Project Prompt: WOOD/ABSTRACTION- For this project students took inspiration from the natural world to create an object that mimics some of these characteristics through an additive process of creating parts and pieces that will be assembled into something larger. Students should be taking inspiration from the natural world but also be focusing on emphasizing some of the principles of design through simple abstractions. Students should be focusing on the principles of design to help in abstractions and simplifications. Students will use general construction materials (2X4s, Plywood, MDF, Pine, etc) and will create an object from detailed lego book style plans in a sketchbook. The complied 10 images will be used as inspiration for designs. Sketchbook should create three ideas from visual information in images.
Project Prompt: SPEED- For this project students will work in groups of two or three and will focus on the ways we have either evolved or crafted speed. There is an aesthetic that accompanies the many varieties of speed and students will be using as a basis to craft and depict their own abstracted representation of speed. Students should consider scale, placement, and presentation as they will be important factors in depicting this style of motion.
The Clothesline Project at Keene State presents us with images created by and for survivors of sexual violence, most of them students, creating a moving and emotional connection between abstract statistics and our community and raising awareness about the reality of violence in our society. The t-shirts are displayed across the Student Center Atrium in honor of survivors from Saturday 4/13 through Saturday 4/20. Survivors and their allies are invited to create new shirts on Tuesday 4/16 and Wednesday 4/17 between 11am and 7pm outside the bookstore. Be aware the shirts on display are not censored and reflect the personal experiences of their creators and may occasionally contain graphic material.
In the Sustainable Product Design and Innovation (SPDI) manufacturing capstone course, we form a small company to find a need, and develop a product solution from the design phase through production with a sustainable business model. Our needs-finding research led us to our product design that facilitates SPDI students with carrying and organizing their design tools for their entry-level engineering courses. Through market research, the final SPDI Kit design also accommodates students’ needs as they progress through the major. The digital and prototyping technologies in the SPDI labs provided a venue for developing prototypes and production pieces. Being the project manager, the first time attempting a position of authority, was invaluable by building my character and managerial skills. The position required overall and detailed scheduling, manipulation of digital technology to enhance the design, leadership and motivation of team members, and guiding production to reach our goal of 13 units.
The presentation shares the results of the research question “What organizations are doing to attract, engage, develop, and retain talent throughout their organization?” The research focuses on the Human Resources Management (HRM) domain of Talent Management. The research project explored talent development using a combination of academic articles, trade journals, and interviews with HRM professionals. The topics were investigated in their relationships to the employee life cycle principle. This life cycle starts when an organization is in search of an employee and concludes when the employee permanently separates from the organization. The project provided a basis to explore and better understand the actions organizations take to: attract, engage, develop and retain talent.
In this study we modeled the same home in four different softwares: Revit 2016, Revit 2019, eQuest, and Design Builder. The intent was to use these softwares to analyze and predict how much energy, particularly in warmer regions, is lost and absorbed in homes. With the implication of these Building Energy Modeling tools, we then compared the output data with manually calculated energy use data. We then concluded which software was most precise and accurate compared to the manual calculations. Given our research, we hope to give Architects and Building Scientists knowledge of the most accurate software to help design efficient homes. With rising global temperatures, energy use has increased over the years to keep buildings cool. We hope that the results of this study will allow professionals to use correct software to accurately design energy conscious homes in effort to cut the amount of fossil fuels a building consumes.
During her work as a practicum student at the Keene State College Child Development Center, this presenter breached a topic not often discussed with children: race and diversity.
While most of the children in the classroom were Caucasian the presenter questioned what that means and more importantly, what does that mean for the children who were part of the minority? This lesson intended to ensure that children were comfortable in their skin, no matter the shade.
Through literature, discussion, and creative expression, participants of this workshop will recreate the experience of discovering their own unique skin tones beyond black or white.
Middle school students learn how to use long division to find the decimal expansion of a rational number. Eventually, the expansion results in the repetition of a single digit or a block of digits. Computing the block of digits proceeds from left to right. This presentation will begin with a review of decimal expansions of rational numbers. Then we will demonstrate a method that produces the block of digits proceeding from right to left and that involves multiplication of digits rather than division. This method is interesting and useful since it gives one a deeper understanding of the decimal expansion of a rational number.
Effective cooperation among machines typically requires some form of communication or mutual understanding. One method for doing this is to explicitly build a communication protocol into the machines as is done in computer networks. This can be overly time consuming for complex systems and limits the adaptability of the machines. A second strategy is to design the machines with motivation driven by a cooperation-quality metric. This allows the machines to perform with little to no communication in a highly dynamic environment. However, this technique depends upon the machines having similar goals, experience, capabilities, and design. The focus of this research is to develop a method for adaptive machines with different goals, experiences, capabilities, and design, to communicate in a dynamic environment. This will expand the cooperative capabilities of current and future machines utilizing learning-based algorithms.
The rising demand of the global seafood market demands an increase in aquacultural practices, resulting in significant alterations of estuarine habitats. To meet this rising demand, US aquacultural practices increased considerably in the past decade. Such practices influence fluxes in sediment greenhouse gas (e.g. Methane CH4 and Nitrous oxide N2O) as well as organic matter decomposition in these systems, which can lead to shifts in sediment microbial communities. This study uses molecular analysis to identify the effects of aquaculture on sediment microbial composition to determine how durations of oyster aquaculturing impact microbial communities. We further relate changes in microbial composition to sediment alterations of heavy metal concentration. Our results show variation among bacterial communities at phyla and genera taxonomic levels, exhibiting different durations of aquacultural practice differentially modify sediment microbial communities which can have significant ecosystem implications.
Arsenic poisoning is a problem dealt with throughout the world. The adverse effects of Arsenic poisoning combined with the difficulty of removing it from the environment makes it important to understand how Arsenic toxicity is influenced by other factors. Globally, Arsenic poisoning has been observed to have a stronger effect on people with poor nutrition. However, the way that nutrition and arsenic poisoning interact is poorly understood. Thus, the primary goal of this study is to examine how Arsenic toxicity interacts with nutrition in our model organism Daphnia. Daphniids were exposed to differing treatments of Arsenic, food quality, and quantity to assess the effects on their fitness. Our results suggest that Daphnia with poor food quality lived longer in Arsenic than Daphnia with high food quality. These results are being further explored via RNA sequencing which will provide a more detailed understanding of the Arsenic toxicity X nutrition interaction.
How did the Abenaki lose the land upon which Keene State College sits today? We read classic works by Gordon Day and Colin Calloway and then explored the resources at the Historical Society of Cheshire County, exhibits at the Horatio Colony Museum, and a documented history put together by The Pennacook Sokoki for the Bicentennial in 1776. By piecing together these multiple sources, we discovered the Sokoki band of Abenaki and a timeline of events beginning with the arrival of English settlements to the deed of New Hampshire spanning from 1620 to 1798. We also discovered that the Abenaki still considered the land their own. The presentation explores the history of the Abenaki’s continued contestation of the Keene region from the 17th to 20th centuries. We encourage the audience to use the information provided to enhance their knowledge of our regional history by incorporating this Native American narrative.
Twenty-First Century Architects have a civic responsibility when it comes to tackling climate change. In order to advance the effort, we test and compare multiple different programs meant for estimating building energy use in cold climates. To compare the programs, we run energy simulations on key building components in each program. We then proceed to compare the results from each simulation against each other. Ideally, the results would be the same amongst each program; however, the differences in the results suggest that there are inaccuracies in the programs. We evaluate the inaccuracies to determine which components of each program that need to be further developed. The results have the potential to provide program developers with critical information to curate better tools for Architects to drive a more sustainable future.
In this project, we are attempting to build a neural network that can retain similar behavior across multiple platforms. Traditionally, neural networks use data to find patterns, but the training process is computationally limited. Our main goal is to train a neural network in a simple environment, then deploy our model to more abstract environments while maintaining similar behavior. Our plan is to start by utilizing existing scalable neural network architectures for bimatrix normal-form games, derived from Game Theory. Afterwards, we want to deploy our network to make longer-term decisions in strategy games where the available options are abstract. Our model would provide the opportunity for developers to create ‘simulation’ datasets for their individual projects. We believe this is important as it will provide more flexibility in training neural networks for complex datasets.
