Undergraduate Research Day 2023
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Item Cryptozoology Meets Ecology: A Look into the Megalodon(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-11) Chloros, Vinny; Marcille, SelinaThe megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived with the oldest fossil specimens being around 20 million years old. The creature is estimated to have gone extinct around 3.6 million years ago, but some skeptics maintain that the creature still exists deep in modern oceans. By examining false information surrounding the megalodon and developing an understanding of the paleontological and ecological mechanisms that scientists use to study it, we can paint a picture of the megalodon and determine how it survived in its ancient habitat and if it could thrive in oceans as we know them today.Item The Effect of Social Media on Self Esteem(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-07) Barcome, Cassidy; Corbo, VincentOne of the most relevant and present topics is social media because of its popularity and constant growth. Research shows social media impacts self-esteem. Additionally, there is a significant difference regarding gender, and how social media influences men and women differently. The purpose of this study is to analyze how beautiful models affect self esteem. Participants did the first three questionnaires before and after the task with the last study listed only before the task: the Rosenberg 10 Item Self Esteem Scale, Social Media Appearance Scale, Body, Weight, Image, Self Esteem Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale. Participants viewed photos of men and women, white individuals and individuals of color, between average attractiveness and extremely attractive. The experimental group rated each photo of a scale of 1-10, 1 being least and 10 being most, in comparison to themselves. The control group just rated stimuli on a scale of 1-10. Participants were chosen at random for the groups. The hypothesis was that the experimental group would rate themselves much lower than the models and have lower self esteem rates after the task on the questionnaires. Experimental group V3-1 showed the male block first, Experimental Group V3-2 saw female block second, Control group V3-3 saw the male block first, Control group V3-4 saw the female block second. The experimental group ended up rating attractive stimuli of individuals of color quicker overall, whereas the control group had a slower reaction time to rate attractive individuals of color. Both groups rated the average stimuli of individuals of color around the same reaction time. There was a three way intersection between group, ethnicity, and attractiveness: F(1,24) = 4.15, p. <.05. The control group had no difference when rating attractive or average white stimuli. The experimental group had a quicker reaction time to rate white stimuli independent of whether it was average or attractive. Overall, the task had no impact on the scores of the questionnaire, and it also had no impact on self esteem. Females showed a longer reaction time compared to males F(1, 24) = 8.88, p. < .007.Item The Influence of Soil Moisture on the Color Morph of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-07) Harris, Rachael; Duryea, KatieThis project aims to determine whether or not soil moisture influences the presence of different color morphs of the Eastern Red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Soil temperature and moisture are two variables that comprise a thermal niche. Prior research suggests that different color morphs of this salamander have been known to be found at different substrate temperatures, however, this finding may be dependent on the location and season of sampling. Measuring the soil moisture and conducting a count survey on these salamanders will gather additional data that can be examined to find out if there is a correlation between the different color morphs and different soil moisture levels or thermal niches. In the SNHU Arboretum four plots were established, each consisting of 12 coverboards to allow for count surveying to take place. Count surveying and soil sampling were conducted each week for 9 weeks. This study will provide data to support the idea that certain color morphs of this salamander have become more dominant in certain thermal niches.Item The Need for Endometriosis Awareness: A Case Study of College Students and Medical Professionals(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-07) Harris, Rachael; Duryea, Katie10-15% of individuals with a uterus at reproductive age have endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent chronic illness in which tissue similar to endometrial tissue develops outside of the uterine cavity. On average, it takes 6.7 years after the onset of symptoms for individuals with endometriosis to receive an accurate diagnosis. This delay in diagnosis, along with recent studies on endometriosis, suggest a severe lack of education on endometriosis within both the medical community and the general public. There is literature that suggests there is a strong need for more education and awareness of endometriosis in the global medical community. However, there is a lack of literature that addresses the knowledge of college-age individuals in the United States on endometriosis. This project will consist of a focus group at Southern New Hampshire University that will determine the knowledge of college-age individuals on endometriosis. This project seeks to close that knowledge gap and determine the level of knowledge college-age individuals in the United States possess in regard to endometriosis.Item NAO Robot Explains the Menu at Bowls of Steel(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-06) Philip, Kayleigh An; Lewis, LundyI worked in Bowls of Steel for two years, where my favorite part of my job was getting to interact with the customers by explaining the menu. However, it was very hard to hire more staff, and when I left Malaysia the restaurant had to shut down. Hopefully, the novelty of having robot staff as well as having them explain the menu might allow the restaurant to stay open. NAO has been programed to walk customers through the menu, as it can listen for key words that will be provided to the customers, and then reply.Item The Impact of the Rising College Tuition on Employed Students(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-05) Tyler, Alionna; Bickford, CrystalItem The Opioid Epidemic: A Case Study in Manchester, NH(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-06) Labbe, Hadley M.; Clamp, ChristinaThis study sought to find and understand the key areas of public health policy governing the response to the Opioid Epidemic in Manchester, New Hampshire that should be reformed to better support the community. This evaluation was made by identifying