Research Symposium

BIO

I am a second year student in the FSU-Teach program, originally from Miami, FL. My research interests are focused in environmental science, and more specifically water quality and how it can affect different communities and ecosystems. This interests me because water is one of the most essential needs for survival, yet many communities across the world are without clean drinking water, and many ecosystems have been harmed as a result of droughts and water pollution. I hope to use my research experience to develop my interests in science and in my future career as a science educator.

Water Quality in Two Tallahassee Lakes

Abstract

In this project, we used Water Quality Data collected by Leon County to analyze the differences in water quality between Lake Jackson, which is surrounded by a more residential and commercial area, and Lake Miccosukee, which is surrounded by a less populated area. By comparing these two lakes, we can observe a difference in water quality based on population density and surrounding land use. Water quality is an important variable that can indicate the health of the aqueous environment around the water body and the wildlife that it sustains. Poor water quality can also have social justice implications as is may be correlated to property values of the surrounding area and therefore lower socioeconomic status of the surrounding population. The results of this project can help determine what may be contributing to water quality in the Tallahassee area.

Keywords: Water Quality in Tallahassee Lakes

BIO

My name is Jonathan Bolivar and I am a second year student at Florida State University from Orlando, Florida. When I am not studying and getting work done, I enjoy swimming, playing basketball or frisbee, or just enjoying time with friends. I grew up an Orlando Magic fan and a Miami dolphins fan so my favorite athletes are Cole Anthony and Jaylen Waddle. Despite growing up in Orlando, I love traveling to Colombia to see the rest of my family there and love enjoy eating traditional Hispanic food.

Instability in the Florida Medicaid Program

Abstract

Medicaid was founded in 1965 as Title XIX of the Social Security Amendments. It is funded by the federal government who establishes guidelines for eligibility services to be covered and reimbursement rates. Eligibility for the Medicaid program is determined by one's financial need in addition to other factors. This can lead to disturbances in continuity of coverage within the population as one's circumstances may change rendering them ineligible. A 2019 paper stated it is estimated 57% of uninsured people qualified for Medicaid or subsidized marketplace coverage. Disturbances in one's Medicaid coverage may result in delay or neglect of preventive checkups and procedures resulting from lack of insurance.

Keywords: medicaid, instability, demographics

BIO

Hello! My name is Isaiah Scott and I am a Sophomore student from Jupiter, FL. I am majoring in Finance with the intent to go to law school following graduation. My current career goal is to work as a lawyer although I am still undecided on what field of law I would like to pursue. My current interests are corporate law, medical malpractice law, personal injury law, and sports law. I am thankful for the opportunity UROP has given me to hone in my research and writing skills. I look forward to using everything I have learned in the future.

Using Video to Effectively Communicate STEM to Diverse Stakeholders

Abstract

We live in the most technologically advanced era in all of human history. In a world that so heavily relies on science, explaining scientific findings to people outside academia can be an arduous task. Bridging the divide between the world of academia and the everyday world is something many people are trying to figure out, especially in today’s world with the Covid-19 pandemic. In response to this phenomenon, our research poses the question, “What is the most effective way to communicate STEM to diverse stakeholders?” To answer this question, we look at different ways to communicate the mission and work of RIDER to stakeholders such as businesses, students, politicians, and the community of Tallahassee as a whole. The Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center (RIDER) is a part of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering that specializes in research minimizing the effects of both natural and man-made disasters. Specifically, within the bounds of this research, we will explore how oral presentation, video, and social media ventures like YouTube promote the communication of STEM to targeted stakeholders. Surveying academic literature, we implement learned techniques into video scripts which helps us produce videos that connect us to our target stakeholders through effective communication. This works to put practical validation to our academic research. Through the communication of STEM research, stakeholders will be better informed and well equipped to support the mission of RIDER which will in turn spur investment into vulnerable communities, making our local and global communities better equipped for disaster.

