oNo

“Ono” is the closest thing most slavic languages have to a gender neutral pronoun. Not as versatile as the English “they”, it has a knack for describing things that lack autonomy – objects, plants, infants and animals – thus it feels rude, dehumanizing even, to let it accompany anyone above a few months old.

And yet, it’s the only one we have.

A recent phenomenon among younger slavic people has been experimenting with incorporating this pronoun as our own version of “they”, changing it into something that allows for ambiguity, yet remains dignified. It’s a way of doing what we can, with what we have – and that approach is what inspired this project.

“oNo” seeks to show the many ways queer people in oppressive space can reach some form of self expression. Crossdressing, make-up, pondering the limitations of our bodies – all part of a drive to take what little you have and mold it into something that truly represents “You”. Imbued with scattered elements of cultural wear, as well as pieces of “the body”, this exhibition acts as an exploration of the not-so-black-and-white world of queerness, seen through the seasoned lens of an international.

This photography project is a collaboration with my friend Iaroslava Polusmak. As a gay/lesbian duo, hailing from Poland and Russia respectively, we know first hand how limiting “back home” can be. The exhibition encompasses the many ways that we as queer people get to shift our lives, be it through language, dress or body.

Continue reading Antoni Nowacki »

Political Consumption on the Edge of the 2024 Election

This study explores social media behavior, specifically political consumption and polarization. Political Polarization is a system that results in the division of a country’s entire population into two diametrically opposed political camps (Duignan, n.d.). In the project, we focused on the 2024 election, highlighting the binary opinions of content creators based on the United States two candidate electoral system. The content on the social media app TikTok will be analyzed as it intersects with this election. TikTok currently represents one of the most successful Chinese social media applications in the world, attracting young users to engage in viewing, creating, and commenting on “LipSync-Videos” on the app (Montag et al., 2021, 1). Therefore, the question is posed: What does political polarization look like in the climate of a popular social media platform, where users are encouraged to share their opinions throughout the course of a two candidate electoral election? Over the span of 12-weeks (6-weeks before election results, 6-weeks after election results), the top two videos under each hashtag were collected every Monday and Thursday located using the hashtag feature, in which three hashtags were chosen (#Trump2024, #Harris2024, #2024election). Following collection, videos were transcribed and coded to view emerging themes, and analyzed qualitatively by comparing, contrasting, and drawing parallels between the literature and the data. This project is at the stage of data analysis and literature review. In the presentation, the preliminary findings will be presented and the implications surrounding political polarization in social media will be discussed.

Continue reading Isabella Levin »

Informal Entrepreneurship within Vintage Malls

Our research will be centered around how antique malls or vintage shops can work as places of encounter in which people can experiment with informal entrepreneurship in rural areas. We will study these informal spaces to determine why people get into the temporary entrepreneurship field around vintage items. We aim to explore the paradox that these spaces provide the opportunity for experimentation and temporariness, even though they are sustained over time. Community, entrepreneurship, belonging, memory, culture, and identity can make these experiences meaningful to prospective temporary entrepreneurs and connect them through a common passion for antique items. We are interested in exploring these topics and understanding how these forms of entrepreneurship differ from traditional entrepreneurs who are sharing the same space but use the antique trade as a form of subsistence.  

Continue reading Amelia Peters »

Investigation of population resistance to cold-induced oxidative damage in a lizard, Sceloporus consobrinus

In ectotherms, metabolic rate positively scales with environmental temperature. We previously demonstrated that prairie lizards (Sceloporus consobrinus) exposed to cold temperatures (18°C) showed an expected decrease in metabolic rate in a lab setting. However, these lizards exhibited a statistically significant increase in levels of oxidative damage to DNA, a harmful metabolic byproduct measured as 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), due to this cold treatment. Interestingly, cold-induced DNA damage differed by population; lizards from the northern-most population, that experience colder annual temperatures, exhibited no increase in 8-OHdG levels. Oxidative damage following cold exposure in southern populations may be due to the cold exposure itself, or to rapid warming up after the exposure. The purpose of this study is to investigate what specifically underlies the cold-induced increase in the 8-OHdG levels. Adult lizards from the northern and southern populations were exposed to a day-long cold temperature challenge (18°C) in the lab. We measured body temperatures for each lizard immediately following the temperature challenge. To determine the effects of rewarming on 8-OHdG levels, we took blood samples from lizards at the 18°C temperature, to act as a control, and lizards that were placed briefly in a warm incubator after the temperature challenge, which served as our experimental treatment group. Finally, we also measured 8-OHdG levels two days after the temperature challenge to examine the DNA damage repair capabilities of each population. As the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable, understanding how ectotherms physiologically respond to temperature changes is essential for predicting their survival and adaptation.

