The Brother Joseph W. Stander Symposium recognizes and celebrates academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. This annual event provides an opportunity for students from all disciplines to showcase their intellectual and artistic accomplishments. The Stander Symposium represents the Marianist tradition of education through community and is the principal campus-wide event in which faculty and students actualize our mission to be a "community of learners."
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Brain Machine Interface for Controlling a Robotic Arm
Kelly Cashion, Theus Aspiras, Carly Gross, David Fan, Yicong Gong, Nathaniel Maas, Ahmed Nasrallah
This project takes Electroencephalography (EEG) data and correlates it with specific robotic actions. The process is implemented using a 3 phase system that includes EEG signal acquisition, data classification, and robotic action encoding. This project utilizes the Emotiv EPOC headset that uses 14 electrodes which detects brain activity and wirelessly transmits raw data to a personal computer. The project utilizes Emotiv software to classify and translate and encode this raw EEG signal into a command to control a robotic arm. This Brain Machine Interface (BMI) research has many potential applications; for example, it could help the handicapped use robots to complete various task, or help the user use only their mind to control multiple devices like Google Glass, cell phones, wheelchairs and air conditioners, etc.
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But It's a Party School: The Impact of Alcohol Culture on Student Initial College Choice
Leah Shamblin
While many aspects can affect a student’s decision to attend a specific institution, a college’s alcohol culture can have a positive or negative effect on student choice. Research explains one of the biggest aspects to aid in a students’ decision to attend a university is the perception of alcohol culture on campus (Parker, 2009). Lifestyle choices can also affect this decision. Therefore, there is a need for an examination of why students select a college based on perceived drinking culture of that institution. This study will offer an insight into why first-year students in the fall of 2013 decided to attend University of Dayton as it relates to the perceived alcohol culture of the institution. Findings allow for a better understanding of how students perceive the alcohol culture on a campus and how much it affects their decision to attend an institution.
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Can They Ever Feel at Home?: Saudi Student Experiences in Residence Halls
Beth Cahill
Saudi students are choosing to pursue higher education at institutions in the United States at an accelerated rate. As a result, it is essential that administration develop ways to better serve this population. The residence halls at American institutions provide a unique challenge for Saudi students because of certain elements of their culture including religion, gender dynamics, and more. Currently, there is a lack of research on this particular topic. In a one hour semi-structured interviews, participants reflected on their experience in the residence halls as well as provided suggestions for future programming and physical space. Information collected through this study provides considerations for college and university administrators when structuring the on-campus residential experience.
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Catholic Social Ministry Gathering: Flyers Advocate for Justice
Joseph Oliveri, Dominic Sanfilippo, Jack Welsh, Maggie Cook, Claudia Guzman, Abi Lambert, Alyssa Bovell
On February 2nd, 2014, the University of Dayton sent a delegation of students and faculty to the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC. During this four day gathering of educators, policy makers, religious and lay people, and social justice advocates from all over the world, the group lobbied Congress on Capitol Hill, learned about the extensive civic engagement and advocacy work being done by agencies, academics, and workers of all stripes for the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, participated in policy sessions, plenary discussions, and dialogues about issues facing the world and Church today, and reflected on how the two pillars of the social teaching of the Church- justice and charity- are lived out on Dayton's own campus, in the city of Dayton, and beyond. This presentation explores and highlights some of the extraordinary lessons the delegation learned, and highlights the implications and steps forward they are taking to help improve Dayton's own community through "connecting, learning, praying, and advocating!"