Keywords: STEM, communication, stakeholders, engineering, RIDER

BIO

Hello, my name is Isabelle Barta and I am from Cape Coral, FL. I am majoring in geology and minoring in education here at FSU. I have been interested in geology since I was a kid. I had a large collection of rocks that I obtained from every state or big city that I visited. I was accepted into FSU as an environmental science major, but quickly changed it when I realized that I wanted to know more about geology. I will be attending graduate school in Fall 2023. After that, I would like to work in the geology industry, however, I am unsure what exactly I would like to do.

Did Rock Metamorphism Cause a Mass Extinction?

Abstract

Metamorphism in rocks can conceivably cause mass extinctions. The purpose of this study is to research a potential, but probable cause of the end-Triassic mass extinction event. It has been suggested that when carbon-rich rocks or sediments are heated up quickly it can affect global warming negatively as well as cause a mass extinction. We are focusing on samples that are found in the sills of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) that are found underground in the elbow of Florida. These samples have come from the Florida Geologic Survey and will be used to test the deep carbon release of metamorphism in rocks. In order to conduct this research we looked at files from the geologic survey to identify the wells that intertwine with CAMP sills, then we look at the thin sections of the rocks found in the wells, then we did computer programming to calculate certain values at different temperatures and pressures of our rock equation, and then we did chemical analysis of the rocks in the MagLab. So far, there are no results to report, but this project is ongoing.

Keywords: Geology, Rocks, Metamorphism

BIO

My name is Martina Rojas and I was born and raised in Venezuela. I am an undergraduate student at Florida State University, majoring in marketing. I hope to gain experience in the research field through the undergraduate research opportunity program and my mentor. I also want to expand my knowledge of the business field and learn marketing strategies through my internship with Seminole dining. I like participating in group activities and being a member of different clubs on campus

Emotions and Social Media Use: Youth Experiences of Different Online Phenomena

Abstract

Social media has become more prominent in the 21st century and has facilitated easier modes of communication. However, with the emergence of social media, many individuals have started associating social media in both a negative and positive light. This study investigates possible correlations between social media and feelings of negative and positive emotions while also conducting a meta-analysis to investigate trends that are related to this field of study. The objective of this research was to investigate why individuals experience these varieties of emotions and provide more knowledge to this current field of literature. Additionally, it is also a way to provide more knowledge than what is known about current studies. Participants involved in this study were asked to complete a Qualtrics survey that offered in depth questions about emotions experienced while doing certain tasks on social media. Afterwards, participants were asked two long answer questions about one time they experienced both positive and negative emotions while on social media

Keywords: Emotions, social media use

BIO

Mara Broderick is a second-year Florida State student pursuing a degree in Psychology. As a UROP student, she assisted on a research project regarding how interracial friendships affect marginalized groups' social change involvement over time and investigating mechanisms such as anger about inequality and social movement identification. Mara is planning on continuing her research, and hopes to pursue a Master's in Psychology post-graduation.

How do interracial friendships impact disadvantaged group members' collective action over time?

Abstract

Previous research has shown that positive contact with dominant group members can undermine collective action for social change (e.g., protest) amongst discriminated group members (e.g., Wright & Lubensky, 2009). The present work replicates this effect, but also integrates the idea that perceiving White friends to be high (vs. low) in antiracism, or the belief that one must personally and proactively combat inequality (Lacosse et al., 2021), should increase collective action. It also looks into mechanisms by which contact and perceived antiracism impact collective action such as anger about inequality and social movement identification (van Zomeren et al., 2008). This study focused on Black and Latino students at Florida State University who completed a series of questionnaires measuring each variable in Fall 2021. Results showed that perceived antiracism of White friends was positively associated with intended collective action and that positive contact with White people was negatively associated with intended collective action. In addition, positive contact was negatively associated with anger about inequality and perceived antiracism was positively associated with anger about inequality. Perceived antiracism was also positively associated with social movement identification and positive contact was negatively associated with social movement identification. Finally, social movement identification and anger about inequality were each positively correlated with intended collective action. We then discuss the meaning of these results and future directions.

