Browse the Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Collections
Your Demon is You03/15/2016Your Demon is You David Braun, College of the Arts, Sculpture, Advisor - Isabel Farnsworth This sculpture was created to address the topic of transformation. I am interested in the effect of technology on our ability to introspect and connect as our private lives and internal dialog are increasingly becoming more public. I created a comfortable, private space to be situated in a public environment where an individual can self-reflect while being observed from the outside. From the interior, the occupant sees only their own face in a small mirror. That view is captured on camera and displayed on the exterior in real time on a video monitor. To the viewer on the outside it appears that the occupant is looking at them, but really they are looking at themselves. Can they see the occupant seeing themselves or do they see only eyes? Can we still feel a connection to the person inside when they are looking not at us, but at themselves? I am interested in how the enclosure becomes a surrogate body of the occupant, erasing their identity except for their eyes. How does this affect the perception of the occupant by the external viewer? Does the replacement of the human body with a generic one affect the empathy of the viewer for the occupant? I am curious how people will use this object. Will they use it as a tool for transformation and connection or for entertainment and amusement? |
Volume measurements and fluorescent staining indicate an increase in permeability for organic cation transporter substrates during apoptosis03/15/2016Extensive membrane blebbing is one of the earliest observable changes in HeLa cells stimulated with apoptosis inducers. Blebbing caused by actinomycin D or camptothecin, but not by anti-Fas antibody, is accompanied by an almost 10% volume increase as measured by transmission-through-dye microscopy. When the experiment is carried out in DMEM medium, the swelling appears to result from activation of amiloride-sensitive channels. Low-sodium choline-, but not N-methyl-D-glucamine-based, medium, also supports swelling during the blebbing phase of apoptosis; this indicates that the membrane becomes permeable to choline as well. Because choline can enter the cells through organic cation transporters (OCT), we tested three fluorescent dyes (2-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide, rhodamine 123 and ethidium bromide) that have been reported to utilize OCT for cell entry. Intact HeLa cells are poorly permeable for these fluorophores, and initially they accumulate on the plasma membranes. Blebbing results in an enhanced penetration of these dyes into the cell interior, as was demonstrated both by direct observation and by FRET. The increased membrane permeability is specific for OCT substrates; the other tested cationic dyes apparently cross the membrane by other routes and exhibit a markedly different behavior. Our results reveal a previously unknown feature of apoptosis and the utility of cationic dyes for studying membrane transport. |
Utilization of Bamboo in Architecture03/15/2016Green architecture has been a revolution tracing back to an architectural ideal based on functionality, aesthetic, resiliency, and sustainability. It does not halt at planting trees, yet developing and utilizing environment-friendly materials in design and construction. Bamboo, a novel but familiar material throughout human history of civilization, has high strength and efficiency in structure. In many countries, it has played as a cultural symbol in art and architecture. Bamboo has not been widely utilized in industrial standardization because of its limitations due to its natural characteristics. However, its limitations could be harmonically addressed in different applications in industrial and architectural means. Industrially, with advanced technologies, bamboo can be fabricated through multiple processes into different sustainable products substituting for main construction materials, e.g. timber and steel, because bamboo grows much faster than timber, and produces less carbon than steel. Architecturally, bamboo’s elegant shape is not neglected and highly praised as a modern cultural identity: bamboo is bamboo, in its own traditions. This study, through reviewing multiple scholar articles as well as successful bamboo architectural projects on bamboo historic usages and characteristics, and methods to breakthrough bamboo limitations, aims to show connection and development of the cultural material in meanings of sustainability and original structure performance. |
Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects of Cocaine on Circadian Behavior and Cocaine Reward03/15/2016Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects of Cocaine on Circadian Behavior and Cocaine Reward Victoria Shaker, Ashley Shemery, Alex Yaw, & J. David Glass. Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences Professor Glass served as the primary advisor. Ashley Shemery and Alex Yaw served as co-advisors. Hypothesis: Cocaine irreversibly lengthens circadian period (tau), which could underlie the significant health issues of cocaine addiction. Others have reported that rewarding effects of paternal cocaine use are transgenerational. We hypothesize that the disruptive effects of cocaine on tau may also be transgenerational, causing altered subjective cocaine reward response in offspring (F1). Methods: Male mice were exposed to cocaine-water (0.5 mg/ml) or water (control) for 6 wks. Immediately following treatment, the mice were mated with cocaine naïve dams. F1 reference for cocaine or sucrose (to test for reward specificity) was analyzed using a dual bottle (water and drug [0.15 mg/ml] or sucrose [2%]) free-choice regimen. Tau was analyzed using activity sensors with computerized data acquisition. Results and Conclusions: Lengthened tau was evident in sires with forced cocaine compared to controls (24.18+0.17 vs. 24.07+0.02; p0.05). These data reveal that there is no transgenerational transmission of cocaine-lengthened tau in F1 males, but there was an alteration of tau in F1 females. Significantly, paternal cocaine intake significantly altered F1 preference for cocaine, but not sucrose, suggesting specificity to drug reward. Thus, cocaine addiction could involve a transgenerational paternal mode of inheritance. Keywords: epigenetics, transgenerational, cocaine, sucrose, mice, sex differences, drug abuse, circadian, biological rhythms, addiction |
Trait Rumination predicts Word Use during Negative Mood Induction03/15/2016Introduction: Rumination has been identified as a major risk factor for the onset and maintenance of affective disorders. However, it remains unclear how rumination affects the onset of negative mood. In this study, we investigated how trait rumination influences linguistic processing of emotional material while inducing negative mood. Methods: A sample of undergraduates (N=209) participated in a lab-based negative mood induction, in which they wrote about a negative personal experience while listening to sadness-inducing music (Barber, Adagio for Strings). Narratives were analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (Pennebaker, Booth, & Francis, 2007) to examine patterns of word use, including frequency, types of pronouns, emotion words, causal and certainty words. Participants also completed affect ratings before and after negative mood induction. Results: High ruminators had significantly lower ratios of positive to negative words (M= 2.60, SD= 1.93) than low ruminators, after controlling for age, gender, word count, and depression symptoms, (M= 3.06, SD= 1.64), F(1, 187)= 3.91, p< .05, 95% CI [.001, 1.10], with high ruminators using significantly more negative emotion words (M= 2.70, SD= 1.78) than low ruminators (M= 2.17, SD= 1.71), F(1, 202)= 3.70, p< .05, 95% CI [-1.01, .01]. No other significant differences were found. Conclusions: These results suggest that trait rumination is associated with linguistic processing of emotional material during negative mood induction, such that high trait ruminators use greater negative emotion words relative to positive words, as compared to low trait ruminators. |
To what extent are Black students, ages 18-26, at Kent State University aware of the African-centered rites of passage process?03/15/2016An analysis into how aware are Black students, ages 18-26 at Kent State University, are of Afrocentric Rites of Passage. A qualitative method was utilized to collect literature to explain Afrocentric compared to Eurocentric application of education, exploring Afrocentric Rites of Passage fundamentalism and canonical texts, and how “Rites” can be a cultural matrix for education. Afrocentric Rites of Passage was chosen as the basis of research to challenge the methodology of education in USA. A questionnaire was also developed to collect personal data from Black students to assess the awareness of Afrocentric Rites of Passage at Kent State University. College begins the next step in solidifying our social identities for involvement in society. Concluding high school and embarking on the experience generally occurs ages 18-26 for modern education. The belief in college to a better economic future undermines the “need” of education for USA’s philosophy: “Go to school to get a better job!” With Eurocentric norms and views on reality dominating the USA, arguments from educators, counselors, and social workers alike have proposed the harmful implications of this phenomenon on the Black experience. Contributors to this articulation of research includes Ms. Pamela Hubbard, Kent State Ronald E. McNair Scholars program, Dr. Kumah-Abiwu, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Dr. Linda Myers, Paul Hill Jr., Dr. Molefi Asante, Dr. Naim Akbar, and other scholars who delve deeper into the African American experience as it relate to education. |
Tit-for-Tat: Effects of Feedback and Speaker Reliability on Listener Comprehension Effort03/15/2016Miscommunication is often seen as a detrimental aspect of human communication. However, miscommunication can differ in cause as well as severity. What distinguishes a miscommunication where conversation partners continue to put forth the effort from miscommunication where conversation partners simply give up? In this eye-tracking study, participants heard globally ambiguous statements that were either a result of an experimental error or speaker underspecification; participants either received positive or negative feedback on these ambiguous trials. We found that negative feedback, paired with the reliability of the message, will impact the amount of processing effort a comprehender puts forth—specifically, listeners were less forgiving of errors when they were penalized and when speakers instructions lacked effort. This suggests that language users weigh conversational contexts and outcomes as well as linguistic content during communication. Keywords: ambiguity; intentions; communication; comprehension, context |
The Tell Tale Heart03/15/2016Our project for the 2016 Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity is entitled “The Tell-Tale Heart”- a One-Act Play adapted by Gerald P. Murphy. The play, involving many new aspects of technical theatre is based around a story told through narration and balletic-contemporary dance based on Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name. The goal is to put on a successful production of this work that will evoke a new style of theatre from its participants. Through the generous gift of a flash grant and the performance of this production, the creative team hopes to inspire the program to rethink theatre - To think outside the box. We challenge our audiences not be satisfied with traditional theatre. For this project we will be creating interactive thread installations, a new development in scenic design that will enhance our production value. The hope is that this project will encourage other aspiring directors and designers to take chances and strive to work collaboratively in the future in order to progress the theatrical developmental process. We expect to incorporate a multitude of new and exciting technical advancements in our production. Mostly dealing with lighting design, we hope to introduce the school to these techniques so that they can be implemented in future productions. On our production team, we also have a textiles liaison, Scott Ward. He will assist our technical team with the thread installations. We will all collaborate with our cast and crew to produce this new work. |
The Sequential Release of Drugs using Injectable and Biodegradable Hydrogel Composites03/15/2016Keywords: Hydrogels, Pluronic F127, drug release, florescence TR-BSA Problem: Many of currently available methods of delivering a single factor have demonstrated a limited efficacy in stimulating tissue repair. This has been associated with the complexity of tissue healing process. Therefore, it is critical that multiple therapeutic factors should be delivered to act in concert with the normal process of tissue healing, which may provide physiologically relevant release profiles that mimic the natural healing response. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a proof-of-concept of achieving the controlled release of drugs in a sequential fashion by developing composite of biodegradable hydrogels consisting of F-127 hydrogel and gelatin microspheres. Methods: Two forms of hydrogels, Pluronic F127 and gelatin microspheres, were prepared separately by mixing them with a model drug (Texas Red bovine serum albumin, TR-BSA) and the prepared hydrogels were incubated at 37oC over days. At selected time points, supernatants were collected to quantify the extent of drug release from the gels based on the intensity of the florescence from TR-BSA. Results and Conclusion: Our data supports that the sequential delivery system can enable the release of TR-BSA loaded with F-127 gel over ~8hr and gradual release of TR-BSA loaded within gelatin microsphere over duration of days. This study implicates that a sequential release of two different drugs can be achieved by triggering an initial release of one drug from F-127 gel followed by slow release of another drug from gelatin microspheres. |
The Role of Perceived Family Support and Social Connectedness on Depression in LGBT College Students03/15/2016Problem: Studies have examined the effects and importance of family support in the lives of LGBT youth. It has been inferred that family support is a beneficial factor in the mental health of LGBT children, adolescents, and young adults. However, few studies have included social connectedness as an additional variable contributing to perceived family support and levels of depression within LGBT college students. Therefore, this study investigated the role of perceived family support and social connectedness on depression in LGBT university students. Hypothesis: Respondents’ depression levels will differ contingent upon family support and social connectedness. In particular, it is expected that social connectedness will moderate the relationship between perceived family support and depression levels. Methods: To date, participants include 78 LGBT students at Kent State University. The respondents who choose to select what best described their gender consisted of 40 females, 12 males, 8 transgender/gender queer, 2 transgender (female to male), and 7 identify as other. Participants completed the following surveys online: a demographic questionnaire, Perceived Social Support-Family (PSS-FA) Scale, Social Connectedness Scale-R (SCS-R), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale. Distribution of the surveys online allowed for anonymity and the opportunity for participants to complete the surveys in any place of their choosing. Results: Upon completion of data collection, regression analyses will be conducted to assess for moderating effects. The findings may have implications for reducing depression in LGBT college students who have little family support by promoting their sense of social connectedness. |
The Relationship Between Age and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Youth Bereaved Siblings03/15/2016Research has shown that adolescents who have experienced the death of a sibling often have higher rates of Depression, Anxiety and PTSD. Although a large portion of past research has focused on bereavement after the death of a sibling through suicide, there has been little done on sibling bereavement after death from a terminal illness. Linear regression analyses were conducted investigating the relationship between age and depression symptoms in a sample of bereaved siblings ages 7-22 recruited from a Palliative Care Center at a medical center. Depression symptoms were assessed with a self-report measure, the Child Depression Inventory (CDI). Results showed that the sibling age predicted depression symptoms where older siblings experienced more depressive symptoms (B=.66, p<.03). Results indicate that children who are older when their sibling passes may be at an increased risk of developing depression symptoms. The bond between siblings is one of the most in depth relationships and as children get older the relationships strengthen and, in turn, the older the sibling is the more at risk they are for developing depressive symptoms after the death of their sibling. |
The Poet: Incorporating Abstract Conceptual Thought and Thematic Research into Restaurant Design03/15/2016This design studio project focused on the ideas of abstract concepts and thematic research to develop a design for an upscale restaurant. After identifying an abstract concept – perplex – different elements of thematic development were researched as potential design directions. Research became a major component of the project, utilizing online, library and journal sources to gather data for the thematic background for the restaurant. In addition, other areas of research focused on the technical issues of restaurant design and accessibility requirements. The word perplex means to make unable to grasp something clearly. The decision to use this concept came from much research, specifically looking at the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The concept was used as the basis for the thematic development of the restaurant, which focused on the town of Brittany, in Northern France. This town was influenced by a movement known as The Matter of Britain, which included music, arts, architecture and literature. The movement began in Britain and had an impact on this region of France. The Matter of Britain emphasized the dark, mysterious and romantic elements that are often found in Poe’s writings. The results of the research were used to develop the thematic design of the restaurant. The functional layout of the restaurant, selection of materials and finishes, and the ambience experienced by guests were a direct result of the research component of this project. As shown in the project, the development of interior spaces is a direct result of the various avenues of research undertaken. |
