Ithaca College

Sonrod, Earth

L2-Transform of Dawson’s Integral
Earth Sonrod
March 11, 2022
Abstract
The Laplace transform, defined by L {f(x); y} =
∫∞
0 e
−xyf(x) dx, is a mathematical operator
that converts a function of real variable x to a new function of real variable y in Laplace domain
via integration. The function K(x, y) = e−xy is called the kernel of the transform. Many problems
of physics, engineering, and economics are described by ordinary differential equations or partial
differential equations with appropriate initial or boundary conditions. Laplace transform converts
these mathematically challenging differential or partial differential equations with initial or boundary
conditions to algebraic equations in Laplace domain. The new algebraic equations are easily solved
in Laplace domain and these solutions give rise to the solutions of the original problems.
In 1897, The numerical value of
∫ h
0 e
x2 dx was tabulated by Henry Gordon Dawson [1]. The function
based on this numerical value called Dawson’s integral or Dawson’s function is defined as daw (x) =
e−x
2 ∫ x
0 e
t2 dt. Dawson’s integral frequently appears in various physical problems, such as spectroscopy,
electrical oscillations, and heat conduction [4]. This function is also related to several important
functions in mathematical physics, including Faddeeva’s integral (complex error function), Fried-Conte
function (plasma dispersion function), Jackson function (basic Bessel function), and Fresnel function
(used in optics) [3]. Moreover, the generalization of Dawson’s integral gets involved with application
in viscous fluid flow and the inverse analysis of transient source-receptor problems. Its derivatives also
occurs in the problems of time-dependent atmospheric dispersion. The representation of generalized
Dawson’s integral as the remainder in the truncated Taylor series for e−z is used to model sums of
exponentially decaying functions as well [4].
The Laplace transform of Dawson’s integral was investigated by a group from Mathematics De-
partment of Ithaca College in 2020. Its transform is presented in terms of exponential function and
exponential integral. Some complicated improper integrals in terms of Dawson’s integral or related
special functions were also evaluated by applying operational properties of the Laplace transform.
In 1988, a new Laplace-type integral transform called L2-transform, given by L2 {f(x); y} =∫∞
0 xe
−x2y2f(x) dx, was introduced by Osman Yürekli [5] in order to solve Bessel and Hermite’s
differential equations [6]. The kernel of the L2-transform is of the exponential order form whose
exponent is the square, similar to Dawson’s integral. Therefore, L2-transform is expected to be
applicable to Dawson’s integral.
The main idea of this research is to illustrate how to evaluate complicated integrals without do-
ing integration only using operational properties of the L2-transform. The integrals that look hard
1
to evaluate can be computed by the applications of the Laplace-type integral transforms and their
identities. This research focuses on finding the L2-transforms of Dawson’s integral and an arbitrary
generalized form xndaw (x) for any natural number n.
By the application of L2-transform theorems [6], the L2-transforms of Dawson’s integral and an
arbitrary generalized form xndaw (x) are determined. The third iteration of L2-transform of Dawson’s
integral is also found by the aid of the Widder transform.
The results yielded from this research are expected to be constructive for the physical and engineer-
ing applications. To be specific, it can be applied to evaluate integrals or solve differential equations
dealing with Dawson’s integral or those functions involved. The future study can be extended to such
applications or the integral transforms of the generalization of Dawson’s integral [2].
References
[1] HG Dawson. “On the Numerical Value of
∫ h
0
ex
2
dx”. In: Proceedings of the London Mathematical
Society 1.1 (1897), pp. 519–522.
[2] D Dijkstra. “A continued fraction expansion for a generalization of Dawson’s integral”. In: Mathemat-
ics of computation 31.138 (1977), pp. 503–510.
[3] Victor Nijimbere. “Analytical and asymptotic evaluations of Dawson’s integral and related functions
in mathematical physics”. In: Journal of Applied Analysis 25.2 (2019), pp. 179–188.
[4] Erno Sajo. “On the recursive properties of Dawson’s integral”. In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical
and General 26.12 (1993), p. 2977.
[5] Osman Yurekli. “Identities, inequalities, Parseval type relations for integral transforms and fractional
integrals”. PhD thesis. University of California, Santa Barbara, 1988.
[6] Osman Yürekli. “Integral Transforms and Parseval–Goldstein-Type Relationships”. In: Recent Ad-
vances in Mathematics for Engineering. CRC Press, 2020, pp. 83–106.
2


