Here - UMass Amherst

Transcription

Co-sponsored by
Commonwealth Honors College
at UMass Amherst and the
Massachusetts Public System
of Higher Education
Complete abstracts online at:
www.honors.umass.edu/conference
Friday, April 27, 2012
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Lincoln Campus Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Conference Schedule
3
Microbiology
96
Acknowledgements4
Middle Eastern Studies
96
Entomology 178
Keynote Speaker
5
Molecular Biology
97
Environmental Studies
Venue Maps
6
Nursing97
Forestry188
178
Philosophy 99
Geography 189
Oral Presentation Schedules 10
Physics100
Geological Science
Poster Presentation Schedules 18
Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences 103
Geology192
Political Science
History192
Presenters/Oral
30
Anthropology
30
103
190
Psychology 107
Industrial Engineering
195
Art32
Public Health
Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC
195
Art History
33
Radio-Television-Film118
Japanese197
Asian Studies
33
Social Thought & Political Economy 118
Kinesiology 197
Biochemistry
33
Social Work
Landscape Architecture
205
Legal Studies
206
Biology34
112
119
Sociology120
Chemical Engineering
36
Sociology, Anthropology, Chemistry37 & Crime & Justice Studies
125
Linguistics206
Literature206
Classical Language & Literature 37
Spanish125
Management
Commonwealth Honors College 38
Theatre126
Marketing208
Communication
41
Veterinary Science
126
Community or Public Service 47
Mathematics & Statistics
210
Women's Studies
127
Mechanical Engineering
212
Presenters/Poster
130
Microbiology
214
Middle Eastern Studies
219
Molecular Biology
219
Comparative Literature
48
Computer Science
49
Economics 51
Accounting 130
Education52
American Indian Studies
131
Electrical Engineering
Animal Sciences
132
Anthropology
132
56
English57
English Literature
62
Environmental Studies
66
Finance68
History69
Art133
Biochemistry
134
Biology139
Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC
76
Chemical Engineering
152
International Studies
77
Chemistry155
Nursing221
Nutrition & Food Science
225
Philosophy 226
Physics226
Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences 229
Political Science
233
Psychology 233
Public Health
270
Japanese78
Civil Engineering
Kinesiology 82
Classical Language & Literature 163
Landscape Architecture
87
Commonwealth Honors College 163
Latin American Studies
88
Communication
165
Legal Studies
88
Communication Disorders
165
Linguistics89
Community or Public Service
166
317
Literature90
Sociology, Anthropology, & Crime & Justice Studies
Computer Science
171
Women's Studies
317
Index of Presenters by Name
323
Index of Presenters
by Campus
331
Management
91
Marketing93
Mathematics & Statistics
93
Mechanical Engineering
95
162
207
Radio-Television-Film303
Religious Studies
304
Social Thought & Political Economy 305
Sociology305
Dance174
Economics 175
Education175
English Literature
176
18th Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference
2
2012 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Registration
9:00 am – 9:25 am
Extended Poster Session 1 - First Half
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Welcome and Keynote
10:35 am – 11:00 am
Extended Poster Session 1 - Second Half
10:40 am – 11:25 am
Oral Session 1
11:35 am – 12:20 pm
Poster/Oral Session 2
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm- 2:15 pm Poster/Oral Session 3
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge all of the faculty members who volunteered their time and expertise to review
abstracts and give invaluable guidance to student presenters. We would like to express our great appreciation
to the following campus contacts for their time and support of the conference.
Stacy Evans Jenny Shanahan Tom Grady Libby Dunphy Delores Bird Sara Pollak Levine Katelyn Christopher Judi Greene-Corvee Kim Hicks Matt Silliman Jason Mazaik Maureen Kelly Mark Patrick Susan Martelli David Kalivas Sheila Murphy Marcey Marold Ginger Hurajt Susan McPherson Eric Entemann Joanna Gonsalves David Winsper Julia Alexander Joyce Morrissey Jennifer Wilson Mulnix Jim Canning Glen Brewster Josna Rege Berkshire Community College
Bridgewater State University
Bristol Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
Cape Cod Community College
Fitchburg State University
Framingham State University
Greenfield Community College
Holyoke Community College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Massasoit Community College
Middlesex Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
North Shore Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
Roxbury Community College
Salem State University
Springfield Technical Community College
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Westfield State University
Worcester State University
We would also like to give special recognition to Conference Coordinator Julia Alexander, Conference
Assistant Stephanie Viens, Meredith Lind, Melissa Woglom, Celso Avelar, Zoe Pappenheimer, Aruna Aruna,
Andy Guavin, Shelley Gibbons, the Lincoln Campus Center staff, and the faculty, staff, and students at
Commonwealth Honors College.
4
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dara Wier has directed the Master of Fine Arts program for poets and writers at
UMass Amherst where she teaches poetry workshops and seminars. She is the
author of eleven poetry collections, with a new collection, You Good Thing, due
to release in early 2013.
The important American composer and performance artist John Cage said, “without thinking we
can tell what is being said without understanding it.” Likewise, sometimes we understand what is
being said without thinking. Dara Wier will discuss how we make sense of what we hear and see,
and why we need to do so in order to take charge of our own lives, confident that we can interpret
and understand what we observe going on around us.
5
FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Lincoln Campus Center, First Floor
A
C
Coat
Check
Auditorium
A
Concourse
C
6
Auditorium, Morning Session
1
2
= Poster Board
7
Auditorium, Afternoon Session
1
2
= Poster Board
8
registration tables
Concourse
escalator
stairs
Concourse
C
Detail
1
2
= Poster Board
9
Oral Sessions
READING ROOM
PANEL PRESENTER
FIELD OF PRESENTATION
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
AMY O’REGAN
COMMONWEALTH HONORS COLLEGE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
22
1
HANNAH RAPP
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
23
1
RAQUEL BOUDREAU
COMMUNITY OR PUBLIC SERVICE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
37
2
SOPHIA ZAMAN
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
168
2
AVIV CELINE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
18
2
AVERY FUERST
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
19
3
MEGAN CONERY
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
171
3
TRACY GEBHART
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
20
3
NOELLE KELLICKER
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES/BDIC
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
103
4
SARAH KELLEY
ANTHROPOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
2
4
ALEXANDRA MARTINES
EDUCATION
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
54
4
ALLISON MCGRAIL
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
21
5
ERICA ROTHSCHILD
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
39
5
HANAN BUMPUS
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
38
5
TEQUAN JONES
SOCIAL WORK
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
195
ROOM 101
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
JULIANA KEIL
LITERATURE
WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY
10:40-11:25
131
1
CHRISTOPHER GOUDREAU
ENGLISH
10:40-11:25
64
1
AMBER PETTELL
ENGLISH
10:40-11:25
68
2
DEREK PIETRAS
ENGLISH LITERATURE
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY
11:35-12:20
78
2
JESSICA ANDREASON
ENGLISH LITERATURE
UMASS DARTMOUTH
11:35-12:20
74
2
KATELYNN LARSON
ENGLISH LITERATURE
MASS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
11:35-12:20
76
3
MERRILL SUNDERLAND
ENGLISH LITERATURE
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
1:30-2:15
79
3
JESSICA THELEN
ENGLISH LITERATURE
1:30-2:15
80
3
CAITLIN LARRACEY
ENGLISH LITERATURE
BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY
1:30-2:15
75
4
DEVON TORRES
RADIO-TELEVISION-FILM
BRISTOL C.C.
2:30-3:15
192
4
JENNIFER SHAKSHOBER
ENGLISH
2:30-3:15
72
4
ERIN PUTNAM
LITERATURE
NORTH SHORE C.C.
2:30-3:15
132
5
RACHEL LAREAU
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
65
5
KAILA CUMMINGS
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
61
5
LYNDON SEITZ
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
71
10
Oral Sessions
ROOM 162
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
HILLA ROGEL
MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
142
1
FREDDY PIETTER
COMPUTER SCIENCE
10:40-11:25
42
1
GARY SAVOIE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
10:40-11:25
43
2
DANIEL STUBBS
COMPUTER SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
44
2
ANNA GAVRILMAN
COMPUTER SCIENCE
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
41
2
KEVIN GIARDINI
UMASS DARTMOUTH
11:35-12:20
139
3
KEITH RESENDES
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
141
3
JODIE TRIVEDI
PHYSICS
1:30-2:15
159
3
RISHI SINGH
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
143
4
FELECIA CLODIUS
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
11
4
JESSE GUTIERREZ
BIOLOGY
NORTHERN ESSEX C.C.
2:30-3:15
12
4
JILL MOORE
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
140
5
EVAN WATTERS
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS LOWELL
3:30-4:15
10
5
BRENNA HAYNES
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
13
5
SAVANNAH LLOYD
VETERINARY SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
211
ROOM 163
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
NOLAN WETHERELL
ENGLISH LITERATURE
10:40-11:25
81
1
ALEX MARSHALL
ENGLISH LITERATURE
10:40-11:25
77
1
CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON
ENGLISH
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
70
2
KAITLIN HICKS
COMMUNICATION
FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
11:35-12:20
27
2
KARL ROZYN
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
11:35-12:20
40
2
STEVEN AVRAS
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
133
3
ROSS MARTIN
ENGLISH
1:30-2:15
67
3
JESSE MANGAN
ENGLISH
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
66
3
LYDIA GRAVELL
HISTORY
1:30-2:15
92
4
MOLLY FITZELL
ENGLISH
2:30-3:15
62
4
SARAH TOURIGNY
ENGLISH
2:30-3:15
73
5
JENNIFER BOYD
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
59
5
HANNAH CLIFFORD
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
60
5
ALEXANDRA PITZER
ENGLISH
NORTH SHORE C.C.
3:30-4:15
69
11
Oral Sessions
ROOM 168
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
DANIEL HEALEY
ART HISTORY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
8
1
EMILY LANE
ART
FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY 10:40-11:25
7
1
HEATHER PASTUSHOK
CLASSICAL LANGUAGE & LITERATURE UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
17
2
GARY FORSTER
PHYSICS
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
154
2
ALEXANDER NEMTZOW
PHYSICS
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
157
2
ZACHARY NEMTZOW
PHYSICS
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
158
3
PETER JUMPER
PHYSICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
155
3
IAN BROWN
PHYSICS
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
152
3
KEVIN JUMPER
PHYSICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
156
4
ANDREW CAIDE
PHYSICS
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
153
4
ROJAY WAGNER
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
58
4
TRINH DINH
CHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
16
5
RONDY MALIK
BIOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
14
5
SARENA HORAVA
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
15
5
JOSHUA COOMEY
PLANT, SOIL, AND INSECT SCIENCES
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
160
ROOM 176
PANEL PRESENTER
FIELD OF PRESENTATION CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
KATHLEEN JWANOWSKI
MICROBIOLOGY
10:40-11:25
144
1
ARIANA BEVILACQUA
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
146
1
CHELSEA CUMMINGS
VETERINARY SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
210
2
CAROLINE DORR
MANAGEMENT
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
134
2
JULIA RATZLAFF
ANTHROPOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
3
2
SAMUEL OFFEI
ECONOMICS
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
47
3
NORILYZ FIGUEROA
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
135
3
DANIEL MUWAMBA
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
137
3
BERTRAND MUHIRE
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
136
4
MATTHEW DENNY
ECONOMICS
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
45
4
NEIL MASIELLO
ECONOMICS
2:30-3:15
46
4
THOMAS PEAKE
ECONOMICS
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
48
5
TYLER BUCCETTI
FINANCE
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
88
5
MICHAEL SPIRO
MARKETING
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
138
5
DEVANSH BAJAJ
FINANCE
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
87
12
Oral Sessions
ROOM 803
PANEL PRESENTER
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
ANTHONY RASCATI
PUBLIC HEALTH
10:40-11:25
188
1
NICHOLAS MOREAU
EDUCATION
10:40-11:25
55
1
REBECCA HEADLEY
PUBLIC HEALTH
HOLYOKE C.C.
10:40-11:25
185
2
REBECCA RWAKABUKOZA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
189
2
EDEN HOLT
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
203
2
JEREMY MILLER
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
187
3
KELSEY DEWEY
NURSING
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
147
3
KRISTINA LUNDQUIST
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
149
3
ALEXANDRA GIORGIO
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
148
4
BRITHNY DOLCIUS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
182
4
JUSTIN DIAMOND
EDUCATION
NORTH SHORE C.C.
2:30-3:15
51
4
SARAH FERGUSON
PUBLIC HEALTH
2:30-3:15
183
5
LAUREN CORTE-REAL
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
181
5
DANIEL HYNES
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
186
5
ESAM GOODARZY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
184
ROOM 808
PANEL PRESENTER
1
TYRONE SMITH
1
SEBASTIAN CLARKIN
1
2
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
SOCIAL THOUGHT & POLITICAL ECONOMY BRISTOL C.C.
10:40-11:25
194
COMMUNICATION
BRISTOL C.C.
10:40-11:25
26
SARA PEDERSEN
COMMUNICATION
WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY 10:40-11:25
32
KRISTEN MCLOUGHLIN
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
117
2
HANNAH MOVERMAN
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
118
2
HANNAH STOOPS
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
123
3
KRISTEN RICHARD
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
121
3
MEGAN COLWELL
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
114
3
LINDSEY RICHARD
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
120
4
ANNA FEDOROWYCZ
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
115
4
SAMANTHA SANTIAGO
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
122
4
SALIM ZERRINY
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
124
5
AARON KARP
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
175
5
ANISHA PATEL
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
119
5
LEAH KATSOS
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
116
13
Oral Sessions
ROOM 809
PANEL PRESENTER
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
KATELYN SASSOROSSI
EDUCATION
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
57
1
BRANDON AGNEW
EDUCATION
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
49
1
CORINNE GLENNIE
EDUCATION
10:40-11:25
52
2
CEIRA O’BRIEN
EDUCATION
11:35-12:20
56
2
LAUREN DENIO
EDUCATION
11:35-12:20
50
2
JAMES MADIGAN
EDUCATION
11:35-12:20
53
3
MARIEL ADAMS
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
169
3
JACOB SHADE
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
178
3
CAROLYN WILCOMB
PSYCHOLOGY
WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY
1:30-2:15
179
4
JENNIFER GARDNER
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
173
4
TIMOTHY DILLON
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
172
4
SAMANTHA HAGUE
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
174
5
ELISE KENNEDY
SOCIAL WORK
BRISTOL C.C.
3:30-4:15
196
5
MARY KATE BRADLEY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
180
5
ALEXANDER KEEFE
PSYCHOLOGY
3:30-4:15
176
ROOM 811
PANEL PRESENTER
1
ALICIA SCOTT
SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, CRIME & JUSTICE STUDIES HOLYOKE CC
1
MEAGHAN HALFPENNY HISTORY
10:40-11:25 93
1
LAUSON ODE
10:40-11:25 97
2
ANDREA CHIARENZA WOMEN’S STUDIES
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20 214
2
SAMANTHA RIBEIRO
WOMEN’S STUDIES
11:35-12:20 215
2
TIAGO AMARAL
SOCIAL THOUGHT & POLITICAL ECONOMY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20 193
3
NICHOLAS SMARRA
POLITICAL SCIENCE
1:30-2:15
167
3
SAMANTHA BAILEY
ANTHROPOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
1
3
NACIK SADIQ
MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
145
4
KRISTINA TAMS
ANTHROPOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
5
4
EILEEN THOMPSON
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
191
4
STEPHAN ROCHEFORT HISTORY
MASS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS 2:30-3:15
99
5
VERONICA TAYS
ANTHROPOLOGY
HOLYOKE C.C.
3:30-4:15
6
5
NICOLE GODARD
ENGLISH
3:30-4:15
63
5
JENNIFER ROLENZ
ANTHROPOLOGY
HISTORY
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
10:40-11:25 207
4
14
Oral Sessions
ROOM 903
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
2
JOHN PARK
LEGAL STUDIES
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
127
2
LAUREN SHEEHAN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
190
2
BRENNA BEAN
PSYCHOLOGY
11:35-12:20
170
3
EMILY WHITE
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
36
3
KELSEY CINTOLO
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
24
3
SARA CLARKE
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
25
3
REBEKA ROBILLARD
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
33
4
SAMANTHA KENNEDY
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
28
4
KATHRYN WALSH
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
35
4
ELIZABETH MULLANE
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
31
5
ALLISON MESSIER
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
30
5
KYLE LUNT
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
29
5
STEPHANIE VIENS
COMMUNICATION
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
34
ROOM 908
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
1
SAM MCMAHON
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
110
1
MARY WHITEBIRCH
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
113
1
ELISE DURVILLE
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
106
2
ERINA SATO
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
112
2
LINDA PHAN
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
111
2
SOLEIL LE
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
108
3
SETH PETSCHING
ASIAN STUDIES
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
9
3
SHAWN FLYNN
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
107
3
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
JAPANESE
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
109
4
JESSICA RYTER
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
86
4
EMILY ROUND
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
125
4
CAROLINE MAYOTTE
2:30-3:15
84
5
ANN GRILLI
HOLYOKE C.C.
3:30-4:15
83
5
LINDSAY BARRON
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
82
5
STEPHEN PIKE
3:30-4:15
85
15
Oral Sessions
ROOM 909
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
SAMANTHA RYAN
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
126
1
ARIEL GEIST
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
165
1
DANIEL MCDONALD
HISTORY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
96
2
KARA CLIFFORD
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
163
2
JASON AGRESS
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
161
2
JOHN BROSNAN
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS BOSTON
11:35-12:20
162
3
KYLE HODNETT
HISTORY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
94
3
BRIANA SICARD
HISTORY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
100
3
RYAN FITZGERALD
HISTORY
1:30-2:15
91
4
ROBERT DONOGHUE
POLITICAL SCIENCE
2:30-3:15
164
4
SARAH STOE
HISTORY
2:30-3:15
101
4
ERIN MCMANUS
POLITICAL SCIENCE
2:30-3:15
166
5
GREGORY MURPHY
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
177
5
CLAIRE BRONCHUK
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
105
5
ALEXANDRA SMIALEK
SOCIOLOGY
3:30-4:15
205
ROOM 911
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
KATELYN ANDERSTROM
WOMEN’S STUDIES
10:40-11:25
212
1
PETER SCIBAK
THEATRE
HOLYOKE C.C.
10:40-11:25
209
1
STEPHANIE BONVISSUTO
WOMEN’S STUDIES
UMASS BOSTON
10:40-11:25
213
2
REBECCA L.C. HOELL
SPANISH
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
208
2
KATHERINE DEVANE BROWN
LINGUISTICS
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
128
2
KAYLY TILLMAN
LINGUISTICS
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
129
3
NICOLE BRADEN
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES/BDIC MASS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
1:30-2:15
102
3
GENEVIEVE RAMOS
HISTORY
BRISTOL C.C.
1:30-2:15
98
3
WILL KIDDER
PHILOSOPHY
1:30-2:15
151
4
SEAN DOHERTY
HISTORY
2:30-3:15
90
4
LAUREN BISHOP
HISTORY
2:30-3:15
89
4
ILIYA YANACHKOV
LINGUISTICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
130
5
GERRYANNE JEAN
HISTORY
3:30-4:15
95
5
SHELBY GIACCARINI
PHILOSOPHY
3:30-4:15
150
5
SHOTA KOBAYASHI
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
104
16
Oral Sessions
ROOM 917
PANEL PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT#
1
KELLY GIBSON
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
202
1
KATELYN BLANEY
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
200
1
KATHERINE LAORENZA
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
10:40-11:25
204
2
MARISA BAGLANEAS
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
199
2
ELIZABETH SULLIVAN
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
206
3
SAMANTHA ALONSO
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
197
3
ROSE EGAN
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
201
3
PAOLA ARANGO
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
198
17
Poster Sessions
EXTENDED POSTER SESSION: 9:00-9:25 AND 10:35-11:00 AUDITORIUM (BOARDS 01A-48A) AND
CONCOURSE (49C-76C)
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
01A
ALYCIA MAFFEO
SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, CRIME & JUSTICE STUDIES WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY 9:00-11:00 626
02A
SARAH ZIMMERMAN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
03A
CASSANDRA SANTOS
WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY 9:00-11:00 301
04A
BRIAN LONG
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 500
05A
VANESA ESTRELLA
PSYCHOLOGY
HOLYOKE C.C.
9:00-11:00 474
06A
CHRISTOPHER CHAN
CLASSICAL LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 288
07A
ALYCIA SULLIVAN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 516
08A
ALINA BAHLAVOUNI
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 452
09A
CAITLIN GAUVIN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 478
10A
HANNAH BARRETT
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 453
13A
DASHA DANIELS
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 469
14A
DEANNA JULIAN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 493
15A
AMANDA WINKLER
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 523
16A
LAUREN MIDDLETON
ART
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 224
17A
ALYSIA BOYLE
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 459
18A
ANDREA NORTON
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 505
19A
STEPHANIE GOVER
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 483
20A
RACHEL PERRY
21A
CORINNE GOLASH
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 480
22A
JESSICA KENT
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 494
23A
VICTORIA CREEDON
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 467
24A
KATHERINE PAPAZIAN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 510
25A
ALEXANDRA WALLS
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 522
26A
SYDNEY ADAMS
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 447
27A
JOANNA HONG
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 490
28A
ARIANA ROCHE
PSYCHOLOGY
29A
CHELSEY O’CONNOR
PSYCHOLOGY
30A
BRITTANY NORTON
ART
31A
LISA LEARY
ART
32A
KYLIE NELSON
EDUCATION
33A
AMY ELCOCK
PUBLIC HEALTH
34A
VIKTORIA NAKHABENKO PUBLIC HEALTH
35A
BETH TEAGUE
36A
ELIZABETH ABATE
SOCIAL THOUGHT & POLITICAL ECONOMY
37A
JESSICA COONS
SOCIOLOGY
38A
GRACE HAUCK
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 488
39A
TYNESIA SMITH
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 586
9:00-11:00 525
18
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
40A
CAROLYN REED
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 574
41A
ETHAN YOUNG
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 291
42A
CATHERINE PICCOLO
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 573
43A
SHANZAY HAIDER
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 552
44A
COLLEEN TAYLOR
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 589
45A
EDEN KETEMA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 558
49C
ARIELLE CLINE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 535
50C
AVAE THOMAS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 593
51C
RHODE MOISE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 569
52C
SAMANTHA ROGERS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 577
53C
AZRA CAUS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 531
54C
JACLYN KOZAK
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 559
55C
KAYLA TEGELER
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 590
56C
SOFIA SHAIKH
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 583
57C
SHIFAT AHMED
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 527
58C
DANIEL UNKEL
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 594
59C
SILVANA MELO
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 565
60C
KENDALL BENNETT
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 528
61C
NAKIA WEAVER
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 595
62C
KATHLEEN GEOGHEGAN PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 548
63C
LUCKAR THACH
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 591
64C
KELSEY LYONS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 563
65C
TESSA MERRICK
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 566
66C
TRACEY SCHNITTMAN PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 580
67C
JENNA LAVALLEE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 561
68C
ASHLEY CUBBEDGE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 538
69C
AMANDA DOOLIN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 543
71C
CLAIRE SOMMERS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 587
72C
DEBRA MORETA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 570
73C
ALYSSA JOHNSON
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 555
74C
AMAL MOHIUDDIN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
9:00-11:00 568
POSTER SESSION 2: 11:30-12:20 AUDITORIUM (BOARDS 1A TO 48A) AND CONCOURSE (BOARDS 49C TO 76C)
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
01A
NICOLE GILFORD
EDUCATION
11:35-12:20
316
02A
NICHOLAS RABY
EDUCATION
318
03A
JONATHAN VAN DYKE
SOCIOLOGY
MOUNT WACHUSET C.C.
11:35-12:20
625
04A
MATTHEW FORTIER
SOCIOLOGY
MOUNT WACHUSET C.C.
11:35-12:20
609
05A
ALEJANDRA MARIN
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
599
19
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
06A
HAKEEM EGUNTOLA
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
598
07A
CASSANDRA HULECKI
SOCIOLOGY
MOUNT WACHUSET C.C.
11:35-12:20
610
08A
ISAAC MATSON
SOCIOLOGY
MOUNT WACHUSET C.C.
11:35-12:20
615
09A
STACEY MINER
SOCIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
11:35-12:20
617
10A
ANJA M. NEUMANN
SOCIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
619
11A
HALEY COTE
SOCIOLOGY
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
603
12A
RYAN BAKER
SOCIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
601
13A
LUKE SMITH
SOCIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
623
14A
TOLOGON ESHIMKANOV
SOCIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
607
15A
CAMERON HADFIELD
HISTORY
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
356
16A
DAVID CONDON
HISTORY
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
355
17A
BENJAMIN WEEKS
HISTORY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
360
18A
DERMOT O’ BRIEN
HISTORY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
358
19A
STEPHANIE NGUYEN
HISTORY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
357
20A
THAMYRIS TAVARES DE ALMEIDA HISTORY
UMASS AMHERST
11:35-12:20
359
22A
REBECCA MONTANO
ENGLISH LITERATURE
11:35-12:20
320
23A
BRANDEN PACHECO
ENGLISH LITERATURE
UMASS DARTMOUTH
11:35-12:20
321
24A
RATNASARI LUSIAGA
LITERATURE
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
386
25A
DOMINICA CINELLI-GRAHAM
ENGLISH LITERATURE
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
319
26A
JESSICA MELLO
LITERATURE
BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
387
27A
CORAL FURTADO
LINGUISTICS
BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
385
28A
SELVAPRIYA SELVARASAH
AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
219
29A
WEVERTTON SOUZA
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
220
30A
LAP IAN LOU
JAPANESE
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
366
31A
MCGREGORY MENEUS
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
415
32A
VIET PHAN
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
300
33A
YASMIN VASQUEZ
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
303
34A
BERYL FOMUNDAM
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
298
35A
ASHLEY MCCARTER
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
299
36A
PISETH CHEAV
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
296
37A
SOLOMON ADNEW
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
295
38A
YUANHUA CHEN
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
297
39A
LEI SHEN
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
302
40A
MELISSA MASSE
ANTHROPOLOGY
BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
222
41A
LAMYA NUR
PHILOSOPHY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
430
42A
KERRY GORHAM
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
362
43A
TORI HARTMAN
NORTH SHORE
11:35-12:20
363
44A
EDWARD LIPCHUS
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
596
45A
JULIE BARROWS
COMMUNICATION
11:35-12:20
292
20
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
46A
LUIZ RODRIGUES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
365
49C
JASON ALMEIDA
COMMONWEALTH HONORS COLLEGE BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
289
50C
KATHRYN SCOTT
WOMEN’S STUDIES
11:35-12:20
639
51C
STEPHANIE KEOGH
COMMONWEALTH HONORS COLLEGE BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
290
52C
CARINE ILUNGA WETE
WOMEN’S STUDIES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
636
53C
MARA ARAUJO
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
627
54C
MATTHEW COHEN
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
628
55C
ROBERT SEIBOLD
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
640
56C
SVIATLANA ROSE
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
638
57C
TESSA GIFFORD
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
635
58C
GABRIELLE FARIA
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
631
59C
JOSEPH FISH
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
632
60C
ASHLEY CONDON
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
629
61C
BRIDGET GERETY
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
634
62C
CARA SGRIGNOLI
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
641
63C
DONALD MCCULLOUGH
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
637
64C
ELIZABETH CONDON
WOMEN’S STUDIES
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
630
66C
ANGELA FORGIONE
WOMEN’S STUDIES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
11:35-12:20
633
67C
JESSICA MORSE
PSYCHOLOGY
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
503
68C
TESIAH COLEMAN
PSYCHOLOGY
CAPE COD C.C.
11:35-12:20
465
69C
SHANNON PEEBLES
PSYCHOLOGY
BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
511
70C
TAMI DURRIGAN
PSYCHOLOGY
BRISTOL C.C.
11:35-12:20
471
71A
HELEN HARDY
PSYCHOLOGY
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
487
72C
JARAD BUSHNELL
PSYCHOLOGY
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
461
73C
LEEWOOD LANE
PSYCHOLOGY
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
497
74C
TODD CRIVELLO
PSYCHOLOGY
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
11:35-12:20
468
75C
LISA O’DONNELL
PSYCHOLOGY
11:35-12:20
507
POSTER SESSION 3: 1:30-2:15 AUDITORIUM (BOARDS 1A TO 48A, 77A-96A)
AND CONCOURSE (BOARDS 49C TO 76C)
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
01A
JOSEPH SCHWARZ
PSYCHOLOGY
BERKSHIRE C.C.
1:30-2:15
513
02A
JAMES HALEY
PSYCHOLOGY
BERKSHIRE C.C.
1:30-2:15
486
03A
DENNIS MILAN
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
616
04A
EMILY JOSSELYN
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
613
05A
SARAH ARENA
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
450
06A
TAYLOR EHRHARDT
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
473
07A
JANELLE ENGERMAN
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
606
08A
JESSICA NEWCOMBE
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
620
21
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
09A
REBECCA HOLMES
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
489
10A
ROBIN SELWITZ
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
514
11A
SARAH DONOVAN
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
604
12A
STEPHANIE NARBONNE
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
618
13A
MEGHAN BULLOCK
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
460
14A
MEAGHAN LAFFERTY
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
496
15A
MICHELLE LECHTANSKI
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
498
16A
NICHOLAS FOX
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
477
17A
OANAKI TORRES
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
520
18A
RIMA BONEMERY
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
457
19A
DELIA GUO
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
485
20A
ELIZABETH GILLIAM
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
479
21A
HALEY CHRISOS
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
464
22A
LAURYN FENNELL
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
475
23A
MICHELLE BEECOFF
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
454
24A
ALEXANDRA ANASTOS
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
449
25A
ALICEN MURRAY
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
504
26A
JACLYN DURIDAS
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
470
27A
JESSICA HOPKINS
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
491
28A
JODIE MORRELL
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
502
29A
KRISTYNA SMITH
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
515
30A
KIRA WONG
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
524
31A
TIMOTHY FLYNN
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
476
32A
JUSTINE ALPERT
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
448
33A
JOSEPH TERRANOVA
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
519
34A
MAHEEN CHAUDHRY
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
463
35A
REBECCA OWEN
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
509
36A
SNEHA SURESH
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
517
37A
AUDREY CARR
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
462
38A
LAUREN SZYMULA
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
518
39A
ALEIGH JEROME
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
612
40A
COLLEEN SULLIVAN
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
624
41A
TOBIAS BENNETT
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
455
42A
PATRICK HANLON
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
248
43A
GLENN PENZONE
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
621
44A
GREG LONG
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
614
45A
LUKE EGLINGTON
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
472
46A
THOMAS GREGORY
PSYCHOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
1:30-2:15
484
47A
MELANIE FIGUEROA
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
608
22
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
48A
CORI OSTROWSKI
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
508
49C
MARIA RODRIGUEZ
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
622
50C
NICOLLETTE IANNICIELLO
SOCIOLOGY
1:30-2:15
611
51C
KATHERINE KRITIKOS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
560
52C
MELISSA SANON
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
579
53C
KRISTY LESSARD
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
562
54C
STEFANIE CHIN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
532
55C
DEVESH SHRESTHA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
585
56C
MITCHELL DOUCETTE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
544
57C
KATE GRANNEMANN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
550
58C
LAUREN SHEWEY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
584
59C
MARISSA RODRIGUES
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
576
60C
MASSA SAMMAH
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
578
61C
KRISTJAN ENDRIKO
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
546
62C
LAURA MALICIA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
564
63C
CAROLINE BROWN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
529
64C
CHRISTINE KELLY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
556
65C
CHRISTOPHER INGRAHAM
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
554
66C
DI YI (JESSICA) HE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
553
67C
DEVON THIBODEAU
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
592
68C
SONAL DESAI
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
541
69C
RACHEL SCHWARTZ
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
581
70C
KETSIA CLERMONT
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
534
71C
PAULA JACKSON
NURSING
1:30-2:15
421
72C
ABIGAIL ROY
NURSING
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
424
73C
PAULA CRUZ
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
420
74C
ANNA-RAE LECLAIRE
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
423
75C
NICOLE TREMBLAY
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
1:30-2:15
426
76C
IRENE BERANTUO
NURSING
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
1:30-2:15
419
77A
LAURA COUTINHO
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
466
78A
STEVEN AYALA
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
451
79A
AMBER GOULART
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
482
80A
ALICIA LELAND
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
499
81A
EMILY TRIPP
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
521
82A
ELIZABETH HOWARD
PSYCHOLOGY
1:30-2:15
492
83A
ELAINA DOMINESEY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
542
84A
ANASTASIA SUMNER
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
588
85A
CAROLINE KELLY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
557
86A
ELLYN ROBARE
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
575
23
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
87A
JOHN DAU
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
539
88C
JESSICA GRAY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
551
89A
ANDREA GARON
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
547
90A
AHMED ABUBAKAR
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
526
91A
NICOLE SFORZA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
582
92A
MARIAH CROWLEY
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
537
93A
MICHELLE O’BRIEN
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
572
94A
KENDALL CONNORS
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
536
95A
MADELINE DEPINA
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
540
96A
KIMBERLY GOMES
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
1:30-2:15
549
POSTER SESSION 4: 2:30-3:15 AUDITORIUM (BOARDS 01A TO 48A, 77A-96A) AND CONCOURSE
(BOARDS 49C TO 76C)
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
01A
SARAH SNOW
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
380
02A
ASHLEY EATON
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
371
03A
KRISTEN CLARK
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
533
04A
ANGELA CASADO-DIAZ
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
530
05A
CHRISTOPHER FIELDS
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
372
06A
DEVIN KELLY
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
374
07A
JULIE BERNAZZANI
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
456
08A
LAUREN LACAVA
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
495
09A
MEGHAN BLANCHARD
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
368
10A
MEAGHEN CHALMERS
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
369
11A
JESSICA JARVIS
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
422
12A
KASEY SULLIVAN
NURSING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
425
13A
CHELSEA DECOTEAU
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
370
14A
CARISSA TILTON
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
381
15A
HEIDI LEVIN
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
375
16A
JOSHUA LIDDY
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
376
17A
REBECCA SLATE
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
379
18A
STEPHANIE SIMOES
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
378
19A
ANDREA ARABADJIS
KINESIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
367
20A
VESNA TODD
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
382
21A
YEZENIA SANTOS
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
377
22A
AMANDA HABER
KINESIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
373
23A
KAYLA SETO
NUTRITION & FOOD SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
429
24A
ERIC BRACK
2:30-3:15
427
25A
JULIA CURRAN
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
428
24
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
26A
STEVEN ZYCH
PLANT, SOIL, & INSECT SCIENCES
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
445
27A
THERESA COPELAND
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
439
28A
CHRISTINA KOLLISCH
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
441
29A
E ALEXA MCKENZIE
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
443
30A
HANNAH HASKELL
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
440
31A
ANDREW LOCKE
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
442
32A
JULIANNE SCOTT
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
444
33A
ANDREA COLBERT
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
438
34A
DANIELA PIERRE-TOUSSAINT
ANIMAL SCIENCES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
221
35A
ERIC LEE
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
250
36A
HANNAH KINCAID
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
249
37A
SONAL DESAI
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
244
38A
SRINIVASA NITHIN GOPALSAMY BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
247
39A
HANNAH GORMAN
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
481
40A
BETHANY MACRAE
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
501
41A
KIMBERLY MANN
DANCE
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
2:30-3:15
314
42A
ELIZABETH SUSSKY
ENTOMOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
322
43A
MEGHAN CORKERY
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
242
44A
ADRIANNA BOURDON
PSYCHOLOGY
2:30-3:15
458
45A
SRUTHI SATISHCHANDRAN
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
259
46A
MARCELINA MACHADO
BIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
252
47A
HUONG DOAN
CHEMISTRY
2:30-3:15
273
48A
MARY DULONG
SOCIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
605
49C
ELONIA LAMONTAGNE
CHEMISTRY
2:30-3:15
277
50C
LUZ PACHECO
CHEMISTRY
2:30-3:15
281
51C
JEFFREY BOERTH
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
271
52C
JACQUELYN DORHOUT
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
274
53C
CHRISTIN HARRINGTON
CHEMISTRY
2:30-3:15
276
54C
STEPHANIE BELLINGER BUCKLEY CHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
270
55C
COLLEEN STEWART
CHEMISTRY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
282
56C
JOSHUA LITCHMAN
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
278
57C
JENNIFER WILCOX
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
284
58C
NICK DEGRAAN-WEBER
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
272
59C
THOMAS FOLEY
CHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
275
60C
ELYSE TANZER
BIOCHEMISTRY
2:30-3:15
233
61C
INNA BROCKMAN
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
226
62C
KATHLEEN BURNS
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
227
63C
YING QI ZHANG
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
234
64C
ARMAND KOUNGA
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
230
25
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
65C
BENJAMIN HART
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
229
66C
MICHAEL MURPHY
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
232
67C
ROBERT CHAN
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
228
68C
VALERY KOUNGA
BIOCHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
231
69C
KEWEI ZHANG
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
413
70C
MICHAEL BOUCHER
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
405
71C
REBECCA COTTMAN
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
407
72C
SHUNING ZHENG
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
414
73C
TARA MAHENDRARAJAH
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
409
74C
XENIA CHEPA-LOTREA
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
406
75C
ALICE TRAN
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
411
76C
BENJAMIN WALDMAN
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
412
77A
ANKITA MEHTA
BIOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
254
78A
DEWAR TAN
BIOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
262
79A
KARELYN BONILLA
BIOLOGY
UMASS BOSTON
2:30-3:15
240
80A
ANA COSTA
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
243
81A
ALEXANDER DILLS
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
245
82A
ALEXANDRA MICHALOWSKI
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
255
83A
CHRISTIAAN REES
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
257
84A
JOSEPH MATRISCIANO
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
253
85A
TIMOTHY BOARDMAN
BIOLOGY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
2:30-3:15
239
86A
JESSICA BEROTH
BIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
238
87A
STEPHEN LIPTAK
BIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
251
88A
VERONICA ADAMS
BIOLOGY
2:30-3:15
237
89A
ALEXANDER SIMOLARIS
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
260
90A
CAROLINE ADAMS
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
236
91A
EDD RICKER
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
258
92A
ERIN STOCKMAN
BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
2:30-3:15
261
93A
FABIOLA ABISSA
BIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
235
94A
HASSAN MIRZA
BIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
256
95A
JULIET BUTEME
BIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
241
96A
MATTHEW FORD
BIOLOGY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
2:30-3:15
246
AFTERNOON SESSION 5: 3:30-4:15 AUDITORIUM (BOARDS 01A TO 48A, 77A-96A) AND CONCOURSE
(BOARDS 49C TO 76C)
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
01A
CHRISTOPHER ROY
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
410
02A
DANIEL FLYNN
MICROBIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
408
03A
ANDREW DAVEY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
397
26
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
04A
CATALINA JAMES
MARKETING
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
394
05A
ANGELA TANNER
CHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
283
06A
EKATERINA SHAIKOUSKAYA
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
418
07A
SMBAT DEFTERDERIAN
MARKETING
3:30-4:15
392
08A
JULIE BRODERICK
MANAGEMENT
3:30-4:15
389
09A
JESSICA ROYAL
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
416
10A
MILES SARILL
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
417
11A
BARBARA MELLO
CHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
279
12A
MYLINH NGUYEN
CHEMISTRY
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
280
13A
DANIELLE FALCON
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
293
14A
STEPHANIE TOMPKINS
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
294
15A
JAMES WEST
PHYSICS
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
3:30-4:15
437
16A
FRANK KETTENRING
PHYSICS
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
435
17A
OLIVIER DANTISTE
PHYSICS
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
432
18A
CHRISTOPHER SEYMOUR
PHYSICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
436
19A
KHAYLA ENGLAND
PHYSICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
433
20A
OLIVIA CAMPBELL
PHYSICS
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
431
21A
JILLIAN GILES
PHYSICS
UMASS LOWELL
3:30-4:15
434
22A
BRENDAN DECOURCY
UMASS LOWELL
3:30-4:15
398
23A
LAURIE MURPHY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
400
24A
NICOLE MCCAFFERTY
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
399
25A
ALEX OSEI BONSU
ACCOUNTING
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
3:30-4:15
218
26A
BRENDA HERNANDEZ
ACCOUNTING
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
216
27A
CHARLES LU
ACCOUNTING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
217
28A
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
265
29A
DAN GANZ
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
268
30A
ERINN DANDLEY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
266
31A
NICHOLAS CADIROV
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
264
32A
NICOLE RAIA
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
269
33A
BRITTANY FORKUS
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
267
34A
ZACHARY BRENTZEL
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
263
35A
JOHN FALLON
COMPUTER SCIENCE
UMASS LOWELL
3:30-4:15
304
36A
FAISAL YOUSUF
COMPUTER SCIENCE
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
313
37A
TODD HOLLAND
COMPUTER SCIENCE
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
3:30-4:15
308
38A
CHRIS GARRY
COMPUTER SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
306
40A
ANDREA FARNWORTH
COMPUTER SCIENCE
FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY 3:30-4:15
305
41A
CHRISTOPHER GOSSELIN
COMPUTER SCIENCE
307
42A
JOSEPH MONTILLO
COMPUTER SCIENCE
310
43A
CHRISTOPHER LETENDRE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
309
27
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
44A
ROBERT PIANTEDOSI
COMPUTER SCIENCE
311
45A
EVAN SHELHAMER
COMPUTER SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
312
46A
ELIZABETH METRANO
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
567
46A
ANDREW ERWIN
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
403
47A
JOHN GILBERT
GEOLOGY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
354
48A
DERICK TAH
FORESTRY
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
347
49C
SARAH PIERCE
3:30-4:15
341
50C
MICHAEL JOCELYN
3:30-4:15
333
51C
SARAH SHEARER
3:30-4:15
343
53C
ROBERT LAROSE
3:30-4:15
336
54C
KARL JENSEN
3:30-4:15
332
55C
KASEY BASCETTA
3:30-4:15
325
56C
TIMOTHY JUDD
3:30-4:15
334
57C
PATRICK DESMOND
3:30-4:15
328
58C
EMILY ASP
3:30-4:15
324
59C
RYAN NOYES
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
340
60C
LETICIA DOPRADO
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
331
61C
JORDAN PIPER
3:30-4:15
342
62C
LAURA MOLYNEAUX
ECONOMICS
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
315
63C
MAX BODDY
LEGAL STUDIES
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
3:30-4:15
384
64C
CHARLES GALE
POLITICAL SCIENCE
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
446
65C
LAM TRUONG
MANAGEMENT
BUNKER HILL CC
3:30-4:15
391
66C
CORINNE BAZZINOTTI
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
388
67C
ELENA SVETLOV
MANAGEMENT
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
390
68C
CASEY FINIGAN
MARKETING
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
393
69C
ERICA SHERMAN
MARKETING
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
395
70C
EYAL STEIN
MARKETING
UMASS BOSTON
3:30-4:15
396
71C
RYAN DUNN
GEOGRAPHY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
349
72C
KAELEIGH CHARTRAND
GEOGRAPHY
3:30-4:15
348
73C
NATHAN WOJCIK
GEOGRAPHY
3:30-4:15
350
74C
AMY GOLDMAN
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
353
75C
DEVON COLCORD
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
351
76C
JENNIFER FARDY
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
352
77A
KEITH MACWILLIAM
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
404
78A
ROSE BENG
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
401
79A
ANDREW COSTAIN
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
402
80A
OBESEBEA AYE-ADDO
CIVIL ENGINEERING
QUINSIGAMOND C.C.
3:30-4:15
285
81A
KELLY BATISTA
CIVIL ENGINEERING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
286
82A
WILLIAM MAY
CIVIL ENGINEERING
UMASS DARTMOUTH
3:30-4:15
287
28
Poster Sessions
BOARD # PRESENTER
CAMPUS
TIME
ABSTRACT #
83A
MAJDOULINE TOUIL
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
361
84A
JOSH SPINNER
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
383
85A
ASHLEY SULLIVAN
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
345
86A
KATHLEEN DOHERTY
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
330
87A
RACHEL CALDERARA
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
326
88A
STÉPHANIE ARCUSA
UMASS AMHERST
3:30-4:15
323
89A
AMY CLARK
3:30-4:15
327
90A
ROBERT LAROSE
3:30-4:15
337
91A
SARAH LAFLAMME
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
335
92A
GERTIAN XHAFA
BUNKER HILL C.C.
3:30-4:15
346
93A
EDWARD DIMITRI
3:30-4:15
329
94A
ERIN MURRAY
3:30-4:15
339
95A
JEREMY MCKINSTRY
3:30-4:15
338
96A
GABRIEL SIEGEL
3:30-4:15
344
29
Abstracts • Oral Sessions
ANTHROPOLOGY
1 Room 811 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Samantha Bailey, Robin Robinson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Dartmouth
Resistance to Women Who Veil: A Pilot Study in America
Islamic women who choose to wear the veil encounter widespread resistance among western communities, primarily
Western Europe, Canada and the United States. The term Islamic veiling refers to any head covering worn by a Muslim
woman, however for the purposes of this study the term veiling is considered as face covering veils such as the niqab
(cloth that covers the entire head and face except for the eyes) and the burka (all-enveloping cloak that covers the entire
head and face). This study posits that resistance to the veil comes in two forms, informal and formal. Informal resistance
to the veil is manifested as stereotyping, stigma, and even simply ignoring the veil. These emotional responses to the
veil may lead to formal resistance, which refers to policy and law pertaining to the veil. This thesis explores why there is
such a strong resistance to the veil, and how this manifests in the United States. Recent resistance to the veil has come
in the shape of European policies, e.g., recent legislation regulating veiling in France, Germany and Belgium. A pilot
study employed an original survey completed by students and faculty (n=200) at a state univer sity in Massachusetts
to examine specifically how resistance can be expressed in the United States, seeking to gain an understanding of the
future of veiling in America. Findings explore perceived deficits in Islamic women’s participation in the public sphere as
well as American ideals of womanhood, combined with recently increased fears of terrorism. Impact and implications
include new discussions about western resistance to the Islamic veil, and about ways to bring Islamic women into
western community through critical examination of western expectations of the modern woman and normality.
2 Reading Room 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Sarah Kelley, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Access to Public Higher Education
The American Dream, an ever-evolving term since the founding of our country, is based on a definition of freedom
which indicates that everyone, regardless of class, religion, race, or ethnicity, can succeed through participation in
society. While a high school diploma was considered a passport to the American dream for millions of Americans in the
early 1970’s, the net job growth in America today is generated by positions that require at least some post-secondary
education. However, in an era where higher education is the key to economic success, the cost of college is climbing
at a steep, historically unprecedented rate. The first part of my Capstone focused on the current lack of access to
higher education for undocumented students. I highlighted the policy implications of legislation that would allow
student immigrants to afford higher education and achieve citizenship, such as the DREAM Act. In the second part of
my capstone I plan to expand my focus to access to public higher education for all students in Massachusetts. More
specifically, I plan to1) research and evaluate the reform options for increasing access to higher education state-wide
2) increase student awareness and strengthen student voice on the importance of higher education through public
narrative, both written and spoken, and 3) attend and help plan a Lobby Day to at the Statehouse where students will
petition our representatives to increase funding for public education.
30
3 Room 176 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Julia Ratzlaff, Amy Todd (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Anthropology, UMass Boston
Social Business: How a Local Business is Part of the Global Business Paradigm Shift
The role of business is in the midst of a paradigm shift as the profit-first model is being replaced by the triple bottom
line approach which adds environmental and social responsibilities in addition to profit. Some of the ways businesses
approach these issues is through changing their relationships to suppliers, publishing responsibility reports, drafting
mission statements and even changing their management strategies. In this paper the nature of this emerging global
business practice is examined through government policies, supportive efforts such as work being done toward social
business stock exchange, and consumer reports. To put the new paradigm in local perspective I conduct a case study
of a local business, More Than Words, and examine the ways in which they display social responsibility through their
human value chain and how their efforts show that the social business is the new business.
4 Room 811 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Jennifer Rolenz, Nancy Muller (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Anthropology, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Finding A Voice: The Native American Peyote Ceremony
The Native American Peyote Ceremony has been apart of native culture since the late 1800’s. Throughout the years it
has evolved and changed with the changes in laws and culture. The peyote ceremony incorporates music, performance,
art and ritual. It has allowed natives to not only find their voice as specific tribes, but also as a common people. The
ceremony has also helped to develop and nurture new forms of art such as the peyote or gourd bead work stitch.
5 Room 811 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Kristina Tams, Sherrill Harbison (Faculty Sponsor) Department of German, UMass Amherst
Danish Prison Systems in the Wake of Penal Excess and Increased Immigration
Denmark is well-known for its “exceptional” prison conditions, whereby prisoners are given many of the same rights
as regular citizens. For example, prisoners are allowed to cook and clean for themselves, attend school, vote in political
campaigns, and are even allowed to sunbathe. Many Americans who have been raised in a country driven by penal
excess are stunned by the prison conditions in Denmark. Danish prisons are driven by the notion of “normalization,”
meaning that life inside prison should better represent life outside of prison. Prisoners are supposed to develop a sense
of self-regulation, as Michel Foucault defines it, and to be inspired by the desire to become contributing members of
society. Whether these “normalized” prison conditions reduce the level of punishment intended for the prisoner is up
for debate. However, this type of prison system was developed for a country with extreme social cohesion. With the
recent influx of new immigrant populations over the last thirty years, the Danish prison system is in danger and may
eventually disappear. Prisons that have been comfortable (and are often compared to college dormitories by Americans)
have become overcrowded. Denmark’s prison population is overly represented by the the immigrant populations. This
paper will examine Denmark’s “exceptional” prison conditions in the wake of penal excess and increased immigration.
My aim is to show why culture-bound understandings of the goals of punishment suggests that Denmark will need to
adapt its policies to accommodate prisoners who do not share Danish culture and Denmark’s extreme social cohesion.
31
6 Room 811 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Veronica Tays, Deborah Fairman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Anthropology, Holyoke Community College
Crimes of Culture: Morality in the Battle for the World’s Artistic Heritage
This research project studies the act of looting and the damage of material pillage, in both a historic and modern
context; it also investigates the effect of restitution in repairing the harm of cultural theft. From the famous case of the
Parthenon Marbles to the modern day looting of Peruvian burial grounds, this project examines the pain and humiliation
that cultural theft causes to source nations, and explores the efforts of said nations to have their artistic heritage
returned. Conversely, the research details the fears that our great museums and art historians have for the possibility of
negligence and even destruction of artifacts when under the guardianship of developing or politically volatile regions.
Methods of research include print and academic journal sources, as well as personal interviews. Though there is no easy
solution to this complicated issue, the concept of cultural restitution as a component of reparations for past and present
injustice is presented, and a proposal that these restitutions are not merely possible, but even practical steps towards the
improvement of global relations.
ART
7 Room 168 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Steven M Ward, Emily Lane, Robert Carr (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg Urban Renaissance Documentary
Our thesis project is a documentary about the arts and culture in downtown Fitchburg, focused on the urban arts
renaissance. While showing the past and present states of the area, we’re revealing to the audience the bustling,
thriving cultural city Fitchburg used to be and what’s happened to it to create the somber, dilapidated downtown it
currently is. The majority of our presentation is focused on the new energy local artists and residents have for reviving
downtown and what plans they have come up with to create an urban renaissance. While there has been talk of a
revival for many decades now, we’re giving new hope to the residents and students in the community that things
are happening, plans are in motion, and with their support, belief and encouragement, Fitchburg can be a successful
cultural hub once again. Through interviews with Jerry Beck, the Director of Marketing/Community Engagement; Lisa
Wong, the Mayor of Fitchburg, and several other key figures, we will demonstrate the process Fitchburg is entering in
order to restore the community and give hope to other cities attempting to do the same.
32
ART HISTORY
8 Room 168 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Daniel Healey, Laetitia La Follette (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Art History, UMass Amherst
Roman Cult Worship and the Temple of Isis at Pompeii
The Temple of Isis at Pompeii, preserved by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, affords rare insights into the lives and
worship practices of the ancient Pompeiians. The sanctuary marks the focal point for local worship of Isis, the Hellenized
Egyptian goddess who attracted a sizable and diverse following in the Graeco-Roman world. As the center for initiatory
rites and worship practices – intentionally secret – it served an exclusive group of devotees, both the goddess’s priests
and followers. Besides its nearly intact structural elements, Pompeii’s Iseum also boasts a number of frescoes (now in
the Museo Archaeologico in Naples), statues, and votive offerings that depict the goddess in her Graeco-Roman form.
My study of the temple at Pompeii will consider what the extant remains reveal about cultic activities and those who
practiced them. I will also draw from ancient texts by Herodotus, Apuleius, and Plutarch, as well as a rich body of
secondary sources pertaining to Roman cults and Isis-worship. I will employ the temple and its decorative elements as a
lens through which to analyze Roman worship practices and the conception of Isis among her Graeco-Roman devotees.
ASIAN STUDIES
9 Room 908 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Seth Petsching, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Self-Sacrifice in Japan
My paper explores the topic of self-sacrifice among the Japanese in two separate periods, before and after 1600. My
research question is: What were the reasons for the different types of self-sacrifice, expressed in a willingness to die,
among the different classes of Japanese society? In order to answer this question I turned to a number of primary
sources, including Japanese film, theater, and historical fiction, and to secondary sources, such as scholarly articles and
books on the history, literature, and film of Japan. I wonder if peasants, not having a reciprocal vassal-lord relationship,
allowed their self-sacrifices to be more heavily motivated by traditional religions than the samurai, whose self-sacrifices,
often upon the death of their lord, were mostly motivated by the high value placed on honor.
33
BIOCHEMISTRY
10 Room 162 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Evan Watters, Jin Xu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Lowell
Characterization of Talactoferrin N-Linked Oligosaccharides using HPLC and Mass Spectrometry
N-Linked glycans were removed from asparagine residues on the denatured recombinant human lactoferrin,
Talactoferrin. Utilizing normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC), the high mannose glycans
were separated and profiled. Online NP-HPLC/ESI-TOF-MS (electrospray ionization time of flight mass spectrometry)
allowed for LC peak identification and glycan characterization. The protocol for deglycosylation, LC separation, and MS
peak identification were optimized and verified. Continued work is focusing on glycan removal under native conditions
with yields of 90% or better. Once a protocol is established, the potential biological effects of both the glycosylated
and deglycosylated native protein will be studied. Finally, the terminal saccharides will be analyzed for the presence of
galactose, allowing for a complete glycan characterization.
BIOLOGY
11 Room 162 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Rachael Bonoan, Felecia Clodius, Guillermo Paz-y-Mino (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Dominance Hierarchy Formation and Potential Applications in Laboratory Research using a Model Organism, the Zebra
Finch (Taeniopygia Guttata)
Social animals often form dominance hierarchies to avoid costly agonistic encounters resulting from competition for
resources with conspecifics. We demonstrate that zebra finches are able to form a dominance hierarchy in the laboratory
by using a food competition setting. Birds were put into single-sex groups and competed against each other for food
in repeated dyadic encounters. The dominant and subordinate behaviors each bird displayed towards another were
recorded and analyzed in order to determine the dominance hierarchy of each group of birds. Each hierarchy was further
validated by analyzing differences in feeding behaviors of dominant and subordinate birds. As zebra finches are a model
organism used in genetics and neurobiology, further studies can examine the link between proximate mechanisms
behind dominance behaviors. Studying dominance hierarchies in the lab can also further understanding of the evolution
of social structure and related cognitive abilities.
34
12 Room 162 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Jesse Gutierrez, Ken Thomas (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Northern Essex Community College
Could Bull Sharks inhabit the Merrimack River?
Could Bull Sharks Inhabit the Merrimack River? Jesse Gutierrez PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine
if the Merrimack River of Massachusetts could sustain a bull shark. Little is known regarding the biology of the bull
shark but the extraordinary physiological adaptations that allow it to live in both fresh water and salt water make it a
fascinating subject to study. Through examining the key factors- salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH,
and food supply- that must be met in determining a suitable aquatic habitat for all marine life, it can be concluded
if bull sharks could quite possibly inhabit the Merrimack River. METHODS: Research through online search engines to
find the physiology, means of reproduction, threats, food supply, and distribution of the bull shark. Interviews with the
Merrimack River Watershed and Central New England Fishery Resources Office gained background information about
the river and the man-made obstructions, and water quality data of the Merrimack River. The data of the bull shark
was then analyzed against the data of the Merrimack River. RESULTS: Comparing the physiological needs of the bull
shark with the qualities of the Merrimack River, it is clear that food supply, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and salinity
are not going to prevent the bull shark from inhabiting the Merrimack River. Temperature and the question of whether
or not it is possible for a bull shark to pass through the restriction points that are 1-2 feet within the obstruction of
the fish lift (Essex Dam- Lawrence, MA) are still viable factors in determining a conclusion. According to the data from
the Merrimack River Watershed Association the temperatures recorded in the Merrimack River meet the range for the
tropical water regions. This is a theoretical study that needs to be further researched. CONCLUSION: Bull sharks are a
species that is little known about due to the fact that they have not been studied in depth over a period of time. In the
field of biology new discoveries and further research allows for new growth and what we know to be scientific theories,
facts or laws to be challenged and improved if needed.
13 Room 162 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Erin Stockman, Brenna Haynes, William Manning (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Effects of ambient and increased levels of temperature and ozone on the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
PURPOSE: With rising temperatures and higher concentrations of ozone in the troposphere, it is critical to understand
how plants will be affected by the changing climate. It is known that plants are negatively affected by high
concentrations of ozone, but research on effects of both increased temperature and ozone on plants is scarce. In
this study, we compare the effects of ambient and increased temperature and concentrations of ozone on Phaseolus
vulgaris, the common bean. METHODS: The effects of high levels of temperature and ozone on the common bean
are being analyzed using a randomized block design of sixteen chambers. Live plants are being tested for stomatal
conductance and photosynthetic rates. Four destructive harvests will also take place to find physiological variations
between beans grown in different conditions. RESULTS: We expect to see that plants in chambers with both high
temperatures and high concentrations of ozone will show lower stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates, and
higher ozone damage. CONCLUSION: Rising temperatures and higher concentrations of ozone damages plants and will
negatively impact production of crops.
35
14 Room 168 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Rondy Malik, Rick Kesseli (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Are Populations of Cosmopolitan Weeds All the Same? A Case Study of Chicory
Invasive weeds cause millions of dollars worth of damage to agricultural fields and natural habitats. Cichorium intybus
(chicory) is known to be a domesticated, weedy and invasive species. Chicory is a member of the Sunflower family and
native to Europe and Asia, and has invaded the United States. Chicory can be found in fields and roadsides throughout
Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, North America and Australia. Taking a closer look at the population structure can reveal
the species invasion history. This knowledge may enable us to manage the invasion, and develop an understanding
of other invasive weeds. There are two extreme possible invasion scenarios - single introduction versus multiple
introductions. With a single introduction all populations in the invaded region would be genetically similar. As a
preliminary study, we compared chicory populations coming from Eurasia, and populations from ranging from New
England to California (32 individuals per population). We performed DNA extractions, followed by amplification of
microsatellite DNA regions. PCR products were then run on a gel followed by fragment analysis. We scored six DNA
loci in each individual. Peak Scanner software was used to view the fragment analysis data. We then further analyzed
our data with program Structure. Individuals were grouped into clusters based on shared alleles. Our results suggest
that there have been multiple introductions of chicory into the USA, and even local populations appear to have been
founded by different sources from Eurasia.