The Incremental Impact of Trauma-Related Nightmares on PTSD Symptom Severity03/15/2016Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develops following trauma. Nightmares may contribute to the development of PTSD. According to the neurocognitive model, cognitive and neural factors together form an emotion network and produce dreaming. Normal dreaming plays a role in fear extinction. However, when disruptions occur in this neurocognitive network, disordered dreaming such as nightmares occur. Among vulnerable individuals who are fear conditioned or primed for select emotional reactivity (i.e., a traumatic event), nightmares can activate previously encoded structures containing specific fear memories. This can lead to elevated waking distress and more intense/frequent nightmares. Based on this model, nightmares containing content related to the trauma should play a role in fear conditioning and reduce the chance for fear extinction. Although an association between nightmares and PTSD has been established, several sleep disturbances often co-occur among individuals displaying PTSD symptomology, and few studies are statistically powered enough to examine a number of PTSD-related sleep disturbances simultaneously to examine each disturbance’s unique contribution to PTSD. The current study examined the relationship between seven PTSD-related sleep disturbances and PTSD symptoms, in a sample of 983 college students. Further, we hypothesized that trauma-related nightmares would be associated with greater PTSD symptom severity after controlling for other PTSD-related sleep disturbances, including non-trauma-related nightmares. Results indicated that PTSD-related sleep disturbances predicted PTSD symptom severity. Moreover, trauma-related nightmares were most strongly associated with PTSD symptom severity. Moreover, nightmares and bad dreams not related to a specific traumatic event were not related to PTSD symptoms. |
The importance of friendship for children learning a new language03/15/2016
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The ideal Millennial working woman: A thematic analysis of how female professional identity and community are constructed online03/15/2016In American culture, traditional gender roles are socially constructed around binaries of male and female and femininity and masculinity. This categorization forces women and men to conform to socially constructed views of gender (Aker, 2006, p. 444; Wood, 2014). Accordingly, men must be masculine, or “dominant, independent, assertive and strong” (Weisgram, Dinella, & Fulcher, 2011, p. 244). On the other hand, women should be feminine, that is “warm, sympathetic, sensitive and soft-spoken” (Weisgram, Dinella, & Fulcher, 2011, p. 245). These stereotypes infiltrate the minds of men and women and can even subconsciously affect occupational choices (Buzannell, 1994). Indeed, in the workplace, men are “described as achievement-oriented” and value independence, competitiveness, courage, and autonomy (Ciolac, 2013, p. 2). Women, on the other hand, are expected to be submissive, supporting the social and emotional health of the organization (Wood, 2012, p. 235). However, Millennials (also known as Generation Y), born between 1980 and 2000, seem to be pushing back on these traditional constructions of gender (Farrel & Hurt, 2014). For example, Millennials are more likely to “believe that men and women should contribute equally to childcare and home maintenance” (Reference Shelf, 2014, p. 182). Moreover, Cotter, Hermsen, and Vanneman (2011) explain that contemporary gender roles and norms do not necessarily represent a reversal of tradition but instead a new set of gender norms that highlight gender equality and choice. One arena that offers the opportunity to further explore how gender is socially constructed in terms of generation is popular culture. Popular culture has the power to both subvert and reinforce dominant gender regimes and constructions (Reference Shelf, 2014). For example, D’Enbeau and Buzzanell (2014) explore how the hit TV show Mad Men depicts female characters that allow viewers to consider how much has changed in terms of gender and how much remains the same. In another example, D’Enbeau (2011) highlights how feminist media can encourage young women to reclaim their sexuality while also maintaining their femininity. These analyses demonstrate that how gender is constructed in popular culture is often wrought with contradiction, tension, and complexity. In this spirit, this study examines how the ideal Millennial woman is discursively constructed online. Specifically, I conducted a thematic analysis of the Top 10 websites for Millennial women as outlined by Forbes magazine. My analysis demonstrates how the ideal Millennial woman is defined by her relationships. She sees the importance of cultivating and maintaining a personal brand. She sees her career as something important to navigate and seeks outside sources to reassure her. She could be perceived as naïve in some fields, and turns to her personal brand and relationships for affirmations. However, her brand is devoid of race and religion. The contributions of this paper will allow a reference for millennial women to view a summary of content surrounding their professional experience. This research could help define problematic stereotypes and encourage women to find creative ways to redefine them in their own lives. Finally, this research begins to close the gap on defining the characteristics or perceived characteristics of Millennial women. |
The effects of using knee wraps on vertical jump performance.03/15/2016PROBLEM: Knee wraps have been used to improve squat performance for decades. Their effectiveness to increase a 1 repetition maximum has been documented in lifting records for several organizations but the effect on vertical jump performance is unknown. METHODS: Ten healthy active males (Height- 1.74±5.88m, Mass- 86.1±14.6kg, Age- 27±3 years) volunteered to participate in a 2 week vertical jump training study. On three different testing days (1, 4, and 11) subjects performed 2 sets of 5 vertical jumps with 20 seconds rest between jumps and 5 minutes rest between sets. One set was performed without knee wraps and one set was performed with knee wraps. On two separate training days, subjects performed 3 sets of 10 vertical jumps with 20 seconds rest between jumps and 5 minutes rest between sets. One group (KW; n=5) performed the sets with knee wraps and one group (UW; n=5) performed the sets without knee wraps. Vertical jump height data was collected with a Vertec Device. RESULTS: A significant 3-way interaction (p=.003) was observed for vertical jump height such that groups were different on vertical jump height for sets without knee wraps on Day 4 (UW-55.986±6.332cm, KW- 62.382±9.646cm) and Day 11 (UW- 56.087±8.851cm, KW-63.805±7.701cm). In addition, sets without knee wraps were observed to be significantly greater (p<.001) than sets with knee wraps on all days regardless of group. CONCLUSION: Different from back squat research, knee wraps do not improve vertical jump performance even though vertical jump with knee wraps increases with training. |
The Effects of Romantic Partner Instrumentality and Goal Progress03/15/2016Past research (Fitzsimons & Finkel, 2011) has found that when people’s romantic partners are instrumental to their pursuit of personal goals, they report decreases in their planned goal-related effort. The current study extended these findings by examining the effects of romantic partners’ instrumentality on actual effort toward goals and goal progress over time. We also examined the role of relationship satisfaction in the association between instrumentality and effort and progress. We predicted that partner instrumentality would decrease goal effort and have positive impacts on goal progress over time, but only for people with high relationship satisfaction. Seventy-eight couples completed questionnaires on relationship satisfaction, their romantic partner’s instrumentality to their goals, goal effort, and goal progress at 2 time points, 3 months apart. To analyze the data, we used a 3-level multilevel model. We found that partner instrumentality at Time 1 was not related to changes in goal effort, but was related to changes in goal progress across time, such that higher partner instrumentality was related to more progress. However, the relation between instrumentality and goal progress depended on relationship satisfaction, such that higher relationship satisfaction was related to greater increases in progress over time. Although we did not find that partner instrumentality decreases goal-related effort, we found that it predicts increases in goal-related progress across time, especially for individuals with higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Therefore, having a romantic partner who is instrumental, making it easier to pursue a given goal will result in more goal progress. |
The Effects of a High Calorie Diet on Weight in Zebra Finches03/15/2016According to the CDC, over one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Long-term obesity has been linked to many health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. Unlike humans that tend to gain weight as we age, there are vertebrates that appear to be resistant to weight increase such as many species of non-migratory birds including zebra finches. The goal of this experiment was to determine if we could alter weight in zebra finches by exposing them to a high caloric diet of finch seed mixed with suet (15% by weight). We hypothesized that birds receiving suet would gain more weight compared to controls. Birds were fed either regular finch seed or suet mixed diet for 17 weeks, and were housed in modified cages to restrict activity. Every other week they were weighed, and lean mass and fat mass were measured using an EchoMRI. From this, average lean and average fat mass percentages were calculated. Preliminary results demonstrate that within the suet fed group there was variability in these two measures that paralleled controls. Despite this, neither group experienced a significant change in weight. These results imply that there is a mechanism responsible for maintaining weight homeostasis that cannot be overridden by solely challenging them with an increased calorie diet. Some possible mechanisms that may explain the results include increased metabolism, an increased output of thermoenergy, or changes in food consumption. |
The Effectiveness and Advancement of Military Combat Gear:03/15/2016Title: The Effectiveness and Advancement of Military Combat Gear: Michaela M. Judy Undergraduate Business Major College of Business Administration Kent State University Steve Riczo Faculty Advisor Exploring Business Professor College of Business Administration Kent State University Trevor Watkins, MS, MCIS, MLIS Faculty Advisor Assistant Professor, Science Librarian Kent State University Libraries Assistant Dean, Elizabeth Sinclair Co-Faculty Advisor College of Business Administration Kent State University Title: The Effectiveness and Advancement of Military Combat Gear As technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, U.S. soldiers face endless threats on the battlefield everyday and the threats of modern warfare using today’s technology are deadlier than ever. Our enemies are enhancing their military weapons making it imperative that we keep pace with protective gear for our armed forces who risk so much for us everyday. Military combat uniforms have evolved to become more advanced to meet military standards. However, we believe that current uniforms used in combat today, do not provide our soldiers with the most advanced protection needed when facing these threats. We investigated different ballistic fibers. During the process of conducting the research for this project, we discovered the need to address some business aspects as well. For example, subsequent to patenting our product, we would joint venture with a military contractor for final testing and production of improved military combat uniforms that provide soldiers full body protection. We are also exploring the possibility of bringing on technical experts in liquid crystals and chemistry to work with us in enhancing our combat gear. We have used both qualitative and quantitative methods to conduct this research project, such as connecting with different universities in our quest for technical experts. I am confident that our combat uniform will ultimately: have superior durability and protective qualities than that of its predecessors; protect a soldier’s entire body including arms, legs and neck; stand up to various climate conditions; and, last longer than the current 2-year lifespan of today’s uniforms. |
The Effect of Denominator Size on a Magnitude Comparison Task03/15/2016Both children and adults find fractions challenging. Understanding how adults cognitively process fractions is important for making beneficial changes to math education in the future. We investigated whether the size of a fraction's denominator plays a significant role in the speed and accuracy with which adults compare the magnitude, or values, of two fractions (e.g., which is bigger ¾ or 3/19?). Should adults find fractions with large denominators more difficult to differentiate based on magnitude, it would suggest that participants are deconstructing the fractions into their component parts (e.g., focusing on the denominator), rather than thinking about the magnitude of the fractions in terms of the value of the fractions as a whole (e.g., ¾ = 0.75 or 75%). If participants are focusing on the components of fractions, then they may make slower and more error prone decisions when the comparison involves fractions with larger denominators, because these are fractions that actually possess smaller magnitudes (e.g., ¾ = 0.75 vs. 3/19 = 0.16). As hypothesized, adults in our study made significantly more mistakes when comparing fractions with larger denominators (11-20) as compared to fractions with smaller denominators (1-10). Adults focus on the denominators of fractions and treat them as whole number indicators of the fractions' magnitude, and this can lead to decreased accuracy on a magnitude comparison task. |
The Early Christian Church and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement at Kent State University: An application of Burke’s Guilt Redemption Cycle and Smelser’s Theory of Collective Behavior03/15/2016An application of Kenneth Burke’s Guilt-Redemption Cycle is used in conjunction with Neil Smelser’s Theory of Collective Behavior to construct an argument for an analogy between the Early Christian Church and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, specifically at Kent State University. The argument focuses on rhetorical actions and the progression of social movements while taking into consideration each movement’s respective period in history. Application of the theories found that there are analogous events between the Early Christian Church and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement. The analogy is further analyzed by using Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad as well as comparing rhetorical artifacts. Key words: Kenneth Burke, Neil Smelser, Guilt-Redemption Cycle, Theory of Collective Behavior, Early Christian Church, Kent State University |
The Disproportionate Impact of Voting Regulations on Underrepresented Communities03/15/2016Through examining polling data and survey results, one can observe a notable disparity between those who are active voters and those who identify as nonvoters. Often, this disparity can be characterized by differences in race, age and income group. Over the years there has been a consistent trend that shows that people who are non-white, under age 30, or have a family income of less than around thirty-thousand dollars are much less likely to vote than those who are white, older or make more money. The reasons for this vary. However, as I illustrate in this paper, the conditions that lead particular groups of people not to vote are exacerbated by policies that disproportionately affect them, putting them at a disadvantage when it comes to the exercise of voting rights. These policies include restrictions on early voting, the mechanism for counting provisional votes, as well as voter ID laws. Together, this creates a problem of de facto disenfranchisement amongst would-be voters, which in turn leads to lower voter turnout, lower efficacy and inaccurate representation in government. Using the state of Ohio as an example, as well as statistics from several sources, I describe how these policies have a negative impact on the ability of underrepresented communities to vote. I also devise solutions that will address and alleviate the issue, fostering greater political efficacy. |
The Developmental Impact of Social Support Source on Mental Health in LGB Youth03/15/2016Social support is an important factor related to the development of and buffering against mental health in LGB youth and young adults. Support from family and friends allows LGB youth to feel confident in their beliefs and behaviors. This type of support can drastically reduce mental health issues that LGB youth may experience. We explore the relationship between source of social support and mental health in a sample of previously traumatized, low SES, racial minority LGB adolescents and young adults and investigate age as a possible moderator of the relationship between source of social support and mental health outcomes. Results: Social support from family (β= -.302p= .03; β= -.364, p= .008), but not friends or significant others was significantly predictive of PTSD and depression symptoms. Age x support source interactions revealed that family social support was associated with significantly lower PTSD and depression symptoms when participants were between the ages of 16 and 19 whereas friend social support was associated with significantly lower PTSD and depression symptoms for participants in their early twenties. In order to best treat mental health issues in LGB adolescents and young adults, the age of the individual and social support from family and friend should be taken into consideration. Difference sources of social support are critical during certain developmental periods for LGB youth. |
The Absent Legion: Exposing and solving recorded histories systemic sexism and the design culture it has created today.03/15/2016The Absent Legion exists to counteract the systemic sexism that pervades the culture of written history. What texts survive today were written with a gendered bias whether recognised or not. however it was the confluence of the complex fashion industry and our written history that created the sexist design culture we have today. In designing a solution to this problem I fused the vernacular costume of the female samurai archers and the women of the Scottish Highlands. It was in this synthetic research I discovered the purest utility in feminine identity. Catalysts further defining the aesthetic of The Absent Legion was Lithographer Gwen Frostic, and knitwear Designer Amy Twigger Holroyd. It was in the projects final construction and fabrication The Absent Legion further lent itself to highlighting the subtle sexism within the complex fashion industry. The gendered dichotomy of public and domestic spheres had shaped much of where the industry finds nouveau inspirations or means of production. However it is always the Masculine Public sphere that consumes or adopts traits of the feminine domestic sphere, never the reverse. The Absent Legion exposed the subtle and profound sexism that exists in our history and industry, because of only the purest reversal of values for the domestic sphere over the public sphere. Its these same values that added resonance and complexity to gender identity and challenged the hegemony of body image we’ve accepted in design culture. |