English

L2-Transform of Dawson\u27s Integral

Fleming, Katy

Whalen, Karley

Stachowski, Julia

Can Human Intention Alter RNA Polymerase Activity

Lowe, Brianna

Boys Will Be Boys is my personal experience with sexual assault and the aftermath during my
middle and high school years. I created this piece for two main reasons: 1. As a form of healing,
therapy, and closure for myself, and 2. For those who have dealt with similar experiences to
know that they are not alone. This work was done for my senior project class that I took in fall of
2021. My professor and main guide for this memoir is Katharyn Howd Machan, who inspired me
to keep writing, even when I didn’t want to relive these moments again. When we met once
earlier in the semester and I told her that I wanted to change my senior project from a fantasy
novel to a memoir about my sexual assault, she was more than supportive. This was a memoir
I’ve wanted to do for a while, but I never had the stable mental health. With the support of
Katharyn, as well as the support of my boyfriend, friends, and family, I was able to write such a
hard piece safely. The work will be read to the audience, like a spoken word. I plan on reading
about two chapters, or essays. This piece is significant because sexual assault survivors need to
speak out. More and more people have been coming out as survivors, making it more
comfortable for those who haven’t to feel supportive. The more and more we talk about sexual
assault, one can hope that the less it happens. With education and conversation, people will begin
to understand the hardships and fear that people deal with everyday. We can’t and won't be
silenced anymore. Me too!


Boys Will Be Boys

Dhameeth, Liza

Liza Dhameeth (Ithaca College), “Imaginative Resistance, Power, and Propaganda”
Abstract:
The notion of Imaginative Resistance was first coined by Richard Moran in 1994 in his
article entitled “The Expression of Feeling in Imagination”. The concept was later explored by
Kendall L. Walton in his and Michael Tanner’s article “Morals in Fiction and Fictional
Morality”, where they both form their respective arguments about why consumers of literature
encounter imaginative resistance. In this paper, I refer to Walton’s argument which essentially
makes the case that morally deviant values invite the audience to imagine things we find
conceptually impossible thus we resist imagining them. Historically speaking, the standard has
been such that imaginative resistance has only been applied in the context of fictional works.
This paper explores uncharted territory in the canon of philosophical literature because it applies
imaginative resistance to propaganda and ultimately presents a novel means of confronting the
problem of imaginative resistance. My intention in making this connection was because I find it
a crucial step toward combatting the issue of the general public being manipulated by corrupt
governments or people. Throughout history, we have seen time and again that deviant moral
values are fed to people where there is a lack of knowledge which is why main of the world’s
atrocities were able to be carried out. I specifically chose propaganda as the medium to analyze
alongside imaginative resistance, because it is known to be one of the most indoctrinating forms
of media. This paper is beneficial to the lives of college students because learning how to
confront imaginative resistance in an effort to gain more knowledge to protect society from
corrupt institutions in power, is universally applicable.
My work proposes a new way to confront imaginative resistance by examining Walton’s
argument, applying imaginative resistance to propaganda, considering Kathleen Stock’s solution
to imaginative resistance, and proposing my own solution. To apply imaginative resistance to
propaganda, I examined two of history’s most influential works: Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and
Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. To compose this paper, I conducted extensive research on
philosophical articles relating to imaginative resistance and I handpicked the abovementioned
literary pieces of propaganda to showcase the effects of imaginative resistance and the lack
thereof on the ability of those in power to brainwash civilians.
After conducting my research, I was able to come to the conclusion to confront
imaginative resistance we can prepare to read a work we find morally repugnant by researching
the historical context of the work. This is the best approach that has been provided to solve the
problem of imaginative resistance because knowing the facts of the matter allows us to be less
prone to be influenced by deviant values. Hence, my proposed approach aids in the mitigation of
the power that propaganda has to manipulate our patterns of thinking such that they align with
corrupt authority figures.
My work introduces a way to confront a common problem that people have within
society in order to prevent others from being easily manipulated by governments or any other
institutions or people by providing them with a solution to the problem of imaginative resistance.
It is of utmost importance that we invest our time into learning about imaginative resistance and
ways of confronting it because we will be more open to learning the facts of any given matter
before immersing ourselves in what the media has to say about those matters, which protects us
from being manipulated by those in power. My solution is important to society because it can be
used to aid in overcoming the war that Russia is waging on Ukraine because the Russian state
media is feeding Russian citizens with one unsubstantiated narrative and telling the world
another inaccurate narrative. Providing Russian citizens with unbiased and factual historical
context about Russia’s historical relationship with Ukraine will allow Russians to be aware of the
Russian government’s true intentions. Therefore, the novel solution to imaginative resistance
proposed in my paper is groundbreaking in its ability to be applied to numerous contexts,
especially those that are political in nature.
Works Cited
Hilter, Adolf. Mein Kampf. Franz Eher Nachfolger GmbH, 1925. San Jose State
University.
https://www.sjsu.edu/people/mary.pickering/courses/His146/s1/MeinKampfpartone0001.pdf.
PDF file.
Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. E-book ed., The Gutenberg Project, 1998.
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1232/pg1232-images.html
Stock, Kathleen. “Resisting Imaginative Resistance.” The Philosophical Quarterly
(1950-), vol. 55, no. 221, [Oxford University Press, University of St. Andrews, Scots
Philosophical Association], 2005, pp. 607–24, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3542965.
Tuna, Emine Hande. “Imaginative Resistance.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
Stanford University, 13 Apr. 2020, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/imaginative-resistance/.
Walton, Kendall L., and Michael Tanner. “Morals in Fiction and Fictional Morality.”
Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volumes, vol. 68, [Aristotelian Society,
Wiley], 1994, pp. 27–66, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4107022.