15 Room 168 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Sarena Horava, Susan Roberts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Spatiotemporal investigation of cell-seeded alginate hydrogels
Understanding the microstructure of hydrogel matrices is necessary for designing three-dimensional scaffolds
for tissue engineering. The ability to quantify the mechanical microenvironment surrounding encapsulated cells
provides fundamental knowledge of the role of mechanical properties on cell behavior. Previous studies focused on
the relationship between bulk mechanical properties and cell function; however, bulk properties do not account
for variability within the encapsulation matrix. Our goal is to develop a technique to probe the internal material
microstructure near the surface of cells within a three-dimensional construct. Cavitation microrheology is a novel
technique to probe internal microstructure of matrices on a cellular scale (~2-200 μm). Our study applies this technique
to evaluate alginate hydrogels containing human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) that secrete extracellular matrix
(ECM). Alginate hydrogels are seeded with cells and monitored for 7 day cycles to measure the mechanical contribution
of ECM secretion by encapsulated HASMCs. In addition, cavitation results are compared to bulk rheology to determine
measurement sensitivity. The novelty in this investigation is the application of cavitation microrheology to cell-seeded
biomaterials, which is important for improving the design of tissue engineering devices and drug delivery systems.
36
CHEMISTRY
16 Room 168 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Trinh Dinh, Wei Zhang (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Boston
Convertible Fluorous Linker-Assisted Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Furans
The three-step synthesis was used to prepare tetrasubstituted furans. Condensation of fluorous benzaldehyde with
an acetophenone was done first and followed by the Michael-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition, then the last step is the
1,3-diketone and Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction for fluorous linker cleavage. The reaction was performed under fast
and high efficient microwave irradiation. and fluorous solid-phase extraction (F-SPE) technique was used to purify the
intermediate.
17 Room 168 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Heather Pastushok, Eric Poehler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Classical Language & Literature, UMass Amherst
Four Sculptures: an analysis of exterior wall ornamentation in Pompeii
The corpus of ornamentation preserved at Pompeii is vast. It is typically analyzed as smaller collections that are
determined by an object’s form or function, such as herms, oscilla, or the varied styles of wall painting. There are
four examples of exterior wall ornamentation, however, that have yet to be considered as a singular group. These
four sculptures, albeit a small collection, are unified by their status as repurposed facial sculptures, and they comprise
the total number of extant examples of repurposed exterior wall ornamentation in Pompeii. The study of each of
these sculptures so far has consisted of minimal speculation about them as individual objects, and has hindered any
meaningful proposals for their collective function. Working with data collected in two campaigns of field research
in conjunction with scholarship accessed through the University of Massachusetts Amherst library database, the
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, and Latin literature in translation this paper examines each of the four sculptures
in various contexts, including epigraphic and architectural, as well as in comparison with other types of exterior wall
ornamentation, such as street plaques. The holistic analysis of these sculptures will help better understand the use and
presentation of exterior space and the nature of repurposed objects in general.
37
Aviv Celine, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Higher Education Accessibility and Affordability: Finding an All-Encompassing Solution
In this presentation, I will address the issue of access and affordability in public higher education. A large part of the
American population, chiefly minority and low socioeconomic status students, lack the opportunity to attend a higher
education institution despite its reputation as a public good. Obtaining such an education will not only provide these
misrepresented populations with an improved chance to find better jobs and salaries, but can fulfill the United States’
promise of equal opportunity and a fair playing field. Consequently, this project demonstrates that there are two causes
in the current issue: first, an insufficiency in funding for schools coupled with poor academic achievement in areas
where minority and low socioeconomic class populations reside. Secondly, a general lack in financial ability to pay for
a postsecondary education, resulting in a university population that is unrepresentative of our people. Conclusively, I
will illustrate three alternatives that will try to alleviate these problems, according to two criteria: the improvement of
primary and secondary education as well as better funding for low socioeconomic students. The policy solution I will
then suggest will show how using the criteria to judge the alternatives can provide a resolution that can foster successful
and powerful American peoples.
Avery Fuerst, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Addressing the Achievement Gap
In the United States privileged students outperform their underprivileged peers in academics by a significant margin.
This phenomenon is otherwise known as the achievement gap. I define privileged students as students who are white
and/or Asian and whose families do not qualify for food stamps. I define underprivileged students as students who
are non-white, non-Asian or do qualify for food stamps. The gap in academic performance between privileged and
underprivileged students has wide reaching negative effects on both the welfare of the American population, which has
an ever-growing non-white and non-Asian population, as well as on the American economy. The American economy
has been a knowledge based economy for decades and therefore it would increase the U.S.’s GNP as a whole if all
demographics of the American population were achieving their academic potential. Although the achievement gap
has decreased overall in the U.S. during the past few decades, there is still a significant gap between privileged and
underprivileged students. The continuation of the gap is evident by the substantial gap in 4th and 8th grade Math
and English scores as well as significant gaps in SAT scores between privileged and underprivileged youths. In this
presentation, I present research on the achievement gap. I also present three policy alternatives to address this problem.
Using three criteria (accessibility, financially possible, expansive scope) I will discuss the policy solution that can best
address this important issue.
38
Tracy Gebhart, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Access, Ability, and Allyship: Addressing different abilities in postsecondary education
PURPOSE: Over the past half-century, postsecondary students with disabilities have increasingly been subjected to both
overt and unintentional instances of discrimination in postsecondary institutions. Current federal policies and protections
for these students are inadequate, and the resulting discriminations have effectively barred students with disabilities
from achieving proper education. This project aims to address the current failures of federal systems and to further
more comprehensive federal measures while promoting more inclusive higher education atmospheres. METHODS: Using
federal laws and statues, this project will identify the current protections offered to students with disabilities. Secondary
sources, including reports from federal government agencies and court cases, will be used. Personal testimonies will
measure the dissonance between federal policies’ intentions and their flawed implementations. This research will be
analyzed to interpret and further positively influence postsecondary cultures surrounding ability issues. RESULTS: Though
there have been minor victories, current federal systems are too inconclusive and under-researched to meet the needs
of the United States’ present and growing population of students with disabilities. Overall, these students are facing
an alarming amount of barriers to an effective education. These jarring results will begin to provide a basis from which
students can create and demand more inclusive educational settings. CONCLUSION: If order to ensure students with
disabilities will not face isolation from fair and reasonable access to higher education, there must be a federal policy
reform. This reform must protect the interests of students with disabilities.
Allison McGrail, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Confronting the Contradiction: Policy Solutions for Massachusetts’ Working Poor
An American meritocracy in which one’s effort is met with equal reward implies that one who works steadily should
earn enough money to support one’s self and one’s family. This notion is the foundation of the much revered “American
Dream,” which affords a person of any socioeconomic class the ability to work hard and earn a decent living. Yet among
the 46.2 million Americans currently living below the federal poverty line are 10 million who are employed either part or
full time. This national trend is reflected in Massachusetts where thousands of employed citizens are unable to provide
for their families. In this presentation I will explore policy solutions for Massachusetts’ working poor, considering wage
and education reform as potential solutions for those who work yet live in poverty. In a state with one of the highest
costs of living in the country, the issue is particularly salient. In this presentation I will highlight legislative solutions that
may alleviate the burden that has been placed upon Massachusetts’ working poor and the American concept of social
mobility.
39
Amy O’Regan, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Power of Inner Beauty
I completed the first portion of my senior capstone on education opportunities for teen mothers. I focused on programs
in mainstream American public high schools that allow mothers to complete their high school degree while still taking
care of their children. I noticed that many women did not feel powerful enough to fight for what they needed. For
my organizing project, I have decided to expand on the notion of women helping themselves to general female
empowerment. Women and girls everywhere feel inadequate and constantly tested to fit an ideal image of beauty. For
my project I am organizing young women in the Amherst community to feel empowered and satisfied by their minds
and bodies through pledges and projects. Gender balance is completely skewed by mainstream media and women feel
forced to reach unattainable goals. In this presentation, I will discuss how over the course of the semester, I tried to help
women feel confident and secure in their own bodies by coordinating activities that encourage a positive body image
and female empowerment.
Hannah Rapp, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Smart Investment: Promoting Educational Opportunities for the State’s Youngest Citizens
The first few years of life constitute an essential period of growth and development, where children learn skills necessary
for success in school and in other areas of life. Although the United States believes that all children are entitled to a
free public school education starting in kindergarten, preschool education, when crucial development occurs, is not
accessible to many children. While some children have access to high-quality early childhood education programs that
support school readiness skills, many children miss out on this opportunity, and as a result, the entire community suffers.
Massachusetts has recently shown an interest in improving preschool opportunities for all children in the state, but there
is still a lot of work to be done. I examined a number of sources to understand the benefits of early childhood education
and the scope of the problem in Massachusetts. In this presentation, I provide an overview of the problem and suggest
three potential policy alternatives to address it. These alternatives include the implementation of An Act Relative to Early
Education and Care, the universal preschool model in Oklahoma, and the universal early educational system in France.
I evaluated each of these options based on accessibility, high quality, and political feasibility. I will discuss the policy
solution that best meets these criteria.
40
COMMUNICATION
24 Room 903 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kelsey Cintolo, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Gender and class stereotypes: Do media influence belief in stereotypes of working-class and middle-class
mothers and fathers?
This study will look at people’s perceptions of class and gender in families, and if those perceptions align with television
depictions. Multiple studies in media research have focused on the content of television shows, finding consistent
stereotypical patterns of depictions of middle and working class fathers and mothers. Yet, no research has shown
whether these consistent patterns have any effect on viewers’ attitudes or beliefs. Based on the theory of cultivation
analysis, I will be looking to see if people who are heavier viewers of television have attitudes about middle-class and
working-class mothers and fathers that match up with the images of these groups that are dominant on television.
I will measure people’s perceptions of characteristics of middle-class and working-class mothers and fathers using a
survey. The participants will be given a series of bi-polar opposite adjectives on semantic differential scales, and asked
to choose the degree to which each adjective fits a working-class father, working-class mother, middle-class father, or
middle-class mother. The survey will also ask about general attitudes about class and gender separately, as well as how
much television the participants watch. There are no results yet, as the data are still being collected. I expect the results
to show that heavier television viewers’ perceptions are more strongly aligned with what is shown on television. The
implications for such findings could be an increased awareness of how media affect stereotypes, and how to combat the
reinforcement of negative stereotypes.
25 Room 903 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Sara Clarke, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Marriage Italian Style, From the 1960s and Today
While families have often been studied in American film, the wife role in Italian film has been largely ignored in scholarly
works. This study will compare interaction patterns of the wife figure within the family in 1960s films to films from
the 2000s. Possible findings may detect a change in how family members communicate with the wife figure in ways
that reflect larger social shifts. Using an adaptation of fourteen communication behaviors examined in earlier content
analyses, this study codes women’s interactions with family members from seven Italian films from the 1960s and seven
Italian films from the 2000s. By honing in on these female roles in Italian cinema in the 1960s I will be able to reflect
on patterns that were taking place culturally at this time regarding communication behavior patterns in family life. I
will then be able to compare this decade with the present, and comment on any trends that have evolved from this
revolutionary decade in Italian cinema. Notable limitations include a restricted sample of films based on availability and
time constraints. This study will serve to examine some of the theoretical or social implications of the image of the Italian
family by examining communication behaviors between wives and other family members in Italian films from the 1960s
and 2000s. It will show important trends in wives’ communication behavior patterns in the context of the family during
these decades.
41
26 Room 808 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Sebastian Clarkin, Joyce Fernandes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Bristol Community College
Sell It To Me: The Poetry of Advertisement
This presentation will demonstrate how advertising communicates ideas to us in a way that no other medium can,
and argue that advertising satisfies an itch that no other medium can scratch. Specific attention will be given to the
communication model (source, encoding, message, decoding, receiver), Aristotle’s studies on persuasion (ethos, logos,
pathos), and Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Specific advertisements will illustrate the notion that ads can and
should break past the communicational barriers of cynicism and apathy and connect with an audience emotionally.
27 Room 163 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Kaitlin Hicks, Mary Baker (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Fitchburg State University
Changes in Film Distribution
The purpose of this research was to create an overview of film distribution history and analyze changes in distribution
for patterns. This was done by researching major events in film distribution history such as theatrical, television, homeviewing, and digital distribution and discussing how each method of distribution was affected by shifts in audience
expectations and changes in technology. Based on the patterns observed, possible trends for the future of film
distribution are discussed.
28 Room 903 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Samantha Kennedy, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Parental Opinions on Television Genres for Middle School-Aged Children
Middle school is a time of transition for the average child. Because of this, parents often have particular views about
what their children should be watching on television. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are common
characteristics in parents and/or their children that lead to similar opinions. In addition, this study will compare the
parents’ opinions about violent, sexual, and other programs to their opinions about shows regarding pregnancy, which
have recently become a kind of fad in the media. A target number of 100 parents with children between the ages of
11 and 14 will be surveyed regarding their opinions about various television genres, among which are violent, sexual,
pregnancy-based content, and others. Parents will also be asked for demographic information about themselves and
their child. They will also be asked to compare how appropriate various genres are for their child to how appropriate
they are for other children. Data are currently being collected. It is expected that parents will find the comedies,
pregnancy-based shows, violent shows, and sexual shows inappropriate, especially for younger children. Demographic
patterns (in terms of race, age, etc.) that produce differences in parental opinions will be explored. This study will
determine what parents believe to be inappropriate for children, which may cause the television ratings for programs to
be questioned. Implications of demographic information on parents’ views will be determined.
42
29 Room 903 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Kyle Lunt, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Exploring Facebook’s Relationship to Parental Attachment, Independence, and Academic Adjustment of College
Students
In a culture of ever-emerging social media technologies, our interpersonal interactions with those around us are in a
constant state of change. It is important to monitor that change in order to analyze and understand its societal and
cultural implications. This study seeks to investigate how the use of Facebook relates to a number of critical variables
important to the parent-college student relationship, including parental attachment, overall independence, and
adjustment to college. Existing research explores how and by whom Facebook is used, and even how college students
feel about their parents using Facebook. Other studies have looked at attachment and independence in relation to
collegiate adjustment; however, there remains a gap in the research, in that these variables have not been previously
connected to Facebook use. The data for this study will come from a 45 question, multiple choice survey administered to
undergraduates at UMass Amherst. Data will be collected and analyzed over the Spring 2012 semester. The results from
this study could support one end of a “two tailed” hypothesis: that Facebook use with parents correlates with healthy
attachment, the promotion of individuation, and subsequently adjustment and success, OR that it correlates negatively
with healthy attachment, leading to increased dependence, suppressed individuation, and subsequently undermining
adjustment and success. Independence, parental attachment, and ability to adjust to the collegiate academic
environment are all important factors that can impact the future success of students. This study hopes to investigate the
potential role Facebook plays in this process.
30 Room 903 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Allison Messier, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Generational Communication: How Cell Phones Shape Parent-College Student Relationships
As cell phone technology continues to evolve, the use of cell phones by college students seems to be extremely
widespread. There is extensive research on information and communication technologies (ICTs), but little regarding
the ways in which these devices facilitate communication between university students and their parents. This study
aims to delve into the patterns of cell phone usage and implications on relationships between university students and
parents while the students are away at school. Using both conventional and online surveys, patterns of cell phone
usage among undergraduate UMass students and parents of undergraduates are analyzed. In addition, students and
parents are asked about their perceptions of their own parent-child relationships. Data are being collected. I hypothesize
that more frequent communication goes with perceptions of closer relationships. Students who contact their parents
more often using their cell phones while away at school should report their relationships to be closer. Gender and age
of the university students may serve as significant variables impacting their communication patterns and their feelings
of closeness with their parents. Limitations of this research include the small sample size being only undergraduate
students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This research adds another dimension to understanding the role of
new technologies in shaping communication patterns among family members. A child living away at a college ultimately
affects the relationship between a parent and child.
43
31 Room 903 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Elizabeth Mullane, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Shared Social Media Between Parent and Child as a Preventive Measure to Cyberbullying
“Cyberbullying” is modern form of harassment that has become alarmingly more prevalent within the last 10 years,
with recent data indicating that over a third of children have been cyberbullied. In the worst case scenarios, this
harassment has led victims to suicide. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed parental
mediation technique: shared social media. The hypothesis is that shared social media and overlapping interests between
parent and child while browsing the Internet can act as a deterrent to cyberbullying threats. By putting the parent in
a position to be more aware of these threats, they will be in a better position to understand and react to them. This
study will examine the typical Internet activities of both high school freshmen and parents. As many as 100 child and
parent pairs will be surveyed about shared social networking sites, frequency of use, ease/areas of access, and prior
cyberbullying experience. Data are currently being collected from high schools in the greater Boston area. Limitations
include a small sample size. The data collected will provide insight into the validity of the stated hypothesis, particularly
through the lens of other relevant factors, such as age, sex, and accessibility. This study will also reveal the extent of
overlap between parent and child Internet usage, especially in regards to social networking.
32 Room 808 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Sara Pedersen, Diane Prusank (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Westfield State University
Still Matter
Facebook users generate far more photographic content than users of other social network sites. Each of the 845
million users currently on Facebook (2012) presents their own identity through their profile pictures. Building on previous
research on identity and social network use (Marwick & Boyd 2011; Boyd 2007) this study further explores what types of
pictures users are posting and the reasons they make particular choices about their photos. A qualitative content analysis
of profile pictures of a sample of nine subjects, whose ages range from 17 to 47, was performed to identify trends and
patterns among the users. This study also utilized an electronic, open-ended survey on a sample of twenty-five Facebook
users inquiring as to reasons for selecting the photos that they post. Similar intentions for posting photos appeared
among all of the users. Patterns emerged among smaller subsets of the users, and these patterns presented differences
between the particular groups of the users. It is clear that users post photos keeping their audience in mind and the
desire to keep viewers interested in them, but the guidelines and rules that users follow to achieve this varies greatly.
44
33 Room 903 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Rebeka Robillard, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Adoption Attitudes and Media Exposure
Televised representations of adoption tend to be exceptionally dramatic, often depicting this institution in a negative
light. Adopted children are often presented as unstable, abandoned, and second best to a biological child. Similarly,
adoptive parents are incapable of being “real” parents, while birth parents are frequently described as abandoning
their child. Cultivation theory suggests that such portrayals may affect society’s perspective on adoption, yet there is
surprisingly little research linking the two. This study was conducted to determine if greater levels of television exposure
are correlated with more negative views about adoption. Students at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, were
asked to complete a survey to measure opinions about adoption as well as other family values. The survey also includes
questions that measure amount of television exposure in general as well as exposure to genres such as sitcoms, reality
shows, talk shows, and the news. Data collection is still in progress. If the hypothesis is to be supported, students
who spend the most time watching television will have more negative and stereotypical attitudes towards adoption.
Media, especially television, may subtly influence cultural attitudes by perpetuating negative and stereotypical images of
adoption. This may be a source of stigma for adopted individuals and their families.
34 Room 903 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Stephanie Viens, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Communication and Closeness in the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship
Many variables come into play when discussing the interpersonal relationship between a grandparent and grandchild.
This study examines intergenerational communication between grandparents and young-adult grandchildren in
relation to closeness of the relationship. Contact frequency and several communication technologies are examined
to see how forms and frequencies of communication intersect with emotional intimacy in the relationship. Knowing
whether certain technologies are related to feelings of closeness or distance is pivotal for intergenerational relationships.
Using questionnaires distributed on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, data were collected from
college-age students that describe contact and closeness with their grandparents. The data will reveal associations
between frequency of contact and closeness within the GP-GC relationship. The usage behaviors of seven different
communication technologies will reveal whether certain forms are associated with more or less frequent contact and
the degree of relational closeness. Students’ answers may be restricted by which grandparents they provide information
for. Students’ grandparents may have recently passed away, or a student may have more than the four examined
grandparents. Implications of this study involve a potential change in which communication technologies are selected
by members of an intergenerational relationship, and the knowledge of how contact frequency may be related to
closeness. It may support research claiming that low contact frequency is associated with low relational quality. If
certain forms of communication technology are related to close or distant relationships, it may be suggested that some
technologies enable more intimate communication than others.
45
35 Room 903 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Kathryn Walsh, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Effects of Digital Video Recorders on Cohabiting Couples
This study aims at assessing whether having a DVR in the home leads to a happier romantic relationship. This study
focuses specifically on women in heterosexual relationships. Consequently the research question for this study is two
fold: (A) does owning a DVR lead to less conflict over what to watch on television? and (B) does owning a DVR allow
women in a relationship the ability to explore separate interests from their partners without having to sacrifice “together
time”? For this research, a survey is being administered to women in heterosexual cohabiting relationships. A general
comparison will be made between those who own DVRs and those who do not in terms of their overall happiness in
their relationships. For those women who do have DVRs further questions will be asked in the survey to try and assess
what these women are getting out of their DVRs that leads to a happier relationship overall. Data are currently being
collected, but it is predicted that overall women with DVRs will be happier in their respective relationships and agree that
the DVR allows them time and opportunity to explore separate viewing interests from their partners without conflicting
with “together time.” Once all of the data have been collected this study will scientifically examine the many claims
from the news media and DVR manufacturers that having a DVR is beneficial to couples.
36 Room 903 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Emily White, Michael Morgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, UMass Amherst
Problems Affecting the Television Family: A Longitudinal Study
Psychological and sociological theories hold that what is portrayed by the media can have profound effects on its
consumers and those surrounded by it. The goal of this study is to examine the differences in what the media have
presented as normative family problems over the course of several decades and the differences in how the problems
were resolved. This study will be a content analysis of television sitcoms and dramas from the 1950s through the 2000s.
Shows will be obtained through online sources and will be randomly selected from a list of all episodes available. Each
episode will be coded for several variables. Problems and solutions within the episodes will be described and collapsed
into categories. Data will be analyzed to determine if the types of problems and solutions affecting television families
have changed and in what ways. Problems affecting television families are expected to increase in complexity and
seriousness over the course of the decades studied. This change is expected to be more marked in television dramas that
deal with more serious subject matter. The change may be evident in the types of problems presented in episodes or the
length of time it takes to resolve those problems. The results of this study will reveal media messages about normative
family life that many real families use to gauge their own experiences and could shed light on important cultural shifts
and changes in institutional practices.
46
Raquel Boudreau, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Fighting Infection: Injection Drug Use, HIV/AIDS and Springfield’s Latino Population Raquel Alves Boudreau
PURPOSE: In recognizing the tremendous rate of HIV/AIDS infection within Springfield’s Latino demographic, along with
national population projections estimating the racial demographics anticipated growth in the year 2030, my project
reviews alternatives for reducing rates of HIV transmission and infection within the Hispanic population. Focusing
on Springfield’s Latino demographic, this project also acknowledges injection drug use as a leading form of viral
transmission. In so doing, this paper specifically focuses on comprehensive policy alternatives aimed at reducing the
rate of HIV transmission through injection drug use, with the intent of containing infection rates within Springfield’s
Latino community. METHODS: Information was accessed through University of Massachusetts Amherst library databases,
government reports, as well as personal communications with current HIV prevention operatives. RESULTS: Social
stigmas regarding drug use inhibit injection drug users from seeking vital HIV treatment, while national statistics
show that poverty and lack of education limit health care literacy among Latinos specifically. The most comprehensive
policy solution would, therefore, provide culturally specific services tailored to the socio-economic needs of the racial
demographic—consequently decreasing rates of infection, transmission, and viral progression to AIDS. CONCLUSION:
In order to promote and protect the health and wellness of Springfield inhabitants and ultimately, the nation at large,
action must be taken in order to reduce HIV infection and transmission within the growing Hispanic population. By
increasing accessibility through the provision of affordable and harm-reductive services, such as personal counseling
and needle exchange programs, Springfield’s Latino community of users can receive the education and treatment
necessary for prevention. Transferring research into action, this project also bridges the gap between research and study
by recognizing HIV transmission as a salient issue for UMass students. Steps were, therefore, drafted in prospects of
organizing UMass students to take action in ensuring the health and safety of the UMass campus, by committing to
talking about comprehensive sexual education-in light of the existing danger HIV/AIDS poses to members of the growing
Latino population, and ultimately, the UMass community at large.
Hanan Bumpus, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Ensuring that All Communities Have Their Voices Heard: Community Education and Engaging our Elected
Representatives
A major factor in the construction and perpetuation of the sub-prime lending crisis was the lack of consumer education
and awareness of the predatory practices that many banks and other institutions were engaging in. In addition to this,
many individuals do not have the resources or support to be engaged in the political processes that make decisions
concerning this issue and many other decisions that affect us so greatly. Education and empowerment is one form of
consumer protection. Many of the community members at the Amherst Survival Center face situations such as home
foreclosure, an inability to afford food and health insurance, unemployment, and other circumstances that we often
hear our elected representatives deliberating on. This organizing project is designed to allow these community members
to engage and interact with their elected representatives in order to voice their opinions and tell their stories. In this
presentation, I first identify the community’s needs gathered through dialogues and surveys. I then discuss the strategy
developed to organize a community education event about the positions of different politicians on the particular issues
of most interest to the community. In addition to this, I will describe a letter writing/calling in session campaign to inform
our elected officials about this issue and how it affects our respective community. Finally, I hope to organize and describe
a voter registration event for the Amherst Survival Center community. The ultimate goal is to give community members
voice during election season.
47
Erica Rothschild, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Reducing Recidivism though Stronger Social Re-entry
One in two-hundred Americans are incarcerated. With such a statistic, our corrective system should be dedicated to
rehabilitation. Our country’s punitive justice system, ex-offenders face many challenges as they try to integrate back into
mainstream society with their criminal record. Unfortunatelythe re-entry programs fall short of rehabilitation. Interested
in organizing around this issue, I decided to focus my efforts on the social aspect of reintegration into society. This
is important to me because I do not think people who have made mistakes once should be penalized for the rest of
their lives. Given my skill set, I want to use communication and diverse views to affect change in the social realm. The
discrimination ex-offenders face can be discouraging, but more difficult to shake is the psychological hurdle of being
an unwanted presence. I am organizing local leaders and community members for a dialogue summit, to discuss their
thoughts on these issues and actively help ease the reentry process for ex-offenders. My goal is to empower each
individual to realize his or her agency to help ex-offenders readjust to society through positive social interactions.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
40 Room 163 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Karl Rozyn, Keja Valens (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
Lenny Bruce is Not Afraid: Profanity in the Post-Modern World
Our parents’ cursing seems mild. The same words that blacklisted Lenny Bruce have been fired across the floor of the
Senate. Critically acclaimed films – Reservoir Dogs, Boondock Saints, The Big Lebowski, to name a handful – can now
average an f-word every 30 seconds or less. In every place and time, language has contained words that are considered
taboo or offensive, words with the power to shock and appall. Profanity in American English has traditionally been
associated with sexual, scatological, and racial or gender themes. As we’ve moved into the post-modern world,
those themes have shifted in both their importance to popular culture and the meanings contained within them.
As Americans, we haven’t failed to shift our perceptions of offensiveness to follow suit. In the face of the banality
of repetition, is it even possible to be broadly offensive? Is there any word I can reach for that actually adds vulgar
emphasis? Does the era of Civil Rights, feminism, gay marriage, and political correctness reduce the impact of some
curses or does it just enhance others? This paper explores cultural and artistic change and its impact on the vulgar and
the profane. I am looking at film and music as cultural indicators of acceptability, in conjunction with FCC and MPAA
guidelines. Additionally, I am conducting interviews (formal and informal) and accumulating survey data regarding
perceptions of vulgarity and key words in particular. My data is currently limited regionally to New England, but with an
eye to expanding scope across the nation.
48
COMPUTER SCIENCE
41 Room 162 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Anna Gavrilman, Duc Tran (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Boston
Data Storage for Social Networks
Online social networking has become ubiquitous. For a social storage system to keep pace with increasing amounts of
user data and activities, an intuitive solution is to deploy more servers. An important problem then is how to partition
the data across the servers so that server efficiency and load balancing can both be achieved. This problem is especially
challenging for social data storage because we have to take into account the data’s social relationships which imply
how often certain data are accessed together in a transaction. Many partitioning schemes already exist but they are not
socially-aware; they do not take into account these social relationships. We undertake a novel approach which models
data partitioning as a socially-aware optimization problem. Specifically, we propose SPUT, an efficient socially-aware
partitioning solution which factors in not only how actively users read and write data but also how often sociallyconnected users want the data of each other. S-PUT’s desirable properties are substantiated in our evaluation study.
42 Room 162 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Freddy Pietter, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, Westfield State University
Cloud Computing in the Educational Environment
PURPOSE: Teachers and students face a number of challenges based on time, geographic, and economic factors that
often minimize the learning experience. This study argues that several Internet-based resources can help overcome such
limitations. METHODS: This study surveys some of the most-used services, tools, and platforms offered in the worldwide
network. Through comparison and description of the available options, the study evaluates best practices for using
on-line tools to enhance teaching and learning. RESULTS: Services like cloud storage can be implemented individually
and/or collectively as aids to limit time conflicts among peers and the obstacle imposed by distance. Other services that
facilitate and reinforce the learning experience include, but are not limited to, e-Books, micro-blogging, on-line learning
suites, and web casting. Most of these services are either free or very affordable. While there are some drawbacks to
these services, they represent advantages to teachers and students. CONCLUSION: People use cloud computing on a
daily basis for many tasks, from banking to shopping to socializing with others. However, most people underestimate
that using technological tools to improve learning and collaborative work in schools, colleges and universities boosts
students’ engagement with the material and provides professors a wider range of possible teaching tools .
49
43 Room 162 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Gary Savoie, Larry Griffith (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, Westfield State University
Understanding the World’s Transition from IPv4 to IPv6
PURPOSE: Every Internet-capable device requires an Internet Protocol address in order to access the Internet. For years
there has been a constant debate surrounding when all of the existing IPv4 addresses will be exhausted, forcing the
world to transition to the newer protocol of IPv6. This is a world-wide issue, with multiple countries facing the same
challenges proposed by the transition. METHODS: Using scholarly literature accessed through the Westfield State
University library database, as well as other recently published technology articles, this paper examines the world’s
issues, solutions and benefits of making the conversion from IPv4 to IPv6. RESULTS: The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 will
cause changes on multiple levels including hardware, software, technician support. The most drastic alterations will be
for Internet Service Providers and companies; however, the benefit of the additional address space which IPv6 offers
outweighs transitional expenditure. The cost for both companies and ISPs to make the transition will be extreme, but the
services and additional benefits which IPv6 provides will allow for the annual saving of millions of dollars. Additionally,
the transition is also a time-sensitive issue; therefore, companies must also determine the proper time to make their
move. In recent years, the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 has ignited into a global issue as countries add more devices to
the Internet, exhausting address space faster than ever before. CONCLUSION: The transition will be much slower than
anticipated; estimates suggest that the transition will develop over a twenty-five year period before reaching completion.
The reality is that in order to sustain the exponential growth of the Internet, all users will have to make the transition to
IPv6.
44 Room 162 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Daniel Stubbs, Andrew McGregor (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Amherst
Visualization of Algorithms for Massive Data Sets
PURPOSE: Incredibly fast and efficient methods for processing large amounts of data in real time are of enormous
utility in the internet age. We developed a pedagogical and research tool that demonstrates visually the workings of
these sublinear data stream algorithms for users who want to understand, explain, or develop them. METHODS: We
used streaming algorithms literature to identify likely targets for visualization. The graphical, input, and data processing
portions of the project are all implemented in the Java programming language. RESULTS: The streaming algorithm
visualizer was successfully implemented, and is seeing use in a number of contexts. It’s being used to display sketches
for estimating point and range values in UMass Amherst’s graduate streaming algorithms course. It’s also seeing use
in ongoing research on the development of data stream algorithms here at the university. Further, one of the changes
made to the CountMin algorithm to simplify it for display purposes seems to produce more accurate results in practice
than the version presented in the original paper. CONCLUSION: Visualization of the normally invisible processes of large
data set processors is useful to anyone who deals with them or wants to deal with them. The process of translating
an algorithm into something that can be visually displayed frequently offers new insights into how it works and how it
could be improved. The visualizer is available online at cs.umass.edu/~dstubbs/streaming/visualizer.
50
ECONOMICS
45 Room 176 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Matthew Denny, Ryan Acton (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Networks and Endogenous Segmentation
Understanding the network dynamics and relational properties of an evolutionary process are essential to drawing
valid inferences about individual behavior. One of the main goals of evolutionary microeconomics has been to explain
and understand the persistence of cooperative human behavior, often in the face of better payoffs to non-cooperative
behavior. While the models of evolutionary microeconomics capture the importance of relative payoffs in an evolutionary
process, by and large, the models employed by economists do not include network dynamics. This paper seeks to meld
together the insights of network analysis and evolutionary microeconomics with the hopes of both better understanding
emergent social structures and the evolution of individual behaviors. A central focus is placed on the role of community
structure in supporting cooperation. A model is developed where “network homophily” (Centola et al., 2006) and
community structure bound a process of payoff-based differential replication.
46 Room 176 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Neil Masiello, Weichu Xu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Management, Framingham State University
The Mismatch of Skilled Labor in the Work Force
The main purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the key factors that have influenced the current and
projected mismatch of skilled labor in the work force of New England. The primary focuses of research were of trends
in education, population migration, public policy and the demand for labor. Each area has been carefully researched,
analyzed and examined with current population data and the results are the basis of the thesis. The methods used to
validate the information were quantitative and statistical in nature. The population and labor demand data have been
extracted from local government websites as well the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Educational data has been collected
from local and national surveys conducted by accredited firms and the public policy data has been inspected from the
many local governments’ public archives as well as the national archive of public policy. The results of the study revealed
each area has attributed in some way to the ever-growing gap between highly skilled labor and the lower skill requiring
positions. The issue that has been discovered is this, the demand for positions of middle to low skill labor is increasing
faster than the supply from the labor force, if there is no public intervention the future of all the skilled labor force may
be in danger.
47 Room 176 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Samuel Offei, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Conscious Capitalism: A New Way of Business Model
This research describes the concept of “Conscious Capitalism,” a new, more tolerant approach to business
management. It describes how the context for business has changed in principle in the past forty years, calling for a
new way of business that deals with consciousness among customers and employees. It is vital that business get on
the right side of society rather than habitually adding to societal burdens, as is generally the case since the adoption of
capitalism in the western world. A conscious approach to business is based on the adoption of a higher purpose that
goes beyond profits and a shareholders--a conscious, service-oriented leadership. Corporations do not owe society any
capital investment but they have a moral responsibility to society. Since the introduction of compassionate capitalism in
the late sixties, more private corporations are conforming to the notion as a model for most businesses realizing that,
compassionate capitalism, or conscious capitalism, does not necessarily mean socialism although they might have some
parallels.
51
48 Room 176 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Thomas Peake, Rus Janis (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Economics, UMass Amherst
Industrial Organization of Massachusetts’ Craft Beer Industry
The craft beer industry has seen a massive resurgence in the United States since the industry emerged from virtual
extinction in the late 1960s. Even as overall global demand for beer actually decreases on a yearly basis, many regional
craft breweries have experienced startling growth, with output growing on average by 11% in 2010. But some regions
are more attractive places to get a foot up in craft brewing than others. Any map of craft breweries will show that they
tend to cluster in areas like Southern Maine, Denver, Seattle, Greater Boston and, indeed, the Pioneer Valley. Using the
most recent official data on the industry (2009), my project will test the hypothesis that regional factors such as age,
income, ethnicity, and political affiliation have a correlation to whether or not a geographic region will become a host to
a craft beer industry cluster or not.
EDUCATION
49 Room 809 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Brandon Agnew, Shastri Akella (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, UMass Amherst
The Gap Year: Bridging the Gap
The purpose of the research paper is to investigate how programs such as “Where There Be Dragons”, in offering
high school students a foreign experiential learning in their gap year (between secondary and university studies) equips
them with the soft skills necessary to succeed in the professional working environment. The paper builds on anecdotal
research from organizations that run gap programs and on statistical data mined from educational institutions and
global marketing and technology organization to make a claim: that the exposure gained by students over the gap year
enhances their performance in both their academic and professional lives by bridging the disconnect between their
adolescent self – prevalent in high school and the adult – who is expected to be responsible for achieving academic
and professional excellence. Finally, the paper also suggests alternatives available to those students who have already
ventured into their college education without a gap year and to those who cannot travel to a foreign country.
52
50 Room 809 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Lauren Denio, Laura Baker (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Education, Westfield State University
Universal Design for Learning: Challenging One-Size-Fits-All Curricula
Purpose: I will explain the goals and principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and argue the value of its use in
every classroom setting. UDL is an educational framework that challenges and engages students without limiting their
skills by always having to work with their academic weaknesses. I argue that, based on the research, UDL supports
individualization in a way that is manageable for educators and promotes student success. Methods: My primary
source used to gather information on Universal Design for Learning is The Center for Applied Special Technology, the
organization that originally developed the framework and outlines the research as well as defines the standards. For
continued support of my presentation, the National UDL Center helps implement UDL by providing resources and
information about it to the community and supports advocacy. Results: The outcome of UDL has been the rejection
of homogeneous curricula for all students. Standardization is not beneficial when it forces students to try to learn
something in a way that does not work for them. UDL has shown that when educators allow students to have
autonomy by giving them choices, they naturally are inclined to choose a method which suits their needs and works
with their strengths. Conclusion: Universal Design for Learning is one of the methods that despite having survived the
ultimate test of real use in the classroom, has not been fully implemented everywhere. In order for educators to plan for
variability as the norm, the realization must be made that the disability lies within the curriculum, not our students.
51 Room 803 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Daniel Teo, Henry Pineda, Justin Diamond, JOSEPH MODUGNO (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of English, North Shore Community College
The Impact Mutual Interaction between School and Student Has on Mutual Success
Purpose: There is much controversy over the comparison of positives and negatives regarding two-year community
colleges and four-year universities. The vision of this study is to portray the qualities from both educations as a tool
of enlightenment to high school students uncertain of a path that may be right for them. The depth of the study is
an observation of the current ways in which the schools interact with the students beyond classrooms, as well as the
potential steps that can be taken to ensure the most student success. Methods: Supportive research in this evaluation
includes analyzations concerning components of multiple two-year and four-year schools. The components most heavily
reported on comprise of schools’ academic records, instructor rating as well as courses and the endeavors of curricula
and students. Results: Through the research and comparison of the aforementioned components in various educational
institutions, the instructors often held a high percentage in the success of a student in a specific course. Contrary to
that, a course’s scope itself often posed as a hindrance to a student’s success. Indications regarding the correlation of
student success and student involvement with institutional activity arose supporting the idea that students and schools
alike must work together for mutual success. Conclusion: The collaborative work between students of communities who
have been historically marginalized and educators promote a vision of education that counters the multiple forms of
oppression, promotes community activism and generates spaces of love, hope and success.
53
52 Room 809 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Corinne Glennie, Glen Brewster (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Not Another Worksheet! Bridging the Gap between Mathematical Research and Current Practice
Across the United States, mathematics teachers often rely on traditional lecture-style format when instructing their
students. The average teacher in the United States spends over fifty percent of class time reviewing content and only
twenty-three percent of time introducing new concepts (Brahier, 2009). However, as pressure mounts on school districts
for students’ performances to improve on standardized tests, research continues to tout the benefits of hands-on,
inquiry based learning over lecture format (Brahier, 2009). This presentation first describes contemporary math education
research and current conditions in the classroom, and then investigates the division between research and methods in
current practice. Finally, the presentation will conclude with suggestions for the future and with a demonstration of how
teachers can incorporate simple activities to further advance their students’ understanding of mathematical concepts.
53 Room 809 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
James Madigan, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Education, Westfield State University
State of the Arts: Weighing Threats to Arts Education in the U.S.
1. PURPOSE Arts Education programs in the United States are in constant peril of being cut. This would be devastating
both for students and for the cultural future of America, and must be prevented. 2. METHODS This study draws on
the work of education scholar Sir Ken Robinson, PhD, an advocate of educational reform, and author of several books
on the topic of educational theory and implementation in modern society. In addition to Robinson’s work, it utilizes
education journals, investigations into the effect and effectiveness of standardized tests, and news reports on the impact
of the recent economic difficulties on school budgets, and arts programs. 3. RESULTS The current crisis can be traced
to both economic and social factors. Sweeping financial crunches have led to the elimination of arts programs, despite
advocates’ arguments to the contrary. In addition to economic woes, the educational focus has shifted in recent years
to meet the requirements of standardized tests, and prioritizing test-related subjects often eclipses support for arts
programs. This support is desperately needed, as arts programs imbue students with critical thinking, co-operation,
and analytical skills not taught elsewhere in the curriculum. 4. CONCLUSION: In order to save arts programs, the nation
must rethink how it views the impact they have, both on students and society as a whole. By overhauling a failed
system, America can not only save arts programs, but improve the education system as whole, greatly benefitting future
generations.
Alexandra Martines, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The War for the Internet
In January 2012, the Stop Online Piracy Act was shelved due to immense public outcry. That day, the people of the
Internet breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, we had won the battle but not the war. With the Protecting
Children from Internet Pornographers Act and the recent shut down of content-hosting website Megaupload, it has
become clear that the Internet’s freedom is under threat. My presentation will explore the ways people across the United
States organize to protect the Internet through campaigns to vote anti-Internet freedom legislators out of office and
produce legislation that protects Americans from government censorship of Internet content and surveillance of lawabiding individual’s information and Internet habits.
54
55 Room 803 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Nicholas Moreau, Michael Lee (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Fitchburg State University
Food Allergies in Schools
I will be presenting a short video documentary that I made on food allergies and how they affect children in schools.
Through the video, I will be exploring the policies that schools put in place to help children with their allergies and their
effectiveness, and determining whether or not school policies go far enough to make children with food allergies feel
safe and comfortable in the environment. The documentary will contain interviews of professionals and school faculty, as
well as children with food allergies and their parents in order to thoroughly examine the issue at hand. I will attempt to
determine which policies make children with allergies feel the most safe and comfortable at school, and create the most
healthy and effective learning environment.
56 Room 809 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Ceira O’Brien, Janara Abramsen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Education, Westfield State University
The Game of School
As children progress through the school system, many lose the spark and interest they once had for learning. They
become obsessed with grades, resumes, and being considered the “best” in the class. The students rush to get work
done and will do whatever it takes to get the best grade they can, even if that means cheating, lying, or plagiarizing.
Teachers become stressed out by the pressure to get their kids to pass the MCAS and other standardized tests. They
begin replacing valuable lessons with MCAS preparation days. Teachers are put under pressure because of evaluations
and classroom observers who may even have the power to take away their job. There are many causes for students’ loss
of interest in school such as the disappearance of hands-on activities replaced by lectures and notes and the exchange
of the term “learning” for “working.” The children have to master “the game” to get by. They must do all the work
teachers ask even if it’s pointless or boring, achieve high grades by any means, and pass the tests to show that they have
“learned” the material that has been “covered.” These issues have been brought up and explored in “The Game Of
School” by Robert Fried, and we are going to explore a little deeper and see what kind of resolutions may be possible to
avoid putting children through “the game of school.”
55
57 Room 809 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Katelyn Sassorossi, Robert Maloy (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Education, UMass Amherst
Investigating Use of Online Tutors in 4th and 5th Grade Mathematics: Conditions and Constraints
in Web-Based Learning
This research explores the use of a web-based tutoring system by selected 4th and 5th grade classes to promote learning
success with mathematics word problems. The web-based program, 4mality: 4-coach Mathematics Active Learning
Intelligent Tutoring System, provides practice and preparation for 3rd through 6th grade students in understanding
and solving mathematical word problems, such as those on standardized math achievement tests like the MCAS. Each
module in 4mality consists of a pre-test, practice questions, and post-test exploring a topic from the Massachusetts
math curriculum framework. Each practice question in the module is accompanied by four different tutoring strategies.
The strategies represent the 4mality tutors: Estella Explainer, the language coach; Chef Math Bear, the math book
coach; How-to Hound, the strategy coach; and Visual Vicuna, the chart, graph and animation coach. The purpose of all
four tutors is to help students of different academic strengths. Collectively, the tutors provide language, computation,
strategy, and visual information. Students may choose to view strategies from 4, 3, 2, 1 or none of the tutors. Each of
the students’ choices is tracked electronically to help us identify the more popular and/or most used tutoring methods.
This presentation will highlight results from the use of 4mality by 4th and 5th graders in Massachusetts, Georgia, and
Maine during the 2011-2012 school year. Use of tutors will be discussed, including the following topics: 1) examining
preferences of students who are struggling math learners compared with students who are performing on or above
grade level; 2) differences in tutor use by gender and grade level; 3) similarities or differences between students with
and without IEP designation.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
58 Room 168 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Rojay Wagner, Aura Ganz (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Electrical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Portable Gait Analysis System Using an Android Smartphone
Gait analysis systems are powerful tools in the monitoring and rehabilitation of many health conditions which result in
an altered gait (such as Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis), along with the injury of lower limbs. However,
current systems that provide accurate gait monitoring and analysis are large and expensive, and therefore are available
only in professional settings. The goal of this research is to develop and test a Portable and Accurate Gait Analysis
System, denoted PAGAS, which enables patients to monitor their own gait and track their progress and improvement
over time. Moreover, PAGAS will enable therapists to follow the progress of their patients over time without the need for
multiple visits required at a rehabilitation facility, thus saving significant healthcare costs. PAGAS includes footswitches
and a microcontroller, which connects to an Android Smartphone using Bluetooth communication. An application on
the Smartphone analyzes the raw data to produce temporal gait parameters that are displayed to the user through a
graphical user interface.
56
ENGLISH
59 Room 163 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Jennifer Boyd, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Sibling Rivalry: A Short Story
Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to share the creative process of writing a short story in a creative writing
workshop class, and to read the story to show the outcome of the process. Methods: The presenter will explain the
origin of the story, which was inspired by an apocalyptic nightmare. She will then explain the revision process for
the story and how she came to incorporate the opinions of her peers and professor. Writing strategies to display the
intensity of a nightmare situation include realistic characterization, vivid description, and allusions to both biblical and
Greek mythological elements. Finally, the presenter will read the short story. Results: The result of the creative process
was a short story about a goddess who, after fighting with her brother, a god of destruction, comes to earth to find it
obliterated and underwater. She then embarks on a search to find her son, a demi-god, who she believes can overthrow
her brother. The images and themes of the story parallel those found in Greek mythology, the Bible, and the Epic of
Gilgamesh. Conclusion: This short story includes the ageless archetypes of the battle of good and evil, creation and
destruction, and sibling rivalry. However, the goal of the creative process is to take these timeless ideas and morph them
into a new, original story.
60 Room 163 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Hannah Clifford, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Memoirs of a Former Crybaby: A Narrative on Verbal Bullying
Purpose: The narrative shows future teachers and parents that bullying does happen, but it can be overcome and one
can grow and learn from the experience. The story also offers some practical suggestions for how to deal with bullying.
Methodology: A story about bullying in middle school, this narrative uses first-person perspective, description, and a
reflective and informal voice to get its message across about bullying. It also uses a light, comical tone to address the
serious issues of bullying in schools. Observations: Parents play an important role in addressing bullying. The narrative
describes advice the writer’s mother gave her about dealing with verbal bullying. The narrative also notes how her
teacher’s failures to notice and intervene in the bullying in his classroom made it that much worse for her. Finally the
narrative demonstrates that bullying has a lasting negative effect on academic performance. Conclusions: It is important
for teachers to pay close attention to verbal exchanges between students and to assess how those exchanges are
impacting the comfort level of students in their classrooms. What may appear to be harmless teasing could actually
something worse. Often verbal bullying is not as obvious as others forms, and teachers need to be prepared to pick
up on this subtle bullying. The narrative also shows the importance of parents paying attention to the subtle clues and
offering their children guidance.
57
61 Room 101 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Kaila Cummings, Michael Filas (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Jackson Ryan
The purpose of my creative writing piece was to tell a story about the transgressive love between two unconventional
characters in the tradition of Robert Frost’s narrative poetry style. I used poetic form to convey a full story in a less
familiar way. Narrative poetry is similar to a short story; however, it conveys a story in fewer words. It also has line breaks
and repetition to add more depth to the poem. I repeat the subject’s name throughout the narrative--“Jackson Ryan,
Jackson Ryan, Jackson Ryan”--because the repetition of adds drama and emotion to reading the poem. This narrative
poem is about the forbidden love between a high school teacher and a student. The danger of the love between them
makes it even more exciting for them to disobey clearly known rules and to attempt to hide their secret.
62 Room 163 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Molly Fitzell, Vanessa Ramos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
The Factory: A Dreamt Psychosis
Here at Phante Productions we take pride in being the world’s number one supplier of artificial humanoids. We do
everything possible to satisfy our customers. Whether you buy a significant other, test child, or just manual labor,
we want to provide you with perfection. To ensure your satisfaction, our products are carefully assembled by trained
professionals using the latest technology. Our onsite psychoanalysts test humanoids for quality and life span. Every
humanoid we sell desires nothing but giving you the life of your dreams. You can have the perfect spouse, the star
athlete valedictorian super child, 24/7 help, or the friend you always wanted! Live your dream life among Phante
humanoids. “The Factory: A Dreamt Psychosis” is a work of fiction which marries craft techniques and personal
philosophy. The work explores structure and point of view, taking inspiration from common elements of magical realism
and metafiction.
63 Room 811 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Nicole Godard, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Water on the Brain and Controversy in the Classroom
PURPOSE: Due to negative criticism and controversy surrounding Sherman Alexie’s young adult novel, The Absolutely
True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the book has been banned from several schools’ curricula, thus depriving students
of a profoundly meaningful and relatable coming-of-age story – a decision that must be reversed. METHODS This
argument considers the concerns of both scholarly readers and lay readers, Native American and non-Native, as well as
the criticism and praise that Alexie’s novel has garnered since its publication. Evidence from the novel itself is used to
support both sides of the argument, but ultimately to establish the novel’s validity as a valuable addition to a school’s
curriculum. RESULTS The transitional years between being a child and being an adult are difficult for everyone, regardless
of race, class, or creed, and yet most young adults are absolutely convinced that they are the only ones who feel the
way they do. Alexie’s novel proves that they are wrong, and more importantly, that they are not alone. The novel, while
controversial for its use of profanity, racial slurs, and representation of Native Americans, draws in students not only to
read it, but to think about issues that have long been ignored and labeled as “too sensitive” to discuss in the classroom.
To deprive students of the opportunity to read a message of hope and truth is not only a disservice, but a failure of their
education. CONCLUSION Despite many reservations concerning some of the book’s content, the overarching message
of love, hope, and growing up that Alexie offers will prove inspiring to young readers and will simultaneously encourage
them to think for themselves, an invaluable skill as they march into adulthood.
58
64 Room 101 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Christopher Goudreau, Leah Nielsen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
In the Ghost House Acquainted: The Poetry of Kevin Goodan
Purpose: To explicate the themes, naturalistic and religious symbolism, and poetic distinction of Kevin Goodan’s work,
In the Ghost-House Acquainted. Methods: Using a close-reading analysis of the poems, this paper traces the themes
of mortality, human nature, and religious philosophy within Goodan’s In the Ghost-House Acquainted. Supplementary
material within the analysis includes an interview conducted by Duncan Barlow of Astrophil Press and Psalm 23 of the
King James Bible. Results: Kevin Goodan uses imagery from nature to show both the beauty and grotesqueness of
life. His poetry is about balance, between a homo-centric viewpoint and one which is defined by the natural world. He
speaks with an impartial voice, always an observer who captures the daily struggles of life within the confines of In the
Ghost-House Acquainted. Conclusion: Goodan draws upon traditional sources to create a litany of sorts, to revere life
with absolute conviction. His poetry combines past, present and future in a web of philosophical contemplation; all of
which are tied together through his vivid nature imagery.
65 Room 101 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Rachel Lareau, Leah Nielsen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Song of The Body - Poetry of Lovers, Fathers, and Faith
This presentation is a reading and discussion of the poet’s poems written over the past two years. The poems address
the difficult issues of racial identity, family, sex, relationships, self love, self harm, and Christianity. Not only is the poetry
a reflection on the multifaceted themes of “the Body” but also an examination of how the writer’s voice has developed.
66 Room 163 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Jesse Mangan, Joseph Torra (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, UMass Boston
Cling: A Portfolio of Poetry Exploring Dependency
Purpose: Often, when people think about dependency issues, they think of extreme cases of alcohol abuse and drug
addiction. This collection of free verse poetry was written to explore the relationships between, and consequences of, a
variety of dependency issues linked not only to drugs and alcohol, but to relationships, technology, politics, religion and
socioeconomic status. Methods: A great deal of observation went into this portfolio. Inspiration was drawn from news
stories, memoirs, technology, poetry, fiction, pop culture and life experience. Each piece was written, rewritten, arranged
and rearranged countless times in an attempt to leave a poignant impression on the reader. Results: This portfolio often
blurs the lines between each of the running themes, begging the reader to question whether any of the vices explored
are inherently dangerous, or if abuse is simply part of human nature. Conclusion: It seems that it’s part of human nature
to yearn for something to hold onto. In the context of this desire, nothing is inherently dangerous—but anything can
become so if misused.
59
67 Room 163 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Ross Martin, Arthur Riss (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
“Benito Cereno” and Redefining the Detective
We all know the archetypal detective story: a detective of superior acumen finds the hidden meaning that to everyone
else went unnoticed; and, as such, reconstructs a series of events in order to solve the mystery. Herman Melville’s
“Benito Cereno” (1855), however, places the notion of a detective story into question. He shows that to be a detective,
to observe clues, and to present an understanding of the “true” meaning tells us more about the person detecting
than it ever does about the event. Melville highlights the importance of rejecting the drive to seek an authoritative
interpretation of meaning, but to first, and primarily, examine the structure of the argument that is being presented—
who is presenting it—what their motives are; and, as a result, attempt to understand that we can never dig down deep
enough to get to unadulterated facts; but that facts are always a product of interpretation.
68 Room 101 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Amber Pettell, Gregg Neikirk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Getting Away With Murder: The Psychological State of Miss Emily Grierson
William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” tells the tale of an outcast woman who goes to gruesome lengths
to soothe her lonely heart. Desperate for eternal companionship, the aging maid murders her lover to keep him by
her side. In most instances such drastic action would characterize Emily as a cold-blooded monster, but there are
other explanations for the events of Miss Emily Grierson’s troubled life. Modern psychology has discovered certain
socio-psychological forces that might drive an otherwise good natured and sane individual to violence. The power of
conformity drives her to commit a horrid crime, which she then adjusted to through minimal justification, and selective
exposure. These socio-phenomena allowed her to literally get away with murder physically, morally, and psychologically.
These defense mechanisms made it possible for Emily not only to cope with her actions but effectively disassociate
herself from the murders and consciously block them out. Miss Grierson’s disassociated mental state allowed her to
commit otherwise atrocious acts without remorse or complete awareness.
69 Room 163 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Alexandra Pitzer, Marcella Marold (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, North Shore Community College
The Unfair Stereotyping of All Homeschoolers
Homeschooling became prevalent in the United States during the 20th century because many parents felt that the
changes made in the public educational system were offensive or that it undermined their home values. This study
will focus on the issue of socialization, one of the numerous myths held by many opponents of homeschooling, and
show that children who are homeschooled are not socially awkward or isolated from interaction with other people
and outside resources. Using Scholarly literature and field studies, in addition to my personal positive experience as a
homeschooled student for 3 years, this paper will examine the strengths of homeschooling, especially as it relates to the
development of highly socialized individuals. The three factors of socialization discussed are social activity, influence, and
exposure. Homeschoolers interact with a wider variety of people than public school students, have adequate quantity
of social interactions and are exposed to a variety of cultures and beliefs that make up the United States, and research
shows that homeschoolers do not participate in society less than the general public. As of 2010 there are over 2 million
people in the United States being homeschooled and universities such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Notre Dame have
begun to understand the positive results of homeschooling because they accept and even recruit homeschoolers on a
regular basis. With the acceptance of homeschoolers into universities the general public will begin to truly comprehend
the positive learning experiences different environments can offer.
60
70 Room 163 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Christopher Robinson, Shastri Akella (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, UMass Amherst
On Divination
Explaining the clockwork of a literary collective is a difficult task, especially in the presence of such tremendous scientific,
humanitarian, and rational progress. It is nearly impossible for any single person to make logical what it is we are truly
doing, to quantify the musings of the soul. The Butterfield Literary Journal is, simply, the seeker in a complex tangle
of hide n’ seek. We are a group of like-minded individuals, searching for the buried sanctums of our peers. Some
freely share their work, bleeding profusely the songs of their heart and mind. Others hide their works from us, fearing
persecution from a world seemingly dominated by the left side of the mind. What we’re trying to capture is the voice,
the essence of the students of this university. Each one of the young adults here dabble in an ink unique to his or her
own life, but whether that hand is scribbling the skeleton of an adenine triphosphate molecule, perfecting the language
of a mathematical proof, or endowing a page with wispy lines of enamored thought, a uniqueness is being bottled in
the framework of personal literary achievement. Students submit to us their work, and if it meets our standard – as
pompous as that sounds – then we weave that voice in with the others. We are attempting to carve out lives for the
writers among us, to help make flourish the creative spark of the pen. We are researchers, bound to the mind and soul.
71 Room 101 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Lyndon Seitz, Glen Brewster (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Crafting the Spoken Word
This presentation focuses on the differences between written poetry and spoken word poetry, or slam poetry. It gives
a brief background on the history of slam poetry, including its origins and development into a widespread cultural
phenomenon. Slam poetry emphasizes the rhythm, emotional intensity, and the phonetic devices in the poetry. There
is also a strong performance aspect to the style, giving it another dimension not found in written poetry. I will perform
several original pieces to illustrate the form. The first poem, “Synthesized Jazz,” demonstrates the importance of rhythm
and sound. The second one, “Eclipse,” was designed for a more emotional performance and illustrates the theatrical
aspect of the genre. Both examples show the importance of diction, pace, and expression in slam poetry. The genre of
slam poetry has been growing in popularity and influence throughout the United States. The two poems, “Synthesized
Jazz” and “Eclipse,” serve as examples of the genre.
61
72 Room 101 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Jennifer Shakshober, Marilyn Sandidge (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
The Consequences of Beauty: Sexual Deviance Through Textual Emendation in Early Modern Literature
PURPOSE: This paper examines the ways by which past editors have imputed alternative meanings to Shakespeare’s
sonnet twenty and Marie de France’s “Lanval,” thus demonstrating the unintended effects of beauty on the speaker and
addressee. METHODS: I synthesize critical sources from the field to show how repudiating the Petrarchan framework has
allowed early modern writers to explore nonconformist views about sexuality. Meanwhile, I account for the possibility
of liberal emendation of these texts at the hands of period editors. RESULTS: Works of British literature during the
early modern period connect beauty to such alternative sexual practices as homoeroticism, fetishism, polyamory, and
effeminacy. As recent scholarship indicates, however, editors of the Renaissance period would seem to project these
aspects on the sonnets of Shakespeare and the lais of Marie de France through their deft manipulation of textual
evidence. Shakespeare systematically deconstructs the blazons of his fellow poets, while Marie de France commutes
male and female roles, to both undermine Petrarchan convention and renovate the social context in which they write.