Keywords: antiracism, collective action, interracial friendships

BIO

My name is Zoe Pettigrew. I am a junior here at FSU and I’m majoring in political science with a minor in economics. I just transferred here in the fall and I'm loving it. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have worked on a research project that has to do with government policy and environmental justice, as both of these are important topics to me. I hope to work in government in the future and write policies just like, but better than, the one I researched.

Two Sides of Justice: Balancing between Environmental and Economic Justice for Sustainable Communities

Abstract

In the United States, federal, state, and local governments have established policies in efforts to maintain the three pillars of sustainability: economic development, environmental protection, and social equity for sustainable development. However, these policies are often unsuccessful in this mission as they usually take an incomprehensive approach and do not address all pillars. With the intention of creating improved policies, this study aims to explore the compatibility of economic and environmental justice in resurging urban environments through the examination of zoning programs. Specifically, zoning programs for economic development and how they disproportionately affect environmental and health outcomes of marginalized communities are examined. To accomplish this, the study will construct a nationwide dataset to capture a marginalized community development program, research community-level environmental outcomes and demographic information from 2016 to 2019, and employ the difference-in-differences method to empirically test the hypotheses. It is expected that the results will provide evidence that will influence policies through economic development, environmental protection, and social equity for sustainable development.

Keywords: government, zoning programs, sustainability, economic development, environmental justice

BIO

My name is Valeriya Shipulya and I am a second-year at Florida State University majoring in Health Management on the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences Track. After graduation, I intend to pursue a Master's degree and am possibly considering an M.D program.

Scaling Up Production of a Promising Catalyst for Water Electrolysis: AlFe2B2

Abstract

Sustainable water electrolysis aims to provide a source of hydrogen fuel to combat the environmental problems associated with the use of fossil fuels, global warming and pollution. The Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) is one of the two half-reactions of water electrolysis. Recent studies by the Shatruk group[1] identified AlFe2B2 as a promising OER electrocatalyst whose activity is comparable to that of the state-of-the-art IrO2 and RuO2 catalysts under conditions of alkali electrolysis. In contrast to these expensive catalysts, AlFe2B2 is composed of inexpensive earth-abundant elements. Our goal is to scale up the synthesis of this material to a multi-gram scale and confirm whether the catalytic activity is maintained at the larger scale. We synthesized a one-gram sample of AlFe2B2 and isolated it as a pure single-phase product that was confirmed by powder X-Ray diffraction. It was then ball-milled to increase the surface area and converted to an ink to test the catalytic activity using cyclic voltammetry. Next, we have increased the synthesis scale to 5 g. Scaling up to even larger amounts can be achieved via a parallel synthetic process. We tested this catalyst on a commercial electrolyzer and it showed performance comparable to the industrial standards, although further optimization of the catalyst is required.

Keywords: oxygen evolution reaction, catalyst, water electrolysis

BIO

I am a second year student at FSU working towards a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering. I have always been interested in the outdoors and the field of environmental science; I was recently introduced to geology and how the landscape and the types of materials in the ground can effect water supplies and the communities that rely on them. In the future, I am hoping to work as an engineer to efficiently manage the water supply of communities in need.

Meiofauna Biomass and Population Density of Reef and Subtidal Ecosystems

Abstract

The Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve (AHAP) is an estuarine bay in the northeast region of the Gulf of Mexico along the northwest coast of Florida. AHAP is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Florida Coastal Office (FCO) and was created in 1969. This project examines meiofauna, a group of organisms with over 20 phyla that make Alligator Harbor rich with biodiversity. AHAP provides valuable resources for a variety of species; for example, the stable saline conditions allow clam and oyster aquaculture to thrive. Meiofauna are microscopic organisms which live between the grains of aquatic sediments and are responsible for much of the nutrient cycling that occurs in benthic ecosystems. In this study, sediment samples were collected and meiofauna, specifically nematodes and copepods, were extracted from the sediments to be analyzed. The data collected includes population density, length and width, and biomass of the collected meiofauna. This information can be used to gauge the productivity and overall health of AHAP and in relation with oyster reefs, as there is a strong relationship between meiofauna counts, biomass, and environmental health status. The information collected in this study can be used to inform management and guide current and future activities in the area.

