Hood College Student Works
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Item How Partisanship & Political Ideology Influences Empathy and Tolerance(2025-04-23) Todd, Olivia; Dr. Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs, Associate Profesor of Poltical Science at Hood College; Dr. Carin Robinson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Hood College; Alan Goldebbach, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Journalism; Hood College Political Science; Hood College Departmental HonorsDecades of previous research suggest that liberals tend to be more empathetic and tolerant than conservatives, with scholars attributing these measurable gaps to the differing core values of each ideology. More recent studies challenge these notions, finding that liberals and conservatives have similar levels of tolerance and empathy when exposed to ideological outgroups. This study sought to find if empathy was a predictor for tolerance by replicating the ideological-conflict hypothesis, which is that both liberals and conservatives share a tendency to be intolerant towards groups they perceive as ideologically opposed. In this study, 177 participants that were 18 years or older from the U.S. responded to items from the Empathy Assessment Index (EAI) to assess participants’ empathy levels. Then, participants were asked to rank from a sample of 10 groups from most-liked to least-liked. Afterward, they were asked how willing they are to allow their least-liked group the right to political participation and other items measuring political tolerance. This study hypothesized that self-identified liberal participants would respond more positively to the empathy related questions than self-identified conservatives and that members from both ideologies will have similar levels of intolerance toward ideological outgroups. Although liberals and conservatives selected least-liked groups that were ideologically dissimilar, the results of this study contrast from previous research in tolerance and empathy. Correlational analyses revealed no partisan difference in responses to the Empathy Assessment Index and liberals were found to be less tolerant than conservatives. Further research is needed in these areas for a more complete understanding of how to capture empathy and tolerance levels as the current political climate may compromise the reliability of these measures.Item Utilizing Latent Space Representation for Disease Phenotyping and Patient Risk Stratification(2025-04-25) Ferrer, Sophia Isabel; Dr. Aijuan Dong; Hood College Computer Science and Information Technology; Hood College Departmental HonorsObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related disorder characterized by intermittent breathing pauses during sleep, which can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The often undiagnosed nature of OSA, coupled with the difficulty in identifying patients most at risk for associated comorbidities, has led to sub-optimal personalized patient care. While previous studies have established a correlation between OSA and various comorbidities, the complexity and inconsistency of clinical data in electronic health records (EHR) pose challenges in deriving reliable results in healthcare studies. In this paper, we extracted and compared learned latent spaces-- a compressed representation of input data used to uncover hidden patterns-- using methods such as such as Autoencoders, Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to filter out the noise and irrelevant details from the EHR data. We then deep phenotyped OSA patients through unsupervised clustering using the latent representation, identified patient subgroups and uncover potential risk factors that drive subgroup differentiation, and developed a clinical tool to predict patient group assignment via supervised learning. These findings enhance the understanding of OSA deep phenotyping and improve patient comorbidity risk assessment.Item Generative AI and User-Generated Content: Influences on Brand-Consumer Relationships and Purchase Intentions(2025-04-24) Ghobrial, Meray; Witherow Brooke; Hood College English and Communication Arts; Hood College Departmental HonorsRecent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (genAI) applications have led to a growing body of research on organizational outcomes for companies that take advantage of these tools. Spending on AI in the retail sector and others has surpassed expert predictions, with expenditures on AI in marketing expected to reach $107.5 billion by 2028 (Ameen et al., 2021; Kshetri et al., 2024). As the use of AI in this field grows in popularity, especially among mid-level and junior marketers, marketing is predicted to be the firm function most heavily impacted by genAI (Cillo & Rubera, 2024; Kshetri et al., 2024). While the use of GenAI in marketing practices can be effective and efficient for organizations, research suggests this may come at a price (Bynder, 2024; Galloway & Swiatek, 2018; Xu et al., 2024). As AI becomes more advanced and AI and human-made content becomes less distinguishable, it is also more important than ever to study the impact of transparency on consumer-brand relationships. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of genAI use in branded video content, specifically user-generated content, on brand-consumer relationship outcomes and customer buying intentions. The online survey experiment uses A/B testing-style procedures to analyze whether consumers react differently to brands that use AI than brands that do not, and the role of transparency in this relationship. The experiment found no significant impact of AI or disclosure on brand trust and satisfaction, but instead found that consumers could not easily distinguish between AI-generated and human-made content, emphasizing the importance of clear and transparent communications. This research is important because as genAI makes its way into video marketing content, it is critical to anticipate how consumers will react to it as it may potentially damage relationships with the brand.Item Music as Medicine: The Healing Quality of Music through a Historical, Cultural, and Modern Lens(2025-04-25) Bechtel, Dominic; Dr. Noel Verzosa; Dr. Shannon Kundey; Dr. Sangeeta Gupta; Hood College Music and Performing Arts and Hood College Psychology and Counseling; Hood College Departmental HonorsExplores the marriage between music and medicine from a historical, cultural, and modern perspective.Item Characterization of Papillomavirus in African Lions (Panthera leo): A Look at the Connections between Lions and Other Felids(2025-04) Stang, Katherine Lynn; Dr. Meredith Yeager; Dr. Susan Ensel; Dr. Cherry Liu; Hood College Biology; Hood College Departmental HonorsItem To Create Is to Learn: An Examination of Experimental Archaeology Through Recreations of Preclassic and Early Classic Maya Chocolate Pots(2025-04) Hudson, Anne; Dr. Jennifer Ross; Hood College Art & Archaeology; Hood College Departmental HonorsItem Literacy, Representation, and Hybridization as Modes of Resistance Against American Colonialism: Case Studies of Kateri Tekakwitha, Gotebo, and Zitkala-Sa(2025-04-25) McCoy, Kaitlyn; Trevor Dodman; Mallory Huard; Noel Verzosa; Hood College Arts and Humanities; HumanitiesThe three case studies used in this essay follow the lives of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), an Algonquin raised in the Mohawk nation who converted to Catholicism during the era of the Jesuit missionaries; Gotebo (1847-1927), a Kiowa artist who lived through the Pre-Reservation Era, the Reservation Era, and the Post-Reservation Era; and Zitkála-Šá (1876-1938), a Sioux Dakota author who experienced and survived the Residential School system and published literature and poetry about her search to return to her people. These individual case studies show on an individual and national level that Native Americans both changed and were changed by their interaction with American colonialism through their lifetimes through literacy, conversion to Christianity, and refusal to let go of kinship bonds that make these three good examples to study.Item "Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears the Crown" - Fathers and Sons in Shakespeare's History Plays(2025-04) Carroll, Rebecca; Angello, Aaron; Mitchell-Buck, Heather; Verzosa, Noel; Department of English and Communications; Hood College Departmental HonorsShakespeare made fathers of kings in his history plays, but these fathers were not always fit to care for England, who he personifies as the complex—sometimes rebellious—child of the monarchy. These political figures depended on indifferent time, who could be considered a character or entity akin to Rumor from 2 Henry IV or the Chorus of Henry V, which pays no heed to each king’s preparedness to rule when he inherits the throne. It is through a combination of chance, political scheming, and personality that determines when each king puts on the crown, but it is up to his father or father figures to influence who the king is when he takes on his royal responsibility.Item INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT ON WETLAND GREENHOUSE GAS CONCENRATION DURING PLANT DORMANCY(2025-04-25) Videtti, Isabella; Sharp, Sean; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceWetlands are critical in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, serving as both sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). While much research focuses on GHG dynamics during the growing season, when plants have a strong influence on GHG dynamics, less is known about these processes during plant dormancy. This study investigates the influence of watershed development on wetland GHG concentrations during the dormant season by comparing two Maryland wetlands: one in an urban watershed (Pike Branch) and one in a rural watershed (Goshen Branch). Monthly porewater samples were collected from upstream and downstream locations at each site from October through April. CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations were analyzed using gas chromatography. Results indicated that CH₄ concentrations were generally higher in downstream areas and more variable than CO₂, with a significant effect of watershed development observed at the urban site. In contrast, CO₂ concentrations showed a modest increase over time at the rural site but without consistent spatial