Imaginative Resistance, Power, and Propaganda

Mester, Sara

Title: Clinical Reasoning Process in Physical Therapy for a Patient with Thoracic Impairments: 
A Case Report 
Author: Sara Mester, SPT 
Research Mentor: Dr. Laura Gras, PT, DPT, DSc, GCS 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
Background and Purpose: Thoracic disc herniations are rare, and in most cases, associated to 
mild-to-moderate clinical presentations involving systemic complaints, which are usually 
surpassed. The diaphragm sits in the thoracic cage and is a potential target in both thoracic and 
abdominal trauma. Research has found that blunt traumatic diaphragmatic injury results in upper 
abdominal compression, and as a result of a sudden increase in intraabdominal pressure. An 
increase in this pressure can cause supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). As a result, it can 
stimulate aortic and carotid baroreceptors, causing an increased firing of vagal input into the 
atrioventricular hub. Incentive spirometry (IS) is a technique used to retrain the diaphragmatic 
breathing pattern. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the clinical reasoning process 
and respiratory intervention techniques for a 60-year-old male experiencing thoracic and 
abdominal pain, as well as diaphragmatic and cardiac impairments.  
 
Case Description: The patient was a 60-year-old male who arrived to outpatient physical 
therapy complaining of left upper quadrant (LUQ) pain spreading into the vertebrae at the levels 
of T7-T8. The pain occasionally triggered an SVT and his heart rate went up to 180 beats per 
minute and lasted between 30 seconds-23 hours. Relevant past medical history included 2 
ablations for the SVTs and multiple right rib fractures due to a single trauma. At the time, the 
patient complained of thoracic and abdominal symptoms during bending, lifting, or twisting. His 
functional limitations impact his ability to play golf and live pain free without being in fear that 
an SVT may occur. Interventions initially included the McKenzie Method of Mechanical 
Diagnosis and Therapy in the direction the patient centralized, soft tissue massage, heat, and ice 
to the LUQ. Outcome measures included were the Modified Oswestry Disability Index and 
Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The hypothesis about the patient’s physical therapy diagnosis was 
changed from thoracic derangement with referred pain into the anterolateral abdomen to a 
mechanical dysfunction of the diaphragm due to a past rib fracture due to penetration of a hockey 
stick and altered healing. Interventions included soft tissue massage, heat, and ice to the LUQ, 
diaphragmatic breathing exercises, and IS to retrain the diaphragm, as well as the patient’s 
paradoxical breathing pattern. Functional movements and therapist thoracic overpressure were 
incorporated into IS. Added outcome measures were the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Tampa 
Kinesiophobia Scale, and IS values per session. 
 
