). However, there remains little to no studies that investigate the inconsistency of online and offline identities with self-esteem. The objective of the study will be to examine the consistency of university students’ identities through social media platforms. It is expected that there will be an inverse relationship between the inconsistency of the student’s social identity and their self-esteem. Low scores on self-esteem-related questions will be related to higher scores on questions regarding social media identity inconsistency. It is also expected that those who score highly on the pathological internet use scale will have lower scores on self-esteem-related questions. If the hypothesis is supported, results will have implications on how social media disinhibition and unhealthy internet use impacts university students’ health. Making university students aware of how impactful social media screen time is to one’s self-esteem may cause people to reevaluate how much time they spend on social media.

I plan to focus on several aspects of Gen Z from my final paper for the Student Academic Conference Presentation. Such as dating practices, personality traits, living habits, generally what is important and not important to them, such as life goals. I wrote this essay in my class Intercultural Communication with Anthony Ocana because is it a subculture I am a part of. I will define what sets us apart as members of Gen Z.

Persecution of Russian German Immigrants From 1760 to 1920

When we think of people persecuted in Germany, most of us immediately think of the horrors the Jewish people suffered during World War 2. It turns out Jews weren’t the only group targeted in Germanys’ long history. In the late 18th century, a diverse group of Germans, including Catholics, Protestants, Mennonites, and Hutterites, were persecuted in one way or another. Devastated by two decades of war between 1740 and 1760, failing crops, high land costs, and even religious persecution, many answered Catherine II’s (a.k.a. Catherine The Great) Manifesto, inviting Germans to migrate to Russia. For the next 100 years, Germans responded to her call of free land, money to move, tax incentives, and being free from military conscription. And move they did, by the thousands. That came to a screeching halt in 1863 when Alexander II began the process of “Russification,” which was a move to make all foreigners embrace Russian nationalism. Losing freedoms that Catherine’s Manifesto gave them, ethnic Germans faced new levels of persecution and left Russia for the Americas. Yet even as they arrived in their new home countries, bigotry and persecution followed as they struggled to assimilate within their adopted lands. This presentation illustrates how persecution followed them at each step in their journey to freedom, from Germany to Russia and then to the United States.

Mental health is very important to a persons overall health and well-being. Mental health is composed of emotional, physiological, and social aspects of our lives. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of changes to our lives whether it be work, childcare, ability to leave the house, etc. As a result of these changes, our emotional, psychological health, as well as our social lives have been impacted, and not necessarily for the better. We are interested in how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected children's overall mental health and well-being. To address this topic, we will explore data from KIDS COUNT®, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation which surveys children and families annually across the United States. We will look for relationships between risk factors, such as social distancing and stay-at-home orders, and mental health outcomes. Our results may help us understand the effect of COVID-19 on children's mental health in the US, and suggest ways to improve public health responses in the future.

A common problem with solar panels is overheating, which causes loss in power production. There are many ways to solve this problem, but most existing solutions use energy. I propose using a heatsink to passively cool solar panels. I tested this hypothesis by measuring the voltage and current of the solar panel when it is exposed to 2 300-watt lightbulbs. I did these tests to find power, where Power = Voltage * Current.  I tested the effects of a heatsink by using two solar panels, where one panel did not have any cooling effect. The results of my experiment showed that the presences of a heatsink reduced the overall temperature of the solar panel by 19 +/- 3%. The power production of the panel did drop with the increase in temperature, but since the heatsink was successful in cooling the panel, there was a successful preservation of power production in the exposure of heat.

Previous studies on native and restored prairies have shown that anthropogenic influences on the environment fuel the growth of invasive species (MacDougall et al. 2014). NPK fertilizers, specifically, have also shown to cause an increase in biomass and a decrease in plant species richness.The Minnesota State University of Moorhead Regional Science Center has two established native restored prairie sites: North Pond, which is enrolled in the Nutrient Network Global Collaborative and has yearly additives of NPK fertilizer, and Houston, which is reserved for independent student research projects. Students at MSUM have collected 5 years of percent cover data from North Pond and 3 years from Houston. We will be using exploratory data analysis to pursue our question by comparing percent cover and taxa data from both sites to look at the variation of species richness across 60 plots. We will be using 2 data sets to ask “How does species richness vary in native restored prairies when NPK fertilizer treatments are applied?” We expect to find that plots with applied NPK fertilizer will have a lower overall species richness than plots with no nutrients applied. A greater understanding of these processes and consequent environmental impacts may provide a useful background of knowledge for land management, restoration, and conservational efforts.

This will be our sixth year of following protocols and contributing data to the Nutrient Network, a global research network of over 140 sites around the world studying grassland ecology. Our site, ‘North Pond’ was established in 2016 on a 20+ year prairie restoration at MSUM’s Regional Science Center as part of a ten-year commitment to the network. Along with global research, independent local research projects have been established at North Pond. According to NutNet protocols (Nutrient Network 2016), each NutNet site is split into three blocks, each with 10 5x5 m plots for a total of 30 plots. Factorial combinations of nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium - NPK) will be added for the sixth year to designated 5x5 m plots at both sites in spring. We measured plant biomass, species diversity and abundance using NutNet protocols for the North Pond site (Nutrient Network 2016). We compared biomass data from previous years in light of varying precipitation patterns, especially regarding the drought of 2021. So far, our data have shown an increase in biomass and a decrease in plant species diversity in the fertilized plots, a typical result of other NutNet sites across the globe (Nutrient Network 2016). The results from independent student research projects will also be discussed. Results from biomass and precipitation patterns in 2020 and 2021 showed a decrease in total biomass of roughly 50% sitewide. 

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our group is synthesizing analogs of antipyrine to better understand and optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment.

Antipyrine has hydrogen and methyl substituents at the C4 and C5 positions, and methyl and phenyl substituents at N1 and N2.  I will report studies for the preparation of analogs with larger substituents at either C4 or C5.  These will be “N1-desmethyl” analogs, with antipyrine’s N1-methyl group absent.  Colleague Lola Sibaud will report on N1-methylation of my products, such that the nature of the C4 or C5 substituent will be the only difference from antipyrine.  I will also report on the preparation of analogs in which the N2-phenyl group is replaced by more complex arenes.

I have worked out a procedure in which various 3-ketoesters react with phenylhydrazine under high temperatures to produce novel N1-desmethyl analogs.  I will present results for a series of analogs.  Products were usually purified by crystallization.  Products and reaction progress were typically analyzed by GC-MS and/or NMR spectroscopy. 

I will also present results for the N2-arylation of 1,5-dimethylpyrazolidinone, catalyzed by a novel copper(I) iodide-diamine catalyst. 

Throughout time, the human jaw has been evolving due to factors such as environmental conditions and changes in diet. When evaluating morphological changes in the human jaw, it has evolved from representing the structure of an ape, large jaws, and a small braincase, to gradually having smaller jaws and a larger braincase. This change in jaw shape and form has been suspected to be a contributing factor to a variety of health issues in the field of Dentistry and in a person’s overall health. In the past, genetics has been thought to be a leading cause for these health and dental concerns, but recent evidence and research suggest alternative explanations. This research presentation evaluates factors contributing to evolutionary change in the jaw and teeth structure, health issues that emerged because of these changes, recent research findings, and how the field of Dentistry and healthcare is addressing these changes.  

This presentation is an examination of the efficacy of auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) for children with cochlear implants. AVT is a form of aural habilitation aimed to improve age-appropriate spoken language abilities in children with hearing loss by developing listening skills without the need for cues. In combination with high familial involvement and early management of hearing loss, children with cochlear implants make notable improvements in their language and auditory perceptual skills after completing AVT.

Giving a present to someone can feel so rewarding, especially for your significant other. When women are searching for a gift, they need a more convenient way without being overwhelmed and stressed. Our website, Helping Hand, is a solution that generates present ideas based on the information imputed like traits and hobbies. This service assists women by saving time and energy on the strenuous search of finding the perfect gift.

This literature review examined the aspects of evidence based practice on Melodic Intonation Therapy for individuals with aphasia. Evidence based practice takes into consideration external and internal evidence, client/caregiver perspective, and clinical expertise. Melodic Intonation Therapy focuses on using structured phrases that are musically intoned to help individuals with aphasia regain their ability to verbally communicate. This approach is highly structured and strict on following protocols. Each study examined found positive success in some aspect of communication, however, it is important to note that each study modified the approach to best fit the client’s needs. It remains under study whether Melodic Intonation Therapy is a viable treatment option for individuals with aphasia. 

Reparative regeneration is the ability of an organism to restore itself after being damaged.  Various methods of tissue regeneration exist in the animal kingdom, and some creatures are much more efficient than others.  Invertebrates exhibit some of the greatest reparative regenerative abilities.  Many echinoderms and crustaceans are capable of regenerating entire limbs that have been removed by predators or by autotomy.   However, both have entirely different methods of doing so.  Sea stars excel in their ability to regenerate; with some being able to produce a new organism from a single removed arm.  Crabs and other crustaceans can regenerate lost limbs by molting their exoskeleton.  The aim of this study is to explore the differences between echinoderm and crustacean regenerative abilities in terms of physiology and histology; and as an example of convergent evolution.   

This project is a study of Native American filmmaking. The study is motivated by an interest in examining the hardships that Native Americans have faced and artistic approaches by Native American filmmakers to uncover this history. The project relies on analyses of Native American films to understand contemporary social-cultural conditions of Native American lives. The primary films examined include: Smoke Signals (1998) directed by Chris Eyre, Defend the Sacred (2017) by Kyle Bell, and Mekko (2015) directed by Sterlin Harjo. The study critically explores Native American perspectives and cinematic choices, not how others have represented them. The project begins with an overview of national cinemas, Native American filmmaking, before detailed analyses of each film. It concludes with a general outline of common running themes and stylistic choices. 

 Indigenous peoples from all over the world have faced issues with negative representation within cinema. It is well documented, however, that regardless of what people you are a part of or where you are, human relationships are one thing everyone can understand. This study analyzes brotherly relationships in Maori culture as depicted in Maori Cinema. Specifically, analyzing sibling relationships in a couple of Lee Tamahori’s Maori films allows the project to closely examine how family narratives give viewers access to understanding nationhood. The project is supported by a theoretical and historical exploration of national cinemas, Indigeneity, and New Zealand cinema. 

The current collective bargaining impasse between the Major League Baseball (MLB) Players' Association and team owners marks the first official work stoppage in the sport in 28 years. These parties’ viewpoints differ in relation to potential adjustments to the size of the minor leagues and policy changes related to minor league base salary, free agency, and service time calculation.  Using publicly available MLB data for years 1995 to 2021, this research compares average player salary to total revenue across MLB. This analysis frames the business side of MLB in a manner similar to other types of U.S. businesses. MLB fans may find consolation in understanding why their favorite teams and players are not in action and what factors would have to change to resolve the current gridlock.

This research project explores the positive and negative impacts that the Pacific War had on soldier morale during World War II.  This project examines and discusses different variables that affected the United States armed force’s confidence and enthusiasm during this time.  Both positive and negative examples are provided and analyzed to be able to understand what soldiers went through at this time in a deeper manner. You will see how morale affects a soldier’s state of mind and confidence which affects their ability to defend their country.  A high morale strengthens the cohesion between troops while a low morale can lead to many detrimental consequences.  This research also investigates how the military organizations made an effort to maintain soldier morale and why positive morale was critical for a victory.  

