Western Illinois University
rd
3 Annual
Graduate Research
Conference
Friday, March 4, 2016
University Union
Schedule of Events
9:00am – 2:00pm
Check in (Union First Floor Hallway)
9:30am – 10:45am
Concurrent Sessions (Board Room, Fox Room,
Cardinal/Oak Room, Algonquin Room)
10:45am – 11:00am
Break (DuSable Room)
11:00am – 12:30pm
Poster Session (Heritage Rooms)
12:30pm – 2:00pm
Concurrent Sessions (Board Room, Fox Room,
Cardinal/Oak Room, Algonquin Room)
2:00pm – 2:15pm
Break (DuSable Room)
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Concurrent Sessions (Board Room, Fox Room,
Cardinal/Oak Room, Algonquin Room)
3:15pm – 3:30pm
Break (DuSable Room)
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Keynote: “Dream, Validate, Execute.” by Professor
Rafael Obregon, Engineering Technology (Sandburg
Theatre)
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Awards Reception (Sandburg Lounge)
9:30am-10:45am Concurrent Sessions
College Students: Health, Psychology, and Political Participation
Board Room
Moderator: Dr. Ruth Kelly
Kyle E. Davis (Political Science) “The Future Generation: A look at College
Students’ Political Activity”
Natalia Kazakova (Psychology) “Correlates of Inhalant Use in a Sample of
College Students”
Madison Cirks (Psychology) “Perceived Use Compared to Actual Use of
Alcohol and Marijuana on College Campuses and Associated Mental Health
and Academic Difficulties”
Ryan Van Fossen (Psychology) “Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms
Associated with ADHD Treatment in College Students”
Animals: Habitat and Diseases
Fox Room
Moderator: Dr. Kim McClure
Emma Trone (Biology) “Gene Expression in Chronic Wasting Disease
Infected White-Tailed Deer”
Shanna E Pikora (Biology) “Habitat Preferences of Den Locations for the
North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis)”
Paris Hamm (Biology) “Natural Bat Biota from the West May Fight the Spread
of White-Nose Syndrome”
Perceived Cultural Identity and Stereotypes
Cardinal/Oak Room
Moderator: Dr. Kristy Keefe
Brian Johnson (Political Science) “Realism and Constructivism in the Middle
East”
Alexander Deeb and Ryan Demming (Sports Management) “Redefining Sports
Stereotypes: The Black Athlete”
Jonathan Counce (Psychology) “White Identity Development Differences in
White Privilege Attitudes Following Dissonance Intervention”
Continued on the next page …
9:30am-10:45am Concurrent Sessions Continued
Pests and their Interaction with the Environment
A lgonquin Room
Moderator: Dr. Kenneth McCravy
Jason R Hunt (Environmental Studies) “Biotic and Abiotic Properties Lower
Illinois Subregion of the Mississippi River Watershed that Impact the
Survival and Disease Carriage of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes Japonicus in
Western Illinois”
Donald A Bath (Biology) “Comparative Analysis of Helicoverpa Zea Gene
Expression and Growth Based on the Host Plant”
Sarah Warren (Biology) “Evaluating the Effects of Prescribed Forest Burnings
in Relation to Tick Species Diversity”
Kayleigh R. Diveley (Biology) “Gene Expression Observed from the
Interaction Between Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa Zea) Caterpillars and
Corn (Zea Mays) Tissues”
Program continues on the next page …
11:00am – 12:30pm Poster
Session (Heritage Room)
1.
Tara Bhandari (Public Health) “Improving Breast Self-Examination
among Women: An Application of Health Belief Model”
2. Victoria Livingston (Biology) “A Habitat Analysis of Illinois’
Imperiled Turtles in the Upper Mississippi River Basin”
3. Wei Siang Tan (Physics) “Adapting the IDL Arecibo Library to the
Open Source GDL Compiler for Data Reduction of Radio
Astronomical Observations”
4. Amanda Deardeuff (Biology) “Analysis of Movement Patterns of a
Rehabilitated Antillean Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Manatus) in
Response to Resource Availability During Soft Release and Post
Release in Sarteneja, Belize”
5. Shelby Crawford (Chemistry) “Analytical Analysis of Atrazine in
Spring Lake: Method Development and Implementation’
6. Olanike O. Idowu (Health Sciences) “Improving Contraceptive Use in
Sierra Leone Using the Health Belief Model”
7. Matt Winter (Psychology) “Attention During Emotional Cueing
Associated with Mood and Personality Factors”
8. Al-Mohammed Baqer Osamah (Chemistry) “C-H bond
Chalcogenation of N-Containing Heterocycles”
9. Jill Kelso (Business Adminstration) “Can an Investor Gain Big Using
the Dow Theory Forecasts?”