The purpose of this study is to determine if age has an effect on the standard or enhanced tandem walk test. Our participants will be 20 college students (age 18-22) and older adults (aged 65+). Participants will perform a tandem walk with and without a cognitive challenge. The tandem walk is walking heel to toe across a 10-foot line. The cognitive challenge is saying weekdays backwards. Walk errors are scored and participants are timed. There will be a comparison of college students and older adults and comparison within these groups based on errors. A two-way ANOVA will be used to determine the difference between the tandem walk errors in all participants and group difference based on age. The p-value will be set at ≤ 0.10. We hypothesize that college students will have less errors compared to older adults. Also older adults will have a better score without the cognitive challenge.
This presentation starts with the following example: Begin with the positive integer 629 and write down the permutation of its digits, i.e. all ways to write a 3-digit number using the digits 6,2, and 9. In this case they will be 629, 692, 269, 296, 926 and 962. The average of these six permutations is 3774/6 = 629 which is one of the permutations. Along with this example I will present additional cases of numbers that also have this property. This presentation is the result of an investigation of why some integers have this property and others do not.
Dehydration is shown to have negative effects on reaction time and short-term memory. The purpose of this randomized control trial was to examine the effect of fluid consumption on short-term memory and reaction time in college students. Eight participants from Keene State College were randomized into an experimental and control group. Following an inclusion questionnaire, baseline measurements for urine specific gravity (USG), bodyweight, body fat percentage, reaction time and short-term memory were collected prior to the protocols being assigned. Reaction time was measured using the ruler drop test and short-term memory was measured using the short-term memory test and cognitive digit test. The experimental group followed a hydration protocol based on bodyweight, while the control followed their normal routine. Following one week of hydration protocol, post-measurements were obtained. We hypothesized that a hydration protocol to promote optimal hydration would improve reaction time and short-term memory in physically active college students.
Extending creativity from the classroom into the public domain. The Open Innovation Space (OIS) concept proposes conversion of the public lobby located at the heart of the TDS Center into a collaboration zone. The focus of this study is to formulate a plan that encourages partnership among various programs on campus. This space would enhance the student experience and improve the levels of creative explorations within Architecture, Occupational Safety, Product Design and Graphic Design majors. The OIS concept would extend the processes of innovation and creativity from the classroom and into the public domain. It would showcase the work of students from various majors to the public, encourage exchange of ideas, and attract future students. This presentation will describe the process of translating highly conceptualized ideas into a physical structure supporting creative exploration processes, explain the innovation space usage and project flow, and propose revisions to program curricula that support teamwork and learning-by-doing experiences.
This presentation will explore the dynamics of political coalitions under Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite working in very different nations, both leaders have a similar political coalition that consists of religious leaders, business interests, and far-right groups. Religious groups like the Catholic church are driven by a loss of control over cultural issues and provide organization to the coalition. Business interests are motivated by opportunities to benefit from political connections and provide a key source of financing to the coalition. Far-Right groups like the “Alt-Right” are highly-motivated devotees who are incredibly effective at intimidating opponents of the coalition. Given the longevity of Franco’s regime, predictions that Trump’s coalition will collapse after he leaves office appear premature. Rather, we can expect that it will continue to survive with or without Trump.
Students in II330: A Just World were assigned to complete and report on projects that required fifteen hours in the field, and were addressed from sociological and educational perspectives. Three students focused their projects on community response to homelessness and housing struggles in Keene and the surrounding region, each working with a different organization. The projects, as a whole, aim to give insight into the current status of homelessness in Keene, highlight various resources for those struggling in the community, and discuss opportunities for volunteering and addressing the current crisis. Each of the three students was able to learn and grow through their experience with their organization: one participated in fundraising and client services for Hundred Nights, one conducted statistical analysis for The Greater Keene Homeless Coalition, and one worked with Habitat for Humanity through the on-campus club to raise funds and actually work on a “build”.
This presentation addresses the role of the conductor in the ensemble rehearsal setting and examines the central question, “if musicians can keep time, what is the point of the conductor?” Topics addressed in this session include identifying various conducting gestures and their meaning, and how these gestures impact performers musically, psychologically, and biologically. Brief performance excerpts will be presented by the Keene State College Concert Choir who will adjust their sound in response to a variety of conducted gestures by the presenter. Audience members are invited to pose questions to conclude the session.
The purpose of this presentation is to showcase technology and techniques that can be used in teaching a cappella music. While arranging music is a skill that is far from simple, the process of setting pop music for a cappella choir can be broken down into a few components (i.e. identifying chord progression; emulating instrument sounds; finding repetitive rhythmic patterns). By using “Logic”, a type of Digital Audio Workstation software, into the rehearsal setting, directors can organize and distribute voice part recordings to singers. The music can be learned aurally, which is more efficient than using sheet music entirely as the songs can be learned and memorized quickly using this method. Chock Full O’ Notes, Keene State’s only a cappella group, will perform an excerpt of a song and demonstrate how these components can be combined to re-create a song.
This exhibit will demonstrate the redesign process of electric car charging stations to help move us toward a more sustainable future. Our research identified the need to educate the public about the availability and use of charging stations for electric/hybrid cars by sparking interest and curiosity. We engaged in using the product design process starting with observing the users, analyzing end user needs, and determining functional requirements. By researching related products we identified standard components and design constraints. Through many iterations of sketches and models we each developed individual design solutions. Starting with cardboard models and using digital and traditional prototyping lab equipment, we created multiple full-size representations of our designs. The project strengthened skills in design and building with sheet metal and electronics. The project reinforced the connection of sector research, designing around constraints and the fitment of components to the success of new product design.
The Sustainable Product Design and Innovation (SPDI) manufacturing capstone course, Manufacturing Enterprise, engages students in developing a product from ideation, through to production, marketing and selling. The project we identified and developed is The GeoSpeaker. This induction speaker system does not require bluetooth or an AUX cord, simply place your smartphone and play! Students enhanced their skills in electronics, woodworking and mold making and casting using the SPDI programs digital technology and prototyping labs. Each student took on an individual role within the company they created, contributing to the overall successful production run of 13 units. Students gained professional skills such as leadership, project planning, marketing, design and product engineering. The project led to a presentation and career networking opportunity with an audio engineering company.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently published a special report documenting the negative impacts of temperatures rising 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels would have on the planet and its inhabitants. The effects of climate change are worldwide; however, the consequences are disproportionately distributed depending on geographic location and socio-economic status. This essay will review academic literature produced that demonstrates the effects of rising sea-levels on islands and atolls in the Pacific Islands as well as the livelihoods of these islands’ inhabitants. Through exploring themes such as adaptation, migration, food supplies, and shoreline changes, this essay will demonstrate that rising sea-levels is a pertinent issue readily changing the lives of Pacific Islanders. The findings are consistent with the counsel of the IPPC that Pacific Island inhabitants are in overwhelming need of immediate attention, solidarity, and cooperation from people and governments around the world.
This presentation assesses the processes that created a “national identity” in Finland—processes that threatened two ethnic minorities, the Karelians and the Saamis. After centuries of rule by foreign empires, first Swedish, then Russian, an independent Finland adopted assimilationist practices and policies intended to forge a single identity but simultaneously made it difficult for Karelians and Saamis to preserve their cultures, lands, and livelihoods. Policies of governments that granted official status to Swedish and Finnish—and discouraged the use of Saami and Karelian—have challenged minority identities and their cultures. The status of Saami has changed, while the Karelian language and culture is in danger of fading away from their native land. Since Finland has a reputation for being one of the world’s best places to live, I want to identify the problems that have been created and the losses that have been incurred on the way to this reputation.
Consider a sequence of nonnegative integers begins with 2 followed by 3. The product is 6 and the sequence now becomes 2, 3, 6 . The next product 3×6=18 creates two values 1 and 8 and the sequence is extended to 2, 3, 6, 1, 8 . The next product 6×1=6 results in 2, 3, 6, 1, 8, 6 . The sequence will continue infinitely in this manner because each multiplication produces a single or double-digit nonnegative integer, so either one or two values will always be added on the “tail” of the sequence. This sequence first appeared in a problem devised by Hugo Steinhaus. A sequence generated in this way can begin with any two nonnegative single digits and it will be referred to as an HS sequence. This talk will analyze the long-term behaviors of these sequences.
