Ronald E. McNair California Scholars Symposium

Transcription

Nineteenth Annual
Ronald E. McNair
California Scholars Symposium
“Developing New Voices in the Academy”
August 4 - 7, 2011
University of California, Berkeley
2011
The Nineteenth Annual
UC Berkeley
California McNair Scholars Symposium
The Sixteenth Annual
UC Berkeley
California McNair Scholars Symposium
The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
Academic Achievement Programs
2515 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94720-2410
510/642-7935
The Ronald E.Phone:
McNair
Scholars Program
Fax: 510/642-7129
Academic Achievement Programs Center
http://aap.berkeley.edu
University
of California, Berkeley
2515 Channing Way
Phone: 510/642-7935
Fax: 510/642-7129
http://aap.berkeley.edu
Welcome
to the
19th Annual California
McNair Symposium
and to the
University of California,
Berkeley
The staff of the Academic Achievement Programs
Center and the McNair Scholars Program hope you
have a wonderful stay in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
We have included campus maps, suggestions of
places to see, and things to do.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to
make your stay more enjoyable.
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 2 McNair Symposium 2011 Table of Contents
McNair Conference Page
1
Welcome to the McNair 2011 Symposium
2
Table of Contents
3
Schedule at a Glance
4
Acknowledgements
7
Guest Speakers
9
About Ronald E. McNair
12
Letter From Dr. Gibor Basri
13
Letter From Dr. Harold Campbell
14
Conference Schedule
15
Abstracts
53
Campus Map
241
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 3 Schedule at a Glance
Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Symposium Registration at Dorm Unit #2
Thursday, August 4, 2011
7:30 - 9:30 am
7:30 - 8:00 am
8 am - 1 pm
10:30 - 4:30 pm
11:00 - Noon
4:00 - 6:00 pm
7:30 - 9:30 pm
9:45 - 11:00 pm
Pre-Symposium Activity: Stanford University Tour
Buses load from Dorm Unit #2 - 2650 Haste Street
(Cross street is College Ave.)
Stanford University Tour
Symposium Registration in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
Pre-symposium Activity: UC Berkeley Tour
Welcome & Plenary Session A in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Faculty and Directors Dinner at the Faculty Club
Faculty and Directors Reception at the Durant Hotel
Friday, August 5, 2011
7:25 am - 4:00 pm
7:25 - 8:45 am
9:00 - 9:55 am
10:00-11:20 am
10:00-11:20 am
11:30am-12:30pm
11:30am-12:30pm
12:45-2:00pm
Registration & Assistance Desk in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
Continental Breakfast in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
Plenary Session B in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Breakout: STEM Disciplines in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Concurrent Session A in Dwinelle Hall
Graduate School Panel in 155 Dwinelle
UC Berkeley Tour from Dwinelle Lobby
BBQ Lunch & Graduate School Fair at Campanile
Esplanade
Columbia University
Drexel University
Emporia State University
Erikson Institute, Graduate School of Child Development
Harvard University
National College of Natural Medicine
Stanford University
The Ohio State University
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 4 Schedule at a Glance
University of California, Davis
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Illinois, Chicago
University of Pacific
University of Southern California
2:00 - 3:30 pm
2:00 - 3:30 pm
3:40 - 4:00 pm
4:10 - 5:30 pm
4:10 - 5:30 pm
GRE Workshop 155 Dwinelle Hall
Concurrent Session B in Dwinelle Hall
Coffee Break in Dwinelle Hall
GRE Workshop 155 Dwinelle Hall
Concurrent Session C in Dwinelle Hall
Saturday, August 6, 2011
7:25 am - 4:00 pm Registration & Assistance Desk in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
7:25 - 8:45 am
9:00 - 9:55 am
Plenary Session C (Grad. Wrksp.) in 155 Dwinelle Hall
10:00 - 11:20 am Concurrent Session D in Dwinelle Hall
11:30 - 12:20 pm Plenary Session D in 155 Dwinelle Hall
12:30 - 1:50 pm
Lunch - Dwinelle Lobby with Poster Presentations
2:00 - 3:20 pm
Graduate School Workshop 155 Dwinelle Hall
2:00 - 3:20 pm
Concurrent Session E in Dwinelle Hall
3:20 - 3:50 pm
Coffee Break & Dwinelle Lobby with Poster Presentation
4:00 - 5:30 pm
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Concurrent Session F in Dwinelle Hall
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 5 Sunday, August 7, 2011
7:25 - 8:45 am
9:00 - 9:55 am
Plenary Session E in 155 Dwinelle Hall
10:00 - 11:20 am Ethics Panel in Dwinelle 243
10:00 - 11:20 am Concurrent Session G in Dwinelle Hall
11:30am-12:25pm Plenary Session F in Dwinelle Hall
12:30-1:20pm
Lunch on the Lawn
1:30-2:50pm
Concurrent Session H in Dwinelle Hall
2:50-3:10pm
3:10 - 3:50 pm
Closing & GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE!!! 155 Dwinelle
6:00 pm - 12:00 amSan Francisco Bay Cruise - Dinner and Dance
Buses load from 6-6:30 pm at Dorm Unit #2 / 2650 Haste St.
(cross street is College Ave.)
Buses will DEPART PROMPTLY at 6:30pm and return at Midnight
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 6 Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The 2011 McNair Scholars Symposium would like to thank all those whose
support has made this possible.
At the Department of Education, we are pleased to have the
opportunity to thank:
Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education
Linda Byrd-Johnson, Director, Office of Federal TRIO Programs
Josephine Hamilton, Program Specialist, Office of Federal TRIO Programs
At the UC Berkeley campus, we welcome the opportunity to
acknowledge:
Administration
Dr. Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor, University Of California Berkeley
Dr. Gibor Basri, Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion, University of
California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley Staff
Deborah Gray, Classroom Scheduling, UCB
Ben Hubbard, Educational Technology Services
Kendra Karnes, Office of Registrar, Scheduling
Carla Trujillo, Director, Graduate Diversity Programs
Offices and Resources
4-Imprints
Gloria Szafranciec, Hilton Hotel
Clarke and Associates
Eastshore Charter Lines
Dr. Joseph L. Brown, Stanford
AG Ferrari Foods
Lacy Billingsly and Otis Brown, Billingsly & Brown
Mike Gorski, MG Associates
Moe’s Flowers
Nikole Halaka, University of California, Berkeley - Dormitories
Ronnie McFarland, Casanares Catering
Jamie Romero, Commodore Events – Boat Cruise
UC Berkeley Academic Achievement Program Staff
Alejandro Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Alexis Cox, Business Manager
Derrick Hensman, McNair Graduate Student Tutor
Eli Barbosa, McNair Program Advisor
George Barganier, McNair Graduate Student Tutor
Geneva Sarcedo, Student Support Services Advisor
Harold Campbell, Program Director
James Battle, McNair Graduate Student Tutor
Javane Strong, Student Support Services Assistant Director
Jennifer Bradford, George A. Millers, Coordinator
Jordan Gonzales , McNair Graduate Student Tutor
Juan Francisco Esteva Martinez, McNair Research Coordinator
Michelle Samuel, Student Support Services Advisor
Rekia Jibrin, McNair Graduate Student Tutor
Stephen Grettenberg, Technology Director
Berkeley McNair Symposium Coordination Team
Amber Clarke, McNair Symposium Assistant
Angelica Jimenez, McNair Symposium Assistant
Asha Beene-Clarke, McNair Symposium Assistant
Ashwak Hauter, McNair Symposium Assistant
Brandi Howard, McNair Symposium Assistant
Breyoun Howard, McNair Symposium Assistant
Ema Jimenez, McNair Symposium Assistant
Jorge Gonzalez, McNair Symposium Assistant
Julio Cesar Ortiz-Franco, McNair Symposium Assistant
William Clarke, McNair Symposium Coordinator
UC Berkeley Faculty Mentors
Alex Saragoza
Alison Post
Amani Nuru-Jeter
Brandi Catanese
Cori Hayden
Daniel Sargent
Darcy Grigsby
David Montejano
Denise Hurd
Hardy Frye
Janet Sorensen
Jesse Rothstein
Joanna Reed
Joseph Lough
Kent Lightfoot
Leigh Raiford
Mary Kelsey
Percy Hintzen
Ramon Grosfuguel
Robert Allen
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton
Stephen Palmer
Timothy Hampton
Whendee Silver
Special thanks to all faculty mentors who guided these students through their
projects.
Symposium Moderators
Alex Garcia
Arnold Sanchez
Carlos Macias Prieto
Cesar Rodriguez
Jeff Piatt
Juan Herrera
Keisha Hicks
Mahasan Chaney
Marijane Castillo
Rosa Bravo
Timoteo Rodriguez
Verenice Andrade
At the University of California, Davis
Teresa Brown, Manager
Conference and Event Services, University of California, Davis
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 9 Guest Speakers
Guest Speakers
Donald Asher is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the graduate
admissions process. Tens of thousands of students have seen his lectures,
tapes, and teleconferences. He is the author of nine books, including Graduate Admissions Essays, the best-selling guide to graduate admissions.
Gibor Basri is Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion at UC Berkeley.
Dr. Basri earned his doctorate in Astrophysics in 1979 at the University of
Colorado, Boulder. He joined the faculty of the Berkeley Astronomy Dept. in
1982, received tenure in 1988, and became a full professor in 1994.
Vice Chancellor Basri served as Acting Chair for the Astronomy Dept. in
2006-07 and has written nearly 200 technical publications, including numerous review articles. There are more than 7000 citations to his works. Dr.
Basri was awarded a Miller Research Professorship in 1997, and became a
Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer in 2000. He has served on committees helping to award major NASA and NSF grants and projects, and awarding time
on the (world’s largest) Keck telescopes.
He has served since 1998 on the Board of the Chabot Space and Science Center and as a Board Member for the “I Have a Dream, Oakland” Foundation
for a decade.
John Matsui is a product of the California Community College and University of California systems where he received training is in evolutionary biology and science education. His professional career reflects a personal commitment to helping people realize their fullest potential in school and in life.
A theme in his work as a teacher, advisor, program developer, and administrator has been to make information and institutions more accessible to all
individuals, with special emphasis on those from economic, social, cultural,
gender, and ethnic groups that historically have not participated in higher
education and specifically in math based disciplines.
As director of the Biology Scholars Program funded by the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, National Institutes of Health, and California Wellness
Foundation, Dr. Matsui works with about 450 UCB students all of whom
have an interest in biology. He teaches, advises, and conducts research on
factors that affect success of students in science majors at Berkeley.
Joseph Brown received his B.S. degree in Physics from Southwest Texas
State University and a M.S. degree in biomedical Engineering from Brown
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 10 Guest Speakers
University in 1990. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Stanford
University. In January 2003 he returned to Stanford as Assistant Dean for
Multicultural Graduate Student Services for the school of Humanities and
Sciences, and in the fall of 2004 he was promoted to Director of Student Affairs.
Dr. Sophal Ear is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the
US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he teaches
courses on post-conflict reconstruction and political economy. He is ViceChairman of Diagnostic Microbiology Development Program, a non-profit
that builds capacity for reliable infectious diseases diagnosis in the developing world. Named a TED Fellow in 2009, he became a Fulbright Specialist
at Chulalongkorn University in 2010, was elected to a five-year term membership at the Council on Foreign Relations and honored as a Young Global
Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011. He is a Counsellor for the
Cambodian Center for Human Rights and serves on the Advisory Board
of the Master of Development Studies Program at the Royal University of
Phnom Penh, the Editorial Board of the International Public Management
Journal, and the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of South-East Asian
American Education & Advancement. Previously, he worked for the World
Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations. A graduate of
UC Berkeley and Princeton University, he moved to the United States from
France as a Cambodian refugee at the age of 10.
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 11 About Dr. Ronald E. McNair
About Dr. Ronald E. McNair
Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair was born in 1950 in a low-income community in
South Carolina. In 1971, he graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. He
then enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute Technology. In 1976, at the age
of 26, he earned his Ph.D. degree in LASER Physics.
Dr. McNair soon became a recognized expert in LASER Physics while working as a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratory. He was selected
by NASA for the space shuttle program in 1978 and was a Mission Specialist
aboard the 1984 flight of the Space Shuttle, Challenger.
For his achievements, Ronald E. McNair received three honorary doctorate
degrees and many fellowships and commendations. These distinctions include: Presidential Scholar, 1967-71; Ford Foundation Fellow 1971-74; National Fellowship Fund Fellow, 1974-75; Omega Psi Phi Scholar of the Year,
1975; Distinguished National Scientist, National Society of Black Professional Engineers, 1979; and the Friend of Freedom Award, 1981. Ronald E.
McNair also held a fifth degree black belt in karate and was an accomplished
jazz saxophonist. He was married and was the dedicated father of a daughter
and a son.
After his death in the Challenger explosion in 1986, members of Congress
provided funding for the Robert E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement
Program to encourage students from low-income, first-generation college
backgrounds, or students from groups under-represented in fields of graduate study to enroll in graduate studies. This program is dedicated to the high
standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair’s life.
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 12 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
BERKELEY • DAVIS • IRVINE • LOS ANGELES • MERCED • RIVERSIDE • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO
SANTA BARBARA • SANTA CRUZ
O F FI C E O F T H E V I C E C H A N C E L LO R – E Q U I T Y & I N C LU S I O N
1 0 2 C A L I FO R N I A H A L L # 1 5 0 0
B E R K E LE Y , C A LI FO R N I A 9 4 7 2 0 - 1 5 0 0
July 18, 2011
Dear Friends:
Welcome to the University of California at Berkeley. I am very pleased to convene this 19th Annual Ronald E.
McNair Undergraduate Research Symposium. We welcome you as McNair Scholars from across the nation,
representing over fifty different institutions. On this twenty-five year anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger
disaster, your achievements are a living testimony to the aspirations of Astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair.
The body of McNair research continues to impress colleagues, scholars, and educators in both its academic rigor
and broad scope. Your investigations encompass an array of interests from the sciences, social sciences, and
humanities, and serve as an invaluable asset to academic growth and development across disciplines. This year’s
research projects investigate topics such as: transnational mining corporations in Peru, food justice in West
Oakland, shell bead analysis of the Coast Miwok Tribe, and a critique of Western scientific methodology when
studying traditional medicinal plants.
As scholars, you are studying the works of intellectual antecedents, developing research techniques, applying
theoretical principles, testing hypotheses, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, while thinking critically
about the implications of your findings. This week, many of you are presenting these findings, and in doing so,
you are laying the foundation for solid and rewarding careers in higher education. You are accomplishing this
scholarly work while addressing substantial challenges. Therefore, this symposium is a tribute to your tenacity,
resilience, hope, and capacity to overcome barriers, while holding yourselves to a high standard of academic
excellence.
As you finalize your research process, publish your articles, and transition into doctorate programs, we encourage
you to continue to utilize the McNair program as a resource in the path toward success. Your contributions have
the potential to enhance our lives and transform the face of academe, as well as society at large.
Much gratitude is extended to the mentors, professors, and graduate students for your important contributions to
the achievements of these scholars.
Best Regards,
Gibor Basri
Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion
Professor of Astronomy
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
BERKELEY • DAVIS • IRVINE • LOS ANGELES • MERCED • RIVERSIDE • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
Student Support Services: Scholars Academy
George A. Miller Scholars Program
http://www.aap.berkeley.edu
SANTA BARBARA • SANTA CRUZ
2515 Channing Way
(510) 642-7935
FAX (510) 642-7129
August 4, 2011
"McNair Scholars: Developing New Voices in the Academy"
On behalf of the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, the McNair students, faculty
mentors, the graduate student tutors, and the staff of the UC Berkeley Ronald E. McNair Post
Baccalaureate Program, I Welcome you to the University of California, Berkeley with a warm greeting.
This Nineteenth Annual California McNair Symposium features students and educators from more than
fifty McNair Programs, graduate schools, and service organizations. We have created an intellectually
stimulating and supportive academic atmosphere for all symposium participants. Specifically, this
symposium provides McNair scholars a podium to present their research results, develop their
presentation acumen, and promote networking among scholars at all levels.
We are extremely proud of all participating presenters. We highly value each scholar’s effort, time, and
energy invested in their research projects, for they offer an important contribution to the current body of
knowledge. On behalf of faculty, staff, mentors, family, and friends, please accept our congratulations,
and know that we are committed to continue supporting you in your effort to obtaining a doctoral
degree.
Finally, I would like to thank the Berkeley McNair Staff and all those who have made this event
possible. Enjoy the symposium!
Sincerely,
Harold H. Campbell, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Academic Achievement Programs Center
Full Schedule
Full Conference Schedule
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Thursday, August 4, 2011
7:30 - 9:30 am
7:30 - 8:00 am
8 am - 1 pm
10:30 - 4:30 pm
11:00 - Noon
4:00 - 6:00 pm
7:30 - 9:30 pm
9:45 - 11:00 pm
Pre-Symposium Activity: Stanford University Tour
Buses load from Dorm Unit #2 - 2650 Haste Street
(Cross street is College Ave.)
Stanford University Tour
Symposium Registration in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
Pre-symposium Activity: UC Berkeley Tour
Welcome & Plenary Session A in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Faculty and Directors Dinner at the Faculty Club
Faculty and Directors Reception at the Durant Hotel
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 15 Full Schedule
Plenary Session A
---
Welcome
---
Thursday 4 - 6 PM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Welcome Remarks
Liz Halimah
Chief of Staff, Immediate Office, Division of Equity and Inclusion
Keynote Speaker
Gibor Basri, Ph.D.
Vice-Chancellor of Equity and Inclusion
Professor of Astronomy
Moderator
Harold Campbell, Ph.D.
McNair Scholars Program Director
Isabel Morales - University of Alabama
Letters from a Planter’s Daughter: Understanding Freedom and
Independence in the Life of Susanna Twonsend (1853-1869)
Chryl Corbin - University of California, Berkeley
Power Dynamics & Confectionary Conflicts:
A Critical Analysis of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Faculty and Director’s Dinner
Thursday 7:30 - 9:30 PM
In the Faculty Club, Seaborg Room
Sophal Ear, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of National Security Affairs
Naval Postgraduate School
Moderator
Nancy Campbell
University of Alabama
Friday, August 5, 2011
7:25 - 8:45 am
Plenary Session B
Friday 9:00 - 9:55 AM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Rosana Womack - University of California, Davis
History of African American Slave Trade through Argentina
Jocelyn Meza - University of California, Los Angeles
Association between Parenting Behaviors and Executive
Functions in Children without ADHD
Moderator
Olga Diaz
Assistant McNair Program Director
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Science, Technology,Engineering, and Math
(STEM) Workshop
Friday 10:00 - 11:20 AM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
John Matsui, Ph.D.
Director, Biology Scholars Program & Assistant Dean, Biological Sciences
After 20+ years of school and possibly one or more post-doctoral fellowships,
what will you do with your Ph.D? Further, how do you begin today to prepare
for a future career that will be interesting, pay enough to raise a family, and
let you have a positive impact on society? In this workshop, we will discuss
alternate approaches to how career decisions are usually made. Using Ph.D
employment data, a personal inventory, and very recent thinking by research
funders (e.g. the National Institutes of Health) we will strategize together about
how to plan for your future career.
Moderator
Juan Esteva
Research Coordinator, McNair Program
Concurrent Session A
Friday 10:00 - 11:20 AM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 1A in Room 88
Hernandez-Pruhs, Krisha
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Women Leaders as Environmental Activists Paving the Road
Toward Food Sovereignty: A Convergence in Cities Across America
Mankel, Magda - University of Arizona
Purity and Danger within the Context of the Southern Arizona Borderlands
Milanes, Lilian - University of Central Florida
Evaluating the California Endowment Building
Healthy Communities Initiative
Rodriguez, Mia - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Evidence of Social Stratification Based on Human Remains
from the Site of Tizapán in West Mexico
Panel 2A in Room 89
Castro, Andy - University of California, Los Angeles
Empowering and Validating Voices: Salvadoran Educational Experiences
in a California Community College
Garcia-Weyandt, Cyndy - University of California, Los Angeles
San Lucas Quiavini (SLQ) Zapotec Transplanted:
Language Ideologies of the ‘Dizhsa’ Speech Community of Los Angeles
Valdivia, Enrique - University of Nevada, Reno
Legacy of the Stewart Indian School on the Washo Language
Panel 3A in Room 105
Clarke, Ben - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Commuting Stress and Home-Domain Quality of Life
Fry, Camerann - Southern Nazarene University
A Cross Examination of Coping, Social Support, and Trauma
Parral, Skye N. - California State University, Fullerton
Exploring the Relationship Between the Preschool Home Environment and
Middle Childhood Academic Intrinsic Motivation
Barnes, Yolanda - University of Alabama
The Association between Weapon Carrying and Family Structure:
Evidence from a Deep South Sample of African-American Male Youth
Matei, Priscila - University of Arizona
The Effects of Ethnic Identity Among African American and African Born
College Students
McCoy-Thompson, Teairra - University of California, Berkeley
How do African American Men Effectively Negotiate the Stigmatization
of Felonies while Navigating Academia?
Serpa, Michael - University of California, Davis
Predicting Dropping-Out Using Criminalogical Theory
Brown, Leslie Arellano - Westminster College
Measuring Methods: Self-Efficacy in Writing Among Wesminster
First-Year College Students
Castillo, Henry - University of California, Los Angeles
Perspectives of a New Curriculum Challenge in Higher Education:
International Students and Their Attitudes toward Service-Learning
Howard, David - University of California, San Diego
Alcohol Use and Academic Achievement among Socially Anxious Adolescents
Rodriguez, Elizabeth - Southern Nazarene University
Relationship Between Peer Pressure and Internalization of Religious Values
in Adolescents and College Students
Alfaro, Christian - University of California, Los Angeles
Living the Struggle: After School Activities Among Latino Males
Ayala, Alicia - California State University, Northridge
A Psychosociocultural Perspective of Later Generation Chicanos in Higher Education
Blanchard, Megan - University of California, Berkeley
Understanding the Achievement Gap in Higher Education through Patterns of Black
Voluntary Segregation, Resource Mobilization, and Academic Achievement
Mignott, Davene - University of California, Berkeley
Stretched Too Thin: The Experience of Counselors at Low-Income High
Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area in a Time of Economic Hardship
Alcalde, Reinaldo E. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Case Study: Velocity and Discharge Measurements in a
Combined Weir and Sluice Gate Structure
Bracamontes, Claudia - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Surface Modification of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Water Remediation
Gonzalez, Ariel - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Analysis of An Existing Rain Water Harvesting System
Espinoza, Joel - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Gauging Public Perception of Redevelopment Patterns
in Historic Gay Districts
Gunter, Joshua - Knox College
Beyond Burnham: An Investigation into
Chicago’s Neglected Residential Fabric
Velin, Gabriel - University of San Diego
Community Structure, Form and Function: The Products Of Globalization,
Gentrification And Decentralization Within Jabodetabek
Brown, Katharine - University of Colorado, Boulder
Northern Arapaho Immersion Preschools:
Parental Opinions of Culture and Language Maintenance
Del Real, Jose Reyes - University of California, Los Angeles
G 1.5 Mexican American Male Community College Students
in the Remedial English Classroom
Duenas, Vincent - University of Arizona
Language Shift on a Pacific Island
Castel, Safiya - Temple University
Understanding Shopping Behavior in Low-Income Supermarkets
to Create Sustainable Interventions
Palmer, Sarah J. - University of California, Davis
The Weight of Poverty: Deconstructing the Political Discourse on the United States
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Domestic Food Policy
Strobel, Rachel - University of Colorado, Boulder
A Technological Investigation of Online Collaboration Among Colorado-Based
Counter Human Trafficking Efforts
Graduate School Panel
Friday 11:30 - 12:30 PM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Sam Bersola, Ph.D. - University of California, Los Angeles
Assistant Vice Provost, Graduate Division
Joseph L. Brown, Ph.D. - Stanford University
Graduate Diversity Recruitment Officer
School of Humanities and Sciences
Gloria Chun, Ph.D. - University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Diversity Director
School of Letters and Sciences, Social Sciences
Shelia Thomas, Ph.D. - Harvard University
Assistant Dean of Diversity and Minority Affairs
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Moderator
Harold Campbell, Ph.D.
UC Berkeley Tour
Friday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM from Dwinelle
BBQ Lunch & Graduate School Fair
Friday 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM at Campanile Esplanade
GRE Workshop
Joseph L. Brown, Ph.D - Stanford University
Concurrnt Session B
Friday 2:00 - 3:30 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 11B in Room 79
Quintilla, Olivia - San Diego State University
The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem in Mexican American
Female University Students
Rodriguez, Arturo - University of Arizona
Mexican American Based Education: A Theoretical Review of the Mexican American
Studies Model and its Transformation into Educational Realities
Singh, Michael - University of California, Berkeley
Freirean Pedagogy in the Other Campaign:
A Case Study of El Consejo Urbano y Campesino
Trujillo, Luis - University of California, Santa Barbara
Re-colonization and the Police State
Branvall, Cynthia Aurora - University of California, Berkeley
Traces of Maternal and African Heritage in a Painting of the Fathers of the Haitian
Revolution: Guillaume Guillon-Lethière’s Oath of the Ancestors (1822)
Figueroa, Wendy - University of California, Los Angeles
Tonatiuh in Aztec Art and Ritual
Jones, Malia - University of California, Berkeley
Tears in the Wings: Identity, History and Power amongst
Black Female Dance Professionals
Del Rosario, Benjamin C. - University of Nevada, Reno
Design and Characterization of a Micro-Robotic Nanopositioning Platform
Owusu, Nana - Augsburg College
Mesoscale Nanopatterning Using Lipid Surfactant Templating
Black, Heather - University of Alabama
The Effects of Taphonomy and Diagenesis on Stylaster erubescens
Duschatzky, Ivan - Columbia University
Exploring Links Between River Health & Riparian Communities
Wuu, Sabrina-Anne - University of California, Santa Barbara
The Effect of Fog on Tree Water Status in a Coastal Californian Forest
Benavidez, Melody - University of California, Berkeley
A Case Study from Chiapas: An Analysis of the
Implementation of PROCEDE, a Program for the Privatization of Land
Palmer, Eleanor - St. Edwards University
The Self-Compassionate Person Versus the Self-Enhancer:
Differences in Psychological Traits
Salazar, Starla - Saint Louis University
The Impact of Art Among School-Aged Children
Carter, LaTiegra - University of Alabama
Repetitive Behaviors in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
and Typical Development: Understanding the Patterns
Kim, Sonia Nan - University of California, San Diego
The Expression of Neurotrypsin and Agrin Cleavage is Modulated
by the Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Presenilin Proteins
Le, Giau - University of Arizona
Reliability of Auditory-Based Perceptual Diagnosis of Nasality
Lopez, Jaime - University of California, San Diego
Evaluation and Needs Assessment of Health Frontiers in Tijuana Clientele
Garcia, Erika - San Diego State University
The Development of Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing (EPIC) Primers
for ‘Daddy Longleg’ Spider Systematics
Guffey, Kelsey - Montana State University
Habitat Selectivity of Semi-free Ranging American Plains Bison
at the National Bison Range in Northwest Montana
Lilienthal, Nathan - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Body Size Trends in Ice Age (Pleistocene) Horses from the Great Plains
Natividad, Joel - Sul Ross State University
A Survey of Ectoparasites of Small Mammals From Guatemala
Airoldi, Bailey - St. Lawrence University
Do Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Protect Against Acute
Oxidative Stress in C. elegans?
Mondragon, Angelica - California State University, Long Beach
Mental Health and Latina/o Youth in Long Beach:
Examining the Effects of Depression and Self-Esteem on Physical Activity and
Sedentary Behaviors among At-risk Latina/o Middle School Students
Paredes Chumbirizo, Leslie - University of California, Davis
Detection of Plasma Autoantibodies to Brain Tissue in Young Children
with and without Autism
Marin, Dianna - Sul Ross State University
Culberson County, Texas: The Unreported County in Regards to Cancer Occurance
Sanders, Chelsea - University of California, San Diego
The Effects of Binge Drinking on the Prefrontal Cortex in Rats
Sibbitt, John - Kansas State University
Culturing the Prostate Cancer Cell Line, PC346-C: Overcoming Hurdles
Vigil, Regina Marie - California State University, East Bay
Do Shiga-Toxin Producing E. coli Talk About the Harm They Inflict?
Identifying Quorum Sensing and Virulence Factors in Escherichia coli O157
as a Means of Defense Against Infection
Brackett-Thompson, Bivett - University of California, Davis
Keynesian Theory and Public Policy:
The Impact of TANF Emergency Funds on the Labor Market
Jones, Earnest - Sul Ross State University
Compliance Gaining Research: Applications In Retail Sales
Schenheit, Nathaniel - Augsburg College
An Analysis of Intra- and Inter-District Enrollment Flows:
Evidence from Minneapolis and St. Paul
Coffee Break
Friday 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM in Dwinelle Hall
GRE Workshop
Joseph L. Brown, Ph.D. - Stanford University
Concurrent Session C
Friday 4:10 - 5:30 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Session 21C in Room 79
Ali, Misam B. - University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Debt Relief or Debt Cycle: A Secondary Analysis of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in African Nations
Hersi, Abdinasir - California State University, East Bay
Determinants of Remittances to Recipient Countries
Viernes, Sherwin Cortina - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Foreign Direct Investment in Brazil and Opportunities for US Businesses:
A Case for the Aviation Sector
Session 22C in Room 83
Hunt, Daniel - East Central University
A Metagenomic Survey of Ground Water for
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) of Chlorinated Solvents
Portier, Evan - University of California, Berkeley
Pepperweed Invasion Increases Nitrogen Cycling Rates in a Managed Grassland
Van Noy, Joseph - Sul Ross State University
Soil Carbon Level Comparisons Based on Management strategies on the
O2 and Mimms Ranches, Trans-Pecos, Texas
Panel 23C in Room 87
Axtle, Eduardo - University of California, Berkeley
Protest and Resistance in the Porfiriato: The Case of Ricardo Flores Magón
Petty, Iris R. - University of Nevada, Reno
Female Monasticism in the Roman Empire: Saint Augustine’s Rule For Nuns
Sanchez Martinez, Valeria - University of California, Los Angeles
The Zapatista Students: Formation of Political and Academic Identities in Young
Adults Through the Use of Socially Conscious Music in Los Angeles
Babb, Susan - University of California, Berkeley
Inventing and Reinventing the Barbary Wars:
The Effects of September 11th on the Social Production of Knowledge
Cardenas, Sergio - University of California, Berkeley
Politics of Difference: Humanism and the
Representation of the “Other” in Lope and Shakespeare’s Theater
Jackson, Karima - Columbia University
Mi Gente Negra (My Black People):
Salsa Music and Afro-Puerto Rican Identity in New York City, 1950’s-1970’s
Rodriguez, Angel - University of California, Santa Barbara
“The Special Period in a Time of Peace” Cuban: 1989-1998
Bevel, Felicia - Columbia University
The Adulteration of Whiteness: Deconstructing “True Womanhood” in the Antebellum South through the Lens of the New Orleans Placage System, 1840-1860
Jones, Brittany - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
The District Emancipation Act and Its Effects on
Washington, DC during the Civil War
Montgomery, Carrie - Columbia University
A Convicted Race:
An Analysis of the Survival of the Scottsboro Boys Case in the Present
Roberts, Alaina E. - University of California, Santa Barbara
“Thank God Almighty, I’s Free At Last”: Racial Identity and the Emancipation
Experience of African American Slaves in the Chickasaw Indian Nation
Close, Shane - Montana State University
Accuracy Goals Moderate the Manifestation of Placebo Effects
Portillo, Regina - St. Edwards University
Creativity, Personality, and Psychological Health:
Understanding the Benefits of Being Creative
Vargas, Gabriella M. - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nonverbal Communication: Understanding Effects of Perceived
Rejection/Acceptance in Low and High Intimacy Situations
White, Michelle - University of California, San Diego
Hemispheric Asymmetry in Causal Inference: An ERP Study
Gonzalez, Rio - Montana State University
Pedagogical Technology: A Guide to the Modern Student’s Mind and Classroom
Nyann, Sheena - Westminster College
Oppressive Ideologies in Popular Fiction
Tam, Hao - University of California, San Diego
Racial Shadow and Mobility:
Literature from the First Vietnamese American 1.5 Generation
Linn, Courtney - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Determining Thermal Noise Limiting Properties of Materials for
Use in Advanced LIGO Detectors
Otradovec, Jessie - University of Wisconsin - Madison
Exploration of the Latest Numerical-Relativity-Inspired Waveforms from
Compact Binary System Inspiral Merger, and Ringdown
Tso, Rhondale - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Classical Lorentz-violating Kinematics and Riemann-Finsler Geometry
Valdez, Julian - California State University, East Bay
Methods to Address Systematic Errors of Dual-Isotope Rubidium
Magnetometer in Search of Spin-Mass Coupling
Gutierrez, Alexander - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Recognition of Handwritten Numbers Using Artificial Neural Networks
Jernigan, William - Kansas State University
Object Recognition by Shape
Lee, Chue Xue - Augsburg College
Building An Infrastructure to Recognize an Image’s Evoked Emotion
Liu, Connie - Columbia University
Summary Interfaces for Electronic Medical Records
Rodriguez-Sotelo, Trevor - Augsburg College
Using Labview to Make A Homemade Magnetic Needle
Viscometer User-Friendly
Wamble, Konnie - Southern Nazarene University
Student Study Preferences in Library Environments
Saturday, August 6, 2011
7:25 - 8:45 am
9:00 - 9:55 am
Plenary Session C (Grad. Wrksp.) in 155 Dwinelle Hall
10:00 - 11:20 am Concurrent Session 4 in Dwinelle Hall
10:00 - 11:20 am Translational Workshop Part 1 in Dwinelle 243
11:30 - 12:20 pm Plenary Session D in 155 Dwinelle Hall
12:30 - 1:50 pm
Lunch - Dwinelle Lobby with Poster Presentations
2:00 - 3:20 pm
Concurrent Session 5 in Dwinelle Hall
2:00 - 3:20 pm
2:00 - 3:20 pm
Translational Workshop Part 2 in Dwinelle 243
3:20 - 3:50 pm
Coffee Break & Dwinelle Lobby with Poster Presentation
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Concurrent Session 6 in Dwinelle Hall
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Continental Breakfast
7:25 - 8:45 AM in Dwinelle Hall Lobby
Plenary Session C
Saturday 9:00 - 9:55 AM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Donald Asher - Asher Associates, Educational Consultant
One of the nation’s foremost authorities on the graduate admissions process.
Tens of thousands of students have seen his lectures, tapes, and teleconferences.
He is the author of nine books, including Graduate Admissions Essays,
the best-selling guide to graduate admissions.
Moderator
Heather E. Burton - Director McNair Scholars, The University of Akron
Concurrent Session D
Saturday 10:00 - 11:20 AM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 31D in Room 88
Englert, Jon - University of Arizona
Comparative Analysis of Spontaneous Excitatory and Inhibitory Postsynaptic Currents in Bipolar Cells of the Mouse Retina
Jimenez, Oscar - Knox College
Verification of Endogenous Small RNAs in Dictyostelium purpureum
Sanchez, Hilary - East Central University
Do Smc1 Mutations Found in Cornelia de Lange Syndrome
Patients affect Chromosome Segregation Rates?
Hunter, Skylar - California State University, Long Beach
An Obsession with Electric Sheep: Defining a Subgenre of Science Fiction
Munoz, Francisco - Knox College
Bridging the Gap Between Cinéma Vérité and Surrealism within the Short Film
Model, in Theory and Practice
Sellu, Fayia - University of California, Davis
Orientalism and Hollywood’s Construction of ‘Negrified’ Lenses and Images
Hernandez, Adriana - Columbia University
Phenazine Production Regulation in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
LaCroix, Jeff - East Central University
Small Molecules as Potent Anti-cancer Drugs: NVP-AUY922
Muchinyi, Stephen - California State University, Bakersfield
Utilizing phage Display to Mine the Active Ligands of Esophageal
Cancer Related Gene (ECRG4)
Rackley, Nick - East Central University
Hsp90 inhibition
Harrington, Anthony - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Identification of Nitrifying Bacteria in a Commercial Inoculant Using
Enrichment and Molecular Biology Techniques
Portanova, Jena - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Juglans californica and its Role in Autoalleopathy and Seed Germination
Robinson, Dana Olivia - Knox College
Effects of Microclimate on the Reproductive Biology of Besseya bullii
Belliotti, Michael James - San Diego State University
The Surface Electromyography of Upper Body Muscle Groups during
Exercise on the Pilates Reformer
Brown, Nicolette - Knox College
Identification of Ultraviolet Sensitive Mutants in Dictyostelium
King, Deandre - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Effect of Extracellular ATP on Mammalian Muscle
McPherson, Kevin P. - University of Nevada, Reno
Effects of Arsenic and Arsenic Metabolites on L-Type Calcium Channel and
Large Conductance Potassium Channel Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Della Iacono, Christina - Westminster College
Developing an Assay for Polymorphisms in the 5-HTT, DAT1, and BDNF Genes
to Determine Their Effects on Attention and Emotional Regulation
Gallegos, Jenna - University of Colorado, Boulder
Session 4F - Saturday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 234 Dwinelle
The Role of the Ou Element in SL1 Trans-Splicing
Pammit, Alexis S. - University of California, San Diego
Session 4F - Saturday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 234 Dwinelle
Development of Culture Conditions for the Maintenance and Expansion of Progenitor
Cell Populations Along the Pancreatic Endoderm Lineage
Walters, Ben - University of Arizona
The Molecular Basis of Segmentation in Short-Germ Arthropods
Ndubuizu, Christopher - University of California, Berkeley
The Production of Obesity among African American Women: A Matrix of Domination
Nussur, Jonathan - University of California, Berkeley
Black Males’ Self Efficacy in Health Knowledge
Robinson, Cameron - Montana State University
Spatial Recognition in the Ischemic Gerbil: The Effect of Object Exposure
on Performance
Reed, Mia - Temple University
Unveiling the Obesity Mystery
Byrd, Allister - Knox College
A Study of the Political Agenda in US Foreign Aid Assistance
Herrera, David J. - University of California, Berkeley
The Resource Curse and Subnational Development in Peru:
The Case for Cajamarca and Contumazá
Horn, Dirk - California State University, Bakersfield
Political Freedom, Corruption, Public Institutions, and Economic Growth:
A Global Analysis Since the Fall of the Soviet Union
Fox, Grace - Sul Ross State University
Analysis of Public Discourse about Freedom of Speech
Fox, Kyle - University of Alabama
Constituting an African American Rhetorical Genre: A Comparative Analysis
of Jordan, Jackson, and Obama Democratic National Convention Speeches
Halen, Jennifer A. - University of Nevada, Reno
Women’s Representation Through Quota Systems: A Comparative Analysis
Halen, Ryan - University of Nevada, Reno
Linking Economic and Electoral Inequality: Redistribution Policy
and Its Effect on Voter Turnout
Boykins, Randy - University of California, Los Angeles
Student Perception of the Effectiveness of K-12 College Outreach Programs in
Helping them Become College–Ready: A Culturally Relevant Perspective
Hudson, Sean - University of Alabama
Beating the Odds: Support Systems’ Influence on the Retention of
Undergraduate Current and Former Foster Youth
Ijeoma, Ononuju - California State University, Sacramento
Lions & Bears Oh My: Creating the Bridge Between Athletics & Academia
Luna, Kety L. - University of Nevada, Reno
Exploration of the Experiences of Latina/o Students as They Transfer
from a Community College to a University
Plenary Session D
Saturday 11:30 - 12:20 PM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Guilain G. Bwinika - San Diego Sate University
Breaking The Cycle:
Children Of The Mugunga Refugee Camp
Brittany Blackmond - University of Akron
Evaluating Gene Targets of MicroRNAs
in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Moderator
Eli Barbosa, McNair Advisor
Assistant McNair Program Director
Lunch & Poster Presentations
12:30 - 1:50 PM - Dwinelle Lobby
Concurrent Session E
Graduate School Workshop
CHOICES AND DOCUMENTS
Donald Asher
Education Consultant
Asher & Associates
Saturday 2:00 - 3:20 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 41E in Room 79
Glascoe, Genee - University of Central Florida
Parolees’ Perceived Deterrence of Graduated Sanctions:
Developing a questionnaire for the CDCR Hope Pilot Program
Hutto, Tonya - University of Alabama
The Direct Effects of Race on the Adult Court Sentences of Waived Youth:
A Replication and Extension
Masters, Joseph - Northern Michigan University
Returning to the Rez, Native Americans Returning to the Reservation after Prison
Watson, Wendy - Saint Louis University
What Are the Barriers that Successful Offender Reentry Programs Encounter?
Ferdin, Valerie - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
The Effects of Color, Texture, Distance, and Angle on Light Exposure
Galka, Michael - University of Arizona
Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Refrigerant Choices in Window Air Conditioner Units
Padilla, Christian - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Motion Generation Using Peaucellier Straight-line Mechanisms
Hudson, Dantia - University of California, Berkeley
Road Blocks to HIV Awareness: A Model Analysis
Pearce, Alexandra R. - University of Nevada, Reno
Synthesis of Macrocyclic Polyamines and Their Metal Complexes Targeting HIV-1
Waldeck, Theodore - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Need for School-Based Prevention Programs to be Made Part of the Curricula
Wood, Ellie - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Trans and Genderqueer Perspectives on Feminism
Fung, Ken - University of California, Davis
Optimizing Energy Density of a Torpedo Launch
through Computational Fluid Dynamics
Madril, Edgar - University of Arizona
Design and Characterization of Compact Pivot Flexures
Palmore, John - University of Alabama
Large Eddy Simulation of a Turbulent Impinging Jet on a
Heated Hemispherical Surface
Begay, Sean Paul - University of California, San Diego
Uranium Mining:
Navajo Land Degradation, Health Effects and Cultural Genocide
Driscoll, David - Montana State University
Synthesis, Processing, and Performance of Proton-Conducting Membranes for
Regenerative Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems
Moreno, Eduardo - University of Arizona
Development of a Modular Unmanned Underwater Robotic
System / Design and Feasibility Study Is Cooperative Navigation
Trivino, Ivan - University of Central Florida
Flat Plate Blade Efficiency for
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) Application
Mueller, Paul - Columbia University
Improving Interlaminar Fracture Toughnes by Laser Welding Fibers
in a Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composite Material
Ramcharan, Stacy - Columbia University
Polymer Nanocomposites:
Seeking a Relationship between Nanoparticle Size and Polymer Reinforcement
Ramirez, Brian - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Predicting the Life of Composites in Creep via Proof Testing
Burton, Rochanda - California State University, East Bay
Social Acceptance of African-American Female-to-Male (FTM)
Transgenders in the LGBTQ and Heterosexual Communities
Dickson, Marques - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Carnivalized Acts in The American Fraternal Space
Galán, Chardeé Ashley - University of California, Berkeley
Examining the Interaction Between Race and
Disability Status on Individuals’ Perceptions
Poveda-Toriche, Gloria - University of California, Davis
Maintaining Dignity and Self-Worth:
Challenging Race and Gender Opression in Higher Education
González, Rodrigo - University of Colorado, Boulder
Osteoinductive PEG Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
Moreno, Ana - University of Arizona
Rapid Molecular Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Using Double-Stranded DNA Probes
Arias, Anel - California State University, Long Beach
Emotional Availability among Low-Income Mothers and their Children: Association
with Salivary Cortisol
Daniels, Natalyn - University of California, Berkeley
The Biology of Skin Color Preference:
The Effects of Color-Taste Associations on Color Preferences
Grant, Elizabeth - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
State and Trait Happiness as Predictors of Affective Choice Behavior
Dobbins, Ashley - University of Alabama
Does Socioeconomic Status, Living Arrangement, and Marital Status Predict African
American and Caucasian Pregnant Women’s Depressed Mood?
Johnson, Simone - University of Alabama
The Comorbidity of Depression and Conduct Problems
in the Transition to Adolescence
Coffee Break in the Dwinelle Lobby
3:20 - 3:50 PM in Dwinelle Lobby w/ Poster Presentations
Graduate School Workshop
CHOICES AND DOCUMENTS
Donald Asher
Education Consultant
Asher & Associates
Concurrent Session F
Saturday 4:00 - 5:30 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 51F in Room 79
Clark, Yvonne; Smith, Robin; Thomas, Dexter - Westminster College
The Effect of Physiological Arousal on Adolescent Aggression
Lundahl, Alyssa - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavioral Observation
of Preschoolers System (BOPS)
Breen, Belinda - University of California, Davis
Anti-Predator Behavior in Asian Elephants
Holland, Chris - Knox College
Attachment Style and Human-Dog Relationships:
Are Anxious Individuals More Satisfied with Dogs than with People?
Becks, Fanya - University of California, Berkeley
Shell Ornament Production In The San Francisco Bay Area
Moore, Sabrina Ann - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
Petrographic Analysis of Toyah Phase Pottery Recovered from
State Historic Site Fort Lipantitlán
Valadez, Diana - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Environment and Culture: Mojave Desert through Stone Artifacts
Dittmer, Mollie J. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Factors Associated with Participation and Retention
in a Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse
Foster, Barbara - University of Akron
Correlates of Parenting Stress in Victims of Interpersonal Violence:
Protective and Risk Factors
Gaskins, Danielle - University of California, Los Angeles
Sexual Abuse, Disclosure and the Tendency for African American Women
to Seek Mental Health Services
Okwandu, Onyinye - University of California, Berkeley
What’s the Message? The Influence of Social Networks on African American Young
Women Perceptions towards Contraception
Gracia, Nidia - University of California, Los Angeles
Analyzing an Intervention Aimed at Increasing Intergenerational Understanding in
Families Who Have Experienced Long-Term Separation through Serial Migration
Pedroza, Karina - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Underpinnings of Attitudes Toward Immigration
Vázquez Muñoz, Cristopher - University of California, Berkeley
Growing Up, Becoming Undocumented
Johnson, Brittany - University of California, Berkeley
Lucy Snowe and the ‘Homely Web’ of Memory:
Trauma and Metaphor in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette
Thornburg, Jennifer L. - Montana State University
The Dream of the Rood
Whitehead, Rebekah - Sul Ross State University
The African American Slave Narrative: A Gender Study
Martínez, América - University of California, Los Angeles
Distorting Friendship at ‘Friendship Park’
Padilla, Perla - University of California, San Diego
The Effects of Graphical Progress Monitoring
and Competition in Arithmetic Learning
Wilkerson, Christina - University of Southern California
“I’M A DREAMER”: Undocumented Latino Youth in
Los Angeles and the Federal DREAM Act
Larios, Evelyn - University of Southern California
Labor Unions: A Contextual Factor in Parents’ School Involvement
Malik Nelson - Temple University
An Evaluation of the Renaissance School Initiative in Philadelphia
Robert Simpson - Temple University
Students in Revolt: Student Radical Movements in Germany, 1815-1848
Gonzalez, Fausto - University of California, Davis
Attachment Orientation, Parental History,
Emotion Regulation, and Early Memories
Penalver, Renee - California State University, Bakersfield
Effects of Bright Light Treatment:
A Randomized Placebo Controlled Cross- Over Design
Riley, Nelanhta - Xavier University of Louisiana
Does Feedback During Testing Change
Recognition Memory Criterion Settings?
Huynh, Harmony Phuong - University of Southern California
Selective Vulnerability of Neuromuscular Junctions in
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Magana, Victor - California State University, Northridge
The Effects of Cell Phone Frequency Waves on Cerebral Electrical Activity
and Cognitive Functioning
Christine Yoo - Temple University
Quantifying Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by Observing the Blood Brain
Barrier (BBB) Permeability and Cell Apoptosis on a Mouse Model
Sunday, August 7, 2011
7:25 - 8:45 am
9:00 - 9:55 am
Plenary Session E in 155 Dwinelle Hall
10:00 - 11:20 am Ethics Panel in Dwinelle 243
10:00 - 11:20 am Concurrent Session G in Dwinelle Hall
11:30am-12:25pm Plenary Session F in Dwinelle Hall
12:30-1:20pm
Lunch on the Lawn
1:30-2:50pm
How to Select a Grad School in Dwinelle 263
1:30-2:50pm
Concurrent Session H in Dwinelle Hall
2:50-3:10pm
3:10 - 3:50 pm
Closing & GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE!!! 155 Dwinelle
6:00 pm - 12:00 amSan Francisco Bay Cruise - Dinner and Dance
--------------------
Continental Breakfast in the Dwinelle Lobby
7:25 - 8:45 AM in Dwinelle Lobby
Plenary Session E
Sunday 9:00 - 9:55 AM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Cryer, Jennifer - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Gone in Seconds - Understanding Modern Systemic Risk in Electronic Trading
Carillo, Luzilda - University of California, Berkeley
Scientific Validation? How Bioprospecting Laboratory Practices Contribute
to the Devaluation of Traditional Medicine
Moderator
Victoria Champion, McNair Outreach Coordinator
California State University, Bakersfield
Ethics Panel
Sunday 10:00 - 11:20 AM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
This session will explore the ethical responsibilities of the researcher.
It will review the role and responsibilities of the campuses’ internal
Review Boards. It will be presented by several of the UC Berkeley,
McNair Program Graduate Student Tutors.
George Barganier
Jordan Gonzales
Derrick Hensman
Reika Jirbin
James Battle, Ph.D.