10. Ryan Krzyzkowski (Kinesiology) “Changes to Injured StudentAthletes' Academic and Athletic Identites During the Injury
Experience: A Case Study”
11. Naga Janaki Manikonda (Chemistry) “Combustion Analysis of Humic
Acid Substances”
12. Donald A Bath (Biology) “Comparative Analysis of Helicoverpa Zea
Gene Expression and Growth Based on the Host Plant”
13. Adeyemi Olanrewaju (Biology) “Detection of Thermophilic Fungi in
Corn Fields and their Potential Role in Mycotoxin Production”
14. Samson A. Adeleke (Chemistry) “Development of a Green Chemistry
Laboratory Experiment for Undergraduate Curriculum”
15. Nicholas Hesford (LEJA) “Discrimination During The Hiring Process
in Law Enforcement”
16. Kelsie Schoonover (Health Sciences) “Do We Need It? - A Look into
the Influenza Vaccination”
17. Bradley Aleshire (Psychology) “Drug Use and Mental Health Related
to Emotional Abuse”
18. Ammar Al-Furaiji (Biology) “Effects of Elevated Peroxidase Levels
and Corn Earworm Feeding on Gene Expression in Tomato Fruit”
19. Srikanth C. Pidikiti (Chemistry) “Environmental Concerns of
Estrogen in Streams and its Determination by Standard Analytical
Method”
Continued on the next page …
11:00am – 12:30pm Poster Session, Continued…
20. Tim Swearingen (Biology) “Estimating Density of Bobcats with
Capture-Mark-Recapture Data from Camera Traps”
21. James S. Zweep (Biology) “Evaluating Capture Techniques for
Southern Flying Squirrels in Hardwood Forests of West-Central
Illinois”
22. Rebecca Corbett (Chemistry) “Exploratory Chemistry of
Selenostannates”
23. Jane Simkins and Amber Davis (RPTA) “GIS Hotspot Analysis of
Green Commuter Population in Washington State”
24. Yousef Alanazi (Physics) “Holograms”
25. Sangya Paudyal (Biology) “Identification of Novel Mycoviruses in the
Phytopathogenic Fungi Fusarium”
26. Samantha Cuthbert (Biology) “Impact of Lipooligosaccharide (LOS)
Mutations and Two-component Regulatory Systems on Neisseria
gonorrhoeae interactions with the Innate Human Immune System”
27. Jennifer Sandrik-Rubio (Environmental Studies) “Imperiled
Paddlefish: A Biogeomorphic Investigation into an Ancient Species’
Rapid Decline”
28. David R. VanDerway (Chemistry) “Molecular Cloning and Expression
of an Oleate Hydratase from Nocardia Cholesterolicum NRRL 5767”
29. Lindsey Poore (Biology) “Nematode Parasitism of Orthopterans in
Sand Prairies vs. Tallgrass Prairies”
30. Hilary Okitia (Public Health) “Obstacles to the Use of Insecticide
Treated Nets for Malaria Prevention in Nigeria”
31. Sandip Singh Bista (Physics) “Optical Absorption and Fluorescence of
Sm3+ Ions in Lead Borate Glasses Containing ZnSe Nanoparticles”
32. Erik Sarnello (Chemistry) “Optical Microscopy of Solid State
Materials”
33. Muaid Algarni (Physics) “Optical Properties of Bismuth BoroVanadate Glasses”
34. Suman Rijal (Physics) “Optical Properties of Samarium Doped
Bismuth Borate Glasses Containing CdSe Nanoparticles”
35. Hekmat B Alhmadi (Chemistry) “Overexpression of a Putative Oleate
Hydratase Isozyme from Nocardia Cholesterolicum NRRL 5767”
36. Emmanuel Adebayo (Physics) “Overlapping Molecular Clouds in the
Low Mass Star Forming Region L1521F”
