Ethan Busby and Dr. David Magleby, Political Science Department Introduction Although the term “swing voter” appears in the news frequently, researchers and commentators disagree on the exact definition of this group. Some contend that these voters are individuals who are persuadable or moveable politically. Such moveable voters can be more readily influenced by political rhetoric […]
Discovering the Angry Voices of the Past: The Striking Legacy of the Victor Valley Teachers Union
Ashley and Alvaro Bobadilla with Dr. Brian Cannon, History Introduction The Victor Valley Teachers’ Union strike was the longest in California history for many years, had very little written about it, and even fewer primary accounts taken from the actual participants. Our research not only focused on discovering what happened, but also why it happened. […]
Microsavings: Barriers to Saving Learned from an Experiment in Uganda
Austin Beck and Brady Grayson with Dr. Daniel Nielson, Political Science Introduction Uganda has one of the lowest savings rates among sub-Saharan countries, which tend to have the lowest savings rates in the world. Between 2002 and 2008 the private savings average was at 14.6% compared to the African average of 22.1% (African Development Bank). […]
The Optimal Focus Theory for Sport Performance Under Pressure
Laurie Anderson and Dr. Ben Ogles, Psychology Our study sought to add to the current literature on the explicit monitoring and distraction theories. We have created a theory known as the Optimal Focus Theory. This theory states that choking can be avoided and performance under pressure will improve if athletes achieve the right amount of […]
Enabling Quantum Optics on a Chip
Thomas Wall and Dr. Aaron Hawkins, Electrical Engineering Introduction Rubidium vapor has certain physical properties that allow it to be optically probed in order to produce many interesting quantum effects; however, due to its reactive nature rubidium can be very difficult to encapsulate. Historically bulk rubidium vapor cells have been used, which rely on high […]
Progressing Bicycle Design for People with Hip Disarticulation
Luke Rasmussen and Dr. Mark Colton, Mechanical Engineering People with hip disarticulation are those who have had a leg surgically removed above the hip, taking away every muscle and movement in one of their limbs. A surgery of this type makes it extremely difficult for its recipients to lead an active lifestyle. This project aimed […]
A Propane Oven for the Uros Islands
Jeffrey Perry and Dr. Randy Lewis, Chemical Engineering Introduction High in the Andes Mountains lives a group of Peruvians who spend their lives on the Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca. To purchase supplies at the nearest city, Puno, islanders must take a 20 minute motorboat trip and 10 minute taxi ride. Because trips to the […]
Characterization of Wrist Kinetics during Activities of Daily Living
Autumn Pando and Dr. Steven Charles, Mechanical Engineering Introduction Out of the 75,000 people afflicted with repetitive strain injuries annually in the U.S., 68% impair the wrist1. A major factor in these injuries is abnormal and excessive force. However, forces applied normally by the wrist in everyday environments are unknown. The purpose of this study […]
High Yield-Displacement Frames for Earthquake Resistance
Daniel Miller and Dr. Paul Richards, Civil and Environmental Engineering Introduction Since the early twentieth century, engineers have recognized the suitability of steel construction for design of earthquake resistant structures. Beginning in the 1990’s, building codes have provided specifications for seismic steel design that are intended to allow inelastic behavior while preventing catastrophic collapse (Hamberger, […]
A New Design for Low Voltage Microfluidic Pumps (Pulse Driven Electro-osmotic Pumps with 3D Configuration for Uniform Size Microelectrodes)
Nathan Ives and Dr. Aaron Hawkins, Electrical Engineering Introduction The purpose of this project is to test a new design for low voltage microfluidic pumps. Mechanical pumps are sometimes too large, unreliable, or difficult to integrate in lab-on-a-chip applications. DC electro-osmosis is unsuitable for many biomedical and portable applications due to the high voltages needed. […]