CONCLUSION: Beauty provides the impetus for gender division rather than coalition, deliberate gender ambiguity,
justification for encounters beyond the mere homosocial, and the roots of aberrant sexuality. Early modern editors,
while certainly held responsible for their manipulation of period texts, do not assign these meanings but emphasize the
nuanced content therein.
73 Room 163 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Sarah Tourigny, Vanessa Ramos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
Beneath the Stars of Salem
“Beneath the Stars of Salem” is a piece of historical fiction in which good does not always conquer evil. Set during
Salem’s Maritime history, the story works from firsthand accounts and newspapers of the period located through Salem
State University’s library as well as draws inspiration from the maritime collection on display at the Peabody Essex
Museum in Salem, Mass. “Beneath the Stars of Salem” aims to explore the dynamics of how people interact in a society,
and how “unjust” actions committed by one individual affect numerous others. So who gets punished? The individual
committing the bad deed? Or those affected by it? “Beneath the Stars of Salem” is written in a style that reinforces the
idea that there isn’t always a straightforward path of good defeating evil. Instead it asks the question, does justice have
the strength to prevail every time?
ENGLISH LITERATURE
74 Room 101 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Jessica Andreason, Jeanette Riley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, UMass Dartmouth
V For Vendetta: The Graphic Narrative As Literature
The graphic narrative has long been a disputed medium. Through recent criticism, however, a new field is beginning
to emerge in which the form is being analyzed critically. Pictures, once thought to be a sign of juvenile comprehension,
transform a simple narrative into an experience when used effectively by a team of artist and writer to convey a
complete story. V For Vendetta, a British graphic narrative, contains formal elements suitable to critical literary analysis.
Coupled with its graphic presentation of emotion and narration, metaphor and satire shine through to create a full
sensory experience that can be termed “literary.” V For Vendetta is a successful example of what the graphic narrative
can do and where its potential as a critical medium lies.
62
75 Room 101 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Caitlin Larracey, Derek Leuenberger (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Bridgewater State University
Carlyle, Arnold, and Wilde: Art and the Departure from Humanism to Aestheticism and Decadence in the Victorian Era
While much criticism examines Victorian literature in its ties to Romanticism, this examination of the literature traces its
roots from Renaissance humanism toward the decadence and aestheticism that characterize late nineteenth-century
works, and reveals the shifting philosophies toward both the role of literature and the author and the mechanized and
industrial society of London. The transitions from humanism to aestheticism were not simple, nor are the two forms
completely distinct from each other, as seen through a close-reading of several key texts. Toward the beginning of the
Victorian era, Thomas Carlyle argues in Past and Present (1843) that there is a separation between the individual and the
community that only grows over time. Similarly, Victorian literature details its separation from virtue. Matthew Arnold’s
“Sweetness and Light” from Culture and Anarchy (1869) relies on the humanist principles of imitatio and the belief that
the critic should create art that reflects the artist’s values and moves society toward virtue, and his poem “The ScholarGipsy” (1853) demonstrates these principles. Yet, towards the end of the era, Oscar Wilde seems to abandon humanism
in The Importance of Being Earnest (1894) in favor of aesthetically pleasing art that may not have any purpose beyond
its self-fashioning of reality. Through the Victorian era, humanist principles dissipate in importance from Carlyle to Wilde
as the societal focus shifts from a reaction against the new mechanized society to an acquiescence with industry and
self-interest and a desire to enjoy what one can experience within this cultural frame.
76 Room 101 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Katelynn Larson, Rosanne Denhard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Following Faust: Evolution of the Faust Legend
The Faust legend, that of a man so obsessed with obtaining knowledge that he trades his soul to the Devil for limitless
knowledge, has been used since the Middle Ages to challenge the accepted cultural and societal order. Through
examining various manifestations of the Faust legend, the subversions of their authors become apparent and can be
linked to a broader contextual understanding. Four texts – the anonymously authored “The English Faust Book” (1592),
Christopher Marlowe’s “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” (1604), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust” (1829),
and Gertrude Stein’s “Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights” (1938) -- serve as the basis for a contextual close reading and
examination. Each text offers a distinct subversion of accepted cultural norms. “The English Faust Book” offers a key
to the Reformation, Marlowe questions the authority of academic learning, Goethe separates from the rationale of the
Enlightenment, and Stein contemplates the value of technology while diverging from expected gender roles. Although
each text takes a different approach to discussing and exploring the Faust legend, the underlying ethos, that of
subversion, remains the same, accounting for the Faust narrative’s broad application to challenge Reformation ideals in
one century and industrial conventions several hundred years later.
63
77 Room 163 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Alex Marshall, Rosanne Denhard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Margaret Cavendish’s Blazing World: The Legacy of World-Building
Stories, particularly in the fantasy and science-fiction genres, often make use of an “alternate world” setting— a
different history or another dimension. Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-1673), dared to breach the
borders of reality in the creation of her own “imaginary world,” which she called the Blazing World (_The Description
of a New World, Called the Blazing World_, 1666). In fashioning her world, Cavendish employing several components
since deemed necessary to contemporary fantasy world-building. My project acknowledges Cavendish’s _The Blazing
World_ as the masterwork and foundation of world-building that it is, a precursor to more recently-created worlds like
C.S. Lewis’s Narnia or L. Frank Baum’s Oz, and draws connections between it, its antecedents, and modern-day fantasy
fiction.
78 Room 101 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Derek Pietras, Carolyn Maibor (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Framingham State University
Finding the Hidden Intelligence
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott are not commonly read together, since they tend to write in different styles
and genres. And, at first glance, their novels The Scarlet Letter and Little Women could not be more different. However,
upon a closer reading, some similarities make themselves known, especially in relation to the youngest characters in
each, Pearl and Amy. These two girls have a startling number of similarities between them, including a blunt honesty,
a high level of intelligence, and a startling understanding of the world around them. These trends continue into the
realist age, with authors such as William Dean Howells and Henry James finding similar ideas between their characters.
In Howells’ The Rise of Silas Lapham, one of Lapham’s daughters, originally thought to be dull turns out to have a
surprising inner strength and logical ability. Similar ideas make themselves known in Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady.
In a number of ways, protagonist Isabel Archer is a combination of the two sisters within Howells’ text. By reading these
books together, I find that these authors embrace the new ideas of children and childhood that were emerging during
the time of their writings.
79 Room 101 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Merrill Sunderland, Scott Nowka (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
Henry Mackenzie’s The Man of Feeling: The Protagonist as a Narrative Device
This paper explores the role of the protagonist in Henry Mackenzie’s The Man of Feeling. Mackenzie’s intention for his
protagonist, Harley, seems to oppose the traditional usage of a main character. Rather than be the glue that holds reader
interest, the main character, for Mackenzie, serves a very different purpose: that of a narrative device, through which
the reader can objectively see into an aggrandized eighteenth-century society. This unique disintegration of the main
character’s traditional role suddenly shifts the focus off of Harley and onto the episodes of other people, allowing for a
truly diverse collection of sentimental interactions. By examining critical responses from Patricia Spacks, John Richetti,
Maureen Harkin, and Stephen Ahern, we learn exactly how Mackenzie transformed the protagonist’s traditional role
into that of a narrative device. I argue that this untraditional role for the protagonist effectively stimulates an emotional
response from the book’s readership.
64
80 Room 101 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Jessica Thelen, Lou Caton (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
The Immortal Soul And The Inherent Equality of All People: Whitman’s Leaves of Grass
Many of the poems contained in Walt Whitman’s 1855 poetry collection Leaves Of Grass, especially the poem that
would become “Song Of Myself,” focus on the immortal soul and the inherent equality of all people. Whitman believed
that everyone--no matter what race, creed, or social standing--is interconnected. This interconnectedness means that
everyone shares the same emotions, wants, and desires; the soul connects all of humanity. One of Whitman’s core
beliefs was that the body and the soul are equally important; one is no greater than the other. As a poet, Whitman’s
goal was to expand on this belief and show that he too was no greater than anyone else; he was just another part of
humanity “en masse.” People should be celebrated, loved, and accepted, since everyone shares a soul. Since all people
are interconnected, they share the same thoughts and emotions, regardless of anything that may separate them.
Whitman could see himself in all people: “Askers embody themselves in me, and I am embodied in them.” Not only are
people interconnected, but they share an immortal soul as well. Whitman embodies the inherent equality of humanity in
his spiritual connections to all people. Throughout Leaves Of Grass, Whitman tried to make people realize that they all
belong to humanity “en masse” and should treat each others as equals.
81 Room 163 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Nolan Wetherell, Michael Filas (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Solving Reality with Satirical Storytelling: Kilgore Trout in Breakfast of Champions
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Within Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut’s character, Kilgore Trout represents the modernday, media-fed American who has lost control over his life and reality. Moreover when dissatisfied with this reality,
Trout is forced to use his imagination or “storytelling” to act as a satirical panacea against the inability to express
himself sexually, politically, and intellectually in his present world. METHODS: Using literary criticism, found through
the Westfield State University Library database, media analysis from political scientist, Michael Parenti, and research
concerning the benefits of therapeutic story-telling, this paper examines the psychology of the fiction-writer, through
the protagonist of Kurt Vonnegut’s 1973 novel, Breakfast of Champions. RESULTS: Kurt Vonnegut’s character is seen as
representing present-day artists and writers who feel culturally appropriated and must use their art as a way to escape
the dominant viewpoint voiced by the mainstream media—specifically the pornographer, social critic, and intellectual.
Vonnegut’s character’s science-fiction writing, as well as the writing of the contemporary cultural minority examined,
criticizes the present while also dreaming of a hopelessly unrealistic future. CONCLUSION: Concisely, within Breakfast of
Champions, Vonnegut’s Kilgore Trout uses his imagination or “storytelling” to solve his dissatisfaction and incapability to
articulate himself sexually, politically, and intellectually in his media-controlled reality. His stories are altogether satirical
and internally contradictive of the world presented to him, challenging the dominant viewpoint and eventually defeating
the monopoly culture’s constructed reality.
65
82 Room 908 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Lindsay Barron, Ceren Soylu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Economics, UMass Amherst
Implications of Imposing Drinking Water Management Systems on Previously Open-Access Water Sources
and the Effects on Gender Roles
The idea of human-environmental interaction has switched from the view that exhausting the world’s resources is an
inevitable tragedy, to the outlook that these resources can be carefully and strategically managed and sustained for
generations to come. Common pool resource management systems have been researched and applied across many
types of sources to ensure the sustainability of the resource, however it is important to consider the potential shift in
power based on who holds responsibility of these management systems and allocation of the resource. In this paper,
I examine the effectiveness and limitations of imposing common pool resource management systems on open-access
drinking water sources as a tool to empower women in developing countries. In these regions, it is traditionally the
role of women to spend hours of their time sometimes walking over 6 km to the nearest water source which may
be contaminated and unsanitary. To enable the world’s poorest people to gain access to clean and safe drinking
water, organizations have been installing water pump systems. I examine how the regions are chosen and how the
communities are able to transition successfully to managed water sources focusing on its implications for gender roles.
I provide a background of economic history of the regions, specifically focusing on the respective roles of men and
women in each community. Finally, I present an analysis of the condition of the communities after the water system
has been established for a period of time noting the positive and negative impacts. This study aims at understanding
implications of common pool resource management systems and to point out the successes that should be continued as
strategies for future projects.
83 Room 908 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Ann Grilli, Diane Beers (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Holyoke Community College
Fracking Within the Ecosystem
Fracking Within the Ecosystem Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking,” is a controversial process for
natural gas extraction in which gas companies drill down through aquifers and shale formations and pump in millions
of gallons of fracking fluid consisting of water, sand, and toxic chemicals. Investigation into fracking necessitates
discussions about environmental issues, but also about the housing market, legal loopholes, landowner rights,
unemployment, health costs, education, and corporate personhood. Drawing from popular media sources and official
documents from industry websites and grass-roots environmental organizations, this paper examines the strategies
employed by proponents and critics of hydraulic fracturing, and assesses fracking’s environmental, economic, and
social impacts. I conclude that although some people benefit from fracking, the practice imposes grave injustices and
economic hardship on many individuals and communities. When one defines the ecosystem to include the neighbors of
people who lease to gas drillers and are opposed to pipes under their property, townspeople whose taxes are raised to
repair highway damage caused by diesel trucks, parents of asthmatic children whose illness is worsened by exposure to
diesel exhaust, landowners left without potable water or clean air, and farmers with unfarmable farms, it becomes clear
that fracking is not worth the environmental cost.
66
84 Room 908 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Caroline Mayotte, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
A Throwaway Society: Going Green is Easier Than You Think
Some people view waste as a part of life, but it’s possible to become a waste free society, and it must start at local level.
The excessive waste that characterizes our society has a number of negative social, medical, and environmental impacts
that include global warming, cancer, and smog. There are a lot of great ideas out there on how we can reduce our
waste and help the environment. By combining ideas discussed by innovators in the field such as the EnergyXchange
Company (Renewable resources), Jess Clarke (Centers for hard to recycle materials), Stephanie Rogers (Wind Power),
Judith Stock (Municipal drop-off recycling centers), and Rhodes Yepson (Composting), I argue that it is possible to
become a waste-free society. By starting with children in our public school systems, I suggest that education can have
a ripple effect. Individual awareness and action spreads to the town, and then to the state, and beyond. Despite
arguments that people think such a transition requires a systematic overhaul, I emphasize that such a transformation
starts at a grass-roots level, with individuals, and can be easily executed. No one has attempted to combine all of these
ideas, but that is the only way to truly become a waste-free society.
85 Room 908 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Stephen Pike, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
What happens when we have too many people?: Implementing population controls without challenging cultural values.
Never has earth had as many people living on it as it does today. Because our world population could grow as large as
eleven and a half billion people within forty years and we are struggling to feed our current population, it is clear that
we need some form of population control. However, implementing such population controls as contraceptives and
passing laws that limit how many children are allowed is problematic because such measures are culturally insensitive
and felt as immoral. Cognitive scientists like Jonathan Haidt and Steven Pinker help show why people view these
population controls as immoral. They, and environmental scientists Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan, who conducted
a study on the need to introduce population controls into overpopulated areas, support that we need to enforce
population controls without violating people’s moral instincts. I argue that we can encourage population controls only
by working within specific cultural contexts. In other words, we need to understand cultural values and beliefs and work
within in them, not impose laws or other forms. I suggest that rather than a top-down approach we use a system in
which the people teach themselves. If women in Indonesia are being taught the value and necessity of contraceptives
from other women in their town, they are much more likely to listen and put it into practice than if they were told
by people that they have never seen before. In this way perhaps we can curb our population growth to a steady,
sustainable level.
67
86 Room 908 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Jessica Ryter, Ceren Soylu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Economics, UMass Amherst
Recycling Rates at UMass Amherst: A Case Study on improving Campus Recycling Rates through
Infrastructural Changes and Educational Support
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a national leader in environmental sustainability among institutions of higher
education. In recent years, the university has renewed its commitment to sustainability, taking significant measures to
encourage sustainable practices on campus. As consumption on college campuses rises and space in landfills dwindles,
waste reduction and diversion are becoming extremely important aspects of sustainability. Despite its high ranking in
overall sustainability relative to many other schools within the United States, UMass Amherst reports a recycling rate of
only 56 percent as of 2011. Although recycling still requires the transport of waste (and thus still contributes to CO2
emissions), it turns waste into inputs for new products, which in turn protects the environment from further exploitation
that would otherwise be needed to obtain these inputs. In addition, as landfills all over the globe reach capacity,
recycling provides a productive alternative way to get rid of waste without further burying trash in our land or polluting
our seas. My research at UMass, through surveys, observation, and completion of an internship with the Campus
Sustainability Initiative, has revealed that there are some gaps in the recycling process that are likely responsible for the
lower than optimal recycling rate. This paper utilizes my own research and research done at other institutions to explore
the gaps in the areas of infrastructure and education and how they affect recycling behavior. I analyze these gaps and
make recommendations about how UMass can alter its recycling infrastructure and educational outreach techniques in
order to raise the recycling rate on campus.
FINANCE
87 Room 176 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Devansh Bajaj, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Performance of IPOs backed by Corporate Venture Capitalists vs. Traditional Venture Capitalists
Many Companies that IPO are overpriced and end up causing their investors to lose money due to inexperience in
organizational structure and /or not having the expertise of existing corporations. This study was conducted to find a
difference in quality among IPOs to lead to better investment decisions. Suitable companies were identified for which
I obtained and categorized information on their backers. Company performance was then measured over a period
of time using several financial indicators. The preliminary data comes from LexisNexis and includes companies that
IPO between a certain number of years and information on their capital backers. Additional relevant data regarding
companies and their financial information will be obtained from CompuStat. This study will reveal the degrees of
correlation between aspects of different sources of venture capital backing and company performance, and life term
of listing. These may vary by industry, in that venture capitalists may have more success investing in companies within
their area of specialization. This study is important to investors because it will help them in identifying more successful
companies when investing and provide them with a tool set to help them make a more informed decision with regard to
the life of a company.
68
88 Room 176 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Tyler Buccetti, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Risk Aversion and Former Collegiate Athletes as Financial Investors
Financial investors have individual levels of risk aversion when making investment decisions. This study looks to find if
past participation in collegiate sports has an impact on an individual’s risk aversion when making investment decisions.
To test this impact, subjects are given an experiment where they are presented with six different stock investments. It
is their job to select one stock they would invest in, as well as rank all six investments on their level of risk. Following
the experiment there is a survey in order to gather background information about each investor. The results will show
whether those investors who used to play collegiate sports will have different levels of risk aversion as compared to
other investors, or that playing a collegiate sport will have no effect on the risk aversion of a financial investor. This
information will be beneficial because it could show that there are even more personal factors that affect an individual’s
risk aversion. The results will be relevant for athletes as they manage their finances or enter financial careers.
HISTORY
89 Room 911 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Lauren Bishop, Gayle Fischer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Salem State University
Hidden Agendas in Renaissance Art: Piero de’ Medici’s Influence through Art Patronage
Piero de’ Medici, also known as Piero il Gottoso, is a man who has been laid by history’s wasteland. While bearing the
name and triumphant crest of the Medici line, Piero is an easily passed over member, usually occupying a few pages,
or more commonly, a few lines within the family’s history. Piero was a man who no one suspected would rise to the
head of the Medici line and was therefore allowed to occupy his thoughts with more artistic endeavors. Through the
artistic works commissioned by Piero for the entirety of his life, the absolute importance of this man is resonant. He used
paintings and sculptures alike to foster within his people the pride of Medici quasi-rule. By referencing both historians
and art historians this thesis serves as a reference point for the everlasting significance of this man. The conglomeration
of varying sources and the use of the enduring works of art assist in validating the assertion that Piero de’ Medici is an
invaluable link in the Medici line and a member that should never be swept into the shadows of history.
69
90 Room 911 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Sean Doherty, Daniel Sarefield (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Fitchburg State University
Forging Christian Rome
With the rise of Christianity in the fourth century, Romans began to re-interpret sexual depictions. As the Christian
religion came to be established in the Roman state, the acceptance of sexual imagery also gradually disappeared
because these images became inherently problematic. This occurred because Christianity changed the culturally
constructed way these images were perceived. Christianity, as the ascendant religion in the Mediterranean, promoted a
new set of beliefs about acceptable social behavior and as a result, the way people thought about Roman life changed.
This transformation is evident in the changing notions surrounding the image of the black African. This new doctrine
also problematized bathing at the baths. This paper seeks to explore the Roman social constructions of sexual imagery
prior to Christianity and their subsequent re-interpretation that was strongly expressed in the explicit injunctions of
monastic writers. In order to understand the events which led to Christianity dictating these new cultural norms, it
is important to begin by tracing how Christianity became the religion of the Roman state. This will be accomplished
in Part I. In particular, this section will address the conditions during the pax Romana or “Roman peace” (ca. 1st and
2nd centuries CE) and following. The Roman interpretation of the image of the black African and its Christian reinterpretation will be explored in Part II, Section I. This section will assess the meaning of hypersexuality as it related to
the Aethiops by looking at the contemporary writings of John Clarke, Frank Snowden, Lloyd Thompson and others. The
“ironic change” to the understanding of the black African’s nature during the transition from paganism to Christianity
will be the focus Part II, Section II. This transformation has not been adequately explored in current scholarship. In
Part III, the change in the way that sexual images were viewed and understood in Roman society will be addressed.
To illustrate the connotations that depictions of sex had for Romans, John Clarke’s idea about the difference between
modern perceptions of the depiction of sexuality and how ancient viewers perceived them will be discussed. Their ideas
of modesty, paired with the sexual imagery and the magic practices associated with bathing complexes created the basis
for their abhorrence to bathing. This evidence will illustrate the effects that Christianity had on certain aspects of Roman
culture. Namely the change of the black African, and how early Christians began to problematized bathing at the baths.
These alterations to preconceived notions that Roman’s held shows that what it meant to be Roman changed with the
advent of Christianity.
91 Room 909 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Ryan Fitzgerald, Alexandros Kyrou (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Salem State University
The Use of Superior Tactics in Overcoming Superior Numbers: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940
The Use of Superior Tactics in Overcoming Superior Numbers: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940 Ryan
Fitzgerald ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Despite the enormous disparity in force size between the Finnish defense forces and
the Red Army, the much smaller Finnish army was able to successfully defend against the Soviet forces for a remarkable
period of time. This was a result of the tactical superiority of the Finnish forces, which stemmed from their small unit
flexibility and their use of guerilla warfare. METHODS: Using literature acquired through the NOBLE Library Catalog,
which consists of both primary and secondary sources, and recorded interviews, this paper examines how the tactics of
the Finnish forces were able to hold back the might of the much larger Red Army. Soldiers’ accounts of the fighting from
both sides serves as the main look into what allowed the Finns to accomplish this feat. RESULTS: The Finn’s effective
tactics compensated for their lack of troops and succeeded holding back Soviet Army for much longer than the Soviets
anticipated. The Finnish Army had a more appropriate command structure and strategy for the terrain and type o war
they were fighting. The Soviets were too rigid and centralized to be an effective fighting force in unfamiliar territory.
CONCLUSION: The Russo-Finnish War showed the world how effective guerilla warfare can be. More importantly at the
time, it showed Nazi Germany that the Soviet Army was quite weak despite its size. The incompetence shown by the
Soviet Army and its officers was a key factor in Hitler’s decision to invade the Soviet Union in June of 1941.
70
92 Room 163 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Lydia Gravell, Richard Elia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
The Victorian View of Lady Jane Grey: The Revival of a Tudor Princess 300 Years Later
This paper examines the causes behind a renewed interest in Victorian English literature on the subject of the “Nine Day
Queen,” Lady Jane Grey. There is a definite trend in her presence in literature written by female authors for a mainly
female audience. These can be interpreted in three ways: as instructive literature on proper moral behavior; as an outlet
for trapped upper middle class ladies to express themselves; or as examples against the stereotype in an effort to gain
support for the advancement of their sex. In every example Lady Jane takes on a new persona with different aspects
of her character highlighted to suit the author’s purpose. This serves as an insight into Victorian society, rather than to
a study of Lady Jane’s life. What the authors valued most for an important female role model is clearly visible in their
manipulation of the young Tudor Princess Lady Jane Grey.
93 Room 811 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Meaghan Halfpenny, Brooke Orr (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Westfield State University
African Americans in Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction America
African Americans in Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction America The Transition of Social Status for
African Americans Meaghan N. Halfpenny ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To determine the peoples responsible for the full
enfranchisement of African Americans on a social and political level throughout the United States from 1815-1877.
Despite the apparent political support from the nation’s capital, the African American community was not respected
purely as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation, but rather it was on a local, social, political, military level from
which the idea of social equality was conceived and enforced. METHODS: I compare various primary and secondary
materials compiled by the professor and collected in historian Eric Foner’s text Ordeal By Fire. These include testimonies
illustrating the struggle, cruelty, and racism that African Americans faced throughout the United States, as slaves,
runaway slaves, freedmen, abolitionists, Union soldiers, widows, mothers, and politicians. RESULTS: Through the analysis
of these sources, I realized that the majority of admiration for the African American community at this time came
from the examples of bravery, patriotism, and comradery illustrated by African Americans fighting within the Union
regiments. It was also the growing numbers of abolitionists throughout the North and South that gained overwhelming
support, which in turn helped them establish an increasing amount of literacy and faith amongst the African American
community. CONCLUSION: It was the African Americans on a local, political, and military level that brought upon the
improvement of status for their race and for their eradication from slavery.
71
94 Room 909 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kyle Hodnett, Paula Stamps (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Red Germs: A History of the Soviet Biological Weapons Program
After the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, reports of the existence of a biological weapons program that trumped the
size of any in history began to leak. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the military,
scientific, and communist party organizations in the creation of the biological weapons program. Moreover, it will
examine the continuity of such structures after the fall of the Soviet Union and try to assess whether any threat of
biological weapons production still exists. In order to gain a better understanding of the context in which the Soviet
biological weapons program developed, this paper will include a description of the Cold War, along with the role that
the Communist Party played in the military and defense industry. The continuity in the domestic and foreign policy of the
Russian government will be explored in relation to that of the Soviet Union. Due to the secretiveness of the biological
weapons program, it is difficult to obtain a wide variety of objective sources and to ascertain the true scope of the
program. Therefore, the history of the program will be drawn mostly from the accounts of defectors; a special emphasis
will be placed upon the Sverdlovsk outbreak in 1979 in order to highlight international conceptions of the program’s
existence as well as Soviet attempts at secrecy and deception. This paper will demonstrate that it is not clear whether
Russia is taking all necessary precautions to end the remnants of the Soviet biological weapons program.
95 Room 911 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
GerryAnne Jean, Avi Chomsky (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Salem State University
The Tragic Three: Linking Health, Environment, and Economy in Devastated Haiti
While other countries have managed to recover in the aftermaths of their natural disasters, Haiti, the poorest country in
the Western hemisphere is still struggling to make progress two years after a catastrophic earthquake shook the country.
Ravaged by centuries of greed, violence, and a lack of direction, Haiti’s problems were only worsened by the January
12th, 2010 earthquake. Three of Haiti’s biggest long-term issues are in healthcare, the environment, and the economy.
These sectors will be examined in detail, showing how the disorder and destruction in and around Port-au Prince postearthquake have been heightened by the lack of an adequate healthcare system, poor environment, and a struggling
economy. The research conducted on the health, economic, and environmental infrastructures of Haiti showed some
connections among the three like a Venn-Diagram. This paper will provide many examples of the relationships among
these sectors, and eventually stress the idea that these three weak sectors that have developed over many years set the
stage for turmoil in the wake of a crippling natural disaster.
72
96 Room 909 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Daniel McDonald, Joel Wolfe (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, UMass Amherst
Nunca mais: Media Resistance and Reaction to Military Dictatorship in Argentina and Brazil
Mass media played a critical role in abetting and resisting military dictatorships in Brazil and Argentina. Their influence
on the popular conscience drew from experiences during their respective dictatorships and affected their action in the
post-dictatorship accordingly. Using scholarly material accessed through the University of Massachusetts library database,
the Archivo de la Memoria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Skidmore collection at Brown University, and archived
newspapers, this essay examines how media resistance or compliance with the military dictatorship affected its tenor
with regards to the newly deposed military juntas. Brazilian media in all forms operated with varying states of impunity
during the military regime. While many media outlets did abet military efforts, significant portions successfully defied
military censorship. Argentine media of the period faced harsh repression while resistance centered on publications by
fringe or violent groups. Brazil’s media response to the end of the dictatorship did not attain the level of politicization
of its Argentine counterpart. Rather, the participation of moderate media outlets with broad bases of support kept the
agendas of radical or violent groups from gaining significant traction in the national dialogue. These groups typically
called for greater punishment with regards to the crimes of the members of the deposed military governments In sum,
the distinct experiences of the Brazilian and Argentine medias illustrate the effects of government repression has on
their treatment by those sources once their government has fallen.
97 Room 811 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Lauson Ode, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Westfield State University
Diamonds are Forever: Sierra Leone’s Civil War
PURPOSE: This research presentation enhances understanding of Sierra Leone’s Civil War by showing the how conflict
diamond sales by the rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF) increased the scope of violence and brutality during
the years 1991–2002. The horrifying legacy of that war is still felt by the people of Sierra Leone today. METHODS:
The study draws on a documentary film that recorded numerous primary sources painting a horrifying image of war,
articles from multiple humanitarian organizations and news agencies, scholarly works, photo galleries, and two books.
RESULTS: Research reveals a strong symbiotic relationship between the rebel group RUF and the sale of diamonds on
the international market. The deadly relationship helped to sponsor sadistic mutilations of women and children, sexual
abuse of two hundred thousand women, and the use of over 20,000 child soldiers. The combination of psychological
and physical damage brought by the Civil War has taken away the healthy development of Sierra Leone as a nation,
bringing to light the true price of “eternal love” depicted in commercial ads for the diamond industry. CONCLUSION:
The sale of conflict diamonds in the international market was the driving force behind Civil War in Sierra Leone. Millions
of Sierra Leone people felt victim to the outcomes of the Civil War and still are in the shadows of its legacy today. In
order to fully overcome the legacy of war and promote a positive future, the government of Sierra Leone should invest
in the development of the social, economic, and political infrastructure of the country, with an emphasis on education
and health care systems.
73
98 Room 911 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Genevieve Ramos, Stephan Martin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Astronomy, Bristol Community College
Alien: Historical Events, Jungian Archetypes, and the Abduction Encounter
Reports of extraterrestrial encounters have greatly increased during the 20th century, both in complexity and
number. Shifts in human thought and perception of major events during this period have been reflected by changes
in unconscious thought and cultural archetypes. Major events over the past 50 years such as the Cold War and
technological advancements like space flight and the PC have influenced the message, aesthetics, and cultural
perception both of extraterrestrials and of contactees. As different events alter humanity’s perception of itself,
perceptions of extraterrestrials shift inversely and proportionately. This study will attempt to correlate major events
and paradigm shifts in human history with how abductions by extraterrestrials were reported and perceived during
each period. It also examines how the phenomenon has evolved culturally, and the possible symbolic explanations
for these changes. Using first person accounts of contact and the body of scholarly literature already devoted to the
phenomenon, this study seeks to further establish the connection between events on earth, and those of a professedly
unearthly origin.
99 Room 811 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Stephan Rochefort, Anthony Daly (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
The 1981 Hunger Strike in Northern Ireland: Motives and Impacts
In the 1970s, republican paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, most notably the Irish Republican Army (IRA), fought a
low-level civil war with loyalist paramilitaries and the British Army. The IRA sought an end to British rule and hoped to
unite with the Republic of Ireland. By 1981, thousands of civilians, police, soldiers, and paramilitaries had been killed
or injured. Many republican paramilitaries were imprisoned in the late 1970s, and they continued their struggle with
the government. After a series of bitter and escalating protests, they decided to attempt a hunger strike, hoping to be
recognized as political prisoners rather than common criminals. Ten men died on hunger strike in 1981, including the
leader of the IRA prisoners, Bobby Sands, who was elected to the British Parliament while on strike. The hunger strike
attracted enormous media attention and caused a worldwide outcry against the British government and Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher. This presentation, drawing on sources such as diaries, memoirs, interviews, and newspaper reports,
will examine the reasons for the paramilitaries’ decision to mount a hunger strike, as well as analyze the reactions to the
strike in Northern Ireland and abroad, including the growth of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA.
74
100 Room 909 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Briana Sicard, Paula Stamps (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Enigmatic Ishii: A Man with a Vision for the Use of Biological Warfare in Japanese Military Expansion
Human medical experimentation has been and will remain to be a highly politicized issue. One facet of such
experimentation involves the testing of weaponizable biological agents on human subjects. Rarely hearing about these
topics in school, it is stunning to discover that Japan had a biological weapons program, Unit 731, whose controversial
applications were heavily based on involuntary human experimentation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the
circumstances that made it possible for that secret, high-risk program to last for more than 13 years. In particular this
investigation will focus on the personality of Unit 731’s architect, Shiro Ishii, and the relationships he formed with
his academic, military and government supporters. Also to be analyzed is the way in which medical ethics in Japan
influenced the success of his program. While it had its detractors, the forces that allowed for the creation and survival
of the program will be highlighted. Sources to be utilized include various historically based books and journal articles
whose content is specifically related to Ishii and his biological warfare empire, although there is a lack of primary
sources. The paper will be organized in a way that will demonstrate how Ishii’s opportunistic personality, his both loyal
and coerced supporters as well as the lack of a distinct set of medical ethics at that time all united, allowing for a strong
biological warfare program. These results help in understanding the necessity of a nation’s own code of medical ethics.
101 Room 909 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Sarah Stoe, Jon Huibregtse (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, Framingham State University
Terror Alert: RED
The terrorist attacks of September 11 had a profound psychological effect, instilling new fears and anxieties into many
American citizens. This paper explores how the Bush administration made use of that atmosphere of fear to pass
legislation that severely limited civil liberties in the United States. It investigates how the September 11 attacks affected
the American psyche by shattering two important American myths: that the U.S. is loved and respected by the other
nations of the world, and that its borders are impenetrable. Fear is a powerful motivator, and it has historically made
people more willing to give up their civil protections in the name of security. This paper examines the civil liberties that
were taken away from the American public by the USA Patriot Act which President Bush signed in response to the
September 11 attacks. The Patriot Act allows law enforcement agencies to bypass several of the protections guaranteed
to Americans by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. I argue that the Bush administration was successful in pushing
through these restrictive measures by amplifying the fear of terrorism and capitalizing on Americans’ anxieties in the
months after the September 11 attacks. The Bush administration used this atmosphere of heightened anxiety, to
promote legislation that curtailed the civil liberties of Americans as it moved the country toward a more militaristic state
model.
75
102 Room 911 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Nicole Braden, Rosanne Denhard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
The Symbiotic Relationship and Common Goals of Philosophy and Literature
A common aim of literature and philosophy is to say something true about the human condition and how we should
live our lives. This paper will explore the idea that all written works we classify as “literature” have a philosophical core.
The philosophical content in important works of literature always contributes to their proper classification as literature.
Although other elements certainly figure in the difference between a “good book” and something of literary value –
such as the quality of the prose, the novelty of the plot, or the development of the characters, the setting, and other
aspects – the purpose and effect of literature will always transcend mere entertainment or aesthetic considerations.
Literary fiction, at its best, combines aesthetic pleasure and story-telling with philosophical insight or commentary
on some abiding aspect of the human condition. This paper will be an account of my work-in-progress toward my
Commonwealth Scholar Thesis to be defended in December 2012. My work will be interdisciplinary, focusing on
literature, literary devices, criticism thereof, and traditional philosophical texts. The literary aspect will focus mainly
on narrative fiction, while the philosophical side will mainly discuss ethics – broadly conceived to encompass human
relationships at all levels as well as existential dilemmas – though I intend my thesis to have more extensive applications.
Noelle Kellicker, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
From Blood donation to homelessness
My policy project was on the law enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that bans any man that
has had sex with another man since 1977 from donating blood. I learned about the different discriminations that the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community face in their daily lives. The FDA’s ban is based on
the fact that men who have had sex with other men are at a greater risk for HIV. With current technological advances
in science, HIV has gone from an untestable disease to the point where it can be detected in blood within 10 days of
contraction. I am going to take the inequalities that I learned about the LGBTQ community and use that as the focus of
my organizing project. The specific inequality that I am going to focus on is the issue of homelessness among LGBTQ
youth. LGBTQ youth face a greater rate of homelessness compared to straight youth in America. This is often a cause of
the lack of support that this youth demographic receives as well as issues they face with being accepted into a shelter
with their identity. Some individual steps that I am going to take with my organizing project is to call the House and
Means committee in order to declare that I want them to support Bill 3838, which gives more support and housing
options for homeless youth. Another step I am going to take is to lobby for this Bill at the state house. These two steps
are going to help the homeless youth community in Massachusetts, which is predominantly made up of LGBTQ youth.
76
104 Room 911 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Shota Kobayashi, Todd Crosset (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Management, UMass Amherst
Staging the Olympic Games in Miyagi, Japan as a Catalyst of Disaster Reconstruction
This project explores the possibility of employing the Olympics as part of the process of rebuilding Northeast Japan. The
Olympics have been used as a catalyst of urban development in the past. However, no cities have intentionally utilized
the Olympics as a catalyst of disaster rebuilding. A year has passed since 3/11 M9.0 earthquake and tsunami that
devastated northeastern Japan. Basic city infrastructures such as housing and transportation still need to be restored.
The restoration process will take years to complete Academic literature of Olympics studies and Japanese city planning
were reviewed in English and Japanese. Field research was conducted in Tōhoku, investigating all the potential sporting
venues, temporary housings, transportations, and other basic city infrastructure. This proposal suggests that disaster
rebuilding could be fast-tracked by integrating Olympic planning into the reconstruction process. The city of Sendai
and Ishinomaki would be designated as two main clusters, which are connected by several means of transportation.
Temporary housing units will be converted into the Olympic Village. Besides the existing venues that are being restored
and renovated, only temporary facilities would be built to avoid heavy costs. For this proposal to become a real Olympic
legacy, the combination of top-down and bottom-up approach will be an organizational model. The central, prefectural,
and municipal governments, neighborhood associations, and machizukuri councils would be all involved from bidding
phase to post-game phase. A digital draft for an Olympic plan is created by using Google Earth and Google SketchUp
which could be used as a point of departure for community discussions.
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
105 Room 909 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Claire Bronchuk, Tim Lang (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, UMass Amherst
What does it mean to be American?
This project explores what it means to be “American” and how studying abroad can affect students’ understanding
of American identity. When studying abroad, students are often forced to recognize their national identity as a point
of difference when compared to the national identity of the host country. Therefore, examining the components and
conflicting values of American identity can be useful for students who are preparing to study abroad. Studies on the
development of national identity and American identity have ignored the study abroad element and its impact on
American students. Initial research included analyzing national survey data such as the 2010 Census and General Social
Survey in addition to modern academic scholarship on American identity. This project shows that American identity is
too ambiguous of a term to be used effectively within the US due to strong historical, social and political differences that
create multiple experiences of American identity for different people. The first phase of research concludes by stating
that it is only when abroad, in a foreign environment, that American identity becomes an all-inclusive term capable
of uniting Americans under one defining label. In the final phase of this project, surveys were distributed to UMass
students who have studied abroad and students who have not studied abroad, questioning their interpretation of
American identity. This presentation depicts the findings of this data, showing how studying abroad changes a student’s
perception of American identity.
77
JAPANESE
106 Room 908 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Elise Durville, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
The Historical Significance of Samurai Honor in Japan
This paper explores the concept of honor in samurai and non-samurai culture. The core question for my research has is:
How strongly were historical figures affected and pressured by their notions of honor into becoming the figures they are
remembered as today? To answer this question, I examined primary sources such as films, plays, and historical fiction by
Japanese authors, as well as secondary sources that synthesize the primary sources in scholarly research. Some of those
sources were required course material, others were discovered through my own independent research. I found that
while most historical figures were following a code of honor admired by their contemporaries, there was never any clear
definition of the rules, and the code of honor was much more fluid and dynamic than I originally expected. The time
period, a person’s social status, or even the circumstances themselves generated different modes of thought for actions
that would be considered honorable. A samurai in the tenth century would find himself condemned for an action that
led to an apparent challenge to the authority of the time, while a merchant in the sixteenth who held onto his beliefs in
the face of authority would be remembered as much for his honorable conviction as for his dishonorable persecution.
This complex and almost timeless dynamic contributes to our understanding of samurai culture and the roots of modern
Japanese culture.
107 Room 908 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Shawn Flynn, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Selective Application: Honor and Martyrdom Among Samurai
Purpose: Intangible and abstract concepts have captivated mankind for millennia. When speaking of the samurai
culture of Japan, words like “honor” and “martyrdom” get brandied about with abandon. However, to what extent
did these concepts actually drive action, and to what extent are they applied retroactively? The purpose of this paper is
to determine the importance of third party observation in establishing proper conduct, and to determine if it is actually
possible for a lone actor to be a “martyr” or to be “honorable”. In essence, is there a point if no one is around to see?
Methodology: To this end, a number of sources have been examined, including scholarly reports and books, traditional
plays and mythology, history, and films. Results: While the paper is not completely finished, the research indicates
that the presence of an outside observer was vital for an act of martyrdom, or an action undertaken for honor to be
successful, because these acts are inherently undertaken for the sake of another person. Conclusion: For a samurai,
honor is closely linked to reputation and reputation is spread by the stories which others tell. Likewise, a martyr only
adds to his cause if someone sees his death, which implies that perception is more important than actual action. This
is not to say that an individual’s actions are irrelevant or without value, but if preformed anonymously there is a lack of
practical application.
78
108 Room 908 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Soleil Le, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Japanese Women from a Woman’s Perspective
This paper explores the world of Japanese women and their diverse roles in samurai-ruled society from the pre-1600s
era to the modern era. The question at the core of my paper is: How does the changing role of Japanese women in
Japanese society affect their agency? In addressing this question, a variety of both primary and secondary sources
were consulted. Some primary sources include Japanese historical fiction, plays, and films. These sources were also
supplemented with secondary sources consisting of individual scholarly research articles, books, and papers. Over a
period of about seven hundred years, Japanese women’s roles in society changed greatly over time, which consequently
affected their mindset concerning their obligations and personal desires. Their actions, either directed at themselves
or at others, are influenced, if not determined, by these many variable factors. Thus, in the peaceful Tokugawa period
of much social constraint, we find dramatic instances of women protesting familial and society obligations. In ordinary
circumstances, women’s agency is highly reliant on social rules imposed on them in the era. By looking in depth into this
topic I hope to shed light on Japanese women’s ever-changing roles in society and cautiously to apply these findings to
women in other cultures.
109 Room 908 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
John McLaughlin, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Conflicts in the Japanese Cultural Code
This paper explores the breaking of culturally-imposed rules by the Japanese people, ranging from high-ranking samurai
to common peasants. There are many cases throughout Japanese history where cultural traditions, beliefs, and taboos
come into conflict with one another, creating dilemmas for those involved in these moments. In some cases, the rules
create an inner conflict; in others, the actor knows, and insists on, his course of action and proceeds diligently, regardless
of the rules being broken. These are the questions I want to explore: where are the conflicts within the Japanese cultural
code? Why do those involved in conflict choose to follow certain rules over others? By examining a variety of sources,
including film, drama, literature, and scholarly works, I conclude that one’s personal sense of loyalty often leads him to
act a certain way in a certain situation. Japanese society is hierarchical, and the Japanese person’s loyalty is supposed
to be strongest to those at the top of the hierarchy. Despite this, the Japanese people frequently feel more loyalty to
those closest to them; there are many cases, for example, where a samurai feels more loyalty to his own lord than to the
shogun. While the rules say this is wrong, those who act in this manner are often revered for their behavior instead of
ostracized, implying a cultural justification for this behavior. This unexpected outcome provides an interesting perspective
on the Japanese reception of breaking the rules under certain circumstances.
79
110 Room 908 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Sam McMahon, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Abstract Title: Rebellion and Sacrifice in Japanese Society
My paper focuses on the sacrifices of rebels in Japanese society. Specifically, it seeks to answer the question of what
qualities a rebel needs to to achieve his or her goals, whether it is a simple quest to avenge a family member or a larger
community-oriented attempt to bring about political change. Multiple primary sources such as movies, novels, and
short stories were considered for specific examples of rebellion, while secondary sources were used to further explain
and understand the ways in which the culture and political climate surrounding a given rebellion could influence it.
I researched rebellions by both the socially powerful samurai and the less influential merchant and peasant classes.
Throughout my research, I found a common theme. In nearly every rebellion that could be considered a success, no
matter what the class, the rebels were able to succeed because they were willing to make a powerful sacrifice. This
could range from a sacrifice of one’s life to a sacrifice of one’s honor or morals. This result can help us understand why
certain rebels from history or fiction are so well-loved by their audience – perhaps they are not remembered because
they defeated a “villain,” but because their dedication to their causes are inspiring to us.
111 Room 908 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Linda Phan, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Rules and Conflicts Among Samurai, Women, Rebels and Martyrs Under the Influence of the Samurai Code
This paper explores the rules and expectations of different classes of people and the conflicts that may arise from each
group due to these customs. It relates different groups to one another concerning dramatic points of honor. My research
question is about the specific rules for groups as diverse as samurai, women, rebels and martyrs and the consequences
individuals face if they fail or refuse to abide by these rules. My research materials include both primary sources, such
as historical fiction, Japanese films and plays along with secondary sources, such as scholarly studies, course materials,
and research conducted independently. My findings indicate that there are numerous rules for samurai, women, rebels
and martyrs. Although the rules may be well known to the parties in question, the reflection of each individual varies
depending on his or her circumstances. For instance, a samurai’s main objective in life is to gain honor by obeying his
master, thus one samurai rule is to obey his lord. However, if his lord was cruel, then it may not be dishonorable to act in
defiance of the lord’s order. Thus an individual may be put to the test of obedience concerning the rules established by
custom or law and be moved to protest them at the risk of death.
80
112 Room 908 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Erina Sato, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Family Influences in Rule Breaking Behavior from Ancient to Pre-modern Japan
PURPOSE: Rule breaking actions often involve protesting societal norms and regulations. I examine the reasons, motives,
and the manner of rule breaking in individuals of ancient to pre-modern Japan (1185~1912), while also considering
family member influences. METHODS: Primary sources read and discussed in class, films viewed for class discussion,
along with scholarly articles and other secondary sources either assigned in class or found through the UMASS library
database were used to investigate rule-breaking behavior in a varied range of individuals. RESULTS: Maintaining a lordvassal relationship based on trust was essential for many samurai. Despite acknowledging the consequences they may
face for disobeying orders or refusing to follow a master into death, some samurai chose to act based on the good for
the family while others chose to pursue their lord to the end. Opposition against a higher authority figure is also notable
in individuals besides the samurai and is often motivated by the influence of family members. However, some individuals
chose to break the rules to express and carry out their beliefs regardless of family approval or disapproval. CONCLUSION:
What an individual values most is variable as can be seen in different situations. Regardless, individuals who chose to
break the rules have strong resolve; in most cases, the individual accepts or even seeks death following rule-breaking
behavior.
113 Room 908 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Mary Whitebirch, Doris Bargen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Japanese, UMass Amherst
Samurai Honor and Violence
PURPOSE: The Japanese history is known for its violent samurai (warriors) who conduct wars with swords and bows and
arrows. They also direct violence against themselves with their swords. Samurai culture is known for its sophisticated
arts, literature, plays and tea ceremonies. This study was conducted to explore what the historically violent and fine
cultures had shared in principle and what their messages had been. METHODS: Using Japan’s literature and films, I
have investigated the Japanese culture from the Western point of view, mostly using published documents that were
translated into English, and in comparison with the classical literature of Western culture. RESULTS: There are many
corresponding expressions between the Western literature and the matters about Japan, such as the expression on the
yellowish white in Hell described in Dante’s Inferno. The Japanese plays and tea ceremonies convey Japan’s messages
about its diplomacy to the world. CONCLUSION: The display of the samurai honor and violence has been Japan’s
diplomatic effort to shield itself from the dynamism in the Eurasian Continent for more than a thousand years.
81
KINESIOLOGY
114 Room 808 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Megan Colwell, Priscilla M. Clarkson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Interleukin-8 Expression in Cigarette Smokers after Eccentric Exercise
PURPOSE: It has been suggested that altered inflammatory responses in chronic cigarette smokers may lead to an
increased risk for physical disability following musculoskeletal injury. After a muscle-damaging eccentric exercise,
neutrophils are drawn to the damaged site to remove debris, enhance inflammation by releasing cytokines, and promote
further tissue damage, a necessary process for adequate tissue repair. In studies in our lab, neutrophils are extracted
from the blood of smokers and non-smokers pre- and post-eccentric exercise, and inflammatory markers are compared
between the two groups. The chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) is an important mediator of the inflammatory response
via its function in increasing neutrophil chemotaxis. I hypothesize that IL-8 expression in neutrophil mRNA of smokers
will be attenuated in comparison to non-smokers post-exercise, causing an abated inflammatory response that could
explain the increased risk for physical disability following injury in smokers. METHODS: Fasted blood was taken from
non-smokers and chronic smokers at baseline, 6 hours post-exercise, and every 24 hours for five days. Neutrophils
were isolated via a density-centrifugation technique and mRNA was extracted. I plan to analyze IL-8 mRNA expression
using a PCR Array and compare IL-8 expression between smokers and non-smokers at the aforementioned time points.
RESULTS: Based on preliminary data, I expect that both smokers and non-smokers will have increased IL-8 expression 6
hours post eccentric exercise, yet this increase will be attenuated in smokers compared to nonsmokers. While I expect
IL-8 expression to return to baseline levels by 24-48 hours post-exercise in non-smokers, I expect smokers to have a
more prolonged elevation of IL-8 mRNA. CONCLUSION: If my hypothesis is correct, the finding that IL-8 has attenuated
expression in smokers could explain, in part, an impaired inflammatory response and an increased risk for physical
disability following musculoskeletal injury in chronic cigarette smokers.
115 Room 808 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Anna Fedorowycz, Barry Braun (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The Effect of Breaks in Prolonged Sitting on Perceived Appetite
Purpose: Obesity increases the risk for chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
A major contributor to the obesity epidemic is sedentary behavior (e.g. sitting). Excess time spent sitting may cause
changes in appetite-regulating hormones (e.g. acylated ghrelin) and appetite, increasing the risk for overconsumption
of calories, thus causing energy intake to exceed expenditure. Office workers are especially susceptible, because they
spend a majority of their day sitting. No studies have directly examined how different strategies to reduce sitting time
impact appetite and food consumption. The purpose of this study was to determine how lowering occupational sitting
time with low-intensity “breaks” changes perceived appetite, acylated ghrelin and energy intake. Methods: Ten adult,
overweight, men and women were studied at their workplace for 8 hours on 3 separate occasions. Time spent sitting,
standing and walking in their workplace was systematically varied to create 3 different conditions; WALK (75% time
spent sitting with 30 min brisk walk at lunch), BREAK (less than 20 continuous sitting with several standing and walking
breaks throughout the day), and PAUSE (same number of “breaks” as previous but much shorter in duration). Diet was
strictly controlled to ensure that energy intake was similar across conditions. Perceived appetite was assessed using a
visual-analog scale during and after the workday. Blood concentrations of acylated ghrelin were measured in the fasted
state after work, and post-work food consumption was assessed using a food recall questionnaire. The expectation is
that acylated ghrelin, perceived appetite and food intake will be lower after the BREAK condition than after PAUSE or
WALK. Results and Conclusions: Data collection is ongoing and results and their interpretations for all outcomes will be
presented at the conference.
82
116 Room 808 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Leah Katsos, Joseph Hamill (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Role of Auditory Feedback on Piano Performance
Purpose: Pianists will be studied to assess the importance of auditory feedback during piano performance. Methods: Ten
male or female piano majors or players of sufficient skill level will be recruited for this study. Subjects will complete a
brief questionnaire to assess their music abilities. Each subject will have to perform a series of pieces on the digital piano.
Before each of the four trials, the subject will listen to a metronome at a tempo of 100 beats per minute for ten seconds
as they will be expected to play within a range of plus or minus 10 beats per minute. Condition one is playing a major
ascending and descending D scale through two octaves with sound, and condition two is the same with the sound
completely muted. Conditions three and four require the subject to play a complex piece of unfamiliar music with and
without sound, respectively. The piano will be interfaced via MIDI cables to the computer with Sibelius 6 software, which
will record the notes even during trials in which the volume of the keyboard is off. Proposed results/Conclusions: Data
collection for this research is still in progress. The sheet music generated will be analyzed to determine differences in
tempo, note accuracy and sound dynamics. This information will give insight into the role of the auditory system during
piano playing. Significant differences between sound and no sound trials supports the necessity of auditory feedback
during piano performance.
117 Room 808 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Kristen McLoughlin, Sofiya Alhassan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The Impact of Gender on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels
BACKGROUND: It is recommended that preschool-age children should accumulate at least 120 minutes of PA per day.
However, most children do not meet these PA guidelines. Boys and girls have been found to engage in different kinds
of gender-specific activities during outdoor playtime, which may result in different levels of PA. The gender difference
in PA levels could be attributed to the different assessment methods of PA. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was
to examine if there are gender difference in PA levels (assessed by direct observation and accelerometers) in preschoolage children during outdoor playtime. METHODS: This study utilizes baseline data from the Short Bouts of Exercise
for Preschoolers Study (STEP). Preschoolers were (n=320) recruited from 10 preschool centers from Springfield, MA.
Participants PA levels were measured with accelerometers and direct observation of PA. RESULTS: To date, baseline data
collection has been completed and data analysis is in progress. CONCLUSION: This study will provide preliminary data
regarding potential gender difference in PA levels of preschoolers during outdoor playtime.
83
118 Room 808 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Hannah Moverman, Sofiya Alhassan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Preschool Physical Activity Policy and Preschooler Physical Activity Level
BACKGROUND: The increased prevalence of obesity in preschool aged (2.9-5 yrs) children has been linked to reductions
in their physical activity (PA) levels. Currently, over 58% of preschoolers attend preschool for at least 8 hours per day.
The preschool setting, therefore, represents a great opportunity to increase PA in preschoolers. However, very little
is known about how different PA policies of a preschool that a child attends impact his/her PA levels. PURPOSE: The
purpose of this study was to examine the association between preschoolers’ PA level and preschool centers’ PA policies.
METHODS: This study utilizes baseline data from the Short Bouts of Exercise for Preschoolers (STEP) Study. Ten preschool
centers in Springfield, MA were recruited to participate in this study. Within each center 30 preschoolers were recruited
for the assessment of their PA level. Participants’ PA levels were measured using Actigraph accelerometers and preschool
PA policy was assessed using a modified version of the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation Audit Tool.
Data will be analyzed using a Pearson correlation. RESULTS: To date, baseline data collection has been completed and
data analysis is in progress. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could provide preliminary findings regarding how the
PA policy of preschool centers can impact children’s PA level.
119 Room 808 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Anisha Patel, Sarah Witkowski (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The effects of estrogen and exercise on cardiac telomere biology
The hormone estrogen plays a key role in the cardiovascular health of women which may be linked to maintenance of
telomere length and delayed cellular aging. After menopause, drastic estrogen loss is related to reduced telomerase
activity and inhibition in the telomere lengthening process in cardiac myocytes. Damaged telomeres can result in the
destabilization of the Shelterin protein complex and T-loop structure, two major factors that prevent cellular DNA
from being recognized as damaged and prevent the cell from initiating a DNA damage response. Shortened telomeres
are correlated with increased cardiac morbidity and risk for heart disease. Conversely, exercise may be an effective
countermeasure; physical activity has been linked to an upregulation in telomere stabilizing proteins and telomerase
enzyme activity in circulating blood cells and myocardium. By studying the expression of certain telomere-regulating
genes in mice, we aim to explore the relationship between the loss of estrogen and changes in telomere-related
gene expression in the heart. Further, we plan to evaluate the influence of physical activity on changes in telomererelated gene expression with estrogen deficiency. Thirty-two 8 week old virgin mice were divided into three groups:
Ovariectomized (OVX), Sham surgery (SHAM), and Ovariectomized with estrogen supplement (OVX-E2). All mice
were housed in cages for 8 weeks and half of each group was provided with cage containing a wheel for voluntary
exercise while the other half were housed in standard cages with no wheel. RNA was isolated from heart samples and
reverse transcribed into cDNA. Gene expression was analyzed using realtime PCR. Data will be expressed as means ±
SEM. Analysis of variance will be used to determine differences in gene expression between groups. Any significant
interactions will be analyzed by post hoc testing. A P-value < 0.05 will be deemed significant. We hypothesize that OVX
group will have greater expression of DNA damage markers while the OVX+E2 group will have greater expression of
Shelterin-related genes. Further, we hypothesize that physical activity groups will have greater expression of DNA repair
markers and Shelterin-related genes compared to sedentary groups.
84
120 Room 808 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Lindsey Richard, Priscilla M. Clarkson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Alterations in Fatigue in Smokers After Eccentric Exercise
PURPOSE: Smoking has been associated with a greater risk for injury, especially in the workplace. A recent study from
our laboratory showed that smokers had prolonged muscle recovery after eccentric (muscle lengthening) exercise. The
purpose of my research is to evaluate smokers’ and non-smokers fatigability by assessing peak torque over the eccentric
exercise and differences in time to peak torque. The smokers may take longer to reach maximum force, and the torque
produced may decrease over time. A longer time to peak torque for the smokers may indicate greater damage and help
explain the prolonged recovery. METHODS: This study is part of an ongoing study of smokers and non-smokers. Smokers
and non-smokers completed a knee extensor eccentric exercise that damaged the extensor muscles. The exercise
consisted of ten sets of ten repetitions of isokinetic contractions of the non-dominant leg using a Biodex Dynamometer.
Strength was measured on the Biodex Dynamometer pre- and post-exercise. RESULTS: I hypothesize that smokers will
have an increased time to peak torque in comparison to non-smokers while performing the same exercise. This may be
due to smokers having a greater percentage of a more fatigable fiber type, reduction in oxygen supply to the muscle,
or change in nervous system signaling. The increase in time to peak torque may signify more damage of the muscle and
therefore the muscles will take longer to produce maximal torque. CONCLUSION: These expected results will provide
insight into why smokers have a prolonged recovery after exercise and why smokers also have greater incidence of
injury.
121 Room 808 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kristen Richard, Priscilla M. Clarkson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Alterations in of IL-6 Expression in Neutrophils in Cigarette Smokers After Eccentric Exercise
PURPOSE: Cigarette smokers are more prone to injury and have a prolonged recovery time following damage-inducing
exercise. It has been hypothesized that these effects of smoking may be due to an altered inflammatory response.
After a damage inducing exercise, neutrophils invade the damaged muscle and release cytokines that promote further
inflammation, a necessary process for muscle regeneration to occur. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important inflammatory
cytokine that works to sustain the pro-inflammatory response. I hypothesize that mRNA levels of IL-6 in chronic smokers
after exercise may be decreased in comparison to non-smokers. This action could suppress the inflammatory response
and may help explain the prolonged recovery time and increased risk for injury in smokers. METHODS: This study is part
of an ongoing study of smokers and non-smokers. Ten smokers and 10 non-smokers completed a muscle-damaging
knee extensor eccentric exercise. Neutrophils were isolated from blood drawn at baseline, 6 hrs post-exercise, and
then every 24 hrs for five days post exercise. Neutrophil mRNA was extracted and will be analyzed using a customdesigned PCR-array and IL-6 gene expression will be compared between smokers and non-smokers at all time points.