This paper will focus on the study of Mexican Cinema specifically with cinema that takes on the themes of poverty and the youth of Mexico. My primary sources revolve around 2 episodes from the TV show El Chavo del Ocho as well as an 1-hour TV special. These are works from Roberto Gomez Bolaños also known as Chespirito. His TV shows and media works are worth studying because they offered an alternative perspective Mexican poverty in the 1970s.

In this project, Bolaños' productions are held side by side with mainstream Mexican popular cinema. In particular, the project examines how the selected works represent neighborhood dynamics in Mexico City, child/adult relationships, and TV genre as ways of negotiating concepts of the nation.

Yash Chopra stands out as an excellent example in directing work in Bollywood cinema. Through their long career, they have achieved a great status among Mumbai directors, but perhaps their most important work is the incorporation of the song sequence. The combination of song and dance in Mumbai cinema draws on the sentimental appeal of the viewer, resulting in an ‘emotional lense’ in which one may experience a shift in emotional perspective. The versatility of the song sequence allows for a thorough exploration in both the raga based scene as well as the more tragic scene. A common theme among Mumbai films is the tendency to create a sense of ‘heart’ for the Indian nation; the resulting message adheres to the strong value of togetherness. Song and dance allowed for a progression of ambitious feats in Mumbai film, creating new aspirations for the subjects and audience to interpret and digest. The state of the song, physical or internal, represents a true potential in the heart of the film and allows for a truer connection to the spectator.

Queer and feminist cinema have advanced and grown exponentially in the recent devlopment of the cinema. The auteur, Todd Hyanes, has created several films that speak to the representation of both parties and generate a discussion for the emotional appeal Haynes’ depictions bring. Haynes’s work builds from past related works of the women’s film, yet it also provides an emotional lense to examine current social trends. Through Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, Haynes explores the vulnerability of fame and expectations while allowing for agency in the female subject. A shift in the balance of power is incorporated in Haynes’ works combats the common state of static domesticity experienced by female representation. Haynes created a multi-faceted example of identity in his I’m Not There work which proposes that no one identity sums up a state of being. Instead, the identity of being can be represented by a fluid-state as opposed to a definition. Throughout Haynes’ works, notably Carol, this intentional focus on identity prompts the queer spectator to relate to the content, reject the hetero happenings, and associate with Haynes’ non-straight depictions.

Budgeting apps are prevalent in app stores, but they rarely allow you to pay your bills with them. We will build an app that allows you to consolidate bills in a singular place, pay them on one page, and see a real time amount in your bank accounts. We follow the Lean Start-up method and conducted fifteen customers interviews. Our app removes the strain and complication associated with paying debts and offers peace of mind and ease of access.

This project deals with C++ and Unreal Engine. It takes games that are created and modify their files to create or add something new to the game. Some people who play games either need quality of life improvments within the game they play such as user interface improvments or are looking for something new to add to their game. This project will take game files from a game in Unreal Engine and upload the modifications to the platform for people to use.  This will hopefully give an insight and insperation to others to create their own modifications for games they play.

Background: The ability to orally feed is one of the most prevalent developmental issues for premature infants in the NICU. Preterm infants may have difficulty establishing oral feeding due to their neurologic, cardio-respiratory, gastrointestinal, and oral-motor systems being structurally and/or functionally immature. An infant’s failure to develop oral feeding skills can lead to a poor nutritional status, difficulty growing and maintaining weight, and longer hospital stays. Pre-feeding interventions carried out by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) promote the development of infant oral feeding skills.

Literature Review: A review of the literature relating to SLP interventions and premature infant development. Pre-feeding interventions in the NICU can include nonnutritive sucking (NNS), sucking and swallowing exercises, oral/perioral stimulation, oral support, tactile stimulation, auditory stimulation, and olfactory stimulation.

Discussion: NNS appears to be the most studied pre-feeding intervention. Additionally, oral stimulation exhibited the most consistent results in reducing an infant’s transition time to full oral feeding. Regarding volume intake, many interventions yielded an increased volume intake, including NNS, oral support, auditory, and olfactory interventions. Concerning the length of hospital stay, premature infants who received NNS intervention were shown to have a reduced length of stay.

Conclusion: The literature suggests that various unimodal pre-feeding interventions can be effective depending on a premature infant’s age, clinical diagnoses, strengths, and areas of concern. An SLP’s understanding of various intervention options is vital to effective and ethical treatment in the NICU.

Reflections in a Coax Cable

Jeff Crandall

 Minnesota State University Moorhead, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Moorhead MN

Abstract

Understanding the properties of wave-like particles is important to comprehend light, electrons and atoms in the form of waves. By doing “Reflections in a Coax Cable” experiment one will be able to calculate the speed of the wave in the cable and how fast the reflection of the waveform travels back from the distance added from each additional spool of cable.   As the distance is increased, the resulting reflection will be smaller and will get further away from the first point. Therefore, by using multiple spools of cable, it is possible to measure how far away the peak wave is from the next peak for each run. One can see this in a wave traveling through a rope or chain, with a loose end. The wave pulse reflecting off a loose end, the end of the medium will move with the amplitude of the wave as it passes through it and it will come back. The known value of the reflection point of a coax cable is 2e8m/s . The experimental value is 1.9E8m/s, which is close to the known value. The significant ratio is 0.6. Coaxial cables are applicable in transmission lines for radio frequency, video and data signals.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a commonly inhaled respiratory fungal pathogen and an allergen found in flooded indoor environments, household dust, soil, and plant matter. Inhalation of A. fumigatus poses a threat to weakened immune systems due to the potential of infection in the lungs or sinuses which can spread to other areas of the body. The mouse genome is 99% similar to the human genome, and therefore they serve effectively in modeling the effects of inhaled A. fumigatus. A comprehensive literature search of antibody production in mice in response to A. fumigatus inhalation was conducted utilizing PubMed and the search terms of A. fumigatus, mice, inhalation, and antibodies. We considered all forty-one articles to answer seven questions. Our analysis questioned the types of antibodies elicited in response to A. fumigatus, the differences between antibody titers in the serum, the type of insult (dry fungal spores vs. suspension vs. protein allergen mix) utilized, the route of exposure, if male and female results were analyzed separately, and the number of challenges and time points used in each study. We found that 48.2% of the studies measured IgE levels while IgG levels were reported in 28.6% of the studies. It is important to know and understand the antibodies which are most often elicited in response to A. fumigatus in mice, since mice are one of the most common models for A. fumigatus exposure. Ultimately, this data will help inform the optimization of mouse procedures for A. fumigatus exposure, that are critical for developing treatment and diagnostic options for humans. 

Recently, not only have industries and markets of the fourth industrial revolution have been expanding rapidly, but also well-developed countries have been making efforts to create an extension of research and development investments in these technologies. IoT, industrial robots, and autonomous cars are advanced technologies, yet experts emphasized that these technologies would bring huge changes in every part of society. The following research project is about "Autonomous Systems" within the fundamental meanings, how it has been applied to our society in a good way, and problems that human beings could face in the future by using this technology such as cyber-security issues, and casualties by systems.

Recently, not only have industries and markets of the fourth industrial revolution have been expanding rapidly, but also well-developed countries have been making efforts to create an extension of research and development investments in these technologies. IoT, industrial robots, and autonomous cars are advanced technologies, yet experts emphasized that these technologies would bring huge changes in every part of society. The following research project is about "Autonomous Systems" within the fundamental meanings, how it has been applied to our society in a good way, and problems that human beings could face in the future by using this technology such as cyber-security issues, and casualties by systems.

While the term food insecurity is used frequently and in many contexts, what does this term mean? An individual that skips meals represents one extreme of food insecurity, but an individual whose nutrition is limited across all meals eaten is likewise food insecure.  Despite the fundamental difference between starving and consuming a diet of inadequate nutrition, the majority of research combines the entire food insecurity spectrum together and assumes that what affects the most severe food insecurity also affects the mildest. This research answers two questions related to food insecurity in Africa:  1) Are the factors that affect food insecurity the same at every level (severe, moderate, and mild) of food insecurity? and 2) Are these factors statistically significant over time? This research uses ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to determine macroeconomic and health factors correlated with three levels of food insecurity in 2017. In addition, a panel regression from 2000-2018 adds a time dimension to compare against the findings of the 2017 cross-sectional regressions. With the addition of the panel regression, variables whose effects may be minimal in one specific year emerge, as is the case with arable land. This analysis diverges from existing literature by determining causes of food insecurity across different levels of severity and time. With a better understanding as to how food insecurity presents itself, governments and non-profits can address this issue using targeted policies with a greater likelihood for success.

The process through which distinct functional regions of the cerebral cortex are produced, known as cortical arealization, is crucial for the development of a properly functioning mammalian brain. This process is facilitated by the graded expression of key transcription factors which allows for the precise regional patterning characteristics of a fully developed brain. An important functional region that emerges from cortical arealization is the primary visual area (V1). The exact size and location of V1 is heavily influenced by expression of transcription factor Emx2. Along with anatomical changes to V1, changes to the thalamus, the structure through which visual information is relayed before reaching V1, have been demonstrated with manipulation to the Emx2 gene. The research currently underway in the neurobiology lab here at MSUM is seeking to document anatomical changes to V1 and the thalamus of mice with Emx2 mutations. This is being done using various immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization approaches to visualize V1 in the cortex and the dorsal lateral geniculate and reticular thalamic nucleus. In addition to this, we are working to characterize potential functional changes within the visual systems of these mice using the visual cliff test, which assesses depth perception-related processing of visual cues. With the data gathered from such experimentation, our goal is to better understand the influence of cortical development on development of the thalamus and produce more sophisticated correlations between structural characteristics of the visual system and aspects of its overall function.

The process through which distinct functional regions of the cerebral cortex are produced, known as cortical arealization, is crucial for the development of a properly functioning mammalian brain. This process is facilitated by the graded expression of key transcription factors which allows for the precise regional patterning characteristics of a fully developed brain. An important functional region that emerges from cortical arealization is the primary visual area (V1). The exact size and location of V1 is heavily influenced by expression of transcription factor Emx2. Along with anatomical changes to V1, changes to the thalamus, the structure through which visual information is relayed before reaching V1, have been demonstrated with manipulation to the Emx2 gene. The research currently underway in the neurobiology lab here at MSUM is seeking to document anatomical changes to V1 and the thalamus of mice with Emx2 mutations. This is being done using various immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization approaches to visualize V1 in the cortex and the dorsal lateral geniculate and reticular thalamic nucleus. In addition to this, we are working to characterize potential functional changes within the visual systems of these mice using the visual cliff test, which assesses depth perception-related processing of visual cues. With the data gathered from such experimentation, our goal is to better understand the influence of cortical development on development of the thalamus and produce more sophisticated correlations between structural characteristics of the visual system and aspects of its overall function.