Concurrent Session G
Sunday 10:00 - 11:20 AM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 61G in Room 88
Francisco, Nicole - Westminster College
Strictly Speaking: Redefining Scrutiny Through Same Sex Marriage
Holliday, Dacia - Westminster College
Flirting With the World: Empowering Indigenous Women’s Sexual
Identities Through Erotic and Love Poetry
Fernandez, Melquiades - Columbia University
Poverty and Its Discontents:
How the United States Moved Away from a Welfare State
Flores, Rolando - University of Southern California
Presidential Papers: Understanding the True Significance of Homeownership
Perdomo-Ucles, Bertrand - University of Southern California
Community Organizations Role in Attaching Former Inmates to the Labor Market
Williams, Charnan - University of Southern California
Lost in the City of Angels:
A Comparative Analysis of Central Avenue and Leimert Park as Black Cultural Spaces
Acosta, Jesus - California State University, Northridge
“Take me Out to the Ball Game”:
Counter Hegemony in Baseball through Segments of American Culture
Esparza, Darren - California State University, Northridge
“They Say Money is the Root of All Evil, But I Can’t Tell...or is it the Mindstate That’s Ill?”:
A Rhetorical Analysis of Capitalism’s Influence on American Culture Conveyed by Champs
and its Ideological Effects on College Latinos/Chicanos
Gebreyes, Rahel - University of Southern California
Embedded in News Coverage, Mirrored in Public Opinion: Television News
and the Deterioration of Support for Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gill, Mariah - University of Southern California
Shaping Marine Protected Areas:
The Media and Stakeholder Arguments in Southern California
Castro, Francisco - Southern Nazarene University
Hispanic Voting Behavior
Kim, Esther - Westminster College
Recreational Re-Creating: A Cultural Critique of the 50th Anniversary
of the Freedom Rides
Lantigua, Maria - Columbia University
Immigration Policies in the Dominican Republic:
A Form of Institutionalized Discrimination
Roomsburg, Amy - California State University, Bakersfield
Post-materialism, Direct Democracy, and Minority Rights
Legesse, Ida - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Variables that Determine a Successful Non â€“ Profit Agency
Ontiveros, Jazmin - University of California, Berkeley
Power and Food Access: The case of West Oakland, California
Onuoha, Ijeoma - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Towards A Sustainable Food System for City of Claremont, CA
Sanchez, Maira - University of California, Los Angeles
Beyond Tacos and Wheels, Examining the Economic Survival Strategies of Lunch Truck
Operators (Loncheros) in Low Income Areas of Los Angeles
Castañon, Margarita - California State University, Northridge
Spirituality in the Chicana/o Community:
Spiritual Minded Scholars and Their Psychological Well-Being
Delgado, Abel - University of Southern California
The Jewess and Mooress in the Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X
Haren, Dailey - Westminster College
“What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?”: An Ethnographic Study of Catholic Seminarians
Brooke, Dewey - Montana State University
Analysis of Phospholipase Activity in Adeno-Associated Virus Particles
Using Liquid-Chromatography/Mass-Spectrometry
Roberts, Antonio D. - Xavier University of Louisiana
Response of Immortalized Human Small Airway Epithelial Cells (SAEC)
to Oxidative Stress
Hernandez, John - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Monitoring the Hepatitis C Virus Helicase Enzyme Using Double Molecular Beacons
Kong, Meardey - University of Arizona
The Politics of U.S. Intervention in the Sex Trafficking Industry of Cambodia
Leon, Melanie - University of California, San Diego
Kidnapped: The Case of Central American Migrants in Mexico
Wood, Matthew - Southern Nazarene University
Diversity Within American Higher Education
McDaniel, Treasineu - University of California, Davis
Intervention: The effects of Parental Involvement and ADHD on a
Child’s Educational Success
Sanabria, Tanya - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Cram Schools: Korean Hagwon Style in Southern California
Yang, Chee - Augsburg College
MSW Students and Segregation: Implications for Cultural Competence
Nunez, Jonathan - University of California, Berkeley
Resisting Labor: The Overcoming of Capitalism’s Contradiction Through Leisure
Ruiz Mercado, Omar - University of California, Los Angeles
Why Be Just? The Case for Justice Against Injustice in the Republic
Serafico-Agcaoili, Mikhail A. - University of Nevada, Reno
Finding the Greater Implications of Individual Behaviors on the Environment and
Societies: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Climate Change
Plenary Session F
Sunday 11:30 - 12:25 PM in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Rasumussen, Dahma - California State University, Bakersfield
Use of the N-word by Black/African American College Students
in Bakersfield, California
Begay, Mary Christina - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Bi-Parabolic Phasing Manuevers
Moderator: Harold Campbell, Ph.D.
Lunch on the Lawn
12:30 - 1:50 PM in front of Dwinelle
Concurrent Session H
Sunday 1:30 - 2:50 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Panel 71H in Room 79
Butcher, Amber - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Seismic Cycle Deformation and Net Coastal Uplift Along the
Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: San Juanillo
Newsom, Jordan - Knox College
“Between Here and There”: Examining the Role of Space and Repetition in Shirley
Jackson’s Short Story “The Tooth”
Lane, Chadd - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Bio-Mechanical Analysis of a Cable Assistive Glove
Trejo, Helen Xiomara - University of California, Davis
Slow Fashion: Individualized Upcycled Clothing for Limited Environmental
Impact
Trejo, Nidia - University of California, Davis
A Study of Photo-Induced Self-Detoxifying Cotton Fabrics
Hernandez, Angel F. - California State University, Northridge
Skateboarding in the Hood: A Critical Ethnographic Approach to Analyzing
Multiethnic Urban Skateboarders within Underrepresented Communities
Simmons, Kristen L. - University of Arizona
Transmitting Southern Paiute Epistemology and Analyzing Sacred Places
Within A Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
James, Caroline - University of Alabama
Fags, Spics, and Terrorist: Public Policy, Issue Coding and Public Opinion
Teeters, Stacy - California State University, Bakersfield
The “Bi” in Ambiguity:
Tolerance of Ambiguity and Attitudes toward Bisexual Women and Men
Becker, Alison - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Stirling’s Formula
Kifer, Lance - Augsburg College
Designing an Inexpensive and Versatile High Altitude Air Sampling System
Vedasto, Frederick - Augsburg College
Monitoring the Variations of the Global Electric Circuit
Nolan, Sean - Knox College
Oscar Wilde and Jacques Lacan
Rafah, Ahmad - California State University, Bakersfield
Detection of Coccidioides immitis, the Valley Fever Fungus in Loamy Soils
at the Allensworth Ecological Reserve, CA
Stegall, John - California State University, Bakersfield
Fossil Collecting and a Natural History Museum’s Early Development in Bakersfield, CA:
The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 1993-1996
Zahzah, Omar - California State University, Long Beach
Breaking The Thread: Structure and Exile in Wajdi Mouawad’s Incendies
Henson, Kevin - Temple University
Increasing Neuronal Differentiation through Microenviroments
Johnson, Kayla - Augsburg College
The Analysis of Movement and Swimming Forces in Daphnia magna
as a Model for Neurodegenerative Disease
Uahengo, Gottlieb - Augsburg College
An Experimental Investigation of Lipid Monolayer Domains Size Distribution
in Multi-Component Systems
DeGennaro, Drew - Augsburg College
Men Writing Feminine: Undressing the Crossdressed
Hewko, Natalie - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Charlotte Temple and The Coquette: Being a Woman in Early America
Swan, Symphony - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Engaging Communities: The Formation of User-Centered Museums
Amaya, Aldo - California State University, Bakersfield
Towards a Neurobiological Study of Human Time
Rios, Christopher - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Effect of Illumination and Facial Transformation on Eyewitness Eyedentification
Sherman Williams - California State University, Northridge
Contraction Induced Necrosis and the Influx of Ca2+ on Striated Muscles
Rumbelow, David - Sul Ross State University
A Look Into The Population of Mexican Spotted Owls On The Davis Mountain Preserve In The Davis Mountains of Texas
Saleemi, Sarah - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
The Effects of Nectar Levels and Visit Duration on Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
pollination by European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Wang, Yanlian - Temple University
Sociotropy and Autonomy as Mediators between Rumination and Depression
in Adolescents
Coffee Break in the Dwinelle Lobby
2:50 - 3:10 PM in Dwinelle Hall
Closing Remarks & Grand Prize Raffle
3:10 - 3:50 PM in Dwinelle Hall
San Francisco Bay Cruise - Dinner & Dance
6:00 PM - 12:00 AM
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 52 Abstracts
Abstracts
AbuAli, Kelley - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Poster - Saturday, 12:30 - 1:50 & 3:20 - 3:50 pm, Dwinelle Lobby
Can Exercise Ameliorate Increased Sensitivity to Cocaine in Maternally
Separated Rats?
Maternal separation in rats, which is an animal model of child neglect, has
been reported to increase sensitivity to drugs of abuse. Previous work supports that exercise can be beneficial and reverse the effects of stress; however
it is unknown whether exercise can ameliorate psychostimulant hypersensitivity in maternally separated rats. We will study the effects of exercise on
cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) in maternally separated (MS) and
control rats. Mixed sex litters will be assigned to MS or control condition.
MS will be separated for 3 hrs/day during PN 2-14 and control will be briefly
handled. All pups will be weaned at PN21 and housed individually in standard cages (control) or cages with exercise wheels (experimental). Cocaine
conditioned place preference training will take place during PN 40-49, and
CPP will be tested on PN 50. We expect MS rats to be more sensitive to the
conditioned reinforcing effects of cocaine and that exercise will reduce conditioned reinforcing effects of cocaine in controls and normalize response in MS
rats.
Acosta, Jesus - California State University, Northridge
Session 63G - Sunday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 105 Dwinelle
“Take me Out to the Ball Game”: Counter Hegemony in Baseball Through
Segments of American Culture
John Fiske believes people come to alternative responses of mass culture,
what he terms preferred readings of the text, denote a society who is not passive to advertisement, film, music, art and literature. Baseball is imbedded
deep within America, filled with concepts too often overlooked and begging
to be thoroughly re-examined. My research focuses on moments of resistance
and discrimination with the arrival of the Dodgers to Los Angeles and baseball during Jim Crow. By looking at the work of Chicana muralist Judy Baca
and a number of the black teams who played baseball in the Negroe Leagues,
my objective is to show how Chicanos and Blacks resisted discrimination and
repression through art and community empowerment. I will also analyze
the 1993 baseball film, The Sandlot and the 1955 Broadway musical, Damn
Yankees, which depict two Latino characters whose roles are crucial in order
to understand how they impact the US and its view of the Latino community.
Although sexuality and baseball are rarely used in correspondence, my purpose is to understand and analyze how the body of the Latino baseball star is
fetishized, like the image of St. Louise Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia. Finally, I will explore how the jock strap or baseball “cup”, has become a sexual
commodity and also look into representations of baseball in pornography.
The objective and purpose of my project is to understand and begin to look
at sports in an alternative manner, one that causes us to critically view segments of American culture in order to better comprehend our society.
Acosta, Patricia - California State University, Bakersfield
Students’ Attitudes and Involvement in Global Poverty Efforts
Participants were 148 undergraduates from a moderately-sized public university in central California. Participants had a mean age of 19.99 (SD =
2.39) and were predominantly female (68.9%). Participants completed a
survey asking about their demographics, their knowledge of world geography and global poverty, their participation in activities related to global
poverty, and opinion about relieving global poverty. 18 opinions that might
prevent them from acting now or in the future to reduce world poverty were
stated in the survey. Opinions were rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 1
(strongly agree) to 7 (strongly disagree). Students were not very accurate in
their knowledge of world geography or estimates of the prevalence of extreme
poverty. 23.2% of the participants said they are involved in some activities
to reduce poverty. Students’ attitudes about global poverty predicted their
involvement in efforts to reduce it.
Airoldi, Bailey - St. Lawrence University
Session 18B - Friday, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, 160 Dwinelle
Do Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Protect Against Acute Oxidative Stress in C.
elegans?
Free radicals and oxidative stress contribute to the pathology of many neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Because
of their role in human pathologies, we look for ways to mitigate the harmful
effects of free radicals. Cerium oxide nanoparticles are potent antioxidants
due to their lattice structure and multiple oxidation states. The aim of the
present study is to test the hypothesis that C. elegans treated with cerium
oxide nanoparticles will have reduced sensitivity to acute oxidative stress. In
the future, there is potential to chemically modify this group of nanoparticles
to enhance their therapeutic effectiveness.
Alcalde, Reinaldo E. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Session 7A - Friday, 10:00 - 11:30 am, 229 Dwinelle
Case Study: Velocity and Discharge Measurements in a Combined Weir and
Sluice Gate Structure
South Florida uses combined weir and sluice gate structures in order to regulate the water flow into and out of a man-made wetland. To regulate this flow,
there is need for improved measurement of how much water passes through
these structures for different supply canal levels and sluice gate positions.
Because of the difficulty of determining these values in the field, a physical
model of the structures in conjunction with a field study is ideal for analyzing
the flows. In this study, a 1:6.26 physical model of the structure was used to
simulate different flow scenarios. The model was used to characterize the flow
by determining discharges, flow velocities and water levels. An important aspect to this analysis was the use of particle tracking velocimetry to determine
the contours and magnitudes of the flow velocities over the weir. By analyzing the measurements in the model and by using the field measurements
to calibrate the model, a rating curve was established so that South Florida
could accurately measure flow rates through their structures. These findings
are not only important for South Florida but also for engineering purposes
in general. Weirs and sluice gates are widely used in Civil Engineering, and
knowledge of how they behave for different flow conditions is invaluable for
estimating discharges in channels in which flow is controlled by these types
of structures.
Alfaro, Christian - University of California, Los Angeles
Living the Struggle: After School Activities Among Latino Males
Latina/o students are significantly shaping the demographics of public school
enrollment. Unfortunately, however, Latina/o students have the lowest levels
of educational attainment. Research on this educational crisis has led to the
recognition of a recent trend that is especially evident at the secondary and
postsecondary education level, specifically for Latino males. Given that the
Latina/o population is the fastest growing in the United States, it is imperative that we begin to look closer into the educational pipeline and experiences
of Latino males, as they are part of a group whose contributions are
intricately tied to the success of this country.
Much debate has arisen over the school’s role and the implications its performance brings on students’ lives. However, research has found that eighty
percent of a students time is actually spent outside of school (Gandara &
Contreras, 2009). Due to this, it is important to begin and examine the activities students participate in outside of school as it influences their academic
achievement and college-going aspirations. In an urban community that
displays a high exposure to violence, this study will explore what activities
middle school Latino males choose to participate after school and what factors in their community such as crime, resources available, and home environment proves to be most influential in their decision-making. As the Latino
education crisis continues, it is important to examine how these activities
influence their academic achievement in middle school and later transition to
high school.
Ali, Misam B. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Session 21C - Friday, 4:10 - 5:30 pm, 79 Dwinelle
Debt Relief or Debt Cycle: A Secondary Analysis of the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) Initiative in African Nations
In 1996, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank launched the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The HIPC Initiative is a
comprehensive approach to debt reduction designed to ensure that no poor
country faces a debt burden it cannot manage (International Monetary Fund,
2011). To date, debt reduction packages providing US $72 billion over time
under the HIPC Initiative have been approved for 36 countries; 32 of them
in Africa (International Monetary Fund, 2011). Under the HIPC Initiative,
the World Bank and IMF Boards first decide whether or not a country is eligible for debt relief (decision point document). In a second step, all creditors
(multilateral, bilateral, and commercial) commit debt relief to be delivered
at a “floating” completion point. In between those steps, the country tries to
implement the policies determined at the decision point (which are triggers
to reaching the completion point). A secondary analysis of existing data was
used to examine the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative to determine the effectiveness of this program for indebted countries in Africa. The
results of this analysis are anticipated to assist in determining weaknesses in
debt relief programs, such as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative,
as well as indicate historical economic conditions that set modern cycles of
debt in motion in Africa.
Amaya, Aldo A. - California State University, Bakersfield
Session 79H - Sunday, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, 183 Dwinelle
Towards a Neurobiological Study of Human Time
Prior research has examined the neural coding of time discrimination utilizing single cell recordings in awake-behaving animals. The most common
experimental design for this work is to present a standard visual/auditory cue
to the subject and then have them compare it to a test cue which is shorter
or longer than the test cue. The primary subjects for this type of study, have
been primates, performing a reaching or saccade task to select their decision.
Their results, have found that the neural coding appears to primarily occur
at the parietal and frontal areas of the brain. However, to our knowledge,
there seems to be a lack of studies that have examined the effects translated
to the human model. Therefore, we have determined to take on this task and
focus on the human model under a GO/NOGO time discrimination task using an auditory stimulus. We performed EEG recordings in the Medial Dorsal
Parietal (MDP) area, a homologues structure to the Parietal Reach Region in
the primate, of an awake-behaving human male subject to determine neural
activity prior to making a reaching choice during a time discrimination task.
Since the MDP feeds into the dorsal pre-motor area we hope to find neural
activity that would exhibit similar characteristics similar to the preparatory
potential seen in the pre-motor cortex.
Amoroto, Patricia Isabel Cortum California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Remaking Femininity: Identity, Gender and Power Dynamics of Filipina
Merchant Marines
This is a preliminary investigation on the lives of Filipina seafarers, specifically educated in the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in the Philippines and is working for international shipping companies. Integral to the
research will be the exploration of the contemporary Filipina’s approach to
traditional norms and notions as well as gender pattern relations. It will also
tackle how they are able to negotiate and project this newly formed identity
while they are in an environment dominated by men. It also aims to shed
light on the positive and negative effects of such global labor exercise. My
methodology will include structured interviews and literature review. I hypothesize that this social and gender phenomenon had contributed to the
Filipina’s image as an actor in a capitalist world and agent of formation,
modification and transmission of Filipino values.
Arias, Anel - California State University, Long Beach
Session 49E - Saturday, 2:00 - 3:20 pm, 183 Dwinelle
Emotional Availability among Low-Income Mothers and Their Children:
Association with Salivary Cortisol
Negative interactions between mothers and their children have been shown
to lead to several poor health outcomes in children, including increases in
stress, depression, and disruptive behaviors (e.g. fussiness, crying spells). The
current study will examine whether more positive mother-child interactions
(i.e., sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, non-hostility, responsiveness, and involvement) are associated with lower physiological levels of stress
(i.e., cortisol) at 2-4 years postpartum among low-income mothers and their
children who participated in a previous study on maternal depression. Participants were recruited between 1998 and 2002 from public county hospitals
in northern California as part of a study on maternal depression when the
participants were 12-32 weeks pregnant. Participants were followed 2-4 years
postpartum and recruited for the current study on mother-child interactions
between 2001 and 2003. Our sample consisted of 90 low-income mothers
that had an annual income of less than $20,000. The majority of the mothers (54%) were born in Mexico. Our sample of children consisted of 38 girls
and 52 boys between 2-4 years of age. A modified version of the Emotional
Availability Scales (EAS) for infancy and early childhood was used to rate
mother-child interactions during a free-play videotaped setting (Biringen,
Robinson, & Emde, 2000). To measure physiological levels of stress, our study
examined cortisol levels by having mothers collect their saliva and their children’s saliva at their homes. We hypothesize that more positive mother child
interactions will be associated with lower cortisol levels in mothers and their
children. Identifying more positive mother-child interactions that reduce
stress in early life will influence the teaching methods of stress management
programs for low-income families.
Asifi, Rohina - California State University, East Bay
Structural Studies on RNA-Peptide Interactions in the Replication
Mechanism of Brome Mosaic Virus
The Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) is an RNA virus that infects granary plants.
It consists of three distinct viral particles and each of three viral particles
consists of each of three distinct BMV RNA molecules wrapped by many copies of the Coat Protein (CP). CP has 189 amino acid residues and appears to
coordinate important events in the viral replication through its binding to
different parts of its own viral RNA. CP’s overarching coordinating roles in
the replication process of BMV are conducted through controlling the efficiency of both RNA replication and protein translation. A 22-residue peptide
(CPNT) derived from the N terminal region of CP was shown to penetrate
the host cell membrane and can deliver the BMV genomic RNA into the host
cell. CPNT also can deliver double-stranded RNA into cells, resulting in gene
silencing. The goal of this project is to investigate the conformational characteristics of CPNT and to explore its binding characteristics on the different
parts of BMV genomic RNA. To achieve this goal, we will use biophysical and
biochemical methods such as the in-vitro transcription method for RNA synthesis, high-resolution NMR, UV melting study of RNA, Circular Dichroism
spectroscopy (CD), and native gel electrophoresis. The detailed understanding of the CPNT-RNA interactions (as well as CP-RNA interactions) will contribute to not only advancing basic research on the viral replication mechanism but also developing new biotechnological applications such as new drug/
RNA/protein delivery systems with CPNT.
Axtle, Eduardo - University of California, Berkeley
Protest and Resistance in the Porfiriato: The Case of Ricardo Flores Magón
Ricardo Flores Magón was an early example of dissent during the later years
of Porfiriato and early years of the Mexican Revolution. Though not highly
recognized for his intellectual contribution to the Mexican revolution, it was
his ideals and unrelenting literary protest against Mexico’s oppression during
the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, that inspired the revolutionary movement.
Even though, the Mexican Revolution failed to bring the extensive reforms
that Magón envisioned for Mexico, important concessions were made because
of it. Such concessions incorporated several points from Magón’s, Programa
Y Manifesto Del Partido Liberal Mexicano of 1908 into the revised Constitution of 1917. In the larger context of Magón’s work, this was a minor victory
in comparison to the ultimate failure of realizing his vision in Mexico. However, his ideals, writings, and life examples live on in the hearts and minds of
working class Mexicans and have greatly influenced Mexico’s political sphere.
My paper places Ricardo Flores Magón within pre-revolutionary Mexico and
uses his story as a case study of dissent within Porfirian Mexico by tying together history and literature into a more interdisciplinary and holistic study
of dissent within pre-revolutionary Mexico. Furthermore, I plan to expand
on the existing literature addressing the question: Why Magonismo failed to
take root in Mexico and among Mexicans. Magón’s literary works, Regeneracion, multiple plays, the Mexican Constitution of 1917, and the Programa y
Manifesto will be studied. Other secondary sources will be used to frame the
premise of Porfirian Mexico, revolutionary perspectives, and Magón’s traditionally established historical role as the precursor and not the father of the
revolution.
Ayala, Alicia - California State University, Northridge
A Psychosociocultural Perspective of Later Generation Chicanos in Higher
Education
In a speech given by President Barack Obama on March 15, 2011, he stated
that if we do not offer a quality education to students, Americans will not be
able to compete in a global economy.
Los Angeles is currently the fifteenth largest economy in the world and Latina/os account for 46.53% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000) of the population, with
Chicana/os constituting the majority. Researchers have traditionally applied
deficit approaches that blame the individual and/or culture for Chicano/as not
succeeding academically; they argue that the causation is limited educational
resources, acculturative stress, family responsibilities, financial barriers and
institutionalized racism (Castro-Salazar, R., & Bagley, C., 2010). Findings
from prior literature guided me to stem away from deficit perspectives and
take a strength-based approach; whereby, I will focus on the specific population of second and third generation Chicanos within the city of Los Angeles,
who have overcome these adversities and are pursuing higher education. This
research study will apply Gloria and Rodriguez’s (2000) psychosociocultural
framework to examine how the degree to which second and third generation
Chicanos identify with their ethnicity closely correlates with their educational persistency in higher education. I will conduct a total of six interviews
representing men of second and third generations, ages 18 through 25 currently enrolled in four-year institutions. It is imperative to examine this rapidly growing ethnic minority of second and third generation Chicano males in
higher education within Los Angeles because they are a significant portion of
the population, yet are not achieving academically. This study aims to shed
light on how later generation Chicanos currently pursuing higher education
may serve as models for other men similar to themselves that have not chosen academic pathways and that if given the proper academic opportunities,
later generation Chicanos can become productive and economically stable
members of society.
Babb, Susan - University of California, Berkeley
Inventing and Reinventing the Barbary Wars:
The Effects of September 11th on the Social Production of Knowledge
This paper examines how September 11th altered the historical production
of knowledge on the Barbary Wars (1801-1805 and 1815-1816), America’s
first foreign conflict with an Islamic power. While there are some historical
texts, defined as books, articles, and essays, written between 1900 and 2011
that seek to understand history as objectively as possible, the majority of the
pieces alter history for contemporary purposes. From 1900 to 2000 there were
approximately 15 pieces of historical literature written on the topic. The emphasis of these pieces was on glorifying the American experience of the war,
creating a heroic narrative. Interestingly, from 2001 to 2011 there were approximately 18 historical pieces produced. However, during this time period
the focus shifts from highlighting the American experience to demonizing
the Barbary people as terrorists. This paper analyzes the shift in American
perceptions of Muslims, paying special attention to its development and more
importantly to its significance for history and society. The research focuses
mainly on content analysis of the historical pieces. To supplement this, limited quantitative analysis was performed, examining publication information
and counts of repeating ideas and phrases to understand distinctions between
pre-9/11 and post-9/11 writings. My findings suggest that the past decade of
writings have emphasized connections between the Barbary Wars and September 11th, drawing anachronistic parallels that are not founded in historical fact. Thus, the paper will expose these misreadings, arguing against using
September 11th as a lens for analyzing the Barbary Wars and instead arguing that they should be analyzed based on their own historical specificities.
Baez, Kathryn - University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
Access to and Socio-Economic Considerations of Dental Care in Wisconsin
The primary objectives of this research were to explore and assess the level
of dental care available to Badger Care recipients, Wisconsin’s Health Insurance Plan for low-income families, and the socio-economic benefits of providing dental care, or in not providing care. This proposal explored two hypothThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 61 Abstracts
eses: 1) that there is a lack of dental care as a wellness benefit and 2) that if
preventative dental care would be provided and accessible to everyone, then
the amount of money spent on health care would decrease. Oral conditions
such as cavities and periodontal disease may affect an individual’s general
health, either by exacerbating an existing medical problem, or by precipitating it (Patton). In my research I interviewed 300 participants at three different clinics in three different counties. I found that as a whole the state of
Wisconsin is lacking adequate dental care resources for Badger Care recipients. My research concluded that one in every five people surveyed had gone
to the Emergency Room to seek dental care and forty five percent of those
surveyed admitted to having at least one tooth extraction instead of receiving
dental treatment to save money and over eighty percent of them were women.
Dental exams and cavities are far less expensive to treat than a visit to the
Emergency Room or ongoing treatment of the larger biomedical problems
that arise from lack of dental care.
Barnes, Yolanda - University of Alabama
The Association between Weapon Carrying and Family Structure:
Evidence from a Deep South Sample of African-American Male Youth
Juvenile weapon carrying remains a serious problem among male youth in
poor minority neighborhoods, despite the aggregate decline in national rates
of youth carrying in recent years. In an effort to prevent weapon carrying
among juveniles, research efforts have been directed at identifying and understanding its underlying causal factors. Although family structure is related to a variety of delinquent acts, with youth from single-parent homes at
higher risk for delinquency than their counterparts, little systematic research
has examined whether single-parent family structure has an impact on weapon carrying. Of the research that has been conducted, the findings are mixed.
Moreover, to date, no published studies have investigated the family structure-weapon carrying link using data from poor youth who reside in the Deep
South. To address these literature gaps, the current study will utilize secondary data derived from a sample of high-risk, impoverished African-American
males who completed the 2009 Mobile Youth Survey. Aside from family structure, a number of known predictors of carrying will be investigated, including
parental monitoring and parental practices. We will also examine the individual domain predictors such as soft drug initiation, impulsivity, and weapon
carrying beliefs.
Becker, Alison - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Stirling’s Formula
It is common practice in many mathematics textbooks in algebra, probability,
calculus, and introductory statistics to discuss Stirling’s formula for the approximation of large factorials, and state it without proof. This is because the
best known derivations of the formula are far too complex to be demonstrated
at an elementary level. The goal of this research is to find an existing, understandable proof of Stirling’s formula that can be presented to undergraduates, as it is important for a student in mathematics to not only know theorems, but also understand the mechanics of how they can be developed. The
derivation for Stirling’s approximation must meet specific criteria to be appropriate for undergraduates. It should be well-motivated and not black-box,
that is, it has to have clear reasoning for using particular formulas. The proof
also needs to maintain an obvious direction; it should constantly be apparent
where the proof is heading without any unproven lemmas or unclear formulas. Furthermore, the derivation has to involve no more than calculus-level
material such as integration, derivatives, series formulas, induction, and limits. Overall, Stirling’s formula for the approximation of large factorials is an
important concept that is presented over a range of mathematics topics, and
should be represented following a basic proof in order to facilitate a complete
understanding.
Becks, Fanya - University of California, Berkeley
Session 53F - Saturday, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, 87 Dwinelle
Shell Ornament Production in the San Francisco Bay Area
While the study of shell beads in California has emphasized large scale bead
production in the Santa Barbara Channel Island and the southern coast,
no large scale Olivella bead production sites have been found north of Point
Conception (Erlandson, et. al. 2005). Instead in northern California there are
small Olivella shell bead “workshops” (Hartzell, 1991) as well as large scale
clam disk bead production sites (Schenk, 1970; Treganza and King 1978).
The focus of this paper is to report on the materials from one such clam disk
bead production site which lies within the Coast Miwok’s aboriginal territory,
and to compare these materials to other smaller scale workshops in northern
California. I compare these small scale production sites to the “industrial”
scale production of Olivella beads in southern California. In this paper I characterize the evidence for clam, Olivella, and Haliotis ornament production at
CA-MRN-216. This site has a large density of clamshell bead production materials as well as smaller amounts of Olivella and Haliotis ornament production materials in comparison to the other sites at Point Reyes, as well as sites
in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and southern California.
Begay, Mary - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Plenary Session F - Sunday, 11:30 - 12:20 pm, 155 Dwinelle
Bi-Parabolic Phasing Maneuvers
This research analyzed the total velocity change magnitude required to perform a bi-parabolic phasing maneuver for all elliptical orbits, including the
special case of a circular orbit. A bi-parabolic phasing maneuver requires four
impulsive burns where the magnitude of the first and fourth burn are equal
and the magnitude of the second and third burn are also equal. For the circular orbit case, the equation for the total velocity change magnitude was derived from the constant orbital radius and took into account the possibility of
multiple target satellite orbital periods. For the general elliptical orbit case,
the expression for the total velocity change magnitude was also a function
true anomaly. The results for all scenarios investigated show that as time of
flight increases, the total velocity change magnitude decreases.
Begay, Sean Paul - University of California, San Diego
Uranium Mining:
Navajo Land Degradation, Health Effects and Cultural Genocide
Land, life and culture are three essential qualities that Native Americans
follow by utilizing traditional ceremonies and ritual exercises as a means of
finding identity and structure within their livelihood. On the Navajo Reservation, these qualities have been contested in the past as well as the present,
affecting the future generation of Navajos to come. Uranium mining was
sought to provide job opportunities and economic wealth to the Navajo people, but rather than be a benefit to this Native American community, more
harm than good has developed within the people as well as the region itself.
Individuals who participated in uranium mining were 28 times more likely to
develop lung cancer, respiratory tract infections as well as other health problems than Navajos who have not mined (Shuey 1). This shows people that
uranium mining is not only an environmental concern, but a health concern
as well. In congruence to the destruction of land areas and Navajo health,
uranium mining also impacts Navajo individuals culturally by affecting their
ability to go out to places and participate in traditional ceremonies that exist
in particular parts on the reservation. Thus in my research, I will argue that
uranium mining has caused environmental degradation, affecting Navajo
health while simultaneously erasing cultural, traditional and ceremonial ties
to the land they inhabit.
Belliotti, Michael James - San Diego State University
Session 35D - Saturday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 189 Dwinelle
Electromyographic Study of Activation of Core Muscles During Pilates
Reformer Exercises
This study quantifies the activation of specific muscle groups using the surface electromyographic (SEMG) and video recordings during upper limb
exercises performed on the Pilates Reformer (PR). The PR is widely used for
exercise, and rehabilitation purposes however limited studies have reported
on the activation of the core muscles (e.g.superior and inferior rectus abdominis, external abdominal oblique, and proximal inferior latissimus dorsi).
Physically fit young adults (10) exercised their upper body when performing
the traditional Pilates exercise: “Ab-Arms”, while the legs were in alternative positions. Each experiment was repeated three times (1 min each) and
data analyzed from the final session. Initial analysis indicated that the rectified values of the SEMG recordings of the superior rectus abdominis (SRA)
and inferior rectus abdominis (IRA) continue to be active during the entire
duration of the exercise; however, the SRA has a greater amplitude (AEMG
= 126.88 uV) than the IRA (AEMG = 104.55 uV) and has the earliest average activation. These data suggest that upper limb PR exercises activate core
muscles, which could be used for rehabilitative and strengthening purposes.
Benavidez, Melody - University of California, Berkeley
A Case Study from Chiapas: An Analysis of the Implementation of
PROCEDE, a Program for the Privatization of Land
Understanding why a policy has not succeeded is a crucial step in
developing future successful policies. Market led agrarian reform models
driven by the World Bank emphasized market efficiency and economic growth
and gave little priority to regional interests and concerns. In 1992
Mexico took the necessary steps to implement World Bank agrarian models
into their own domestic policy by altering the Constitution and
implementing a program to privatize land, PROCEDE. In spite of executive
promises to certify land within two years, today much rural land remains
uncertified. States with high proportions of communal land and indigenous
farmers, such as Chiapas, have the lowest acceptance rates in Mexico.
Studies conducted on PROCEDE tend to focus on the consequences of the
program within a span of 10 years. This study will draw upon previous
studies, evaluate archival documents, draw upon site visits, and
interviews with government employees to critically analyze the weaknesses
of PROCEDE and where it can be improved.
Bevel, Felicia - Columbia University
The Adulteration of Whiteness: Deconstructing “True Womanhood” in the
Antebellum South through the Lens of the New Orleans Placage System,
1820-1860
During the 19th century, the United States witnessed an increasing concentration on the concept of “true womanhood”: a Victorian ideal upholding the
importance of family, home, and purity. The possession of a full European
bloodline was a prerequisite of this ideal. Although a substantial amount of
scholarly work exists on “true womanhood”, one can better understand its
precondition of whiteness by focusing on those who were not 100% white
and thus excluded from the concept: for example, black women with varying
degrees of European ancestry. An excellent context in which to examine these
women is the New Orleans Placage System, wherein mixed-blood free ladies
of color became the mistresses of European aristocrats, in exchange for financial security and status. Preliminary research indicates that, while the Creole
Community of Color viewed these women as respectable, their classification
as Negro- regardless of skin color or partial European heritage- prevented
them from being virtuous in the eyes of the White South. By utilizing literature, newspaper articles, travel logs, and essays, this study aims to: 1) determine in what way and for what reasons the extra-marital system arose; 2) examine the nature of the relationship between the mistresses and their white
protectors; 3) discern how the Creole Community of Color and the larger
white community viewed the mistresses; and 4) use the preceding queries to
ascertain to what extent whiteness shaped the concept of “true womanhood”.
This research will both shed light on the nature of race relations with respect
to America’s fixation on whiteness and hopefully contribute to the extant
discourse on “true womanhood”. As the question of whether we are presently
living in a post-racial society continues to arise, it is crucial for individuals to
understand race relations in the Antebellum South before entertaining such
a controversial query.
Black, Heather - University of Alabama
The Effects of Taphonomy and Diagenesis on Stylaster erubescens
The goal of this research is to assess the effects of taphonomic and diagenetic
processes on samples of the deep-sea hydrocoral Stylaster erubescens. Deepsea coral geochemistry could be a significant proxy for paleoclimate data
because such data may record deep ocean current dynamics that are central
to understanding global climate patterns. However, diagenesis may alter
the geochemistry of the corals in such a way as to negatively impact their
use as proxy data sources. For example, samples taken off the Charleston
Bump appear to have had significant dissolution as indicated by the apparent loss of mass relative to living corals. The current research is principally
concerned with the taphonomic processes of abrasion, bioerosion, dissolution,
encrustation, and fragmentation, and the diagenetic process of calcitization.
The methodology to assess these processes includes reflected and transmitted light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), oxygen and carbon
isotope analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental chemistry analysis.
Visual and geochemical comparisons to live-collected specimens of S. erubescens were used to measure taphonomic changes. XRD and SEM analyses
were used to measure diagenetic changes. Results are discussed in terms of
changes which may complicate future paleoclimatic analysis of the species.
Blackmond, Brittany - University of Akron
Plenary Session D - Saturday, 11:30 - 12:20 pm, 155 Dwinelle
Evaluating Gene Targets of MicroRNAs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a lung disease resulting in the
obstruction of the small pulmonary arteries and increased blood pressure in
the lungs. The role of microRNAs in the BMP pathway is being studied in
PAH to determine their effects on particular genes associated with the disease. microRNAs are small non-coding RNA which are18-22 nucleotides long,
that regulate post transcriptional gene silencing by binding to the 3’-untranslated region (3’UTR) of genes. We have undertaken experiments to measure
the ability of three microRNAs to target the 3’UTR of two bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway genes. We did this by cloning 3’ UTR of the
target gene into the pMIR-Report luciferase vector. This vector along with a
ß-galactosidase control vector was transfected into 293T cells. Then we transfected the cells with a pre-miR microRNA molecule that could potentially
target the 3’UTR sequence. A luciferase assay was then performed using a
luminometer to measure a potential interaction. In the assay we tested interactions between miR-27a and SMAD5, miR-181b and SMAD7 and miR-100
and SMAD 7. Two out of the three, miR-27a/SMAD5 and miR-181b/SMAD7
showed indications that they were targeting the 3’UTR sequence. miR-100
did not show an interaction with the 3’UTR of SMAD 7. In the future we plan
to retest miR-27a/SMAD5 and miR-181b/SMAD7 to confirm our results. In
PAH microRNAs are a novelty because scientist may be able to use them in
the future as gene therapeutic regimes for the disease.
Blanchard, Megan - University of California, Berkeley
Understanding the Achievement Gap in Higher Education through Patterns
of Black Voluntary Segregation Resource Mobilization, and Academic
Achievement
This project attempts to analyze racial divisions and the achievement gap
within the public education system. Primarily, how can we explain the disparities in academic success between blacks and whites within public colleges
and universities? And, to what extent does voluntary segregation have an
impact on a student’s academic trajectory? This research project will examine
the impact voluntary segregation has on the mobilization of resources and
opportunities, the ability to build broad and diverse networks with peers,
community involvement, and the socially constructed racialization of space
for black students. This project emphasizes a focus on the effects, rather than
only the causes of voluntary segregation, with the hope of shedding light on
how institutions can better support the historically underserved black community. Attempting to understand the potential relationship between the
practice of clustering together on school campuses as a coping mechanism,
trends in resource mobilization, and academic underperformance is the first
step in learning how to better communicate and channel resources towards
black students, and ultimately create a more equitable academic environment. Using data gathered from 66 surveys completed by black and white
students at the University of California, Berkeley, I find that voluntary
segregation has a clear impact on the types of academic resources students
mobilize. Additionally, I use a series 22 of semi-structured interviews with
students, administrators, advisors, and counselors to further understand the
differences between parallel academic resources existing in each of the two
resource pools of focus, ethnic-specific and campus-specific.
Boyd-Pates, Tyree - California State University, Bakersfield
A Sociological Analysis of African American Student Retention In the CSU
System
In recent years, retention in higher education has grown to be a large problem in many academic institutions across the nation. However, one group
that has felt the brunt from attempts at undergraduate acquisition are African-Americans. This research will span statistical data aquired from CSU ,inorder to communicate the widening disparity that African Americans face on
university campuses. With an analysis of several articles and data acquired
from CSU’s Access to Success Graduation Initiative, illustrates how AfricanAmerican students in the CSU make up the lowest for retention in the national average mark. The ultimate goal of the research under investigation is
to isolate and analyze the patterns of retention that face African- Americans
at the CSU level, particularly at CSUB’s undergrads. This will be done in
order formulate or collaborate with a proposed CSU sanctioned initiative that
will make significant strides in lessening the widening gap of African American minority undergraduate retention rates.
Boykins, Randy - University of California, Los Angeles
Student Perception of the Effectiveness of K-12 College Outreach Programs in
Helping them Become College–Ready: A Culturally Relevant Perspective
This research will perform a one-year case study of a K-12 outreach program
in LA. This research looks at the perceived benefits of the program in terms
of academic empowerment, student empowerment, and holistic development,
from the students’ perspective. The goal of outreach programs is to help students in underperforming schools gain access to higher education. Research
today has shown that high schools inadequately prepare students for college,
which adds to the importance of outreach programs. While previous research
has used program data to look at effectiveness, a missing voice has been
that of the actual program participants. My research will seek to answer two
broad questions. The first is how the program staff believes their different
services help students become more college ready. The second question seeks
to understand to what degree students feel the program is helping them in
becoming more college ready. To find this data, I will perform a qualitative
study using interviews of the program staff, interviews of the student participants, student surveys and document analysis from the program. The interviews with staff will allow me to find out how and in what ways the program
seeks to benefit students. The interviews with students, surveys, and document analysis will give me a broad and in-depth look at student experiences
in the program as it relates to them becoming more college-ready. This research is significant for two reasons. Firstly, for the actual program it will
allow them to see what practices and aspects of their program are most effective and least effective. With this information the program can reevaluate its
program components to better benefit students. Secondly, this research will
add to the literature on outreach programs working in urban communities by
providing student voices.
Bracamontes, Claudia - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Surface Modification of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Water Remediation
The need for a clean water supply is fueling the call for new methods to remove contaminants from industrial waste water. In this project, two structures of superparamagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized in order to target
dye and heavy metal ion contaminants. One structure is uncoated iron oxide
nanoparticle intended for dye contaminants. The second structure is modified
iron oxide nanoparticle with a silica coating that is functionalized with trimethoxysilylpropyl-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (TMS-EDTA), a chelating
group that has a high affinity for metal ions. TEM analysis shows that both
types of nanoparticles range from 15-20 nm in size. Additionally, the magnetic nature of the nanoparticles will facilitate particle removal from the decontaminated water through magnetic separation. A batch method was utilized
to analyze the contaminant uptake ability of each type of iron oxide nanoparticle. UV and visible light spectroscopy demonstrated that the uncoated iron
oxide nanoparticles can effectively remove 10,000 ppm of several model dye
contaminants including: red 40 (allura red), yellow 6 (sunset yellow), and blue
2 (indigo carmine). The ETDA-functionalized particles were tested against
nickel, our model heavy metal contaminant. Preliminary HPLC results show
that the functionalized particles exhibit a potential for the removal of heavy
metal contaminants. This research suggests that iron oxide nanoparticles can
be efficient in the removal of dye and heavy metal contaminants.
Brackett-Thompson, Bivett - University of California, Davis
Keynesian Theory and Public Policy: The Impact of TANF Emergency Funds
on the Labor Market
Poverty rates are a standard measure of economic prosperity and inequality within a country. When a nation faces a major economic recession, it is
imperative that the government protects the most vulnerable in society while
also placing high priority on monitoring and remediating unemployment
rates to ensure more citizens do not fall below the poverty line. The current
study tests the effectiveness of Keynesian theory-a tool used in response to
the global financial crisis of 2007-by examining how the 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, specifically the TANF Emergency Funds, affected
national unemployment rates. Keynesian theory argues that our economy is
incapable of reaching full-employment, thus it is not self-regulating and as a
result requires government intervention in the form of monetary and fiscal
policy changes to correct market deficiencies. The findings in the current paper reveal some support for TANF Emergency funds contributing to the stabilization in unemployment rates, however all funds were not disbursed equally
and only 33 states actually received TANF funding to mediate labor market
deficiencies. Data reveals that there was a positive correlation between states
that received the most funding and job creation. This research makes an
important contribution to our understanding of how stimulus payments affect
underemployed populations.
Brannvall, Cynthia Aurora - University of California, Berkeley
Traces of Maternal and African Heritage in a Painting of the Fathers of the
Haitian Revolution: Guillaume Guillon-Lethière’s Oath of the Ancestors (1822)
Oath of the Ancestors (1822) Guillaume-Guillon Lethière. Analysis of a neoclassical painting that depicts the fathers of the Haitian Revolution. Scholars
have acknowledged that the painting is a gesture toward the artists maternal
heritage. However, the painting has not been studied as a work of art that
contains African inspired pictorial or ideological elements. This project utilizes a mixed methods approach including formal analysis, iconography and
content analysis to determine if any African inspired signs, symbols or ideas
are conveyed in this painting. The compositional similarities to the Vodou
vévé Danbala Wedo offer an interpretation that takes into account the historical significance of Vodou in colonial Saint-Domingue.
Breen, Belinda - University of California, Davis
Anti-Predator Behavior in Asian Elephants
This study addressed the issue of human-animal conflict involving Asian elephants and crop raiding in India. Sound playbacks of ecologically provocative
sounds were examined to determine whether these frightening sounds would
mitigate crop raiding. Three types of sounds were tested through a sound
playback device: leopard growls, tiger growls, and villager shouting. It was
predicted that Asian elephants would be most fearful of tiger growls followed
closely by human shouting. Leopard growls were predicted to be the least provocative. Analyses revealed that the three sounds did not differ appreciably
in elephant reaction times to the sound onset. Elephants distinguished the
tiger and leopard growls in their first movement after hearing the sounds.
However, at 25 meters distance from the playback speaker, there were no
reliable differences in the three sounds with elephants moving away from the
speaker. Together, these results illustrate how elephants respond at night to
provocative sounds. Elephant expectations of encountering an angry tiger or
shouting villagers led to their initially turning laterally and away from the
source of the sound. While their movement trajectories were broadly similar
to both sounds, elephants did show discrimination of leopard vs. tiger growls
by only engaging in trumpeting and growling to leopard growls compared to
tiger growls. All three sound playbacks reduced crop raiding during presentations.
Brooke, Dewey - Montana State University
Analysis of Phospholipase Activity in Adeno-Associated Virus Particles Using
Liquid-Chromatography/Mass-Spectrometry
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) belongs to the Parvovridae, a family of small,
non-enveloped isosahedral viruses. The viral capsid has T=1
symmetry and is composed of 60 subunits, made up from three proteins (VP1,
VP2, VP3) in a ratio of 1:1:10. The minor proteins are the same as
VP3 in their C-termini region, but they have additional domains on their Ntermini that play essential roles in cellular entry and trafficking. AAV
entry is by receptor-mediated endocytosis, eventually depositing its genetic
material in the nucleus of the cell. Structural studies of AAV have
shown that the N-termini of VP1 and VP2 are initially internalized in the
capsid and become externalized, most likely during endocytosis. Based
on sequence and structural similarity, VP1 contains a phospholipase A2 domain (PLA2) which, when mutated, dramatically reduces infectivity.
Currently, little is known about the mechanism of VP1 externalization or the
role of the lipase in escape of the virus particle from the endosome.
Also, due to low sequence similarity, there is even concern over whether this
is a true PLA2 type domain. To address these questions, we have
developed a liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry based assay for lipase
activity. To date, we have tested factors such as receptor binding,
heat, and pH on the externalization of the PLA2 and are addressing the question of substrate specificity. This approach has allowed us to
definitively characterize reaction substrate and products and determine standard kinetic parameters for the lipase domain on a series of AAV
serotypes.
Brown, Katharine - University of Colorado, Boulder
Northern Arapaho Immersion Preschools:
Parental Opinions of Culture and Language Maintenance
This study investigated the Northern Arapaho Tribe’s maintenance of culture and language through immersion education. The Tribe has developed
two immersion preschools which conduct all lessons entirely in Arapaho. A
comparison was made between parents’ perspectives of the immersion and
non-immersion preschools currently available on the reservation. Populations
were selected from parents with children attending one of the two immersion
preschools and one non-immersion preschool on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The first phase of the project included 27 surveys of 26 (non-)immersion parents, and phase two included 10 follow-up interviews with parents
from phase one. This study determined there is a conditional demand for the
extension of immersion education programs beyond preschool levels on the
Wind River Reservation to better counter endangerment of Arapaho language
and culture. Preliminary results indicate that the majority of parents are
supportive of their children participating in immersion education, though the
parents who selected the non-immersion education program aren’t fully confident in the capacities and reliability of the immersion preschools currently
available. Parents’ primary concerns to be addressed are accreditation, establishment of rules and regulations, and knowledgeable, trained/certified teachers. However, the general parental population is supportive of expansion of
the immersion program beyond the preschool level if their current concerns
are addressed, in hopes of achieving greater fluency for immersion students.
Brown, Leslie Arellano - Westminster College
Measuring Methods: Self-Efficacy in Writing Among Wesminster First-Year
College Students
While there is extensive literature arguing for the use of one writing pedagogy over another, there is limited research on which pedagogies are actually
most beneficial to students. One frequently measured construct that may relate to the assessment of writing pedagogies is that of “self-efficacy,” defined
as a person’s beliefs that they can produce certain results with regard to such
tasks as writing. To date, numerous studies examining writing self-efficacy
have suggested that students with higher levels of writing self-efficacy consistently write better than students with lower levels. Current research primarily focuses on writing self-efficacy in younger students, while college students
are largely ignored. This is unfortunate, as many college students continue to
struggle with writing and clearly stand to benefit from research in this area.
The aim of the current proposed study is to investigate the possible relationship between a variety of methods utilized in college writing courses and self
reported writing self-efficacy in students. In the fall, self-efficacy surveys will
be administered to 125 students in intro to writing courses at Westminster
College. Each student will take the survey twice, once at the beginning of
the semester, and again at the end, to allow for measurement of self-efficacy
changes over time. The instructors of these courses will fill out surveys to
identify their teaching methods, and students will fill out a similar survey at
the semester’s end regarding their perceptions of teaching methods employed
in their classes.
Brown, Nicolette - Knox College
Identification of Ultraviolet Sensitive Mutants in Dictyostelium
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) damages DNA, but cells have the ability to repair
themselves though several genetic pathways. Dictyostelium is a social amoeba that exists in both multi-cellular and unicellular forms as it ingests bacteria on forest floors. Several sources note Dictyostelium is unusually resilient
against UV and many have identified UV sensitive strains, but the specific
genes that facilitate this ability have not been identified.
We are comparing the UV tolerance of Dictyostelium to other model organisms, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, to evaluate
whether Dictyostelium is significantly more proficient in UV repair. Ultimately, we aim to identify genes in Dictyostelium that are required for the repair of its DNA after UV radiation occurs. We are developing a high throughput screening process to be able to distinguish the difference between the
average UV tolerance of wild-type Dictyostelium versus the more sensitive
mutant strains. Several experiments suggest that D. discoideum wild-type
strain Ax2 has reduced viability with ~20-30K µjoules, while more UV sensitive strains like HPS519 and γS13 have nearly no survival at that radiation
level. The restriction enzyme mediated integration (REMI) protocol is being
used to generate mutant clones that can be screened using the high throughput process. Because REMI inserts plasmid DNA at the site of integration, we
should be able to further identify and analyze the genes responsible for the
UV repairing pathways in Dictyostelium. We hope to learn if the repair pathways needed for UV repair are similar to genetic pathways in other organisms, or if Dictyostelium has unique mechanisms for DNA repair.
Burton, Rochanda - California State University, East Bay
Social Acceptance of African-American Female-to-Male (FTM) Transgenders
in the LGBTQ and Heterosexual Communities
In Oakland, California African-American female-to-male (FTM) transgender
individuals have limited resources and options for community inclusion. This
population is a relatively small portion of the larger LGBTQ community that
has not been studied. This research project seeks to understand how FTM’s
view themselves and how they are viewed by both the LGBTQ and heterosexual communities. I examined the lives of two African-American female-tomale transgenders from Oakland, California to provide an in-depth view of
how their transitions are accepted by family, lovers, friends, in the workplace
and in the LGBTQ and Heterosexual communities. Both participants reported feelings of exclusion and lack of support from the LGBTQ community. In
addition, this study engages the LGBTQ and heterosexual community using a
recently completed cross-sectional research design to analyze the levels of acceptance and comfort with African-American FTM transgenders compared to
African-American Studs (which are women that naturally assert themselves
in a masculine manner). 40 participants completed a short-form 21 question
survey. The survey provided insightful clarifications and perceptions on how
FTM transgenders are viewed by LGBTQ and heterosexual individuals. The
results from this pilot study indicates that they were no differences in how
both groups accepted FTM’s as a friend or family member, but more heterosexual individuals are less likely to date an FTM than LGBTQ individuals. In
this pilot study, the sample size is not representative of the entire population,
so I would like to expand on this research by surveying a larger sample size
to fully determine why this phenomenon of African-American FTM transgenders not feeling accepted and comfortable in the LGBTQ community exists
in order to create resources, awareness and respect for the African-American
FTM transgender.
Butcher, Amber - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Seismic Cycle Deformation and Net Coastal Uplift of the Nicoya Peninsula,
Costa Rica: San Juanillo
The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica lies ~60 km inboard of the Middle America
Trench where the Cocos Plate subducts under the Caribbean Plate at ~9 cm/
yr. This outer fore arc peninsula overlies the seismogenic zone along a mature seismic gap, with an estimated recurrence interval of ~50 yr for large
megathrust earthquakes. The last major event (M 7.7, 1950) resulted in
1.0-1.5 m of coseismic uplift along the peninsula’s central coast. Since then,
gradual coastal subsidence has been observed as the plate interface accumulates interseismic strain. While elastic seismic-cycle deformation produces
short-term shoreline fluctuations on the Nicoya Peninsula, net tectonic uplift
throughout the Quaternary results in long-term coastal emergence and the
formation of marine terraces.