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Catholic Social Ministry Gathering: Flyers Advocate for Justice
Joseph Oliveri, Dominic Sanfilippo, Jack Welsh, Maggie Cook, Claudia Guzman, Abi Lambert, and Alyssa Bovell
On February 2nd, 2014, the University of Dayton sent a delegation of students and faculty to the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC. During this four day gathering of educators, policy makers, religious and lay people, and social justice advocates from all over the world, the group lobbied Congress on Capitol Hill, learned about the extensive civic engagement and advocacy work being done by agencies, academics, and workers of all stripes for the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, participated in policy sessions, plenary discussions, and dialogues about issues facing the world and Church today, and reflected on how the two pillars of the social teaching of the Church- justice and charity- are lived out on Dayton's own campus, in the city of Dayton, and beyond. This presentation explores and highlights some of the extraordinary lessons the delegation learned, and highlights the implications and steps forward they are taking to help improve Dayton's own community through "connecting, learning, praying, and advocating!"
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Characterizing the Absorption Behavior of a Bovine Serum Albumin and a Novel Amino Acid onto Iron and Aluminum
Yaqui Zhang
The US Navy currently utilizes ultra-high pressure water jetting (UHPWJ) or grit-blasting for preparing steel surfaces for painting. Before a new coating/protective surface treatment can be applied, the cleaned surface usually is exposed to a humid environment for a significant amount time, which can cause corrosion. This corrosion activity is known as “flash rusting”. The corroded surface will shorten the lifetime of the new coating/surface treatment. The aim of the study is to have an aqueously soluble biopolymer based corrosion inhibitor system that can protect exposed steel surfaces during the paint removal process from the flash rusting, which is also environmentally friendly. In order to do this, it is first required to understand the adsorption behavior of biopolymers onto metal alloy surfaces. Using adsorption isotherm measurements, the adsorption behavior of biopolymers onto the metal substrates will be monitored using bulk solution concentration determinations. Based on the Langmuir theory, the maximum number of adsorption sites and the affinity constant can be calculated for each biopolymer-substrate interaction, thus the optimal solution concentration for maximum substrate coverage will be determined. The adsorption characteristics of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and a novel amino acid (L-dopa) onto high strength steel (HY80) and 5083 aluminum alloy powders suspended in a buffer solution were measured by the Arnow assay for diphenols and the Bradford protein assay, respectively, to detect the bulk solution concentration of non-adsorbed protein as a function of time; the amount adsorbed from solution at equilibrium can then be determined. With the surface area of the metal powders known, it is then possible to calculate the amount of protein or amino acid adsorbed from solution per unit area of metal. Thus the number of adsorption sites and binding affinity for each adsorbate can be established.
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Community Despite Contingency: Working Together, Achieving Together
Carrie Rogan Floom
In the changing context of higher education, many faculty members are experiencing an increased workload, more accountability, fewer resources, and a changing student demographic (Eddy & Garza-Mitchell, 2012), which can result in a faculty who feels overworked and disconnected. Learning Communities have been used as a way to meet the needs of faculty members by developing a sense of community and reinvigorating their scholarship of teaching (Cox, 2004). While learning communities can work well for faculty, the largest growing subset of the professoriate, adjunct faculty, often do not have this support. Adjunct faculty are generally not satisfied with the support that they are offered by the institution (Hoyt, et al., 2008) and are often not integrated into the institution (Hainline, et al., 2010). Adjunct faculty learning communities, if created using learning community best practices, can provide support to adjuncts and help them to fully connect with their the institution. CAW (2012). A portrait of part-time faculty members: A summary of findings on part-time faculty respondents to the coalition on the academic workforce survey of contingent faculty members and instructors. Retrieved from: http://www.academicworkforce.org/CAW_portrait_2012.pdf Cox, M.D. (2004). Introduction to faculty learning communities. In M. D. Cox & L. Richlin (Eds.). Building faculty learning communities. New Directions for Teaching and Learning,97, 5-23. Eddy, P.L. & Garza -Mitchell, R.L.G. (2012). Faculty as learners: Developing thinking communities. Innovations in Higher Education 37, 283-296. Hainline, L., Gaines, M., Long Feather, C., Padilla, E., & Terry, E. (2010). Changing students, faculty, and institutions in the Twenty-First Century. Peer Review, 12(3), 7-10. Hoyt, J. E., Howell, S. L., Glines, L. J., Johnson, C., Spackman, J. S., Thompson, C., & Rudd, C. (2008). Assessing part-time faculty job satisfaction in continuing higher education: Implications for the profession. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 56(1), 27-38.