Outcomes: The plan of care for the patient’s mechanical diagnosis was delayed due to initially 
treating the back, so not all of his goals were met at the end of the student’s clinical affiliation. 
The patient showed increasing IS values overtime. Additionally, values began to increase when 
pressure was applied manually to the right rib cage by the therapist. The patient surpassed the 
MCID of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and McGill Pain Questionnaire, so there was a 
clinically significant difference in his pain overtime. Neither the patient’s Modified Oswestry 
Disability Index nor the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale scores surpassed the MCID. The patient’s 
SVT length and duration continued to fluctuate when reporting to each visit but continued to 
show improvement. 
 
Discussion: IS and diaphragmatic breathing exercises proved to be a promising initial 
intervention, and eventually incorporating therapist pressure and functional motions within this 
treatment. The patient additionally responded well with modalities and soft tissue massage to the 
LUQ to loosen the restricted tissue. Strengths of this case-report include taking a thorough 
history of the patient and continuing to clinically reason through every treatment session to 
narrow down the hypothesis of the problem. Limitations of this study included how several 
outcome measures were reported. The patient potentially rated himself based on LUQ pain and 
SVTs and not function, as the scores of his post-test do not correlate with the words he used and 
progression of the treatment. Evidence shows the majority of diaphragmatic injuries are a result 
of rib fractures and can result in an increase of intraabdominal pressure. Further research is 
needed how to treat the cluster of clinical signs. This case report is a crucial gap to fill in the 
current research in the correlation between rib fractures, diaphragmatic injuries, and cardiac 
impairments.  
 
Key Words: Physical therapy, thoracic disc herniation, left upper quadrant, diaphragm, 
supraventricular tachycardias, incentive spirometry, rib fracture 
 


Clinical Reasoning Process in Physical Therapy for a Patient with Thoracic Impairments: A Case Report

