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  Bringing International Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton

  Bridget Anne Dunnigan

  Over the course of the semester, students in POL 334 have had the great opportunity of learning and engaging in material about sustainable development goals and human rights cities. Specifically, we have been researching and gathering data to increase the chances of Dayton becoming a Human Rights City. After researching each SDG, it was clear that each one is intertwined. The access to justice is uneven and unfair. In order to make progress and develop a civil society, community members must advocate for Dayton to become a Human Rights City. These efforts are essential to moving forward and achieving the sustainable development goals. It is important for each member of society to have the opportunity to live a high quality life with inclusion and equality. Overall, this semester has taught me about local human rights issues and challenges in the Dayton area, as well as, how to apply various tools and techniques for an effective community.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton

  Abdulaziz Abdullah A. Alayed, Emma E Coning, Bridget Anne Dunnigan, Tiffany Erin Hendricks, Claudia E. Jackert, Bailey N. Johnson, Maranda Elise Lewis, Michaela Catherine Linehan, Chloe M. Marklay, Jared Dominic Marsh, Chloe Elizabeth Massie-Costales, Alyssa Marie Miller, Jessica Caroline Minichillo, Marigrace Sandi Moses, Alex M. Mueller, Yulianna Otero, Jasmine H. Riechmann, Kathleen E. Schweninger, Ryan Darnell Scott, Emily Rose Shanahan, Landis Yuri Soto, Dawson J. Vandervort, Destiny Watson, Isabel Zavala

  Student researchers present initial findings from research linking specific international human rights articles and targets from the Sustainable Development Goals to data, news, and programs in the greater Dayton region. The purpose of the research is to assist university and community advocates in developing a campaign to make Dayton a Human Rights City. A Human Rights City is a municipality that refers explicitly to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards and/or law in their policies, statements, and programs. In addition, students will present advocacy campaign designs and reflections on the research process.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton

  Emma E. Coning

  I knew about Dayton’s struggles heading into this project. Little did I know how easy it was to apply the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton, especially for education. The SDG breaks it up into quantifiable components that can be more easily addressed through research and exploration of the issues at hand. Dayton has been bettering itself over the last couple of years, and hopefully it will continue its upward trajectory until it is just as strong as any other school district in Ohio.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton

  Abdulaziz Abdullah A. Alayed, Emma E Coning, Bridget Anne Dunnigan, Tiffany Erin Hendricks, Claudia E. Jackert, Bailey N. Johnson, Maranda Elise Lewis, Michaela Catherine Linehan, Chloe M. Marklay, Jared Dominic Marsh, Chloe Elizabeth Massie-Costales, Alyssa Marie Miller, Jessica Caroline Minichillo, Marigrace Sandi Moses, Alex M. Mueller, Yulianna Otero, Jasmine H. Riechmann, Kathleen E. Schweninger, Ryan Darnell Scott, Emily Rose Shanahan, Landis Yuri Soto, Dawson J. Vandervort, Destiny Watson, Isabel Zavala

  Student researchers will present initial findings from research linking specific international human rights articles and targets from the Sustainable Development Goals to data, news, and programs in the Greater Dayton region. The purpose of the research is to assist university and community advocates in developing a campaign to make Dayton a Human Rights City. A Human Rights City is a municipality that refers explicitly to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards and/or law in their policies, statements, and programs. In addition, students will present advocacy campaign designs and reflections on the research process.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton

  Chloe M. Marklay

  Growing up in a suburb can sometimes blind us of what is happening outside of our safety bubble. I am grateful my parents encouraged me to volunteer at local nonprofits to open my eyes to the issues many people face. Problems like hunger, poverty, and no access to clean water seem so foreign to us because we aren't affected by them. Before this class, I was naive about how many people in my area are affected by some of these issues. Going to school in Dayton has made me realize how truly blessed I am and to use my gifts to help others in my community. If we all do our part to use and give our gifts we will be helping not only Dayton but those throughout the world. Just by simply donating a dollar to an organization can help impact others in a major way. The 17 SDGs are all intertwined and their goals are not unreachable if we all do our part.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton: A Closer Look at the Opioid Crisis & SDG Target 3.5

  Yulianna Otero

  SDGs and human rights articles helped me see local issues and solutions with a global lens. I realized Dayton is not exempt from human rights issues that affect cities over the world. I learned that, locally, most issues disproportionately affect African Americans. Also, documentation about an issue increases the likelihood of government action. It seems that Dayton officials and organizations are taking steps to improve local health issues, but there is still a lot of work to do. I think the SDG goals can be a useful framework to continue this work.