Keywords: meiofauna, environmental health, biomass, Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve, Gulf of Mexico

BIO

My name is Ana Grande and I am a second year Athletic Training student at Florida State University. I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and I have developed a passion for health and wellness. I plan to be a Physical Therapist with the hopes of improving both the physical and mental health of others. Research has been something that I recently became involved in, and it has become an incredible experience that I hope to continue pursuing in the future.

Thermal Manikin Comfort Assessment of Lightweight PPE for Structural Firefighters

Abstract

Heat exhaustion and heat-related illness is a common issue that firefighters experience due to the strenuous nature of their job. This study evaluates their personal protective clothing (PPC) to test overall thermal comfort with lighter weight materials to determine how PPC can be better designed to fit the needs of firefighters. A structural firefighter turnout suit with a novel lightweight material was tested in the ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab®. This lab is equipped with ANDI, a state-of-the-art dynamic sweating thermal manikin that offers heightened sensitivity to measure heat loss and gain, allowing researchers to simulate human physiology while testing garments. A series of tests were conducted with the thermal manikin to evaluate both the new lightweight suit and a traditional weight control suit. Findings will determine whether the lightweight materials will improve the heat loss and thermoregulation capabilities of firefighters.

Keywords: Firefighter, Heat exhaustion,

BIO

I am a first year Presidential Scholar at Florida State University, where I plan to major in Anthropology and minor in Urban Planning and Development. I am on track to graduate with a Master's Degree in my fourth year at Florida State.

As a member of both the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and Florida State's Honors Program, I have had the privilege of learning about human interactions through research and rigorous honors coursework. My participation in these organizations has inspired me to pursue archaeology, a sub-discipline of anthropology. I hope to obtain a PhD in Anthropology after my time at Florida State University, and eventually become involved with university-level teaching and research.

Smokey Hollow: Urban Renewal and the Historic Displacement of a Black Community in Tallahassee

Abstract

Beginning in the 1940s and continuing through the 1960s, urban renewal efforts across the United States displaced some of the country’s poorest communities for the purpose of municipal construction and redevelopment. These communities, dubbed “slums”, were appropriated for public use, often becoming urban road or park infrastructure, or resold to private developers. However, an effect of urban redevelopment efforts that went largely unaddressed by the government during this time was the relocation of Black citizens who comprised the majority of these communities.

This project examines the slum clearance of Smokey Hollow, a historically black community in Tallahassee, Florida that was repossessed for the construction of the Apalachee Parkway and Capitol Center in the 1960s. While the purchased properties were cleared for this urban renewal project, a large portion of them were left undeveloped. Thus, it is clear that slum clearance of Smokey Hollow, like many urban renewal projects at the time, was a thinly veiled attempt to rid rapidly developing parts of the city of Black citizens.

Through the investigation of Florida archival documents from the 1940s to the 1960s, we hope to offer new perspectives on racial underpinnings of urban renewal efforts. Our research specifically focuses on critically reading the government archive to examine how planners and decision-makers rationalized the destruction of Smokey Hollow. Through examining the legislative, judiciary, and bureaucratic decisions that facilitated the condemnation of these properties, we seek to expose the often thinly veiled racial logic that justified these displacements.

Keywords: Renewal, urban planning, clearance, geography

BIO

Hi!
My name is Rose Clermont and I am a first-year sophomore from Miami, Florida majoring in Public Health with a minor in Economics.