37. Shashidhar Poreddy (Chemistry) “Oxidative Transformations of β dicarbonyl Compounds Using Hypervalent Iodine Reagent”
38. Parvinlal Siraswal (Chemistry) “Palladium Catalyzed Sonogashira
Reactions of Tellurium-Containing Compounds”
39. Andrey Mojica (LEJA) “Police and Public Perceptions of Deaths
during Police-Citizen Contact: A Test of Bad Apple Theory”
40. Shelby Assmus (Kinesiology) “Preliminary Investigation: Upper
Extremity Power Output via Seated Medicine Ball Assessment in
Females”
Continued on the next page …
11:00am – 12:30pmPoster Session, Continued…
41. Alaina Di Giorgio (Sports Management) “Race and Gender In
Collegiate Sport: Carla Wilson's Leadership Journey”
42. Alex Rogers (LEJA) “Self-Control as a Predictor of Cell Phone
Addiction and Deviance”
43. Riyal Das (Public Health) “Study of Antidepressants and it's
Increasing Risk to Obesity”
44. Changchi Yen (Chemistry) “Suzuki Coupling of Diaryl Tellurides for
the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Biaryl Compounds”
45. Trey Bruton (Physics) “Temperature Control of Tunnel Diode
Resonator Experiment (Low Temperature)”
46. Ryan Ricketts (Business Administration) “The Decision to Store Corn
or Market Out of the Field”
47. Chelsea Davis (Kinesiology) “The Effectiveness of a Closed Baset
Weave Ankle Taping With Neutral Heel Locks vs. Eversion Heel
Locks in Limiting the Amount and Rate of Inversion”
48. Andrea Hauk (Zoology) “The Effects of Fire Disturbance on
Terrestrial Gastropod Distribution and Species Composition"
49. Ming Zhu Wang (Mathematics) “Tight and Efficient Geodesics in the
Curve Complex”
50. Dillon E Huff (Chemistry) “Trace Detection of Isoeugenol in Local
Water Samples via GC Analysis”
51. Anton Lebed (Psychology) “Unconscious Solution”
52. Mark Tyler Smith (Physics) “Water Masers in the Star Forming
Region G23.71-0.20”
53. Michele Rehbein (Biology) “West Nile Virus Surveillance in Rural
Western Illinois”
54. Dakota Horn (Communication) “What’s in your school? A content
analysis of school persona creation using online messages."
55. Ife Olusegun Oyebode (Health Sciences) “Application of the Health
Belief Model in the Prevention and Control of HIV Infection among
Nigerian Adolescents Through Increased Condom Use”
56. Victoria Bailey and Anna Nieto (LEJA) “Raising Prison Babies: A
Look At Mother-Infant Bonding Programs”
57. Soumya Saha (Biology) “Identification of Leuconostoc Genes
Involved in the Regulation and Metabolism of Sucrose”
58. Lalitha Deepti Kolluru (Chemistry) “Synthesis of Symmetrical Biaryl
Compounds by Detelluration Reactions”
Map of the poster-room layout on the next page
12:30pm – 2:00pm Concurrent Sessions
12:30pm – 2:00pm Concurrent Sessions, Continued…
Community Dynamics: Health, Psychology, and Forecasting
Board Room
Moderator: Dr. Kristine Kelly
Birds and their Interaction with the Environment
A lgonquin Room
Moderator: Dr. Doug LaFountain
Akinwale S. Akingbule and Chikodili Faith Obi (Health Science) “Community
Health Needs Assessment: Pike County as a Case Study”
Jacob Tomlinson (Political Science) “Is Congress Still Regionally Divided?”