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  Bringing International Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals to Dayton: A Closer Look at the Opioid Crisis & SDG Target 3.5

  Bailey N. Johnson

  During this semester, we learned much about the hard work of advocacy together as a class. Though our plans for in-person, community advocacy were cut short by COVID-19 concerns, there was much to be learned about advocacy efforts from the topics we researched. One thing that surprised me the most is that for every negative article explaining how the terrible opioid epidemic is plaguing the city of Dayton, there was an article explaining the success of the Dayton community in responding to the opioid epidemic in such a collective and compassionate way that it has become a model for other communities across the U.S. in addressing the opioid epidemic in their own communities. These stories of success and hope are necessary for the longevity of any advocacy movement, and are as necessary as the other pitfalls of advocacy work.

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  Bringing Sustainable Ecology to Dayton

  Dawson J. Vandervort

  I don’t see a lot of emphasis on ecological integration in Dayton or with SDG’s in general. The main focus is on housing, education and the opioid epidemic. Integration of ecology is required. Green cities are happier and healthier cities (EU); green cities correlate to decreased crime and drug use (CityLab, The Atlantic).

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  Can Calcium and Sodium Help to Restore Prairie Soil Following Removal of an Invasive Tree?

  Emily Horne

  Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) is an invasive tree in the southeast US that rapidly outcompetes native grasses and shrubs, reduces biodiversity, and threatens grassland ecosystems. T. sebifera growth, however, has been shown to be sensitive to changes in soil salinity and suggests that micronutrients, like calcium and sodium, may be important factors that affect growth. Therefore, Ca and Na may help to improve restoration techniques by altering soil characteristics and preventing recolonization following removal of T. sebifera. To determine how Na and Ca affect soil characteristics following T. sebifera removal, we manipulated the amount of Ca and Na (by 10%, 25%, and 40% above ambient levels in a fully factorial designed experiment) in 3 meter by 3 meter plots. Each plot had one of four levels of invasion, those being remnant prairie (control), lightly invaded, moderately invaded, and heavily invaded areas. In total, this adds up to 16 treatments x 4 levels of invasion x 3 replicates + 12 additional controls = 204 plots. We collected soil samples from each plot with a soil auger in mid-July 2019 and these samples were frozen until analysis. We measured soil moisture, pH, conductivity, and bulk density. We found that calcium and sodium affect the soil characteristics differentially when added alone but have stronger effects when these micronutrients were added together. Additionally, the strength of the effect depended on the initial T. sebifera density, likely due to differences in plant biomass. These results suggest that micronutrients, Ca and Na, may be important for restoring soil characteristics like soil moisture, pH, and conductivity following invasion of T. sebifera, and may help to make coastal tallgrass prairies more resilient to invasion by this invasive tree.

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  Celebrating Earth Day 50: UD Students Taking Climate Action for Environmental Justice in Our Common Home

  Caroline Garvey, Tiffany Hunsinger, Theresa Isemann, Meg Maloney, Jared Marsh

  April 22, 2020 is EarthDay’s 50th anniversary and a global movement of 1 billion people taking climate action. Join us for a facilitated virtual workshop as we celebrate EarthDay and the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si - On Care for Our Common Home. Inspired by International EarthDay (www.earthday.org) and Catholic Climate Covenant resources and UD student leaders, we will explore how UD alumni and faith communities have taken climate action and how current students can engage at home, on campus, and in their networks. Students have been key leaders in global environmental movements ranging from pollution protests on college campuses on the first Earth day, to school climate strikes initiated by Greta Thunberg in 2019. Faith communities have highlighted the injustice that climate change and pollution disproportionately impacts those of vulnerable health, the economically poor and people of color. Given UD’s Catholic and Marianist values, our environmental actions are a crucial part of our commitment to community, solidarity and promoting the common good. Over the past 30 years, UD students have taken initiative with faculty/staff and community partners to make the campus and region more sustainable through club projects, educational events and actions creating programs in recycling, composting, native plants and energy conservation. Through a facilitated process including video, brief prayers, reflection questions and UD student panelist input, participants will identify actions they can implement in their daily lives and apply to their major and career. Undergraduate and graduate panelists from diverse majors will share hopes and challenges, practical tips and success stories from their environmental sustainability involvements. Participants will identify opportunities on and off campus through student organizations advancing sustainability, academic programs and Hanley Sustainability Institute. Participants will leave with plans and ideas for creating a more just, sustainable future in Our Common Home.

