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Seventh Annual Sigma Xi Research DayWednesday, April 13, 2005 Sponsored by: Poster Titles
Alphabetical List of AuthorsRobert Alman (4) Abstracts1. Paleogeographic and Stratigraphic Distribution of the Trilobite Plethopeltis Just Before and After the Last Cambrian Mass ExtinctionAuthor: Jeremy Bader A mass extinction of shallow marine trilobites marks the boundary between the Sunwaptan and Skullrockian Stages in uppermost Cambrian strata throughout North America. The goals of the project were to evaluate the distribution of species of the trilobite genus Plethopeltis directly above and below the base of the Skullrockian Stage, establish whether any species of the genus survived the mass extinction, and acquire more detailed range data for the various species thus improving correlations. The study interval spans the Saukiella serotina Subzone at the top of the Sunwaptan Stage and the basal three subzones of the overlying Skullrockian Stage: the Eurekia apopsis, Missisquoia depressa, and Missisquoia typicalis Subzones, in ascending order. The collections used in the study were collected from shallow marine deposits in Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia. and Maryland. Some species of the genus were also recovered from deep marine limestone in Maryland. 2. Nanoparticles of Tin(IV) Sulfide Dispersed in Polymeric HostsAuthors: Thomas Baker1, Brian D. Pate2, Edwin L. Thomas2 Tin(IV) sulfide possesses a high refractive index with low loss in the visible region, making it an interesting candidate material for photonic applications. Nanoparticles of tin(IV) sulfide have been prepared using a variety of methods, including surfactant templating of molecular precursors. Control of the dimensionality of the nanoparticles will be discussed, as will the effect of aspect ratio on physical properties. In particular, we will highlight the dispersion of these inorganic fillers in polymeric hosts to form multifunctional hybrid materials. 3. Molecular Orbital Calculations on the Adsorption Mode of n-Hexane above a Graphite Surface. Commensurate Binding is Not a Critical FactorAuthors: Thomas Baker, Ronald F. See Molecular orbital calculations were preformed to investigate the binding of n-hexane physisorbed on a graphite surface. In the model proposed by Groszek, and used by many researchers in subsequent papers, the binding mode of the alkyl chain is commensurate with the graphite surface. However, for the alkane to be perfectly commensurate with the graphite surface, the equilibrium length of the alkane must be distorted. Calculations were preformed at the HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G* levels to compare the binding of n-hexane constrained in the graphite-commensurate geometry to the binding of n-hexane in its equilibrium geometry. In each computational protocol used, the optimum hexane-surface distance was found to be ~4.2 Å for both the constrained and geometry-optimized molecules. The cost of constraining n-hexane to the graphite-commensurate geometry was calculated to be ~18 kJ/mol, but the energetic advantage for perfectly commensurate binding, over binding of undistorted n-hexane, is much smaller; ranging from 4.6-12.2 kJ/mol. Therefore, the hexane-surface systems containing undistorted n-hexane are always favored over the graphite-commensurate hexane, with an advantage of 13.9 kJ/mol in the B3LYP/6-31G* calculation. These results also suggest that the adsorption of n-alkanes on graphite is not particularly sensitive to the relative position of the alkane on the graphite surface. 4. Healthy Weight Management Through Exercise and Internet-Based Education ProgramAuthors: Mollie G. M Balko, Madeline Bayles, Robert Alman, Eugene Dellemonache, and T. Rorabaugh Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of a 12-week Internet communication and exercise program on apparently healthy, obese adults. Methods: Nine subjects (1 male, 8 female, age=48 + 4.2, BMI 31.9 + 7.7) performed supervised exercise for at least two times per week and were encouraged to exercise on their own. Subjects additionally completed weekly email food logs. Paired t-test were performed on the following variables to look for differences between pre to post exercise: body weight (lbs), BMI, body fat percent, upper body strength, lower body strength, predicted VO2 max, and stage of behavior change for exercise and nutrition. Results: The data analysis revealed significant differences at the 0.05 level in all pre to post variables. The correlation coefficient for change in weight vs. number of hits to the Internet communication tool was 0.4610 and was not significant at the 0.05 level (p<.01). Conclusions: It appears that subjects were able to lose weight by participating in supervised exercise and by increasing their overall daily exercise. However, it is not apparent that the type of internet communication tool used in the present study was adequate in helping these individuals change their eating habits to bring about weight loss. 5. Producing Educational TelevisionAuthor: Ann Berkes This project examines television production with a particular focus on educational television. It details the job requirements of educational television, the technologies and expertise that make it unique and the content of educational television past and present. It also examines the current industry ‘players’ and how a show gets on the air using a