At San Juanillo, north of Punta Guiones, emergent carbonate beachrock horizons mark former Holocene shorelines with calibrated radiocarbon ages of
0.9-1.8 ka. The position of these deposits on the upper beach face is consistent
with net uplift at ~0.5 m/k.y. Tidal erosion and the undermining of beachrock
and adjacent cliffs may reflect coastal inundation associated with the current
phase of elastic interseismic subsidence.
Inland of the beach, two uplifted marine terraces mark former late Quaternary shorelines with inner edge elevations of ~30 m and ~55 m above mean
sea level. The ages of these surfaces are estimated at 80 ka and 125 ka respectively, based on correlation with OSL dated terraces ~80 km to the south
and the timing of late Pleistocene sea level high stands (Oxygen Isotope
Stages 5a-5e). Long-term net uplift at San Juanillo therefore occurs at a rate
of 0.3-0.5 m/k.y. This is the highest uplift rate recorded among seven marine
terrace study sites along the Nicoya coast, with the exception of the peninsula’s southern tip (Cabo Blanco) where accelerated uplift occurs in response
to seamount subduction.
Since the 1950 Nicoya earthquake, Costa Rica’s population and tourism
industry have grown substantially. It is therefore critical to develop a better
understanding of the megathrust earthquake hazard through both geophysical studies of the seismogenic zone and geomorphic/geologic investigations of
fore arc deformation patterns.
Bwinika, Guilain - San Diego State University
Plenary Session D - Saturday, 11:30 - 12:20 pm, 155 Dwinelle
Breaking The Cycle: Children Of The Mugunga Refugee Camp
This research project will seek to explore and analyze the educational system
implemented at the Mugunga refugee camp and will also introduce the idea
of Education for Repatriation; a method of education that would help break
the cycle of illiteracy at Mugunga refugee camp. Currently, these camps are
a temporary solution for those who have been displaced due to the war in
Congo and Rwanda. The Mugunga camp is used as a transitional phase of recovery for families that have been displaced and forced out of their villages by
rebels, and for children who have lost their parents. However, many residents
of the Mugunga Refugee Camp are now considering this camp their permanent home instead of temporary housing. By placing emphasis on education
for repatriation and early intervention, these young refugee children can
receive the tools needed to obtain a living wage, and usable knowledge that
will assist them to grow and survive in the real world outside of the refugee
camp. The outcome of this case study will culminate into a documentary that
will provide audiences with insight, through the point of view of the children
of Mugunga Refugee Camp.
Byrd, Allister - Knox College
A Study of the Political Agenda in US Foreign Aid Assistance
Since the inception of the USAID program in the 1960’s as well as the emergence of other bilateral aid agencies, much of the rhetoric about US foreign
aid policy has been to spread equality amongst nations for human rights and
help those who are less fortunate abroad. The US government has consistently given aid to nations that the government deems worthy of assistance. But
what of the political motives present behind these policies? Is aid really just
an instrument of foreign diplomatic policy? My project looks to understand
the relationship between the United States government and the factors that
affect how the government decides to give foreign aid, focusing specifically on
bilateral aid. Drawing on case studies and statistical data of the way aid is
appropriated, my project will try to understand this reasoning by differentiating between moral and political implications of aid. My project will look at the
1990-2010 era of foreign humanitarian aid policy and see if there have been
major changes or patterns since earlier decades in the way national interests
have been represented in aid policy. This project will attempt to shed light
on how the government decides to spend less than one percent of our nation’s
gross domestic product (GDP).
Cárdenas, Sergio - University of California, Berkeley
Politics of Difference: Humanism and the Representation of the “Other”
in Lope and Shakespeare’s Theater
As a result of Edward Said’s book Orientalism, scholarship has focused on
the depiction of the “Other” in Western literature bringing into question
previous conceptions of the East. However, when addressing the
relationship between Theater and Nation Building during the Renaissance,
scholars have usually overlooked the relationship between Humanist
rhetoric of Self-Fashioning and the representation of the “Other” when
staging Imagined Communities. Because this study is comparative, through
the use of New Historicism as my theoretical framework, I analyze the way
in which Humanist rhetoric pervades both Lope de Vega and Shakespeare’s
representation of the Moor and the Turk as symbolic capital to explore
questions of Politics, Religion and Sovereignty in both England and Spain
at the end of the Sixteenth Century.
Carrillo, Luzilda -University of California, Berkeley
Plenary Session E - Sunday, 9:00 - 9:50 am, 155 Dwinelle
Scientific Validation? How Bioprospecting Laboratory Practices Contribute to
the Devaluation of Traditional Medicine
Historically, the search for pharmaceutical drugs within plants has posed
various threats to the indigenous communities from which knowledge is
extracted. As pharmaceutical drug discovery begins with the science experiment, one of the means of advocacy for traditional medicinal plants is to
provide validation and veracity to medicinal plants in the laboratory. In the
translation from traditional medicinal knowledge to modern medicinal knowledge, alternative health remedies are transformed into laboratory extracts
that are tested for biological activity. This research examines and analyzes
the medicinal plant scientific validation laboratory processes, its practices
and methodologies from May 2010 to July 2011 in the northern coast of Peru.
I also look at current scientific research papers, scientific methodology literature and consultations with experts in the bioprospecting field. I conclude
that Western laboratory practices pose limits that infringe upon the researchers intention to provide veracity and validity to medicinal plants. The
creation of a plant extract is supposed to be a representation of traditional
medicinal remedy. However, this representation is distorted because of the
attempt to eliminate variables and the focus on measuring activity and creating a repeatable experiment. Moreover, as the plant extract is being tested,
the biological assay presents itself as only a screener that is limited in its capacity to test the complexity of a biological organism. As a result of this failed
translation of knowledge the true potential of medicinal plants is lost and a
devaluation of traditional medicine ensues.
Carter, LaTiegra - University of Alabama
Repetitive Behaviors in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and
Typical Development: Understanding the Patterns
Repetitive behaviors are a hallmark feature of autism spectrum disorders
(ASD) but are also commonly seen in typically developing children(Leekam et
al., 2007).The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (RSB) demonstrated by young children with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typical development (TD) matched on
developmental age. In addition, the relationship between language skills and
RSB were also examined in both groups. Twenty parents of children with TD
and twenty parents of children with ASD completed the Repetitive Behavior
Scale-Revised (RBS-R) and Childhood Routines Inventory (CRI). The Autism
Diagnostic Interview-Revised, an additional measure given to the ASD group,
was compared to the RSB-R and CRI. A comparison of mean scores from
the RBS-R and CRI was completed using a One Way Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA) across groups. Bivariate correlations were computed to determine
a relationship between language abilities and RSB. Descriptive statistics
were also analyzed to describe means, range and variance of RSB within each
sub category of the RSB measures. Results from this study shed light on the
differences between RSB in early typical development and in children with
ASD, which contributes substantially to early identification of ASD. Further,
these findings support the use of independent measures of RSB in diagnostic
evaluations.
Castañon, Margarita - California State University, Northridge
Spirituality in the Chicana/o Community: Spiritual Minded Scholars and
Their Psychological Well-Being
My research explores the spirituality and well-being of Chicana/o college
students. The project will examine three dimensions of spirituality-heart,
mind, and soul-in order to understand how Chicana/o students find and
maintain balance in their lives, which are compounded by social issues involving the economic and political realms. Chicana/os are the largest growing
minority group in the United States, and an understanding of spirituality in
this growing Chicana/o community has substantial implications to further
theory, research, and practice (Campesino, 2006). The focus of the research is
to learn what factors create the foundation on which college students stand
when facing challenges such as tuition increases, economic instability, interpersonal relationships, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Such challenges
create stress levels that affect psychological well-being, however spirituality
can offer respite from everyday stressors. Carette and King (2005) interestingly write that spirituality and religion should never be isolated from the
social, political, and economic world. The social, political, and economic are an
intertwined world where spirituality can be the driving force for psychological
well-being, therefore it should indeed not be isolated. Coalescing spirituality with these worlds may aid students in coping with stressful issues. For
the purpose of this study, to assess spirituality, individual semi structured
interviews will be conducted and examined using Glaser and Strauss’s (1967)
grounded theory, a method used to analyze qualitative data using axial coding, from which concepts are created based on data. Participants will be randomly selected according to membership in Chicana/o student organizations
from California State University at Northridge. This research will reveal
whether spirituality is a contributing factor to Chicana/o college students’
psychological well-being, as well as provide viable factors to consider when
allocating resources to the Chicana/o working class community.
Castel, Safiya - Temple University
Understanding Shopping Behavior in Low-Income Supermarkets to Create
Sustainable Interventions
Research suggests low-income and minority populations are disproportionately plagued by obesity and diet-related illnesses. This study seeks to determine the motivations and barriers that influence low-income Philadelphia
shoppers’ food purchasing behavior for selected food categories. Six focus
groups will be conducted with shoppers in targeted low-income Philadelphia
supermarkets. The themes found in an analysis of the focus group data may
indicate which types of marketing strategies will be implemented in the four
test stores for an intervention that will be conducted in 8 matched low-income
Philadelphia supermarkets.
Castillo, Henry - University of California, Los Angeles
Perspectives of a New Curriculum Challenge in Higher Education:
International Students and Their Attitudes toward Service-Learning
Service-learning is a form of experiential education that combines academic
instruction with community service and reflection. Empirical research claims
that it enhances positive outcomes among students. However, the growing
population of international students enrolled at UCLA and their attitudes
toward service-learning may pose a challenge for the curriculum. The present
study explores student attitudes and how these affect the intended function
of service-learning with the ultimate objective of improving said curriculum
to benefit resident and international students equally. A sample of ten undergraduates will be gathered from the population of international students
enrolled in service-learning courses at UCLA during the fall and winter
quarters of 2011-2012. Data will include a student survey, two open-ended
interviews, and participant journal entries. Qualitative data analysis will use
the critical developmental lens theory to explain the extent to which student
resistance to service-learning relates to their sociocultural backgrounds,
readiness for service-learning, and conditions of privilege. Results have implications for work in curriculum development, design, and implementation of
service-learning activities in higher education.
Castro, Andy - University of California, Los Angeles
Empowering and Validating Voices: Salvadoran Educational Experiences in a
California Community College
Community college is the primary point of entry to post-secondary education for Latina/o, low-income, first generation college students. Existing
studies of Latina/os in higher education often focus on issues as they are
experienced by a homogeneous group. While providing valuable insight into
the experiences of community college students, they overlook important nuances between the experiences of different national-origin groups. Although
Salvadoran students have unique histories and experiences, they are often
muted within those of the larger Latina/o group. Salvadoran students have
the lowest rates of educational attainment among the Latina/o sub-groups.
By highlighting the students’ voices and experiences, this study will examine
the factors that collectively shape and affect the academic performance and
achievement of Salvadoran first generation community college students as
they pursue transfer to a 4 year institution. This study will consist of a mixed
methods approach. I will conduct in-depth, open-ended interviews with Salvadoran students participating in the “Adelante Program” at a Los Angeles
based community college. One of the primary aims of this program is to assist low-income, first generation, students of color in transferring to a 4 year
institution. The interviews will be transcribed and coded to find patterns in
the students’ educational experiences. Relevant patterns will be further analyzed to discover any existing interrelationship between transferabilty and
the Salvadoran educational experiences. Findings will not only validate the
everyday experiences of these students, but will also contribute to the lack of
research on Salvadoran educational experiences.
Castro, Francisco - Southern Nazarene University
Hispanic Voting Behavior
Statistics show that 48.4 million Hispanics are the largest minority group in
the U.S. and it also suggests that their political participation is increasing.
As a result, Latino voters can make a substantial impact on presidential elections in key states, as it happened in Colorado in 2004, also in Nevada and
New Mexico. Past voting behavior has been the key issue to understanding
what Hispanics look for when casting their vote. Education and immigration
have become the two most important factors to the Latino community. Many
of them are scared that their relatives and friends might be deported. One of
things in which Latinos watch for in a party, is who will support the immigration issue in the upcoming election? Many political candidates are emphasizing their support for the Hispanic community. Each year has found that
nearly 500,000 Hispanics become 18 years of age, which gives them the right
to register to vote. Television stations such as Univision, Telemundo, and TV
Azteca, have made a huge impact on how individual Hispanics view politics
in a very different way. This study will use an indirect quantitative approach
to analyze the studies of Hispanic voting behavior for the past decade, this
helps identify the patterns that may help predict how Hispanic voters will
influence the outcome of the 2012 election.
Clark, Yvonne; Smith, Robin; Thomas, Dexter - Westminster College
The Effect of Physiological Arousal on Adolescent Aggression
While adolescent violence is of great concern to society, it is difficult to manipulate and measure. Aggression is often measured and used to infer violent
tendencies; thus an understanding of the processes that may contribute to
aggression are a common topic of research and often center on activities such
as violent media, etc. The current research investigated the relationship between physiologically arousing activities and aggression in adolescents (ages
9-14) participating in an after school program in an urban area. Four times
weekly over a two-month period of time, participants participated in a short
activity designated as either a physiologically arousing activity, a directed relaxation activity, or a neutral activity. Three researchers, each of whom were
blind to the experimental condition, then observed the participants for one
hour subsequent to the activity and recorded incidents of aggression. Aggression was coded as one of three types: relational aggression, physical aggression, and bullying. In addition, observations were coded with regard to structured vs unstructured activities and the nature of activities occurring within
the one hour time frame. There were no significant differences in aggression
as a result of the experimental manipulation; nor were there significant differences in aggression during structured vs unstructured activities during the
observation period. However, analyses revealed that participants displayed
more aggressive behaviors when participating in a game called Fugitive at a
level nearly three fold that observed in other activities. This difference was
significant at trend level. These findings are discussed within the larger contexts of violent media and after school programing.
Clarke, Ben - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Commuting Stress and Home-Domain Quality of Life
Stress is a well-documented problem that has been shown to affect individuals as well as society as a whole. Consequences of stress on an individual
level include impaired mental and physical functioning such as sickness or
the inability to work effectively. These individual consequences can have an
overall greater effect on society when we interact and function together such
as problems at school or in the workplace. Commuting takes time, effort,
planning, and significantly taxes a person’s mental resources. A significant
amount of research has shown that commuting can be quite stressful. For
many people, especially those of us living in California, commuting is essential. This often means traveling significant distances on busy streets and
highways. Previous literature suggests that quality of life outside the comThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 83 Abstracts
mute may be related to aspects of commuting stress. It is plausible for factors
surrounding home life to have such an influence. It is believed that the home
itself as well as the perceived environment inside and outside the home can
either buffer or worsen the overall mood of an individual while commuting. A
paper questionnaire was administered to a sample of 60 undergraduate students studying psychology at the California Polytechnic University of Pomona
to collect data on variables of interest. Data from questionnaires were entered
into a spreadsheet and then examined with PASW to find statistical trends.
Correlational analyses confirmed several significant relationships between
the feeling of stress while commuting and factors such as price of housing,
distance from family, and safety of the neighborhood. The knowledge gained
from this study could help people make informed decisions about their home
lives so that they might have a lower amount of commuting stress.
Close, Shane - Montana State University
Accuracy Goals Moderate the Manifestation of Placebo Effects
Affective and sensation expectations for an event can bias individuals’ event
experience, leading to placebo (or expectation-congruent) effects. Recent
research reveals that individuals’ belief in this bias varies and influences the
manifestation of placebo effects. Specifically, individuals who believe in the
expectation bias correct against expectations, reducing or eliminating placebo effects. Yet, individuals who do not believe in this expectation bias do
not correct against the influence of their expectation, and thus tend to exhibit
placebo effects. Other research demonstrates that active goals can also influence whether placebo effects takes place. The current research tested the
hypothesis that individuals who hold a goal to be accurate in their judgments
will consider their experiences more genuinely, reducing or eliminating the
placebo effect among those who tend to experience it. In this experiment,
community participants were randomly assigned to read a message indicating that a simulated alcohol product induces either positive or negative feelings. Participants then consumed a supposed simulated alcohol beverage.
Next, participants were randomly provided an accuracy goal or not, and then
reported their affect. Analyses revealed that participants who were not given
an accuracy goal experienced placebo effects if they had low beliefs in expectation biases, whereas participants who had high beliefs in expectation biases
did not. Yet, as predicted, participants who were given an accuracy goal did
not experience a placebo effect regardless of their beliefs in expectation biases.
Copeland, Jade - California State University, Bakersfield
Does Stress Affect Self-Assessment of Academic Performance?
Many times, a student has been asked to assess their performance after taking a test. The students that are less competent, or not as knowledgeable on
the subject, have the tendency to overestimate their performances because of
their lack of ability to detect when they did not get an answer correct. On the
contrary, those who are more competent, or who are more knowledgeable on
the subject, have the tendency to underestimate their performances in comparison to others.
Corbin, Chryl - University of California, Berkeley
Plenary Session A - Thursday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm, 155 Dwinelle
A Critical Analysis of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
In his 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl depicts the
iconic Oompa-Loompas as African Pygmy people. Yet, in 1971 Mel Stuart’s
film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory the Oompa-Loompas are portrayed as little people with orange skin and green hair. In Dahl’s 1973 revision of this text he depicts the Oompa-Loompas as white. Finally, in the film
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Tim Burton portrays the OompaLoompas as little brown skin people. What is the impetus for changing the
depictions of the Oompa-Loompas? This research traces the trajectory of the
character changes throughout the written text and its visual manifestations
while questioning the power dynamics between Willy Wonka and the OompaLoompas characters. The study moves beyond a traditional film analysis by
comparing and cross analyzing the narratives from the films to the original
written texts and places them within their political and historical context.
Through combining film theory, narrative theory, media theory, and semiotics the cross comparison of the 1964, 1971, 1973, and 2005 texts illuminates
the intersection of race, labor, and immigration within the UK and the US.
Cruz, Iris M. - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Gender-Stereotyped Work: Dual-Full-Time Employed Couples’ Housework and
Childcare Arrangements
Separate spheres ideology and the cult of domesticity stereotype men as
breadwinners and women as caregivers. Popular culture, the media and sociological researchers describe women as being the gatekeepers of housework.
Data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) show that “married mothers employed full time [are] more likely to do household activities and provide
childcare on an average day than [are] married fathers employed full time,”
(2008). In terms of childcare, married mothers who work full time are “more
likely to provide childcare to household children than [are] married fathers”
who work full time (ATUS 2008).
My research explores how (and whether or not) housework and childcare responsibilities within dual-full-time employed heterosexual couples are completed in ways that conform to dominant/mainstream gender ideologies. My
research study tries to explore how and whether or not dual-earner couples,
who have similar bargaining power (because both members of the relationship hold full-time jobs), are influenced by gender stereotypes and ideologies.
In order to explore these patterns, I chose to look at 20 men and women who
were married or cohabited; had at least one child under the age of six, and
worked full-time jobs. Even after controlling for structural power, my findings demonstrate that while men might be doing more housework and childcare than past generations, they seem more able to refuse to do what they do
not want to do. Further research needs to address what factors underlie these
power differences.
Cryer, Jennifer E. - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Plenary Session E - Sunday, 9:00 - 9:50 am, 155 Dwinelle
Gone in Milliseconds: How the Flash-Crash Illustrated Modern Systemic Risk
On May 6, 2010 the U.S. underwent mass confusion as the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 998.50 points in merely twenty minutes. Still studying
the underpinnings of the 2007 financial crisis, economists had overlooked
the risk generated by the evolution of the market itself. Technological evolution enables financiers to change the modes in which they offer services. As
the quintessential floor broker approaches obsolescence, electronic technology emerges to make brokering instantaneous. Yet, the internal composition
of these electronic brokerage systems, also referred to as e-trading systems,
remains widely unknown. Regulatory and economic theories struggle to understand the suitability of e-trading systems as forums for trade, and their
systemic influence on the financial industry.
Hence, this research covers e-trading systems, noting how they may distress
traditional regulatory methods and market stability. The primary research
objectives were to: examine issues of perfect information, discuss market
ethics, and identify market structure problems that generate systemic risk.
The research also determined plausible causes of the May 2010 flash-crash,
and provided feasible policy solutions. In addressing these objectives, this
research analyzed economic models such as oligopolistic concentration, collusive/inter-competitive game theory behavior, and imperfect information as
indicators of market instability.
By interpreting secondary data, this research discovered that the market for
e-trading services bears the underlying traits of each model, reaffirming the
paper’s hypothesis that systemic risk is evident. Given theoretical evidence of
risk, philosophical theory was then used to describe a State’s right to intervene within its markets. Policy evaluation techniques revealed the optimal
intervening action may be to levy a tax on individual trades, to reduce the
marginal benefit of high frequency trade speculation. Through conclusive
statements on the inherent risks of these systems, this research clarifies a
practical application of policy and economic theory.
Daniels, Natalyn - University of California, Berkeley
The Biology of Skin Color Preference: The Effects of Color-Taste Associations
on Color Preferences
According to the Ecological Valence Theory (EVT), color preferences are
determined by people’s average affective response to experiences with correspondingly colored objects (Palmer and Schloss, 2010). The EVT implies
that preference for a given color can be changed by positive or negative experiences with objects of that color. In the present study, we investigated
whether tasting colored water that was sweet (positive) would increase
preference for its color and tasting colored water that was sour (negative)
would decrease preference for its color. Participants first rated their color
preferences for 37 colors on a color preference task. They then tasted eight
water samples of four different colors: two each that were red, green, yellow, and brown. For one group of participants, red and brown water samples
were soured and green and yellow water samples were sweetened. A second
group of participants received the opposite treatment: red and brown samples
were sweetened and green and yellow water samples were soured. Finally,
all participants repeated the initial color preference task. The drink samples
affected color preference ratings in the predicted direction, where preferences
for sour-associated colors decreased and those for sweet-associated colors
increased. These results support the EVT’s claim that color preferences are
determined by positive and negative experiences with salient colored objects.
This successful manipulation of color preference by controlling participants’
experience with select stimuli could have strong implications for the origin of
skin color preferences and our ability to change them with stimuli exposure.
DeGennaro, Drew - Augsburg College
Men Writing Feminine: Undressing the Crossdressed
In this research project I conduct an analysis of the role an author’s
voice plays in poetry by comparing men who write from the feminine
perspective to drag queens. I focus on how audiences interpret drag
production to better understand the aforementioned poetic
“performances.” My idea for this project stems from criticism I
received from female classmates who took offense when I assumed a
feminine voice in my own writing. With a limited amount of scholarship
available on the topic of men taking on the feminine voice, I ended up
drawing a number of conclusions using gender theory, various creative
anthologies on the topic, and feminist writing. I intend to advance this
project over the course of the next year by continuing my analysis and,
possibly, crafting surveys to gauge whether individuals can determine a
poet’s sex simply by reading his or her creative work.
Del Real, Jose Reyes - University of California, Los Angeles
G 1.5 Mexican American Male Community College Students in the Remedial
English Classroom
One of the main issues affecting the transferability of Latina/o community
college students, is their overrepresentation, in remedial English courses;
this limits their opportunity to participate in transferable English courses
and decreases the likelihood of students transferring to a four-year university (Suarez, 2003). An increasing number of this population is composed of
U.S educated language minority immigrant and first generation students,
also known as generation 1.5 students. Their academic skills are often seen
as weak and their educational trajectory is prolonged or cut short because
of remedial English courses. This study, intends to acknowledge and highlight, these students linguistic capital, the intellectual and social skills attained through communication experiences in more than one language and
or style (Yosso, 2005). By applying a mixed methods approach that includes:
institutional data, student surveys, focus groups, classroom observations,
and personal interviews, I will evaluate the experiences of 3 generation 1.5
Mexican American male community college students in the remedial English
classroom. Focus will be placed on examining the type of linguistic capital
they bring into the remedial English classroom, how they utilize it to resist
or negotiate the remedial condition, and how they apply it to navigate the
community college system and increase their transferability, into a four year
university. This study is significant because even though there continues to
be a consistent enrollment of Chicana/o and Latina/o students in the community college, with more that sixty percent, less than one percent transfer into
a four year institution (Yosso & Solorzano, 2006). This can be detrimental
for the Mexican American community, in terms of their social well being and
social mobility in California.
Del Rosario, Benjamin C. - University of Nevada, Reno
Design and Characterization of a Micro-Robotic Nanopositioning Platform
This research proposes the design of a three degree-of-freedom flexure-based
nanopositioning platform driven by compact piezo-stack actuators. The platform is designed for micro/nano robotic applications that include semiconductor manufacturing and desktop nano-factory assembly systems. The platform
is capable of two degrees of lateral translation, x and y, and rotation in the
same plane. Movement of the robotic platform is achieved by stick-slip motion. Finite element modeling is used to optimize the design of the mechanical
platform, and a nonlinear dynamics model (Maxwell Slip Model) is proposed
for predicting the platform’s movements as well as for control system design.
Strain-based sensing is employed to measure the motion of the stage, and a
feedback-based controller is used to ensure high-performance operation in the
presence of hysteresis nonlinearity and external disturbances. The platform
is characterized to determine travel range, bandwidth, and limitations. Simulation and experimental results are presented to illustrate the performance of
the nano-robotic positioning platform.
Delgado, Abel - University of Southern California
The Jewess and Mooress in the Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X
Amidst the turmoil in Spain and his struggle to be crowned the Holy Roman
Emperor, Alfonso X, the learned of Castile, embarked on a literary and
artistic project “for the honor and praise of the Holy Virgin Mary”. He compiled, wrote, and edited the Cantigas de Santa Maria—a thirteenth-century
collection of more than four hundred songs that recount miracles performed
by the Virgin Mary. Albert Bagby states “the Cantigas are the most realistic,
accurate, and complete picture of the life and customs of the thirteenth century”. Spain was unique in the Middle Ages. Its civilization was the product
of three distinct religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The Cantigas
illustrate the tumultuous relationships between these three groups, but they
also show the way that Alfonso X, a Christian himself, felt towards the “others”. Medieval scholars have studied the anti-Semitism and Islamophophia
that exist within the Cantigas, but few have looked at the ways in which both
female Muslim and Jews are portrayed. This paper examines the way that
Muslim and Jewish women are portrayed compared to their male counterparts. By analyzing both the literary works as well as the miniatures that
accompany each miracle, I claim that the portrayal of the Jewess and Mooress is positive because Alfonso X had a double standard and did not see these
women as a threat to his society. In fact, Jewish and Muslim women could
serve as a vehicle to help others convert to Christianity via reproduction of
future generations of Christians. Finally, this positive portrayal of women
might serve other purposes as well. Since the Cantigas would have had a
large audience, possibly even a Jewish and Muslim one, these songs might
have been used to convince others that female conversion to Christianity was
necessary because “foolish” souls need to be saved, as well as to offend the
Jew and Muslim patriarch since the conversion of their wives and children
displays an ideological conquest over the women after the men are defeated.
Della Iacono, Christina - Westminster College
Developing an Assay for Polymorphisms in the 5-HTT, DAT1, and BDNF
Genes to Determine their Effects on Attention and Emotional Regulation
Genes have some effect on how people moderate their emotions and focus
their attention. Emotional regulation and executive attention appear to
influence one another, as concurrent neural activity has been observed between brain areas involved with attention and those involved with emotion.
Previous research has found a relationship between polymorphisms in the
dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting that the gene plays a role in executive attention.
Additionally, polymorphisms in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
gene and in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene have been linked to emotional regulation and depression. As combined effects have not been studied
previously, our current study seeks to determine if polymorphisms from
these three genes interact to influence emotional regulation and attention in
humans. We are developing methods to identify participant genotypes via a
combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-resolution DNA
melt-curve analysis. Once we have determined genotypes, participants will
be sorted into groups based on different polymorphism combinations. Participants will then be given surveys and cognitive tasks that test for emotional
reactivity and attention so we can determine if the genes have interactive
effects.
Diaz, Maritza - California State University, Dominguez Hills
Educational Reform and the Los Angeles Unified School District:
1960’s and Now
This project will examine Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s appropriation of
educational civil rights discourse in order to justify the chartering of the
public school system. The United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), a unionorganization that has lost political clout, are challenged directly by Villaraigosa’s agenda for school reform. During the 1960’s educational reform of
Chicano/Hispanic populated schools in Los Angeles, school board members
were proposing solutions for low performance schools. This analysis will
compare and contrast articles from the 1960’s Eastside Sun with current Los
Angeles Times articles written by Journalists like Harold Blume and Maeve
Reston. Rhetoric will be examined. Articles in the Eastside Sun, informs
readers today about spending issues for reading programs, teacher aides,
school transportation, and needed supplies being cut by state legislation in
the past. Gains were made while some of these issues were resolved in 1969.
Workshops for teaching children from disadvantaged areas, and head start
programs were being implemented; however, low scores and money are still
an issue today for public schools in Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa’s motives
are not beneficial to LAUSD schools that hold a greater percentage of ethnic
students who are left with crowded classrooms and ineffective teachers in
return. While the increase of Charter Schools negatively affects the strength
of the teachers union they are not always effective, are very selective, and always have waiting lists. Altogether, the pros and cons of Mayor Villaraigosa
wanting to change the status quo on the education system in Los Angeles,
and create reforms - open up new Charter schools, revitalize the failing public
schools, and new measures for teacher evaluation and layoffs – will be examined.
Dickson, Marques - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Carnivalized Acts in The American Fraternal Space
A common assumption of Greek letter organizations is the United States is
that they are homophobic male institutions. Of course, this is not untrue.
Other scholars wrote, not only about the homophobic nature of fraternities,
but also about their sexism and internalized misogyny. However, what many
people may not know is the inner-workings of fraternities across American
college campuses. There are issues surrounding homosocial bonding between
these men that transgresses normal understanding of such social institutions. These transgressive acts have larger implications on our understanding of the ways in which men bond. I explore the extent to which the carnival
serves as a pressure release allowing for men to live out their deep-seated
desires under the guise of a hypermasculine gender performance, or a dress
rehearsal for potentially disruptive alternative male performance of masculinity in the public arena. This study utilizes first-hand accounts, surveys,
and personal interviews, to illuminate some of the inner-workings of the
American fraternity house that we might call queer. It also examines fraternal norms surrounding alcohol, hazing, and partying and highlights how
they are tied up in hegemonic conceptions of masculinity. The results reveal
that it is necessary for fraternities to redefine brotherhood and masculinity
and what it means to be a man in a fraternity, in order to counteract bigotry,
especially since many of the men in fraternities, statistically speaking, are
tomorrow’s leaders.
Dittmer, Mollie J. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Factors Associated with Participation and Retention in a Group Treatment for
Child Sexual Abuse
This study examined factors associated with participation and retention in
a child sexual abuse (CSA) outpatient program. Participation and retention
are intuitively vital if children are to receive the intended benefits of treatment designed to promote healthy coping following CSA; however, little is
known about factors that impede or encourage families to consistently attend
sessions. Several possibly related factors were examined, including: demographic variables such as income level and education, characteristics of the
abuse, and pre-treatment parent and family functioning. Participants in the
sample included 175 children and adolescents and their nonoffending primaThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 92 Abstracts
ry caregivers seeking cognitive-behavioral group treatment at an outpatient
clinic following disclosure of CSA by the participating child. Pretreatment
assessment data and records of treatment attendance, gathered as part of a
larger research endeavor evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment protocol, were utilized. Results indicated that demographic variables reflective of
reduced structural barriers to treatment seeking (e.g., higher income) have a
positive effect on participation and retention. Results did not indicate a relationship between abuse characteristics and participation and retention. Finally, mixed results regarding parent and family functioning emerged. While
significant relationships were not found across all measures, several analyses
indicated a positive relationship between parental and family functioning and
participation and retention. Implications of the results for clinicians seeking
to engage families in treatment following CSA and directions for future research are discussed.
Dobbins, Ashley - University of Alabama
Does Socioeconomic Status, Living Arrangement, and Marital Status Predict
African American and Caucasian Pregnant Women’s Depressed Mood?
The prevalence of antepartum depression among American women is estimated at 11-50% depending upon the screening measures, sociodemographic
factors, and threshold scores employed (Jesse & Swanson, 2007). Prior research suggests that African American women who reside in the South may
exhibit an increased likelihood of antepartum depression (Luke et al., 2009)
whereas social support that can be drawn from being married or cohabitating
with someone has been found to have positive effects on reducing depressive
symptoms. (Abdou et al., 2010; Chapman, Hobfoll, & Ritter, 1997; Kierman
& Pickett, 2006; Varner & Mandara, 2009). The current study explores the
relationship between living arrangement/marital status, SES, and antepartum depressive symptoms for African American versus Caucasian pregnant
women. The women were recruited from a university obstetrics clinic and
were asked to complete a background questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results are discussed relative
to three hypotheses: 1) African American pregnant women will have greater
depressed scores than Caucasian pregnant women, 2) pregnant women who
live alone will have higher depressive symptoms than pregnant women who
are cohabitating with someone, and 3) unmarried pregnant women will have
greater depressed scores than married pregnant women.
Dowell, Theresa - California State University, East Bay
Driscoll, David - Montana State University
Synthesis, Processing, and Performance of Proton-Conducting Membranes for
Regenerative Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems
While oxygen ion conducting membranes have been heavily researched for
solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) energy conversion systems, recent developments
in proton conducting membranes have shown strong promise for regenerative (closed loop electrolysis & power) operation. Proton-conducting SOFCs
operate much on the same basis as traditional SOFCs, but conduct protons to
the air electrode instead of oxygen ions to the fuel electrode. This mechanism
inherently mitigates issues of fuel dilution from water formation, coking as
a result of using hydrocarbon fuels, and could allow higher performance and
durability. Regenerative cells are of interest to NASA for use in closed loop
power systems for Mars/Lunar habitats, crew exploration vehicles, and long
duration high altitude climate observation where the use and regeneration of
pure hydrogen gas also mitigates proton conducting membrane decomposition
related to CO/CO2 in hydrocarbon fuel streams.
This study examines the use of yttrium-doped barium cerate (BCY) in
the fabrication and testing of reversible proton-conducting SOFCs. BCY
[Ba(Ce0.8Y0.2)O3] was synthesized from oxide and carbonate precursors by
solid state reaction. The crystallographic structure of the synthesized powder
was characterized by XRD to identify the formation of the perovskite phase
as a function of calcination time and temperature. The use of LiF and NiO
was examined by dilatometry and electron microscopy to evaluate the densification and microstructure of the doping strategies. Fabrication of bulk anode, active anode, and electrolyte tri-layers were fabricated by a uniaxial dry
pressing method for evaluating degradation and reversible performance.
Duenas, Vincent - University of Arizona
Language Shift on a Pacific Island
The Chamorro language, the indigenous language of Guam and the Northern
Mariana Islands, saw a decline in use over the latter half of the 20th century.
Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the English language was
introduced through language policies implemented into Guam’s education
curriculum with no lasting effect. The middle of the century brought World
War II in which Guam was occupied by Japanese Imperial forces, thus introducing the Japanese language. With the US military’s recapturing of Guam
toward the end of World War II, the English language was reintroduced. Subsequent economic development efforts were undertaken to rebuild the island’s
ravaged infrastructure, requiring the usage of the English. Throughout the
20th century, Guam experienced a shifting of language attitudes, resulting
in the current precarious state of the indigenous language. The Chamorro
language’s decline is an extremely complicated matter involving various factors. It not only requires a much more thorough investigation than this study
can accomplish, but this language decline has also been covered extensively
elsewhere. This work will instead seek to analyze the current status of the
language, and include a descriptive account of past and current language revitalization programs as well as maintenance projects undertaken to prevent
further language decline.
Duschatzky, Ivan - Columbia University
Exploring Links Between River Health & Riparian Communities
Many studies have been carried out describing the physical and economic
impacts of the construction and implementation of large water dams, but the
socioeconomic implications on riparian communities are often overlooked. An
estimated 500 million people have been hitherto adversely affected by water
infrastructure developments. While the nature of their environmental dependency appears diverse and variable, it appears that fisheries, flood-recession
agriculture, and floodplain grazing remain important in the lives of these
people. It is also apparent that these kinds of water development projects
may disrupt the, albeit tenuous, food security of these populations. I will be
exploring a number of the connections between river health and the livelihood and well-being of river-dependent people, many of whom would be classified as lacking access to basic human needs, or “poor.” I will be testing the
hypothesis that a substantial proportion of the rural impoverished in SubSaharan Africa, South America, and Asia are significantly dependent upon
rivers for their food security, water access, livelihoods, and general welfare.
I will also explore how the livelihoods that have been compromised by said
infrastructure would benefit from the controlled reinstating of the aforementioned ecological water flows.
Elmore, Cheyann - California State University, East Bay
Poster - Saturday, 12:30 - 1:50 pm & 3:20 - 3:50 pm
Don’t See None, Won’t Be None: A Correlation Between Diversity in a Newsroom and its Success Rate of Appealing to a Broader Audience
Historically promotion of diversity amongst staff has not been a priority for
television station broadcast executives. As a result, most news reporters and
anchors were white males. People of color were rarely seen on primetime
broadcasts and scarcely held positions at the executive level. In the early
1970’s, a significant number of people of color began to appear both in front of
and behind the camera. This study involves an examination of one particular
news station and the effect that the diversity of its staff has had on its viewing audience. Today, well-known San Francisco Bay Area institution KTVU
Channel 2 News serves as one of the most diverse news stations in the Bay
Area. This study examines how the presence of the multiethnic staff in the
KTVU newsroom has grown since 1970 until now. Literature has typically
focused on the lack of diverse representation amongst reporters, anchors and
directors. There is limited information in regards to the effect that the diversity of a news station’s staff has on its program audience. This study will involve a discussion about KTVU’s diligence in hiring and promoting minorities
into management roles. In addition, the hypothesis that the increase in diversity of this newsroom’s staff can be correlated with an increase in the diversity of the viewing audience will be tested by looking at the diversity of the
viewing audience both pre and post staff diversification. A variety of methods
will be employed including statistical data, a review of literature and interviews with KTVU reporters, anchors and directors as well as members of The
Radio-Television News Directors Association. Key themes emerging from
this study will include the idea that by having a news staff that is ethnically
reflective of the community it serves, a broader audience can be successfully
reached.
Englert, Jon - University of Arizona
Comparative Analysis of Spontaneous Excitatory and Inhibitory Postsynaptic
Currents in Bipolar Cells of the Mouse Retina
The retina functions in sensing and converting light stimuli into electrical
signals for relay to higher visual centers of the brain. In the retina, bipolar
cells function in the transmission of signals between the rod and cone photoreceptors, which sense the light signal, and ganglion cells, which function in
the relay of signals out of the eye. The three main bipolar cell classes identified are rod bipolar cells, which receive input from rod photoreceptors, and
ON and OFF cone bipolar cells, which are connected to cone photoreceptors.
Rod and ON cone bipolar cells are excited by light onset, while OFF cone
bipolar cells are inhibited. Bipolar cells modify photoreceptor inputs with
interneuronal inhibition between neighboring bipolar cells via amacrine cells.
To analyze the properties of these synaptic inputs to the different bipolar cell
classes, spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) from photoreceptors and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) from amacrine cells were recorded using the patch clamping technique in the absence
of changes in light illumination. Thus, in the amplitude and decay rate of the
spontaneous event, we present how waveforms, as well as the frequency of
events, change between bipolar cell classes in standard lighting conditions.
Further the amount of charge transfer, mediated by ion flow into or out of a
cell during the inhibitory and excitatory spontaneous events, was determined
to investigate the control of bipolar cell output onto retinal ganglion cells
when the light illumination level is unaltered. The study provided a basic
understanding of how electrical signals are organized in the bipolar cell layer
in order to shape retinal output.
Esparza, Darren - California State University, Northridge
They Say Money is the Root of All Evil, But I Can’t Tell...Or is it the Mindstate That’s Ill?: A Rhetorical Analysis of Capitalism’s Influence on American
Culture Conveyed by Champs and its Ideological Effects on College Latinos/
Chicanos
My research project will investigate television commercials and their capitalistic influence on Latino/Chicano CSUN students within the ages of 18-24.
Television commercials are ubiquitous in our society, as the average American home has 2.73 televisions (Rosemond, 2006). Through this media platform, pervasive messages sell ideas and products through advertisements at
an exponential rate. I am specifically interested in the ideals of capitalism
being sold in Champs’ commercial, “Element of Game: School.” I am interested in this commercial because it blatantly claims that one’s identity is
invisible without particular clothing and accessories. Although capitalistic
ideals are endlessly perpetuated in our society, many Latinos/Chicanos are
systematically restricted to embody the capitalistic ideal of consumerism.
I will investigate how Champs’ commercial draws on capitalistic ideals using American culture and rhetorically delivers their value for capitalism to
a mass audience. I will compare Champs’ capitalistic messages to the realiThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 97 Abstracts
ties of the 18-24 year old Latino/Chicano CSUN students. My hypothesis will
argue the CSUN Latino/Chicano students do unconsciously practice capitalistic ideals based on Champs’ commercial’s rhetorical construction of reality.
I will further argue that this constructed reality is unhealthy for the Latino/
Chicano CSUN students and American society because it ultimately deceives
one to achieve life goals through commodities. I will utilize post-modern rhetorical theories to analyze Champs’ commercial. Some post-modern rhetorical
theories appoint that all realities are socially constructed which is efficient
for analyzing capitalism’s socially constructed values that are circulated in
Champs’ commercial.
Espinoza, Joel - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Gauging Public Perception of Redevelopment Patterns in Historic Gay
Districts
Cities across the United States are pursuing expansion strategies that result
in homogeneity rather than preserving what distinguishes them from other
cities. These strategies offer amenities that continue to attract new residents
and clientele while often pushing out current ones. Historic gay districts are
no exception and engage in competitive city planning to attract capital and
recreate themselves as places of culture and consumption. Unlikely population groups such as non-gay residents of neighboring communities are increasingly frequenting the residential and commercial zones in Long Beach
and West Hollywood. This project seeks to gauge the perception of primary
users- gay men, with evolving urban development patterns. I use a Likerttype survey to collect a convenience sample in the cities of Long Beach and
West Hollywood. The survey results aim to measure whether or not gay men
find Long Beach and West Hollywood affordable and to measure their acceptance of the notable changes of the built environment. I identify trends based
on socio-economic factors and preferences toward higher-end amenities. With
these results, I make recommendations to the cities of Long Beach and West
Hollywood on ways to implement city policies, which promote traditionality.
Ferdin, Valerie - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
The Effects of Color, Texture, Distance, and Angle on Light Exposure
This research project, building on current research on the use of infrared
proximity sensing (IPA) to develop a computer 3D interface model, focuses on
light exposure of certain objects based on color, texture, distance, and angle.
The goal of this research is to measure the effect of color and texture, in order
to be aware of the depth of the reflection of light on a 3D sensor. The research
was designed to use an infrared light source and a web camera to determine
the possible effects light may have on certain objects. Similar research projects performed based on photon entanglement and Einstein’s quantum theory
of light provide a framework for this research. Also, Phong’s illumination
model and the photometry theory state that an infrared sensor is known to
have reflected light intensity. With this speculation in mind and a good understanding of Phong’s model, a correlation of data provides sufficient results
based on the graphical figures obtained. Phong’s model is the main basis for
the research results because this particular model works with infrared sensors to measure the intensity of reflection light.
Fernandez, Melquiades - Columbia University
Poverty and Its Discontents:
How the United States Moved Away from a Welfare State
Consequence of a colonial relationship, the American colonies shared an Anglo culture with their mother country, which resulted in a shared language,
the outlines of a shared Judeo-Christian heritage, and an intimate economic
relationship. While American and British development was symmetric in
many areas, it differed greatly in the development of a social welfare system.
England as it moved towards the 19th century was, according to historian
Gertrude Himmelfarb, “the exemplar of social welfare.” In contrast, in the
United States state initiatives to address the issues of poverty would not
develop until the latter part of the 19th century. Consequently, early 19th
century American aid was by in large relegated to the private sphere. The
lack of state initiative in aiding the poor is the subject of my research as I
try to explore the circumstances that led to a divergence in practice between
England and America. Through a historical analysis I will seek to understand
what unique American phenomenon detracted from a structural approach to
solving poverty.
Figueroa, Wendy - University of California, Los Angeles
Tonatiuh in Aztec Art and Ritual
Aztec art and what we know of the nonliterate Aztecs’ cosmology reveal that
this culture had a polytheistic belief system prior to the Spanish conquest
of central Mexico in 1521. I intend to investigate one of the most important
deities in Aztec culture, Tonatiuh, the sun god, and his role in Aztec art and
ritual. According to surviving preconquest and colonial painted manuscripts
called codices, Tonatiuh appears to have had played multiple roles in Aztec
ritual. For instance, in some images, he appears to be a determiner of a person’s fate, while in other images the act of auto-sacrifice, in which a person
shed a bit of his or her own blood, was practiced in his honor. The iconography associated with Tonatiuh differs depending on the context in which he
appears. In other words, there are distinct artistic attributes of Tonatiuh that
vary depending on the context. In order to examine Tonatiuh’s role in Aztec
art and ritual, I will utilize qualitative research methods such as literary
analysis of early colonial and secondary written documents and iconographic
analysis of the codices and relevant Aztec solar monuments. The goal of this
research project is to reach a better understanding of Tonatiuh’s importance
within the Aztec social, cultural and political realm.
Flores Jr., Rolando - University of Central Florida
Presidential Papers: Understanding the True Significance of Homeownership
Domestic policy aims to continuously grow the economy and expansion of
homeownership is a key variable in this endeavor. Throughout the decades,
presidents have differed in their outlook to this issue of housing. Their framing of issues plays an influential role in policy debates. The focus of this piece
is to compare presidential remarks on homeownership under different political and economic climates. The hypothesis is that, controlling for historic context, presidential language around homeownership has subtle discriminatory
undertones. W.E.B. Du Bois referred to this conscious and subconscious point
of view as “Color Blind Racism.” We analyzed over a thousand Presidential
speeches from the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies. We expect
that the analyzed speeches will reveal a positive correlation between the
mention of homeownership and biased language.
Foster, Barbara - University of Akron
Correlates of Parenting Stress in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence:
Protective and Risk Factors
Interpersonal violence (IPV) affects 25-31% of the United States female population (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000; Collins, Schoen, Joseph, Duchon, Simantov,
& Yellowitz, 1999) and has been associated with physical, psychological, and
social impairments. Research suggests that 3.3 million children occupy homes
where women are being abused (Carlson, 1984). Further, research finds that
mothers that experience physical and psychological abuse had lower levels of
parental warmth and higher levels of parenting stress compared to women
with no reports of IPV (Renner, 2009). Parenting stress is the quantity of suffering a parent experiences from having a parental role in a child’s life. Increased levels of parenting stress are associated with the mothers’ increased
abuse potential and deceased positive parenting behaviors (Margolin & Gordis, 2003; Kaslow, Owen, & Thompson, 2006). Knowing the protective and
risk factor for parenting stress enables the creation of effective interventions.
The purpose of this research is to investigate risk and protective factors in developing parenting stress in female IPV victims. Participants were recruited
from two battered women shelters in Northeast Ohio. A subsample of 104 female participants was used from a larger sample of IPV victims. The protective and risk factors reviewed included psychological symptoms, safety, and
personal/social resources. Consistent with expectations, women with more
general distress reported greater parental distress. Additionally, women with
greater empowerment reported significantly less difficulty managing their
children, fewer dysfunctional interactions with their children, and less total
parental stress. Contrary to expectations, women with more PTSD emotional
numbing and more severe depression symptoms reported having lower levels
of parenting distress and total stress. One possible explanation for this finding is that their restricted range of emotions may be interfering with women’s
ability to experience distress, including parental distress. Results suggest
that general distress is harmful to parenting stress whereas female empowerment is beneficial.
Fox, Grace - Sul Ross State University
Analysis of Public Discourse about Freedom of Speech
While widely recognized as an important human right in the American culture, exactly what freedom of speech means and how it should or should not
be limited is often contested. Historically, freedom of speech has been challenged numerous times, however the opportunity for open discussion about
free speech allows negotiating a balance between the right for free speech
and other conflicting rights such as the right to privacy. This paper examThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 101 Abstracts
ines public discourse about freedom of speech by analyzing comments posted
to news websites in response to the Supreme Court decision in Snyder v.
Phelps, et. al. A total of 269 comments were collected from three major news
sources, NBC, CNN, and Military Times, and coded 1) as an absolute right,
2) as a right that carries with it responsibilities, and, 3) a limited right. Each
category was further analyzed to reveal themes supporting the category. The
purpose of this research was to expand our understanding of how complex
social concepts, like freedom of speech, are articulated and developed within a
society. This study demonstrates the complexity of freedom of speech and the
necessity for freedom of speech. It is only through open discussion that is possible to encounter the variety of viewpoints and interpretations held by the
people and negotiate a balance among basic rights.
Fox, Kyle - University of Alabama
Constituting an African American Rhetorical Genre: A Comparative Analysis
of Jordan, Jackson, and Obama Democratic National Convention Speeches
Despite the vast research by rhetorical scholars on political communication,
scant attention has been paid to contemporary African American political speech. Many would assume that political speech involves words alone.
However, rhetorical scholars now consider varying factors when analyzing
discourse: audience, context, the rhetor her/himself. The factors of the discourse are then positioned within a matrix called the rhetorical situation. The
present study seeks to discover whether a genre exists among the keynote
addresses delivered by African American politicians at Democratic National
Conventions (DNC) over nearly 40 years. The significance of this study is
punctuated by the idea that African American orators employ particular
rhetorical approaches to capture their audiences complementary to their
dominant public counterparts – when delivering speeches of importance. The
study includes a methodology of rhetorical criticism, specifically, genre criticism and Afrocentrism. While exploring the keynote addresses given by Rep.
Barbara Jordan, Jesse Jackson, and then-Senator Barack Obama, I tracked
common contexts, substantive elements, and stylistic characteristics across
each artifact. Afrocentrism was employed to find components like unity, family, experientialism, rhythm, delivery, and tone. The findings of the study are
discussed in terms of whether an African American genre exists within political rhetoric, specifically within DNC keynote addresses.
Francisco, Nicole - Westminster College
Strictly Speaking: Redefining Scrutiny Through Same Sex Marriage
The matter of equal rights and the benefits and privileges extended through
legal marriage is arguably a civil rights issue. Employing critical and rhetorical analysis, I focus on three court cases involving same sex marriage:
Baehr v. Lewin, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, and Perry v.
Schwarzenegger. I identify and examine the rhetorical devices used in relation to levels of scrutiny in constitutional analysis. Scrutiny varies between
rational basis test, intermediate scrutiny, and heightened scrutiny; each is
a standard used to test the constitutionality of statutes and governmental
action. In Baehr v. Lewin, the court analyses the prohibition of same sex marriage using strict scrutiny on the basis of claiming equal protection violation
based on sex classification. The opinion of Goodridge v. Department of Public
Health makes numerous references to indicators that would justify the use of
strict scrutiny – encroachment of a fundamental right, gender discrimination,
and gays and lesbians as a suspect class – however, the use of the rational
basis test is said to be the appropriate level of scrutiny and is used to a strikingly stricter degree than is customary. Perry v. Schwarzenegger also makes
mention of the notion of classifying gays and lesbians as a suspect class and
subjecting related laws to strict scrutiny, but ultimately only employs the
rational basis test to its constitutional analysis. An arising theme is affixing same sex marriage protection on to gender based discrimination protection. Another theme is the court alluding to higher protection or scrutiny, yet
employing the rational basis test. The courts seem wanting, but unwilling, to
declare sexual orientation as a suspect classification for purposes of constitutional protection.