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Community Residential Energy Reduction
Kelly Vogeler
This research evaluates the effectiveness of residential energy reduction programs aimed at cost effective, collective action. One of these energy reduction programs is Dropoly.com, an online game developed by the University of Dayton that aims to connect neighbors and allow them to compete against one another. The guiding question behind the research addresses how to reduce energy consumption in a community. My research presumes that effective community engagement is a central factor in achieving success and evaluates a variety of energy reduction programs based on certain criteria. The chosen criteria assess the programs’ effectiveness by focusing on different means of engaging the community. Results of this evaluation indicate the most successful programs at community engagement and opportunities for improvement.
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Controlling the Corrosion of Metals with Polyphenolic Proteins
William F. Nelson
Flash rusting is a corrosion process in which steel rapidly oxidizes upon contact with air at a high relative humidity. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a water-soluble and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor that will inhibit flash rust on high strength steel (HY80). Several proteins involved in the formation of the adhesive byssal threads by the blue mussel Mytilus edulis L have been identified for their potential as corrosion inhibitors. The most important feature of these biomolecules for corrosion prevention applications is the presence of a post-translationally modified amino acid L-3, 4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). L-dopa has a well characterized ability to form strong bonds with metal ions, thus stabilizing the metal surface and inhibiting corrosion. In addition, enzymatically treated L-dopa containing proteins can participate in crosslinking reactions, which have been shown to lead to a thicker and more durable protein layer. In this study, HY80 steel coupons were treated with varying amounts of MAP-1, the largest and most well-characterized of the five mussel proteins, in 0.05M phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and exposed in an accelerated atmospheric corrosion chamber maintained at 40°C and 100% relative humidity. For comparison, identical HY80 samples were treated with a commercially available flash rust corrosion inhibitor under identical exposure conditions. The results indicate that the corrosion inhibiting behavior of the cross-linked protein may be contingent on the presence of an air-formed oxide layer. Current results suggest that the mussel protein is nearly as effective as the commercial inhibitor at a similar concentration, which shows that the protein could potentially serve as an environmentally friendly replacement for current flash rust inhibitors.
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Cost Optimization with Solar and Conventional Energy Production, Energy Storage, and Real Time Pricing
Ata Raziei
Research is presented that investigates the potential for solar power generation with battery energy storage for reducing the effective cost of energy delivered to residential customers if real time pricing is present. A linear optimization approach is developed based upon a two-step process. In step one, given a specified solar array area and battery capacity, the optimal means to meet loads based upon grid power, solar power, and/or battery power is determined. This analysis considers an expected lifespan of the solar panel. With these results established,in the next step, the capital costs for the solar arrays and batteries are considered for each point (solar area and battery capacity) in the design space. Ultimately, the results illuminate the most cost effective means to provide power to customers for the chosen system.
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Design and Assembly of a Spring-Powered Engine Starter Prototype
Linda Leben
Automotive starting systems require substantial amounts of mechanical energy in a short period of time. Lead-acid batteries have historically provided that energy through a starter motor. Springs have been identified as an alternative energy storage medium and are well suited to engine-starting applications due to their ability to rapidly deliver substantial mechanical power and their long service life. This project involves the development of a prototype of a spring-powered starter for a motorcycle engine. The focus was on the design and assembly of the complete system, including the design challenge of interfacing the starting mechanism with the motorcycle, designing the assembly such that all parts are aligned, manufacturing necessary parts, and assembling the mechanism.