When immigrants arrive in the United States, do new environments alter their perspectives concerning identity? Does geography change cultural values and traditions? Do new societal practices impact an immigrant’s sense of self? Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term “sociological imagination”, which he defines as, “the vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society.” During the late-19thand early 20th-centuries, the Monadnock Region witnessed an influx of second wave immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. At this time, the City of Keene was transformed by these new Americans, many of whom came to New England from Abruzzi, Italy. This presentation tracks one family’s growth in Keene and transformation from Italian immigrants to Keene residents. To make this case, my presentation will examine immigrant identity and belonging drawing on oral tradition, family history, and sociological research methods.
The marginalization of trans persons, often takes place on an individual level. The movements of larger systems are felt, and acted out, through the individual experiences. For trans people this manifests in a myriad of ways. From the feeling of the tension between safety and a sense of a your own authenticity. One of the largest and most common instances is the misgendering, the act of (willfully or unwillfully) applying the wrong gender to a person, in this case specifically trans. By utilizing Hegel’s Lord-Bondsman dialectic (1807) we can equip ourselves with an understanding of how individuals come to positions of domination over others, and how the dominated individuals can come to raise themselves to even greater understandings than the dominator. The application of Hegel’s ideas will be supplemented by the application of the works and considerations of other theorists and philosophers such as Fanon, Marx, and Kojeve.
We begin with a square that has one integer at each vertex (i.e. corner of the square) satisfying the following conditions: at least one of the integers must be negative and the sum of the integers must be positive. We create a new set of integers at the vertices by choosing one of the negative integers and adding that value to each of the adjacent integers. Then replace that starting negative value with its positive value. Three of the four vertex numbers have now been changed. Repeat this process as many times as possible. The major question is, will this process end, or stated another way, will the vertex numbers eventually become all nonnegative? The attendees will be given an opportunity to explore this and arrive at their own conclusions. The presentation will then give a statement of the general result and provide an explanation of why it is true.
It is well-established that there is a relationship between victimization and deviant behavior, and that polyvictimization, which is multiple types of victimization occuring throughout childhood and into adulthood, increases the likelihood of engaging in deviance. Agnew's (1992) General Strain Theory argues victimization may cause stress or "strain” which may lead to coping mechanisms including drug abuse. While a few studies look specifically at incarcerated women's victimization as strain and the relationship with drug use, no studies to date investigate jailed women and the relationship between polyvictimization as strain and opioid use as the specific coping mechanism. In this study, 55 victimization history diaries and 21 in-person interviews with jailed women throughout New Hampshire are used to determine the impact of polyvictimization on opioid abuse. Results indicate opioid use is most likely among victims of childhood sexual abuse with multiple non-sexual traumas.
Launching a High Altitude Balloon (HAB) requires extensive planning periods, attention to detail, little tolerance for error, and financial backing. Testing ideas, adjusting variables, and learning from mistakes occurs in long and expensive iteration cycles. The pace and cost of HAB projects henders innovation and turns away certain demographics and organizations. The objective of this research is to develop an open-source software toolset for simulating key elements of a HAB launch, ascent, and descent. Simulating HAB processes harbors low-cost, low-risk, and fast-paced experimentation. The objective of the open-source software toolset is to foster innovation and opportunity. Included in this research is a case-study of the open-source toolset in a real HAB project. The study will use a relatively low-cost, consumer-grade, HAB kit. It is expected that the software toolset will provide demonstrable enhancements to the projects timeline, financial feasibility, and performance.
This paper is an econometric analysis of the effects of the minimum wage on employment and earnings across the state border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The study uses data from contiguous county pairs across the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire to investigate the effect of minimum wage differences in otherwise similar regional economies. Data was collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment, focusing specifically on employment and earnings in full- and limited-service restaurants. In addition, the paper explores the theoretical foundations of market models, drawing heavily from the concepts of monopsonistic, and oligopsonistic markets. The study finds increases in the minimum wage have a positive impact on both earnings and employment.
This presentation focuses on the so-called Knapsack Problem, the goal of which is to optimize a quantity of interest under a resource constraint. For instance, when hiking a mountain, what should be packed? Water is essential, but is relatively heavy— so, one must consider how much to take given other factors such as the distance hiked and weather conditions. Versions of the Knapsack Problem can be found in settings such as manufacturing, business management, and education. The dilemma presented by this problem is one of computation: brute-force solutions are very inefficient in most scenarios. The computation time grows exponentially with the number of variables, and could potentially take even a modern computer years to produce results. This necessitates the development of alternative solutions that reduce computation time. Presented here is an alternative solution that improves upon the efficiency of brute-force algorithms while maintaining accuracy.
There is evidence that core stability and ankle dorsiflexion affect balance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between core stability, ankle dorsiflexion, and balance in healthy college dance majors. Participants were excluded if they had a previous injury, within the past 6 months, that restricted activity for three or more days. Nine dance majors were eligible and randomly assigned for data collection appointments. The test measures included the knee-to-wall test, the star excursion balance test and the plank progression test. Results were calculated using SPSS. We hypothesized that increased dorsiflexion results in a better star excursion score and increased progressive plank scores results in an increase in star excursion balance scores. We conclude that regardless of the population, dorsiflexion and core stability affect balance.
Many have argued that the juvenile justice system is too lenient; adolescents are committing an excessive number of crimes, and harsher penalties on youthful offenders are necessary. “Getting tough” on crime implies trying juveniles in criminal court to lower crime levels. Legislators believe that the transfer to adult court (also known as a waiver) and the resulting harsher sentences, will better suit the crimes of some youthful offenders. In this presentation, I will examine how this waiver does not reduce recidivism rates, nor do laws implicating automatic waivers. Addressing root causes, like family and social obstacles, will more efficiently deter future criminality. I will explore the need for emphasis on treatment, control, and supervision, and how this can be achieved via rehabilitation. Focusing on individualized treatment programs, specific to a juvenile’s misconducts, would not only improve their quality of life, but prompt character growth, and even lower associated crime rates.
This presentation explores the history of fascism in the United Kingdom before the war, using the life of Sir Oswald Mosley to examine why it did not succeed there. Mosley was a member of Parliament who would become the leader of the British Union of Fascists, the most prominent fascist movement in the UK during that time. His movement was funded by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and lost in a violent street battle with anti-fascist protesters known as the Battle of Cable Street. Mosley’s movement was criticized by other fascists for being overly reliant on the German and Italian model of fascism, and by the 1960’s, he would fade into obscurity. Using primary sources and accounts from British fascists, Parliament members, protesters, and others, this presentation aims to understand why the public didn’t embrace Fascism.
The Greek Life student panel will feature student-leaders who give their time and talents to their Greek Organization. Greek Life Leaders will share about their role, begin to dispel myths about Greek Life while explaining the realities and talk about leadership and mentorship within their organization. Panelists will also respond to questions about various aspects of Greek Life, and discuss how their leadership experience through Greek Organizations at KSC have helped to shape them and how these skills will evolve into post-graduate successes.
How can we address historical injustices? The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ) at Northeastern University School of Law is committed to revealing the injustices that occurred in the legal system in the United States from 1930-1970. In this panel, we will discuss our work with this project, which consisted of writing high school lesson plans. We used primary sources from three cases to create engaging lessons. The lessons on the separate cases of Timothy Hood and Samuel Bacon focus on the analyzation of primary sources using discussion in the classroom.The lesson on the case of Henry "Peg" Gilbert and Gus Davidson focuses on using inquiry skills as students acted as reporters to write news articles about the incidents that occurred. The session’s goal is to discuss how to incorporate difficult topics into a classroom through our use of the CRRJ primary sources when making lesson plans.
My journey with the subject matter of the Holocaust began at fourteen with the shocking discovery of medical experiments on twins performed by Dr. Josef Mengele. This presentation will explore the experience of studying the Holocaust as a twin, a targeted group by the Nazi’s for their unique genetics. I will discuss the factors that lead to my decision to pursue a degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, as well as the independent studies I have conducted to further my research outside of the general curriculum. The two independent studies I pursued focused on genocide curriculum development and Nazi medicine and experimentation. In this presentation, I will also address how my studies have deeply changed my perspective of my identity as a twin – a group that was selected for “experimental study” during the Holocaust.