process called "national syndication". The project’s target audience are communications media students who wish to pursue educational television as a career goal. 6. Investment Enigma: Determinants of U.S. Foreign Direct Investment in EuropeAuthor: Thomas L. Bogacz This paper examines the determinants of U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Europe. A panel data set includes observations for 22 European countries over the period 1980-2003. The model tests the responsiveness of U.S. FDI to host country variables such as the unemployment rate, R&D spending, demographics, and market demand conditions. Regression results indicate that U.S. FDI responds positively to countries that invest in R&D while maintaining strong domestic demand conditions. Unemployment and aging populations act as disincentives to investment as illustrated by their negative relationships to U.S. FDI. I am pleased to acknowledge and extend my appreciation to Dr. James Jozefowicz and Dr. Jack Julian for their guidance, input, and enthusiasm toward this research. Constructive analysis and advice from my Econ 481 colleagues also contributed to the depth and clarity presented herein. 7. Distance-Decay Effects: The Case of a Small Retail EstablishmentAuthor: Jenny L. Butchko This study examined the distance-decay effect as it applied to a small Fayette County, Pennsylvania, retail floral boutique. Correlation and graphic analyses revealed a strong inverse relationship between the number of walk-in customers and distance from the flower shop, a relationship that is consistent with previous research. For each of four samples, the study also revealed a steep distance-decay curve with more than one-half of the customers originating within two miles of the shop. The relatively small service area for the boutique is a function of both competition from nearby florists who offer a similar product, and individual decisions about travel costs versus planned expenditures for flowers. 8. Numerical Reaction Diffusion Models for Intracellular Communication in BiologyAuthor: Austen Duffy Previous research has shown that eggs of the African frog species Xenopus laevis release a calcium wave upon fertilization which in effect raises the concentration of calcium throughout the egg. Studies of this have revealed that this calcium wave can be modeled by a certain reaction-diffusion equation. Due to the complexity of solving this problem, numerical methods must be used over analytical ones. This paper is an examination of several numerical methods which have been implemented to examine this problem in both one and two spatial dimensions. In one dimension the method of lines and the Crank-Nicolson method are used in the solution of the reaction-diffusion equation for a small and larger sized egg. A comparison between the methods shows that the method of lines is the better choice based on various criteria including accuracy in small diameters. In two dimensions, an iterative scheme has been developed utilizing finite difference approximations, and is again used in the solution of small and larger diameter eggs. A two dimensional examination of eggs whose diameters are smaller than the width of the wave front reveal some interesting characteristics which are discussed. Overall this paper serves both as an introduction to reaction-diffusion processes and as an examination of the numerical methods used in the solution of the fertilization calcium wave problem. 9. Factors Affecting Transmetalation in the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling: A DFT InvestigationAuthors: Nicholas A. Eddy1, Sami Osman2, Anthony R. Smith1, Carl LeBlond1 We have performed the first extensive computational study concerning transmetalation in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. This study provides valuable insight into the mechanism of this reaction. Two energetically feasible transmetalation pathways were examined. One pathway involves phosphorous ligand dissociation followed by transmetalation to a 3-coordinate Pd intermediate. In the other pathway, the transmetalating group is transferred via an interchange mechanism to a 4-coordinate Pd intermediate. Examination of steric and electronic factors affecting these pathways has revealed that under synthetically relevant conditions (i.e., realistic phosphine ligands) the dissociative pathway is energetically more feasible. Various base ligands (OH, OCH3, F, Br, Cl) studied in these pathways have revealed that only the OH, OCH3, F ligands provide stable stationary points along these pathways. Transmetalation to R1-Pd-X is more facile for R2B(OH)2 when R1 and R2 are aryl and slowest for R1 and R2 alkyl. The models for transmetalation proposed in this study are consistent with the currently accepted SE2 coordination mechanism determined by experiment and accounts for the role of the base and observed phosphine inhibition in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. 