Shaw, Erin

Boujoukos, Andrew

Erin Shaw & Andrew Boujoukos                                                                      Whalen Symposium
Srijana Bajracharya                                                                                                        Spring 2022
Authors and Lead Researchers: Erin Shaw & Andrew Boujoukos
Student Support: Jamilla Cubero & June Fortner
Faculty Support: Srijana Bajracharya
Research Title: Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19 on the Ithaca College Campus
Data Collection and Reporting: Spring 2021
Background: In this study we examined whether or not the greater student population at Ithaca
College was knowledgeable of the existing COVID-19 pandemic during the Spring 2021
semester. We used this hypothesis as a starting point to conduct a Qualtrics survey that analyzed
the population and the understanding of information at Ithaca College regarding the COVID-19
virus at the time. Using the survey we aimed to determine whether or not the student population
felt safe, whether or not the community guidelines are clearly understood, and if the virus’s
spread is understood. This work was completed in order to assess the student population on their
knowledge of COVID-19 and understand any concerns they may have with their own safety and
the safety of others on the Ithaca College Campus.
Methods: The completed study was a cross-sectional study using a survey method. An analytical
design is appropriate as it allows the researchers to see if students felt comfortable on campus
and were interested in being educated on the effects of COVID-19. Participants were provided
with an anonymous survey to complete and an analysis of the survey was conducted once the
survey was completed. The study was conducted with a sample of Ithaca College students who
were provided a 19 question Qualtrics survey. The survey was provided to as many Ithaca
College students as possible via the campus email system. We had a total of 701 participants but
collected the first 525 entries provided to us. In order to gain a large response of participants, we
issued the survey twice through email as a reminder to complete. The criteria for participants to
be able to participate in the survey is they must; be over the age of 18, have access to the Ithaca
College campus, and voluntarily participate.
Results: The results from our research showed that the students on the Ithaca College campus
had a broad and clear understanding of the COVID-19 virus and its effects at the time of data
collection although there were some aspects of the virus that were lesser known to students.
Almost half of the student participants stated at the time that they disagreed that the COVID-19
pandemic would end soon and that they understood that the COVID-19 virus is highly
contagious. Student participants also understood that it was their responsibility to keep their
fellow students safe on campus. Overall, student participants understood the effects of
COVID-19 and the actions they needed to take on the Ithaca College campus to ensure safety.
Discussion and Conclusion: As students returned to campus after almost eight months of
absence in the Spring of 2021, a lot needed to be done to create a safe learning environment for
students and staff. Our survey was created to understand the knowledge and perception of
Erin Shaw & Andrew Boujoukos                                                                      Whalen Symposium
Srijana Bajracharya                                                                                                        Spring 2022
COVID-19 across all students. We wanted to understand how much students know about the
COVID-19 virus, how it spreads, how it affects others, how they perceive that information, and if
they have the information are they more willing to comply to COVID protocols when accessing
their college campus. We also provided an option for students to anonymously leave remarks on
the current policies and rules in place at the time. The information provided to us was valuable
and shared with the college. We believe that our study completed what we aimed to achieve and
we shared our findings with the colleges Health and Safety Advisory Board when research was
complete. We strongly feel that our research contributed greatly to the Ithaca College community
and will continue to serve as a guide while the pandemic continues and we navigate this world
together.
Works Cited:
F;, Mubeen SM;Kamal S;Kamal S;Balkhi. “Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Spread and
Prevention of COVID-19 among the Young Adults of Karachi.” JPMA. The Journal of
the Pakistan Medical Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2020,
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32515406/.
Banik, Rajon, et al. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Among Bangladeshi Youth: a Web-Based Cross-Sectional Analysis.” Journal of Public
Health, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 27 Feb. 2021,
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10389-020-01432-7.
Jiang, Ruichen. “Knowledge, Attitudes and Mental Health of University Students during the
COVID-19 Pandemic in China.” Children and Youth Services Review, Pergamon, 24
Sept. 2020, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740920312639.
Communications, NYU Web. “NYU Students Create COVID-19 PSAs Aimed at Gen Z.” NYU,
10 Aug. 2020,
www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2020/july/nyu-students-create-shareable--re
search-backed-covid-19-psas.html.
Son, C., Hegde, S., Smith, A., Wang, X., & Sasangohar, F. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on
College Students’ Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study. Journal of
Medical Internet Research, 22(9), e21279–e21279. https://doi.org/10.2196/21279
Walke, H., Honein, M., & Redfield, R. (2020). Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 on
College Campuses. JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association, 324(17),
1727–1728. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.20027
Erin Shaw & Andrew Boujoukos                                                                      Whalen Symposium
Srijana Bajracharya                                                                                                        Spring 2022
Lederer, A., Hoban, M., Lipson, S., Zhou, S., & Eisenberg, D. (2021). More Than
Inconvenienced: The Unique Needs of U.S. College Students During the COVID-19
Pandemic. Health Education & Behavior, 48(1), 14–19.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120969372
Lederer, A., Hoban, M., Lipson, S., Zhou, S., & Eisenberg, D. (2021). More Than
Inconvenienced: The Unique Needs of U.S. College Students During the COVID-19
Pandemic. Health Education & Behavior, 48(1), 14–19.
https://doi.org/10.1177/109019812096937.
Lee, J., Kang, K., Wang, M., Zhao, S., Wong, J., O’Connor, S., Yang, S., & Shin, S. (2020).
Associations Between COVID-19 Misinformation Exposure and Belief With COVID-19
Knowledge and Preventive Behaviors: Cross-Sectional Online Study. Journal of Medical
Internet Research, 22(11), e22205–e22205. https://doi.org/10.2196/22205


Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19 on the Ithaca College Campus