RESULTS: I expect that IL-6 mRNA will be increased in blood neutrophils in smokers and non-smokers during recovery
from the eccentric exercise. However, I anticipate that non-smokers will have greater IL-6 mRNA expression in their
circulating neutrophils post-exercise compared to smokers, peaking at 6 hrs. I further predict that IL-6 mRNA expression
will take longer to return to baseline in smokers after exercise. CONCLUSION: If these findings are validated and IL-6
synthesis is blunted in smokers, then these findings would be novel and could support that smokers have an attenuated
inflammatory response following a muscle-damaging exercise. An impaired inflammatory response may contribute to
the prolonged recovery time observed in smokers after muscle-damaging exercise and could lead to increased risk for
further injury in smokers.
85
122 Room 808 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Samantha Santiago, Priscilla M. Clarkson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Smokers and Non Smokers After Eccentric Exercise
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Smokers and Non Smokers After Eccentric Exercise Samantha Santiago PURPOSE:
Chronic cigarette smokers are at greater risk for musculoskeletal injury and physical disability. Strenuous work typically
produces delayed onset muscle pain or soreness. High muscle soreness levels can cause individuals to move differently,
have slower reactions times, and have trouble with coordination. These reactions to pain may be factors that predispose
a smoker to musculoskeletal injury, especially in the workplace where strenuous physical exertion is required. Our
laboratory uses a strenuous exercise model to induce muscle soreness lasting up to 5 days after exercise. The aim of this
study is to determine the muscle soreness response to strenuous exercise in smokers and non-smokers. I hypothesize
that smokers will have greater and more prolonged soreness after strenuous exercise. METHODS: This is part of an
ongoing series of studies conducted in our lab. Ten smokers and ten non-smokers were studied after a single bout of a
strenuous exercise consisting of 10 sets of 10 repetitions of eccentric exercise on their non-dominant leg using a Biodex
dynamometer. Soreness was assessed using a 100 mm visual analogue scale pre- and for 5 days post-exercise. RESULTS:
I expect to find that smokers and non-smokers perform a similar amount of work during the strenuous exercise, but that
smokers will score higher soreness on the visual analogue scale during the 5 days post-exercise. Further, in smokers the
soreness will last longer. CONCLUSION: If my hypotheses are correct, greater and more prolonged soreness in smokers
may be a factor contributing to greater risk for future musculoskeletal injury. These data may provide an explanation for
the increased risk for injury in the workplace as well as implications for physical disability after injury.
123 Room 808 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Hannah Stoops, Sofiya Alhassan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The Association Between Parental Physical Activity and Child Activity Behavior
BACKGROUND: Preschool children’s (2.9 – 5 yrs) physical activity (PA) levels are declining, while the amount of time they
spend engaged in sedentary activity is rapidly increasing. The reduction in PA has been linked to the rise in childhood
obesity, which currently affects 10.4% of preschool-aged children. In order to prevent children from becoming obese,
precautionary measures must be made both at school and at home. Due to a shared family environment, parental PA
behavior could have a significant impact on preschoolers’ PA levels; however, very little is still known about the affects
parental PA has on their child’s activity behavior. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association
between parental PA and the PA and sedentary activity levels of preschoolers. METHODS: This study utilizes baseline data
from the Short Bouts of Exercise for Preschoolers Study (STEP). Preschoolers (n=320) and their parents were recruited
from 10 preschool centers in Springfield, MA. Parental PA levels were assessed with the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire. Child PA levels and sedentary behavior were assessed with an accelerometer and parental baseline report
questionnaire, respectively. Data will be analyzed using Pearson correlation. RESULTS: To date, baseline data collection
has been completed and data analysis is in progress. CONCLUSION: This study will provide preliminary findings regarding
the association between parental PA level, child PA level and sedentary behavior.
86
124 Room 808 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Salim Zerriny, Priscilla M. Clarkson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The Effects of Statins on Cholesterol, Creatine Kinase & Alanine Transaminase Levels
PURPOSE: Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs, are currently the most prescribed medication in the United States. This
study was conducted to determine the effects of a statin drug over the course of two separate medication trials.
METHODS: Subjects who previously received the study medication (80 mg of Atorvastatin or a placebo) in a prior study
were re-recruited after a period of 1-4 years and placed on an additional 6-month course of the study medication.
Measurements, taken before and after statin treatment, were low-density lipoprotein (LDL), creatine kinase (CK) and
alanine transaminase (ALT), CK is a measure of muscle damage and ALT is a measure of liver damage. RESULTS: The
study is currently in progress. Based on current literature, there are no findings that suggest a change in the effectiveness
of the statin medication between separate medication trials, although this has never been assessed. CONCLUSION: It is
not uncommon for patients to abstain from statin medication for a significant period of time following an initial bout
of therapy. Studying the effects that time off from statin therapy will have on LDL, CK, and ALT will provide a better
understanding of statin medication.
125 Room 908 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Andrew Mack, Emily Round, Annaliese Bischoff (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Landscape Architecture, UMass Amherst
Watch Us Grow: Student Driven Regenerative Gardening on Campus
The UMass Permaculture Initiative is taking on the challenge of remediating a 3,000 square foot plot of compacted
lifeless land into a productive food garden. Previously the plot has been used as a parking area for construction vehicles
and as a dumping spot for plowed snow. The garden will build community, educate students about sustainable
ecological design, and show the abilities of permaculture to remediate neglected land. Permaculture specialists are
training interns to use permaculture principles in garden design. Community is built through campus outreach and
including student volunteers in garden construction. Campus outreach includes presentations to students and the
use of media. Education about sustainable food systems is happening through the training of interns, inclusion of the
campus community, and through hands on garden work for volunteers. Student interns and volunteers have completed
hundreds of hours of hands-on learning through this garden’s construction. They have built swales to redirect water and
organic matter, sheet mulched the entire site, and designed a plan to de-compact the soil via carefully selected plants.
The campus community has been educated about the project through dorm presentations, garden signage, media
such as Facebook and radio PSAs, and student oriented workshops. The success of the Berkshire Permaculture Garden
showcases permaculture as more than just a way to produce food. It is a method to regenerate land giving hands on
education to students while it creates a community interested and engaged with its role in sustainability.
87
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
126 Room 909 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Samantha Ryan, Gloria Bernabe-Ramos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Latin American Studies, UMass Amherst
Your Land for My Wallet: Investigating Tension and Ambiguities between the Peruvian government and Indigenous
Andean Society
Currently, indigenous groups in the Amazon are increasingly the subjects of territorial encroachment and removal
from their land, and are submitted to systems of forced labor and exploitation. The Peruvian government promotes
the exploitation of resources, in addition to supporting foreign investment and activity by transnational corporations.
After spending time in the highlands of Peru working with indigenous groups, I wanted to examine this situation
and understand its roots. I investigated connections between political and economic trends, and how these relate to
objectives set forth in contemporary laws regarding land rights. Using scholarly literature accessed through the University
of Massachusetts library database, and past and present Peruvian laws, this paper examines the ambiguous relationship
and tension between the Peruvian government and the indigenous Andean peoples, as expressed in contemporary
laws regarding land rights. Not only is the language of these laws often ambiguous, but the laws themselves are
contradictory in treatment of indigenous groups. Moreover, I argue that the present systems of subjugation represent
a continuity of historical trends of treatment of the native Andean population, diverging only under consideration of
present economic objectives.
LEGAL STUDIES
127 Room 903 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
John Park, Diana Yoon (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Legal Studies, UMass Amherst
North Korea: Storytelling and Human Rights
The use of storytelling and personal narratives has been a relatively recent phenomenon in addressing human rights
issues among many human rights advocates and NGOs. Known as one of the most isolated countries in the world,
North Korea or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has become notoriously known as a heinous violator
of human rights in modern day. Ranging from defectors’ stories of punishing up to three generations of families and
forced abortions in concentration camps, the Kim’s regime has developed a reputation of having no regard to human
life and dignity. Well-received and commended by the West, the United Nations, and NGOs, each of the narratives
have followed a series of transformation as they were connected with human rights platforms, discourses, agendas,
and campaigns. Particularly, the transformations have occurred in the context of story production, circulation, and
reception. The project examined, through literary analysis, the context these narratives arose, the particular frame it
encompassed, the particular reality it attempted to convey, and the intended consequence or response it imagined to
invoke. The project has also entailed sharing narratives through creative means and outlets in addressing human rights
issues in North Korea. These personal accounts of suffering, invoking intense emotions upon audiences, have mobilized
individuals and formed solidarity among groups with the hope of collectively ending the human rights crisis in North
Korea.
88
LINGUISTICS
128 Room 911 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Katherine DeVane Brown, Alexandra Jesse (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Learning to understand foreign-accented speech
We examined whether native English listeners use knowledge about possible English words to adapt to a foreignaccented speaker, and if so, whether this would also help them to better understand new speakers with the same
accent. Listeners heard a dialogue between three speakers who spoke English with the same artificially-created foreign
accent. Critically, one speaker produced “th”-sounds somewhat “s”-like (e.g., “cloth” sounded like “closs”). The other
speakers did not say any “th”-words. Listeners should identify the critical speaker’s “s”-like sounds as intended “th,”
as only “th” and not “s” would form possible English words here. Before and after the dialogue, listeners categorized
sounds on one continuum between “ooth” and “oos” spoken by the critical dialogue speaker and on one spoken
by a new speaker, who for some listeners had no accent and for others had the same accent as the dialogue speaker.
If listeners adapt to the dialogue speaker, they should categorize more continuum steps as “th” after hearing the
dialogue than before. Prior research with native speakers showed that listeners do not transfer learning about sounds
such as “th” to new speakers because individuals pronounce these sounds differently. Here, it would be advantageous,
however, to generalize learning about one speaker to all speakers with the same foreign accent. If listeners do so, then
they should categorize more continuum steps as “th” for the accented than for the unaccented new speaker. A shared
accent would thus facilitate the appropriate generalization of learning across speakers with the same accent.
129 Room 911 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Kayly Tillman, Joseph Pater (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Linguistics, UMass Amherst
Perception of Intrusive /r/ in Bostonian English
The purpose of this research is to examine the perception of intrusive /r/ in Boston varieties of English; specifically, it
will investigate the intuitions of native English speakers who do not speak the Boston dialect. It is hypothesized that
native English speakers, even those unfamiliar with the Boston dialect, will be able to accurately judge the acceptability
of intrusive /r/ in contexts involving function words. Although /r/ is inserted at the end of many vowel-final words
when followed by another vowel in Bostonian English, intrusive /r/ cannot conclude function words due to prosodic
boundaries. Since this phenomenon is dictated by the prosody of the English language itself rather than some feature of
the Boston dialect, it is reasonable to hypothesize that non-speakers will judge r-inserted function words unreasonable
more often than they will judge r-inserted non-function words in similar contexts. To test this hypothesis, participants will
provide their intuitions of both non-function word and function word sentences. They will be read the same sentences
in two different ways - one reading will add an intrusive /r/ before a vowel-initial word, while the other will be read
without the /r/. This will be done with both vowel-final function words and lexical words. Non-Bostonian and Bostonian
participants will judge which version is intuitively better in a web-based experiment. It is hoped that non-Bostonian
participants will judge function words as inappropriate places for intrusive /r/, thereby adding to current research on
prosody and how it affects our intuitions about phonology.
89
130 Room 911 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Iliya Yanachkov, Xavier Echarri (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Spanish, UMass Dartmouth
Selected Translated works of Hristo Peletev and Angel Karaliichev
Iliya Yanachkov Selected Translations of Hristo Peletev and Angel Karaliichev Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this
project is to translate selected and previously untranslated works of Hristo Peletev and Angel Karaliichev from their
original Bulgarian text to English and subsequently Spanish. The project is an exercise in multilingual translation and
demonstrates the student’s ability to work within three languages. Methods: The project requires a mixture of literal and
oblique translation techniques, with the use of literal techniques preferred where possible. However, the intended goal
is to create translations that remain true to the conceptual and stylistic character of the original work, which requires
significant oblique translation. Results and Conclusion: The final product, roughly 20 translated stories, is the majority of
the project. However, the project also includes a study of anomalies yielded during translation, literary analysis of specific
allegorical works, and brief biographical and historical context to supplement the interpretation and analysis of the
works.
LITERATURE
131 Room 101 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Juliana Keil, Andrew Kozikowski (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Westfield State University
Mirror Image: “Rip Van Winkle” and “Tam o’ Shanter: A Tale”
“Rip Van Winkle,” written by Washington Irving, and “Tam o’ Shanter: A Tale,” written by Robert Burns, are both classic
works of literature written in two very different geographic locations. This study compared and contrasted the two
works of literature, noting their many similarities as well as their reflections of the culture in which each was written.
Within the study both works are analyzed to show an in-depth interpretation of the two main characters. Through a
close reading analysis the themes, events, and characteristics of the two works were compared. The two works are
parallel in some significant ways, sharing similar main characters who encounter similar obstacles and who face similar
consequences. The consequences faced at the end are also very similar. Both main characters receive almost identical
messages at the end of the work as well. The two works of literature were written at the same time but thousands of
miles apart. It is evident that, although distant, these cultures had the same views and morals at this time. “Rip Van
Winkle” and “Tam o’ Shanter: A Tale” both share eerily parallel storylines with each other even though they are written
in different formats.
90
132 Room 101 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Erin Putnam, Marcella Marold (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, North Shore Community College
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Questionable Feminism
Geoffrey Chaucer displays an understanding of women’s rights far beyond the social norm for his time, but his
understanding of sexuality still fell sadly short of feminism. Using Chaucer’s own as well as historical records and
scholarly works, this presentation will examine medieval views of sexuality and how Chaucer, while progressive in
his views of women, did not fully grasp the intricacies of female sexuality. The character of the Wife of Bath is an
empowered woman. She owns property, has her own money, openly enjoys sex, and goes where she pleases without a
chaperone. However, her tale centers on a Knight of the Round Table (the hero) who rapes a young woman he meets
in the woods. This young woman is mentioned once briefly, and only to move the plot forward. No further mention of
his victim (whose life would have been ruined) is made, and the Knight is rewarded and lives happily ever after. Chaucer
himself was accused of abducting and raping a young woman, but a monetary settlement was reached out of court.
Geoffrey Chaucer, using the character of the Wife of Bath, demonstrated that he believed that women were intellectual
equals of men. He also showed that he understood the psychological motivation behind rape by way of the moral of the
Wife of Bath’s tale (the only thing women want is control of their marriage), but that he was not fully conscious of the
plight of the victim or of the consequences.
MANAGEMENT
133 Room 163 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Steven Avras, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
The Effect of Demand History and Free Items on a Revenue-Sharing Contract in the Newsvendor Problem
This paper focuses on how revenue-sharing contracts between suppliers and retailers can affect the ordering quantity of
the retailer within a newsvendor problem dynamic. In the newsvendor problem, a supplier provides goods to a retailer
who sells the seasonal product based on random demand (known distribution). We investigate the deviation of supply
chain decision makers’ choices from the optimal solutions that are identified by theory. Finding the behavioral reasons
behind this deviation will help us to suggest approaches for narrowing the gap between optimal solutions and the
actual decisions. We use an experimental approach in which business students (subjects) respond to a carefully designed
problem. Subjects play the role of a retail purchasing manager who responds to a contract offered by the supplier. Our
hypotheses are that order quantity chosen by the retailer in a revenue-sharing contract can be improved by the supplier
offering free items to the retailer as an added bonus. This helps the supply chain get closer to its optimal performance.
We also hypothesize that the way that the demand distribution is presented to the decision maker has an impact
on the decision maker’s ability to place an accurate order for the seasonal products. Although supply chain decision
makers deviate from optimal decisions in a systematic way, our results could inform ways to improve the supply chain
performance by modifying the contract terms and/or the way demand information is presented to the decision maker.
91
134 Room 176 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Caroline Dorr, Lawrence Zacharias (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Management, UMass Amherst
The Rise of Social Enterprises in a Global Economy
Throughout the past 30 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of organizations dedicated to
achieving philanthropic goals. Today, there are more NGOs, non-profits, and socially conscious businesses than ever
before. This capstone project will examine the factors that have contributed to the rise of social businesses and current
trends in this sector. By analyzing the differing structures of social enterprises and their impact, this project will attempt
to draw conclusions about best practices in social entrepreneurship. Case studies, including the author’s personal
experience working with an Ashoka fellow’s social enterprise in Guatemala, will be used to evaluate impact and analyze
areas for improvement in the field of businesses with explicit social purposes.
135 Room 176 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Norilyz Figueroa, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
ActiveX and Plug-in Awareness Impacting User Web Browsing Behavior
The purpose of this study is to investigate the web browsing behaviors of computer users and how awareness about
threats impacts their behaviors. This research will focus on how users behave towards web browser alerts which
prompt users to install ActiveX controls and Plug-ins. ActiveX controls and Plug-ins have become common features
for enhancing user experience. However, installing these controls overrides security mechanisms inherent in browsers
and provides complete access to users’ computing resources. A survey will be administered to two separate groups of
students from the University of Massachusetts Boston to collect data. The first group will take a survey after watching
a short video that will introduce basic concepts needed in order to complete the survey. The same survey will be given
to a second set of students after they have watched a different video. The second video will educate participants of the
dangers of ActiveX and Plug-ins. This study will determine if increased awareness of the risks of ActiveX and Plug-ins will
cause participants to behave differently. This study can inform management on effective training procedures to improve
compliance with security.
136 Room 176 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Bertrand Muhire, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Employee Compliance with Information Systems Security Policy in Retail Industry. Case: Store Level Employees
In this digital era, information has become a very important part of our daily lives. For some organizations it is not only
an important component of daily routine operations but also required for competitive advantage. From big corporations
to small businesses, non-profit organizations and governments, organizations need to safeguard and secure their
information by implementing Information Security Policies (ISP) and to make sure that all their employees comply with
such policies. This research addresses employee compliance with information systems security policy with a case study
of retail stores employees. The research focus is on the impact of the level of education on employees’ ISP awareness
and compliance behaviors. Findings will be used to support or reject the relationship between the level of education
and the actual ISP awareness and compliance with ISP. Surveys are used to collect data and the analysis will provide
the significance of the relationship between the three variables which are the level of education, ISP awareness, and
ISP compliance. Recommendations will address issues of ISP non-compliance and will help managers to understand
some of underlying factors to employees’ compliance behaviors. Results will serve as a managerial reference in terms of
organizational interventions through trainings and sanctions to improve employee compliance.
92
137 Room 176 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Daniel Muwamba, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Sustainability of Micro-finance Institutions through Good Governance Policies
PURPOSE: As microfinance continues to expand internationally as a sector in the financial industry that caters to the
poor and financially marginalized individuals, the need to better understand the governance policies that are necessary
to ensure sustainability of the organizations and the sector at large grows as well. The sustainability of an MFI demands
not only financial viability but it also requires a clear strategic organization that is regulated, transparent, efficient,
and understood by all the stakeholders involved. This study investigates the above issues grouped together under the
concept of governance. Cross-country comparative analysis of scholarly literature accessed through the University of
Massachusetts Boston library database and Google Scholar, selected Policy guidelines by governments for the MFIs and
the sector, and selected MFI governance reports will be used to investigate whether good governance (or its lack of)
relates to the performance of MFI organizations and the sector in various countries The expectation is that there will be
a relation between governance and the sustainability of MFIs and the sector in general. Given the resources invested in
the MFI sector, it is not only prudent but also wise to investigate the importance of good governance by both MFIs and
the governments of the countries in which they operate. Therefore this work will develop and synthesize insights about
the relation between governance and the sustainability of MFIs and the sector in general.
MARKETING
138 Room 176 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Michael Spiro, Easwar Iyer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Marketing, UMass Amherst
The Investors of Tomorrow: The Future of Socially Responsible Investing
The majority of research on socially responsible investing has focused on the behavior of current investors. This study
focuses on the perspectives of current college students, who as the investors of tomorrow, will determine the future
development of SRI. Through ten depth interviews of student investors and an online survey, this study tested the
factors that play the largest role in this age group’s investment behavior. Can students, who are stereotypically perceived
to overly value financial factors in any decision-making process, grasp SRI as a concept? Is the current generation of
students more inclined to SRI as instantaneous, worldwide, 24-hour-a-day communication has catapulted the speed and
volume of information about pollution, global warming, disease, and poverty? With $25.2 trillion in total professionally
managed assets, increased SRI usage could generate significant social change.
139 Room 162 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Matheus M Lelis, Kevin Giardini, Sigal Gottlieb (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Dartmouth
The Power of Social Networking: using Facebook’s Open Graph data to quantify user activity on the world’s largest social
network
This application is designed to systematically and mathematically quantify the continuously growing activity that
occurs on Facebook, the world’s largest social network. The goal is to develop a numerical rating system by the use of
mathematical and computer analysis to rank the level of user activity. The idea is to simplify individual user activity into
a numerical value which can later be used to compare and contrast the differences among certain demographics as well
as represent the mathematical trends and statistics of the Facebook community.
93
140 Room 162 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Jill Moore, Nathaniel Whitaker (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Amherst
Modeling the Epidemiology of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Recently there has been a great amount of discussion as to whether legislators should make
the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine a requirement for young girls in the United States. The most common HPV
vaccine, Gardasil, protects against four types of HPVs, two of which cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. This study was
conducted to determine whether the requirement for the vaccine is a necessary measure or whether other methods
of disease prevention would be able to produce comparable results in reducing the percentage of infected individuals
over time. METHODS: A mathematical model was developed based upon the common epidemiology SIR model which
represents the infection of a population as a system of ordinary differential equations. This model was implemented
into Matlab and solved using a variety of different parameters including percent of the population vaccinated, number
of sexual partners, and condom usage. RESULTS: An increase in the percentage of the population vaccinated greatly
reduced the percentage of infected individuals at equilibrium and even with 75 percent of the population vaccinated
(both men and women) the equilibrium percent of individuals infected is almost zero. Additional parameters such as
regular condom use and the reduction of partners also reduced the percentage of infected individuals at equilibrium
but did not have as strong of an effect as the vaccine did. However, by combining both a reduction in partners as well
as regular condom use, similar reductions in the percent infected were achieved compared to those achieved with
vaccination. CONCLUSION: While the HPV vaccine does protect individuals against potentially harmful HPVs, it should
not be made a requirement for young girls. While a serious reduction was seen in the equilibrium percent infected with
vaccination, similar results were obtained through alternative safe sexual practices. The HPV vaccine should remain
optional for young girls and safe sexual practices, which prevent a variety of other STDs and complications in addition to
HPV, should be promoted.
141 Room 162 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Keith Resendes, Sigal Gottlieb (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Dartmouth
Heat Conduction in a Rod
Keith Resendes MTH499 2/13/12 The project I am working on is on an area of Fourier Series, specifically heat conduction
on a rod. Heat is concentrated at one end of a rod with length (L) and radius (r). The equation is ut=αuxx u = u(x, t) is
a function of two variables x and t. x is the space variable, so x ∈ [0,L], where L is the length of the rod. t is the time
variable, so t ≥ 0. I have come to learn that, like energy, heat flows. Heat flow is a time dependent vector. The classical
problem of the temperature distribution in a rod has been well studied. In this talk, Fourier Series is used to evaluate
the problem and then compare numerical methods for the solution of the problem under many physical conditions. The
material of the rod is one of the important factors but is neglected for ease of solving a generic problem.
94
142 Room 162 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Hilla Rogel, Farshid Hajir (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Amherst
From a Math Major to a Math Teacher
Many believe that there are two types of people, those who “get” math and those who do not. This commonly heard
idea is reinforced through years of schooling. Many primary school math teachers did not major in math in college, and
many math majors do not become elementary or middle school math teachers. This disconnect may be the reason that
kids believe they are math people or not. As a math major who wants to be a teacher, I decided to intern at the Crocker
Farm Elementary School in Amherst, MA to see the connection between the upper level math that I learned learning
and the basic skills students are learning. I assited in two different sixth-grade classrooms, provided math interventions,
and looked at the overall math curriculum, I gained an understanding of the development in mathematical ideas. The
interaction with the students helped provide an insight in their thinking in terms of what is easy and what is not. The
progress between this and my thinking in college math classes helped me understand the connection between the
two and how I can use my knowledge to teach primary school math. Math is not only about facts and numbers, and
there are not only two types of math people in the world; it is a way of understanding and thinking that everyone can
understand if presented in a certain way. This presentation will discuss my observations in the way that majoring in
mathematics affects being able to teach and explain math to elementary school students.
143 Room 162 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Rishi Singh, Kourosh Danai (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Detection of Cracks in Aircraft Fuselage by Shape Comparison of Dynamic Response Measurements
There is high demand for a non-destructing testing method that can detect and characterize damage in thin structures,
such as those found in aircraft wing and fuselage components. Previous methods, which analyze changes in modal
frequencies or guided Lamb waves, are either not sensitive to the damage size or are limited to linear structures. The
method proposed in this research has the advantage of evaluating the raw vibration data, thus avoiding the cost of
modal computation or the drawbacks of feature extraction associated with Lamb wave analysis. In this method, the
acceleration of a damaged plate is compared with that of an undamaged plate at different locations. Damage signatures
are then extracted in the time-scale plane after the vibration time histories are transformed into surfaces in the timescale domain via continuous wavelet transforms. A binary system is used to label each location at which signatures are
extracted for the corresponding acceleration pairs. The results indicate that the crack detection is dependent on the
actuation frequency and that given a suitable frequency the method can locate the position of the crack.
95
MICROBIOLOGY
144 Room 176 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Kathleen Jwanowski, Suzanne Walsh (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Reducing Hemolysin Production in Staphylococcus aureus by Blocking Quorum Sensing with Hamamelitannin
Quorum sensing is the communication system that bacteria use to ‘talk’ to cells of their own species, as well as other
species of bacteria. Chemicals are released at specific population densities, designated as a quorum, and detected
by receptors on the surface of members of the population, resulting in activation of genes. A number of processes,
including the production of biofilms and virulence factors have been shown to be regulated through quorum sensing.
Numerous research efforts have focused on using chemical analogs to block communication resulting in reduced
virulence, and inhibition of biofilm formation on medical devices. In this study hamamelitannin, an extract of witch hazel
bark, was used to block hemolysin production by Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus can promote disease in almost any
tissue of the body. Hemolysins contribute to the organisms’ virulence by causing direct damage to host cells. Cells were
grown in Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB) and TSB with 50 -200 ug/ml hamamelitannin for 18-24 hours at 37oC. Two-fold
dilutions of the resulting culture supernatants were then incubated with 2% washed sheep red blood cells overnight
at 4oC. At the end of incubation, the tubes were gently centrifuged and the hemolytic titer (HAU/ml) determined
using the highest dilution that caused 50% hemolysis. The hemolytic activity was calculated as a ratio of titer to
growth (HAU/OD425). The results of this experiment show that there was an increase as opposed to a decrease in the
production of hemolysin in the presence of hamamelitannin at 50ug/ml, 100ug/ml, and 200µg/ml. This suggests that
the hamamelitannin was acting as an inducer of quorum sensing instead of an inhibitor. These results are contradictory
to the study done by Kiran et al who suggest hamamelitannin is an analog to the quorum sensing inhibitor molecule RIP.
145 Room 811 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Nacik Sadiq, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
The Impact of the Arab Spring on Social Ventures in The MENA Region
In the year 2011, several nations in the Middle-East and North Africa underwent political reforms as a result of a wave
of street demonstrations and heavy protests the region experienced. The political changes were generally instantaneous,
but the economic reforms were expected to take longer to put in place. This paper investigates the potential impact
of these new economic trends on social ventures. In order to better understand the implications of the Arab Spring
on social enterprises, a case study of Morocco was done. The choice of this country is strategic since the country is
chronologically advanced with respect to the development of the events that shook the region. Several interviews of
key figures from the financial, economical and social sector of the Kingdom were conducted. Connections between
the interviews were made; and a matrix of the data gathered generated. The results of this study imply that the most
important concern for this new administration is to prevail over the inherent corruption that the old regime was
based on. All agree that the business sector could only benefit from such initiative. Moreover, one of the major points
the different actors agreed on is the use and spread of micro-financing institutions as a key to the success of social
entrepreneurship in the region. The achievement of the economic reforms and their potential impact on the social
business sector is considerable. It appears that such initiatives could have a significant positive impact on the region.
96
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
146 Room 176 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Ariana Bevilacqua, Jesse Mager (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst
Variability of Known Imprinted Genes Throughout Gastrulation
Epigenetics, the study of DNA modifications that alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself, is
characterized by many specific phenomena. One such mechanism is imprinted gene expression, where monoallelic gene
expression occurs in a parent-of-origin specific manner. This opposes normal, biallelic, gene expression, where both
the maternal and paternal copies of a gene are transcribed to mRNA. In the mouse genome, there are only about 100
known imprinted genes, and little is known about the timing of activation of imprinted gene expression. Though many
genes are shown to be consistently imprinted from earliest activation throughout development, certain genes show
aberrant biallelic expression at varying time points throughout development. Several known imprinted genes including
Igf2, Igf2r, H19, Meg3, and Rtl1 all show some degree of biallelic expression during gastrulation, (embryonic day 6.5
to 7.5 in mice). We hypothesize that a pattern exists underlying this variant expression profile – it could be sex-specific,
tissue-specific, time-point-specific, or simply random variation. Through various RFLP and SSCP assays, patterns of
variability are assessed and characterized. Data is being collected and analyzed in order to evaluate the validity of our
hypothesis.
NURSING
147 Room 803 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kelsey Dewey, Peter Blood (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Amherst
The effects of nursing school on one’s resilience
Resilience is the ability to carry on despite adversity and is an important concept when evaluating an individual’s
response to stress. Although much has been written about high levels of stress in undergraduate nursing students, little
is known about their level of resilience. In order to determine how nursing student resilience changes over the course of
their education, I used a cross-sectional design to administer the The Wagnild and Young 25 Item Resilience Scale TM
to nursing students at the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts. The instrument was given to all nursing
students in October 2011 and March 2012. Research questions were 1) How does resilience change for student across
the four years of undergraduate education and 2) how does resilience change between fall and spring for each year of
undergraduate nursing education? The October 2011 response of freshman was used as baseline data for comparisons
to answer question one, and the October data was used as the baseline to answer question. T-tests were used for data
analysis. Understanding how resilience changes for nursing students during their undergraduate education may lead to
targeted interventions designed to enhance resilience and thereby reduce overall stress in this population.
97
148 Room 803 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Alexandra Giorgio, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
von Willebrand Disease & Pregnancy: Pre-conception, In Utero and Postpartum
von Willebrand Disease is the most common bleeding disorder in the world. Unlike all other bleeding disorders, it affects
men and women with the same frequency. This disease poses a particular threat to women who bear children. Special
consideration and management must occur to ensure the safe outcomes for women with vWD during their pregnancy,
labor and delivery of their child. There is a wide array of pharmacologic options available to aid in the care of a laboring
woman with vWD and implications for delivery are vital to the safety of both mother and baby. A firm diagnosis of von
Willebrand Disease based on diagnostic evidence and presence of symptoms prior to conception is vital in providing
the most holistic care possible to a woman throughout her pregnancy. There is a wealth of knowledge surrounding von
Willebrand Disease now that those who suffered from vWD in the past were not aware of, giving the advantage for
proper treatment to those living with the disease now. With all that is known about vWD and the current management
recommendations, labor and delivery can remain the joyous occasion it is meant to be, with little fear of the untoward
affects having a bleeding disorder formerly presented. The nurse plays an active role in assuring this positive outcome is
achieved in their assessment and teaching of the woman with von Willebrand’s Disease.
149 Room 803 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kristina Lundquist, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
Prevention and Early Recognition of Substance Abuse in Nurses
Prevention and Early Recognition of Substance Abuse in Nurses Kristina Lundquist ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The purpose of
this research study is to determine risk factors associated with the development of substance abuse and how those risk
factors are distributed among freshman undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: Freshman nursing students were
surveyed for risk factors for alcohol abuse using the Efinger Alcohol Risk Survey (Efinger, J.M. (1984). The development
of a health risk appraisal instrument for alcoholism (Doctoral Dissertation #9008136, University of Pennsylvania School
of Nursing). Participants also completed a survey of bio-demographical data that has been shown to contribute or deter
individuals from the development of substance abuse. Participants were surveyed, with permission of the professor,
during a first semester nursing course at a public university in the northeast. IRB approval was received and consent
forms were signed. The final sample included 106 participants. RESULTS: Initial results showed that the mean age
participants had their first drink was 15.4 (+ 2.6) years old, with 33% reporting hard liquor as their first beverage. The
most common feeling experienced by participants was being less shy (52%) and only 8% reported not liking their
first drinking experience. Subjects reported friends as their highest support system (93%), followed by mothers (89%)
and fathers (74%). Complete findings will be available at the time of presentation. CONCLUSION: By achieving an
understanding of risk factors, interventions can be created and implemented to prevent the development of substance
abuse in nurses.
98
PHILOSOPHY
150 Room 911 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Shelby Giaccarini, Matthew Silliman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Philosophy, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Voices of Nature: Environmental Literature and the Imperative to Save the World
Literary creativity is an indispensable component to solving the environmental crisis. Since nature largely lacks a voice
with which to advocate for itself, we must craft new and more effective narratives on its behalf if we are to foster
healthier relationships with it. Speaking through us by the powerful means of literature and other artforms, the natural
world of which we are a part could help break through fixed habits of thought and behavior in ways that economic
and technological responses have not done. Ethicists, scientists, and others with relevant understanding must therefore
go beyond theory to apply and disseminate their ideas to the world, and they need to do this with a timeliness and
persuasive power commensurate with the urgency of the threat. Moreover, their modes of expression must speak most
compellingly to those not already convinced of the need for change.
151 Room 911 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Will Kidder, William Cornwell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Philosophy, Salem State University
Epiphenomenal Consciousness and Natural Selection
This paper argues against epiphenomenalism, the view that consciousness is epiphenomena of the physical body and
lacks causal efficacy. My paper advances an objection that focuses on the relationship between natural selection and
epiphenomenal consciousness. I argue that, given its lack of a causal connection to the physical world, epiphenomenal
consciousness could not have been selected for via the process of evolution. This raises a difficult question for the
epiphenomenalist to answer: why then are our conscious experiences so nicely coordinated with our physical lives?
It seems that if consciousness were causally ineffective, then there is no reason why we could not have evolved such
that, for example, our feelings of pain coincided with beneficial physical behaviors. The actual agreement between our
conscious experiences and our physical experiences would require some sort of special explanation that natural selection
could not provide. This tension between the theory of natural selection and epiphenomenalism is especially problematic
given that the epiphenomenalist view was originally proposed as a way of reconciling consciousness with Darwin’s
theory.
99
PHYSICS
152 Room 168 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Ian Brown, Mark Tuominen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Amherst
Kosterlitz Thouless Transition in Two Dimensional Superconducting Films
The phenomenon of superconductivity has been the subject of much interest and consequent study over the past
100 years. Its properties have been studied under various conditions and constructions. We aim to reveal some
information concerning one of these properties, known as the Kosterlitz-Thouless (K-T) transition. The K-T transition
is a thermodynamic phase transition in two-dimensional films of superconductors. At the K-T transition temperature,
the film exhibits a vortex unbinding transition, observable in its current-voltage characteristics. In order to further
understand the transition, we probed the current-voltage characteristics of two-dimensional layers of Al in a single layer
and countercurrent bilayer construction under a range of temperatures subject to zero magnetic field. In doing so we
were able to glimpse and analyze the properties and characteristics of the phase transition, as well as observe the affect
of countercurrent structure on the transition temperature and other traits. This was all done as a pretext to hopes of
further examining these constructions in an applied magnetic field.
153 Room 168 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Lawrence R Rooney, Andrew Caide, Chandra Yelleswarapu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Boston
Simultaneous recording of Photoacoustic Z-scan and Optical Z-scan for the Measurement of Third-Order Nonlinear
Absorption Coefficient
The measurement of third order nonlinear optical parameters of materials is important for many practical applications.
Several techniques have been developed to measure the nonlinear absorption and refractive index coefficients. Among
them, the conventional optical Z-scan technique is widely used in view of its simplicity. It is performed in transmission
geometry and offers high sensitivity. This technique can be used for measuring both the sign and magnitude of
nonlinear refractive index and the magnitude of nonlinear absorption of optical materials. Recently we developed a
novel Photoacoustic Z-scan (PZ-scan) technique to measure the nonlinear absorption coefficients of a wide variety of
materials (Optics Express 18, 9020–9025, 2010). It combines the advantages offered by the conventional optical Z-scan
technique and the highly sensitive photoacoustic detection. In PZ-scan, instead of measuring the transmitted optical
signal as in the case of traditional Z-scan, we record the generated photoacoustic signal while the sample is translated
along the focused laser beam. Since the signal strength is directly proportional to the optical absorption, PZ-scan
displays nonlinear behavior depicting the nonlinear optical absorption of the material. As the generated acoustic waves
are propagated outwards in all directions, including both the forward and backward directions, we performed PZ-scan
in reflection geometry as well while the transmitted light is collected and measured using an optical detector. Thus
simultaneously we were able to perform both optical and photoacoustic z-scan. This combined system will be useful to
distinguish nonlinear absorption and nonlinear scattering materials.
100
154 Room 168 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Gary Forster, Andrea Pocar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Amherst
Darkside-50: Search for Dark Matter
The presentation will cover the basics of the DarkSide (Depleted Argon cryogenic Scintillation and Ionization Detection)
project, including what dark matter is and how we know it exists. It will address the different methods other
collaborations use to try to detect dark matter particles and special emphasis will be placed on the detection strategy
DarkSide uses which is based on measuring both scintillation and ionization for all events. The presentation will also
describe the design of the first detector of the program, DarkSide-50, planned to start operations in early 2013. The
fairly universal problem of weeding out background signals in the detector by first addressing what those signals are,
and ways to minimize them or disregard them will be discussed.
155 Room 168 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Peter Jumper, Robert Fisher (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Dartmouth
Shaping the Brown Dwarf Desert: Predicting the Primordial Brown Dwarf Binary Distributions from Turbulent
Fragmentation
Brown dwarfs are failed stars, with masses too low to undergo hydrogen nuclear burning. While the first
incontrovertible brown dwarf was detected observationally in 1995, their formation mechanism and the origin of
many of their physical properties remain open questions. The absence of brown dwarf companions in close orbits (less
than several AU) to solar-type primary stars in binary systems poses a major problem. Astronomers have termed this
sparsity of nearby brown dwarf companions in binary systems the brown dwarf desert. We demonstrate that direct
fragmentation of the parent gaseous turbulent giant molecular cloud cores naturally gives rise to widely-separated
stellar-brown dwarf binary systems. We also show that this fragmentation produces narrowly-separated brown dwarf
- brown dwarf binary systems. Additionally, these results support the observation that the minimum binding energy of
systems increases with decreasing system mass.
156 Room 168 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Kevin Jumper, Robert Fisher (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Dartmouth
A Semi-Analytic Model of a Buoyant Flame Bubble Propagation During the Deflagration Phase of a Type Ia Supernova
Type Ia supernovae are astronomical events in which a white dwarf, the cold remnant of a star that has exhausted
its hydrogen fuel, detonates and briefly produces an explosion brighter than most galaxies. Many researchers think
that they could occur as the white dwarf approaches a critical mass of 1.4 solar masses by accreting matter from
a companion main sequence star, a scenario that is referred to as the single-degenerate channel. Assuming such a
progenitor, we construct a semi-analytic model of the propagation of a flame bubble ignited at a single off-center point
within the white dwarf. The bubble then rises under the influences of buoyancy and drag, burning the surrounding
fuel material in a process called deflagration. We contrast the behavior of the deflagration phase in the presence
of a physically high Reynolds number regime with the low Reynolds number regimes inherent to three-dimensional
simulations, which are a consequence of numerical viscosity. Our work may help validate three-dimensional deflagration
results over a range of initial conditions.
101
157 Room 168 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Alexander Nemtzow, Laura Cadonati (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Amherst
New Methods for Identifying Alpha Particles within the DarkSide 10kg Prototype Dark Matter Detector
Current models of the makeup of the universe predict that dark matter accounts for approximately 23% of the mass
within the universe. Much of this dark matter is thought to be made up of weakly interacting massive particles, or
WIMPs, which do not interact with electromagnetism or the strong nuclear force. DarkSide is a collaboration of
physicists who are exploring new techniques for the detection of WIMP dark matter. The DarkSide 10kg prototype
detector utilizes a dual-phase liquid and gaseous argon time projection chamber to detect WIMPs as they scatter on
liquid argon nuclei. An algorithm has been developed to identify the signature of alpha particles in recorded data. We
present on this new methods and evaluate how they may be implemented for the DarkSide10kg detector.
158 Room 168 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Zachary Nemtzow, Laura Cadonati (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Amherst
Chirplet Clustering Algorithm for Black Hole Coalescence Signatures in Gravitational Wave Detectors
Within this decade, gravitational waves will become new astrophysical messengers with which we can learn about our
universe. Gravitational wave emission from the coalescence of massive bodies is projected to be a promising source for
the next generation of gravitational wave detectors: Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We describe a method for the
detection of binary black hole coalescences using a chirplet template bank, Chirplet Omega. By appropriately clustering
the linearly variant frequency sin-gaussian pixels the algorithm uses to decompose the data, the signal to noise ratio
(SNR) of events extended in time can be significantly increased. We present such a clustering method and discuss its
potential impact on performance and detectability of binary black hole coalescences in ground based gravitational wave
interferometers.
159 Room 162 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Jodie Trivedi, Ronald MacTaylor (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, Salem State University
Physics Applied to Motocross Track Design
Motocross is an extreme sport involving gravity defying jumps with high speed whoops and berms. Physics is a science
that studies matter and its motion through space. Any object that has matter is an object of physics. This study is an
attempt to bring physics out of the classroom and apply it to a popular activity. It allows students to understand the
importance of physics in their lives and that it can be fun when applying it to sports like Motocross. All-Terrain Vehicles
(ATVs) and Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) represent a popular and economically lucrative industry (the industry estimates
the retail market value for all off-road cycles and ATVs is $14.5 billion a year). Track design is equally as popular for
the extreme riders who wish to push the limits of their ATVs. As a senior Biology Major, Physics and Chemistry minor,
a Commonwealth Honors Student at Salem State University and extreme ATV rider, I used basic-college level physics
equations to design an operational thirty foot table top jump.
102
160 Room 168 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Joshua Coomey, Om Parkash (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Characterization of novel gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase family in plants for abiotic stress tolerance
Heavy metal and metalloid contamination of soil and groundwater poses a serious threat to human health all over
the globe. Toxic metals can be ingested directly from water supplies or through the consumption of food crops that
have accumulated metals in their biomass. The mitigation of this threat through conventional remediation techniques
can be extremely costly, but recent developments in genetically modified plant technologies offer a cheaper and more
environmentally friendly option through the use of plants that accumulate and sequester toxic heavy metals in their
aboveground tissues. These transgenic plants typically utilize phytochelatins and glutathione (GSH) to bind toxic metals
and metalloids and store them in their vacuoles. GSH is the main redox buffer in the living cells and protect cells against
various abiotic and biotic stresses. GSH is synthesized through the γ-glutamyl cycle, and one of the key components of
this cycle is the enzyme γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase (GGCT), which is involved in the degradation of GSH and recycling
of glutamate by converting γ-glutamyl amino acid to 5-oxoproline. In this study, we analyzed a recently identified gene
from Arabidopsis thaliana for potential γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase activity. Overexpression and T-DNA knockdown lines
for this gene were grown on media supplemented with a variety of thiol reactive compounds such as As, Cd, Hg, Pb,
and Cr, as well as being subjected to other abiotic stresses such as abscisic acid and drought. Analysis of accumulation
of toxic metals in the plants biomass showed that both the GGCT overexpression and knockdown lines showed
greater tolerance under these stress conditions as compared to control wild type plants. These results suggest that
overexpression of the Arabidopsis GGCT may speed up the γ-glutamyl cycle, improve GSH homeostasis, and thus provide
enhanced protection against these heavy metals and other abiotic stresses . Efforts to purify the GGCT recombinant
protein and analyze its enzymatic activity are in progress.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
161 Room 909 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Jason Agress, Maurice Cunningham (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Political Science, UMass Boston
The Rise of the Managers: Legislator Professionalism in Massachusetts
PURPOSE: This study addresses how, over the last 50 years, change in the General Court of Massachusetts has appeared
evident – especially in terms of legislator professionalism. It also addresses a related and recurring theme – Edgar Litt’s
assertion of an increasingly manager-oriented political culture in Massachusetts. METHODS: Using original data sets
on the composition of the General Court in both 1961 and 2011, several key areas are examined: legislator education
level, length of tenure, and profession. The primary source for the 1961 data is the “Bird Book” published by the
Commonwealth, while the 2011 data is mostly available on the legislature’s website. This data is contextualized and
complemented by a survey of literature on state legislature professionalism and managerial political culture, as well as
a discussion of Massachusetts industry today. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analysis reveals that the three key areas of study
evidence significant increases from 1961 to 2011. These increases are illustrative of an overall increase in legislator
professionalism in the legislature as a body – and reflects the parallel trend of an increasingly manager-oriented political
culture. This conclusion is closely interconnected with – and supports – the concept that Massachusetts political culture
is ever-evolving and that, while managers have become the dominant political force in the Commonwealth, this is no
coincidence; rather, there are distinct, normative reasons based on longstanding values and traditions that are presently
manifested. CONCLUSION: In comparison to state legislatures like New Hampshire’s, Massachusetts’ is overtly more
professional; consequently, it is interesting and useful to understand which factors play – both individually and statewide
– roles in such comparisons and judgments. Furthermore, as Massachusetts proves itself a 21st-century leader in areas
like technology and education, one must not overlook the relationship between these defining characteristics of the
Commonwealth as a whole and politically.
103
162 Room 909 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
John Brosnan, Maurice Cunningham (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Political Science, UMass Boston
Exclusivity in State Legislature: Massachusetts and the Educational Standard
PURPOSE: Massachusetts state legislature has undergone a series of changes in recent years, both public and
private. While the public face of state legislature has become more diverse both sexually and racially, the traditionally
dominant positions of legislative leadership (house speaker, senate president and governor) in the state have become
increasingly insular and exclusive in terms of who is elected to these offices – particularly on the grounds of educational
qualifications and local ties. This paper seeks to explore the development of this trend between 1928 and 2012, as well
as the implications and origins of this emerging development. METHODS: Demographic data was collected for state
legislative leaders from 1928 to present, including name, gender, home town, place of birth, highest level of education,
post-graduate institutions attended (if any), party affiliation, role, district, year of first election, tenure in the body, years
of service. Data was then coded and entered into a database to be sorted for exploring trends. RESULTS: It was found
that with three general exceptions (President Murray and Governors Romney and Patrick), each office of legislative
leadership has ceased to elect candidates born out of state, or lacking graduate/post-graduate education at a series
of arbitrary dates. CONCLUSION: Trends in demographic data appear to display a substantial but unvoiced shift in the
desired qualifications of electees to offices of legislative leadership in Massachusetts. Due to the significant power of
these offices, this shift holds serious ramifications for accessibility to state legislative power.
163 Room 909 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Kara Clifford, Ray La Raja (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Political Science, UMass Amherst
Why Don’t Women Run? Progressive Ambition Among Locally Elected Officials
Scholarship on women running for elective office often focuses on higher offices, such as Congress, where gender
disparities are greatest. Gender equality is greater for local elective offices, yet women who achieve such positions
remain less likely than similarly-situated men to run for higher office. I examine the potential obstacles that affect
women’s decisions to run for higher office. This study uses a survey and interviews of locally elected officials from
Massachusetts and Connecticut to evaluate the factors that influence women’s decisions to run for the state legislature.
104
164 Room 909 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Robert Donoghue, Glen Brewster (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Occupy Washington: How Deregulation, Corruption, and Financial Greed Allowed Wall Street to Occupy the United
States Government
Millions of Americans lost their jobs and United States taxpayers were forced to pick up the bill for a $700 billion
Troubled Asset Relief Program in the fall of 2008 following the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression.
This research paper attempts to analyze the forces in play decades before the 2008 meltdown that eventually led to
the financial crisis. Using scholarly literature, expert accounts, documentary films, and primary documents, this paper
examines U.S. governmental financial policy in the thirty years leading up to the 2008 economic recession to determine
the many causes, from both Washington and Wall Street, of the financial meltdown. The first major factor found was
the presence of Alan Greenspan as the Federal Reserve Chairman, who pushed for continual deregulation during his
eighteen years in Washington. The second influence was the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington that
allowed former Wall Street executives with allegiances to the elite to occupy the most powerful regulatory positions in
the United States government. The final force in play was the corrupt actions of Wall Street investment banks whose
only objective was to advance their own wealth with no aim at benefiting regular Americans. Wall Street’s extensive
risk taking and greedy financial tactics during the housing bubble caused the investments of millions of Americans to
become insolvent. The major issues in Washington and Wall Street that led to a global economic meltdown have yet to
be solved, leading to assertions by many economists that the same forces that led to the 2008 recession could cause
another financial crisis in the near future.
165 Room 909 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Ariel Geist, Tim Lang (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, UMass Amherst
Regulating Electoral Finance in Chile: An Ongoing Fight Against Corruption
The vulnerability of elections to corruption through campaign finance reform is an important issue for modern
democracies. Poorly regulated campaign finance allows private interests to corrupt and distort the political process.
Although Chile returned to a democratic government in 1990, its elections remained without campaign finance
regulation, and therefore vulnerable to corruption until 2003, when campaign finance reform laws were passed as
part of a wide sweeping anti-corruption legislative package. The effectiveness of these new laws regarding electoral
finance regulation has not received much scholarly attention. Using information gathered through interviews with
academic experts and top election officials, and analysis of electoral data, this paper examines whether or not Chile’s
2003 campaign finance laws are sufficient to reach the goals of transparency, leveling of the competition, accountability
of political parties, and assurance of the positive role of private interests. This project concludes that major strides
have been made towards transparency, principally by requiring large contributions to be connected to a donor, and by
requiring the publication of financial data gathered by the Electoral Service. This has greatly contributed to eliminating
corruption, as bringing such transactions into the light discourages clientelism. However, due to insufficient oversight,
the laws continue to fail to hold actors accountable. Additionally, campaign finance laws continue to favor heavily
incumbent candidates and fall short of leveling the playing field.
105
166 Room 909 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Erin McManus, Richard Levy (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Political Science, Salem State University
Coming Home: An Examination of Veterans Experiences from Vietnam to Iraq- Afghanistan
The Vietnam War holds a distinctive and troubled place in America’s history for a number of reasons, including the
experiences of veterans returning home from the war. While homecoming narratives are clearly variable, the dominant
legacy of the war attests that many veterans felt a profound sense of rejection, neglect and indifference upon their
return to the U.S. This is characterized not only by the social stigmas and political attitudes at large, but also by the
concrete challenges veterans faced, such as coping with PTSD in a society highly unprepared to treat combat-stress,
unemployment and difficulty obtaining adequate benefits and health care through the VA system. However, the
bittersweet outcome of such difficulties is that US has had to confront veterans’ needs and pioneering changes have
been made to meet them, such as the acceptance of PTSD into the DSM III in 1980. While I uphold that considerable
progress such as this has been made for veterans, my paper seeks to question the extent to which the painful legacies
of veterans’ homecomings have positively impacted policies and attitudes towards returning veterans now. Moreover, I
acknowledge and explores in detail the social issues facing new generations of veterans from the Iraq-Afghanistan Wars,
many of whom seem to be subject to similar obstacles as their Vietnam-era counterparts. Through a careful examination
of the differences and similarities between these veterans’ homecoming experiences, I suggest that it is rarely political
leaders or large scale institutions that have promoted this change, but rather grass roots veterans organizations.
Moreover, I assert that developments in veterans care serve as an excellent lens by which one can question and explore
American attitudes towards policy making, social welfare, and the origins of social change. To support this, I use many
sociological texts, such as but not pertaining to, John Helmer’s, Bringing the War Home, and oral histories, like Helen
Benedict’s, The Lonely Soldier, as my fundamental sources.
167 Room 811 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Nicholas Smarra, Glen Brewster (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
United States Foriegn Policy: Egypt Mubarak Years
In early 2011 a series of civilian-led uprisings, now popularly known as the Arab Spring, began in the Arab world. This
Arab Spring took hold in many countries that had an authoritarian leader such as Tunisia, Lebanon, Libya, and Egypt.
However, research shows that there is major United States funding to these countries that use authoritarian leadership.
There is an obvious dichotomy between this support of authoritarian regimes and the popular notion that the United
States aims to promote liberty in international affairs. Thus there must be other reasons for United States involvement
in international affairs. Using Egypt as case study reveals that the goal of backing authoritarian leaders serves both a
strategic and economic advantage to the U.S. The U.S must find allies in the Middle East in order to remain a major
player in this important region. The United States needs Egypt in order to keep both pro-U.S and Israeli sentiment alive
in the Arab World. The United States’ Egyptian policy is also based on economics. Egypt has control over the Suez Canal,
a major passage for oil tankers delivering oil to the U.S, and if it were to be lost there would be a major adverse affect
on the U.S economy.
106
Sophia Zaman, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Saving Our Students: the Funding Crisis in Public Higher Education
In an increasingly globalized world, a degree in higher education is no longer a pathway to actualizing the American
Dream – it is now the prerequisite. However, in this economic downturn, the cost of attending institutions of higher
education is skyrocketing. In the first part of my Capstone project, I detailed the current crisis in funding for public
higher education institutions, as well as offered alternatives to the current situation. As part of my Capstone project,
I intend to organize a Lobby Day to take students from across the state to the Boston Statehouse, where we will be
lobbying our legislators to increase funding for public higher education. I will be collaborating with other student groups
like the Student Government Association, and community colleges across the state, in order to organize a united front
of students who can voice their needs to their legislators. In doing so, I hope to not only convince legislators to increase
funding for public higher education but also, help students engage with their elected representatives and hold them
accountable to the fundamental value that accessible higher education is a human right.
PSYCHOLOGY
169 Room 809 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Mariel Adams, Michael Constantino (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Baseline patient characteristics as predictors of remission in interpersonal psychotherapy for depression
The present study will examine baseline patient factors as predictors of posttreatment remission in interpersonal
psychotherapy (IPT) for depression. Archival data for this novel re-analysis derive from a study of IPT delivered
naturalistically to adults (n = 74) at an outpatient mood disorders clinic of a university-affiliated hospital (McBride et al.,
2010). Four specific domains of baseline patient characteristics (sociodemographic variables, clinical/diagnostic features,
personality/interpersonal functioning, and cognitive factors) will be analyzed as predictors of remission using receiver
operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (i.e., signal detection) – an empirically driven, nonparametric technique
appropriate for exploratory data analysis with dichotomous outcomes. Analyzing the large set of predictors, ROC will
identify distinct patient subgroups (through analysis of sensitivity and specificity) likely to show remission based on
patients’ baseline characteristics. ROCs can identify specific algorithms so that interactions between predictors can be
interpreted in clinically meaningful ways (i.e., patients likely to remit vs. those at risk of non-remission). Effect size of
ROC-derived classification will be evaluated with the area under the curve (AUC) statistic. The findings will contribute
to the currently scant literature on patient factors related to successful remission following IPT. Clinically, the results will
inform treatment decision-making based on presenting patient profiles.
107
170 Room 903 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Brenna Bean, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Adolescent Drunk Driving: What’s the Motive?
Driving while under the influence can lead to a plethora of undesirable outcomes: legal repercussions, physical trauma,
and death. Often adolescents are even more susceptible to drunk driving than the rest of us. Because of the numerous
consequences, groups including MADD and SADD put forth copious efforts to raise awareness about these dangers.
Despite their work, America’s young adults still bear responsibility to over 35% of fatal DUI crashes in the country. New
research proves that there is undeniably a biological justification for why these individuals do what that they do. Not
only does this project address the conventional excuses for teenage drunk driving, but it also brings to light previously
unknown information that could help us answer the questions we’re wondering: If kids know that drunk driving is
wrong, why do they do it? And perhaps more importantly, what can be done to stop them? National Geographic
Magazine has published data based on research done by the National Institutions of Health and psychologists and
neuroscientists who base their studies on teens. Their findings suggest that teens put themselves in compromising
positions despite the wisdom they’ve acquired simply because “their brains aren’t done yet!” Through analyzing the
thought processes in their minds, it turns out that a small tweak in teens’ upbringings may be the solution to keeping
our kids out of trouble. Until the necessary brain development occurs, we as a society may have more success preventing
kids from drinking and driving by using an approach that acknowledges teens’ growing capacity for logic, yet accounts
for the ways an adolescent’s craving for social acceptance can override their rationale. When America’s young adults are
so vulnerable to these intoxicated dilemmas, don’t you think it’s an issue that needs some attention?
Megan Conery, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Dynamic Solution to a Dynamic Problem
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth make up 3-5% of the youth population in the United States. However,
they comprise up to 40% of the homeless youth population. The reason for this discrepancy is because of a lack of
social acceptance from peers, families, and institutions. Once in the homeless population, LGBT youth face similar
discrimination and rejection because of their identities. In order to organize around this issue, I decided to take a
dynamic approach. By joining the LGBT support committee of UMass Amherst, the Stonewall Center, I helped organize
LGBT students and their allies to gain support for LGBT youth by speaking at and helping plan discussion panels on
organizing. On top of this, I contributed to an on-going campaign for “An Act Providing Housing and Support Services
for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.” With this multi-angle strategy, I helped enact support for LGBT communities
while advocating for specific legislation.
108
172 Room 809 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Timothy Dillon, Hal Grotevant (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Social Normalization and the Formation of an Adoptive Identity
The current project will develop a program and corresponding manual that aims to provide an outlet for adopted
pre-teens and adolescents in the Amherst area, allowing them to discuss their views surrounding adoption, create a
network that normalizes adoption, and form their individual adoptive identity. In previous studies adopted children
and adolescents have expressed concern regarding the general attitudes within their communities and families
towards adoption, multiculturalism, and difference. Adopted children are often a minority within school systems,
making adoption seem different and unusual. Normalizing adoption for these adoptees will influence their unique
adoptive identity as well as their general adoptive experience. Direct requests from adoptees for a diverse community
are reflective of their desire to be understood and accepted by their peers. This proposed program intends to allow
participating adoptees to meet and form bonds with other adopted children that they may not have otherwise met,
showing them that whether they are similar or not, many other families are also formed through adoption. To avoid a
clinical atmosphere, adopted college students will add a casual structure to the meetings. It is also important to note
that adoption will be recognized as a commonality, however it will not be a forced topic of discussion. Since adopted
adults often state that they would have benefited greatly from a program of this nature, it is hoped that by participating
in this program adoptees will feel more comfortable about their adoption, diversity, and other social issues that they may
face.
173 Room 809 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Jennifer Gardner, Champika Soysa (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Predictors of Stress and Well-Being: Social Capital, Self-Esteem, Popularity, and Technology Use
PURPOSE: Some aspects of social capital, self-esteem, popularity, and technology use have been studied in terms of
their relationships with stress and well-being. Since researchers have not investigated the preceding variables together,
we examined several novel dimensions of these factors, as predictors of stress and well-being among undergraduates.