Th1 cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ promote cell death in human prostate cancer cell lines via an apoptotic mechanism.03/15/2016A recent clinical vaccine trial to treat early breast cancer prior to surgery induced strong T cell-dependent immune responses characterized by the production of Th1 cytokines including Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Of 27 vaccinated subjects, 5 showed complete regression of tumor by the time of surgery. In vitro studies indicated that Th1 cytokine production might have a direct killing effect on breast cancer cells. We therefore sought to determine whether other carcinoma types were also sensitive to Th1 cytokines, a fact that might indicate their sensitivity to similar therapeutic vaccination. We therefore examined the effects of the two principal Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α on 3 common prostate cancer cell lines including LnCap, PC3 and DU145. Each cell line was incubated in tissue culture with cytokines for up to 5 days. Addition of the Alamar Blue dye during the last hours of culture indicated that cytokine-treated cells displayed sharply reduced metabolic activity. Likewise, microscopic observation of cells indicated signs of cell death. Vital staining indicated less viable cells in Th1 cytokine-treated groups compared to untreated controls. Finally, Flow cytometry analyisis of cytokine treated cells showed evidence of enhanced apoptosis compared with untreated cells, indicating induction of programmed cell death in cytokine-treated cells. These data show that prostate cancer may be amenable to vaccination that induces strong Th1 type immunity. Enhancing effects of some anti-cancer drugs were also examined. |
Testing for Ecosystem Regime Change Inferred from the Autotrophic Pigment Signals in Lake Erie Sediments03/15/2016Abstract Human activities (agricultural nutrient runoff, point source pollution and invasive species) coupled with local impacts of climate change have contributed to profound changes in aquatic ecosystem function in Lake Erie. Yuan et al., (2014) argued that evidence of these changes were preserved as an increasing trend in trace metal content in a core raised from the Sandusky subbasin of the central basin of Lake Erie, which signaled a shift in algal dominance toward Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) forming cyanophytes. These algal changes have been bringing serious problems to local citizen life as well as economy, such as the HAB prevalence around the west basin of Lake Erie, which increased in the 1970s and again in the 1990s following two decades of success with nutrient abatement programs. While we have more present data for even predicting the occurrence of HAB, much less detail is known regarding the historical algal changes. Here we propose that this algal species change could be preserved in pigments signals recorded in sediments cores, and by analyzing and distinguishing pigments for several algae assemblages using Visible Derivative Spectroscopy (VDS), we can reconstruct the historical algal ecosystem change in Lake Erie. We seek to determine if the changes in the Western basin extended to the Central and Eastern Basin and to determine the natural cycles present in the lake prior to large-scale human impacts on the Lake. Key words: Pigments, VDS, Algae Assemblages, Sediments, Ecosystems, Lake Erie. |
Synthesis of the Pt6L4 Cage and Applications in Drug Delivery03/15/2016The FDA-approved platinum-based drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin) are widely used in the clinical treatment of cancer. Cisplatin and carboplatin are extensively employed for the treatment of testicular, ovarian, lung, head, and neck cancers, whereas oxaliplatin is used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, these platinum compounds have multiple drawbacks, including lack of selectivity, dosage limited by toxic side effects, low bioavailability, large costs, and short retention time. As such the development of new delivery methods of these medications is a growing field as with more precise delivery of these drugs will solve the issues of dosage, retention time, and will most likely result in a decrease in cost of treatment due to the increased selectivity. A Pt6L4 cage may be a new possible delivery platform for these drugs. The cage is a 3-nm nanocluster, which has shown promising results in vitro for the delivery of a platinum(IV) prodrug of cisplatin into cells through formation of a well-defined host-guest system.1 The cage also showed promising results in overcoming the platinum resistance of cancer cells. The cage was synthesized using a platinum center and triazine ligands. During the Fall Semester of 2015, I have successfully synthesized the Pt6L4 cage in the lab using microwave synthesis as opposed to conventional heating. This new method resulted in higher yields of the final product, which was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Future works aim to develop a traceable delivery system for transportation of cisplatin. This will be achieved via the attachment of MRI and fluorescence components that will allow the tracking of the platinum pro-drugs in vitro and in vivo.2 |
Studying Convergent Deformation with an Analog Sandbox Model: Does Bedding Thickness Control the Style of Deformation?03/15/2016Analog sandbox models allow plate tectonic deformation of the crust over geological timescales to be studied on the tabletop. Using a new sandbox model we have built in the Department of Geology, I am investigating how different bedding thicknesses, represented in the model by layers of coloured sand, can alter the style of deformation during experiments that simulate tectonic convergence. My central hypothesis is that if the beds are thicker then more convergence is accommodated by internal deformation within the beds, rather than slip between the beds. This leads to gentle folding of the layers rather than sharper kinking and faulting. My experiments involve filling a box with clear perspex sides, on top of a moving base plate, with layers of sand of varying colors (to represent different strata and beds). The whole sand pile is deformed by gradually pushing the base plate underneath a fixed backstop, with digital photographs being taken through the perspex sides at regular intervals to record how faults and folds develop. In addition to multiple experiments that vary average layer thickness from millimeter to centimeter scale, I also plan to test how other parameters such as width of the deforming region and obliquity of convergence, may affect my results. |
Study of Transformation through Polish Heritage and Folklore03/15/2016Primary Author- Hunter Custer Kent State University-Main Campus Primary Author’s Major- Fashion Design Advisor- Kendra Lapolla- Assistant Professor, Fashion Design A full clothing collection was created as an in depth research response to transformation. In Polish Folklore, transformation in one myth in particular the Rusalka. A Rusalka, is a when a woman who dies of a traumatic or unnatural death by drowning. The woman then turns into a water spirit who haunts that body of water. This myth was chosen to explore the transformation of physical form to non physical form. Researching the ancient myth included reading about ancient pagan Gods, Godesses and creatures. Information was found through online articles, websites and books found at the Kent State University Library. Methods through design were practiced as well. This involves draping on a form, preliminary sketches and muslins. The conclusion was reached through an investigation of a transformable eveningwear collection. Garments could be manipulated by the wearer transforming into multi purpose garments. 3D printed pins and buckles were created inspired by Polish embroidery and openwork. These were placed on garments where hand embroidery was intentionally placed as to tell the wearer how the garment transforms. |
Studies Towards The Synthesis of 2,5-Disubstituted-3-Flurothiophenes Using a Tandem Directed Ortho Metallation/Nickel Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Approach03/15/20162,5-Disubstituted 3-fluorothiophene derivatives are of interest as building blocks in liquid crystal materials synthesis. This poster details the development of 2-thienyl carbamates and related compounds as flexible building blocks for the construction of 2,5-disubstituted 3-fluorothiophenes. Our approach involves oxidation of 5-substituted 2-thienyl trifluoroborates to the corresponding thienones followed by O-trapping of the corresponding enolate as the 2-thienyl carbamate. Studies aimed at the elaboration of to 2,5-disubstituted 3-fluorothiophenes using a sequential directed ortho-metalation/fluorination/Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling approach will be presented. |
Strategy use and math anxiety in fractions number line estimation03/15/2016Throughout the 20th century, mathematics education in the United States has gone through an ebb and flow of changing pedagogical perspectives. Significant technological advances and their effect upon the economy underscored the importance of mathematics in the modern world (Klein, 2003). Thus, mathematics achievement affects us at both a macro and micro level. At the macro level, math achievement is implicated in national economic competitiveness and longevity. A 2008 report by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel found that the United States is falling behind its international peers in overall mathematics achievement. At the micro level, mathematics achievement in early education has been correlated to higher salaries and less unemployment. Mathematics achievement is strongly predicted by fractions knowledge past other contributors such as whole numbers knowledge, working memory, etc (Siegler et al., 2012). However, both children and adults struggle with fractions knowledge. Since previous studies have examined fractions knowledge in children, our study examined the types of erroneous strategies that may persist in adult participants when estimating the location of fractions on number lines and comparing the values of two fractions. Additionally, we examined the effect of self-reported math anxiety on fraction performance and strategy use. Math anxiety is detrimental to the performance and overall motivation of students in math courses. We hypothesized that higher math anxiety would correlate with poorer strategy use. Our preliminary results indicate a significant correlation between the lack of strategy use and/or guessing with poor performance in both number line estimation and magnitude comparison. |
Stimulation of the Rostral-Ventrolateral Medulla by DREADDs03/15/2016Everyday life is full of events that can cause stress. Exposure to chronic stress is linked to a number of diseases such as depression, heart disease, and hypertension. Stress causes an increase in circulating glucocorticoid and sympathetic nervous system output, commonly referred to as the fight-flight response. However, it is not clear whether the actual stress stimulus is required or if repeated activation of the fight-flight responses in the absence of a physical/psychological stressor is sufficient to cause impaired health outcomes. In this study we sought to develop a method to gain control over neurons that control fight-flight responses. Rats were put under an anesthetic and a virus was injected into the Rostral-Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM), a brainstem nuclei that controls the stress response. The virus infects neurons with a vector that causes the expression of Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) giving us control over the activation of these neurons. After three weeks, experimental animals were anesthetized and electrocardiogram electrodes attached for monitoring heart rate. Animals injected with the designer drug, clozapine-n-oxide (CNO) that activates neurons expressing DREADDs showed a spike in heart rate forty minutes after injection and a general increase thereafter. In contrast, control animals injected with saline showed a slow gradual decrease in heart rate. This study demonstrated we could gain control over the fight-flight response of an animal without physically exposing it to an actual stressor. |
Stanislavski and Csikszentmihalyi on Inspired Acting and How It Is Achieved Through Concentration and Imagination03/15/2016In An Actor’s Work, Konstantin Stanislavski examines the concepts of concentration and imagination and how they are essential components of an actor’s ability to effectively pursue an objective. The purpose of having an objective is so that the actor might live in the moment by being fully absorbed in the given circumstances of the play. Objectives must be sufficiently specific to inspire this kind of subconscious absorption and therefore inspired acting that is exactly as in nature. Similarly, in Flow, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi states that focus and concentration in pursuit of a complex goal balanced against an individual’s skill level leads to optimal experience. Optimal experience is a psychological state that allows for goals to be pursued as efficiently as possible. Stanislavski and Csikszentmahalyi’s theories appear to be synonymous. Therefore, we can use Csikszentmihalyi’s psychology of optimal experience to bolster Stanislavski’s contention, in theory and practice, that focus and concentration in the pursuit of an objective or goal help an actor to poke at the subconscious and achieve a state of inspired acting/optimal experience. |
Spain’s Atonement for the Inquisition03/15/2016In 2015, a law in Spain was passed that grants dual citizenship to Jews who can trace their ancestry to Spain. Jews who trace their ancestry to Spain are known as Sephardic Jews. The Spanish government passed the law as atonement to the Sephardim on account of their expulsion by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492. Approximately 200,000 Jews were forced to leave the country. Others were forced to convert to Catholicism or suffer the consequences of being caught practicing Judaism. It should be noted that the new law has received criticism on account of its overly restrictive nature. Critics claim that, in the end, very few Sephardic Jews will succeed in gaining dual citizenship. Nevertheless, no such law whatsoever has been proposed offering dual citizenship to Muslims, who were expelled from Spain in 1609. The purpose of this study is to consider the apparent contradiction between granting dual citizenship to Sephardic Jews, however limited, but not to the Muslim descendants of Spain. The research is conducted through examination of scholarly articles, newspapers articles, and the text of the law itself. This paper is expected to demonstrate that both Muslims of Spanish descent and Sephardic Jews should be offered the right to Spanish citizenship. |
skin bleaching amongst Nigerian women03/15/2016Meanings of skin-bleaching: The construction of beauty amongst Nigerian women. Dr. Joelle Cruz Dominique Y. Freeman School of Communication Studies Kent State University The purpose of this study is demonstrate the practices of skin bleaching amongst Nigerian women. This study is important because African women needs to be aware of the risks due to skin bleaching. They also need to recognize their own beauty, and create their own standards of beauty and not to compare it to white women. According to Hall (1995), “women are participating in this activity to be beautiful regardless of the negative factors associated with it” (p.172). Skin bleaching has become a worldwide phenomenon over the past 30 years. This qualitative research study was conducted through the thematic analysis. I used 20 newspapers articles that deal with Nigerian women who bleach their skin. These articles discuss the reasons why Nigerian women participate in these harmful behaviors. In today’s society being non-color is said to be more attractive and superior than being of color. My data connects similarities in each article that pertains to skin bleaching. Each article supports the fact that skin bleaching industry companies main target is Africa, in places such as Nigeria where skin bleaching is used at the highest rate by women, with Nigerian women at 70%, Ghana women at 30% and Senegal women at 27%. These percentages show that skin bleaching is spreading throughout Africa and also throughout the world. This study suggests that skin bleaching negatively impacts beauty norms amongst Nigerian women. Keywords: “Skin-bleaching”, “Nigerian Women”, “Beauty.” |
Simple image normalization dramatically improves Transport-of-Intensity (TIE)-derived phase images03/15/2016Quantitative phase mapping is useful for non-invasively quantifying cell properties, such as water concentration. The phase image can be obtained by solving the Transport-of-Intensity equation (TIE) for two brightfield images I1 and I2 taken at two defocus distances. Phase restoration by TIE is based on the gradient of axial intensity, which is approximated by the difference I1-I2. The results of computation, however, are very sensitive to slight fluctuations of intensity between I1 and I2, resulting in a spatially variable background and difficulty analyzing the data. This is especially true for spherical cells, driving our current focus on finding additional ways to increase the accuracy of the phase image calculated for these spherical objects. Thus far, we have found that the quality of phase images can be drastically improved by manually equalizing the intensities of the input images before processing. The tolerance of the computed phase to the input focal planes can be further enhanced by averaging multiple time-lapse images to represent each of I1 and I2. With this simple modification, TIE microscopy can be easily applied to various biological problems. |
Sexual Orientation Discrimination Mediates the Relationship between Family Social Support and PTSD symptoms in a Sample of Traumatized Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Adolescents03/15/2016We wanted to assess the relationship between discrimination of sexual orientation and family social support as an indicator for PTSD symptoms. Therefore, we examined sexual orientation discrimination stress as a mechanism through which family social support predicts PTSD symptoms in a traumatized sample of LGB adolescents. We recruited (N=76) LGBT adolescents from a social service agency. The sample consisted of 49 males, and 80.3% identified as African-American with a mean age of 19.8 (SD = 2.2). Participants completed a questionnaire battery including questionnaires about stress related to sexual orientation discrimination experiences, PTSD symptoms, and perceived family social support. A mediation model with 1,000 bootstrapping resamples examined the mediating effect of stress from sexual orientation discrimination on family social support and PTSD symptoms. Sexual orientation discrimination stress had a significant indirect effect (95% BCI: -.487, -.005) on the relationship between family social support and PTSD symptoms. Thus we can conclude that the level of family social support on traumatized LGB youths can greatly impact PTSD symptoms. |