Fry, Camerann - Southern Nazarene University
A Cross Examination of Coping, Social Support, and Trauma
The purpose of this study was to determine how well students cope with traumatic stress in school. This will be correlated to their family and friend support system and their most traumatic event in the previous year. Participants
(aged 18-22) were given a series of assessments to distract them from the
traumatic variable, which was incorporated into the testing session. Participants were randomly assigned and tested with a fake aptitude test and given
a positive, middle (control), or negative result as compared to a national average of scores. Participants were then assessed on their coping skills regarding
their last trauma to the one they just went through. Results did not show significance between coping and trauma but did show significance within social
support.
Fung, Ken - University of California, Davis
Optimizing Energy Density of a Torpedo Launch through Computational
Fluid Dynamics
In mechanical design, an engineer’s goal is to increase vehicle efficiency,
reducing the ratio of input and output cost. Increasing efficiency, especially
regarding military weapon launching, leads to more effective resource allocation. Efficiency means energy density—a amount of useful energy per
unit volume. Throughout the past years, researchers have improved energy
density for various vehicles. However, not many experiments have been
conducted regarding the energy density of a torpedo during launching. The
launching simulation is modeled by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)
program OpenFOAM, open-sourced CFD software. It is used to perform flowfield numerical simulation of underwater torpedo launching based on the
Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes equations. Finite element method is used
to analyze the relationship between the launch tube and the torpedo. Movingmesh method is used to solve the motion of the torpedo relative to the tube.
Boundary element method is used to solve linear partial differential equations using given boundary conditions to fit boundary values into the integral
equation. Applying the above methods and the appropriate solvers into OpenFOAM yields the simulation result. It is expected that the energy density can
be optimized by varying the geometry of the torpedo head and the amount of
power supply in the launching process when the torpedo reaches the terminal
velocity in the launch tube before propelling.
Galán, Chardeé Ashley - University of California, Berkeley
Examining the Interaction Between Race and Disability Status on
Individuals’ Perceptions
Although several studies have examined societal attitudes toward disabled
individuals, which have historically been targets of prejudice, this group
of individuals is far from homogenous and there are important differences
between members (e.g. racial, socio-economic, and gender status) which
have often been overlooked. As such, the present study contributes to this
discourse by examining attitudes towards disabled individuals of different
races, thereby acknowledging that the experiences of those who are subjected
to several forms of oppression (both disability status and racial status) are
shaped by interacting, rather than isolated, racist and disablist structures.
Participants were administered a social vignette, which described a target.
All vignettes were exactly the same except for the descriptions of the target,
which varied according to the race and physical disability status of the target. After reading the vignette, participants then completed questionnaires
that measured perspective-taking, social distancing, and prosocial behavior
towards the target. It was hypothesized that the combination of two or more
stigmatized identities exacerbates the experience of oppression so that it is
more than disablism and/or racism put together. In this way, this study will
create a more complex and sophisticated framework which recognizes often
variable interactions between different forms of social oppression.
Galka, Michael - University of Arizona
Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Refrigerant Choices in Window Air
Conditioner Units
Refrigerant selection for cooling processes is a topic of controversy in the U.S.
and around the world. Air conditioning systems originally used toxic refrigerants (ammonia), flammable substances (propane), and CFCs, which were
banned by the Montreal Protocol. HFC refrigerants are currently undergoing
regulatory procedures that may lead to their ban. Although HFCs have nearly zero ozone-depletion potential, they contribute to global warming.
HFC emissions have increased since 1990, mostly due to increases in air conditioner usage in the U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions can be induced directly
and indirectly while operating an air conditioner, with direct emissions resulting from the 3% leakage rate of residential air conditioners and emissions
incurred during the release of refrigerant at the end of the equipment’s life.
Indirect emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity
for the AC unit.
Prior studies have offered suggestions on the next industrial air conditioning
refrigerant choices; however, all have been examined within different scopes
which inhibit comparison. This study seeks to place all recommendations in
the same boundaries to determine which refrigerant is the best. The decision
will be based on a gate-to-grave thermodynamic analysis of multiple refrigerants used in the vapor compression refrigeration cycle of a residential air
conditioner. Refrigerants included in this analysis are natural refrigerants,
mixtures of current refrigerants, and possible future refrigerants known as
HFEs.
Gallegos, Jenna - University of Colorado, Boulder
The Role of the Ou Element in SL1 Trans-Splicing
The nematode C. elegans, a model organism for studies of molecular biology,
is known to exhibit trans-splicing, a unique form of pre-mRNA processing
seen in lower metazoans and mammalian cancers associated with translocations (Lasda et. al. 2010). In C. elegans, there are two types of trans-splice
leaders that are added to the 5’ end of trans-spliced pre-mRNA: SL2, which
acts on genes within an operon and, it’s evolutionary predecessor, SL1. There
are two conserved sequences that appear in the intercistronic region of SL2accepting pre-mRNA and the outron of SL1-accepting pre-mRNA known as
the “Ur” and “Ou elements” respectively (Graber et. al. 2007). In 2010, Lasda
et. al. demonstrated that the Ur element plays a necessary role in SL2 transsplicing and predicted that the Ou element may be the SL1 analogue. This
hypothesis is supported by the frequency of occurrence of the Ou element
within outrons and on the presence of a complementary sequence on the SL1
snRNP. This study investigated the role of the Ou element in SL1 trans-splicing by gathering primary data using mutational analysis followed by SL1 in
vitro trans-splicing assays. Two different Ou-mutants each showed a considerable decrease in SL1 trans-splicing activity when compared to the wild-type
analogue of the same gene. These data suggest that the Ou element may play
a key role in SL1 trans-splicing.
Garcia, Erika - San Diego State University
Session 17B - Friday, 2:00 - 3:30
Transcriptome Analysis for Harvestmen Systematics
Harvestmen (O. Opiliones), also commonly referred to as “daddy longlegs”,
are the third largest group of the Class Arachnida. Though among the oldest
of arachnids, little synthetic work on their biology and systematics have been
acquired. Harvestmen are divided into four major suborders; transcriptome
data representing three of the four sub-orders was collected from transcribed
portions of the genome from mRNA. Via Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
technology, the acquired comparative data will be utilized in the development
of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) primers for multigenic phylogenetics. In
order to conduct a sufficient analysis of the transcriptome data, protein-coding genes in the tick, Ixodes (the only available Arachnid genome) was used
as a comparative reference genome for relatively ancient divergences. For
more recent divergences in Harvestmen evolution, exon-primed intron-crossThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 106 Abstracts
ing (EPIC) primers will be generated targeting genes known to have introns
with a conserved position in comparison to other Arthropod taxa. Ultimately,
the genes targeted using both approaches will be used to improve Harvestmen systematics.
Garcia-Weyandt, Cyndy - University of California, Los Angeles
San Lucas Quiavini (SLQ) Zapotec Transplanted:
Language Ideologies of the ‘Dizhsa’ Speech Community of Los Angeles
This study focus in the San Lucas Quiavini Zapotec from Oaxaca, Mexico:
a language spoken by a minority community in Los Angeles. The immigration flows of people from San Lucas Quiavini village to Los Angeles have led
speakers through a process of language shift. Younger generations of San
Luqueños, living in Los Angeles, are not learning the language; parents are
now shifting from SLQ Zapotec to Spanish and some to English, as more
practical languages to use. Consequently, this indigenous language has decreased in the number of speakers in Los Angeles and is thereby becoming
endangered. My project will analyze the reasons why speakers stop using
SLQ Zapotec by applying language ideologies, or put another way the “beliefs and feelings” about language (Kroskrity 2010). In specific I will be using
ideology of contempt and iconization, which are two ideologies that attempt
to explain reasons for speakers to abandon their native language. To answer
my research questions, I will conduct interviews and a language census with
members of the community to first determine the degree of language endangerment based on Michael Krauss’s scale. In said scale, Krauss observes that
a language is endangered based on the age and number of speakers (2009).
Finally, my conclusions will allow me to work on a collaboration with the
community to create a program where members of the community can learn
the orthography of the language. The upshot of this project is to promote SLQ
Zapotec and teach younger generations the written form of this language so
they can have the tools for the future preservation of this indigenous language.
Gaskins, Danielle - University of California, Los Angeles
Sexual Abuse, Disclosure and the Tendency for African American Women to
Seek Mental Health Services
One in six women in the United States (US) is the victim of attempted or
completed sexual assault in her lifetime (National Institute of Justice Centers for Disease & Prevention, 2010) and one in four girls under 18 is sexually abused ((National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD),
2010)) in the US. Although studies differ as to the prevalence of sexual abuse
(SA) among African American women (Kaloff, 2010), there does seem to be
a reluctance to seek mental health care (Alvidrez, 1998) when psychological
symptoms are present- PTSD and depression being the most common diagnosis resulting from SA (Merwin, Rosenthal and Coffey, 2008). The current
study will examine the barriers between African American female victims of
SA and professional mental health services, focusing specifically on disclosure
and the effect it has on this population’s psychological well-being. The stigma
that accompanies sexual abuse, mental illness and mental health care professionals create debilitating barriers to help-seeking behaviors like disclosure,
i.e. lack of trust of mental health providers (Alvidrez, 1999). Ethnicity and
socioeconomic status also play significant roles in these disparities (Alvidrez,
1999). Participants for this study will be 40 African American undergraduate
females from a large Southern California university who identify as SA survivors. A voluntary self-report questionnaire will be administered using the following measures: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI: Beck, 1978) to assess participants for possible psychological maladjustments and determine a need for
mental health services; the Wyatt Sex History Questionnaire (Wyatt, G.E.,
1985); the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) to try to uncover any unrecognized sexual abuse (Koss & Oros, 1982); and Non-Supportive Responses to
Disclosure Scale (Spaccarelli, 1995). This research topic is significant because
there is little research done on African American female college students who
have been sexually victimized.
Gayles, Jacob - California State University, Northridge
A Tight-binding Model for Cadmium, Tellurium, and Cadmium Telluride
Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) is an interesting semiconductor material that
has a wide range of applications from thin film solar cells, infrared detector,
to high temperature X-ray and gamma ray detectors. While bulk properties
have been extensively studied the fundamental understanding of the surface
and interface-related properties are still lacking. Tight-binding model (TB
model) is an efficient (although less accurate than first principle method)
approach to study electronic structures of surface and interfaces where large
system size is usually needed. In this work we develop Slater-Koster (SK)
parameters for tight-binding calculations for the elementary Cd, Te, and comThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 108 Abstracts
pound CdTe respectively. The parameters are fitted to band structures and
total energies of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations within the
Vienna ab-initio simulation package (VASP) using the projected augmented
wave method. The DFT calculations are carried out for a range of structures
and volumes in order to obtain the best transferable parameters. The structural energies, band structures, surface energies, vacancy formation energies
are computed to evaluate the accuracy and predictability of the fitted TB parameters. For cadmium the predicted surface (hexagonal close packed structure (0001) ) energy is in good agreement with DFT results. For tellurium the
predicted energy-volume behavior of orthorhombic, monoclinic, and simple
cubic structures match well with DFT results.
Gebreyes, Rahel - University of Southern California
Embedded in News Coverage, Mirrored in Public Opinion:
Television News and the Deterioration of Support for Operation Iraqi Freedom
The attacks of September 11th shocked the world and initiated a wave of
television coverage about the wars that followed. Since previous research has
indicated that media coverage can influence the way that the public thinks
about certain issues, this study aimed to assess whether such television
coverage impacted public opinion towards Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thirty
NBC Nightly News stories were collected from the beginning, middle, and
the end of the war, resulting in a total sample size of 90 stories, which were
each analyzed for positive or negative themes. This content analysis revealed
that the number of negatively themed news stories regarding the war in Iraq
increased between June 17, 2004 and January 15, 2009, while the number
of positive stories decreased. Opinion polls from The Pew Research Center,
which used nationally representative samples, served as an indicator of the
general levels of public support for the war and demonstrated a decrease in
support for the war over time. A Pearson’s correlation test showed that there
is a statistically significant relationship between the increased amount of
negative news coverage from the content analysis and declining support for
the war among the general public. These results complement existing studies
and support both second-level agenda-setting theory and framing theory.
Gilbert, Charles - University of Akron
Analysis of Polymeric Material Using Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry
In this experiment the use of mass spectrometry (MS) will be used to identify and characterize the structures of synthetic polymers. In particular,
poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) is currently a common component in many
biomedical devices as well as industrial compounds such as lubricants and
sealants. In this study, known fragmentation pathways from previous tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments of PDMS homopolymers will
aid the characterization of PDMS-containing copolymers. The analysis of the
PDMS-containing copolymers may consist of interfacing liquid chromatography (LC) and/or ion-mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) with multidimensional mass spectrometry.
Additional work may include the characterization of a nonionic surfactant
which is composed of a star-branched polymer containing a methyl glucose
core that was chain-extended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) whose OH end
groups were partially esterified with stearic acid resulting in ethoxylated
methyl glucam stearates. The synthesis of partially esterified poly(ethylene
glycol) (PEG) and MS characterization of these polymers will support ongoing
research with this project.
Gill, Mariah - University of Southern California
Session 63 G - Sunday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 105 Dwinelle
Shaping Marine Protected Areas:
The Media and Stakeholder Arguments in Southern California
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, there are 53 fisheries
worldwide fully or over-exploited and 17 of the 53 are completely depleted,
however, less than 1/100th of 1 percent of the marine environment is protected. The California Marine Life Protection Act was passed in 1999 to reevaluate existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and create a more biologically
successful MPA network. Studies have shown that the biological success of
MPAs depends on their social success. Numerous studies have shown that
public opinion on environmental issues is influenced by media coverage; however, the exact manner in which the media affects MPAs is unknown. This
retrospective study investigates whether argumentative strategies, stakeholders, and media coverage influenced the planning of the MPA at Point
Dume in Southern California. Articles from three newspapers between January 2008 and June 2011 were collected, counted, and coded for argument type
(normative vs. positive) and stakeholder bias. Maps from the stakeholder
group meetings were coded for Point Dume protection type proposals over
time. Independent T-tests were used to show that the newspapers reported
significantly more normative arguments than positive arguments. MultivariThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 110 Abstracts
ate linear regression was used to determine whether this un-balanced news
reporting predicted changes in the Point Dume MPA. Results from this study
determines the manner in which the media and stakeholders alter MPA planning, thereby identifying an area in which MPA policy makers can focus on
when integrating public involvement into future MPA planning processes.
Glascoe, Genee - University of Central Florida
Parolees’ Perceived Deterrence of Graduated Sanctions:
Developing a Questionnaire for the CDCR Hope Pilot Program
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) HOPE
Pilot Program is an attempt to replicate the Honest Opportunity Probation
with Enforcement (HOPE) model and extend its findings from probationers
to parolees. HOPE requires that drug-involved parolees undergo frequent,
random drug tests coupled with swift and certain – but not severe – sanctions. This is in contrast to parole-as-usual (PAU) which utilizes infrequent
testing and multiple violations accrued over time before a hearing is held
to determine a possible return to prison. As part of the larger study, CDCR
parolees were randomly assigned to HOPE (n=50) or PAU (n=50), and findings will determine whether the improved compliance originally observed
with probationers is also seen with CDCR parolees. However, it is unknown
whether HOPE sanctions are as effective at deterring parolees as they are for
probationers. The current project will develop a questionnaire that assesses
the degree to which parolees rate the perceived deterrence of graduated sanctions, including those used in HOPE. The questionnaire will be developed by
doing a systematic literature review on offenders’ perceptions of sanctions;
compiling the sample characteristics, methodology, and results of each article
in a table; and critiquing each study for its strengths, limitations, and generalizablilty to the CDCR sample. Based on this analysis, a set of items will be
compiled into a questionnaire and the scores will be used as a potential control variable in the outcomes analysis to determine whether perceived deterrence of HOPE sanctions modifies the relationship between supervision type
(PAU, HOPE) and parole compliance.
Glaze, Kylonda - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on the Nucleus Accumbens and Its
Implications for Maternal Neglect
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a brain area responsible for the detection
of pleasure and reward. The presence of the mother stimulates the NAc and
hence is rewarding. Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) alters infants’ interactions with their mothers potentially through altered NAc development.This
study examined NAc development (via standard immunohistochemistry and
microscopy) in postnatal day (PND) 14 rodent pups following in utero chroniccocaine exposure or in controls. Results suggest NAc development is altered
following PCE in a sex-dependent manner as males and females showed
differential developmental differences in total maturation, proliferation, and
maturation rates.
Glowacki, Robert W.P. - University of Akron
Tenocyte Response to Nanotopographically Patterned Substrates
Tenocytes are the cells that compose tendon; the connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. When injuries occur to tendons; the rebuilding of the
extra cellular matrix (ECM) is crucial to regenerating healthy, fully functioning tendon. It is important to understand how tenocytes respond to nanotopography because the ECM is composed primarily of proteins and proteoglycans; both are typically on the nanometer to micrometer level in terms of size.
This study examines the role of nanotopographical features on the cytomorphology, proliferation, and differentiation of tenocytes. We used a colloidal lithography to pattern glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with
silica particles of 250 nm and 2500 nm in diameter with various interparticle
distances. The silica spheres were adhered to the substrate using polydimethylsiloxane dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-4 (PDMS-DMAEMA-4) co-polymer. We expect that the patterns will affect the following aspects of alignment, attachment, and shape/size. We also believe that the greatest impact to
the tenocytes will be observed at the 2500 nm particle size. The size, shape,
and adhesion will be characterized primarily through microscopy methods.
We will characterize the proliferation of tenocytes by performing cell counts,
and differentiation will be studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
for specific genes normally expressed only in tenocytes, such as tenomodulin.
With these results we hope to move forward with one day being able to direct
a tenocyte during the healing process to avoid complications such as scaring
of the tissue.
Gonzalez, Ariel - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Analysis of An Existing Rain Water Harvesting System
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city of 600,000 people, is not a city struggling to
keep up with a water demand; however, the city of Milwaukee at a local level,
has many other issues regarding water management. In 2004, when designing a new environment-focused community center in the Riverside Park, the
Urban Ecology Center had as a goal to keep as much rain water on the site as
possible to reduce storm water flooding in the streets of Milwaukee, while at
the same time, harvesting the rain in order to use it in the building; combining in a sense, the worldwide concern of fresh water use and the local need for
buildings which do not put so much pressure on the storm sewers. Currently,
the center has three tanks in which rain is harvested to be used by the toilets in the building as well as five rain barrels and a number of rain gardens.
Furthermore, looking at the way the building uses its water, what fraction
of the toilet water has comes from rain since the Urban Ecology Center was
built? What will happen to the system if another tank was added, or if the
roof catchment area were expanded in order to receive and store more water?
What other aspects of the rain harvesting system will need to be improved
once these changes are made? Data collected at the Urban Ecology Center
will be analyzed in order to test and find answers for the questions posed in
order to enhance the water harvesting system at the Urban Ecology Center;
adding to the building as it becomes a great example which future designers
can reference in order to do a similar initiatives, creating awareness about
water use and overall sustainable design.
Gonzalez, Fausto - University of California, Davis
Attachment Patterns and Early Memories
This study investigates possible connections between attachment patterns
and early memories. Attachment theory, from which the dimensions of attachment anxiety and avoidance, helps to explain behavior and feelings in
close interpersonal relationships as well as strategies of affect regulation.
Research guided by the theory has suggested that defense mechanisms associated with certain attachment patterns (e.g. suppression associated with
avoidant attachment) can inhibit access to troubling memories (Mikulincer
& Orbach, 1995). Suppression has been shown to be a suboptimal defense
mechanism that can reduce cognitive clarity and increase physiological stress
reactions (Dorfman-Botens, 1994; Gross, 2007). Early memories often involve
close relationships with parents and are likely to be emotionally arousing,
which is incongruent with avoidant individuals’ preference for low emotional
involvement.
Subjects in this study were given a series of questionnaires to assess the
quality of their past and present relationships with parental figures, their
current attachment style, and their (a) earliest memory, (b) earliest memory
that includes mother (or mother figure), and (c) earliest memory that includes
father (or father figure). Additional measures expected to be associated with
memory emotionality and suppression included: neuroticism, extraversion,
and ability to suppress thoughts. The data are currently being analyzed.
It is hypothesized that more avoidant individuals’ earliest memories will
be less clear and will not reach back as far in time as those of less avoidant
individuals, and that both forms of attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) will be associated with less emotionally positive memories. The attachment insecurity scores and the qualities of early memories will be examined
in relation to the reported quality of childhood relationships with parental
figures and the cognitive and personality variables assessed. The study will
provide theoretically and clinically useful information about attachment patterns and early memories.
Gonzalez, Rio - Montana State University
Pedagogical Technology:
A Guide to the Modern Student’s Mind and Classroom
As the attention span of today’s youth dwindles, it becomes imperative for
teachers to discern and implement newer, flashier teaching methods in order to maintain their student’s attention. The mind of the modern youth is,
due to the technology available to him, “digital,” trained to take in succinct
snippets of information at an ever-increasing rate, but easily lost to boredom
when not piqued by a barrage of media. When challenged with the analog
teaching methods generally used, especially in the arts, such as lectures, a
student is likely to loose his concentration and become bored. This is, in part,
because of the lack of visual stimulation the student is receiving. The answer
to the question of how to bring the student’s focus back to the lecture and
maintain the student’s concentration is a simple use of multimedia. When
utilized in a coherent manner, multimedia presentations can benefit even the
most straightforward of lectures. As these tools for presenting, or rather performing, a lecture become more easily accessible and intuitive, they likewise
assist in bridging the gap between the analog teaching style of old and the
digital learning style of the modern youth. This presentation is intended to
bring to light several techniques and tools that can assist in bringing a classroom into the multimedia age of learning.
González, Rodrigo - University of Colorado, Boulder
Osteoinductive PEG Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
Due to the limitations of current bone repair materials, there is strong interest in the development of novel biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are an excellent biomaterial platform and provide a permissive environment, and can be engineered to provide
osteogenic (bone forming) signals. In this study, we are seeking to develop
osteoinductive PEG hydrogels by incorporating synthetic peptides to promote
the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). In
a preliminary study, we investigated the effect of hMSC density in the hydrogel on mineralization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in order to
see whether significant effects arise as a result of cell-to-cell signaling. hMSC
were encapsulated at different densities (1, 5, and 10 x 106 cells/mL of hydrogel) in PEG hydrogels and cultured in media with or without soluble osteoinductive factors for 7 or 14 days. We found that ALP activity was maximized
at a cell density of 5 x 106 cells/mL of hydrogel. These results will provide the
foundation for future studies with encapsulated hMSC. In addition, we have
begun testing various concentrations of candidate osteoinductive peptides,
specifically synthetic peptides derived from statherin (STATH) and osteopontin (OPN). Preliminary results show that the STATH and OPN peptides may
enhance mineralization in the hydrogels, as potential mineral nucleators in
PEG hydrogels soaked in simulated body fluid. Future studies will determine
the optimal concentration of peptides for inducing hMSC osteogenic differentiation, and will be used to evaluate in vivo bone formation potential of these
osteoinductive hydrogels, yielding potential treatments for bone growth and
regeneration.
Gracia, Nidia - University of California, Los Angeles
Analyzing an Intervention Aimed at Increasing Intergenerational Understanding in Families Who Have Experienced Long-Term Separation through
Serial Migration
In the past two decades, there have been a growing number of families migrating from many parts of the world to the United States. Previous research
has outlined many issues that arise in immigrant families as they acculturate
to the United States. Among the issues that arise in immigrant families are
dissonant acculturation, intergenerational value discrepancies, and intergenerational disparities in communication styles (Portes 1997; Phinney & Ong
2000; Greenfield, 2009). These three issues were researched in this study by
analyzing an intervention conducted with immigrant families that experienced long-term separation through serial migration. Research concerning
the Central-American immigrant population, versus a more general Latino
or Mexican-American population, is scarce. Therefore, this study focuses on
Central-American families with adolescents enrolled in the Los Angeles Unified School District. A case study design was utilized to analyze how these
issues surfaced throughout the intervention. Additionally, qualitative and
quantitative methods were employed in order to evaluate the intervention for
its effectiveness in addressing and/or alleviating the three issues. Preliminary results show that the intervention did in fact address and alleviate the
issue of communication in the group of families in which both the student and
the parent participated. This study can potentially advance research in issues
experienced by immigrant families and influence further research on human
development of immigrant school children. Furthermore, the effectiveness of
the intervention can be a guide for new methods to alleviate the tensions that
may arise in immigrant families in the United States.
Grant, Elizabeth - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
State and Trait Happiness as Predictors of Affective Choice Behavior
Many studies have shown that the more specific and the more assessable an
attitude is, the more accurate a prediction of future behavior is going to be;
however, looking at happiness as both a trait and state variable has not been
as widely studied. This experiment examined happiness as both a state and
a trait variable and then attempted to connect these variables to the prior research that has been done on attitudes by considering happiness as the affective component of an attitude, which allows the use of happiness as a means
of predicting the future affective choice behavior of individuals. The benefit of
operationally defining happiness in this way is that it allows a better understanding of how individuals use their subjective conception of happiness as a
determinant of their decisions when affective choices arise. Subjects in this
study completed two state happiness measures and two trait happiness measures, a personality measure, a self-esteem measure, and a simple affective
choice task. Our hypothesis states that state happiness (the affective component of a specific attitude) will be a better predictor of affective choice behavThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 116 Abstracts
iors than trait happiness (the affective component of a generalized attitude).
Guffey, Kelsey - Montana State University
Habitat Selectivity of Semi-free Ranging American Plains Bison at the
National Bison Range in Northwest Montana
Foraging behavior of semi-free ranging American plains bison (B. bison bison) was observed during the summer of 2010 at the National Bison Range
in Northwest Montana. Ocular herd observations and vegetation surveys of
grazing sites revealed that bison disproportionally utilize between 28% and
75% of available landforms and between 19% and 36% of available forage
within the 3 pastures surveyed. Utilization, as measured by remaining forage stubble height, ranged from 27% to 81% for preferred forages constituting
75% or more of selections. This grazing pressure caused a negative decline in
observed stubble height of some preferred forages over time. Declining nutritional quality of preferred forages may have caused a shift in selection preference during late summer. Social time investments and increased energy expenditures during the breeding season may explain an increase in selectivity,
leading to more concentrated habitat use during this time. Habitat selectivity
may be spatially determined as either quantity of preferred forages change
in the various pastures and habitat types and/or temporally determined due
to late summer declines in forage quality. These behaviors of concentrated
habitat selection cause patterns of over/under utilization that may partially
explain a decline in range condition. These findings present several management implications including pasture rotation timing, duration, animal density, and landscape distribution. Traditional animal stocking rate calculations
assume uniform use of available landforms and forages. This study presents
evidence that a more sustainable stocking rate measure considers this concentrated use due to habitat selectivity.
Guisasola, Santiago - University of Central Florida
Cardinal Arithmetic in ZFC Set Theory
The arithmetic of infinite cardinals has been developed to the point where addition and multiplication are well understood. On the other hand, exponentiation of infinite cardinals is underdeveloped and results on the theory are few.
Georg Cantor’s continuum hypothesis is an example of an elementary result
regarding cardinal exponentiation that has no definitive answer within the
Zermelo-Fraenkel axiom system with the axiom of choice (ZFC). Contemporary mathematician Saharon Shelah showed that despite the undecidability
of the continuum hypothesis, significant results on cardinal exponentiation
may be achieved on the basis of ZFC. We explore results of cardinal arithmetic that follow from ZFC (and so are not consistency results) and pay special
consideration to Shelah’s inequality: if 2^{\aleph_n} < \aleph_\omega for all
n, then 2^{\aleph_\omega} < \aleph_\omega_4. Particularly, we consider the
conjecture where \omega_4 is replaced by \omega_1 in Shelah’s inequality.
Also, it is known that if the singular cardinal hypothesis fails for a cardinal of
uncountable cofinality, it must fail for a cardinal of countable cofinality first.
This affects several combinatorial properties of cardinals and will be explored
in detail to see the specific effects on cardinal exponentiation.
Gunter, Joshua - Knox College
Beyond Burnham:
An Investigation into Chicago’s Neglected Residential Fabric
The residential urban fabric of Chicago occupies most of the city’s land area
and contains nearly all of the city’s inhabitants, yet it seems to occupy in the
minds of the general public a position subordinate to those of the iconic city
center and suburban periphery. This has resulted in the problematic notion
of a bifurcated “dual metropolis,” which has prevented a full understanding of the social and cultural history of Chicago’s total urban environment.
In contrast to the more celebrated planning narratives of the city center and
suburbs, there is a third narrative I call the “intermediate fabric.” While this
residential inner city comprises most of metropolitan Chicago, it exists as a
“disfigured” urban space and has largely been ignored due to planning practices employed by city agencies over the past century and by a lack of economic emphasis and media representation. The purpose of this project is to critically examine the history of the planning associated with the “intermediate
fabric” and to analyze in-depth the complex array of economic and cultural
factors that have contributed to its marginal status within the larger scope
of Chicago’s urban identity. However, in critically assessing these issues, an
additional key aim of my study is to argue that this neglected intermediate
fabric actually has the potential to serve as an innovative model of contemporary urban planning, offering strategies for creating environmentally-friendly, mixed-use urban living that could revitalize Chicago’s inner city and more
successfully integrate the residential fabric with the city center and suburban
periphery.
Gutierrez, Alexander - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Recognition of Handwritten Numbers Using Artificial Neural Networks
Computers are widely used for different applications ranging from communication to the modeling of supernovae. However, despite the capability and
speed of modern computers and even supercomputers, the human brain has
yet to be surpassed in efficiency in tasks such as speech and visual recognition. While many tasks are automated in the modern world, trivial tasks for
humans such as reading a license plate cannot be reliably done with even the
most advanced computers. Artificial neural networks are an important and
influential approach to attempting to bridge this gap in technology. In this
experiment, several configurations of multi-layer perceptrons, a type of artificial neural network, were tested using images of Petri dishes with identification numbers in handwriting. The purpose of this study is to analyze efficiency ratings of different architectures of multi-layer perceptrons in recognizing
handwritten numbers. The neural networks are discussed along with accuracy percentage results in the identification of these numbers.
Halen, Jennifer A. - University of Nevada, Reno
Women’s Representation Through Quota Systems: A Comparative Analysis
Quotas seeking to promote gender equality in representation vary based on
typology, as well as implementation. I examine the categorical components of
quota systems in order to determine the differences found across typologies.
I then examine the similarities and differences in implementation in lower/
single houses of legislatures found across these categories, as well as the
differences in implementation found within each individual typology. I focus
on the 29 European democracies that have employed quota systems in some
capacity. I address aspects such as sanctions for non-compliance, incentives
created, and solely voluntary systems while looking at differences in implementation. I have primarily looked at Legislated Candidate Quota Systems
and Voluntary Political Party Systems. This paper seeks to put each type of
quota system into context regarding real-world implementation in European
Democracies. It also seeks to examine the inequalities in the results of these
systems in comparison to one another. I have collected my information from
the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Quota
Project: Global Database for Quotas for Women, and the Inter-Parliamentary
Union’s database. I conclude that the diversity found between typologies, as
well as within categories due to different methods of implementation, result
in making quota systems unequal across the legislatures that have employed
them.
Halen, Ryan - University of Nevada, Reno
Linking Economic and Electoral Inequality:
Redistribution Policy and Its Effect on Voter Turnout
On the national level, economic inequality has been consistently related with
electoral inequality. Electoral inequality, the difference in election turnout
amongst different groups in society, has been steadily on the rise in most
democratic nations. This decline in voter turnout, however, has tended to be
class based: effecting lower wage earners to a much higher degree than higher wage earners. Such a trend in voter turnout has negative implications on
representation and policy outcomes for the least advantaged citizens in a democracy. The complicated nature of voter turnout, however, has made a parsimonious explanation of the relationship between voter turnout and income
inequality difficult to establish. In this paper, I seek to explore if redistributive policy can serve as a mediating link between voter turnout and income
inequality. Focusing on redistributive policy as a possible explanation brings
governmental institutions back into the discussion while providing a mechanism which turns policy preferences into policy outcomes. I test for the relationship between redistributive policy and economic and electoral inequality
by examining the turnout levels for three prior electoral cycles and the GINI
Index coefficients, a measurement of the income levels of the highest earning
families of a country to the lowest earning families, over the same time period
in 22 advanced industrial democracies and comparing them to levels of social
transfer payments made after the elections in those countries.
Haren, Dailey - Westminster College
“What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?”:
An Ethnographic Study of Catholic Seminarians
“What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” famously asked Tertullian, one of
the first Christian theologians. The question exemplifies the tension that has
been present ever since the rise of Western philosophy. What does philosophy
have to do with religion? More specifically to my project, what does philosophy have to do with Christianity, Catholicism, and Catholic seminarians?
Philosophy and religion both seek to ask some of life’s most compelling questions (Why do we exist? What exists? How should we live our lives?) However,
they often come to contradictory conclusions. When conflicts arise we are
often forced to choose either faith or reason, as it is difficult at times to reconcile both.
In this study I explore the complicated relationship between faith and reason
in the minds and lives of Catholic seminarians currently studying philosophy
in Puebla, Mexico. The purpose is to better understand the relationships between faith and reason, not just in a theoretical framework, but also from the
lives and testimonies of people who have dedicated their lives (at least at this
moment) to both. To do so I am conducting two sets of personal interviews,
one of which will examine personal testimony and, the other which will examine specific questions about controversial doctrines, and how the interaction
between faith and reason is reconciled within their own lives. This approach
will allow a deeper exploration within a context where faith and reason are
seen as “two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of
truth”.
Harrington, Anthony - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Identification of Nitrifying Bacteria in a Commercial Inoculant Using
Enrichment and Molecular Biology Techniques
Nitrifying bacteria play an important role in aquatic and terrestrial environments through the nitrogen cycle. Nitrification, one of the processes of the
nitrogen cycle, refers to the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. This process
requires two types of chemoautotrophic bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria
(AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). These bacteria are essential in
maintaining an optimal environment for plants and aquatic organisms, such
as fish. Current applications of nitrifiers include: inoculants for aquariums,
biofertilizers, and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants. This
study wants to identify a consortium of nitrifers that can be used to produce
sufficient nitrate for plants in a hydroponic system. Previous studies have
shown that Fritz-zyme turbostart 700, a commercial freshwater inoculant has
had success in a semi-hydroponic system, zeoponics. Our lab’s preliminary
data has shown that Fritz-zyme contains more than the specific nitrifying
bacteria. In order to create the optimal consortium, it would be mandatory
that we know exactly what bacteria we are working with. Using 16s rDNA
universal primers and PGEM-T easy vector cloning kit, this study will amplify the 16s rDNA present in different enrichment samples and clone it into the
PGEM-T easy vector E. coli plasmid. The cloned plasmids are transformed
into competent E. coli cells and sequenced to identify the bacteria present
in each sample. This study will determine whether the current enrichment
techniques being used are sufficient to eliminate the heterotrophic and sporeforming bacteria present in the original Fritz-zyme.
Henson, Kevin - Temple University
Increasing Neuronal Differentiation through Microenviroments
Stem cells are the future to providing full recovery of lost function that occurs
through spinal cord injury. However, developing stem cells into the proper
cell type has proven to be the limiting step in developing effective treatments
and therapies to treat injuries. Current research focuses strongly on repairing the white matter tracts responsible for transmitting information from
one cell to another, after spinal cord injury has occurred loss of neuronal cell
bodies means that axonal transmission (white matter tracts) is limited to
the surviving cells. Our research focus was to find a healthy environment in
which stem cells could develop into new neurons to replace lost informational
tracts. This research utilized in-vitro microenvironments, which expressed
various novel growth factors found in Schwann cells, another type of brain
cell. Our results provided a framework on which to move forward on how to
best utilize microenvironments provided by Schwann cells into developing
new tracts for cellular transmission of information within the brain and how
to best incorporate them in-vivo, as well as increasing controlled firings for
imagined movement in those who have lost it due to spinal cord injury.
Hernandez, Adriana - Columbia University
Phenazine Production Regulation in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas Aeruginosa resides in the lung mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis, causing infections that can be fatal. The
infectiousness is believed to result from the production of toxic, redox-active
molecules called phenazines, which act as signaling molecules and antibiotics
within the bacterial cells. Two of the main phenazines are pyocyanin (PYO)
and Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal (PQS). Previous research has shown that
production of phenazines in P. Aeruginosa is controlled by two operons, phz1
and phz2. The first operon, which includes the genes phzA1B1C2D1E1F1G1
has been extensively studied and it is known to be controlled in a quorum
sensing manner (QS), that is, it relies in the accumulation of a signal to
induce a change in gene transcription. The second operon includes genes
phzA2B2C2D2E2F2G2 is about 98% identical to the first operon in the strain
PA01. Both operons produce difeerent amounts of phenazines (PYO, PCA),
however, it is not known whether phenazine production via the second operon is also controlled in a quorum-sensing manner like operon 1. Based on
previous studies, a pathway for QS communication in P.Aeruginosa has been
suggested.
It is known that the phz2 operon is regulated by PQS precursors in
P.Aeruginosa PA14. The importance of the regulation of the phz2 operon can
be further studied via PQSH and PQSL since analysis of these two genes in
the pathway will show their influence in regulating phenazine production.
This project includes a genetic approach that will lead to deletions of the phz1
and phz2 operons in both PQSH and PQSL. Phenazine production in liquid
and biofilm cultures will be quantified and analyzed, as well as correlated
with morphology of the mutants to determine the effects of the phz2 operon
in phenazine production in a QS way.
Hernandez, Angel F. - California State University, Northridge
Skateboarding in the Hood: A Critical Ethnographic Approach to Analyzing
Multiethnic Urban Skateboarders within Underrepresented Communities
My intention is to conduct a research study focusing on skateboarding in the
urban, working class community of Pacoima, located in the Northeast San
Fernando Valley area. What is significant about this community is that it is
home to the newly built skate park: The Paul Rodriguez Park. The unique
element regarding this park is that it has created a community within an
underrepresented community of multiethnic skateboarders. Presently, skateboarding is only being documented in magazines and skate videos alongside
popular culture historical scholarship which has mainly documented the
early “beach roots” of skateboarding. There is virtually no scholarship that
examines the urban context of skateboarding as it pertains to workingclass
communities of color. The approach I will utilize in this study is critical ethnography which applies a critical theory based approach to ethnography.
Ethnography focuses primarily on understanding and explaining a segment
of society, whereas critical ethnography allows the researcher to ask questions and utilizes conventional ethnography, but with a political purpose. The
political purpose to my study will be to document skateboarding in impoverished neighborhoods. Furthermore, I would like to give a voice to the youth
who participate in this culture and transcend their presence and life experiences into academia. The subjects of my study will be minority male and
female skateboarders in this working class neighborhood who spend big portions of the day skateboarding. My hypothesis will examine how through the
use of urban space in their communities, skateboarders re-negotiate notions
of identity and community that validate their lived experiences as shaped by
the intersectionality of race/ ethnicity, class, and gender.
Hernandez, John - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Monitoring the Hepatitis C Virus Helicase Enzyme Using Double
Molecular Beacons
Nearly 180 million people have recently been estimated to have chronic
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. (1) It is a disease that is a main cause of
a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver cirrhosis. It
is the reason for approximately two-thirds of liver transplants worldwide. (1)
The virus is slow to cause noticeable chronic symptoms in young or otherwise
healthy individuals as the virus slowly degrades the effectiveness of liver tissue through an accumulation of scar tissue over time. This process can take
decades to reach a point that is noticiable. (2) This slow process of liver degradation increases the odds that the person infected will unknowingly transmit the virus to other people, and explains why an estimated 75% of infected
individuals are unaware of their infection (2). There are no current vaccines
for HCV, although there has been some success in slowing viral replication
through the use of the drugs named ribivirin and peginterferon. These drugs
have an impressive impact on viral proliferation, curing up to 40% of individuals, but considerable side effects make these treatments difficult to complete. (3)
Hernandez-Pruhs, Krisha - California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona - Session 1A - Friday, 10:00 - 11:30 am, 88 Dwinelle
Women Leaders as Environmental Activists Paving the Road Toward Food
Sovereignty: A Convergence in Cities Across America
I describe a community of women who are leading environmental activists
and public figures, connected to the issue of food sovereignty, in an effort to
discover if commonality exists between them. The focus of my research is that
of women who are presently leading in environmental activism in select city
areas, through agricultural related movements in urban spaces. They are
women who are carving out for themselves, their families, and their communities, an alternative system toward food sovereignty and I research what
these women have done separately through works published in the public
arena, while examining them as a collective whole. With this information, I
make comparisons between them in hope of identifying what makes a woman
working in environmental activism through food sovereignty successful and
to note their accomplishments.
Herrera, David J. - University of California, Berkeley
The Resource Curse and Subnational Development in Peru:
The Case for Cajamarca and Contumazá
The paper examines the prevalence of the resource curse in Peru’s department of Cajamarca, through a comparison of its two provinces: Cajamarca
and Contumazá. My research design is comparative across time with the
same regions. This approach is important, because it tested the prevalence of
a resource curse at the subnational level in Cajamarca. Through a scientific
lens, Cajamarca was treated as a treatment group, while Contumazá was
treated as the control group. These groups were examined before the introduction of mining extraction by Minera Yanacocha in the region, then during
the mining activity, and finally several years after mining was established.
To carefully test the resource curse theory, I have measured the following
indicators across time: economic growth, education, poverty rate, employment, health conditions, and rent on the mine. The most salient indicator
that has brought much concern amongst the local population in Cajamarca
is the growing environmental degradation, especially pertaining to potable
water, which affects all aspects of life. The finds show that mining has produced strong patterns of growth in social and economic development, but no
environmental development in Cajamarca.
Hersi, Abdinasir - California State University, East Bay
Determinants of Remittances to Recipient Countries:
A Comparative Study of China, India, and Mexico
As globalization has facilitated the movement of labor across countries, it has
also introduced new channels of international capital flow. Remittance, as
one of those channels, represents a medium through which expatriates transfer money to their families and relatives in their country of origin (“recipient
countries”). Remittances, therefore, have a great economic impact on both
recipient and sending economies. Given its significance; this research studies
remittance in accordance with the emigration rate of recipient countries. Emigration rate, in the context of this study, is defined as the ratio of emigrant
nationals -excluding internal migrants- of a country to the total population of
that country in a specific period of time.
Generally, in economics research literature, there has been a great tendency
towards a strong positive relationship between the amount of remittances to
a recipient country and the emigration rate of that same country. However,
this study posits that the total amount of remittance a country receives does
not solely depend on the number of expatriates of that country, but rather
on several other economic, institutional and cultural factors. This study uses
comprehensive data compiled from international and governmental agencies.
It also employs a comparative approach to analyze the underlying factors of
remittance disparities among specific recipient countries, particularly, India, China and Mexico from the period of 2003 to 2010. Through this study,
I hope to identify the primary reasons immigrants send varying amounts of
remittances to their country of origin. This information may also be useful for
analyzing future immigration and remittance policies to those countries.
Hewko, Natalie - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Charlotte Temple and The Coquette: Being a Woman in Early America
Charlotte Temple, by Susanna Rowson, and The Coquette, by Hannah Webster Foster, two best-selling American novels written in the 1790s, question
the expectations of what it means to be a woman in the new republic. Using
the genre of fictional novels, women writers were able to quietly subvert the
common beliefs with how a woman is supposed to act and use the medium
to oppose the dominant male discourse. The novels can be read in a way
that shows the social unease towards the prevailing dominant group and
the subtle shifts that were happening to disrupt the gender inequality and
subvert the discourse to one more bent on gender equality. Taeko Kitahara’s
article “Rereading Sentimental Novels” argues that the men in Charlotte
Temple and The Coquette began to show an outward social form of what
Kitahara refers to as being a “lessening of patriarchal power”. This “lessening
of patriarchal power” meant that women began to step away from what Mary
Wollstonecraft called “a state of perpetual childhood” and to develop a more
necessary role in contributing to society and women acknowledged that, in order to do so, improvements in their lives would be essential towards building
a successful nation. With this existing unease during the post-revolutionary
world, women were able to take the first steps necessary and instill values
that would comprise what it would eventually mean to be a middle class
woman in America.
Holland, Chris - Knox College
Attachment Style and Human-Dog Relationships:
Are Anxious Individuals More Satisfied with Dogs than with People?
Literature exploring the human-animal relationship has often focused on pets
such as dogs and cats. Some of this work has explored how people attach and
bond with dogs. This study examined the association between one’s attachment style and the quality of one’s relationship with dogs and with other people. It was hypothesized that one’s attachment style would be associated with
the quality of one’s relationships with other humans and with dogs. Individuals reporting an anxious attachment style in general were hypothesized to
report higher quality relationships with dogs than with humans. A person
with a secure attachment was hypothesized to report higher satisfaction
in their human relationships than in their dog relationships. One-hundred
and twenty-five participants (n=102) took a survey containing measures for
relationship quality and attachment style. Results from this survey showed
that human relationship quality were rated significantly higher than dog
relationship quality for individuals with secure attachments to others. There
was not a significant difference between human relationship quality and dog
relationship quality in the anxious(preoccupied) attachment prototypes. This
study suggests that more anxious individuals do not find relationships with
humans more satisfying than relationships with dogs. Discussion included
study limits, possible future research, effect of other attachment styles, and
contribution to human-dog literature. Some past findings were replicated,
and this study suggests that dogs are psychologically important to humans.
Furthermore, these results suggest that individual attachment style can have
influences on how humans interact with dogs.
Holliday, Dacia - Westminster College
Flirting With the World: Empowering Indigenous Women’s Sexual Identities
Through Erotic and Love Poetry
According to Amnesty International’s report, first published in 2007, “more
than one in three Indigenous women [in the United States of America] will
be raped in their lifetime.” This means that the trauma of sexual violence is
not only something of Indigenous women’s past, it is a continuing force that
they must contend with, a force so powerful that it has shaped and continues
to shape their sexual identities. In the face of this violence, they must deconstruct, salvage, and put themselves back together. This is not easy when the
larger societal discourse, surrounding sexual violence, appears as through
women are allotted visibility as victims and survivors, and not so much as
thriving. This research project will explore how Indigenous women’s erotic
and love poetry support a sexual identity outside of that binary of victim/
survivor for Indigenous women. I suggest that Indigenous women’s erotic
and love poetry can be used to not only challenge a false sexual identity, one
created within a context of colonial violence, but serve to bring back celebratory pleasure and empowerment when recreating a sexual identity. Counterstorytelling/Counter Narratives is the main theory utilized because I am
challenging a larger discourse of Indigenous women’s sexualities and sexual
identities. This will be done through analyzing poems written by Indigenous
women, identifying various themes, including but not exclusive to, historical unresolved grief, sexual identities and sexualities that exist outside the
binary of victim/survivor, and the pursuit and celebration of pleasure.
Horn, Dirk - California State University, Bakersfield
Political Freedom, Corruption, Public Institutions, and Economic Growth:
A Global Analysis Since the Fall of the Soviet Union
Over the past few decades, the level of globalization and economic interdependence among nations has continued to rise. Given this rise of interdependence among nations one wonders whether or not political regime type has
any influence on a country’s economic growth. Do democracies promote higher
economic growth than non democracies? Or is regime type an irrelevant factor neither promoting nor hindering economic growth? If the effects of regime
type on economic growth are not well understood, how can foreign policy
makers seek to promote democracy throughout the world? The relationship
between democracy and economic growth has been a hotly debated topic for
many decades, but despite a sizeable amount of theoretical and empirical
literature there still has been contradictory conclusions drawn regarding the
impact of democracy on economic growth.
In this paper, I explore the arguments concerning the positive and negative
effects of political freedom on economic growth. Also, I explore the arguments
put forth by some scholars that political freedom itself does not produce economic growth; rather, they argue it is other intervening variables that lead
to economic growth. I address this complex relationship through the lens of
Twenty-first Century Growth Theory and develop an operational model using
a fixed-effects pooled cross-sectional times-series from 1990-2009. I find that
political freedom, low levels of corruption, and the presence of quality institutions contribute to economic growth. Also, counter-intuitive to my expectations, I find that economic volatility contributes to economic growth, but in
unexpected ways.
Howard, David - University of California, San Diego
Alcohol Use and Academic Achievement among Socially Anxious Adolescents
The current study examined the moderating effect of social anxiety on the relationship between alcohol use and academic performance in an early adolescent population. There is a clear relationship between increased alcohol use
and lower GPA in youth, but the interaction effects between alcohol use and
social anxiety on academic performance have yet to be determined. Middle
school students completed surveys that assessed levels of social anxiety, alcohol use, and academic performance. For girls, social anxiety correlated with
increased GPA for those with low levels of drinking in the prior 30 days. Both
genders showed a strong negative correlation between GPA and the interaction of increased social anxiety and higher levels of alcohol use, suggesting a
moderating effect of social anxiety on the alcohol use/academic performance
relationship.
Hudson, Dantia - University of California, Berkeley
Road Blocks to HIV Awareness: A Model Analysis
In light of the 25-year epidemic of AIDS and the recent literature on cultural competency, this research seeks to answer the following question: what
counseling models are HIV counselors and community health workers using
to educate their clients and lower the HIV transmission rates? Much of the
existing research speaks of cultural sensitivity and how it should be incorporated into today’s HIV counseling practices. Using data collected through
seven in-depth interviews with local community health worker who counsel
clients one-on-one for reproductive health services, this research attempts to
shed light on the current models counselors use and attempts to determine
how many of these models apply cultural sensitive approaches, and describe
the models that counselors consider effective in addressing the needs of clients. The data shows that there is no universal model being used by counselors, many use a model based on their personal background.
Hudson, Sean - University of Alabama
Beating the Odds: Support Systems’ Influence on the Retention of
Undergraduate Current and Former Foster Youth
Although limited studies exist on foster youth pursuing post-secondary education, available evidence suggests that the college attendance and retention
rates for current and former foster youth are significantly lower than that
of the general population (Davis, 2006). The literature suggests these lower
rates are due to the lack of resources available through various support systems (Davis, 2006; Dworsky & Pérez, 2009; Emerson, 2006; Lovitt & Emerson, 2008; Wolanin, 2005). This research examines, with an online survey,
undergraduate current and former foster youth opinions about four categories
of support (academic institutional, child welfare/foster care system, financial, social/emotional) as they relate to students’ ability to stay in college and
achieve educational success. This method was chosen for reasons of feasibility
and the technological savvy of the age group in question. The 23- item survey
measures each category of support based on services the foster youth have
received. Data were exported into PASW Statistics Version 18 for descriptive
and inferential analysis to assess which category of support may influence
educational outcomes for foster youth in higher education. The findings will
be used to enhance awareness and make recommendations to support educational success of youth involved with foster care.