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  Childhood Trauma: Equipping Schools with the Tools to Fight Back

  Emily Elizabeth Tangney

  Childhood trauma negatively affects millions of children. The literature suggests that adverse childhood experiences can result in a child’s inability to process and regulate emotions. This dysregulation can lead children to engage in life-long deviant behavior. Researchers have found that childhood trauma leads to higher rates of violence and psychopathology. In the school system, it is important that we have resources to counteract such adverse trauma. As a future school psychologist, I am exploring how we can equip schools to best treat adolescent victims of trauma before it dictates their life trajectory. School districts need to prioritize hiring a school psychologist. These educated professionals work tirelessly to help children grow into confident and capable adolescents. They play a vital role in working with trauma in the school system.

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  Clean Water & Sanitation in Dayton, Ohio: Making Dayton a Human Rights City

  Kathleen E. Schweninger

  My research on human rights-related local issues in Dayton has heightened my awareness of the region’s assets and challenges. Regardless of a country’s progress toward development, such issues are present and need to be addressed in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The greater Dayton region has suffered from challenges related to clean water access and water pollution, but the region is also supported by assets which involve the community in clean water and sanitation advocacy. Such assets need to be expanded upon in order to ensure further community engagement in water-related issues. Diverse voices should be represented in the management of water related issues in the Greater Dayton region as all Daytonians are affected by the outcome of such management.

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  Cognitive Differentiators of Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Following Childhood Maltreatment

  Dezanee M. Bluthenthal, Megan Hernandez, Hannah Manis

  Posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) have been conceptualized as possible outcomes of cognitive struggle following traumatic events. This study examined cognitive differentiators (i.e. perceived event centrality, core beliefs challenge, change in cognitions about the self and world, and deliberate and intrusive rumination) of such sequelae in childhood maltreatment (CM) survivors, a population underrepresented in the PTG and PTD literature. Self-report measures from 326 undergraduates who endorsed CM were included in two stepwise hierarchical regressions. While it was predicted that event centrality would be associated with both PTG and PTD based on prior literature, it was only significantly linked to PTG (p = .033) in this CM sample. Examination of core beliefs emerged as a “double-edged sword,” influencing both PTG and PTD (p = .002 and .004). Deliberate rumination was positively linked with PTG (p = .001). Negative cognitions about the self were negatively associated with PTG (p = .002) and positively associated with PTD (p < .001); negative cognitions about the world and self-blame were not significant. Identification of these diverse cognitive predictors of PTG and PTD suggest well-being following CM may be enhanced by treatments that target core belief challenge and facilitate incorporation of more positive self-cognitions into one’s identity.Keywords: Childhood maltreatment, posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic depreciation, event centrality, core beliefs, rumination, posttraumatic cognitions

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  Combating Antibiotic Resistance Using Plant-Derived Compounds

  Emily Marie Jones

  Bacteria have steadily developed defenses against antibiotics since the world’s first fleet of antibacterial drugs was introduced. One strategy that bacteria can use to become multi-drug resistant involves the overexpression of large, membrane-embedded efflux pumps, such as the AcrAB-TolC pump found in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other Gram-negative bacteria. This large efflux pump gives the bacterium the capability of transporting a wide variety of compounds out of the cell, including antibiotics that we use to combat bacterial infections. The overexpression of these bacterial efflux pumps renders our antibiotics ineffective. I have determined that Yerba mate extract causes accumulation of a fluorescent dye in live bacterial cells and might, therefore, also cause accumulation of clinically relevant antibiotics. I tested the Yerba mate extract for efflux pump inhibition in the presence of antibiotics and found that the extract has antibacterial effect on the bacteria. Further testing should be done to determine the effect of the extract on other cell types. This research could open up a new avenue in the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

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  Comparing Magnetron Sputtered ScN Films Grown on Sapphire (1 0 -1 0) and (1 -1 0 2) Substrates

  Tobin C. Muratore

  ScN films with high quality crystal structure and desirable carrier concentration have previously been grown on sapphire (0001) substrates. This study seeks to determine whether similarly high quality films can be grown on (101-0) and (1-102) orientated sapphire. The depositions for this study were carried out via reactive, unbalanced, DC magnetron sputtering. Previous growth of ScN on sapphire (0001) showed film quality is sensitive to sputtering conditions. This study seeks to determine what, if any, sputtering conditions can produce films of comparable quality to those grown on sapphire (0001) substrates on the lower symmetry surfaces. The impact of these growth conditions on the crystal quality and electrical properties were evaluated using x-ray diffraction and Hall-effect measurements. X-ray diffraction results indicate that growth on sapphire (1-102) is sensitive to temperature, with optimal growth occurring in a 40°C window. For (10-10) sapphire, similar crystal quality occurs over temperatures from 500-900°C. XRD also shows no conditions tested for either substrate displayed the single crystal growth present on (0001) sapphire.*This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research through prject FA9550-RYCOR490