Continue reading Nicole Joseph »

Visualizing Polymer Concentration Gradient In Organogels Using Dye

The goal of this research is to develop polymeric gels with varying stiffness within a single sample, which could have practical applications in areas such as customized orthotics. To achieve this, a method was created to visually represent differences in gel stiffness by incorporating a dye that correlates with polymer concentration. Since these dye concentration variations are not visible to the naked eye, UV-Vis spectrophotometry was employed to quantify the dye levels. Using Blue 1 dye, a significant absorbance peak was observed at 634 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. A calibration curve was established to relate absorbance to dye concentration, confirming adherence to Beer’s Law up to a 1 wt% dye solution. This curve facilitated accurate measurement of unknown dye concentrations in gradient samples. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the visual appearance of dye gradients and the UV-Vis spectrophotometry data, indicating that the gradient creation method is consistent and reproducible. Additionally, microindentation testing was conducted to measure the elastic modulus across the gel samples. The data showed consistent modulus values that corresponded with the dye concentration gradients, further validating the effectiveness of the preparation method. This work presents a straightforward and reliable technique for visualizing stiffness gradients in polymer gels, supporting future development of materials with tailored mechanical properties for diverse applications.

Continue reading Christian Owens »

A Historical and Biological Overview of Leprosy and Typhoid in an Ancient Theban Cemetery

As a PUR Fellow, I was given the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Stephanie Larson to create a written synthesis of the biological and historical backgrounds of leprosy and typhoid in the ancient eastern Mediterranean. My research was separated into two phases: data collection and a written interpretation. I commenced with an in-depth review of literature sources published in both major biological and archaeological publications such as the WHO, CDC, American Journal of Anthropology, and International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. I also annotated and summarized sources provided by Professor Larson to use within my work as well as in her own. Utilizing data from both biological and historical areas of scholarship, I produced reports detailing a pathological overview of leprosy and typhoid, incorporating information dating from ancient records to the modern day. I also generated an essay focusing solely on archaeological cases of leprosy reported across the globe as well as a report of genome mutations occurring in the leprosy causative agent, Mycobacterium leprae. After completion of my written analyses, I compiled all relevant sources into separate bibliographies, one for each disease, for Professor Larson’s use in her own research. My final work will be incorporated into the first volume of the final publication of the Bucknell Thebes Excavation Project, a manuscript currently in progress. My research explored the fascinating connections between science and history and effectively removed the boundary often created between the two fields, providing academics with a well-rounded understanding of the biology and history of both diseases.

Continue reading Maddie LaCoss »

Are bystanders more persuasive than victims? The impact of social media backlash towards brand transgressions.

Our research focuses on the intersection of brands, social media, and influencers, and their impact on consumers’ motivation to engage with social issues. We collected archival data from press media using keywords/phrases like “social issues,” “backlash,” and “influencers,” using the ProQuest database. Our initial research goal was to understand backlash involving influencers, consumers’ reactions to it, and brands’ roles in these discussions. We then moved to primary data collection, conducting 33 semi-structured interviews, analyzing the data using Dedoose. We explored 2 main research questions, the first being “How do consumers react to brand transgressions, and how do influencers and celebrities play a role in brand-consumer relationships?” Our findings suggest that consumers often react negatively to brands engaging in performative activism, resulting in backlash. Advertisements aligning with consumers’ identities tend to generate support for social causes, with varying interpretations of diversity. The second component of our research assessed “How can influencers and celebrities motivate consumers to care about social issues and what are the most effective uses of social media for inspiring action?” We found that celebrities and influencers can shape how consumers perceive brand efforts and social diversity issues. Authenticity and emotional appeal are key in motivating consumers. Moreover, a consumer’s background can influence an advertisement’s effectiveness. This research investigates the impact of social media backlash on marketing, and investigates whether the source of backlash can further influence consumers’ attitudes towards brands and their marketing. This research also investigates how influencers and celebrities shape consumers’ views on social issues.