Hughes, Joshua S. - University of Nevada, Reno
Heritability of Morphological and Life-history Traits in
Callosobruchus maculatus
Heritability is defined as the fraction of total phenotypic variation in a trait
that is due to variation in genes. Estimates of heritability often vary between
morphological and life-history traits due to difference in selective pressures
on life-history traits. It has been found life-history traits often have a lower
heritability. The objective of this experiment is to estimate the heritability of
morphological and life-history traits in captive populations of Callosobruchus
maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and to measure the genetic correlations between these traits. A parent-offspring regression was used to measure
the heritability of mass and body size as well as the life-history traits larval
development time, adult lifespan, and fecundity. Results from the regression
will be used to estimate heritability and to measure genetic correlations between traits. These results will allow us to predict how the population would
evolve in response to environmental pressure. If traits do show significant
heritability, then we can predict that these traits are capable of responding to
selective pressures; whereas low heritability could limit the evolution of the
population. Genetic correlations will be interpreted with regard to possible
correlated evolution of multiple traits, which tells us how multiple traits will
react together when selective pressures are added.
Hunt, Daniel - East Central University
A Metagenomic Survey of Ground Water for Monitored Natural Attenuation
(MNA) of Chlorinated Solvents
Phylogenetic analyses of the subsurface have shown that the number of bacteria and archaea species found in a single sample exceeds that of known cultured isolates. Environmental metagenomics, which comprises the isolation
of sediments DNA and the production and screening of clone libraries, can
provide a culture-independent assessment of the largely untapped genetic
reservoir of soil microbial communities. This approach has already led to the
identification of novel biomolecules. However, because of the complexity and
heterogeneity of the biotic and abiotic components of subsurface ecosystems,
the construction and screening of core sample-based libraries is difficult,
challenging, and time consuming. In this study microbial population of a core
sample, following the ISCO demonstration, were determined by the extraction of total DNA when subjected to analyses by the Genome Sequencer FLX
System. Comprehensive statistical analyses of the data provided metabolic
and phylogenic sample diversity that far exceeded that of simple culturing
techniques.
Hunter, Skylar - California State University, Long Beach
An Obsession with Electric Sheep: Defining a Subgenre of Science Fiction
In order to contextualize the work of science fiction novelist Philip K. Dick
(The Man in the High Castle, Ubik), I describe a new subgenre, “Layered
Reality,” that separates the imposed reality of society from the individuals’
interpretation of reality. Moreover, this subgenre of science fiction influences
the spectator to question the way in which they view society. Having written
a collection of over 165 novels, short stories, and other seminal works, Philip
K. Dick was one of the most prolific writers within the genre of science fiction. However, Dick’s work does not entirely fit within the subgenres already
established, which relegates his work to a subgenre of science fiction that has
not yet been defined. In particular, the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep? explores themes of humanity, capitalism, and religion, which are central to creating the subgenre, “Layered Reality,” in science fiction. Blade Runner, a film adaptation of Dick’s novel by Ridley Scott, explores these themes
further through a visual aesthetic focusing on presenting the spectator with a
hyperrealistic environment in which the themes are negotiated interchangeably. Through close reading and analysis of Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep?, and Blade Runner, as well as literature that explores the concepts of
Dick’s work and science fiction as a whole; I establish this subgenre in science
fiction by further extending the genre’s umbrella to cover literary and filmic
work that explores the concept of multiple realities (e.g., the human vs. the
inhuman, the individual vs. the many).
Hutto, Tonya - University of Alabama
The Direct Effects of Race on the Adult Court Sentences of Waived Youth:
A Replication and Extension
While minority adults sentenced in the criminal court are rendered more
severe punishments than their white counterparts (Demuth & Steffensmeier,
2004), it is unclear whether this finding holds for juveniles tried in the adult
system. The sole study (Jordan & Freiburger, 2010) that investigated this
issue yielded substantial race effects; as compared to similar white youth,
black teens (followed by Hispanics) were more likely to be sentenced to incarceration than probation. The current study extended Jordan and Freiburger’s
research by examining the relative impact of race/ethnicity on waived juveniles being criminally sentenced to restitution, probation, and jail.
Three hypotheses were tested: (1) minority juvenile offenders convicted in
the adult court are less apt to be sentenced to probation and restitution and
are more likely to be sentenced to jail than white offenders; (2) juvenile defendants convicted by judge or jury are more apt to be sentenced to jail than
those who plead guilty; and (3) juvenile offenders transferred via legislation
or a prosecutor are more likely to be sentenced to probation and restitution
than youth waived by a judge. A number of important legal and extra-legal
predictors of sentencing outcome were controlled. The findings and policy
implications will be discussed.
Huynh, Harmony Phuong - University of Southern California
Selective Vulnerability of Neuromuscular Junctions in Spinal Muscular
Atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of death in childhood and is characterized by motor neuron loss and skeletal muscular deterioration. Recent studies show vulnerable muscles correlate to the plasticity of
the neuromuscular junction. Yet, what contributes to selective vulnerability
remains unknown. Studies using SMA mouse models have shown developing
muscles can be categorized into two distinct classes: fast synapsing (FaSyn)
and delayed synapsing (DeSyn). Recent findings have found that following
neuromuscular denervation, FaSyn muscles contain clusters of acetylcholine
receptors (AChR), whereas DeSyn muscles contain AChR that are dispersed.
Selective vulnerability has been explored in a number of muscles, except in
the flexor digitorum brevis (FDB). Whether or not branches 2-4 of the FDB
are FaSyn or DeSyn muscles is an open question. To investigate if selective
vulnerability of the FDB in SMN ∆7 mouse models is correlated to synapsing
phenotype, we used neuromuscular denervation and α-bungarotoxin immunostaining to examine the structure of AChR after denervation. Because our
laboratory has shown that branches 2 and 3 of the FDB are vulnerable to
atrophy, whereas branch 4 is resistant to the effects of SMA, we hypothesized
that branches 2 and 3 were FaSyn muscles, while branch 4 was a DeSyn
muscle. In this study, we observed AChR clustering in both the experimental
and control branches of the FDB. Therefore, the synapsing phenotype could
not be confirmed at this time. Further work is needed to take into account
nerve regeneration. Finding answers to these questions will provide significant insights to why certain muscles are more vulnerable to SMA.
Ijeoma, Ononuju - California State University, Sacramento
Lions & Bears Oh My: Creating the Bridge Between Athletics & Academia
In an effort to create a more culturally relevant and humanizing approach to
the goal of closing the achievement gap in K - 12 education, this study examThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 133 Abstracts
ines and advocates the use of athletics as a pedagogical model. The athletic
model has been shown to be successful in educating culturally diverse student populations, by building upon traditional standards. Through conceptual analysis of books written by or about the coaching styles of Paul “Bear”
Bryant and Joe Paterno, this research builds a bridge between athletics and
academia. Results show that the athletic model is a viable method for teaching ethnic minority students.
Isaac, Odell - Xavier University of Louisiana
Jackson, Karima - Columbia University
Mi Gente Negra (My Black People):
Salsa Music and Afro-Puerto Rican Identity in New York City, 1950s-1970s
With the slave trade came the dispersal of millions of Africans across the
New World, yet it failed to completely strip slave descendants of an African
past; new cultures were generated and old ones transformed as different peoples came into contact with one another across the Americas. Puerto Rico’s
history gave birth to a national culture whose foods, language, and music are
direct products of Spanish, indigenous Taino Indian and African slave influences. Though often willing to accept (and construct) European and Amerindian history and lineage, Puerto Ricans (on the Island and in the United
States) have long struggled to acknowledge and accept African heritage.
Legislation during the early nineteenth century promoted the settlement
of Spaniards and other Europeans on the island and reflects an ideological
move toward a culturally and phenotypically “whiter” Puerto Rican society.
Afro-Puerto Ricans (Puerto Ricans self-identifiably of African descent) who
immigrated to the United States as early as the 1940s faced discrimination
both on the island and the mainland due to their “Black” physical features;
Salsa, a musical blend of Afro-Caribbean and American influences, became
a medium through which Afro-Puerto Ricans established an identity which
reclaimed pride in their African heritage. I begin by briefly outlining the history of Salsa and tracing its evolution upon arriving in the barrios (neighborhoods) of 1950s New York City. Through historical analysis, literary reviews,
interviews, and the contextualization of various Salsa songs, I aim to examine Salsa music’s maturation into an urban culture that enabled and shaped
an Afro-Puerto Rican identity. How did the simultaneous rejection and acceptance by Puerto Ricans in New York City barrios flourish within the Salsa
culture?
James, Caroline - University of Alabama
Fags, Spics, and Terrorist: Public Policy, Issue Coding and Public Opinion
Coding is loosely defined as a social phenomenon in which the negative perception of a particular group shades the way people view any type of public
policy associated with that group (Devine & Elliot, 1995). For example, earlier research on the public policy commonly known as “welfare” consistently
demonstrated race “coding” as highly relevant in the success of public policy
associated with welfare (Devine & Elliot, 1995; Katz & Braly, 1933).
The current study examines the possibility that negative perceptions of
LGBT, Muslims, and Hispanics negatively affect public policies on issues
related to each of these groups, marriage, anti-terrorism, and immigration,
respectively. In addition, this study examines the ways in which the personality variable “openness to experience” and political ideology (i.e., liberal,
moderate, conservative) are related to participants’ positions on public policy.
Implicit association tests and a series of standardized bias tests were implemented to assess unconscious and conscious biases, respectively. Additional
variables, including “individualism” and “communalism,” were examined to
further determine how personality variables are related to ideological affiliation and perceptions of coded public policy. Data are discussed in terms of the
hypothesis that both conscious and unconscious biases against the aforementioned groups negatively affect public policy opinions. Implications for current and future policy will be discussed.
Jernigan, William - Kansas State University
Object Recognition by Shape
The field of computer vision has always included the need for object recognition in many applications. In this research, we wrote code that seeks to identify objects by the characteristic shape of the object. Initially, we are searching for a bottle in an image. First, edge detection is used to find the outline
of the possible object. Then, the code follows the detected edge to find the
outline of the object. A descriptor of the shape of the outline is constructed
and compared with defined descriptors to determine if a bottle is present. The
code returns whether or not a bottle is identified, as well as an image of the
edge detection.
During testing, we used images with increasing complexity and documented
the performance of the algorithm. The test images varied in multiple ways,
including orientation of the bottle (if present). The work in this project may
be expanded in further work to other types of objects.
Jimenez, Oscar - Knox College
Verification of Endogenous Small RNAs in Dictyostelium discoideum
Small RNAs such as microRNA and small interfering RNA have been seen
to have varying functions in plants and animals including gene regulation by
cleaving target mRNAs, translation repression, and chromatin modification.
They are derived from non-protein coding sections of DNA and have important developmental roles in these organisms. I am looking at these small
RNAs in Dictyostelium discoideum a social amoeba whose small RNAs have
not been thoroughly investigated as of yet. I am using northern blots with
antisense oglionucelotides for detection of putative micro and siRNAs in these
amoebas. I hope to confirm the expression of these small RNAs during different stages of this organism’s life cycle and compare this expression to other
species of Dictyostelium.
Johnson, Brittany - University of California, Berkeley
Lucy Snowe and the ‘Homely Web’ of Memory: Trauma and Metaphor in
Charlotte Brontë’s Villette
In “Lucy Snowe and the ‘Homely Web’ of Memory: Trauma and Metaphor in
Charlotte Brontë’s Villette,” I analyze how the novel’s narrator and heroine,
Lucy Snowe, constructs a text that positions the reader as witness to her
past experiences of loss and failed attempts at mourning. I argue that her
testimony mediates these traumatic experiences through a metaphoric language submerged in water-related allusions and imagery. Lucy struggles to
narrate the loss of her parents and lovers John Bretton and Paul Emmanuel
because her painful memories remain locked within a psychoanalytic “crypt”
of repressed feelings and unaccepted loss. While Lucy’s narrative progresses
towards accessing the feelings and events associated with her trauma, by approaching a state of lucid and straightforward renderings of loss, her memory
ultimately fails to fill the largest vacuum within her story: the loss of Paul.
Through close readings of key passages within Brontë’s final novel, I will go
beyond current critical assessments of trauma in Villette in which Feminist
and psychosexual interpretations dominate. I will thereby address the novel’s
moments of problematic representation relative to how loss-related trauma
formally acquires shape and expression through metaphor. My analysis of
Villette gestures towards the broader work of the novelistic, testimonial project, that which stages a recovery process that predates modern psychoanalysis and postmodern therapy. The therapeutic space of the fictional text allows
both the heroine and the reader to participate in processes of confronting,
naming, and reconstructing trauma’s unutterable truth as would a patient or
therapist.
Johnson, Kayla - Augsburg College
The Analysis of Movement and Swimming Forces in Daphnia magna as a
Model for Neurodegenerative Disease
Two approaches were employed in order to study daphnid motor behavior:
studies of three dimensional (3D) movement and studies of the force produced
by swimming daphnids. A quantitative method was developed by which to
study the effect of a dopaminergic neurotoxin, MPP+, on Daphnia magna
movement in 3D space, over time. Daphnids were labeled with fluorescent
probes, permitting visualization under blue light. The pattern of motion observed in treated daphnids was analyzed in order to determine if their movement abnormalities resemble documented motor deficits associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) which include bradykinesia, rigidity and tremors. Three
methods were used to study Daphnia magna force generation; a piezoelectric
force transducer, a photomicrosensor force transducer and a technique correlating wire displacement to force. Methods were implemented to study Daphnia magna motor behaviors in 3D and may serve as a model to study neurodegeneration. In conclusion, daphnids were labeled with fluorescent quantum
dots (QDs) and imaged in 3D. Current experiments explore the effects of
dopaminergic neurotoxins on daphnid movement. Data acquired during force
measurement experiments suggest that daphnid forces lie below 23 μN.
Johnson, Simone - University of Alabama
The Comorbidity of Depression and Conduct Problems in the Transition to
Adolescence
The current study, a secondary analysis of data on pre-adolescents and early
adolescents, investigated (a) how childhood conduct problems influence
change in childhood depression over time, and (b) how childhood depression
influences change in conduct problems over time. Research suggests that the
comorbidity of these two psychiatric problems is not by chance. Longitudinal
studies beginning in pre-adolescence or early adolescence are needed to test
the generality of the known findings and to facilitate development of interventions to help reduce at-risk children’s tendencies towards delinquency.
Current analyses examined data for the control group included in the Field
Trial of Effects of the Coping Power Program, a longitudinal study that examined how an evidence-based aggression prevention strategy was disseminated for real-world use in community schools (Lochman, Boxmeyer, Powell,
Qu, Wells, & Windle, 2009). The Behavior Assessment System for Children
(BASC; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992), a parent-reported and teacher-reported measure, provided ratings that were analyzed to assess the effects of conduct problems and depressive symptoms upon each other over time. Findings
from an autoregressive cross-lagged model analysis are interpreted relative
to the hypothesis that conduct problems influence change in depression over
time while depression has no significant influence on conduct problems over
time.
Jones, Brittany - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
The District Emancipation Act and Its Effects on Washington, DC during the
Civil War
President Lincoln treated Washington, DC as an experimental theatre for his
plans for the nation. One such experiment was that of compensated emancipation in Washington, DC, which began in 1861 after the start of the Civil
War (1861-1865). The controversial bill, “An Act for the Release of Certain
Persons Held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia by Reason of
African Descent” was proposed by Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts in
1861 with the support of President Lincoln and was adopted as the District
Emancipation Act. This paper examines how this Act affected the views of
DC citizens African Americans and emancipation in general. I proposed that
this Act positively influenced the public’s view and support of the aforementioned, but this support was not universally found. The opposite was true
for emancipation and African Americans. Research from regularly circulated
newspapers during the Civil War showed that the public’s opinions on African Americans deteriorated somewhat during the emancipation process and
implementation. Widespread was the fear of large numbers of uneducated,
unemployed free blacks in DC. Opponents of emancipation feared it would
spread to the rest of the nation. Thus, because of the public’s unwillingness
to accept African Americans as true and full citizens, emancipation became a
device to garner support for Lincoln and the War, while reinforcing the status
quo of racial differences and white superiority. Emancipation in DC represented a legal change for African Americans, granting them freedom from
bondage, but not social equality, citizenship, nor the privileges that could
have come with it.
Jones, Earnest - Sul Ross State University
Compliance Gaining Research: Applications In Retail Sales
Retail sales organizations seek to increase sales by fostering customer’s loyalty. One of the approaches that have been demonstrated to increase customer
loyalty is issuing store cards. This study was designed to investigate customer compliance with requests to apply for a Store Card in a small southwestern town. Structured interviews with sales associates at a local retail store,
surveys of customers leaving the store with a purchase, and a participant
observation of customer response to application request were conducted to
better understand the associate’s strategies and the rate of compliance with
differing strategies. Three types of offers were made: a simple request (asking the customer if they wanted to apply for a Store Card without offering
any incentives), an immediate coupon (asking the customer if they wanted to
apply for a Store Card and offering a coupon for that day’s purchase if they
did so); and, future coupon (asking the customer if they wanted to fill out an
application for a Store Card and telling them they will receive discount coupons in the future if they have a Store Card). The results indicated that only
one strategy, immediate coupon, resulted in compliance by store customer.
The data also indicated that less than half the customers received a request
to apply for a card. The study concluded that associate training is needed to
increase customer compliance.
Jones, Malia - University of California, Berkeley
Tears in the Wings:
Identity, History and Power amongst Black Female Dance Professionals
This study examines how black female dance professionals negotiate identity
and power in today’s American dance communities. Their experiences and
narratives are viewed in light of the American histories of slavery and discrimination that have worked to objectify the black female: narrowly defining
what it means to be a black woman in America through colonial ideas of AfriThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 139 Abstracts
can inferiority. Through ethnographic interviews and participant observation
this research examines how black female dancers use their dance artistry to
construct identities of power within the wider context of an American society.
Using Patricia Hill Collins and Ntozake Shange’s feminist theories about
African American female modes of resistance, I analyze the artistic work
of these dancers to discover if their dancing reifies the objectification of the
black female body or resists assumptions by challenging stereotypical ideas
with artistic innovation. I argue that dance is a crucial medium that should
be examined as a microcosm of the friction between African American women
and an American society which marginalizes and challenges their personhood.
Kifer, Lance - Augsburg College
Designing an Inexpensive and Versatile High Altitude Air Sampling System
Using high altitude weather balloons we are capable of exploring our atmosphere to altitudes up to 100,000 ft. This research project focuses on
constructing a lightweight balloon payload capable of obtaining “whole air”
samples at designated altitudes. The payload was designed to be simple,
affordable, and more compact than most other air sampling methods available. It will make obtaining a wide range of air samples a simple and reliable
process that can be used for undergraduate research projects. Air samples
can be used in many areas of research including atmospheric chemistry as
well as global climate change studies. The payload will contain a micro-controller interfaced with a digital pressure sensor that will be used to trigger
the air sampler at specific altitudes. To collect a sample, a servo motor is used
to actuate a valve that will open an evacuated canister. The pressure difference causes air to flow into the canister, which is then closed to contain the
sample. We plan to carry out a basic analysis of the returned samples using a
mass spectrometer system to identify variations of atmospheric constituents
as a function of altitude.
Kim, Esther - Westminster College
Recreational Re-Creating:
A Cultural Critique of the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides
In 1961 student activists from across the United States enforced the desegregation laws of public transportation in the South in an act to challenge soThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 140 Abstracts
cially maintained segregation. The activists, known as Freedom Riders, were
met with resistance, violence and jail. On its 50th anniversary in May 2011,
the Freedom Riders were met with a great amount of media recognition: a
documentary screening at Sundance, an episode with Oprah and a commemorative retracing of the original ride sponsored by PBS American Experience
which included inviting student activists from across the country to participate in “getting on the bus”.
The Civil Rights Movement as a historical memory has become highly celebrated and widely understood as racial justice realized, but commemoration
also works to historicize and isolate these acts of resistance from modern day
struggles for social equity. As a participant of the student freedom rides, I
witnessed a complicated mapping of: how we live with history, memory, race,
power, place, the everyday lives of people who are still affected by events that
shaped the nation; and corporations seeking to benefit from the blind acceptance of commemoration.
Using Cultural Studies theories of encoding and decoding, representation and
meaning, this research is an examination of the tensions among the actions
and rhetoric of the Freedom Riders movement and how they are validated, coopted, contexualized, re-formed and understood. This research is an attempt
to pull the acts of the Freedom Riders out of a historical framework, because
the way we understand how the events of the Civil Rights Movement have
played out and their effects today are regressive in the ways we engage social
activism and justice now.
Kim, Sonia Nan - University of California, San Diego
The Expression of Neurotrypsin and Agrin Cleavage is modulated by the Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Presenilin Proteins
Synaptic loss is one of the first pathological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the molecular mechanisms behind it are not well
understood. Neurotrypsin is a neuronally secreted serine protease expressed
in AD-affected brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and
amygdala. When mutant, neurotrypsin leads to mental retardation and its
specific cleavage over agrin, a heparan sulfate, may influence synaptic reorganizations during neural plasticity. However, a link between this pathway
and AD has not been explored. We found that the AD related proteins, presenilins, modulate its expression. There are two known forms of PS, presenilin
– 1 (PS-1) and presenilin – 2 (PS-2), that when mutated cause familial AD.
Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from PS1/2 double knockout
(dKO) mice showed neurotrypsin up-regulation and induced agrin cleavage that are only restored to control levels when both PS-1 and PS-2 are
re-introduced. PS are the catalytic subunit of the gamma-secretase complex
which cleaves close to 100 transmembrane proteins including the AD-related
amyloid precursor protein (APP). To determine whether neurotrypsin expression is dependent on gamma-secretase activity, we treated control cells with
gamma-secretase inhibitors. Despite a successful inhibition of APP cleavage,
these treated cells did not mimic the neurotrypsin up-regulation observed in
PS dKO.
Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated
that CREB/CBP are recruited to the neurotrypsin promoter in PS dKO cells
while transcription factor MeCP2 is recruited in PS1/2 rescued PS dKO cells.
Using siRNAs to knockdown MeCP2, we confirmed a reduction in MeCP2
expression and observed neurotrypsin up-regulation, suggesting that MeCP2
represses neurotrypsin to basal levels of expression.
Overall, these experiments suggest that PS, independently of its gammasecretase activity, controls neurotrypsin expression by regulating a switch
between CREB and MeCP2 transcription factors. Based on these findings,
one could speculate that impairments in neurotrypsin-dependent agrin cleavage could contribute to AD synaptic pathology.
King, Deandre - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Effect of Extracellular ATP on Mammalian Muscle
The release of adenosine-5’-triphosphate (ATP) by exercising muscles has
been known since 1969 in humans (Forrestor & Lind, 1969). Only recently
in 2009 was it discovered that extracellular ATP inhibits chloride channels
in mature mammalian muscle. That study used a fully innervated preparation of rat skeletal muscle, levator auris longus (LAL), and demonstrated that
extracellular ATP inhibited chloride channels by activating P2Y1 receptors
(Voss, 2009). This discovery is important because chloride channels mediate up to 85% of the resting conductance of skeletal muscle (Palade & Barch,
1977). Determining the physiological role of this large muscle chloride conductance is an active area of investigation. In 2004, it was reported in Science that the inhibition of muscle chloride channels in response to elevated
lactic acid may actually prevent some types of muscle fatigue (Pedersen et
al. 2004), a finding that contradicts the commonly stated idea that lactic acid
build up causes fatigue. Other reports have also identified a role of chloride
channels in muscle fatigue (Dutka, 2009). Despite the importance of chloride
conductance in skeletal muscle it has yet to be completely characterized. The
goal of this study is to investigate the effects of extracellular ATP in mature
mouse flexor digitorum brevis (FDB). Unlike the rat LAL fibers used previously, the FDB fibers can be more easily studied with voltage clamp and
optical techniques that allow a greater characterization of the effects of extracellular ATP. Our hypothesis is that extracellular ATP inhibits chloride
channels in FDB fibers by acting on P2Y1 receptors, as is reported for rat
LAL fibers.
Kong, Meardey - University of Arizona
Session 68G - Sunday, 10:00 - 11:20 pm, 234 Dwinelle
The Politics of U.S. Intervention in the Sex Trafficking Industry of Cambodia
Within the last decade, controversies surrounding sex trafficking have captured the attention of the media, various scholars, prominent NGOs, and
transnational activists. Intervention on behalf of the United States to end
sex trafficking around the globe has increased due to the advocacy efforts of
abolitionist feminists and evangelical Christians. The strength of this “unlikely” alliance lies in their common goal of condemning prostitution, and
their previous success in influencing the politics of the conservative Bush
Administration. Developing a cross-disciplinary case study of Cambodia, this
project examines a variety of factors that shape the vulnerability of victims
and processes of trafficking in Cambodia; the major players involved in the
anti-trafficking campaign and their respective motives; and implications for
Khmer people today of interventions by the US. Drawing on research in the
fields of history, political science, gender studies, and socio-cultural anthropology, this study suggests that activists lacking cultural sensitivity when
tackling controversial issues may cause harm when help was intended. Sex
trafficking today is one of the most significant mechanisms of exploitation
of young children and women; more extensive, cross-disciplinary research is
needed to better understand the complexity of issues raised by sex trafficking
and provide a more informed basis for generating policy recommendations.
Krueger, Katie - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
To What Extent does President Obama’s Agenda Reflect a Neoliberal Extension to Public Education?
Although education should be at the forefront of our attention and concerns
as citizens of a democracy, rather education, in the United States, has been
opened to the free market for corporations and others to profit. The Obama
administration progresses the ideologies of neoliberal concerns and is no
more progressive than the Bush administration. I analyzed the current discourse on this topic by looking at the literature that has been produced. As a
result I learned how neoliberal ideologies are shaping and ultimately harming education today. The larger implications of the progression of neoliberal
ideologies in education include: the furthering of privatization, high stakes
testing, and blind faith in ideologies with no educational research backing
them. While driving deep into the flaws and critiques of the No Child Left
Behind act, I was led to see the ideologies and politics that shape America’s
education today. The central focus of my research is on President Obama, his
main goals and promises for education, and how the role of education continues to be shaped by a neoliberal agenda. I will also be comparing Obama’s
presidential term with the Bush administration and how education has
changed for the positive, negative, or become stagnate. I will be drawing on
the No Child Left Behind act (NCLB), how it is still being implemented and
its reliance on standardized testing to hold schools accountable. I also want
to direct my attention to neoliberal ideologies, and the role of corporations in
shaping pedagogy. This is important in order to calculate the effects of treating students as products and parents as consumers. It is important to understand the true incentives of our leaders and whether they have our children
in their best interests.
LaCroix, Jeff -East Central University
Small Molecules as Potent Anti-Cancer Drugs: NVP-AUY922
Many small molecules show potential as a potent anti-cancer drugs due to
their ability to inhibit a vital molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90
(Hsp90). Hsp90 is a protein that folds other proteins. When Hsp90s function
is inhibited, many other proteins are depleted or no longer observable in the
set of cellular proteins, or “proteome.”
One of these small molecules, NVP-AUY922, is the focus of our project. We
aim to determine the molecule’s mechanism of action in vivo. Additionally,
we are determining the extent to which quantities of other proteins fluctuate
in treated versus untreated cells. Finally, we are comparing the proteomic
fingerprints of our drug with other well-characterized Hsp90 inhibiting compounds to determine how their mechanisms overlap. We hypothesize that
overlap between the mechanisms of similar drugs, the “conserved mechanism,” characterizes how Hsp90 inhibition occurs.
Our project uses the Jurkat cell line, a model human cell line for leukemia.
Before beginning our proteomic assays, we determined meaningful concentrations of NVP-AUY922 in Jurkats. To do this, we built a dose curve using cell proliferation assays, which ultimately provided the concentration
at which cell growth is halved. Additionally, we performed Western blots to
provide the concentration at which client protein concentrations are halved.
To understand the effect on a larger set of client proteins, we performed mass
spectrometry (MS) assays to analyze more than 600 proteins of the Jurkat
proteome simultaneously. These assays provide insight into the mechanism
of our drug and allow for comparisons to be made to other Hsp90 inhibitors.
Understanding the conserved proteomic fingerprints between well-characterized compounds allows us to better understand Hsp90, programmed cell
death, and cancer.
Lane, Chadd - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Bio-Mechanical Analysis of a Cable Assisted Glove
Lantigua, Maria - Columbia University
Immigration Policies in the Dominican Republic:
A Form of Institutionalized Discrimination
Dominican Republic and Haiti share a long history of turmoil, injustices and
constant efforts of disassociation despite their proximity. The elite class in
the Dominican Republic has played an important role in the perpetuation
of anti-Haitian sentiments. Some of the most prominent members of this
elite class were Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, Joaquín Balaguer, Manuel A. Peña
Batlle and Manuel Núñez. These historical figures have shaped Dominican
nationalistic ideals, school curriculums, and immigration policies. In this paper I draw upon texts, speeches and historical events to examine the extent to
which discrimination towards Haitians and Dominicans of Haitians descent
has been institutionalized in the Dominican Republic. While discrimination
towards people of Haitian descent has existed since colonial times for the purpose of this paper I focus on the early 1930s to present times. One of the most
salient ways in which these people have been marginalized has been through
unjust immigration policies such as Circular 17 and Resolution 12. In my
research I look closely at past and current immigration policies in order to
illustrate how race has defined who obtains citizenship. With a close analysis
of immigration policies, I hope to explain how discriminatory practices pose
a threat to the human rights of people of Haitian descent. This paper is part
of an emerging body of research on the immigration policies’ injustices as the
number of stateless persons increases in the Dominican Republic.
Larios, Evelyn - University of Southern California
Labor Unions: A Contextual Factor in Parents’ School Involvement
Considerable research has looked at how well students fare in the U.S. education system. Therefore, less attention has been focused on parents and their
involvement in schools. The research on parental involvement has assumed
that parents are isolated people, who do not interact actively with institutions such as schools (Lareau 2000). Additionally, variables of class and race
have been used quite extensively as predictors of parents’ involvement in
schools. Such research show that compared to U.S. born parents, workingclass and immigrant parents tend to participate less in their children’s
schools. These parents often lack the cultural capital to intervene on behalf
of their children (Lareau 2000) or they encounter language and institutional
barriers that limit their involvement in schools (Turney and Kao 2009). However, research shows that organizations, such as labor unions, can provide
working-class and immigrant parents with tools such as information, communication, problem-solving skills, and other civic skills (Putnam 1995; Wong
2006) needed to incorporate themselves in their children’s school. Therefore,
through the use of both semi-structured interviews with union parents and
survey data from the Los Angeles Parent Study suggest that union parents
are in fact, actively involved in their children education. Interviews, however
demonstrated that not only did active union parents incorporated the skills
they learned from their unions in schools. But furthermore, among Latino immigrant union parents these skills help them navigate their childrens’ school
systems by allowing them to overcome barriers that may have otherwise hindered their participation in schools.
Le, Giau - University of Arizona
Reliability of Auditory-Based Perceptual Diagnosis of Nasality
Speech and voice disorders diagnosed by speech-language pathologist are
usually done based on auditory-based judgements. When clinicians use perception as the main arbiter in their protocols certain issues may arise such
as misdiagnosis of patients. The current research was undertaken to demonstrate that perceptual assessment of voice disorders is inappropriate, especially ones regarding nasality. Physiological evidence of an open or closed
velopharynx is included in this study. Not only will perceptual and acoustic
evidence be present but more concrete physiological evidence of velopharynx
status will be available for analysis. Experienced clinicians were recruited
as listeners to determine whether they believe the velum and pharnx is open
or closed when they are presented with the stimuli. Inexperienced listeners
were also be asked to judge between two sound samples to indicate whether
one sound sample is more nasal than the other, or if there is no difference
between the two. Answers from both listeners were analyzed to demonstrate
the lack of uniformity in the rating of velopharynx status and perception of
nasality between experienced and inexperienced listeners. This study aims
to support the hypothesis that perceptual assessments of nasality by clinicians is an inaccurate tool to use for the diagnostics of disorders pertaining to
nasality.
Lee, Chue Xue - Augsburg College
Building An Infrastructure to Recognize an Image’s Evoked Emotion
Facial emotion recognition is a subfield of computer vision. A facial emotion
recognition system is a computer application for identifying or verifying a
person’s emotion from a digital image or a video frame from a video source
automatically. This research focuses on building a facial emotion recognition
infrastructure. A facial emotion recognition algorithm is implemented and
used to analyze images to determine whether a given facial image is classified
as “happy” or “not happy”. This type of research is important to the development of robotic systems that interact with humans and is also being used for
advertisement studies.
Legesse, Ida - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Variables that Determine a Successful Non - Profit Agency
In a time of shrinking economic resources it is important to understand what
variables determine a nonprofit organizations overall success. How do sucThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 147 Abstracts
cessful nonprofit agencies remain fiscally efficient, and still stay true to the
promises outlined in their mission statement? Due to the recent economic
crisis in the United States successful nonprofit organizations have had to adjust their strategies in order to stay effective. Examining the best practices of
successful nonprofits would allow others to learn lessons from multiple perspectives. The research would serve as supplemental material for the starting
up of, and management of a nonprofit agency in harsh economic times. This
research would address the successes of nonprofit agencies currently, in the
midst of the United States economic recession; through the form of literature
review as well as interview. The literature review possesses two segments.
The first segment of the review consists of literature that was specifically
written to address nonprofit organizations in stable economic conditions, but
remains applicable to organizations presently in economic hardship; the second segment addresses literature that was written exclusively for nonprofit
organizations currently finding themselves in an unsteady financial quandary in need of guidance. The last component of the research will include
interviews with nonprofit organizations. All three components will then be
analyzed together, noting any trends and repeating points, resulting in what
hopefully be a plethora of information, which can be then be applied to currently active nonprofit organizations or it can be involved in the implementation of future nonprofit organizations, in order to ensure that that these institutes are more than equipped to succeed in insecure, unstable, and uncertain
economy.
Leon, Melanie - University of California, San Diego
Kidnapped: The Case of Central American Migrants in Mexico
Every month 1,600 migrants are kidnapped throughout Mexico; some are
released after a ransom is paid, but many end up piled in mass graves. The
primary targets of these rampant kidnappings and other forms of violence
are undocumented Central American migrants en route to the United States.
This project blends the theories of necropolitics and Chicana feminism to
examine the gendered political and economic conditions that make undocumented Central American migrants hyper-vulnerable to kidnappings and
murder. Through the use of multi-lingual, interdisciplinary methods, this
study examines how Mexico’s current Drug War impacts migrants--most,
specifically, through the militarization and expansion of law enforcement, the
increased surveillance of public spaces, and criminalization of undocumented
immigration.
Lilienthal, Nathan - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Body Size Trends in Ice Age (Pleistocene) Horses from the Great Plains
The relationship between mammalian body size and climate has become a
topic of great interest in recent years. A general eco-geographic trend exists
in modern mammals and birds whereby individuals of closely related species
are smaller in warm regions and larger in cool regions (Bergmann’s Rule).
From this relationship, predictions about the fossil record have been made;
namely, that mammals should become smaller during intervals of warming
climate. This idea was tested by studying body size change in fossil horses
from the Great Plains through an interval of warming at the end of the last
Ice Age (Pleistocene epoch). Forefoot elements (metacarpals) and first upper
molars from collections at the University of Nebraska State Museum were
used as proxies for body size. Metacarpal measurements suggest a decrease
in body size near the end of the Pleistocene when climate was warming. However, tooth size does not change significantly. Although both proxies are correlated to body size in modern mammals, tooth size is genetically controlled,
while bone length can be affected by environmental conditions. Thus, these
results suggest that there was a decrease in body size caused by degraded
environmental conditions (phenotypic plasticity), rather than by natural selection. Further research is needed to test these preliminary conclusions and
place these horses into a stronger geochronologic context for closer comparison with the Pleistocene climate record.
Linn, Courtney - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Determining Thermal Noise Limiting Properties of Materials for Use in Advanced LIGO Detectors
In order to make thermally stable mirrors to be used for Laser Interferometer
Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) interferometers, the thermal properties relating to the internal friction for thin layer materials must be measured directly, specifically the elastic modulus and mechanical loss. Internal
friction due to the elastic modulus of thin layer materials is the most limiting
factor to the thermal noise calculations for the mirrors in LIGO interferometers. Measurements of the elastic modulus were performed using a nanoindenter, an apparatus that presses a diamond tip Berkovich indenter onto
a sample at varying loads. For each load, the depth the indenter travels into
the material is measured by the indenter, and fitting to the elastic deformaThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 149 Abstracts
tion portion of the load v. depth yields a biaxial modulus, which is related
to the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the material. Materials whose
elastic modulus was measured in the nano-indentation experiment include
hafnia on silica, amorphous silicon on silicon, and tantala on silica, with and
without doping of titanium dioxide at 25-55% and heat treatments varying
from 100-600C. In a separate ‘thermal bending’ experiment, the elastic modulus was determined for a 50 micron thick ion-beam sputtered cantilever with
silica substrate and a 500 nm coating of tantala by viewing the change in the
radius of curvature as a function of temperature. In a third experiment, the
mechanical loss of amorphous silicon was measured in at cryogenic temperatures. The mechanical loss of a material is a measure of how quickly mechanical energy dampens out of a vibrating system due solely to internal friction.
Liu, Connie - Columbia University
Summary Interfaces for Electronic Medical Records
An electronic medical record (EMR) is a computerized medical record containing patient information such as demographics, problems, labs, and more.
EMRs vary from institution to institution with no established standard regarding the visual presentation of patient data to clinicians. This project
is part of a larger effort to provide clinicians with a patient summary that
is automatically generated from information entered into a patient’s EMR.
Moreover, this project concentrates on the visual presentation of the summary. One of the several desiderata for a summary interface is to help a clinician make quick connections among the different types of data stored in the
EMR (e.g. a certain medicine was prescribed for a particular problem over a
specific period of time). This project has two objectives: (i) design a two-view
interface for the summary -- a snapshot view and a timeline view; and (ii)
evaluate the two-view interface through a task-based study with clinicians
to assess usability and efficiency of use. The snapshot view displays information organized by sections, much like a note written by clinicians in the EMR.
The timeline view displays patient data on a horizontally scrollable timeline allowing users to see correlations between data points that would have
been otherwise difficult to recognize had the information been in a textual
format. On both views, filter options are provided, allowing for patient data
to be either filtered by a keyword, much like a search function, or by a list
with predefined sections. For the evaluation, usability is assessed through
a user-satisfaction questionnaire. And the efficiency of use is assessed by
the completion of a quiz by clinicians regarding a particular patient in two
experimental conditions: by accessing patient information through the sumThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 150 Abstracts
mary interface and through the raw EMR interface. As of date, the interface
is implemented. The task-based evaluation of the interface with clinicians is
ongoing.
Lopez, Jaime - University of California, San Diego
Evaluation and Needs Assessment of Health Frontiers in Tijuana Clientele
Tijuana, Mexico is located in the busiest land-crossing border in the world,
the Tijuana-San Ysidro Border crossing. This city is a major route for both
migration and drug trafficking into the United States. Tijuana has one of the
highest increasing injection drug users per capita [1] and a large red-light
district housing 9000 legal sex-worker population [3]. Within the red-light
district of Tijuana a new bi-national student-ran free clinic is in operation
(Health Frontiers in Tijuana-HFit-clinic) that serves the health care needs
of a marginalized border community by providing free medical consultation,
HIV testing, supporting existing needle exchange programs, treatment for
sexually transmitted infections, and linkage for follow up care for individuals
affected by HIV and TB disease. The HFit clinic is in its initial stage and has
an established mission to provide health care services center to the needs of
the community by implementing a voluntary survey to evaluate client’s sociodemographics characteristics, health usage, level of satisfaction from services
received, and suggestions on how to enhance the services to the community.
This knowledge will allow student, faculty, clinicians and clinic administrators to better understand the patient population and better serve their needs.
Luna, Kety L. - University of Nevada, Reno
Exploration of the Experiences of Latina/o Students as They Transfer from a
Community College to a University
Education is the key to success for a society to be globally competitive. An educated population contributes to the growth of the economy, helps eliminate
poverty, and creates a better society. The Latino population in the United
States has increased significantly during the last two decades. Many Latino
students have not pursued higher education because of factors including lack
of clear educational goals, family interdependency, socioeconomic status,
part-time enrollment, geographic proximity, and institutional outreach commitment. More than half of Latino students start their education in
a community college; yet (less than a quarter) end up completing their major
or transferring to the university (Suarez 2003).
The purpose of this study is to learn about the college experiences of Latino
students and to explore potential barriers students face in transferring from
a community college to a university. This study will utilize a qualitative
research method. Qualitative research attempts to delve into the “whys” of
the participants rather than just the numbers. “One of the chief reasons for
conducting a qualitative study is that the study is exploratory; not much has
been written about the topic or population being studied, and the researcher
seeks to listen to informants and to build a picture based on their ideas”
(Creswell 1994). Thus, an in-depth retrospective interview of 10-15 Latino
transfer students at the University of Nevada, Reno will be utilized to gather
insight. The interviews will be analyzed for patterns that emerge regarding
students’ educational goals and experiences while transferring to the university. Latino parents and students will be able to learn from students who
have been successful. This information will also assist community college and
university personnel understand Latino students’ experiences.
Lundahl, Alyssa - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Session 51F -Saturday, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, 79 Dwinelle
Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavioral Observation of Preschoolers
System (BOPS)
Administering evidence-based assessments of child behavior in the school
setting is essential in determining the appropriate method of intervention for
children exhibiting problematic behaviors. However, because child behavior is
a multifaceted construct that cannot be completely understood from a single
form of assessment, utilization of a variety of assessment techniques is warranted. Nevertheless, while multiple assessments are ideal, live observations
are still considered the hallmark of behavioral assessments (Bagner et al.,
2006) and the gold standard for objectivity in behavioral research (Pelham
et al., 2005). However, in order for live observation systems to be considered
evidence-based, investigation of the measure’s psychometric properties is
needed. Thus, the aim of the present study is to conduct an initial psychometric evaluation of the Behavioral Observation of Preschoolers System (BOPS)
by examining its internal consistency, construct validity, temporal stability,
and sensitivity to treatment outcomes.
Teachers (N = 6) and students (N = 77) were recruited from three Midwestern Head Start programs to participate in Teacher-Child Interaction TrainThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 152 Abstracts
ing (TCIT). All teachers identified as European American and ranged in age
from 25 to 54 years. Five teachers identified as female. Students ranged in
age from 3.08 to 6.08 years, and 50.6% were female. The majority of students
(62.3%) identified as European American. Students were observed in classroom and recess settings during the course of TCIT, and teachers completed
baseline measures of child behaviors.
Overall, the results provided mixed support for the BOPS psychometric properties. Alpha coefficients for the BOPS subscales ranged from .447 to .848,
indicating support for internal consistency. A number of BOPS subscales
correlated significantly, and in the expected direction, with related teacherreport measures, and there was evidence of temporal stability and sensitivity
to treatment outcomes. Implications for revision and future use of the measure will be discussed.
Lute, Sara - University of Akron
Madril, Edgar - University of Arizona
Design and Characterization of Compact Pivot Flexures
Flexures are flexible bodies that exploit the elastic nature of material properties and their geometric shapes. This allows motion to accommodate design
tolerances. Flexures have the unique ability to concentrate parasitic stresses
within flexural bodies. In particular, optical mounting is based on the precision at which a set of reflecting or refracting surfaces can be aligned. A Compact Pivot Flexure was modeled and analyzed. This model is commonly found
in mirror mounts that are designed to minimize surface deflection due to the
reaction moments created by the weight of the mirror. The motivation of this
study is to create a base informational data set that could be used to describe
flexure behavior with different inertia’s. Solid Works finite element analysis was used to measure the flexure’s six dimensions of stiffness and range
of limiting motion. Models were engineered and then manufactured using
a wire EDM. An experimental analysis was conducted to measure different
dimensions of stiffness using an Ingstrom. The error found was recorded and
plotted to find limiting resolution of the analysis.
Magana, Victor - California State University, Northridge
The Effects of Cell Phone Frequency Waves on Cerebral Electrical Activity and
Cognitive Functioning
Much concern has been raised about cell phone use and its “harmful” effects
on the brain. Neural networks of the brain use electrical signals to communicate, accounting for human cognition and behavior. Researchers posit that
cell phone frequency waves disrupt this natural pattern of communication,
possibly compromising the integrity of the brain. Blackman et al. (1988)
provided support for this reasonable concern. They found that the response of
brain tissue in developing chick embryos was altered by power-line electrical
fields. If developing organisms are susceptible to electrical fields, the directly
applied frequency waves of a cell phone should also have a profound effect on
the brain. Ostrom and Barnholtz-Sloan (2011) also argued that the frequency
waves emitted by cell phones disrupt the natural behavior of nerve cells
(neurons) in the brain. In a seeming contrast, the highly cited INTERPHONE
study concluded that there is no increased risk for brain tumors with cell
phone use. It has been concluded by some studies, however, that cell phone
use has consistently yielded a negative effect on response time and attention.
What can be inferred from all this research is that cell phones have an inconclusive effect on brain physiology, yet, they have an effect on human behavior
and cognition. Given that the brain governs behavior and cognition, there
must be some measurable effect on the brain. This study will use electroencephalography (EEG) measures to index the effects of cell phone use on the
brain’s electrical activity relating to attention.
Mankel, Magda - University of Arizona
Purity and Danger within the Context of the Southern Arizona Borderlands
Border trash along the southern Arizona borderlands has recently become a
highly popularized subject. Since the early 2000’s, border trash has saturated
southern Arizona’s media and found its way into national headlines and congressional concerns. Often times, border trash is represented as an environmental pollutant caused by undocumented border crossers making their way
into the U.S. Although the environmental threats that border trash poses are
very real and significant, this study primarily focuses on the non-material,
symbolic and socio-cultural impacts that border trash is having in the southern Arizona border lands.
In this study, the symbolic and socio-cultural impacts include changing spatial imaginaries, changing geo-political boundaries, challenged national and
local identities, and altered perceptions of border trash within the southern
Arizona borderlands. Moreover, this study specifically looks at protected land
areas (such as National Monuments, National Parks and Native American
reservation) that serve as major highways for undocumented border crossers.
In order to properly analyze the cognitive underpinnings of the border trash
issue, this study will rely on a variety of sources for information. First, it
will include results from qualitative measures such as participatory research
and interviews with Arizona residents who regularly participate in border
trash cleanups. Secondly, this study will use discourse analysis to examine
newspaper articles from the Tucson and Nogales, Arizona region. Lastly, this
research will incorporate ideas from: Mary Douglas’ work on “purity and danger”, Douglas’ Cultural Theory of Risk, Geopolitics, History, and nation-state
theorizations. At the end, this study seeks to address the following questions:
(1) Do southern Arizona residents consider protected areas “sacred”? (2) Why
is the border trash issue so popularized? (3) How does border trash relate to
regional and national boundary making and identity formation?
Marin, Dianna - Sul Ross State University
Culberson County, Texas: The Unreported County in Regards to Cancer Occurance
According to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute’s cancer registries, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the
state of Texas. However, in many rural communities where cancer treatment
facilities are not located, the cancer incidence statistics are suppressed to
prevent duplication of counts from the reporting county where the patient is
treated. An overview of the cancer incidence and trends of the top ten cancers
for the United States and all sites combined for the rural area of Culberson
County, Texas was performed for the years 2000 through 2009. Data for the
study was obtained based on reports from the International Classification of
Diseases (ICD-9) and medical records from Culberson County Hospital and
the Van Horn Rural Health Clinic in Culberson County, Texas. A total of 429
actual new cancers were identified over the ten year period. This is an average of 42.9 official new cases each year for a rural population of only 2431.
After adjusting these numbers to make comparable at a “per 100,000” population, the cancer incidence rate for this target area was found to be three times
the national and state average. With medical advancements in cancer treatment and the aging of the population, the cancer incidence will likely continue to rise for years or even decades to come. Accurately accounting for rural
areas will provide information on the impact of cancer on the health care
system, document the need for increased research, and further the progress
in supporting cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population.
Martínez, América - University of California, Los Angeles
Distorting Friendship at ‘Friendship Park’
‘Friendship Park’ also known as El Parque De La Amistad has been a historic
meeting place, located on the San Diego, California and Tijuana, México international border, where families and friends, affected by their immigration
status, have gathered and met for generations on both sides of the United
States and México boundary. However, in 2009, the Department of Homeland
Security erected a double border fence and established new ‘rules for entry’ to
‘Friendship Park’ to “curtail [undocumented] crossings….and prevent the further exchange of drugs and contraband through openings on the border (Border Field State Park, 2009). As a result, my study will reflect how the United
States Immigration Policies, specifically on the enforcement of the border
and, by extension, the policy on the ‘War on Terror,’ perpetuate violence,
anti-immigrant sentiment, and the perceived criminality of People and Immigrants of Color, non-citizen and citizen. This project will concentrate on three
questions relating to “Friendship Park”: How have the policies and guidelines
in the use of ‘Friendship Park’ changed since the United States immigration
reform that included the ‘War on Terror’? How have these new policies and
guidelines changed the community use of the park? And finally, how have the
community participants of the park on both sides of the México and United
States international border negotiated and experienced these policy changes?
I will utilize participant and non-participatory field observations, counter-stories, and testimonios to contribute to the dialogue about these local policies,
structures, the implications for human rights, and collaborate to promote
community awareness and empowerment.
Masters, Joseph - Northern Michigan University
Returning to the Rez, Native Americans Returning to the Reservation after
Prison
This research examines experiences of Native Americans transitioning from
prison to communities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.), both on and
off reservations. Data include recordings from 15 in-depth, semi-structured
qualitative interviews with members of federally recognized tribes living in
the U.P. after serving a prison sentence. The goal of the research is to understand the subjective experiences with reintegration, identify common barriers and challenges, and uncover processes associated with successful and
unsuccessful reintegration. Interviews covered a variety of areas pertaining
to post-prison community reintegration, including: family life, community
involvement, health and other services, employment and housing. A major focus was on identifying unique opportunities and challenges for Native
American ex-offenders. Data suggest Native American communities and
families often ease the transition from prison to civilian life. Ex-offenders
often reported having a feeling of reassurance based on their tribal membership as they view this status as a pathway to securing housing, employment,
and health and other services. Tribal affiliation, many reported, also gives
them a sense of belongingness and general comfort. However, those returning
to reservations often face substantial barriers to housing, employment and
education. In large part, these barriers stem from tribes’ relationships with
federal and state agencies that restrict tribal sovereignty. In addition, many
Native American ex-offenders are disadvantaged by racism, geographic isolation, and increasing competition for jobs. Some Native American ex-offenders
also reported having intense feelings of shame and guilt for the crimes they
had committed and inability to escape judgments from other tribal members
given the small size and closeness of tribal communities. Policy and program
recommendations are included.
Matei, Priscila - University of Arizona
The Effects of Ethnic Identity Among African American and African Born
College Students
Ethnic identity is defined as a sense of belonging to an ethnic group and
includes knowledge of the group’s history, culture, and experience. This
study examines the way in which high and low levels of ethnic identity affect attitudes among African American and African-born college students
at the University of Arizona. Two hypotheses were generated for this study:
(a) High levels of ethnic identity (EI) predict positive attitudes toward the
out-group among African-natives and African American college students. (b)
Low levels of EI predict negative attitudes and negative stereotypes toward
the out-group. Out-group is defined as a group of people excluded from or not
belonging to one’s own group. One hundred ninety college students who identified themselves as African American, African native, Caucasian/European
American, and Mexican American or Chicana/o completed an online survey.