10. Characteristics of Dieting Patterns Among Western Pennsylvania High School FemalesAuthor: Teresa Eury In the United States, popular media continues to promote images of the "ideal" female body type, a body type that is unrealistic for most females to achieve. The link between media images and nutritional disorders has been documented in the research literature. Consistent dieting, particularly problematic for adolescents who are still not physically mature, can have severe psychological and physiological effects. For example, dieting can negatively affect the body’s metabolism to such a degree that efforts to control weight gain become increasingly ineffective. Further, hormonal changes resulting from consistent dieting contributes to disruptions in the menstrual cycle. This research will utilize a self-report questionnaire to gather descriptive information about the prevalence and characteristics of dieting patterns among western Pennsylvania high school females. Implications for nutritional professionals working with this target population will be discussed. Overall recommendations regarding maintaining nutritional balance are provided. 11. Reconstructing the Moorehead Fort: A Ceramic AnalysisAuthor: Sara R. Fortnam Moorhead's Fort has been considered Indiana's first colonial settlement and blockhouse. Supposedly, established in the in the late 1770's it was the site of several archaeological investigations by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Anthropology Department as well as the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh. Through an in-depth reanalysis of the ceramic materials recovered from Moorhead Fort the approximate date of the settlement's founding is hoped to be resolved. 12. Interactive Games for Learning Television ProductionAuthor: Tanya Gabor This project uses Macromedia Flash to develop interactive games to teach basic television production and the specifics of studio-based television shows. The games compliment rather than replace current textbooks, and can be used by faculty to assess the level of content mastery students have achieved. The games will be educational but still fun, and will contain either or both a point system and a timing system to increase game motivation. All of the artwork for the games is original and user-testing will begin in the summer of 2005. 13. Robotics: A Proposed PlanAuthors: Raymond Giorgi, Mike Flickinger, Ryan White, Advisor: Soundararjan Ezekiel In robotics, the most challenging tasks are how the machine perceives and interacts with its environment. Traditionally, translations of images received through high-resolution cameras were processed with complex algorithms. However, the processing speed is still a concern because the human eye can interpret 27 images per second which is faster than standard computers. Colors are evaluated by sampling red, green, and blue in an image, and making appropriate decisions. We also use hue, brightness, and saturation, which represents the actual 'color' of an object, the intensity, and how washed out the color looks, respectively. Using the latter method, the response time decreases and comprehension of the robot drastically increases. Scanning the images for patterns pixel by pixel requires powerful computers, which is not an optimal solution. The human eye processes information in great detail only from the cone of vision, and the rest of our interpretation is a perpetually blurry area in the peripheral vision. Building a robot's vision similar to an eye's vision is more realistic with less overhead than traditional methods. In this poster, we attempt to implement this novel approach to build a robot, which navigates without human interaction and will not collide with any other objects. 14. A Digitally Divided Latin AmericaAuthors: Jason Gruber, Bill Oblitey, Soundararjan Ezekiel The "Digital Divide" has been defined as the deficiency and difficulty in technological access or ownership of computers, software, connections, and so on. Latin American countries currently have the technology to provide access to information for most of their residents, but often not the ability to utilize this technology. Many of these countries have large numbers of people living in remote rural areas, and in poor economic conditions. This prevents them from being able to purchase computers. Four countries in Latin America, namely, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, have stood out as countries on the upper side of the digital divide which ravishes this region, separating the haves and the have-nots. To reduce this gap at the local, national or international level does not just mean providing computers to people who need them. It also demands that they must be educated in the use of computers and, most importantly, taught how to access information. In this poster, we focus on three of these Latin American countries and demonstrate how they were able to stay ahead of the rest of the region, and show possible ways in which the region and the rest of the world can bridge the digital divide. 15. Hydrogen Bond Energies in Complexes Containing Metal-Tetrachloride Dianions and Nitrogen-Based Donor GroupsAuthor: Douglas Harman The metal-tetrahalide dianions are well-known building blocks for ionic materials. One reason for the popularity of the metal-tetrahalides is the flexibility of their shapes: most metals form tetrahedral tetrahalide dianions, but the d8 metal centers (Ni2+, Pd2+, Pt2+, Rh+ and Ir+) prefer square-planar coordination geometry. The building blocks of ionic materials are held together primarily by hydrogen bonding interactions. In this research, the hydrogen bonding theory of Brown and molecular orbital calculations were combined to construct a more systematic understanding of the bonding interaction between MnCl4 and ZnCl4 dianions and nitrogen-based donors such as imidazole and methylamine. The results of the molecular orbital calculations and their fit to theoretical expectations will be presented. 