Zebrafish are able to sense alarm cue, i.e., chemicals released when another fish is attacked by a predator, in order to alert themselves of potential danger. Because of this, their behavior changes as an increase in overall activity as they try and avoid any potential predators nearby. A similar thing happens with zebrafish eggs, in that they can also sense risk of predation through either chemical alarm cues or mechanical disturbances and hatch early as a response. While hatching early allows the hatchling to relocate and potentially avoid predators, it comes with the tradeoff of being underdeveloped compared to those who hatch at a normal time. Using both body measurements and swimming tests, we can determine whether each hatchling is underdeveloped. Embryonic development is affected by incubation temperature. Here, we test if the effect of mechanical disturbance on zebrafish embryonic development is the same at three different temperatures; 20 ºC, 27 ºC and 35 ºC. To compare the data, the hatchlings are sorted by both temperature and cue type (alarm vs water). We can then compare body measurements (yolk height, body length, fin lengths, eye dimensions) and swimming ability (average and max swimming velocity.) This then allows us to show how temperature and mechanical disturbance interact in embryonic development in zebrafish. Alongside this, data analysis will be collected on previous studies that used similar methods. 

The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between positive body image and relationship satisfaction with middle-aged women. The current research (Ambwani & Strauss, 2007) shows that the relationship is complex. Body image and relationship satisfaction appear to influence each other. However, middle-aged women are not a population that is often studied. This study seeks to better understand the interpersonal nature of healthy development in body image and relationships. This study utilizes a phenomenological approach to observe the lived experiences of middle-aged women in committed relationships with positive body image. Initial findings suggest that these women tend to not compartmentalize different aspects of the self, rather they are integrated beings that are influenced by relationships, influence relationships, and value function over appearance.

The foreign exchange (also known as Forex or FX) market is a global marketplace for exchanging national currencies. The market determines the exchange rate for all currencies. Traders exchange currencies at the current determined rate to make profits. Since the exchange rate is closely related to the news about the country, traders often check that news. They check the trading rates and go to several news websites, but what if a program could pick that information for the trader? If you're a trader, you can use the Python programming languages and modules to get that information for you. This presentation focuses on a program that will visit websites and get some latest news for traders. The news article will be scraped and displayed in a good user interface.

Hydrogen gas is a clean and versatile source of energy; however, it can be difficult to efficiently mass produce. A catalytic frustrated Lewis acid-base pair (FLP) can dehydrogenate a chemical hydrogen storage agent. The system tested was 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP) and triphenyl boron (BPh3) dehydrogenating dimethylamine borane (DMAB). The small-scale reaction of TMP and BPh3 with DMAB successfully produced hydrogen gas for over 3 hours, and NMR spectra showed that both TMP and BPh3 were present after the reaction proving they were acting as catalysts. Large-scale testing is required for the TMP and BPh3; however, in the future, this FLP could be used to produce hydrogen gas or transfer hydrogen between materials industrially.

Within the past few decades, a big movement in the ecological field has been reintroducing species within certain areas. The idea behind that being we need to prevent these animals from going extinct. This was done with the Bald Eagle population in Minnesota starting around the 1960’s. Since then, there are over 300 eagles' nest in the state and the number continues to grow. Who wouldn’t be happy to see such an incline in a publicly admired species that represents the pride of our nation. However, what happens when a predator is reintroduced, they are no doubt just as important to an ecosystem as any other animal. The wolf population being brought back to Yellowstone National Park has made the park thrive in ways we could not have imagined. The wolf population in Minnesota has also been growing in the past years, but unlike Yellowstone in Minnesota humans are a part of the ecosystem now. What we will do in this data analysis is take the population densities of people, livestock, and wolves within Minnesota and see what patterns we find.

For the past twenty years (2001-2021), three sloughs near Rollag, MN, have been the focus for research that has been conducted on the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii). The research involved live-trapping and measuring of turtles, then releasing the turtles back into the sloughs where they were captured. Measurements included: carapace and plastron lengths, carapace width and curvature, and weight. Gender and capture location were also recorded.  If large enough (approximately 10cm in carapace length), captured turtles were scute-notched and implanted with PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags for permanent identification.  For smaller turtles, the carapace was painted with creative symbols using nail polish for temporary identification throughout the summer.  All captured turtles were examined for existing notches and scanned for existing PIT tags so we could separate new captures from recaptures.  For our study, we used only data collected in 2021 to find out if there was a difference in average number of captures of turtles of different size ranges and genders.  We compared juvenile turtles (<12cm and adult turtles (16-23+cm for females and 12-16cm for males).  Overall, we had slightly over 800 captures in 2021 involving 238 turtles.  Analyses are ongoing, but preliminary results indicate that, on average, adult females had slightly more captures/recaptures than did adult males.  It is difficult to correctly determine the gender in small (young) turtles, so both genders were grouped together for analysis.  Average number of captures/recaptures for these small turtles was higher than those of either the adult males or adult females.     

This study focused on individuals’ perceptions of trustworthiness based on the attractiveness of others when a potential safety risk is involved. In this 3x3 within-subjects design, fifty female undergraduate students viewed photos with three different levels of attractiveness: unattractive, neutral, and attractive. Three degrees of safety were presented with the photos including a low-risk scenario, moderate risk scenario, and high-risk scenario. Participants were given all nine variations of the photo and scenario combinations. For each combination, participants indicated their decision whether to leave with the person in the scenario. Participants also rated the target person on attractiveness and trustworthiness. We predicted to see an interaction between attractiveness and safety risk, where participants would be overall less likely to leave with the target person as the risk level increases, but this cautious approach would lessen for attractive targets. The results showed that attractiveness and the interaction between safety risk and attractiveness influences trust in the target person. However, safety risk did not impact trust when analyzed alone.  

Since its onset in the United States in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of American life. Public discussions now extend beyond short-term effects of the pandemic and consider long-term health and economic impacts. While some pessimistic projections of the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund's solvency existed prior to the pandemic, Probasco (2021) estimates that the Social Security Trust Fund will reach zero in 2034 rather than 2035. This research uses publicly available data within regression analysis to determine whether and to what extent unemployment and demographic factors alter Social Security Trust Fund contributions. Individuals that rely upon Social Security benefits for full or partial income support in retirement will benefit from this research as they consider whether to adapt their financial planning strategies. 

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our group is synthesizing analogs of antipyrine to better understand and optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment. Antipyrine has a methyl (CH3) substituent at the C5 position.  I will report studies for the preparation and purification of C5-analogs, including variations in size, and with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic C5-substitutents. I have worked out a procedure in which antipyrine can be deprotonated by the strong base “LDA” (lithium diisopropyl amide) under anhydrous, air-free conditions in “THF” (tetrahydrofuran) solvent.  The resulting enolate anion can be alkylated in varying efficiency with alkyl halides, epoxides, or aldehydes.  Reaction efficiencies were typically analyzed by either GC-MS and/or NMR spectroscopy.  Products were purified by column chromatography.  I will present results for a series of 1º and 2º iodo- and bromoalkanes (acyclic or cyclic); and for more complex bromides with alkene, arene, or ester functionality.  I will also present results using epoxide and aldehyde electrophiles, for the introduction of alcohol functionality.  The current process appears to be very practical and general in scope.  Procedural details and NMR and GC-MS structural characterization will be presented.  

Bioequivalence is the biological similarity between two drugs. This is established by measuring the diffusion of the drugs through a membrane. The standard method for measuring drug diffusion involves extracting liquid samples at discrete time points and performing high-performance liquid chromatography. This project developed a method that uses ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy to monitor drug diffusion. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is useful because it can measure the presence of the active ingredient of many drugs. This new method is advantageous because it measures diffusion continuously and is less labor-intensive than the chromatography method. Measurements have shown differential diffusion when comparing 0.5% and 1% hydrocortisone samples and high precision across many trials. Additionally, values are being compared to standardized hydrocortisone samples and liquid chromatography measurements. The results suggest that the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy method developed in this project is accurate, precise, and a suitable alternative to using high-performance liquid chromatography. 

Poverty is applicable to most U.S. citizens. We are closer to being in poverty than we are being millionaires, and showing compassion to those less fortunate is something that gives to everyone involved. Our team has partnered with Box of Balloons to have hands-on experience creating birthday boxes for children in need of a celebration. Children in low-income families experience stress, and are at risk for emotional development. Supporting events like Box of Balloons can help create special moments for those who cannot always afford it. We will discuss the background behind other non-profit organizations of choice, provide insight into the lives of families living in poverty, and how Box of Balloons is creating an impact upon these families.

Gustav Holst and “Jupiter”   

Gustav Holst was a person who believed that musicians came into the world “solely to make people happy,” and he lived his entire life doing just that.  Born on 21 September 1874, Holst grew up in Cheltenham, England to a very musical family.  He is probably most known for his seven-movement symphony called The Planets.  This paper will trace Holst’s early life and career, and will unpack the meaning behind the fourth movement of The Planets entitled “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity.” 

During Fall 2021 semester, students of GID458 Interactive Media Studio,  completed three interactive projects for the Trackway website (trackwayofficial.com). Trackway is a Minnesota based activewear brand created by MSUM Student Kory Powell-Oliver. The interactive projects include two print brochures with AR (augmented reality) experiences, and a mobile shopping app. The mobile app prototype development explored User Experience and functionality, and included the use of "low-code" app builder Adalo. The AR/print team designed and produced two folding square brochures, and explored different AR software to create a fun, social media based facial recognition filter using SparkAR.

Thousands of patients each year are placed on a mechanical ventilator and report it to be a stressful experience due to the inability to communicate and participate in medical decisions (Guttormson et al., 2015). The feeling of stress, anxiety, and depression can occur during the patient’s stay in the hospital, but also can persist after the hospital stay. The placement of a one-way speaking valve in-line with mechanical ventilation increases the patient’s opportunities to verbally communicate which ideally leads to fewer communication breakdowns with communication partners (Zaga et al., 2019).  A speech-language pathologist is involved with an interdisciplinary team that determines if the patient is a candidate for the one-way speaking valve and initiates further cognitive-linguistic and swallowing evaluation after it is placed (Windhorst et al., 2009; Ciampitti, 2016).

The term in-line speaking valve with mechanical ventilation refers the placing the one-way speaking valve in the tubing of the mechanical ventilator (Ciampitti, 2016). The placement of a one-way speaking valve has two-fold benefits by increasing the likelihood of phonation and return the swallowing physiology. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation using a one-way speaking valve in-line have reported improvements in their self-worth, quality of life, and overall cheerfulness during the day (Sutt, 2016). This project describes the physiological, psychosocial, and communicative benefits that one-way speaking valves used in-line with mechanical ventilation have for patients. 

During the 1960s and ‘70s, experimental artworks emerged in the United States known as “Land Art”, which stepped away from traditional art practices including experimenting with industrialized materials and large scale sculpture. Land Art was a combination of environmental awareness and sculptural aspects to create a unique imprint onto the land. Historically, this art movement has been heavily male dominated, because of its scale and ambition as well as the intensity of the creation process and the industrial equipment used. In 1976, however Nancy Holt established a firm place in the field of Land Art with her creation of Sun Tunnels. This large sculpture was created using concrete tunnels that are arranged in an X. The work interacts with the shadows of the sun as it moves throughout the sky casting light. This paper will propose a deeper examination into Nancy Holt’s work by asking how this particular piece created a name for Holt compared to her earlier projects? Moreover, in what ways has Holt's Sun Tunnels work impacted other female Land Artists in their careers or art practices? 

Simplifying Transportation Asset Protection

Reliable transportation is a key necessity in everyday life, however, people often ignore how important regular maintenance is and how it can ensure dependable transportation. 

