ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION I
BIOLOGY I
Nick 167
8:55 a.m.
Welcome
9:00 a.m.
DNA Fingerprinting of White-Tailed Deer
Adele Bish and Stephanie Krofcheck (Frederic Brenner), Grove City College
9:15 a.m.
Biofilm Characterization and flp/tad Gene Quantification of Haemophilus
ducreyi’s Sexually-Transmitted versus Chronic Limb Ulcer Strains
Andrew Crofford (Tricia Humphreys), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m.
Investigating the Effects of DMN Treatment by Examining the Changing
Gene Expression by QT-PCR
Olivia D’Annibale (Michael Campbell), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Barcoding Arthropods Across the Behrend Campus
Kyler Miller and Ryan Tarto (Matthew Gruwell), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m.
Do Cats in Canada Need Their Own Forensic Mitochondrial DNA
Database?
Amanda Spadaro (Kristen Webb), Allegheny College
11:00 a.m.
Binding of Chronic Limb Ulcer Strains of Haemophilus ducreyi to
Fibrinogen
Alice Tischler (Tricia Humphreys), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m.
Biosynthesis of Melanin and Ultra-violet (UV) Radiation Protection
Zhang-Jingyi and Aziz Yousif (Om Singh), University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION II
BIOLOGY II
Nick 169
8:55 a.m.
Welcome
9:00 a.m.
An Investigation of the Methylation Status of the KEAP1 Promoter Region and
Keap1 mRNA Expression in Canis lupus familiaris Hemangiosarcoma
Maria Bozzo (Kristen Webb and Ann Kleinschmidt), Allegheny College
9:15 a.m.
Synergistic Effects of Resveratrol and Quercetin on Tumorigenic T2-A Mouse
Cell Line
Lauren Gillespie, Sarah Blizard, Josh Godwin, and Amanda Lisby (Fred Brenner and
Durwood Ray), Grove City College
9:30 a.m.
Identification of Sequences Crucial for CG13222 Edge Regulation by
Ultrabithorax
Eduardo Munoz (Bradley Hersh), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
The Effects of Stress Physiology on Disease Resistance
Julie Murone and Joseph DeMarchi (Matthew Venesky), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m.
Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the Cell Cycle Regulating Genes of
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Connor Pletz (Mary Vagula), Gannon University
11:00 a.m.
Gene Expression in the IRBP-/- Mouse Model (Mus musculus)
Karishma Reddy and Katelyn Cassel (Christine Donmoyer), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m.
The Effects of Malvolio and Vha68-1 Genes on Survival of Drosophila
melanogaster Following Bacterial Exposure
Sara Townsend (Bradley Hersh), Allegheny College
11:30 a.m. End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION III
BIOLOGY III – Environmental Biology
Nick 165
8:25 a.m.
Welcome
8:30 a.m.
Tracking Invasive Species using Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Samantha Czerniak and Brian Fuller (Greg Andraso and Kelly Grant), Gannon
University
8:45 a.m.
Morph-Specific Differences in Disease Prevalence and Pathogen-Induced
Mortality in a Terrestrial Polymorphic Salamander
Alex Hess, Joseph DeMarchi, Alejandro Weil, Julie Murone, Cari-ann Hickerson, and
Carl Anthony (Matthew Venesky), Allegheny College
9:00 a.m.
Relationships among Cyanobacteria and Sediment and Nutrient Load in Presque
Isle Bay
Jeanette Girosky (Pamela Silver), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m.
Salamanders Increase Their Feeding Activity during Infection with a Pathogenic
Fungus
Alexandra Hess, Caroline McCallister, Joseph DeMarchi, Makenzie Zidek, and Julie
Murone (Matthew Venesky), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m.
A Census of the Bat Population on the Campus of Gannon University, Erie,
Pennsylvania
Nikki McGaughey and Sarah Calve (Steve Ropski), Gannon University
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Fin Shape and Locomotion in Etheostoma Darter Fish
Rob Paul and Casey Bradshaw-Wilson (Lisa Whitenack), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m.