16. How Things Have Changed: Income Inequality in PennsylvaniaAuthor: Carrie L. Jenkins This paper examines income inequality in Pennsylvania during the 1990s using a sample of data acquired from the1990 and 2000 Censuses. Using Ordinary Least Squares, the demographic and economic indicators that help determine income inequality are considered. The dependent variable for this study is the change in the Gini coefficient over the decade. Independent variables include: different educational attainment levels, the unemployment rate, the fraction of the population that is elderly, and the Gini coefficient for 1990. Preliminary results suggest that the change in income inequality is significantly influenced by the elderly proportion of the population, high school attainment, bachelor’s degree attainment, and the 1990 Gini coefficient. 17. The Pattern of Trilobite Diversity Decline Through an Uppermost Cambrian Mass Extinction IntervalAuthor: Brandon C. Klingensmith Severe reduction in the diversity of the trilobite fauna inhabiting the shallow marine shelf that covered much of our continent in the latest Cambrian occurred in a series of steps through three thin subzones at the base of the Skullrockian Stage. In previous studies, this diversity decline was evaluated using average alpha (within-habitat) diversity data, in many cases from widely spaced sample horizons. Rarefaction techniques were used to compensate for small sample sizes. The rarefaction, along with consolidation of data from relatively thick intervals, produced a distorted diversity pattern. In the current study, the total species diversity of Laurentian platform faunas was documented from larger and more closely spaced collections collected from measured sections in Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. The expanded and refined data set reveals that species diversity reached its minimum one subzone higher than previous thought. 18. Alkylations of Tetrazoles: An Experimental and Theoretical InvestigationAuthors: Katie Knapek, Carl LeBlond The tetrazole is a very important functional group and has found use in pharmaceuticals as lipophilic spacers and carboxylic acid surrogates and is also used in explosives and photography. For example Losarton Potassium (tradename Hyzaar, Cozaar), a very popular drug for the treatment of hypertension, contains a tetrazole in its structure. We are trying to understand the factors which influence the regioselective alkylation of tetrazoles through computational and experimental techniques. We investigated the alkylation of tetrazoles under phase transfer catalysis conditions and using various bases, solvents and at varying temperatures, in an effort to understand the alkylation. We have also studied this reaction using quantum mechanical techniques and the results are consistent with experiment. 19. U.S. Fertility and Influencing Factors Among Cohorts, 1960 - 2004Author: Christopher M. Krahe This paper examines United States birthrates using demographic and economic variables. The sample consists of times series data for the United States from 1960 through 2004. The dependent variable is the fertility rate within the age groups 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and 40-44. The independent variables&emdash;male relative income, female full-time hourly wage, female unemployment rate, a time trend, and an interaction term between male relative income and female hourly wage&emdash;are specific to the age groups as well. OLS estimation is applied to each age group separately. Preliminary results suggest that male relative income has a positive coefficient and female hourly wage and the unemployment rate have negative coefficients. 20. The Impact of the Holocaust on Second and Third Generation Jewish Citizens Living in Western PennsylvaniaAuthor: Lauren Kwiecien Although the Holocaust claimed the lives of over six million Jews, many survived and/or escaped, and immigrated to the United States. The U.S. welcomed Jewish survivors and they scattered across the country to make new lives: attend college, start businesses, and begin families. There has been much research done in the past 50 years that examines how Holocaust survivors have adjusted and/or adapted to living in the United States. This research examines a particular sub-group of Jewish Holocaust survivors living in Southwestern Pennsylvania. A two-fold approach will be utilized to gain insight into how Holocaust survivors living in this area have preserved their Holocaust experience, and also assesses the impact of the Holocaust on second and third generation survivors. Adaptation strategies utilized by second and third generation survivors are presented, and long-term implications of the Holocaust on U.S.-born Jewish people are discussed. 21. Okun's Law: What is the Story Now?Author: Neil R. Meredith This paper expands upon and investigates the Okun’s law relationship using quarterly time series data from 1975:Q1 to 2000:Q4. The percent change in real gross domestic product is utilized as the dependent variable. Ordinary Least Squares is used to generate two regressions. The first regression includes the change in the unemployment rate as the sole independent variable to coincide with Okun’s original regression. A second regression utilizes additional capital and labor measures as independent variables to determine if more variation in the dependent variable can be explained while Okun’s Law holds. Results of the first regression relatively coincide with Okun’s original findings. Analysis of the second regression, furthermore, suggests that the dependent variable is positively affected by indicators such as the percentage changes in weekly hours, labor force size, and education, and the change in total capacity utilization. Indicators such as the change in the unemployment rate and the percent change in unit labor cost in the business sector appear to negatively affect the dependent variable in the second regression. 