Our idea is to have a website that educates vehicle owners about the importance of maintaining their vehicle and its specific needs as well as connect customers to service providers. 

What we don't know is how we can intrigue vehicle owners to engage in regular vehicle maintenance. 

Our research will include interviewing possible customers as well as professionals in the industry to gain insight on how to structure the service, who to target, and how to gauge interaction and interest.

Car Doctor’s services will provide worry-free referral and appointment booking as well as provide educational information that is easily understandable. 

Early observations (1600s-1800s) concerning the Meshkwaki, a Central Algonquian Indigenous group of the Western Great Lakes and eastern Prairies of the United States, emphasized the perceived primary role of patri-based institutions. This attention was echoed by the anthropologists of the late 1800s and early 1900s, who prioritized and described the role and purpose of patrilineal descent. In 1937 the US Government and its supporters forced the Meshkwaki to adopt a tribal constitution which included the abandonment of their traditional leadership structure and the introduction of patrilineal descent for tribal membership. This poster contextualizes patri-based institutions within pre-1937 Meshkwaki culture and discusses pre-1937 internal conceptions of tribal membership. It re-examines the circumstances of the 1937 tribal constitution, presents the subsequent accommodations made in regard to the patrilineal membership rule by the tribal government from inception to the present-day, as well as discusses post-1937 internal conceptions of tribal membership. From this contextualization, the poster shifts towards a stance of decolonizing the post-1937 Meshkwaki tribal membership mandate, discusses the 1937 coercion and post-1937 conflicts concerning that decision, and the adjustments made since 1937 to accommodate matrilineal-only Meshkwaki descendants.  

The behavioral immune system has been implicated in both adaptive and maladaptive social judgements and behaviors (Murray & Schaller, 2016). Previous research has found that untrustworthy faces are more memorable than trustworthy ones (Rule et al., 2012). The proposed study seeks to investigate whether face coverings influence judgments of trust, social comfort, and cognition. Undergraduate students will be shown images of targets with known high- and low-trust ratings and be asked about their social comfort. One group of participants will view faces with a surgical mask, while the other group will view faces without coverings.  After a distracter task, participants will be asked to recall which faces they had previously seen. It is expected that participants will report the highest social comfort in response to high-trust faces with face coverings, whereas participants are predicted to find uncovered low-trust faces most memorable.

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocycle including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our research group’s purpose is to synthesize new analogs of antipyrine to optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment. 

This work presents the preparation, characterization, and purification of seven novel analogs with large, complex substituents at either C4 or C5, and an eighth analog with an N2-toluene substituent, added to the structure of antipyrine which has hydrogen and methyl substituents at the C4 and C5 positions.  

I have developed a procedure for efficient N1-methylation of “N1-desmethyl” substrates.  The typical optimized procedure involved reaction of a substrate with a slight excess of dimethyl sulfate for ~90 minutes at ~130ºC, under solvent-free conditions.  The isolation procedures involved liquid-liquid extraction.  Purifications typically involved recrystallization for solids or flash column chromatography for liquids.  Products, reaction progress, and purification were analyzed by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy.  The starting desmethyl substrates were prepared by colleague Gael Shama.  

I will present analogs with methyl and benzyl substituents at C4 (in place of hydrogen); with ethyl, propyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl and t-butyl substituents at C5 (in place of methyl); and with a toluene substation at N2 (in place of phenyl). 

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocycle including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our research group’s purpose is to synthesize new analogs of antipyrine to optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment. 

This work presents the preparation, characterization, and purification of seven novel analogs with large, complex substituents at either C4 or C5, and an eighth analog with an N2-toluene substituent, added to the structure of antipyrine which has hydrogen and methyl substituents at the C4 and C5 positions.  

I have developed a procedure for efficient N1-methylation of “N1-desmethyl” substrates.  The typical optimized procedure involved reaction of a substrate with a slight excess of dimethyl sulfate for ~90 minutes at ~130ºC, under solvent-free conditions.  The isolation procedures involved liquid-liquid extraction.  Purifications typically involved recrystallization for solids or flash column chromatography for liquids.  Products, reaction progress, and purification were analyzed by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy.  The starting desmethyl substrates were prepared by colleague Gael Shama.  

I will present analogs with methyl and benzyl substituents at C4 (in place of hydrogen); with ethyl, propyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl and t-butyl substituents at C5 (in place of methyl); and with a toluene substation at N2 (in place of phenyl).

The characterization of phages is becoming increasingly important in biochemistry and biotechnology due to their ability to treat several bacterial infections. The purpose of this work is to use genomics and proteomics techniques to learn more about the phage RosaDiaz, find out specific details about its structural proteins, and assemble its genome to compare it to other known phages. Traditional isolation and extraction procedures were used before performing both Nanopore and Illumina sequencing to analyze RosaDiaz’s genome. Proteomics techniques included SDS-page gel electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry to separate and identify the different proteins expressed by our phage. Results will include genome and proteome analysis along with optimization of DNA extraction methods and DNA library preparation for future works on other phages. 

Ghost imaging is a type of correlation imaging which uses a light source and bucket detector to image the silhouette of a sample. The primary goal of this research is to use electron-emitting nanofibers in place of the light source to generate images. My contribution to this research was to find an efficient and reproducible way to construct the array of nanofibers, which must be electrically insulated from each other as well as functional in a vacuum environment. The nanofibers were aligned in a triangular array to maximize the spatial resolution of the ghost images. Since the research is still in progress, steps should be taken to revise or explore alternative methods of insulating the fibers.

Manta rays are the gentle giants of the ocean, but not much is known about the species. For instance, the juvenile stage has never been successfully studied in the wild. If we can pinpoint specific locations, then we can push to have those areas protected (Stewart et al 2018). We will use data from iNaturalist, a citizen science effort where individuals across the world can report sightings of all sorts of organisms. We will focus on two species, Mobula birostris (oceanic ray) and Mobula alfredi (reef ray). We will map sighitings of these species of their during their breeding season.

As the most economical manner to transport products globally, sea shipping facilitates ninety percent of international trade. Global economies prioritizing consumer convenience often overshadow the detrimental impacts of this logistical practice. This research considers two questions:  1) What factors associated with moving sea freight damage the environment most? and 2) What economically viable means can reduce damages while maintaining profit margins for entities producing and transporting products?  Publicly available data related to shipping and associated regulatory environments reveal different nations’ perspectives on these issues. An analysis recognizing the tradeoffs between economic and environmental considerations can inform a sustainable practice of sea shipping which benefits global consumers and producers for many generations. 

How do we engage students in their learning and what are the benefits of doing so? We will be looking at the benefits of having students engaged in their schoolwork, as well as different ways to accomplish this. Many students do not believe that school is worth their time, and because of this, they do not put their full effort into their learning. When this occurs, the student's learning is reduced, and the assessments that the teachers provide are also skewed because the performance of the student is not accurately displayed.  

 
Use of African American English (AAE) is influenced by many factors, some of which also contribute to literacy development (Connor & Craig, 2006; Roseberry-McKibbin, 2007). Since use of AAE and phonological awareness develop almost simultaneously, it is important to take into consideration that oral language can easily construe phonological awareness (Cooper et al., 2002; Roseberry-McKibbin, 2007). To increase understanding of Mainstream American English (MAE), it may be beneficial to teach children who use non-stream American English (NMAE) the differences between dialects. Furthermore, giving access to cognitive resources may also benefit children who speak NMAE (Edwards et al., 2014). The purpose of the literature review was to better understand the factors contributing to the literacy achievement gap and the relationship between use of AAE and the impact it may have on emerging literacy skills.

Detecting and avoiding predators is an important part of the ecology of small fish, especially at night when most fish enter into a sleep-like state. Little is known about if or how fish respond to chemical alarm cues released by nocturnally-active predators. Here, I test fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) for a response to predator odor while in a “sleeping state.” Fathead minnows will be conditioned simultaneously exposing them to chemical alarm cue and predator odor. Under normal conditions, pairing alarm cue with predator allows minnows to associate alarm cue with predator odor, so when just the predator odor is released, they still produce a response. Can fish do this in their sleep? To complete the experiment, the room will be completely dark and a video recorder will monitor their activity so I do not disturb them. Because small fish are vulnerable at night from predators, hopefully I can learn if these fish are still on defense even in a sleeping state. 

An invasive species is an organism that has been introduced to an ecosystem through either natural or manmade causes and manages to disrupt that environment. They cause harm to the environment because they outcompete native species. However, all invasive species play a special role in their habitat of origin in which they don’t cause harm. Lionfish (Pterois) are a known invasive species on the coast of Florida however these venomous fish are native to the Indo-Pacific region. Lionfish pose a threat to the Florida region because they eat the herbivores in the coral reefs. The herbivores keep the coral reefs in check by eating the algae, however, with the absence of these herbivores, the algae grows unchecked. In their invasive habitat, Lionfish do not have any natural predators due to the spines being laced with venom. Lionfish are known to be very adaptable to their environments and can live in areas of varying temperature, salinity and depths. Lionfish were accidentally introduced in the Florida waters during hurricane Andrew in 1992 when a beachside aquarium tank was broken. Without species dispersal, evolution would not take place. While Lionfish have been harmful to the Florida environment, they are a food source in their native habitat and are important to the aquarium trade. 

This presentation is an examination of telepractice in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. The use of telepractice has risen in popularity in recent years, elevated even more by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telepractice has the potential to offer many benefits, however it presents numerous challenges to be considered. The challenges and benefits of telepractice, along with the potential for its future in the field of Speech-Language Pathology will be discussed in this presentation.

While culturally and linguistically diverse children who live in poverty are at increased risk for developing and being diagnosed with speech/language impairments, they are also less likely to receive the services they need. In addition, despite the fact that 13% of the overall population identifies as Black/African American, only about 3.6% of ASHA-certified speech pathologists are members of this cultural group. The glaring disparities among those providing and receiving speech and language treatment require speech-language pathologists to consider why these disparities exist and how they play a role in reducing them. This literature review will emphasize understanding and valuing cultural differences from evaluation to treatment, and the crucial role the speech pathologist plays in providing adequate care to all populations.

After almost a year of primarily using virtual content as a means to connect and interact with the public, we were finally able to once again host in-person shows. Since transitioning back to in-person, we have created more events to connect with audiences, as it was important to us to rekindle the interest of the public. During the first and third weeks of the month, we host a midweek meditation called Meditation Under the Stars for the students at MSUM. The meditation is guided by an instructor or a calming meditation video. During the second and fourth weeks of the month, we host Friday Media Nights, otherwise known as game nights. Students are able to play games with one another, which are displayed on the dome, creating a unique gaming experience. The transition back to in-person shows also presented the challenge of adapting to different softwares to conduct shows. Having to use Stellarium and OpenSpace, changes had to be made to the scripts and the shows themselves. This adjustment, however, has allowed us to become more familiar with these softwares, thus making it easier for us to adjust and even create new shows. 

Artificial Intelligence has caused digital marketing to rise to the top, leaving behind traditional word-of-mouth marketing. Everyday billions of pieces of data are generated from the internet and processed using AI data analytics. Businesses use Machine Learning models to increase their sales, predict new trends, and develop insights for marketing decisions. I will be discussing the history and the evolution of Artificial Intelligence as well as the importance of data collection in digital marketing. I will discuss the development of a chatbot that can communicate with users just like a human.