The underlying purpose of our presentation is to underscore the transformational importance of Studying Abroad in a radically changing Europe. We will discuss our experiences while attending Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Utilizing PowerPoint to highlight significant sites, museums, and events, we will focus our presentation on five topics: 1. Why we chose to study in Kraków, Poland; 2. Academic opportunities at Jagiellonian University; 3. Life in the medieval city of Kraków; 4. Experiencing the Auschwitz concentration/extermination camp, and 5. The importance of Global Studies for American students. As Holocaust and Genocide Studies majors, we wish to stress how this educational experience validated our studies. We appreciate that our experience at Jagiellonian, among Europe’s oldest universities (founded in 1364), is owed to Keene State. Cherishing the benefits we obtained, our participation in the AEC serves as our way of giving back to our academic community.
This talk will focus around repeated digits and arithmetic sequences. A repeated digit is a positive integer in the form of kkk…kkk where k is any non-zero digit. An arithmetic sequence is a, a+d, a+2d, a+3d,… where a and d are integers. The main objective of this talk is to classify arithmetic sequences that have no repeated digits, some repeated digits, and infinite number of repeated digits.
Source memory refers to recalling the source of learned information. This study looked at how well participants could remember stimuli of different modalities. Participants were presented with actively engaging visual and auditory stimuli and then tested on their ability to later recognize those items and how they were presented (as a picture or a sound). Memory for the individual items did not differ for stimuli learned as pictures compared to sounds. Falsely remembered items were more likely to be identified as sounds.
The goal of this research is to characterize biodiesel particles collected from machines at the Keene transfer station, and to assess their potential to create harmful side-effects in humans, compared to diesel exhaust particles. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are created in the lungs in response to many different pollutants, like the particles that are given off during the combustion of diesel and biodiesel fuels. The Traviss Lab has proven this through research on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and particulate matter (PM). We will be conducting biological assays of genes that code for the human defense against ROS and PAH (CYP1A1 and COX-2). The mRNA created by our cells in response to treatment with diesel and biodiesel will be measured and reported. This could help inform non-profits and other organizations about ways to improve occupational health conditions of workers that operate heavy machinery, based on the fuel they use.
The P300 brainwave is an event related potential (ERP) component elicited in the process of target detection. This study used the P300 in an attempt to classify members of a group who might know about a “crime.” Participants saw three types of pictures: Targets (modes of transportation), Standards (animals), and Crime (objects stolen). Participants identified when a target was shown. Prior to the task, two participants were randomly selected to view the “Crime” pictures without the experimenters knowledge. ERPs were calculated at 9 electrodes on the central portion of the scalp. Results showed a significantly larger P300 for target compared to standard stimuli. Of the 12 potential “Suspects”, eleven were correctly classified using the difference between the responses to the standards and crime pictures. A larger P300 to “Crime” pictures suggests knowledge of the crime. This study demonstrates the potential for using ERPs to detecting specific knowledge in uncertain circumstances.
Machine Learning is one of the hottest topics of the 21st century. Rapidly, the computer systems that have given rise to social media, search engines, voice and image recognition, medical image diagnosis, surveillance systems and many other modern advancements, are being brought from the shadows of giant tech companies to the forefront of society. In most of the modern technology that we are using in our day to day life, such as personal assistive technologies like Alexa, driverless cars, and personalized search suggestions for Netflix and Google, the influence of machine learning is evident. In our research, we develop algorithms to analyze and classify biomedical images using machine learning and digital image processing techniques.
All kinds of stars light up the night sky but sometimes there are stars in a binary system. This presentation will take you back to the summer and immerse you into the night sky, showing you what we saw and how it translates to the images we created and analyzed. A Binary star system is defined as a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around a common center. These star systems have helped and continue to shape our understanding of the universe. Using several computer programs, we can convert images of the night sky to data that is used to analyze properties of these binary star systems such as their distance apart and the angle between them. Using these methods, we can analyze the night sky here in Keene and report our findings to national databases.
The use of social media has increased exponentially, constantly scrolling, swiping, liking and commenting. Posting a picture only to check a few minutes later to see how many “likes” were received, checking Facebook status’ about people we don’t really care about, Instagram stories about people we have never met before, even celebrities, dreaming of a lifestyle we don't have and will never have, filing our heads with false notions, all of which playing a role regarding stress. This research examined the relationship between mental health regarding stress and social media for the millennial generation. A systematic literature review was used to examine the key themes that emerged. Results indicate that compulsive media use increases anxiety, depression and fear of missing out. The work summarizes critical points that emerged and suggests next steps in addressing this public health concern.
Approximately 4.5 out of 6 tons of cigarettes consumed annually are littered across the globe. Toxins contained in the filter threaten marine habitats and marine life. Cigarette filters break down into smaller plastic particles but do not disappear. Littering can be characterized as a low-elaboration problem, meaning that people do not think about what happens with their cigarette butts once they are finished. Inspiring behavior change in low elaboration situations is difficult. We are investigating humor as an effective way to inspire habitual change. Through an analysis of humor and behavior change theories, we have created a case-control study that will use humorous messaging to get college-aged students in U.S. coastal regions to view their cigarette butts as litter. We propose that with effective, positive humor styles, we can get the participants to rethink their habits in an environmentally conscious way and reduce littering rates.
Little research has been conducted measuring fitness of ice hockey athletes on an ice surface. A cross-sectional study was conducted on prospective Keene State Men’s Ice Hockey athletes for the 2018-2019 season during their tryout sessions. We hypothesized there would be a correlation between the previously accepted fitness test, the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT), and the on-ice adaptation, the 30-15 intermittent on-ice test (IIT). Thirty male ice hockey athletes completed both fitness testing protocols until failure and results were compared using a Pearson correlation (p-value 0.08). Measurements included stage speed reached, pre-and post-test rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and pre-and post-test heart rates (HR). There was a non-significant (weak) correlation (.197) in number of IFT and IIT stages completed and post-heart rates (.227) following each test. Additional research should be completed to establish strength and validity of the IIT, indicating an on-ice option for evaluating ice hockey athlete’s fitness.
The human brain communicates with many specialized cells called neurons. Neurons send electrical signals to each other through connections called synapses. We use a model called the Combinatorial Threshold-Linear Network (or CTLN) Model, which allows us to study how the structure of a network affects its behavior. To create a graphical representation of the network we use points to represent neurons and arrows to represent the connections between the neurons. Previous work with CTLNs has led to the discovery of multiple patterns in the behaviors of CTLNs. The behaviors became a set of rules that are used to look at the graphical representations of CTLNs and have a better understanding of the network. The list of rules is incomplete, so, we aim to determine more rules to complete the list and gain a better understanding of CTLN models.
This research was centered on exploring the multiplication of varying sums of ones. Given any number of ones, the first step in this exploration was to group them in different sized boxes. For example, we started with ten ones. One possible grouping was three in one box, two in another, and five in another. This yielded the product 3∙2∙5=30. Alternatively, another grouping was four in one box, four in another, one in a third box, and one in a fourth, which yielded the product 4∙4∙1∙1=16. The goal was to find the configuration of boxes that led to the largest product for any given amount of ones. Many examples led to a generalization about how to find that product. Throughout this workshop participants will be given the opportunity to experience the exploration firsthand using manipulatives. Following the exploration, they will then be convinced of the validity of the generalization.
The student body of Keene State is a rich and diverse community of learners, with each student group bringing their own unique perspective to the classroom, meeting, activity, etc. One such population that has been overlooked, or under-considered until recently are first generation and students from low- or modest-income families. Too often these students are unnoticed because they blend seamlessly with the other faces in the class or groups moving up and down Appian Way, when in fact 40 to 50% of KSC’s students are “first gen” and roughly a quarter come from low to moderate economic backgrounds. This panel will explore the needs, experiences, struggles, and successes of these students (What’s a Registrar?).
A panel of four creative nonfiction writers will discuss challenges, serendipities, surprises, and obstacles they faced while conducting archival and field research for their historical and immersion memoir stories. Panelists will talk about their research processes, and how their original project ideas shifted over time--due to the observations, interviews, and cultural and temporal research that they gathered. To highlight the essential role that research played in shaping their writing, panelists will read short excerpts from their creative pieces, two pieces focusing on specific moments in KSC’s history and two pieces focusing on the lessons that can be learned from trying something new for a designated period of time (learning to knit and changing one’s appearance). Panelists will invite questions about the research and writing processes that they used and about their creative nonfiction projects overall.