The Evolution of Spanish Vowel Perception

Abstract

This objective of this study is to examine the acquisition of Spanish vowels by English-speaking individuals who are learning the Spanish language. Studies have shown that stressed syllables play an important role in vowel perception, however, this is challenge for these English-speaking learners because in the English language, unstressed syllables are usually reduced acoustically and in duration (Byers, 2017). This study followed a similar methodology from Garcia de las Bayonas (2004) but with more diverse participants. Surveys were conducted online with male and female participants, both native and non-native Spanish speakers. Stimuli included stressed and unstressed vowels and Spanish words. In Discrimination Task 1, participants were exposed to words and nonce words in Spanish with four different vowel pairings. In Identification Task 2, participants were exposed to vowels from Spanish and English in isolation. Upon competition of this investigation there were several findings: (1) the accuracy rate was lower for unstressed vowels than for stressed vowels for Task 1, (2) the accuracy rate was higher for unstressed vowels than for stressed vowels for Task 2, (3) discriminating vowel pairs has various difficult levels depending on the vowels in Task 1, with the most difficult being the discrimination of vowels /o/ from /u/, (4) in Task 2, participants found the identification of vowels /e/ and /a/ most difficult, (5) lastly, there was a significant difference in the results for both tasks when the independent variable was the Bilingual Language Profile instead of group membership.

Keywords: Spanish, Vowels, Language, Stressed and Unstressed Syllables

BIO

My name is James Fair and I'm majoring in Biology on a pre-dental track. I was interested in doing research at FSU to apply some of the general concepts of Biology and Anatomy/Physiology that I have learned over the past few years. While there are no "dental-related" forms of research for me to pursue, there were still a plethora of projects here at FSU that I was keen on getting involved with.

Morphological Characterization of Cortical Premotor Neurons of Juvenile Zebra Finches

Abstract

There are many factors that can potentially impact the development and functioning of the nervous system within various living organisms; our research specifically focused on how auditory experiences influence the development of morphological features of the HVC neurons within a sample of Taeniopygia guttata, more commonly known as the zebra finch. These birds produce a sequence of vocalizations that are learned by communicating with others of their species. The HVC and X-regions of the zebra finch’s brain are where these vocalizations are transmitted and received. However, only males can produce proper song patterns while females are only able to recognize them; know this, our study focused on observing the differences in the neurons of male and female birds respectively. We hypothesized that there were differences in the morphological features between male and female specimens. Microscopy images of neurons from the different groups were taken and utilized to create three-dimensional Z-stacked images were later traced and analyzed using online imaging software. With the samples that were traced we were able to observe various morphological features of the cells such as their total dendritic length, soma area, number of primary dendrites, relative position within the sample, among many other traits. We found that male HVCx neurons were typically comprised of a larger soma area and greater quantity of primary dendrites. However, the individually-filled HVC neurons of females consisted of arborizations that covered a greater area of the HVC region than those of males.

Keywords: HVC Neurons, Zebra Finches

BIO

Bonjour j'mappelle Janice, j'habite a Deerfield Beach, Florida. At the moment I am learning french which will be the third language I've familiarized myself with. I am currently a junior and plan to graduate in spring 2023 with my BA in neuroscience. I am planning to take a gap year to study and build up my resume for medical school.

Perceptions of Place: Black Students at Florida State University

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to try to understand the effects
of African American students at Florida State University. The way
we would be collecting data is through interviews of African
American students on campus. At the beginning of this research
the study, we were tasked to recruit students and ask for the emails of
those students on campus that we knew or were comfortable with
asking questions. We have not
completely got into our research but this semester we the research
assistants are supposed to be interviewing students for the
student to not feel primed to answer certain questions in a
certain way as opposed to if they were interviewed by our mentors.
We want the students in the study to feel as comfortable as possible
while they answer our interview questions to ensure the answers they
give are totally up to them. We expect that a lot of students will feel
uncomfortable on campus but there are certain groups that they may
be involved in that allow them to experience That sense of
belongingness.