Scriptwriting is a big part of what I do at the planetarium, whether that's coming up with new scripts or revising older scripts like for Solar System Explorers, I am retooling many aspects of our current show catalog. I have had to update the language and ques to switch over to a new dome system called open space.  Meanwhile, I have also been working on creating a user manual so that it's easy for everyone to use it.  I also help run shows and observation sessions in the dome as well and I am a firm believer in finding a good balance between entertainment and information. I really enjoy trying to get as much interaction with the audience as I can. I think if you can make your presentation entertaining, people will want to listen to the information. As I have been working, this has helped me grow more confident with public speaking and creating presentations in other areas such as my school work. Come hear about all the ways I have, and you could work in the planetarium.  It might just be the place for you!

Abstract: Individuals who convey language through an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device face several barriers. Some barriers include limited face-to-face communication and fixed vocabulary, the speaking partner dominating the conversation (Harrison-Harris, 2018), being passive communicators, and rarely initiating conversation(Kent-Walsh, 2010). These barriers increase drastically when the individual’s primary language is not English. An estimated 95% of Speech-Language Pathologists interact and provide services to individuals whose primary language is not English (Soto & Yu, 2014). However, there are no foundations or standards when providing therapy to bilingual children who have speech-language disorders (Monceaux-Visser, 2021). Most frequently, the service provided is in the socially dominant language. Limiting intervention and AAC utterances to the socially dominant language diminishes the individual’s connection to their culture, especially if their frequent communicative partners do not speak English (Soto & Yu, 2014). Additionally, there is a gap in literature, exposing the lack of resources and practices regarding this area. This exposed gap aligns with the rapid growth of technology in the last twenty-five years. The purpose of this review was to examine the relationship between language acquisition and AAC use in children who are bilingual.
 
Sources:
 
Harrison-Harris, O. L., & Google Scholar More articles by this author. (2018, January 1). AAC, literacy, and bilingualism. The ASHA Leader. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/full/10.1044/leader.FTR2.07202002.4.

Kent-Walsh, J., & FloridaOrlando, U. of C. (2010, December 1). Communication partner interventions for students who use AAC. ASHA Wire. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/aac17.1.27.

Monceaux-Visser, Julianne L., "Strategies Utilized by Speech-Language Pathologists when Treating Speech-Language Disorders in Children who are Bilingual" (2021). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 517. https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/517

Soto, G., & Yu, B. (2014). Considerations for the Provision of Services to Bilingual Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md.: 1985), 30(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2013.878751

Abstract: Individuals who convey language through an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device face several barriers. Some barriers include limited face-to-face communication and fixed vocabulary, the speaking partner dominating the conversation (Harrison-Harris, 2018), being passive communicators, and rarely initiating conversation(Kent-Walsh, 2010). These barriers increase drastically when the individual’s primary language is not English. An estimated 95% of Speech-Language Pathologists interact and provide services to individuals whose primary language is not English (Soto & Yu, 2014). However, there are no foundations or standards when providing therapy to bilingual children who have speech-language disorders (Monceaux-Visser, 2021). Most frequently, the service provided is in the socially dominant language. Limiting intervention and AAC utterances to the socially dominant language diminishes the individual’s connection to their culture, especially if their frequent communicative partners do not speak English (Soto & Yu, 2014). Additionally, there is a gap in literature, exposing the lack of resources and practices regarding this area. This exposed gap aligns with the rapid growth of technology in the last twenty-five years. The purpose of this review was to examine the relationship between language acquisition and AAC use in children who are bilingual.
 

Individuals who convey language through an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device face several barriers. Some barriers include limited face-to-face communication and fixed vocabulary, the speaking partner dominating the conversation (Harrison-Harris, 2018), being passive communicators, and rarely initiating conversation (Kent-Walsh, 2010). These barriers increase drastically when the individual’s primary language is not English. An estimated 95% of Speech-Language Pathologists interact and provide services to individuals whose primary language is not English4. However, there are no foundations or standards when providing therapy to bilingual children who have speech-language disorders (Monceaux-Visser, 2021). Most frequently, the service provided is in the socially dominant language. Limiting intervention and AAC utterances to the socially dominant language diminishes the individual’s connection to their culture, especially if their frequent communicative partners do not speak English (Soto & Yu, 2014). Additionally, there is a gap in literature, exposing the lack of resources and practices regarding this area. This exposed gap aligns with the rapid growth of technology in the last twenty-five years. The purpose of this review was to examine the relationship between language acquisition and AAC use in children who are bilingual.

Early intervention is attempting to identify and solve students' academic areas of growth before it is too late to intervene and keep them near grade level. Preschool is important for students to learn and get proper intervention early. Students will be able to grow with their disability at an earlier age with universal preschool. They will receive the appropriate interventions sooner and have a higher chance of transitioning from an IEP to either a 504 or a general education classroom. Early intervention helps students with disabilities meet academic goals while they are still appropriately attainable. Students who receive early intervention are more likely to meet grade-level goals without extensive intervention in a K-12 setting. Currently, only some students are able to afford and attend preschool, with universal preschool, all students will have access to early intervention. We want to show that early intervention is successful in pinpointing and supporting students' academic needs before their disability greatly affects their learning.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) is an understudied species of conservation concern in the northern Great Plains. Most research to date has focused on cuckoos breeding in forested landscapes, with relatively little known about birds using grassland, shrubland, and forest mosaics such as those in our area. The Geospatial Ecology Lab has been conducting breeding bird surveys at the MSUM Regional Science Center (RSC) and the Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (Bluestem Prairie SNA) since 2018 to monitor fluctuates in breeding bird populations. We have surveyed 33 points each year from 2018-2021 at the RSC, a 250-ha protected area containing a mix of grassland and riparian forest in western Minnesota, and 16 points in 2019 on the neighboring Bluestem Prairie SNA, a 550-ha remnant grassland. We will model the effects of landscape-level characteristics on occupancy by Black-billed Cuckoos. Explanatory variables will include point-level characteristics related to topography, wetness, and vegetation. Vegetation variables will include land cover, canopy cover, and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index, a proxy for vegetation greenness) derived from remotely sensed data from AρρEEARS. This research will provide information useful for land managers and wildlife conservation practitioners. 

Merlins (Falco columbarius) are known to breed in urban areas throughout the northern Great Plains. Hypotheses to explain this behavior include prey availability, for example due to bird feeding, and nest site availability in a landscape historically dominated by grassland. To better understand the factors influencing Merlin nest site selection in urban settings, we initiated a pilot study in spring of 2021 to find and monitor nests in Moorhead, MN, USA, conducting playback surveys at 246 points spaced 200 meters apart within twelve 0.64 square km survey areas. We revisited possible nest sites and monitored nests from the ground using binoculars and spotting scopes. We found eight potential nest sites, six of which we verified as active nests. All confirmed nests were in blue spruce (Picea pungens) trees 8-18 meters above ground and 1-4 meters below the top of the tree, and each nest successfully fledged young. Anecdotally, nest trees were often adjacent to roads and subject to high vehicle traffic or pedestrian activity. This initial study has laid the groundwork for ongoing research in Urban Merlin nest site selection in the Moorhead area. 

The primary purpose of this literature review was to examine the research on the facilitators and barriers to returning to work after the onset of aphasia. The secondary purpose of this paper was to explore the desires of individuals to reengage in the employment setting and the likelihood of this occurring. The participants within the examined studies were adults who developed aphasia, with the primary cause being a stroke. After examining the literature, it appeared to be unlikely that individuals with aphasia were able to return to work in the same manner prior to onset. Facilitators and barriers to work will be discussed.

This poster would be knot bad

Title:   

Optimistically Modeled Statistics

Abstract: 

Through the collection of data regarding different quality of life metrics, conclusions can be reached regarding the state of life for people in the present day. By modeling metrics such as infant mortality, life expectancy, the number of people living in democratic societies, etc, we have developed a new metric to determine whether or not life in 2022 is better or worse than life in the past. 

Civilian Conservation Corps Company #704 began operations in 1933 approximately 10 miles southeast of Ely, MN, based at the site known as Halfway Camp F-1. This presentation explores some of the legacy they left in the region in the form of ecological projects and recreational structures, as well as the few remaining signs of their former camp on the shores of Birch Lake.

The overall goal of this research project was to get a pure and high quantity of DNA from seven different bacteriophages that infect the host bacteria Microbacterium foliorum. There have been problems with isolating phage DNA, so three different purification methods were tested to see if there is a superior method that will provide the best results. The three different purification methods used were in house method procedures, Promega Wizard Genomic Purification Kit procedures, and Zymo Quick-DNA Kits procedures. This will be used to determine if there are characteristics of the phages that affect the success of the DNA purification. Once the results of the methods have been found, the genomes will be sequenced to see if there are commonalities between the phages. This information will help HHMI gain an understanding on phage DNA isolation and purification. Bacteriophages are a growing interest in the pharmaceutical industry which is why these techniques need to be mastered. 

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be used by an individual to supplement or support communication modalities when there is difficulty with verbal communication. ASHA, n.d.a delves further into the true meaning of AAC and defines the terminology of augmentative as adding to a person’s spoken language and alternative as other methods used to produce verbal communication. The purpose of this research study was to explore the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) concerning the involvement and/or role of caregivers or family members when their loved one is utilizing an AAC device for communication across the preschool setting. Four semi-structured interviews with SLPs were conducted, transcribed, and coded. Results revealed successful implementation of AAC is influenced by four factors related to SLPs and other professionals, parents and/or caregivers, children, and outside influences. 

John Lasseter, influential animation auteur and one of the founding fathers of Pixar Studios, has created significant works that push the limits of computer-generated animation. His inspiring storytelling and beautiful art direction motivate this research. Known mostly as an executive producer, his work with Pixar between 1995 and 2006 created some of the best works in American animation. This study explores narrative and stylistic patterns in some of the most successful animations he created and directed, including Toy Story 2 (1999), A Bug’s Life (1998), Cars (2006), and Tinkerbell (2008). In particular, the study examines patterns of storytelling and the use of outsider protagonists to change the world around them in these films. The selected films are the primary texts for the research. Secondary sources provide information about theories of protagonists and narratives. Additional sources offer bibliographical information about Lasseter’s life, career, and animation experience.

The ocean is vast and wide, providing an ecosystem for many species on Earth. There is still a major percentage of the ocean that has yet to be discovered. One group of marine organisms that has interested researchers for centuries are the Echinoderms. Echinoderms are in the phylum Echinodermata, named for their tough, spiny skin. Common echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. One unique echinoderm group are called brittle stars, in the order Ophiuroidea. Brittle stars (also known as serpent stars) are commonly found at varying depths in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. They can be identified by five tentacle-like arms that radiate from the center. Additionally, the appendages are fragile but have high regeneration rates. Like most marine organisms, brittle stars are carnivorous scavengers. However, they are also known to eat photosynthetic algae. Brittle stars live, migrate, forage, and hide from predators on the ocean floor. Brittle stars play a huge role in maintaining the water quality of the ocean by controlling the overgrowth of algae and by consuming dead organisms they encounter on the ocean floor. Here, we will investigate the origin, the environment, and the biological mechanisms of brittle stars, including information about the brittle stars housed in the MSUM Oceanarium. 