Thompson, Claire

Carney, Cecelia

Wheeler, Nicole

Silkensen, Bleue

Empathy and Developmental Experiences
Empathy is defined as the emotional process of understanding and sharing feelings with
others. Having greater empathy is a predictor of how well one functions in the quality of one’s
interpersonal relationships and wider society (Morelli et al. 2017). Research regarding the
relationship between gender and empathy shows that women tend to have higher empathy levels
(Giusti et al. 2021). Though there are mixed findings about the relationship between adult
empathy and childhood trauma, there is no doubt that one’s developmental experiences
significantly impact empathy levels as an adult (Knafo et al. 2008). Experiences relating to
childhood trauma likely impact empathy levels. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, as well
as sexual abuse have an effect on empathy and consequently interpersonal relationships. While
there is clearly a relationship, sometimes the findings are in opposite directions. Some research
has found that people with the highest levels of childhood trauma also have higher empathy
(Greenberg et al. 2018). Opposing research found that for those who reported lower levels of
childhood trauma, there was a negative relationship with empathy (Nawrocki et al. 2020).
It was hypothesized in the current study that, because it is a non-clinical sample, there
would be a negative relationship between reports of abuse and neglect and empathy. We also
predicted that females would have higher average empathy than male participants.
A sample of 432 students enrolled at a liberal arts college, completed this study.
Participants completed an anonymous online survey using Qualtrics. Participants completed the
Toronto Empathy scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The childhood trauma
questionnaire has five subscales that relate to each respective type of trauma, including
emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect. The
students received extra credit in psychology courses in exchange for participation. Of all the
participants, 78.8% identified as female, 13.2%  identified as male, nine students identified as
transgender (2.6 %). Of all the students, 72.9% identified as White, 10.3% as Black, 9.4% as
Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 0.6% as American Indian or Alaskan Native, 0.9% as Middle
Eastern, and 1.2% as Pacific Islander, with 1.5% as Other. The study was reviewed and approved
by the Institutional Review Board.
A significant negative correlation between empathy and childhood trauma of all types
was observed, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and
emotional neglect (r = -.31, p < .01, n = 282). In addition, a significant difference in empathy
between men and women was also found within the sample, with females having greater average
levels of empathy (μ = 82.94, σ = 8.43, n = 237), than males (μ = 74.92, σ = 11.20, n = 37).
This research replicates established findings in a college sample. All types of childhood
abuse and neglect were predictive of lowered empathy as an adult. This is an important
demonstration that the developmental and environmental experiences of children have a
significant impact on adult empathy, and likely the quality of their interpersonal relationships.
The limitations of the current study are discussed.
References
Giusti, L., Mammarella, S., Salza, A., Ussorio, D., Bianco, D., Casacchia, M., & Roncone,
R. (2021). Heart and head: Profiles and predictors of self-assessed cognitive and
affective empathy in a sample of medical and health professional students. Frontiers in
Psychology, 12. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632996
Greenberg, D. M., Baron-Cohen, S., Rosenberg, N., Fonagy, P., & Rentfrow, P. J. (2018).
Elevated empathy in adults following childhood trauma. PLOS ONE, 13(10), e0203886.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203886
Knafo, A., Zahn-Waxler, C., Van Hulle, C., Robinson, J. L., & Rhee, S. H. (2008). The
developmental origins of a disposition toward empathy: Genetic and environmental
contributions. Emotion, 8(6), 737–752. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014179
Morelli, S. A., Ong, D. C., Makati, R., Jackson, M. O., & Zaki, J. (2017). Empathy and
well-being correlate with centrality in different social networks. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(37), 9843–9847.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1702155114
Nawrocki, B. (2020). The Correlation Between Complex Childhood Trauma and Adult
Empathy Outcomes. Psychology Student Research Journal California State University,
5.
https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/groups/University%20Honors%20Program/J
ournals_two/dis_brooke_nawrocki.pdf