Self Healing Concrete as a Sustainable Alternative to Concrete03/15/2016Concrete has a high compressive strength and a low tensile strength, which is why it is used commonly for construction and infrastructure. The issue with concrete is that once it cracks, it becomes unstable, and the cracks can spread if not taken care of quickly. There are methods of repairing it can become expensive and it’s more often than not a temporary fix. There are also environmental factors that make concrete inefficient or unusable. A possible solution to these issues is the increased use of self-healing concrete. This type of concrete has a different makeup than that of regular concrete, utilizing bacteria that can survive in high alkaline environments to fill in and repair cracks that occur in concrete, quickly and effectively. The testing procedure of this includes the intentional cracking of concrete and allowing it to heal itself. The tests are to see if the compressive strength is either preserved or improved as a result of the healing. The results from various tests and research show that there is little to no difference in the performance of concrete that has healed itself than that of regular un-cracked concrete. The bacteria work quickly and effectively, producing a substance that has the qualities of concrete and completely filling in the cracks. This self-healing factor is time and cost efficient, where it would initially cost more than regular cement, but due to it not requiring as much maintenance or replacements, makes this a more sustainable and cost efficient alternative to regular concrete. |
Secondary Analysis of Binge Drinking Behaviors in a Drinking Population03/15/2016With the prevalence of alcohol use on the rise, the exploration of risk factors is vital to aid in the understanding and prevention of inappropriate alcoholic behaviors. Therefore, this research examined if there was a relationship between the initiation of alcohol/cigarette use in early adolescence and adult binge alcohol consumption. This research was a secondary analysis of a 55,602 unit data-set, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, gathered nationwide by the U.S. Department of HHS (77% response rate) in 2004. Age at first drink/smoke (AFD/AFS) and other demographic factors were used as independent variables and binge drinking in the past month was the quantitative dependent variable. All variables were significantly related to binge drinking and almost 3/4 of the heaviest binge-drinkers had their AFD and AFS before the age of 15. It was concluded that the earlier the age of first alcohol/cigarette usage, the more likely an individual was to develop binge-drinking tendencies later in adulthood and demographic variables influenced this tendency. |
Revitalizing Culture: Baum03/15/2016This studio design project focused on the ideas of abstract concepts and thematic research to develop a design for an upscale restaurant. After identifying the abstract concept (ex. wind), different avenues of thematic development were researched as potential design directions. The research was a major component of the project, utilizing online, library and journal sources to gather data for the thematic background for the restaurant. In addition, additional areas of research focused on the technical issues of restaurant design and accessibility requirements. The abstract concept for this project was to use the word mysterious to develop an intriguing design exploring a culture that we were not personally familiar with. Using aspects of the German culture discovered through research, the necessary interior elements were developed in order for the concept to be readable to the projected market. This concept was used as the basis for the thematic development of the restaurant which was brought through with a German motif as the logo, baum, meaning tree, in the German language, and lastly, the use of a natural color palette and materials. The results of the research were used to develop the thematic design of the restaurant. The functional layout of the restaurant, the selection of materials and finishes and the ambience experienced by guests were a direct result of the research component of the project. As shown in this project, the development of interior spaces is a direct result of the various avenues of research undertaken. |
Reunification and Rising Inequality in Germany03/15/2016This research explores current trends and causes of inequality in the Federal Republic of Germany. Two forms of inequality include: 1) economic inequality which describes the income and wealth gap between the poorest and wealthiest individuals in a country; and 2) social inequality which describes the differences in opportunities and rewards based on racial, gender or ethnic categories. Liberal market economies like the United States are assumed to have the highest levels of inequality among advanced industrial countries. However, the European Union and its strongest economy, Germany, has seen a rise in inequality. The richest 10% in the country currently own assets amounting to 1.4m euros on average, 80 times more than the annual income of the median German household. Earlier this year, the German Economic Institute (DIW) released a study indicating that contrary to common conceptions, Germany had the most unequal distribution of wealth in the eurozone. Rising inequality in Germany is correlated with a rise in neo-nazi groups that look to spread xenophobia across Germany. The aim of this research is two-fold: first, drawing on OECD data, the paper describes the current level of inequality within Germany, and between Germany and the rest of the EU. And second, the paper offers historic evidence that current levels of intra-German inequality are a function of the economic and social merger of the two Germanies during and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The authors conclude a rise in inequality in Germany is a direct result of the reunification process. |
Relationship of Language and Pattern03/15/2016Through the repetitive processes in weaving I have found a place of meditation. Each peaceful interaction with the yarn has led into exploration of the ego and the self through language. My research has guided me to the manifestation of thought, that, the use of language in our relationship with the self creates patterns of being in reality. In my work, I explore the relationship of language and pattern through the use of color and structure. A Meditative Experience was the beginning of my investigation into the similarities of structure in weaving and writing. Collaborating with a poet, identical structures were created in both the poem and the woven cloth, to create a visual and audible pattern. The spiral shape invites viewers to walk in and immerse themselves in the transitions of pattern and energy of color while the poem is being played. Creating an environment for the viewer to reflect on their relationship with their ego and inner self. In my current investigations I step away from complex structure. My focus has changed to the painting on both sets of yarns, on and off the loom before being woven. The act of painting words is derived from my meditative journaling process, where I am able to de-clutter my mind through words and breath. I mimic this process by painting my thoughts on the warp, yarns on the loom. The weft, yarns being inserted, painted with words describing breathing processes. When put together the resulting pattern is a mystery. Mirroring the acceptance of the unknown patterns in life through meditation. |
Recontextualizing Gender and Sexuality Through Ancient and Modern Perspectives03/15/2016Ancient Greece provides the basis for modern conceptions of gender and sexuality and is therefore an ideal source for understanding contemporary LGBT and gender issues, both politically and socially. By returning to the wellspring of ideas on gender and sexuality through Ancient Greek texts, we can begin to understand how and why gender and sexuality are framed in society today. This research project included an initial phase of literary and historical research into famous Greek masterpieces literature to understand the origins of western thought on the topic. From Hesiod’s creation of Pandora through Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, this project tracks cultural perceptions of gender and its relation to sexuality. I then analyzed contemporary sources on the issues -- news outlets, contemporary literature and lectures -- to create a comprehensive analysis of how the ancient impacts the modern. The project will culminate in a trip to Athens, Greece where the ancient and modern will come together in the form of historical tours juxtaposed with academic visits to LGBT groups in Athens. By mapping and presenting gender and sexuality through the lens of Greece, this project shows the span of history to link past and present. By doing so, I hope to recontextualize the local gender and sexuality conversation to be more global and consider diverse solutions. |
Rat Sequential Learning for Impoverished Serial Patterns Favors Multiple-Item Learning03/15/2016When rats learn highly-organized serial patterns they formulate rules based on pattern structure that aid in correctly making different responses for different structural element types. For this experiment, we explored how simplifying pattern structure might allow for further investigation of the learning mechanisms involved in chunk-boundary element stimulus-response learning and violation element multiple-item learning. Four 10-element serial patterns were designed to assess acquisition for these element types separately with special attention to learning chunk-boundary versus violation element types. Adult rats were trained on one of four serial patterns: two patterns had one chunk-boundary in cued or uncued form, and two patterns had one violation element in cued or uncued form. After acquisition, rats received a drug challenge by i.p. injection of the anticholinergic drug scopolamine. Results indicated that all pattern element types were learned at the same rate despite containing different element types presented cued and uncued. Scopolamine caused high error rates for all higher-order elements as observed in previous results with violation element retention under scopolamine. Thus, chunk-boundary elements and violation elements were both encoded similarly as violation elements. These similarities in encoding might be due to the impoverished pattern structure that favored multiple-item learning over chunking. |
Rain Barrel Painting Project03/15/2016The Rain Barrel Painting Project integrates members of the School of Art and Horticulture Department to promote sustainability through water conservation while advocating for the arts. Rain barrels have been donated to the Herrick Conservatory that students and willing participants will treat as blank canvas to express their creativity for this fun artistic project. There are a number of galleries around campus, downtown Kent, and in the Cleveland-Akron area that are seeking proposals for innovative collaborative projects. Painted rain barrels in a gallery setting present an inspiring approach for students to showcase their work in an ecologically restorative and culturally relevant way. The accompanying didactic messages and information panels surrounding the work in the galleries will be a part of an outreach program to promote water conservation and highlighting student research. Many people talk about sustainability, or going green, but from my experience not many people actually do or live in ways that support the things they advocate. Rainwater doesn’t have the chemicals found in tap water thereby making it better for plants and soil. Rain barrels provide free irrigation for gardens and reduce harmful runoff into streams, rivers and lakes. Rain barrels are an inspiring example of environmental stewardship. If we can use painted rain barrels to promote sustainability and conservation while engaging people in creative collaboration, then this project will be a huge success. I believe that collaboration between art and science is long overdue. |
Quantification of Movement In and Out of Domestic Cat Colonies with Implications for Population Management.03/15/2016An increasing number of feral cats roam the United States presently, leading to increased ecological damage to native wildlife and incidence of disease for the cats. Common methods of controlling overpopulation usually involve active management via TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) with varying results. In theory, TNR might work in closed populations, i.e. populations in which no new individuals were entering the population. However, studies estimating immigration and emigration rates of cats into feral colonies are lacking, causing the true effectiveness of these programs to be subjective. The purpose of this study is to add crucial quantitative data on those rates in feral cat colonies with implications for population management. Such data will assist in determining if current methods for population management are effective, or how they can be improved. This study was conducted through visiting 3 feral cat colonies and using standard sampling methods. Photographic records and detailed field notes were collected on each visit to determine if any new cats were present or missing. Colonies were visited 3 times per week and each cat was identified by color and distinguishing marks. Results of this study are currently pending however, based on the data collected thus far we estimate that immigration and emigration rates at our colonies are less than previous published studies. Should results hold, it would suggest that current methods for managing these colonies have been effective. However, without proper education and dissemination of information, we cannot create a collaborative effort in enforcing these programs and eradicating the overpopulation problem. |
Predicting Behavioral Phenotypes to Social Defeat: Resistance is associated with Poor Behavioral Inhibition03/15/2016Social defeat in mice is used as a model for examining stress-induced pathology. The social defeat procedure yields two phenotypes: resistant, characterized by high interaction levels, and susceptible, characterized by low interaction levels. Resistance and susceptibility in mice has been used to examine the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to resilience or susceptibility, respectively, to stress-induced disease. In our lab, however, we found that resistance to social defeat was associated with increased conditioned fear, delayed fear extinction and increased contextual fear generalization. We hypothesize that the resistant phenotype might be characterized by poor behavioral inhibition. In this study, several paradigms were used to 1) test the hypothesis that resistance is associated with poor behavioral inhibition and 2) develop predictive behavioral indicators of resistance and susceptibility to social defeat. We first examined whether differences in innate social interaction would predict stress-induced behavioral phenotypes. Results suggested that the mice learned to associate social interaction as a safe environment and were interactive even after social stress. Next, defeated mice were trained in passive avoidance, and results suggested that resistant mice show deficits in inhibiting impulsive behaviors. These results, however, are only seen after social defeat. Latent inhibition tests will also be used to determine if resistant mice will freeze more than susceptible and control mice due to poor behavioral inhibition. Overall, the present study uses these paradigms to further characterize and predict behavioral differences between resistant and susceptible mice. |
Predator odor induces skeletal muscle thermogenesis, enhancing food restriction-induced weight loss in rats03/15/2016Changes in the environment can increase body temperature by impacting neural signaling to physiological systems including muscle and brown adipose tissue. We hypothesize that the “fight or flight” response can translate to weight loss due to muscle thermogenesis. The stimulus for the sympathetic nervous system response was the odor of ferrets, a natural predator of rats. This predator odor (PO; towel with ferret odor) induces a rapid and robust increase in skeletal muscle thermogenesis in rats. To test our hypothesis, each rat (N=10) was surgically implanted with temperature transponders (IPTT-300; Bio Medic Data Systems) adjacent to brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius, bilaterally). To determine if this impacted energy balance, all rats were maintained on a 25% caloric restriction diet for 2 weeks, and half of the rats were exposed to a new PO towel daily; the other half received a control stimulus. On the 1st, 8th, and 14th day, muscle temperatures were monitored for two hours after exposure to PO or control. After one week, rats with daily PO exposure lost, on average, 13.4 more grams of body weight than the control group. All PO-exposed rats showed habituation in their PO-induced thermogenic response after 2 weeks, but not 1 week, of continuous exposure. Body composition measurements (EchoMRI-700) showed that, unexpectedly, most of the weight lost by PO rats was lean mass as opposed to fat mass. Exploiting the neural pathway underlying PO-mediated muscle thermogenesis could lead to novel weight loss strategies. |
Powerful or Playful?: An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Events03/15/2016Sexual violence continues to occur at an alarming rate on college campuses. In an effort to reduce these numbers, several colleges have initiated efforts to mobilize men as part of the solution. These efforts range from prevention programming, to special events targeted at men. At one such event, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (WaM), men walk a mile in high heels to raise awareness about gender relations and sexual violence against women. However, recent research suggests that WaM may not be effective in achieving its intended purpose. Therefore, in an effort to understand the goals and meanings produced at the event, I conducted a qualitative case study of Kent State’s WaM event. I joined the WaM planning committee, distributed surveys and conducted interviews with walkers and planning committee members, and recorded field note observations during the event. Data were analyzed through explanation building and “theoretical thematic analysis”. Findings reveal that walkers were largely motivated by a desire to support a worthy cause and have fun. Staff had objectives of increasing participation and engaging men in preventing sexual violence. However, the over-emphasis on fun and charitable support left WaM falling short on developing feminist activist behaviors. The “fun” of wearing heels reduced WaM to a parody of doing femininity. In addition, heels were used in a way that reinforced gender and sexual inequalities and failed to extend men’s awareness beyond a “worthy cause” with which they have episodic involvement. Based on these findings, recommendations for practice will be discussed. |
