Showing papers in "The Journal of Undergraduate Research in 2016"

How YouTube Developed into a Successful Platform for User-Generated Content

Abstract: Since its development, YouTube, the world’s third most popular online destination, has transformed from a video-sharing site into a job opportunity for content creators in both new and mainstream media. Based on content analysis, the study examined how three prominent YouTubers have created a successful personal brand. Analysis revealed the common characteristics that these online celebrities shared, the appeal of their content to viewers, and their use of traditional media to strengthen their branding. The study also found that younger viewers prefer watching YouTube videos because they were able to relate to the authenticity of user-generated content.

Effects of Filament Diameter Tolerances in Fused Filament Fabrication

Abstract: Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is one of the most popular additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies due to the growing availability of low-cost desktop 3D printers and the relatively low cost of the thermoplastic filament used in the 3D printing process. Commercial filament suppliers, 3D printer manufacturers, and end-users regard filament diameter tolerance as an important indicator of the 3D printing quality. Irregular filament diameter affects the flow rate during the filament extrusion, which causes poor surface quality, extruder jams, irregular gaps in-between individual extrusions, and/or excessive overlap, which eventually results in failed 3D prints. Despite the important role of the diameter consistency in the FFF process, few studies have addressed the required tolerance level to achieve highest 3D printing quality. The objective of this work is to develop the testing methods to measure the filament tolerance and control the filament fabrication process. A pellet-based extruder is utilized to fabricate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filament using a nozzle of 1.75 mm in diameter. Temperature and extrusion rate are controlled parameters. An optical comparator and an array of digital calipers are used to measure the filament diameter. The results demonstrate that it is possible to achieve high diameter consistency and low tolerances (0.01mm) at low extrusion temperature (180 °C) and low extrusion rate (10 in/min).

A Cyber-Physical System

Abstract: The team was tasked with the creation of an autonomous cyber-physical system that could be continually developed as a post-capstone class by future STEM students and as a means to teach future engineering students. The strict definition of a cyber-physical system is a computation machine that networks with an embedded computer that performs a physical function. The autonomous aspect was achieved through two sonic sensors to monitor object distances in order to avoid walls and obstacles. The integrated system was based on the Intel Edison computation module. A primary goal for future addition is automation capabilities and machine learning applications. A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 3 A Cyber-Physical System The engineering department chair of Liberty University, Dr. Pettiford, requested capstone team 02 to create an autonomous cyber-physical system that could be continually developed to serve as a post-capstone class by future STEM students. The purpose of the system was to create a platform for future development that might impress future Liberty University engineering students with a cyber-physical system that would have a “wow” factor. The system was to be designed such that students could further develop the system by using their knowledge and skills in engineering and technology to add additional hardware, program additional commands, and improve the system, thus making the robot more advanced and complete. The final design was a hexapod, six legged robot that communicates with a base server to perform calculations and that would respond to the calculations by performing physical movement through no human interaction and fulfilling a cyber physical autonomous developmental system. System Design Overview The strict definition of a cyber-physical system is a computation machine that networks with an embedded computer that performs a physical function. The robot systems’ fundamental requirement is that it needs to be able to move from one point to another through a cyberphysical system setup. The system is generally described in the diagram below. Capstone Team 02 used a Liberty University Unix-based server as the computation machine. The embedded system is the Intel Edison along with two printed circuit boards (PCB) connected to 18 servos. The two PCBs are the sensor PCB and the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) expansion board. The physical function performed is a coordinated movement of the 18 servos to create a walking movement in the robot. The autonomous aspect is achieved through two sonic sensors to monitor object distances A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 4 in order to avoid walls and obstacles. Automation harnesses sensors to receive data from its environment to perform functions without human control. The system contains a three degrees of freedom sensor, which is a 3D digital linear acceleration sensor, a 3D digital angular rate sensor, and a 3D digital magnetic sensor. These sensors are used to provide machine learning and artificial intelligence expansion on the robot for future student to add additional features. The machine learning capabilities can be augmented and added onto through the system’s modularity. The robot is designed to be easily modified, and the PCB are placed to be easily accessible. The PWM board allows additional sensors, and the Intel Edison allows for multithreading. The multithreading can be used with the sonic sensors to avoid objects. The three degrees of freedom sensor gives positional information and can be used to collect robot position data. A GPS can be installed into the system which can consent autonomous positional movement. Description of Functions Server The system was designed around a Wi-Fi router interaction from a laptop that mimics a A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 5 server. The system can be controlled through a Liberty University server. The server performs complicated computations and system information storage. This capability lets the robot function by merely connecting to the server. Theoretically, an offsite location could be allowed to connect to the university server and control the robot from far off locations. Additionally the server allows the robot to use machine-learning methodology for complex path finding and environment processing. Frame A pre-built frame bought from Trossen produced a limited environment for developing the robot and accessing the internal circuitry. The system is a developmental platform so the circuitry needed to be more accessible than the original frame. The body of the frame that Liberty University purchased for team 02 was redesigned to allow access to all the circuitry without having to remove the bolts or dismantle the frame. The open frame allows easier access to the integrated system and increases room for additional hardware. Integrated System The integrated system is based on the Intel Edison. The Edison was chosen for its built-in Wi-Fi, physical size, CPU, and Linux operating system (OS). The Wi-Fi facilitates the robot’s capacity to easily connect to the server for heavy calculations that he on board processor cannot handle. This also is how the robot will get its respective commands for its autonomous movement and directions for movement. The Edison’s size is small enough to provide room for additional circuitry in the robot’s frame. The system’s central processing unit (CPU) has the ability to multithread up to four different threads. This gives one for server communication: two for sensor processing and one for movement processing. The Edison can have multiple operating systems. The Linux can communicate with the Linux based server easily as well as use the GCC A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 6 to program with C++. The Linux can support the MRAA library which contains controls for all the Edison functionality including inter-integrated circuit (I2C), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and Universals Asynchronous Receiver Transmit (UART). Code and Library The existing system was replaced with a Linux OS and GCC which is essential in using C++ programming. MRAA was used as the C++ control library. The MRAA library allows for future expansion of the system since it has UART, I2C, SPI, and PWM control architectures. The I2C and SPI allows for sensor communication with sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers to name a few. The 3D system’s angular sensors receive a clock signal and input and output from I2C protocols. Each sensor data is tuned to the same clock and receives power through GPIO inputs as well as 3.3V. The output is determined by a variance in the return signal, which has a constant voltage output measure during no activity and during a steady state. Upon sensor movement, the steady-state level of voltage varies. The change in magnitude correlates with a sensor movement. The variance of the magnitudes’ unit is dictated by the datasheet of the product. This data will portray the change in elevation and tilt, acceleration, rotation speed, and rotation direction. UART is used to send control packets to the half-duplex servos. The packet format is Where the packet section 0XFF alerts the servos to an incoming signal, the ID section is the servo number; the instruction section is the command to be performed; the parameter section is used when instruction requires ancillary data; and the check sum section lets the system know when the packet ends. The code to control the servos is an application of Inverse Kinematics (IK). Inverse A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 7 kinematics is a system of kinematic equations that have current positions for a robot and use joints as references. IK then receives a desired end position and reverse engineers a movement pattern for the servos to perform in order to reach the desired end joint position. The robot defines a set default position in flash memory. The position is 512, which is a right angle. On startup, the robot will set each servo to a default. From here, the system is set up to receive commands from a controller and calculate, using IK, an end position. The system code is on the Ubilinux OS on the Intel Edison. This couples well with WI-FI and allows the previously mentioned GCC system. Servers are mainly Linux systems and interact well with the Edison. Communication The complete communication system creates links to every computer system. The robot links from the Liberty University server, through WFI, to the Intel Edison. The Intel Edison links to the servos and sensors. The sensors and servos link to the Edison, and from the Edison to the server. System Modularity One focus of the project was to make the robot a developmental platform. This meant setting up the system to be easily modified by future students. Now the system code that interacts on the server does not restrict access to only that server. The team used a router connected to a computer as the team’s private server during the development of the robot. This could be done equally for any server. If necessary, the system can be controlled by a human through a controller or Wi-Fi. The Edison has been modified to allow additional PWM connections since sensors primarily run through PWM protocols. The current system has a setup where the sonic sensor A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM 8 connects to a server to allow the sonic sensor to spin. This servo is controlled with PWM protocols. Almost any generic sensor can be added to this robot system because the frame is an open design that allows easy circuit board access. Also, the battery was located above the circuitry and blocked access to the system components. The battery was moved to underneath the robot to remove the restriction The system code is capable of being augmented and is well commented for future students to modify. The Linux system does not hard code the program so that each sensor added to the robot code can be written for that specific sensor. Future Additions A large goal for future addition is automation capabilities and machine learning applications. Automation harnesses sensors to

Virginity and Guilt Differences between Men and Women

Abstract: In this research, the authors measured the levels of sexual guilt between two groups of people on multiple levels, virgins and nonvirgins, by gender. The differences between men and women’s virginity were also studied. Based on the sample size of college students, n = 364. College students completed a 34item online survey of questions that measured guilt levels. Ten out of the twenty questions were demographic questions, such as: age, ethnicity, religion, year, etc. The other questions were a combination of Likert scaled questions and open ended responses. The researchers predicted that females would experience more guilt compared to males after the loss of their virginity. The researchers found that females experienced more sexual guilt compared to males, as well as, females with high scores of religiosity also experienced higher levels of sexual guilt. Views of sex have changed over time, but what exactly makes an individual want to lose their virginity? Many factors seem to influence the quality and enjoyment of the first sexual experience. One was gender: Men seemed to have more positive attitudes than women about their first experience (Baumeister, 2001). Currently, the main factors that affect the decision to keep or lose one’s virginity are primarily surrounded by gender differences in emotional reactions to first intercourse. To explain gender differences in emotional reactions to first intecourse, DeLamater (1987) conducted three studies to expand on reasons why males have more favorable reactions compared to females. The first reason is based on the assumption that males are more likely to experience an orgasm the first time they have intercourse. The second explanation DeLamater offered proposed that females need more closeness with their partners to enjoy fully the first intercourse (DeLamater, 1987). This finding seems to support the idea that women would experience more shame or guilt upon loss of virginity, especially if the ideal closeness is not achieved.

Commodity Feminism and Its Body: The Appropriation and Capitalization of Body Positivity through Advertising

Abstract: The world of marketing has stumbled upon body positivity as a tool of feminist activism and now attempts to use its messages of empowerment to sell products. This is especially true when it comes to selling products specifically targeted toward women: beauty and personal care products, weight loss supplements, and more. Various aspects of body positivity have been appropriated by advertisers not only because they have the potential to make women feel better about themselves—feelings that they then associate with the product—but also for their ability to make women feel engaged in activism, even if the products themselves are controversial in feminist circles. In such a highly commercialized, neoliberal society, the idea that social change can be enacted through consumerism is pervasive. However, although advertisements position corporations as catalysts for a revolution in the way we see women’s bodies, they ultimately serve the same beauty standard that they attempt to resist, and the very nature of advertising—as a tool of capitalism—makes it incompatible with the goals of activism. EMMA LUCK is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Huron University College, where she is studying to complete an Honours Specialization in English with a Minor in Sociology. She intends to continue her English studies at the graduate level. Her research interests include feminist theory and dystopian fiction.

The Influence of Environmental NGOs in the Global Society

Abstract: This paper assesses the overall impact and influence of environmental nongovernmental organization (NGO) networks from the local to the global setting. Networks of various types of NGOs have developed and emerged in recent decades as significant actors in global politics. This paper looks at the impact these networks have in political and societal arenas, such as the business practices of large multinational corporations. A qualitative analysis of several cases involving NGOs is conducted, assessing what actions or strategies were most effective, particularly in promoting environmentally sustainable policies and practices and establishing a Culture of Peace. Research combines a review of existing literature along with personal observations from working with a grassroots environmental NGO in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over recent decades, the number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has increased substantially, a phenomenon which has attracted much scholarly attention, with particular focus on their participation in domestic and international political processes. At the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, representatives from over 250 NGOs were in attendance. These representatives provided technical expertise, helped to establish the rules for NGO participation, participated in plenary sessions and committee meetings, and worked in forums to build connections between one another. Scholars identify this event as one of the major turning points in the liberalization of the NGO system that followed as the number of NGOs accredited to subsequent conferences has continued to grow. (Betsill and Corell 1-2) In regards to achieving sustainable development, the U.N. acknowledged NGOs as partners who can contribute significantly to these efforts with its Agenda 21. Point 27.3 of the non-binding action plan reads: [n]on-governmental organizations, including those non-profit organizations representing groups addressed in the present section of Agenda 21, possess well-established and diverse experience, expertise, and

Yoga On Instagram: Disseminating or Destroying Traditional Yogic Principles?

Abstract: Today, more than 15 million Americans practice yoga, making the ancient Indian discipline synonymous with the Western society’s culture of wellness. As a way to market themselves, practitioners and instructors of yoga have utilized Instagram – and its more than 300 million accounts – to virtually share their favorite poses, sequences, and yogic philosophies. This paper examines the popular culture of yoga on Instagram and how it relates to the ancient Indian traditions of which the practice was built upon. The study found that while some observed themes of yoga on Instagram reflected elements of traditional yogic principles, others did not.

Out of Bounds: The Mad Scientist Figure in the Nineteenth Century

Abstract: This paper examines the figure of the scientist in nineteenth century England. It argues that this figure encroaches upon religious territory by examining both real-life scientists (Darwin and his contemporaries) and their literary counterparts, as found in Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, H. G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Richard Marsh’s The Beetle. These sources— contextualized by the development of Christianity and the Self/Other mode of thinking it enforces—reveal scientific paranoia as concern not over the consequences of scientific exploration, but rather the fear of a god-like figure who can unite previously divinely separated entities like man and animal. Through this figure, then, science in the nineteenth century becomes a new form of religion powerful enough to affect a paradigm shift in belief that echoes the original shift of Judeo-Christian religion away from the ‘pagan’ polytheistic belief systems.

Security Risk and Social Presence in E-commerce

Abstract: The object is to investigate the relationship between consumers’ sense of security of a store and their purchasing intention from the store. This was investigated by evaluating how perceptions of security vary among pure play websites with no social presence on the one hand and with social presence on the other; and click and mortar websites with no social presence on the one hand, and social presence on the other. It was also investigated by evaluating how social presence might mitigate the risk of security perceived by consumers. The research method included a scenario given to each participant which requires them to walk through a shopping purchase on a given website. Then the participant was given a survey where the participant will evaluate their perceptions of the shopping experience in regards to security, social presence, and intention to purchase. While there have been studies conducted about perceptions of security, none of these studies have looked at how the type of store, either click and mortar or pure play, impact perceptions of security and how social presence might mitigate negative perceptions. Our study concluded that perceptions of security risk and intention to make a purchase are inversely related, that is that the more risk one feels, the less likely they will have an intention to make a purchase. Our study also found that the type of store does not influence perceptions of security or intention to make a purchase. Social presence was also not found to influence perceptions of security or intention to make a purchase. Online shopping experience was found to influence perceptions of risk.

The Conundrum of Cohesion: France's North African Question

Abstract: The level of social polarization between native French and North Africans in France in an enduring dilemma. The prospect for effective social cohesion is challenged by factors including staunch French secularism, laicite , and the deep wounds of the Algerian Revolution. In order to understand the situation, this paper employs two interpretive frameworks: the politics of difference and the politics of home . In the former, a long-held notion of colonial superiority manifests itself in structural and interpersonal modes of social subordination aimed towards North Africans. In the latter, many native French lash out against North Africans for the threat that they pose to established French values. In response to both, a heightened sense of communalism permeates North Africans communities, often resulting in pronounced instances of fundamental backlash. The goal of this thesis is to view the reasons behind polarization in equitable housing, economic inclusiveness, and religious expression, and posit whether the myriad of outlooks, from the French Left and Right to North Africans themselves, can resolve France’s social woes.

"The Barbarians of Hollywood": The Exploitation of Aurora Mardiganian by the American Film Industry

Abstract: As the first genocide of the 20th century tore through Ottoman Turkey, advances within the film industry opened new doors for humanitarian aid. The story of Aurora Mardiganian, a teenage Armenian survivor, provided Americans with a visual representation of what mass atrocity looked like through the film Ravished Armenia. However, the means to which the film and accompanying autobiography were created exemplify a violation of ethics. Anthony Slide’s edited edition of Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian offers an insightful account of Mardiganian’s plight, and gives evidence to the claim that she was exploited physically, psychologically, and financially in order to yield the maximum profit. Mardiganian’s legacy highlights the need for remembrance over apathy, and active awareness over indifference. Technological advances in media during the 20th century have impacted and helped shape American culture. Print media has always been an integral part of society, however, the appearance of visual media in the form of moving picture is a fairly recent development. One of film’s first subjects was Aurora Mardiganian, an Armenian Genocide survivor. Her autobiography entitled Ravished Armenia: The Story of Aurora Mardiganian, the Christian Girl, Who Survived the Great Massacres caught the attention of American filmmakers and inspired the film Ravished Armenia (also known as Auction of Souls). The film and memoir introduced Americans to an intense visual representation unlike newspaper articles and travel diaries. However, the means by which the film and its accompanying narrative were created show the intersection of ethics and humanitarian aid with its most undesirable outcome. “The Barbarians of Hollywood”: Aurora Mardiganian, Ravished Armenia and the 1 Story of Aurora Mardiganian (Jackson: University of Mississippi Press, 2014), 63.

Tango: A Spanish-Based Programming Language

Abstract: The first part of this article deals with the creation of my own Spanish-based programming language, Tango, using Spanish key words (instead of English key words). The second part relates to the design and implementation of a compiler that follows the grammar rules outlined in the Tango language in order to successfully lexically analyze, parse, semantically analyze, and generate code for Tango. This article begins with a description of the specific goals achieved in the Tango language, an explanation and brief examples of the Tango Grammar, a high-level overview of the compiler design and data structures used, and concludes with ideas for future work and helpful advice. The full grammar, list of keywords, and source code for the compiler can be found in the Appendices.

To Be or Not to Be…Greek: A Study of Theory of Mind, Moral Reasoning, and Moral Development in Affiliated and Non-Affiliated Students

Abstract: Understanding factors that affect theory of mind and morality (such as participation in Greek organizations) are particularly important during college, a time of emotional and moral development. While past studies have investigated theory of mind and moral development in Greek and nonaffiliated college students, the research is limited. Thus, in this study, we explored theory of mind (ToM), moral development (MD), and moral reasoning (MR) in Greek members (n = 54) and their non-affiliated peers (n = 50) across their college years. Results indicated that Greek and non-affiliated students differed in theory of mind and moral reasoning, but not in moral development. Greek men and women demonstrated equivalent theory of mind abilities across class years, whereas non-affiliated students’ theory of mind abilities differed depending on their gender and class year. Specifically, nonaffiliated men showed a pattern of decreased theory of mind across their college years, whereas non-affiliated women’s theory of mind improved across the same period. Additionally, non-affiliated students tended to consider the feelings of others more than themselves when reaching moral decisions, whereas Greek students’ moral reasoning focused more on following rules and social norms. Taken together, these results suggest that involvement in Greek life during college may impact both theory of mind and moral reasoning without directly affecting the levels of moral development reached by students. Theory of mind, the acknowledgement that others’ viewpoints and feelings differ from one’s own (Winner, Brownell, Happe, Blum & Pincus, 1998; Gaudreau, et al., 2013), plays a critical role in interpersonal interactions. Previous research suggests a link between the awareness of our own emotions and the recognition of emotions in others (Brabec, Gfeller & Ross,

Forest Economies: A Remedy to Amazonian Deforestation?

Abstract: Commonly described as the “lungs of the planet,” the Amazon rainforest represents over half of the remaining rainforest in the world, constituting an important global carbon sink and one of the most culturally- and biologically-diverse regions of the world. The past half-century has seen a worrisome amount of deforestation in this rainforest, but different regions within the Amazon, however, compare differently in terms of deforestation trajectories. What has been the role of products obtained from managing forests, such as the now globally-consumed acai palm fruit, in reverting deforestation trends? My hypothesis is that there is a statistically significant negative correlation between such forest products and extent of deforestation. This study examines, within the historical and social context of the Amazon Delta and Estuary, the relationship between acai agroforestry and deforestation. The focus units are the municipios (roughly equivalent to counties) that constitute the Amazon Delta and Estuary, all located in the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para. Statistical data for deforestation obtained from PRODES, a Brazilian governmental project, which monitors deforestation via satellite, is used to ascertain deforestation in the region. This dataset is then correlated with census-based production data for each municipio for the period from 2002 to 2012. Mapping these variables onto municipios does visually demonstrate a contrast between areas of high deforestation and high acai production; however, the relationship is not statistically significant.

Spatial Mismatch: Understanding Differences in Income Mobility Between Cities

Abstract: Why do some American cities appear to be havens of opportunity while others remain stratified? Recent studies illustrate large differences in intergenerational income mobility between American cities, especially for low-income individuals. These differences are difficult to explain through economic productivity alone – for example, some booming cities, like Atlanta, GA and Columbus, OH, exhibit low levels of income mobility. I argue that differences in city policy are at the root of disparities in income mobility. In particular, I examine the effect of accessible public transportation on income mobility. Drawing upon sociologist William Julius Wilson’s “spatial mismatch” hypothesis, I make a case that physical separation from jobs perpetuates intergenerational poverty, and that effective public transportation alleviates this separation. New data allows me to test this nationally. I conduct my analysis in two parts: First, a national statistical study of urban intergenerational income mobility from 1980 to 1996, using public transit accessibility as an explanatory variable. Second, a case study of the politics of public transportation in Columbus, OH, using elite interviews and historical sources. Synthesizing these two parts, I argue that public transit's social efficacy depends on the structure of local institutions: In cities with fewer veto points for regional planning and greater municipal fiscal autonomy, local governments are more likely to prioritize democratic goals in transit planning over technocratic ones. At the same time, citizen support is essential: City governments are more responsive to demands for public transit when there is a confluence of interests between social classes in its favor.

A Practical Framework for the Scaling of Social Enterprise across Developed and Developing Economies

Abstract: Social enterprise is an emerging area of study focusing on the use of entrepreneurship and earned income to run a business with a social focus and mission. While the idea is certainly not new, academic analysis and education are a new development. Prominent research in the field focuses on the key traits of a social entrepreneur, case studies for specific countries, and the sectors in which social enterprise develops and thrives. However, very little research has been done on social enterprise as it spans different economies. This research will focus on the scalability of social enterprise models that transcend both borders and stages in economic development. Through qualitative case study analysis and review of the current commercial and social enterprise scaling literature and methodology, a model will be developed for designing social enterprises that seek to scale in a way that they can operate in both developed and developing countries. As social enterprises seek to solve major societal issues, such as poverty, poor education, and lack of empowerment, understanding the most effective growth strategy for is key in maximizing impact of the organization. Key findings show that differences do exist in social enterprise development in different economic situations, and that scalability is a matter of leveraging core competencies that provide economic and social value and understanding and adapting the business model as fit. This is significant because the social enterprise sector is expected to grow rapidly over the next decades, so understanding and implementing scale effectively is imperative for continued success of many social enterprises.

Differentiating the Transnational from the National in a Multicultural Setting: Identity in Persepolis and Rush Hour

Abstract: This essay explores the differences between transnational identities and national identities in a multicultural setting by juxtaposing the films Persepolis and Rush Hour. Furthermore, it examines the characteristics of both transnational and national identities and how they are represented in film. In an increasingly globalized world, it is important to distinguish these two types of identity and consider how these individuals interact with today’s society; thus, this essay asks readers to think about the influence that the commingling of transnational and national identities has on the modern world.

Exaggerations and Stereotypes of Schizophrenia in Contemporary Films

Abstract: Due to filmmakers focusing on violence, traumatic events, and hallucinations when depicting characters with schizophrenia, critics have scrutinized the representation of mental disorders in contemporary films for years. This study compared previous research on schizophrenia with the fictional representation of the disease in contemporary films. Through content analysis, this study examined 10 films featuring a schizophrenic protagonist, tallying moments of violence and charting if they fell into four common stereotypes. Results showed a high frequency of violent behavior in films depicting schizophrenic characters, implying that those individuals are overwhelmingly dangerous and to be feared.

Determination of Volcanic Impact on Perchlorate Using Polar Ice Cores

Abstract: Arctic (Greenland) ice core samples covering the time period of 1638 to 1646 were analyzed for perchlorate and sulfate concentrations. The sulfate data shows a signal corresponding to the 1640 eruption of the Komaga-Take volcano in Japan. Perchlorate concentrations show a significant increase at the time of the Komaga-Take eruption. It is concluded that a positive correlation likely exists between stratospheric volcanic eruptions and perchlorate concentration in the environment. When a volcano has enough explosive force to inject substances into the stratosphere, some of the substances, such as sulfate, can remain in the stratosphere for months and spread all over the global atmosphere. The sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere may enhance the formation of perchlorate from chlorine species commonly present in the atmospheric environment.

An Analysis of LEGO's Response to an Attack on its Partnership with Royal Dutch Shell

Abstract: In 2014, Greenpeace launched an attack on a 50-year brand partnership between Danish toy company LEGO and Royal Dutch Shell, an oil and gas corporation. Through the analysis of Greenpeace’s campaign and LEGO’s responses over a three-month period, this case study examined how Greenpeace influenced LEGO’s communications with its consumers and its subsequent decision to terminate its partnership with Shell. Findings suggest that the popularity of a Greenpeace viral video played a role in LEGO’s decision, in addition to accusations questioning LEGO’s investment in children’s futures.

Combatting Biases: Illusory Imagery in US News Coverage on Central American Immigration

Abstract: This paper comprises of original research and analysis of contemporary news media discourse surrounding Central American immigration in the United States. Subjects of study included more than 50 news articles, images, and videos from a variety of major politically-unaffiliated news outlets for English-speaking audiences. Rhetoric was analyzed in representations of the Central American immigration “crisis” that sparked a trend of media coverage in 2014, as well as several articles that covered events leading up to the “crisis.” Common rhetorical analogies ascertained through media analyses include the representation of immigrants as aliens, diseases, parasites, floods, criminals, natural disasters, terrorists, and drug pushers. Such associations aggravate preexisting xenophobia, heighten domestic anxieties, forgo rationality and objectivity, foster monolithic dialogue, erode informed policymaking, and inspire nationalistic racism. The ubiquity of these racist and xenophobic metaphors underscores news media’s political nationalism that colors the language and mindset of journalism and media consumers. This paper contextualizes contemporary observations with a synthesis of larger-scale media studies, historical accounts of racism in immigration services and news media, the role of the “other” in US society, and critical media theory. The conclusive evidence derived from past studies and my contemporary analyses demonstrate a political predilection for biased diction in news coverage of Central American immigration in the US. The paper notes the work of news analysts, professors, and journalists towards ameliorating subjective, political xenophobia in the news, and calls upon media consumers to participate in a subversion of journalism's racist legacies. “The Rio Grande Valley has become ground zero for an unprecedented surge in families and unaccompanied children flooding across the Southwest border” – Los Angeles Times

Barbara Kingsolver‘s The Bean Trees as Political Critique of U.S. Foreign Policy and Imperialist Western Practices

Abstract: This essay documents Barbara Kingsolver’s use of fictional characters and situations to instill in her reader a type of empathy that supports her own political agenda. In her novel, The Bean Trees, Kingsolver presents a subplot that details the plight of Esperanza and Estevan, two Guatemalan refugees fleeing their country from political persecution. In exposing the hardships the Guatemalan couple face as illegal immigrants in the Unites States, Kingsolver expresses her own political critique of American foreign policy and immigration law. Specifically, this essay will focus itself on the way in which her novel, The Bean Trees provides political critique on U.S. foreign policy and its intervention in the Guatemala civil war. Additionally, the essay will examine the novel’s protagonist Taylor, and her shift from a naive worldview as representative of Kingsolver’s agenda aimed at convincing her readers to become more politically conscious. LISE ROBINSON is currently enrolled in her final year of the Honors Specialization in English Language and Literature program at Huron University College. Her interests in the study of the English discipline are centered within the broad range of English theory surrounding issues of class, gender, race, sexuality and culture.