The Effect of Zinc and Acidic pH on Daphnia magna Mortality
James Rynes (Rich Bowden), Allegheny College
11:00 a.m.
Estimating Growth of Young-of-Year Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Using Size Frequency Distributions and Otoliths
Zachary Taylor (Greg Andraso and Kelly Grant), Gannon University
11:15 a.m.
Tracking Aquatic Invasive Species Using DNA in the Feces of Piscivorous Fish
Jared Wilczynski, Samantha Czerniak, and Brian Fuller (Greg Andraso and Kelly
Grant), Gannon University
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION IV
BIOLOGY IV - Microbiology
Nick 170
8:55 a.m.
Welcome
9:00 a.m.
Factors Affecting the Sex-Determination Mechanism of the Soil
Bacteria Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus on the Homosporous Fern
Ceratopteris richardii
Haley Hallowell (Mike Ganger and Sarah Ewing), Gannon University
9:15 a.m.
Isolation and Characterization of Magnetotactic Bacterium from Pond
Sediment
Usman Ahmad and Jinyi Zhang (Om Singh), University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
9:30 a.m.
Microbial Occurrence and Antibiotic Resistance in Bagged and Canned Food
Mariah Cole (Om Singh), University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Changes in the Bacterial Microflora Found on Door Handles Based on the
Use of Agion Silver Technology
Hasan Khan, Brenton Maloy, Michelle Hornedo, Nicole Kingston, Nesve Ozsoy,
Paul Ruiz-Pelet, and Laura Wheeler (Beth Potter), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m.
The Bacterial Composition of the Microflora Found on Purple Martin
(Progne subis) Eggs
Michael Knoll, Aimee Day, Sean Weaver, Eric Brown, MaryAnn Mason, and
Kristen Webster (Beth Potter), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m.
Inactivation of Pathogens on Contact Surfaces Using Decontaminating
Substances Produced by Radiant Catalytic Ionization
Joseph Mannozzi (William Mackay, David Fulford, and Craig Steele), Edinboro
University
11:15 a.m.
Growth Kinetics of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol-Producing Strains of
Pseudomonas fluorescens on Components of Tomato Root Exudates
Jamie Wilkes (Catharina Coenen), Allegheny College
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION V
BIOLOGY V – Neurobiology and Behavior
Nick 156
9:10 a.m.
Welcome
9:15 a.m.
Creating Environmentally Conscious Students: Integrating Garden-Based
Learning into the Family/Consumer Science 7th Grade Curriculum
Sydney Bedford (Caryl Waggett), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m.
The Effects of Parental Involvement on Childhood Development: A Mouse
Model
Kevin Crooks (Christy Donmoyer), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Assessing Seventh Graders’ Knowledge, Behavior, and Attitudes toward
Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Local Foods
Liesel Anderson, Kimberly Garrett, Mason Hill, Catherine Kasianowicz, Cailyn
Lingwall, Carly Luitgaarden, Josie Niovich, Stephen Nymick, Nandi Ramsey,
Sadie Stuart, and Joe Wiesmeth (Caryl Waggett), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m.
An Epidemiological Study of Six Health Conditions in Young Adults
Sarah Miller (Mary Vagula and David Prier) Gannon University
11:00 a.m.
Behavioral Effects of Diet Restriction in Male VPA Model Autistic Rats
Shelby Overman (Rodney Clark and Caryl Waggett), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m.
ADHD: What Can and Cannot be Done
Armaghan Raeouf (Mary Vagula), Gannon University
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VI
CHEMISTRY
Hammermill 143
8:55 a.m.
Welcome
9:00 a.m.
Elucidation of Diphenylureas Conformational Preferences in Varying Solvent
Environments
Dominick Ali1 (Mary Grace Galinato1 and Jhenny Galan2), 1Penn State Behrend
and 2Texas A&M University at Galveston
9:15 a.m.
Optimization of Fluorescence Intensity and Stability of “Bubble” DNA
Templated Silver Nanoclusters
Ian Campbell, Danielle Stanko, and Nicholas Swanson (Bruce Wittmershaus),
Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m.
