2019 Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
Browse the 2019 - Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Collections
Changes in Water Source in Urban Streams as a Response to Storms04/09/2019GEOL - Urban streams are complex and interesting. They are equally as important too because people are living right besides them. Understanding where the water comes from in urban streams is useful because we could learn a lot about pollution dynamics, as well as gauge how effective the stormwater management efforts are in the area. In urban areas, high amounts of rainfall are directed into the streams by manmade impervious surfaces: roads, roofs, storm drains, etc. Because of this, urban streams should mostly consist of “new” rain water, with a smaller percent of “old” pre-event water. However, the data collected from 3 urban streams from a storm in August show that the stormflow may not be primarily from rain water. Samples were collected during 4 storms between August and September using an ISCO autosampler. The samples were filtered, stored, and then analyzed on a Picarro for isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen within the water. The proportions of old and new water will be determined through isotope hydrograph separation. Our original hypothesis may not be correct for a few reasons. Our data used a mixture of the event’s rainwater. As storms progress, they generally become isotopically less negative. Collecting multiple rain samples during the storm instead of a collective one could have led to our unexpected data. Using a HYSPLIT model, we can attempt to correct this. Another explanation is that ponds and wetlands need to fill up before they overflow and release water into streams, resulting in a lagged response. If this was possible, it could help to explain our data. Our results have shown that the chemistry and origins of the stream water is more complex than previously thought. Urban streams are important to study because they flow through our towns and by our houses, and a better understanding would improve our neighborhoods. |
Characterization of Luteinizing Hormone Location and Production in the Brain04/09/2019Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein gonadotropin that has long been known to play a critical role in reproduction and has recently been linked to changes in cognition and plasticity, especially as LH levels change in the aging process. While researchers have begun to understand some of the effects luteinizing hormone has in the brain, much remains to be explored. Specifically, studies have identified LH protein in several brain regions but it is not clear where it is produced. This study uses hybridization chain reaction in situ hybridization (HCR-FISH) in the mouse brain to identify and localize LH mRNA transcripts. In situ results were combined with immunohistochemistry and rtPCR results to provide a cohesive understanding of where LH is produced versus distributed. Furthermore, analysis of single cell RNA sequencing data identifies what types of cells are responsible for producing LH in regions of interest and suggests possible mechanisms for LH involvement in plasticity. This localization provides a foundation for further experiments to understand the mechanism by which LH affects cognition and plasticity. |
Childhood Sleep Quality as a Moderating Variable Between Parental Influence and Child Emotional Eating04/09/2019
Introduction: Emotional eating (EE) in children has been linked to childhood obesity and may be predictive of parental over-involvement. Parental over-involvement relates to lower sleep quality in children, and short sleep duration also influences overeating. The current study will examine if sleep quality moderates an association between parental over-involvement and child EE. Methods: Parents (N=71; M age =43.4±.6.14 years) and children (N=71, M age =11.7±2.65) were recruited as part of a larger study examining neurocognitive functioning in children with and without anxiety. Child EE was measured using the Emotional Eating Scale for Children (EES-C). Parenting style was measured using the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ). Parent-reported child sleep quality was measured using the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children (SDSC).
Results: A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. The APQ and SDSC scores were entered in step 1, and interaction term (APQ x SDSC) was entered in step 2. Both the initial model, F(2, 68) = .1.473, p = .236 and overall model with the interaction term were non-significant, F(3, 67) = .023, p = .410.
Discussion: A non-significant relationship was found between parental involvement, sleep, and EE. It is possible that other parenting practices (e.g., over-control) are more impactful on EE. Parents and children also may have been inaccurate in their estimate of sleep, over-involvement, and EE. This study demonstrates that the relationship between child EE and parenting is complex and should be studied from different directions. Future research should longitudinally examine different aspects of parenting on child EE. |
Chronic Pain Conditions as a Moderator between Pain Catastrophizing and Cognitive Functioning04/09/2019This study sought to investigate the relationship between cognitive functioning and chronic pain conditions in individuals seeking detoxification treatment. Previous research suggests that individuals with a chronic pain condition demonstrate neuropsychological impairment in attentional capacity and processing speed (Hart, Martelli, & Zasler, 2000). Pain catastrophizing has been found to predict the likelihood of cognitive complaints in participants with a diagnosed chronic pain condition (Roth, Geisser, Theisen-Goodvich, & Dixon, 2005). Further research suggests that those who self-report more somatic awareness have worse cognitive performance (Eccleston, Crombez, Aldrich, & Stannard, 1997). This study hypothesizes that having a chronic pain condition will moderate the relationship between pain catastrophizing and cognitive functioning, such that those with a chronic pain condition will demonstrate a stronger negative relationship compared to those without a chronic pain condition. Pain catastrophizing is assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and cognitive functioning is evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), which includes measures of immediate memory, visuospatial/constructional skills, attention, and delayed memory. At this point, data analyses are still ongoing and results will be provided at the poster presentation. |