trends. These findings suggest that watershed development and site-specific environmental conditions significantly influence winter GHG dynamics in wetlands. By focusing on the dormant season, this study enhances our understanding of microbially mediated GHG production in the absence of active plant processes and highlights the role of urbanization in shaping wetland biogeochemistry.Item Echoes in Starlight: An exploration of the Sun and Moon in various mythologies(2025-04-25) Phillips, Grey; Knapp, Elizabeth; Hood College English and Communication Arts; Hood College Departmental HonorsItem Characterization of Papillomavirus in African Lions (Panthera leo): A Look at Botswana(2025-04) Carroll, Rebecca; Yeager, Meredith; Liu, Cherry; Ensel, Susan; Hood College Biology; Hood College Departmental HonorsHuman papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that can manifest as physical lesions and are capable of causing cancer, is a widely researched topic that has resulted in the identification of hundreds of lineages and sublineages that further the study of human genetics and carries medical applications. Other papillomaviruses (PVs), including feline papillomavirus (FPV), are not the focus of PV studies. FPV, however, can be relevant to felids as a whole, specific species, and can increase general understanding of papillomaviruses. This study examines the characteristics of FPV in African lions (Panthera leo) by extracting and amplifying tissue and swab samples from Botswana, constructing a phylogenetic tree, and calculating distance values from the resulting sequences. An additional group of FPV samples from Tanzania were also sequenced and a phylogenetic tree was built using data from both locations using the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) PlpPV-1 FPV sequence available in PaVE as a marker. With this analysis, three additional types of papillomavirus in lions were identified and further compared with the FPV sequences of other felids. The results indicate that FPV in lions does deviate into distinct types despite geographic boundaries, suggesting that analysis of a greater sample pool would provide more detailed information and patterns concerning types of FPV in lion populations. Research performed in conjunction with the Departmental Honors projects of Katherine Stang and Riana Caldwell.Item Broadway, the Media, and Framing Theory(2025-04-24) DeGennaro, Sophia; Elizabeth Atwood; Noel Verzosa; Aaron Angello; Hood College English and Communication Arts; Hood College Departmental HonorsThis paper examines the growing relationship between Broadway and media, with a focus on the way media framing is used to portray historical Broadway shows that include difficult topics. Using reviews from internal and external publications of shows, this paper analyzes the specific media frames portrayed for each show. It also analyzes emerging trends and the future of the relationship between Broadway and the media. All publications cited were selected for their geographical relevance to Broadway, and history of covering Broadway shows up to the relevant review. Newspapers include The New York Times, Variety, Playbill, New York Magazine, Dance Magazine, and The Washington Post and Times Herald. Reviews were largely pulled from the database Newspapers.Com, and were published within the first month following the show’s debut. This paper specifically covers the shows West Side Story, Hair, Rent, and The Colour Purple.Item The Effect of Urbanization and Development on Freshwater Emergent Wetland Biogeochemistry and Hydrology in Western Maryland(2025-04-25) Junis, Meghan; Sharp Sean; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceUrbanization alters watershed hydrology and biogeochemistry, often compromising the ability of wetlands to retain nutrients and regulate flow. This study compared two riparian wetlands in Western Maryland—one in an urbanized watershed and one in an undeveloped watershed—to evaluate the effects of impervious surface cover on nutrient export and storm hydrology. Over five months, upstream and downstream water samples and continuous hydrologic monitoring were analyzed. Results showed that the urban wetland exhibited significantly flashier hydrology and higher porewater conductivity, suggesting greater stormwater and salt input. While nutrient concentrations were not statistically different between sites, emerging trends—particularly higher TOC exports in the rural site—suggest differences in productivity and legacy nutrient effects. These findings emphasize that even moderate development can alter wetland function, highlighting the importance of green infrastructure, alternative deicing practices, and restoration timelines in sustaining wetland ecosystem services in urban landscapes.Item Characterization of papillomaviruses in African Lions (Panthera leo): A Look at Tanzania(2025-01-14) Riana Caldwell; Dr. Meredith Yeager; Hood College Biology; Hood College Departmental HonorsResearch into the characterization of papillomaviruses is a growing field that has yielded valuable results for the human species in the form of treatments such as vaccines. Other species, such as the Felidae family, have yet to receive