PHYSICAL DNA MAPPING AND PROPER INTERVAL GRAPHS03/15/2016In order to study a genome, several copies of it are cut or broken down, and some of the resulting shorter segments (called clones) are preserved for further analysis. Depending on the technique used, the preserved clones may have variable length, or they may all have essentially the same length. In the process of producing the clones, all information on their relative position along the DNA chain is lost. The goal of physical mapping of DNA is to reconstruct that order, based on experimental data on the overlaps between pairs of clones. From the commencement of the semester, I have managed to implement a Proper Interval Graph class using Java to mimic the DNA chain. The vertices of this graph represent the clones and edges correspond to the overlapping pairs of clones. With the graph implemented, I went on to implementing the 3-sweep LexBFS algorithm which recognizes proper interval graphs and helps in the restoration of correct interval orders. From this ordering, I am able to locate any missing edges between two vertices and even suggest possible edges between vertices which were detected as being faulty. Currently, Dr. Dragan and I are running multiple experiments on the algorithm to better understand its behavior when certain scenarios arise. |
Pharmacological blockade of GABAB(1A) receptors results in enhanced extinction learning03/15/2016GABAB(1A) receptors seem to play a critical role in fear generalization. Additionally, GABAB(1a) knockout animals or animals given a GABAB(1A) receptor antagonist generalize fear to a neutral context. Based on these results, we became interested in the role of GABAB(1A) receptors in extinction learning. The extinction of fear occurs when a conditioned stimulus previously paired with an aversive stimulus is repeatedly presented alone. This repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus results in a decrease in the conditioned response. Following extinction learning, the renewal of fear sometimes occurs during testing in a different context To determine the role of GABAB(1A) receptors in extinction learning, we began by training GABAB KO animals in Context A to five tone-shock pairings. Extinction occurred over two days in Context B. Then, animals were tested in each context for a freezing response to the tone. We found that animals lacking GABAB receptors exhibited less freezing behavior during extinction than did wildtype animals. To further test this effect, we replicated this study pharmacologically. C57 mice underwent extinction training in the same manner but received infusions of either vehicle of a GABAB(1A) antagonist (CGP 36216) just prior to extinction or immediately after the completion of one day of extinction. The GABAB(1A) antagonist had a significant effect in enhancing extinction learning. We also observed greater extinction retention in the drug group. These results indicate that the inhibition of GABAB(1A) receptors enhances the process of extinction learning. |
Persona Applique'03/15/2016Persona Appliqué This collaborative project between fashion and performance examines where the line between clothing and costume blurs. A number of methods are used, including the manipulation of common silhouettes, use of unconventional materials, and the blending of basic apparel and costume construction. The end results reveal a positive influence on the actors personality; actors tend to be more open minded and confident while embodying a specific character that is shown by their personality. Concluding this experiment, it was certain that set levels of personality traits don't exist, but are rather personality traits fluctuate from wearing different pieces. Links to images: https://youtu.be/NVVlgv4O7wM Vinnie Tharnish Address: Centennial Court E - KSU, New Front/Centennial Desk, 225 Midway Drive Kent, Ohio 44243 Cell: 724 - 584 - 9190 Email: dtharnis@kent.edu Piece 1: The Limerent Medium: Satin, tool, organza, nylon, LED lights, & vinyl Dimensions: varies per model Date: 12 - 27 - 2015 Piece 2: The Siren Medium: Satin, electrical tape, tool, faux leather, vinyl, fake diamonds, & vinyl Dimensions: varies per model Date: 1 - 3 - 2015 Link to images: https://youtu.be/NVVlgv4O7wM |
Perceptions of Appearance03/15/2016The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of women based on appearance and college major. A survey was created that presented participants with one of two images along with one of three captions (six conditions). The same woman was pictured in both images, identically dressed except for shoes and bag. In Image 1, she wore sneakers and carried a backpack; in Image 2 she wore high heels and carried a fashionable tote. Accompanying one of the images was one of the following three descriptors: “College Student at a Large University,” “Fashion Major at a Large University,” and “Women’s Studies Major at a Large University.” When randomly presented with a photo and caption, participants indicated level of agreement for 25 characteristics/attributes on a seven-point scale. Characteristics/attributes were based on Johnson, Crutsinger, and Workman’s study, “Can Professional Women Appear Too Masculine? The Case of the Necktie.” (1994), which examined perceptions of women’s dress and managerial qualities. Four hundred and fifty-six college students answered the online survey. Results showed that the choice of clothing as well as college major influenced how participants viewed this abstract individual’s characteristics/attributes both positively and negatively. This research indicates that women are judged by their appearance, their choice of apparel, and their education related interests. |
Peptide inhibitors that disrupt viral-viral protein interactions in HIV-1: literature-based review03/15/2016Protein-protein interactions play a key role during each stage of the viral life cycle. Thus, inhibiting viral protein-protein interactions with the peptides derived from the binding interfaces is a promising approach for potential multi-epitope based treatments. However, molecular mechanisms underlying these protein interactions are not yet fully understood. This study is focused on a comprehensive literature survey to identify known peptide inhibitors derived from the HIV-1 viral proteins, which disrupt viral-viral protein interactions. We also discuss the limitations of these studies in identifying the most promising candidates. The candidate domains/regions identified in this survey will be used in the future bioinformatics analyses that examine patterns of coevolution between binding partners, specifically, in the attempt to differentiate between direct and indirect interactors (in other words, physical and functional interactions) using a coevolutionary approach (Hetti Arachchilage and Piontkivska 2016). |
Patterns in Nature03/15/2016The purpose of this study was to explore how personal aesthetics and interruptions of nature’s spirals could be incorporated through the development of a Fall/Winter women’s clothing collection for a designer brand. Research was developed on spirals in nature and the equality found in the human body’s radical movement relevant to the golden rule. The spiral pattern in nature can be found in the make up of pedals found on a flower, which allows the plant to direct water to the roots in order for it to survive. The spiral in nature can also be found in the human body with the movement of limbs and joints. In the development of the collection it was important to stay true to nature through the use of natural materials, wool and cotton, in rich earth tones. Also using a natural resist, sodium alginate, which is created by seaweed. By creating a pattern of lines using the symmetry of body movements relative to the golden rule the relationship to nature is brought to focus in the collection. A major component in the collection focuses around the weaving of a cotton and wool fabric treated with a sodium Alginate resist. The development of texture with a twill weave structure, which has been felted after resist is applied. The collection displays the theme of nature’s radical patterns in the use of seam work, organic shaping found in the drape and materials used throughout the garments in this fall/winter womenswear collection. |
Occupy Everything - reflecting on overpopulation within a demi-couture fashion collection.03/15/2016Overpopulation is defined by an individual’s want to thrive versus the relevant resources needed for survival. If the growth in population is inevitable, why hone in on the negative effects? The earth’s census has increased by five billion in the last 88 years, which is four times faster than the predicted rate in the 1800s. Throughout this time, we have exceeded what we already know, and learned to adapt to a new way of living. Every time the earth is harmed or becomes scarce of a resource, we come together to find a solution. It is said that the key to maintaining a functional environment is technology. This collection is here to raise awareness to a fact. No matter what we do, our population will grow, people will multiply, we will find new cures for diseases, and we will always have new technology to better our world. “Occupy Everything” is not a collection to frown upon exponential growth, but to appreciate the benefits of it. Each piece in this collection represents how we embrace the chaos surrounding us. By using technology and unique silhouettes, each piece represents a factor of overpopulation. Silk fabrics representing the beauty and creativity developing around us, and braids representing the complexity of what we have created. A demi-couture collection using shapes created by overlapping highways to create silhouette, effective color and fabric story to represent the lightness of our “problem,” and a print design using the highways that started it all. |
NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS AS INDICATORS OF WETLAND CONDITION: EVALUATING THE OHIO RAPID ASSESSMENT METHOD03/15/2016Wetlands are habitats between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. As “middle” positions, wetlands rely on inputs from surrounding landscapes. Wetlands act as buffers, filtering polluting nutrients from inflowing waters and preventing eutrophication downstream. Wetlands have historically been drained and removing these buffers threatens water quality. The Ohio Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM) is a metric used to categorize wetlands in Ohio between three scores. A high score of three indicates the highest quality wetland and one indicates lowest quality. This method is based on structural aspects of wetlands including size, plant community, depth, surrounding land use, and hydrological alterations and development. We aimed to determine if ORAM scores relate to ecosystem function, as indicated by nutrient concentrations and sediment phosphorus sorption characteristics. We predicted nutrient concentrations are higher in wetlands with lower ORAM scores and phosphate sorption capacity will be higher in wetlands with higher scores. Nine palustrine scrub-shrub wetlands owned by Kent State University were identified via National Wetland Inventory (NWI) and Web Soil Survey from the U.S. Department of Natural Resources, and assigned an ORAM score. In each wetland, we sampled surface waters for water quality analyses and sediments (10cm) phosphate sorption analyses. Wetlands near roads had higher concentrations of Cl- than those with wider buffers of forest. Inidcators of phosphate sorption capacity varied within wetlands, but were unrelated to wetland ORAM scores. Our data suggest that wetland ORAM scores do not necessarily reflect wetland nutrient cycling function. |
Now I know I'm Thinking Negatively03/15/2016Among American youth, anxiety and stress are at an all time high. Yet seldom are interventions targeted towards African American adolescent girls. Sisters United Now (S.U.N.) is a sister-circle prevention program designed specifically for at-risk adolescent females within the African American community. The purpose of the sister circle is to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to manage stress and anxiety. The program includes a music strategy to assist in cognitive restructuring- Build Your Own Theme Song (BYOTS) using a mobile app. In this study we examine the role of prompted alerts to use the app in increasing the number of unprompted uses by the girls. Qualitative (focus groups) and Quantitative (correlations) data is presented. Results indicate that the strategic use of prompts facilitates unprompted use. Based on the findings, we will be able to enhance the app so that it becomes more appealing to participants. |
Not for Profit Health Insurance: A Blessing or a Burden03/15/2016Healthcare continues to be an important issue in United States policy discourse for both quality of life and financial reasons. According to a report published by the World Health Organization, the United States has the most expensive healthcare system in the world but continues to place low in both quality and mortality measurements. As a solution to the financial demands placed on healthcare , a draft of the Affordable Care Act called for the formation of not for profit health insurance agencies for each of the states. Not for profit health insurance companies demonstrate marked reduction of financial demands in Germany and other countries around the world. Deemed CO-OP's, some not for profit heatlhcare insurance companies were formed and currently operated in a select few states across the country with the assistance of federal funding. Conducting a systematic literature review, my research will examine whether not for profit health insurance companies are effective and feasible to operate independently long term in the United States. |
No Spin Zone: The Framing Effects of Bill O'Reilly03/15/2016Poverty is an ever increasing problem in the world today; more than 46 million people live in poverty in the United States (Meyers, p. 1). However, conservative opinion about poverty and those in poverty are consistently negative. The opinions of this group of people are understood to be framed by the media that they watch as well as the opinion leaders they follow (Iyengar & Hahn, p. 22). One of the most influential opinion leaders that help shape the views of its conservative viewership is Bill O’Reilly of the O’Reilly factor presented on Fox News. O’Reilly’s show is the most watched program on Fox News as well as the most watched cable television program in general, with 66% of its viewership belonging to the conservative party. This level of viewership highlights the important role O’Reilly plays in helping shape public opinion. In this paper I examined how Bill O’Reilly framed poverty on The O’Reilly Factor, the overall tone of these frames, and discuss how these frames could influence his viewers’ perceptions of people who live in poverty. |
Nitrite (NO2-) and Nitrate (NO3-) Productions in Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS)03/15/2016Nitric oxide (NO) is a product of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS catalyzes the oxidation of L-arginine, which then forms L-citrulline and NO in cells. NO is important as it plays a role in many systems in the body such as the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. The domain structure of NOSs includes the oxygenase and the reductase domains. To form NO, there must be an electron transfer between these two domains. Starting in the reductase domain, the electron begins at NADPH, then flows to FAD, FMN, and transfers to the oxygenase domain heme during catalysis. A dimer must be formed for the electron transfer to the heme. The heme then binds to O2,which starts the reactions of the NO synthesis. The NO that is released can be further oxidized to form nitrite (productive cycle), while heme-NO complex can also be converted to nitrate (futile cycle). Three different NOS isoforms (endothelial NOS (eNOS), cytokine-inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS)) have been identified and characterized. Interestingly, they exhibit different catalytic profiles. Through our research, we will focus on the percentage of nitrite and nitrate productions that occur in the three NOS isoforms. Our preliminary data indicated that more nitrate than nitrite was produced in both iNOS and nNOS. Experiments using NO donor (NOC-12) are still undergoing. |
Next-generation sequencing datasets as a tool to study evolutionary patterns in HIV-1 genomes03/15/2016Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remains an important public health challenge worldwide, with numerous vaccine and drug development efforts being underway. Being able to accurately estimate the rate of evolutionary changes in various regions of the viral genomes, including viral epitopes, is an important aspect of the vaccine development. In this study we will review publicly available high-throughput sequencing datasets (derived through the so-called next-generation sequencing technologies that encompass Roche 454, Illumina and other approaches) and their utility to estimate the rates of sequence changes in viral epitopes. |
Lost in the Echo: The People's Democracy, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement, and How Violence Emerges from Nonviolent Objectives03/15/2016In the 1960s, the Catholic population in the country of Northern Ireland initiated a civil rights movement which demanded solutions to political issues such as gerrymandering by the majority Protestant government, discrimination by law enforcement, discrimination in the allocation of housing, and other problems that had created social divides between Catholics and Protestants for decades. By October 1968 a new civil rights organization calling itself the People’s Democracy had been formed. This new organization acted boldly in its demonstrations by conducting events in neighborhoods deemed “Protestant” territory, physically challenging police blockades, and in some instances actively seeking to provoke a hostile response from police and counter-demonstrators as a means to expose government violence and ineptitude. Drawing from historical evidence such as live footage of events, interviews, news reports, memoirs and writings from the people involved in Northern Ireland’s civil rights movement, as well as the works of other scholars regarding Northern Ireland, this research argues that the People’s Democracy and the events it participated in played an instrumental role in escalating tension and violence during the civil rights movement. By demonstrating the existence of a cycle of action and counter-action between the People’s Democracy and its counter-demonstrators, this research offers new insight into an overlooked chapter in the recent history of Northern Ireland: the transformation of the civil rights movement into the insurgent conflict, known as “the Troubles,” that would last for three decades.