the needs of the community in coping with, and responding to, the issue and comparing these findings with federal funding initiatives. The study was designed using a mixed methodology in which both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered for cross-comparison. To understand the needs of the community, qualitative data was gathered by coding and analyzing transcripts from fourteen interviews and a focus group. Interview participants were sorted into four groups: recovery specialists, first responders, and policy experts. The focus group participants were people in recovery for Opioid Use Disorder. To understand the policies supported and funded by the federal government, and implemented at the state level, all federal grants to New Hampshire regarding the Epidemic were tracked and sorted into four categories: prevention, capacity, harm reduction, and training/monitoring/research. These two datasets were cross-analyzed to identify the gaps between the needs of the community and federal and state policy focuses.Item Inclusivity and Belonging in the Classroom(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-06) Luby, Shannon; Feingold, ElizabethInclusivity is a term often used in special education to describe the integration of students with disabilities into the general education setting. Inclusivity, however, can also refer to the feeling of being included, in other words, a sense of belonging. As a future educator, it is essential to create a welcoming classroom environment in which every single student feels safe, included, and represented in the classroom. The following presentation describes the importance of creating a classroom environment of belonging where every student feels accepted, respected, and valued, several practices to create this environment, and the benefits for students of a classroom of belonging.Item AI in Visual Art and Media(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-05) Willingham, Jeffrey; Umen, HarryThe presentation details that Artifical Intellegence recently has been used to create images, videos, and various other artiffacts. The presentation shows emaples of various works (images and videos) made using these programs and how the final product differs between them. The ethical issues are discussed, such as the difficulty of gaining copyright for AI works, the potential of removing the need for artists, the use of artists work without consent, and the lack of understanding these AI programs have. The future of these programs and artist are dependent on the legislature that is soon to come.Item The Plight of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-05) Martis, Roman J.; Collins, AaronIn recent years, the Monarch butterfly population has declined significantly along with their host plant where they lay their eggs, milkweed. Another plant, the sacred fir, which is native to Mexico, has also been on the decline due to climate change. This recent decrease is due to many factors including extreme weather events, insecticides, pesticides, and habitat loss/fragmentation. Recent studies have pointed out that a protection zone around milkweed plants has been shown to alleviate the pressure presented by these chemicals which decrease egg laying efficiency. This study aims to highlight the importance of pollinators, increasing monarch and milkweed populations by tracking and rearing them.Item Resistance to Nazi Germany: The White Rose and Catholicism(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-05) Peddle, Cailyn; McCannon, JohnItem Improving Riparian Zones and Soil Health at the Watershed Scale to Reduce Contamination from Run-Off and PFAS in Drinking Water Sources(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-04) O'Connor, Hayleigh; Majidzadeh, HamedThis project examines how improving the health of riparian zones and soil can reduce contamination from run-off and PFAS as a pollutant in source drinking water. The use of PFAS has increasingly been a cause of concern for several decades because of their detrimental impacts to human health and the environment. Various studies are used to explore how water quality is impacted by landscape, the relationship of differing contaminants in soil, as well as using phytoremediation through plant species in order to clean soil and water. Results showed that urban expansion and activity degrade water quality. Riparian buffer zones with a width of 300 m and a length of 8 km are critical areas where landscape has a large impact on water quality metrics. Soil testing data showed that the highest concentrations of PFAS were found in the first 0-10cm. Long-chain PFAS, such as PFOA were the majority found within the topsoil and retention can be credited to low mobility. Anthropocentric activity enriched the soil and deposited contaminants which contributed to both PFAS and other metal concentrations. Red Fescue, River Birch, Sweetgum, Black Willow, Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, Amaranth, Tall Fescue, Bermudagrass, Mustard and Horsetail were all found to useful in accumulating of PFAS from soil through phytoremediation. Various plant species found as accumulators can be planted and used along bodies of water in order to intake PFAS pollution. Using the knowledge from the studies reviewed in this paper, plans for remediation of riparian and green zones can be completed in order to ensure better water quality prior to reaching point water sources.Item The Implementation of Special Education Services in Rural Versus Urban Public Schools(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-04) Cota, Marisa; Clamp, Chris; Clamp, ChrisThe implementation of special education services was compared between rural and urban public schools in the United States. To answer this question, existing laws and policies were evaluated and analyzed, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), among others. Interviews were conducted with rural and urban families and educators who are involved in special education. Interviews were used to gain personal experience and opinions on SPED implementation. The literature collected includes information surrounding the history of special education, other laws and policies that protect the rights of students with disabilities, the services provided in urban and rural public schools and their limitations, special education teacher preparation, and the relationship between special education and race. Findings from this research showed that there are few differences between rural and urban schools, with the main difference being the amount of funding the two regions receive. There has been great progress in special education, but more improvements can be made.Item Redesigning the CETA Annex Building(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-03) Tyler, Spencer; Rupple, Angie; Humphreys, DavidThe CETA Annex building on