I 8 Civilization is an original work choreographed by senior Zachary Robinson originally performed in Keene State College’s 2018 Choreography Showcase. The choreographer was inspired by the dangers of technology and how they impinge on humans. The work questions how the human body would move if it were parts of a machine. “Black Mirror”, a British television show that dramatizes the way society manipulates technological devices, inspired this work. Choices in the sound score that invoke fear, drives this piece and asks the audience to question their relationship with machinery. The modern dance movement is based on the way society exploits technology and in turn, how it affects our way of living. 3 dancers, Jacob Lavoie ’19, Jordan Pierce ’19, and Chelsea Hance ’20, inhabit multiple realms in the work; the earth, technology, and the human experience. How can technology affect, challenge, or push us in an inconsistent world?
How can choreography challenge the way audiences experience dance without disengaging them from the work? An original modern dance work, Haut Monde, choreographed by Keene State College senior Jacob Lavoie investigates unpredictable, confrontational, and evocative movement. This piece premiered in the Keene State College Choreography Showcase in December 2018 and a revised version of the piece will be performed at An Evening of Dance in April 2019. The work is grounded in research of high society and royalty, the absurd, hordes of people, and movement initiated from the pelvis and spine which is represented in the choreography through gestural, balletic, mechanic, and at times buoyant realms. How can a choreographer use movement and dancers to support their artistic interest in the absurd while being conscious of the audience’s ability to access the work?
I have created four mural-size woodcuts containing figurative imagery intended to facilitate reflection on our contemporary social media culture. Girls and young women, for whom social media is an integral element in the construction of their identity, are often compelled to engage with these platforms with little consideration given to the ramifications of their engagement, as it pertains to their psycho-social well-being. My imagery mimics the poses used in social media that serve as a signifier of status. I utilize the archaic and laborious process of woodcut, which stands in direct contrast to the high speed, instant gratification of social media. By wheat pasting and hanging the prints of my larger scale imagery in the public forum, I am appropriating the values of social media to critique it. I see this project as the first step in my journey toward developing a socially engaged artistic practice.
This presentation will examine the ways in which poetry and fiction arrive at truths that are meaningful to life in the 21st century. A panel of creative writing students will present original work by each participant and also consider how their individual creative acts embody an essential vision of reality that is only available through the act of writing and eventually reading. “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant…,” Emily Dickinson writes. This group of writers will present work in different genres and consider, for example ,how creative non-fiction which emphasizes an artistic engagement with “Truth” both differs and overlaps with the concerns of Poetry, which appears to focus predominantly on form, and with Fiction, which focuses on “plot.” Through reading of original work, discussion, and reflection on the creative process this panel will explore what it means to “Tell all the Truth, but tell it slant” through multiple perspectives.
Virginia Woolf’s famed 1927 novel "To The Lighthouse" was a cornerstone of modernist Literature, redefining the ways in which characterization, narration, and the passage of time influence storytelling. This project explores the novel’s contrasting of social conventions, philosophy, and art as the three mediums in which people attempt to rationalize the complexity of life. Through the maternal and hospitable Mrs. Ramsay, the objective and intellectual Mr. Ramsay, and the young, artistic Lily Briscoe, Woolf’s characterization shows the reader not only how these three lenses differ, but how they ultimately complement one another, representing a new understanding of life in a post-war world. Through close examination of the novel itself, as well as various literary criticisms and biographies, this project aims to bring our understanding of both Woolf’s enduring influence, and the shifting mind states of post-war society into focus.
When one can find a mathematical concept in a work of art, it will enrich and illuminate both the mathematics and the art. Sol LeWitt was a 20th century artist whose work is closely associated with Minimalism and Conceptual art. His Wall Drawing 413, which can be viewed at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, MA, consists of 64 squares each of which is divided into four smaller squares. Only four colors are used to fill the small squares. This talk will begin with an overview of Lewitt’s art, followed by an introduction to the mathematical concepts of groups and permutations. The presentation will then show how Wall Drawing 413 can be interpreted in terms of permutations and groups.
I intend to present a literary analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest known written account of human endeavor, composed in the third millennium BCE in Mesopotamia. I shall touch upon how it has helped shape nearly all later Near Eastern legends. As humanity's oldest written legend, the epic is more than a key piece of literature; it is perhaps the most crucial document for understanding the soul of ancient Mesopotamia. The tale shows the Mesopotamians' belief in their kings as semi-divine beings, their view of the gods as active participants in daily affairs, and their virtually nihilistic views of the afterlife.
With this presentation I shall explore these themes, extrapolate what I believe to be their influence on not only ancient writing, but also how many of the ideas the legend presents have imprinted themselves on the zeitgeist of our current society.
Mata Oscura Playa in Panama is an important nesting beach for four species of Sea Turtles. This study was conducted to investigate which physical characteristics influence Sea Turtle (Cheloniodea) nest site selection at Playa Mata Oscura. The two species of Chelonioidea chosen to be studied was C. myda and L. olivacea. Four physcial characteristics were studied: beach slope, sand temperature, distance to low tide line and distance to vegetation. Research was collected through nightly patrols over the course of fourteen days and found that sand temperature and slope were the most influential factors in determining nest site selection. This study also focused on using sea level rise trends to predict when the beach would no longer be suitable for Chelonioidea nestlings. It found that by 2100 every nest would need to be relocated to a hatchery to ensure survival.
Plum Island is a barrier island located off the coast of Northeastern Massachusetts and has been the subject of many geological and scientific studies for decades. While a great deal of sedimentological data is available, there is a lack of direct storm impact studies. Longshore drift has been historically accepted as the primary influence of sediment transportation. The data from this research indicates that coastal storms may have a greater impact on sediment migration than was previously understood. This research used widely accepted sedimentology techniques to collect, and analyze sediment and beach profiles. Sample and data collection occurred before, during and after two of the March 2018 Nor’ Easter events which affected the island. Research indicates this may be the first time chronological storm data has been collected from Plum Island. The results will reveal the impact of powerful storms on sediment migration.
In today’s society, there are thousands of patients on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) wait list for a kidney transplant, but not every patient makes it to the time he or she would receive a kidney. A big source of kidneys other than the UNOS wait list is living donors. Not all willing donors are able to donate a kidney as the result of blood or tissue incompatibilities. Kidney exchange programs can solve this problem by matching kidney donors with compatible recipients. Graph theory is a branch of mathematics that uses visual representations to display real life information. In this presentation, we will explain the graph theory that is behind the mathematical algorithms in finding compatible donors through kidney exchange programs.
Pregnancy loss is now recognized, academically and medically, as a broad spectrum of prevalent occurrence. Philosophy’s new branch of perinatal ethics focuses on how the interruption of a pregnancy impacts identity and often results in unexpected, long-term consequences. Culturally, the topic of pregnancy loss is considered taboo and these women are silenced, which complicates their recovery. I argue that this social reaction matches the description of testimonial injustice, a term in political philosophy meaning the denial of being respected as one who has knowledge. Further, I propose that the topic of pregnancy loss is used by both political parties to further their own agendas and that polarization exacerbates and perpetuates the negative societal response. In accordance with philosophical enquiry, I examine the phenomena of pregnancy loss and testimonial injustice, referring to published studies, medical and news sources, and the writings of ethicists and political analysts.
In 1982, the mathematician William Wernick published a list of 139 problems. Each of which asks for the construction of a triangle, using only a straightedge and compass, from three points whose locations are given in various forms. For many of the problems, solutions have already been found. This presentation states these with an emphasis on compelling solutions and methods often used. Beginning with a brief introduction to the usefulness of constructions in our changed world.
Many of the theorems that we prove in Number Theory can be represented in a visual way. For example, we can show facts about triangular numbers using dots and forming them into a triangle. In this presentation, we shall explain some of these visual proofs and talk about how they could be used in a middle school classroom.
Celebrities are influential, having the potential power to normalize behaviors. Fearing the normalization of sexual abuse, should consumers appreciate the art of sexually abusive stars? The answers to this question vary depending on which moral philosophy one adopts. In this paper, I argue that a Millian liberal framework best captures the moral obligations we have regarding immoral art. Mill asserts that an action is morally right if it does more to improve overall well being than any other action could have in the circumstance (Driver, 2014). Feminist philosopher Iris Marion Young (2007) supplements Mill's moral obligation with the civic obligation arguing, in times of injustice, civil society should be the site of implementing change. I conclude Mill’s liberal utilitarianism combined with Young’s feminist view yields the argument that to stop sexual abuse from being normalized in the public sphere, we must stop consuming art created by sexually abusive artists.
Panelists discuss projects considering the life and work of Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. In their examinations of stories by this celebrated American children's writer, panelists speak to “how Seuss works.” Using a variety of analytic tools—including Seuss biographies and historical studies of the United States in the twentieth century —panelists’ presentations explore the contexts and meanings of Seuss’s body of work. By doing so, their presentations bring attention to social-political questions this writer and illustrator engages through his ground breaking educational and artistic work.
The Internships and Professional Experiences panel will feature student-leaders who have participated in an internship or professional experience while at Keene State College. Students will share their experiences, specific skills developed, how the on-site work complements their coursework, and their post-graduation plans. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.
During winter air inversions in Keene, particulate matter emitted by the burning of wood creates a public health concern. Our research goal was to predict when an air inversion would occur and to promote voluntary no-burn nights among the public through social media. We elicited citizens to host Purple Air monitors that gather data on air quality. From these data we developed a real-time map of pollution to inform residents. We used Facebook to announce an impending inversion and “invited” Keene residents to a no-burn “event.” Our panel presentation will discuss the challenges of citizen science, the scientific methods used to determine air inversions, using Facebook to coordinate no burn nights, and the construction of an air pollution map in Keene.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a common disorder among the general population, yet some people exaggerate symptoms to access benefits such as medication and extra time allotted on tests, etc. Quinn (2002) suggests the high prevalence of exaggerating symptoms of ADHD in college students. This study seeks to examine the prevalence of this behavior in a sample of Keene State College students. Participants will be assigned into groups based upon reports as to how they were diagnosed. Participants will be assessed on ADHD symptoms, symptom exaggeration and sustained attention. The data will be analyzed to assess if symptom exaggeration differs in the three groups. It is hypothesized that high levels of symptom exaggeration in the reported informally diagnosed group, whereas, the other two groups will demonstrate be low levels of malingering or exaggeration.
In Southern New Hampshire many household wells are drilled into bedrock, which is the solid rock sometimes underlying a loose layer of soil. The flow of water in bedrock aquifers, where water is stored underground, is likely to occur between joints and fractures which can be affected by the presence of faults. In the summer of 2017 an area near the North of Keene was mapped focusing on the characteristics of the bedrock such as faulting, jointing, and mineralogy. Groundwater and rock samples were also taken at various points crossing the Mine Ledge Fault with the goal of understanding the relationship between the local geology and the chemistry of the groundwater. The map and the chemical data from the samples show that groundwater quality is partially affected by the mineralogy of the rocks. Furthermore, the presence of faults and joints can increase or decrease the flow of the groundwater.
In the United States, up to 12% of youth have engaged in sexual activity before the age of 12. Many are members of the LGBTQ+ community and are at exceptionally high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). After conducting a thorough literature search, it became clear that our current sex education system has failed young LGBTQ+ students immensely. Of the 13 states that require medically accurate sexual health information, most exclude discussion of LGBTQ+ health. It was also found that four states actually require that LGBTQ+ people are condemned in the classroom and eight states have laws to restrict what educators can teach about LGBTQ+ health. The research strongly suggests comprehensive, anti-oppressive sex education could limit STD transmission in LGBTQ+ youth by providing students with self-advocacy skills and the tools to make safe and healthy choices. This education should be started long before sixth grade.
Many organisms are able to distinguish between sibling and non-sibling individuals using olfactory cues through a form of chemoreception, the ability to recognize chemical stimuli. Because olfaction becomes functional during early developmental stages, it is believed to hold an important role in maternal-offspring attachment and sibling recognition, among other social behaviors. Previous studies by our laboratory have shown that developmental exposure to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pyrene (PYR), an environmentally-abundant pollutant, was associated with various behavioral changes in Xenopus tadpoles. Thus, we hypothesize that PYR exposure may alter the olfactory recognition pathway in Xenopus tadpoles, which have been shown by others to preferentially associate with siblings, perhaps playing a role in predator avoidance and survival. We will present the results of a behavioral assay which we have designed to demonstrate this preference; future work will utilize this assay in evaluating the effects of PYR exposure on this behavior.
“Where does your food come from?” “Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?” The answers to these questions are becoming more and more difficult for the everyday citizen to answer, and there is becoming a greater need for young students to be educated in the field of agriculture. Throughout the semester, research will be conducted through work with the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Program and local after school programs. The goals of this research are to identify what children already know about agriculture, specifically the dairy industry, and to investigate how teachers integrate agricultural education in an after school program. Findings from this research will highlight the accuracy and gaps of students’ knowledge of agriculture and discuss ways for teachers in the State of New Hampshire to connect agriculture to their current language arts, science, and math curriculum.
Evaluation of healthcare services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs has led to recent criticism of the United States government. The purpose of this literature review is to gather and analyze the disparities that prevent veterans from accessing healthcare services. A review of literature published between 2013 and 2018 supports the need for improving availability and utilization of necessary healthcare services for veterans. Results indicate that certain veteran populations, including those in rural areas, women and individuals that were other-than-honorably discharged from service are more likely to go without the healthcare services that they need. This review shows that re-evaluating eligibility for services, developing community-based health care, improving education about healthcare services and affordability, as well as improving transportation assistance all had positive effects on improving veterans access to healthcare services.
This poster presentation shares the literature review and comparison of research on the use of mathematics in art, music, and movement. The goal of this project was to clearly connect mathematics to the arts in the early childhood setting. In early childhood education, mathematics and the arts share concepts to address the Early Learning Standards. There is a considerable amount of math incorporated in dance, music, and drawing. There are many ways that art can be informed by math; for example, basic elements such as measuring angles, lines, points when stretching, and expressing movement. Musical elements such as tempo, beat, and rhythm to the music are also related to mathematics. Drawing incorporates the development of small and large motor development skills. Like art itself, the issues of beauty, communication, and emotions are complex subjects, that pertain to mathematics.
The protein hemoglobin plays a vital role in thermal stress tolerance and metabolic regulation in numerous organisms. This study’s purpose was to quantify the variation in hemoglobin and total protein concentrations in our model organism Daphnia pulex, which was exposed to multiple environmental stressors. Specifically, we identified the combined effects of temperature (high 28oC and normal 20oC) and dietary phosphorus concentration (P-conc.; High P and Low P) on hemoglobin production and protein content in D. pulex. Concentration was measured spectrophotometrically in Daphnia that were exposed to four different treatment groups: High P-conc. at 28oC, Low P-conc. at 28oC, High P-conc. at 20oC, and Low P-conc. at 20oC. While we didn’t see changes in hemoglobin content, we saw higher protein production in the treatment groups with higher phosphorus content. Future testing involving multiple Daphnia genotypes and other hemoglobin forms will be done to understand the underlying mechanisms of the observed differences.
Food insecurity is defined as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food” by the USDA. The occurrence of this condition has been observed in academic institutions throughout the US. Prior research indicates a correlation between food insecurity and poor health outcomes, as well as lower student GPAs and academic retention. We sought to assess KSC student perceptions regarding experiences with food insecurity and its effect on academic and/or athletic performance. With funding from the BEST program, we administered 389 surveys and conducted 2 focus groups. Notably, 36% of respondents reported decreased academic and/or athletic performance due to food insecurity, 47% reported they would use an on-campus food pantry, and a general trend of perceived social stigma regarding food insecurity emerged. These findings have supported the development of an on-campus food pantry (The Hungry Owl) and the formation of a food insecurity task force.
Beaver dams are well known for their physical disruption of waterways. The question is; do they affect the overall water quality of rivers? Currently, we are studying the effects of a beaver dam on Hosley Brook in Hancock, New Hampshire. We want to determine if the dam is affecting dissolved oxygen levels within the brook. Some variables that could be responsible for fluctuations in the dissolved oxygen levels there include water temperature, precipitation, time of day, time of year, and wind speed. We are comparing these variables to determine just how much the levels are affected by each. We have also performed a t-test to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the dissolved oxygen levels in four different locations along the brook. Finally, we are looking into which areas drop to uninhabitable dissolved oxygen conditions for fish.