Continue reading Teagan Hawes »

Exploring Liposome-Chitosan and Liposome-Xanthan Gum Interactions

My work investigates the interactions between liposomes and two polyelectrolytes with opposing charges: chitosan, a polycation, and xanthan gum, a polyanion. The primary objective is to assess liposome stability upon interaction with these polyelectrolytes. To evaluate stability, I utilize dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential measurements, and a calcein leakage assay via fluorescence spectroscopy. When combining chitosan with a 0.25 mg/mL solution of liposomes, a substantial increase in measured effective diameter was observed from 1 ppm to 10 ppm chitosan. In contrast, xanthan gum does not induce a significant change in effective diameter within the same concentration range. The calcein leakage assay provided additional confirmation for the interaction of liposomes and chitosan and lack thereof for liposomes and xanthan gum. This difference is attributed to the negative zeta-potential surrounding bare liposomes, which facilitates stronger electrostatic interactions with the positively charged chitosan compared to the negatively charged xanthan gum. Additionally, calculation of the number of charged groups per mass of each polyelectrolyte shows that xanthan gum has 2.5 times more charge density than chitosan, further amplifying its charge repulsion with liposomes.

Continue reading Charles White »

Literature Review of Psychosocial Factors Linked to Latinx Education and Occupational Development

This review examined prior literature in psychology to better understand the educational experiences of Latinxs. The aim was also to identify the contextual factors that influence educational and occupational outcomes among Latinxs. An examination of the eligible peer-reviewed articles (n = 32) published between 2011 and 2024 was conducted with an emphasis on identifying recurring themes that play a significant role on U.S. Latinx student educational experiences. Articles were coded and the results across studies synthesized. The results were classified into three categories: individual, social, and environmental. Studies that examined individual factors emphasized the role of Latinx students’ increased likelihood of encountering barriers and the importance of developing self-efficacy compared to their non-Hispanic peers. Other studies that examined the social contexts surrounding Latinx education demonstrated that positive perceptions of school climate can promote academic success. With regard to environmental factors, prior research emphasized the importance of creating contextual settings for Latinx students that support autonomy, competence, and social connection to others in order to enhance academic and social integration. In addition, the current review identified recurring barriers and facilitators that promote or detract from Latinx educational achievement. Notably, many barriers and facilitators were related to structural factors, such as socioeconomic status of family members or access to social support. The review findings indicate interventions designed to increase self-efficacy, career outcome expectations, and resources to overcome barriers may ideally support the educational and occupational development of Latinx students.

Continue reading Jean Picado »

The Development and Implementation of a Mini Drop Tower for Energy Dissipating Tapered Spirals

During mating season, male bighorn sheep establish dominance by forcefully ramming their horns into one another. Due to the unique material properties and geometry of their horns, they can do so while experiencing minimal head trauma. This study investigates the impact properties of a horn-like tapered spiral in comparison to a half-sphere geometry using an experimental drop test system. By analyzing how these biomimetic structures dissipate energy, this research aims to enhance the understanding of their impact mitigation. To maximize recorded oscillations of the tapered spiral model, SolidWorks was used to design 3D printed molds, which were cast in Smooth-On Silicone Mold Star 30 to create silicone models of the horn and half-sphere geometries. A drop test system equipped with a load cell, accelerometer, and two Sony RXO high-speed cameras captured the oscillations and maximum displacements of the silicone models following impact from a weighted drop at three heights. Results indicated increasing displacement values along the X, Y, and Z axes with higher drop heights. These findings highlight the need for further refinement of the drop tower to improve test repeatability and reduced standard deviations. Additionally, the data can be used to validate computational models for the development of energy dissipating spirals for safety applications such as car bumpers and helmets.

Continue reading Chiara Vessicchio »