the Manchester, NH SNHU campus is currently educationally oriented towards the School of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics. The goal of this presentation is to provide information for why the need for change into the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education is beneficial. When conducting this research, it began by concocting a research question. Then, students were surveyed and classes were engaged to best identify the problems at hand. In this research, there was a clear conclusion regarding the need for change. Students wanted to be educated in more collaborative spaces that was more suited towards their goals and strengths. The results of the project leads to the idea of renovated rooms within the building, a change of title for the building, and a redesigning of the outdoor space surrounding the building.Item Chytrid Fungus in NH Frog Populations(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-03) Dube, Melanie; Pimenta, Ana; Gormley, Faith; Ousseini, Saran; Duryea, KatieChytrid fungus, scientifically known as batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is a fungus mostly found in aquatic environments. It is transferable between frogs and tadpoles, or through contact with infected waters. Chytrid fungus can be poisonous and deadly. It is a fungus that kills slowly, which makes it spread abundantly. The spread is caused by the migration of frogs from pond to pond before their death. Some frogs are resistant to chytrid such as the American bullfrog or the African clawed frog. However, they are still carriers that can spread this fungus to other non-resistant frogs, which may lead to a major frog pandemic and decrease in the population.Item How Does Music Preference Relate to Personality and Memory?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-28) Chan, Kah May; Pang, Xin Xian Annabelle; Frost, PeterHow do the Big 5 Personality traits relate to preference for different music genres? Our research investigates how the different music genres would affect the students’ memory and reveal their personality traits. There are some associations among Big Five Personality Traits, different genre of music and a person’s memory. According to the resources, the research indicated that two personality traits such as neuroticism and openness correlated significantly with the music preferences. A 34 question online survey made on Qualtrics was administered. The survey consisted of 12 pages. The questions are consist of multiple choices, text entry and slider. The participants followed the online link for the survey to complete some demographic questions. Then, an experiment to memorize different sets of words under three music conditions was conducted, which are no music condition, soft music condition and loud music condition, then participants are required to fill in the words that they have memorized. The whole survey took approximately five to ten minutes to complete.Item Juvenile Competency(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-29) Cyr, Olivia; Speropolous, Lisa; Speropolous, LisaThe present research examines the issue of juvenile competency, specifically in the interrogation process and in criminal trials. Existing literature has identified critical components related to juvenile competency, such as highlighting the significance of age regarding the inability to appreciate the seriousness of offenses and the increased levels of immaturity within adolescents. The present research displays a thorough review of academic literature and relevant legal cases that shifted the justice system’s perspective on juvenile competency to better understand why juveniles are more likely to be deemed incompetent than adults. Although there are a limited number of laws that address the issue of juvenile competency, current legislation is also evaluated. The findings of this research support the implementation of more laws that protect juvenile suspects within trials and interrogations.Item Are SNHU Waterways Impaired by Excess Chloride Due to Road Salt Application?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-02) McCoy, Katy; Collins, AaronThe chloride ion found in road salt accumulates in water bodies and has negative impacts on aquatic life and ecosystems. Amphibians experience developmental and behavioral changes at high chloride concentrations. Ecosystems can also be impacted – too much salt can cause water density changes, soil contamination, harm to algae, and harm to mammals. The road salt that is applied in colder climates is effective at ensuring the safety of drivers, but little attention is focused on the consequences of applying large amounts of road salt. To understand how much road salt is present in water bodies in southern New Hampshire, and to understand the relationship between urbanization and salinization, the conductivity of water samples was measured in an area immediately adjacent to the campus roadways and another remote location. The results are compared to meteorological data and impairment threshold values.Item How Habitat Loss Affects Animals In New England(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Salyards, Emily; Collins, AaronIn New England, and the country in general, habitat loss is a large problem. Forests are being cleared daily to make room for new developments. Forests have been cleared to create things like highways and apartment complexes, and it seems as if this is a never ending process. The loss of forests does not only hurt the trees that are getting cut down, it hurts the animals and other plants that depended on those trees for habitats and food. Animals are forced to move into new areas after their homes are destroyed. This may cause them to move into areas such as residential areas which may be unsafe. Here we show the effects of habitat loss on animals and the ecosystem and some ways that people may be able to make a difference; like going paperless or shopping responsibly for wood.Item Green Burials and the Ecology of New Hampshire(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Blood, Isabella; Collins, AaronThe ideas and practices of green burials have recently been acquainted with the non-exhaustive list of mitigation strategies for climate change. Green burials, which are alternatives to traditional postmortem services, have a positive impact on the environment, as opposed to harmful practices used in most services currently. New Hampshire’s ecological systems, like others’ can benefit from these types of green services and cemeteries. How exactly these services can improve or sustain natural life in the New Hampshire ecosystems is unknown. While green cemeteries vary in types all around the world, it is clear they are affective. Understanding the relationship of green burials and the environment is crucial to advancement in common sustainable practices.