Gloria Nnabuike (Mathematics) “New Analytical Approach to Forecasting
Models and Their Applications”
Marcus Hendrickson (Psychology) “The New Hierarchy of Relationships”
Alec Stinnett (Psychology) “Affectively Effective: Affect Regulation Motive
Styles Predict Individual Differences”
Andrew Gilbert (Biology) “Detection Rates and Disturbance of Waterfowl
During Aerial Surveys”
Michael Mandru (Biology) “Egg Crypsis Within the Host Nest Environment by
the Brood Parasitic Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus Ater)”
Sara Schmuecker (Biology) “Telemetry to Determine Whether Weather
Variables Can Predict Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) Movement
onto and Use of the Upland Landscape”
Sarah E. Vanderhorst (Biology) “True Metabolizable Energy of Submersed
Aquatic Vegetation for Dabbling Ducks”
Physics of the Nano-Bio World
Fox Room
Moderator: Dr. Saisudha Mallur
Manoj K Jamarkattel (Physics) “Analysis of Fluorescence and Optical
Absorption of Nd+3 Doped Lead Boro-Tellurite Glasses”
Hio Giap Ooi (Physics) “Effect of Host Glass and Nanoparticles on the
Stimulated Emission Cross-Section of Dy3+ Ions in Lead Borate Glasses”
Ting Chean Khoo (Physics) “Fluorescence and Optical Absorption Studies of
Sm3+ in Bismuth Telluro-Borate Glasses”
Onic Islam Shuvo (Physics) “Sensitivity Analysis of the Tetrapolar Electrical
Impedance Measurement Systems Using COMSOL Multiphysics for the
Non-uniform and In-homogeneous Medium”
Krishna D Joshi (Physics) “The Effect of CdSe Nanoparticles on Sm3+
Optical Absorption and Fluorescence in Lead Borate Glasses”
International Perspectives and Issues
Cardinal/Oak Room
Moderator: Dr. Ute Chamberlin
Joshua Spence (History) “A Forgotten Youth: The Legacy of German Children
at the end of the Second World War”
Shyan R. Edwards (Sociology) “Capitalism and Slavery: A Historical
Comparative Analysis of the Abolition of West African Slavery Between
Jamaica and the United States of America in the Nineteenth Century”
Hashim Al-Rikabi (Political Science) “Counter ISIS Strategy”
Abdirizak Diis (Political Science) “How Corruption Undermined the
Effectiveness of Somali Federal Government”
Daniel R. Ramirez (International Relations) “International Development
Through the Images of International Relations and American Foreign Aid
Policy”
Session continues on the next page …
Program continues on the next page …
Concurrent Sessions
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Semantic Progression
Board Room
Moderator: Dr. Sunita George
Laura Winton (English) “Cut Piece: A Wunderkammer”
Jillien A. Zudell (History) “The Evolution of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to
American Tradition A Virtual Exhibit”
Jessica Marty (Educational Interdisciplinary Studies) “Vocabulary Instruction:
The Effectiveness of the Frayer Model for Level 2 and 3 ELLs in First
Through Third Grade”
Biology of Fungi
A lgonquin Room
Moderator: Dr. Seyfi Turkelli
Terry Torres Cruz (Biology) “Characterization of a Novel Early Lineage in the
Mucoromycotina”
Cedric Ndinga Muniania (Biology) “Seasonal Variation of Dark Septate Fungi
in an Arid Grassland and their Potential Role on Plant Growth”
Terri Tobias (Environmental Studies) "The Effects of Farming Practices on
Fungal Communities Associated with Glycine Max (soybeans)"
Program continues on the next page …
3:30pm Keynote (Sandburg Theatre)
“Dream, Validate, Execute.”
Professor Rafael Obregón, Engineering Technology
Welcome Amy Patrick Mossman, Director, Liberal Arts and Sciences Program,
and Chair of the inaugural Graduate Research Conference Planning Committee
Introduction Dr. Nancy Parsons, Associate Provost and Director of Graduate
Studies
Professor RAFAEL OBREGÓN is currently an Associate Professor for the
Department of Engineering Technology at Western Illinois University. He is an
internationally recognized expert in Design and Manufacturing and has over 30
years of experience as an engineer, manager, and educator. Past work
experiences include 10 years of service for the Monterrey Tec in Queretaro
Mexico, some of which he chaired the Technological Development Center, five
years as a Project Lead the Way instructor in the state of Illinois, and one year
as interim chair for the Department of Engineering Technology at WIU.
Professor Obregón has been Principal Investigator for DoD sponsored
projects, is a Certified Manufacturing Technologist by the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers, serves as Engineering and Technology division chair
for the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, and is member of the American
Society of Engineering Educators and the Latin America and Caribbean
Consortium of Engineering Institutions. He is the 2015 recipient of the Provost
Award of Excellence in Scholarly/Creative/Performance Activity.
4:30pm – 5:30pm Awards Reception (Sandburg Lounge)
Sponsored by
The College of Arts and Sciences,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Department of Psychology,
and
The Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Graduate Research Conference Planning Committee
The WIU Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest,
largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society, is a proud sponsor of the
Third Annual Western Illinois University Graduate Research Conference. The
chapter congratulates all student participants.
Davison Bideshi, Kimberly Dodson, Dinesh Ekanayake, Colin Harbke, Anita
Hardeman, Hoyet Hemphill, Kishor Kapale (Chair), Jennifer McNabb, James
McQuillan, Amy Patrick Mossman, Nancy Parsons, Amanda Schulz, Bhavneet
Walia, and Mei Wen.