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Let’s Talk About It: Using Online Discussions to Deconstruct the Stigma of Mental Illness03/15/2016This study is an empirical study of Black women's perceptions of mental health and mental health stigma. There has been extensive exploration of the intersections of race and mental illness, however, there has been a limited amount of research conducted when it comes to race, gender, and the stigma attached to mental illness combined. Researchers have found that there is a significant difference in terms of the amount of adults who are affected by mental illness when looking at racial groups (Anglin, D. M., Alberti, P. M., Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C., 2008). Furthermore there have been studies that have shown that Black women in particular suffer from mental illness at a highly disproportional rate than any other group in the United States. In this study, I will investigate what it is scholars in the field are saying pertaining to the issue of Black women being affected by mental illness/stigma and what the possible causes are. The research will allow us to delve into the conversations that Black women are having regarding this topic. We will get the overall sentiment about mental stigma, and what solutions Black women are offering for coping with mental illness and mental illness stigma. Keywords: African American women, Black women, mental health, mental illness, stigma, stereotypes. |
Isolation of NAA in Mice Brain Tissue Simulating Multiple Sclerosis03/15/2016Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. In MS the myelin, oligodendrocytes, axons, and neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) are destroyed resulting in neural conduction abnormality and disability. Dr. Freeman and Dr. McDonough’s research found that cells with defects in mitochondria coincided with decreased levels of the neuronal mitochondrial metabolite N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in MS brain tissue. NAA is formed in neurons and sent to oligodendrocytes to synthesize acetate and create lipids that are used in myelin. They hypothesized that due to the defects in neuron mitochondria, this leads to a decrease in the composition of NAA, leading to changes in myelin production of MS. To test this hypothesis nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to identify and isolate NAA in MS simulated mice brain tissue. |
Investigation of the minimal binding substrate for RNA modification enzyme RsuA03/15/2016Not available at this time. |
Investigation of the Dynamics of Helix 18 Pseudoknot in 16S rRNA03/15/2016Investigation of the Dynamics of Helix 18 Pseudoknot in 16S rRNA Destiny Kaznoch, Kumudie Jayalath, Courtney Wolfe Advisor Sanjaya Abeysirigunwardena Department of Chemistry Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent OH 44240 Abstract Not Available at this time |
Investigation of folding thermodynamics and kinetics of cobalamin riboswitch03/15/2016Not Available at this time |
Investigating Group 3 Metal Hydroxide Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy03/15/2016Heavy metals have been used in cancer treatment for years; the most notable example is Cisplatin, based on platinum, which is used in 50% of all late-stage cancer patients. However, heavy metals, which include gold and silver, are toxic to the human body and create terrible side effects. Aluminum, gallium, and indium are not essential to human life; there are trace amounts in the body from food. None of these by themselves have been proven to threaten human health. Gallium has been studied in the past as a potential cancer treatment as Ganite®, a gallium nitrate salt. This compound worked for a short time, but afterward, the gallium formed a hydroxide, only soluble in acidic conditions, in the bloodstream that collected and created blockages in the kidney. Our plan is to create a gallium hydroxide nanoparticle coated by a polymer. Since it is insoluble in the blood, it will travel through and enter the cancer cell via endocytosis. The cytosol of a cancer cell is highly acidic, and the gallium hydroxide will dissociate. The gallium is able to mimic iron in cells and will then cause apoptosis (cell death). The leftover gallium hydroxide nanoparticles will pass out of the bloodstream in urine as they are coated by a polymer that will not allow them to coagulate. Preliminary work with gallium hydroxide and CMRDT10 polymer has shown high solubility at low (acidic) pH and low solubility at neutral (blood level) pH. This promising method will be translated to aluminum and indium. |
Interaction of Membrane Proteins (Cx43, E-cadherin and Zo-1) in Prostate Cancer Cells03/15/2016Prostate cancer (PC) can be very aggressive due to high rates of metastasis. In normal cells epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) forms junctions between cells and may help regulate the formation of gap junctions by connexin43 (Cx43). Preliminary work showed that E-cadherin mRNA was enhanced in cells lacking Cx43. To confirm the inverse relation of Cx43 and E-cadherin, we compared E-cadherin protein expression in the PC3 test cell line, shRNACx43 #75, lacking Cx43 to that in the vector control line, shRNA-scramble control. We also tried to determine the status of the third cell membrane protein zona occluden-1 (Zo-1). Our hypothesis was that prostate cancer cells with reduced Cx43 would have a higher level of E-cadherin and Zo-1. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between three membrane proteins: Cx43, E-cadherin and Zo-1 in PC cells with different metastatic potentials. The hypothesis was tested by examination of E-cadherin and Zo-1 protein levels using immunofluorescence microscopy in PC cells engineered for reduced levels of Cx43. Our analysis of immunofluorescence microscopy showed that there was a lack of significant E-cadherin and Zo-1 staining in both the shRNA-scramble control PC cells (as expected) and the shRNACx43 #75 transfected PC3 cells (not expected). Our hypothesis could not be supported due to lack of E-cadherin staining in the test cell line shRNA-Cx43 #75 and inconclusive Zo-1 staining. |
Initial Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Portion Size Knowledge03/15/2016Obesity is an ongoing health concern in the United States. Overeating is one of the many factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. There are several approaches to assisting people in controlling food intake. One is to provide education on correct portion sizes, another is to provide pre-packaged portions of the correct sizes, and a third is to use portion-control dishware to encourage selection of correct portion sizes. Preliminary to conducting a study comparing the effectiveness of portion size training with portion control plates, we needed to create a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of correct portion sizes for a meal. Specifically, standard portion recommendations are 3 ounces of protein, ½ cup of grains or starches, and 1 cup of fruit or vegetables. We created a 12-item questionnaire administered to 64 participants (32 men) before and after portion size training. Participants also completed the measure when they returned 2 days later to attempt to plate correct food portions. Analyses of internal consistency and retest reliability (r = .78) showed that the questionnaire had acceptable psychometric properties. Changes in knowledge in the trained group from 3.6 (SD = 1.8) to 8.3 (SD = 2.5) showed that the measure was sensitive to training effects (p < .05). Future research should refine the measure in accordance with the newly released 2015 USDA guidelines. |
Influence of Thy1 neuron activation within basolateral amygdala on social stress responsivity03/15/2016Previously we have found that activating Thy1 neurons, a subset of glutamatergic neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), prevented fear learning and enhanced fear extinction in mice. These findings suggest that the activation of BLA Thy1 neurons promotes fear inhibition. To continue behaviorally characterizing the effects of activating these neurons, we evaluated their influence on social interaction following social defeat stress. Thy1 neurons were virally transduced to express a designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug (DREADD). This chemogenetic approach permits selective activation of BLA Thy1 neurons through peripheral administration of the designer drug, clozapine N-Oxide (CNO).Three weeks after they were infused with the virus coding for the activational DREADD rM3D, mice were subjected to social defeat stress for two consecutive days. Testing took place 24 hours after the final defeat. Thirty minutes prior to the test for social interaction, all mice were injected with CNO to activate BLA Thy1 neurons expressing rM3D. Activation of Thy1 neurons in the BLA increased social interaction during testing in defeated mice compared to control-defeated mice. These data suggest that Thy1 neuron activation within the BLA promotes fear inhibition. In future experiments we will examine brain regions downstream of BLA Thy1 neurons, to map out the circuitry involved in fear inhibition. |
Individual Differences in Phonological Processing and Reading Comprehension03/15/2016During silent reading, readers take longer to read sentences with repeated word-initial phonemes (Twenty toys were in the trunk) compared to matched sentences with unrepeated phonemes (Several games were in the chest) (McCutch & Perfetti, 1982). In a recent poster, Taylor, Eskenazi, and Folk (2015) found evidence that readers with high working memory do not show as much disruption as readers with lower working memory. This provided evidence that both sound codes and working memory is involved in word identification during silent reading. In the current follow-up experiment we used eye-tracking to determine whether the disruption occurs early or late in sentence reading and whether this slower reading is also related to comprehension difficulty. Participants read 21 sentences split into three conditions: six repeated phonemes, three repeated phonemes, and zero repeated phonemes. Participants’ eye movements were monitored using an EyeLink 1000 Plus eye-tracker. Participants answered comprehension questions after each sentence then completed a reading span task to measure working memory. We found that reading times slowed with each additional repeated phoneme, which indicates that sound codes are used in identifying words. We also found greater disruption in reading comprehension in sentences with more repeated phonemes. This experiment provides further evidence that sound codes are used to identify words during silent reading, and that sound codes are also used in comprehending the meaning of sentences. |
In Black and White: The Achievement Gap and the Integration of Schools03/15/2016This is a literature review that will represent the first step toward a proposal for independent research. It will explore the Black-White gap in academic achievement in order to gain insight into what factors might contribute to fostering or narrowing the gap. Additionally, the literature review will explore what the achievement gap is, the context in which it occurs, and the extent of the gap. The importance of this research is to identify differences in achievement of black students who attend predominantly White schools and inner city Black schools. Specifically, it will seek to gain insight into academic achievement gaps occurring in schools that are predominantly White and schools that are predominantly Black. Through analysis of previous research the literature review identifies the current state of the academic achievement gap between Black students and their White counter parts. An analysis of the data has shown that there are many factors contributing to the academic achievement gap between black and white students including: socioeconomic status, environment, and teacher pedagogy. Many measures have been put in place to address the gap, but it persists largely due to socioeconomic depression and social stratification. In sum, data reveals that while the academic achievement of African American students has seen no significant change since 2008, the academic achievement gap between African American students and their white counterparts continues and represents an ongoing impediment towards the progress of African American youth. |
Impact of Degradation of Thermal Resistance Values of Construction Materials (Insulation) Over Time03/15/2016This research quantifies the impact of degradation of thermal insulation on building energy performance over time. Thermal insulation is the ability of a material to resist thermal conduction; the unit of measure is Thermal Resistivity or R-value. High-performance building design guidelines aim at reducing energy consumption by increasing the R-value of the building envlope beyond the minimums specified by building energy codes. Building energy calculations assume that published R-values remain constant for the lifespan of the installed material. There is growing academic and industry evidence that the R-value of thermal insulation degrades over time. High-performance building standards are based on the R-value at the time of installation. The implication of these studies is that the reduced insulative quality of the building envelope currently underestimates long-term energy consumption. In small or medium commercial buildings this degradation in performance may have a substantial impact on energy use. The objective of the study is to estimate the potential error of omitting insulation degradation in small and medium commercial buildings. We will use data generated by Parametric Analysis Tools in energy modeling programs to study the impact of insulation aging over a ten-year period. Based on these outcomes, we will propose a list of corrections to long-term energy performance estimations. The data provided in this study may also be used to suggest modifying energy standards. It may also have a significant impact on current life-cycle cost analysis techniques used to assess the performance of building insulation. |
Hypoxic Condition Alters Wilms' Tumor 1 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Isoform Expression in Leukemia03/15/2016Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is necessary for angiogenesis and tumor growth, but VEGF splice isoforms have distinct characteristics, with VEGF121 being more diffusible and allowing for more distant angiogenic signaling, and VEGF165 and VEGF189 being found within the cell and the extracellular matrix. Hypoxia (low level of oxygen) induction of VEGF expression depends on transcription factors such as Wilms’ Tumor 1(WT1) and HIF1a. However the mechanism regulating how VEGF isoform levels change in hypoxia is not clear. We hypothesized that in leukemia cells, VEGF and WT1 levels would increase under hypoxic conditions, and that both VEGF 121 and 165 levels should be enhanced. Based on literature review, hypoxia has shown to regulate serine arginine rich protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), a kinase that phosphorylates splicing factors. We asked whether this pathway would control splicing of VEGF isoform levels in leukemia cells. We measured VEGF and WT1 mRNA levels in leukemia cells cultured in a hypoxia chamber with 1% O2 and compared them to those grown under normoxic conditions. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed to analyze total VEGF, VEGF 121, VEGF 165, and WT1 mRNA expression. Expression was confirmed by examining protein levels using western blotting. Our findings suggest that hypoxia consistently increased both VEGF and WT1 in myeloid and lymphoid derived leukemia cells. However, changes in VEGF isoform levels were cell specific. These results shed light on the hypoxia pathway and indicate that effective anti-angogenic therapy will need to be tailored for each type of leukemia. |
How Dividend & Earnings Announcements Affect Stock Markets: An Analysis of Sub Saharan Africa03/15/2016The purpose of this study is to understand how dividend and earnings announcements affect stock prices and stock returns in Sub Saharan African stock markets. There hasn’t been a lot of research done in regard to emerging markets in Africa. Therefore, it is important for investors to understand these markets to further diversify their portfolios. Some previous studies have suggested that information from these announcements have the potential to generate abnormal returns for investors. However, other studies have suggested that there is no significant correlation between announcements and stock prices/ returns. Some researchers suggest that the information found in announcements is not pertinent enough to spark abnormal returns in stock markets because it is available to the public and offers no real advantage. In this study, the expectation is to find some level of advantage for having information about dividend and earnings announcements in my research study. The method of research that will be used for this study is called an event study. The event study will collect data concerning announcements from stock exchanges, and will analyze that data to determine their relationship with stock prices and returns. The data will be collected from the Nairobi Securities Exchange and the Nigeria Stock Exchange. This study adds to previous studies because it examines more than one African Stock Exchange, comparing their relationships with dividend and earnings announcements. This comparison will help us to understand whether or not announcements have effects on stock exchanges in African Markets. |