HYPOTHESIS: i. Social capital will (a)inversely predict stress and (b)positively predict well-being. ii. Self-esteem will (a)
inversely predict stress and (b)positively predict well-being. iii. Popularity will (a)inversely predict stress and (b)positively
predict well-being. iv. Technology use will (a)positively predict stress and (b)inversely predict well-being. METHOD:
Participants were 176 undergraduates (males=42, females=134) over age 18, taking at least a 12-credit course
load. Participants completed 10 self-report questionnaires designed to assess the variables of interest. RESULTS: We
conducted stepwise regression analyses to test all hypotheses. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for predictor variables
were, respectively, p=.05 and .01. Supporting hypothesis 1b, social capital positively predicted well-being, beta=.16,
95%CI=[0.00,0.14], p<.05. Supporting hypothesis 2a and 2b, self-esteem inversely predicted stress, beta= -.58,
95%CI=[-1.01,-0.66], p<.001, and positively predicted well-being, beta=.60, 95%CI=[0.82,1.23], p<.001. Popularity
predicted well-being, beta=.22, 95%CI=[0.13,0.69], p<.01, supporting hypothesis 3b. Supporting hypothesis 4a and
4b, MP3 player use positively predicted stress, beta=.25, 95%CI=[0.11,0.43], p<.01, and social networking positively
predicted stress, beta=.30, 95%CI=[0.16,0.45], p<.001, and inversely predicted well-being, beta=-.19, 95%CI=[-0.40,0.05], p<.05. CONCLUSION: These results inform the field about predictors of stress and well-being, and could have
implications for stress-reducing and wellness-enhancing interventions among undergraduates.
109
174 Room 809 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Samantha Hague, Janet Gebelt (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
Emerging Adult Identity
Identity development occurs within a social context. For example, healthy relationships are related to having a stronger
identity. Another important context is the collegiate environment as any major life transition can lead individuals to
reevaluate their identity. This study examines identity processes in adolescents and emerging adults at the onset of
their transition to college, a critical time for identity, and a time during which the relationships that have supported
identity efforts to date are changing dramatically. Incoming first year college students (n=552) completed measures of
identity and attachment during summer orientation. Analyses showed that stronger relationships with mother, friends
and significant others predicted greater Identity Commitment and Identity Strength, but not Identity Exploration.
Additionally, stronger attachment to friends predicted less Identity Distress. Six weeks after starting college 111 of these
participants completed the measures again, along with a measure of adjustment to the college transition. Analyses
showed that stronger attachment to friends predicted increased Identity Strength, more Identity Commitment, and
less Identity Distress. Also, more Transition Stress was related to decreased Identity Strength and increased amounts
of Identity Distress. This study confirms prior research showing that healthy relationships are important to identity, but
suggests that relationships matter specifically for making commitments, not for exploring identity. Furthermore, when
looking at change over time, it is changes in friendship relationships, not parental relationships that are especially
important for fostering identity development during the college transition. Finally, the results suggest that, while healthy
relationships do foster a stronger commitment to an identity, it is only the relationships with friends that can ameliorate
the distress often associated with finding an identity.
175 Room 808 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Aaron Karp, Luke Remage-Healey (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
An Exploration of Differential Methylation Patterns in the Brain in the Context of Vocal Learning
An Exploration of Differential Methylation Patterns in the Brain in the Context of Vocal Learning Aaron Karp ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: There is no research into the epigenetic modifications that affect gene expression in the brain during song
or speech learning. This experiment looks to quantify changes in the promoter of the immediate-early gene EGR-1 that
is associated with neural activity and plasticity. The epigenetic process known as DNA methylation results in reduced
gene transciption following attachment of methyl groups to cytosine. I expect that following song exposure, the overall
methylation of the EGR-1 promoter will have decreased to enable dynamic gene transcription. METHODS: Three groups
of finches will be studied, two groups ~45 days old when they may yet exhibit song following exposure and one group
~20 days old when their brain is not yet able to acquire song. One 45 day-old group will be exposed to song, and the
other age-matched group will remain naïve. Brains will be sectioned and a “puncher” will be used to take samples
from song-learning brain areas. DNA will be extracted from this tissue and undergo bisulfite conversion, PCR, and
mass spectrometry. This will yield quantitative methylation differences to be assessed at specific sites along the EGR-1
promoter. RESULTS: The process of mass spectrometry and methylation assessment is currently underway. The focus
thus far has been to perfect the techniques necessary for this novel research. Optimal procedures for punching discrete
brain regions and concentrating DNA to produce a viable genomic product for mass spectrometry have been achieved.
CONCLUSION: Preliminary data shows an age-dependent decline.
110
176 Room 809 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Alexander Keefe, Jessica Hufnagle (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
The Development of Leadership within the position of Resident Assistants
The Westfield State University Department of Residential Life consists primarily of Resident Assistant (RA) student staff
members and professional Residence Directors (RD). They live at Westfield State University in one of eight residential
halls on and off campus. These “RAs” and “RDs” who work with residential students are hired, selected, and placed
in various communities within the halls on and off campus. The research presented will consist of current RA student
staff members, current RDs, and Residential Life professional staff defining and explaining their position on leadership
within the Department of Residential Life as well as examining how it is determined by the RDs and Professional staff if a
student possesses the skills and capabilities of becoming an RA and excelling in the position. The research will also show
how current RAs and potential RAs view their own leadership qualities and if this position has helped or can help them
strengthen their leadership abilities. To examine this question, a series of individual surveys, focus group observations,
and-one-on-one interviews will take place. The data collected will be analyzed and examined to show how the RAs, RDs,
and the Residential Life professional staff define leadership qualities within the RA position.
177 Room 909 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Gregory Murphy, Brian Lickel (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
White American’s Reaction to Inter-Minority Prejudice
PURPOSE: As American society becomes increasingly diverse, prejudicial attitudes and behaviors will inevitably occur
between White Americans and ethnic minorities, though tensions can also occur between racial minority groups.
The increase in inter-minority prejudice may have unnoticed effects on White Americans in terms of guilt for societal
discrimination and support for compensatory policies. METHODS: Using several questionnaires regarding feelings of guilt
and levels of support for compensatory policies (replicated from previous literature), as well as a news article detailing
the rise in inter-minority prejudice, we will measure differences between levels of guilt and compensatory policy support
between those exposed to inter-minority prejudice and those who were not exposed (as well as baseline measures with
participants not exposed to any conditions). Participants in the experimental condition will be primed to think of racial
discrimination as caused and perpetuated by Whites. RESULTS: Based on previous research in the areas of White guilt,
we expect that the participants who read the article describing inter-minority prejudice will show lower levels of guilt
for racial discrimination, as well as lower support for compensatory policies, compared to participants who do not read
about inter-minority racism. CONCLUSION: Depending on the results, this study will provide information about how
Whites react to instances of inter-minority prejudice. The results may highlight how portrayal certain events in the media
do or do not alter people’s affect and levels of support for political policy, specifically when it comes to race relations and
White people’s feelings of guilt for the discrimination that exists.
178 Room 809 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Jacob Shade, David Gow (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Salem State University
The Effect of Intensive Residential Treatment Programs on Direct Care Staff
To date, little research has examined the psychological impact that working in mental health care facilities has on direct
care staff. In Intensive Residential Treatment Programs (IRTP), the direct care staff often experience sleep deprivation,
the potential for physical violence and high levels of stress. These factors have been correlated with substance abuse.
This study will focus on the prevalence and effects of insomnia or sleep deprivation. Analyses of previous research along
with structured interviews of direct care supervisors at an IRTP were completed. The reports of the supervisors relate
to the information derived from the previous research. The lack of sleep and high levels of stress may contribute to the
incidence of substance abuse in direct care staff, and be detrimental to their well-being and health.
111
179 Room 809 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Carolyn Wilcomb, Champika Soysa (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Differential Prediction of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Self-Efficacy
PURPOSE: Researchers have established that college students experience significantly higher levels of psychological
distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) than the general population, and that it is associated with poor academic
outcomes. Researchers have found that some dimensions of mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-efficacy each
inversely predicted distress. Since mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-efficacy have not been examined together,
we examined novel aspects of these factors as predictors of distress. METHODS: Participants were 150 undergraduates
(males = 39, females = 111) over the age of 18, enrolled in at least a 12-credit course load. Materials included a
demographic form, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale: Short Form, the Self-Efficacy
Scale, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales. Participants were assessed in a group setting using a self-report
protocol. RESULTS: Examined separately, mindfulness, self-efficacy, and positive self-compassion inversely predicted
distress, while negative self-compassion positively predicted distress. When examined together, mindfulness (nonjudging, describing, acting-aware) and positive self-compassion (self-kindness) inversely predicted depression, while
negative self-compassion (isolation) positively predicted depression. In addition, three facets of mindfulness (nonjudging, non-reactivity, and acting-aware) inversely predicted anxiety. Furthermore, three facets of mindfulness (nonjudging, acting-aware, and non-reactivity) inversely predicted stress, while negative self-compassion (isolation) positively
predicted stress. Self-efficacy did not predict depression, anxiety, or stress when examined together with mindfulness
and self-compassion. CONCLUSION: Our results extend the existing literature by identifying the facets of mindfulness
and self-compassion that differentially predict depression, anxiety, and stress when examine together with self-efficacy.
These results may inform preventive clinical interventions for undergraduates.
PUBLIC HEALTH
180 Room 809 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Jessie M Gray, Mary Kate Bradley, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Creating a Social Media “App” to Spread Awareness and Information to UMASS Students about Drugs and Alcohol
The University Health Services at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst has an extensive division pertaining to the
use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. It also provides education and prevention methods. It is important to have
this information accessible to students because it can help influence responsible decisions and behavior. With the
rapid growth of technology and the use of smartphones, spreading information campus-wide has become a simple
mechanism of daily life. This capstone project is aimed at students on the UMASS campus and will be advertised and
promoted via social media. An “app” (application) will be created for smartphones that provides resources, information
and social norms facts for students to utilize. We will combine our efforts with the Campus Community Coalition and
the Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse to develop a social media app free of charge to the UMASS community. By using
PowerPoint and mock app software, we will create a health and wellness database that includes a variety of topics such
as the Town of Amherst drinking laws, Social Norm facts, and professional resources; all at the tips of your fingers. By
using different social networks such as Facebook and twitter, we will encourage students to download and effectively
use this app.
112
181 Room 803 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Lauren Corte-Real, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Bettering Healthcare Outcomes While Reducing Costs for High-End Utilizers
This capstone project reviews the problem of homeless high-end utilizers of hospital Emergency Departments;
documents the initial work of the Mercy Medical Center study on this issue; describes my role and contributions for
this study; reviews similar programs and works; unpacks lessons learned and how it may be practically applied in other
populations.
182 Room 803 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Trevon Mayers, Brithny Dolcius, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle in Massachusetts Public Schools
Obesity has been a growing epidemic in the United States for many years. Today between 16% and 33% of children
and young adults are obese. Obesity is often associated with health problems such as respiratory disorders, high blood
pressure, mortality and other preventable illnesses. In Massachusetts, health based education programs have tried
to address this issue by implementing a ban on artificial sweeteners, trans-fat and caffeine products in public school
vending machines. Despite this, obesity rates among young adults have more than doubled in the last 30 years, with
studies indicating that approximately 4.7 million youths ages 6 to 17 years are considered to be seriously overweight.
The goal of this project is to identify and analyze new strategies Massachusetts’ public schools can adopt to improve
healthy lifelong nutrition for high school students. We will design a program that includes specific guidelines to
encourage teenagers to balance food consumption with physical activity, and maintain and improve a healthy weight.
183 Room 803 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Sarah Ferguson, Aline Davis (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Framingham State University
What is the role of a Medical Examiner in Society?
Are Medical Examiners essential to the function of our society? Approximately 4.8 deaths among every one hundred
thousand people in 2010 were attributed to homicides. The need for educated forensic professionals is high, due to
the limited case load one professional office can accurately handle. The office that handles homicide cases varies from
county to county and state to state. It can differ from Coroners and Medical Examiners working side by side to some
working independently and performing the same tasks with varied degrees of education. Overall, Medical Examiners
share some similarities in their job description as Coroners and other forensic specialists, however; there are some
distinct differences. The responsibility to society as well as to the families of passed on loved ones can be overlooked
when compared to their role in the justice system. Not only do specialists in this field perform autopsies and toxicology
reports for judicial review in criminal cases but they may also be required to appear in court on behalf of the victim and
report their findings. What is the role of a Medical Examiner in society and why is it needed?
113
184 Room 803 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Esam Goodarzy, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Anza Cart Project (BIT)
Broadening Institutional Technologies Worldwide Inc. (BIT) is a not-for-profit networking organization founded in August
of 2010 whose stated mission is to “identify and support projects across the globe that reduce hardship and improve
well-being as cost effectively as possible.” To fulfill this mission, BIT has engaged in a partnership with Anza, a not-forprofit startup founded by dedicated Brown University graduates, that has developed an affordable, yet transformative,
handcart that improves the livelihoods of farmers, empowers women, and keeps children in school, by helping people
gather water and wood six times more efficiently. Anza is currently sending shipments of carts to Tanzania and selling
them to village farmers and their families. It is a donor-subsidized foundation that plans to be economically selfsustainable within the next five years. The Anza Cart Project, which BIT is now supporting, has significant positive global
health implications, as the use of the Anza Cart will allow many families to stop engaging in the physically crippling
method of transportation called “head carrying”, which causes severe neck and back problems every year. The project
also meets the Millennium Development Goals that were set by the UN in 2000, and Tanzania’s Second National
Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty by moving families out of poverty, helping children stay in school, and
improving gender equality. As one of Anza’s partner organizations, BIT will develop and implement a fundraising
strategy for Anza, promote Anza’s brand through their organization, provide project management consultation, and
assist Anza directly with its project goals.
185 Room 803 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Rebecca Headley, Elizabeth Trobaugh (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Holyoke Community College
Is Soda Killing Our Kids?
This study examines the correlation between soda consumption and rising obesity rates in American children. This
research draws from the book Food Inc., scientific studies, health and medical journal publications, and other statistical
reports and publications. These sources suggest a link between the amounts of soda and other sugar sweetened
beverages children consume and such serious health issues as childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Several courses of
action have the potential to reverse the declining health trends associated with excessive soda consumption, including
public nutrition education, regulatory legislature to restrict vending machine offerings, and taxation of sugar as well as
sugary processed foods. While it may sound extreme to say soda is killing our kids, the evidence is there to support the
statement. The health epidemics affecting our nation’s children are increasing at an alarming rate, and it is imperative to
implement solutions to protect and improve the health not only of our children, but of our nation as well.
114
186 Room 803 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Daniel Hynes, W. Brian O’Connor (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Exploring Medical Non-Governmental Organizations and their Effectiveness in Africa
Throughout the last 25 years, there has been a surge in both charities and charitable donations on the continent
of Africa. These charities vary widely in how they operate, and the purpose of this paper is to uncover what “best
practices” are most effective in the cultural and political climates of Africa today. This paper uses both secondary sources
found in the UMass library and its databases as well as primary experience gained while volunteering in Ghana. By
using both forms of research, this paper is able to acquire a broader knowledge on the “best practices” of NGOs. By
combining firsthand experience and scholarly research, I expect to see that a long-term model is best fitted for Africa.
An organization must be willing to set up roots and have a continuous presence to make a positive impact on the
community. Various governmental restrictions will also affect the efficiency of an organization. The goal of any highquality charitable organization is to successfully serve its intended community. To accomplish this feat, one must have
an effective administrative structure set up to deal with any challenges or obstacles that may arise. This paper lays out
practices that have been proven effective; and that can be used to make a real impact on the population for the better.
187 Room 803 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Jeremy Miller, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Female Masculinities in Africa: The Intersections of Economic and Sexual intercourse in the Age of AIDS
This project is a review of the literature that evaluates current sexual health intervention programs targeting women
in urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these studies, conducted primarily in Kampala, Uganda; Durban, South
Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya, suggest that the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice model of health intervention does not work
in this context. The pervasive message, adopted by internationally-funded, local non-governmental organizations and
plastered on billboards in each of these cities, reads: “It’s as easy as A-B-C: Abstinence, Be Faithful, Condoms.” However,
this model disregards the research-suggested conclusions that (a) sexual violence and other coerced/forced sex precludes
many women from negotiating their own sexual experiences (b) the prevalence of polygyny by male partners, either
with other wives, girlfriends or sex workers, (c) the overwhelming statistics that many women will knowingly participate
in unprotected sex if it involves a financial incentive. This review will offer a revisionist intervention model inspired by
the numerous strategies that have been documented as successful in this region, but more so by the shortcomings
that have been discovered. Furthermore, it relies on ethnographic accounts of African masculinities to determine which
traditionally male characteristics can be co-opted and promoted by health intervention programs to empower African
women to have the same range of sexual choices as their male counterparts. In sum, the review suggests that if urban
African women are to avoid sexual health risks and their peripheral effects, several structural changes would be required
to provide them with the traditionally masculine (and in Africa, male) benefits of wage-earning jobs, property ownership
and secondary education.
115
188 Room 803 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Anthony Rascati, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Epidemic of a Generation: Childhood Obesity in America
If left untreated, this epidemic of obesity (defined as a person with a body mass index of 30 or higher) could cause
the current child generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents along with lives full of depression and
loneliness. Critics of today’s food industries like Michael Pollan argue that the causes of childhood obesity are sociocultural, lack of access to healthy food, or lack of exercise and will power. However, these critics fail to acknowledge
new found causes of childhood obesity. Depending on the culture of the child, genetic traits specific to that culture
could lead to an increased risk of obesity. However, as Dr. Catherine Paddock of the University of Cambridge argues,
a child’s DNA could also cause early obesity as there is a certain chromosome which would cause this. Despite culture
and DNA, the psychological health of a child can lead to obesity as connections have been made between depression
and obesity in adolescents. So, why does this need to be heard? Aren’t there enough people talking about childhood
obesity? This is a serious problem which should be addressed by the entire nation, not just the medical community
and people already suffering. Using these three theories, we shall combat childhood obesity despite public weariness
about the discussion of the causes of childhood obesity. We need to build upon our existing knowledge, disrupt the
cycle of those who abuse anyone with obesity, and strike at the sources of childhood obesity. With the use of resources
such as the Center for Disease Control, Weight Watchers, my first-hand experience, and others, the outlook on
childhood obesity will be expanded and re-defined through the collusion of new ideas and insight in a roundtable like
conversation. With a situation this enormous, there are never enough solutions being proposed.
189 Room 803 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Rebecca Rwakabukoza, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Obstetric Fistula in Uganda
It is estimated that more than two million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula (OF). Obstetric fistula is a
condition where a woman, after difficult or failed child labor, develops a hole (fistula) between either her vagina and
her bladder (vesicovaginal fistula) or vagina and rectum (rectovaginal fistula). According to World Health Organization
(WHO), the factors that lead to OF are generally the same as maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as many
newborn deaths. Treatment -corrective operations -cures about 90% of the fistula cases but women continue to live in
shame, discomfort and social segregation in parts of Uganda, a country that is reported to have the third largest rates
of obstetric fistula. In Uganda, the etiology OF is explained culturally as a curse or associated with witchcraft. NonGovernmental Organizations, like Uganda Village Project and UK-based Uganda Childbirth Fund, are doing most of the
work to help the women. The organizations educate the communities as well as offer support for corrective surgery for
the affected women. This is not very effective as national hospitals (the primary source of health care in the country)
and more generally, the Ministry of Health would create a more sustainable program. More work has been done, with
combined national and international efforts, in Ethiopia to treat existing cases of OF and measures put in place to
prevent it. I will do a comparative study with Ethiopia’s response because as another sub-Saharan third-world country,
the cases of OF are similar to Uganda. In this capstone project, I will design a national health strategy for Uganda to
educate the people on what exactly is OF, and propose measures for treatment and prevention. It will combine the work
the NGOs are doing with the work that the national hospitals should be doing to reach more people.
116
190 Room 903 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Lauren Sheehan, Tameka Gillum (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Teen Dating Violence Prevention
Teen dating violence (TDV) has a profound effect on those who experience it. In Massachusetts, 11% teens report being
physically hurt by a date (Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey [MYRBS], 2009) TDV is related to numerous mental
and physical health consequences (Howard, Wang, & Yan, 2007). Research on teen dating violence has important
implications for prevention efforts aimed at reducing future violence and for improving the lives of adolescents. The
goal of this project was to educate young adolescents about dating violence and their roles as empowered bystanders
who can work to prevent sexual assault and relationship violence. This was achieved through outreach and relationship
building with local schools and community organizations to bring educational workshops to the youth they serve. This
project also aims to explore various violence prevention practices to identify those that have been most successful.
Data for this research project were gathered directly from adolescents attending healthy relationship workshops,
from facilitators’ experiences conducting these workshops with teens in this area, and from the literature. This project
is important because it is looking at the effectiveness of short dose programming, which may be more logistically
feasible for some organizations and schools than longer dose programming. It will also examine some of the barriers to
introducing TDV prevention programming into schools and explore possible solutions.
191 Room 811 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Eileen Thompson, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Reducing recidivism rates: A question of social health and the family focus approach
Every day in America approximately 1,800 men and women are released from jail. The crimes these people commit
range from multiple minor traffic violations to murder. After release, these people are thrown back into society, most of
the time with little support from their family or communities. Over the course of two semesters interning at Hampshire
County Correctional Facility, I have studied the reduction of recidivism though social support services, education, and the
ability to build a strong family connection. In this capstone project I will examine recidivism and the impact of a family
focus program. In the family focus program I will be both working with inmates and their families. The families attend
a six week session with topics that range from ending the cycle of violence, self care and how to be an encouraging
support system. The prisoners in the program work on skills for employment, risk prevention and substance abuse
education. I will explore the purpose of the program, how it is implemented, and its impacts on both a micro and macro
level. In addition, I will explore its implications on social health, both for the individual and the impact for society as a
whole. The focus of my project will be to determine whether being a part of a family focus program affects rates of
recidivism. In addition I will examine the importance of social health, defined as allowing equal access to services and
knowledge critical to function within the society. I will present data from the facility and external research gathered
though articles and journals.
117
192 Room 101 2:30-3:15 Panel 4
Devon Torres, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Radio-Television-Film, Bristol Community College
Hollywood’s (Mis)Representation Teenage Sexuality
This presentation questions the depiction of consensual adolescent sexuality in recent, Hollywood feature films. Taken
as a given that adolescent sexuality is a very real part of life, why is it then is there a dearth of films that depict it openly
and honestly? Why is it that when shown on film, audiences/viewers are presumably uncomfortable with the material?
Why are people more willing to accept or watch adolescents in sexual situations in a documentary versus a scripted film?
Why are people more lenient and accepting of the sexuality of youth in a sex farce than a serious drama? Do moral,
ethical and health concerns obviate the choices to depict sexual activity frankly and even positively?
SOCIAL THOUGHT AND POLITICAL ECONOMY
193 Room 811 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Tiago Amaral, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
American Women in High-Prestige Engineering Positions: Why Are They So Few?
Issues regarding sex discrimination have been addressed in the past decades. Legislation has been implemented
making such discrimination illegal. According to The National Science Foundation (NSF 2010), the number of graduate
enrollment by women has increased 63% from 1993 to 2006. But, the number of American women in high prestige
engineering positions has been few. Why is this? Analyzing data collected from recognized institutions regarding the
status of women continuing their studies in the engineering field and advancement in their careers, this project attempts
to show the reason for this disparity. Suggested solutions are presented to the inequality in high prestige engineering
positions.
194 Room 808 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Tyrone Smith, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Social Thought and Political Economy, Bristol Community College
Social Media Murder II
Have you ever pulled a prank on Facebook? Come delve into an extreme of pranking: a staged death. Can current
postmodern theory apply to the coping methods of various societies and the results deliver a better understanding of
how the world is changing at the pace of media? By positioning theories from different discplines, (Elizabeth KublerRoss’ “Seven Stages of Grief,” Marshall Mcluhan’s “medium is the message,” Jean Baudrillard’s “Loss of the Real”) this
inquiry seeks to unveil how each pertains to the ethics of a prank. Most importantly, what does the meta-level review
reveal about the presenter’s actions? What does the project reveal about the audience?
118
SOCIAL WORK
Tequan Jones, Gloria DiFulvio (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Academic Achievement via Youth Sports
Sport originated with the vision of pure gamesmanship and tribute to the athletic accomplishments of the body.
However, within our society sports have evolved to signify something more. Sports represent the greatest reflection our
generation have on our society and the social constructs that constrains us. The same way we have constructed our
race relations to similarly reflect the ethics of our society and the urban planning of our cities reflects our social classes.
These three social phenomenon’s work in cahoots with each other to create and inner-city minority sport culture that is
like no other. With wealth disparities and the Achievement Gap growing rapidly, many have looked for institutions that
can possible be resources for positive change especially in these urban communities that are being hit the hardest. One
venue that often gets overlooked in the usage of community youth sport leagues. With their wide range of membership
and unique scope of the social issues of our culture I believe that if they are used efficiently they can be agents for social
change. The way I will mirror potential change is by organizing the Holyoke community to create an academic regulation
policy for their youth sport leagues; this will help many of the failing students participating in sports reach academic
success. Within my study I will show the process of using inner-city youth sport leagues to address the achievement gap
and other social reforms needed.
196 Room 809 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Elise Kennedy, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Social Work, Bristol Community College
Transitions in Disability-Related Services
This project explores students’ transition from high school special needs programs to college-level disability services’
policies and procedures, especially those at Bristol Community College. What are the differences in laws that apply to
high school special needs students and those that apply to postsecondary students? The goal is to create a manual that
can be used by students—current and future—to assist as they navigate the transitions necessary to move from a high
school special needs program to disability services in a postsecondary environment. This manual will be used by current
and future BCC students to ease the transition from disability services K-12 to disability services at the postsecondary
level.
119
SOCIOLOGY
197 Room 917 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Samantha Alonso, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
The Role of American Evangelicals on the Establishment of Homophobia in Uganda
As with the current political feel of this country, Christianity has notable control over political decisions made regarding
homosexuality in the East-African country of Uganda. Palpable evidence of this reality is the manner in which Ugandan
Evangelical Pastor Martin Ssempa blazingly advocates for the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality bill, a bill drafted—though not
yet passed—by a member of the Ugandan Parliament, David Bahati, in October, 2009. This legislation, which has been
referred to as the Kill-the-Gays bill due to its proposed punishments for “serial homosexual offenders,” is based solely
on religious doctrine. However, Ugandan religious leaders are not the only ones credited for influencing lawmakers into
drafting this bill; rather, there has been speculation on whether or not a visit made by American Scott Lively and other
Evangelicals a month prior to the drafting of this bill was the catalyst for the increasingly homophobic tendencies and
responses in Uganda. By examining literature written by these Evangelicals, reading newspapers from Uganda, and
extracting material from interviews, talks, and conferences regarding the work of key players coupled with the response
of the Ugandan public, this paper inspects the motives these American religious leaders have had for preaching in
Uganda. The main objective of this paper is to assess the influence these Americans had on establishing this extreme
homophobia in the country and subsequent formulation of this bill. The results of this on-going research are currently
indicating that there was indeed a cleverly crafted and delivered force from the part of the American Evangelicals which
led to the cultural and legal hatred towards gays and lesbians. Thus, this research is significant in today’s society as it
shows the detrimental consequences the work and preaching of American religious leaders have had and continue to
have on African cultures such as Uganda.
198 Room 917 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Paola Arango, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Guilty Pleasure: A study of Catholic guilt and it’s influence on collegiate student’s sexual behavior.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence that Catholic guilt has on the sexual behavior of undergraduate
collegiate students. Catholic doctrine states that sex before marriage is a sin (this includes all sexual behaviors). A
sense of guilt can be instilled in them thus creating what is referred as Catholic Guilt. Previous studies have shown that
student’s who have either a Catholic background and/or currently identify as Catholic engage in sexual behaviors as
much as those students who do not identify with the Catholic religion. However, there are other studies imply that this
is not necessarily the case. This project examines for whether Catholic guilt has any influence on the sexual behavior
of undergraduate college students. I have used an online survey to collect the data. The survey was posted in social
networking sites and sent to students via email in order to reach the largest sample of students possible. My research
suggests that Catholicism has less influence on sexual behaviors than some commentators assumed.
120
199 Room 917 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Marisa Baglaneas, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
“No Means No” and “Yes means Yes”: SlutWalk, Sexuality, and Shifting Narratives in Contemporary Feminist
Conversations
In January of 2011, a comment made to a room full of students at a university in Toronto sparked a global movement.
The police officer advised the students that to avoid being sexually assaulted, “women should avoid dressing like sluts.”
Thus SlutWalk was born, a protest march that has taken place all over the world. SlutWalk has been the most hotly
contested event in feminist activism in recent years. By studying SlutWalk, we can better understand the contemporary
narrative around women’s sexuality and the lasting impact of SlutWalk. I will argue that SlutWalk is a successful example
of the mobilization of the slut persona as activism, an idea attributed to Dr. Feona Attwood. SlutWalk has refocused
women’s activism on sexual freedom rather than focusing entirely on sexual violence. SlutWalk has also exemplified
racial tensions in feminist activism and single-issue politics. To study SlutWalk, I have conducted numerous interviews
with SlutWalk organizers, participants, and observers. I have also examined and analyzed media attention surrounding
SlutWalk. By studying SlutWalk we can better understand the changing discourse of sexual violence and women’s
sexuality as being more separated in feminist movements. I will also place slut in a historical context by providing a brief
history of the word’s close relative, “nymphomania.”
200 Room 917 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Katelyn Blaney, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
The Hard Truth: A Cross Cultural Comparison of How Pfizer Uses Sexuality to Sell Viagra in the United States, New
Zealand, and Canada
In recent years the pharmaceutical industry has become one of the most controversial and powerful global industries
generating over 500 billion dollars in annual profit. One of the leading factors contributing to Big Pharma’s power as a
dominant force driving medicalization is Direct-to-Consumer Advertising (DTCA). DTCA of pharmaceuticals was legalized
in the United States in 1997 and is currently only permitted in two countries, the United States and New Zealand. Critics
of DTCA argue that pharmaceutical companies take advantage of consumers with potentially misleading advertising
techniques. One such technique involves exploiting sexual norms to convince consumers that they need a certain drug.
Viagra, a drug for male erectile dysfunction, was approved by the FDA one year after the legalization of DTCA in 1998
and as such became Pfizer’s first experience with advertising to consumers. Today Viagra consistently generates over
1 billion in annual sales and is one of the most recognized brand names in the world, second only to Coca-Cola. This
project is a content analysis of print and television advertisements from the United States, New Zealand, and Canada.
It explores whether and how DTCA has shaped advertising for erectile dysfunction drugs. It suggests the importance of
both sexual culture and consumer regulations in how the pharmaceutical companies construct their advertisements and
deploy sexual and gender norms.
121
201 Room 917 1:30-2:15 Panel 3
Rose Egan, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
NOT Just Married: An Analysis of the Use of Social Scientific Data in Court Cases
In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as between a man and a
woman. Since DOMA, state legislatures and courts have provided key arenas for opposing sides to contest same-sex
marriage on the state level. Due to many legislatures passing anti-same-sex marriage amendments and statutes, progay marriage organizations have turned to the judicial system to confront the opposition. Arsenals of experts in social
scientific fields testify to the mental health and lives of gay people. This paper analyzes the use of social scientific data in
historic court cases such as Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) and Perry v. Schwarzenegger (2010) using court decisions, amicus
briefs, and law reviews. The court cases used arguments that drew upon a wealth of information including the law,
historical surveys, psychological studies, and economic studies. Social scientific data appears widely used throughout
the court cases to construct an image of gay people. Many organizations present this social scientific data, beyond the
courtroom, to the legislature and society as well. Thus, a deeper analysis of this commonly used data proves necessary.
202 Room 917 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Kelly Gibson, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Redefining Gender: A Critical Look into the Mind of John Money and His Theories on Gender
For several years the distinction between sex and gender have been two notions that are relatively set in stone. However,
these terms have not always been separately defined. Before the 1970s, these words were used interchangeably, and
in even earlier times gender was rarely used at all. Scientist and society alike, used sex to describe body status, erotics
acts and behaviors, and also psychosexual status (identity). This became especially confusing when describing the term
hermaphrodites sexual identity compared with their body status. Thanks to John Money’s research the terms developed
into two separate entities, allowing for a more clear-cut discussion. John Money was a noted sexologist and psychologist
during this time, and was best known for his work on hermaphrodites, gender, and sexual identity. Money was the
first person who had referred to gender as a human attribute. However, Money did not want people to see sex as
strictly biological and gender as strictly social. He was not a supporter of this dichotomy nor did he support the nature
verses nurture debate. He thought both played a major role in defining gender. He used gender as an umbrella term to
describe sex, sexual behaviors, and most importantly non-erotic behaviors. Non-erotic behaviors define feminine and
masculine characteristics, which in turn, are used to define ones gender identity/role, a term Money coined through
his gender research. John Money not only redefined theories of gender, but used those ideas to create a practice for
treating hermaphroditic patients and those with gender identity disorders. After reading several books, articles, and
studies, I have grasped a better understanding of John Money’s theories and definitions of gender. I also researched the
notable historical movements of that time period including the sexual revolution, second wave feminism, and the gay
rights movement. I situated Money’s work into a larger more historical context of the time when his research was the
most influential in the 60s-80s. Although highly criticized, I found that John Money to be a man who played a major
role in the theories of gender regardless of whether his role is seen as negative or positive. Money’s ideas dominated the
1970s and 80s, because they were complicated and radical. It is important to know where these ideas came from and
why they played such a dominant role.
122
203 Room 803 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Eden Holt, Jorge Capetillo (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Boston
Secrets in Paradise: The Proliferation of Prostitution and Abuse in Vieques Under U.S Military Occupation
Despite the vast amount of information, studies and ongoing research about the environmental effects of the military
presence on the island of Vieques there is little available research about the social consequences. Between the years of
1941 and 1950 the United States government expropriated two thirds of the small Caribbean island of Vieques. This
land was used for bombing practice and to store ammunition. Even though the social aspect of the military presence has
not been adequately researched there is reason to believe that the military’s presence on the island had a tremendous
effect on the population then and now. Through the lens of various local testimonies and comparative research I
provide an outline of key similarities between Vieques and other countries that have succumbed to the presence of
the United States military on their native land. The stark similarities between East Asian countries like Japan, South
Korea, and Thailand leave no question that more is left to be uncovered about the social reality created by U.S. military
presence. A history of social upheaval has been one of many contributing factors to the island’s current social and
financial difficulties. Testimonies of various Vieques natives and Viequenze literature draw a descriptive picture of abuse,
degradation, and unrest that haunt the small community to this day. Vieques’s place as one of the poorest municipalities
of Puerto Rico furthers the claim that there is more than environmental damage to be cleaned up on the island.
204 Room 917 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Katherine Laorenza, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Gender Identity Disorder; A Tool for Producing Gender Stereotypes?
Gender Identity Disorder, GID, is the diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, DSM-IV-TR
which is used by psychologists and physicians to diagnose and treat individuals whose gender identity and biological
sex are incongruent. The GID diagnosis has sparked controversy as the DSM is undergoing revision for its fifth edition,
DSM-5, set to be released later this year. Some of the most notable groups involved in the debate at the Gender Identity
Reform Advocates, members of the American Psychological Association, and a multitude of prominent psychologists
and doctors in the field of psychiatry. Since the release of its first edition in 1952, critics have argued that the DSM has
been an instrumental tool in producing and reinforcing gender stereotypes. This project examines the evolution of sexual
identities and gender roles in the DSM, specifically relating to Gender Identity Disorder since it was first included in the
3rd edition in 1980. I will examine the arguments from different groups and what evidence they are using to back up
their positions. Although the DSM emerged with the intent to help individuals truly suffering from mental illness critics
have argued the DSM has become more of a mechanism for social control. If this is true then we must ask; has the DSM
become a tool for stereotypes. In regards to GID, has it become a tool for producing gender stereotypes? Throughout
this paper I will show the way in which the DSM produces sexual and gender identities.
123
205 Room 909 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Alexandra Smialek, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
The Polish Joke: Masking (In)Equality in America
Despite the fact that discrimination against Poles is seen as comedic or justified in American society, I argue that it is
a form of racism and bullying. As a country, we must begin to focus on those who discriminate in order to help those
who are discriminated against; this will require both the use of logical and emotional perspectives. Analyzing statements
made in news articles written by Brunell, Bushwick, Garland, Garstka, and Kalinowski, and using examples from my own
experience, I claim that incidents like “Polish Jokes,” that stem from misunderstandings and word of mouth, display
inaccurate reasoning, and lack both evidence and historical accuracy. I will also discuss the effects of this discrimination,
which include Poles experiencing: anxiety, insecurity, unhappiness, fear, and embarrassment. We can educate those who
discriminate against Poles in order for there to be progress in preventing bigotry by supporting equality and respect in
America among all races. While others may argue that jokes and statements, such as those made by Fox news claiming
that Poles were Nazi collaborators, are a form of free speech, I state that such discrimination and bullying shows
America not to be the melting pot of cultures, but a land of inequality.
206 Room 917 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Elizabeth Sullivan, Janice Irvine (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Let’s Talk About Sex!
This study examines collegiate conversations on sex and sexuality. Specifically, it analyzes the contextual environment
in which sexual discussions arise as well as potential gender differences in subject matter, truthfulness and audience.
The primary data for this study is from an online survey of 30 questions. The survey considered a wide range of
dialogue styles from gossip to “pillow talk.” It also questioned students about their comfort levels when discussing
topics as innocuous as age and as heavy as masturbation. Through social media tools and email lists, over 350 students
responded to the survey. Preliminary results from the study show sexual conversations among college students are
shaped by gender, social context and broader sexual norms. In particular, the data demonstrate that by the time
adolescents become college students, they have already identified social expectations regarding sexuality and learned
how to portray the ideal mate in conversation.
124
SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND CRIME AND JUSTICE STUDIES
207 Room 811 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Alicia Scott, Vanessa Martinez (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Anthropology, Holyoke Community College
Is Civil War the Only Answer? An Examination of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Is Civil War the Only Answer? An Examination of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Daily, the news
media reports about armed conflicts between and within countries. Recently, the Arab Spring has left Egypt and other
former Middle Eastern dictatorships struggling with how to acknowledge their past while moving forward toward
democracy. At this historic moment, it’s useful to remember that other nations, most notably South Africa, have
successfully shifted to a democratic government while avoiding armed conflict. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
was South Africa’s attempt to avoid civil war during the transition from an apartheid government. This paper examines
the precepts of restorative justice and how effectively they were implemented in South Africa. Research materials
included the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Desmond Tutu’s book, No Future Without
Forgiveness, and journal articles by various legal and political science scholars. I conclude that granting of amnesty to
perpetrators and the lack of reparations to victims prevented the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from being a
more widely accepted vehicle for genuine change. Nevertheless, South Africa’s commitment to a restorative justice
model prevented civil war and created a lasting political climate of conciliation. My initial research suggests that the
principles of restorative justice could be applied effectively in the Middle East, and leads me to wonder why restorative
justice is not considered a more viable option for addressing global conflict.
SPANISH
208 Room 911 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Rebecca L.C. Hoell, Luiz Amaral (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Spanish, UMass Amherst
Age and the Acquisition of OPC in Advanced L2 Spanish Learners
This study examines the role of age in Spanish L2 acquisition. It seeks to provide support for the Critical Period
Hypothesis (CPH) (Lenneberg, 1967). The study focuses on the acquisition of the Overt Pronoun Constraint (OPC) by
second language speakers. It builds upon the work done by Kanno (1997) and Perez-Leroux (1997) related to the
acquisition of the OPC in L2 learners. We ran an acquisition experiment with two groups of advanced high school
Spanish learners; one group (group A), who began instruction before the critical period (age 6-7) and another one
(group B), who began at the close of the period (age 11-12). Students were presented with what appears to be a
comprehension test in the style of the MCAS or SATs in which they were asked to determine whether sentences
could describe a given situation. Within the test sentences, we presented some which violate the OPC and others that
respected the constraint. Results are analyzed in light of the CPH.
125
THEATRE
209 Room 911 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Peter Scibak, Patricia Sandoval (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Theatre, Holyoke Community College
Puppets and Protest: Examining Alternative Theatre Movements in the Vietnam Era
In times of crisis it is often helpful to turn to the past for guidance. We are now experiencing a rise in global protests on
many fronts and many of these protests have echoes in the recent past of the Vietnam era. This paper attempts to gain
insight into the turbulence of protest through the study of four distinct alternative theatre movements of the 1960s. This
paper considers the efficacy of the Vietnam protest theatres by examining the work of companies such as The Living
Theatre and Bread and Puppet, as well as topical plays of the time like Garson’s MacBird! In addition, this paper utilizes
both pre-existing as well as original research into the topic of American protest theatre. Focusing on techniques such
as guerilla theatre as well as examples of audience participatory productions reveals patterns in the ways that Vietnamera theatre movements addressed social issues. Ultimately this research provides insight on protest theatre both during
the Vietnam era and as it stands today, while also looking to these earlier productions as a potential model to address
contemporary social issues.
VETERINARY SCIENCE
210 Room 176 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Chelsea Cummings, Ana Maria Salicioni (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst
Biochemical characterization of Testis-Specific Serine Kinase 1 (TSSK1) using a non-radioactive kinase activity approach
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a non-radioactive kinase assay that is capable of detecting testisspecific kinase 1 (TSSK1) activity. Using this new assay, our goal was to characterize the biochemical properties of this
enzyme in vitro that can then be adapted for searching TSSK1 inhibitors by high-throughput screening (HTS) assays.
METHODS: We used the ADP-Glo kinase detection kit designed by Promega in order to detect kinase activity using
luminescence as an endpoint. In addition, this assay involved the use of an automatized plate reader for detection of
kinase activity and analysis of enzyme kinetics. Protein kinase A (PKA) is a serine kinase with known substrates and
inhibitors and was therefore used as a comparative model for detecting TSSK1 activity. RESULTS: Experiments with
PKA show that luminescence values are directly correlated to PKA concentration. In addition, we found that H89 is
able to inhibit PKA activity at concentrations as low as 300nM. Preliminary results for TSSKs show that the ADP-Glo
kit is a useful tool for detecting TSSK1 and TSSK2 activity at concentrations as low as 155 ng. Furthermore, using this
luminescence approach, we were able to detect TSSKs autophosphorylation, which is known to occur in TSSK1 and
TSSK2, but not in TSSK6. CONCLUSION: Based on the data collected thus far, it can be concluded that the ADP-Glo kit
is capable of detecting both PKA and TSSK1 activity. Ongoing experiments are aimed at characterizing the biochemical
characteristics of TSSK1 by inhibiting its activity with broad-spectrum kinase inhibitors.
126
211 Room 162 3:30-4:15 Panel 5
Savannah Lloyd, Rafael Fissore (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Veterinary Science, UMass Amherst
SrCl2-induced Oscillations in Germinal Vesicle (GV) and Metaphase II (MII) Oocytes and the Impact of Temperature
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: External Ca2+ influx is important for oocyte physiology. It is unknown which channels mediate
the influx and whether they change during maturation, as GV oocytes transition to MII. This study was conducted to
determine the channels that participate in Ca2+ influx during mouse oocyte maturation. Identifying the active channels
will deepen our understanding of oocyte physiology and assist in the development of new maturation protocols to
improve success rate in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). METHODS: Databases documenting presence of gene
transcripts for Ca2+ channels were examined. Ca2+ monitoring studies were performed in GV and MII oocytes loaded
with Fura-2AM, a fluorescent indicator, and exposed to 10mM SrCl2, which triggered oscillations. Measurements were
performed at room temperature (RT) or at 37°C after using a heating-stage. The Ca2+ responses at different stages of
maturation and the effects of temperature in both stages were evaluated. RESULTS: SrCl2 induced oscillations in nearly
all oocytes maintained at GV stage at RT. When the temperature was raised to 37°C, oscillations ceased. When MII
oocytes were exposed to SrCl2 at RT, oscillations occurred in a few oocytes with low frequency. When the temperature
was raised to 37°C, SrCl2-induced oscillations greatly increased in frequency and in the number of oocytes showing
responses. Lowering the temperature to RT greatly diminished both parameters. The addition of Dithiothreitol (DTT),
1mM, to MII oocytes increased SrCl2-induced oscillations. CONCLUSION: Different Ca2+ channels and/or different
regulatory mechanisms seem to control Ca2+influx in GV and MII oocytes. Because of the sensitivity to temperature, at
least one of the channels mediating Ca2+ influx seems to belong to the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family.
WOMEN’S STUDIES
212 Room 911 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Katelyn Anderstrom, Rebecca Burwell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
Student Awareness of Violence Against Women using Activist Theatre
Eve Ensler has been a leader in feminist theatre over the past two decades. She has brought to awareness major issues
surrounding violence against women on a global scale. Through The Vagina Monologues and her creation of V-Day,
Ensler has educated women and men in using theatre and the power of performance to fuel feminist activism. For
four years I have been a cast member in her production of The Vagina Monologues on my university campus, and have
spent two of those years organizing it. Through these experiences, I have gathered student audience testimonies about
how their views on women and violence towards women have changed as a result of viewing the performance. These
qualitative reports have fueled my interest in empirically examining whether theatre is an effective method of activism
in educating students about social justice issues. In addition, I am seeking to examine how emotional state mediates
students’ learning (i.e., as the process by which viewing The Vagina Monologues is linked with greater learning about
issues related to women). To assess these questions, I will be assessing students’ emotional state and their knowledge
about violence towards women before and after our university performance of The Vagina Monologues. Comparison
groups, completing the same measures of emotional state and knowledge of violence towards women, will comprise
a group of students reading a pamphlet with factual information on violence towards women and also a control
group of students who neither read the pamphlet nor attend the performance. I hypothesize that college students
who are exposed to activist theatre are more likely to experience higher educational awareness of issues surrounding
women than those reading a pamphlet on the topic or those without any information, and that it will be through their
enhanced emotional state that this change occurs.
127
213 Room 911 10:40-11:25 Panel 1
Stephanie Bonvissuto, Christina Bobel (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Women’s Studies, UMass Boston
Dancing Around Alternativity: Complicating Freedom, Community and Economy in Jamband Music Culture
Purpose: The claims of music scenes proclaimed as alternative, either through self-identification or other manifestations,
have not been thoroughly examined to date. Yet, the arena surrounding ‘jamband’ music (in the northeastern United
States) is rife with factors that complicate this musical genre’s status as alternative from mainstream culture. Methods:
Our team employed a feminist ethnographic approach and a neo-tribal perspective to interrogate the ‘jamband’
music scene. Over a period of two months we visited a total of 10 field sites, and conducted 4 (both semi-structured
and structured) interviews. We also examined previously existing peer reviewed literature that investigated both the
jamband scene and other alternative music sub-cultures. Results: Using the metaphor of a living breathing body, we
categorized our findings into three aspects of the scene: 1) Physical and sexual orientation expression, 2) Community
dynamics and 3) economic system. We found within these categories there lay many contradictions and complications.
For example though the scene boasted a freedom of expression through dress, we observed that to be a member of
the scene individuals are limited by what the scene prescribes as acceptable. Conclusion: The jamband scene upholds
and encourages alternative practices while simultaneously reinforces certain mainstream conventions, such as physical
expressions, community stratification and an exploitative economy which it seeks to avoid.
214 Room 811 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Amber R Andrerson, Katie Corey, Andrea Chiarenza, Christina Bobel (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Women’s Studies, UMass Boston
“By the Common Man, For the Common Man”: How ‘Common Man Masculinity’ Plays Out in Sports Fandom
A robust literature explores the gendered dimensions of sport, though much of it focuses on athlete experiences. Fewer
studies, however, explore the gendered aspects of sports fandom. This ethnographic study, combining participant
observation of three large sports bars, a popular sports blog and three in-depth interviews, examines a specific kind
of masculinity dominant in sport spectator culture, what we call ‘common man masculinity.’ This particular variant of
masculinity, we argue, constitutes a “boys club” culture enacted through the celebration of violence, exclusivity, and
negative and patronizing attitudes toward women. Violence is present in major league sporting events and in the
spectator culture. Fighting--both verbal and physical-- is encouraged among audience members in both bar culture
and online settings. In these settings women become objects, and are treated as merely “housewives” whose role,
as bartenders and servers, is limited to “taking care” of the male patrons. Women are further objectified through
their attire (required of their job) and the demeaning commentary made by male patrons. At the same time, men
critique other men in this setting deemed lesser men as designated through their substandard sport knowledge, attire
and behavior. This performance of ‘common man masculinity’ produces and deepens man-to-man bonding. The
combination of these actions deepens hyper masculinity within sports spectator culture and produces a space enjoyed by
only certain men.
128
215 Room 811 11:35-12:20 Panel 2
Samantha Ribeiro, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
A Thinning Line: TheNegative Effects of Media Advertising on Body Image in Young Women
As is argued by Psychology professor Stacey Tantleff-Dunn, Psychoanalyst Susie Orbach, and feminist philosopher Susan
Bordo, superficial media and advertisements that surround young women make it nearly impossible for them to escape
the pressure to be thin, wreaking havoc on their mental and physical health. Referring to images discussed by Orbach
and Bordo, and those I have seen on television and in magazines, I argue that the media condemns hunger and eating
while celebrating the idea of being ultra skinny. As a result of the constant invasion of technology in our lives, such
images are so pervasive in young women’s lives beginning from childhood that our understanding of the line between
the way a model or celebrity looks and the way an ordinary person should look has thinned to the point of being nearly
indistinguishable. Raising awareness about the effects of such images is crucial, as their impact is especially dangerous
to young women, who are particularly sensitive to the way they are viewed by others. This desire to be thin consumes
young women to the point that they sacrifice their own dreams, talents, and potential in order to meet a ridiculous
standard of beauty that is sometimes manifested in such diseases as anorexia and bulimia, which have higher death
rates than any other form of mental illness.
poster session
129
Abstracts • Poster Sessions
ACCOUNTING
216 Auditorium 3:30-4:15 Board 26A
Brenda Hernandez, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Fear of Asking: What Factors Are Keeping Latinos Away from Applying for Business Loans?
As the number of Latinos in the United States continues to grow rapidly, the number of Latino businesses has only
slightly increased. This study was conducted to find out the factors that are keeping Latinos away from applying
for business loans. By conducting interviews with providers of financing, business owners who have and have not
succeeded in getting business loans and counselors who help entrepreneurs looking for financing, this paper will try to
identify the factors that are keeping Latinos from applying for loans. Also, a participant observation will be conducted
at a seminar for businesses people who are seeking to open their own business. This study will test the hypothesis that
Latinos aren’t applying for business loans because of their fear of higher institutions such as the government. This study
will guide actions to help Latinos open businesses and therefore help the United States economy grow. It will also guide
counselors to better help them once we know what the key issues are.
Charles Lu, Yuzhu (Julia) Li (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Dartmouth
Modern Business Dilemma - Privacy Audit in Accounting Information Systems (AIS)
Modern Business Dilemma Privacy Audit in Accounting Information Systems (AIS) Charles Lu ABSTRACT PURPOSE:
Today’s global economy, facilitated by information technology (IT), offers new business opportunities as traditional
business processes extend beyond the physical work environment. From data collected by multi-corps, data miners,
often as third parties, discover business intelligence to connect business partners, consumers, and suppliers for their
mutual benefits. Even though consumers gain an edge in bargaining and enjoy transaction conveniences, they lose their
privacy. The ubiquitous accessibility of exoinformation, unconscious and unintentional flow of data, has brought public
demands for privacy protection. Current practice of Privacy Audit, an emerging service for accounting professionals,
assesses an organization’s Accounting Information System (AIS) for its operational compliance with Generally Accepted
Privacy Principal (GAPP). However, a lack of conceptual framework fails to assure privacy continuously. This thesis
proposes a solution for real-time privacy assurance. METHODS: The primary method is library research to obtain
information about privacy audit regulations and continuous auditing approaches. Interviews with Accounting/IT
professionals supplement understanding with general practice in real world by comparative case study. RESULTS: The
research results include a conceptual framework for cybermediaries to perform effective continuous auditing that assures
a company’s internal controls of privacy. CONCLUSION: This interdisciplinary research of accounting and information
systems has produced a framework of using computer-assisted audit techniques to provide real-time privacy assurance
for AIS. The framework systematically examines all the components of computerized AIS including people, procedures,
hardware, software, data communications, and databases. It offers self-assessment for internal auditing as well as trust
service for external auditing.
130
Alex Osei Bonsu, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
The Significance of Behavioral Economics
Over the years the principles and models of mainstream economics have been used to provide answers to the rational
decisions people make. The purpose of this presentation is to bring a different dimension of economics that provides
answers to the irrational choices consumers make. Using scholarly journals and articles from the Quinsigamond
Community College library database, Boston Public Library database and Library of Economics and Liberty, this
presentation elaborates on psychology as it relates to the economic decision making processes of individuals and
institutions. Like all revolutions in thought, behavioral economics began with anomalies, strange facts, odd observations
that the prevailing wisdom could not explain. People say they want to save for retirement, eat better, start exercising,
quit smoking- and they mean it- but they do not such things. Economists have assumed that people’s economic choices
are always rational since they are motivated by need and limited by scarcity. Mainstream Economics identify a consumer
as an intelligent and analytical creature, who has perfect self-regulations in pursuit of his future goals and he is not
swayed by bodily states and feelings. This consumer is a perfect person and truly speaking, this consumer does not exist.
In general, consumers demonstrate all manner of irrational, self-sabotaging and even altruistic behavior which might
be very hard to predict as the behaviors of humans are not always rigid and predictable. With the help of behavioral
economics, irrational decision humans make can be understood.
Selvapriya Selvarasah, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Native American’s attitude towards Nature
The North American continent contained native people as diverse as the landscape. Each tribe’s traditions and
mythologies reflected their way of life and provided meaning, balance and a sense of the environment. These structures
were determined by the natural rhythms of their environments. This project examines the believe of Inuit Northern
Native tribes, Cherokee Indians, Isleta Puebla tribes to determine what modern, western society can learn from
them. The research was conducted was by reviewing anthropological literature, work of history, and Native American
resources. The project concludes that these traditions have much to teach us about how we regard and treat our
environment
Wevertton Souza, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Najavo Indians’ Third Fourth and Fifth Genders
What do the North Native American Indians know about gender roles and identity that we, as a modern society, have
difficulties accepting? Navajo culture has third, fourth and fifth genders not based o nsuxuality. The analysis of the
Navajo genders was researched through online peer-reviewed articles and the book Two-Spirit People. The works cited
were from anthropologists, sociologists, and historians. Furthermore, the effects of western customs are discussed as an
influence on native culture. Lastly, an argument of what would happen if Western Culture embraced native customs of a
three-plus gender society is presented.
131
ANIMAL SCIENCES
Daniela PIerre-Toussaint, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Presage to an Ending
The practice of whaling is a classic demonstration of humans’ abuse of animals. Today, humans have developed
extremely efficient ways to unfairly take advantage of many types of animals. By comparing the novel Moby-Dick
with current animal factory farming operations, this project shows how past whaling practices correlates with modern
animal exploitation. The project examines scientific journals, critical literature, and industry and blog data, and finds
that although human attitudes have remained the same, the use of technology in such animal treatment intesifies the
devastating effects in nature. The project concludes that people should cease such animal abuse and learn that the
ending in Moby Dick presages nature’s revenge on those who mistreat it.
ANTHROPOLOGY
Melissa Masse, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Anthropology, Bristol Community College
Using Board Game Artifacts in the Study of Ancient Civilizations
Board game artifacts are useful tools for the study of ancient civilizations. Besides the date of the artifact itself,
archeologists learn a lot about a culture by studying where the game was found, the materials used, the purpose for
which the game was designed to be used and the format of the game play to understand certain aspects of the culture
at that time. Studying the format of a game gives people insight into a culture’s values and lifestyles, including ideas
related to the afterlife, war, divination and religious practices. Artifacts from board games are also important in the study
of migration and trade between civilizations. The games develop as they travel with each community contributing its
own unique variety of materials, designs, and variations to the game. This allows archeologists to track the movement
and incorporation of new game traits from one culture to the next.
132
ART
Lisa Leary, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Designing a Better Future: A Graphic Designers’ Role in Harm-free Advertising
Despite current media strategies that use model- and actor- driven ads that promote unrealistic representations of
people, recent research by Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Rebecca Feasey and Director of the Normal Lear Center
Johanna Blakley suggests that product-driven ads are more persuasive to the average consumer. Explaining the harm
done to people as a result of ads, I, along with 33 graphic designers who signed the “First Things First Manifesto 2000”
pledging not to compromise their morality by engaging in harmful ad-creation, argue that graphic designers should
not hold themselves accountable for harmful, advertising nor should they believe they are powerless to change. Rather
than potentially harm their career, I use information from a personal interview with seasoned graphic designer Uthai
Panayakul to explain that all graphic designers have options and ways to challenge clients and others who want to
promote harmful images. Graphic designers who work directly with clients and receive a request they perceive to be
harmful should direct the client toward product-driven ads or, if need be, politely reject the client. Graphic designers
who work under a supervisor can relay these strategies to their supervisors, and engage themselves in design projects
that promote harm-free advertising. Rather than allow ads to hurt the professional careers of groups who are targeted
and stereotyped by ads, as Cheryl Preston’s research evidences they are, graphic designers can challenge current
strategies and design a fairer future for everyone.
Lauren Middleton, Jeanette Cole (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Art, UMass Amherst
Birth, Death, and Re-Birth: Exploring Cycles through Visual Metaphor
I am interested in life and death cycles as they pertain to the physical body and to human psychology and relationships.
Learning to let go of people, of past loves, of places I once called home, and of beliefs about myself and others is a
process that I feel deeply and consistently. Objects that mirror these patterns in the natural world, organic matter, and in
my own body serve as powerful metaphors to visually depict these processes. The act of painting is a meditation on the
emotional and physical cycles of holding on and letting go, of inhaling and exhaling, and of birth and death, and gives
physical form and interpretation to these experiences so that they may be examined, better understood, and accepted.
In developing my own personal visual language to convey these ideas, studying the life and death imagery of the 20th
century American painter Georgia O’Keeffe has been instrumental. In an effort to better understand the influences of
the context in which she lived and made her work for the second half of her life, I spent two weeks in New Mexico,
studying her work in person at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, visiting the places she lived and painted, and
investigating the current artistic community in the Santa Fe and Taos areas. I am exploring the influence of the New
Mexican landscape and its artistic culture, both past and present, on the body of work I am producing.
133
Brittany Norton, David Shapleigh (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Art, Westfield State University
Raising Awareness for the Endangered Species of Costa Rica
After making an intensive two-week trip through Costa Rica to explore its unique ecosystems, I wanted to create a
painting that would raise awareness about the endangerment of species due to deforestation and pollution. As a place
that holds 4% of the world’s biodiversity, it is crucial that Costa Rica’s environment stay preserved and that changes
are being made to reverse the damage that has already been done. One painting is of a Scarlet Macaw, a beautiful yet
highly endangered bird of Costa Rica. The second painting portrays the Harlequin frog, a species once thought to be
extinct but is now slowly repopulating. Each subject is alone within its environment to emphasize the scarcity of these
rare species. The sense of loneliness and emptiness within these painted environments helps get the message across that
these species are in need of help and that changes must be made in order to restore the species population.
