Kelsey Dakoulas '12, natural sciences & Sara Sterling '12, environmental sciences
Science Poster Session, April 26

"Influences of nest location and use on Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) mating behavior"
The Pumpkinseed is a freshwater sunfish that spawns from early spring to fall. Males construct shallow-water nests and provide parental care to eggs and offspring. Our study showed significant interaction between male behavior and the presence/absence of eggs in a nest. Males without eggs in their nests appeared to spend more time engaged in reproductive behavior compared to males already caring for eggs. We observed patterns showing that male behavior and female mate choice was influenced by nest location (center v. perimeter of a colony), but these data were not significant suggesting no advantage of nesting in a central v. peripheral location in a colony. The implications of these results as they relate to other nesting fish species will be discussed.

Anthony Desmond ’12, chemistry
Science Poster Session, April 26

“Chemical Characterization of a Tower in Monterubiaglio, Umbria (Italy) Utilizing Portable X-Ray Fluorescence
Spectrometry”
"Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry used for In Situ Archaeological Studies and Laboratory Coin Analyses"

Tom Dooley '12, psychology
Science Poster Session, April 26

“Stimuli Generalization Correlated to the Ataxic Effects of Alcohol in Rats”
The present study evaluated stimulus generalization of conditioned tolerance to the ataxic effects of alcohol in rats. Four rats were assigned to two different counterbalanced dyads in which two contextual cues were assigned. One audio frequency (e.g., 2.8kHz or 5.6kHz, counterbalanced) represented the alcohol context and the other represented the saline context. Upon completion of the acquisition period, tolerance was tested using a tilting slide plane (at various angles). The rats were administered alcohol in each of the two audio frequency contexts. A third test was conducted at the intermediate frequency (4.2kHz). There was less ataxia in the alcohol context compared to the saline context (tolerance) and intermediate ataxia (generalization) in the intermediate context. It appears that conditioned tolerance may be graded along a continuum. This may be clinically relevant for understanding drug abuse (e.g., withdrawal, craving, and relapse).

Allyn Doyle ’13, psychology
Mind Over Major Conference, April 21

"A Woman in Conflict: the Representation of Problems in Spain Following World War II"

Caitlyn C. Eaton '12, psychology
Science Poster Session, April 26

“’I cnt tlk 2 u rite now im txtin’: The Use of Text-Messaging and Social Anxiety”
This study looked at the relationship between social anxiety levels and text-messaging rates in middle and high school students. It was hypothesized to find positive relationships between high levels of social anxiety and high text-messaging rates. The first survey was self-report that looked at text-messaging rates. The second was the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents created by La Grecca. The study was done at a small high school in a New England town; participants were under the age of 18, consent was obtained. A median split was conducted that separated social anxiety scores into two groups (High and Low). Then a 2x2 ANOVA was preformed looking at the relationship between high v. low social anxiety levels and text-messaging sent and received per month. The hypothesis was not confirmed. Individuals who were in the high social anxiety group sent and received less text-messages per month than those who were in the low social anxiety group. The results are discussed in terms of the possible reasons they are different from the previous research in this area, and the benefits it will have on society, and for individuals, parents, and educators. Because the results have been found in the opposite direction of previous research it reinforces the importance of new research being done in this area. These results may aid future research that addresses the use of technology as a coping tool for individuals with social anxiety.

Mark Fahey ’12, politics
Politics Senior Theses Presentations, April 17

“Factors accounting for the existence of the current political and economic culture of Japan: Simply U.S. influence or are other factors responsible?"

Mary Feenan '12, fine arts
Fine Arts Department Senior Thesis Exhibition, April 16 - 20

“Women and the Lithography of Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec” The thesis discusses the lithograph prints of the late nineteenth-century artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Lautrec’s Paris was modern, innovative, and colorful; these are the characteristics seen in Lautrec’s prints. Lautrec’s pioneering style simplifies the human form, but retains the character and ideas of the models he depicted. Through the close visual analysis of Lautrec’s lithographs depicting women living in Montmartre and working as public and private entertainers, along with careful historical research utilizing primarily primary sources, my thesis will explore Lautrec’s honest portrayal of women and determine if the woman of the late nineteenth century is venerated or degraded through these works.

