Click HERE to view program
Poster Presentations
The Effects of Narrative Medicine on Mental and Emotional Health on Geriatric and Pediatric Patients
Author(s): Noah Coates
Mentor: Allison Walker, English
Narrative Medicine is a revolutionary form of medicine that is beginning to be implemented in many healthcare facilities. Research has suggested that Narrative Medicine can decrease blood pressure, stabilize heart rate, and improves memory function. I have studied the emotional health benefits of Narrative Medicine on Geriatric and Pediatric patients.
View Poster
The ICAB: Development and Validation of a Test for Oddity
Author(s): Susan Ezzell
Mentor: Christopher M. Lootens, Psychology
Research has found evidence for “oddity” as a dimension of personality, but existing measures of oddity are significantly limited. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop a new measure of oddity: the Inventory of Conventional Attitudes and Behavior (ICAB) and assess its psychometric properties.
View Poster
Relationships Between Leg Body Composition and Mass Distribution to Running Economy in Male Distance Runners
Author(s): Allie Zambito
Mentor: James Smoliga, Physical Therapy
Eighteen elite male runners (age 18-29) received a whole body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and completed an incremental treadmill running protocol. A stepwise linear regression was performed to determine if any absolute or normalized regional body composition or mass distribution variables were associated with running economy.
View Poster
Touchdown or Fumble? The Effect Of Super Bowl Advertising On Purchase Intent
Author(s): Emily Dwyer, Alicia Wingate
Mentor: Jennifer Burton, Marketing
The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of television advertisements, along with the social media presence of a brand on consumer’s purchase intent during the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII.
View Poster
Plantar Loading During Gait Significantly Correlates To Metatarsal Bone Density
Author(s): Rolonda Kelly
Mentor: Kevin Ford, Physical Therapy
An important characteristic of bone is its ability to adapt to applied loads (Wolff’s Law). The magnitude and number of loading cycles influence site-specific bone mineral density (BMD), that may relate to acute and overuse metatarsal fracture risk. However, limited research has examined the relationship between loading and metatarsal BMD.
View Poster
Analysis of the DNA Binding Characteristics of GerE from Geobacillus stearothermophilus
Author(s): Rodrigo Catalan-Hurtado
Mentor: Dinene Crater, Biology
Geobacillus stearothermophilus is a thermophilic bacteria that is able to sporulate and contains a GerE homologue of Bacillus subtilis. We have overexpressed GerE from G. stearothermophilus in Escherichia coli and purified the protein using standard techniques. Preliminary experiments indicate successful in vitro binding to promoter DNA using a non-radioactive assay.
View Poster
Novel Patterning Techniques of Vapor-Deposited Au Thin Films onto Polymeric Substrates
Author(s): Sarah Colbert
Mentor: Brian Augustine, Chemistry
This project examines nanoporous surface features in thin films of PMMA dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and spun-cast. To determine if molecular weight effects the features observed, thin films were spun-cast from solutions prepared with varying molecular weights of 996000, 550000, 120000, and 15000 g/mol. Surface topography was characterized by AFM.
View Poster
Sex Differences in Metatarsal Bone Density and In-Shoe Load Distribution in Recreational Runners
Author(s): Lindsay Tiberi
Mentor: Kevin Ford, Physical Therapy
To examine sex differences between the bone mineral density (BMD) of the second and fifth metatarsal and in-shoe loading of the foot during running. A difference in BMD of the fifth metatarsals was found between males and females.
View Poster
Multi-Sport Athletes Exhibit Less Lower Extremity Valgus than Single-Sport Athletes
Author(s): Samantha Tripp
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Taylor, Physical Therapy
The purpose of this study was to identify biomechanical differences in multi-sport compared to single-sport athletes. Single-sport athletes may be at higher risk for injury because they exhibited higher levels of lower extremity valgus during single-leg landing tasks than multi-sport athletes.
View Poster
Comparison of Ambystoma maculatum and Ambystoma opacum Population Genetics in the Uwharrie Mountains of North Carolina
Author(s): Halley Watson
Mentor(s): Dr. Cindy Vigueira, Dr. Chuck Smith, and Dr. Patrick Vigueira, Biology
Vernal pools provide isolated breeding habitats for amphibians, specifically the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and its relative, the Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum). In this study, we used Nested PCR and population genetics programs to assess the genetic variation between and within these species collected from the Uwharrie National Forest.
View Poster
The Relationship Between Limb Dominance Determination During Jumping
Author(s): Colleen Mulrey
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Taylor, Physical Therapy
This study aimed to identify the relationships between subjective (self-reported) and objective (performance tests) methods of determining limb dominance. While the relationship between self-reported preferred kicking and jumping legs was highly significant, there was no significant relationships found when comparing self-reported measures to performance measures.
View Poster
Probing the Structure-Activity Relationship of Escherichia Coli Extracellular Death Factor
Author(s): Rebecca Ulrich
Mentor: Meghan Blackledge, Chemistry
Bacteria use peptides and chemical signals to communicate with each other and respond to their environment. My research focuses on understanding these chemical signals and “conversations” to create methods to modify bacterial intercellular communication. This could lead to new antibiotics and therapeutics which specifically targets certain cellular “conversations.”