Keywords: African american

BIO

My name is Riley Murray and I am from Orlando, Florida. I am a first-year student majoring in Music Therapy at Florida State University. I became connected to the Rosenstrasse Foundation through an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, with this year marking the beginning of my involvement.

Remembering the Rosenstrasse Protest

Abstract

When learning about World War II, the associations that arise are the horrific events of the Holocaust, along with countless stories of the cruelty of the German government. Though many have heard of the violent actions that occurred during this period, not many know of the moments of courage and light spurned by love and rebellion against oppression. This research project focuses on advocating for the mission of the Rosenstrasse Foundation, as it strives to bring awareness through education, emphasizing acts of civil courage, such as those of the women who participated in the Rosenstrasse protest of 1943. One method of research, genealogy, involves the investigation of possible identities of protestors by locating past documents on various platforms. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and family trees are utilized to confirm the presence of the individuals at the protest. Through genealogical research, biographies on individuals connected to the protest, that were intermarried Germans or displayed acts of civil courage are presented on a public website. Here, descendants of protestors can learn more about their family members involved, the website acting as a hub for information that advocates for the community's education. Another primary focus was updating Wikipedia.com, where articles were edited to ensure the accuracy of the information available on the Rosenstrasse Protest. The research for this project gives a voice to those otherwise silenced by the weight of the violence and suffering of WWII, providing an example of the strength the public has when they unite towards a common goal.

Keywords: Rosenstrasse Protest, Civil Courage,

BIO

Abby Felde is a first-year viola performance major from Antioch, Illinois. She joined the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program out of a desire to continue to advance the research skills she developed in high school through the AP Capstone program. She hopes to conduct research in the music field in the future as she works to achieve her goal of performing with pit orchestras on Broadway.

Building Undergraduate Courses: American History

Abstract

The goal of this project was to develop an undergraduate history course derived from existing course syllabi and a variety of articles on new research in the field. In doing so, it was realized that this course would focus on the growing emphasis on intersectionality in history and would attempt to incorporate the perspectives of historically under-recognized voices while still covering the material of a traditional American history class. Each syllabus week contains three articles for the students to read (in all or in part, as listed in the syllabus), a book for the instructor to use as a reference for lectures, and one or more primary sources that connect to the material in the articles and textbook for that week. In choosing the articles, preference was given to those that discussed groups and perspectives that may have been under-represented in previous courses and to newly emerging perspectives within the research community that discussed commonly covered topics in a new light. Ultimately, the goal in building this course is to give students an opportunity to learn American history by engaging with new perspectives and emerging scholarship in an increasingly dynamic field.

Keywords: syllabus, history course, American history

BIO

Clara Arrate is a second-year student pursuing a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience at Florida State. As a UROP student, she assisted with literature reviews and data analysis in an effort to examine the effects of Alpha-frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on dynamic brain states and the ability to sustain attention in the face of distraction. Clara is planning on further exploring her career paths and is considering working in either cognitive and behavioral neuroscience research or pursuing a psychology-related degree in the field of healthcare.

Alpha-frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Modulates Dynamic Brain States and Facilitates Sustained Attention

Abstract

A rapidly evolving neuromodulation methodology, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), allows for interventions of human cognition, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, we use data-driven machine learning and Hidden Markov modeling of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time series to examine the effect of alpha-frequency (8-12 Hz) tACS on the dynamics of key intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) during a sustained attention task. We confirmed improvement of task performance, particularly in the high- (vs. low-) load condition (p < .05), in the Active (vs. Sham) group (n/n = 12/15). Dynamic network analysis revealed 3 brain states, each characterized by their own functional connectivity and regional activation. Importantly, during the high-load condition, the Active (vs. Sham) group exhibited stronger stability of the state that reflected increased activity in the executive control and salience network, which corresponded with the improved performance. Together, these results suggest that tACS improves sustained attention by optimizing dynamic network interactions. Given the role of alpha oscillations in sensory gating and inhibitory modulation, these findings highlight possible sensory-based, bottom-up mechanisms in regulating the brain's functional organization and cognitive performance.