HIV-1 protein interactions: protein-protein interaction sites as candidate drug targets03/15/2016The existing anti-retroviral therapies use combination of several inhibitory drugs targeting five different viral proteins at different steps in the viral life cycle as the virus infects target immune cells. However, rapid emergence of the drug-resistant HIV-1 mutants and serious adverse effects necessitate the need for further discovery of the new drugs and potential targets. Numerous studies have shown that protein-protein interactions play important roles in the viral life cycle and that inhibiting these interactions has a significant therapeutic potential. Yet, identifying the most promising targets, including specific protein regions directly involved in protein-protein interactions remains a challenge. Our recent bioinformatics study (Hetti Arachchilage and Piontkivska 2016) identified a set of interacting regions from integrase and reverse transcriptase. However, in order to expand the set of candidate interacting regions to other proteins involved in a multi-protein integration complex, we need to have a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of action (and interactions) throughout the HIV-1 life cycle. Thus, the purpose of this literature review-based study is to conduct a comprehensive survey of available biochemical studies that examine viral-viral protein interactions in HIV to identify potential protein domains and/or residues responsible for specific interaction outcomes. These domains/residues can be used in the future bioinformatics analyses to further elucidate their usability as promising drug targets. |
Historical Survey of repertoire from middle ages through 20th century for the adaptation of original works to create effective transcription for solo tuba.03/15/2016The aim of this study is to survey repertoire composed from the Middle Ages until the 20th Century and then transcribe select works from the middle ages through the 20th Century to Solo Tuba and Piano to see which type of work transcribes efficiently. The pieces transcribed vary from vocal works, to string compositions, as well as other instrumental pieces. Previous transcriptions from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century were used to guide the transcription process and to learn the idiosyncrasies of transcribing for solo tuba and piano. The overall goal of this research project is to create new transcriptions for tuba using previously published transcriptions as guides to transcribe pieces. Composers have recently started writing for solo tuba as early as 1954 with Ralph Vaughan Williams Concerto for Bass Tuba. Since original solo compositions are a new occurrence, Tubists must use transcriptions from other instruments to play pieces of different periods. |
Historic Water Quality Trends in the US Virgin Islands and Future Implications on Coral Reef Health03/15/2016Coral reefs provide essential economic, cultural, and biological services that affect humans worldwide. Despite their vital importance, coral reef ecosystems have been increasingly subject to degradation in recent years, largely due to anthropogenic activity. The reefs of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are no exception. The objective of this study is to examine historic trends in water quality in select areas of USVI by analyzing a time series of remote sensing data. Ten coastal Landsat satellite images from the same month of ten consecutive years will be selected for analysis. The images will be processed using varimax-rotated principal component analysis (VPCA) in combination with two ratio indices: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI.) Through the use of these methods, pigment assemblages in the water column can be identified and associated with water quality indicators such as suspended sediment and algal biomass. Results will indicate which signal most strongly contributes to the component analysis, and the spatial distribution of the respective water quality indicator may be evaluated. Corresponding in-water data may also be considered, provided that it coincides with the accurate location and time. The long-term trends established from this study will serve as a basis for the fieldwork arrangements of a larger, more in-depth study. This investigation will use a combination of remote sensing and field data to examine water quality and its implications on local coral reefs in the USVI. |
Greater Parental Experiential Avoidance is Associated with Poorer Daily Health Habits in Youth03/15/2016Problem Parental experiential avoidance (EA) refers to a parent’s unwillingness or inability to engage in their children’s problem events. Although parental EA has been examined in the context of children’s anxiety symptoms, research is needed to understand how parental EA relates to children’s health habits (e.g. fruit/vegetable consumption, physical activity). Families at high risk for obesity, such as low-income families, may be more likely to avoid addressing health habits. This study investigated the role of parental EA associated with health habits in youth and examined differences in income related to parental EA. Methods Parents of youth ages 7-17 were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete an online survey examining risks for pediatric obesity. Parent-report questionnaires included: Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (measure of EA; PAAQ), reported height and weight for parent and child, annual household income, and Healthy Habits Assessment total scores assessing daily health habits. Results After controlling for parent BMI, greater parental EA was associated with poorer health habits, explaining 4.4% additional variance in the model. Parents of youth whose income was below the median U.S. household income had greater parental EA than parents whose income was above the median. In the context of health habits, parents’ inaction and unwillingness through EA may translate to a lack of limits set on daily sedentary behavior, limited encouragement for physical activity, and a lack of monitoring in healthy eating. Future research is needed to better understand how income disparities influence parental EA and related health habits. |
Glutamate Receptor Antagonists Block Estradiol Induced Generalization03/15/2016In general, women are more susceptible than males to anxiety disorders, which are commonly characterized by fear generalization; the inability to discriminate an aversive and neutral stimulus. Work in our lab demonstrates that female rats generalize contextual fear at a faster rate compared with males; a process driven by estradiol. We then sought to find out the mechanisms by which estradiol induces generalization. Related work suggests estradiol can influence structural changes within certain brain regions by increasing the amount of glutamatergic receptors, which promote learning and memory. Given this, we hypothesized that estradiol induced generalization was a result of enhanced glutamatergic signaling. To assess this, ovarectomized rats were trained in a passive avoidance paradigm in context A, and injected with estradiol or vehicle 24 hours later. Twenty-four hours post-injection, animals received infusions of an NMDA antagonist (APV), AMPA antagonist (NBQX), or vehicle. Infusions occurred in either the dorsal CA1 of the hippocampus or the anterior cingulate cortex—regions that play a role in time-dependent context fear generalization. When tested, both glutamate receptor antagonists attenuated estradiol induced generalization in the CA1 and ACC, but had no effect on fear generalization when administered alone, indicating that glutamatergic signaling is essential for estradiol induced generalization. Follow up experiments will identify the subunit-specific NMDA and AMPA receptor needed for estradiol induced generalization. Identifying the mechanisms underlying estradiol’s influence on fear generalization will allow researchers to better understand the sex differences seen in anxiety disorders, and could lead to improved treatments for these disorders. |
Gender differences in running memory and mood state during submaximal exercise in normobaric hypoxia03/15/2016PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare gender differences in working memory and mood state during low to moderate exercise in normobaric hypoxia. METHODS: 27 healthy adults underwent a submaximal exercise protocol in order to determine their VO2/Watt relationship on a cycle ergometer, followed by a VO2max protocol with 20 min. rest between tests. Two 15 min. bouts of submaximal exercise (40% and 60% of VO2max) separated by 15 min. rest were performed in hypoxia following a 60 min. acclimatization. VO2, HR, Oxygen Saturation (SpO2), BP, regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO2), and cognition were assessed during the final 5 min. of each stage of exercise in hypoxia. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze all dependent variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were demonstrated between men and women for VO2 max (M:47.0±7.7, W:40.9±4.6 ml/kg/min), adjusted VO2max (M:34.2±5.6, W:29.8±3.3 ml/kg/min), 60% Watts (M:101±23, W:68±10 Watts), and 40% Watts (M:52±16, W:35±10 Watts). RMCPT score was significantly higher than hypoxic baseline during 40% (p=.006) and 60% (p=.001), although no difference was observed between intensities (p=0.512). TMD significantly improved at 40% (p=0.003), but not at 60% (p=0.074), yielding a significant difference between the two intensities (p=0.017). No gender differences were found in RMCPT scores (p=0.352) or TMD (p=0.077). Men displayed significantly higher MAP than women during 60% (M:93.0±6.2, W:85.8±8 mmHg, p=0.013). No difference in SpO2 (p=.563) or rSO2 (p=.590) was observed between the two conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Acute bouts of low to moderate exercise in hypoxia can improve cognition and mood state in males and females. |
FUSION: Fashion + Architecture Transient03/15/2016Our team was interested in blending the disciplines of architecture and fashion through the development of multi-purpose design objects. We decided to apply ideas of duality and multi-functionality to traditional apparel and accessories so they can be used while kept in storage. Garments amalgamate around a vanity set to assist in getting ready and augment the function of the vanity itself. The vanity consists of a surface and seat designed to store the items in such a way that they create a comfortable position for applying makeup, doing hair, etc. When the user is finished with these items, she removes them from the vanity and wears them as garments and accessories—provocatively transforming architecture into fashion and vice versa. We used Corian solid surface material to fabricate the main structure of the table, and we designed acrylic sheets to ‘drape’ over the Corian elements in order to provide comfortable seating and working surfaces. Acrylic was formed by hand with a heat gun to create the look of a naturally falling garment. We chose Ultrasuede as the foundation fabric for the garments and accented it with organza and a reflective window film. These designs feature extremely tailored silhouettes complemented by large, voluminous pieces that serve a dual purpose during storage. In the end, this project successfully transforms—and creatively fuses—the design disciplines of fashion and architecture. |
Fusion: Fashion + Architecture03/15/2016The field of fashion often looks to architecture for inspiration, sometimes construing canonical buildings as starting points for apparel designs. This approach, however, merely takes the creative architectural design process at face value. Instead, what design innovations might be produced if fashion design were to absorb the integral logics of architecture? We began looking at traditional scale differences between the two fields, and how this shift could be reflected in the design and construction of garments. Wood became our starting point because of its pervasiveness in construction and tangible growth over time. This organic pattern of growth, which makes wood unique as a material, suggested the application of a Voronoi diagram. By applying this geometrical system to three-dimensional space we sought to mimic the cellular structure of wood while reflecting the scale shift between fields. Throughout this process we learned how important it is to “design” the cross-disciplinary design process in a thoughtful way. For example, the 3D modeling of architectural sites is integral, so it was a natural starting point when applying our workflow to the fashion design process. This liberal mixing of traditional workflows led to the 3D scanning of mannequins, which allowed us to innovate. The same is true in a more general sense for problem solving. By carefully combining disciplinary conventions we were able to develop a new hybrid design process to creatively construct a thoroughly integrated design solution. |
Fashion for Athletes with Asthma03/15/2016As an athlete who struggles with mild to severe asthma, I felt it was important to try to address the issue in fashion. My collection features outerwear, such as jackets and masks to help ease any breathing irritations while active. While the other pieces in the collection help to bring out my Visual Kei (a Japanese subculture) inspiration. Unfortunately there isn’t much in the way of products that meet this need. Companies have created face masks for Elevation training, winter sports, hunting, and cyclists. The problem is consumers wouldn’t think to repurpose these products for asthma and other breathing ailments. Current styles also leave the consumer unsatisfied with their designs. One method I have used is lining these jacket and mask pieces with felted Nomex. Nomex is a heat resistant material used by firefighters, most commonly as knitted masks under helmets. Nomex can repel heat but also trap the body’s natural heat in cold weather. Its keep purpose is to keep dust and ash from entering the lungs of the wearer. I plan to use the Nomex in my fashion collect exactly how it would be worn by a firefighter on scene of a fire. Marketing this collection as edgy and eye catching is a nod to the styling of Visual Kei and 80’s hair bands. The looks take on a more masculine attitude that inspires confidence and strength. The result of this fashion collection is to offer athletes with asthma a new method of improving the physical performance. |
Expanding Minds Through International Collaborations in Dance03/15/2016Authors: Sarah Ahlswede, Taylor Ashton, Madison DeLong, Emily Jarosz, Claire Tilley, Laura Wester Department: School of Theatre and Dance Co-Advisor: Jeffrey Marc Rockland Expanding Minds Through International Collaborations in Dance Today’s dancer must be versatile as well as culturally engaged. The infusion of styles from across the globe is a constant occurrence in entertainment and theatre. Over the course of two weeks, Kent State University participated in an educational exchange and performance experience which included work with two Thai Universities, each with over 200 Theatre & Dance Majors. The Kent students involved were challenged with learning and performing Thai classical movement, sharing western dance forms and collaborating in the creation of an integrated work of choreography. This brought "East" and "West" together. All of the participants involved believe this collaboration brought to light the importance of cultural exchange amongst aspiring artists. This presentation is based on the first hand experiences of the students from Kent State University’s Dance Division. During the allotted time, we plan to present and discuss the importance of support for dance study abroad programs at the collegiate level. We will include the importance of making international connections with universities and their dance faculty. Also, we will include necessary tools that went into collaborating with the Thai students for the final performance show. Through this presentation, we hope to provide valuable information to educators and spectators on the collaboration process and how overcoming the language barrier was used through movement. |
Examining the Relation between Income and Healthy Family Behaviors affecting Pediatric Obesity Risk03/15/2016Problem: Youth from low-income households are at a disproportionately higher risk for obesity. Examining the relationship between income and healthy family behaviors may help identify future points of intervention to reduce pediatric obesity health disparities. Health promoting family behaviors may include healthy eating behaviors (e.g., minimal sweetened beverages), physical activity, and family mealtime routines. This study examined whether income was associated with weight-related family health behaviors. Methods: Parents (N=67;95% female; 85% white) of adolescents (12-17) completed measures assessing family health behaviors (Family Health Behaviors Scale (FHBS); α=.79); and income (M=84,676, SD=52,076) as a part of a larger study examining risks for adolescent obesity. Objective height (stadiometer) and weight (digital scale) were used to calculate parent BMI (M=29.24,SD=7.48;66% overweight or obese) and adolescent BMI percentile for age-and-gender (M=63.95,SD=28.1;33% overweight or obese). Results: Hierarchical linear regression suggested that, after controlling for parent BMI, lower family income was associated with lower scores on the FHBS (β=.277; p<0.05; R2=0.31). Families below the 200% poverty threshold engaged in significantly fewer health promoting family behaviors (t(60) = 2.45, p <.05). Results showed no association between income and child BMI percentile (p > .05). Findings from this study suggest, even after accounting for parental BMI, lower family income is associated with parental report of fewer health promoting family behaviors. Considering these healthy family behaviors may be especially important given that they may protect against obesity. Future research is needed to determine whether targeted health behaviors towards lower-income families may minimize obesity risk in low-income adolescents. |