Of those students, only thirty-seven identified as either African American
or African native. The survey used an alpha correlation to measure ethnic
identity levels and positive and negative attitudes towards “out-group”. The
purpose of the study is to analyze a contextual approach to intercultural communication among African native and African American college students.
McCoy-Thompson, Teairra - University of California, Berkeley
How do African American Men Effectively Negotiate the Stigmatization of
Felonies while Navigating Academia?
According to President Barrack Obama, access to higher education is a key
component for social mobility in the Age of Innovation. Obama states that
“we’re the home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more
students come to study than any place on earth” (State of the Union Address
2011). However, African American men with felonies are systematically
denied the opportunity to achieve academic success once they have paid their
debt to society. This study examines how African American men living in
or around Oakland, California effectively negotiate the stigmatization of
felonies while navigating academia. Despite systematic disenfranchisement,
a significant number of African American men are challenging pathological
stereotypes thrust upon them, by actively transforming their community. My
research sought to provide first-hand accounts of the voices of African American men who actually experience this phenomenon. Their voices add to the
growing body of convict criminology by humanizing stories of crime, incarceration, and redemption. This study utilizes a qualitative in-depth interview
approach. The resulting interviews suggest that systematic disenfranchisement during early development enforce barriers to accessing education and
subsequent social mobility. Results indicate the need for further research on
educational programs that address the specific challenges African American
men encounter early in their childhood. Spiritual growth and strong mentoring were reported to help participants overcome the stigmatization of a felony
record in accessing academic opportunities. Investing in targeted educational
programs for African American men with felonies will establish the conditions required for them to achieve self-sufficiency, thereby transforming otherwise disenfranchised communities from within.
McDaniel, Treasineu - University of California, Davis
Intervention: The Effects of Parental Involvement and ADHD on a Child’s
Educational Success
It is thought that the process of dropping out is not sudden; teens often go
through a long process of disengagement and academic difficulties. One factor
related to the academic struggle is having the condition of Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Of the 4.5 million children in the U.S between 3 and 17 years of age, 4% of females and 11% of males have been or
will be diagnosed with ADHD. Most analysis of dropout rates measures psychological and social effects as having separate and independent influences
on educational attainment; specifically weather the effect that ADHD has on
educational attainment is mediated and parental involvement. This study
examines the interaction of the two dynamics formerly mentioned. Using the
National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data (Add Health) , I find
that although ADHD has a negative effect on educational attainment, and
parental involvement has a positive association, the hypothesis of an interaction effect was unsupported.
McPherson, Kevin P. - University of Nevada, Reno
Effects of Arsenic and Arsenic Metabolites on L-Type Calcium Channel and
Large
Conductance Potassium Channel Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Arsenic is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring metalloid that can leach into
aquifers via sediment or associated bedrock. Contaminated drinking water
is the main source of human arsenic exposure worldwide, and consumption
of groundwater containing elevated levels of arsenic poses significant chronic
health risks. Epidemiologic studies have connected the chronic ingestion of
arsenic contaminated drinking water to the prevalence of hyperkeratosis,
various forms of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, among
others. Inorganic arsenic (As3+) and the human metabolite monomethylarsonous acid (MMAs3+) are believed to be the two most toxic forms of arsenic.
Both As3+ and MMAs3+ are believed to affect the activity of the voltage-gated or ‘L-type’ calcium channel (LTCC), which, as the most thoroughly characterized vascular smooth muscle calcium channel facilitating extracellular
Ca2+ entry and the development and maintenance of vascular tone, plays an
important role in the development of systemic hypertension. Intracellular
Ca2+ can modulate the activity of other classes of ion channels, including
the large conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channel (BKCa), which is
a known modulator of arterial tone, and has been recently implicated in the
development of hypertension. In disease states such as hypertension, Ca2+
influx has been shown to alter vascular reactivity. In order to better understand the role of arsenic in these disease states, it is important to evaluate
As3+-induced alterations in vascular smooth muscle transmembrane calcium
flux, as well as the subsequent activation of Ca2+-dependent ion channels
such as BKCa. LTCCs have a negative feedback relationship with BKCa
channels; BKCa channels promote hyperpolarization of the cell membrane,
causing closure of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. MMAs3+ may inhibit
LTCC, thereby depressing contractile agonist-induced intracellular calcium
levels; however, the effect of arsenic on BKCa channel activity has not been
studied. In light of the recent finding that inorganic arsenic can decrease
LTCC conductance in rat aorta, and because BKCa activity is important to
the generation of resting membrane potential, determination of the effects of
acute and chronic arsenic exposure on BKCa expression and activity may foster a greater understanding of the mechanisms by which arsenic is associated
with essential hypertension.
Meza, Jocelyn - University of California, Los Angeles
Pleanary Session B - Friday, 9:00 - 9:55 am, 155 Dwinelle
Association Between Parenting Behaviors and Response Inhibition in Children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent
childhood mental disorders with a worldwide occurrence of 8-12% (Froehlich
et al., 2007). Although it is characterized by extreme and impairing levels
of inattention and/or hyperactivity, ADHD is also frequently accompanied
by executive function deficits, including poor response inhibition. Response
inhibition has been conceptualized as the ability to withhold an inappropriate
response, interrupt an ongoing response, and protect cognitive activity from
interference (Barkley, 1997). Parenting affects self-regulatory and inhibitory
processes in offspring, but few have investigated this in ADHD children (Bernier, Carlson, & Whipple, 2010). Therefore, the present study examined the
association between parenting behaviors (i.e., inconsistent discipline, harsh
punishment, parental involvement and positive reinforcement) on response
inhibition among 156 (mean age: 7.4, 80%males) ethnically diverse children
with and without ADHD. Parenting was assessed through parenting questionnaires and observational data whereas response inhibition was measured
with standardized laboratory tasks, including the Stop Signal Task and
Stroop Color-Word task. Positive parenting was associated with better response inhibition, although no interaction was detected between child ADHD
status and parenting.
Mignott, Davene - University of California, Berkeley
Stretched Too Thin: The Experience of Counselors at Low-Income High
Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area in a Time of Economic Hardships
Completion of postsecondary education has become critical to upward mobility in adulthood. According to the American Schooling Counselor Association
(ASCA) National Model, high school counselors should deliver systematic
support services to ensure all students have equitable access to academic and
postsecondary transitional institutions (ASCA, 2011). This work contributes
to the current literature by eliciting counselors’ perspectives on how school
structures affect the quality of postsecondary support they can offer their
students. Using nine semi-structured interviews with counselors from five
school districts, I seek to unveil where actual counseling practices converge
and diverge with ASCA ideals. Given the realities of working under adverse
economic conditions, I identify two types of counseling strategies practiced as
a result of external structural conditions in schools: 1) “intensive care counseling” and 2) “emergency counseling”. My findings draw attention to the
affect of structural differences in the organizational environment of schools
on counselors’ abilities to assist students in their postsecondary transitions.
Three distinctive factors lead counselors to be spread too thin: a misalignment between the expectations of counselors and the working conditions;
overwhelming caseloads; and the perceived and concrete effects of California’s budget crisis on counselor job security, and on academic opportunities
for students. The disparities in counseling services observed is an example
of how the organizational structure of schools can reproduce social inequities
and also highlight the potential for counselors to have effective impact in the
postsecondary transition of students.
Milanes, Lilian - University of Central Florida
Evaluating the California Endowment Building Healthy Communities Initiative
Structural violence is a term coined by Paul Farmer when he began his effort
to deliver free health care services to residents in rural Haiti. In his experiences he realized that no matter the amount of free services provided, the
inequalities experienced reflect inadequate public health provisions (Farmer
2005). These social structures deny people their human needs and are linked
very closely with social injustice and social machinery of oppression (Farmer
2006). For this project I will be using this idea of structural violence to analyze a place based social investment initiative provided by a private health
foundation to improve California communities’ health. I will be evaluating
the California Endowment, whose mission is to expand access to affordable,
quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to
promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.
In 2009 the California Endowment began a Building Healthy Communities
(BHC) effort with three key areas for action (1) Create peaceful and safer
communities by developing opportunities for youth to make positive contributions, (2) Provide full access to quality prevention and health care services,
and (3) Design and create places where health is promoted. I will be using the
community of Central Santa Ana as the case study for this project to ask the
question; is the Building Healthy Communities imitative reproducing structural violence? Does the BHC change the way we can think about Farmer’s
original theory?
Mondragon, Angelica - California State University, Long Beach
Mental Health and Latina/o Youth in Long Beach: Examining the Effects of
Depression and Self-Esteem on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors
among At-risk Latina/o Middle School Students
The aim of this project is to investigate the relationship of self-esteem and
depressive symptomotology on the frequency and type of physical activity
engaged in by at-risk Latino youth. Research has established a positive relationship between mental health status and physical activity (Perrino, Masom,
Brown, & Szapocznik, 2010). Although mental health is a well documented
phenomenon among the general population there is insufficient research
regarding mental health status among Latino youth, the youngest, largest
and fastest-growing ethnic minority in the nation. Currently, Latino youth
remain at a higher risk for being obese, overweight, at risk for diabetes, and
suffer from suicide ideation (Rios-Ellis et al., 2005). Study participants (n =
55) were at-risk Latino students from Hamilton Middle School in Long Beach,
California participating in the Youth Empowerment for Success (YES) program. The population was comprised of 64.3% males and 35.7% females. A
pre, post, and six-month follow-up survey was administered to each student
to determine level of self-esteem, depressive symptomotology, and frequency
and type of physical activity. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale was combined
with the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 scale to measure self-esteem
and depressive symptoms, respectively. Respondents with higher symptoms
of depression and lower self-esteem are expected to engage in less consistent
physical activity when compared to participants who have lower depressive
symptomotology and higher self-esteem. Furthermore, it is expected that
higher depressive symptomotology and lower self-esteem scores will be associated with higher sedentary behaviors among youth. Research regarding
the relationship between depressive symptomotology and low self-esteem is
of vital importance if we are to reduce the health risks experienced by Latino youth. The findings can be used to better understand how self-esteem
and mental health risks among Latino youth can be effectively ameliorated
through culturally relevant physical activity interventions.
Montgomery, Carrie - Columbia University
A Convicted Race: An Analysis of the Survival of the Scottsboro Boys Case in
the Present
While several American scholars have conducted research on the Scottsboro
Boys case (1931), substantially less research has been conducted concerning
its connection to wrongfully convicted African American men accused of rape
in the present day criminal justice system. Today, nearly 2.4 million Americans occupy detention centers, jails, and prisons, marking an era of mass
incarceration. Experts from innocence projects, among others, believe a surprisingly high number of those incarcerated are wrongfully convicted. Out of
approximately 250 exonerations in the United States, 75% of these are members of minority groups making the incarceration experience so pervasive
particularly among African Americans, that it has become a defining feature
of that community’s collective experience (Smith & Hattery, 2010). Specifically, this study seeks to explore the wrongful convictions of African American men accused of raping white women in the decades since the Scottsboro
boys. By conducting close readings of case studies, drawing on legal documents, and reviewing extant literature on the subject, I analyze false confessions, negligence by criminal justice officials, and equal protections under the
law as important factors and results of the Scottsboro Boys case. I use this
methodology to: 1.) identify factors that contribute to wrongful convictions;
2.) study constitutional protections and criminal procedures that attempt to
prevent wrongful convictions; and 3.) explore legal and criminological perspectives concerning exoneration. This study contributes to a greater body of
research that examines systematic limitations in the criminal justice system
and provides solutions to those injustices. The broader purpose of this study
is not only to address this gap in criminology literature but also to examine
flaws in the legal system as it pertains to variables such as race, a topic that
warrants further exploration.
Moore, Sabrina Ann - Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
Petrographic Analysis of Toyah Phase Pottery Recovered from State Historic
Site Fort Lipantitlán
This study focuses on petrographic analysis of a prehistoric ceramic collection from the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The pottery
is from two neighboring Late Prehistoric , Toyah phase (AD 1430-1780) ceramic manufacturing sites, 41-NU-54 and 41-SP-220, located in the Lower
Nueces River Valley, South Texas. The research was designed to compare
vessel manufacture, clay composition, and temper attributes associated with
these contemporary settlements. Another goal was to identify and document
any technological changes in the Toyah ceramic wares before and during
historic contact. The paper describes the methodology used in selecting the
sherd sample, preparing the thin sections, and recording the mineralogical
and biogenic attributes. The comprehensive evaluation using a petrographic
microscope allowed for a quantitative determination of the modal mineralogy
of each thin section. There will be commentary about similarities and differences relating to the pottery industries at the two settlements. The author
also provides perspectives about how this study opens up further research
opportunities using petrography to correlate historical and archeological data
in hopes of better understanding local and regional interactions during this
period.
Morales, Rita Isabela - University of Alabama
Plenary Session A - Thursday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm, 155 Dwinelle
Letters from a Planter’s Daughter:
Understanding Freedom and Independence in the Life of Susanna Townsend
(1853-1869)
Wealthy Alabama cotton planter Samuel Townsend had already fathered
eight children by the time Susanna Townsend was born in 1853—her mother,
like all the mothers of her half-brothers and sisters, was an enslaved AfricanAmerican woman on one of Samuel Townsend’s large plantations. Samuel’s
fourth daughter and youngest child, Susanna was a vulnerable young girl
born into the turmoil and turbulence surrounding the probation and execution of Samuel Townsend’s will when, to the shock of his white relatives,
Samuel left the bulk of his $200,000 estate to his nine enslaved children.
Susanna, seven years old when she and her extended family were emancipated, may have remembered little of the courtroom drama that ended in 1860,
when the Probate Court of Madison County declared Samuel’s will valid. But
the nominally favorable courtroom ruling did not mark the end of Susanna’s
liminal existence. Until her death, Susanna Townsend lived in a borderland
of race, class, and family status. A reconstruction and examination of a life
(1853-1869) that straddled the Civil War provides insight into meanings of
freedom, independence, and self-sufficiency in the post-emancipation moment—as well as revealing interactions of gender, race, and power in the
creation of the archive.
Moreno, Ana - University of Arizona
Rapid Molecular Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using Double-Stranded DNA Probes
The rapid detection of specific bacterial pathogens is crucial for the prevention and clinical management of infectious diseases. Current methods for
pathogen detection are time-consuming. Therefore, a mix-and-measure assay
is highly desirable. Herein, a double-stranded DNA probe is designed to detect the bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Double-stranded DNA
probes consist of a quencher probe and a donor probe. The donor probe has
complementary sequence to the P. aeruginosa is labeled with a fluorescin tag
at the 5’ end. The quencher probe has complementary sequencing to the donor probe but is shorter in length. The quencher probe is labeled with a high
quenching efficacy quencher at the 3’ end. When no P. aeroginosa, or target,
is present, the double stranded DNA probe hybridizes, bringing the two labels
together, and minimizing the fluorescence signal. When the target is present,
however, the probe unzips thermodynamically, binding the donor and target
together and emitting a florescence light, which is then captured, and quantitavely measured. By proper design, the double stranded DNA probe can
directly identify P. aeroginosa in urine samples from patients with potential
urinary tract infections (UTI). By using a double-stranded DNA probe, one
can rapidly detect P. aeroginosa, which would then prevent further infection
and lower hospital admissions due to UTI.
Moreno, Eduardo - University of Arizona
Development of a Modular Unmanned Underwater Robotic System / Design
and Feasability Study Is Cooperative Navigation
The development of cooperative multivehicle systems has received much attention over recent years, motivated by the fact that multiple robots working
together as a team can distribute their resources to perform surveillance and
rescue operations more efficiently and robustly than a single robot. Precise
navigation of a group of underwater vehicles is a challenging task. In order
to make cooperative robotic research and exploration more accessible to the
scientific community, we are proposing a new kind of underwater robotic system: Autonomous Cooperative Underwater Robotic Vehicle (A-CURV), which
is a modular underwater system of robots that is capable of self-navigation
with a first level user interface. This system incorporates a centralized and
decentralized control system. In this design, a center platform is used as the
system’s precision navigation node and several vehicles equipped with lower
precision navigation sensors are tethered to the platform. Studies have shown
that a centralized system will increase the system’s precision when tackling
complex tasks and a decentralized control system will improve the system’s
robustness. Using theories in cooperative modular robotics, an optimization
process was formalized to analyze current technology investment strategies
that would allow a robust and implementable underwater robotic design.This
work discusses possible applications and methods to coordinate the control of
the modules after assembly to ensure stable system performance. It discusses
how modules will efficiently group and maintain geometric configurations
during movement.With the intension to contribute to the field of modular
robotics; one experimental underwater robotic module, its sensor network,
and a graphical user interface have been developed for testing methodologies
in cooperative robotics. We hope that the introduction of this research will
advance current control knowledge and increase the capabilities of current
sub-sea platforms.
Moreno-Rios, Beatriz - California State University, East Bay
“Bops” Inner City Female Youth’s Attraction to Promiscuity
A “Bop” is a commonly used slang term that refers to a woman who is promiscuous. In a generation where young people are driven by media influences,
such as sex, alcohol, and drugs, children in urban areas have adapted and
configured new normative ideas for acquiring these social goods through acts
of exchange. This study focuses on young females, ages eight to nineteen who
exchange sexual favors for commodities, such as drugs and alcohol in urban
inner-city areas. My literature review focuses in what role the media plays
in influencing youth activity. A limited amount of research has touched on
the topic of this social phenomenon that takes place with the youth of today.
My method of research has been to conduct interviews with young women
and participant observation with youth out reach programs I have compiled
a comprehensive analysis of this fad that is, “sex for commodity items.”
Through my research I have discovered that these young girls have an initial
authoritative stance on the availability and possession of their own bodies.
The means of exchanging sex for these various stimulants only perpetuate
these girls understanding of today’s notion of what sex is and what it can
become. Shaping the power and use of sex these girls have manifested a new
term for currency.
Morning, Robert - California State University, Bakersfield
A Simple Hex Editor
While in my Introduction to Digital Forensics course, I was introduced to a
hex editor. A hex editor allows someone to see the binary data behind files
stored on a computer. It is possible to store data in files that normal users
do not see unless they use a program similar to a hex editor to look for it. It
is also possible for these programs to be used to recover files that were accidentally deleted. There are several of these programs available, but each
has varying degrees of functionality. I wanted to learn the basic behind these
programs to better understand why commercial hex editors were designed
and implemented in particular ways.
Muchinyi, Stephen - California State University, Bakersfield
Utilizing Phage Display to Mine the Active Ligands of Esophageal Cancer
Related Gene (ECRG4)
ECRG4 has previously been shown to be a novel tumor suppressor gene in
several cancers. Located at chromosome 2q12.2, it has an open reading frame
of 444 base pairs that encodes a protein with a predicted mass of 17,000
Daltons. In past laboratory studies, an ECRG4 protein fragment has been
found to internalize in prostate cancer (PC3) cells after selection from a randomly fragmented ECRG4 library. In the present study, we are attempting
to confirm whether ecilin (EC) found in the previous screening was a true
ligand. This was determined by utilizing phage display techniques whereby
the cDNA encoding EC was ligated onto gene III of a M13 bacteriophage. By
transducing PC3 cells with the targeted phage, we confirmed our hypothesis
that ecilin will internalize into the PC3 at a higher efficiency than untargeted
phage thus making it a potential ligand.
Mueller, Paul - Columbia University
Improving Interlaminar Fracture Toughnes by Laser Welding Fibers in a
Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composite Material
Fiber reinforced composite materials, such as fiberglass, are used for many
applications in many fields mainly due to their desirable physical properties such as a high strength to weight ratio. Since these composites are used
everywhere, it is essential that they provide us with the maximum available
benefits from the fibers. Unfortunately, the ultimate strength of these composites cannot be reached due to the presence of interlaminar delamination
and resin matrix fracturing that occurs under certain directional stresses and
strains. The resin matrix is shown to be the weakest link in three mode tests,
thus it takes away the true capabilities of the fibers, and so we hope to completely skip the resin application stage and replace it with a laser weld of the
fibers. Since we are exploring a relatively new topic, there are many obstacles
to be surmounted with little literature to rely on. New and different configurations have been tried to combat these obstacles, and have been overcome
so far. But most currently we have not been able to obtain the desired weld
between the fibers, as they unexpectedly pulled apart when heated. We plan
on understanding why this happens and to adjust our experimental design to
take care of this problem.
Munoz, Francisco - Knox College
Bridging the Gap Between Cinéma Vérité and Surrealism within the short
film model, in Theory and Practice
My McNair project is an exploration of how a traditional narrative can be
rendered in video with cinéma vérité filmmaking techniques (improvisation
and handheld camerawork) and how it can coexist with a surrealist aesthetic
(experimental juxtaposition of images and sounds in editing and sound design) within the context of the short film model. It is a hands-on experience
on the creative process of writing, producing, and directing a short live action
film. The production will employ a guerrilla filmmaking approach not only in
logistical terms (small budget and a skeleton crew) but also stylistically. The
film’s subject matter deals with a lone man struggling to find meaning as he
roams a post-apocalyptic landscape and encounters the deadly surviving remnants of a military government experiment.
Natividad, Joel - Sul Ross State University
A Survey of Ectoparasites of Small Mammals From Guatemala
Five rodent species collected from Plan de Arada, 8km SW of Esquipulas,
Guatemala, located in the Southeastern department of Chiquimula, were surveyed for acarine ectoparasites. This collection of small mammals consisted of
Heteromys desmarestianus, Oryzomys saturatior, Peromyseus beatae, Peromyscus mexicanus, and Scotinomys teguina. Acari were recovered via the
brushing technique, mounted in PVA mounting medium, and identified using
keys and primary literature. The prevalence and mean intensity for each parasite species was determined as per Bush et al (1997), so that results could
be comparable to other ectoparasitic surveys. The examination of 60 hosts of
five species yielded 231 ectoparasites, representing three families of Acari.
Results found Androlaelaps rotundus to be the most prevalent ectoparasite
recovered, followed by Steptolaelaps heteromys, Gigantolaelaps oudemansi,
Glycyphagids, Laelaps castori, Macrocheles nemerdarius, Macrocheles sp.
and Laelaptidae. It is assumed all are new host locality records due to a lack
of prior work in this region.
Navarro, Stacey - California State University, Northridge
How We Care for the Single African American and Latina Women Who are
Facing Poverty
An ethnographic study to the level and quality of care that single impoverished African American and Latina women receive in Pasadena.
My study will examine the level of quality of care that elderly single African
American and Latina women who live in poverty receive. This study will
address that these women don’t receive adequate care from family or government services.The study will look at formal care meaning assistance that
government provides and informal meaning receiving care from a neighbor or
friend. I will conduct and ethnographic study by interviewing women who fit
the following: 65 years of age or older, without partners (boyfriend/husband),
have low economic status, and are African American and Hispanic. This
information is crucial because single African American and Latina women
constitute 15% of most impoverished segment of the United States population
(Spriggs 2007). This becomes a bigger problem when government services are
being cut and/or eliminated. Because these women depend on any type of government care especially, when many of them are disabled or unable to work
due to the age and are receiving very little in pensions that are not enough to
survive on. This is a social injustice that poor Americans face today especially
women of color. Therefore, this study aims to improve current government
services that aid the elderly and advocate for more financial support and better quality of care for elderly minority women living in poverty.
Ndubuizu, Christopher - University of California, Berkeley
The Production of Obesity among African American women: A Matrix of
Domination
Obesity has become a major health concern in the 21st century reaching
epidemic proportions in the United States. A reported 65% of adults in the
United States are overweight resulting in adverse health consequences such
as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension (Blanchard, 2009). Although
obesity is prevalent among all ethnic groups in the United States, there is
a disparity in obesity prevalence between African Americans, particularly
African American women, and other ethnic groups in the United States. The
prevalence of obesity among African American women exceeds all other racial and gender groups (Ogden, 2009) . According to the National Institute
of Health, 54% of African American women are obese as compared to 30%
of non-Hispanic white women (National Institute of Health, 2009). Public
Health scholars make the putative claim that obesity is a result of environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors. However, the literature fails to
address the institution of race as a factor that contributes to obesity. Chandra
Ford’s “Public Health Critical Race Praxis” is used to provide a theoretical
framework which seeks to dismantle the institution of racism so that public
health can administer its objective to alleviate health disparities. Furthermore, I analyze public health literature to locate interrelatedness of race and
obesity among African American women. My findings suggest that the hidden
language of race in the literature represents the maintenance a racial hierarchy and system of domination that exists in public health discourse.
Nelson, Malik - Temple University
An Evaluation of the Renaissance School Initiative in Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is in the process of implementing its
Renaissance Schools Initiative, which includes internal and external turnaround models, which were designed to radically improve student outcomes
in some of the District’s most chronically struggling schools. These models
employ fundamental governance and instructional changes coupled with deep
community involvement. This study, which was commissioned by the Accountability Review Group (ARC), seeks to identify the early successes and
challenges of the implementation process and ways to address these issues
through a thorough investigation comprised of interviews, school visits, media and document review, and analysis of district data sets.
Newsom, Jordan - Knox College
“Between Here and There”: Examining the Role of Space and Repetition in
Shirley Jackson’s Short Story “The Tooth”
Shirley Jackson is often framed either as an author primarily concerned with
the role and preoccupations of women in the 1950s or as peculiar biographical case. So while critics have continued to situate Jackson somewhere between these two defining qualities, very little critical work has focused on the
strange effect of her language. Jackson’s story is striated, as the gothic text
so often is, by multiple repetitions. Crucially, this focus on space at the level
of textual content is itself replicated in Jackson’s language choices in which
sentences operate in and through the repetition of words, phrases and prepositions, thus achieving a loopy and peculiar circularity. It is my argument
that Shirley Jackson does not merely detail the traumatic experience of her
fictional protagonist in ‘The Tooth’: she simultaneously makes that trauma
also part of the experience of the reader of her short story. . In effecting this
doubling, Jackson not only describes the particular traumatic experience of
her protagonist, she also forces her reader to endure it. To achieve this goal,
Jackson’s gothic strategies of spatial circumscription and repetition extend
also to her deployment of language structures.
Nolan, Sean - Knox College
Oscar Wilde and Jacques Lacan
Psychoanalytic theory applied to literary work is meant to reveal the psyche
of the author through studying his or her portrayal of the world as represented in the novel. My research performs such an analysis on the late
nineteenth-century writer Oscar Wilde, focusing particularly on his only
novel The Picture of Dorian Gray as well as on some of his shorter writings.
The theories I use for the analysis are those of Jacques Lacan, the 20th century French psychoanalyst known for his abstract, Freudian-inspired and
Structuralist philosophy. This project attempts to determine the usefulness
of Lacanian thought in understanding Oscar Wilde by putting his theories to
practice in creating a unique analytical approach to Wilde’s works.
Nunez, Jonathan - University of California, Berkeley
Resisting Labor Through Leisure:
Toward Overcoming Capitalism’s Contradiction
A historically embedded (re)interpretation of Karl Marx’s critical theory of
capitalism demonstrates that the elemental contradiction of bourgeois society
lies in its definition of value as labor despite the fact that the forces of production increasingly produce value without labor input. The overcoming of this
contradiction, alongside a socialized form of organization, has the potential
to radically transform society from a labor dominated social order to a leisure abundant social formation. The fulfillment of this potential, however,
is consistently inhibited by capitalism’s reproduction of value-defined labor.
Through an analysis of workers’ practices within the realm farthest removed
from capitalism’s contradiction, i.e. leisure, this study seeks to identify moments of resistance to the reproduction process of value-defined labor in order
to explore the possibility of overcoming capitalism’s contradiction through the
social sphere of non-work.
Nussur, Jonathan - University of California, Berkeley
Session 37D - Saturday, 10:00 -11:20 am, 229 Dwinelle
The Health Knowledge, Perceived Health Barriers, and Health Self Efficacy
of Black Men
The purpose of this study is to measure perceptions of health-related self-efficacy among Black men. Current research shows that the average Black male
has a life expectancy of 68.8 years, giving them the lowest life expectancy
amongst all ethnic, gender, and racial groups in the United States. Currently,
there is little health-related research on Black males in the United States
and even less information about their knowledge and beliefs about their
health. My research question therefore is: To examine the association of
dietary knowledge and health literacy with health-related self-efficacy among
Black men in the United States. I used selected components of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Model in the addition to the Health Beliefs
Model as frameworks for determining the association of health knowledge
with health beliefs. This study recruited a convenience sample of self-identified Black men ages 18 and older residing in the United States (N=60). Participants answered questions addressing health literacy, dietary knowledge,
demographic factors, and perceived health self-efficacy. The primary method
of data collection was through an anonymous online survey. Anonymous surveys were also administered and collected in-person. The online version of the
survey was delivered via email, Facebook, and Twitter. An online version of
the survey was administered for a few reasons: a) This allowed participants
to remain anonymous b) surveys are less likely to be stolen or lost compared
to administering physical copies c) this method offers greater access to subjects that may not have the time or materials to reach. Participants answered
questions pertaining to dietary knowledge, health literacy, attitudes towards
doctor visits, health-related self-care, and were also asked to provide nonidentifiable demographic data. Results suggest that both high health literacy
levels and positive health attitudes are positively correlated with each other;
the latter showing the higher correlation. A greater understanding of the
health attitudes and perceptions of self-efficacy that African-American men
hold may be instrumental in improving the health outcomes of African-American men.
Nyann, Sheena - Westminster College
Session 27C - Friday, 4:10 - 5:30
Who Is Really Helping The Help?: Oppressive Ideologies in Popular Fiction
Popular fiction illustrates commonly accepted ideologies that are represented
in mainstream society. Many bestselling books do not challenge oppressive
ideologies such as White Supremacy and Racism, instead they reinforce them.
A look into the 2009 bestseller The Help by Katheryn Stockett shows that she
seeks to challenge racism, yet she fails because the novel sets up homogenous
white middle class lifestyles and relationships as the norm. Looking at the
novel through the lenses of Whiteness studies, Critical Race Theory and the
sociological concept of Culture of Power, I expose how this novel, a product
of Pop Culture, reinforces White Supremacy and Racism through dialogue. I
use the term dialogue to represent the verbal and non verbal communication
between characters in the novel, as well as to describe how commonly accepted ideologies are communicated through blogs, email, and word of mouth in
mainstream society. Since Pop Culture is created by mainstream society and
common ideologies are communicated through dialogue, it is important to
analyze popular fiction to find out how it is challenging or reinforcing oppressive ideas.
Okwandu, Onyinye - University of California, Berkeley
What’s the Message? The Influence of Social Networks on African American
Young Women Perceptions towards Contraception
Understanding the motivations for contraception-use decisions is a key factor
with growing STI and unplanned pregnancy rates in the African American
Community. Unfortunately, there is a disproportionate rate of Blacks living with sexual diseases that could have easily been avoided with preventive
measures. Primarily, amongst African American young women, contraception is often misunderstood and misconstrued with limited accurate information circulating as mainstream facts. These facts are hindering women from
understanding the severity of their sexual choices. This research uses an in
depth qualitative approach to try and understand sexual behavior and attitudes with special emphasis on the role of social networks within the Health
Belief Model framework.
African American young women are knowledgeable that birth control options
exist but do not fully understand what these options are. The participants
were most concerned with the side effects of hormonal control such as birth
control pills that had not been adequately addressed during their educational
experience.Instead, they are relying on the recommendations and experiences of each other as a guiding tool for their own, and in most cases, uninformed
decisions.
Ontiveros, Jazmin - University of California, Berkeley
Power and Food Access: The case of West Oakland, California
With over forty liquor stores and only one grocery store, the urban neighborhood of West Oakland, California—predominantly African-American and
low-income—lacks access to healthy foods. Labeled a “food insecure” community in recent years, West Oakland has become a popular focus for non-profit
organizations and academics, which create solutions based on community
participation, economic development, sustainable agriculture and urban
gardens. Despite this rise in non-profit organizing and academic research, not
only are the historical geographical transitions of West Oakland widely overThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 174 Abstracts
looked, but also how these transitions have reproduced racial discrimination.
This study examines the effects of West Oakland’s historical industrialization during the World Wars, urban renewal during the 1950’s suburbanization process, and lastly, with the rise of Oakland activism fighting against
racial oppression in the 1960’s, residents’ involvement in food access issues
as a means of community self-empowerment. Through the analysis of historical archives and city policies, evidence shows how the power dynamics of city
elites over West Oakland residents has influenced political, economic, and social processes that have systematically created an urban neighborhood which
lacks healthy food. Most significantly, the findings resemble the process of
internal neo-colonialism—the implementation of “decisions and policies on
considerations of race for the purpose of subordinating a racial group and
maintaining control over that group” (Carmichael and Hamilton, 3).
Onuoha, Ijeoma - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Towards A Sustainable Food System for City of Claremont, CA
The effects of climate change on our planet are becoming unavoidable to deny
reforming detrimental human practices contributing to the problem. Fortunately, City of Claremont, CA has initiated a Sustainability Plan to achieve
Zero waste footprint that will reduce its contribution to environmental degradation by introducing local urban agriculture, better food waste management
and water conservation practices.
Achieving these goals necessitates investigation into current economic activities such as how its food system network is affected by heavy transportation
dependence; or its impact upon availability of local job opportunities, community life and the environment. In order to create a more sustainable food
system, a mixed method approach using quantitative geospatial inventory,
demographic data analysis as well qualitative S.W.O.T. analysis and strategic policy planning recommendations were done to highlight the potentials
and needs of Claremont’s existing Food System.
From information gathered, it was noted that while a strongly established
food retail network thrives within the city, local food production, distribution/
processing and a food waste management program are severely lacking, thus
hindering Claremont from attaining its planned sustainability goals. To be
successful then, Claremont must address community awareness and education programs, form partnerships with local food retail businesses and
adjacent cities to develop revenue generating economic structure for a sustainable food system network.
Otradovec, Jessie - University of Wisconsin, Madison
Exploration of the Latest Numerical-Relativity-Inspired Waveforms from
Compact Binary System Inspiral, Merger, and Ringdown
Coalescing compact binaries are a particularly interesting problem for gravitational wave (GW) astrophysics because they are an important and strong
source of gravitational waves. The form of the gravitational waves from these
systems contains a great deal of information about parameters of the source:
the masses and spins of each object of the binary, and the orbital angular momentum vector of the system, as well as its sky position. There is no known
analytically exact solution of such systems in full General Relativity, but
recent breakthroughs in Numerical Relativity have allowed several groups to
calculate waveforms of late stages of coalescence near the merger and ringdown for multiple points in this parameter space, which together with postNewtonian methods and black hole perturbation theory can provide reliable
waveforms to use for search algorithms in gravitational wave experiments. In
addition, new semi-analytic waveforms are used to interpolate points in binary parameter space between these numerical calculations. There are multiple methods of creating these semi-analytic waveforms. This study examines
the uncertainties and limitations in these families of waveforms, including
for what regions of parameter space they become unreliable, such as systems
with very low symmetric mass ratios or systems with large spins or spins
which are not aligned along the angular momentum. I will also be analyzing the effects of higher order modes in real signals on the effectiveness and
faithfulness of using leading order waveforms as search templates in match
filtering. This study works to validate the waveforms to be used as templates
for pipeline testing, and for parameter estimation with Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) data.
Owusu, Nana - Augsburg College
Mesoscale Nanopatterning Using Lipid Surfactant Templating
Contemporary research in the field of nanotechnology has demonstrated the
self-assembly of nanoparticles. They spontaneously form patterns guided
only by interactions among themselves and with their environment. There
are various methods being investigated by researchers to template nanoparticles and transfer the patterns onto a solid substrate. I have explored the
use of lipids on a Langmuir trough to organize nanoparticles at the air-water
interface and the Langmuir-Blodgett technique to deposit the resulting monolayer. My model system employed the lipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
(DPPC) as a templating agent for dye-loaded polystyrene nanoparticles with
a negatively charged surface. Both fluorescence microscopy and atomic force
microscopy analyses of the deposited monolayers show evidence of nanoparticle patterning by DPPC. The results of this study warrant further investigation of the technique, extending the system to different lipids, nanoparticle
compositions, and nanoparticle surface chemistries.
Padilla, Christian - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Session 42E - Saturday, 2:00 -3:20 pm, 87 Dwinelle
Motion Generation Using Peaucellier Straight-line Mechanisms
The Peaucellier linkage is one of only a handful of known single-degree-offreedom mechanisms that trace an exact straight line. Although the traced
output is a straight line, the relation between input rotation angle and output
position along the traced line is a nonlinear one. The purpose of this study is
to investigate the composite motion of stacked Peaucellier straight-line mechanisms. This information is necessary to better understand how the Peaucellier mechanism, or any other motion generating system of linkages, behaves
when stacked in a serial configuration. After stacking, the original straightline output transforms into a complex curve whose shape is dependent on the
motion of all of the component mechanisms, their geometric parameters, and
how the component Peaucellier cells are interconnected. MATLAB numerical
analysis software was used to generate output curves considering different
stacking configurations as well as mechanism sizes. The final data were analyzed to find correlations between the mechanism link sizes, stacking configurations, and relative output curves. This is a first attempt to characterize
kinematic trace curves for this type of stacked linkage system.
Padilla, Perla - University of California, San Diego
Session 57F - Saturday, 4:00 -5:30 pm, 106 Dwinelle
The Effects of Graphical Progress Monitoring and Competition in Arithmetic
Learning
This study investigates the effects on arithmetic learning of graphical and
non-graphical progress monitoring under both competitive and non-competThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 177 Abstracts
itive conditions. In graphical conditions, accuracy is presented to the participant numerically but reaction time is displayed on a graph. In the nongraphical conditions, both accuracy and reaction time are displayed to the
participant numerically. The competition condition involves the display of a
computer prediction of the participants’ performance after the third block.
Participants are instructed to try to beat the computer prediction. In all
conditions there is correct answer feedback on incorrect trials. Results from a
previous study in which only two conditions were examined—graphical plus
competition and non graphical without competition—suggest that the graphical plus competition condition induces participants to make more errors during training, thus producing error associations. In the current study graphical (present or absent) and competitive (present or absent) conditions are
addressed separately in different combinations to determinate the influence
of these conditions upon the participant’s performance.
Palmer, Eleanor - St. Edwards University
The Self-Compassionate Person Versus the Self-Enhancer: Differences in
Psychological Traits
Recent research indicates that individuals high in self-compassion may be
less likely to self-enhance and to use other ego defense mechanism (Leary et.
al., 2007; Neff & Vonk, 2009). Self-compassion is treating yourself with kindness, while remaining aware of universal human suffering and mindful of
your emotions (Neff, 2003). Self-compassion has been linked to well-being and
other psychological benefits (Neff, Rude, & Kirkpatrick 2007). Self-enhancement consists of the strategies utilized to increase an individual’s self-esteem
(Sedikides & Gregg, 2008). These strategies can have short-term adaptive
benefits, but may have long-term costs (Robins & Beer, 2001). This study
explored the possible inverse relationship between self-compassion and selfenhancement, as well as between self-compassion and ingroup favoritism.
This research also compared self-compassion and self-enhancement in terms
of correlations with anxiety, depression, anger, and personality traits. Selfcompassion did not have a significant relationship with self-enhancement or
ingroup favoritism. Self-compassion negatively correlated with anxiety, depression, and anger, and positively correlated with emotional stability.
Palmer, Sarah J. - University of California, Davis
The Weight of Poverty: Deconstructing the Political Discourse on the United
States Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Domestic
Food Policy
Over thirty-five million Americans live in households unable to consistently
purchase adequate food, government supplemental food programs have aided
in filling the gap. In recent years, a public debate has emerged over the proposition that federal supplemental food programs, namely the Supplemental
Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), contribute to the nation’s obesity
epidemic. Framing the political discourse are two varying points of view regarding the link between supplemental food programs and obesity, wherein
conservatives and liberals disagree about the size and significance of the
effect of this supplemental food program on obesity. Moreover, conservatives
tend to blame the food programs themselves while liberals tend to blame the
high cost of food as well as the lack of healthy food in low-income neighborhoods. However, this is not simply a bipartisan issue; the study demonstrates
that this argument is far more complex. The current study will analyze the
historical development of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
(SNAP), formerly food stamps; in order to examine the contemporary debate
and the most prominent policy trends and perspectives. The study seeks to
contribute to research on the ways in which social-scientific knowledge is
used, and misused, by different ideological constituencies through analyses
of scholarly articles, media stories, government documents and hearings, as
well as through interviews with food policy actors on both the national, state
and local level. It is expected that a general lack of understanding of the complexities within the policy making body of the federal government has played
a larger role in the country’s health epidemic among the poor. Additionally,
the Supplemental Nutritional Food Program has taken the wrongful blame
within this body of criticism. The existing data validates further studies are
needed to demonstrate the complexities of the social policy making process,
and to gain a greater understanding of the United States supplemental food
programs role, if any, in the obesity epidemic and to discover further possible
environmental factors contributing to our nation’s health epidemic.
Palmore, John - University of Alabama
Large Eddy Simulation of a Turbulent Impinging Jet on a Heated Hemispherical Surface
This study looks at a turbulent round jet impinging on a heated convex hemispherical surface. Numerical simulation of the flow and heat transfer process
is performed using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics software
FLUENT. The fluid domain is divided into a large number of small cells over
which the governing partial differential equations of fluid dynamics are discretized. The result is a set of linear algebraic equations which are solvable
on a computer. This study differentiates itself from other studies by using the
Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence model rather than the traditional
Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model. RANS only resolves the
averages of flow properties. LES filters the flow properties instead of averaging them. The filter resolves a greater range of the flow properties than an
average, allowing for more accurate solutions. The underlying assumption
behind LES is that turbulence is caused by tiny vortices or eddies. The effect
of small eddies on the flow is negligible in comparison to the effect of larger
eddies, so only the large eddies need be resolved. Results are compared and
validated against available experimental results to ascertain the accuracy of
the turbulence models and whether the LES model provides the most accurate solution.
Pammit, Alexis S. - University of California, San Diego
Development of Culture Conditions for the Maintenance and Expansion of
Progenitor Cell Populations Along the Pancreatic Endoderm Lineage
Type I diabetes results from an autoimmune disease that attacks insulinsecreting β-cells in the pancreas. Although Type I diabetes has been treated
with pancreatic beta cell transplantation, this strategy is limited by the
availability of cadaverous pancreatic beta cells. Human pluripotent stem
cells (hPSCs) offer a novel source of pancreatic beta cells. Significant effort
has been invested in the development of protocols for the differentiation of
hPSCs towards pancreatic progenitors and ultimately mature β-cells. However, to produce sufficiently large quantities of cells transplantation and drug
screening studies the current shortcomings of low percentage and yield of in
vitro generated insulin-expressing cells will need to be overcome. A potential
strategy for generating large quantities of pancreatic progenitors required for
therapeutic purposes would be to isolate, purify, and expand intermediate cell
populations and subsequently guide these cells through the next stage of differentiation. Using a high-throughput microarray technology, we will screen
combinations of extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and small
molecules for their ability to facilitate intermediate progenitor proliferation.
Development of conditions for maintenance and expansion of these transient
cell populations will aid in differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to
yield a substantial supply of pancreatic beta cells for cell therapies.
Paredes Chumbirizo, Leslie - University of California, Davis
Session 18B - Friday, 2:00 -3:30 pm, 160 Dwinelle
Detection of Plasma Autoantibodies in Young Children with and without Autism to Non-Human Primate Brain Tissue
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the normal functioning
of the brain, causing deficits in the areas of social interaction and communication. The causes of autism are yet understood. A recent study determined
that 21% of children with autism have autoantibodies in their plasma that
are directed against cerebellar Golgi cells (inhibitory interneurons or GABAergic interneurons) compared with 2% of the typically developing controls
(Amaral, 2008). However, a recent study using a larger sample size found
that autoantibodies are not unique to children with autism since the same
percentage, 10% ,of autoantibodies directed against interneurons were found
in both autistic and typically developing children (Rossi, 2011). Even though
autoantibodies are not directly related to autism, it has been correlated to
deficits in children’s behavior. A previous study has shown that children
whose plasma reacted to neurons in the brain scored higher than those whose
plasma did not on the following scales: somatic complaints, withdrawn and
attention problems (Rossi, 2011). The objective of the current study is to
detect the presence of autoantibodies in the plasma of pediatric patients to
brain tissue in non-human primates using immunohistochemistry. This study
will not only help to visualize the location that the autoantibodies attach,
but also the specific brain cells to which they bind. The plasma samples will
be used as primary antibody sources for tissue immunohistochemistry using
macaque monkey brain sections to demonstrate staining in two brain regions:
hippocampus and cerebellum. This study will provide data on several brain
reactive antibodies in plasma from children with autism and compare this
data to typically developing children who have the autoantibodies but not autism. Further analysis will be required in order to determine the role of these
autoantibodies during child development.
Parral, Skye N. - California State University, Fullerton
Exploring the Relationship Between the Preschool Home Environment and
Middle Childhood Academic Intrinsic Motivation
Previous research has shown a relationship between both distal and proximal
variables of the home environment and academic intrinsic motivation from
childhood through adolescence. Unique to this study, earlier ages are used
to show this relationship. We examined how aspects of the preschool home
environment at 39 months are related to academic intrinsic motivation at 8
years. The data used to explore this relationship was obtained from the Fullerton Longitudinal Study. The sample is comprised of 130 children using 101
observations, approximately equal in gender (52% male), and predominately
European-American (90%). The proximal home environment was measured
using the Home Observation and Measurement of the Environment (HOME)
for Early Childhood, utilizing all subscales. Academic intrinsic motivation
was measured by the Young Children’s Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (YCAIMI) at 8 years of age.
A correlation between the HOME subscales and YCAIMI subscales revealed a
positive relationship. The Enjoyment of Difficult School Work subscale of the
YCAIMI measures how much the child likes to do easy work in specific subject areas and school in general. The difficult subscale was positively correlated with several subscales of the HOME; stimulation through toys, games and
reading materials, stimulation of academic behavior, and variety of stimulation with the highest of r =.36, r-squared = .13. These subscales were used as
predictors of the Enjoyment of Difficult School Work subscale, in a multiple
linear regression. Significant results reveal the subscale, stimulation of academic behavior, as the only significant predictor. Suggesting that the encouragement to learn at a young age may be acting as encouragement of learning
pre-academic skills, which may lead into the development of academic intrinsic motivation at 8 years. The relationships between these subscales reveal
that academic intrinsic motivation at the age of 8 is related to the quality of
the child’s early home environment.
Pearce, Alexandra R. - University of Nevada, Reno
Synthesis of Macrocyclic Polyamines and Their Metal Complexes Targeting
HIV-1
M40401, a macrocyclic polyamine, is a well-known antioxidant and, as of
late, it has been studied for anti-HIV properties. It was reported to reduce
apoptosis of astrocytes caused by HIV-1 infected macrophages (M/M) supernatants(1), and in 2005, a poster presented by Stefano Aquaro at the International Conference for Antiviral Research claimed that HIV-1 replication was
reduced in infected M/M when treated with M40401. Our goal is to synthesize
M40403, a similar molecule, as well as other related molecules for further
study. This will be accomplished by first synthesizing N,N’-Bis[(1R,2R)-(2amino)cyclohexyl]-1,2-diaminoethane tetrachloride, and manganese chloride
from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. Then this compound will undergo metaltemplated condensation with an existing head group and metal to create a
Schiff’s base, which will then be reduced. M40403 and previously synthesized
related molecules have been shown to have anti-HIV properties; in particular,
these molecules appear to act as HIV-1 entry-inhibitors by down-modulating
the CXCR4 and CCR5 co-receptors found on T-cells. We will synthesize at
least three more related molecules in an attempt to maximize the ratio of potency to toxicity. Promising IC50 values have already been reported against
HIV-1 for some of the related molecules. Hopefully by tweaking the molecules, we will find one that can eventually be made into a drug to help the
fight against HIV-1. (Mollace, V. et al., 2002)
Pedroza, Karina - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Underpinnings of Attitudes Toward Immigration
The purpose of this research is to demonstrate why people might hold negative attitudes toward immigration. The source of attitudes toward immigration was examined. Previous research has examined if personality traits
or other motivations, such as Blind and Constructive Patriotism (Spry &
Hornsey, 2007) and Integrated Threat Theory (Stephan, Ybarra, & Bachman,
1999), would predict immigration attitudes. However, past research focused
on each approach individually. Thus, beliefs and motivations, in combination,
were examined to determine origins of anti-immigrant attitudes. Participants
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed several scales in an online survey that measured social attitudes and agreement with immigration
notions. It is expected that high scores on the blind patriotism scale will be
positively correlated with perceptions of threat. Perceptions of threat in turn
will predict agreement with negative immigration notions, specifically the
belief that immigrants threaten the position of the majority. We expect that
constructive notions of patriotism will be negatively correlated with perceptions of threat and will also be positively correlated with positive immigration
stereotypes and preferences. Egalitarian notions of patriotism will also be
predictive of beliefs that immigrants deserve equal treatment in the United
States. Implications for public policy and education concerning anti-immigrant attitudes are discussed.
Pekar, Jennifer - University of Akron
The Relationship Between IgY(ΔFc) and the Endangered White Winged Wood
Duck’s High Susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium Infection
The population of the native Asian white-winged wood duck (WWWD) is declining at a rapid rate, resulting in their listing on the endangered species list
due to the fact that these ducks are highly susceptible to infection by the soilwater bacterium Mycobacterium avium (MA). This bacterium is commonly
found at the soil-water interface where it forms a biofilm due to the high lipid
content in the bacterium’s cell envelope. This high lipid content makes the
bacterium exceedingly resistant to antibiotics. Mycobacterium avium is the
causative agent of tuberculosis (Avium TB). Little is known about the role immunoglobulins play in mounting an inflammatory response. What is known
is that ducks are highly susceptible to Avium TB between two and five years
of age. Our research results show that this phenomenon is most likely due to
antibody class switching. Ducks possess a unique immune system because
they express both whole IgY as well as truncated IgY(ΔFc) antibodies. The
problem with the truncated IgY(ΔFc) antibody is that it can only perform secondary effector functions since the Fc region of the antibody that would normally bind antigens has been deleted. To investigate the influence of IgY(ΔFc)
in ducks exposed to soil and where MA is most prevalent, we developed a
biological assay that isolates the two duck antibodies, IgY and IgY (Fc) and
identified them by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Time-of-Flight (MALDITOF) mass spectrometry to investigate whether or not IgY(ΔFc) increases in
ducks exposed to soil where MA is prevalent.
Penalver, Renee - California State University, Bakersfield
Effects of Bright Light Treatment: A Randomized Placebo Controlled CrossOver Design
The purpose of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of bright light
treatment on memory (recall and recognition) in the university setting. Participants (N=14) will be administered 6 days of bright light treatment (10,000
lux) and 6 days of placebo (300 lux) as a part of a placebo-controlled randomized cross-over study. During day one and day eight of each treatment recall
will be assessed. During day two, three, four, five, six, and seven recognition
will be assessed. Both response time and accuracy will be quantified. Participants will also keep a sleep and exercise log during the duration of the experiment. The experiment will take place over a 17 day period including two
6 day sessions plus the 5 day treatment holiday between the two sessions. A
comparison of the bright light treatment to the placebo will be made.