Keywords: Marine, Echinoderm, Brittle Star, Scavenger

As technology continues to advance, screen time has become more accessible and has been seen to become a part of daily living at a very young age. Screen time, defined as time spent watching television, DVD’s, or videos, or playing a tablet, computer or video games, has been related to serious health consequences in children, such as impaired language acquisition, violent behavior, tobacco smoking, and obesity (Yilmaz et al., 2015). Even though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents avoid exposing children 2 and under to screen media, a nationally representative survey found that 68% of children under the age of 2 use screen media in a typical day, and that average screen time was 2.05 hours per day (Duch et al., 2013).  In a study led by Catherine Birken, it was determined that for children under the age of two-years-old, each 30-minute increase in handheld screen time translated into a 49 percent increased risk of expressive speech delay (ASHA Leader, 2017). It is important for parents to have guidelines regarding screen usage in place from the beginning in order to instill healthy media habits into children. 

Native American children have low literacy rates and achievement gaps compared to many of their peers (Li, J., Brar, A., & Roihan, N. 2021). This literature review project focused on understanding these gaps by exploring literature related to the experiences of Native American children in classrooms and their personal experiences. Native American culture plays a role in the importance of education, specifically reading and writing (White-Kaulaity, M. 2007). There is distrust in the school systems from previous children being placed in residential schools where they were stripped of their culture (Treuer, A. 2012). The importance of storytelling grew stronger to keep their culture alive and reading and writing were viewed negatively. Lastly, it may be difficult to understand these gaps while we see it through the mainstream eyes of what American schools value. This poster presentation is intended to help educators, Speech-Language Pathologists, or anyone who may work with Native American children understand some of the factors being discussed in the literature related to achievement gaps for literacy and education.

            Keywords: literacy, education, Native American, culture, Indian American

Many fishes learn to recognize correlates of predation risk by pairing novel stimuli with injury-released chemical cues released from damaged epidermal tissues. Recently, our lab showed that zebrafish can associate an auditory stimulus, i.e., a tone, with risk, but that they do not generalize risk with all tones but respond only to the frequency of the tone to which they were trained. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were conditioned to associate predation risk with a mixture of auditory stimuli then tested with either all or components of the mixture. To simulate predation risk, chemical alarm cues were used from skin extract and water was used as the control treatment. Musical chords were played with the injection of chemical alarm cues to condition the zebrafish, and then observe the change in behavior in terms of activity, vertical distribution, and shelter use. Multiple musical chords (full chord, medium overlap, and no overlap) were played to the fish and their reactions observed. Preliminary results may indicate a variation of recognition with the multiple musical chords of varying overlap with the conditioning tone with predation risk. This research improved the understanding of auditory sensitivity in fish and behavioral capabilities for behavioral learning. The ability in fish to differentiate sound frequencies associated with auditory responses from predators was also observed.

School-aged children who stutter may be struggling with the psychological or emotional impacts related to their stutter. This project examines the psychosocial effects of stuttering on school-aged children and addresses the counseling interventions used to eliminate or reduce the negative feelings and attitudes towards the stutter. A variety of interventions and their effects on children who stutter were explored. It was distinguished that there are opportunities for a speech language pathologist to intervene and work with these children to produce fluent speech, but they are also qualified to address the psychosocial factors that are affecting these children’s daily lives. The research suggests children do benefit from counseling interventions provided by a speech language pathologist (Murphy et al., 2007). 

APIs, or application program interfaces are a useful tool for building and integrating software. They allow computer programmers to implement existing code into their own programs. By using APIs, developing applications takes less time and money. APIs can be implemented into various programming languages, but many find Python to be the easiest to understand from a coding perspective. A popular API to implement into a program is a geographical information system (GIS) API. These GIS APIs allow the programmer to access a plethora of location based data. This data can then be analyzed to gain insightful knowledge for a specified area. ArcGIS is one of the top GIS APIs. With ArcGIS, the programmer can collect demographic data, perform spatial analysis, and provide routing and directions.

In these modern times, people participate in various social activities and meet numerous people everyday. Moreover, people appear to be involved in those activities through digital lenses especially after the covid-19 pandemic. However, the ability to manage those connections and leverage them to get things done, has become a significant, yet difficult task. The major trouble is that people find it impossible to maintain and manage business cards and contact information with the traditional ways of organizing. Various aiding tools are thus exploited. Before the digital era of computing, it often took the physical ways like organizing and storing all business cards in a specific way ( sorting in alphabetical order, cardbook, etc.) and this method suffered from problems like possible loss and inefficient search support. But, currently, the focus has been changed to digital contact tools. Though enabling reliable storage and enhanced search support, it still faces several issues. In the following project, we will survey staff/employees from several universities who use business cards on a regular basis. We will take a typical socially-active community – the academic community – for example, to illustrate those issues. Our goal is to have an idea on the percentage of people who are struggling with business card management and their tendency to use digital tools like business card mobile apps. 

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into glucose and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Although not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and an inactive lifestyle are two of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes. These things are responsible for about 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in the United States. I am interested in finding out if there is a correlation between risk factor and age. To answer this question, I will use the publicly available Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) fomr CDC. These results could better help current and future research efforts pertaining to type 2 diabetes.

This project is a study of Japanese animation between the 40s and 60s and how it became the gritty and fantastical anime it is known for being today. My primary sources which I plan on using would be old classic anime from the 40s to the 60s, specifically from the pioneers, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, and MOM Film Studios. The study's sample includes Songoku the Monkey, Astro Boy, and Momotaro: Umi no shinpei. The research is anchored by scholarship in historical literature such as Floating Worlds and the history of Japanese animation and will be focused on how the media differs from western animation by the means of stylistic approach and story choices.

Computer modeling and projections are becoming a part of every industry, and it is no different in professional sports, especially baseball. Predicting the outcome of games is not longer guessing or gambling but it is a science that has taken decades to create and develop. Teams are relying on these systems now more than ever and are involved in an arms race of trying to acquire the best technology to win more games. The road to get here hasn’t been easy. This report goes over a brief history of computer modeling's development in professional sports, before going over the technical aspects of how these models work, looking and them from a Computer Science background. Analysis of different types of projection models that include Statcast and PITCHf/x. These models extend to other aspects of computing such as A.I. and machine learning. Will also look at the current development of computer projections and how it could change the future of baseball.

Workplace mobbing is a phenomenon that was first researched by Heinz Leymann in the 1970s. He estimated that about 15% of all suicides in Sweden were due to adverse effects of work abuse. We propose a new psychotherapy protocol to support targets of emotional abuse at work. The challenge of the therapist is to facilitate positive changes in the client's mental health while they are exposed to adverse circumstances that are not only out of their control but also ongoing. We propose a new approach to support clients who experience ongoing work abuse: the Mobbing-informed Therapy (MIT). The approach is influenced by the research on narcissistic abuse and work abuse by Durvasula, Davenport, Schwartz, Elliott, Wyatt, Hare, and others. MIT is integrative; it combines several methodologies including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, logotherapy, Gestalt, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and the person-centered philosophy.  The approach is sensitive to multicultural issues. 

In this presentation, we will

(a) review the stages and signs of workplace mobbing;

(b) explain the main principles of the Mobbing-informed Therapy;

(c) discuss the ethical issues related to the applications of the approach;

(d) delineate the stages of the Mobbing-informed Therapy;

(e) provide theoretical background and rationale for the specific interventions in the approach. 

Keywords: workplace mobbing, workplace bullying, workplace harassment, work abuse, mobbing-informed therapy, mobbing-informed approach, mobbing-informed protocol, psychotherapy treatment protocol, eclectic psychotherapy, integrative psychotherapy.

This presentation investigates the methods and policies used in the reconstruction of Japan after World War II, from 1945 to 1952. In particular, they examine why American reconstruction efforts were so effective in reestablishing and growing a Japanese economy that had been ravaged by war. Academic papers, historical documentation, newspapers, and other primary sources were utilized in the course of this research.  This research explores how the leadership of United States General Douglas MacArthur, the Allied Council, and the cooperation of the Japanese people were all crucial elements in the reconstruction of post-war Japan. Through three stages of reconstruction, including political reform, economic partnership, and a formal demilitarization and peace agreement, to avoid another conflict with Japan in the future.

This presentation examines the importance of paid parental leave and all the benefits that come with it. I believe the United States needs to review their current policy, and replace it with one that offers compensation for the parents while on paternity or maternity leave. Out of 41 nations, the United States is the only one that doesn’t require companies to provide any amount of paid parental leave. The Family Medical Leave Act was enacted in 1993, but it simply holds a parent’s job if they take time off work within the baby’s first year. Children, parents, and employers benefit when parents can stay home for an extended period of time following the birth. Children are happier, parents are less stressed, and employers have lower turnover rates.Many parents cannot afford to take this time off from work because currently most companies aren't required to pay parents during their parental leave. This assignment was completed for COMM 111.

This analysis examines the composition and effectiveness of Emma Watson’s 2014 speech for the United Nations where she addresses common misconceptions and describes the role of men in modern feminism. Before her work with the United Nations, Emma Watson received her bachelor's degree in English at Brown University where the ideas in her speech were cultivated. Her rhetoric details the negative implications of gender stereotypes for both men and women, focusing on the inclusion of men in progressive efforts to achieve equality. This paper analyzes the rhetorical effectiveness of the speech according to neoclassical style. It also briefly evaluates Watson’s use of feminine style in her rhetorical approaches and delivery. This paper also analyzes how Emma Watson’s 2014 speech can be applied to the present situation of feminism in the current decade. Finally, there is a portion devoted to class attitudes toward feminism made by MSUM students studying feminine style in 2021 enrolled in the course “Rhetoric’s of Resistance”.

Climbing is a sport that is constantly evolving and becoming more popular. With the progression of time, climbers are spending more time on artificial climbing walls and using technology to keep track of their climbing history and progression. Currently, there are applications that allow climbers to track these attributes, and they typically involve a downloadable application. This paper discusses a project that allows users to access their climbing information from a web-based interface. The design and implementation of the project’s webserver, database, and a remotely controlled device are discussed. All the systems work together to allow climbers to log into a website that can track what climbs they have completed and when they completed them. Also, information about current climbing routes can be accessed to help the climbers select their next climbs. Delivery of the webpage interface will be done by a computer with a web server. User and climbing route information will be stored in a database. The remote device will be responsible for adjusting the angle of a climbing surface. Altogether, climbers can get information about their climbing history and progression with the added ability to interact with their climbing environment remotely.

Sapphic relationships, described as romantic relationships between two women, were able to proliferate without the watchful eye of society in late 19th-Century Europe due to many factors, including the lack of importance European society felt women had. While not entirely able to pronounce their relationships in public, these women were often able to operate somewhat publicly in three main types of common or “accepted” sapphic relationships. These include intimate friendships, “mother-daughter” models, and hetero-passing relationships. Since historical research on sapphic relationships before the 1970s was almost non-existent (beyond the chastising of such relationships) a number of women and queer academics in the 1970s provided much more visibility and destigmatization surrounding the specialization of the study of sapphic relationships. By exploring the ways in which women found romantic companionship with other women, the nature of these relationships showcases the human capacity for creativity and the natural expression of female homosexuality.