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  Comparing Patterns of Insect Communities in Remnant, Old Constructed and New Constructed Prairies

  Sienna N. Mcpeek, Emily L. Ott

  The purpose of our study was to determine if insect communities differ between remnant and new/old constructed prairies in the Greater Miami Valley. We hypothesize that insect communities within may vary in constructed prairies compared to remnants, and older constructed prairies may have similar insect patterns when compared to remnant prairies. We predict that certain insects may have similar abundance in remnant prairies and older constructed prairies will have greater diversity across orders in comparison to newer constructed prairies. We took sweep net samples each month in June, July, and August, doing four sets of 25 sweeps per prairie. We placed the caught insects in Ziploc bags to later be frozen. In total, there were 156 bags sorted through at the end of the summer. Samples were sorted to order using a dissecting microscope, and numbers of individuals in each order were counted. This research illustrates the contrast of the different types of prairies through their varying insect abundance and diversity.

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  Comparison of Machine Learning Frameworks for Mobile Devices

  Vamsi Charan Adari

  The purpose of this project is to compare different deep learning frameworks used to detect, recognizeobjects and images using mobile devices. In particular, mobile recognizing frameworks recognize objectsbased on features extracted, color patterns and object segments. When a similar object from traineddataset is identified matching to the recognized object, framework checks the accuracy rate among allthe other related objects and translated it as a command and shows the name of approximate detectedobject. First, the camera of the mobile device captures image of the object and send the image toframework to extract features, segment the object based on shape, color and size. Second, the relatedapproximate object from trained dataset is identified and sent as a return command to the user mobile.Third, the approximate name of the object is displayed on the user’s mobile phone helping the user torecognize. To demonstrate the accuracy rate and functioning of the mobile frameworks, we developedthree mobile applications to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new of mobile interaction. All thethree applications take image as an input and shows an approximate output on the mobile to the user.This comparison in mobile frameworks will facilitate the better usability of different mobile recognitionframeworks in mobile devices to recognize better and unknown objects moving forward.

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  Content Randomization for Early Math Education

  Thomas Sherk, Manasi Jayesh Thakkar

  This is an interactive problem-solving counting game built using Unity 3D. It has scattered arrangements of animals that are harder to count which helps kids to develop different mental images of quantities. It also helps them to learn about number sequences as they select the side which has more number of animals. There are 4 levels in this game and difficulty keeps increasing at every level. The number of animals ranges from 1 to 5 in level 1, level 2 and level 3. In level 1, the animals on each side are of the same type and same size. Example, 5 lions on one side and 3 monkeys on the other side. Level 2 is similar to level 1 except for the fact that the area occupied by the animals on one side is the same as the area occupied by the animals on the other side. For example, 2 elephants on one side and 4 lions on the other side occupy the same area. In level 3, animals on each side are of different type and the area occupied by the animals on both sides is the same. For example, 2 elephants and 1 lion on one side and 1 elephant, 1 giraffe and 2 monkeys on the other side. Level 4 is similar to level 3 but now the number of animals varies from 1 to 9. The animals are always displayed in a random manner, making sure that the same pattern never repeats.

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  Crosstalk between IMD and JNK pathways in Amyloid-beta 42 mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease

  Prajakta D. Deshpande, Samuel J. Shroder

  Alzheimer's Disease (AD), affects 5.8 million people, is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that leads to memory loss and reduced cognitive abilities. In AD, the miscleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) results in the accumulation of Amyloid-beta 42 plaques outside neurons that triggers neuronal cell death. The mechanism for cell death is widely unknown and is currently being explored. In this study, Drosophila was used as a model system to mimic AD neuropathology by misexpressing human Aβ42 plaques in the developing eye of the Drosophila using the Gal4/UAS system. Misexpressing Aβ42 plaques triggers neuronal cell death and results in a glazed and reduced eye phenotype. It is known the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway plays a role in cell survival and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) plays a role in cell death. Induction of the IMD pathway leads to the activation of NF-kB transcription factor Relish. Gain of function of Relish in the background of GMR> Aβ42, results in suppression of Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration. Down regulation of Relish results in the smaller eye phenotype with necrotic spots. Activation of Relish is linked to proteasomal degradation of TGF-beta activated kinase 1 (TAK1), upstream component for JNK activation. So, it would be interesting to understand the crosstalk between Immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway in Aβ42 mediated neurodegeneration.