Perdomo-Ucles, Bertrand - University of Southern California
Community Organizations Role in Attaching Former Inmates to the Labor
Market
Residents in urban communities face several barriers in their attempt to access employment. Some residents have resorted to the informal economy and
illegal substance abuse due to the lack of employment opportunities. Tough
on crime policy has been a key factor in integrating residents who engaged in
illegal activities into the prison system. This research comes in a time when
California, for example, is expected to release 30,000 prisoners in the next
couple of years. Many of the inmates are expected to return to their communities. Unfortunately, former inmates are at risk for addiction, homelessness,
and unemployment. Prior literature states that reentry programs that secure
employment for former inmates reduces recidivism-the rotation out of prison
and back in- and creates stability in urban communities. This study analyzes
community organization’s programs across various cities that attach former
inmates into the labor market by securing job stability. Moreover, it compares the effectiveness in providing vocational and work programs to former
prison and jail inmates and guaranteeing them employment upon their return into their community. This study shows the elements and methods that
community organizations use to successfully attach former inmates to the
labor market. Interviews with nonprofit organizations and other shareholders
are conducted to analyze their role in helping secure jobs.
Petty, Iris R. - University of Nevada, Reno
Female Monasticism in the Roman Empire: Saint Augustine’s Rule For Nuns
Augustine of Hippo’s Rule for Nuns has long been a source of contention
among patristic scholars. The historiography is filled with debate over the
Rule’s primacy, authorship and even authenticity. However, the prominent
consensus among scholars is that the Rule for Nuns was not only penned by
Augustine, but was in fact written before his Rule for Monks. If this is indeed
the case, it reveals an extraordinary intellectual and social climate within
the fifth century Church in which women could gain equality with men by
renouncing their sexuality, while simultaneously retaining their femininity,
as they became maternal guides for the Christian community. Evidence of
Augustine’s unique reverence for holy women—even among his contemporaries—is found within his letters, treatises and Confessions. The reappraisal
of these sources seeks to balance the factions in current patristic thinking
with a multi-faceted perception of the Late Antique Church and one of its
most influential leaders. In addition, I will suggest motivations and precedents for an Augustinian Rule for Nuns by comparing the aforementioned
sources to those of Augustine’s cotemporaries. If a unique dichotomy does exists between Augustine and other Church fathers’ views of holy women, then
more credence may be given to Augustinian authorship of the Rule for Nuns
found in Letter 211 and its primacy over the Rule for Monks.
Portanova, Jena - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Juglans californica and its Role in Autoalleopathy and Seed Germination
Seeds of the tree Juglans californica do not appear to germinate under or
near the canopy of adult trees. It was hypothesized that the germination of
these seeds may be inhibited by the physical presence of leaf litter under
the canopy or a chemical inhibitor produced by the trees such as juglone. To
study this phenomenon, seeds were planted in pots filled with commercial
planting mix subjected to one of the following treatments for 6 weeks: deionized water, deionized water in pots with leaf litter covering the soil surface,
juglone in deionized water, or a tea made of adult tree leaves and branches
in deionized water. After 6 weeks, all pots received deionized water. Overall,
only 12% of seeds germinated. Unexpectedly, the juglone pretreatment group
resulted in the highest percentage of
germination and seedling growth, followed by leaf litter and the tea and
control groups, which had the same percent germination. Although more
research is needed, the results indicate that deionized water may inhibit seed
germination, possibly due to lack of mineral nutrients. Results also indcate
that neither juglone nor J. californica leaf litter inhibit germination.
Portier, Evan - University of California, Berkeley
The Curious Case of Perennial Pepperweed:
Nitrogen Cycling in a Pepperweed Invaded Pasture
Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is a pervasive perennial exotic species that
has spread throughout the western United States, invading natural and agricultural systems. Pepperweed has been documented to increase soil microbial
enzyme activity associated with nitrogen (N) mineralization, but the effect
of pepperweed on soil N cycling has not been determined. The objective of
this study was to determine if pepperweed impacts gross N cycling rates and
nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in an irrigated grassland soil. We used 15N
pool dilution and tracer techniques to measure rates of gross N mineralization, gross nitrification, dissimilatory nitrate (NO3-) reduction to ammonium
(NH4+) (DNRA), and net N2O fluxes from replicate plots (n = 6 per cover
type) dominated by pepperweed versus dominated by an invasive annual
grass (Hordenum murinem) with no pepperweed present. Because pepperweed has extensive root systems, we measured gross N cycling rates at three
depths (0-20, 20-40, 40-60 cm) to determine pepperweed effects through the
soil profile. Soil NH4+ and NO3- concentrations, microbial biomass N (MBN),
and gravimetric soil moisture content were also measured at each soil depth.
Soil oxygen (O2) concentrations were measured from soil equilibration chambers buried at 10, 30, and 50 cm depth.
Portillo, Regina - St. Edwards University
Creativity, Personality, and Psychological Health:
Understanding the Benefits of Being Creative
Creativity is craved by literally every field and holds increasing importance
in a constantly changing world. Several personality traits have been linked
to creative performance, especially openness to experience, self-efficacy, and
perseverance (Prabhu, Sutton, & Sauser, 2008). To further understand the
relationship between levels of creativity and certain personality traits as well
as states of well-being, an online survey study was conducted on undergraduate college students at a small, liberal arts college in the south. In accordance
with previous literature, it was hypothesized that creativity, in terms of creative thinking style and creative self-efficacy, would be strongly related to the
three personality traits (self-efficacy, perseverance, and openness to experience). Also, we hypothesized that creativity would be related to low levels of
anxiety, certain stress coping strategies, and high levels of subjective wellbeing. This study found support for both self-efficacy and perseverance and a
partial relationship to openness to experience as being related to creativity.
As for psychological health benefits, creative thinking style was strongly related to low levels of anxiety and high levels of subjective well-being. Creative
self-efficacy was closely related to two levels of stress coping: acceptance and
humor.
Poveda-Toriche, Gloria - University of California, Davis
Session 47E - Saturday, 2:00 -3:20 pm, 109 Dwinelle
Maintaining Dignity and Self-Worth:
Challenging Race and Gender Oppression in Higher Education
This project will examine the experiences of Chicana faculty in higher education within the University of California system and how they maintain a
positive self-identity within a racist and patriarchal higher education structure that today faces unprecedented budget cuts. According to the US census
bureau by the year 2050, 30 percent of the nation’s population will be Hispanic; out of which 66 percent will be of Mexican background. California has been
and continues to be home to the largest growing population of Latin American immigrants, including Mexican immigrants. Almost half (48.2 percent, or
3.8 million) of all Mexican migrants live in California (Center for Immigration Studies, 2001). However, the University of California faculty does not
reflect the diversity of the state. Based on 13 oral interviews with Chicana/
Latina faculty about their experiences in academia, a qualitative analysis
will reveal the different strategies they use to maintain a positive self-image
and to build a more humanistic and equitable work environment.
Pride III, Samuel - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Inclusion of the African Diaspora in US History Courses
It is my contention that the concept of the Diaspora should be taught in high
school and middle school US History courses. I am submitting my research to
the Association for the Study of African American Life & History’s Black History Bulletin, which is focusing on bringing “hidden gems” of African American history into the American classroom in US History courses in middle and
high schools. The current way that US History is being taught in American
classrooms leaves the African American story disjointed and incomplete. I
believe that the African Diaspora can help to complete this story.
Quintilla, Olivia - San Diego State University
The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem in Mexican American Female University Students
To investigate the relationship between self-esteem and ethnic identity
among Mexican American female university students I review selected theoretical models, paradigms, and research literature related to self-esteem and
ethnic identity. After reviewing various psychological mechanisms that affect
ethnic identity development and self-esteem in Mexican American female
University students, I propose a model for use by student affairs professionals to aid students in attaining high levels of self-esteem and a strong sense
of ethnic identity. The intervention model that I have created shows the progression of ethnic identity development at different stages and emphasizes
the crucial time frames in which an intervention is needed.
Rackley, Nick - East Central University
Session 33D - Saturday, 10:00 -11:20 am, 105 Dwinelle
Hsp90 Inhibition
Hsp90 inhibition has arrived on the scene as an exciting new target for the
development of anti-cancer agents as they are highly toxic to cancer cells, but
much less so to healthy tissue. 90 kDa heat shock protein(Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that supports the function and structure of various proteins in
vivo. These substrate proteins are dependent upon Hsp90. When it is inhibited, these Hsp90-dependent proteins are subjected to proteolysis in vivo.
This project aims to characterize the impacts of two anti-Hsp90 compounds,
KU174 and KU412, in two models for breast cancer, MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cell
lines. The effects of these compounds will be compared to the flagship Hsp90
inhibitor 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17demethoxy-geldanamycin(17DMAG). Apoptosis assays, anti-proliferation assays, and Western blots were
used to characterize these compounds.
Rafah, Ahmad - California State University, Bakersfield
Detection of Coccidioides immitis, the Valley Fever Fungus in Loamy Soils at
the Allensworth Ecological Reserve, CA
Coccidioides immitis is a fungal pathogen endemic to semi-arid soils in
Southern California. The inhalation of its spores can cause coccidioidomycosis, a disease also known as Valley Fever. In this project, we investigated
bulk soil samples for the presence of the pathogen in non-agricultural loamy
soils at Allensworth Ecological Reserve, which is in the very southern part
of Tulare County, California. This site was chosen because the soils physical
and chemical parameters predict the occurrence of C. immitis (USDA websoilsurvey database). Furthermore, at this site many rodents such as ground
squirrels and kangaroo rats are thriving. Samples were taken at the entrance
of burrows and at sites several meters away. It is assumed that these rodents are frequently infected with the pathogenic fungus by digging in the
soil to establish their burrows. Infected rodents that succumb to the disease
and die in their burrows might infect the soils close to their home. Samples
were taken in May 2010 (0-15 cm depth) and the DNA of the soil microbiota
was extracted using the MoBio Powersoil DNA extraction kit. To detect the
pathogen, we used the multiplex PCR method first published by Greene et al
(2000), but optimized soil handling and storage, DNA extraction procedure,
and PCR protocol.
Ramcharan, Stacy - Columbia University
Polymer Nanocomposites:
Seeking a Relationship between Nanoparticle Size and Polymer Reinforcement
Dispersing nanoparticles throughout a polymer can enhance its mechanical
properties. The high surface area to volume ratio attributed to particles at
the nanoscale enables greater particle-particle interaction and facilitates the
formation of particle networks throughout the polymer matrix (when the particle loading is sufficient). But particle-polymer interaction is not as strong
with spherical particles as it is with their planer counterparts. Measuring
the thickness of the immobilized polymer bound layer that spontaneously
forms around the surface of the particles in a filled nanocomposite is one way
to quantify the extent of the particle-polymer and particle-particle interactions. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to determine
the fraction of a nanocomposite sample that is made of silica particles and
that which is made of the polymer bound layer. Nanocomposite samples are
prepared in either methyl ethyl keytone or isopropanol and are composed of
Poly(2-vinylpyridine), silica nanoparticles, pyridine, and if the sample is to
be annealed, Irganox 1010. It has been previously been found that annealing
the nanocomposites before analyzing on the TGA can eliminate any solvent
effects. Here, experiments are conducted to test the effects of anneal time, of
polymer molecular weight, and of particle size on the bound layer thickness.
Additional experiments were also necessary to optimize the amount of pyridine added, and to correct for the presence of a coating over the particles as
obtained from the manufacturer.
Ramirez, Brian - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Improving the Life of Composites in Creep via Proof Testing
Composites are made from two or more materials to produce a combination
with properties superior to that of any one of its components. Laminate composites are known for their high strength, improved corrosion resistance, and
light weight. The manufacturing of laminate composites can produce defects
within the material interfaces and layers. These defects can cause a localization of failures due to a variation in fiber, matrix, and interface properties
produced by the manufacturing process itself. In order to increase the reliability of a material in a certain application, one tool that has been used is
proof testing. Proof testing is when a material is stressed to a predetermined
load, usually a load larger than the load which is going to be applied in real
application, but less than its yield or failure strength. The proof load can
filter the weaker specimens by causing them to fail and only the stronger
specimens will be left for use. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate
whether the life of composites in creep (constant stress at high temperatures)
can be improved through proof testing, or if proof testing damages the specimens and actually results in a net reduction of specimen life in service. Based
on the preliminary data it appears that at high proof loads (90% of its fracture load or higher), the specimens are damaged and their life shortened, but
at moderate proof loads (between 60-80 % of its fracture load), there may be
some improvement of the minimum life of the specimens. If a range of proof
loads can be verified which is demonstrated to eliminate weak specimens
without damaging strong ones, this would allow us to be less concerned about
random manufacturing variations when designing with composites.
Rasmussen, Dahna - California State University, Bakersfield
Pleanary Session F - Sunday, 11:30 - 12:20 pm, 155 Dwinelle
Use of the N-word by Black/African American College Students in Bakersfield, California
The N-word has been historically used, by primarily white Americans, to
demean and degrade black Americans, and continues to be used in a derogatory manner by both Blacks and Whites in the present day American lexicon.
Ironically, it is now being used by African Americans, predominately younger
people, often as a term of endearment towards friends, family, and acquaintances; consequently, this apparent contradiction can cause intercultural
confusion and miscommunication. Utilizing data obtain from survey responses and individual interviews, it is this duality that I will explore and explain
while attempting to answer the following questions: 1) Does the N-word have
multiple meanings? 2) Are those meanings shaped by the context of use, the
race of the speaker and receiver? 3) What does it mean to those who do use
the word in their everyday discourse?
Reed, Mia - Temple University
Unveiling the Obesity Mystery
Obesity is one of the most prevalent conditions in American society. 26.5% of
American adults are considered obese and 36.6% are considered overweight.
There are studies that tie obesity to poor metabolism by the liver, non alcoholic fatty liver disease and hypoactive thyroids but what if a person has
none of these pre-existing conditions? What is the explanation behind their
obesity? This study will examine the effect of hypertension on vessels that
regulate bile production in the liver. Since bile emulsifies fats to be digested
and used by the body if bile production is inhibited excess fat may store and
cause obesity in the remainder of the population.
Riley, Nelanhta - Xavier University of Louisiana
Does Feedback During Testing Change Recognition Memory
Criterion Settings?
Detection theory relates choice behavior to a psychological decision process
in which the subjects ability to discriminate between old and new stimuli
is based on how distinct information is in memory (Macmillan & Creelman,
2005, p. XVII). This cognitive distribution is what one may use to measure
their ability to confidently discriminate between old and new targets (information). If discriminability is high, then a conservative criterion setting
can be applied which reduces the chances of making incorrect decisions. The
criterion setting is the memory filter used to identify information on a target
distribution as being old or new (Morrell et al., 2002). This study predicted
that Criterion shifts should occur in the 40-item block condition and false
alarms rates will be lower within the strong blocks, feedback might enhance
this criterion shift, little or no criterion shift should be observed within the
10-item block condition. The 40 item block condition indicates that participants were able to shift criterion settings within a single test and this effect
was enhanced by the presence of feedback. There was some evidence of a
slight criterion shift within the 10 item block condition as well, but nothing
was significant.
Rios, Christopher - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Effect of Illumination and Facial Transformation on
Eyewitness Eyedentification
This study explored the effects of illumination and facial transformation on
eyewitness identification accuracy in the context of a car theft. The purpose
for this research is that eyewitness identification is generally accepted as being the most common reason for wrongful convictions in the USA. Therefore,
much research in this field is needed. Subjects were 73 male and 93 female
undergraduates from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Subjects were assigned to one of six conditions: (1) daylight with no change in appearance, (2) daylight with modified appearance: (3) start of twilight with no
change in appearance, (4) start of twilight with modified appearance, (5) end
of twilight with no change in appearance, (6) end of twilight with modified appearance. Subjects observed pictures of an implied car theft; shot in daylight,
start of twilight or end of twilight illumination levels, in which a male suspect wore dark clothing and a beard. Subjects who viewed the photos in the
start of twilight or end of twilight illumination level had significantly lower
accuracy in choosing the correct suspect out of either photo spread than those
who viewed the daylight illumination level photos. However, subjects in the
end of twilight condition performed at a higher level than those in the start
of twilight condition. Facial transformation was a factor only in the daylight
condition. The results from this study match prior research.
Roberts, Alaina E. - University of California, Santa Barbara
“Thank God Almighty, I’s Free At Last”: Racial Identity and the
Emancipation Experience of African American Slaves in the Chickasaw
Indian Nation
African American slaves in the United States are usually only thought of in
terms of abused slaves owned by wealthy white planters. However five Southeastern American Indian tribes, historically known as the “Five Civilized
Tribes,” also adopted the institution of African chattel slavery. The 1863 issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation freed all African American slaves in
Confederate territories of rebellion and the 1865 issuance of the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in all areas under the jurisdiction of the United
States. Unfortunately for the African American slaves within the Chickasaw
Indian Nation, none of these milestones applied, because Indian Territory
(later known as Oklahoma) was not considered part of the United States.
This paper, using 1930s Works Progress Administration interviews, examines the articulations of emancipation that convey the unique lives of African
Americans in the Chickasaw Indian Nation, and in all of Indian Territory.
Two main groups of sentiment emerged among the freed slaves of the Chickasaw Nation regarding their place of belonging in the transition from slave to
free: those who desired to leave Indian Territory and make their home in the
United States, and those who felt a sense of belonging with the tribe, if not
through blood, through their shared experience and culture. The experiences
of the slaves and freedmen of the Chickasaw Indian Nation provide them and
their descendants with a unique identity and history, and deserve to be integrated into the narrative of American history and of African American emancipation.
Roberts, Antonio D. - Xavier University of Louisiana
Response of Immortalized Human Small Airway Epithelial Cells (SAEC) to
Oxidative Stress
Genotoxic stresses, or oxidative stresses, are significant stimulates that can
induce the formation of carcinogenesis, especially in cases of lung cancer.
Human primary cells are traditionally used as an experimental control when
compared to cancerous cells. However, many problems that are associated
with primary cells, including senescence vulnerability and varied responses,
may compromise data gathered in research using primary cells as a means
of comparison. Toward understanding of the cellular defense and signaling
pathways triggered by genotoxic stresses in lung small airway epithelial cells
(SAEC), in this study immortalized SAEC (iSAEC) expressing the human
telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene were characterized. Using
the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, a protocol was established for DNA
transfection efficiency of the iSAEC that was higher than those of primary
SAEC (pSAEC) and a lung adenocarcinoma cell line, A549.Unexpectedly,
iSAEC appeared to be highly susceptible to genotoxic stresses with MDM2
activation, while analysis of the cJun promoter activity indicated that iSAEC
maintain a normal level of the AP-1 activity comparable to that of pSAEC.
Basic characteristics of the iSAEC, including the growth condition, efficiency
of transient transfection using two different reporter genes, i.e., green fluorescent protein (GFP) and firefly luciferase under the human cJun promoter,
were evaluated. Further examination also revealed whether or not the iSAEC
retain the ability to respond to genotoxic stresses including UV light and
reactive oxygen species. Taken together, the data and research present an
experimental framework that should be uniquely valuable for studying the
molecular genetics of lung cancer.
Robinson, Cameron - Montana State University
Spatial Recognition in the Ischemic Gerbil:
The Effect of Object Exposure on Performance
The Mongolian gerbil has been used to model the physiological as well as behavioral deficits following transient cerebral ischemia. This type of stroke can
be caused by anoxia or cardiac arrest, which deprives the brain of oxygenated
blood. The pyramidal cells located in the CA1 region of the hippocampus are
extremely sensitive to this type of insult. The hippocampus has been associated with specific cognitive functions such as learning, memory, and spatial
navigation. Although there has been a considerable amount of research into
the effects of a global ischemic episode on the brain, there are still a limited
number of spatial recognition paradigms available to evaluate the behavioral
consequences of brain ischemia in the gerbil. The objective of the present
studies was to evaluate the impact of transient cerebral ischemia on spatial
recognition memory in the gerbil. In Experiment 1, gerbils were habituated
to the empty testing apparatus for 5 consecutive days (5 min trials) following
ischemic insult (5-min bilateral carotid occlusion) or sham procedure. Next,
subjects were exposed to two identical objects in the apparatus for 5 mins.
After a 3 min intertrial interval, animals were returned to the apparatus
with one of the objects moved to a novel location. Exploratory behavior data
during this phase were collected using an automated tracking system. In Experiment 2, the identical procedure was followed except that experimentally
naïve subjects were exposed to the test object during the 5 consecutive days
of apparatus habituation. Results suggest that the amount of exposure to the
test objects is an important variable in the evaluation object spatial memory
in the gerbil model of transient cerebral ischemia.
Robinson, Dana Olivia - Knox College
Effects of Microclimate on the Reproductive Biology of Besseya bullii
Populations of Besseya bullii, a rare prairie perennial, were studied at seven
sites in northern Illinois. To determine whether microclimate affected the
plant’s reproductive success, fruit set and seed set were compared among
individuals in shaded, partially shaded, and unshaded environments. Ten
plants per site were covered with insect exclosures before flowering to assess
the importance of pollinator visitation. Seed production in the caged plants
indicated self-fertilization. Shading is a conservation issue because woody
plant encroachment is a consequence of human intervention in prairie ecosystems: fire prevention allows trees and shrubs to proliferate.
Rodriguez, Angel - University of California, Santa Barbara
“The Special Period in a Time of Peace” Cuban: 1989-1998
The collapse of the U.S.S.R in 1989 marked the beginning of what Fidel Castro called the “Special Period in a Time of Peace” for Cuba. It is within the
context of the “Special Period” (1989-1998) and Cuba’s severe economic crisis
resulting from disruptions in economic assistance from the former Soviet
Union, that I analyze contested political discourses on race and gender. This
research project examines how economic adjustments in urban settings with
the development of tourism played a particular important role in reconstructing Cubano identity and unexpectedly reshaped new areas of social exclusion
for the island’s citizens. I conducted a close reading of legislation, speeches,
newspapers, other media, and census to draw connections between modified
public spheres and the impact on identity. By building upon other scholars
who have written on this era in Cuban history, I continue to highlight the
important changes that continue to occur in Cuba today.
Rodriguez, Arturo - University of Arizona
Mexican American Based Education: A Theoretical Review of the Mexican
American Studies Model and its Transformation into Educational Realities
“In 2000-2001, nearly 45% of all high school dropouts in Arizona were Latino,
while Latinos were only 31.6% of the total student population in grades 7-12”
(Gonzalez & Szecsy, 2002, p. 5). In response, Tucson community members
organized and called for a Mexican American Studies Department, in 2003,
to serve Latino students and reduce the educational attainment gap between
Latinos and their ethnic counter parts. This summer I designed and conducted a research project aimed towards the evaluation of TUSD’s Mexican American Studies Department with the intensions of improving and expanding
the program. The research project is based on the Mexican American Studies
model that consists of three tiers; curriculum, pedagogy, and student-teacherparent interactions. Interviews based on Irving Siedman will be conducted to
have the program’s evaluation based on the students’ experiences. The theoretical foundation of the MASD and its courses lead to two hypotheses. The
first will see if the program increases the educational attainment for Latino
students in higher education. The second hypothesis seeks to understand how
well the educators under the program transform theory into practice. Lastly,
results from this research project shine upon the cracks and leaks of the
program, and suggestions on educational structures, policies and practices
will, in hopes, further improve the experiences and educational attainment of
Latino students in the program.
Rodriguez, Elizabeth - Southern Nazarene University
Relationship Between Peer Pressure and Internalization of Religious Values
in Adolescents and College Students
The purpose of this research is to survey the relationship between the internalization of religious values and the experience of peer pressure in both
adolescents and college students. Specifically the relationship between peer
pressure and the internalization of religious values will be investigated. Differences between adolescents and college student’s experience of peer pressure and internalization of religious values will also be explored. This study
will contribute to the growing literature on the connections of values and
behavior. This study will assist in giving a better understanding on the importance of teaching values to adolescents. Using a fifty-three question Peer
Pressure Inventory (PPI), a thirty-two items Revised Religious Life Inventory (RLI-R) and a twelve item Christian Religious Internalization Scale
(CRIS), participants from various youth groups and undergraduate classes at
the Southern Nazarene University are questioned on how they handle peer
pressure. Students are questioned on their religious values and their church
attendance frequency. This study is in attempt to bring awareness to parents,
schools and churches the extent to which teaching values to children may
make a difference in the behaviors of their children.
Rodriguez, Mia - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Evidence of Social Stratification Based on Human Remains from the Site of
Tizapán in West Mexico
This research project focuses on a small sample of a population excavated
at the archaeological site of Tizapán located in the city of Tizapán el alto in
Jalisco, Mexico. Clement Meighan and his team excavated this population in
the 1960s, in an attempt to salvage information from the site after occurrences of looting and flooding. The purpose of my project was to analyze the reThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 197 Abstracts
mains in search of traits, such as pathologies or nutritional deficiencies, that
can best identify their social standing, thereby making a general conclusion
of the complexity of the society overall, and in turn, add to the archaeological
record. I also studied the burial artifact associations to support my findings
and compared them to populations in surrounding areas. With this I was able
to determine that this particular sample population reflected the complex
societies nearby. This research was conducted by means of the annex of the
Fowler Museum at UCLA, where the remains and artifacts are stored.
Rodriguez-Sotelo, Trevor - Augsburg College
Using Labview to Make A Homemade Magnetic Needle Viscometer UserFriendly
LabVIEW is a standard programming platform for apparatus design, data
collection, and analysis. This program allows one computer to interface with
several experimental components simultaneously. I will learn how to use
LabVIEW to a proficient level as I implement a single graphical user interface to control the various systems required for operation of Augsburg College’s Magnetic Needle Viscometer. This device is used to measure the surface viscosity of surfactant films at the air-water interface.
Roomsburg, Amy - California State University, Bakersfield
Post-materialism, Direct Democracy, and Minority Rights
As western industrialized nations have begun to make the shift from materialistic to post-materialistic values, the gap between developed and developing
nations will become more distinct. This post-materialistic change from collectivism to individualism has brought about several social movements concerning the rights of minorities; however, the focus of civil rights has begun
to shift from class and race, to women and homosexuals especially within the
United States, Canada, and Western Europe. This research looks at three
main areas, access to direct citizen legislation, cultural heritage, and socioeconomics, in 50 different countries from the World Values Survey. As yet,
few have looked to the effect direct democracy procedures, like the initiative
process, has had on minority rights in countries other than the United States.
Fewer still have looked at cultural values and socioeconomic progress combined with direct citizen legislation to see whether or not the initiative process promotes the voice of the many at the expense of the rights of the few.
Ruiz Mercado, Omar - University of California, Los Angeles
Why Be Just? The Case for Justice Against Injustice in the Republic
In this presentation I will focus on what is perhaps the most important dilemma that any moral agent can reflect upon. I classify it as such because the
result of contemplation on this topic has more potential to influence a human
being’s actions than does any other consideration. The issue I analyze can be
summed up in the question “why be just?”. In other words, I am examining
the strength of the case for justice and how well it stands up against the case
for injustice. One thing to keep in mind is that my aims are of meta-ethical
nature, such as “what reasons are there to be just?” and “is justice greater to
have than injustice?”, not of simply ethical nature, such as “what actions are
just?” or “is killing just?”. In order to understand precisely why it is that I ask
the question that I do, it must be recognized that the reasons commonly given
for why someone should be just are discouraging at best, and completely lacking any validity at worse. However, the case for why one should live a life of
injustice (known as the Immoralist’s challenge) is overwhelmingly convincing. Since such is the case, then why should I follow even the most minimal
standards of morality? What profit, if any, exists in being a moral person? Is
it true that only weak and foolish humans act justly? Why should I shun myself away from the benefits I can indulge in by being unjust? For this project,
I am focusing almost entirely on Plato’s Republic, especially Books I, II, IV,
and IX. My presentation is primarily concerned with identifying and evaluating Plato’s response to the questions above. Ultimately, I find Plato’s defense
of justice deficient and implausible.
Rumbelow, David - Sul Ross State University
A Look Into The Population of Mexican Spotted Owls On The Davis Mountain
Preserve In The Davis Mountains of Texas
The Davis Mountains are the Mexican Spotted Owls southernmost range in
the United States. The Davis Mountain Preserve, in the heart of the Davis
Mountains, has historical records of sightings from 1997, 2000, 2002, and
2006. This study was preformed to confirm that Mexican Spotted Owls continue to inhabit the Davis Mountain Preserve and to note the ecology of activity centers in this outlying portion of its range.
Salazar, Starla - Saint Louis University
The Impact of Art Among School-Aged Children
The purpose of the literature review is to provide information on the importance of creative expression through art among the school-aged youth
population. The budget cuts of the nation poses a problem for art programs
in promoting expression to the children. Regulating funds of art programs
is the same as constraining the creativity of children in a stressful, bustling
society. Previous research has supported art as a therapeutic tool, especially
for children where creativity is natural in expressing concerns,thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and opinion. The main research question is how art impacts the
lives of public school students in primary and secondary public schools. It is
hypothesized that art is a motivational and therapeutic tool in overcoming
struggles in school and their environment, improving academic performance,
and building self-esteem. The findings show that art does impact the lives of
the school-aged children psychologically and academically. It has also shown
that including art in the lives of public school students helps with aspects of
education such as decreasing drop-out rates. In conclusion, art is influential
in the lives of public school-aged children and the educational system in minimizing problems in schools, the environment, and mainly with self.
Saleemi, Sarah - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
The Effects of Nectar Levels and Visit Duration on Watermelon (Citrullus
lanatus) Pollination by European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
The recent declines in domesticated populations of European honey bees
(Apis mellifera) have spurred research into the nature of insect pollination of
agricultural crops. One important element of this research is producing accurate estimates of the pollinator efficiency (quantified by the number of pollen
grains deposited on a flower’s reproductive organs) of a given species of insect. One popular method of estimating pollination contribution is to allow a
single pollinator visit on an unvisited (virgin) flower and to quantify the number of pollen grains deposited in that visit, extrapolating that these visits represent the mean pollen deposited on all visits. It has also been demonstrated
that foraging behavior effects pollen deposition. This study sought to investigate the effect varying nectar levels have on floral visit duration by honey
bees and subsequently pollen deposition. The study was conducted on seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) crops in Pomona, CA at Spadra Ranch in
July 2011. Varying amounts of nectar were removed from virgin flowers (with
1 uL, full extraction and control treatments) and offered to honey bees for a
single visit. The amount of nectar removed, the duration of the bee’s visit and
the amount of pollen deposited by the bee were recorded and the data was
analyzed for relationships among the variables.
Sanabria, Tanya - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Cram Schools: Korean Hagwon Style in Southern California
As the Asian immigrant population and Asian American population increases
in the United States, cram schools have begun to develop in clusters around
urban and suburban areas (Zhou and Kim 2006). A cram school is a private
for-profit supplementary educational program that provides supplemental educational material during after-school weekday hours and weekends.
Originating from the lucrative cram school business prevalent in East Asian
countries, the presence of cram schools is changing the educational business
landscape, offering different methods for the student to gain an academically competitive edge, and sparking discussions in relation to where education stands today. This study will only discuss Korean-run or Korean owned
hagwon businesses distinguished by its main purpose of student academic
enrichment. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that contribute or hinder the development, growth, and popularity of hagwon businesses
in certain communal clusters. To explore these factors, the study will use
descriptive methods from secondary data analysis to examine hagwons in
urban, suburban, and post-suburban settings that displayed a significant
proportion of Asian American residents and Asian American students in the
surrounding school districts. Hagwons and other forms of cram schools will
continue to flourish in communities where they have gained a reputation for
student academic success as both Asian and non-Asian parents are turning to
cram schools to ensure their child’s educational success in the midst of competitive SAT scores.
Sanchez, Hilary - East Central University
Do Smc1 Mutations found in Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Patients Affect
Chromosome Segregation?
Sister chromatid cohesion is essential for the proper segregation of chromosomes during cell division. The cohesin complex is needed for cohesion
between sister chromatids; the SMC1 protein is a component of the cohesin
complex. Previous studies have shown that patients with Cornelia de Lange
Syndrome (CdLS) share mutations in their SMC proteins. Our objective is to
determine whether these mutations within the SMC proteins affect chromosome segregation in CdLS patients.
We are integrating SMC1 mutations found in CdLS patients into yeast cells
which also contain a minichromosome to allow visualization of chromosome
missegregation. The rate of minichromsome loss will be assessed and quantified. This will allow us to detect minute defects in chromosome segregation
that may have been beyond the limits of detection in previous studies.
Sanchez, Maira - University of California, Los Angeles
Beyond Tacos and Wheels, Examining the Economic Survival Strategies of
Lunch Truck Operators (Loncheros) in Low Income Areas of Los Angeles
Since their emergence in the mid 1970’s, food trucks in Los Angeles have
contributed to their local economies and cultural landscape. According to The
Health Department of Los Angeles most current available data, in the 20082009 fiscal year there were 1,810 registered food trucks. Within the past forty
years, they continue to be identified by multiple names including: loncheros,
lunch truck, roach coach, and taco trucks. These terms are considered to be
consumer-coined names that often reflect the ethnic and working class areas
in which they do business. Despite their numbers and informal names, few
scholars have studied food truck businesses and their operators. My study
will look at one group of food truck operators known as loncheros, whose longstanding cultural and economic presence is seen throughout the city’s lowincome areas. I will use qualitative research methods including: ethnographic
observation, surveys, and in-depth interviews. Ethnographic observation will
allow me to describe the day-to-day life of this population. My survey will ask
questions that relate to: economic survival, immigrant labor, entrepreneurship, and public space. I will conduct in-depth interviews with five long-term
loncheros who have a minimum of twenty years of work experience in the
business. These interviews will allow me to create a timeline that tracks the
changes their business practice has undergone. Ultimately, the purpose of
this project is to insert the lonchero population into the existing literature on
immigrant labor and investigate how their labor practices contribute to our
understanding of alternative, or informal, forms of labor.
Sanchez Martinez, Valeria - University of California, Los Angeles
The Zapatista Students: Formation of Political and Academic Identities in
Young Adults Through the Use of Socially Conscious Music in Los Angeles
Drawing from the impact of the 1994 Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico, I seek to analyze how this movement has influenced socially conscious music in Los Angeles. Through the music of Rage Against the Machine, Aztlan
Underground, Ozomatli, Quetzal and Quinto Sol, this project will examine
the formation of a transnational coalition/identity across the United States
and Mexico border. Through student and non-student interviews, participant
and field observations, I will further explore how young adults perceive the
Zapatista movement and, in turn, how this perception shapes their political and academic identity within their community. This project will borrow
from discourse analysis and oral history analysis of lyrical content, published
interviews, videos, and album artwork formulating a framework that is composed of Rose M. Andrea’s (1991) conceptualization of social consciousness
within music education by developing a new approach that investigates the
role of the artist as the “teacher” and the performance space as the “classroom.” I will also rely on Fernando Pedro Delgado’s (1998) understanding of
rap/Chicano artists as “ghetto revolutionaries, and George Lipstiz (1986-87)
concept of Chicano musicians as “organic intellectuals.” By chronicling the
history of the Zapatista movement and the marginalized communities of Los
Angeles, this project will demonstrate the students’ positions within their
economic, political, and social struggles. The purpose of this research is to
reveal how visual iconography and musical expressions influence and indeed
incite young adults to enact social change within their communities.
Sanders, Chelsea - University of California, San Diego
The Effects of Binge Drinking on the Prefrontal Cortex in Rats
Research on the neurobiological mechanisms of alcoholism suggests key roles
of the amygdala, hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex in initiating and
maintaining addiction. These structures are compromised by extensive alcohol abuse, which leads to cognitive deficits in decision-making, self-control,
emotion, stress, and working memory. Binge drinking, though misconceived
as far less hazardous than alcoholism, is comparatively a much more widespread social phenomenon. Characterized by bouts of excessive alcohol intake
followed by periods of withdrawal and abstinence, the cycles of binge drinking
are reminiscent to that of alcoholism and have been hypothesized to affect
similar neuroanatomical structures. Previous studies have shown that acute
withdrawal after a history of binge drinking is associated with working memory impairments and over-activation of prefrontal cortex neurons. In order to
further understand the affect of withdrawal on prefrontal cortex function, we
evaluated working memory using a Delayed Non-Matching to Sample behavioral task during protracted abstinence in rats with a history of intermittent,
escalated alcohol intake (binge drinking) compared to rats with a history of
continuous, steady alcohol intake for up to 6 weeks after forced abstinence.
This operant paradigm tests working memory and is sensitive to prefrontal
cortex function. We hypothesized that the intermittent group would have
greater deficits in working memory during protracted abstinence than the
continuous group due to a history of escalated intake and repeated withdrawals. Though results are in the preliminary stages of analysis, we have not
found a significant difference in performance between groups. These findings
suggest that the dysregulation of the prefrontal cortex observed during acute
withdrawal is not long-lasting and does not contribute significantly to binge
drinking during protracted abstinence.
Schenheit, Nathaniel - Augsburg College
An Analysis of Intra- and Inter-District Enrollment Flows:
Evidence from Minneapolis and St. Paul
Inter-district open enrollment laws allow students to attend any school in any
district regardless of their district of residence. The Minnesota state legislature passed the first mandatory inter-district open enrollment program in
1988. By 1990-1991, all districts in Minnesota were required to participate.
The goal of an open enrollment program is to increase intra- and inter- district competition among schools and increase student proficiency scores.
Parents choosing to send their children to schools outside their residential
districts believe those schools are of higher academic quality. By transferring
to schools with better academic programs, school choice advocates believe,
parents encourage poorly performing schools to do better. This paper extends
the model used by Carlson et. al. (2011) to compare the effects of open enrollment on the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public school districts as well as the
specific determinants associated with intra- and inter-district enrollment
transfers. Minnesota Department of Education (MNED) enrollment, expenditure, proficiency tests scores, and charter school data, are used to describe aggregate inflow, outflow, and intra-district student transfers. The public policy
implications of this research provide additional insights into better
understanding parental choice of schools, and the resulting competition
among public schools.
Scotton, Phillip - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The Location of Success: Black Male Student Retention Rates among Upward
Bound Programs in Rural and Urban Areas
The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between Black Male
retention in secondary and post-secondary education and the successive
retention of Black Males participating in TRiO Upward Bound programs
that attend institutions of higher education. In this article, Phillip Q. Scotton presents that results of a quantitative study on the differences in the
continuance of retention rates between rural and urban demographics and
the retaining of Upward Bound students in these locations. The University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (rural) and Marquette University (urban)
serve as the two Upward Bound programs used in this study. Building on the
results of a number of related studies and analyzing data from the Annual
Progress Reports on Black Male Upward Bound students, Scotton further
examines the effects of the necessary needs on high school outcomes among
these two locations. He thus sets the stage for his conclusion, with implications that demographics provide the boundaries of academia. The findings
may be useful in revamping the blueprint of one of the oldest pre-college mentoring programs as well as finding the necessary retention needs that these
high school and college student may need.
Sellu, Fayia - University of California, Davis
Orientalism and Hollywood’s Construction of ‘Negrified’ Lenses and Images
Independent Black filmmakers, from Oscar Micheaux to Spike Lee, are not
just artists or agents of cultural production. They are constantly saddled with
the struggle of de-framing Orientalist images—a coinage by Edward Said
to explain Euro-Centric and American misrepresentation of Arabo-Islamic
peoples and cultures (1978)—in popular Hollywood depiction of peoples of
Negroid descent.
This study will focus on violence especially, but not exclusively, from selected
Hollywood-produced films aimed at depicting actual Africans both in the
Homeland and the Diaspora within historical, theoretical and socio-cultural
frameworks. The object is to analyze programmatic authorial intent imbedded in these films.
The question this research poses is: What if anything has changed in Hollywood’s presentation of popular productions set in Africa or depicting people of
African descent? This research goes back to the formative years of Hollywood
and motion picture technology in the times that it wowed audiences enough
to influence their perceptions of life the most. For historical and socio-cultural
contexts, the study analyzed three seminal films: “Birth of A Nation” (1915),
“Shaft” (1965) and “Blood Diamond” (2004) in order to capture significant
eras, ‘Negrification’ (denigrated Negro influence on American culture), Diaspora and Homeland depiction.
It is hypothesized herein that even as things continue to change, impressing
on audiences constructed lenses through which to view people of African descent is still preponderantly evident. This research illuminates programmatic
authorial intent aimed at imbuing indifference, violence and hate, physical
and otherwise, of and against the subjects such lenses characterize—Blacks.
Serafico-Agcaoili, Mikhail A. - University of Nevada, Reno
Session 70G - Sunday, 10:00 - 11:20, 263 Dwinelle
Finding the Greater Implications of Individual Behaviors on the Environment
and Societies: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Climate Change
We live in a globalized world of interconnected beings. In such a setting, the
consequences of one’s individual actions and behaviors are no longer limited
to a few people. The intricacy of modern human relations means that an
individual’s impact on others is no longer limited to traditional conceptions
based on proximity. So, to discover and understand how one affects another,
regardless of how near or far, is slowly becoming a responsibility that needs
to be addressed and upheld. This obligation holds especially in cases of global
modern day issues like human related climate change and poverty perpetuated by greed. There are several avenues a person can pursue to fulfill this
duty. One option is to examine the products one consumes and retrace its
origins. On one hand, there is consumption in order to live and prosper. On
the other is the possibility of overconsumption. The consequences of the latter
are magnified by the fact that products are not mere objects. They are both
materials taken from the earth and the labors of another person. Here lies
the connection between individual consumption, climate change, and social
injustice. The conditions in which products are manufactured could mean
both irreparable damage to the environment and the exploitation of another
person’s livelihood. Thus, the aim of this paper is to find examples of the interconnections between laborers, consumers, and the environment. From this
first imperative of discovering responsibility comes the development of possible solutions.
Serpa, Michael - University of California, Davis
Predicting Dropping-Out using Criminalogical Theory
Approximately 7000 students drop out of high school every day and never
return; this results in roughly 1.2 million students dropping out every year
(Sweeten, Bushway, Patternoster 2009). High school drop outs represent a
serious problem for society because of its link to deviant behavior. Estimates
indicate that approximately 30 percent of federal inmates, 40 percent of
state prison inmates, and 50 percent of persons on death row are high school
non-completers (Maggie Monrad, National High School Center at AIR 2007).
Many criminology theorists have attempted to explain why high school student’s drop-out, however little research exists regarding the comparison of
widely used criminological theories and demonstrate which theory is the best
for predicting the phenomenon at hand. This research will examine Social
Disorganization theory, Strain theory, Differential Association theory, Low
Self- Control theory, and Social Bond theory to determine which best predicts
dropping out of high school. Using data from the second and third waves of
the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Addhealth) this study
uses Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) analysis model suitable for variables that
have a normal distribution. We suggest that Social Disorganization theory
best predicts dropping out because of its complex environmental factors that
shape normative behavior and values which aid in a differentiation of cultural capital from mainstream society.
Sherman, William - California State University, Northridge
Contraction Induced Necrosis and the Influx of Ca2+ on Striated Muscles
The goal of my research is to understand calcium’s (Ca2+) effect on the contraction of muscles and to model how excessive amounts of Ca2+ in muscle
cells can lead to damage.
Ca2+ plays a vital role in human cells, since it is the entrance and release of
Ca2+ into the cells that causes contractions of muscle fibers. In fact, concenThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 207 Abstracts
trations of Ca2+ are delicately kept in balance through various cell mechanisms such as transporters, pumps, and voltage-gated channels. However,
since the concentrations of Ca2+ inside and outside the cell are greatly different, recent physiological research has suggested that a sudden influx of Ca2+
in skeletal (striated) muscle fibers can damage the muscle, possibly leading to
necrosis (death of the muscle).
Considering this, the purpose of my research is to develop mathematical
models of muscle cells. This, of course, will be done with the intent of explaining the observed behavior and, most importantly, finding the amount of Ca2+
required to induce injury resulting in necrosis. Specifically, I aim to further
the development of a threshold value for the amount of Ca2+ that muscle
cells can absorb while still maintaining muscle functionality. That is, I will
incorporate a sudden influx of Ca2+ into the Hodgkin-Huxley Model (1952)
and study the change in cellular dynamics of the model. These results will
then be incorporated into a more general model and the dynamics will again
be studied.
Understanding the influence of Ca2+ on muscle contractions is essential to
the development of cures for medical diseases whose primary symptoms are
excessive muscle contractions – the most noteworthy of which is Parkinson’s
disease. With a better understanding of the Ca2+ threshold value, we can potentially develop medicines that specifically regulate the body’s Ca2+ intake
in muscles. Such regulating, in theory, will place us one step closer to curing
muscle related diseases.
Sibbitt, John - Kansas State University
Culturing the Prostate Cancer Cell Line, PC346-C: Overcoming Hurdles
Commonly, aggressive and fatal prostate carcinomas evolve from PC’s initial
mild nature, making it the 2nd leading cause of male cancer deaths in America. Therefore, a cell line resembling early stage PC has importance in clinically relevant in vitro research. The majority of diagnosed PC’s are initially
mild in nature, thus understanding PC’s progression to more advanced stages
can prove pivotal in prevention of deadly carcinomas. The PC346-C cell line is
unique, because it maintains early stage PC characteristics, unlike the majority of PC cell lines which are derived from, and model, advanced stages of the
disease. However, PC cells are among the most difficult to sustain in culture.
To help, we documented potential pitfalls of culturing viability and possible
solutions.
PC346-C cells were obtained from the Erasmus Medical Center, located in
Rotterdam, Netherlands. Cells were taken up from cryopreservation and
seeded at approx. 60% confluence into Primiria T25 flasks. Flasks contained
4 mL of DMEM-F12 base media plus complex additives to encourage attachment and growth. Flasks were incubated at 37 Celsius in a 5% C02 atmosphere and media was changed every 3 days. Once confluence was reached,
cells were passaged via trypsinization at 1:3 split ratios. Attachment periods,
percentages of confluence, doubling times, and general cell health were documented to ascertain the culture’s viability. The cells displayed healthy morphology, however proliferation rates were suboptimal.
Human error in the preparation of the complex media likely contributed to
the poor growth observed. After identifying several growth inhibiting problems, we boosted proliferation rates. However, proliferation was still suboptimal. Further study is needed to determine the reason for these poor growth
rates.
Simmons, Kristen L. - University of Arizona
Session 73H - Sunday, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Transmitting Southern Paiute Epistemology and Analyzing Sacred Places
Within A Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
This research explores the connection between the Southern Paiute epistemological concept of Puha (translatable to power or energy) that exists throughout the universe and the formation of the Southern Paiute cultural landscape. The research argues that a concrete understanding of Southern Paiute
epistemology is necessary to ensure that Native American concerns regarding
proposed activities on traditional Native American (now federal) lands are
understood and addressed within the government-to-government consultation process for a Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement. The research also addresses the issue of safeguarding
Native American sacred sites located within public federal lands and incorporates a discussion of American Indian federal policy to contextualize the
reader to the politics regarding this issue.
The research conducted was largely qualitative, relying heavily upon literature in several areas: American Indian and U.S. policy, cultural landscape
theory, indigenous theory, and Southern Paiute ethnographic works. Being a
Southern Paiute tribal member and researcher, the framework of indigenous
research theory was utilized to position myself within the work.
This research emphasizes the importance of the role of indigenous epistemologies in understanding Native American concerns regarding federal
agency initiatives that affect Native peoples. The research also addresses the
complex issue of the protection of sacred sites, providing a discussion of how
these significant sites may be protected. The research also contributes to the
intellectual field of indigenous researchers conducting research with their
own ethnic or tribal group.
Simpson, Robert - Temple University
Students in Revolt: Student Radical Movements in Germany, 1815-1848
The purpose of this study is to analyze the various student movements that
existed in the German Confederation and will attempt to trace the arc of the
movement from the Wars of Liberation to its culmination in the Revolutions
of 1848. Recent scholarship has shown that these student movements had
grown out of the Wars of Liberation fought against Napoleon Bonaparte from
1813-14 and took on a more radical turn after the assassination of author
August von Kotzebue by student radical Karl Sand in 1819 and the issuance
of the Carlsbad decrees in the same year in an effort to suppress radicalism
within German universities. It was out of this period that the notorious Burschenschaften was born on June 12, 1815. The Burschenschaften, as well as
many other student groups focused on national unity and fostered a sense of
nationalism within the German Confederation. Using various sources, this
study will attempt to draw conclusions about the effect that the student radicals had on the cause for German unity and the various methods and symbolism that each group used to further their shared goal of national unifictaion.
Singh, Michael - University of California, Berkeley
Freirean Pedagogy in the Other Campaign:
A Case Study of El Consejo Urbano y Campesino
The establishment of the Zapatista’s Other Campaign in 2005 created a national resistance movement as leftist groups from around the country became
united in a search for an alternative form of Mexican governance. In the past
six years the Other Campaign’s strong network of nonpartisan organizations
has been largely successful in using popular education techniques to spread
Zapatista ideology to political organizations around the country. In particular, El Consejo Urbano y Campesino (CNUC), a labor organization based out
of Tlaxcala, Mexico, has been successful in implementing a Freirean critical
education project to produce a strong political consciousness of Zapatista ideals amongst its members and communities. This study seeks to explore the
pedagogical aspects of CNUC in an attempt to better understand the dispersion of Zapatismo in non-academic settings. By looking at the success of this
case study, we find insight into the Other Campaign’s ability to wage an
ideological war on the Mexican state and in essence, challenge the very idea
of the nation-state system with theories of self determination and community
autonomy.
Smith, Blake - Xavier University of Louisiana
Eye to the Future: Aggression and Hopefulness in the Children of Gaza
Recognizing the hardships faced by the citizens of Gaza, intervention programs have been set up in order to improve the lives of these people. The
humanitarian organization CARE set up one such program in order to help
reduce stress, violence and anti-social behaviors by facilitating change in the
attitudes and behaviors of the children and community. Previous research
has suggested that hope plays a central role in reducing stress and violent
behaviors. This study focuses on hopefulness and it being a good indicator of
overall improvement in social and conflict mitigating views and actions of the
children participating in the program. A group of 509 Gaza children with an
even amount of boys and girls, ages ranging from nine to thirteen, participated in a six month program focused on teaching the children prosocial behavior and conflict mitigation techniques. A correlation was used to examine
whether change in hopefulness from (T1) to (T2) was an indicator of improvement in social and aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Aggressive behaviors
and anti-social behaviors did decrease which means the program was successful in achieving its goals; change in optimism was significantly related to reductions in parent-reported aggressive behavior and self-reported aggressive
attitudes. Interestingly hopefulness decreased, suggesting baseline reported
hopefulness before the intervention was exaggerated, unrealistic or defensive.
Smith, Robin - Presenting with Clark, Yvonne & Thomas, Dexter
(see Clark for abstract)
Snyder, Roy Edward Kamuaali’i - California State University,
Bakersfield
Beyond Tolerance: The Case for Inclusivity
Homosexuality is a salient issue in contemporary America. It elicits strong
responses from individuals. Even religious denominations find themselves
forced to address the matter. Many Christian denominations respond to the
“problem” of homosexuality by adhering to the principle “love the sinner, hate
the sin,” seeing this as a means of accepting fellow sinners without condoning
the sin. Upon closer examination, one discovers that this form of “tolerance”
is merely veiled discrimination and harms LGBT members. Some denominations attempt to address the shortcomings of “love the sinner, hate the sin”
by embracing an inclusive approach that consciously refuses to marginalize
members over one’s sexual orientation. Inclusivity recognizes each member’s
individuality, encourages everyone to actively participate in the congregation,
and fosters a unified community. It also has the added benefit of opening up
dialogue to better understand the challenges LGBT members face on a daily
basis in a world that treats them as second-class citizens. Inclusivity, while
an important step in the right direction, can potentially backslide into discrimination without this conscious effort to truly understand LGBT issues.