BIOCHEMISTRY
226 Concourse 2:30-3:15 Board 61C
Inna Brockman, Matthew Holden (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Pep-1 Assisted Membrane Transport
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) enable the transportation of large molecular cargo across cell membranes. This concept
could be very useful for delivery of functional therapeutic agents to specific regions of the cell. This process usually
works by several CPPs covalently binding to the cargo of interest, which can be DNA, a protein, or a nanoparticle.
Through this binding, a complex is created between the peptide and the cargo and these complexes are taken in by
the cell through the process of endocytosis. Some CPPs, however, have the unique ability to transport cargo through
noncovalent bonding, such as electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. When this happens, a complex is also formed,
which crosses the cell membrane and then dissociates. The cargo is dropped off in the cell’s cytoplasm, which is a better
way to delivery molecules because it bypasses the steps required to release a compound from endocytotic vesicles.
The cargo is unhindered with no covalent bonding and possible unfavorable interactions. The CPP that is used in this
study is Pep-1. In an earlier study, Holden et al. showed the Pep-1 mediated translocation of horseradish peroxidase
(HRP) across a droplet interface bilayer (DIB). The translocation of HRP and Pep-1 was monitored by electrophysiology,
and the amount of translocated HRP was determined by fusing the droplet with an excess of a fluorogenic substance
and imaged with a fluorescent microscope. It has been called to question, however, whether or not HRP and Pep-1
form a complex, and together cross the membrane or whether they work independently. In this study, Pep-1 and HRP
will be added separately. This way, the electrophysiology recordings collected from only Pep-1 and then Pep-1 + HRP
experiments can be compared. A device informally called the “adder chip” will be used instead of a DIB. With the
adder chip, contents can be added to one side of the bilayer, unlike in the DIB. This will allow for a recording with Pep-1
followed by the addition of HRP. The difference in electrophysiology recordings will help determine whether or not Pep-1
and HRP work together to cross the cell membrane or not.
134
Kathleen Burns, Alejandro Heuck (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biochemistry, UMass Amherst
Perfringolysin O Recognition of Cholesterol in Cellular Membranes
In the United States, the number one source of deaths for both men and women alone is cardiovascular disease, with
more than 800,000 deaths in 2005. Cardiovascular disease develops due to atherosclerosis, the slow but progressive
hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This hardening is caused by fat, cholesterol and other substances that buildup
in the arteries called plaque, which may ultimately lead to arterial blockage. Cholesterol is a major component involved
in atherosclerosis, understanding its role and function in plaque buildup is critical to finding drugs and therapies that
prevent this disease. Cholesterol is an important component of mammalian cell membranes, affecting membrane
permeability and fluidity. High cholesterol levels have been associated with the development of atherosclerosis; however
several aspects of cholesterol regulation and transport in cellular membranes still remain unclear. The protein toxin
Perfringolysin O (PFO) is a cholesterol dependent cytolysin that is secreted by Clostridium Perfringens, the pathogenic
bacteria associated with gas gangrene. Upon recognition of and binding to cholesterol containing membranes, PFO
inserts into these membranes forming a large transmembrane β-barrel pore (300Å in diameter). The C-terminal end
of PFO (domain 4), is responsible for the cholesterol-dependent initial binding to membranes. PFO has been shown to
bind to membranes with high levels of cholesterol, and can be used to detect cholesterol in eukaryotic membranes. To
expand the usefulness of PFO as a molecular probe we have introduced several mutations to prevent pore formation,
and added specific mutations aimed to modify the cholesterol-dependent binding. These PFO derivatives will be used to
identify high and low levels of cholesterol in cell membranes, and to study cholesterol transport and regulation in the
cell.
Robert Chan, Manickam Sugumaran (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biochemistry, UMass Boston
Cuticular Sclerotization and the Reaction of N-acetyldopamine with N-acetylhistidine
Purpose: Insects have affected the survival of humans by destroying the agricultural products and spreading several
devastating diseases. Yet they are also extremely helpful and remarkably resourceful. Their success as terrestrial
animals is usually attributed to the high versatility of their exoskeleton which helps protect them from environmental
enemies, dehydration, and provides a platform for muscular and organ attachment. To protect the soft-bodied
insects, a process known as sclerotization, which is vital for the survival of all insects, hardens this exoskeleton. By
elucidating the molecular mechanism of cuticle sclerotization, one can develop newer and safer control mechanisms
of insect population. The purpose of my studies is examine the enzymes and reactions involved in the covalent adduct
formation between the sclerotizing precursor, N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and the protein side chain model compound,
N-acetylhistidine (NAH). Methods: To achieve my goals, I am purifying the enzymes associated with the cuticular
hardening and employing them in a study of adduct formation between NADA and NAH. The three enzymes involved
in the process viz., phenoloxidase, quinone isomerase and quinone methide isomerase are being purified from the
insects, Drosophila melanogaster and Sarcophaga bullata. They are used to make adducts between NADA and NAH. The
adduct formation is being monitored by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet spectroscopy.
Results: I have purified quinone methide isomerase using conventional protein purification techniques and helped to
purify quinone isomerase also. Using these enzymes and commercially available phenoloxidase, I have examined the
adduct formation between NADA and NAH with HPLC. My results indeed support the formation of a number of adducts
between NADA and NAH. Conclusion: Adduct formation between NADA and NAH is indicating of the role played by
phenoloxidase, and quinone isomerase. I have not so far been able to get evidence for the role of quinone methide
isomerase in the adduct formation. I am examining the reason for this to shed light on the sclerotization process.
135
Benjamin Hart, Marianna Torok (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biochemistry, UMass Boston
Metal-Chelating Properties of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Amyloid-beta Self-Assembly
The self-assembly of the amyloid-beta peptide into neurotoxic oligomers and insoluble amyloid fibrils is one of the
commonly accepted contributors to the complex pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In order to investigate
the role of transition metals in this process, the possible metal-chelating capacity of newly developed organofluorine
inhibitors will be determined. A structurally diverse group of successful self-assembly inhibitors will be screened for
their Cu2+-chelating ability using UV-VIS absorbance measurements by following the changes in their spectra after
the addition of the metal ions. The compounds will be evaluated in comparison to ascorbic acid as a reference. Further
metal binding studies will be carried out for the hits using Job’s method, which is an effective approach for determining
the chemical stoichiometry.
Matthew Griffin, Armand Kounga, William Hagar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Polyphenoloxidase Activity in Barley Plants (Hardeum vulgare)
The enzyme Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is found in plant and animal systems. In plants, it is found in fruits including
those of apples, bananas, and avocados. In most plants it is thought to be protective to prevent further injury to
damaged tissue, and is activated when cell membranes are disrupted. In the monocot barley (Hardeum vulgare) there
is not the same PPO activation when they are cut as the enzyme remains latent. We are investigating barley plants
to find PPO status and how it is activated. We have isolated the protein complex from barley plants, and after partial
purification, have begun measurements on its function. Plant material was homogenized in 0.02 M sodium phosphate
buffer, pH 6.8, filtered through cheesecloth and then centrifuging at 6,000 g. Ammonium sulfate fractionation was
used to partially purify the protein. The resulting 50 % ammonium sulfate precipitate was resuspended in phosphate
buffer, dialyzed against the same buffer, and then centrifuged to remove any denatured protein. It was found that the
electrophoretic profile of this isolated barley PPO was similar to the movement of mushroom tyrosinase. Both enzymes
were observed using activity staining with the substrate, dihydoxyphenlalanine (DOPA). The activation process and PPO
enzyme characteristics will be discussed.
136
Tu Van Oculto, Valery Kounga, William Hagar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Extraction and Characterization of the Polyphenol Oxidase enzyme in Centella Asiatica (Pennywort)
The purpose of this research project is to characterize the Polyphenol Oxidase enzyme found in Centella Asiatica
plant commonly known as PennyWort. This enzyme is responsible for the browning observe while cutting fruits or
vegetables. In our investigation, the polyphenol oxidase was partially purified from the Centella Asiatica plant material.
For each purification run, 30 grams of Pennywort plants were homogenized in 30 ml of phosphate buffer to get the
starting solution. The homogenized material was filtered through cheesecloth, and then centrifuged at 6,000 g for 30
minutes. Ammonium sulfate was slowly added to the solution until 50% saturation was reached. After 30 minutes
the sample was centrifuged at 6,000 g, and the precipitate saved. The precipitate was subsequently resuspended in 15
ml of phosphate buffer. The solution was then dialyzed against the same buffer to remove excess ammonium sulfate.
Subsequent purification steps included molecular sieve chromatography to separate PPO from other proteins. The
activity of the enzyme was followed by adding 100 ul portions from each collected sample tube to a well plate with
dihydroxyphenyl alanine (DOPA). Samples from collection tubes- whose aliquots turned dark brown- were assayed for
enzymatic activity by measuring the change in absorbance from 500 to 400 nm in the presence of DOPA. The PPO
spectral samples had a peak absorbance at 470nm. The partially purified PPO exhibited similar electrophoresis profile to
that of tyrosinase when run on agarose gel in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. The enzyme was visualized using an activity
stain with DOPA. These results and additional characteristics including kinetic properties will be discussed. .
Michael Murphy, William Hagar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
An Enzymatic Method for Determining Methylmercury Content in Fish Tissue
Mercury is an increasingly prevalent pollutant found in the environment primarily due to burning of fossil fuels. In
aquatic systems, this mercury is converted into methyl mercury, which becomes biomagnified and accumulates through
many tropic levels. We are investigating methods for measuring this methyl mercury in fish tissue using environmentally
friendly and inexpensive enzyme-based methods for measurement. Mercury is a potent inhibitor of enzymes that have
sulhydryl groups at or near their active sites. Mercury binds to sulfhydryl groups near the enzyme’s active site and lowers
overall enzyme activity. The amount of inhibition is measured by comparing the enzymatic rate of the uninhibited
enzyme with enzyme solutions that have different concentrations of mercury inhibitors. Recent methods of mercury
inhibition measurements employ the Invertase enzyme. Invertase catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose (table sugar) into
simple monosaccharide sugars of fructose and glucose. The monosaccharide sugars produced over the course of the
reaction can be measured by their reaction with dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) that produces a quantitative measurable
color change. The overall procedure involves extracting methyl mercury from fish tissue in toluene and then layering
the solution over an Invertase (enzyme) solution. An inhibition curve with methyl mercury chloride standards is used
to calibrate the system and determine the amount of mercury in the fish tissue. We have compared the methods used
in this enzyme-based measurement system with values from standard instrumentation methods. We are currently
continuing to optimize and develop an extended storage stabilization methodology. Differences in the extraction and
separation procedure for the enzyme-based method will be compared to standard instrumentation methods.
137
Elyse Tanzer, Emmanouil Apostolidis (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, Framingham State University
Purification of Proanthocyanidin Fractions from Commercially Available Cranberry Powders and Implications for Type 2
Diabetes Management.
Proanthocyanidins are flavonoid polyphenolic phytochemical compounds abundant in fruits and vegetables.
Proanthocyanidins have great potential for disease prevention, including applications for type-2 diabetes that includes
the high antioxidant activity potential translating to enzymatic inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase; two major
enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Proanthocyanins are densely present in the cranberry fruit. Cranberries
milled into fine powders allow both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins to be extracted and purified to a highly
potent liquid, rich with free radical deactivation potential. Cristicran-90 cranberry fruit powder and the acetone dried
Nutricran-40 powder were found to both contain significant amounts of proanthocyanidins. Samples were extracted
from 0.1g of powder with 10 mL of a 70:29.9:0.01 acetone, water, and HCl solution, filtered, then evaporated
until approximately only 5 mL remained. The extracts were then separated into anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin
fractions using a Sephadex LH-20 column. The antioxidant activity of each extract fraction was determined through
a 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) spectrophotometric assay and determination of resulting antioxidant
activity based absorbance at 640 nm. The Nutricran-40, a visibly deep red powder, produced a PAC fraction with
highest antioxidant activity resulting in a calculated 88.9 mg of PACs per gram of powder. This method of extraction,
purification, and assay analysis will be further used for research into bioavailability of PAC and type-2 diabetes
management potential for these cranberry powders.
Ying Qi Zhang, Peter Chien (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biochemistry, UMass Amherst
Mutagenesis of CtrA Receiver Domain and Identify Intragenic Suppressors of CpdR
Regulation of protein degradation is critical for life and especially important when cells undergo developmental changes.
In Caulobacter crescentus, asymmetric cell division yields biochemically distinct swarmer (SW) and stalked (ST) cells. SW
cells cannot replicate, while ST cells are capable of cell division; therefore sustained growth requires SW cells to first
differentiate into ST cells. This transition requires several regulatory proteins: the response regulators CtrA and CpdR,
and the essential AAA+ protease ClpXP. CtrA is a replication inhibitor and must be degraded by the ClpXP protease
for replication to start. This proteolysis is dependent on the phosphorylation state of the CpdR response regulator.
Interestingly, both CpdR and CtrA are phosphorylated by the same kinase cascade and share signature residues
important for their function. In this work, we explore how key amino acids contribute to interactions between CpdR/
CtrA and the ClpXP protease. This question will be approached in two ways. First, we will identify intragenic suppressors
that activate defective mutant CpdR alleles. Second, we will generate mutations in CtrA in regions known to impact
CpdR activity. Because of the aforementioned similarities between CpdR and CtrA, we predict that generating these
mutations in CtrA will slow its degradation. These two strategies should reveal regulatory motifs common to CpdR and
CtrA, improving our understanding of cell cycle dependent degradation by the ClpXP protease.
138
BIOLOGY
Fabiola Abissa, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Women and Engineering Major/Careers: The Rise of a Self-Achievement Era
For decades women have been not choosing STEM major and especially engineering major/ careers because of bias due
to cultural beliefs, difficulties related to their entry in the field, and family/work issues. However, over the past three
decades women have managed themselves to reach the top and find their way in a field highly dominated by men.
The goal of this project was to find out, based on articles, data and interview with women evolving as engineers, why
and how women are getting into engineering major/careers. The project tried to determine why the input of women
is important for engineering. A comparative analysis showed how the status of women in engineering major and in
engineering careers evolved between 1980 to 2010.
Caroline Adams, R. Thomas Zoeller (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Potential Causes of C Gastroentero-pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the Gut
Gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms have been increasing in worldwide frequency in recent years
according to epidemiological data. The cause of this increase in prevalence is currently unknown and the main stay
treatment is surgery, which is invasive. Neuroendocrine cells of the gastroentero-pancreatic system are derived from
neural crest cells. The resulting tumors are slow growing, but highly metastatic. There is also a high recurrence after
surgery. This is an area of study that is not well understood or developed. By understanding the possible mechanism
behind the formation of the neuroendocrine neoplasm we can propose and test improved treatments.
Veronica Adams, Randall Tracy (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Worcester State University
Emergency Medicine Research: An Undergraduate’s Experience Volunteering in the Emergency Department
For my internship, I am a Research Assistant on an NIH-funded study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
through the Department of Emergency Medicine Research. The study looks at the tobacco use of patients and visitors
in the Emergency Department. Though it may seem strange to perform this is the Emergency Department, the medical
disparities we have today make this a great place. Patients are generally given mild interventions on tobacco use while
visiting their primary care physicians, however many people receive care only in the ED. This, along with the fact that
many patients are in the ED due to smoking related conditions, makes it a great place to reach out to those individuals.
Tobacco interventions in this area can have a lasting impact and potentially prevent these tobacco-related conditions in
patients and their visitors, just by making them really think about their tobacco habits. The study looks at tobacco habits
as well as a variety of influential factors for being able to quit smoking: number of previous quit attempts, methods
used to quit and motivations for quitting, among others. The survey finishes up by giving patients the opportunity for
a referral to the Massachusetts QuitLine for cessation support. This study protocol, given to patients and visitors by
volunteers using a tablet, was designed to be simple and user friendly. This prevents interruption of the flow of care in
the hospital, but also allows patients to see another friendly face. While participating in this internship, I have been able
to learn about the confidentiality, mechanics, and clinic aspect of research firsthand. I have learned how to navigate
my way around the Emergency Department, interact with patients and have begun to develop a bedside manner that
cannot be learned from a textbook.
139
Tiffany L Caisse, Jessica Beroth, Tim Parshall (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Reconstructing Forest History on the Campus of Westfield State University
Most forests in New England are strongly influenced by past events like climate, human activities, and natural
disturbances. One way to uncover these historical influences is to reconstruct forest history though dendrochronology.
We used this approach to investigate the impacts of natural and human disturbances on trees in the Commuter Lot
Forest at Westfield State University. Tree cores from thirty-one hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), twelve red oak (Quercus
rubra) and seven white oak (Quercus alba) trees along with six oak (Quercus sp.) slabs were analyzed for this study. Most
trees were less than 105 years old, indicating that the landscape was open before the 1900s. The tree cores document
evidence of at least two disturbance events by invasive organisms. First, several years with documented gypsy moth
outbreaks correspond with very narrow rings in the oak cores. Second, several lines of evidence point to the decade
of the 1910s as the arrival of the blight that killed American chestnut trees, whose sprouts indicate that it was an
important species in this forest before this time. During this decade, many of the oak cores show release events, and
cores from both oak and hemlock show high early growth, suggesting that these trees were growing quickly in an open
forest canopy. This study is the first to clearly reconstruct the events influencing the development of forests on Westfield
State University’s campus.
Timothy Boardman, Erin Bromage (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Kidney Blood Flow and its Relationship to lLmphocyte Distribution in the Rainbow Trout
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The kidney of fish is a highly complex organ which possesses both renal and immunological
functions. The renal functions of the fish kidney are localized to the posterior portion of the kidney, while the anterior
portion of the kidney is the primary site for immune cell development. However, mature B cells have been found
throughout the entire kidney. This study was conducted to map the arterial and venous blood flow into the kidney and
determine if there was a relationship with lymphocyte distribution. METHODS: The blood flow in the trout kidney was
determined through latex molding of the vascular system combine with infrared imaging of florescent particle fate. The
regional distribution of lymphocyte within the kidney was determined using monoclonal antibodies specific for B cells
and T cells and analyzing flow cytometry and ELISPOT staining patterns. RESULTS: Membrane IgM+ B cells were found to
be primarily located in the anterior kidney which was also the primary site of arterial blood supply. Plasma cells secreting
IgM were also found to be in relatively high abundance in this area. The posterior kidney was found to contain a
majority of T cells as well as a large supply of venous blood which tapered into a renal portal system. CONCLUSION: The
observed distribution of lymphocytes within the kidney coupled with the blood flow suggests that the primary lymphoid
tissue of the anterior kidney is protected by an area of antigen neutralization while the posterior region may be a site of
immune cell activation.
140
Karelyn Bonilla, Alan Christian (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Host Fish Immunity Suitability for Freshwater Mussels
Most freshwater mussel species are obligate parasites on various species of fish, however, little is known about the
percentage of fish in a population that can serve as viable host. The purpose of this project is to test host fish availability
and immune availability to determine the extent of fish in a population that have acquired immunity to freshwater
mussels. For this research fish serum from the blood was used to detect specific antibodies, to study their immunological
response to freshwater mussel antigen. To investigate host immune availability, Western Blot analysis with Rabbit
anti- Goat IgG and ELISA were used to detect the antibodies in fish. SDS-Page gels identified the amount of protein in
mussel and fish and also were used for transferring proteins to nitrocellulose paper to identify the fish immune status.
Preliminary results of SDS gels have shown that both fish and mussel protein have protein of about 200ug/ml-100ug/
ml, but the Western blot analysis has been negative. However, this does not mean that the actual results are negative
because there may be incompatibilities. This may also indicated that the experiment for the western blots so far have not
been sensitive enough to identify the interaction of the mussel protein to the fish antibody with the Rabbit anti- Goat
IgG.
Juliet Buteme, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Competition in the Tropical Forests: The Conflict Between the Local People and the Mountain Gorillas for Land.
The Mountain Gorillas of the East African tropical forests are under constant threat of losing their habitat. According
to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 786 mountain gorillas left in the entire world. The land on which
they depend for food, safety and survival is constantly invaded by the local people for personal use. This research
was conducted to find out people’s attitudes about the conflict between conservation of mountain gorillas and their
habitat, and the local peoples’ need for the same land. Information was collected using interviews, surveys, primary
and secondary research. Most people were not aware of the degree to which the mountain gorillas were endangered.
A large percentage of the interview group voted for the conservation of the mountain gorillas’ habitat. An interesting
theme that arose from this research was that even if the locals use this land, they will eventually run out of fertile land
anyway, and the underlying problem will remain. Hopefully this research helps to create awareness for the need to
protect the tropical forests in order to conserve this endangered species of mountain gorillas.
141
Meghan Corkery, Patricia Wadsworth (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
The Bipolar Mitotic Spindle: A Dynamic Structure of Microtubules and Motor Proteins
Purpose: Mitosis is an essential life process conserved across all eukaryotes. The bipolar mitotic spindle, a dynamic
structure composed of microtubules and motor proteins, is required for chromosome segregation. Microtubules
assembled at centrosomes and near chromosomes contribute to spindle assembly. A comprehensive RNAi analysis of
motor proteins (kinesins) in S2 D. melanogaster cells showed that several kinesins are required for successful mitosis.
These previous studies have found that 8 of the 25 kinesin knockdowns have distinct phenotypes: mono-polar spindle
formation, cytokinesis failure, chromosome misalignment and anaphase delay. Our goals are to replicate these findings
and expand the existing knowledge of mitotic spindle assembly through simultaneous RNA interference of both the
centrosomal-mediated pathway and each of the contributing kinesins. Methods: Utilizing RNA interference and timelapse fluorescence microscopy, we will visualize the mitotic spindle using S2 cells expressing GFP-tagged tubulin. Results:
Thus far we have cultured cell lines and begun to image control cells. We have successfully increased the mitotic index
through the administration of RO-3306, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. In addition, we have synthesized the
RNAi for each individual kinesins and centrosomin and begun to examine each gene through individual RNAi trials.
Conclusion: We expect to determine how each of the genes are required for mitosis in both the presence and absence
of the centrosome pathway. As our research progresses, we hope to incorporate multiple gene knockdowns to better
understand the motor protein interactions and maximize novel findings.
Ana Costa, Erin Bromage (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
The Gills of Fish act as a Secondary Immune Tissue
Fish gills as an immune organ? A. F. Costa, M. McNerney, E. Bromage ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The fish gills are an
important organ of respiration, osmoregulation, nitrogen excretion, as well as major contributors to the acid-base
balance and hormone metabolism of the fish. Recently, the gills have also been suspected in playing a role in the
immune system. This study was conducted in order to analyze the distribution of the lymphocyte population within the
gill tissue and provide conclusive evidence that the gill is a site of immune function in Rainbow trout. METHODS: The
gills were flushed of all peripheral blood cells and sectioned in order to analyze the lymphocyte distribution throughout
the gill tissue. Monoclonal antibodies specific for B- lymphocytes, T- lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells were
used in conjugation with flow cytometry and ELISPOT staining. RESULTS: A considerable number of immune cells are
present in the inter-brachial gill tissue of Rainbow trout. Data collected shows that the greatest percentage of CD3+
T-cells, IgD+ and IgM+ B-cells, and IgM secreting plasma cells, are found in the section of the gill closest to the body,
and decreasing towards the outer sections. However, the opposite is observed with CD11+ macrophages. CONCLUSION:
These results suggest that the gills of fish harbor considerable populations of immune cells, and that there is
organization of those cells within the gills which may be related to immune function.
142
Sonal Desai, Rolf Karlstrom (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Regulation of Endocrine Cell Numbers in the Post-Embryonic Pituitary
The pituitary gland is the master gland of the endocrine system and is located at the base of the brain where it
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and maturation. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is a
key regulator of the development of the pituitary gland during embryogenesis. However, whether this pathway is
required for the growth and maintenance of this tissue during post-embryonic and adult stages remains unknown.
The pituitary experiences major morphological changes and massive growth during post-embryonic development. As a
first step towards understanding the molecular cues that regulate endocrine cell numbers and post-embryonic growth
of the pituitary gland we have characterized normal rates of endocrine cell addition for this period. Quantification
of specific endocrine cell populations across larval stages was performed using transgenic zebrafish lines that allow
visualization of endocrine cells. Pomc-promoter driven GFP expression labels anterior ACTH cells and posterior MSH
cells, while prl-promoter driven RFP expression labels Prolactin (PRL) secreting cells in the anterior pituitary. All three cell
populations increased throughout larval development, with a dramatic increase in cell number during the larval-juvenile
transition (25-30 days post-fertilization). Our lab has shown that Hh is critical for pituitary induction and patterning
during embryonic stages. I tested whether Hh continues to regulate pituitary growth in larval stages using the small
molecule inhibitor cyclopamine. I found that Hh signaling negatively regulates endocrine cell addition during periods of
major pituitary growth. This negative regulation of proliferation was a surprise, and suggests that Hh loss-of-function
mutations could lead to pituitary hyperplasia. Consistently, one study has now found that proliferation of cells derived
from some human pituitary adenomas are negatively regulated by Hh signaling. Our work in zebrafish may thus help
uncover the mechanisms by which Hh regulates the adult pituitary and adenoma formation.
Alexander Dills, Mark Silby (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Characterization and Evolution of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage
PURPOSE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogenic species of bacterium and the most common
colonizer of medical devices. The goal of this project is to isolate phage from soil and to characterize the dynamics of
a coevolutionary “arms race” with P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. Through this we investigate the nature and feasibility
of such a system for the generation of more generalist yet virulent phage, and experimentally test evolution of hostparasite interactions. METHODS: Phage was isolated from soil by enrichment of cultures and six plaques from the
original extract were selected for study. These were cultured with PAO1 in 10% LB+ 4mM CaCl2 for 24hr with 1:100
transfers between 24hr incubation periods for 20 days. Throughout this process the populations of both phage and
bacteria were monitored. Various evolved strains of both were competed against each other and the ancestral strains to
map how infectivity and resistance changed over time. Analysis of phage DNA sequences is being used to aid in phage
characterization. RESULTS: The population density of both phage and bacteria increased over time, mirroring each other.
In addition the size and turbidity of plaques became more diversified with each successive pair of generations. Since
the titer of phage was estimated from plaque formation on agar inoculated with the original line of PAO1 as a host,
the actual count of phage may be higher as they evolve. CONCLUSION: A coevolutionary arms race between phage
and bacteria results in mirrored population development and differentiation of phage infectivity as demonstrated by
increased variation in plaque size and turbidity. The change in plaque morphology suggests the evolved phage have an
altered ability to infect the ancestral host. Infectivity and resistance of evolved and ancestral phage and bacterial strains,
respectively, will reveal coevolutionary dynamics.
143
Matthew Ford, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Signs of Biophilia: A Survey of Community College Students
The biophilia hypothesis, propounded by E.O. Wilson, suggests that humans have an innate, evolutionary disposition to
concern themselves with living organisms and organismal processes. The project investigated whether this concern for
life is an issue for community college students. A survey was delivered. The survey measured students’: mood, behaviors
and attitudes toward living systems, emotional responses to positive and negative natural scenery, and persepctive on
whether nature could, and/or should be further incorporated into everyday life. The resulting data indicate a concern
for the living world, but with a tendency to act less on that interest than expected. It was concluded that further
incorporation of natural life into everyday urban and suburban living may increase the appreciative treatment of the
organismal world.
Srinivasa Nithin Gopalsamy, Elsbeth Walker (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
The role of BdNAM-B1 in senescence and nutrient remobilization in Brachypodium distachyon
Malnutrition is a major epidemic that presents a multitude of problems for a large portion of the global population. It
affects 20% of the population in the developing world and has been found to be the cause of 49% of child mortality
worldwide. One avenue by which malnutrition is being combated is the biofortification of staple foods, which is the
genetic engineering of crops to accumulate a greater amount of nutrients such as metals and proteins in the edible
portions of the plants. As part of biofortification research, BdNAM-B1 has been identified as an ortholog to TtNAM-B1,
a gene present in the common wheat, Triticum aestivum. TtNAM-B1 has been found to act in the regulation of
senescence in wheat, and as senescence is the stage of the life cycle during which nutrients are transported from the
main body of the plant to its seeds, the nutrient content in the grain is impacted. More specifically, plants with reduced
TtNAM-B1 expression are delayed in their senescence and thus maintain a younger and greener appearance for more
time, which is likely why the gene was artificially selected out of the wheat cultivar during domestication. The cost of
this delayed senescence, though, is that the grains of these plants contain significantly reduced nitrogen (protein), Zn
and Fe. My first study with BdNAM-B1 is to demonstrate that the expression pattern of BdNAM-B1 is the same as that
of TtNAM-B1. Having shown the similarity in expression pattern, the next step is to demonstrate that the BdNAM-B1
knockdown plant results in delayed senescence using a miRNA construct as the mutagen. Moreover, in a study that
was could not be performed in T. aestivum, a promoter-GUS construct has been developed to give a representation of
where the NAM-B1 gene is expressed. Through the implementation of both these constructs, a more comprehensive
understanding of the role of BdNAM-B1 and the molecular mechanism by which it regulates the remobilization of
nutrients to the grain during senescence will be obtained.
144
Patrick Hanlon, Chul Park (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
The Fate of Activated Sludge and Algae
Microalgae have great potential for the treatment of domestic wastewater. It has been reported that they uptake
Nitrogen and Phosphate, two key nutrients for eutrophication (Gutzeit et al 2005). Microalgae also enter into symbiotic
relationships with heterotrophic bacteria that consume organic carbon (Gutzeit et al 2005). The major goal was to
examine the fate of various types of activated sludge (pure, pure/no light, filtered/Micrectinium, and filtered/Chlorella),
in terms of biological growth and chemical parameters. Specifically, total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids,
soluble chemical oxygen demand, total oxygen demand, total protein, total polysaccharide, pH, absorbance, and total
ions were examined on a weekly basis. Also, the size of algal granules and the biological composition (total cells and
flocculations) were examined. The goal was to examine how activated sludge changes when algae grows in it, and the
fate of the algae growing in the activated sludge samples. The hope is to one day use algal granules in the treatment of
wastewater.
Hannah Kincaid, Cristina Cox Fernandes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Electrocyte Organization in the Electric Organs of Four Genera of Apteronotidae
Apteronotidae is a family of weakly electric South American fish whose members have an electric organ composed of
modified nerves called electrocytes. In some species, these electrocytes enter the organ and change direction, while in
others they only run caudally. This study focuses on the electric organs in the four genera in the most basal clade of
apteronotids: Orthosternarchus, Sternarchorhamphus, Sternarchorhynchus, and Platyurosternarchus. Through dissection,
these fish are classified by unidirectional or bidirectional electrocytes. Orthosternarchus and Sternarchorhamphus have
a known monophasic electric organ discharge (EOD) waveform, while Sternarchorhynchus and Platyurosternarchus
have a known biphasic EOD waveform. The purpose of this research is to test if there is a relationship between
electrocyte structure and EOD waveform. Specimens for this project were collected from the Amazon River and fixed
in formaldehyde. Through longitudinal dissection, the electric organ of each specimen was exposed and stained with
osmium in Sorenson’s Phosphate Buffer at pH 7.3. A dissecting microscope and Moticam 2300 Camera were used to
take images of in situ electrocytes. We found that Sternarchorhynchus, which has a biphasic EOD waveform, has an
electric organ with bidirectional electrocytes. The electrocytes innervate the organ, run anteriorly, and then turn around
to run posteriorly. Sternarchorhampus, which has a monophasic EOD waveform, had unidirectional electrocytes that
run caudally. We hypothesize that in subsequent experiments Orthosternarchus, monophasic in waveform, will have
unidirectional electrocytes, and Platyurosternarchus, biphasic in waveform, will have bidirectional electrocytes.
Eric Lee, Cynthia Baldwin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst
Developing a Novel Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI) Cytotoxicity Assay
A novel imaging technique using transgenic cells expressing a luciferase–green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein
has been generated. Transduced cells are selected by cell-sorting technologies, using the GFP signal or fluorescent
antibodies specific for selected cell-surface markers. The goal of this proposal is compare a previously known method,
the chromium-51 release-based cytotoxicity assay, to the newly developed BLI-based cytotoxicity assay and show the
advantages of the BLI-based assay. BLI is a more sensitive assay and allows much more data points to be gathered; the
same cells can be read from 0 hours to 48 hours. Another advantage is that BLI also works with an in vivo animal model.
145
Stephen Liptak, Randi Darling (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Seasonal Feeding of the White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Purpose: This study examined the seasonal feeding behavior of White-Tailed Deer. We hypothesized that deer would
feed more frequently, and for longer periods of time, in late autumn because the deer need to develop fat reserves
as they head into winter. Another hypothesis was that deer would preferentially feed during the least windy and the
coolest time of the day, avoiding activity during the warmest part of the day. The final hypothesis was that females
would feed in groups together while males would feed solitarily. Methods: These hypotheses were tested using trail
cameras that operate by motion and infrared sensors. The cameras were placed in three cultivated food plots in West
Granville, MA. Pictures were collected by each of these cameras. Local temperatures and wind speeds were obtained
from a weather database. Results: There was no trend in daily frequency of feeding of the White-Tailed deer, but there
were trends suggesting that as autumn progressed, the deer increased feeding time. The hypothesis that deer feed
during the least windy and the coolest times of the day was supported. Only once did a male visit a feed plot with a
female; females and males generally fed in separate groups. Conclusions: As temperatures decrease going into late
autumn, White-Tailed deer spend more time feeding. The deer prefer to feed during low wind conditions. Males on
average, feed solitarily, while females feed in larger numbers
Marcelina Machado, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Use of Animals in Research
Historically, animals have been used for scientific research. Many researchers have not followed the appropriate protocols
which were developed in order to minimize abusive treatment. This project examines government rules and procedures
for animal testing to see if they are being followed. Through examination of scientific articles and internet sources, the
project evaluates the effectiveness of past and present regulations. The project concludes that though many companies
follow the proper protocols, many do not.
146
Joseph Matrisciano, Erin Bromage (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Characterization of an anti-rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) CD3e monoclonal antibody
Abstract T. Boardman, C. Warner, F. Ramirez-Gomez, J. Matrisciano, E. Bromage PURPOSE: T lymphocytes and B
lymphocytes are the two primary immune cells in rainbow trout and show similarities, both in functional and structure,
with mammalian lymphocytes. While there has been extensive research conducted to elucidate B cell characteristics
limited work has been conducted on T cells. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed to target the cytoplasmic
tail region of the epsilon chain of the CD3 transmembrane protein found in T lymphocytes of rainbow trout to facilitate
further studies on cell-mediated immunity in fish. METHODS: A monoclonal antibody was produced against the rainbow
trout CD3ε chain and was screened via antigen-specific ELISA. Flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation assays, and in vitro
proliferation assays were conducted to further characterize the anti-trout CD3ε mAb. RESULTS: The mAb was found
to be highly specific for the target sequence of CD3ε. The observed distribution of T-cells varied among tissue samples
collected from the rainbow trout. Peripheral blood had the fewest T cells. The posterior kidney was found to have far
higher percentage of T cells in comparison to the head kidney. Also a high number of CD3ε¬+ cells were found in the
skin, suggesting T cells may have an important role in mucosal surfaces such as the skin and gills. CONCLUSION: These
assays show that a mAb directed against the CD3ε domain located in trout T lymphocytes has been established and
characterized. This reagent will prove to be a useful tool in examining T-cell responses and their role within the immune
system of rainbow trout.
Ankita Mehta, Solange Brault (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Stable Isotope Analysis of Fish Species of the Coastal Ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico
Stable isotope analysis of nitrogen and carbon ratios has been used to understand food web patterns of marine
organisms. A high nitrogen ratio in fish tissue indicates that a species has a higher position in the food web while a high
carbon ratio indicates the original source of carbon. For this research, a stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen
ratios was conducted for fish prey species of the Bottlenose dolphins from Cedar Key, Florida. These fishes occupy
different trophic positions in the food web of the Coastal Gulf of Mexico. Tissue samples of these fish prey species were
analyzed using GC- IRMS instrument at the University of Massachusetts Boston Analytical Facility. By determining how
specialized the diet of each species or stage of a species (juvenile/adult) is, we can identify their trophic roles in their
coastal ecosystem.
147
Alexandra Michalowski, Mark Silby (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Production and inhibition of quorum sensing molecules in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and soil isolates.
PURPOSE: Cell-to-cell communication known as quorum sensing regulates cellular processes such as biofilm formation
and virulence in many bacteria. In multi-species environments, some bacteria may gain an advantage by degrading
QS signals. This ‘quorum quenching’ is known in the well-studied acylated homoserine lactone-mediated QS systems.
Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a plant pathogen which employs the diffusible signal factor (DSF)
for quorum sensing . Unlike AHL degradation, there is limited information on whether degradation of DSF occurs in
microbial communities. We hypothesize that some soil bacteria will degrade or inhibit the production of DSF by Xcc.
Understanding degradation of DSF may yield new ways to utilize microbes in the protection of plants from Xcc by
disabling DSF-mediated QS. METHODS: We used the wild-type Xcc 8004 carrying a DSF-induced promoter fused to the
GFP gene as a reporter for DSF degradation, and the Xcc DSF mutant 8523 carrying the same plasmid to detect DSF
production. Soil bacteria were isolated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus on 10% Tryptic Soy
agar. Identity and relatedness of isolates will be established by 16s rDNA analysis. RESULTS: Forty eight morphologically
distinct soil bacteria have been isolated. Screening for anti-DSF activity has so far identified at least five isolates which
may interfere with DSF-mediated QS. Amplification and sequencing of 16s rDNA is under way, and investigations of
DSF production and degradation by soil bacteria are ongoing. The genetic basis for DSF degradation will be investigated
for a selected isolate. CONCLUSION: Some members of the bacterial community in soil have the ability to interfere with
DSF-mediated QS. Phylogenetic analysis may yield insight into the evolutionary origins of DSF-mediated quorum sensing
mechanisms, and the nature of microbial communities in which DSF-degraders are found.
Hassan Mirza, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Human’s Relationship with Nature in Two Films
Human’s encounters with nature often have negative results, which creates a culture that is detrimental to humans and
nature. This project compares the unfortunate impact of treating nature negatively with the benefits of treating nature
positively. Through a critical analysis between the classic film of King Kong and the more recent film Avatar, this project
shows that treating nature negatively is harmful where treating nature positively is beneficial and useful to humans and
nature. Is it possible that humans can be less destructive toward nature, as in Avatar, or are humans destinate to destroy
nature as in King Kong? Viewing the negative and positive outcomes from these examples may teach us how to treat
nature positively. The project concludes that much can be learned about the positive treatment of nature from these two
films.
148
Christiaan Rees, Mark Silby (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Dartmouth
Antibiotic Properties of Novel Oroidin-Derived Compounds
PURPOSE: Recently, several naturally occurring marine alkaloids and their derivatives, including oroidin, have been shown
to have antibiotic and antibiofilm activities against a variety of bacterial species. It has been demonstrated that the
2-aminoimidazole moiety is implicated in this activity, while the presence of halogens, specifically bromine or fluorine,
may also play a significant role. METHODS: We have screened eleven novel oroidin-derived compounds for antibiotic
activity against both gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Spectrophotometric assays
were used to evaluate antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. Bacterial growth rates in the presence of oroidin derivatives,
as well as the abundance of biofilm, were measured to examine the degree to which growth and biofilm formation was
inhibited at a range of concentrations. RESULTS: We show that the 2-aminoimidazole moiety is critically important for
antibiotic activity, while a polybrominated pyrrole ring also plays a significant role. Among the compounds studied, N-[3(2-amino-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-oxopropyl]-4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide was the most potent, with complete
inhibition of growth observed at approximately 400 μM for E. coli and 200 μM for S. aureus. The monobrominated
variety of this compound also showed antibiotic activity, but at a significantly higher concentration. Biofilm assays are
currently in progress, and results will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a 2-aminoimidazole moiety and a
brominated pyrrole ring are critically important for function among the oroidin family of compounds. In the search for
more effective derivatives, it is likely that modification to molecular structure will involve the carbon chain bridging these
moieties.
Edd Ricker, Patricia Wadsworth (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Examining the Interactions within the Mammalian Mitotic Spindle Through a Phospho-Regulation Study of Eg5 and TPX2
As a plus-end directed homotetramer, mammalian Eg5 cross-links and slides antiparallel microtubules in the spindle
midzone, providing the force necessary to establish mitotic spindle bipolarity during early mitosis. The current model of
spindle assembly and maintenance relies on Eg5 and its interactions with other key motor and non-motor microtubule
associated proteins. Independently, the dynein/dynactin complex has been shown to transport astral and half-zone Eg5
towards the spindle poles and TPX2 has been shown to act as a molecular break on the ability of Eg5 to translocate
microtubules. Recent data published by the Wadsworth lab suggests TPX2 acts as a molecular linker, connecting
Eg5 with the dynein/dynactin complex on astral microtubules. Here, we build upon the model of mitotic assembly
and maintenance by exploring how phospho-regulation of Eg5 and TPX2 by cell cycle kinases contributes to spindle
bipolarity and the role that phosphorylation plays in mediating the interactions between these target proteins. In
order to determine this, we created siRNA-resistant non-phosphorylatable Eg5 and TPX2 mutant constructs using sitedirected point mutagenesis. LLC-PK1 cell lines were engineered with these constructs, the endogenous Eg5 or TPX2
was silenced with RNAi, and confocal fluorescent microscopy was used to determine whether the non-phosphorylatable
mutants were able to rescue the bipolar mitotic phenotype. In vitro study was also done on one of these Eg5 mutants
to determine whether phosphorylation is important for Eg5 dynamics in vitro. Understanding the interactions and
regulations within the mammalian mitotic spindle provides new targets for chemotherapeutic drug development for the
treatment of numerous cancers.
149
Laura M Stapler, Sruthi Satishchandran, Gerald Downes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Assessing the Effects of Small Molecules on a Zebrafish Model of Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is a human metabolic disorder of branched-chain amino acids: isoleucine, leucine,
and valine. MSUD is caused by a mutation in any one of the four genes encoding an enzyme complex responsible for
a step of branched-chain amino acid metabolism, which results in the accumulation of these amino acids and α-keto
acids, an intermediate by product. MSUD-affected individuals have bodily secretions that have a sweet, burned sugar
smell (hence the name of the disease). If not treated, the toxic build-up of branched-chain amino acids and α-keto acids
can have a devastating impact on the central nervous system, causing mental retardation, seizures, coma, cerebral
swelling, dysmyelination, and death. A better understanding of the mechanisms that cause this nervous system damage
and the development of new therapeutic drugs could greatly benefit affected individuals as well as yield new insights
into nervous system metabolism. In previous studies, our laboratory has identified a zebrafish model of MSUD, and this
model mirrors molecular, cellular, and behavioral aspects of MSUD (Friedrich et al., Disease Models and Mechanisms,
2012). Zebrafish have several features that make this a valuable model to better understand and develop therapeutics
for MSUD, including small size, ease of obtaining large numbers of animals, rapid development, amenability to genetic
approaches, and robust swimming behavior. Due to these features, zebrafish have been utilized in small molecule
screens, in which thousands of chemical compounds can be tested to develop new drugs to combat human disease.
As a first step to perform a small molecule screen to develop new drugs to treat MSUD, our aim was to characterize
the effects of ten different chemical compounds on wild-type and MSUD zebrafish. Each of the chemical compounds is
thought to promote or challenge branched-chain amino acid metabolism. Zebrafish embryos were incubated in different
concentrations of each chemical compound and quantitative behavioral analysis was performed to see whether each
chemical compound improved or worsened the swimming behavior of wild-type and MSUD zebrafish. These assays are
being performed currently, and we will present a summary of our findings. This work complements our ongoing studies
to further characterize MSUD zebrafish, and it lays a foundation to perform small-molecule screens to develop new
drugs to treat MSUD.
150
Alexander Simolaris, Kimberly Tremblay (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst
Investigation of Liver Bud Potentiality Using Dose-Dependent Cre-loxp System
Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death among middle-aged Americans. High rates of morbidity from
hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and liver cancer has placed tremendous strain on the organ donation system.
Resultant mortality from liver disease is on the rise as the demand for transplantable liver tissue continues to outstrip
the available supply. Little is known about the developmental processes and molecular mechanisms underlying liver
differentiation. Specifically, it is unknown if liver bud cells are bipotential or unipotential. Previous research suggests
that hepatic progenitors reside in the small terminal bile ducts and when activated proliferate, giving rise to a cell
population of oval cells, which differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. While many genes are involved in
liver induction, reiterative expression between cells and between tissues has complicated analysis, particularly during
the Septum Transversum Meseenchymal (STM) transition. Despite this challenge, researches have generated in-vitro
cultures that exhibit hepatic-like phenotypes. However, a gap in Developmental Biology lies in understanding how
single hepatoblasts differentiate to form the structures and cells of the mature organs. We propose to determine the
pathway of hepatoblast differentiation to determine if these liver-precursor cells are bipotential or unipotental. We
will utilize a novel, in-vivo, single-cell labeling technique involving a TM-sensitive endoderm-Cre expressing mouse
crossed with a reporter mouse. Previous proof-o- principle experiments have established the conditions for lineage
tracing from the onset of liver budding through the remainder of organogenesis. Determining the potentiality of liver
bud cells will involve two specific aims: confirming that only single-celled derived clones are consistently labeled during
later stages of liver budding; and establishing histological conditions for the analysis of labeled 14.5dpc adult livers.
Impact: Establishing the potentiality of liver precursor cells in-vivo will greatly contribute to the necessary molecular and
developmental knowledge required to develop transplantable liver tissue in-vitro.
Brenna Rose O Haynes, Erin Stockman, William Manning (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Elevated Soil Temperature and
Ambient and Elevated ODzone
PURPOSE: To determine a correlation between ozone pollution and elevated temperature with already observed
decreases in crop yields worldwide. The data gained through this experiment will give crop researchers clues on how
future conditions may affect yields. METHODS: The effects of day time ozone are measured by comparing relative
plant biomass and surface area, water usage, photosynthetic rate, and leaf respiration rate in elevated temperatures
and ozone concentrations. Plants are currently growing in close system chambers within the Air Pollution Research
Lab greenhouse at UMass Amherst. RESULTS: Increased temperature conditions jumpstart the growth of the common
bean, plants in elevated temperature conditions are larger than those in elevated conditions. Plants submitted to high
ozone concentrations as well as elevated temperature show clear signs of stress on their leaf organs when compared
to their counterparts who experienced high ozone but ambient temperature or high temperature and ambient ozone
concentrations. More information on the effects of ozone and temperature levels will be available in the coming weeks
as the plants mature and tertiary harvests are performed. CONCLUSION: Elevated ozone and temperature, which
correlate to future climate conditions, will have a negatively correlated effect on crops such as the common bean.
Information on how pollution affects our food sources is essential.
151
Dewar Tan, Linda Huang, Dr. Hongbo Luo (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Boston
Small Molecule Mediated Cystolic Activation of Akt/PKB
Subhanjan Mondal, Hakryul Jo, Hongbo R. Luo Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School Dana-Farber/
Harvard Cancer Center & Department of Lab Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston In eukaryotes, cells are normally
programmed to die under apoptosis where conditions would prove otherwise detrimental to the host. Aberrant control
of this process, on the other hand, is known to be associated with many neurological degenerating diseases. Activation
of Akt, a serine/threonine kinase which promotes cell survival and proliferation, is one solution that has been shown
to effectively halt this pro-apoptotic behavior; however molecules specific for its activation has been limiting. In this
study, we characterized the function and mechanism of SC79, a compound derived from a cell-based high-throughput
screen using GFP-tagged Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain of Akt. To determine if SC79 activated Akt, various cell
lines were treated with SC79 and measured for downstream phosphorylation to indicate kinase activity. Targeting the
PH domain in the primary screen suggests SC79 may mimic its endogenous binding to phospholipid, PtdIns(3,4,5)
P3, to confer Akt into an open conformation for phosphorylation. HEK cells stably transfected with Akt mutations
K14R, in which abolishes PH-Domain binding to PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, and ∆118, a PH-Domain deleted variant, were used
to identify this mechanism. Additional experiments to characterize the mechanism by which SC79 augments Akt
function were evaluated for their efficacy. Here we show that SC79 is able to phosphorylate Serine and Threonine
residues of Akt, activating its kinase ability for downstream targets GSKß3 and FOXO3 in the absence of stimuli. We
find that with the PH-domain deleted variant, SC79 is unable to phosphorylate Akt while altered PH domain, which
prohibits PH-domain binding PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, is able to, suggesting SC79 must bind to the same binding pocket of PHDomain as PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 to activate Akt. Furthermore it appears SC79 is only able to act on Akt for short durations,
thus mitigating concerns over its oncogenic properties. The discovery of this low cytotoxic molecule with high efficacy
for modulating Akt/PKB activation provides a potential therapeutic for many neurological diseases that occur from
Akt down regulation. Applying the same concept in future developments, SC79 could also have therapeutic use for
myocardial infarctions (heart attack) where Akt activation has been shown to reduce cardio muscle cell apoptosis.
Zachary Brentzel, Neil Forbes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Dose Rate Effect of Bacterial Toxin on Tumor Tissue
The cure, and even highly effective treatments, of cancer have been eluding doctors and researchers for the past
couple decades. In one route, researchers have experimented with bacterial methods in order to penetrate to and
eradicate inner, quiescent regions of the tumors. Our current experiments are being performed on bacteria that have
been genetically modified to produce and secrete bacterial toxin X (labeled this way for proprietary reasons). Since
bacteria have been found to preferentially migrate into tumors, the next step is to measure the toxicity of the bacterial
supernatant on a monolayer culture of breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The toxicity measurements are performed by MTS
cell viability assays. Additional experiments were performed with another toxin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
(PEA). PEA’s main cause of cell death is to prevent the production of proteins in the foreign cell. Viability experiments
were conducted at different time points and concentrations for each toxin. The differences were that dilutions of
pure PEA were used, whereas bacterial supernatant containing toxin X was used instead of the pure protein. When
comparing the effects of toxin X and PEA on cell viability, toxin X had eradicated more of the tumor tissue at each of
the respective one, three, and five day time points. However both toxins, at the highest concentrations tested, were
able to kill over 90% of the cancerous tissue at 5 days. Present experiments are aimed at picking narrower ranges of
concentration and time parameters for toxin X in order to model equations of the tumor tissue death rates. In parallel
with previously developed bacterial migration models, the ultimate goal is to model in vitro tumor death.
152
Nicholas Cadirov, Susan Roberts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Production and Characterization of Protoplasts in Taxus Suspension Cultures
Plant cell suspension cultures provide a viable option for producing pharmaceutically active metabolites that are
otherwise expensive to create synthetically. The anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel (Taxol®, Bristol Myers-Squibb), is a secondary
metabolite currently being produced from Taxus plant cell cultures, but product yields are low and variable over time.
To understand more about the instability of Taxus suspension cultures, it is important to examine the heterogeneity of
the culture on a single cell level. Single cells can be created from aggregated Taxus cultures using enzymatic digestion
techniques, but are difficult to maintain and continuously reculture over time. As an alternative to the preparation
of single cells, this project focuses on the production and reculturing of Taxus protoplasts. A method for reculturing
protoplasts has been developed to minimize the processing time required for protoplast isolation, while maximizing
cell growth and viability. The protoplast purification technique has also been optimized to prevent protoplast lysis
when transitioning from the digestion solution into the formulated growth media. Recently, we developed a procedure
to determine the cell density and size of protoplasts in a culture using a Coulter Counter. This new method will be
used to track changes in the culture over time including size distribution and cell wall integrity. The effect of initial
seeding density, media composition, and elicitation with methyl jasmonate on protoplast generation will be discussed.
Characterizing the properties of protoplasts in culture can provide insight into both culture heterogeneity and variability
in paclitaxel accumulation.
Kevin Cunningham, Thomas Russell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Gas Diffusion Through Thin Polystyrene Films
Thin polymer film technology is a rapidly expanding field in materials engineering. Understanding the properties
of materials asthe film approaches molecular dimensions is of fundamnetal scientificinterest and relevant to
nanotechnology applications ranging from electronic, optical, medical, and next-generation energy systems. Here we
have investigated the diffusion of gas through thin polymers films, a functionof the film thickness, which reflects the
variation in the mechanical properties of the film. Films werel be prepared by spin coating, a commercially practiced
procedue, followed by thermal annealing to remove residual stresses. Thje films were floated on the surface of a liquid
and a tiny bubble of gas was placed under the film. As the gas diffused thorugh the polymer and into the environment,
the volume of the bubble decresed, which could easily be measured with an optical microscope. The experimental
results were compared to recent theoretical arguments and to a novel empirical model that was developed from the
observations. The results are currently being framed in context with theconfiguration ofthe polymer chain in thin film
and deformations to the polymer chain due to confinement in a thin film geometry.
153
Erinn Dandley, Shelly Peyton (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Breast Cancer Tissue Tropism in Engineered Metastatic Microenvironments
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. Ninety percent of breast cancer deaths are associated
with metastasis: the spread of cancer cells from the original tumor site to other organs. Breast cancer preferentially
metastasizes to the brain, bone, and lung. Different clinical subtypes of breast cancer have different metastatic profiles
to these very diverse organs. Through the use of engineered metastatic microenvironments (EMMs) we are investigating
how the physical and chemical properties of these tissues influence metastatic site preference. Our EMMs consist of
cover slips coated with representative proteins of the metastatic tissue site (Bone = collagen I and 1% osteopontin; Brain
= 50% fibronectin, 25% vitronectin, 20% tenascin, and 5% laminin; and Lung = 33% laminin, 33% collagen IV, 15%
collagen I, 15% fibronectin, and 4% tenascin). We focus on three main characterizations to quantify tissue tropism to
these organs: immunofluorescent staining, cell adhesion, and cell migration. I have seen trends in cell area and shape;
adhesion area and time to polarization; as well as migration speed and persistence in one direction, respectively, in
MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cell lines. Both cell lines have the same metastatic profile (42.8% frequency to lung, 39%
frequency to bone, and 25% frequency to brain) but surprisingly show different results on the EMMs. We propose that
by creating profiles for many different cell lines we can determine a more accurate picture of how these cells are actually
behaving instead of grouping them together in their current clinical subtypes. Future work includes the addition of new
cells line with different metastatic profiles and clinical subtypes, creating 2D gels to mimic stiffness along with protein
content, and eventually using 3D models to most accurately mimic the environment in vivo. By better understanding the
current clinical subtypes of breast cancer better treatment options can be created by finding new target areas for anticancer drugs.
Brittany Forkus, Neil Forbes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Development and Characterization of a Microfluidic Device for Recombinant Bacterial Biomarker Capture for use in
Early-stage Cancer Detection
One of the major challenges limiting the efficacy of modern cancer therapies is the absence of an effective and simple
diagnostic mechanism for the detection of the disease in its earliest stages. By manipulating the native characteristics of
gram negative bacteria such as their preferential accumulation in tumor regions, inherent chemotaxis capabilities, and
ability to actively penetrate tumor tissue; it may be possible to engineer these bacteria to develop a more sensitive and
stable cancer detection strategy. A successful plasmid construct has been developed in which a reporter fluorophore is
secreted from an attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium under the control of an L- arabinose inducible system.
Current work is directed towards fostering a more in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanism responsible for
this observed protein release to determine if it is associated with desired secretion or bacterial cell death and subsequent
lysis. Bacterial viability has been measured using cell-culture techniques and fluorescent microscopy with viability stains
to quantify the amount of fluorophore produced and determine if its release correlates with cell death. The development
of a microfluidic detection device would be beneficial to increase biomarker signal recognition for use with in vitro
and in vivo models. Proof-of-concept dynamic assays are currently being developed to elucidate the feasibility of the
envisioned detection system using trace quantities of antibodies. These studies aim to determine the necessary density
of bacteria for significant protein detection and to better understand the characteristics of the fluorophore-antibody
interaction. Specific emphasis will be on determining the governing kinetic and diffusion parameters that dictate this
relationship which will then be used to model these interactions. These assays are being performed in vitro in LB media
and mammalian blood before future mouse trials.
154
Dan Ganz, Neil Forbes (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
In Vitro model of in Vivo Blood Vasculature of Tumor Microenvironments
Currently, a microfluidic device which mimics tumor microenvironments has been developed to test cancer therapies.
The device, lacking a model of in vivo blood vasculature, will be improved by coating a tumor spheroid by a layer of
endothelial cells. This coat mimics a blood vessel, and improves the accuracy of drug testing in the microfluidic device.
With this model, we are able to show genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium are able to penetrate this
endothelial layer to deliver drug to the tumor spheroid.
Nicole Raia, Susan Roberts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Development of a Selection Protocol for Transformed Taxus Callus and Suspension Cultures following Agrobacteriummediated Gene Transfer
Paclitaxel (Taxol®, Bristol Myers Squibb) is a clinically important anti-cancer agent that is currently produced through
Taxus plant cell suspension cultures. Rate influencing steps in paclitaxel metabolism can be targeted through metabolic
engineering approaches to increase paclitaxel accumulation and overall yields in culture. To successfully achieve stable
transformation using Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer methods, this project aims to create and optimize a
protocol to isolate the transformed cells using antibiotics such as cefotaxime and hygromycin in both liquid suspension
and callus plant cell cultures. Optimal concentrations of cefotaxime will eliminate bacteria after transformation without
harming Taxus cells. Optimal hygromycin concentrations will inhibit growth of untransformed cells while allowing
transformed cells to continue actively dividing. After transfer to selective media, cell growth ismonitored using both
microscopy and Coulter Counter analyses, allowing for determination of the optimum antibiotic concentration.
Successful isolation of transformed cells will allow our laboratory to scale-up genetically engineered cultures that
produce higher amounts of paclitaxel.
CHEMISTRY
Stephanie Bellinger Buckley, Jonathan Rochford (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Boston
Synthesis of Redox-Active Ligands for Use in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Fundamental chemical research into alternative energies is a critical priority due to increasing energy demands,
diminishing natural resources and environmental concerns. Solar-to-electric energy conversion is one option currently
under investigation by our research group where we utilize transition metal based photochemistry for application in dye
sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs use photosynthesis as a model in converting solar energy to electricity and provide
a promising alternative to current energy sources. Heteroleptic ruthenium dyes utilizing the 4,4’-dicarboxyl-2,2’-bipyridyl
(dcbpy) and 8-oxyquinolate (OQN) ligands, e.g. [Ru(dcbpy)2(OQN)]+ , have shown promise for application in DSSCs. We
will present recent progress in this project that seeks to enhance the efficiency of [Ru(dcbpy)2(OQN)]+ based solar cells
by the addition of light harvesting and electrically conducting functional groups to the 8-oxyquinolate ligand.