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  Dayton and Sustainable Development Goal 16

  Jared Dominic Marsh

  During my time researching human rights cities and how to establish Dayton as a human rights city, I learned the importance of collaboration and practicality. This is evident in the SDGs with the broad goals but paired with practical targets. When you take the practical targets and work with local partners to align the targets with their needs I think you have an improved chance of being successful. The people and planet are the most important factors, in my opinion, so we must start using language and mechanisms that are tangible for all. I have learned that without institutional and systemic change these unjust systems are unlikely to change. This is why we need a top down approach. Without the will of local individuals initiatives are likely to fail. Bottom up approaches allow initiatives to be locally relevant and effective.

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  Dayton as a Human Rights City in the Future

  Maranda Elise Lewis

  Ideas for Advocacy Campaign: Get a motivated group consisting of victims (if willing) and non-victims; educate the community through group presentations; band together to report, be on the lookout, and assist with resources for victims; create a non-profit aimed at reducing, supporting, and dispensing resources for those in need.

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  Dayton & Sustainable Development Goal 4: Turning the City of Learners into a Human Rights City

  Tiffany Erin Hendricks

  Lessons: How to apply international protocols, treaties, and issues to a local environment/context; current human rights issues in Dayton and their impact on Daytonians; compilation of data across a variety of platforms and with a wide variety of contributors.

  Reflections: Human rights can only be accomplished truly when the entire community, from every level, is on board and involved. Every voice needs to be heard and every person given an invitation to and seat at the table.

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  Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing to Detect Misinformation

  Ian M. Cannon, David Fan

  Misinformation is the act of spreading incorrect or false information about a given topic. With the upcoming presidential campaign, COVID-19, and other major events ongoing it is especially important to identify sources of misinformation. Our group proposes a novel method of classifying articles by using context and content indicators to debunk news articles containing misinformation. Most models take in articles and determine whether it is fake or not. We propose a method to predict content indicators to that highlight the credibility of an article and then decide if it is real or fake. This gives some agency to the reviewer by allowing one to see what were the major factors in deciding if an article is fake or not.

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  Destructive Interparental Conflict: The Moderating Effect of Awareness of Emotions on Parent and Partner Attachment

  Amanda R. Barry, Fiona O'Malley, Jasmine Marsh

  Childhood exposure to destructive interparental conflict (DIC) may have negative effects on adult romantic relationships, in part via impairment in the parent-child bond. Good emotion regulation, including emotional awareness, usually fosters wellbeing, but recent studies suggest that, following DIC, nonawareness (NA) may be partially protective. The present study (N= 807 undergraduate students) tested maternal and paternal attachment anxiety (MAA and PAA) as mediators of the link between DIC and adult romantic attachment anxiety (ARAA) with NA as a moderator. Higher DIC frequency was linked with ARAA via higher MAA at low (CI = 1.37, .62) and moderate (CI = .92, .36) NA and via PAA at low (CI = 1.52, .74) and moderate (CI = 1.01, .48) NA; at high NA paths were not significant. NA also moderated the DIC intensity/ARAA link via MAA (CI = .01, .12). While significant at all levels of NA, this path was stronger at low (b = 1.12) versus high levels (b = .51). Exposure to DIC can negatively impact ARAA via impaired child-parent attachment; this relation may be stronger for children more aware of their emotions, as increased awareness may underlie a sensitization to DIC and its impact. Clinically, it may be helpful to aid children with high emotional awareness to manage emotional reactivity, and as young adults to process the implications of their parents’ DIC for their own lives.

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  Developing an Analytical Solution to expand Quantum Computation

  Ryan Massie

  Quantum Computation is the study of the information processing tasks that can be accomplished using quantum mechanical systems. It could open a whole new world of quicker processing and computations and offer more secure networks. By constructing systems that are able to use spontaneous parametric down conversions to reach high levels of entanglement, a property of quantum mechanics where particles within a system cannot be separated, we are able to construct these quantum mechanical systems that can then be used for quantum computation. Our work began by being able to recreate the quantum states of past work analytically by reproducing calculations. Then using that to construct our own versions that through seeding, no external stimulation, can produce the desired entangled results.