This study focuses on how human-induced environmental changes affect crucial life-history traits in keystone freshwater species Daphnia pulex. In the last few decades we have seen an increase in both temperature and phosphorous (P) loading (eutrophication) in freshwater systems. Previous studies have separately looked at the effect of increased temperature and increased dietary-P content in organisms, however the combined effect of these two have not yet been tested. Here, we look at the interactive effects of temperature increase and dietary P-content on six vital life-history traits in Daphnia pulex. Our results suggest that several of these traits are significantly influenced by the interaction of temperature and P-content. We also observed a trade-off between growth and reproduction under stressful conditions. These results contribute to our understanding of how environmental changes impact the survival and fitness of these organisms.
The student presents a comprehensive look at the toxicological impacts of biodiesel vs. diesel particles, determined in the Traviss Research Lab, and outlining current research examining the potential of biomarkers predicting health effects from inhalation using genetic testing on human lung cells. Previous work found particles generated by combustion of biodiesel blends may reduce health risks associated with particulate matter (PM) exposure. This is due to the difference in chemical composition (metals/organic carbon) between biodiesel and diesel particles. Other researchers found that the CYP1A1 gene is a signal of inflammation effects on post-exposure to diesel PM. The impact of biodiesel PM is unknown on this gene, which plays an important role in downstream inflammation effects. Next semester, the student will be assisting with data analysis of experiments comparing biodiesel vs diesel CYP1A1 gene expression in a human epithelial lung cell line and present these results as part of the overview.
The Belt Road Initiative (BRI) is a Chinese development plan promoted by President Xi Jinping which is designed to expand trade, stimulate economic growth, and improve relations with countries around the world. The BRI is composed of both land and sea networks, but this research project will focus on the sea-based portion of the BRI (also known as the Maritime Silk Road) and the islands involved in it. The Chinese government dominates the planning and ownership of the many BRI infrastructure projects, which poses concerns about the amount of control they will have over the islands. The BRI also challenges the US-led world order. Through an analysis of sources produced by scholars, islanders, and the Chinese government, I will be presenting a research poster that details the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the Belt Road Initiative on islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
I am a healthcare professional and have spent the majority of my career working in a hospital. Ultimately, this means I am at risk of exposure to a variety of pathogenic species possibly including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, vancomycin resistant enterococci, and more. Studies of healthcare workers suggest that there is a reasonable chance that I am colonized with any one of those microbial species. The purpose of my project was to isolate a microbe from my nasal cavities, extract its DNA, and perform various relevant microbiological tests to genomically characterize it and determine its antibiotic resistant status. Through Gram staining, colony morphology, and genomic data analysis I conclude that I have isolated a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Subsequently, I have named this specific isolate S. epidermidis KSC-Kde and further study is underway to identify potential antibiotic resistance genes.
This project was to gather information on the rise of stacked gene crops in the American agriculture industry. Gene modification has been occurring since the early 2000s. Scientists have created plants with two specific gene traits into a single GMO plant. This perfect for farmers who want to have little pests or weeds management. This data was collected by the USDA. The USDA gathers data from every state that produces food. My results show that there is a rise in stacked gene plants and a sharp decline in single gene plants. An example of this sharp decline is BT corn. This makes farmers more productive by losing fewer crops to the pest. In conclusion, these changes in plants are effective. The unknown is what long-term effects are on the outside ecosystem. Are these gene modification going to have detrimental side effects on the ecosystem that lives off these pests?
Around the world, urban areas are found to be measurably warmer that their surrounding country sides. This phenomenon is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI). The cause of UHI are the impermeable surfaces found in an urban area, such as roads and buildings that retain heat more than other materials. This can have a profound impact on a person’s health and strain a cities infrastructure. This project examines Keene, New Hampshire, as a case study to determine whether the city is affected by UHI. Temperature data are collected using multiple weather stations located throughout the city and two data loggers that were set in specified locations within the city. The data gathered will be mapped using GIS to see temperature trends. Surveys of people in Keene will also be conducted to gauge the awareness and willingness to combat UHI.
This project’s objective is to study relevant United States international diplomacy (post-1980) to gain an understanding the effects of the use of national power to achieve U.S. national interests. I will gain an understanding of how diplomacy and the use of national power varies by Administration and is directly influenced by the global strategic environment. I will focus on the United States’ Presidencies of Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump. Further research will study their resolutions to determine how diplomacy was utilized, as well as whether other elements of national power superseded the use of diplomacy. I will determine whether military force has been used as the main instrument of national power (and the reason for the use). This project will analyze national security strategies, federal budgets and the missions, budgets, and staffing of specific federal agencies and departments.
In my presentation, “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” I will outline the process of developing a logo and visual identity system for the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. The purpose of this project is to enlighten the public to the enormous potential within shelter pets. I will present visual research, showcase several logo and branding options, and discuss potential solutions and strategies developed to destigmatize the often negative perceptions of shelter pets. Through this rebranding and advertising effort, my goal is to bring the community closer to these animals by providing opportunities for direct people-to-pet interaction in safe, nurturing, and supportive environments. All shelter pets deserve a hero. Let's show the community that they can be heroes, too, and end the negative stigma associated with the adoption of shelter pets. After all, who rescued who?
This study will look at physiological responses to written and video trauma narratives. Most trauma and PTSD research has studied combat veterans, but this study will look at non-combat trauma; specifically, motor vehicle accidents and sexual trauma. Previous research shows 223.4m US adults experience one traumatic event in their life and 44.7m develop PTSD. The current study will be measuring participant’s heart rate and skin conductance when viewing traumatic and non-traumatic stimuli. Participants’ trauma histories will be used to group participants when analyzing data. The hypothesis is that trauma exposed participants will show the largest response when viewing their respective trauma type as opposed to viewing other the other trauma type. Additionally, both trauma groups will have larger responses than the non-trauma control group.
Imagine billions of tons of material careening through space at 559,234 mph with Earth directly in its path! This image isn’t one of science fiction and has been happening every few weeks since the Earth was formed. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are giant clouds of plasma with magnetic fields that violently explode from the furthest part of the sun’s atmosphere. CMEs have the potential to shut down electric power grids, disrupt satellites, and interrupt global communication systems and airline control. Using images of CMEs leaving the sun, obtained from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), we can create a model for CME speed and predict when they will hit the Earth. In this poster we present preliminary results from our model and compare predicted and actual CME arrival times at Earth.
Accurate determination of inorganic ion concentrations is important for chemical analysis of environmental, physiological, or food and beverage samples. The goal of this project is to implement a method for the separation and measurement of inorganic ions using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with conductivity detection. CE separates chemical mixtures within a thin glass capillary using a high voltage, and a conductivity detector is used to detect targeted ions immeasurable by standard ultraviolet-visible light absorption detectors. Separation conditions from the chemical literature were adapted and optimized for our system and capillaries. The efficiency of separation was quantitatively compared using a specialized coated capillary and uncoated capillary. Separations for positive and negative ions will be presented using the different capillaries to demonstrate instrumental performance and to compare analysis time. Future work will include quantifying ions in environmental samples using the developed method and CE separation conditions.
Review of Medication Assisted Treatment in Correctional Facilities Medication assisted treatment (MAT), is FDA approved medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies, to treat substance use disorders. While MAT is widely used throughout America, correctional facilities fail to provide this option to their inmates. Currently states are responsible for providing adequate healthcare to their inmates resulting in variation of care and health outcomes. Studies have shown that in facilities rapid dose reduction, inconsistent administering and inattention to medical needs from withdrawing occur and impact health outcomes. Methods used for this research include a literature review of peer reviewed articles published within the last five years on facilities that utilize MAT compared to facilities that do not utilize MAT. The aim of this research is to better understand MAT as a potential treatment in correctional facilities.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has been traditionally considered an anxiety disorder. Recent research, however, suggests that anxiety may not be the primary emotional process that drives the symptoms of OCD. Recent behavioral research supports disgust as an important factor when considering development and maintenance of OCD symptoms. Neuroimaging studies also support the role of disgust in OCD. Areas of the brain that respond to disgust are more active in individuals with OCD than healthy control participants. The current study will record electrical activity in the brain while participants view disgust evoking and neutral pictures. The difference in brain responses to disgusting and neutral pictures will be calculated. Data analysis will determine the relationship between this difference and participants’ self-reported disgust levels, OCD symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.