22. Steganography and Covert ChannelsAuthors: Michael McFail, William Oblitey, Soundararjan Ezekiel, James Wolfe Information hiding has been around for as long as communication has existed. The advent of the digital computer has introduced a myriad of new techniques to hide information. In this poster we examine steganography, the art of communicating hidden information. We give an overview, of steganography with examples to provide an introduction to the field. A brief history highlighting some of the major landmarks of steganography is presented. The ability to send secret messages has been of increased importance from the time of the ancient Greeks to the modern digital era. We look at steganography from the perspective of information theory and explore related concepts. Steganographic methodology is illustrated with examples, and steganalysis, the art of detecting steganography, is introduced. Attacks on steganographic systems that seek to corrupt or completely destroy the illicit message are also examined. Steganography is also closely related to several other fields, namely covert channels and cryptography. The relationships between these fields are examined. Finger printing and water marking, two uses of steganography, are also covered, along with their commercial applications. 23. An Overview of Covert ChannelsAuthors: Eric Pennington, William Oblitey, Soundararjan Ezekiel, James Wolfe A covert channel is any method of communication that is used to illicitly transfer information, thus breaking the security policy of the system. Any shared resource can potentially be used as a covert channel. There are many threats that modern network security must take into account. From brute force password attacks to port scanning, the issues, which system engineers and administrators must worry about, increase at a faster than normal pace. However, one of the issues that many in the field have not paid enough attention to is covert channels. In this poster, we present an overview of covert channels with examples. We explore the two types of covert channels: storage channels and timing channels. Storage channels are more commonly used than timing channels because they are easier to implement. Both constitute major security threats. Covert channels can be designed for either a single system or a network. It is important for system engineers to understand covert channels so that they will be able to preemptively overcome certain security problems. We also explore the implementation problems associated with covert channels, for example noise. The associated topic of information hiding, which includes steganography, is also presented. 24. Covert Timing Channels in Network and Multilevel EnvironmentsAuthors: Kati Reiland, William Oblitey, Soundararjan Ezekiel, James Wolfe In recent years, network and information security has risen to the forefront of concerns for system and network administrators. Data, consisting of trade secrets, confidential client information, payroll and employee information, and many other items, is one of the most essential entities of companies, governments, and other organizations. This makes data the point most at risk to attacks. Strict security policies and their implementations are put in place to insure the security of data. With a thorough security policy, an organization’s most serious threat is that of covert channels. Covert channels are any means of communication that use a form of data transfer that is not intended for that type, or any other type of communication. These channels provide the possibility of leaking data from a supposedly secure source to an insecure or unknown destination. In this poster, we present primarily on the type of covert channels known as timing channels. These channels are often disregarded by system administrators as practical means of communication, and are therefore overlooked when securing a multi-level system, a hierarchical system with a one-directional data flow. We show that timing channels are not only a risk within multi-level systems but also a risk across networks. 25. Animated Tutorials for Learning Television ProductionAuthor: Edward Sigworth The basic purpose and motivation behind the development and production of this Interactive learning tutorial is to serve as a learning tool on the topic of television production. The tutorial is designed to bridge the gap between in-class production simulations and textbook instruction. The TV production interactive tutorial is being created using Macromedia Flash MX; a 2-D animation application. By using Flash MX several "tiers" of the interactive interface can be used to put the learner in control of their learning experience. As learners advance through the tiers they will be engaged by animation simulations, focusing on the many levels of knowledge required for television production. Learners will also find inside the simulation resources that will facilitate their in-class production exercises and fundamental textbook material readings. 