Error Correction in Finite Arbitrary Length Binary Messages03/15/2016In this work, we shall investigate error correction in binary messages of finite arbitrary length in order to find the densest packing of codewords, i.e., the most efficient set of codewords. This is an important area of research because of the increasing reliance on digital communications, which are based on binary messages. We build on the work of Richard Hamming who contributed the Hamming distance, which is a method for measuring the difference between two segments, i.e., words, of a message. Our results suggest that for a message of length n, where n is at least 4, there are 2^(n-3) single-error correctable codewords out of 2^n possible words. These results will allow us to make further strides toward finding efficient multiple-error correctable codes in the future. |
Effects of resistance training on vascular function in middle-aged women.03/15/2016Effects of resistance training on vascular function in middle-aged women. Ben Kantura, Yu Lun Tai, Curtis Fennell, & J. Derek Kingsley PROBLEM: Aging is associated with increases in peripheral and central aortic blood pressure (BP) due to declines in vascular health. Researchers have suggested that resistance training (RT) may improve vascular function in older adults, but the data in middle-aged women are lacking. METHODS: Sixteen young (mean±SD; Age: 21±2 yrs; BMI: 24.1±3.8kg/m2) and thirty-two middle-aged (Age: 50±11 yrs; BMI: 30.1±5.9kg/m2) women volunteered for the study. The middle-aged women underwent 12-weeks of RT using 9 different exercises, 2 times per week, using 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions beginning at 50-60% 1 repetition maximum. Pulse wave reflection characteristics were evaluated using applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Before RT the young women had lower brachial diastolic blood pressure (BP) (YW: 72±8mmHg; MW: 80±9mmHg, p≤0.005), aortic systolic BP (YW: 98±10mmHg; MW: 111±16mmHg, p≤0.003) and aortic diastolic BP (YW: 73±8mmHg; MW: 81±9mmHg, p≤0.003), and no differences in brachial systolic BP (p=0.333). The young women also had reductions in the augmentation index normalized at 75bpm (YW: -1.3±14.7%; MW: 28.3±6.7%, p≤0.0001), augmentation pressure (YW: 1.6±4.1mmHg; MW: 9.1±4.8mmHg, p≤0.0001), time of the reflected wave (YW: 164±50.1ms; MW: 136.3±9.0ms; p≤0.001) and wasted left ventricular energy (YW: 357.8±39.9dynes s/cm2; MW: 1616.7±1063.5 dynes s/cm2, p≤0.0001). There were no effects of RT on any of the variables in the middle-aged women. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the notion that aging decreases pulse wave reflection characteristics in women. In addition, these data also suggest that RT for 12-weeks is unable to alter brachial BP, aortic BP, or pulse wave reflection characteristics. |
Effects of Impulsivity and Poor Inhibitory Control on Food Addiction Symptoms03/15/2016Problem: Food addiction, which is characterized by poor control of eating and dietary habits, has been linked to aspects of reduced executive functioning, including impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control. Impulsivity and inhibitory control can be measured by subjective self-report inventories and objective, performance-based cognitive tasks. No prior works have examined whether subjective or objective assessment is more closely related to symptoms of food addiction. The current study examined this question. We predicted that objective assessment of executive functioning would be more closely related to symptoms of food addiction. Method: Participants were 79 undergraduate students at a large Midwestern University (Mean age= 20.32, SD= 2.26, 73.4% female). Participants completed a food addiction scale (Yale Food Addiction Scale; YFAS), a questionnaire measuring impulsivity (Effortful Control Scale—Impulsivity; ECS-I), and a battery of tests to measure executive function (Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and Controlled Oral Word Association (COWAT)). Results and Conclusion: Bivariate correlations revealed no significant associations between the YFAS and the ECS-I. In contrast, significant associations emerged between the YFAS and the COWAT, (r= -.23, p= .04), TMT-B (r= -.23, p= .04), and SWCT-Color (r= -.27, p= .02), such that poorer cognitive test performance was associated with greater YFAS symptom endorsement. These results demonstrate that performances on objective tests of executive functions are more closely related to symptoms of food addiction than are self-report measures of impulsivity. |
Does Trauma Exposure Lead to More In-depth Processing of Daily Information?03/15/2016Title: Does Trauma Exposure Lead to More In-depth Processing of Daily Information? Anna DiBlasio, Abigail Harrah, Curtis Coulter, and Erin Pavlic Most people experience some traumatic event in their lifetime, such as sudden loss of a loved-one, a life-threatening illness or violent crime. This study assesses whether individuals’ lifetime trauma exposure is related to (a) the tendency to process information in-depth on a daily basis, (b) reports of posttraumatic growth, and (c) physical and mental health. Participants were 82 General Psychology students (84% Caucasian; 77% female; mean age 23.75, SD = 8.10) attending a large state university in northeastern Ohio. Lifetime trauma exposure was assessed using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (Kubany et al., 2000; e.g., “Have you experienced the sudden and unexpected death of a close friend or loved one?”); participants’ tendency to process information in-depth on a daily basis was assessed using the Need for Cognition scale (Cacioppo et al., 1984; e.g., “The notion of thinking abstractly is appealing to me.”); posttraumatic growth was assessed using a scale of personal growth (Frazier et al., 2009; e.g., “I appreciate each day.”); and physical and mental health were assessed using a modified version of the SF-12 Health Survey (Ware et al., 1996; e.g., “In general, how would you rate your health?”). All scales had good reliability (alphas ranged from .69 to .91). Results indicated that more than 90% of the individuals in this sample reported experiencing at least one traumatic lifetime event (range = 0 to 13 events; mean number of events = 4.15, SD = 2.78). Pearson correlations revealed that the experience of a higher number of traumatic events was associated with a greater need for cognition (r = .22, p = .049), the need for cognition was associated with more personal growth (r = .27, p = .016), and more personal growth was associated with better mental health (r = .35, p = .001). Taken together, these findings suggest that although some individuals may process daily information at more of a superficial level, adjustment to trauma may lead individuals to process information in more depth on a daily basis. Moreover, this in-depth processing of information may lead to more personal growth and better mental health. These findings highlight avenues of possible future research centered on treatment for individuals having a difficult time adjusting to traumatic life events, with an emphasis on encouraging in-depth thinking about their experiences. |
Does elevated corticosterone predict adult resistance to prepubertal social defeat?03/15/2016Adolescence is a critical developmental period during which stress reactivity is exacerbated compared to adulthood. This study utilized a mild repeated social defeat model to investigate the impact of early life social stress on subsequent social behavior. Social defeat in adults typically results in two phenotypic responses: social approach (resistance) and social avoidance (susceptibility). To investigate the development of these phenotypes, we followed neuroendocrine responses through defeat, social interaction, and adulthood. Our previous data showed that prepubertal defeated mice remaining resistant into adulthood had high levels of corticosterone at P32 compared to susceptible and control mice. The present study manipulates corticosterone after social interaction to determine if high early life corticosterone shaped adult social behavior. Prepubertal C57BL/6J (Post natal day 30, P30) mice were placed into the home cage of a territorial CD-1 aggressor for 3 attacks or 5 minutes followed by 55 minutes of sensory contact 4 times for 2 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours and 30 days later, mice completed a social test where amount of time spent interacting with a non-aggressive CD-1 mouse was measured. Following this test, mice were administered corticosterone or vehicle control. During prepubertal (P32) social interaction, mice were resistant. At P62, a split in phenotype was observed; some mice remained resistant and some became susceptible. We expect corticosterone administration to promote adult resistance to prepubertal social defeat. Data from these and future studies will help determine how neuroendocrine mechanisms interact with development to influence the ontogeny of responses to prepubertal social stress. |
Does an On-Campus Stormwater Retention Wetland Improve Water Quality?03/15/2016Urban stormwater runoff carries many pollutants including heavy metals and nutrients. Many existing stormwater wetlands function primarily as retention ponds, rather than provide ecosystem services including flood prevention and water quality improvement. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a Kent State University wetland that will be re-constructed as part of the Summit Street Improvement Project. We predict that the existing wetland offers little water quality improvement due to its current design, in which most stormwater bypasses the wetland. To determine the wetland’s influence on water quality, we compared samples and discharge rates collected during storm events by automatic water samplers (ISCO, Teledyne) upstream and downstream of the wetland. When the outflow, which drains KSU’s stormwater into the city of Kent’s drainage system, is overwhelmed, water back-floods the wetland. We measured a suite of water chemistry parameters, including chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), and phosphate (PO43-) concentrations to indicate road salt and fertilizer pollution. To date, we have sampled four storm events total; one captured in the outflow. Across all samples, stormwater was high in Cl- (average=272.8 ppm, n=53) and SO42- (average=56.25 ppm, n=53). In the same storm, outflow Cl- (average=514.5 ppm, n=12) was higher than inflow Cl- concentrations (average=108.7 ppm, n=41). This trend followed for NO3- and SO42-. Preliminary data suggest that inflow and outflow concentrations differ substantially. Outflows contain higher concentrations of pollutants than inflows, likely reflecting chemical changes occurring within the storm drain system, rather than biogeochemical functions of the stormwater wetland. |
Distribution of methicillin resistance gene, mecA, in Staphylococcus aureus genomes03/15/2016Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a gram-positive bacteria, is an important pathogen, posing a global health threat. Resistance to the antibiotic methicillin develops when a susceptible bacterial strain of S. aureus (MSSA) acquires a resistance gene, mecA, which is carried on a mobile genetic element, referred to as Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec). It has been hypothesized that MRSA originated through the horizontal gene transfer of SCCmec from another species, S. epidermidis O7.1, to MSSA. However, it remains unclear whether it was a single transfer event, or whether such transfer can occur repeatedly. Understanding this would be important for MRSA control. In this project we examine publicly available genomes of S. aureus and related species to determine presence of mecA genes and to visualize the distribution of this gene among strains using the phylogenetic tree approach. |
Discovery of small molecular inhibitors of ribosomal assembly03/15/2016Not available at this time |
Development of New Product Category for the Fashion School Store Utilizing the TechStyleLAB03/15/2016As a project that started in the Product Development course, we were given the problem to identify a new product category to sale at the Fashion School Store that would retail under twenty five dollars. After researching the surrounding competition, analyzing the stores current assortment, and identifying the target customer a home goods line would be a probable addition. The first step was the creation of prototypes to be presented to the Fashion School’s curatorial team. The curatorial team gave us approval to go ahead with the pillows to test in the Fashion School Store. Further research directed us to develop eight pillows that surrounded the theme of home town pride while also utilizing the TechStyleLAB. The results of the new assortment included positive sales and feedback from consumers. Within the first three hours the line of pillows had a fifty percent sell-thru. The best sold pillow styles indicated which to go forward with. The conclusion was a successful line that resonated with the target customer and showed potential to make a profit. To make the pillows in a larger quantity, we sold the intellectual property of the designs to Kent State University. Since then, an additional thirty pillows have been re-ordered and produced by the Collaborative Fashion Production course. |
Development of Micro Apartment Prototypes for Hyper Urbanized America03/15/2016The purpose of this research is to explore the redefinition of the American home through the analysis of prefabricated apartment options and the design of prototypical micro dwellings for multi-unit hyper-urbanized living. The rapid growth of one- and two-person households has expanded the market for micro-units, facilitating the need for homes that are more harmonious with the individual’s needs. The goal is to develop apartments that are transformative while maintaining a level of comfort by adapting to a variety of lifestyle adjustments. Trends in micro living were examined in order to identify the most desirable characteristics for a series of compact residences. Case studies served as the initial method of data collection, and consisted of qualitative and quantitative analysis of midrise multi-family residences that are dimensionally 450 square feet, or less. These residences also served as the template for the unit aggregation. Designs were developed based on prefabrication methods in which structural and material assemblies provided maximum post-occupancy adaptability. The final configuration was aggregated into a vertical urban community featuring a wide range of social and economic diversity. This would allow for varied spatial experiences through the incorporation of distinct unit arrangements and size facilitated by a combination of modules that are dimensionally 21 x 9 and 6 x 9 square feet respectively. The result is a high density arrangement that incorporates the attributes of a city; close proximity to ones’ neighbors, while maintaining comfort; flexibility of home, and various communal spaces as well as other amenities. |
Determining the role of estradiol in cued fear and extinction generalization03/15/2016Women are more likely than men to develop anxiety disorders in their lifetime. One characteristic of these disorders is the generalization of fear to neutral stimuli, but the mechanisms underlying this are not completely identified. We have previously demonstrated that female rats generalize fear to a neutral context at a faster rate compared to males. Given that fear generalization is a characteristic of these disorders and the sex differences in the prevalence rates of anxiety disorders, we wanted to look at estradiol’s role in the generalization of extinction learning (renewal) and the discrimination between two tones. Therefore, animals were trained to fear a tone by pairing it with a shock in Context A. Twenty-four hours later, animals underwent extinction to the tone in Context B. Twenty-four hours after extinction, animals were tested to assess the renewal of fear. We expect to find that given animals estradiol will display significantly less renewal as estradiol should enhance the generalization of extinction. We also measured whether or not the animals were able to discriminate between two separate cues, one that is paired with a shock (CS+) and one that is never paired with a shock (CS-). We expect to find animals given estradiol will display generalized fear to the CS-. These results may indicate the treatment of anxiety disorders need to be sex specific. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying fear generalization is important for developing potential novel therapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders, especially for those populations with higher prevalence rates. |
Design as a Medium03/15/2016This studio design project focused on the ideas of abstract concepts and thematic research to develop a design for an upscale restaurant. After identifying the abstract concept (ex. wind), different avenues of thematic development were researched as potential design directions. The research was a major component of the project, utilizing online, library and journal sources to gather data for the thematic background for the restaurant. In addition, additional areas of research focused on the technical issues of restaurant design and accessibility requirements. The abstract concept for this project was the idea of desultory, meaning to digress from or be unconnected with the main subject, lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm. It captures the essence of being on a tangent, wandering from the safe to the unknown. This concept was used as the inspiration for the thematic development of Gypsy culture in the design. They are perceived as wanderers who move from place to place, travel in groups, and lack a clear identity. The aspects of this culture can be seen in the design of the restaurant through the use of movement, diversity, and modern opulence. The results of the research were used to develop the thematic design of the restaurant. The functional layout of the restaurant, the selection of materials and finishes and the ambience experienced by guests were a direct result of the research component of the project. As shown in this project, the development of interior spaces is a direct result of the various avenues of research undertaken. |