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Design and Characterization of Photo-responsive Supramolecular Aggregates
Julie Fitz
A supramolecular assembly is a complex of molecules held together by noncovalent interactions. The process by which supramolecular assemblies are formed is called “molecular self-assembly”, during which the molecules spontaneously aggregate in a specific manner, acquiring new properties. Incorporating photoisomerizable molecules into supramolecular assemblies offers considerable opportunities in developing new smart materials. Using UV-Vis and CD spectroscopy, we explored the propensity for a dicarboxylic acid derivatized azobenzene photoswitch (ADA) to form supramolecular aggregates and investigated the photochemical behavior of the system. ADA was shown to undergo cis-trans isomerization when irradiated in aqueous solution with visible and UV light. Upon reduction of the pH, the trans form of ADA aggregates in a chiral fashion. Homo-aggregation of the trans form of ADA was shown to prevent photoisomerization to the cis form. The feasibility of forming supramolecular heteroaggregates between ADA and other molecules, including water soluble porphyrins and poly (glutamic acid), was explored.
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Design and Fabrication of Composite I-Beams for Bending Load Applications
Punit Gupta
Composite is a special type of material that combines the properties of two different constituents thereby, enhancing its mechanical properties. These constituents are generally a fiber and matrix. Fiber imparts stiffness and strength to the composite while the matrix holds the fiber in place, so that fiber property translation into composite properties is achieved. The objective of this poster is to establish a basic understanding of how to design and fabricate a composite I-beam i.e a carbon-fiber composite I-beam that can be used for bending load applications. It also focuses on the analysis of stresses in beam bending. By beam theory, I-beam is shown to be a very efficient form for carrying both shear and bending loads in the plane of the web but the inefficiency of the I-beam is because of its cross-section which has a reduced capacity in the transverse direction, and also its inefficiency in carrying torsion. The I-beam consists of a carbon fiber unidirectional and woven laminas, as well as high density polystyrene foam to stiffen the structure. It is manufactured using a wet layup technique and cured with the help of vacuum. Composite beams are tested using the 3 point bending test. The limit load for a composite I- beam under pure bending is determined experimentally and theoretically. Through analysis and testing, it is determined that web stability was the driving failure mode and many aspects can be improved through manufacturing techniques. Use of an autoclave as well as using metal molds for curing the beam dramatically increases load carrying capability.
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Design of Variable-Geometry Dies for Polymer Extrusion
Wesley P. Kramer, Mary Joy F. Cardilino
Polymer extrusion is the process of forcing a melted plastic through a die to create a continuous part with a constant cross-section dictated by the die’s shape. The goal of this project is to develop a die that can change the cross-section created in the plastic during extrusion. This technology introduces extrusion to a host of products that historically have been manufactured by more expensive and time-consuming techniques like injection molding. Variables considered in order to make the dies both practical and efficient include limiting the degrees of freedom, managing unnecessary die openings, and creating joints that can act as revolute as well as prismatic joints. Design challenges include addressing the high pressures and temperatures present in extrusion die systems, minimizing material leakage in the die assembly, and creating the methodology and practice for designing dies that create the desired shape changes in the extrusion.
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Discrimination Against Disabled Persons in Malawi and the United States: A Comparative Study
Stephen Crum
In Malawi, Africa and in the United States, many disabled individuals experience hardships that are more severe than the general public. With regards to education, there is a lower school attendance rate among disabled individuals in each country. With regards to employment, both disabled Malawians and Americans experience lower employment rates and lower annual incomes. This study aimed to discern what factors contributed to these educational and employment deficits in both countries. Possible factors for the deficit may include a discriminatory attitude, a lack of resources available for accessibility, or the severity of the physical or cognitive limitation. A survey was administered at the University of Dayton and at the University of Livingstonia in Malawi, aiming to discover if any subtle biases were projected unfavorably upon individuals pictured in wheelchairs. The survey also sought to evaluate whether ample resources were perceived to be available to disabled individuals in each country.