Empathy and Developmental Experiences

Edelstein, Sam

Blackford, Sean

Localify: Local Music Recommendation Application
There are many talented local musicians all around us. By listening to their music and supporting them
in the community, you not only encourage the artists to make art, but you also strengthen the local
economy by helping small businesses thrive. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for local artists to get their
music noticed or have people attend their shows.
Localify.org is an application that aims to bridge the gap between community members and local
musicians. It is a student-built, not-for-profit, ad-free, academic-based, locally-focused music artist and
event recommendation system. The main goal of the application is to get more people to go see more
local shows by more bands at more small venues. We want Localify to help connect people to local artists
within their communities.
Localify is designed and developed by students at Ithaca College. It has been in development for the
past three years and grew out of a past student project called MegsRadio.fm. The core technology of the
system is a machine learning algorithm that recommends local musicians and artists with upcoming
events at local venues that are similar to (more mainstream) artists that a user most often listens to on
Spotify or other streaming music services.
Localify.org uses best practices from emerging humane technology principles to uplift the local music
community, help music fans find great local shows, help local artists grow their fan base, and have a
positive economic impact on local businesses.The app is available both online and using standalone iOS
and Android mobile apps. So far we have had over 500 users try Localify and hope to grow our active
user base this coming summer.
Localify was launched in late 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic largely thwarted live music for much
of 2020 and 2021, and as such, made recommending live events not very useful. This downtime gave us a
chance to overhaul the local artist recommendation and event recommendation system. This past summer,
with live events temporarily returning to communities, Localify.org relaunched and the new
recommendation system was deployed. Now that COVID-19 restrictions are loosening, we are excited to
promote Localify to artists and listeners. This spring, a team of Integrated Marketing Communication
(IMC) students is working on a marketing plan for Localify that will be implemented over the summer.
In addition to improving the recommendation algorithm last summer, the frontend user experience was
streamlined to encourage a more clear “call to action” for users. We also added a support feature so users
can report bugs, significantly sped up the page load time, added an opt-in weekly email digest option, and
added a key feature that lets us crowdsource artists origin information.
Our next steps for Localify are to get an Apple Music integration implemented, as well as create a
more dynamic search engine. For example, if our search results don’t find what a user is looking for, the
user can provide us this information so that it can directly be added to our database. This will help provide
better quality search results that incorporate community feedback.
We are building Localify because we want to shine a spotlight on local musicians. In addition to their
immense talent, these artists play an important role in strengthening communities and improving local
economies. Commercial music streaming services (Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube) often overlook less
popular local artists which is why we are trying to surface them through music recommendation, event
recommendation, and automatic playlist generation. We are proud of the work we have done on Localify
and excited to see how it can be used to support local music scenes in the years to come.


Localify: Local Music Recommendation Application

Englerth, Amanda

Title: An Endurance Physical Therapy Program to Address Deconditioning in an Adult with 
Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Case Report 
Author: Amanda Englerth, SPT 
Research Mentor: Chris McNamara, PT, DPT 
 
ABSTRACT  
 
Background & Purpose: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a progressive hepatic condition that 
causes multisystem damage, notably damage to the cardiovascular system.1 Currently, the gold 
standard for diagnosing a patient with NASH is liver biopsy, however risk, error, and 
accessibility limit the use of biopsy.1.3,4 At this time, there is no pharmacologic treatment to cure 
or stop the progression of NASH.1 Endurance programs and promoting healthy lifestyle 
modifications are beneficial to all patients at any stage of the disease; it can aid in weight loss 
and address the overall deconditioning in these patients. Literature suggests gastric bypass 
surgery for weight loss can improve the status of a patient with NASH, however in 5-20% of 
patients bariatric surgery has an inverse result than intended and causes a decline in liver 
function.2,3,4  This disease has become the second most significant indication for a liver 
transplant, however there is limited access and associated complications.1 An endurance program 
will promote maximum functional ability and keep individuals healthy enough to remain on the 
transplant list until an organ becomes available to them, as well as aid in the patient’s recovery 
post-transplant and prevent recurrent liver disease. The purpose of this case report is to highlight 
the benefits of an endurance physical therapy program in a patient with NASH post-bariatric 
surgery. 
 