26. Where to Spend and How Much: A Comparison of Educational Production FunctionsAuthor: Zoë Thorkildsen Research into educational production functions continues to be pertinent in terms of policy, especially with the advent of the No Child Left Behind Act. However, regression results are inconsistent when taken on the aggregate. In this study, two regressions are analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares analysis. For both regressions, state level analysis is undertaken to control for state specific variables, with New Hampshire high schools providing the data. In the first, total scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test are regressed as the dependent variable, while in the second, continuation rates to four year colleges are used as the dependent variable. The two final regressions share only a few independent variables in common. These findings should be taken into consideration by schools when planning expenditure and curriculum changes, as maximizing both SAT scores and college continuation rates simultaneously may prove a difficult task. 27. Covert Storage Channels: An OverviewAuthors: Robert Trimble, William Oblitey, Soundararjan Ezekiel, James Wolfe Over the past few decades, information security has been of increasing concern to security analysts. Before computer technology, information security breaches were easy to detect. Advancing technology and augmented electronic storage has made these breaches harder to detect. Illicit methods for information acquisition have also increased. Threats, like computer viruses, Trojan horses, and other exploits, have allowed intruders access to secure information. Illicit users also utilize the technology to transmit their own messages. The method of transmitting information without the system administrator’s knowledge is called covert channels. Covert channels do not attract the attention of security analysts as much as viruses and other exploits. There are two distinct types of covert channels: storage channels and timing channels. Storage channels represent the greater threat because they are easily implemented. Storage channels are formed when one process causes an object to be written and another process observes the effect. This poster presents an overview of storage channels, their implementation, types, and methods for preventing them. Furthermore, we explore the performance measurements and trade-offs between reliability and usability. Our ultimate goal is to provide system administrators with the knowledge to detect and prevent unauthorized access of systems through the exploitation of storage channels. 28. Where Should the Money be Spent? The Impact of Programs and Policies within an Educational Production FunctionAuthor: Rebecca Uecker Educational production functions have been modeled in a variety of ways, many resulting in conflicting outcomes as to the importance of certain variables. In an attempt to focus on the impact of programs and policies rather than monetary aspects, an OLS regression analysis is used to determine the impact of various programs at the secondary school level on the college continuation rate. The scaled PSSA score, the natural log of the student-teacher ratio, and the presence of foreign language classes at the fifth year level or higher all have a positive and significant impact on college continuation rates. The effects on the dependent variable of the natural log of the dropout rate, a rural community indicator, the presence of a work-learn program, and the presence of a gifted student enrichment program are negative and significant. 29. Determinants of Presidential Voting in the U.S.Author: Justin Ulrich The focus of this paper is to examine the determinants of total voter turnout and turnout by major political party for Presidential elections by city. A panel data set of demographic, economic and weather variables was constructed for 150 US cities during the 1996 and 2000 Presidential elections. The independent variables include mean temperature, precipitation levels, unemployment rate, percent change in the Dow Jones, and population. The dependent candidates are total voter turnout, Republican turnout, and Democratic Turnout. The use of Republican and Democrat dependent variables will test the political theory that Republicans are more likely to vote during harsh weather than Democrats. Results of the fixed effects regressions indicate that the change in Dow Jones negatively affects voter turnout while the population positively impacts the dependent variable. 30. Botanical Analysis of the Carl Fleming SiteAuthor: Amanda Wasielewski For this project I examined botanical remains from the Carl Fleming Site, in Indiana County. The remains were found during the 1980 field school, and have been in storage unanalyzed until now. I had three hypotheses for this project. The first one is that I would find that the remains were concentrated in the ground. Second is that the concentrations would denote food preparation or storage areas. And third is that comparison to other sites with similar botanical and skeletal remains would give an outline of the general health of the prehistoric inhabitants at the site. Through the research that I conducted I found it was possible to accept the first two hypotheses, but that to prove the third, additional information would have to be found. 