The history of residential schools has been identified as having long lasting effects on the physical, mental, and psychological well-being of Indigenous people. Over 100 years ago, more than 150,000 native youth were forcibly taken away from their families at a young age and placed into residential schools run by various religious organizations and funded by the Canadian government. The primary goal of these schools was to "kill the Indian in the child and save the man." The purpose of this literature review is to examine and discuss the themes and journey of hardship, abuse, survival, and healing, as well as the harm that Indigenous children endured while attending residential schools. Some articles about survivors and films such as Indian Horse, We Were Children, and the novel Behind Closed Doors: Stories from the Kamloops Indian Residential depict the real-life scenario of the trauma these children endured.

The term institutional quality reflects how individual and property rights, the regulatory environment, and a nation's legal system overlap to enhance its citizens' quality of life. While considerable research recognizes the role of institutional quality in economic development within some regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, no previous studies examine the unique economic resilience displayed by Rwanda following the country’s 1994 genocide. This research employs regression analysis to consider the role of both institutional quality and macroeconomic factors as drivers of Rwanda’s economic growth from 1997 to 2018. An intentional focus on institutional quality variables (control of corruption, rule of law, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality) defined within the World Governance Indicators (2017) highlights the role of institutions on economic growth. Rwanda's ability to achieve economic growth in the most difficult of circumstances offers other African nations optimism to face their own economic development challenges.  

The growth in maintainable equipment has led to an increased difficulty in performing maintenance at recommended intervals. The explanation for this trend is the result of poor maintenance documentation. There are few applications tailored to meet the specific needs of small businesses and farms with equipment to maintain and traditional logging methods are less intuitive and beneficial. I create an inventory and service database and log to increase productivity for those who maintain equipment by ensuring maintenance occurs at specified intervals. This can reduce costs as services will not occur too early which prove unnecessary, and they will also not occur too late which could cause future issues requiring repairs. With appropriate use, this application will benefit those who utilize it and will be an effective tool to keep maintenance a priority.

   Mancaves are a place for fans and friends to hangout and support their teams. You need to upgrade your mancave to impress your friends. This keg table will make it easy to support your team and supply beer for the whole party. We are working to provide you an aesthetically pleasing table with the help of professionals and future customers. We are working on bringing you a keg table that is a center piece for your mancave that provides beer on tap.

   Mancaves are a place for fans and friends to hangout and support their teams. You need to upgrade your mancave to impress your friends. This keg table will make it easy to support your team and supply beer for the whole party. We are working to provide you an aesthetically pleasing table with the help of professionals and future customers. We are working on bringing you a keg table that is a center piece for your mancave that provides beer on tap.

The rights of women have always lagged behind the rights of men in American History. Although the women’s suffrage movement was taking off, only six states had passed suffrage amendments at the beginning of the 20th century. Societal roles for women have undergone changes throughout history. This presentation will examine how female roles in society went from stay at home housewives to working women due to the impact of various laws. Key figures in women’s suffrage history will also be illuminated since they are often left out of the historical narrative.
 
The presentation analyzes the evolution of American women’s rights from the 20th century to the present. Primary and secondary sources were used to examine laws that impact women’s rights and how the laws directly impacted American women’s roles and lives day-to-day.

Echolalia, or repetitive speech, is a commonly occurring characteristic of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Gladfelter & VanZuiden, 2020). Being able to communicate wants, needs, and feelings is an important skill for every individual to have. This skill is hindered when an individual struggles to understand how to create their own sentences. It is important for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to be aware of this phenomenon and know different evidence-based practice treatment options that are available to use during intervention. This poster presentation will discuss what echolalia is and details to three strategy options as well as the studies that support their use. The strategies include cues-point-pause (CPP) (e.g., Foxx et al., 1987, 2004; Valentino et al., 2012), response interruption and redirection (RIRD) (e.g., Liu-Gitz & Banda, 2010; Toper et al., 2018), and differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) (e.g., Dipipi at al., 2001; Taylor et al., 2005). This discussion will provide the listener with a better overall understanding of echolalia so they can feel confident identifying and treating it. 

Women fluctuate size many times throughout their lives. With this, some women have issues fitting into different types of fashionable shoes. Especially knee-high boots, and ankle boots. By following the Lean Start-up canvas, interviewing 15 potential customers, and keeping in mind that what fits at one point may not fit a year later, we have created a customizable boot that can be customized to fit each individual. This is a revolutionary boot unlike any other, built for longevity.

There was a problem with keeping items protected and safe in the gym while working out. What we didn’t know is how interested consumers would be in buying a product to combat this problem. Our project is a towel that has multiple pockets and can be put onto gym equipment while also being carried around on a backpack for easy transport. We used the lean canvas startup method to interview 15 customers composed of consumers, field experts and leaders that gave us the language and know-how to develop our product into the perfect prototype. We want to make everyone feel as though their items can be safe while they workout while also providing them the opportunity to use our product for its intended use.

Rylan Fitzpatrick (14066616, sk8487sq@go.minnstate.edu)

Mentor: Dr. Joel Powell (powell@mnstate.edu)

Sociology

2-15-2022

SAC Application: Police Use of Force and the Management of Meaning

Abstract: Since the early 2000’s when Nokia released their first phone camera, videos of police use of force have gone viral and been seen by huge audiences around the world. Authorities must face victims, their families, activists, and the news media, and give accounts for these videos. These accounts include a certain vocabulary – often using excuses or justifications for the force seen in the video. This study works to understand these statements and the vocabularies used by authorities to account for their actions.

Research Question: What justifications are used by the police to account for their actions in viral videos of police force?

Data Sources and Methodology: For this research, the data has come from publicly available body camera footage, viral videos from the internet, and news stories about these narratives. We have analyzed all the various footage and organized it to find patterns in the accounts given by police and the meanings for the terms they use in justifications on their use of force.

Ethical Concerns: Videos are all publicly available so there is no concern about the invasion of privacy. 

In this project, a simple self-driving car is designed and built using a Raspberry pi single board computer. Raspberry pi is a powerful tool to experiment with AI and machine learning projects. The concept of the project is inspired by the object detection and decision-making algorithms used in recent automation technologies. The designed car is capable of detecting the road signals and take necessary decisions accordingly. The hardware systems include a car chassis, 2 pairs of DC motors, an L298 H bridge motor driver, a Raspberry pi 4, and a Raspberry pi camera module.

This portfolio website is based on HTML, CSS, and Java. HTML is the standard markup language for webpage development and it is used to create websites and design them. CSS is the language that is used to style an HTML document. It describes how HTML elements should be displayed. Java is a popular programming language that is used for dynamic page creation. It is really important to have a professional online portfolio, which allows an individual to share and showcase their work easily to other employers. It is also an efficient and simple tool to show the best work so far from an individual.

This presentation will focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) systems with the use of high-tech tools, particularly speech-generating devices (SGD) that utilize direct selection with eye-gaze and head tracking access methods. “With ongoing advancements in AAC technology, more individuals with Complex Communication Needs (CNN) and those who have limited arm movements are exploring eye-gaze or head tracking technology for accessing their AAC devices” (Lariviere, 2014). An overview of AAC will be provided first, followed by a discussion of the specific types of access methods and factors to consider when choosing an access method. Potential strengths and limitations of eye gaze and head tracking for individuals using this communication system as well personal experiences from individuals and their family members will be also be included. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is an area of clinical practice that supplements or compensates for impairment in speech-language production and/ or comprehension, including spoken and written modes of communication.  

Predation shapes the evolution of behavior. In aquatic habitats predation risk is detected by chemical cues released by predator-prey interactions. For example, when epidermal tissues are damaged when a predator eats their prey, chemical “alarm cues” are released. Recent work (Wisenden et. al. 2022) showed that suction feeding, such as a bass does, may prevent the release of such alarm cues, which contradicts what was previously thought in the field of chemical ecology. Karl Von Frisch first published the idea that some sort of Schreckstoff (“scary stuff”) was released during predation in 1938. Since then, his assumption has been widely accepted and has not been challenged. Here we simulated several different styles of predation to try to distinguish which modes of predation release the most alarm cue. We tested suction feeding by piscivorous fish, body-grasping by wading birds, body-impaling by diving birds, and whole-body maceration by invertebrate predators

   The purpose of this research project is to identify the benefits of having a four-day school week. We hypothesized that having a four-day school week would improve attendance rates, increase grade point averages, and allow the school to save money. Our research is conducted by a review of the literature around this topic and analyzing various school-week policies. Right now, we are discovering that most schools that implemented a four-day school week are from rural communities and consistently have seen an increase in money saved. However, there is no data that has stated specifically whether or not the schools have experienced negative or positive impacts from having a four-day school week. If we discover any positive or negative effects that come with having a four-day school week, then schools can decide if taking a day off of school would prove to be beneficial to their students and staff.

This project is a study of Mexican animation and cinema of the 2000s. The reason for this study is to analyze thematic and stylistic choices in animation and film within the same time frame. Through this comparison, the project will identify Mexican cinema's thematic concerns and common stylistic patterns. The study draws on animations such as Down to the Bone (2002), and El Agente 00-P2 (2009) and compares them to films such as Pan's Labyrinth (2006). However, these are only a few examples, and the study is not limited to only these pieces. This study begins with a review of existing scholarship on national cinemas in general and more specifically, research that focuses on the technological state of Mexican cinema and animation. This overview is followed by textual analyses of the samples for thematic and stylistic patterns. The project concludes by reading the patterns against a history of Mexican national cinema to determine how the 2000s may have been different from previous decades. I believe my study is different from other scholarly works because I am focusing on the unique differences that animation has in comparison to films created at the same time, and what makes them different stylistically.

COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S. first became available to select populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised, back in June 2020, right after COVID-19 broke out in March. Fast forward to present day where vaccinations are available to everyone, along with the development of a booster shot. However, since then, vaccines have become a very controversial topic. The COVID-19 vaccines were the fastest vaccines to get approved for use. This has led to many people wondering, how effective are these vaccines? In this project, we will be doing an exploratory data analysis on the relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of people vaccinated. This will help to show the effectiveness of the vaccine. We will be using data from COVID Data Tracker, which is a website managed by the CDC, to look for relationships between positive COVID-19 cases and vaccination status among different age groups. We will be looking at the whole population of the U.S. to get more accurate information on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. If the vaccine is effective, we should see that as the number of vaccinated people goes up, the amount of COVID-19 cases will go down.

Adolescent birth rate is the amount of births per 1000 females who give birth between the ages 15 to 19. There are many possible factors that could contribute to a high rate of adolescent birth. A high adolescent birth rate could result in mortality for both mothers and infants while this is possible factors such as truncated education, lower future family income and larger family size are also effects of adolescent birth. If we can understand the relationships between risk factors and adolescent birth rate , then we can make recommendations about how to reduce adolescent birth. But, we don't know enough about those relationships.The focus of this project is to explore the characteristics of countries that experienced high adolescent birth rate and to see how the frequency of those characteristics varied geographically. To do that, we will use data from the World Health Organization - Global Health Organization which contains information about the countries and their birth rates throughout the years 2000 to 2019. Investigation obtained from this data will be used to provide adequate information in high risk areas for adolescent birth rate.