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Disney's Adventure in Foreign Direct Investment: A Case Study of Hong Kong
Jenna Maffei
This thesis analyzes the foreign direct investment in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the Walt Disney Company. Utilizing a unique cooperative partnership between the Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong Disneyland represents a large service investment of the company in an attempt to penetrate the Chinese market. The case study of Hong Kong Disneyland as “greenfield” investment will evaluate the costs and benefits of introducing a large service product—initially produced in the home market (the USA) into the host market (Hong Kong SAR, PRC). Hong Kong Disneyland faced many challenges in penetrating the ‘amusement park’ market in Hong Kong, including tailoring the experience to a multi-lingual audience. But the larger challenge was adapting the product to the tastes and preferences of (predominantly) Asian customers. The thesis looks at the many aspects of this investment including the historical context of the host nation in order to evaluate it as a recipient of the unique American product; Disney had only invested this product in two countries prior to entering the Hong Kong market. Disney had to ‘go big or stay home’ and success was not and is not assured. The very metric—success—has to be evaluated from multiple perspectives: that of the firm, Disney; the home nation (the USA), and the host country (Hong Kong, PRC).
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DMSO and Temperature Contributions to Synthesis of Silver Nano-Particles by the Bacterium Shewanella oneidensis
Wei Zhong
Nanomaterial are widely used in different areas such as optical device, drug delivery, chemicals, mechanics, magnetics, catalysis, energy science, Nano therapeutics and space industries depend on the special physical properties. However, most methods to produce nanoparticles are expensive or environmental unfriendly which can involve in toxic chemical. Another reason is that the nanoparticles from bio-based protocols are hydrophilic which is compatible with biological materials. In this project, we chose Shewanella oneidensis which is Gram-negative bacterium as the organism to produce sliver nanoparticles from sliver nitrate solution. The mechanism of bacterial of ion metal ion reduction to stable metal nanoparticles is unclear, but the NADH-dependent reeducates, quinines, and soluble electron-shuttles are thought to play an important role in metal reduction. This research focused on the temperature and DMSO affects the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Shewanella Oneidensis. At various temperatures, the bio-activity of bacterium is different which can affect the silver nanoparticles reducing rate and the spherical size and nanoparticle geometry. DMSO is an aprotic, polar solvent which can penetrate skin and other membranes without damaging the cells. Due to this property of DMSO, DMSO was utilized as a co-solvent, which may change biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesis processes were carried out at different temperatures and DMSO concentration and the nanoparticle formation monitored by using UV-vis spectrometer scans of the aqueous layer of reaction at 0 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr.
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Does Time Fly or Drag? Maybe it Depends on How Long You Think it Takes
Guiseppe G. Miranda, Maura E. Wolfe, Rachel M. Major
The question for this research was to determine whether or not manipulating perceived time progression (PTP) would influence how individuals performed on a vigilance task (sustained focus of attention on a perceptual or auditory task). Past research by Sackett et al. (2010) showed that when participants experienced a task in a shorter amount of time than expected, they would rate that time passed more quickly, and that the task was more enjoyable and engaging. However, when the task took longer than the time expected, the opposite would be found for each type of rating. Expanding upon this research, the purpose of this study was to determine if the perceived workload and stress associated with a vigilance task depend upon the perceived temporal context in which that task is performed (Dillard et al., 2013). This was examined by creating a mismatch between the participants’ expectations about how long they would perform the task and the actual time they were engaged in the task (Sackett et al.). Specifically, participants completed a 12-minute vigilance task but were informed the task would last either 6 (time “drags”), 12, or 24 (time “flies”) minutes. In each of these conditions, the participants monitored a computer for the occurrence of a target letter (i.e., the letter “O”) within a repetitive series of non-target letters (i.e., a “D” or a mirrored “D”). Participants then provided subjective ratings of the workload associated with each condition. Since passing time is related to task demand, we expect to see one of two possibilities. The first is that in the time drags condition there will be an increase in perceived workload in comparison to that in the time flies condition (Dillard et al.). The second possibility is that vigilance tasks are going to be perceived as difficult regardless of the condition.