Black women are three to four times more likely to experience complications during pregnancy or childbirth compared to non-Hispanic white women, regardless of socioeconomic status and education level. A black woman with a Ph.D. is still 243% more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to a white woman without a high school diploma. Advocating for better maternal health policies and regulations, as well as educating the public and those at risk can help stop these unnecessary and often preventable deaths. The evidence-based practices, whether medical or socially-oriented, that focus on minimizing maternal complications and mortality among women of color are not fully understood. The goal of this literature review is to understand the medical and social intervention research that are currently underway to help target this crisis.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are common pollutants deposited into the environment with the burning of oil, gas, wood, and trash that are resistant to environmental degradation. Certain PAHs can pass through the placental barrier raising concerns about their potential for developmental toxicity. Our lab has previously shown that developmental exposure to single PAHs, like phenanthrene (PHE) and fluoranthene (FLA), negatively impacts normal heart function in larval frogs; however, in the environment, PAHs occur as mixtures and not as single compounds. In this study, we examined the effects of short-term exposures (24-48 hr) to a PAH-containing mixture (diesel particles) on cardiac function. Videos were taken of the beating hearts and heart rates calculated. Our goal is to develop a simple bioassay that requires minimal amounts of material for assessing the cardiac impacts of diesel, biodiesel and other PAH-containing mixtures.
The canyon known as Split Rock Falls, in Surry, New Hampshire has an unusual width to depth ratio for the size of the stream that flows through it. Merriam Brook is a small stream that incises a canyon roughly 50 feet deep and 250 feet wide, through bedrock that is largely granitic. The size of the stream, and granite’s known resistance to weathering and erosion make it unlikely that Split Rock Falls was created by typical stream processes. Early field efforts led to the hypothesis that the stream was exploiting cracks (joints) in the rock. Later work proved that the joints are part of an unknown fault, which may be related to a larger, un-mapped fault system (Woltner, 2017). Important rock structures and mineralogical compositions were recorded at seven locations, which served as data for the study. This research will provide insight towards undocumented geologic structures in the Keene-Surry area.
With an increase in diabetes and obesity, the topic of Sugar Addiction needs further evaluation. Based off of a literature review from articles within the last 5 years, we see that Sugar Addiction has psychological and physiological manifestations, such as weight gain and withdrawal symptoms. We see similarities between food addiction and substance addiction. This poster examines sugars effect on the brain, specifically brain reward functioning, broader sociocultural factors within our society surrounding sugar consumption, and theoretical models commonly used for substance addiction, applying them to the addiction of food, specifically sugar. Through this analysis we will highlight the necessity of maintaining a positive relationship with our food, thus decreasing the potential to hardwire our brains for high caloric sugary foods and restoring a sense of balance in individuals lives.
This past summer, mentors from KSC and the Harris Center led a team of four KSC student interns in the completion of a variety of environmental conservation-oriented projects that involved extensive fieldwork and data collection in ecosystems across Cheshire County. This poster will summarize the major quantitative and qualitative findings across the main projects conducted as part of the internship, including results of our forest inventory surveys, culvert assessments and vernal pool monitoring. The team used a variety of data analysis methods so that the results could be disseminated for use by the Harris Center staff and their citizen-science initiatives. The goals for our projects were to understand how climate change could affect infrastructure at road/stream crossings, cultivate a deeper understanding of tree community diversity and age structure for forestry applications, and to assess the location of critically important and ephemeral habitats for amphibians so that they can be preserved.
There are many challenges elementary school aged children experience in their home lives. “The National Survey of Children’s Health found that 48% of children experienced one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and 22.6% experienced two or more ACEs” (Blodgett & Lanigan 2018 p. 138). It has been proposed that many of these adverse experiences that occur outside of school can have consequences to a child’s academic experience. This presentation will share the ways in which ACEs have been found to affect the school experience for students in grades K-6. Based on current literature and interviews with local professionals, this poster presentation will give viewers an understanding of the complexity of this issue in regard to student learning, behavior and long-term social and health consequences.
Little is known about tadpole social behavior. It was observed that X. laevis tadpoles, when separated from a group, ceased feeding and swimming and appeared to freeze. I was curious to see how many tadpoles it took for small populations to behave “normally.” Same-batch tadpoles were raised in groups of 5 using protocol from the Whittemore lab. On day 10, tadpoles were randomly assigned to petri dishes with populations ranging from 1 to 10; with 10 serving as the control. Replicate dishes were filmed for 3 minutes following a 1 minute acclimation. Video analysis using idTrackerÓ software yielded data about the percent movement per population. PythonÒ was utilized to compare percent movement for each of the population sizes and to perform statistical analysis. Due to the small number of replicates, outliers skewed the data, but there is a positive trend that shows larger populations move more than smaller populations.
This project focuses on the branding of Keene and the greater Monadnock Region. Case study analysis of similar towns and cities around the world reveal a variety of potential branding tactics. For this research project, primary data were collected through personal interviews with city officials, members of the Keene State College administration, and local business owners. Additional data were generated through an original survey distributed to students attending Keene State College, as college students offer rich potential for invaluable insights into those local elements deemed most attractive and that can serve as the foundation for a branding strategy. Conducted in concert with the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, the goal of this research is to develop a strategy to increase visitation and residency in the area. Ultimately, sustainability, arts, outdoor recreation, local foods and breweries are identified as the main principal opportunities for successfully branding the city and region.
There is has been very little bedrock mapping that has been completed in South-West NH since the 1940s according to the NH Geological Catalog. Future concerns of water supply due to climate change, water pollution, and a growing population underscore the importance of details that mapping can provide Mapping bedrock can lead to the discovery of new local faults. Faults increase the flow rate of groundwater and the minerals within bedrock can drastically impact the quality of the water. This project contrasts and compares mapping efforts from past geologists in the area with those currently being worked on by Keene State College students to show how smaller mapping efforts show more detail that larger maps cannot. This information can be useful in remediation and future urban planning efforts for preventing flooding, property damage, building wells, and finding local water supplies.
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells the tale of a successful self-made man. Throughout his life, Franklin asserted that it’s possible for a person to move up the social hierarchy and make a name for themselves so long as hard work and determination are involved. Although Benjamin Franklin was successful and made great accomplishments throughout his life, he did not achieve that success on his own. Instead, the great American figure owes his life of success to two groups of people that are often neglected in the history of the United States: women and slaves. Franklin chooses to remain silent about the intelligent women and slaves in his life because he wanted to create a narrative in which he is the sole person responsible for his success - effectively writing slaves and women out of history. This paper will detail the importance of these groups in Franklin’s and early America’s history.
The City of Keene has resolved to transition to 100% renewable energy by the year 2030. The purpose of this study is to provide a baseline assessment of the viability of this ambitious goal. In collaboration with the Keene Energy and Climate Committee, this research analyzes residential solar potential throughout Keene. Critical solar variables of rooftop pitch and orientation, as well as shadows are determined for every residential property in the City. These variables were input into Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a computer-mapping program that reveals which areas in Keene have the highest residential solar potential. Our methodology also includes SPSS statistical analysis to test survey results of 137 Keene State students regarding their knowledge of solar and renewable energy. Results from the GIS analysis and survey research support promising potential for a future in renewable energy for the City of Keene.
Throughout the 20th century, transportation planning and funding in the United States had almost exclusively revolved around the automobile. More recently, increasing consideration has been given to accommodating the needs of all transportation types in communities of all sizes across the country. This nascent effort has become know as the “Complete Streets” movement. In 2015, the City of Keene joined hundreds of other communities by adopting a resolution to consider all forms of transportation during the street design and reconstruction planning process. A key pillar of success for Complete Streets policies is continued evaluation. This project examines successes other communities have experienced, as well as analyzes “completeness” of streets in Keene through using data collected by the authors to map aspects of street design, such as the presence of sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Public opinion of the matter is gathered through survey distribution and statistical analysis.