Evaluating Graphene Oxide Electrochemically Reduced on Pt-Black as an
Electrocatalyst Support for H2S Detection
Robert Custer (Jason Bennett), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Characterization of a Methanol-Hexafluorobenzene Complex Using Matrix
Isolation Infrared Spectroscopy
Cody Kindle (Jay Amicangelo), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m.
α-Amylase Inactivation in the Presence of Caffeine
Neel Rajan, Stephen Koellner, and Vincent Calabrese (Arshad Khan), Penn State
DuBois
11:00 a.m.
Putting Silver Nanoclusters into an Oxygen-Free Environment to Improve
Their Stability
Nicholas Swanson, Danielle Stanko, and Ian Campbell (Bruce Wittmershaus),
Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m.
Spectroelectrochemical Elucidation of Human Serum Albumin – Heme
Complex
George Tomoiaga (Mary Grace Galinato and Jason Bennett), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VII
ECONOMICS
Nick 166
8:25 a.m.
Welcome
8:30 a.m.
Is There a Relationship between Local Inequality and Property Crime in U.S.
Neighborhoods?
Phoenix Cooke (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
8:45 a.m.
Evaluating the Choice between Schooling and On-the-Job Training for MLB
Prospects
Joe Dawida (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
9:00 a.m.
The Marcellus Shale Boom and Its Effects on Labor and Wage
Nicholas Hollinger (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
9:15 a.m.
Farmer Suicides in India and GM Cotton
Eric Jorgensen (Stephanie Martin and Eric Palmer), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m.
Can the United States Sustain the Current Trade Deficit?
Ashley Keenen (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
The Effects of Insurance as an Employer-Provided Fringe Benefit on Wages
Stephen Kukunas (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m.
Sabermetrics, Arbitration, and Discrimination in the MLB
Romulus Marino (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
11:00 a.m.
Social Media in the NGO Sector
Jaime Parke (Stephanie Martin), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m.
Impact of International Trade on Local Poverty
Theodore Wisinski (Kenneth Louie), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION VIII
ENGINEERING
Hammermill 144
8:10 a.m.
Welcome
8:15 a.m.
Incrementally Formed Stiffeners Effect on the Reduction of Springback in 2024-T3
Aluminum after Single Point Incremental Forming
Sean Dodds, Zachary Reese, and Brandt Ruszkiewicz (John Roth and Ihab Ragai), Penn
State Behrend
8:30 a.m.
Fabrication and Mathematical Modeling of Microscale Fuel Cell Electrodes
Daniel Doleiden (Adam Hollinger), Penn State Behrend
8:45 a.m.
Study of Acoustic Signals and Mechanical Properties Dependence during Cold
Drawn A36 Steel Quenching
Nicholas Erich and Chris Conklin (Chetan Nikhare and David Loker), Penn State Behrend
9:00 a.m.
An Investigation on the Relationship between Current Density, Pulse Period, and
Pulse Duration
Jesse Jarrett (Chetan Nikhare), Penn State Behrend
9:15 a.m.
Wear Monitoring Tool Holder
Matthew McCormick (John Roth, Stephen Strom, and David Loker), Penn State Behrend
9:30 a.m.
Methodology to Design a Multipurpose Product
Johnathan Moody (Shraddha Sangelkar), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Effect of Electric-Assisted Heating during Diffusion Process
Randy Redfield (Chetan Nikhare), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m.
Locally Applied Direct Electric Current’s Effect on Springback of 2024-T3
Aluminum after Single Point Incremental Forming
Brandt Ruszkiewicz (John Roth and David Johnson), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m.
Change in Elongation and Tensile Strength during Annealing of AA5083 Alloy
William Trozzo (Chetan Nikhare), Penn State Behrend – Mechanical Engineering
11:15 a.m.
Design for Developing World
Chris Spalla (Shraddha Sangelkar), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION IX
COMPUTER ENGINEERING/SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Nick 155
8:40 a.m.
Welcome
8:45 a.m.
Test Bed for Measuring Power of FPGA Multipliers Used in FIR Filters
Nick Angelo (George Walters), Penn State Behrend
9:00 a.m.