31. Bringing Faith into the Picture: Some Socio-Economic and Religious Determinants of Youth Alcohol ConsumptionAuthor: Vanessa A. Wayne There is growing national concern regarding youth alcohol consumption. This paper analyzes the effects of socio-economic and religion variables on the number of youth (ages 12-17 and 18-24) using alcohol and binge drinking. A cross-sectional data set for the year 2000, including all 50 United States plus the District of Columbia, is used. Socio-economic independent variables investigated include: male and female youth populations, the Gini coefficient for families, the percentage of single mother households, youth cigarette use, and youth illicit drug use. Religion variables explored include the number of Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian adherents. OLS regressions reveal that young males are more likely to use alcohol than young females. Illicit drug use by youth and the Gini coefficient have negative impacts on alcohol use by young people while their cigarette use is positively linked with the dependent variable. Catholics and Lutherans possess a positive relationship with youth alcohol use while Baptists and Presbyterians are negatively related. I thank my peer referees, Becca J. Uecker and Maria A. Valero for their aid in developing this paper. I also wish to acknowledge all contributions from Dr. Jim Jozefowicz. Suggestions from Cameron Wilkins are appreciated 32. Analysis of Projectile Points from the Brajo Site in Bedford County, PennsylvaniaAuthor: Cristie Weaver For this research project I analyzed projectile points from the Brajo site in Bedford County, PA in an attempt to confirm two hypotheses which I had developed. The first hypothesis was that the site was occupied from the Paleo Indian to Woodland periods. A second hypothesis was that points which had an eastern influence in style would be made of a material of an eastern origin and points which had a western influence in style would be made of a material or a western origin. Both of my hypotheses were proved to be true through my research. 33. Importance of Food Production on a Small, Rural Farming Community in MexicoAuthor: Erin R. White My research took place in an ethnographic field school during June through July 2005 in a small rural farming community outside the town of Uriangato, Mexico. I spent time with a family learning about their alimentary habits, as well as, the importance of food production not only in their lives, but, as well as the community in which made their living from food production. I also learned about the role in which migration played not only within the terms of food production, but more importantly the effects that it had on the families in which the migrant farm workers had left behind. This poster highlights my research on tools and processes involved within food production, local herbs and plants used for food consumption in this particular community in Mexico, as well as, the families affected by northward migration. 34. An Examination of the Schumpeterian HypothesesAuthor: Cameron Wilkins Using count panel data for 204 U.S. manufacturing firms between the years 1984 and 1998 the patent-R&D relationship is estimated. A Poisson model with robust, heteroskedastic-consistent standard errors is estimated, taking into account the discrete nature of the count dependent variable. The number of successful patent applications submitted by firms is explained by their own R&D capital, citations made to patents not owned by the same firm, citations made to patents owned by the same firm (i.e. self-citations), industry concentration ratios, and various firm size proxies. In this sample innovative activity is found to have a significant negative relationship with firm size and a significant positive relationship is found with industry concentration. In addition, significant positive knowledge flows are found in inter-sector spillovers and self-citations. 35. Iris Recognition Model: A Wavelet ApproachAuthor: John Williams, Soundararjan Ezekiel Security is a concern of many organizations. Most traditional methods require a person to possess some type of physical possession, such as a key, or to know certain information, such as a password. These techniques are not as secure as organizations may desire. In recent years, the increasing capabilities of computers have allowed more sophisticated and intelligent personal identification methods. Biometric techniques, which use uniquely identifiable physical or behavioural characteristics to identify individuals, are one such method, using features like the face, fingerprints, voice, ears, gait, keystroke dynamics, DNA, retina, iris, etc. Iris recognition is one of the most reliable and widely used biometric techniques. A typical iris recognition method includes capturing iris images, testing iris liveness, image segmentation, and image recognition using traditional and statistical methods. Each method has its own strengths and limitations. In this poster presentation, we propose a model, currently under development, to enhance iris images, reduce noise to the maximum extent possible, extract the important features from the image, and match those features with data in an iris database. We intend to use wavelets for our approach. This technique will be simple and effective, and can be implemented in real-time. |
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