In the year 2022, the blood supply is dangerously low, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of healthy donations. Blood donors are essential to the success of hospitals and other medical practices. These places rely on the community for donations to treat patients who are suffering from a variety of diseases, along with those going into surgeries, and potential complications. In this presentation, we explore why the community should answer this call to action, as well as address the dire need of donations. We use personal experiences to have an emotional connection to the importance of blood donations. To aid our research, we were able to accumulate data from a myriad of trusted sources such as the Red Cross, Tara Law, a Time Magazine Journalist, and the Mayo Clinic. With patients needing blood every two seconds, and less than 10% of the population donating, we are fighting an uphill battle for life. We are expanding on a persuasive speech to encourage others to become blood donors. 

Several mathematical techniques can be used to model the spread of infectious diseases. SIR model is one of the well-known techniques. It utilizes the system of differential equations to estimate the number of susceptible hosts (S), infection host (I), and recovered host (R) over time. This presentation will utilize these models and associated graphs of the host population to show the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID 19.  

Induced anxiety was explored in this 2 x 2 factorial design. A group of 10 undergraduate students was assigned into 4 conditions: anxiety-induced males, no anxiety males, anxiety-induced females, and no anxiety females. The anxiety was induced by minor deception. The induced anxiety groups were told they have 10 minutes to read and present a speech on a chosen passage. The no anxiety group was told they have 10 minutes to study the passage, after which they completed a short quiz on the content. After completion of the quiz, all participants took the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to measure their current state of anxiety. We found a significant main effect for induced anxiety, no significant main effect for females compared to males, and a significant interaction. We also found that there were no significant differences in the comprehension scores between anxiety groups or genders.  

Abstract

As one of the largest creditors in the world, the People’s Republic of China and its subsidiaries extend over $1.5 trillion dollars in credit to other nations (Horn, Reinhard, and Trebesch, 2020). China’s position as a lender to emerging economies aligns with the country’s ambition to revive the ancient Silk Route as the Belt and Route Initiative (BRI). Loans originating from China to developing nations have notably surpassed that of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This research investigates the efficacy of Chinese loans by examining recipient countries' key economic indicators as well as the debt sustainability of these indebted nations.

Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) of the head and neck is a rare type of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (Ruiz-Martin et al., 2016). The evidence of managing and treating SpCC is lacking as it is a rare type of cancer. As with other cancer diagnoses, treatment of SpCC is most influenced by the tumor location and the stage of the tumor (Boamah & Ballard, 2012). Most treatments for this type of cancer involve surgery followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. While radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be recommended as part of the treatment plan, research appears to be unclear on the roles of these treatments.

The majority of individuals who present with head and neck cancer experience dysphagia at some point in the disease process. SLPs should be involved to evaluate, recommend, and complete swallowing rehabilitation. Additionally, individuals with SpCC often report voice disorder symptoms, such as hoarseness and voice changes. SLPs can determine appropriate communication options for individuals. Furthermore, SLPs should be involved in head and neck cancer cases pre-treatment and post-treatment to make clients more comfortable, feel safe, and improve their quality of life.

Future research is warranted to enhance the evidence for managing and treating SpCC. Specifically, more research on long-term swallowing and voice from radiotherapy and the involvement of speech-language pathology throughout the process.

Animation has been a fascinating concept for humans throughout our history, having its earliest origins on the walls of Paleolithic caves. This desire to tell stories through moving images has been an ongoing project for humans and despite the earliest forms and technologies of animation being developed outside of America, it was in America where animation boomed into what we recognize today. The evolution of animation has been heavily influenced and aided by immigration to the United States and despite animation having it roots reaching all over the world, American animation has too often been used to ostracize and attack immigrants and those labeled as “the other.” Because the history of animation is such a broad and ancient topic, the project focuses strictly on the history of American animation starting in the late 1800s and work our way towards the modern era, examining how immigrants have furthered animation and how animation has in turn been used to portray immigrants.

Gender inequality creates an unequal opportunity for women to participate fully in economic life and limits global economies from realizing their productive potential. Among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the female/male earnings ratio in 2019 ranged from 76.5 in Japan to 95.8 in Belgium and signaled adverse impacts on individuals and economies even among developed countries with established infrastructure. Using OECD data for years 2017 to 2019, this research employs regression analysis to investigate the relationship between a nation's public spending on education and its gender wage gap. An understanding of factors influencing the gender wage gap in developed countries can equalize returns to human capital and increase global output.

Spare, limited elements constitute the work of Agnes Martin (1912-2004). Active in New York and later New Mexico, her extensive oeuvre of square paintings exemplifies her long-held commitment to the grid and to the stripe. Martin is often referred to as a Minimalist, while she herself viewed her work as Abstract-Expressionist, a movement known for its effusive mark-making.

This paper analyzes the mature work of Martin’s New Mexico years, considering it within her larger oeuvre and broader artistic movements of the time. It contextualizes her use of the grid and the stripe as quintessentially 20th-century devices in dialogue with other leading artists and movements. Considered within this framework is the tension between her work’s designation as Minimalist with her own view of it as Abstract-Expressionist. Martin’s enduring cultural legacies – her desert association, her status as a female icon – will be further considered in placing Martin within the larger canon of American art.

The purpose of this study is to examine how law consumers adopt online information and make a decision when choosing an attorney for legal assistance. Online information (e.g., law firm websites and attorneys’ social media) is one of the easiest sources to identify information about the attorneys and their legal services (Frazer, 2012). Nowadays, 1.5 million legal related questions are asked online each month (Hawkins & Knake, 2019). Law consumers are going to law firms’ websites to find an attorney when in need of legal assistance (Hawkins & Knake, 2019). Not only are law firms using websites to market their services, but they are also using company and personal social media accounts. The number of attorneys using social media marketing is increasing at a steady rate. Frequent updates and active engagement have shown results of increased clients from social media (Mentkowski, 2015). Thus, this study investigates whether interactivity, vividness, diagnosticity, and business reputation shown in law service providers’ website and/or social media affect law consumers’ attitudes and their behavioral intention to choose an attorney. This study will utilize online panels to collect data. The estimated sample size is 300, and this study will adopt Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze and to test the hypotheses upon collecting data. The findings will provide theoretical and practical implications by explaining how law consumers access information about an attorney or a law firm when they need legal assistance and how their perception toward an attorney’s or a law firm’s online presence affects their decision-making process. For law service providers and marketers focusing on individual consumers needing legal advice, the results of this study will shed light on the importance of content interactivity, vividness, diagnosticity, and business reputation when developing their online presence in website and social media. 

This paper was developed in the Business and Professional Communication course to examine a conglomerate of issues in the American workplace, including but not limited to: racism, sexism, xenophobia, and ableism. The researchers make the argument that the implementation of legally mandatory Sensitivity Training programs for employees of all businesses would combat these issues on a broad scale, increasing acceptance nationally. Each year, thousands of discrimination charges are filed, and there are likely thousands more that go unreported. The effects of these problems are general dismay, lower employee retention, health concerns, financial loss, higher stress levels, and morale decline. Researchers found that these issues manifest in a multitude of ways, both subtle and obvious. Sensitivity Training teaches employees not only how to tackle the complex task of reducing discrimination, but also how to recognize the signs of it. This essay discovered that businesses that already practice these courses have a significantly lower amount of discrimination issues. Furthermore, increasing awareness is a crucial step to creating understanding. 

Plant grafting is a horticultural technique where the scion (the upper component) of one plant grows on the rootstock (the root system) of another plant. The regeneration of tissue between the scion and rootstock results in a genetically fused organism that operates as a single plant. Grafting is frequently utilized in the agricultural field, where the primary benefits of grafting can be observed. These include disease resistance and tolerance against abiotic stresses such as salt, wet soils, and low temperature. As well as significantly affecting nutrient uptake in the leaves. Nutrients such as nitrogen give plant leaves their dark green color and promote overall growth. Our goal is to determine what nutrient had the highest uptake in the leaves of our grafted plants. Three Ironwood hybrid trees were selected and planted in standard commercial soil. Each was treated with one of three nutrient combinations; phosphate only, nitrogen only, or equal parts nitrogen and phosphate. Currently, our results are inconclusive as we haven’t completed collecting the necessary data to examine our results. 

This project is an exploration of African cinema through a case study of Wakaliwood. It is a closer look at contemporary Ugandan filmmaking. The project is motivated by an interest in how Wakaliwood filmmakers are able to make extremely low-budget actions movies. For primary sources, the project analyzes Who Killed Captain Alex (2010), Bad Black (2016), and Crazy World(2019). These films have been some of the most popular, putting Wakaliwood within the context of global image flow over the last 9 years. For theoretical and historical contexts, the study relies on concepts of national cinema, African cinema, Nollywood, and digital as the new popular in African Cinema. Wakaliwood has received little critical scholarship and this project delves into its common themes and, more specifically, how it integrates alternative media into the narratives. 

   Understanding a project’s financial health is important for any business. Without an accurate understanding of what is happening, a business can quickly find itself unprofitable. Web applications provide a method of automating and simplifying procedures that are otherwise tedious and error-prone. This presentation is a combination of the two topics, mentioned previously, through the implementation of a web application that helps to enable a greater understanding of project financial health.

   The developed tool is a recreation of an internal tool Codelation uses to keep track of their projects’ financial health. Codelation is a small development company that produces web and mobile applications for their clients. The current internal tool being used is implemented in Google Docs and can be both slow and error-prone to use. The created tool hopes to alleviate these two issues by providing proper data validation for inputted data and showing certain markers to summarize a project’s financial health. Lastly, this presentation will take an in-depth dive into the recreation of an internal tool used by Codelation, supplemented with information on Codelation’s process of taking a project from an idea to a production-ready product.

Despite many benefits accruing from solar and wind power, these renewable energy sources require a fossil fuel backup during times when idle making them unfit to serve as the United States' primary sources or energy. ?Energy.gov reports that U.S. nuclear power plants produce one gigawatt of electricity per year on average, which is the equivalent of either 3.125 million solar panels or 431 wind turbines. Multiple benefits ac?crue from nuclear energy in its associated labor market.  The Nuclear Energy Institute (2012) states that nuclear energy produces 504 direct local jobs, more than twice the next option of coal at 187 direct local jobs. Nuclear power’s workforce income is $32.49 million compared to wind and solar combined at $3.24 million. Despite these strengths, the cost and stigma associated with using nuclear energy have delayed U.S. adoption on a broader scale. Using publicly available data, this research relies upon a cost/benefit analysis to determine whether nuclear energy is an optimal source for carbon-free energy compared to solar and wind power.  The results of this research will assess the potential for nuclear energy to meet growing U.S. energy demand and climate change goals simultaneously.

Warwick Thornton and Aboriginal Australian National Cinema

This presentation is on Aboriginal Australian National Cinema, and more specifically on the work of Aboriginal Australian director Warwick Thornton. The primary sources for the study are 2009 Samson and Delilah (2009) the 2017 film Sweet Country, and the 2012 film The Sapphires, all of which were worked on by Warwick Thornton. I have chosen the three films by Warwick Thornton to study the relationship between authorship within national cinemas. The project will also demonstrate, through analyzing his films, how Aboriginal Australian Cinema fits in to fourth cinema in general. I think you will find my work different from that of other scholars as I am approaching Aboriginal Australian Cinema with an open mind.