as much characterization as human papillomavirus (HPV). Particularly, reports of FPV for the African lion (Panthera leo) species is nonexistent which this project attempted to resolve with a characterization of papillomavirus in this species. To this end, samples were collected from African lions in Serengeti National Park for characterization. The L1 sequence of these samples were amplified using PCR and cleaned before undergoing phylogenetic and distance analysis to determine any potential variation in the reference sequence. The results of this study have identified three novel papillomavirus types in the African lion species. For the types identified, it is proposed that they be classified under “Panthera leo Papillomavirus” of the Lambdapapillomavirus genus, abbreviated as “PlePV”.Item Seasonal Mental Health Changes in College Athletes(2025-04) Dillon, Maddy; Dr. Stephanie Masters; Hood College Psychology and Counseling; Hood College Departmental HonorsThis study examines the impact of the athletic season on the mental health of collegiate athletes, focusing on changes in depression and anxiety levels. A sample of 40 fall-season college athletes completed assessments before and after their competitive season using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Paired-samples t-tests revealed a significant increase in depression scores from pre-season to post-season (p < .001), suggesting elevated depressive symptoms as the season progressed. Conversely, anxiety scores significantly decreased over the same period (p < .001), indicating reduced anxiety following the conclusion of competition. Strong positive correlations between pre- and post-season scores were observed for both depression (r = .794) and anxiety (r = .799), highlighting consistency in individual mental health trends across the season. These findings suggest that while the athletic season may alleviate anticipatory anxiety, it may also contribute to increased depressive symptoms, possibly due to cumulative stress, performance pressures, and academic demands. The results underscore the importance of ongoing mental health support for student-athletes throughout the athletic cycle.Item Exploring Foliar Fungal Endophyte Communities as a Source of Weed Biological Control Agents(2025-04-24) Fitz, Riley Larkin; Dr. Eric Kindahl; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceWavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus undulatifolius (Ard.) P. Beauv.) is an invasive perennial grass native to East Asia that is spreading in the Mid Atlantic United States. Basketgrass forms dense mats in forest understories that suppress the growth of desirable, native herbaceous species, homogenize soil microbiomes, and alter insect communities. The relatively recent introduction of this species provides an opportunity to study novel weed microbe associations formed during invasion. The aim of this research was to identify fungi inhabiting healthy basketgrass and assess their potential use as non traditional biological control agents. Previously, 317 foliar endophytic fungi were collected and identified to genus with DNA sequences. Radial growth rates of these fungi were recorded in culture as a measure of saprophytic fitness, and detached leaf assays were conducted to record a preliminary plant fungus interaction phenotype. A subset of phylogenetically dispersed endophytes was evaluated for the presence of phytotoxic secondary metabolites secreted into liquid growth medium. Isolates from Hancock, VA grew significantly faster than those from Edward’s Ferry, MD, and growth rates varied strongly by genus. Less common taxa outperformed “core” isolates in saprophytic fitness, while core isolates elicited the strongest plant interaction responses. Detached leaf assays confirmed significant necrosis and “stay green” effects, though high variability suggests protocol refinement is needed. These findings demonstrate that phylogenetic affiliation reliably predicts key biocontrol traits — saprophytic growth, phytotoxicity, and host interaction phenotypes — and highlight both certain clades and less‐abundant taxa as promising candidates for bioherbicide development.Item The Impact of Mental Health Campaigns on Self-Identification with Mental Illness, Perceived Control over Problems, and Perceived Need for Professional Treatment(2025-04) Svitak, Katelyn; Jessica McManus; Hood College Psychology and Counseling; PsychologyIt has been speculated that increased mental health awareness, with a focus on mental wellbeing, is inadvertently contributing to the reported rise in mental health problems through the overinterpretation of minor distress as symptoms of mental illness. This study aimed at testing this hypothesis by examining the impact of a common mental health disorder (anxiety) campaign and a more severe disorder (schizophrenia) campaign on self-identification with mental illness. Additionally, this study examined the impact of self-identifying with mental illness on perceived control over problems and perceived need for professional treatment. As hypothesized, individuals exposed to the anxiety campaign reported higher self-identification with mental illness than individuals exposed