155
Jeffrey Boerth, Sivappa Rasapalli (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Studies towards the total synthesis of quinazoline alkaloids: Vasicinone, Luotonins and Nigellastrines
Peganum Nigellastrum is the source of three important alkaloids, namely: Vasicinone, Luotonin and Nigellastrine. Each
shares a common quinazoline core, which is a benzene ring and a pyrimidine ring fused together. This core has been
known to have benefits in medicine, where quinazoline has been used in cancer treatment. Intrigued by the common
core and common source for these alkaloids, we set out to develop a synthesis route that would provide access to
all the three natural products and/or their analogues. We proposed that the bicyclic quinazolinone ketone could be
a suitable intermediate and serve as a lynchpin to gain access to a library of tricyclic ketones. The mechanism for this
tricyclic reaction is proposed from a key aldol reaction with various aldehydes. Instead of the traditional alkene formation
normally produced through the aldol reaction, the heteroatom allows for dehydration and the formation of the desired
third ring. Our efforts towards the synthesis of the precursors and the efforts to develop a common synthetic route to
the natural product type library will be presented. Once this key reaction has been fully developed, future work entails
the total synthesis of the three molecules.
Nick DeGraan-Weber, Richard Vachet (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Peptide Modification Rearrangements in CID-MS
Purpose: Covalent labeling and mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to study the three-dimensional (3D) structure of
proteins. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is often used in MS to determine labeled sites on proteins, but some labels
can transfer from one amino acid site to another during CID, thereby leading to incorrect structural information. In this
research, a series of peptides were studied to determine the amino acids and experimental conditions that lead to label
rearrangement during CID. Methods: Peptides and proteins were reacted with the labeling reagent diethylpyrocarbonate
(DEPC), and the resulting products were analyzed by MS. Two fragmentation methods were implemented: CID and
electron-transfer dissociation (ETD). Liquid-chromatography was also used to separate differently labeled peptides; this
allowed for the separate analysis of each labeled peptide to facilitate elucidation of the labeling site. Results: Several
different peptides were investigated to find the conditions under which label rearrangement is possible. Preliminary
results suggest that label rearrangement most commonly occurs on histidine residues and only seems to occur during
CID. For example, when angiotensin 1-13 is labeled in CID, evidence reveals that a label at histidine 6 can be transferred
to histidine 9. In contrast, no label rearrangement is observed when the peptide is sequenced in ETD. Other peptides
and a protein digest were analyzed to find that a small amount of the peptides studied show rearrangements during
CID. Conclusions: Rearrangements of the label DEPC are estimated to occur in some of the peptides studied. Our
results demonstrate that reliance on CID alone could lead to some inaccurate 3D structural information and alternative
methods are required to avoid this inaccuracy.
156
Huong Doan, MEGHNA DILIP (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, Worcester State University
“Green” Cleaning Products as a Vehicle towards Green Chemistry in the Undergraduate Laboratory
Experiments described in this poster can be adapted for use in an analytical/environmental chemistry laboratory. Green
household cleaners are ubiquitous in the market today, and this laboratory gives an opportunity to undergraduates to
explore the meaning of “green” while gaining experience in various analytical techniques. Students collected material
safety sheets and ranked the green cleaners using the 12 principles of green chemistry as their guide. In order to
assess the end of use fate of these cleaners, standard environmental tests such as chemical oxygen demand, pH tests,
phosphate tests and ecotoxicity tests were conducted.
Jacquelyn Dorhout, Michael Knapp (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Synthesis of Potential Inhibitors of FIH Fe2+ Active Site
In the human body, regulation of blood vessel formation, red blood cell production and oxygen homeostastasis, is in
part determined by the protein Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF). One of the key O2-sensors in humans is Factor Inhibiting
HIF (FIH). In the presence of oxygen, FIH hydroxylates HIF-Asn803. This prohibits the genes controlled by HIF from being
switched on. Under hypoxic conditions, the Asn residue does not get hydroxylated, and HIF is free to stimulate the
genes. Developing compounds that inhibit or stimulate FIH would permit control over blood vessel growth or blood cell
creation. The goal of this work is to explore pyranone-based compounds as inhibitors of FIH, as these are moderateaffinity metal chelators. The use of amide groups appended to the pyranone may block FIH from hydroxylating the
HIF protein. If inhibitors like this are able to chelate to the Fe2+ center of FIH, it might possibly allow for treatments of
diseases related to blood disorders such as sickle-cell anemia, or congenital heart defects.
Thomas Foley, Kevin Kittilstved (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Photophysics of Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots
PURPOSE: Photocatalytic bond-making or bond-breaking reactions are gaining increased interest in possible sustainable
and carbon-neutral energy sources. The study of the photophysics and photochemistry of these catalysts provide insight
into the driving forces behind energy and/or electrons transfer processes. Quantum dots, a class of semiconductors
that can perform these reactions, are typically less than 10 nanometers in diameter. The quantum dots that we are
interested in studying have delocalized electronic energy levels that result in band characteristics while the physical size
restricts the photo-generated exciton to within the dimensions of the particle. In this study we combine the interesting
photophysics of quantum dots with spiropyran, an organic chromophore that undergoes a reversible structural change
when excited with light. We aim to study energy transfer processes between these two interesting classes of molecules
by electronic spectroscopic techniques. METHODS: Cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots are synthesized using a
one-pot hydrothermal process. Spectroscopic investigation of the resulting systems uses absorption and luminescence
spectroscopy. The two forms of spiropyran molecule (transparent and colored) are accessed using ultraviolet and visible
laser light sources. RESULTS: The size of the cadmium telluride quantum dots are controlled by varying the growth time
and growth temperature. We observe that growth at 200 degrees C from 35 to 65 minutes corresponds to an increase
in particle size from approximately 3.8 to 4.5 nm corresponding with a red-shift in band gap absorption of 530 nm
to 590 nm. This allows the selection of a particle size appropriate for the specific spiropyran that will be used in the
photophysical experiments. CONCLUSION: Controlling growth conditions permits tuning the cadmium tellurium particle
to select for optimal interaction with spiropyran.
157
Christin Harrington, MEGHNA DILIP (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, Worcester State University
Eutectic Compositions and Solution Behavior of Ionic Liquids
An ionic liquid is a salt containing an anion and cation (usually organic) that has a melting point below 100°C. An
understanding of the fundamental solution properties of ionic liquids is required for wider application. We will present
our studies on the extent of ion pairing in pure ionic liquid solutions as observed using differential scanning calorimetry.
We will also present data for mixtures of common ionic liquids.
Prince A. Sarpong, Elonia Lamontagne, Karsten Theis (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Chemistry, Westfield State University
Shifting Learning Outcomes as our Cell Phones Get Smarter
Purpose: More and more cognitive tasks are now completed by computer. We will study how this effects student
learning by finding different ways in which problems can be represented. Quantitative problem solving is an important
skill for students to learn in order to succeed in math and science. It can be difficult in areas such as General Chemistry,
where technical language is mixed with regular English in word problems. In our technologically advanced society, it will
be useful for teachers and researchers to have a computerized approach in teaching how to solve chemistry problems.
These digital methods may be able to help us identify where students are struggling. Methods: First, we will choose at
least ten General Chemistry problems to focus on. Then, we will break down each problem into “keywords”. These
keywords will be grouped into categories such as “chemical”, “unit”, “amount”, “physical state”, “action”, etc.
Items will be connected into “frames” to associate the terms with one another and provide a visual aid in solving the
problem. We will also try different approaches in looking at the problem. We will find the best ways for computers to
gain information and see if they are also the best ways for students to learn. Results: We took a few General Chemistry
questions (for example, neutralization, dilution, and precipitation problems) and created a visual format in which to
organize the given information. We also used a formal text representation also derived from natural language. We
found that there is some implicit knowledge that must be incorporated into many of the problems. Conclusion: We
anticipate that the process of breaking word problems into keywords in an organized fashion will help students learn
how to solve word problems just as it will teach the computer.
158
Joshua Litchman, Min Chen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Studies on the translocation of DNA through ClyA by single channel recording
In the 1980s, nanobiotechnology offered nanopore sequencing as an answer to the high costs, extensive labor
requirements and short read lengths of first and second generation DNA sequencing methodologies. A specific brand
of nanopore sequencing, protein nanopore sensing, involves electrophoretically threading a single-molecule analyte,
such as DNA, through a biological pore and measuring the conductance fluctuation that results from obstruction of
the pore’s lumen by the translocating analyte. From the magnitude and duration of the obstruction event, the size,
charge, structure, and surface properties of the analyte can be deduced. Working with a strand of DNA as the analyte,
theoretically, each nucleotide would generate a unique conductance fluctuation, thereby turning nanopore sensors
into rapid and cheap DNA sequencing instruments. The research presented here examines the cytolytic α-helical toxin
pore (ClyA) as a potential nanopore sensor. Electrophoretic analysis of wild type ClyA using single channel recording
technique confirms ClyA’s in vitro pore forming capabilities and defines its electrophysiology without the translocating
analyte DNA, providing a standard with which to compare ClyA’s electrophysiology with DNA. Experimentation with
ClyA and DNA, however, returned either low resolution traces or negative results altogether. In response, two corrective
measures were taken to facilitate the translocation of DNA through ClyA: 1) The introduction of manganese (II) into
the system to provide DNA with a cationic escort through ClyA and 2) The mutation of select ClyA lumen residues to
decrease the repulsion or increase the affinity between ClyA and DNA. The current study features the results to these
trials as well.
Sashari Pinnace, Barbara Mello, Jonathan Rochford (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Boston
An Electrochemical Investigation of Non-Innocent Ligand Co(III/II) Systems.
Nature often exploits redox-active organic co-factors in controlling overpotentials of redox driven chemical
transformations. In fact, metal-based radicals and redox transformations are the cornerstone of most catalytic cycles.
Growing in importance are metal complexes with redox addressable co-ligands, i.e. non-innocent ligands that catalyze
chemical reactions. The term non-innocent is here used to describe ligands which have significant consequences on the
electronic properties of the complex as a whole and undergo redox chemistry themselves. There are many examples of
non-innocent ligands of various geometric and electronic structures used in an assortment of environments with metal
centers from across the periodic table. The non-innocent nature of a series of 8-oxyquinolate and N-(8’-quinolino)-ptolylcarboxyamide ligands is here presented at the Co(III/II) redox center.
159
Mylinh Nguyen, Wei Zhang (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Boston
Investigation of the Dynamics of Grignard Synthesis
Grignard synthesis is an organometallic chemical reaction in which alkyl or aryl-magnesium halides called Grignard
reagents act as nucleophiles and attack electrophillic carbon atoms in a carbonyl group to yield a carbon-carbon bond.
Many pharmaceutic-ally related precursors such as the analgesic agent tramadol and the antifungal agent ravuconazole
are synthesized via Grignard synthesis with high yields. Nevertheless, in-depth study of the reaction dynamics remains
uninvestigated. In this project, the reaction profiles of various Grignard reactions are studied. Solvent screening for
both the formation of the Grignard complex and its reaction with appropriate ketones are performed to determine a
safer, greener and most effective solvent system for the two steps reaction. In addition, the reactivity of different alkyl
halides in the formation of the Grignard complex, an integral part in determining the success of a Grignard synthesis,
is also being studied. Last but not least, the interactions between the Grignard complex with different electrophiles are
being investigated. Once the reaction dynamics and optimized condition of the Grignard synthesis are determined, the
reaction can be carried out in industrial large scale with fewer hazards and high product yield.
Hoa Ly, Luz Pacheco, Karsten Theis (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, Westfield State University
Improving a Method to Measure Water Activity
Purpose: Water activity is a measure of the effective concentration of water, for instance when it acts as a solvent. It
is relevant whenever water takes part in a reaction (such as food spoiling) or when physical properties of water are
essential for a process, such as in protein crystallization, where changes of water activity cause changes in water vapor
pressure. One method to measure water activity of a solution is to compare its vapor pressure to that of a standard
solution after reaching equilibrium. Our hypothesis is that the reproducibility of a previously developed method could
be improved by better temperature control and by protecting solutions from evaporation while their composition is
determined gravimetrically. Methods: We will test two methods of minimizing systematic errors from temperature
(1) vials are suspended in a thermostated water bath and (2) vials are kept in an insultated container. Also, we will
design control experiments showing whether temperature gradients and evaporation during mass determination result
in systematic errors. Results: We already established controls demonstrating that without temperature control, the
expected equilibrium is not reached. We anticipate that careful control experiments will show whether an improved
apparatus for measuring vapor pressures will minimize systematic errors so that they are insignificant. Conclusion:
Having the ability to determine the water activity for arbitrary solutions will help to understand protein crystallization
outcomes, and help develop crystallization methods that rely on water activity differences of different solutions.
160
Colleen Stewart, Donald Boerth (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Dartmouth
Quantification of adducts as a result of pesticide exposure
In the study of toxic agents used in agriculture, greater attention has been paid to the mutagenic qualities on animals
from pesticides. Less attention has been paid to the effect on plants, even though crop plants have been shown to be
susceptible to stress from pesticides manifesting as poor development of leaves, stems, roots, and fruit. For crop plants,
poor development results in low yield overall, a detriment to the industry on which the food supply depends. Previous
studies, including 32P postlabeling analyses, show evidence of direct and indirect formations of DNA adducts from
pesticide use. These adducts can serve as biomarkers of peroxidative stress and genotoxic stress from direct binding
of pesticide molecules to DNA. Part of the difficulty with this research is the lack of speedy and efficient methods
of quantification of DNA adducts. 32P postlabeling is a sensitive but also laborious and time-consuming method for
detecting DNA adducts. We are attempting to analyze plant DNA by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
which should provide a faster, more efficient method of not only quantifying the DNA adducts but also identifying their
structure. In order to develop such a method, plants were exposed during growth to pesticides. DNA was extracted from
sample plant specimens and enzymatically digested to mononucleosides. The digestion was purified using solid phase
extraction and analyzed by LC-MS. The identity and quantity of adducts resultant from this exposure was compared to
the previous 32P postlabeling analyses of modified nucleosides isolated from DNA of treated crop plants.
Angela Tanner, Wei Zhang (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Boston
Synthesis and Application of Fluorous-Tagged Quinine Organocatalyst for Asymmetric Fluorination
In the organic chemistry research lab that I work in, the main focus is to make new molecules or to create new,
environmentally friendly ways to make existing molecules. My project deals with fluorous technology, which is a part of
“green” chemistry because it allows molecules to be recycled after use in a reaction, rather than thrown in the waste
container. Fluorous technology also allows for a more reactive molecule, which leads to a better product yield. My senior
thesis makes use of an organic catalyst, which speeds up the reaction, with fluorine molecules attached. The fluorine
molecules allow the catalyst to be recycled and reused for other reactions. The fluorous-tagged catalyst will be used in
many different reactions to see whether the results are improved due to its use. Many of the molecules made will be
useful for pharmaceutical purposes, and the results will hopefully be published in a scientific journal by the end of next
semester.
Jennifer Wilcox, Sankaran Thayumanavan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Surface-Functionalized Nanogels with Drug Delivery Applications
Polymer nanoparticles show promise in the field of targeted drug delivery systems. A drug deliver vehicle should stably
encapsulate and deliver a guest molecule to a target tissue. We have developed a random copolymer with crosslinkable
moieties that are used to encapsulate a guest molecule, like a hydrophobic dye or drug. These polymer nanogels
are redox sensitive and will disassemble in the presence of glutathione, a chemical found in tumor tissue. However,
biological systems are extremely complex and the active targeting mechanisms of nanogels need to be perfected. We
propose a surface-functionalized nanogel with an enzymatically-cleaved coating. Once the coating is removed by target
enzymes, the surface functionalities will bind to receptors over-expressed on tumor cells allowing for internalization and
subsequent degradation of the nanogel. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies to analyze the stability of
the nanogels and cell internalization and viability studies will be performed.
161
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Obesebea Aye-Addo, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor)
The Structure of the Brain
Foundation construction, framework, installation of windows and doors, roofing, siding, rough electrical and plumbing,
insulation, drywall, trim, and painting. These are the basic steps to the construction of any structure. We know plenty
about buildings from our two story homes to the 102-story Empire State Building. But what do we really know about
the brain? This project compares the structure of the Empire State Building to the structure of our brains. I will try to
answer questions like “what is the foundation construction of our brain?” Also, where can we find the windows and
doors in our brain? Furthermore, we have improved the quality of our buildings over the years. What improvements
have been done on using the brain to its best ability? What happens when an old person gets alzheimer’s? Does that
mean one of the frames came out after 80 years? What happened to make it fall? And finally, what steps we can take
from childhood to prevent diseases like alzheimer’s will be explored.
Kelly Batista, Kelly Pennell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Civil Engineering, UMass Dartmouth
Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation and Silver as Sequential Disinfectants for Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis Spores
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a common disinfection technique used to inactivate microorganisms. The energy from
the radiation penetrates the organisms’ cell walls and reacts with nucleic acids. At sufficient UV doses, the organism
loses its ability to reproduce and is no longer viable. This study involves the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores via
dissolved silver and ultraviolet radiation. Experiments were conducted as sequential disinfection applications. The order
in which the disinfectant was applied was investigated to quantify if there was a complementary effect of exposing
a spore solution to UV radiation followed by dissolved silver and vice versa. These results were compared to previous
experiments to determine if preirradiation has a significant effect on the subsequent inactivation by dissolved silver.
Paul M Venini, William May, Nima Rahbar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Civil Engineering, UMass Dartmouth
Conch Shell Reinforced Concrete
For this research project we hypothesized that sea shells etched in acid would provide better adhesion to cement due
to the change in surface roughness. We etched the shells in acid for a various amount of time and then make concrete
samples using the shells. The goal was to understand if the shells that were etched provided better adhesion than the
shells that were not etched. We tested the concrete samples in an unconfined compression test. Preliminary results show
some increase in adhesion with the acid etched shells.
162
Christopher Chan, Teresa Ramsby (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Classical Language & Literature, UMass Amherst
Shield of Aeneas as a Showcase of Rome
Virgil’s Aeneid is one of the greatest artistic works of Roman literature, but its import also derives from its role in framing
the accomplishments of Augustus, and, as I suggest, even shaping the new principate. The ekphrasis of the shield of
Aeneas in book VIII highlights major moments in Roman history, a unified interpretation of which has been elusive.
This paper, along with a visual poster and video presentation, aims to read the shield as a celebration of Rome and
a challenge to Augustus to live up to their city’s virtues. Using scholarly literature accessed through the University of
Massachusetts Amherst library database, Latin texts with commentary, and literature in translation this paper examines
how Virgil uses the poetic, social, and political context to make pointed statements about Augustus and his role as
Rome’s new leader. Virgil’s choice of including key scenes of Roman history and legend while omitting others allows
for in-depth analysis of his reasoning. Other, relevant Roman sources yield further nuanced interpretations of Virgil’s
selected imagery. Readings into poetic traditions lend support to Virgil’s use of a shield ekphrasis to convey his message.
The presentation of the shield by Venus to Aeneas in the epic can be seen as parallel to the presentation of the epic
itself by Virgil to Augustus. Through the strategic placing and interpretation of historic scenes, Virgil reminds Augustus
of the immense responsibility he undertakes and of the Roman virtues he must now embody in the hope of ensuring
peace and prosperity under the principate.
Dylan Mowry, Jason Almeida, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Commonwealth Honors College, Bristol Community College
Post-Modern Studies, Beards and You
This experiment in postmodernism involves positioning two “texts” that compete against each other. In one, a
student’s classroom presentation posits the notion that beards are an exhausted form. While the presenter delivers
results of survey and other findings, another presenter, unbeknownst to the audience, projects a live stream of bloglike deconstruction of the former project. The purpose of presenting concurrently is to explore postmodern theories of
“everything is a text” and “flattening of hierarchies.” In its first trial, the audience’s reactions confirmed the hypothesis
that much of the onlookers would overlook the less conventional meta-text of the presentation and end up focusing on
the primary text which resembled the conventional “class presentation.”
163
Stephanie Keogh, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Modernism Unplugged
The fear of the many writers was that the dominance of the city would become so great that society and nature would
no longer live symbiotically. This study evaluated if the fears of sociologist Georg Simmel, and authors such as T.S. Elliot,
Edgar Allan Poe and Virginia Woolf have been actualized. Does modern society in fact view nature as an enemy? By
careful reading of contemporary authors, Edwidge Danticat and Peter Mattheissen, the project evaluated the posture
of modern society toward nature. Using specific examples from these texts, as well as documentaries, specifically
Shackelton’s Incredible Voyage, and studies on the increased trend of ‘unplugged’ – technology free, nature based
vacationing. The project concludes that the great modernist writers were correct, modernity has turned against nature.
Ethan Young, Sheila Mammen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst
The Earned Income Tax Credit and Its Impact on Families and Local Communities
Abstract The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program has been credited with lifting millions of low-income working
families out of poverty and for serving as an incentive for continued employment among adults. Additionally, the EITC
serves as a boon to local economies through the multiplier effect. In spite of the many benefits of the EITC, many
eligible families, including those from Massachusetts, fail to participate in this program. Differences in the economic
well-being between eligible recipient and eligible non-recipient families from Massachusetts were examined using two
databases of rural, low-income families collected ten years apart. EITC recipient-families were found to experience
significantly less material hardship and financial distress when compared to eligible families who did not receive
the EITC. As much as $1.40 of economic activity was stimulated for every $1.00 of EITC receipt spent in these rural
Massachusetts communities; during fiscal year 2010, 2,337 rural families in these same towns claimed the EITC for a
total of $3,777,474. When eligible individuals fail to file for the EITC, they are effectively foregoing substantial benefits
that could otherwise help their families and communities. Ways to increase participation, including the introduction
of more effective strategies to disseminate information about the program, will be addressed. Full participation in this
tax credit may ensure that working families thrive financially and that their rural communities flourish with the added
consumer expenditures.
164
COMMUNICATION
Julie Barrows, Robert Carr (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication, Fitchburg State University
Gallery Design and Execution
PURPOSE: This presentation explores the creative process of building an art exhibit around an original body of work. The
objective was to have a fully functional public art exhibit and opening reception, accompanied by professional caliber
publicity materials. METHOD: Research included visits to other art exhibits, attending receptions and analysis of artist
statements to identify common practices and compare styles. The lighting and design of gallery spaces, atmosphere at
the reception (resulting from music, refreshments and dress code), publicity materials, artists’ behavior and presentation
were analyzed in relation to the body of work. RESULTS: Most galleries exhibited work in one horizontal line around
the room, but the collage-style arrangement appeared more organic and appropriate for this project. The materials
observed ranged from hastily cut printer paper to glossy postcards, e-mail invitations to oversized posters. The quality
of presentation and materials related to the artist’s confidence in their work and dedication as a professional artist.
CONCLUSIONS: The exhibit created for this project included forty landscapes and still lifes in a wide variety of media.
The title, “Engaging Moments with Ordinary Sights,” came from analyzing the familiar subject matter and charming
style of each piece in the collection. Once the location and dates were set, professional materials such as postcard
invitations, gallery cards with an artist statement, posters and a press release were created in response to the theme. The
last month was spent framing and designing the layout of the physical exhibit. An opening reception was also planned,
with refreshments and entertainment, and was advertised in the surrounding communities.
Danielle Falcon, Mary Andrianopoulos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication Disorders, UMass Amherst
Acoustic Perceptual and Speech Characteristics of Children with High Functioning Autism
The purpose of this investigation is to study children with High Functioning Autism (HFA) and their use of language,
speech and phonology, specifically concentrating on their acoustic-perceptual speech characteristics. This project
analyzed the data from an empirical study conducted by Andrianopoulos et al. (2001) in the Department of
Communications Disorders at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst. This study examined the acoustic features of
speech production in children with HFA performing the following tasks: a) a spontaneous speech task using a visual
support (Frog Story picture book stimulus); b) a connected speech task while describing or discussing a topic of interest;
c) syllabic repetitions to assess speech rate, sequencing, prosody, and pitch; and segments of Happy Birthday song
produced during role playing a birthday party. The children with HFA in this study were compared to neuro-typically
developing children that were matched on the basis of age, gender and formal measures of receptive language ability.
The outcome of this study will help to identify the overt and subtle speech acoustic differences that are unique to
children with HFA compared to their typically developing peers. The study will contribute to science in that it will identify
the unique speech production patterns and prosodic features of speech, the melodic component of speech, among a
population of children with HFA. The data were subjected to formal statistical analyses to determine differences and/or
similarities of children with HFA compared to their TD counterpart’s speech. This research will shed insight on the theory
that children with HFA “sound” different. We hypothesize that children with HFA speak with high pitch, monotone and
immature sounding speech.
165
Stephanie Tompkins, Sarah Poissant (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Communication Disorders, UMass Amherst
Auditory Perceptual Learning of Vocoded and Frequency Transposed Speech
PURPOSE: For individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss who receive limited benefit from traditional hearing
aids, a cochlear implant can offer vastly improved hearing, yet comes with the risk of total deafness in the implanted
ear. The present investigation examines listeners’ abilities to make use of a novel signal processing algorithm that has
the potential to improve speech understanding for these listeners without surgery. METHODS: Nine subjects with
normal hearing were presented with simulations of speech signals (nonsense syllable, words, sentences) in which the
high-frequencies were lowered to frequencies where a listener with hearing loss would be expected to have useable
hearing. In addition, these lowered frequencies were also subjected to the same processing that occurs in a cochlear
implant. Subjects listened to the signals through headphones in a sound treated booth and entered their responses
into a laptop computer during both pre- and post-testing sessions. Between these two sessions were 8 days of training
to the novel signals. RESULTS: Data collection is ongoing. For subjects run to date, monosyllabic word perception has
increased from 45% to 64% over the course of the eight session training program. Additional data analysis of sentence
and nonsense syllable stimuli is on going. CONCLUSION: Direct training improves the perception of frequency-lowered,
vocoded speech by normal hearing listeners under conditions of simulated hearing loss. Use of such signal processing
by those with severe-to-profound high frequency hearing loss may one day be feasible and may greatly improve speech
understanding ability for these listeners without the need for invasive surgery.
Solomon Adnew, Meghan Callaghan (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Community or Public Service, Bunker Hill Community College
Experiences of a Volunteer
In going back to school as an adult, I knew I wanted to become involved with the local community as a student
volunteer. In being a student at BHCC I came across a program called Serve Boston. Serve Boston is for students, like
me, who want to commit 300 hours of service over the year to a community based organization. I have chosen to spend
my time with Little Brothers as well as the Boston Living Center. Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly is committed to
reliving isolation and loneliness among impoverished elders. Their philosophy is “flowers before bread”, that express
the concept of meeting basic human needs in the spirit of friendship and celebration. My volunteer experience in this
organization has been very nice. The simple task of talking with elders goes a long way to in improving their health, as
well as allowing me to feel connected in the community. I meet with my elder on a weekly basis. We talk and play cards.
I make sure he has enough foods and knows when his next medical appointments are. At the Boston Living Center, I
work in the kitchen, where we provide free meals to people living with HIV/AIDS. I help to prepare and serve food for
the members. I enjoy the outgoing and welcoming nature of the Boston Living Center. The Boston Living Center also
provides a holistic support services for anyone living with HIV/AIDs. In addition to working in the kitchen, I’ve also helped
out in the computer lab, helping members search online for jobs and housing. My greatest lesson learned in being a
volunteer involved having an open mind and being able to go with the flow when things occur.
166
Piseth Cheav, Meghan Callaghan (Faculty Sponsor)
People Who Make a Difference
“People Making a Difference” (PMD) is a non-profit organization that provides community services through the Boston
area. Since I have become a member of Serve Boston at BHCC, I have had a chance to work for PMD. PMD service
opportunities include, providing friendship to elders, participating in annual aid walks, building educational Lego
DNA kits for grade school students, clean-up activities, and etc. Because the organization provides various types of
community service events, I have met many new people, learned more about the present needs and concerns facing
society, and have been able to develop professional communication skills through helping to lead these volunteer
events. My experiences so far have directly connected with my personal goals of improving my communication skills
and becoming a stronger leader. As a non-native English speaker, volunteering is a great way for to me get to the
know community, practice speaking and communicating in English, and adapt with US cultures and customs. More
importantly, the purpose of volunteering is also to help the community. From one project to another, we can see the
appreciation from people who receive PMD’s services. For example, we see smiles upon the elders’ faces when we
cook and talk with them during the Holiday season. We hear the work “thanks” and feel appreciated from homeless
people as we serve them foods. We feel and see the difference that we make in the society and it is an amazing feeling!
Having this duty gives me an opportunity to develop my skills as well as appreciate what I am doing every day. It is a very
important experience that people should try. Getting involved as a volunteer is a way to provide love, care, education,
and food to people when they need.
Yuanhua Chen, Meghan Callaghan (Faculty Sponsor)
Improving Myself- While Helping Others
From October 2011, I have been in a program called Serve Boston at Bunker Hill Community College. Every member
chooses a charity to volunteer with in the Boston area. I chose to volunteer my time at the Asian American Civic
Association, which is located in Chinatown. Currently, I volunteer twice a week, going in on Mondays and Thursdays.
When I am there, I help my supervisor in administrative tasks, such as collecting student application forms and giving
out assessment tests, which gauges their English speaking and writing levels. I have found that in explaining to students
how to fill out the different forms; my public speaking is improved. On Thursdays, I help students in a Level 1 class. My
responsibility is to strengthen what they learned in class. In tutoring them, we go over their homework and I answer
any remaining questions they might have. This is very significant to me, because while I’m helping others improve their
English; I am also working on my own English development. My confidence strengthens when communicating with
others. When I started in October, I was shy and quite with the students, but now I am more active and feel good
about communicating. It is very important that people find ways to improve themselves, as well as participate in the
community. Through volunteering, I help others when they are in need; I meet new friends; I develop my ability to deal
with problems; and I learn how to accomplish administrative tasks and so on. Everyone should try to make a difference
in the community.
167
Beryl Fomundam, Sharon Schaff (Faculty Sponsor)
Creating a Blue Print for Sustainable Development In Cameroon-West Africa
Youth Action Africa (YAA) is located in Boston and it has as its mission to alleviate poverty through computer literacy
and entrepreneurship development in Cameroon. The organization serves as a platform for youths to acquire knowledge
through experiential learning. I have been a service intern for the AmeriCorps student leaders in service at Bunker Hill
Community College for the Fall and Spring semesters. I have identified and acquired computer donations, tested and
refurbished over 200 used computers, and deployed them to project centers in Cameroon. I have learned to maintain
good relationships with donors, refurbish computers, try new things with efficiency, and most importantly, identify the
power of information technology as a driving force for sustainable economic and social development initiatives. This
has also improved my technical, communication, and interpersonal skills to work in a professional environment. YAA is
successful in bridging resources from the rest of the world into Cameroon through its collegiate collaborations in the
US. YAA prides itself on its worldwide network and bottom-up approach to reducing the poverty crisis in Cameroon.
Volunteering is important as it demonstrates commitment to the community and willingness to work for the betterment
of others. To date, YAA has provided computer literacy and entrepreneurship development courses to over 450
participants. 300 of them have gotten jobs, 78 have started small sustainable businesses, 41 have gone back to school
to complete their diplomas and 31 are still on the job market and also looking to start some sort of a small business.
Ashley McCarter, Meghan Callaghan (Faculty Sponsor)
My Service with Dorchester Bay Youth Force
Through my service in the SERVE Boston program at Bunker Hill Community College, I have had the opportunity to
work with a lovely organization called Dorchester Bay Youth Force. Dorchester Bay Youth Force is a group which works
to empower youth to become agents of social change within their communities through community organizing.
Dorchester Bay Youth Force also leads trainings and workshops to create awareness in the community on the impact
that the Massachusetts state budget has on youth jobs. As a volunteer, I take part in outreach with various schools and
counselors to get more youth from around the city of Boston involved in the Dorchester Bay Youth Force. My present
experiences and those that will continue to develop as I move along in my time at Dorchester Bay Youth Force are
directing and guiding my educational, personal, and professional goals. As a volunteer, I see not only how issues such as
youth unemployment have an impact on the Boston community, but also how it affects the greater society as a whole.
More importantly, I see significance in giving youth a voice and empowering them to become leaders. Empowering their
voices changes their attitudes and future actions, which will have an impact on the wider community.
168
Viet Phan, Meghan Callaghan (Faculty Sponsor)
My Initial Experiences as a Volunteer in America
I am an international student and have been living in Boston for a few months now. In coming to the US, I wanted to
explore many things in my community; such as its unique culture and people’s lifestyles. When I heard about the Serve
Boston program at BHCC, I thought volunteering would be a great way for me to do all the things that I mentioned
above. In addition, I can also practice my English outside of being a student. I decided to volunteer at the Boston
Rescue Mission, which is a non-profit organization that provides services to improving the lives of homeless people. I
volunteer in the kitchen where we provide free meals to the homeless community in Boston. Working there gives me a
chance to see and meet a lot of different people and gain a whole picture of what life is like for them. At first, I was shy
and did not enjoy talking with people. I felt ashamed and awful when speaking English because some people did not
understand what I was saying. I felt stressed when other volunteers or staff would ask me to do something, but I did
know what they were talking about, because I was unfamiliar with where things were in the kitchen. But eventually, I
became more outgoing and felt more comfortable and confident. More importantly, I am building strong relationships
with Boston Rescue Mission staff. I can talk with them about my everyday experiences and now they also share with
me. I now realize that I misunderstood the true meaning of volunteering. Volunteering is no longer about me and what
I do for myself or how I get better by volunteering, but rather what happens for the community through the actions of
people coming together.
Andrew Alcombright
Alex Streisand, Krysta Livingstone, Sarah Fregeau, Cassandra Santos, Ken Magarian (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Community or Public Service, Westfield State University
Westfield State University Circle K
The Westfield State University Circle K Club was founded in 1970 by the Kiwanis Club of Westfield. The main purpose
of the club is service, fellowship, and leadership. The Westfield Circle K Club has been actively involved in creating a
positive relationship with the Westfield community for over forty years by developing student run projects as well as
supporting the local Kiwanis Club. Some of the club’s recent projects include the first-ever City Spelling Bee, Hoot Day,
Jail and Bail, and Breakfast with Santa. These projects as well as others will be explained in greater detail exhibiting how
the projects benefit both the community and the students involved. Organizing students on a university campus and
demonstrating how a successful Circle K Club functions will also be demonstrated in this presentation.
169
Lei Shen, Sharon Schaff (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Community or Public Service, Bunker Hill Community College
Everyone Can Make a Difference!
“Charles River Conservancy” (CRC) focuses on the environmental protection of Charles River Parklands from Boston
Harbor to the Watertown Dam. I’ve interned at CRC 10 hours per week since last fall. I assist in organizing volunteer
events. These events are important ways to get more people involved and help clean-up the Charles River Parkland. It’s
particularly interesting to work with high school students. They come in thinking they may not want to do this kind of
work. But when they dig in, and plant bulbs, they actually start to have fun with each other and realize that next year
flowers will come out beautifully. Through volunteering, I become more involved in the local community, and I know
more people. Also, I developed my professionalism. The office work sounds uncreative, but I learned to have the right
attitude and how important it is to the organization. As a non-profit organization, all projects need funding support.
I am working on data related to building relationships between CRC and other companies. Everyone in the office
shows passion for the work. Under their leadership, I’ve learned how to work well with a team and also how to work
independently. Also, I’ve learned the rich history of the Charles River and current environmental threats. It has now
become an important place in the community for residents to enjoy. Without volunteers, CRC would not be able to
achieve their goal of revitalizing the Parklands. That’s also the reason why everybody can make a difference.
Yasmin Vasquez, Sharon Schaff (Faculty Sponsor)
Volunteering at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
Community Service is about volunteering and helping the community to grow. My internship since November 11, 2011
has been at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. Volunteering at the health field has presented a great opportunity
for me to help others and experience new thing in the real world. This also has helped me shaped my future guiding me
in what I want as a career in my life. I interned in the interpreter services, where I don’t really have any interaction with
patients. I dispatch, answer phones, and check the upcoming appointments. Doing all these kind of work has showed
me capabilities I didn’t think I’d ever have. I can understand the importance of being part of the interpreter services.
It is a way of offer communication between the doctors and patients, that make patients feel comfortable to express
their selves without feeling uncomfortable. The environment in the clinic is great. People are very comprehensive and
appreciate the help I offer. At the same time, this is also building up my career. I plan to continue and finish my 300
serving hours. It is not only an opportunity for me but for whoever out there that is willing to volunteer in a Boston
community with a feeling of passion.
170
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Patrick Stickney, John Fallon, Georges Grinstein (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Lowell
Collaboration in Weave
Weave is an open source visualization platform developed by UMass Lowell that is intended for use by the public. It is
being used by a large number of neighborhoods, cities, states and government agencies, including for example Boston,
Chicago, Connecticut, Rhode Island and South Florida (see http://metrobostondatacommon.org/). One of the issues
tackled in the continuing development of Weave is collaboration. Collaboration in Weave can consist of anywhere
from two to hundreds of users simultaneously visualizing and sharing data. Some of the concerns of collaboration
within Weave include keeping some data private that a user may not wish to share and the coding involved in allowing
multiple users to connect to each other and deal with changes being made on each user’s instance of Weave. A way
to deal with having common data being shared with all collaborators and to hide personal data is to have private and
public workspaces. This could involve dividing the screen into different parts, or allowing a way to mark what should
be made public and private. Weave is written mainly in Actionscript which runs using Adobe Flash. A collaboration
server is needed to foster communication between users over the internet. This server listens for collaboration requests
and manages the messages going between each user’s instance of Weave. The XIFF protocol is used for sending and
receiving messages within Weave. Video and voice chat are also supported in Weave with the use of a media server to
handle live streaming data. Rtmplite, which is an open source project written in Python, is used to handle the streaming
of video and voice chat. Collaboration in Weave will allow users to interact with each other simultaneously in real time
to develop visualizations and share data.
Ryan Imposimato, Richard Kiernan, Andrea Farnworth, Karen Druffel (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Management, Framingham State University
Sustainability through Social Media
Nowadays, major organizations need to ensure to their clients that their brand is continuing to grow and evolve with
society, while at the same time, proving to be environmentally responsible. The main goal of an organization is to
generate a profit, which can sometimes prove to be challenging, while trying to accomplish sustainability. Consumers
continue to recognize how important sustainability is and the effects it has on society. In order to remain competitive,
organizations must use this to their advantage and promote sustainability. Throughout this study, we will be using
qualitative and quantitative analysis to record and code messages from Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP through their social
media outlets to report sustainability efforts. We will be looking at these organizations’ use of Twitter, Facebook, and
their very own websites blog to see how they report sustainability through social media.
171
Chris Garry, John Kingston (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Linguistics, UMass Amherst
An Algorithm for Tracking Vertical Larynx Movement
PURPOSE: In the past, it has been technically difficult to measure larynx movement at fast enough rates to relate its
movement and height to other articulations that a speaker is producing simultaneously. As a result, the role of vertical
larynx movement in the production of speech has not been studied thoroughly. The purpose of this project is to develop
a means of identifying and tracking the larynx in order to further understand the relationship between vertical larynx
movement and speech. METHODS: We combine the use of a high-speed camera and a video acquisition and processing
algorithm developed in MATLAB to identify the larynx and track its movement. The algorithm uses edge detection and
the convolution integral to detect the larynx profile and track its displacement from its resting height in millimeters. This
displacement data is synchronized with the video and speech recordings by aligning each to a distinguishable audio
event produce by a metronome. RESULTS: Once the video is synchronized with this displacement data and the speech
recordings, we investigate how larynx movement contributes to the control of the fundamental frequency of the voice
and the volume of the oral cavity.
Sandaradura Chamara Silva, Christopher Gosselin, Karen Druffel (Faculty Sponsor)
Company Use of Social Media to Convey Sustainability
Our study looks at three companies and the way they communicate their sustainability effort to their customers and
shareholders. Companies use sustainability in terms of achieving the triple bottom line – the environment, the economy,
and social responsibility. Specifically, it will look to find the answer to the following question: How do these three
companies use social media to communicate their sustainability concepts and efforts to the customers. A mixed method
study will be used to complete this research. The three media that will be used to follow up with the messages sent
by these companies are Facebook, Twitter, and company blogs. Messages from these companies will be gathered and
coded in order to answer the initial research question.
Todd Holland, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
The Singularity
This presentation will examine the topic of the convergence between man and machine. I will be discussing
the evolution of technology and how it will be integrated into the human body. I will breach the subjects of
nanotechnologies, artificial intelligence, neuroprosthetics, and the implications for the future of man. The project will
share a combination of interviews with scholars and authors, and traditional sources of reference. Interviews will include
Dr. Germinal Isern (Clark University), Dr. Dalila Megherbi (Umass Lowell), and several other authors, educators, and
innovators in their respective fields. Medicine and Healthcare are moving at the speed of light, and technology is paving
the way. The application of this technology is diverse from surgical robotics to neural implants, and the impact on the
longevity of mankind hangs in the balance. The topic of potential immortality will also be discussed, and how this will
change the dynamics of population growth. I will discuss the potential for computers to be self-aware through the use
of the five senses, and whether it is possible for them to hold the conscious mind of a human being.
172
Bryan R Greene, Lawrence Gitau, Chad D Spencer, Christopher Letendre, Karen Druffel (Faculty Sponsor)
Driving Sustainability Through Social Media
In the past, corporations focused primarily on profitability. In addition to profitability, the focus has recently evolved to
encompass other sustainability concerns, such as environmental and social issues. With the emergence of social media
as a powerful communication tool, corporations have begun to advance communication with their consumers about
sustainability through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Our mixed method study describes
how four automotive companies use social media to inform their consumers of their sustainability efforts. We will
examine four automotive companies, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and Kia. The message posts from these four automotive
companies were analyzed on random dates from February 2 through March 29. The messages are categorized as
pertaining to environmental sustainability, social capital, social responsibility, or as not pertaining to either. Mixed
methods research was used to categorize these messages in their social media utilization, with Inter-rater reliability then
administered to compare the messages, ensuring a collaborative conclusion was found.
Matthew J Remillard, Joseph Montillo, Karen Druffel (Faculty Sponsor)
Management Issues in Information Technology
Attaining sustainability has become an important part of the business world for large companies. Informing the
companies’ customers and client base about their sustainability effort has become significant in addition to reaching
their sustainability goals. Businesses have moved towards the use of social media as an easy and effective way to create
this contact with their customers about their efforts. Our group will observe how three companies (SAP, Oracle, and
Microsoft) use their social media to display their efforts of sustainability. We will be comparing these three companies
using a mix of qualitative and quantitative studies. The three companies will be observed over 14 fixed randomized dates
gathering data on every communication they post and categorizing messages based on content on three methods of
social media, Facebook, Twitter, and their company’s blog.
Dan Groose, Thomas Whitehead, Robert Piantedosi, Karen Druffel (Faculty Sponsor)
Corporate Sustainability Initiatives
This study is to explore four major car manufacturers’ use of social media platforms as conduits to their customers to
communicate their sustainability principles. “Sustainability is the ability to maintain balance in a system.” (Jacobs, R.,
Chase, R (2011). Operations and Supply Chain Management (13th Edition). MacGraw Hill-companies. p17) Companies
do this through social, economic and environmental means to create a business development strategy. Using platforms
such as Twitter, Facebook and Google+ we examine the messages provided by these companies over fourteen
randomly selected days over the course of two months. Using a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research,
each message is categorized and coded then used to delineate the companies’ use of social media to portray their
sustainability methods. The coding is validated using inter-rater reliability. Using these results, the companies’ utilization
of social media to communicate sustainability is described.
173
Evan Shelhamer, Erik Learned-Miller (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Amherst
Information-theoretic Unsupervised Visual Segmentation
This undergraduate thesis work presents and evaluates a novel algorithm for visual segmentation. Consider a
child drawing in scenes from a coloring book. The world is such a book without any of the lines. This is the visual
segmentation problem: to identify task-relevant parts of the world with their locations from visual information. This
work approaches the problem from the perspective of compression, framing the task as the search for an efficient
code for the visual content of a collection of images. Compression reduces description length by generating a code
that represents the statistical structure of the data, which in this case is the visual arrangement of a scene. This code is
learned in an unsupervised fashion; no prior visual information or explicit training is given. The segmentation process
can be repeatedly applied to produce a hierarchical decomposition of the visual appearance of an object. The code
generated represents the image collection as location-assigned segment labels followed by segment-dependent color
encodings; compression is achieved by capturing statistical similarities of segment locations and segment appearance
across images. The proposed algorithm derives segmentations by gradient descent on the expected encoding
length followed by thresholding segment labels. Segmentations of the MIT pedestrians and LFW faces data sets are
demonstrated. Unsupervised, computationally efficient segmentation algorithms have broad applications as a basic step
in visual processing for recognition, classification, and other tasks.
Faisal Yousuf, Sharon Schaff (Faculty Sponsor)
My Journey with RIM
My 300 hours of my service at Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM) was a great experience. At my 300 hours of service, I
met many people from different regions such as Haiti, Iraq, Somalia and Algeria. During my service hours, I was teaching
many of my students about the basics of computer use. My goals for teaching computer skills were to give a great
experience with communication and problem-solving skills. For my class, I first taught them how one system connects
to many devices and how each device operates. I also taught what we can do with the internet which is changing the
shape of the world. As a result, my students now have knowledge about what one can do with a computer. Right
now my student has built a tool to find jobs, develop communication skills by email, and improve their language skills
by using many resources for improving their English. Overall, I had a great experience working with RIM because RIM
provided an opportunity to teach real people real skills. The people I was working with were very friendly and helpful.
DANCE
Kimberly Mann, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor)
Neuroscience of Dance
This presentation will briefly talk about dance and the process involved in learning dance. The presentation will provide
in depth information on how the brain functions when learning dance. Studies which have been done at different
universities on the brains of dancers and non-dancers will also be shown. These studies will provide information on
which part or parts of the brain are functioning when learning a dance or dance moves. The studies also compare the
brains of dancers and non-dancers, and show how the brains function differently when learning dance.
174
ECONOMICS
Laura Molyneaux, Michael Ash (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Economics, UMass Amherst
The Environmental Consequences of the Chilean Salmon Farming Industry and Policy Recommendations to Alleviate
The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the environmental impacts of the Atlantic Salmon Farming industry
in Chile. The Chilean salmon farming industry has sparked concern, both among local farmers and international
environmentalists, over the introduction of non-native species, the introduction of disease to native wildlife, and damage
caused to the ocean floor and surrounding habitats. These potential damages have caused further, external damages to
tourism, and the producers and consumers of farmed salmon. However, there have also been winners in this industry:
the farmers and consumers of Chilean salmon, suppliers of salmon farms and workers in other industries in Chile.
Another aim was to use this information to formulate policy options to deal with the environmental impact of the
industry, and to address the merits and weaknesses of the proposed policy solutions.
EDUCATION
Nicole Gilford, Jennifer Berg (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Fitchburg State University
Teaching Math to the Masses
One of the most despised subject types in school from elementary levels to continuing education is that of Mathematics.
This project is to find out why this subject is so abhorred by students and what could make the learning of math
easier on both the student and the teacher. All types of learning and teaching methods will be discussed in relation to
mathematics. Classes encompassing math of almost all uppers levels of schooling (high school and university) will be
observed. Also, the teachers will be interviewed to find a way to implement an effective way of teaching mathematics
in a classroom. The interviews and observations along with the research on learning and teaching will be used to create
several lesson plans and a “teaching manual” on creative and innovative ways of teaching math to the contentment of
the student masses.
Kylie Nelson, Marijoan Bull (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geography, Westfield State University
The Geography of MCAS Scores
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is an annual test implemented in public school systems
in 1993 as a way to reform education. While it was put into place to evaluate students and schools, much controversy
remains about the credibility of the tests’ results. For this project I am using spatial analysis to hypothesize about
correlation between the MCAS scores of communities and other attributes. The data for my research is published by the
Massachusetts Department of Education, which maintains statistics related to the MCAS that are available to the public.
I intend to teach in Massachusetts’s public schools and preparing students for the MCAS has become a significant
element of the job, affecting how teachers teach. I predict that the results will show that towns with higher incomes
will also have higher MCAS scores. Results of this project may show the significance of how household income affects
student performance on the MCAS and may indicate that the state government should allocate more educational funds
to lower-income communities.
175
Nicholas Raby, David Johnson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Philosophy, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Identity Recognition, Integration, and Respect for Difference: Toward a Unified Conception of Multilingual Multicultural
Education
There is a disconnect between the literature on multicultural education, a pedagogical paradigm that took form during
the American social movements of the 1960s, and multilingual education, a practice which can be traced back to the
training of ancient scribes. While multicultural theories touch on the implications of foreign or secondary language
education, they fail to integrate the deserved amount of multilingual pedagogical theory into their analyses. Where
individual institutions and teachers do employ such multilingual theories, they use them to structure the teaching of
English to American citizens while drastically overlooking the potential to educate native English speakers in other
languages. Conversely, multilingual theorists and educators limit their research and programs by failing to integrate
into their pedagogical domain implications of the greater multicultural movement, both in practice (i.e., class content
and curriculum structure) and theory (i.e., publications). In addition to the main argument in favor of synthesizing the
two pedagogical theories, I present a defense of multicultural education against its three main misconceptions (Banks,
1999) through examples from a range of philosophers throughout history such as Heraclitus, Immanuel Kant, and
Robert Proctor. By orienting the integration of the two theories around discussions of critical thinking and metalinguistic
awareness as both cognitive capacities and practical pedagogical devices, I lay out the basic foundations for a unified
conception of an overarching multilingual multicultural pedagogical paradigm.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Dominica Cinelli-Graham, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
“So then Moby-Dick said to the Lord...”
Many environmental questions are posed in Melville’s Moby-Dick, a story of a man’s obsession with a whale that has
eaten one of his limbs. If the whale is doing what comes naturally to it, what is the issue? Why is Ahab so furious with
Moby-Dick for what is in the whale’s nature? Is the novel a metaphor for man’s problem with nature? The novel allows
the reader to take a close look at the mindset of man: Why is man so greatly intrigued by that which can cause his
demise? Why is man so defiant towards nature? Why is man so defiant towards his own nature? The project answers
these questions using critical analysis of Moby-Dick, the Holy Bible, a survey of literary criticism, apocalyptic movies,
personal interviews, and a philosophical debate between Moby-Dick and God. The project concludes that a greater
understanding of human nature and the natural world can be found in this fine novel.
176
Rebecca Montano, Jan Lindholm (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Salem State University
Mental Illness in the Bible: King Saul
This research project is a literary analysis of the character of King Saul from the book of I Samuel in the Bible. While
some biblical scholars claim that Saul is possessed by an evil spirit, I suggest that he is, in fact, mentally ill. To support
my claim, I apply psychological theories to explain Saul’s erratic behavior in the biblical narrative and reveal how Saul’s
behavior parallels the behavior of individuals who suffer from Delusional or Bipolar disorders. In addition, I analyze
the ways in which Saul’s psychological disorders impact his relationships with other major characters in the narrative,
particularly David, God, and the prophet Samuel. By applying these psychological theories, I provide readers with
important lenses through which to view the events and relationships portrayed in the narrative, allowing readers to
observe the relationship between Saul and God as both unique and tragic. I conclude by indicating how applying
psychological theories to Saul’s behavior complicates the way in which we look at Saul as a character and the way we
come to understand the biblical text.
Branden Pacheco, Anupama Arora (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, UMass Dartmouth
Is that all there is? (mis)Representations of Britishness in Andrea Levy’s Small Island
This paper explores the role of Britishness in Andrea Levy’s “Small Island.” By focussing on two characters, Hortense and
Queenie, I trace the construction of Britishness in both the Jamaican intellectual class and in the English working class
environments. While it is apparent that Hortense strives to embody the British persona both in Jamaica and in London,
and that Queenie struggles to reconcile the value of the British lifestyle, examination of the temporal environment
further illustrates their anxiety about how to be British. This quality of Britishness is ultimately abstract and elusive -expressed by mannerisms and ways of dress and decorating, practices most identifiable with the Imperial aristocracy.
Levy’s characters are not simply learning to adjust their lifestyles in the face of a closing colonial era, but also among the
rubble of a crumbling class system. As the war shatters pristine stained glass, fells grand architecture and unites colonist
and subject in the fight against Nazism, the grand image of Imperial aristocracy is cracked and questioned. I content that
Levy latently illustrates that these characters come to recognize the fabricated quality of Britishness, and they abandon
this endeavor as they realize the futility of striving to be something whose qualities are a set of vague and disparate
practices exalted by a class that strives to replicate itself and relegate the non-aristocratic as Other. Citing Levy’s text and
engaging relevant articles and theoretical work, I contend that Britishness is a product of economy, one that serves to
replicate a dysmorphic Imperial aristocratic self-image. It is this tension, this inherited impulse to identify the mythical
‘British,’ that motivates anxiety in Levy’s characters.
177
ENTOMOLOGY
Elizabeth Sussky, Joseph Elkinton (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Density-dependent Survival: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Life Stages
We infested sixty-four hemlock trees with varying densities of HWA sistens ovisacs in a forest in MA and documented
subsequent HWA density, fecundity, and the amount of new growth on experimental trees. Our findings are consistent
with similar experiments and show significant patterns of density-dependent survival in both the spring and winter
generations. Half of the trees were previously infested hemlocks and half newly infested hemlocks. Half of the trees in
each group were 1 m tall saplings and the other half were branches of mature trees. Here, we show that survival in each
life stage has little to do with the previous infestation by HWA, but was significantly related to the density of HWA on
each tree.
Stéphanie Arcusa, Raymond Bradley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geological Science, UMass Amherst
Long-term Changes in the Climate of Amherst, 1836-2011
Climate change is a pressing issue for today’s society. Long-term records provide a perspective on the climatic
changes that we can expect in the future under increased levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. In
most locations, instrumental records of climate variables are relatively short, but the town of Amherst has one of the
longest records, dating back to 1836. While mean annual temperatures over Northeast U.S. have been increasing over
the instrumental record and the last few decades, observations show insignificant change over winter since 1988,
hypothesized to be a result of atmospheric changes linked to losses of Arctic sea ice. This study examines long-term
changes in the climate of Amherst over the last 175 years through analysis of graphs and tables. We examine surface
air temperature and precipitation trends from the Amherst records at seasonal and monthly scales. Average daily
temperatures and precipitation amounts based on the entire record are also reviewed to assess whether recent extremes
have been unusual or not. Our end product is a web page linked to the New England Climate website of the UMass
Climate System Research Center along with an accompanying discussion of Amherst’s climate.
178
Stephanie Pelletier, Emily Asp, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
Effects of Extreme Temperature and Elevation on the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Distribution
Purpose: This research was designed to address the prevalent issue of invasive species in terrestrial environments. We
examine the presence of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) on Eastern Hemlock trees (tsuga canadensis) across
two transects in western Massachusetts. We hypothesize that at higher elevations with colder average temperatures,
the prevalence of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is less in comparison to warmer temperatures and lower elevations. Methods:
We observed these effects across various sites located off Route 2 and Route 9 in western Massachusetts. We chose
these transects because they primarily run east to west with varying elevations. At each site, we visually examine the
prevalence of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid on Eastern Hemlock trees in the area. Extreme low temperature data will be
collected from online sources for the sites visited, allowing us to test if there is a correlation between extreme low
temperatures and the presence of this invasive. We also will test the correlation between elevation and the presence
of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Results: Previous studies have shown a correlation between elevation and average low
temperatures with the presence of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Extreme minimum temperatures for each site will be
computed in Excel using minimum temperatures from species introduction to present. These results will then be plotted
to calculate correlation between our independent and dependent variables. Conclusions: This is an ongoing study and
data are still being collected. Conclusions from this study will provide insight into the spread of this growing invasive.
Kasey Bascetta, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
Escalators Escalading Energy Consumption in Shopping Malls
PURPOSE: Shopping malls always give the option of taking a staircase as a way of traveling from floor to floor; why do
people find it necessary to have and to use escalators? This research project focuses on the total energy consumption
escalators use each year in shopping malls; specifically, I will use the Holyoke Mall in Holyoke, Massachusetts, as a case
study and extrapolate my results to the country as a whole. Keeping in mind that elevators are available for handicapped
people, it seems to be that escalators serve no real purpose. Based on energy consumption data, I hypothesize that
greenhouse gas emission could be limited with the eradication of escalators in shopping malls nation wide. METHODS:
For this study, observations, tallies and comparisons are made between the numbers of people taking the escalator to
the number of people using the available staircases. By discussing the negative contributions that escalators have on
global warming and potential savings that eliminating escalators would have on the environment, I will try to answer
the question of what differences the removal of escalators in shopping malls could have on the environment. RESULTS:
The results from the data collected by observing people’s modes of transportation at the Holyoke Mall are factored into
the energy that is required to run one single escalator annually. CONCLUSION: With the data collected I can support my
hypothesis that eliminating escalators in shopping malls will reduce green house gas emissions nationally.
179
Rachel Calderara, Curt Griffin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, UMass Amherst
Abundance, distribution and habitat use of White Rhinoceros at Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Increasingly, private game reserves are playing a critical role in rhino conservation in southern Africa where rhinos are
managed for ecotourism, trophy hunting and game auction. White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simmum) population
increased from 51 to 79 rhinos between 1998 and 2011on the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in South Africa.
Information on the habitats used by rhinos is needed to develop more effective management programs for rhinos on
the reserve. I determined the abundance and distribution of rhinos using data from aerial surveys conducted annually
from 1998-2011. Kernel density maps were developed using ArcMap 10 for four 3-4 year intervals to assess how rhino
distribution on the reserve may have changed over time. I also determined habitat use versus availability for rhinos in
2010 and 2011 using chi-square analyses to identify those habitats (n=8) and vegetation (n=20) types most frequently
used by rhinos. Between 2006-08, kernel density maps indicate that rhino density was consistently the highest in the
central and southern portions of the reserve with a third area of high density in the northwest portion of the reserve.
Since 2009, rhinos concentrated into fewer areas in the central and southern portions of the reserve. In 2010-11,
rhinos most frequently used the old lands, plateau, and hill slope habitats on the reserve, whereas riparian, plains,
and crest-summit habitats were used the least. During these years, the “Southern grasslands” and “Mixed Burkea
africana/ Trachypogon spicatus/ Schizachirium sanguineum woodland Diplorynchus condyloc” vegetation types were
most frequently most, whereas six of the 20 vegetation types were not used at all. Active management of habitats and
vegetation types most frequently used by rhinos are important for expanding the rhino population on the reserve.
Amy Clark, David Christensen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Sustainable Development and Green Technology in Suburban Homes
It is no secret that our climate is being altered by human activity. As Americans continue to see evidence of
environmental changes, the concept of sustainability is becoming increasingly popular. People are looking for ways
to reduce their ecological footprint, and one way to do this is through sustainable development. In 1993, the U. S.
Green Building Council was founded to help establish green building techniques and raise environmental awareness.
The USGBC created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design scale to assist developers with constructing,
operating and implementing green design building options. Wright Builders Inc. is a local company that uses green
building techniques like LEED and Energy Star to create efficient, sustainable development within our region. They
recently finished constructing the Village Hill Homes in Northampton, MA, and I will compare utility performance
from those homes to outdated homes to determine whether sustainable building techniques have an effect on energy
efficiency. This study is significant because it will help to endorse environmentally friendly building design and raise
awareness on the importance of energy efficiency.