Case Description: The patient was a 52-year old female referred to physical therapy with a 
diagnosis of generalized weakness secondary to gastric bypass complications. She underwent 
laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery after testing revealed an enlarged liver, likely as a 
result of obesity. Following the surgery in 2018, the patient faced severe complications and was 
diagnosed with NASH. A physical therapy initial examination was performed in an outpatient 
clinic approximately 18 months after surgery to address significant deconditioning that resulted 
from multisystem failure. The examination revealed that the patient was ambulating with a 
rollator, had decreased endurance and balance, as well as weakness of all major lower extremity 
muscle groups bilaterally. Physical therapy intervention aimed to improve functional 
independence. Primary interventions used were balance training, strengthening, and gait training. 
 
Outcomes: This case study utilized manual muscle testing (MMT), the lower extremity 
functional scale (LEFS), the timed-up-and-go (TUG) test, the five times sit-to-stand (5xSTS), 
and the Berg Balance Scale to examine patient progress. Scores on these measures remained 
relatively similar over the course of treatment. This reveals that despite living with a progressive 
disease, the patient’s function and status did not decline. Although the patient’s strength didn’t 
improve, her function and her perception of performance did. A physical therapy endurance 
program helped prevent further deconditioning and maximize independence while the patient 
was still struggling with multisystem failure. 
 
Discussion: As NASH is a progressive disease, the natural course for an individual with NASH 
who has no physical therapy intervention is a decline in function and continued deconditioning. 
Despite multisystem failure, this patient was able to maintain her level of function for a 
significant length of time due to her participation in physical therapy. This case study was 
limited in that the interventions are highly individualized to the patient’s primary impairments 
and the functional activities that she valued. There is a gap in the literature at this time regarding 
physical therapy programs for patients with liver failure or who are awaiting organ transplants. 
This case study provides evidence that despite the severe deconditioning associated with this 
progressive disease, physical therapy can help patients with NASH remain relatively functional 
and independent. 
 
References: 
1. Gadiparthi C, Spatz M, Greenberg S, et al. Nafld epidemiology, emerging 
pharmacotherapy, liver transplantation implications and the trends in the united states. 
Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology. 2020;8(2): 215-221. 
2. Alizai PH, Wendl J, Roeth AA, et al. Functional liver recovery after bariatric surgery-a 
prospective cohort study with the LiMAx test. Obes Surg. 2015;25(11): 2047-2053. 
3. Allen AM, Shah VH, Therneau TM, et al. Multiparametric magnetic resonance 
elastography improves the detection of nash regression following bariatric surgery. 
Hepatology Communications. 2020;4(2):185-192. 
4. Hempel F, Roderfeld M, Muntnich LJ, et al. Caspase-cleaved keratin 18 measurements 
identified ongoing liver injury after bariatric surgery. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 
2021;10(6): 1233.  
 


An Endurance Physical Therapy Program to Address Deconditioning in an Adult with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Case Report

Ferraro, Olivia

Cook, Timothy

ABSTRACT
Purpose: Metcalf et al. 2016 showed that reduced exertion high-intensity interval
training consisting of 2, 20-s cycle ergometer sprints at 5% of body mass (BM), separated by 200
s of recovery, completed 3 d.wk-1 for 4 wk improves cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Our
purpose is to extend this work by determining if modestly different workloads and time intervals
have a greater, equivalent, or less effect on CRF. Methods: Eighteen college-age subjects (12
men, 6 women), with a mean age and pre VO2max of 21.3 ± 0.49 y and 38.6 ± 10.5
mL.kg.-1.min-1, respectively, were placed based on matched pairs for CRF into three groups: 20 s
sprints at 5% BM, 15 s sprints at 5% BM, and 20 s sprints at 4% BM. Subjects completed two
sprints per session, separated by 160-second of active recovery, three times a week for 4 wk. The
training was completed on a computerized bicycle ergometer, which reported the power output
for each exercise session. Physical self-efficacy, blood pressure, vertical jump height, and CRF
were measured before and after training. Data Analysis: Data were analyzed using a paired
sample t-test and independent t-test, which allowed data to be examined within and across the
different groups.