View Poster
Sex Specific Influence of Hip Strength and Range of Motion on Landing Kinematics Across Maturation
Author(s): EMMA ZUK
Mentor: Dr. Yum Nguyen, Athletic Training
Changes in hip strength and alignment may influence landing patterns, increasing knee injury risk in youth athletes. The influence of hip strength and alignment on landing is specific to sex and maturation in youth soccer athletes. These sex specific relationships across maturation should be considered when developing injury prevention programs.
View Poster
Resveratrol Alters the Rate of Calcium Incorporation During Early Bone Development in Daniorerio
Author(s): Matt Slitzky
Mentor(s): Dr. Neil Coffield and Dr. Angela Bauer, Biology
Resveratrol, a naturally occurring phytochemical found in grapes and red wine has been shown to have many health benefits as well as increase bone growth in some mammalian species. Little is known, however, about the effects of resveratrol on bone ossification in Danio rerio (zebrafish).
View Poster
Normative Values and Asymmetries in the Agility T-Test in High School Soccer Players
Author(s): Matthew Siegmund
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Taylor, Physical Therapy
This study aimed to determine the most influential phases of the agility T-test and its ability to identify lower limb asymmetries in athletes. Results indicate that the agility T-test promotes relatively large distributions of both sagittal and frontal plane movements and that the side-shuffling component best identifies side-to-side asymmetries.
View Poster
Relationship Between Navicular Drop and Lower Extremity Kinematics During Functional Tasks Across Sex and Maturation
Author(s): Katherine Van Wert
Mentor: Dr. Yum Nguyen, Athletic Training
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a clinical measure of pronation and lower extremity motion during functional tasks across sex and maturation stage in youth athletes. Navicular drop was associated with knee motion across maturation in males. However, it was not associated with in females.
View Poster
There and Back Again?: The Disappearing Pulsations of CS 1246
Author(s): Alan Vasquez
Mentor: Brad Barlow, Physics
Hot subdwarf stars were once main sequence stars, like the sun, that deviated from normal stellar evolution. Several of these stars exhibit rapid pulsations driven by iron opacity instabilities. Here we present six years of photometry for CS 1246 and discuss possible scenarios that might explain its interesting behavior.
View Poster
17β-estradiol increases the rate of skeletal calcium incorporation during early development in Danio rerio
Author(s): Jimmy Rager
Mentor(s): Dr. Neil Coffield and Dr. Angela Bauer, Biology
Estrogen is known to play a significant role in bone development and ossification in mammals. To date, however, little is known about the sex hormone’s role in bone ossification in the zebrafish model, Danio rerio.
View Poster
Oral Presentations
Methylglyoxal Potentiates the Effect of Linezolid Against Staphylococcus aureus
Author(s): Gabrielle Hayes
Mentor: Dr. Patrick Vigueira, Biology
Antibiotic resistance has become a major public health crisis, with the rise in cases of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other resistant bacterial infections. As a possible solution to increasing rates of antibiotic resistance, we investigated linezolid and methylglyoxal in an attempt to identify synergistic activity.
View Presentation
Intercultural Negotiation: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as a case study
Author(s): Bridgett Hess
Mentor: Dr. David Bergen, Human Relations
Intercultural Negotiation is an evolving technique implemented in environments from business to foreign policy. Despite its popularity, its variant frameworks, implementations, and successes are still considered controversial and contested. This study delves into the literature in order to gain a better understanding of what may be the most effective form of Intercultural Negotiation.
View Presentation
Leucine Stimulates PPAR Signaling Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis, Oxidative Metabolism, and GLUT4-Mediated Glucose Uptake in Myotubes
Author(s): Jamie Schnuck
Mentor: Dr. Roger A. Vaughan, Department of Health & Human Performance
Leucine stimulates anabolic and catabolic processes in skeletal muscle, however little is known about the effects of leucine on PPAR activity (required for normal oxidative metabolism). Leucine-treated cells exhibited increased oxidative metabolism in a PPAR-dependent fashion, and improved glucose uptake, suggesting leucine may have benefits for athletes and diseased populations.
View Presentation
Homoeroticism in the Male versus Female Gothic
Author(s): Megan Painter
Mentor: Dr. Laura Alexander, English
Within the space of Gothic literature there has always been a distinction between the Male and Female Gothic when considering the usage of typical Gothic spaces and tropes. Homoeroticism is no exception to this when explored through the female gothic, Frankenstein, and the male gothic, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
View Presentation
Who is Blamed the Most? An Investigation into the Factors that Affect Amount of Blame Attributed to Victims of Crime
Author(s): Lauren Rubenstein
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Danzis, Psychology
The two studies examined whether the type of crime and gender of perpetrator/victim had an effect on victim blame. Results indicated that type of crime significantly affects victim blame as well as the gender of the perpetrator when the victim is male. In rape cases, victims of marital rape were blamed more than other rape victims.
View Presentation
Performance
Do You See Me?
Author(s): Danielle Criss (choreographer and performer), Madelein Casadonte, Cydney Hamilton, Deja Ross, Amanda Rossi, Paige Unni(performers)
Mentor: Ms. Lindsey Howie, Department of Theatre and Dance
Colorblindness is a dangerous construct to use. Not enough time is taken to appreciate our unique individual aspects. How can we truly love one another if we choose not to recognize the things that make us who we are?