Keywords: Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Attention, ADHD

BIO

Caroline grew up in Montvale, NJ and is a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. After pursuing research as part of the UROP program, she decided to take on Honors in the Major work. This research combines her interests in health and nutrition, preventative medicine, and well-being. Caroline plans to work as a medical assistant after graduation while applying to medical school.

The Effect of a Mindful Eating Mobile App

Abstract

The research on rapid weight gain among newly enrolled college students has been established. The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based mobile apps on stress reduction and weight management in college students. In recent years, young adults rely heavily on their mobile devices. The integration of a mobile app intervention may improve the engagement of mindfulness practice, therefore improving the well-being of the generation. The pre-post interventional study has been implemented using the Mindful Eating Coach 2 application. During data collection, modified versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Mindful Eating Inventory (MEI) are the primary tools for research analysis. All participants who met the inclusion criteria were instructed to download and use the mindful eating app for 4 weeks. Data shows the app used in this study can help increase some mindful eating practices. Evidence from the PSS did not support the hypothesis that perceived stress would be reduced. Greater adherence to the app intervention and a larger sample size may result in additional statistically significant data.

Keywords: Mindful Eating

BIO

My name is Meredith Strickland, and I am a junior here at Florida State University studying speech therapy. I was a registered behavior therapist for children with developmental disorders and absolutely loved every second of it. In my free time I enjoy reading and painting.

Prosodic Contributions to Intelligibility

Abstract

Dysarthria is a neurologic speech disorder that affects the accuracy, speed, and strength of the movement required for speech production. As a result of these speech deficits, speech intelligibility, or how well one is understood, is nearly always impaired in speakers with dysarthria. Many factors contribute to speech intelligibility, including prosodic features such as articulation rate, pitch variation, and intensity variation. This study evaluates the relationship between prosodic features and intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria. Previously recorded readings of the Grandfather Passage from 20 speakers with dysarthria were used in this study. Additionally, seventy naive listeners were recruited to provide two measures of speech intelligibility: (1) orthographic transcriptions and (2) visual analog scale (VAS) ratings of intelligibility. Prosodic measures, including articulation rate, pitch variation, and intensity variation, were measured from the speech samples. Multiple linear regression will be used to investigate the predictive relationship between prosodic features of speech with speech intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria. The models will examine both the relationship of these prosodic measures with OT scores and VAS ratings of intelligibility. The findings will provide a deeper understanding of how prosodic features predict speech intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria.

Keywords: Dysarthria, Prosody, Intelligibility

BIO

My name is Kerri Julevich and I am a second-year Biochemistry major here at FSU. I am from Tampa, Florida and I love going to the beach, hanging out with friends, and cooking.

Development of Organic Metal Halide Hybrids with Short Emission Lifetime for X-Ray Scintillation

Abstract

Scintillator materials, which can emit light under X-ray excitation, have gained a lot of research attention due to their wide range of applications, such as medical imaging via PET scans and X-rays as well as security applications through radiation detectors and X-ray scanners. Recent organic metal halide hybrids, such as tetraphenylphosphonium manganese (II) bromide ((C24H20P)2MnBr4), have been found to be excellent scintillator materials. Their relatively long lifetime is not desirable for many applications. This lifetime can be shorted by the synthesis of a material that replaces the tetraphenylphosphonium (C24H20P+) cation with low band gap cations, such as benzothiazolium-functionalized tetraphenylethene (C37H30NS+) (TPEBe+). The antisolvent diffusion approach is used to synthesize (TPEBe)2MnBr4, which is found to exhibit orange emission with a short lifetime, thus exhibiting more useful properties for scintillator applications.

Keywords: Scintillation, Crystal, Lifetime, Synthesis