Clarifying the relationship between depressive symptoms and memory loss in older adults04/09/2019Objective: Numerous studies demonstrate that depressive symptoms are associated with poorer memory test performance in older adults. However, as most measures of depressive symptoms include items specific to subjective changes in cognitive function, it is unclear whether this association is due to symptom overlap or a more generalized effect of depression. We hypothesized that both subjective complaints of cognitive dysfunction and sadness would be associated with poorer performance on a validated memory measure. Participants and Methods: Neurocognitive testing data from 110 older adults (Mage = 81.1 +/- 6.2, 67% female) participating in a speech and memory study were used for the current analyses. Participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised (HVLT-R) as part of this larger protocol. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine the potential associations between reported depressive symptoms and memory performance. Results: Consistent with past work, higher total GDS score was significantly associated with poorer HVLT-R learning (r=-0.23, p=0.02) and recall (r=-0.20, p=0.04). When looking at specific items, the GDS item reflecting greater memory complaint was significantly positively associated with better HVLT-R delayed recall (r=0.20, p=0.04) while GDS item reflecting greater sadness was significantly associated with worse HVLT-R learning (r=-0.24, p=.01). Conclusion: Analyses showed that both cognitive complaints and feelings of sadness were associated with poorer memory test performance in older adults. If replicated, such findings suggest that the relationship between depression and memory in past work is not specific to symptom overlap. |
Class Study App04/09/2019For many students, having a study group with their classmates is beneficial to their education. The following research was conducted for discovering whether or not students would be interested in Kent State University adding an app to their blackboard classes that would allow for controlled communication with their classmates to select and reserve study areas on campus for whomever in the class wishing to study together in a safe place. Our idea came about when we realized that some of us have encountered difficulties organizing study groups in our own classes. The logistics proved to be a great hassle: gathering everyone together, not knowing anyone’s schedules, having nowhere for all of us to go. Some of us found that we worked better in groups of people in the same class, learning the same material at the same time, rather than meeting with a tutor that seemingly knew it all already, or trying to get help from an SI. |
Classroom Size & Student Participation: How One Can Affect the Other04/09/2019A student’s experience of a class can be significantly influenced by the size of the class. One way in experience can be influenced is through participation, specifically when it comes to the answering and asking of questions. We are studying such an influence; namely, just how can classroom size affect student participation? In this study, we are naturally observing multiple classrooms to determine if student participation depends on the number of students present in the class. This is applied research, with quantitative data taken from the field. Class participation will be divided into eight separate categories: making a personal connection (PC), making a class connection (CC), asking a clarification question (CQ), asking an unrelated question (UQ), called on by instructor (CO), providing a personal opinion (PO), other (O), and group discussion (G). We have eight hypotheses concerning each of these categories. We hypothesize that larger classroom sizes will have (1) fewer PC’s, (2) fewer CC’s, (3) fewer CQ’s, (4) fewer UQ’s, (5) more CO’s, (6) fewer PO’s, (7) fewer O’s, and (8) fewer G’s. Data collection for this is ongoing and will conclude in mid-March. |
Communism or Oil? Why the United States Changed Iran Forever.04/09/2019In 1953 the United States, with the assistance of England, ousted the Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh and installed the Shah as ruler of Iran. This would have great significance in the future of the middle east and other scholars argue it is the root of modern terror. In my research I wanted to know why the United States agreed to help England to oust the Prime Minister. The United States had previously declined, asserting that a agreement should be made between the two countries to settle a oil dispute. In the end it was either the influence of resources, namely oil, that changed the United States original decision. Or it was the threat of communism in Iran. This was during the height of Cold War Tensions and for the United States that threat would be addressed more broadly worldwide after Eisenhower was elected President. |
Community/ School Garden04/09/2019We developed a community garden to enhance mental and physical health for residents and provide an opportunity to grow food while collaborating and building relationships within the community. The Walls Coalition surveyed community members in spring 2018 and began cleanup of an abandoned garden. The Coalition consists of KSU Community Based Public Health Practice class. This project brought together school, students, parents, neighbors, and the university to collaborate in creating a welcoming, vibrant, and sustainable community/school garden. The garden has numerous partners to help maintain interest, operations and expansion. Partnerships include the Office of Community Engaged Learning, the College of Public Health, and Public Health Student Alliance, Family and Community Services, City of Kent and Kent City Schools. These partners have committed to support the garden by providing interns and committees to meet the on-going needs of the garden. The gardeners are neighbors, teachers, students and members of the Kent State community. In addition to the new community, garden projects are underway to create a small school garden, a garden club and a Reduce Food Waste program. The smaller school garden will make it easier and safer for teachers and students to participate in frequent gardening. |
Comparative Assessment of Sustainability Lab Fuel Cells04/09/2019Fuel cells possess the characteristic of being able to convert energy in fuels directly into electricity. Different types of fuel cells are capable of working using different types of fuel and use different methods to convert the energy into electricity. The purpose of this research is to determine and record key differences between several types of fuel cells. This data can be recorded through repeatedly running each fuel cell type and taking note of those differences to determine possible advantages or disadvantages of using each type in different scenarios. The data produced can then be used to determine the best applications for each type. |