Practical Hierachical Temporal Memory for Time-Series Prediction
Nicholas Hainsey (C. David Shaffer), Westminster College
9:15 a.m.
GPS Adventure: Web Portal for Virtual Geocaching
Ben Parker (C. David Shaffer), Westminster College
9:30 a.m.
Some Issues Regarding Quaternionic Calculus
Stanley Tuznik (Joseph Previte), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Investigation of New LUT-Based Multiplier for Xilinx FPGAs
Steven Rose (George Walters), Penn State Behrend
10:45 a.m.
Numerical Solutions for Convection of Groundwater Adjacent to Horizontal
Impermeable Surfaces with Axisymmetric Temperature and Mass
Distribution
Timothy Sam and Shambhavi Gupta (Javed Siddique), Penn State York
11:00 a.m.
The Neurodynamics of Bursting Oscillations in the Hindmarsh-Rose Model
Stanley Tuznik (Antonio Mastroberardino), Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m.
Evaluating the Viability of Online Learning Systems
Nicholas Verno (Terri Lenox), Westminster College
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION X
PSYCHOLOGY AND WOMEN’S STUDIES
Nick 171
8:40 a.m.
Welcome
8:45 a.m.
How Survivors of Betrayal Trauma Interpret Conflict with Authority Figures
Katey Marsh, John Moore, and Joseph Moore (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin), Penn State
Behrend
9:00 a.m.
Feminist Criticism and Online Pro-Ana Communities
Alyxandra Mance (Barbara Shaw), Allegheny College
9:15 a.m.
An Experimental Method of Assessing Bystander Intervention and Risk
Recognition in Sexual Assault Situation
Rebecca Dinsmore, Danielle Carioto, Christa Franco, Allison Gage, Kasey Jerioski,
Taylor Morris and the Coping, Stress, and Trauma Lab (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin), Penn
State Behrend
9:30 a.m.
Emma Sulkowicz, #CarrythatWeight, and the Erasure of Affect in Antirape
Solidarity Moments
Andrea Jacoby (Barbara Shaw), Allegheny College
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Mediators and Moderators of Resiliency after Trauma: An Exploratory Study
Alyssa Craig, Cassandra Bramblett, Allison Rupe, Richard Greatbatch, and Jessica
Stoker and the Coping, Stress, and Trauma Lab (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin), Penn State
Behrend
10:45 a.m.
Evaluation of the Impact of Therapy Dogs on Children with Physical,
Behavioral, and Emotional Disabilities in an Educational Environment
Katey Marsh, Emily Galeza, Wes Dorrenbacher, and Brianna Zaffino (Heather Lum,
Victoria Kazmerski, and Dawn Blasko), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m.
A Comparison of Coping Strategies on Induced Stress
Alicia McAllister, Christie Leslie, and Cassandra Bramblett (Victoria Kazmerski),
Penn State Behrend
11:15 a.m.
Meta-Analysis of Sexual Assault Prevention Programs
Richard Greatbatch and Jessica Stoker (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin), Penn State Behrend
11:30 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
SESSION XI
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Nick 168
9:10 a.m.
Welcome
9:15 a.m.
Peoples Temple in San Francisco, 1970-1977
Jessie Lamb (Barbara Shaw), Allegheny College
9:30 a.m.
The Unwritten War
Matthew Lesnett (Joseph Beilein), Penn State Behrend
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
From Ye to Yeezus: Branding, Authenticity, and the Post-Soul Aesthetic as
Employed in the Music of Kanye West
Alexander Neal (Joe Tompkins and Emily Yochim), Allegheny College
10:45 a.m.
Has America Learned its Lesson? The Treatment of Modern Veterans
Compared to Vietnam Veterans
Danielle Ropp (Leigh-Ann Bedal), Penn State Behrend
11:00 a.m.
Diversity Discourse at Allegheny College: The Commodification of
Citizenship in Neoliberal Times
Lee Scandinaro (Julie Wilson), Allegheny College
11:15 a.m.
End of Presentations
Noon
Awards Luncheon in Erie Hall