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Do Stock Market Prices Co-Vary with Regional Manufacturing Activity: A Look at the Chicago Fed’s Manufacturing Activity Index
Matt Putbrese, Ellen Lee
A number of the Federal Reserve banks produce manufacturing activity indexes that measure the level and growth of manufacturing activity in their respective regions. The Chicago Federal Reserve’s Midwest Manufacturing index (CFMMI) is especially important because it captures a large portion of the activity in the auto industry. It also correlates well with the national manufacturing activity index. Finally because it is usually published before the Purchasing Managers’ report on future manufacturing activity, it can be considered a leading indicator. In this study we want to test the hypotheses that market and sector price indexes are positively related to the CFMMI. Using univarite regression models, we regress CFMMI on SPY, the S+P 500 ETF, as well as 10 S+P 500 sector ETF’s. Three periods of analyses are studied: (1) 2001-2012 (2) 2003-2007 and (3) 2009-2012. The two shorter run periods represent rebound/upswing periods after economic recessions. The year 2013 will be used as an outer sample forecasting period to determine if CFMMI is a leading predictor of market and sector price movements.
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Earnings Momentum Shifts and Stock Price Movements for Flyer Fund Stocks
Drew Imhoff, Matt Chkautovich
Earnings momentum is often considered a key factor in stock price movements. In this study we look at changes in the compound quarterly growth rates over periods of four and eight quarters, and relate these to the price movements of 30 stocks from the Flyer Fund Portfolio. The period of an analyses covers two years from 8-31-11 to 8-31-13. Using cross sectional regression analyses, we identified the statistical relationship between sector price movements and variations in the compound manual growth rate in earnings period. We test the hypothesis that the slop coefficient of the univariate regressions are positive (i.e. b>0). The regressions are carried out separately for the eight quarter and four quarter CAGRs on stock price movements. A separate independent variable, the ratio of the four quarter CAGR to the eight quarter CAGR for each stock is also regressed on sector price movements. Meaningful R2s and statistically significant slope coefficients would suggest that CAGRs for short/intermediate time periods can be used as a selection factor in buying or selling stocks for the Flyer Fund Portfolio.
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Effect of Compliant Flooring on Postural Stability in an Older Adult Population
Renee Beach
Balance is affected by the brain’s ability to process sensory information from an individual’s visual, vestibular and proprioceptive inputs. Neurological and elderly patients, including those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), often have problems in these systems and therefore struggle with balance, putting them at a higher risk of falling. Initial studies have shown compliant floors are able to absorb energy from a fall, reducing injuries, but have not looked at how individuals recover from functional movements on the floors. It was the objective of this study to determine whether compliant flooring has an effect on postural stability during quiet-standing for a more diverse and more impaired population than previously studied as well as examine the effect of compliant flooring on postural stability following a dynamic, functional movement. Thirty healthy older adults and ten individuals with PD performed tasks such as the sit-to-stand transition while standing on a balance plate. From the collected center of pressure (COP) data A/P Sway Range, M/L Sway Range, Mean Velocity and Area of 95% Confidence Ellipse were calculated. It was found that compliant flooring caused increased sway (p<0.05) in all four parameters during quiet standing in healthy older adults and increased sway (p<0.05) in A/P Sway Range during quiet standing in older adults with PD. Stabilization immediately post-transition displayed increased sway upon completion of the movement, but there was no statistical differences between the flooring (p<0.05) for healthy older adults and older adults with PD. Overall although quiet standing differences were small in magnitude and the stabilization post-transition were non-significant, no clinical implications have been found for fall frequency on compliant floors. More work is necessary to determine the implications of compliant flooring during natural gait or transition areas.
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Effect of State Policy on Prison
Kathryn Schwaeble
States often follow trends when enacting sentencing policy. After a trend of get tough on crime policy which placed more and more offenders in prison, many states are turning to justice reinvestment policies, a reversal of these tougher policies. If a state passes a justice reinvestment policy, there is expected to be a decrease in the prison population for the state. Data was collected for every state’s sentencing policy between 1979 and 2011, prison population between 1979 and 2011, as well as the crime rate for these years. Using statistics, it can be concluded that the presence of a justice reinvestment policy may cause a decrease in prison population. Those who influence sentencing policy at the state level have to consider the precarious balance between community safety and the financial burden of prison terms. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of particular sentencing policies, which can help with this decision-making process.