Conference Day Volunteers
Emmanuel Adebayo, Steven Akwabli, Trey Bruton, Ting Chean Khoo, Hio
Giap Ooi, Onic Islam Shuvo, and Wei Siang Tan.
Admission to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only to the
top 10 percent of graduate students. Members are often preferred candidates
for grants, scholarships, and fellowships, and membership is widely accepted by
potential employers as an indicator of academic ability and motivation. The
benefits of membership in this highly selective honor society include:
*Academic Recognition
*Career Assistance and the JobTarget Career Center
*Eligibility to Compete for Awards and Scholarships
*Advantages from Corporate Partnerships and Services
*Networking, Training, and Leadership Opportunities
For more information about the WIU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, find us online
at http://www.wiu.edu/PhiKappaPhi/, on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phi-Kappa-Phi-of-Western-IllinoisUniversity/324696356029?ref=ts, or contact the current chapter President Dr.
Dale Adkins: KD-Adkins1@wiu.edu
Judges
Esteban Araya, P. K. Babu, Mark Boley, Brian Bellott, Davison Bideshi, Keith
Boeckelman, Ute Chamberlin, Mark Cole, Kimberly Dodson, Brian Davies,
Jonathan Day, Amy Ekanayake, Dinesh Ekanayake, Jeff Engel, Jason Franken,
Jin Jin, Ryan Gordon, Jonathan Hammersley, Anita Hardeman, Leaunda
Hemphill, Peppi Kenny, Brian Locke, George Mangalaraj, Breanna McEwan,
Catherine Miller-Hunt, Richard Musser, Russell Morgan, Amy P. Mossman,
Jennifer Plos, Andrea Porras-Alfaro, Christopher Pynes, Susan Romano, Shane
Sanders, Karen Sears, Mette Soendergaard, Cynthia Struthers, Roger C Viadero,
T. K. Vinod, Pengqian Wang, and Mei Wen.
Moderators
Ute Chamberlin, Sunita George, Kristy Keefe, Kristine Kelly, Ruth Kelly, Doug
LaFountain, Saisudha Mallur, Kim McClure, Kenneth McCravy, and Seyfi
Turkelli.
Thank You!
209
Presidential
Suite
208
207
206
205
204
203
202
201
ond Floor Union Second Floor
Illinois University School of Graduate Studies
nion Hotel The Western
Union Hotel
would like
to thank the following for their generous support
New Salem
Room
of this year's Graduate
Research Conference:
Guest Lobby
Galena
Room
Conference Lobby
Kaskaskia
Room
Board
Room
Springfield Vandalia
Room
Room
Violet
Room
Cardinal/Oak
Room
215
Freight
Elevator
Associate
Vice President
Assistant Union
Director Director
Associate
Vice President
Offices
DuSable
Room
214
216
217
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
218
College of Arts and Sciences
Wall of Honor
Business
Manager
213
(Key access only)
Trustee
Capitol Rooms
Sodexo
Student Legal
Services
212
Suite
Elevator
College
of Education
and Human Services
Sodexo
Storage
211
Guest Rooms
Nauvoo
Room
Freight
Elevator
Scheduling
and
Event Services
Vending
Heritage Gallery
Heritage Ballroom
Elevator
Department of Physics Union First Floor
Prairie
Lounge
Elevator
Department of Psychology
Student Assistance
Office of
Department
of Biological
SciencesStorage
and
Student Activities
Grand
Ballroom
Parent Service Center
Operations
Office
Small
Phi Kappa Phi Honor
Conference SocietyExplorers
Room
Room
Western
Room
Illinois
Room
University
Room
Grand Ballroom Gallery
Fox
Chicago of Graduate Studies
Lincoln
Room
Dr.
Nancy
Parsons, Associate Provost
and Director
Room
Room
Building Services Office
Storage
Storage
Algonquin Room
Elevator
Union Ground Floor
Lamoine
Room
Food
Service
Kitchen
Union Basement
Union Basement
Student
Organization
Center
(SOC)
WESTEC
Elevator
Vending
Machines
Projection Room
Sandburg
Lounge
Computers
Sandburg
Theater
University
Bookstore
C-Store
Dressing Room
Electric Room
Service Center
Concourse
Elevator
Murray
Street
Cafe