Aloha!
Somoza, Christian Geovani - California State University, Dominguez
Hills - Poster - Saturday, 12:30 - 1:50 & 3:20 - 3:50 pm, Dwinelle Lobby
Feasibility of a Text-Message Intervention for Parent-Child Communication
about Sex: Preliminary Results
Past research has found that parent-child communication about sex is associated with reduced sexual risk. Due to the increased prevalence of HIV and
other STDs among African American and Latino adolescents, it is important
to focus on intervention research to mitigate adolescent sexual risk taking
trends. Mobile text messaging is a new and unique approach to health behavior change that has been successfully applied to health interventions such as
smoking cessation, physical activity, and medication adherence. The purpose
of this study was to explore the feasibility of a text message intervention to
increase sex communication between African American and Latina mothers
and their adolescent children. Qualitative results indicated that mothers are
receptive of a text message intervention program and would readily participate. Mothers agreed that the text messaging content could prompt and
facilitate communication with their children about the consequences of early
sex, cautioning against sexual risk-taking, as well as on their expectations
regarding the child’s sexual behaviors. Overall, mothers reported a desire to
raise their children’s awareness of their supportive presence and availabilThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 212 Abstracts
ity for dialogue. Narratives from the African American mothers reflected a
higher comfort level with in-depth conversations with their children on sex
than Latino mothers. These results indicate the usefulness of text messaging
interventions to both initiate and guide sexual health behavior discussions
between African American and Latino mothers and their adolescent children.
Stegall, John - California State University, Bakersfield
Fossil Collecting and a Natural History Museum’s Early Development in Bakersfield, CA: The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 1993-1996
The fossil collecting hobby’s existence in Kern County, CA has played an
influential role in local natural history education in Bakersfield, and was an
influential factor in the early development of the Buena Vista Museum of
Natural History in the early 1990s. This research focuses on the historically
overlooked fossil collecting phenomena in Kern County and its influence on
the Buena Vista Museum’s development, especially in regards to the Bakersfield community’s long curiosity with the Sharktooth Hill bone bed located
near Bakersfield, CA. The Sharktooth Hill fossil bone bed is considered a
major paleontological site that has drawn scientific attention for nearly one
hundred and sixty years and attracted local fossil collectors who have accumulated massive collections from the fossil beds. The Sharktooth Hill bone
beds represent a major fossil site that rivals other marine fossil sites and
represents a local curiosity for Kern County residents as well as fossils collectors. The fossil hobbyist attraction to the Sharktooth Hill fossil sites has
encouraged local collecting as well as local education through Kern County
schools and museums for the latter half of the twentieth century. The historical connection between Bakersfield’s local museums and the fossil collecting
activity at the Sharktooth Hill bone beds was due to the Bakersfield museums’ interest to educate the public through its local fossil exhibits; especially
fossil collections obtain through private collectors. The Buena Vista Museum
of Natural History in Bakersfield, CA represents an unplanned development
of a local natural history museum specifically created to display the Sharktooth Hill fossil collection of Bob Ernst; however, the Buena Vista Museum’s
early development originated from the collaboration of Bob Ernst and California Living Museum volunteers who wish to perpetuate the local fossil curiosity by showcasing the Ernst collection at the California Living Museum in
Bakersfield, CA.
Strobel, Rachel - University of Colorado, Boulder
A Technological Investigation of Online Collaboration Among Colorado-based
Counter Human Trafficking Efforts
Human trafficking is a well-researched topic, however, little research has
been conducted on collaboration and use of information technology to combat human trafficking. Based upon collected literature, collaboration from
many different entities is needed in order to counter human trafficking due to
the high technological sophistication of traffickers and the complexity of the
global crime. Furthermore, the priority to address human trafficking within
U.S. and international law is a recent topic that calls for an investigation of
how collaboration is enacted, practiced, and maintained among counter trafficking efforts. Web crawler methodology was conducted to explore the extent
and nature of collaboration among Colorado-based counter human trafficking
entities. Findings indicated that Internet collaborations among counter trafficking organizations are most evident in seven out of fourteen organizations.
Conclusions from this study provide a visual map of the online network of
collaboration among Colorado-based efforts and reveal sub-groups of more
extensive online collaborations. Insights from these findings pose recommendations for the importance of online collaboration and Internet technology
among counter trafficking organizations.
Swan, Symphony - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Engaging Communities: The Formation of User-Centered Museums
Museums have been considered storehouses for objects where collecting,
preservation and curatorial endeavors took precedence over education or
dialogical public engagement. However, in the twenty first century, ideas
are changing and museums are longing to be understood as landmarks for
preserving and exhibiting cultural artifacts while facilitating dialogue that
encourages critical thinking, exploration and contemplation that connects
people to collections. In order to examine this changing role at one museum,
an ethnographic study took place at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
(JMKAC) in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, specifically its professional development
workshop, Innovative Educators Institute. As a participant observer, I immersed myself into the activities of the workshop where observations and
interpretations were meticulously noted during the three -day workshop in
order to gain some understanding of the museum’s operations. During the
data collection, conversations with other workshop participants and interviews with the museum education staff assisted in the analyzing and understanding how participants engage with the idea of community and meaningThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 214 Abstracts
ful connection making. To facilitate an understanding of how museums are
redefining themselves during these changing times, and in this case, how the
Kohler is specifically, an ethnographic study was conducted using the following questions: a) Are museums imagining their environments as places for
the exchange of ideas and community interactions versus as storehouses of
objects to visit? b) Are museums building and strengthening communities? c)
How are museums accommodating a community’s desire for a more meaningful role in the presentation and interpretation of art, culture and history?
Tam, Hao - University of California, San Diego
Racial Shadow and Mobility:
Literature from the First Vietnamese American 1.5 Generation
This research examines literature from the first Vietnamese American 1.5
generation within a larger Asian American literary framework. With the
experience of migration propelled by the Vietnam War, important lessons are
drawn regarding the way the Vietnamese refugee experience challenges and
broadens well-accepted conclusions in Asian American studies, which has so
far privileged nativism and voluntary migration. The focus of this research
is on the process of identity-formation as portrayed particularly in novels
and memoirs by authors of this generation. This identity-formation, I argue,
is a temporally and spatially circular process. Aligning my analysis with
Sau-ling Cynthia Wong’s concepts of “race shadow” and “politics of mobility”
and emphasizing heterogeneity, hybridity, and multiplicity, I seek to study
that identity-formation process with keen attention paid to race, class, and
gender. This literature furthers the project of understanding nuanced lived
experiences in the socially constructed Asian American community: It is possible and important to study Vietnamese American experiences within the
well-established Asian American framework so that it can become a terrain
for robust and effective coalition-building and critiques on U.S. war-driven
cultural politics.
Teeters, Stacy - California State University, Bakersfield
The “Bi” in Ambiguity:
Tolerance of Ambiguity and Attitudes toward Bisexual Women and Men
Interest in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender research has increased
in recent years; however, publications of factors relating to attitudes toward
bisexual women and men remain scarce. This study explores a cognitive
personality variable, Tolerance of Ambiguity (TOA), as a predictor of attitudes toward bisexual women and men, including belief that bisexuals have a
legitimate orientation (ARBS stability) and tolerance of bisexual women and
men (ARBS tolerance). Intolerance of ambiguity was not correlated with the
stability component of the attitudes variable, but was significantly negatively
correlated with more ARBS tolerance toward bisexuals. Higher religiosity
and spirituality were correlated with low ARBS stability and tolerance. Participant gender also resulted in significant differences in ARBS stability, but
not ARBS tolerance or the TOA. Implications for future research and application, specifically educational tolerance/acceptance promotion programs, are
discussed.
Thomas, Dexter - Presenting with Clark, Yvonne & Smith, Robin
(see Clark for abstract)
Thornburg, Jennifer L. - Montana State University
The Dream of the Rood
For nearly two centuries the massive stones lay like a broken giant in a
Scottish churchyard. Carved with winding vines and elaborate scenes, this
was the Ruthwell Cross, one of the oldest preaching crosses in Europe. Even
more significant than the cross were the strange, cryptic letters etched in its
surface. The mysterious linear letters were runes, which the West Saxons
used to write before Irish monks introduced the Latin alphabet. The rune’s
meaning remained a mystery for centuries until the discovery of the Vercelli manuscript in Italy in 1822. It contained the same verses, which J.M.
Kemble soon translated. The Dream of the Rood is one of the earliest and
most beautiful poems in all of English literature. Rood is the Viking word for
cross. This poem details the crucifixion of Christ using lyrical poetic language
and personification. The first and third parts of the poem are told from the
point of view of a dreamer, and in the second part the cross itself speaks. This
study examined the Old English text, which the researcher then translated
into modern English. In an effort to make the poem more accessible to the
general public, the researcher then transformed the poem’s Germanic alliterative style into a rhymed book manuscript. A study of Anglo Saxon, Norse,
and Celtic cultures, including a Celtic lettering conference, influenced the
illuminated letters she crafted for each left hand page spread. Her vision is to
create a visually beautiful, rhymed manuscript that will educate, inform, and
capture the imaginations of adults and children as they read this important,
historical text.
Trejo, Helen Xiomara - University of California, Davis
Slow Fashion:
Individualized Upcycled Clothing for Limited Environmental Impact
Fashion is an integral part of our lives because we wear clothes everyday.
Currently, clothing chain stores such as Forever 21 and H&M lead as models
for fast fashion in the United States. They promote the rapid production, consumption, and disposal of clothes by introducing new styles every few weeks.
Consequently, fast fashion contributes to the escalating amount of textile
waste that enters landfills annually. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2009 12.7 million tons of textile waste found its way into
landfills and only about 1.3 million tons were recycled. Such practices must
change. This paper argues in favor of “slow fashion” practices to reduce the
massive amounts of textile wastes generated by fast fashion by implementing
the continual circulation of clothes in a closed-loop system through creative
re-use. This research extends knowledge of how U.S.-based designers’ slow
fashion approach decreases the disposability of clothes as textiles are upcycled and given greater value. Specifically this study compares how designers creatively salvage textile waste by re-using pre-consumer fabric remnants
and post-consumer used clothes. This research aims to fill the gap about how
U.S. designers contribute to sustainability in the fashion industry, complementing existing research about sustainable fashion. Data collected in this
study is based on survey responses and interviews with sustainable designers. Responses indicate that these designers have already diverted hundreds
of tons of fabric remnants and used clothes from landfills. Appreciative and
enthusiastic customer feedback indicates how slow fashion helps people meet
the need of actively creating a strong sense of individualism with their decision to buy and wear emotionally durable, unique clothing.
Trejo, Nidia - University of California, Davis
A Study of Photo-Induced Self-Detoxifying Cotton Fabrics
Currently, farm workers harvesting crops in the U.S. are at continual risk to
pesticide exposure and poisoning. Although farm workers wear long-sleeved
shirts and pants, their clothing may become contaminated by
pesticides, which can lead to dermal contact and poisoning. This study proposes to prepare photo-induced self-detoxifying cotton fabrics by integrating
3, 3’, 4, 4’-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPTCD) onto the fabrics
by a chemical finishing process. BPTCD, a photoactive compound, generates
highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultra violet light and day light
exposure. ROS, such as hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, and singlet oxygen,
carry the oxidation reaction to decompose pesticides. Iodometric titration
quantified the amount of hydrogen peroxide generated on the cotton fabrics
after exposure to ultra violet light (UVA), signaling the presence of ROS. Aldicarb and Methyl Parathion, two common pesticides used in the agricultural
industry, were tested on the BPTCD treated cotton after 30, 60, and 90 minutes of UVA exposure. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS)
confirmed major pesticide degradation and the production of less toxic compounds. The washing and wearing durability of the functional BPTCD on the
cotton was evaluated using the AATCC 61 standardized laundering method.
The covalent ester bonding between BPTCD and cotton fibers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm durability
of the treatment. The chemically finished fabrics may potentially serve as
self-detoxifying protective clothing for farm workers.
Trinh, Hao - California State University, East Bay
The Role of RNAi in Silencing Transposable Elements
RNA interference (RNAi) in plants and animals is a mechanism of regulating gene expression through the interaction of small RNAs with mRNAs or
repetitive sequences in the genome. This process has the effect of reducing or
silencing the expression of cellular genes or transposable elements (jumping
genes). Our research specifically focuses on how RNAi affects the expression
of transposable elements in plant and animal genomes. We will do PCR to
amplify specific genes involved in RNAi then clone and sequence these genes
and construct knockouts to inactivate these genes in vivo. These knockouts
will be studied to determine their effect, if any, on transposable element
activity. Understanding how RNAi works to regulate transposable element
activities will give us a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the
evolution of eukaryotic genomes.
Trivino, Ivan - University of Central Florida
Session 45 E - Saturday, 2:00 - 3:20 pm, 105 Dwinelle
Flat Plate Blade Efficiency for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)
Application
In the need to break from fossil fuel dependence and reduce the impact on the
environment by non-renewable energy sources wind energy has become an
important viable option. The successful assimilation of wind energy however,
largely depends on its cost-effectiveness. Due to their relative youth and potential for exponential development, the use of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines
(VAWTs) in small scale applications has become an important topic to study.
One of the main issues faced by this type of technology is its high manufacturing costs mainly due to the complicated geometries used for the turbine
blades. In an attempt to provide an alternative solution, we will study the
use of simple blade geometry (in our case flat plates) as turbine blades. The
behavior of a three flat plate bladed VAWT will be simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. In order to run the simulation an
analytical model of the turbine behavior with flow must be developed. The
analytical model will be created by studying and finding the relationships
between forces acting on the blades, the air flow, and rotation of the blades
about the central axis. Once these relationships are found we will represent
them as mathematical functions in order to be transferred to the computer.
To introduce the functions to the computer, we will write them as a code to
create a program using programming language FORTRAN. The execution of
the program will simulate the behavior of the blades by creating an inputoutput tool in the computer. Inputs will be such as angles of attack, wind
speed and direction of flow. The outputs we will be looking for are the turbine
power production, work production and efficiency. Knowledge of the VAWT’s
maximum efficiency will determine the performance of flat plates as an effective alternative for VAWT blade geometry. This will enable to compare their
relative cost-effectiveness to other VAWTs with different shaped blades.
Trujillo, Luis - University of California, Santa Barbara
Re-colonization and the Police State
As it stands today, America has the largest prison population of any industrialized nation in the world. Funding for prisons continues to increase as
fundamental social services lose necessary government funds. The majority
of these prisoners are Black and Latino Americans who disproportionately
suffer from this very criminalization of poverty. However, beyond the issue
of criminalization, gentrification has had a profound impact on the class and
racial demographics of working class Black and Latino communities. I
argue that concentrated mass incarceration, beyond an engine of displacement itself, works as a causal mechanism for gentrification in these neighborhoods. My project seeks to understand the correlations that exist between the
issues of concentrated mass incarceration rates and gentrification in racially
and economically segregated neighborhoods. I am pursuing my initial inquiry
in how and why it is that white middle/ upper class individuals could possibly
want to live in a neighborhood that has had the negative connotation of being
crime-ridden and dangerous? Utilizing data on incarceration rates, income
levels, home ownership levels, unemployment rates and racial demographics in Harlem and Bedford Stuyvesant, I intend to provide a spatial analysis
demonstrating that these individual characteristics maintain some correlation in the neighborhoods examined.
Tso, Rhondale - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Session 28C - Friday, 4:10 -5:30 pm, 109 Dwinelle
Classical Lorentz-violating Kinematics and Riemann-Finsler Geometry
Riemann-Finsler geometry is a natural extension of Riemannian geometry
without the quadratic restriction of the line element and has a variety of
physical applications. A well-studied example is the Zermelo navigation
problem, which aims to find the path of least travel time over a surface in
the presence of a wind vector. Recent literature points towards another application of Riemann-Finsler geometry in determining paths taken by point
particle representations of quantum wave packets described by a dispersion
relation with Lorentz symmetry explicitly violated. There currently exists a
theoretical framework that describes Lorentz symmetry breaking, known as
the Standard-Model Extension (SME), and in employing the single-fermion
limit of the SME we can focus on a free SME fermion with an exactly known
modified dispersion relation. Here we consider classical point-particle Lagrangians that generate dispersion relations for quantum wave packets in
the presence of explicit Lorentz symmetry violations. One of these Lagrangians, constructed from a single non-zero coefficient, has been shown to have
structures associated with Riemann-Finsler geometries. My research is
particularly concerned with a second non-vanishing coefficient of Lorentz
violation that has been found to provide a type of pseudo-Riemann-Finsler
structure and metric. We have proved this coefficient generates a new class
of Riemann-Finsler spaces, collectively known as H-space. Furthermore, we
have calculated properties of H-space and have shown that special limits of
H-space reduce to other known types of spaces.
Uahengo, Gottlieb - Augsburg College
Session 77H - Sunday, 1:30 -2:30 pm, 109 Dwinelle
An Experiemntal Investigation of Lipid Monolayer Domains Size Distribution
in Multi-Component Systems
The plasma cell membrane is a complex composite fluid, which dynamically
responds to its environment. My research project will explore the material
properties of multi-component lipid monolayers. Monolayer morphology is
determined by the competition between dipole density difference and line tension between coexisting phases.
Valadez, Diana - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Environment and Culture: Mojave Desert through Stone Artifacts
The impact of climatic disturbances on prehistoric culture has steadily been
explored. However, the degree of impact has been the issue of debate and
thus is the main focus in this study. The Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA),
a worldwide phenomenon marked by drought and higher temperature, is the
climatic event that has been explored. The area of Western Mojave has been
inhabited by the Kawaiisu tribe and yet little is known of Kawaiisu material
culture. A debitage analysis was undertaken because debitage is the closest
complete record of the past that we can ever acquire in this environment.
This project is a correlative analysis of debitage, environment, and climatic
changes in Sage Canyon Mojave. Samples include excavated material from
2010 of 4 sites and 9 test units. 3656 pieces were classified by material and
categorized into stages of production based on triple cortex typology. These
included primary, secondary, tertiary, and biface thinning flakes. This revealed the majority of the material was obsidian and tertiary flakes. Additionally, obsidian was sourced to Coso Junction and Brown’s Bench site. Once
obsidian rim hydration results are completed I hope to establish a chronology
of Sage Canyon. Ultimately, the question that will be answered is how the
chronology of occupation in Sage Canyon relates to changing climatic factors,
specifically the MCA.
Valdez, Julian - California State University, East Bay
Methods to Address Systematic Errors of Dual-Isotope Rubidium
Magnetometer in Search of Spin-Mass Coupling
We report progress in our development of a dual-isotope rubidium magnetometer to be used in the search for a long-range coupling of the proton spin and
mass of the Earth. The valence electron dominates magnetic interactions and
serves as a precise co-magnetometer for the nuclei in a simultaneous measurement of Rb-85 and Rb-87 spin precession frequencies, enabling accurate
subtraction of magnetic perturbations. Both Rb nuclei have valence protons,
but in Rb-87 the proton spin is parallel to the nuclear spin and magnetic moment, while for Rb-85 the proton spin is anti-parallel to the nuclear spin and
magnetic moment. Thus an interaction with the proton spin would produce
a differential shift in the spin precession frequencies of the two isotopes of
rubidium. We discuss methods to control systematic errors due to light shifts
and the gyro-compass effect.
Valdivia, Enrique - University of Nevada, Reno
Legacy of the Stewart Indian School on the Washo Language
The Stewart Indian School, located south of Carson City, Nevada, operated
for approximately a hundred years from 1890 to 1980. Part of a national
endeavor specifically designed for the acculturation of Native Americans,
the Stewart Indian School was a boarding school which housed thousands of
Northern Nevada indigenous people. Many indigenous languages in the U.S.
are in a dire situation, with fewer and fewer new speakers each generation.
The language of the Washo people, a tribe from the Lake Tahoe area in both
Nevada and California, is one example of a community dealing with language
loss. Language represents a key component of both individual and tribal
identity, something which government officials understood quite well when
they purposed a strictly English speaking environment and curriculum at the
Indian Schools across the U.S. Indian School policies aimed at eliminating
indigenous languages were effective in “civilizing” Native communities and
those effects can be seen today. People trying to restore and maintain their
aboriginal languages have a long and painful history to overcome, and the
Washo are one of many tribes currently dealing with this process.
The purpose of this research is to examine the ethno-historic record of people’s experiences at Stewart Indian School. The study analyses these student
experiences and the policies installed by the administrators of the school and
examines the impact and influence it continues to have on the Washo community. Understanding the specific historical and personal context of the
Stewart Indian School could offer insight as to how the current state of the
Washo language came to be. Although this study does not offer any solutions
to revitalize the Washo language, it is hoped that it will shed some light on
the conditions endured by generations of students as their language and way
of life was institutionally attacked.
Van Noy, Joseph - Sul Ross State University
Soil Carbon Level Comparisons Based on Management strategies on the O2
and Mimms Ranches, Trans-Pecos, Texas
Grasslands are both ecologically and economically important to West Texas
land owners and their continued production is a major topic of concern. Several biologists believe that through enhanced soil carbon sequestration, the
storage of carbon in solid material through biological and physical processes
we can improve the carbon cycle. The primary goal of this project is to obtain
baseline data on the amount of total carbon, organic carbon and inorganic
carbon in the soil on the O2 Ranch and Mimms ranch. Sites on each ranch
were chosen based on different land restoration practices (spike 20 PD, grub
treatment and riparian zone restoration) and grazing practices (continuous
and enclosure). 6 soil samples were taken at each site 3 at 1-6 in depth and
3 at a 6-12 in depth. To obtain total carbon the Leco CN2000 and the dry
combustion method was used, for organic carbon test the Walkey Black wet
combustion method and or inorganic carbon the acid dissolution to determine
total carbonate. Results showed higher organic carbon in the 1-6 in depth
and from the 6-12 in depth the inorganic carbon increased. Grub and Spike
treated area showed to have an increase in organic carbon in the 1-6 in depth
where the grazed and ungrazed did not show a significant difference in organic carbon levels both depths. Results show that proper management practices
and grazing patterns can positive effects soil carbon levels and ability of soil
to sequester carbon. With proper land management practices land owners can
improve vegetation quality, soil organic carbon and restore areas that have
been severely degraded due to over grazing and brush encroachment.
Vargas, Gabriella M. - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nonverbal Communication: Understanding Effects of Perceived
Rejection/Acceptance in Low and High Intimacy Situations
This study sought to investigate a relationship between nonverbal communication and rejection. Intimacy is conveyed by eye gazing, posture, proximity,
and touch, four major components of nonverbal communication. Engaging
in these behaviors in a frequent manner with one or more people indicates a
high intimacy interaction. Conversely, engaging very little in these behaviors
indicates a low intimacy interaction. In this study, high versus low intimacy
was counterbalanced in a within-subject design. Forty-five subjects participated in two conversations with a confederate and after each conversation
filled out a survey asking them if they had felt rejected or accepted by the
confederate. Afterward, each subject answered three surveys asking about
their social skills, personality, and self-monitoring skills. An ANOVA found
that the rejection/acceptance score given by a subject was strongly related to
the level of intimacy conveyed by the nonverbal behavior of their confederate.
Subjects in the high intimacy condition gave a high score for acceptance and
gave a lower score for rejection in the low intimacy condition. This shows that
nonverbal behavior strongly affected feelings of acceptance or rejection during social interactions.
Vázquez Muñoz, Cristopher - University of California, Berkeley
Growing Up, Becoming Undocumented
Within the last few decades, there has been a rapid proliferation of studies
that attempt to interrogate the specificities that construct the lives of migrant
youth. Within this growing body of literature, however, few have touched on
the growing up trajectories of undocumented immigrant youth.
The current project serves as a small window into the transnational childhoods and growing up experiences of undocumented immigrant youth from
Mexico. Five UC Berkeley students took part in an in-depth interview and
were asked to reflect on their migrant experiences as undocumented youth.
Through this work, the project seeks to explain the development of two particular phenomena.
The first is a development of consciousness of being undocumented. Since the
students in this project immigrated to the United States at a very young age,
they did not fully understand the complexities of being an undocumented
person until they got closer to reaching adulthood.
The second phenomenon is the idea that, for the youth in this project, being undocumented was not an automatic, inherent truth or revelation upon
crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Instead, the students became undocumented
as they gradually learned what their immigrant status means and entails
within the United States.
Vedasto, Frederick - Augsburg College
Monitoring the Variations of the Global Electric Circuit
Thousands of thunderstorms occur on our planet continuously with countless lightning bolts hitting the ground delivering a tremendous amount of
charge. As a result we live atop an ocean of negative charges that generate
an electric field, with the positively charged ionosphere, of approximately
100 volts per meter near the earth’s surface. When thunderstorms pass overhead, the electric fields can increase to thousands of volts per meter. It is
estimated that over 40,000 thunderstorms occur each day around the world;
these natural phenomena are what help maintain the global electric circuit,
although a small amount of current leaks out on fair-weather days, i.e., nonthunderstorm days. We are interested in fair-weather conditions; reasons
being that recently there has been a discovery that links the Global Electric
Circuit to phenomena occurring in the local space environment. We will be
constructing an electric field mill that will be able to detect and measure the
earth’s electric field. The device will be inexpensive compared to commercially
available field mills. Making a cheaper instrument has its drawbacks, such as
a decrease in accuracy. The trade-off, however, is compensated by an increase
in opportunities to collect data; from multiple flights and possibly a wide
adoption by a variety of student groups.
Velin, Gabriel - University of California, San Diego
Community Structure, Form and Function: The Products Of Globalization,
Gentrification And Decentralization Within Jabodetabek
This project will explore the dynamics of decentralization within the Jakarta
Metropolitan Region from top-down and bottom-up perspectives in an effort
to understand how excised urban kampung communities have been altered,
dissolved, and cultivated within the locales of urban Jakarta and the periurban region of Jabodetabek, in light of the rapid decentralization throughout
the region. An additional focus will explore the manner and degree kampung
dwellers have been affected by the dissolution of their previous social networks as it relates to their access of employment and housing opportunities,
as well as their perspective of living conditions. The current literature on
the rapid emergence of the suburban areas peripheral to the Jakarta core
offers little attention to the tracing of the displaced kampung dwellers movements as they make the transition from urban to more rural locations on
the periphery of Jakarta. As such, this project seeks to employ the current
academic, private, public, and local discourses and knowledge-bases related
to rapid population increases within the Jabodetabek region, as well as the
mechanisms which have spurred massive migration to these areas primarily
from the urban spaces of Jakarta. Lastly, an explanation will provide detail
into the next phase of this research process: an in depth ethnographic field
study to uncover the histories of the previous kampung dwellers in effort
to understand the community –level perspective as to how the ‘low-income’
kampung dwellers have transitioned in light of the rapid urbanization and
decentralization of the Jakarta core and its peripheral regions of Jabodetabek. The timeline of this paper will primarily focus from 1980 to 1997: before
the Southeast Asia financial crisis of 1997, in order to isolate the interactions
between kampung dwellers with their environments before and after the
massive kampung clearance projects of the 1980s under President Suharto’s
‘New Order’ regime.
Viernes, Sherwin Cortina - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Foreign Direct Investment in Brazil and Opportunities for US Businesses:
A Case for the Aviation Sector
This study aims to find insight on foreign direct investment in Brazil as it
pertains to the aviation sector. Brazil is deemed an “emerging economy”
and has many opportunities for US businesses to invest in the aviation sector alone. This study takes a macroscopic look at the economy, foreign direct
investment, as well as limitations of foreign direct investment. It then moves
into a more microscopic look into the aviation sector and the areas of that
sector where US business investments can thrive. The sources used to conduct this research were both online and offline. The online resources were
achieved through the Google search engine as well as the Central Intelligence
Agency World Fact Book. The offline research was conducted by myself in
Brazil which includes personal interactions with different professors at my
university, interviews and documents from Eraldo Xavier the owner of the
SLW CORRETORA DE VALORES E CÂMBIO LTDA (SLW Brokerage Securities and Exchange LTD), and other first-hand research. The results of this
research indicates that Brazil is ranked as the fifth largest aviation market
in the world. With the appreciation of the Brazilian Real against the US Dollar as well as the expansion of the aviation sector as a whole in Brazil, there
are promising business opportunities in the whole sector or even specific markets within the sector including parts and Components. With the upcoming
FIFA World Cup of 2014, law enforcement and securities is another market
within the sector which is speculated to have much growth potential.
Vigil, Regina Marie - California State University, East Bay
Do Shiga-toxin Producing E. coli Talk About The Harm They Inflict?
Identifying Quorum Sensing and Virulence Factors in Non- O157
Escherichia coli as A Means of Defense Against Infection
Escherichia coli O157is a bacterium familiar to most individuals. These E.
coli can contaminate food, such as beef and spinach, causing illnesses ranging
from recurring diarrhea to death in susceptible individuals. They produce a
toxin typically associated with another harmful bacterium known as Shigella
spp. These toxins are referred to as “Shiga-toxins” or STEC’s. While E. coli
O157 remains the most common STEC in the United States there are over
100 STECs that can be just as harmful, my project, conducted in collaboration with individuals at CSUEB and the USFDA, involves identifying chemical indicators that would help detect different strains of non-O157 E. coli in
contaminated foods. Nine different STECs were chosen to be screened for
their ability to produce catecholate siderophores (phenolates), such as enterobactin, chelating compounds important for some pathogenic bacteria in the
acquisition of iron. The same STECs will also be screened for the presence
of acyl homoserine lactones, chemicals involved in bacterial communication,
also known as quorum sensing, and expression of virulence factors. Like E.
coli O157, non-O157 E. coli can cause serious illness because these bacteria also have the ability to produce Shiga-toxins. In fact, in recent months,
outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States have included strains of
this bacterium. In general, detection and identification of non-O157 STECS
is not easy, which hinders determination of their origin and, subsequently,
how to eliminate them. If new tools were developed to facilitate indication
of the presence of these bacteria, this could assist in determining the source
of their contamination (e.g.., packing plants and fields) and foster measures
that prevent or, at least, decrease further infection, disease and/or death. It
is expected that results from this study will not only contribute to identifying
non-O157 STECs but, indirectly decrease future illness and/or death associated with these infections and possibly assist in determining treatment for
sickened individuals.
Waldeck, Theodore - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Need for School-Based Prevention Programs to be Made Part
of the Curricula
Why have not prevention programs been made fulltime in our nations school
curricula? Drugs are still a problem facing our children. Studies have proven
that prevention programs are beneficial to our children. In fact, one study,
states that for every $150 spent per child for a program, $840 is saved in
crime and healthcare costs. What would the savings be if we educated our
children from kindergarten, all the way through high school, instead of one,
or a couple of years? Little, if any, research has been done with this idea in
mind, although Cynthia R. Knowles, the author of Prevention That Works!: A
Guide for Developing School-Based Drug and Violence Prevention Programs
believes, to be effective, prevention education needs to be continuous throughout students’ primary years of schooling (Knowles, 2001). Math is not taught
for one year and left for the student to learn the rest, and neither should education about drugs. Therefore, this study is going to be about taking the best
programs from each age and grade group, making them available throughout
our children’s primary education, and demonstrating that greater effects can
be gotten if only we continue, year after year, to educate our children about
drugs.
Wallen-Adams, Barbara - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Male Anorexia in the Modern 2010
Anorexia nervosa is a significant problem that affects over one million males
on a yearly basis. However, it is often misdiagnosed and even overlooked entirely in school, medical, and clinical situations. This is generally due to the
misconception that this disorder is exclusively a female dilemma. It is also
thought that the DSM-IV contributes to this due to it being gender biased
where male anorexia is concerned.
The purpose of this literature review is to show that modern research has
not been successful in identifying the etiology or clinical characteristics of
male anorexia, and that a more comprehensive definition of anorexia nervosa
specific for male subjects. Even if anorexia in males is correctly diagnosed,
the services for males are discriminatory and perceived as inadequate due to
treatment being devised for the female population.
Walters, Ben - University of Arizona
The Molecular Basis of Segmentation in Short-Germ Arthropods
In most arthropods and other short-germ insects, only a few body segments
are specified during the blastula stage. Further segments are added sequentially during embryogenesis in an anterior to posterior fashion in a region
commonly referred to as the growth zone. However, despite its essential
role in development, the size, location, and mechanics of the growth zone
remain poorly understood. Here we characterize the expression and knockdown phenotypes of two genes implicated in growth zone maintenance in
Artemia fransciscana, Caudal and Wnt8. Respective genes were cloned from
Artemia cDNA using degenerate primers and used for whole-mount in situ
hybridization and RNAi experiments. Knockdown phenotypes were attained
by injecting dsRNA into the body cavity of Artemia larvae using a Narishige
MMO-220B micromanipulator. Injected larvae were cultured 1-2 weeks before collection and fixing. All phenotypes were scored against dye injected
controls.
Wamble, Konnie - Southern Nazarene University
Session 30C - Friday, 4:10 -5:30 pm, 189 Dwinelle
Student Study Preferences in Library Environments
For academic libraries to survive modifications will need to be made in order
to increase student usage in libraries. Today’s student needs an environment
that goes beyond “just checking out books”; an environment that can be flexible for both individuals as well as collaboration groups. The question is “how
can an academic library transform into this environment?” With open-communication between the library and the student, libraries can evaluate the
priorities that need to be met in order for the student to be successful.
The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of a learning
commons and how they are essential to academic libraries as well as student
users. The study also explores the environments students prefer when studying in a library setting. This could involve studying at a table and chairs, relaxing in a comfy chair, or collaborating in a café-style environment. By conducting a qualitative survey, SNU students will address the primary needs
that they feel will be beneficial in their academic success. I will then compile
these needs and make recommendations to SNU on how they can transform
their library into a learning commons.
Wang, Yanlian - Temple University
Session 80H - Sunday, 1:30 -2:30 pm, 189 Dwinelle
Sociotropy and Autonomy as Mediators between Rumination and Depression
in Adolescents
Depression research lacks a focus on multi-faceted aspect on personality and
response styles. This study investigates depression related variables: rumination, made up of brooding and reflective pondering; sociotropy, defined by
preference for affiliation and fear of criticism or rejection; and autonomy,
which is sensitivity to other’s control and independent goal attainment. This
study found that fear of criticism or rejection in sociotropy and sensitivity to
other’s control in autonomy partially mediate the relationship between rumination and depression in adolescents. Participants’ (N=344) scores on the
PRSQ, SAS and BDI-II scales were used to measure rumination, sociotropy
and autonomy, and depression. Limitations and suggestion for future research are discussed.
Ward, Stephen - California State University, Bakersfield
Academic Achievement:
Factors that Affect the First Year Experience in College
The transition to higher education can be an endeavor of new life experiences
that culminate into factors that affect a student’s achievement and academic
success. This can lend itself to areas of growth, change, and maturation that
cultivate and stimulate the intellectual curiousity that motivates a student
to succeed in college. The heredity of education, acquisition of the world
wide web and student employment status is what defines achievement in
this study. Education is important. Does the educational achievement of the
parents play a role in how successful a student will feel in their first year of
college? There is also a cost to attend higher education. If students are working more, will this time away from school affect their grades? Similarly, technology use in academia has increased over the past couple of years. Is access
to the internet a factor that is important to the academic achievement and
progress of a student in their first year of college? These questions will be further explicated in this study and culminate into the idea of what factors play
a role in student academic achievement. Specifically, this design attempts to
measure three factors that affect this. These factors are the formal education
of a student’s parents, student work status, and access to the internet.
Watson, Wendy - Saint Louis University
What Are the Barriers that Successful Offender Reentry Programs
Encounter?
This research presents the various issues that offender reentry programs
face in integrating prisoners back into society. I primarily studied Project
Greenlight, a study funded by the Vera Institute of Justice in 2003 in New
York City. The program was plagued by financial issues, staffing issues, and
lack of clear communication among offenders. It ultimately lead to the demise
of Project Greenlight and motivated other programs to take a hard look at
what works best for the reentering offenders. If successful programs can be
developed, it could not only save taxpayers millions of dollars a year, it could
enable those with a criminal history to move past their shortcomings and
become functioning members of their communities. As someone with a criminal background, I am passionate about finding useful ways to incorporate
successful programming within the reentry process. The Project Greenlight
program was an eye-opening experience for the researchers, as they found
that no matter how much time, effort, and money you pour into a program, it
does not guarantee a reduction in the recidivism rate. Through my research,
I hope to encourage the implementation of successful offender reentry programs and lessen the barriers that they face. I will be doing this through
careful examination of programs and their weakness and their strengths.
White, Michelle - University of California, San Diego
Hemispheric Asymmetry in Causal Inference: An ERP study
How do words, sentences, and stories activate meaning in the human mind?
Understanding how context contributes to meaning is important for language
processing. Our goal in this experiment was to assess hemispheric differences
in the neural substrates recruited in processing linguistic meaning. We used
ERP to study brainwave components, while presenting experimental stimuli
using the divided visual field paradigm (Burgess & Simpson, 1988). EEG was
recorded as subjects listened to short stories containing a causal inference
gap, followed by a visual probe word selected for lexical association to the last
word in the story or causal relatedness to the cause of the event. The N400
brainwave component was used to index word facilitation. Results indicate
a right-hemisphere basis for causal inference effects. This suggests a neural
dissociation between lexical and causal aspects of language.
Whitehead, Rebekah - Sul Ross State University
The African American Slave Narrative: A Gender Study
During the late 1800’s, the slave narrative emerged as a new form of autobiography, which depicted the lives of African-American slaves. Slave narratives are the accounts of fugitive or freed ex-slaves that reveal the horrific
experiences that occurred in their lives during the time they were slaves.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, published
in 1845 and Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, published
in 1861, are two of the most recognized slave narratives whose authors were
once fugitive slaves. Male and female slaves were considered property rather
than human beings and were under complete control of the slave owner. The
male slave was beaten physically, humiliated and emasculated by his owner,
and lost his sense of masculine identity. The female slave was thought of as
a sexual commodity, raped by her owner, purchased for her ability to have
children, and she was unable to marry without the owner’s consent. The male
and female slave narratives are inspiring and embody the power of the human spirit against tremendous odds.
Wilkerson, Christina - University of Southern California
“I’M A DREAMER”: Undocumented Latino Youth in Los Angeles and the
Federal DREAM Act
In 2001 the Federal DREAM Act, a bipartisan legislative bill, was introduced
to congress. This bill makes it possible for undocumented youth living in the
United States to obtain citizenship by completing two years of higher education or military service within a six year period. Currently, the DREAM Act
has yet to pass as a federal law. California has the largest percentage of undocumented immigrants (Flores, 2009). Moreover, 4.7 million Latinos live in
Los Angeles County, making the greater Los Angeles area the largest Latino
population in the nation (Pew Hispanic Center, 2009). This study considers
the question: if the Federal DREAM Act were to pass, what impact would this
have on undocumented Latino youth in the Los Angeles region? To address
this question, the researcher considers socioeconomic factors that influence
student choice towards either military enlistment or college enrollment pathways. Through the use of grounded theory research methodology this study
compares interviews of undocumented Latino youth in Los Angeles. Additionally, the researcher analyzes the perceptions that this population has regarding the military component of the bill.
Williams, Charnan - University of Southern California
Lost in the City of Angels:
A Comparative Analysis of Central Avenue and Leimert Park as Black Cultural Spaces
This research examines two distinct black business districts in Los Angeles: historic Central Avenue and contemporary Leimert Park in order to
understand the role of black entrepreneurship and the arts in sustaining
black communities in Los Angeles. The height of Central Avenue was from
1920 to 1950 because it had key institutions that served as anchors for African American entrepreneurs and their customers. However, the decline
of Central Avenue as a black cultural space due to desegregation and black
migration allowed black enterprises and culture to relocate to a new location, Leimert Park. Leimert Park, a community southwest of Central Avenue
located within the Crenshaw Corridor, eventually emerged in the late 1960s
as a black district. Black merchants in Leimert Park incorporated visual and
performance art into their businesses, drawing in blacks from all across Los
Angeles and beyond. This research demonstrates that a sense of community
predicated on spatial togetherness and black enterprises and art did not die
with the demise of Central Avenue as a black district, but rather it transmitted to Leimert Park. City redevelopment programs currently threaten to
change the identity of the Leimert Park community as a black cultural and
business space without considering its vital role in community development.
Leimert Park is a self-sustaining black urban community that has functioned
and should be preserved as a continuation of traditions from Central Avenue.
Wilson, Joni - California State University, Dominguez Hills
Womack, Rosana - University of California, Davis
Plenary Session B - Friday, 9:00 - 9:55 am, 155 Dwinelle
A Lost Voice: The Afro-Argentine Condition
During the colonial period tens of thousands of African slaves arrived to the
port of Buenos Aires in Argentina, and were forced to disperse throughout the
Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. Over time, many of these African slaves
gained their freedom and became an actively vocal presence within Argentina’s society, and became known as the “Afro-Argentines.” Through newspapers, mutual aid societies, and their influence on Argentine music and dance,
the Afro-Argentines left an indelible mark on Argentine culture. However,
during the later half of the 19th century, they “disappeared” as a distinct
racial minority within Argentina. The current research addresses this historical problem of the “disappeared” Afro-Argentine population during the second half of the 19th century. This study considers the demographic, cultural,
and racial conditions leading up to their “disappearance,” and examines how
the Afro-Argentines experienced their population’s decline during the BelleÉpoque era. Additionally, this study will examine how the Afro-Argentines
identified themselves as a community within the context of diversity. A working bibliography of primary and secondary sources, archival research, and
statistical data, will be analyzed to examine the current research question.
Preliminary findings suggest the Afro-Argentines did not simply disappear,
but were systematically targeted as a race, and were consciously excluded
from Argentine society as it evolved toward a “White” national identity. The
current findings implicate that there is a need to better understand how the
Afro-Argentines viewed and often challenged Argentina’s changing ideological landscape. Future directions would include understanding how AfroArgentines negotiated relationships with indigenous and immigrant communities housed amongst them, and how that in turn impacted their place and
position in Argentine society.
Wong, Sherly - California State University, East Bay
College Student Smoking Cessation Project: Evaluating Stressors and
Increased use of Tobacco
Nicotine, a key ingredient of tobacco, is one of the few legal psychoactive
drugs that is easily attainable. The relaxant effect of smoking acts as a temporary stress relief further increases the susceptibility of developing tolerance. Currently there are few studies focusing on college students and smoking behaviors even though college-aged adults smoke at higher percentages
than the general United States population and the number is rising (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention). 70 percent of all people who experimented with smoking become addicted and only 20 percent of smoking cessation
attempts that last for more than 24 months are successful. Previous studies
also show that compulsive tobacco craving, which is the major defining feature of addiction, is associated with depression. This research focuses primarily on the link between the quantity of tobacco use with perceived acute stress
in college such as taking an exam. To study this problem, college student
smokers will be provided with a class which will help them identify stressors
while tracking the quantity of tobacco use during stressful periods. The conThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 234 Abstracts
trol group will only track smoking pattern/usage. The findings of the study
will provide new insights into the smoking habits of college students and the
impact of therapeutic intervention during an acute stress period. Based on
the findings of this study, future directions for research may include the effect of acute stress on subsequent use of tobacco in general population, impact
of early intervention on smoking behavior, and how effective stress management techniques may prevent the potential of abuse in the long run.
Wood, Ellie - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Trans and Genderqueer Perspectives on Feminism
In a society infested with violence and injustice born in the problems of gender, sexism and misogyny, feminism has acted as a base for bettering society
in terms of the gendered world. But not enough attention has been given to
the very marginalized of the gendered world: the trans, genderqueer and
intersex people of the world. While unable to look at how intersex people are
affected by the matter, this project asks how trans and genderqueer folks (assigned female at birth) see feminism? How does it affect their gender identity
and, in turn, how does their gender identity affect how they see feminism?
I seek the answers through internet surveys and interviews. I discover that
amongst the trans and genderqueer (female-assigned at birth) youth of today,
feminism plays a significant role that informs their gendered decisions and
lives. This research may serve as a representation of marginalized voices on
feminist matters, revealing how feminism and masculinity harmonize and
interact in a sexist society for trans and genderqueer people of today.
Wood, Mat - Southern Nazarene University
Session 68G - Saturday, 10:00 - 11:20 am, 234 Dwinelle
Diversity within American Higher Education
This study explores the role of diversity within higher academia and promotes organizational practices that inspire greater retention of ethnic minorities. Relevant literature verifies that greater diversity is achievable, but
only through strong organizational leadership and active community building
within the scholastic body. Statistics will be taken from Southern Nazarene
University to demonstrate its current condition regarding diversity.
Wuu, Sabrina-Anne - University of California, Santa Barbara
The Effect of Fog on Tree Water Status in a Coastal Californian Forest
This project will investigate the role of fog water in alleviating the water
stress of pine trees in a coastal forest ecosystem; the findings will provide
insight into predicting the distribution of this species in a future likely to
become warmer, drier, and less foggy. The species of interest is the Bishop
pine (Pinus muricata D.Don), a rare and endemic tree predominantly restricted to the fog-belt of coastal California. Previous work has demonstrated
that fog water significantly reduces drought-stress in Bishop pines; however,
there is a gap in the understanding of how fog events impact plant-available
water and the subsequent effect on plant physiological function. This project
will study the effects of fog on the physical environment of the Bishop pine
on Santa Cruz Island at a fine spatial and temporal scale. I will address the
following interrelated questions: 1) What is the spatial variability of throughfall beneath the canopy? 2) What amount of throughfall from fog drip makes
an appreciable impact on soil moisture? 3) Are the effects of fog-drip on soil
moisture extended through time by the shading effects from the canopy and
the events themselves? A field experiment will be conducted to quantify the
volume of throughfall under a spatially heterogeneous canopy composed of
trees from different age classes. Soil moisture will be measured in conjunction with throughfall to identify how throughfall impacts the upper reaches
of the soil profile where plants invest in shallow roots. Additionally, the
shading effects of the canopy will be measured to investigate how fog events
and canopy structure may impact evaporative loss of moisture from the soil.
These parameters of fog events will be correlated to measurements of plant
water stress and water regulation patterns. This study will establish a stronger relationship between fog events and Bishop pine physiological function.
Yang, Chee - Augsburg College
MSW Students and Segregation: Implications for Cultural Competence
This research explored the relationship between segregation and social
work students’ development of cultural competency. Cultural Competency
is an ethical mandate required by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 1996) for all social workers. As a result of this requirement and
using two theories from social psychology, aversive racism and intergroup
contact theory, this study began by focusing on the extent to which students’
lives were impacted by social segregation and continued by exploring the implications of segregation on students’ ability to become culturally competent.
Thus this research used a sample of 134 MSW students from a Midwestern
private college to address two research questions 1) To what extent do MSW
students experience social contact with people who are culturally different
from themselves? 2) According to aversive racism and intergroup contact
theories, what implications might their segregation have for their potential
ability to provide culturally competent social work? SPSS was used to perform secondary analysis of post test results from a larger study of MSW student cultural competence. Preliminary results suggested that most students
lead lives segregated by race and ethnicity. According to aversive racism and
intergroup contact theories this segregation may impact their level of prejudice against people of other social identities and thereby impact their ability
to be culturally competent. Suggestions for further research were provided.
Yang, Peng - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
The Effects of Elevated Porosity on the Flexural Stiffness of Carbon/Epoxy
Composite Materials
Fiber reinforced composites are two phase materials consisting of a fiber and
polymer matrix, usually possessing high strength to weight ratio. Manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP)-laminates can lead to defects
such as voids or porosity. In this study, we examine the effect of porosity from
1 to 20 % on the flexural stiffness of a multidirectional carbon/epoxy composite. The panels were created with intentional porosity and assessed by means
of microscopic gray scale image histogram and ultrasonic attenuation. A four
point flexural test was used to determine the flexural modulus. Carbon fiber
reinforced plastics (CFRP) composites are lightweight materials with a high
strength to weight ratio. This allows the material to be suitable for many applications such as automobile parts, aerospace structures, and sports equipment. Many carbon/epoxy composites are usually manufactured from prepregs sheets. The term prepreg is short for fiber pre-impregnated with resin.
Stacking these prepregs in different directions allow the composite material
to experience different mechanical properties for each direction depending
on the applied loads. In practice, the complex fabrication can lead to defects
such as delamination, voids, and porosity that can reduce its mechanical
properties. The purpose of this research is to investigate the flexural stiffness
of carbon/epoxy fiber composites with varying porosity defect levels.
Yoo, Christine - Temple University
Quantifying Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by Observing the Blood Brain
Barrier (BBB) Permeability and Cell Apoptosis on a Mouse Model
Because of the severe and common nature of blast injuries in military combat, a deep understanding of how the tissue is damaged is necessary in order to create better safety measures as well as treatments. Traumatic brain
injury (TBI) has yet to be thoroughly quantified through measuring damages
to the neurons, glia and the blood brain barrier (BBB). This research will be
conducted by using a shock tube which delivers high pressure shock waves
to create direct damage on a mouse brain. The mouse will be affected by only
the primary shock wave which eliminates extra variables in order to determine the sole effects of the pressure waves that travel through the brain
due to explosive devices. The goal is to determine a relationship between the
extent of the BBB damage and the strength of the shock. The threshold of
when cell apoptosis due to extensive nerve damage as well as the amount of
BBB permeability using the S100B marker will be collected and interpreted.
By analyzing the tissue through histological methods, the data can then be
tested for consistency as well as transferability to human application. This
data can ultimately be utilized to better understand how the human brain
will react to blast waves in order to prevent more invasive procedures that
determine the extent of brain damage.
Zahzah, Omar - California State University, Long Beach
Breaking The Thread: Structure and Exile in Wajdi Mouawad’s Incendies
I will illustrate how Wajdi Mouawad’s play Incendies structurally reflects a
fluid stance on exile by featuring binary oppositions which constantly interact
with one another rather than remaining static, and how these interactions
serve as a structural reflection of an exilic consciousness which has assumed
what Edward Said refers to as “subjectivity.” Past scholarly work has demonstrated a link between a structural preoccupation with binary oppositions
and themes of exile and dispossession. However, less attention has been paid
to the possibility of reflecting a fluid stance on exile at the structural level;
this may indirectly encourage a reductionist view of works that deal with
themes of exile and dispossession. In this light, I see Mouawad’s play working
to counteract overly reductionist readings of works that explore themes of exile and dispossession in general. In addition to relying on both Incendies and
Edward Said’s essay “Reflections on Exile,” my investigation will also utilize
F. Elizabeth Dahab’s Voices of Exile In Contemporary Canadian Francophone
Literature, as well as theater reviews and other literary analyses of IncendThe 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 238 Abstracts
ies, specifically those whose purpose also was to demonstrate how certain aspects of the play’s structure reflect its major thematic preoccupations. A close
reading of all of these sources and a synthesis of observations and insights
drawn from each of them will enable me to prove how Wajdi Mouawad effects
a stylistic representation of an exilic consciousness which transcends stasis
and victimization.
The 2011 Berkeley McNair Symposium • 239

Ronald E. McNair California Scholars Symposium

Transcription

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