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Effects of Moral Licensing on High-Cost and Low-Cost Helping Behaviors
Kaitlin E. Boyd
The present study examines the role of cost to self in moral licensing. Previous research shows that people who recall past moral behavior become morally licensed. That is, they are less likely to engage in future high-cost helping behaviors because they feel morally affirmed (Conway & Peetz, 2012). However, these findings are limited to contexts in which participants are asked their likelihood to engage in helping behaviors that are rather costly to the self (e.g., buying someone lunch). Thus far, research has not studied the effect of moral licensing on helping that is low in cost to the self (e.g., giving someone a few cents). Consistent with past research, it is predicted that moral licensing will lead to less helping in high-cost situations. Additionally, we are interested in whether the recall task also reduces helping in low-cost situations, or when the cost-to-self is low.
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Effects of One's Attachment Style on Willingness and Reactions to Self-Sacrifice and Subsequent Relationship Satisfaction.
Scott T. Wagoner, Adrianne C. Lewis
One behavior used to sustain a relationship is self-sacrifice, and one’s willingness to sacrifice has been shown to be positively associated with relationship satisfaction (Van Lange et al., 1997). Depending on the motivations behind self-sacrifice, this practice can lead to improved or poorer couple functioning (Impett, Gable, & Peplau, 2005; Stanley, Whitton, Sadberry, Clements, & Markman, 2006). Those high in anxious attachment experience and express anger due to their fear of abandonment, whereas those high in avoidant attachment experience and express anger due to their avoidance of intimacy (Lafontaine & Lussier, 2005). The current study explored the possibility that level of anger would mediate the relationship between willingness to self-sacrifice and relationship satisfaction, and that the relationship between willingness to sacrifice and anger would be moderated by one’s level of anxious and avoidant attachment. Participants were 102 (46 male, 56 female) predominantly Caucasian students from a Midwestern University. Participants completed a scale developed by Van Lange et al. (1997) to assess willingness to self-sacrifice, the Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1988) to assess relationship satisfaction, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, 2000) to assess adult attachment style, and the Arousal Subscale of the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (Siegel, 1986) to assess anger. Bootstrapping procedures described by Preacher and Hayes (2008) were used to test for moderated mediation. Results supported our hypotheses, indicating that, for those low in avoidant and anxious attachment, a greater willingness to sacrifice was negatively related to anger, which, in turn, was negatively related to relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that willingness to sacrifice for one’s partner, particularly when one’s attachment style is less insecure, positively predicts relationship satisfaction, and that this association is mediated by one’s level of anger. Limitations, future directions, and implications of the study will be discussed.
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Embodied Cognition: A Study of Social Loneliness Compensation by Physical Warmth
Emily A. Godshall
The following study investigated embodied cognition and its effect on social loneliness compensation with physical warmth. Bargh and Shalev (2012) were able to support the notion of embodied cognition—our thoughts depend on our bodies and vice versa—suggesting that a socially lonely person will compensate for their loneliness with physical warmth, specifically warmer, more frequent and longer showers or baths. This also suggests an unconscious self-mechanism for the body and mind to self-regulate. This study also investigates embodied cognition in regard to social loneliness compensation with physical warmth, and also a further proposal that a person with higher sensitivity to their bodily sensations will show a great effect of compensation. Participants were drawn from an international sample, and instructed to complete a questionnaire designed to measure their physical warmth seeking, social loneliness and sensitivity to bodily sensations. Our results failed to suggest that lonely people seek physical warmth or that sensitivity to bodily sensations influences the relation between physical and social warmth. A redesign of the original study is currently being implemented.