2021 Honors Theses (Spring)

Abstract: When using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a spectrometer, it is difficult to know if the specimen being observed is in the optimal position to get the best readings from the equipment. Previous data collected by my advisor, the Principal Investigator (PI), and Clarion University (CU) has determined a method of specimen orientation through rotation and tilt of the specimen table to determine its optimal positioning. This was done by constructing a macroscale copy of the equipment found inside a SEM and using it to measure the ratio of the specimen's projected lengths versus the rotation of the specimen table. To confirm the methodology and interpretations of data developed in previous experiments, new data has been collected to test against previous trials. The newest trial has found evidence in support of previous findings, with similar data being produced. This is an indication that the developed method of orienting a specimen inside a SEM may fill a gap in research dedicated to the use of lab equipment. Suggestions for further research and apparatus redesign will be offered along with the conclusions.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Chunfei Li, PhD.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness and art form behind prop-making, particularly in more classic film as opposed to modern film, via a combination of traditional research alongside a combination of my own personal creative interests and engineering knowledge acquired from my tenure at the California University of Pennsylvania. A large portion of this thesis utilizes the DeLorean Time Machine, more specifically the "Time Circuits" and "TFC Drive Switch," from the 1985 film Back to the Future as a foundation for visualizing the appeal, functionality, and believability of movie props and the effect it has on its audience, notably the inspiration to build working replicas of the in-universe technology seen on screen. The main visual aid is a recreation of the "TFC Drive Switch" as it appears in Back to the Future, built and wired by me to, not only resemble the prop as seen in the modified DMC-12 sports cars, but also work and operate (in a purely aesthetic sense) as shown on camera. Further research came from analysis of the film's production and script, personal interactions with other members of the time machine replica community, and previously published studies focused on similar ideas.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Craig Fox, PhD.

This thesis will use data analysis to explore changes in voting in Allegheny County over the last 6 years. Allegheny County provides information on polling locations, voting district boundaries, congressional district boundaries, and house of representative boundaries. In addition to these political data sets, demographic information such as school district boundaries, police zones, and census date will also be considered. Using data from 2014 to present, analysis will be performed to see what has changed about voting in Allegheny County over time. In addition to this data analysis, this paper will explore trends in voting in Metropolitan areas, such as Atlanta, and how those compare to Pittsburgh. Atlanta has had statistically significant changes in recent history and will feature a useful case study to compare to Allegheny County.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Melissa Sovak, PhD.

Dopamine levels in fruit flies have been linked to a number of specific mutations that have influenced acquired and learned behavior. Increased dopamine levels have altered normal behavior patterns in that they have been found to decrease in offspring larval locomotion. The purpose of this research is to identify locomotion activity in offspring of fruit flies with different dopamine levels through several generations, as well as to identify the boundary at which dopamine influences different locomotion activities between fruit fly (parents) and larvae (offspring). To conduct this experiment, several mortality and locomotion assays will be utilized to examine dopamine influence in kavalactones and determine specific behaviors it inhibits or\ninitiates.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Louise Nicholson, PhD.

Though initially convened to fix the Articles of Confederation in 1787, the Constitutional Convention ended up creating an entirely new style of government under the Constitution. One of the items on the agenda was to devise how to elect the president, and after different proposals and amendments were brought to the table and voted on, the Electoral College of 1787 was born. Two hundred forty-four years and forty-six presidents later, the Electoral College still stands as the method by which the American president is selected. The Electoral College serves as an indirect method of voting, as the people vote for a group of electors who go on to vote for president, rather than voting for the president directly. While it was amended in 1803 (the Twelfth Amendment) and 1960 (the Twenty-Third Amendment) and states have made their own changes as time has gone on, the system has largely stayed the same. The biggest change since the Jeffersonians passed and ratified the Twelfth Amendment was the move away from majority rule (when a candidate for office receives more than 50.00% of the vote) to plurality winner- take-all (when a presidential candidate wins 50.00% or less of the vote in a state and receives 100% of electoral votes offered by that state).The debate over reforming or abolishing the Electoral College resurfaced with the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections, as the winner of the popular vote lost the electoral vote and thus the presidency.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Craig Smith, PhD.

Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Sylvia Foil, PhD.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Fortunately, multiple vaccines now exist and are readily available to the majority of people. While all the available vaccines demonstrate high efficacy rates, some reporting above 90% protection from infection, any vaccine is only effective if it is accepted. Thus, vaccine hesitancy poses a threat to the success of controlling and mitigating the pandemic. While vaccine hesitancy is multidimensional, the related psychosocial factors are arguably the most crucial to understand and address. Unfortunately, due largely to the novelty of the situation, the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are not well studied. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: (1) to understand the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy; (2) systemically review and report the current literature on the topic of interest. \nMethods: A systematic literature review was conducted on March 14, 2021 to identify articles of interest. Search terms included those related to covid-19 and vaccine hesitancy. Multiple databases were utilized including PsycINFO, SocINDEX, MEDLINE Complete, and others. \nOriginal research studies that were relevant to the topic of interest were included in the review. The search was limited by date range, including articles published from 2019-2021. \nResults: This review followed PRISMA guidelines. Given the search terms and limitations, 122 articles were reviewed. Ultimately, 42 articles were included in the study. \nDiscussion: Gender, SES, political influence, and social media, were commonly reported social factors. Health beliefs, perceptions of COVID-19 and/or the vaccines, and trust in healthcare providers and science were commonly reported psychological factors.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Elizabeth Larsen, PhD.

With the continuous advancement of technology, changes are bound to occur within every industry in today's society. From personal AI assistants to autonomous vehicles, technology is reaching new heights each and every day. Jarvis, a self-navigating service robot, was completed by a group of four Computer Science students at the California University of Pennsylvania in order to research the many uses of robotics. In this research project, the creation of Jarvis aims to provide insight into what the hospitality industry would look like with robots like Jarvis and how they can benefit the industry as a whole. Through the use of artificial intelligence, computer engineering, and electrical engineering, Jarvis has the ability to carry objects on a balance plate and navigate his surroundings simultaneously. Jarvis makes use of a client-server system that allows users to send requests and have them accepted by administration. This type of communication allows for more personalization for the user, a quicker service, and an easier workload for the human staff. For example, by allowing a self-navigating robot to travel back and forth between destinations on a single hotel floor, employees will have more time to focus on their daily tasks, while also keeping their visitors satisfied. Although research has been completed on similar ideas, this project seeks to demonstrate the abilities of an autonomous service robot through physical creation, documentation, and development. The application of robots like Jarvis will allow the hospitality industry to grow in areas such as customer satisfaction, service effectiveness, and productivity.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Weifeng Chen, PhD .

As students progress through our school system, they must overcome many learning obstacles as classes become more difficult with the added pressure of higher expectations for performance abilities. In particular, many students begin to struggle in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject areas as they enter high school. Students with learning disabilities (LD) are oftentimes left behind in STEM areas. The potential for students with learning disabilities to learn STEM subjects is sometimes overlooked by teachers and administrators, which results in a lack of their needs being met in these classes. The conventional methods utilized for teaching STEM subjects in general education high school classes are broadly known. The ultimate goal of an educational system should be to meet the learning needs of all students in order for each student to progress as far as the limits of their native abilities. With the less frequently evident STEM subject progression in students with learning disabilities, it is imperative to improve their academic achievement in STEM subject areas. A detailed framework is discussed that combines a well-known conventional method utilized to teach STEM subjects to students without disabilities with an additional methodology designed to meet the general needs of students with learning disabilities. Each of these combined methods falls under the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, which can help students with learning disabilities achieve a higher level of success in general education STEM subject classrooms without negatively impacting the quality of education for their classmates without disabilities.,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Jason Kight, EdD.

"Racial injustice is America's original sin and deepest silence"- Jeanne Theoharris, A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History\nAccording to The Sentencing Project, "African Americans are more likely than White Americans to be arrested; once arrested, they are more likely to be convicted; and once convicted, and they are more likely to experience lengthy prison sentences." White women's femininity is weaponized by using protections set in place centuries ago. Since the birth of this nation, White women have been protected. Starting in the time of slavery, measures, social and legal, were put in place to protect White womanhood. At the same time, they were lifted into a position of power over those they were being protected from- Black men. The word of a White woman became like a rallying call for the community, what she said was taken without question. If she implicated a Black man of any indiscretion, his life would be forever changed. For this study, I examined interactions between White women and their accusations against Black men. I examined five cases that I separated into three different categories. The first category is "Black men were blamed for a crime that they did not commit". The second is "White women committed a crime, but blamed a Black man". Lastly, is "White woman using fear and aggression against a Black man".,Honors Thesis Advisor : Dr. Jessica Spradley, PhD.