Andrea Fine '12, psychology
Science Poster Session, April 26

“The Effects of Anxiety with Ethanol and Caffeine on an Elevated Plus Maze and Startle Box”
An experiment was carried out among four rats to determine the effect that ethanol and caffeine had when tested in an elevated plus maze. The four rats were tested on the elevated plus maze with water to obtain baseline data, and were also tested after ingesting ethanol and caffeine. The subjects were measured by the time spent on the outside part of the maze, as well as the milliliters of fluid consumed and the startle maze averages. The data suggests that when rats are given alcohol over a 24-hour period or are given it in a period of twenty minutes, they don’t show a heightened sense of fear compared to if they were given water.

Paul E. Finn, Ph.D., psychology
Science Poster Session, April 26

“Exercise, Mood, and Perceived Control’s Impact on Academic Efficacy”

Kathleen Flannery
 Science Poster Session, April 26

“The Effects of Anxiety on Athletic Performance”
The inverted-U theory (Yerkes & Dodson 1908) proposes that performance is lowest when arousal is very high or very low, and highest when arousal is moderate, or optimum. The purpose of this study was to measure whether or not there was a relationship between anxiety and performance during a high-intensity cross country workout. It was predicted that there would be a negative correlation between state anxiety measured (both pre-workout and prior to each repeat) and how well one performed in the competitive athletic environment. This hypothesis ran a parallel to the inverted-U theory. It was also hypothesized that participants’ predicted performance would improve as more repeats were done and each of the participants’ anxiety levels would trail off as the workout progressed. No significance was found for the main hypothesis or secondary hypothesis 2. For the secondary hypothesis 1, predicted performance actually got worse towards the end of the workout.

"Nonclinical Dissociation, Memory, and Attention in a Virtual Environment"
Science Poster Session, April 26

"Restrained Eating and Memory in a Virtual Environment"
Science Poster Session, April 26

Nicole H. Follensbee '12, psychology
Science Poster Session, April 26

“Attitudes Toward Mental Illness: The Relationship Between Familiarity and Education”
The study of attitudes toward mental illness have been broken up into several sub-areas of research. One of these sub-areas includes the examination of the respondent’s characteristics that are associated with variations in attitude. Early research in this area found a strong and consistent relationship between the familiarity and education of respondents. The current study assessed the relationship between familiarity and varying types of mental illness on an individual’s attitudes toward the mentally ill. Results suggest that there is a relationship between fewer stigmatizing attitudes and increased familiarity with mental illness.

Caitlin Forbes ’13, English
Mind Over Major Conference, April 21

"Merely an Aggravation; the Defiant Role behind the Role of Rosalind"

Bianca Fortier '12, nursing
Outstanding Student Research Symposium, April 17

“Nursing Research in Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis, and Epilepsy”
During the INBRE Nursing Research Scholar Program in the summer of 2011 I took part in a variety of research projects. These included Clinical Drug Trials in the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Self-Efficacy Improvement in Multiple Sclerosis (SIMS), and Quality Improvement centered on the use of oxygen in epileptic patients experiencing a seizure. The SIMS study was my main research project of the summer and it examined the relationship between guided imagery as a nursing intervention and self-efficacy in patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Optimal treatment adherence is required to maximize effectiveness of MS immunotherapy and due to psychological and psychiatric factors in patients with MS; treatment non-adherence is a prominent issue. This pilot study aimed to determine whether an outreach program consisting of industry-based nursing outreach augmented with recorded MS-specific guided imagery stress reduction training results in superior self-efficacy and adherence compared to outreach alone.

Dr. Fanella France, Library of Congress
Society for Applied Spectroscopy Regional Conference Guest Speaker, April 17

“Advanced Spectral Imaging for Non-Invasive Characterization and Long-Term Preservation of Cultural Heritage Materials”

Kristin Frano ’12, chemistry
Science Poster Session, April 26

“Characterization of Ancient Roman Coins Bronze Coins via Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy”