1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. design

2015 Student
Scholarship
Celebration
April 27 - 30, 2015
Achievements
in Student
Innovation
and Research
Sponsored by the Undergraduate Research
Committee and the Office of Academic Research
2015 Friends of the Kreitzberg
Library Awards for Outstanding
Student Research Papers
The research paper prize, given annually
by the Friends of the Kreitzberg Library,
was first given in 1997 to a student who
had written an outstanding research
paper. The idea was to present a monetary
award to the student who had extensively
used the resources of the Kreitzberg
Library in researching a topic for a paper.
The Friends have expanded the number of
paper prize awards to two for freshman/
sophomore research papers, two for junior
papers, and two for senior papers. Added
in 2015 is one award for the University
Archives research paper. All students are
encouraged to consider submitting their
work for this annual award.
This year, the deans of the College
of Professionals Schools, College of Math
& Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts
submitted 24 semifinalist papers for
review by the Faculty Library Committee.
The Committee reads and reviews the
submissions and selects the winning
papers.
Congratulations to this
year’s recipients
Emily Foster and Michael Pulaski
(Fr/So non-technical)
Effects of Non-violent Offenders
Incarcerated with Violent Offenders
Logan Morrison (Fr/So technical)
Advancement of Asynchronous Mail
Transfer Protocols
Kenneth Sikora (Jr non-technical)
Git vs Ge: Dual Pronouns and
Characterization in Beowulf
William Perry (Jr technical)
Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) Vulnerabilities
Erin Donovan (Sr non-technical)
Have You Ever Seen the Inside of
One of Those Places?
Emily Oor (Sr technical)
Physiological Effects of a 60-minute
Run within Two Climates
Frank Carissimo (archives)
War and Hardship on the Nile: The
Journal of Frederick Charles Miller
2015 Student Research Fellowship Recipients
Weintz Research Fellows
Alexander Breindel (Dr. Darlene Olsen)
Comparison of Gene Expression Between
Microarray and RNA-seq Experiments
on Mesothelioma
Timothy Smeddal (Dr. Brian Bradke)
Human Perception of Legacy Gauges
versus Digital Glass Displays in Aircraft
Instrumentation
Christopher Eddy (Dr. Christopher Koteas
Defining a Complex Boundary in Central
Vermont: Detailed Structural Transects from
the Taconic to the Acadian
Rebecca Sweem (Dr. Darlene Olsen)
Analyzing and Comparing Gene Expression
between Microarray and RNA-seq Experiments
on Mesothelioma Cancer Cells
Lucas Looman (Dr. Karen Supan)
An Investigation of the Combination
of Wind Funneling and Wind Belts
Maria Trejo (Dr. Tara Kulkarni)
The Threat of Phosphorous Levels in Lake
Champlain: Are Eco-Machines the Answer?
Stacia Melick (Dr. Megan Doczi)
Expression of Insulin Receptor and Kv1.3
Genes During Different Gestational Periods
in an Avian Hypothalamus
Zackary White (Dr. Brian Bradke)
Bone Conductive Audio Transduction
for Aerospace Applications
Maciel Porto (Dr. Megan Doczi)
Leptin: Expression and Localization
Ryan Whitell (Dr. Ronald Lessard)
Advances to Increase the Flexibility and
Robustness of Precision Formation-Flying
Satellites
NU Research Fellows
Jesse Abruzzi (Dr. Emily Gray)
The Intolerables: The Survival and Interactions of
Catholic Minorities in Reformation England
Sarah Bedard (Prof. Cara Armstrong)
Modern Additions to Historical Art Museums:
The Debate on Honesty
Maggie Cross (Dr. Michael Prairie)
Haptic Guidance to Aide in the Learning of the
Sign Language Alphabet
Kaitlyn Dodd (Dr. Moses Tefe)
Roundabout Performance Evaluation
Chapel Rose Guarnieri (Dr. Elizabeth Gurian)
Understanding Amish Culture in Modern Day
America
Abigail Haswell (Dr. Karen Hinkle)
Investigating a Potentially Novel Interaction
Between Pard3 and the Src Family Kinase Fyn
Jessica Hurlbert (Dr. Elizabeth Wuorinen)
Energy Expenditure in a Single Leg Cycling
Anali Luviano (Dr. Arthur Pallone)
Digital Holographic Microscopy
Alex Menard (Prof. Tolya Stonorov)
The Landscape’s Voice
Jeffrey Morgan (Dr. Robert Knapik)
Use of Graphical Processing Unit to
Model Photon Propagation
Lance Otsby (Dr. Richard Hyde)
The Effect of Magnetism on the
Lorenz Strange Attractor
Celeste Robert (Dr. Karen Supan)
A Study of Thermal Degradation Kinetics of
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT)
Kaitlyn Roy (Dr. Matthew Thomas)
The Sexualization in Media of Self-Worth
Kathryn Rutowski (Dr. Dalyn Luedkte)
Can I See Your Tattoo?: The Narrative and
Social Significance of Body Art
Scott LeFevre (Dr. Sean Kramer)
Epidemiology of Buruli Ulcers in Relation
to Differential Equations
Abigail Seaberg (Dr. Gary Lord)
The Work of William Brenton Boggs in the
Context of the Rodgers-Ringgold Expedition
of 1853-1856
Devon Lindner (Dr. Karen Hinkle)
MCM6 and Fyn: Investigating a Novel
Protein Binding Relationship
Keith Stipe (Prof. Daniel Sagan)
Ancient Principles to Modern Practice:
Rammed Earth Building
From the
President
It is my great pleasure to congratulate our students
and faculty for another outstanding year of research
activities, so ably demonstrated by this program’s
abstracts. I applaud the effort involved in each and
every one of these projects, knowing full well that
research is often like driving down a dirt road in
Vermont in mud season – chances are pretty high that you’ll run into some impassable ruts
and have to bump your way through new territory to get to your destination. It can be an
unpredictable journey, but one worth taking, even if the results aren’t what you expected.
Take Thomas Edison’s word for it, as he said “Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of
results. I know several thousand things that won’t work.”
Since 2003, Norwich’s student research program has demonstrated that its students excel
at their own intellectual journeys, and this year is no exception. Under the guidance of
faculty mentors, students from a variety of disciplines will tackle issues ranging from gene
expression in cancers to protein binding relationships, digital holographic microscopy,
the social significance of tattoos, Catholics in Reformation England, current-day Amish
culture, formation-flying satellites, bone conductive audio transduction, and phosphorus
levels in Lake Champlain. The depth and breadth of these research projects are testament
to a program that encourages and supports the intellectual and professional growth of
these young women and men, and which provides them with a set of life-long skills in
analysis, reasoning, and logic.
These student projects receive generous support from our alumni and friends, to whom we
are deeply indebted. We are fortunate for their contributions and endowed funds, such as
those contributed by Fred Weintz ’47 and his late wife Betsy, that support research projects
both during the academic year and in our summer research program. The Politi family’s
support for student travel has also been instrumental in allowing our young scholars to
travel the globe in their quest for knowledge.
Please join me in acknowledging the efforts of our student researchers and commending
them for their preparation, patience, and willingness to explore inside as well as outside of
the box. They truly personify Norwich’s motto of “I will try.”
Richard W. Schneider, Ph.D.
RADM, USCGR (Ret.)
President
Norwich recognized Drs. William H.
Barnard and Rowland M. Brucken
this year by awarding each of them
with an Award for Excellence in
Mentoring Undergraduate Research.
Professors Barnard and Brucken
received these awards in recognition
of their longevity and commitment
to guiding students as they sought
to excel as young scholars. Students
benefited from their expertise in the
fields of Ornithology and the History
of Human Rights, respectively.
“Mentoring students has always
been an important part of my
teaching. Over the past 41 years
I have helped over 60 students
experience the trials, tribulations,
joys, and satisfaction that comes
with exploring something new.”
- William H. Barnard
“Mentoring a student enriches
both the faculty member and
the mentee. The faculty member
learns how to teach and coach
someone through the research
process. The student has the
chance to complete a piece of
scholarship and present it to
an academic community. Both
parties acquire new knowledge,
the most precious commodity
there is.”
- Rowland M. Brucken
From the Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
I am delighted to welcome you to the
2015 Student Scholarship Celebration.
It is with admiration and respect that
I salute this year’s student researchers.
I have the highest regard for these
undergraduates, who have gone above
and beyond their curricular studies to
pursue their own original research.
We are uniquely privileged to follow
in the footsteps of our founder, Alden
Partridge, who positioned experiential
learning at the core of Norwich’s educational experience almost two
hundred years ago. To have that fundamental tenet embraced and
actively pursued to this day is testament to its value. As a consequence,
student research has long been part of the Norwich tradition.
Our roadmap to our upcoming bicentennial, NU2019, stresses its
significance as both part and parcel of higher academic achievement,
as well as elevating our institution’s academic reputation. Direct
involvement in research helps our students learn how the body of
knowledge grows and enables them to contribute to that corpus. It helps
them build life-long skills in analysis, reasoning, creativity, problem
solving, and communication.
We would be remiss not to also highlight the role of our students’
mentors – our faculty – as their guides. As teacher/scholars, they serve
as role models for integrating research into the classroom. Norwich
firmly endorses these activities through its Faculty Development
Program, Chase Initiatives, and Dana Funds. Last year, funding
supported over 300 faculty activity development grants, eight Dana
Research Fellowships, two curriculum Development Fellowships, eleven
Independent Study Leaves, twenty-one Research Release Awards, and
one new Charles A. Dana Professor.
I offer sincere thanks to all the students, faculty, and staff who have
helped make these intellectual adventures a reality, and continued best
wishes to all for future explorations.
Guiyou Huang, Ph.D.
From the Director of
Undergraduate Research
Welcome to Norwich’s 13th annual
Student Scholarship Celebration, and
the sixth in which our students have
provided insight into their work through
the abstracts published in this brochure. It
is with great pleasure that we present this
compilation of our students’ adventures in
research for the academic year 2014-15.
These snapshots highlight a breadth of
effort and quality of work that is most
impressive.
Equally as impressive is how far and wide our students are traveling to both
do their research and report out on their results. More than two dozen
students majoring in fields from throughout our curriculum have traveled
across the country and overseas to carry out their work and present at
professional meetings. These adventures spanned internationally from
Vancouver to Rome, and domestically to all four corners of the nation, from
Florida to Oregon, and San Francisco to Maine.
Taking their lead from their mentors, they have learned that dissemination
of their findings is critical, as it extends learning with peers outside of one’s
own community. These activities are supported through both the Student
Travel Fund and the generosity of the Politi family, who endowed a fund
expressly to support field exploration away from campus.
This celebration could not have happened without the effort of many
individuals across the campus, not the least of whom are the dedicated
mentors who provided the right mix of encouragement, feedback, and
guidance through each step of the students’ research, scholarly, and creative
experiences. Supporting this effort is a creative and diligent group of
faculty who comprise the Undergraduate Research Committee: Profs.
Amy Woodbury Tease (Chair), Megan Doczi, Travis Morris, Ethan Guth,
Akhan Almagambetov, and Tara Kulkarni. Thank you all for your tireless
contributions to our students.
I trust you will enjoy interacting with our students during the Poster Session
this week. They have much to be proud of and would be delighted to discuss
the specifics of their projects. Please join me in congratulating them on their
successes and wishing them the best for the future.
David S. Westerman, Ph.D.
ABSTRACTS
Kipling and Tagore: Two Indias
Jesse Abruzzi (Dr. Lea Williams)
Department of English & Communications
NU Research Fellow
Studying the literature of Rudyard Kipling
and Rabindranath Tagore reveals the effects
Colonialism had on the fragile identities of
British Indian subjects and rulers. The dominant
strain of European thinking during this time
period was Orientalism: the belief that the
East, or the Orient, was inferior culturally,
intellectually, and morally. The literature of
Rudyard Kipling bolsters this idea of European
superiority, particularly White English
superiority. His English characters have the
ability to mold any identity that they choose
for themselves because they have dominance
over the land and therefore the freedom to be
dynamic. Kipling’s native characters do not
hold these same liberties: they are portrayed
as stereotypes, remaining static and unable to
change. His literature bolsters the pedestal on
which the English placed themselves and their
identities. Tagore’s literature tells a different
story. He depicts the deep fracture of Indian
society resultant of Colonial policies. The British
rule of divide and conquer created violence that
was not only inter-communal, such as between
Muslims and Hindus, but even sowed discord
within the communities themselves. Tagore
further shows how Colonialism muddled the
identities of native Indians, caught between
conflicting interests: the identity of their native
land untainted by foreign rule, and that of
the society in which they lived, dominated by
English culture.
Spatial Variations in Water Chemistry and
the Impact on Vegetation Communities in a
Calcareous Wetland in Central Vermont
Roberto Armijo, Robert Hickey, and Meghan
Mason (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Concentrations of Na+ and Cl- in the
groundwater of the southern wetland at Pecks
Pond in Barre, VT vary significantly from
southwest to northeast, with the southwestern
edge showing the highest concentrations
( 292 mg/L of Cl and 148 ppm of Na) and
the northeastern side showing the lowest
concentrations (48 mg/L of Cl and 15 ppm
of Na). Additional variations are seen where
a stream inlet enters the wetland from the
southwest. The inlet water chemistry showed
moderate concentrations of Na (44.87 ppm) and
Cl (97 mg/L), and higher concentrations of Ca
(113.60 ppm) and HCO3- alkalinity (148 mg/L).
These spatial variations are largely driven by the
influx of road-salt from Rt. 63, which borders
the southwest side of the wetland. Additionally,
the presence of a disperse outflow from the
north to south through the center of the
wetland acts as a hydrologic barrier and limits
the contamination of the eastern and northern
sides of the wetland. The chemistry of the inlet
may be explained by the mobilization of Ca2+ by
cation exchange with Na+from carbonate-rich
soil and till that underlie the stream. Vegetation
communities inhabiting the wetland are
influenced both by water chemistry and water
depth. A grass meadow is dominant along the
southwestern edge of the wetland where Na+
and Cl- concentrations are highest and the water
table depth is shallow (3-5cm depth). Species
with lower salt tolerance levels are present along
the edge of the eastern side of the wetland,
where Thuja occidentalis is dominant in a
shrubby wetland community. Typha angustifolia,
which has a medium tolerance to salt, is located
throughout the center of the wetland where the
water table is at the surface, with one exception.
The area where the inlet enters the center of
the wetland is dominated instead by Equisetum
hyemale. T. angustifolia has a low tolerance
to CaCO3 and the chemistry of the inlet is
characterized by high concentrations of Ca2+
and HCO3-. The continued accumulation of
road-salts in this wetland will likely result in the
expansion of the grass meadow at the expense of
the more diverse shrub communities. This study
illustrates not only the ability of wetlands to
accumulate contaminants but also the sensitivity
of wetland vegetation to disturbance and
suggests that the ecological value of wetlands
should be considered when applying road-salt
to adjacent roads.
Groundwater and Geochemistry Analysis
of Peck’s Pond, Barre, VT
Roberto Armijo (Dr. Laurie Grigg, Dr.
Christopher Koteas, and George Springston)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
The purpose of this study was to observe the
geochemical and hydrologic interactions of
groundwater in the calcareous wetland south
of Pecks Pond, Barre, VT. Specifically, the
responses of groundwater and wetland soils
to de-icing road salt from adjacent roads were
examined. Primary sites were established to
determine salt movement at depth through
three distinct wetland soils. Secondary sites
were used to determine the surficial distribution
of the contaminant. Upland soil sites were
used to determine possible accumulation
and/or leaching of ions from upland runoff.
The results of this study found the following:
there was very little to no sodium being held
within the wetland soils; surficial groundwater
analyses confirmed an accumulation of
dissolved road-salt within the southwestern
edge of the wetland; at depth, groundwater salt
concentrations varied by soil type; and upland
soils did not produce any conclusive evidence to
determine a source of salt from the uplands. The
lack of sodium being held in the wetland soils
is attributed to its highly saturated condition
and the high solubility of salt. The distribution
of salt in the groundwater near the surface and
at depth is strongly influenced by the regional
topography, proximity to roads, and the outflow
from Pecks Pond stream, which forms a natural
hydrologic barrier through the wetland. The
variable accumulation of salt within different
soil types suggests that soil permeability and
clay adsorption are also important factors. The
upland soils may have experienced significant
leaching and deeper excavation could be
required to determine the ion relationships.
Pervious Concrete: A Filtration System
to Support a Sustainable Environment
Alex Arsenault, Andrew Judd and Susan
Limberg (Dr. Tara Kulkarni and Dr. Edwin
Schmeckpeper)
David Crawford School of Engineering
This project is a design for pervious concrete
filters with the potential to treat contaminated
stormwater runoff to meet drinking water
standards. The design consists of a threetiered system comprising a pervious concrete
slab, a granular filter, and an ultraviolet (UV)
disinfection system, installed five feet below
ground surface (bgs). The underground area
houses 20 gallon storage tanks to store filtered
water. Previous research on concrete’s structural
properties was expanded into filtration testing.
Initial lab tests revealed that water filtered
through pervious concrete alone results in a pH
of 12, above the neutral range of 6-8. Additional
media (sand, gravel, peat, activated carbon,
and synthetic geotextile) and configurations
were tested to determine the most effective
combination. UV disinfection was chosen for its
low cost long lifespan. The fieldwork comprised
surveying a site on campus, system designs
and drawings using AutoCAD, excavation to
reach needed depth, grading, and installation
of a floor drain. Concrete slabs and walls were
later poured. Weather-related delays have
stalled the project. However, the goal is to place
two pervious concrete slabs of 5 by 2.5 ft (one
treated with salt guard and one untreated) as
the top surface of the system. This project was
designed in response to the Environmental
Protection Agency’s People Prosperity and
Planet (P3) student design competition for
sustainability, and provides an integrated and
sustainable water management solution that
is also cost effective with a potential for great
social impact given its potential to address
flooding, drought, and water quality concerns.
Shadow Lake Storm Management Strategy
Corinne Baita, Richard Colburn, and Anthony
Mushaw (Dr. Michael Kelley)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The Shadow Lake Association (Glover,
Vermont) has experienced problems with
residents’ houses around the lake being flooded
during significant rain events, such as the 50
and 100 year storms. Trying to protect the
home owners, the Association asked Norwich
University and the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering to develop a
low-budget, yet effective, solution to dampen
lake water level fluctuation, minimize flooding
and therefore prevent further damage to the
lakefront homes. The solution to the problem
involves multiple components. First, renovating
the current gatehouse will improve operational
control and ease of operation while increasing
the maximum flowrate out of the gatehouse
from approximately 100 cubic feet per second
to greater than 200 cubic feet per second. These
improvements will allow the town association
to draw down the lake 24 hours ahead of an
expected significant storm to prevent property
damage. Second, a new storage basin located
west of Shadow Lake will be developed and used
to temporarily store over 400 acre-feet of water.
With this temporary storage, improvements to
the gatehouse and advance notice of a major
storm, the peak water level rise is only half foot,
which is less than the required 1.5 ft.
Paine Creek Geochemistry with
Changing Flow Conditions
Patrick Bateman (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
This study analyzed water chemistry and soil
geochemistry of Paine Creek, a small tributary
of the Dog River located in Northfield, VT.
Previous work on Paine Creek water chemistry
determined that the concentrations of Ca2+,
Mg2+ and Sr2+ decreased downstream. This
was interpreted as due to changes in bedrock
composition, as the stream flows acrossstrike of variable lithologies. The purpose
of this study was to analyze the stream and
groundwater chemistry during changing
flow conditions and the geochemistry of the
underlying soils. The soil chemistry showed
a strong correlation with the groundwater
chemistry (Ca2+, Mg2+, Si4+, Na+). The high
weight percentages in the soils match the high
concentrations in the groundwater in Ca2+ at
well one, suggesting that the groundwater in
this area was controlled by the till/sediment
composition. Stream concentrations were
normalized from the discharge and a ratio
of drain areas. The normalized stream
concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si4+ increased
downstream due to accumulation, while
non-normalized concentrations decreased
due to dilution. Most cation concentrations
and normalized concentrations in the stream
decreased during the largest rain event of 1.68
inches, but the groundwater concentrations
remained the same. A possible reason for this is
that the stream became diluted from increased
surface runoff. The fact that this decrease did
not occur incrementally with smaller increases
in precipitation but with only the highest
rainfall, suggests that the soils in the watershed
reached a threshold of saturation and decreased
infiltration. Cations do accumulate downstream,
but concentrations only show dilution and
there is a threshold to which the river receives
overland flow from precipitation.
In-air Rutherford Backscattering and Particle
Induced X-ray Emission for Biophysics and
Material Science Research
James Becker (Dr. Arthur Pallone)
Department of Physics
NU Research Fellow
Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) and Particle
Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) are methods
of nondestructive analysis of elemental
composition. Rebounding particles or emitted
x-rays can be “collected” and then analyzed
to reveal the number ratio of the elements
in a sample. Due to the nondestructive
feature of these processes, RBS and PIXE are
useful in many diverse fields of study such as
archaeology, art, and biology; however, these
experiments usually require large, expensive
particle accelerators and detectors. Instead,
I am attempting to use a radioactive source,
photodiodes, and computer software to perform
the same methods at a fraction of the cost. I am
exploring cost, time, and resolution benefits
and losses of my approach versus the traditional
accelerator-based approach.
Design, Construction, and Testing of an
Ellipsometer for Use in Science Classes
James Becker, Josiah Boggs, Ehrin Koenig and
Lance Otsby (Dr. Arthur Pallone)
Department of Physics
Ellipsometry is an optical analysis method used
to investigate the properties of a material such
as the refractive index, absorption coefficient
and sample thickness. Ellipsometry has
applications in a wide range of fields such as
biology and metrology, and also in industry.
Ellipsometry measures a change in the incident
light’s polarization upon reflection from or
transmission through a sample. In order to
investigate these relationships, students would
normally require access to an ellipsometer;
however, commercial ellipsometers are
expensive. We show that it is possible to design,
construct, and test an ellipsometer using
inexpensive components that can sufficiently
measure the properties of the polarized light to
determine some of the previously mentioned
optical properties. This student-assembled,
inexpensive ellipsometer is suitable for use
in undergraduate and advanced high school
instruction.
Love/Law: Deconstructing the Binary in
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Jeanette
Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Hannah Bell (Dr. Amy Woodbury Tease)
Department of English & Communications
Christianity is often misunderstood as a
religion defined by law; the Old Testament is
structured around a series of meetings between
God and his people in which He articulates
rigorous religious law. In today’s world, the
Church is perpetually scrutinized for enforcing
ideologies that supposedly force people—and
specifically women—into institutionalized
boxes. This paper examines how religious
women writers are attempting to negotiate
their faith and the “laws” imposed on them.
Specifically, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple
and Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not
the Only Fruit take the framework of law and
introduce love as its counterpoint. Hannah
Bell’s analysis of these novels focuses on how
the main characters encounter this binary
and attempt to deconstruct it in an effort to
stabilize their identities. Bell reveals that both
law zealotry and absolute pursuit of love lead
to tragedy. She argues finally that through
their exploration of love Winterson and
Walker advocate for a balance that explodes
the binary between love and law and asserts
their interdependence. These novels speak to
the reality that women today come up against
as it exposes institutionalized binaries that
limit their domestic and professional lives. The
ongoing debate over women’s healthcare in
the public and private sectors of business and
law is a prime example of the imposition of
binaries by institutions upon women. Winterson
and Walker artfully articulate the intricacies
and effects of such conflicts, positioning these
novels in a contemporary and controversial
conversation.
Salvaging Identity Through Questioning
Faith: Christian Women Writers and the
20th Century Church
Hannah Bell (Dr. Amy Woodbury Tease)
Department of English & Communications
Weintz Research Fellow
Christian theology and leadership has been
and continues to be dominated by male
voices. Only in the late nineteenth century
did women begin to assert themselves into
Christian theological discussion in the United
States through Protestant movements such as
temperance and prohibition. These movements
posed challenges to the patriarchal structure
of the church gave women leadership roles
and an influential voice. This project examines
prominent 20th century western women writers’
contributions to the emerging conversation
about female identity and roles within the
Church. Reading Alice Walker, Muriel Spark,
Louise Erdrich, Mary McCarthy, and Jeannette
Winterson, five women who have articulated a
relationship with the Church in their writings
and memoirs, I investigate how these women
challenge and negotiate Christianity and how
their works build upon and connect to each
other. My analysis of these works focuses on
how these women blur and challenge Christian
ideologies in order to maintain their personal
identities without sacrificing their relationship
with God. I approach this project through three
lenses. First, I examine how church-influenced
educations affected their development and
identity as writers. Second, I consider how these
women use their work to problematize religious
laws and patriarchal practice, redefining norms
for practicing female Christians. Finally, I
explore how marginalized groups specifically,
Native and African Americans, challenge the
dichotomy presented by missionaries between
their culture and Christianity. Through these
three lenses of education, patriarchal resistance,
and evangelism I am able to examine the
differing projects of these women, which gives
us new purchase on the possibilities for women
in the Church today.
Cross Vermont Trail: Montpelier Bridge
Anthony Belval, Teerwut Praiwal, and Nathan
Tomaselli (Dr. Moses Tefe)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The design project created by the senior project
group, a small pedestrian bridge that is the part
of the Cross Vermont Trails, was requested
by Mr. Greg Western, Executive Director of
Cross Vermont Trails. The bridge will be part
of a section of the trails that will go through
Montpelier, Vermont, crossing a small tributary
to the Winooski River along a path adjacent to
Power Plant Road. As a part of the design, the
team considered the flood plains, the ease of
construction, the use of the bridge, and the cost
of materials and construction. The bridge falls
outside the Q 100 flood plain, as indicated by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The bridge has been designed specifically for
pedestrian and bicycle use, while motorized
vehicles will be prevented by bollards. The
foundations are made up of ten concrete pillars
that will serve as short caissons and will be
erected a foot away from either bank. The banks
require some reinforcing, which can possibly be
acquired from the State of Vermont. The span of
the bridge is 60 feet from footing to footing. The
span will consist of five steel wide flange girders
with the deck acting as cross lateral bracings.
The railings and ramps are designed to meet
the Vermont Pedestrian Bridge Standards and
American Disability Act Standards, respectively.
The deck, railing, and ramps will be constructed
from wood to create more natural feel. The
bridge is designed to use minimal heavy
equipment and a small budget.
Safety Evaluation of US 7 from Bay Road
to VT 2A Colchester VT
Anthony Belval (Dr. Moses Tefe)
David Crawford School of Engineering
NU Research Fellow
Vermont’s roads and intersections are an
important part of the State’s infrastructure and
thus require constant examination and redesign.
The roads and intersections require special
attention to ensure that they are efficient, easy to
use, and safe. The purpose of this research was
to identify the unique factors of these roads and
intersections so as to improve existing traffic
in Vermont. The research mainly focused on
the intersection of Route 7, Route 2A, and Bay
Road in Colchester Vermont. This intersection
was examined as a case study to identify the
unique factors of a Vermont intersection. The
intersection was examined during multiple 12hour periods to determine the traffic patterns,
movement conflict points, delay, capacity, line
of sight, and ease of use. The factors that were
identified through this research were the growth
of traffic, the design of the intersection or road,
and the road geometry. Multiple methods exist
that would deal with these identified factors.
Some methods include but are not limited
to; extra lanes, upgrade intersection controls,
rechanneling intersection and adding protected
turning lanes, or realigning roads to meet
current demand requirements. For the example
intersection in Colchester, the recommended
way to deal with the listed factors was to
upgrade the traffic control device from a stop
sign and yield sign to a traffic signal. More
research needs to be performed to determine
which methods work the best for different
intersections. Such research should use methods
that identify different intervention that are
needed remedy any existing shortcomings
identified to negatively affect performance at
the intersections.
Microdissection Procedures
for the Study of the Embryonic
Avian Hypothalamus
Victor Bill (Dr. Megan Doczi)
Department of Biology & Physical Education
The Kv1.3 ion channel is an essential protein
in the body, as it helps to regulate nervous
system functions such as cell membrane
excitability and the resting and active states
of the cell. This makes it an important
target for the development of medications
for diseases such as diabetes and obesity, as
suppression of this ion channel could result in
the down-regulation of neuronal activity. In
order to better understand the development
and general physiology of this ion channel in
the hypothalamus, a brain region governing
homeostatic function, microdissections were
performed on chicken embryos subjected to
12 to 14 days of incubation. The purpose of
these dissections was to isolate the embryonic
hypothalamus for study. A key aspect of
this study was the documentation of the
dissection procedure. This was not only to
provide visual representations of the different
structures being targeted for dissection, but
also to produce a training tool in which new lab
workers could be easily trained in the difficult
dissection techniques. To accomplish this, an
apparatus was designed that would allow for
the positioning of a USB web camera over one
of the eye pieces of the dissecting microscope
used in the procedure. Corel VideoStudio
Pro X6 was then used to record and edit the
video footage to produce an instructional
video on how to perform both hypothalamic
isolation dissections and sexing dissections.
This documentation tool will aid in training
laboratory personnel on the various dissection
techniques necessary for studying Kv1.3
expression and function in hypothalamic
neurons.
Apparatus for Ultratrace Detection of
Arsenic in Drinking Water by Hydride Gas
Chromatography with Photoionization
Detection
William Borgeson (Dr. Seth Frisbie)
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
The hydride generation technique is a common
method to determine trace amounts of arsenic
in drinking water. This method produces a
considerable amount of pressure that would be
unsafe if carried out in a normal closed glass
reaction vessel. A stainless steel reaction vessel
was machined that could handle the pressure
generated in the hydride generation technique
as well as provide an oxygen free environment
to reduce interferences. A sample loop was
also constructed to reduce systematic error
and ensure a uniform sample introduction
into the gas chromatograph. A very sensitive
photoionization detector was used. A
calibration curve was then constructed to
determine the dynamic range of the instrument.
This instrument was validated by the analysis
of highly characterized drinking water samples
from Bangladesh.
Phragmites in Pecks Pond
Patrick Boyle (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
The focus of this research is how the invasive
species phragmites affects the native wetland
vegetation around Pecks Pond in Barre Vermont
and the controls of phragmites distribution.
An invasive species is an organism that is not
native to a specific environment and when
this foreign species enters an area it can be
detrimental to the plants and animals that are
native. Phragmites grows at a rate of 30 feet
per year. It only takes a small amount of the
phragmites root for the plant to begin to fill in
the pond or wetland. The roots and seeds of
phragmites are spread by the wind, running
water, animals brushing against the plant, or
humans accidentally introducing the plant to
the wetland. In Pecks Pond cattails were the
dominant native species that are currently
being overtaken by phragmites. In order to see
how the two plant species are interacting, a
one meter square was used in order to narrow
the focus area down to specific points along
ten transects on the west side of the pond. The
number of cattails and phragmites were counted
and recorded. Within each square there were
five main categories of species described: 1)
non-reproductive cattails, 2) reproductive
cattails, 3) juvenile phragmites, 4) nonreproductive phragmites, and 5) reproductive
phragmites. The data was then used to show
plant distribution and density. Wind data from
a small airport to the north of Pecks Pond was
used to see if there was a correlation between
wind direction and the growth of the plant. It
was found that the direction of the wind had
affected the direction of growth. Findings show
how the spreading of phragmites can be affected
by many factors in a period of time.
Expression and Isolation of tRNA-gln
Logan Brown (Dr. Ethan Guth)
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
NU Research Fellow
Amino acids are the building blocks of all
proteins, including those essential for life.
These amino acids are placed in specific
orders by specific tRNA. Humans have the
necessary enzyme needed to have the amino
acid glutamine (gln) attached to the gln specific
tRNA (tRNA-gln). Bacteria do not have this
enzyme but instead have an enzyme that places
glutamic acid (glu) on the tRNA-gln and then
an enzyme named Gat-CAB that converts the
glu-tRNA-gln into a gln-tRNA-gln. The point
of this summer research is to find out how the
mechanism of the enzyme Gat-CAB works. In
order to do this the pieces must first be isolated.
One of the pieces needed is the tRNA-gln.
With this tRNA-gln isolated we will be able to
mischarge the amino acid glu on it and do a
mechanistic study of the Gat-CAB enzyme.
Additive Manufacturing in Space
Greg Butler, Ross Lannin, and Stephen Lennon
(Dr. R. Danner Friend)
David Crawford School of Engineering
As manned space missions move farther and
farther from Earth, self-sufficiency in space
is an important consideration. In light of this
ever-growing need, the objective of this project
was to design an additive manufacturing
solution that is capable of providing astronauts
the ability to manufacture parts in zero-gravity
conditions. The solution had to use recyclable
material with minimal human interaction and
supervision. The semi-autonomous system
had to be built upon existing technology that
could be leveraged for a possible technology
demonstration upon the International Space
Station in 3-5 years. The system needed to be
capable of manufacturing parts, inspecting the
printed parts for tolerances and deficiencies,
and recycling of parts. A functional proofof-concept system was designed and built in
the Norwich University Computer Integrated
Manufacturing laboratory. Significant
research was done into the current additive
manufacturing processes and limitations
as well as companies working on space
manufacturing. A space system design concept
was developed that combined existing 3D
printing, scanning, and recycling technologies
into a unified system. The lack of gravity and
limited space in the operating environment
influenced design considerations. Integration
of the printing and scanning technology
addressed the space shortage and afforded
greater autonomy. The prototype system was
constructed to mimic the space concept within
the capabilities of the laboratory and budget
of the project. The laboratory setting allowed
for the prototype concept to have future use in
research and testing applications, in addition to
incorporation in laboratory learning modules.
As such, additional considerations for the
prototype system included ease of student use,
reparability, accessibility of support services,
and adaptability of individual components or
the system as a whole to other uses. Brewster Angle Microscope
Tyler Carbone, Andrew Janowicz, Mitch St.
Onge, and Grisha Bourlakov (Dr. Karen Supan)
David Crawford School of Engineering
Brewster Angle Microscopy is used by scientists
and researchers to investigate thin films and
produce images of significantly higher quality
compared to other types of microscopy and
imaging. The film often rests on a water surface
and has a specific wavelength of polarized light
incident upon it at a certain angle, known as
Brewster’s Angle. At this angle, the polarized
light will be totally refracted into the water
base, reflecting only the material of interest
to the image collection device. Because only
the film material is reflected, images obtained
through this manner possess unparalleled
quality. Norwich University has requested that
an undergraduate student team design and
build a computer controlled Brewster Angle
Microscope as a cost-effective alternative to
purchasing a commercial microscope. The
primary use of the microscope will be to aid
Professor Arthur Pallone, a Norwich University
Physics professor, in his independent research.
Also, various other university faculty and
students may make use of the microscope for
other projects. The final design will be fully
computer controlled with its own user interface.
In the proposed design, relative control of the
polarized laser light source and imaging camera
is accomplished using a single stepper motor.
The camera and laser will be able to be adjusted
to Brewster’s Angle within an estimated 0.005
degrees. This design is cost-effective and will
result in images of high quality to aid in a wide
variety of university research projects.
Frederick Charles Miller: A Memoir
of War and Hardship on the Nile
Frank Carissimo (Dr. Rowland Brucken)
Department of History & Political Science
Weintz Research Fellow
January 26th 1885, the thunderous crack of
Egyptian cannonade ripped loose dirt from
the mud brick walls of Khartoum, spawning a
faint cloud of dust that rose lazily into the air.
Charles George Gordon, Governor-General of
the Sudan appointed by the Egyptian Khedive,
was an officer in the British Royal Engineers
who had been groomed since birth to serve the
British Empire. He and 9,000 men were besieged
in the capital of the Sudan, Khartoum, by 50 –
80,000 of the first modern Islamic Jihadist that
the West would face in the coming centuries.
The British Empire pulled upon its great
resources, after an exhaustive series of debates,
and dispatched a relief column to the city of
Khartoum. The relief expedition, which planned
to travel up the Nile during the dry season,
was headed by purportedly the best river
men in the world: the Canadian Voyageurs.
They faced a crocodile infested Nile River,
disease, the brutal African heat, and sporadic
ambushes in an attempt to relieve Khartoum.
The previously unstudied black leather bound
Animals Friend Society journal of Frederick
Charles Miller recounts the experiences of one
such Nile Voyageur during the expedition. The
experiences of the Nile Voyageurs’ hardships
are corroborated through Miller’s stoic journal.
The character of the expedition is made more
apparent to a reader as the day-to-day actions
of Miller are objectively and factually reported
in the journal, thus magnifying the horror felt
by the expedition when it fails. The expedition
reached a smoldering Khartoum approximately
two days after it had fallen. After a hasty and
sullen withdraw from the Sudan, the expedition
was heralded as a failure by the British public
and their herculean feats and sacrifices went
unrecognized. Frederick Charles Miller, like
many of his comrades, returned to Canada and
eventually came to own a “Fine Cheese and
Provisions” shop in New York City where he
spent the rest of his life.
Saving Rios Montt
Seth Cecchett and David Alexander
(Dr. Rowland Brucken)
Department of History & Political Science
The Guatemalan Civil War and the atrocities
committed within it were a result of combined
factors including, but not limited to, the
historical precedent established throughout
years of economic instability, and racially-based
oppression stemming from the conquest of
Central America and European influence over
native groups. Efrain Rios Montt, although
not entirely without guilt in the matter, is not
to be held solely responsible for the human
rights violations carried out against Mayan
natives, and extensive consideration must be
taken of the geopolitical atmosphere of the
time, which led to the external influence of a
number of foreign states in the fight against
the spread of communism. The Americanbased United Fruit Company, along with the
U.S Central Intelligence Agency, were both
culpable in laying the groundwork that would
lead to future conflict within Guatemala.
Although Efrain Rios Montt and lower ranking
individuals within the Guatemalan military
were directly responsible for the atrocities
committed against the Guatemalan indigenous
peoples, the governments of the United States,
Israel and South Africa, through their war on
communism, helped to facilitate the genocide
of the Mayan people by providing training,
funding, and war materials. The ensuing
genocide had profound long-lasting effects that
would greatly inhibit the politico-economic
future of Guatemala.
Guitar Fret Actuation System
Andrew Cook, Brian Dolat, Adam Fabry, and
Pete Wagner (Dr. Michael Prairie & Dr. Jeffrey
Mountain)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The focus of the project was to create a guitar
fret actuation device that could be attached to
the neck of a wide variety of guitars, and play a
significant number of songs, utilizing at most
the top four frets of the guitar. The assistive
technology device was to be actuated in a
manner that eliminated the need for the guitar
player to use their hand to fret the guitar. This
design was created to help those who have lost
the ability to use one of their hands. In order
to complete this, research was done on both an
actuation system, as well as a user interface. In
previous projects, electrical solenoids were used
to press the strings of the guitar. This produced
a major problem, in which the device was too
heavy to attach to the neck of the guitar and
required a significant source of power. Because
of this, the use of solenoids to press the strings
was prohibited and an emphasis was placed on
minimizing power dissipation. The device was
also required to play a chord group that will
allow for a large number of songs to be played.
This chord group was chosen and presented
with an explanation of why this chord group
would be sufficient. A device such as the one
described has not previously been created.
The only close comparisons include the Chord
Buddy and the Modular Automated Assistive
Guitar. However, these two designs do not
meet the criteria provided by the customer.
The Chord Buddy still requires the use of both
hands, and did not provide a sufficient number
of chords to be played. The Modular Automated
Assistive Guitar is a fully automatic guitar,
and therefore does not meet the requirements
provided. Our design is a completely original
design that assists the guitar player and provides
access to a significant number of chords.
Search and Location Rescue
Assistive Technology
Skylar Croy, Jeffery Fortuna, and
Nathan Tong (Dr. Ronald Lessard)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The goal of this project was to develop a
system of available technology to increase the
probability of saving human life in a search
and rescue situation by decreasing the overall
search time. The system design concept was
three portable cell phone towers that could
be placed at the vertices of triangles and, by
measuring the signal strength of the cell phone,
the operators could tell where the lost cell
phone was. To demonstrate this concept Wi-Fi
was used in a way that could be scalable to cell
phone frequencies. The scheme involved three
routers at the vertices of a triangle that would
each take readings by scrapping the MAC
address and decibel-milliwatts (dbm) of the
cell phone signal. The location of each router
and the decibel-milliwatts received were put
into an algorithm that could detect which of
four sub-triangles the phone was in. A test run
was done on a 39-80-89 foot right triangle and
was successful. The algorithm could be run in
a recursive manner, such that the rescue team
could hone in on the cell phone.
Multi-domain Microstructural
Fabric Development and Modification of the
Moretown Formation in Central Vermont
Aaron Daugherty (Dr. Christopher Koteas)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
This research looks at deformation that occurred
in the Moretown Formation in central Vermont
between the Taconic and Acadian orogenies.
Relating regional deformation to broader
processes of mountain building using estimates
of percent deformation, and extrapolating
the possible pressures and temperatures
during deformation, can help explain regional
structures. The project location was west of
the Richardson Memorial Contact in Elmore,
Vermont. This area has possibly undergone
overprinting during the Acadian orogeny,
making it difficult to understand the complete
deformational history, especially which fabrics
were formed during each orogenic event. Four
sketches were made of portions of the broader
outcrop, along with two significant samples that
were cut into slabs and polished so the folds
could be measured in the lab. By looking at the
sketches and measuring the percent shortening,
two different fold generations were recognized:
one having 113% shortening and another with
276% shortening. The larger event may have
occurred before the smaller, weaker event,
which supports the sketches showing more
significant folding with smaller events occurring.
From the oriented samples that were collected,
percent shortening was calculated by measuring
the fold’s initial distance divided by the final
distance. Research in the Moretown Formation
has shown that calculated pressures of 1.1 GPa
and temperatures from 600-650 °C were found
for Acadian deformation (Williams et al., 2001).
The similarities in composition with my location
and that of Williams and others suggests these
same P/T conditions may have existed in my
study. After examining the percent shortening,
there are different strengths of deformation,
which could show different events.
Looking at the Old to Innovate the New
Taylor Davidson (Prof. Tolya Stonorov)
School of Architecture & Art
Weintz Research Fellow
Before the advent of Portland cement in 1824,
Roman lime-based concrete was the standard.
Structures throughout Italy still stand as a
testament to the mix’s strength and resiliency:
the Pantheon retains the title of the world’s
largest unreinforced concrete dome. There is
an inherent difference in the way that Romans
approached their concrete versus modern
construction standards. These differences can
be explained by three C’s: content, casting, and
cladding. The content of Roman concrete was
sourced from waste such as broken pottery.
Volcanic debris was also used in the mixture,
revolutionizing the strength of their concrete,
a technique utilized in Portland cement today.
Because the concrete was always created on site
in Imperial Rome, the material was poured as
it was produced. This resulted in layers with
rough rock, creating a strong bonding surface
for the next layer, which in turn increased the
strength of the structure as a whole. Finally, a
cladding system was used for aesthetics and
surface protection. This aspect can translate into
modern techniques of metal cladding, chemical
sealing, or other processes that temporarily
protect the concrete from weathering as it cures.
Learning from the techniques and materials
of the Romans can enlighten the modern
concrete industry. Very few concrete structures
can match the longevity of Roman buildings,
and would be all but impossible without the
assistance of modern technology. It is through
analysis and consideration of Roman concrete
structures that we can improve our own
construction, create more enduring buildings,
and reduce our rate of consumption.
The Richardson Memorial Contact
in Woodbury, VT: Evidence for
Ductile Shearing
Christopher DeFelice (Dr. Christopher Koteas)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Weintz Research Fellow
The Richardson Memorial Contact (RMC)
is a boundary that runs north-south through
the middle of Vermont, which separates the
Cambro-Ordovician age ( ~550 million years
old) bedrock units to the west, associated with
the Taconic orogeny, from Siluro-Devonian
bedrock (~440 million years old) to the
east, associated with the Acadian orogeny.
Woodbury, VT provides an excellent location
for bedrock exposure along this structure as
well as the presence of granitoid intrusions
on either side of this structure. This allows
for an additional geologic tool to study the
origins of the RMC, which has been previously
interpreted as an erosional feature. To the south
of Woodbury, from Northfield to Montpelier,
a zone of high strain has been identified and
called the Dog River Fault Zone (DRFZ). This
feature occurs along strike with the RMC. The
DRFZ has been interpreted as a ductile fault
zone. Macroscopic- and microscopic-scale
evidence of deformation is present in rocks
along the RMC in Woodbury. Granitoids do
not appear to intrude across the RMC and
have no evidence of deformation. Geochemical
analysis of major elements in the granitoids
shows igneous fractionation trends. Trace
element geochemistry supports a lower crust
source. Variable emplacement mechanisms and
mineralogy of the granitoids on either side of
the RMC suggest the granitoids were emplaced
at different crustal depth. This work suggests
that the RMC in Woodbury is correlative to the
DRFZ to the south and preserves significant
evidence that a ductile fault zone was active
along this ancient boundary.
The Forgotten Fire: A Creative Take
on the Rhoads Opera House Fire
Dana DeMartino (Prof. Sean Prentiss)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
NU Research Fellow
The 1908 Rhoads Opera House Fire in
Boyertown, Pennsylvania killed one-tenth
of the town’s population and, although in
one sense only a small-town tragedy, it led to
sweeping changes in national fire safety codes.
Requirements for multiple fire escapes, lit
EXIT signs, outward opening doors, and non-
flammable theater curtains comprised many of
the changes stemming from this heartbreaking
disaster.
Epistemology’s Effect on Belief
Dana DeMartino (Dr. Kevin Fleming)
Department of Psychology & Education
Epistemology is the study of knowledge and
how individuals determine what they believe
to be true. The epistemic reasoning that
people use to justify their beliefs varies from
person to person. Some individuals use logic
or experience to determine what is real; some
individuals rely on intuition or authority. In this
experiment the possible correlation between the
reliance on authority as a source of information
and a belief in false news sources is examined.
If the source of information is not analyzed,
then individuals could believe false information.
There are many sources of information readily
available to the public today, and not all of those
sources are credible. There is false information
in circulation, especially on the internet, and
if individuals viewing this information do not
analyze the source to determine credibility,
then they will make the mistake of believing
it. In this experiment, the subjects will read a
fake article from a satire news website. I believe
their likelihood to believe this article is true is
directly correlated to the individual’s reliance on
authority as a source of knowledge. Individuals
continually believing false and / or biased
news creates a society in which individuals
are incorrectly informed. This leads to making
misinformed decisions, which may affect society
as a whole.
Additive Manufacturing for
Space Application
Thomas Eastwick, Brian Loveless, and
Spencer Nath (Dr. R. Danner Friend)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The application of popular handheld devices
for space has been limited due to the harsh
environment they are exposed to during
launch. With the development of protective
cases, the devices will be able to survive the
launch environments. One of the primary
objectives of this work was to design a
device for space application where additive
manufacturing would be superior to using
traditional manufacturing methods. Protective
cases for handheld devices for use in space
would not be mass produced and there is a
need for customization, eliminating traditional
processes. Several different design concepts
were considered to see which concept was best
for meeting the constraints and criteria for
space applications. An application example
was chosen that uses the HP ElitePad 900 tablet
in a scenario onboard the International Space
Station (ISS). The use of a well-protected and
modern tablet would immediately advance
the technology used on the ISS. The case was
designed with handles and magnetic strips for
relatively easy use. An additive manufacturing
process using a Stratasys Connex printer was
selected as the best choice due its ability to
use multiple materials with different levels
of hardness. After manufacturing the case, it
was put through several tests to measure its
performance. A thermal test was performed
to ensure the materials of the case would not
degrade significantly while exposed to the
higher temperatures. A vibration test was
done at a testing facility to ensure the case
provided adequate vibration damping for the
tablet to survive launch. Finally, a drop test was
performed to verify the case would be able to
protect the tablet from damage due to impacts.
Drinking Culture: A Comparative
Study between Military Colleges
Ryan Fecteau (Dr. W. Travis Morris)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
NU Research Fellow
Recent research has started to examine the
college environment as the main influence
pushing students to drink alcohol. This study
examines the customs and practices associated
with drinking alcohol at Norwich University
and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), both
of which have populations with distinctive
drinking cultures. The intention of this study
is to gain a better understanding of influencers
that cause military college students to drink. The
findings of this research could help create an
opportunity for the development of preventative
programs and policies to help lower the amount
of alcohol-related incidents and alcoholism
at military colleges. A sample of 304 students
from Norwich and VMI completed an online
survey that included qualitative and quantitative
information about the drinking culture of each
college. Student-published newspapers were
examined to review how each college publicly
displays alcohol. This information was divided
into three property variables; Organizational,
Physical & Behavioral, and Campus
Community. Our data suggests that military
college students drink more frequently and
excessively than the national average (NIAA).
Organizational: a military institution at a college
is just as influential as having sports programs.
Physical & Behavioral: both populations are
predominantly residential students, which
influences where and how much students
drink. Campus Community: both colleges have
multiple stores and restaurants where alcohol
is available, which has shown to be influential.
Our findings suggest that the environmental
factors that comprise the drinking culture of
a military colleges are strong influencers on
alcohol consumption for the student population.
Functional Investigation of the Novel
Binding Partners Src family kinase Fyn and
Microtubule Associated Protein MAP1B
Alexandra Frank (Dr. Karen Hinkle)
Department of Biology & Physical Education
Src family kinases (SFK) are non-receptor
tyrosine kinases that act as signaling
mediators in many cellular processes including
proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion,
apoptosis, and motility. When abnormal cellular
processes occur, SFKs have been identified
to be highly expressed, resulting in cancers.
Fyn, one of the 10 proteins that comprise this
group of kinases, has been mainly associated
with immune and neurological function. Fyn
presents multiple phosphorylation sites that can
ultimately alter its activity. Upon identifying
a series of novel proteins that bind and are
potentially phosphorylated by Fyn, this study
further explores the role of MAP1B’s. MAP1B
is a protein that has been associated with
tyrosination of the alpha-tubulin in neuronal
microtubules. Phosphorylation of MAP1B has
been proposed to cause cytoskeletal changes,
affecting neurite extensions. The overall goal
of this study was to confirm that MAP1B
binds with Fyn. This study was modeled
using HEK293 cells that were transfected with
MAP1B DNA, as well as cells that were taken
through a “mock” transfection as a control.
This research is of value because it can help to
better understand the over-action of pathways
that signal cancer cell growth, specifically the
association with neuronal development that is
associated with Fyn and MAP1B. With a better
understanding of these pathways, it can lead to
the future direction of being able to manipulate
these pathways to stop cancerous cell growth
through pharmaceutical means or other means.
Transitions from
Destruction to Stability
Jabob Freeman (Dr. Andrea Talentino)
Department of History & Political Science
NU Research Fellow
This paper examines the rebuilding of Japan
after WWII through investment of social and
economic resources by the US to develop a
mutual relationship of security and economic
interests emphasizing economic equality.
The policies during the occupation through
the 1970’s included long-term investment in
a national investment bank and protected
asymmetrical trade with the US. These policies
contributed to one of the lowest wealth incomeinequality measurements during that time. The
income-gap indicates the strength of the middle
class. The middle class is important because the
economic transformation causes an economic
burden that the group can better absorb. A
critical mutual security interest encourages a
partner to invest its own resources, both social
and economic, to provide enough for the state
to function and grow socially, economically,
and militarily. In conclusion, economic policies
that promote the middle class combined with
domestic social institutions that reinforce those
policies and, a mutual security interest are
important ingredients for a successful mission.
Remediation of Storm Water Runoff Using
Green Infrastructure, North Branch,
Winooski River, Montpelier, VT
Cody Gladstone (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Montpelier currently uses a combined sewer
system in which rainwater runoff, domestic
sewage, and industrial wastewater are all
collected through the same pipe. Most of the
time, the water is treated at the wastewater
treatment facility and is then discharged
into the Winooski River. However, during
periods of heavy rainfall the system cannot
handle the volume, which results in untreated
wastewater being discharged into nearby
streams. The first part of this study focused on
water quality testing along the lower portion
of the North Branch of the Winooski River,
which is currently listed as an impaired water
body due to E. coli contamination. Stormwater
pipes show significantly higher turbidity and
temperature, most notably at the confluence,
with localized areas of high total phosphates
along the river. The second part of this study
identified a low permeability section of
Montpelier along Barre Street with a currently
active combined sewer system that discharges
into the North Branch, for which we propose
the implementation of green infrastructure.
Using a series of specifically designed bioswales,
storm water runoff can be collected, reducing
the volume of water entering the sewer system
and decreasing the chance of overflows. The
bioswale is designed to work with the existing
sewer infrastructure rather than a complete
remodeling of the sewer system. This study
provides valuable base flow water quality data
for the North Branch and a framework for
synthesizing field data and design to pinpoint
areas that are suitable for remediation.
Investigating a Potentially Novel Interaction
Between Pard3 and the Src Family Kinase Fyn
Abigail Haswell (Dr. Karen Hinkle)
Department of Biology & Physical Education
In this project I explored a new protein-protein
binding interaction between Fyn, a Src Family
Kinase, and the partition deficient protein
Pard3. It was recently discovered in the Hinkle
lab through a tandem Mass Spectrometry
that Pard3 and Fyn may bind. The interaction
between Pard3 and Fyn is not well understood,
but critical because Fyn plays a huge regulatory
role in cell growth and division. Tests such as
SDS-Page and GST-SH2 pull down assays can
help validate this interaction and obtain a better
understanding of the Fyn-Pard3 interaction.
The Effect of Deicing Salts on Surface
Water Chemistry and Wetland Vegetation
at Pecks Pond
Robert Hickey (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
The primary objective of my research was to
determine how surface water chemistry and
vegetation change spatially across a wetland
due to the application of deicing salts to nearby
roads. Specifically, this study examined changes
along the main outflow of Pecks Pond located
in Barre, VT. Concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and
Cl- generally increased along the outflow from
the pond to the southern end of the wetland.
The correlation of Ca2+ with Na+ and Cl- is
likely a result of cation exchange within the
carbonate-rich tills that underlie the wetland.
At Site 8, Ca2+ and Na+ showed a sharp increase
of 22% and 43% respectively from Site 9 (50
m upstream). These significant increases
correlated with a sharp decline in narrow-leaf
cattail (Typha angustofoila) percentages and
an increase in Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
percentages. Site 8 is adjacent to an inlet
entering the wetland from the southwest near
Route 63. Although narrow-leaf cattail tolerates
elevated concentrations of sodium and calcium
in the southern part of the wetland, this data
implies a localized sensitivity to sudden changes
in water chemistry as a result of the inlet. An
east-west transect across Site 8 confirmed
that the source of increased Na+, Ca2+, and Clconcentrations was from the inlet and indicates
that the outflow acts as a natural hydrologic
barrier to salt movement. This study suggests
that sudden changes in water chemistry as a
result of road-salt can have a detrimental impact
on even relatively salt-tolerant species such as
narrow-leaf cattail.
YARS2: A Novel Protein Under
Analysis in HEK-293 Cells
Kayla Inouye (Dr. Karen Hinkle)
Department of Biology & Physical Education
YARS2, also known as tyrosine-tRNA ligase,
is a little known protein with experiments
only suggesting evidence at the protein level.
What scientists have deconstructed from the
study of YARS2 is that it acts as a catalyst to
phosphorylate the amino acid tyrosine to
tRNA, using ATP as the phosphate source.
There are pathological links with mutation of
YARS2 at the genetic level causing sideroblastic
anemia. The goal of my research with YARS2
was to replicate protein expression within
human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). By
transfecting HEK-293 cells with and without
hydrogen peroxide treatment, analyzing a
protein assay, running a gel through coomassie
stain as well as the V5 and actin antibodies for a
western blot analysis, the resulting data suggests
protein expression of YARS2. With more
research and studies of the phosphorylative
activities in which YARS2 is involved, there is
potential for the development of specific gene
therapy drugs and other pathologic treatments.
Assessment of Process-Oriented Guided
Inquiry Learning in General Chemistry
at Norwich University
Stacey Jarvis (Prof. Mary Hoppe)
Department of Psychology & Education
NU Research Fellow
The Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning
(POGIL) pedagogy has been used at Norwich
University since 1996. This teaching strategy
is based on interactive activities specifically
designed to help students construct their own
understanding of a topic. These activities are
designed using Constructivist Learning Theory
as established by cognitive psychologists. In
an effort to increase student performance,
the chemistry department switched from
traditional lecture to POGIL classrooms.
Student performance was measured by GPA,
which was deemed to be a reasonable indicator.
The final grades of students in each section of
general chemistry taught at Norwich University
between 1991 and 2014 were collected. These
data were analyzed to determine if the increase
in GPA in POGIL classes as compared to lecture
was statistically significant. Several t-tests were
performed on data sets comparing POGIL vs.
lecture in the two-semester General Chemistry
sequence, General Chemistry I (CH103), and
General Chemistry II (CH104). All data sets
showed statistically significant increases in GPA
(all P < 0.001) in POGIL classes. In general,
the identity of the faculty member facilitating
the class did not have a major effect on these
results. Multiple c2 analyses of course grades
determined there was a statistically significant
difference in grade distribution between POGIL
and lecture methodology. Further analyses
using the two proportion test showed POGIL
tended to increase the number of As, Bs, and
Cs, and decrease the number of Ds and Fs,
depending on the course (CH103 or CH104).
Project CoBaC
William Keenan and Ian Sellers
(Prof. Michael Prairie)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The purpose of our Controller Based Carving
project, Project CoBaC, is to create a device that
makes woodcarving possible for someone who
suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis. Project
CoBaC is comprised of two primary sections.
The first section uses a system of geared
motors and linear actuators. This mechanism
positions a carving chisel and provides the force
for carving the wood. The second section of
Project CoBaC is the controller. The controller
is comprised of a comfortable handle that is
easy to move and fitted with potentiometers.
Microprocessors are used to convert the analog
values from these potentiometers into digital
control signals. These signals are then turned
into pulse width modulated signals that are
used to control linear actuators and motors
through H-Bridge power electronics. CoBaC is
powered by a 13.8 V Power supply and a 12 V
transformer. Currently we are doing the testing
on the ease of use for the customer and making
minor adjustments. By the end of the month
we will have CoBaC to the point where we can
deliver the finished product to our customer.
One further improvement that could be made
with more time includes adding a work piece
positioning system. This system would allow the
piece of wood to be repositioned without the
user having to physically release and lock the
wood into new positions. Overall, the project
met the expectations set out by our customer
and faculty advisor.
Tale of Two Killers
Tory Kethro (Dr. Elizabeth Gurian)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
Weintz Research Fellow
This research explores the question of why Gary
Heidnik is consistently labeled a serial killer,
although many of his offending patterns do not
match accepted serial murder definitions. In
contrast to Heidnik, this research also explores
why Richard Kuklinski, a contract killer is
not commonly labeled a serial killer, although
he exhibited a number of characteristics that
might arguably label him such. Throughout my
research I analyzed typologies that are used with
respect to serial murder in order to explore why
contract killers have not been included under
the label ‘serial killer.’ As part of my research,
I conducted an extensive literature review that
explored typologies that have been used for
serial killers. Kuklinski was convicted of five
murders and sentenced to consecutive life
sentences, but admitted to killing more than
one hundred and fifty people; however he is
not often considered a serial killer. Heidnik is
an American kidnapper and serial killer who
tortured and raped six women in Philadelphia.
Due to his sadistic nature, he is considered
a serial killer, even though he never directly
killed any of his prisoners. The research that
I conducted allowed me to take a deeper look
into why Kuklinski’s and Heidnik’s offender
characteristics commonly exclude or include
them from being considered a serial killer.
This research provides a current exploration
of the exclusion of contract killers from serial
murder typologies. I interviewed Dr. Holmes
(University of Central Florida), as well as Dr.
Fox (Northeastern University). Both expressed
that there are ‘grey areas’ in regard to typologies,
and that both Richard Kuklinski and Gary
Heidnik fall within that ‘grey area.’
Distinguishing Between Late Pulsing
Phenomena and Delayed Light Production
in Neutrino Experiments Using Liquid
Scintillators
Ehrin Koenig (Dr. Robert Knapik)
Department of Physics
NU Research Fellow
Neutrino experiments have become a popular
topic in the field of particle physics and a
majority of these experiments hinge on the
efficiency of a neutrino detector. These neutrino
detectors, in almost all cases, are comprised
of two components: a detector medium and
large area photomultiplier tubes (PMT) used to
detect the light generated by the byproducts of
a neutrino interaction. The light that is detected
is a result of a charged particle moving through
the detector medium after being liberated by
a relativistic neutrino. Typically in a neutrino
detector the medium is either water, which
produces Cherenkov light in response to
relativistic motion of a charged particle, or a
scintillator, which produces scintillation light in
the same manner. However, there is a distinct
difference in the light produced by these two
mediums. In a Cherenkov detector, the light
generated by the motion of the moving charged
particle can be thought of as being produced
immediately; this results in a characteristic time
interval in which the PMT will register a signal,
referred to as the prompt time region. This
time includes the transit time of the incident
photon and the transit time of the photoelectron
liberated from the photocathode on the surface
of the PMT. In some cases, due to backscattering
in the PMT, a pulse will register at a later time
interval due to the lengthened traveling time
(longer transit time of the photoelectron due to
the elastic collision inside the PMT), referred to
as the late time region. Yet, when a scintillator
is used in place of water, the light produced
is not immediate but rather is produced over
a relatively longer span of time; as a result,
the PMT will register a signal over a lengthier
representative time window, which coincides
with the late region of a Cherenkov detector.
The goal of this research is to determine
the amount of light that is produced in the
characteristic late time interval in a scintillator
detector. The research will make use of an
algorithm that would be able to differentiate
between late signals produced by backscattering
inside the photomultiplier tube and signals
resulting from the late production of light that
is representative of scintillator detector. By
accounting for the backscattering phenomena,
a rate of late light production in scintillator
detectors can be established.
Mistakes in the Criminal Justice System
Zachary Larson (Dr. Elizabeth Gurian)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
NU Research Fellow
On March 11, 2014, Glenn Ford left Louisiana
State Penitentiary in Angola, where he had
been held since March 1985 (nearly 30 years).
Ford was convicted of first-degree murder
and sentenced to death by an all-white jury
(Bever, 2014; Louisiana 2014). Ford also has
the distinction of becoming the 144th death row
inmate to be exonerated from death row. On
average, these exonerees spend 10.1 years on
death row before being released (Paternoster,
Bacon and Brame, 2008). Capital punishment is
an area of intense interest to researchers because
it is one of the United States’ most controversial
subjects.
Pervious Concrete: A Filtration System to
Support a Sustainable Environment
Susan M. Limberg (Dr. Tara Kulkarni)
David Crawford School of Engineering
Considering environmental issues, sustainable
living is a more modern lifestyle that seeks to
use renewable resources. The idea is to take
from, as well as physically alter, the natural
earth as little as humanly possible. The idea of
sustainable living has merged into the theory of
sustainable development. This means making
eco-friendly choices from the construction
planning phase instead of only imposing
sustainable concepts on pre-existing structures.
In the grand scheme, sustainable development
is cleaner, has the potential to be more efficient,
has long-term potential, and is a way to keep
moving forward in a growing world economy.
There are a number of sustainable as well as
Low Impact Development (LID) practices
that are becoming more popular as the need
for sustainable practices become more and
more pertinent. This research focuses on one
avenue of sustainable development: pervious
concrete. Pervious concrete, also referred to
as porous concrete, permeable concrete, or
porous pavement, is a special type of concrete
with a high porosity that allows water from
precipitation events and other sources to pass
directly through it and absorb into the ground.
This feature aids in reducing the water runoff
from a site and allowing groundwater recharge.
Pervious concrete is traditionally used in
parking areas, areas with light traffic, residential
streets, pedestrian walkways, and greenhouses.
This research explores a way to re-design
pervious concrete pavement areas to harvest
and filter storm water runoff contaminated by
organics, nutrients, and metals, and convert it
to meet drinking water quality standards. The
project was conceived primarily as a solution
to the challenge of global water sustainability
due to a changing climate that has led to
unpredictable storms and droughts. The design
manages excessive storm water runoff by using
the pervious concrete to prevent flooding
caused by increased impermeable surfaces.
The filter component of the pervious concrete
treats contaminated storm water, affording a
safe drinking water source for communities
affected by water scarcity, which is a known
cause of economic and social disadvantages
in communities facing such problems. The
filter design has 2 major components: 1) The
composition of the filter materials that treat
the contaminated water passing through the
pervious concrete to drinking water quality. 2)
The system design that integrates the filtration
component into the pervious concrete (envision
a design with structurally stable, suspended
pervious concrete slabs into which the filter is
inserted). The latter makes the maintenance of
the system and reuse of the filter media possible
and convenient. The aim was to use common
and inexpensive filter media to make the system
an affordable, decentralized water treatment
technology that can be incorporated within
green infrastructure projects worldwide.
Induction Heat Treatment of
Industrial Crown Punch Knives
Jacob Maheu, Christian Hallstrom,
Luke Moeckel, and Spencer Halaut
(Dr. Donald Wallace)
David Crawford School of Engineering
Induction heating has been accepted as a
standard method of heat treating in industrial
applications. Research was conducted to
determine the possibility of differentially heat
treating 410 stainless steel through the use of
induction heating while effectively preventing
warping and oxidation. The focus of the
project is a standard #10 round can crown
punch knife, used in industrial can openers.
Specifically, the leading edge of the crown needs
to be heat treated to ensure edge retention
over repeated use. Reduction in oxidation is
required to minimize the time needed in post
heat treatment finishing. Ideally, there will be
close to zero oxidation caused by heating since
the part will be in contact with canned foods.
The research has consisted of custom coil
designs with various wrap patterns. The coil
must be compatible with commercial induction
heater power supplies. The controller must
have enough power to bring the crown edge up
to a temperature of 1850 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heating will occur in an airtight chamber with
a vacuum generator to remove oxygen, followed
by backfilling with nitrogen gas to further
displace oxygen. The chamber is circular in
cross section and set to be twice the diameter
of the coil so minimal current is induced in the
chamber wall. The crown knife will be cooled
using a steady stream of nitrogen for two
minutes, allowing martensite transformation
to occur. The part will be loaded and unloaded
manually with a technician present during
the operation. Once the preliminary designs
were determined, sketches were then created
to scale in SolidWorks. The concepts went
through a decision matrix to select the best coil
design and method of oxidation prevention.
The final design was selected based on the
decision matrices and a full set of drawings was
produced in SolidWorks. The design selected
was sent out to several manufacturers for
quotes to determine which induction controller
was the best financial choice. The commercial
power supply specifications were chosen
using the acceptable range of frequencies and
power requirement calculated for the crown
punch knife. Properties such as geometry,
mass, specific heat, magnetic permeability and
electrical resistivity were used to calculate the
ideal controller power and frequency. Based on
currently manufactured induction controller
specifications, multiple power supplies were
chosen to evaluate in a decision matrix to
select one to best meet specified criteria. The
Induction controller and airtight chamber will
operate as a system for small batch production
of crown punches.
A Comparison of Statistical Methods Used to
Differentiate Gene Expression Measures on a
Breast Cancer Microarray Experiment
Kelley Martin (Dr. Darlene Olsen)
Department of Mathematics
Weintz Research Fellow
High-throughput experiments use gene chip
technologies, such as microarrays and RNAsequencing, to understand cellular function
by studying the behaviour of all the genes
of an organism simultaneously. A common
objective of experiments using microarrays or
RNA-sequencing is to identify differential gene
expression between two or more conditions.
This project compares the results of two
similar breast cancer experiments, one with a
microarray dataset and the other an RNA-seq
dataset. Both datasets measure gene expression
to understand the behaviour of genes in tumor
cells; however, the original analyses have
varying results.
Mapping Wetland Vegetation Communities
at Pecks Pond in Central Vermont
Meghan Mason (Dr. Laurie Grigg)
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
The development of Rt. 63, south of the Pecks
Pond wetlands in Barre, VT, has altered both
the water chemistry and water depth of the
wetlands. This study identified and mapped
vegetation communities in the wetland and
examined potential connections between these
communities and water chemistry, water depth,
and historic changes to the wetland. Historic
infrared aerial imagery shows a transition
from open water in 1962 to the present-day
establishment of Typha angustofolia in the
center of the wetland. The central part of the
wetland is dominated by T. angustofolia and
is strongly correlated with the deepest surface
water (0.5-1.0m depth). A grass meadow is
dominant along the southwestern edge of the
wetland where Na+ and Cl- concentrations
are highest and the water table depth is 3-5
cm below the surface. Species with lower
salt tolerance levels are present along the
eastern and northern edges of the wetland,
where Thuja occidentalis is dominant in a
shrubby wetland community. Speckled alder
and sedge form distinct communities where
an inlet stream enters the wetland and suggest
an additional linkage between vegetation and
water chemistry. The distribution of wetland
vegetation communities at Pecks Ponds are
influenced by water level, water chemistry, and
historic changes. In addition, the continued
accumulation of road-salts in this wetland
will likely result in the expansion of the grass
meadow at the expense of the more diverse
shrub communities. These results make a case
for the ecological consideration of wetlands
when applying road salts to adjacent roads.
Pompey the Great: An Analysis of Leadership
Excellence in the Late Roman Republic
William Mistretta (Dr. Christine McCann)
Department of History & Political Science
This thesis examines the military and political
triumphs of the late Roman Republican
general Pompey the Great in order to establish
his prowess as an exceptional leader of the
time. To demonstrate Pompey’s effectiveness
as a leader of the classical world, three
characteristics were identified as the most
necessary and encompassing aspects of
ancient leadership. Through the use of both
modern and classical sources, three distinct
and all-encompassing characteristics were
identified: ambition, strategy, and audacity.
The three characteristics serve to provide the
most direct means of leadership evaluation
during the classical period and allowed the
creation of a unique interpretation of leadership.
Pompey was evaluated in regards to each of
the characteristics and his comprehensive
grasp of each characteristic is demonstrated.
This thesis proves that Pompey lived his life
in accordance with the identified leadership
traits, which ultimately allowed for his success
upon the battlefield, as well as in his political
rise in Rome. Through his actions upon the
field of battle, in the Roman political arena, and
through his own personal interactions with
friend and foe alike, he showed himself as the
highest caliber of leader and a man worthy of
greater recognition and further study.
Ballistic Anemometer
Casey Mitchell, Adam Nichols, and
Alex Hibbard (Dr. Donald Wallace)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The Ballistic Anemometer was a project
purposed by the Norwich University Applied
Research Institute. It will be used for long range
shooting applications in a military environment.
Wind is the most difficult variable to obtain in
ballistic equations. The Ballistic Anemometer
will be a device that measures wind speed and
direction, and relays that information back
to a handheld device. As of now the method
for obtaining wind speed exposes the shooter,
and the data is collected at a very slow rate.
The Ballistic Anemometer will be able to
transmit the wind speed and direction data to
a hand held device at a faster rate and will not
expose the shooter. The goal of the Ballistic
Anemometer is to be able to measure wind
speed within 2 mph and wind direction within
10 degrees. The device must also wirelessly
transfer the information to a handheld device.
The anemometer must also have a small visual
signal, because the idea is to deploy the device
in a combat environment without giving away
the position of the shooter. This project is being
approached from a proof of concept/prototype
view. Wind measurements will be taken by
using a vertical smooth rod attached to a 2-axis
potentiometer at the base. The wind will push
the rod over, and the angle of deflection and
direction of deflection will be used to calculate
the wind speed and direction. The direction of
the wind will be related a digital compass that
measures direction with respect to magnetic
north. A microprocessor will be used to
condition the signal and then transmit the data
via Bluetooth to a handheld Android-based
device.
AISC/ASCE Student Steel
Bridge Competition
John Murphy and Henry Regalado
(Dr. Edwin Schmeckpeper)
David Crawford School of Engineering
The American Institute of Steel Construction
(ASCE) and the American Society of Civil
Engineers (AISC) cooperate and sponsor a
student-based competition every year. This
competition requires each student-based group
to design and build a steel bridge that offers a
solution to the given, real-world based, problem
statement. The bridge must be erected and
tested in competition style. The bridge must
withstand a 2500 pound vertical load with a
maximum deflection of 2 inches, and a lateral
load of 50 pounds with a maximum deflection
of 1 inch. Construction speed, weight, stiffness,
construction economy, aesthetics, and structural
efficiency are all taken into account for judging
the competition. An ASCE student-based team
from Norwich University will apply skills and
methods acquired from Structural Analysis
and Steel Design courses in order to design and
fabricate a bridge that will meet the Steel Bridge
Competition standards. Norwich University will
be competing against 15 other schools in the
regional competition, and the top three teams
will then move onto the national competition.
Engineering Novel GFP and mCherry
Constructs to Express c–FYN in Human
Embryonic Kidney Cells
Patrick M. Ogden (Dr. Megan Doczi)
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
A plasmid is a small separate DNA molecule
that is independent from the rest of the cell. It
is usually circular in shape and can replicate
like regular DNA in a cell. Plasmids are useful
in research because they act as empty vectors
that can take up exogenous genes and replicate
to produce it within the cell. In this experiment
Kv1.3 was excised and c-FYN inserted into two
fluorescent vectors, GFP and mCherry, and
was expressed in human embryonic kidney
cells. The enzymes BAMHI and HindIII were
specifically selected to procure the cut sites in
FYN. Gel extraction of the potent bands were
cut out directly from the gel and analyzed using
fluorescence microscopy. FYN is an important
protein-tyrosine kinase oncogene that has roots
in the regulation of cell growth. Having the
ability to insert and trace proteins through a
plasmid has incessantly changed the world of
genetics and science. Medical advances in the
past two decades have harnessed this technique
and have used fluorescent proteins as markers
for in vivo imaging. Being able to trace in
real-time what is happening within a cell gives
scientists multiple angles to view changes at the
cellular level. Numerous applications of this
experiment have broadened the scientific ceiling
on what is possible and what can be learned.
From this experiment, two new plasmids, GFPFYN and mCherry-FYN were created for the
first time.
SAVANT (Stand Alone Video
Analytic Network Tool)
Kenneth Owens, Kenneth Knight, and Ryan
Grindle (Dr. David Feinauer)
David Crawford School of Engineering
Organizational Strategies Inc. (OSI), a provider
of “smart solutions” built on a state-of-the-art
analytics platform, requested a solution that
could provide key video analytics capabilities in
a more accessible, less resource intensive way.
Video analytics is the processing of each frame
in a video by a computer to detect something
about the video. The SAVANT team was formed
with the goal of producing an analytics tool
that can minimize cost while decreasing size
and maintaining analytic capability. After
extensive profiling of current systems and
research into capable boards, the NVIDIA
Jetson TK1 was selected. OpenCV, an open
source computer vision library, was chosen
because it has the option to use CUDA cores
in video analytics to improve processing time.
FFmpeg, an open source media handler, is used
to provide the processed video to multiple users
simultaneously. The layout for testing included
the Jetson TK1, an IP camera, and a laptop, all
connected to a router to simulate the operating
environment. Quality tests have been performed
to measure frame rate, mean time between
failures, and throughput time. The results of
preliminary tests provide that SAVANT has
met the requirements set forth by OSI, while
decreasing the size of the computational
hardware to a 5” x 5” board. With these results
the threshold measures of performance were
met and SAVANT is considered a success.
Future work with SAVANT can improve frame
rate further with the use of CUDA cores. This
will allow for more computationally expensive
algorithms to run on SAVANT.
Expression of Kv1.3 Channels and
Insulin Receptor in Embryonic Avian
Hypothalamic Neurons
Alexandra Palmer (Dr. Megan Doczi)
Department of Biology & Physical Education
Shaker family voltage-gated potassium (Kv1)
channels help govern neuronal excitability and
resting membrane potential in many types of
neurons. The hypothalamus is a region of the
brain that is responsible for maintaining the
homeostatic balance between food intake and
energy expenditure via metabolic signaling.
Evidence indicates that certain metabolic factors
such as insulin can modulate the function of
Kv1.3 through tyrosine kinase activity of the
Insulin Receptor (IR). These metabolic signals
can also interact with specific hypothalamic
nuclei where IRs have been detected. The goal
of this project is to compare gene expression
of Kv1.3 and IR in intact embryonic avian
hypothalamic tissue and dissociated embryonic
avian hypothalamic cultures, thus enabling us to
use these cultures as a model system for testing
the developmental regulation of the channel.
Previous research has demonstrated that
Kv1.3 mRNA is present in intact hypothalamic
tissue from avian day 12 embryos (E12).
In the present study, we demonstrate the
expression of Kv1.2, Kv1.3, and Kv1.5 channel
mRNA in E12 avian hypothalamic cultures
using RT-PCR analysis. We also identify the
expression of IR mRNA in E12 hypothalamic
cultures, as well as in E12 intact hypothalamic
tissue, indicating that insulin signaling may
affect Kv1 channel function in the developing
embryo. Future experiments implementing
immunohistochemical staining of hypothalamic
tissue and immunofluorescence staining of
dissociated cultures will be used to localize
Kv1.3 and IR channel protein. We are the first
laboratory to study the expression of Kv1.3
channels and Insulin Receptor in the embryonic
avian hypothalamus. This work will have a
significant impact on the field of hypothalamic
development and provide valuable insight into
the role of ion channels in the patterning and
regulation of homeostatic feeding circuits
Rationalizing London: John Gwyn’s Revival of
Christopher Wren’s City Plans, 1666-1780
Shaili Patel (Dr. Emily Gray)
Department of History & Political Science
NU Research Fellow
Many architects and historians have tried to
create an ideal city that is based upon rational
thought. This was a problem faced by the
citizens of London when its re-planning was in
the works. In this research I analyzed the plans
of Christopher Wren and John Gwynn, both
of whom were influenced by Enlightenment
philosophies, to rebuild London after the great
fire in 1666. Due to the rationality emphasized
by Enlightenment thinkers, Wren and Gwynn’s
plans should have reflected the upmost orderly
and stringent layout of the city. The two
proposals to rebuild London after the great fire
of 1666 were analyzed and reviewed in situ and,
while John Gwynn claimed to be resurrecting
Christopher Wren’s plans, Gwynn’s plans were
drastically different because each man had
different focuses due to the circumstances of
their times; Wren being focused on religion and
commerce, with Gwynn focused on commerce
and royal authority. These findings will help
current urban planners and historians provide
sufficient ideals on creating an orderly and ideal
city, solving the chaotic nature of current cities.
Tig Welding Fixture
Sean Pellino, Matthew Purdy and Joshua
McDowell (Dr. Donald Wallace)
David Crawford School of Engineering
Edlund Corporation, a kitchen equipment
manufacturing company located in Burlington
Vermont, has sponsored a project for the David
Crawford School of Engineering. Currently the
method Edlund Co. uses to weld the square bars
makes use of an experienced welder to weld a
simple part; therefore, this project focuses on
designing, building and testing a fixture for
the fast and consistent welding of the square
bar to the cast base for Edlund Co.’s primary
product line. This application must be cost and
time competitive with the method currently
used. The designed process must not violate any
existing patent or patent pending technology.
The developed prototype and final system
design must be safe to use in the intended
industrial setting. The fixture should utilize
position and orientation motion as necessary
to obtain a medium production rate, consistent
and high quality welds by either manual or
automated means. Edlund Co. must be able
to fabricate, assemble, and test the functional
prototype and final designed system using inhouse equipment and capabilities. Finally the
product life cycle should be evaluated for recycle
content and overall energy usage.
Universal Mobile Ad-hoc
Networks (MANETs)
William Perry (Dr. Jeremy Hansen)
School of Business & Management
NU Research Fellow
In the 21st century world, Internet access
is a basic necessity. The solutions currently
available do not adequately address the myriad
of environments inhabited by people today,
including the fact that coverage is problematic
in many remote areas. One alternative to the
solutions available is a mobile ad-hoc network
(MANET) used to form flexible, wide-ranging
mesh networks that encompass and utilize
any device that passes into the MANET’s
coverage area. This project investigated this
alternative by using inexpensive off-the-shelf
products that would allow resource-constrained
individuals and organizations to provide or gain
Internet access. Raspberry Pi computers with
inexpensive wireless transceivers were chosen as
the individual nodes with the Optimized Link
State Routing protocol selected to manage traffic
across the network. The result was a workable,
albeit unreliable solution that could handle
traffic with moderate bandwidth.
A Method of Synchronization
Applied to a Phytoplankton Model
Vanessa Prado (Dr. Sean Kramer)
system solutions. Once understood, this puts
the power of the synchronization method
into proper perspective. This presentation
will then introduce a discovery of a method
of synchronization on the initially presented
phytoplankton model.
Sandy Hook (U.S.) and Chenpeng (China):
A Comparative Analysis Concerning Mass
Violence and Weapon Lethality
Dustin Reinauer (Dr. William T. Morris)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
Weintz Research Fellow
This research study is a comparative analysis
of two significant cases of mass violence: The
Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting
(U.S.) involving a high powered rifle, and the
Chenpeng school attack (China) carried out
with a cleaver. The purpose of this study is to
explain how the lethality of the weapons used
in these events affected societal responses. For
the purpose of this research lethality is defined
as the amount of damage a weapon can inflict
on its target(s) and the ease with which it can
inflict such damage. By using a qualitative data
analysis tool of content, results indicate that
lethality – the ease and amount of damage a
weapon can inflict upon its target – affects the
amount of attention drawn to mass violence as
well as the societal pressure for change.
Department of Mathematics
This presentation provides a method of
synchronization on a general plankton model.
The method allows systems with varying initial
conditions to converge from a state of nonsynchronization to synchronization. The model
to be synchronized was formerly developed
to study harmful algal blooms as a spatially
uniform system with large concentrations
of plankton evolving with time. Moreover,
these concentrations of phytoplankton and
zooplankton appear to fluctuate seasonally
in the Earth’s oceans and freshwater systems.
Large concentrations of algae are referred
to as harmful algal blooms because certain
species of plankton release toxins that, when
introduced in large concentrations, negatively
impact marine ecosystems (i.e., shellfish,
fish, marine mammals, birds, and in some
cases, humans), making them important to
monitor. The method is motivated with an
example from chaos theory by looking into
Edward Lorenz’s famous atmospheric model.
This model will enable viewers to better
understand how sensitive dependence on initial
conditions affects the outcome of dynamical
Dissemination of Jihad in Kabul, Afghanistan Muhammad Ali Shahidy (Dr. Travis Morris)
Department of Psychology & Education
Weintz Research Fellow
Jihad in literal terms means to struggle, or
efforts. In Islam it refers to any form of endeavor
or struggle for the sake of God and his religion,
by any means including one’s life, resources, and
properties, to battle against the non-believers,
expand the religion of God, and promote his
message. Today, many terrorist groups and
institutions use propaganda techniques by
disseminating Jihadi information around the
world as a means of recruitment, or to promote
their agendas. ISIS and Al-Qaeda have widely
used media on and offline and targeted many
Muslim countries by sending information
about Jihad, and calling on people for Jihad.
This research, as a result, focused on how Jihadi
information is marketed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
However, whether or not they are propaganda
or mere ideological information remains a
question. The data collection has been done by
a purposive sampling design. As a result of this
study, the research has been able to develop six
typologies through which Jihadi information
is being disseminated in Kabul. Each typology
thoroughly studies a single approach of
how potential Jihadi propaganda can be
disseminated. The study concludes that Jihadi
information circulates in Kabul on a regular
basis, in multiple manners, and at a large scale.
Afghans of any age, ethnicity, or religious group
encounter such information daily in one form
or the other. However, we can’t conclude that
they are all propaganda with a specific purpose
to influence and encourage people to join a
Jihadi movement.
Investigating the Activity of H.pylori Nondiscriminating Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetase
Kenneth R. Sikora, III (Dr. Ethan C. Guth)
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
NU Research Fellow
The research proposed was an investigation
of the activity of column-bound H.pylori
GluRSND. The goal was to find a method for the
production and purification of mischarged GlutRNAGln, which is the last unobtained substrate
needed in an assay that will be instrumental in
determining GatCAB’s mechanism. GatCAB is
a unique enzyme under scrutiny for its potential
value as a new MDRB antibiotic target. Through
the research performed it was found that the
best method for the expression of H.pylori
GluRSND with an intein-CBD tail was to induce
transformed BL21(DE3) at an OD600 of 0.7, at
18°C for two hours. A longer induction period,
higher temperature, or the use of another
E.coli strain resulted either in no expression or
in-vivo cleavage (and insolubility) of GluRSND.
Chitin-column purification was achieved with
satisfactory results, but an activity assay of the
column-bound GluRSND was not performed
due to the labile nature of the intein and the
expiration of the research period. The intein
linkage was problematic, cleaving too easily and
rendering the production of column-bound
GluRS unattained. The concept of an inteinCBD was reconsidered, and steps were taken to
produce His-tailed GluRSND (for use on a nickel
column), up to the transformation of E.coli with
a new plasmid, engineered during the research,
coding for such an enzyme.
Defining/Visualizing Justice:
From Rooks to Senior
Samantha Thornton (Dr. Johannes Wheeldon)
School of Justice Studies & Sociology
This paper presents two examples of student
research based on the Citizen/Soldier Justice
Survey. The first example is a presentation of
photos of Rooks, Recognition, and Justice that
combines photographs of Rook recognition
with quotes from the survey by first year
students. The second presents a qualitative
project comparing common words, phrases,
and themes among Rooks and Seniors at
Norwich University.
Guatemalan Genocide:
The Reagan Administration
Jacob Towse and Andrew Beattie
(Dr. Rowland Brucken)
Department of History & Political Science
The root of the Guatemalan genocide of the
Mayans can be found in the government of
General Fernando Romeo Lucas Garcia, who
controlled the country from July 1978 until
March 1982. The abuses of human rights
committed by this government continued
under the government of his successor, Rios
Montt, although the Montt government made
attempts to stem abuses committed by military
and government officials, with varying degrees
of success. Further, acts of terror against
the Guatemalan government, as well as its
citizenry, by communist guerillas contributed
significantly to the abuse of human rights
in this region. There were also noticeable
attempts to restore democratic elections in
the country of Guatemala during this period.
These efforts were continued by the Mejia
government following the coup that uprooted
Montt, although the United States found these
efforts less successful than those made by
Rios Montt. The United States involvement in
this affair stemmed from its desire to contain
Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere,
including in Latin America. As Guatemala and
its surrounding nations controlled access to
the Panama Canal, which was newly restored
to Panama in the late 1970’s by the Carter
Administration, the Reagan Administration’s
policy became to preempt the spread of
communist influence in that region to maintain
Western control of the canal, a key location
for western trade and military transportation.
Due to its need to both protect human rights
in the western hemisphere and maintain
friendly relations with these nations, US aid was
dependent on the Guatemalan government’s
ability to restore democratic process and protect
human right while suppressing a communist
insurgency.
Steel Thunder in Modern War: American and
Russian Armored Warfare Since 1990
Kyle Vautrinot (Dr. Steven Sodergren)
Department of History & Political Science
This thesis attempts to identify the direction
and trends in American and Russian armored
warfare since 1990. The combat record of
Western powers since 1990 has revealed
more counter-insurgency campaigns than
conventional warfighting, and this thesis
attempts to identify how effectively armored
forces have been used in that period. What
this thesis revealed was that armored warfare
was becoming a central tenet in conventional
and unconventional warfare, and that such
a capability is required to operate across
the spectrum of operations, from stability
and peacekeeping missions to widespread
conventional conflict against a peer force. The
United States Army and Russian Ground Forces
adapted Cold War organizations and forces
to meet the challenges of a multi-polar world,
and began professionalizing and training their
forces to meet a spectrum of combat conditions,
relying upon practices based on the military
doctrine and practices of their respective
states. Armored forces were used successfully
and to great effect in Operation Desert Storm,
Chechnya, Iraq, and Georgia, and influenced
events on the ground to a favorable diplomatic
and/or military resolution in favor of the United
States and Russia, showing the value and effects
of armored forces in both conventional and
unconventional fights.
PCI Big Beam Competition 2015
Richard Veno, John Lobkowicz,
and Edmund Hayes (Dr. Edwin Schmeckpeper)
David Crawford School of Engineering
This senior project is known as the Precast
Concrete Institute (PCI) Big Beam Contest
2015. The contest involves civil engineering,
construction engineering, architecture, and
building sciences majors from across the
country. Teams of 3-4 students, accompanied
with a faculty advisor, will competing to create
a beam that meets all the specifications set by
the PCI Contest Board. The overall purpose of
this project was to design and build a precast/
pre-stressed concrete beam 19 feet in length
and tested as a 17-foot span. Each team was
tasked to work in conjunction with a Producer
Member in order to create the beam. Our team
worked with JP Carrara and Sons Inc. out of
Middlebury, VT as our Producer Member.
Over the course of this semester and last
semester our team worked extensively with
our advisor Professor Schmeckpeper and Mr.
Ben Cota from JP Carrara and Sons Inc., along
with other representatives from JP Carrara and
Sons, in order to design, build and test a PCI Big
Beam that meets all the specifications laid out
in the contest official rules. The design of the
concrete beam required the use of the Concise
Beam software program to determine the cross
section, shear reinforcement, compression steel
and pre-stressed cables for the beam. The beam
was then fabricated by the group at Carrara
Concrete, with the assistance of Ben Cota
and other technicians at the concrete plant.
The beam was ultimately tested at Norwich
University on April 7, 2015. The main client
for this project is the Prestressed Concrete
Institute (PCI).
Expect Challenge. Achieve Distinction.
Office of Academic Research, Academic Affairs
158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663-1035
www.norwich.edu