to the schizophrenia campaign. Additionally, higher self-identification with mental illness was associated with lower perceived control over problems and higher perceived need for professional treatment. These findings increase current understanding on the impact of mental health campaigns and implications of self-identifying with mental illness.Item Thiophene Hydrodesulfurization on High-Capacity Mesoporous Perovskite Oxide Catalysts(2025-04-23) Núñez, Melissa; Ashish Chakradhar; Hood College Department of Chemistry and Physics; Hood College Departmental HonorsHydrodesulfurization (HDS) is an essential industrial process used to remove sulfur from hydrocarbons, such as crude oil, to mitigate the harmful environmental and health effects associated with sulfur emissions. The presence of sulfur compounds, particularly in transportation fuels, can poison catalysts used in refining processes and contribute to the formation of sulfur dioxide, a greenhouse gas. As stricter environmental regulations on sulfur content in fuels emerge, the need for efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable catalysts for HDS has become increasingly critical. Thiophene, a sulfur-containing compound found in petroleum, is often used as a model molecule to study HDS reactions. This study focuses on comparing the performance of perovskite oxide catalysts like LaCoO3, LaNiO3, and LaFeO3 with the widely used CoMo catalyst. The research explores the role of metal composition, catalyst structure, and reaction mechanisms in influencing the efficiency of sulfur removal. By evaluating these materials, this study aims to identify potential alternative or supplementary catalysts for HDS that can improve sulfur conversion rates, enhance catalyst stability, and meet environmental goals. The findings contribute to advancing HDS technology, with a focus on optimizing catalyst design for future applications in cleaner fuel production.Item (Don’t) Eat Your Young: The Creation, Deconstruction, and Reconstruction of Communities, Development of Agency, and Modeling of Learning Behaviors in Folklore, Adaptations of Folklore, and Stories Inspired by Folklore(2025-04) Frost, Phebe; Dr. Heather Mitchell-Buck; Dr. Trevor Dodman; Dr. Brooke Witherow; Hood College English and Communication Arts; EnglishItem ANALYSIS OF MONOCHLOROBIMANE AND HUMAN GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE(1991-05) Iype, Susan N.; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceThe means by which tumor cells survive anti-neoplastic chemotherapy is not well understood. Many of the anti-neoplastic drugs may be viewed as electrophilic compounds. The primary means by which cells detoxify electrophiles is through the glutathione-related detoxification scheme. It is important to develop accurate and facile techniques to study the role of glutathione (GSH) in detoxification mechanisms. The electrophile, monochlorobimane (MCB), has been proposed to be an excellent fluorescent probe for the detection of GSH. Initial studies showed that low concentrations of MCB (10-100 μM) were adequate to label GSH in rodent cell lines. However, when the MCB assay was extended to human cell lines higher concentrations of MCB (1000 μM) were required. The MCB assay was found not to be ideal when strictly quantitative results were necessary. However, the MCB assay was found to be adequate for the qualitative analysis of GSH levels between different cell lines. These properties of MCB were exemplified when flow cytometric analysis of GSH levels (using 1000 μM MCB) in seven human and rodent cell lines correlated with data acquired from high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and standard GSH assays. To better define why there is variation in results when using MCB to study rodent and human cells, the differences in MCB affinities and kinetics properties between species-specific glutathione S-transferases (GST) were analyzed. To accomplish this task GST isoenzymes from human liver and rat liver were isolated, purified and characterized by kinetics analysis using MCB as a substrate. The kinetics parameters of MCB and GSH were determined using human GSTs π, ᴪ, B1B2, B2B2, and rat GST 1-2, 3-3 and 3-4. The human acidic GST has a Km of 264 μM for MCB and a Vmax of 1.99 μmole GS-bimane/min-mg protein. The human basic GST B1B2 and B2B2 have Km values of 354 μM and 283 μM, and V max values of 33.3 and 34.6 μmole GS-bimane/min-mg protein. The rat basic GST had a Km of 199 μM and a V max of 35.5 μmole GS-bimane/min-mg protein. The human neutral GST had a Km of 204 μM and a Vmax of 6.5 μmole GS-bimane/min-mg protein. The rat neutral GST had a Km of 2.6 μM and a Vmax of 35.1 μmole GS-bimane/min-mg protein. The kcat/Km ratio showed that the rat liver GSTs were excellent catalysts for the reaction of GSH and MCB. In addition, the GS-bimane adduct was found to act as an inhibitor in the GST-catalyzed reaction of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and GSH (I50 (rat liver GST) = 70 μM; I50 (human placental GST) = 35 μM). This study leads to the conclusion that inadequate labeling of GSH with the MCB assay (< 1000 μM) in human cell lines results from the low affinity of MCB for the human GSTs.