180
Patrick Desmond, David Christensen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Salmon Restoration in the Connecticut River Watershed – Out Migration and Adult Returns
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are anadromous, meaning they return from the ocean to spawn in their natal freshwater
rivers and streams. Since the 1970’s an interagency and interstate effort to restore Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut
River Watershed (CRW) has been in effect. Restoration efforts have focused on the release of hatchery-produced salmon
parr or smolts into CRW rivers and brooks. The purpose of this study is to evaluate juvenile escapement versus adult
return in relationship to restoration efforts in the CRW. Specifically, this work will focus on the effect and efficiency
of using fry or smolts to influence the return rates of salmon to their native habitats. This work will also explore other
factors influencing salmon survival such as freshwater ecosystem alteration and ocean productivity.
329 Concourse 3:30-4:15 Board 93A
Edward Dimitri, Carsten Braun (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geography, Westfield State University
Sustainability of Rail Transit Systems in Massachusetts
Since the late 19th century, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has utilized rail transit systems to facilitate the
transportation of people and goods throughout the Greater Boston area and beyond. Mounting deficits of the
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority coupled with an ever-pressing need for sustainable development highlight the
need for affordable, efficient, and environmentally-friendly transportation. The focus of my study is the Metro Boston
area, the Pioneer Valley – Interstate 91 corridor, and the Mass Pike – Interstate 90 corridor connecting Springfield,
Worcester, and Boston. I will use scholarly journals and books, appropriate news articles, and detailed geographic
information system generated maps to illustrate the historical precedents, existing infrastructures, and future options
for new and expanded high-speed rail, light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail networks. The results of my research
will reveal operation and maintenance costs, legal and zoning issues, safety concerns, energy efficiency, and the overall
feasibility of rail transit expansion in the early 21st century. My recommendations will take the aforementioned factors
into account and compare realistic options for extending commuter rail routes, constructing high-speed rail lines, and
securing the necessary private, state, and federal funding for these projects.
Kathleen Doherty, Mark Hamin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Landscape Architecture, UMass Amherst
Yard By Yard: Putting the Power of Permaculture into the Hands of Ordinary People
The word ‘permaculture,’ a compound of the words ‘permanent’ and ‘agriculture,’ encompasses a system of sustainable
design whose goal is to meet human needs while increasing the health of the local-regional ecosystem. The purpose of
this project is to demonstrate permaculture principles as applied to a backyard garden design and to provide resources to
make permaculture more accessible to homeowners interested in implementing a similar system. The initial basis for this
project was a collaborative garden design project for a shared backyard in Northampton, MA, in the summer of 2011.
Major deliverables for this project include: an expansion of the original design in the form of detailed planting plans and
a 100-year vision of the future of the site; a detailed analysis of specific limitations and resources to permaculture design
in Northampton, MA; a brochure guiding homeowners through the design process and using the site in Northampton as
a case study; and a presentation to residents and city officials in Northampton demonstrating the potential accessibility
of permaculture design. The immediate goal of this project is to make permaculture more accessible to homeowners
in Northampton, MA, but the long-term goal is to demonstrate limitations and opportunities for permaculture design
throughout the United States. The homeowner’s brochure and planning report will serve as templates for residents and
officials in other cities interested in implementing their own permaculture guidelines.
181
Leticia DoPrado, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The representation of Nature in Robinson Crusoe, Moby Dick and Solaris
The novels Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, and Solaris by Stanislaw Lem each
represent nature in a unique manner. The purpose of this project is to understand how these books use different
approaches to teach us about nature. This project examines the novels and critical literature about these novels, and
compares and contrasts the different approaches to nature as ally or enemy. When seen together, these perspectives
teach what nature is and what it is capable of. The different treatements of nature in these three novels reveals that we
have much to learn about how to treat it environment, maybe even if is it extraterrestrial.
Karl Jensen, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
Using Remote Sensing to Analyze the Rate of Pond Succession: A Study of Fosters Pond, Andover, MA
Using orthographic imagery from 1995, 2001, 2005, and 2008, we are exploring the rate of pond succession occurring
at Fosters Pond, Andover, MA. Based on preliminary examination, there appears to be significant growth of vegetative
species occurring, and therefore a net loss of open water. For the purposes of this study, open waters will be defined
as an area having a reflectance value that appears to be water. Orthographic images from MassGIS will be analyzed
and manipulated using ArcGIS. Each image will be closely examined and the perimeter and island structures will be
delineated. The area of open water is then determined and compared on a temporal scale. The rate of succession is
measured as the acres of open waters lost between 1995 and 2008. The loss of open waters will be displayed using
multiple map images. The results of this study will provide insight into the rate that succession is occurring at Foster’s
Pond, and determine the net loss of open waters.
Rebecca L Talamini, Michael Jocelyn, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor)
Correlation of Japanese Knotweed Distribution with Stream Order and High Flood Plains
PURPOSE: Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a perennial plant native to Asia that, due to its ability to thrive in
varying soil types and locations, is considered an invasive species in Massachusetts. It spreads rapidly through human
interaction and is especially prevalent near aquatic ecosystems which allow its rhizomes to float and colonize new
sites. It forms dense stands and often crowds out all other vegetation, creating large, unstable areas along river banks.
Because large portions of the Westfield River are National Wild and Scenic River systems, it is important to monitor and
prevent future invasions of the species on the nearly pristine West Branch. METHODS: Using GIS maps, we identify all
headwaters of the streams, crossings of roads, and the Strahler Stream Order of those stream/West Branch Watershed
river segments. Using these maps, we also determine the flood risk along these stream crossings. In the field we go to
each crossing and identify the presence or absence of knotweed. RESULTS: Using ArcGIS we map out where knotweed
has colonized and attempt to correlate the presence of it in areas with a higher stream order and at a higher risk of
flooding. CONCLUSION: This method will allow for a base measurement of knotweed presence along the river, which
can be used in future efforts to identify new colonies and control their spread in areas that are deemed most at risk.
182
Timothy Judd, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
An Environmental Analysis of the Greenway Project in Southampton, Ma
PURPOSE: This comprehensive analysis of the environmental effects of the Southampton, MA, Greenway Project studies
the potential effects on the surrounding wetlands, wildlife, drinking water supply, and on their primary beneficiary –
the people. METHODS: The effects of rail-to-trail conversion on local watershed areas, soils, and wildlife habitats are
explained, as will be the Project’s effects on the neighborhoods and the town. Soil samples taken from the rail bed
tested for the presence of arsenic and geological site surveys provide this analysis with the essential data to make a
sound analysis. Additionally, it reviews case studies and comparisons to other analyses made by experts in the field
of conservation give this Greenway study the necessary depth to be formally used. RESULTS: The construction of
the Southampton Greenway, connecting neighboring cities of Easthampton and Northampton with Westfield, will
strengthen environmentalism and therefore spur new conservation efforts. The project will also describe the problems
left behind by the railroad such as arsenic in the soil and the undisposed railroad ties left in its path. This study shows
how not only the health of the town will improve but also the individual health of those who utilize this great natural
resource. CONCLUSION: Southampton is the priority Greenway Initiative in the area, acting as the potential connection
between greenway programs in Westfield and Southwick to the south, and Northampton, Easthampton, and Hadley to
the north. A Greenway committee has been established by the Town Select Board to cooperate with the Planning Board
and the Conservation Commission. This Environmental Analysis of the rail-to-trail conversion is essential to the successful
coordination among these committees and the town’s residents.
Sarah LaFlamme, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
People as Parasites
Climate change, depletion of natural resources, and the extinction of species are just a few examples of how humans
have impacted the Earth. This project compares humans’ relationship with the Earth to the relationship of parasites have
with humans. Through documentary films, scholarly articles, and internet research this project examines the stages of
parasitic progression in filarial worm, whipworm, and tapeworm and the similar outcomes with humans behavior toward
the planet. By illuminating the similarities humans have with parasites, this project helps raise awareness of the impact
humans have on Earth.
183
Mackenzie Wright, Robert Larose, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor)
Loss of Carbon Sequestration due to the October 2011 Snow Storm
Purpose: The goal of our research is to calculate the percentage of forest damage after the 2011 October snow storm.
Using this information we will calculate the loss of carbon sequestration due to the loss of trees and the resulting impact
in regards to global warming. Methods: Using transects and study plots, we will calculate the percentage of overall
damage caused by the October storm. We do this by counting the number of downed trees and damaged branches
and calculating an overall percentage of forest damage. Based on our field data collection, we will calculate the loss
of carbon sequestration. Results: Counting the number of downed and damaged trees in our study plots will give us a
percentage of damage in a specified area, which we can extrapolate to the total damaged area. We will be able to find
the potentially unfixed carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by calculating the percentage of forest damage and correlating
that percentage to the amount of carbon dioxide which was unabsorbed, according to the sequestration levels of trees.
This will give us the data necessary to find out how much influence the loss of trees in Massachusetts during the 2011
October snowstorm has on global warming. Conclusion: This study will enable us to conclude how much the 2011
October snowstorm has influenced the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The techniques we develop can be
used on other small-medium scale disturbance events.
Robert Larose, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
Analysis of Methane Released through Cow Manure
Purpose: The goal of my research is to calculate the amount of methane released from cow manure. Using this
information, I will calculate the percentage of methane in the atmosphere that is due to cow manure from the United
States. Methods: Using a portable gas detector, I will record how much methane is released from a single cow’s waste
until minimal amounts of methane are detected. I will also quantify the amount of manure a cow releases throughout its
lifetime by averaging how frequently a cow defecates in two hours. I will collect country-wide statistics on cattle farms
and apply my data in order to derive the amount of methane released from cows. I will also use several equations to
determine how much methane is released in association with a single serving of beef, as well as how much methane
release is associated with one glass of milk. Results: With methane data collected from the field, I will present the
quantity of methane released from one cow through its entire lifespan. I will also present the quantity of methane
released from all the cows in the United States, taking into consideration an average life span. I can directly correlate
global warming to the amount of methane released from cows across the entire United States. This correlation will show
a percentage of methane in the atmosphere due to cattle farms across the United States. Conclusion: This study will
show how meat and dairy industries are responsible for large amounts of methane in the atmosphere. The techniques
developed in this study can be applied to other studies on livestock and animal bi-product industries and their
contributions to greenhouse gases.
184
Jeremy McKinstry, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
A Comparison of American and Chinese College Student Views on the Environment
PURPOSE: China is currently one of the rising industrial powerhouses. This rise in industry has resulted in a lot of
negative environmental consequences. Having spent the last year in Beijing through the study abroad program
at Westfield State University, I am interested in future generations’ environmental views and the problems this
industrialization will create. METHODS: Through a survey distributed to American and Chinese college students via social
media, I will analyze current college student views on many of today’s leading environmental issues and ethics. I will
analyze these responses and compare the views between college students of the two countries. RESULTS: I am currently
in the process of carrying out this research. I hypothesize that the environmental awareness of students in China
will not be as high as that of students in America based upon my observations of student life from a year spent at a
Chinese University. CONCLUSION: The world will continue to become more populated and industrialized. This can have
negative consequences on the environment if we are not careful. Considering that China is currently one of the fastest
developing and most populated countries, it is very important to gain insight into future generations’ environmental
views in order to help create a cleaner and greener future.
Erin Murray, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
Species Richness as a Function of Latitude
Purpose: Recently we had the good fortune to participate in a short course in Costa Rica. We were amazed by the
diversity; though the land is only .03% of the world it harbors 5% of the world’s species. Here in Massachusetts the
diversity is much less. We hypothesize that the major factor in this is latitude since as the latitude gets higher; species
would need to have specific adaptations to more extreme climates. Methods: The study conducted explores biodiversity
in relation to latitudinal gradients. We define a latitude sector as equal to 15° increments, which begin at 0° and end at
90° north and south. Through research, we collect data for each country’s biodiversity that is in each latitude sector. The
diversity of species that we observed in Costa Rica includes mammals, birds, orchids, frogs and trees; which serve as our
species of interest. In our research we document spatial patterns in diversity and explore their implications. Data will be
organized in a table by the individual species and the number of species that were found in different countries that cross
the latitudinal line. Results: We expect to see a decrease in biodiversity as the latitudes increase towards the North and
South Poles. Since the study is still on-going, the results are not yet available. Conclusion: Terrestrial species are more
diverse near the equator. As latitudes increase away from the equator, the species diversity will be less diverse due to
different climate conditions and having to adapt to different types of weather.
185
Ryan Noyes, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Ensuring Fresh Water Resource Stability in the 21st Century
The sustainability of all natural resources has been threatened by the exponential global population growth in the last
century. Among the many resources under threat is fresh water, a commodity that has been compromised by many
long-term global factors that are directly and indirectly the result of population growth. At the core of this problem is a
fundamentally flawed global attitude towards the acquisition and use of fresh water. This project examines the attitudes
and policies that have led to this resource compromise and the current efforts to prevent fresh water depletion. This
project also examines the effects of these policies, including the direct and indirect consequences of regional fresh water
depletion, the global geo-political reaction to a peak resource crisis, and the probability of future armed conflict. This
assessment is the product of historical data and statistical analysis that results in a suggestion for a global strategy that
can potentially mitigate the threats associated with fresh water depletion through the 21st century.
Nicole C Giles, Samantha L Wysocki, Sarah Pierce, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor)
A Comparison of Increasing Meat Consumption and Environmental Problems
Purpose: With globalization of trade and world economies, many developing countries are achieving higher standards of
living. In particular, China’s economy has grown exponentially in the past 30 years due to increased global interactions.
One result of a growing economy is that people are able to afford more meat in their diets. In the past, China’s
population has relied on a primarily vegetarian diet augmented with a small amount of animal protein. To feed the one
billion people a diet with more meat, there is a need for the increased use of industrialized feed lots across the globe.
These feedlots have resultant worldwide environmental problems that must be considered. Methods: In this research,
we focus on two environmental problems associated with this change: Carbon Dioxide emissions released from meat
production and the deforestation of land for more cattle lots. This study explores the increase in environmental problems
which correspond with the increase in the standard of living in China, while using the United States as a benchmark. We
compare the environmental impacts of beef production and consumption between the United States and China, based
on existing data and projections which we will calculate. Results: Since the study is still ongoing, the results are not yet
available. Conclusion: Since the results are not yet available, a conclusion has yet to be reached.
Jordan Piper, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor)
An Analysis of the Environmental Impacts Due to Dunkin Donuts Coffee in New England
Rob Downey and Jordan Piper, Westfield State University, Spring 2012 Purpose: Dunkin Donuts, a well-established fast
food business, has a heavy impact on the economy and the environment of New England. Using Dunkin Donuts as a
model, we will analyze how food is distributed throughout the northeast region, specifically observing coffee, which
is defined in this study as a medium-sized hot coffee with cream and sugar. Methods: We will quantify for one cup of
coffee a) how many miles it has traveled, b) how much gasoline/ diesel has been used for that one cup of coffee, and
c) how much carbon dioxide has been emitted by its transportation. Analysis Plan: We will then use these results to
assess the efficiency of the current system, how it impacts New England’s environment, and how it could be improved
upon. We will also consider the impacts that Dunkin Donut stores have on run-off pollution, solid waste, and habitat
fragmentation.
186
Sarah Shearer, Michael Vorwerk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Environmental Studies, Westfield State University
The Effect of Lunar Cycles on the Foraging Behavior and Movement of Sea Turtles
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Many species, particularly predators, react to the fullness of the moon by decreasing their
movement and activity levels. This study was conducted to determine whether a certain species of sea turtle, being
predatory as well as dependent on tidal cycles, also decreases in activity when the moon approaches peak fullness.
METHODS: The methods used include the analysis of publicly available sea turtle conservation data, including the recent
movements and tracking locations of specific sea turtles that have been marked and released in the Persian Gulf region.
The data that have been collected span multiple lunar cycles to reflect any consistency or inconsistency in daily sea turtle
behavior and activity levels. RESULTS: Calculating and comparing the average distances of travel for the thirteen tracked
Hawks-bill turtles on each recorded day, in relation to the concurrent lunar phase and the lunar effect on tide intensity,
reveals any potential correlation in the data that may indicate that the moon has an effect on (and whether it decreases)
the activity level of sea turtles. CONCLUSION: This is an ongoing study.
Gabriel Siegel, David Christensen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, Westfield State University
Mapping the Bathymetry of Russell Pond, Russell Ma
Bathymetric maps provide valuable insight into the health and protection of aquatic environments. Surface area, fetch,
z max, mean depth, volume, and shoreline development can be derived from a bathymetric map. I have created a
bathymetric map of Russell Pond, in Russell, MA. The map was created to update an existing map made in 1978. My
goal was to use modern technology to create a detailed map of the pond’s floor. Any differences in current and previous
bathymetries can be attributed to one of the following: advancement of technology used, increase in procedural detail,
or natural changes in sediment dynamics. A perimeter and 23 linear transects were projected over an aerial image of
the pond. This map was used as a guide route. Using a Marcum LX-i digital sonar device and Trimble GeoXT GPS unit,
depth measurements were recorded roughly every 20 feet along the predicted route from a kayak between October
22nd and November 9th, 2011. A series of new bathymetric maps was created using multiple interpolation methods
based on 1,710 recorded depth measurements collected during this time. Each map varies slightly from the next due to
differences in interpolation methods, but overall they are very similar. There are minor differences between these newlycreated maps and the original map produced in 1978. The updated bathymetric maps provide a detailed tool in the
management of Russell Pond.
Ashley Sullivan, Carol Soules (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst
Environmental Health
Environmental health is the study of the effects of the environment on individual health. Everyday the human body is
exposed to many chemicals. Harmful chemicals are found in cleaning products, pesticides, deodorizers, soaps, paints
and naturally occurring substances in homes. When people breathe in the chemicals from the air the chemicals become
absorbed into the blood stream. The body’s detoxification system is unable to get rid of man-made toxins. Overtime
the toxins build up in the body and reeks havoc on the body’s systems. Researchers indicate that asthma, fatigue,
headaches, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, allergies, diabetes, and obesity are commonly provoked by environmental
factors. Environmental illness is a growing concern, but limiting the amount of toxic exposure can prevent sickness. My
senior capstone project focuses on important environmental factors in Holyoke, Massachusetts. I created newsletters
and pamphlets containing information about environmental hazards and healthy alternatives.
187
Gertian Xhafa, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Whaling Laws: Past and Present
Laws protecting whales are fairly recent acts of legislation. Existing laws from the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) are meant to control whaling practices worldwide. Under present laws “scientific research” is allowed and
because of this loophole the law frequently fails to protect whales. This project examines ways to change the current
whaling laws to provide better protections for whales. Through examination of outcomes from previous whaling laws
as well as laws protecting all species, the project examines the effectiveness of present and past policies. The project
identifies problems with current laws and offers conclusions. The results will be submitted to International Whaling
Commission.
FORESTRY
Derick Tah, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Effects of Deforestation on the Environment and Economy of Cameroon
Cameroon obtains a large percentage of its national revenue from timber exportation, and is rapidly consuming its
natural forest reserve. Current logging activities pose severe problems both to the environment and a threat to the
economy of the nation in years to come. Evaluating the impact of deforestation on the ecosystem as well as on country’s
economy in recent years is critical in planning and projecting further economic growth with necessary attention to
safeguarding the environment. By way of research from scholarly articles, newspapers, periodicasl and the internet,
the procedures and practices carried out in timber exploitation in Cameroon were examined. The results revealed
widespread practices of excessive logging. Although the central government has stipulated measures to regulate this
activity, their implementation has been timid and ineffective. The lucrative nature of forest exploitation has led to
widespread corruption and has lead to an uncontrolled number of licenses or permits issued. The project concluded that
redistribution of national income justly together with adequate education of the population is the key to reversing the
current situation.
188
GEOGRAPHY
Kaeleigh Chartrand, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Global Warming and Tornadoes: Are the Effects Spinning out of Control?
Tornadoes are a fascinating yet devastating natural disaster with a strange distribution pattern occurring lately in
conjunction with the effects of global warming. While there is some speculation on the part of meteorologists such as
Ken Cook of Alabama , Harold Brooks of Oklahoma, Kevin Trenberth of the national center for Atmospheric Research,
and NASA research scientist Tony Del Genio that as a result of global warming, tornado distribution has shifted and
increased across the U.S, that concern has not been studied extensively. While such speculation could be valid, we need
more evidence to support a causal link between global warming and tornado distribution as argued by Greg Carbin of
NOAA, and activist Bjorn Lomborg. By reviewing data from national weather websites such as www.nesec.org, www.
noaa.gov, and www.ncdc.noaa.gov, I have found that several sources believe there could be a causal link between the
change in tornado distribution in the United States and global warming. Accepting the connection between global
warming and the change in distribution of tornados is imperative, as the changing patterns of tornadoes will affect
those who are currently unprepared. Tornadoes used to occur mainly in “Tornado Alley”, the area comprised of South
Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado. As of late, a higher number of tornadoes
have occurred outside “Tornado Alley” and have been seen in northern New England states such as Massachusetts,
New York, and New Hampshire. My research is aimed at United Stated citizens because global warming is a prominent
issue to which we contribute to greatly, and the effects of tornadoes could change our country drastically. Tornadoes
are destructive, and those recently affected do not know how to prepare for such a disaster. With the effects of global
warming, the future of tornadoes could potentially be deadly and we need to keep informed as U.S. citizens.
Ryan Dunn, Annaliese Bischoff (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Landscape Architecture, UMass Amherst
No One Leaves: how to save your home after foreclosure
The housing foreclosure crisis that surfaced around 2007 has devastated urban communities across the United States
in predominantly low-income and minority neighborhoods. As the balloon payments of predatory loans spiked and
homeowners began defaulting, housing prices dropped significantly, leaving many homeowners ‘underwater’ with a
mortgage much higher than the value of the house. What is left today is a national imperative for urban planners and
policy makers. City Life/Vida Urbana(CL/VU), a community organization in Boston that has been fighting displacement
since the 70s, saw the housing crisis as an opportunity to organize. In response to the relative failure of loan
modification and foreclosure prevention programs, CL/VU began a post-foreclosure eviction defense campaign that is
keeping people in their homes. Their strategy, called “The Sword and the Shield”, unites public protest with pro-bono
legal defense. From weekly meetings to frequent actions, CL/VU has pioneered a grassroots movement of resistance in
Boston that has since spread to other communities in Massachusetts such as Springfield and Worcester. Research for
this project was done through active participation in the movement, reviewing news articles, and conducting informal
interviews with community organizers. By ‘collectivizing’ individual cases, and making concrete demands such as
‘principal reduction’ and ‘no no fault evictions’, CL/VU’s post-foreclosure strategy has kept hundreds of families in their
homes. Ultimately, CL/VU’s grassroots model of post-foreclosure defense moves people to reclaim public space as a
platform for letting their voice be heard in an effort to defend the private space we call home.
189
Nathan Wojcik, Marijoan Bull (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geography, Westfield State University
Campus Tree Plan for Westfield State University: The environmental, social, and economic benefits of trees.
Purpose: The growth and expansion of Westfield State University (WSU) poses a threat to the trees on campus. The
benefits of the trees lost due to the building of MOD Hall and the new Residential Dormitory is overlooked. A Campus
Tree Plan will determine the value of existing trees and balance the economic growth with environmental concerns
by defining a replacement plan for trees lost to removal or decay. Methods: Inventory and catalog the locations, size,
condition, and benefits of every existing tree on the campus of WSU. GPS locations were mapped using ARCmap to
display the placement of the current trees. The Diameters at Breast Height (DBH) were measured to determine size. The
conditions were graded using a predetermined scale system and using I-tree software, the benefits were calculated for
each tree.
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Devon Colcord, David Finkelstein (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geological Science, UMass Amherst
A Multi-proxy Investigation of Holocene Environmental Variability in Central New York
PURPOSE: Discerning details of past climate variability is essential to our understanding of the present, as well as
future changes. This study presents a multi-proxy approach to investigate environmental variability in central New York
throughout the Holocene. METHODS: A ~13m sediment core was taken from Watkins Glenn Marsh and analyzed for
total nitrogen(%TN), total organic carbon(%TOC), C/N ratios, and stable isotopic δ13C of bulk organic matter. RESULTS:
14C dates show the 13.5m core spans the past ~10,000yrs. For much of the core, there is little variability (~0.1) in
%TOC with the exception of an interval of drastic increase (~0.4%TOC) from 5.8-5.5m followed by an interval of
significant decrease (~0.4%TOC) from 5.5-3.0m. At 13.5m, the C/N ratios are ~40 and decrease to ~10 by 11m. From
11-3m, the C/N ratios remain between 10 and 20. From 3-2m, the C/N ratios increase by 15. The δ13C values shift from
~-27‰ at the bottom of the core to ~-24‰ at 6m. From 6-5.5m, δ13C becomes significantly more depleted (~-30‰),
and then increasingly enriched to the top of the core. CONCLUSIONS: High C/N ratios at the bottom of the core are
consistent with input of terrestrial vegetation. From 12-3m, C/N ratios are much lower, reflecting a change to lacustrine
sourced organic matter. Throughout the Holocene, there has been a shift from depleted δ13C values to enriched values,
indicating an increase in abundance of C4 plants. Further investigation of the anomalous variations in C/N ratios and
δ13C is in progress.
190
Jennifer Fardy, Jon Woodruff (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geological Science, UMass Amherst
Sedimentation from Tropical Storm Irene in the Lower Connecticut River
In late August 2011, Tropical Storm Irene hit Western Massachusetts. A rare late summer flooding event such as this
posed a great opportunity to study how extreme flooding events may impact the sedimentation in inlet ponds along
great meandering rivers such as the Connecticut River. Past studies on meandering river floodplains concluded that
major flood events like Tropical Storm Irene, do not leave a sedimentological imprint that is easily distinguishable
from other events like spring freshets in the bottom-sediment (Sambrook Smith, 2010). However, these studies did
not examine ponds and marshes connected to meandering rivers by tidal inlet channels. Throughout Fall 2011, the
sedimentology class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst collected sediment core from off-river ponds and
marshes along the lower Connecticut River. We analyzed these cores for grain size, porosity, organic content, mercury,
and other heavy metals. The findings from the fall show that Tropical Storm Irene did in fact leave a distinct imprint
in the sedimentary record of inlet ponds and marshes along the Connecticut River. On average, the overall thickness
of the Irene deposit was roughly twice the thickness of sediments deposited during the spring freshet of 2011, with
sedimentation rates increasing towards the mouth of the river. Mercury (Hg) and other heavy metals are now trapped in
sediment along the Connecticut River. In the cores we collected in the fall, the sediment that we previously determined
to correlate with Tropical Storm Irene was significantly less abundant in Hg. These findings suggest that the Irene
deposits are cleaner and could be seen as a cap on the older more contaminated sediments.
Amy Goldman, David Finkelstein (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geological Science, UMass Amherst
Investigating Climatic Changes of Western Massachusetts Through Ring-width and Stable Isotopes (13C) in Red Oak
(Quercus rubra)
Purpose: Tree rings have the ability to generate an exact chronology that can record changes in climatic patterns for
hundreds of years. This study aims to use Red Oak to examine the influence of different climate variables in western
Massachusetts on tree ring width and stable isotopic composition in an effort to provide a baseline for reconstructing
climate beyond the instrumental record. Methods: Annual ring widths spanning 1954 to 2011 of Red Oak cores from
western Massachusetts were measured and compared to instrumental records of temperature, precipitation, and large
scale ocean-atmosphere interactions. Earlywood and latewood portions of each ring were isolated and prepared for
analysis by Elemental Analyzer- Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer. Results: Width variations are evident throughout the
core. When graphed against average precipitation and temperature for latewood growth (July-September), ring-width
varies with precipitation. An interval of below average ring-width from 1981 to 1985 corresponds to a period of 5-year
below average precipitation. A similar 5-year drought occurs in the early 1960s without an apparent effect on ringwidth. During the early 1980s, temperature was below average over the 5-year period, which was not the case in the
early 1960s. Conclusions: Covariance of ring-width and precipitation rather than temperature suggests that precipitation
is the primary determining factor of ring-width in the cores examined. Temperature acts as a secondary influence.
Investigation of the carbon isotopes in the latewood of the tree rings will provide further insight into the climate’s effect
on tree growth allowing for a reconstruction beyond the instrumental period.
191
GEOLOGY
John Gilbert, Julie Brigham-Grette (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geological Science, UMass Amherst
Exploring Warm Interglacial Marine Seasonality Along the Northwest Alaskan Coast
During past interglacials, warm water masses penetrated northward into the Arctic and subarctic seas influencing the
climate system, causing among other things changes in seasonal sea ice extent. Such changes are accelerating today. To
better understand the seasonality of temperature in Arctic coastal waters during past interglacial periods one approach is
to measure changes in the oxygen isotope geochemistry of annual growth bands in fossil mollusks the lived at different
times. This study explored the suitability of several bivalve species for producing paleorecords of seasonal changes
for comparison with extant specimens recovered from the northwest coast of Alaska. Intact shells of Hiatella arctica,
Mya pseduoarenaria and Astarte borealis were chosen for study from existing Alaskan collections representing warm
interglacials dating to 125ka, 410ka and 2.6 Myrs ago. Each sample was embedded in epoxy, cross-sectioned, polished,
and imaged prior to isotopic sampling using a micromill capable of 100μm sampling resolution. The resulting carbonate
powders were then analyzed for oxygen isotope geochemistry using a Finnigan Delta XL+ ratio mass-spectrometer
attached to a Kiel III automated carbonate preparation system. Changes in 18O content of the fossilized specimens are
compared to the δ18O content of modern specimens to evaluate differences in seasonality relative to other paleoproxies
from the same collection sites. The efficacy of these methods in determining the amplitude and range of variability
in past and current seas surface temperature is determined. Changes in seasonality provide important data sets
contributing to ongoing data-model comparisons by other scientists using global circulation models.
HISTORY
David Condon, Michele Wolfson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Cape Cod Community College
History of Women in Iran
In Iran, women are treated as inferior to men. This research paper attempts to determine the historical background
behind the mistreatment of women in the Iran. Upper class women in the Persian Empire, while not socially equal to
men, were allowed to work and in some instances actually supervised men. Women were able to buy and sell property
and were able to acquire wealth. Veiling was not forced, and only upper-class women were actually allowed to wear
veils. The women in ancient Persia were treated far better than women in the region today. In modern Iran, women
are suppressed by men: they are forced to hide themselves with veils in public and are kept out of view when in their
homes. Women are not allowed to vote; girls may be married off at age thirteen, and men may divorce their wives
without needing permission from the courts. Although it seems that women in ancient Persia enjoyed rights that many
women in other parts of the world did not, modern women in Iran are some of the most oppressed women in the
world.
192
Cameron Hadfield, Michele Wolfson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Cape Cod Community College
Oppression in the Modern Workplace
This project will investigate the reasons and methods used to keep women from attaining their full potential in the
workplace. Whether deliberate or accidental, women are often ‘silenced’ by employers and coworkers alike. This
happens in the form of sexual harassment, antagonism, or disregard compared to other employees. Additionally, it is
often said that women are paid less than men to do the same job or the same level of work. This paper will examine the
validity of that assertion and consider how this contributes to the silencing of women.
Stephanie Nguyen, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Political Gender Divide: The Growing Gender Gap Between Men and Women in Politics
The purpose of this project is to identify why women choose not to enter into politics in the United States. The goal
is to both confirm there is a gender gap in political positions, and to answer why it is more difficult for women to be
elected to office at the nation’s highest levels. By observing and cross-examining statistical data obtained by The Bureau
of the Census, The Congressional Research Service, and other nationally accredited and reliable sources, an accurate
understanding of women’s participation in politics can be made. Recognizing that women and men have different
motivations and underlining societal and familial expectations, and analysis of women who do succeed at the national
level compared to the state level, it becomes clear that although the gender gap is slowly being bridged, women who
decide to run for top political offices still face significant gender inequity.
Dermot O’ Brien, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Mankind and Misfortune: Natural Disaster Throughout the Ages.
Natural disasters have long fascinated and terrified mankind. This project examines how man has understood and coped
with disaster. BIt considers contemporary sources along with evidence gathered long after the events. Questions raised
are: how did man keep himself safe, how did man explain the cause of disaster, and how did disaster affect his culture?
The project examined memoires, documents, artifacts, archaeological evidence, and the writings of witnesses to events
like the Black Death, the Irish Famine, volcanoes, and earthquakes. This projectgives a glimpse of religious and scientific
leanings of those times. It concludes that much can be learned from the markedly different historical interpretations and
reactions to the perils of nature.
193
Thamyris Tavares de Almeida, Brian Bunk (Faculty Sponsor) Department of History, UMass Amherst
Manet’s Bar: A Reflection of the Modernization of Prostitution in Nineteenth-Century France
Édouard Manet painted several paintings of women known to be involved in prostitution from 1860 to 1882. In
addition to Bar at the Folies-Bergère, this project looks closely at two other paintings, Olympia and Nana, and focuses
on how Manet represents these supposed prostitutes. The project employs Manet’s paintings to illustrate the effect
France’s cultural, political and economic changes had on the system of prostitution. The sources used for this project
vary but are mostly secondary sources; such as scholarly articles, books and novels that can help produce a clearer image
of that society. Other sources include historical analyses of all three paintings to understand the discourse concerning
the subject matter, as well as literature concerning sexuality and promiscuity during this epoch. The research reveals how
an increase in the prosperity of upper-class French citizens, and eventually that of the growing middle class, generated
changes to both the culture and politics of France. The wealthy men of France started a “trend” (employment of
prostitutes) based on how they spent their free time and eventually this fad caught on with the male members of the
growing middle- and working classes. It is important to note that the economic effects and the changes to prostitution
possibly display correlation rather than causation. The use of Manet’s paintings in order to explain how prostitution
evolved in nineteenth-century France allows for a discussion around a new interpretation of art as a means to explain
history.
Benjamin Weeks, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Religious Basis Towards Origin of Life Theories
Explanation of life’s origins are rife with religious speculation. Science’s growing role has given rise to new forms of
understanding the fundamenalts of life. Mythological tales pose questions which science seeks to answer. Through
comparing past and present scientific origin theories with religious creation myths, this project investigates the stagework that religion has provided science throughout history. The belief in outside forces served an important role in
mankind’s ability to ask ultimate questions. No matter how intricately we comprehend the origin of life, there will always
be a ghost in the machine.
194
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Majdouline Touil, Jenna Marquard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Industrial Engineering, UMass Amherst
Which Visual Scanning Patterns Help Nurses Correctively Identify Patients?
A key element in the medication administration process is accurately identifying that the patient is receiving the correct
medication. Patient identification errors during the medication administration process can be potentially fatal, yet
nurses are not being trained in how to correctly identify patients. This study seeks to determine if there is an optimal
visual scanning pattern that nurses can use to compare patient identification information (e.g., name, date of birth,
medical record number) across artifacts used in the medication administration process. Participants (N=60) viewed
patient profiles with and without errors using artifact-based and identifier-based scanning. With artifact-based scanning,
participants were forced to look at all patient identification information on one artifact, then all patient identification
information on a second artifact. With identifier-based scanning (IBS), participants were forced to compare patient
identification information (e.g., name) one-to-one. There was a significant difference between the performance of those
who compared the artifacts using artifact-based scanning and identifier-based scanning. The one-to-one comparison
of identifier-based scanning was found to be the more effective visual scanning pattern. Potential applications of this
research include developing a training program to teach these visual scanning patterns to nursing students.
Kerry Gorham, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Eating Evolution
Humans were hunter-gatherers until about 10,000 years ago when the agricultural revolution began. Since this
paradigm shift, we have yet to evolve to eat the standard American diet. The widely accepted and recommended
nutritional guidelines ignore our biological needs and promote foods that are harmful to us. As a result, we have been
consuming more and more foods that increase our chance of health hazards, introduce toxins into our bodies, block
essential nutrients and cause behavioral changes. We are on the cusp of a new paradigm shift. Researchers are looking
at our nutrition from an evolutionary point-of-view to determine how we can achieve optimal health. A primal, paleo
or ancestral way of life that will allow us to best work with our bodies, satisfy our basic biological needs, maximize our
efforts and turn ourselves into the strong, lean, smart and productive humans that our ancestors were over 10,000 years
ago. Now the question is how do we forget everything we have ever known in the modern world about nutrition and
embrace the needs and wants of our genes?
195
Jessica M Tower, Jennifer Rosa, Michelle H McCall, Tori Hartman, Tiffany Magnolia (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of English, North Shore Community College
The Meaning of Life in Film, Fiction, and Philosophy
The Meaning of Life in Film, Fiction and Philosophy What is the Meaning of Life? This group project poster will focus
on the philosophical theories of the meaning of life in order to paint a picture of said meaning of life. This poster poses
questions to the searcher about his/her own meaning of life through philosophy, literature, and film. Upon posing such
questions, the viewer will search for meaning through the efforts of those who have paved the way. The philosophical
theories that will be covered in the poster include: Camus, Schopenhauer, Klempke, Nozick, Ayer, Nietzsche, Kant, and
Kierkegaard. The literary authors that will be covered include: Tolstoy, Morrison, LeGuin, Kafka, and Wilson. And finally,
the films include: Kundun, Groundhog Day, Pi, Enemy Mine, The Fountain, Memento, and Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind. Through this research, and presented in the poster, it became clear that philosophical meanings of life are
numerous. Each philosopher, and therefore each person, finds meaning through his/her own life journey. The research
concludes that while answers may seem tangible and simple to grasp, they also remain meaningless or elusive to some.
Researching approaches to meaning can result in the incorporation of these theories into one’s meaning of life.
Rachel Perry, Shoba Rajgopal (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Women’s Studies, Westfield State University
Ecofeminism: Art and Revolution
Ecofeminism seeks to both highlight and critique the intersections of racism, sexism and the domination of nature. Art
is a tool used to educate, entertain and incite response. Revolution seems the most logical result of the marriage of both
art and the aims of ecofeminism. Speaking to audiences on a most visceral level art has the power to bring together
elements necessary for revolution in a way that makes it accessible and undeniable. This presentation is accompanied by
the presenter’s artwork on Ecofeminism.
Luiz Rodrigues, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Root of Enviromental Apathy
Man has abused the Earth to an extent that change on a world-wide scale is now evident, yet there are significant
numbers of people who dispute these facts. Despite their dismissal of facts, their votes count. In order to enact
meaningful legislation, the underlying seeds of enviromental apathy must be identified. This project seeks the cultural
roots of this obstinancy, for the purpose of arming policy-makers to overcome willful ignorance. Research into
developmental psychology, group psychology, and religious beliefs was conducted to help explain how and why these
attitudes create a fundmental disregard for nature. The findings will be sent to key legislators. An understanding of the
roots of enviromental apathy may help lead to a solution to the problem of lack of respect for the environment.
196
JAPANESE
Lap Ian Lou, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Culture Similarity and Clash: Gender Presented In Manga and Anime
Manga and anime are growing rapidly in America. Many people in America have difficulty understanding the gender
roles in manga and anime because of the differences between traditional American gender roles and the gender issues
presented in Japanese comics and animations. This project analyzes backgrounds, content, and characters of manga and
anime to compare these differences . Although there are likenesses in family roles, there are pronounced differences in
sexuality . The project illustrates why many Americans are confused by the gender roles presented in Japanese comics
and animations.
KINESIOLOGY
Andrea Arabadjis, Joseph Hamill (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Fitness Footwear and Kinematic Effects on Walking Gait
Introduction: Understanding kinematics coordination of the lower extremity is useful for further comparisons between
normal and changed gait patterns. Certain joint movements are characteristic of natural motion of the lower extremity
while walking and may be affected by footwear. Footwear such as the category referred to as ‘fitness footwear’ may
potentially affect the normal biomechanics of gait in positive and negative ways because of their construction. Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ankle motion while walking in fitness shoes. Methods: In this study, 12
young females walked in four different ‘fitness’ shoes and a control shoe. They walked at their preferred walking speed
in all conditions. Results: The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences among the fitness
footwear and the control shoe for the sagittal plane ankle rotation at touchdown, mid-stance and toe-off (p>0.5). The
ankle joint was not significantly altered and showed no effect of the ‘fitness footwear’ on gait. Conclusions: It is clear
from the current study that there is little evidence supporting the effects of external factors (i.e. fitness footwear) on gait
patterns. Although these fitness shoes are designed to alter gait, it is clear that they are not effective at doing so and
may not have a legitimate fitness feature.
197
Kathleen K Meaney, Meghan Blanchard, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
The Relationship of Exercise Motivation to Life Goals among Vigorously Active College Students
Purpose: “College is full of exciting new things, from meeting people to living away from home. But, college can also
be stressful as you try to develop new routines, live on a limited budget, and manage responsibilities on your own”
(Center for Disease Control). It is important for college students to improve their physical activity in order to maintain
a healthy lifestyle. Higher levels of physical activity have been found to reduce stress levels and to increase self-esteem.
This study examines the relationship between physical activity levels, exercise motivation and life goals among college
students within the context of the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that students
who reported to be more physically active were intrinsically motivated and have more intrinsic life goals Methods:
Undergraduate students (N = 60) were administered three questionnaires relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise
Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were
calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire with categorical values
of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of the
Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index Scale (Kasser & Ryan, 1996). Correlation
coefficients will be computed to determine statistically significant relationships between the level of PA and motivational
disposition for college students both male and female. The results of this study will provide important information
relating to college campuses introducing on-campus programs that promote intrinsic motivation of physical activity
levels, exercise motivations and life goals of college students. This study is part of a larger study of physical activity levels,
motivation and life goals.
Kelsey M Crane, Meaghen Chalmers, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Relationship of Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivation and Life Goals among Honors Students
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of intrinsic or extrinsic exercise motivations and life
goals in a small subset of honors college co-eds. Honors Students within the context of the Self-Determination Theory
(Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that honors students would report low physical activity rates despite the fact
that they posses high intrinsic exercise motivations and life goals. Methods: 60 Undergraduate Westfield State University
Honors students were administered three questionnaires relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and
Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the
methods outlined in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire with categorical values of Low, Moderate and
Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of the Exercise Motivations
Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996), which examines intrinsic and extrinsic
life goals. Correlation coefficients will be computed to determine statistically significant relationships among the level
of Physical Activity and motivational disposition for Honors Students. The data obtained through this study will offer
important information relating to how programming can be developed in order to help improve physical activity rates in
Honors students. This study was completed as part of a larger study examining the physical activity levels and motivation
of college students.
198
Mariah D West, Chelsea Decoteau, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Relationship of Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations, and Life Goals in Female Dance Company Participants
Purpose: To find out what keeps already motivated people motivated to continue on the path they are on. This study will
provide more information about reasons for physical activity. This study examines already active college students within
the context of the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). This study will examine the relationships between
intrinsic and extrinsic exercise motivations to the intrinsic and extrinsic life aspirations in females who participate in a
university dance company. It was hypothesized that active undergraduate females would report more intrinsic motivation
for both exercise and life goals. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 60) were administered three questionnaires
relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review
board. Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire with categorical values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was
determined based on the results of the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index
(Kasser & Ryan, 1996) which examines intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. Correlation coefficients will be computed
to determine statistically significant relationships between the level of PA and motivational disposition for female
Dance Company participants. The results of this study will provide important information relating to how to facilitate
motivation in undergraduate females in order to stay active. This study is part of a larger study.
Ashley Eaton, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Differences in physical activity level, exercise motivations and life goals among Residential Students and Resident
Assistants
Currently one in two Americans begins an exercise program, but never completes it (CDC); is time or motivation the
issue? Resident Assistants (RAs) are placed in a leadership position that requires them to be role models; they often
find their personal health and life goals being compromised. This study examines the level of physical activity, exercise
motivations, and life goals amongst RAs with the context of the Self-Determination Theory. It was hypothesized that
RAs would be less physically active, but more intrinsically motivated to exercise and express life goals related to personal
meaning and health, than Residential students. Undergraduate Resident Assistants (N=30) and Undergraduates living
in university resident housing (N = 30) were administered three questionnaires relating to physical activity level, exercise
motivations, and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were
of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of the
Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996). A comparison of mean
differences comparing statistically significant between the level of PA and motivational disposition for RAs and Residents
will be computed using t-tests. The results of this study will provide important information relating to how programming
can be developed in order to improve time management and physical activity rates in Resident Assistants and additional
programming can be developed to increase exercise behaviors of residential students. It is important to note that this
study was completed as part of a larger study examining the physical activity levels and motivation of college students
199
Christopher Fields, Barry Braun (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Effects of a Low-Energy Density Pre-Meal on Food Consumption After Exercise in Women
Purpose: Some people replace the calories expended during exercise by increasing food consumption, minimizing the
potential for weight loss. This pattern is particularly common in women. For people who are dieting to lose weight,
eating a first-course salad can effectively lower food consumption during the subsequent meal. This approach has not
been evaluated in women who are using exercise as the primary weight management tool. The purpose of this study
is to investigate whether eating a low energy density salad after exercise reduces energy consumption in a subsequent
meal when compared to exercise and a meal alone. Methods: 16 sedentary, overweight women ages 18-45 will be
tested in a longitudinal, crossover design. As a baseline control (CON), participants will consume a standardized salad
and pasta meal without prior exercise. The order of the next two tests will be randomized. Following approximately 50
minutes of exercise at 55% of maximal aerobic capacity, the participant will consume either a salad and meal (EX+SM)
or a meal ONLY (EX+M). Outcome measures include perceived appetite via questionnaire, total calories consumed and
the rise in blood glucose after the meal. EX+M and EX+SM will be compared to CON and to each other by dependent
t-tests. As data collection is still in progress, results and conclusions are forthcoming. The expectation is that, relative to
CON, caloric intake will rise in EX+M but not in EX+SM.
Alise M Aalto, Amanda Haber, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Differences in Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations, and Life Goals between Double Majors and Single Majors
Purpose: This study examines the exercise habits and motivation types of double major and single major college
students, within the context of the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that double
majors would report more intrinsic motivation than single majors, yet double majors would report less frequent exercise.
Studying the exercise habits and motivations of these groups may help us to better understand why college students
choose to exercise or not. Method: Undergraduate students (N = 200) were administered three questionnaires relating
to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board.
Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire
with categorical values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based
on the results of the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996)
which examines intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. A comparison of mean differences between Double Majors (n = 100)
and Single Majors (n = 100) will be conducted using t-tests. The results of this study will provide important information
relating to how information can be expressed to those students who have busy work loads. Our results are part of a
larger study.
200
Devin Kelly, Joseph Hamill (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Effects of Instruction on Footfall Patterns in Barefoot Running
Effects of Instruction on Footfall in Barefoot Running Devin Kelly, Julia Freedman Silvernail, Joseph Hamill Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether barefoot running would be influenced by instructions to
run with a heel-strike footfall pattern. Methods: Four subjects participated in this study. Three dimensional kinematics
and kinetics of each subject were determined as they ran barefoot at a velocity within 5% of 3.5 m/s over a force
platform in four conditions presented in randomized order. These included two conditions without instructions, one
overground (GNI) and one with a foam mat (MatNI), and two conditions with the instruction of running with a heelstrike pattern, one overground (GInstr) and the other with a mat (MatInstr). Peak dorsiflexion angle, peak plantar flexion
angle, sagittal plane ankle angle at footstrike, peak knee flexion, and sagittal plane knee angle at footstrike were
determined. Results: There were no significant changes in peak dorsiflexion angle, peak plantar flexion angle, peak
knee extension, and knee angle at footstrike. Ankle angle at footstrike was found to be different between conditions.
Subjects contacted the ground with a more dorsiflexed ankle in MatInstr than in GNI or MatNI. Ankle angle at footstrike
was similar in GInstr to all other conditions. Conclusion: As indicated by a more dorsiflexed ankle at footstrike, than
either condition without instruction, subjects were able to run on the mat with a heel strike as instructed. However,
subjects were unable to significantly increase ankle dorsiflexion at footstrike when instructed but running without a mat.
These results suggest that surface stiffness and comfort are influential aspects of footfall pattern selection.
Heidi Levin, Frank Rife (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Multidimensional Analysis of Communication in Physical Therapy: A Cross Cultural Approach
Advancements in healthcare knowledge, techniques, and resources have been instrumental in decreasing mortality
rates and improving quality life. Although these advancements have benefited the American population as a whole,
significant disparities exist between majority and minority groups. Only recently, however, have these disparities become
the focus of researchers and organizations aiming to provide equitable healthcare to all populations. The results of
preliminary studies suggest that miscommunication is a major perpetuator of these inequities especially in cross-cultural
interactions; however, few studies have investigated this cause on a multidimensional level. Through a survey based
experimental design, we aim to decrease this knowledge gap by exploring native English speaking patients and nonNative English speaking patients’ perceptions of various communication dimensions. Our results will be analyzed to
address three core issues: if differences exist for the overall communication rating between groups, if difference exist
for individual dimensions between groups, and how these differences relate to patient’s overall satisfaction with their
physical therapy experience. When assessed in conjunction existing literature, these results will begin to illuminate
the specific effects of cross-cultural communication on adjunct healthcare fields so that ultimately productive clinical
improvements can be made.
201
Joshua Liddy, Richard van Emmerik (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Time-to-Contact Analysis of Dynamic Stability during Prolonged Walking in MS
Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) commonly display stability problems during gait that may reflect MS-related
gait adaptations. These gait adaptations could be exacerbated by symptomatic fatigue, which is often experienced
by individuals with MS. Given that fatigue can influence postural control it is possible that individuals with MS may
demonstrate significant impact of fatigue of walking stability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare
walking stability between individuals with and without MS following a bout of prolonged walking as a means of
increasing symptomatic fatigue. Time to Contact (TtC) analysis and stride parameters will be used to assess stability
during walking. Ten MS participants and ten age (40.4 ± 12.3 years, 69.9 ± 20.2 kg, 1.67 ± 0.1 m, 26.1 ± 4.6 BMI) and
gender-matched (3 males, 7 females) control participants performed a 30-minute treadmill walking protocol through a
range of slow (0.6 m/s), medium (1.0 m/s), fast (1.6 m/s), with pre/post bouts of preferred walking speeds. Kinematic
data was collected using an 8 camera reflective marker system (Qualysis) and will be used to quantify the whole body
center of mass and it’s TtC throughout the gait cycle as well as stride parameters. Preliminary results suggest that
individuals with MS spend longer periods of time in dual support and longer time in stance phase during single leg
support. In addition MS subjects also displayed shortened stride cycles suggesting that they may be adopting a shorter
stride length. These findings may support a greater influence of fatigue on walking for individuals with MS which may
interfere with activities of daily living.
Jenna T Collins, Yezenia Santos Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
The Differences between Caucasian and non-Caucasian College Students in Physical Activity Levels, Exercise Motivation,
and Life Goals
The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in physical activity, exercise motivations, and life goals between
Caucasian and non-Caucasian college students. It is important to look at this to better understand why some ethnicities
have an increase or decrease in physical activity levels and if there is a relationship between exercise motivation and life
goals. This study examines the role ethnicity plays in exercise motivation within the context of the Self-Determination
Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). We hypothesized that Caucasians would partake in more physical activity and be more
intrinsically motivated in both exercise and life goals. Undergraduate students (N = 100) were administered three
questionnaires relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the
institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International
Physical Activity Questionnaire with categorical values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic
Motivation was determined based on the results of the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the
Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996) which examines intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. A comparison of mean
differences between Caucasian (N = 50) and non-Caucasian (N = 50) college students will be conducted using t-tests.
The results of this study will provide important information relating how to better facilitate motivation among people
of different ethnicities by developing programming that can help increase physical activity. This study was completed as
part of a larger study examining the physical activity levels and motivation of college students.
202
Stephanie Simoes, Sarah Witkowski (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
Inflammation and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the Heart: Effects of Estrogen And Physical Activity
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is consistently the leading cause of death in women in the United States. Many attribute
the increase in cardiovascular and related diseases to the decline in estrogen that is seen in postmenopausal women
and suggest that estrogen has cardiovascular protective effects. Decreased estrogen has been shown to have a
high association to increased fibrinolytic components, such as PAI-1. Like estrogen, physical activity seems to have a
beneficial impact on CVD and PAI-1 levels. This study was conducted to determine whether estrogen depletion will
increase cardiac inflammation and PAI-1 expression and whether physical activity alters the changes that occur with
estrogen depletion. Gene expression of markers of inflammation and PAI-1 will be investigated in the heart tissue of
female mice in 3 conditions: A) ovarectomized, B) sham surgery for ovariectomy, and C) ovariectomized with estrogen
supplementation. Half of each of the 3 groups stated above have undergone exposure to physical activity while the
other half have not. In order to perform a gene expression analysis of PAI-1 and related genes, RNA will be isolated
from heart tissue and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Real-time PCR will then be performed for each target. Data will
be expressed in means ± standard error (SE). Analysis of variance will be used to determine differences between groups
and significant interactions will be analyzed with post hoc testing. A significance value will be set at p < 0.05. We
hypothesize that a lack of estrogen will increase cardiac inflammation and PAI-1 levels and that physical activity will
attenuate the negative effects associated with estrogen deprivation.
Rebecca Slate, Erin Snook (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, UMass Amherst
The Relationship Between Physical and Mental Health and Leisure Time PA Among Women
The Relationship Between Physical and Mental Health and Leisure-Time PA Among Women Rebecca Slate ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Currently the majority of subjective and objective measures being used to assess physical activity (PA) are
able to provide information about the volume, duration, and intensity of the activity, however they do not provide
information about the location where the activity is being done. Measurement of PA completed at specific locations
could help our understanding of where leisure-time PA occurs. The Movement and Activity in Physical Space Score
(MAPS), combines accelerometer (PA) and geospatial (GPS/GIS) data to quantify a person’s movement within their
environment, providing objective measurement of leisure-time PA. The purpose of this project is to examine the
relationship between leisure-time PA and the physical and mental health of normal (Body Mass Index [BMI] 18.5-24.9),
overweight (25-29.9) and obese (>30) women. METHODS: Women (20-50 years; groups of n=10 normal, overweight
and obese) attended two testing sessions. During Session 1 participants completed an informed consent, a packet
of questionnaires (demographics, SF-36, Beck Depression Inventory) and a 6-minute walk. Participants were given an
accelerometer and GPS unit to wear for 5 days. During Session 2, participants’ data were downloaded and processed
to obtain MAPS scores. RESULTS: Women with higher BMIs had lower MAPS scores, indicating they did less leisuretime PA than those with lower BMIs. Worse physical and mental health were also seen in women with higher BMIs.
CONCLUSION: MAPS scores provided detailed information about the women’s leisure-time PA and higher scores were
associated with better physical and mental health. The ability to determine where and how much activity is done could
be very useful for developing individualized interventions to increase leisure-time PA.
203
Amanda M McCarthy, Sarah Snow, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
The Differences between Residents and Commuter Students’ Physical Activity Levels and Exercise Motivation
This study was completed as part of a larger study examining the physical activity levels and motivations of college
students. The purpose of this study is to better understand the reasons behind the low adherence levels to exercise in
Americans, specifically the differences between college students who commute or are residents. This study examines
the physical activity level and exercise motivation and life goals of commuter and resident students within the context
of the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that commuting students would report
lower physical activity levels and have more extrinsic motivation and life goals than residential students. Undergraduate
(commuter and resident) students (N = 60) were administered three questionnaires relating to Physical Activity Level,
Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were
of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of
the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996) which examines
intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. A comparison of mean differences between commuting and residential students will
be conducted using t-tests. The results of this study will provide important information relating to the enhancement of
programming for residential and commuter students to develop and maintain physical activity.
Caitlin M Ryan, Carissa Tilton, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Differences in Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations, and Life Goals Between University Athletes and Non-Athletes
Purpose: This study is part of a larger study that examines the differences between physical activity level, exercise
motivations, and life goals between university athletes and non-athletes within the context of the Self-Determination
Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It’s hypothesized that athletes who reported more physical activity would be more
intrinsically motivated to exercise and express life goals related to personal meaning and health. The purpose of this
study is to develop programs to maintain physical activity levels. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 142) were
administered three questionnaires relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the
approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the
International Physical Activity Questionnaire with categorical values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic
and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995)
and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996), which examines intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. A comparison of mean
differences between athletes (n= 71) and non-athletes (n=71) was conducted using t-tests. The results of this study will
provide important information relating to developing programs to maintain physical activity levels.
204
Vesna Todd, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Differences in Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivation, and Life Goals Between Students Living in Quiet Living and
Standard Living
This study examines the differences in physical activity level, exercise motivation, and life goals between students living
in quiet living and standard living. The reason we need to take a look at exercise motivation and physical activity levels
in relation to the location of college students’ environment is because it is important to see how environmental factors
play a role in physical activity levels and aspirations. This study examines exercise levels and life aspirations between
college students in a Quiet Living unit and students in a standard area within the context of the Self-Determination
Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that college students living in Quiet Living would report that they are
more intrinsically motivated to exercise and express life goals related to personal meaning and health than those living in
a standard living unit. Thirty undergraduate students were administered three questionnaires relating to Physical Activity
Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review board. Physical Activity
Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire with categorical
values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was determined based on the results of
the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index (Kasser & Ryan, 1996), which examines
intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. This study was completed as part of a larger study examining the physical activity levels
and motivation of college students.
Josh Spinner, Annaliese Bischoff (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Landscape Architecture, UMass Amherst
Planting and Planning for the Future: Bringing Trees to UMass Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst continues to pioneer the way for green campuses throughout the nation
with a sustainable and coherent plan for the future. The selection and incorporation of particular types of plantings,
specifically tree plantings, provide an opportunity vital in promoting sustainable thinking for future designs. As campus
planners proceed with revisions to the Campus Master Plan, implementation which supports the environment is a
necessary consideration both now and in the future. The participant and recipient of an honors grant began with
researching the campus, community, and meaning behind the successful acquisition of trees and the potential benefits.
Through scholarly findings the participant was able to present meaningful research to members of Campus Planning
and the potential donor, the Chapman Forestry Foundation, to provide a realistic proposal. The student proceeded by
establishing connections and relationships which will hopefully remain intimate even after departure. As the University
continues its plan for considerable changes and innovative improvements for the years to come, the research supplies
the appropriate design suggestions to integrate sustainable practices as well as growth considerations. The participant
will continue to collect data and present his findings to both organizations, setting the stage for a long-term relationship
which benefits both the campus and community.
205
LEGAL STUDIES
Max Boddy, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Bioinformatics and Patent Law
This presentation examines the emergence of biological data as computable code, and the legal ramifications of this
advent. With rapid discoveries in biology and computer science, the line between a person’s physiological properties and
intellectual properties grows ever thinner. Thus, the prevalent issues regarding software patenting, cryptography, piracy,
and all the baggage of computational endeavors must be addressed if they are to carry over into the biological domain
with medical or commercial applications. This presentation will first address bioinformatics both as the field currently
stands as well as its predicted trajectory, and then address relevant legal concerns that exist both in perennial laws
regarding an individual’s body, and nascent laws regarding software patenting and intellectual property rights.
LINGUISTICS
Coral Furtado, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Linguistics, Bristol Community College
Deaf Children and Media
This presentation will question what children’s media is geared toward deaf children, what is beneficial in that media,
what do hearing children get out of their media and how can she get those same benefits in a program for Deaf
children. An original video of traditional children’s songs and stories will present the most beneficial and educational
format for deaf toddlers. The performances will be in American Sign Language with an added voice over element in
order to incorporate hearing children for a mixed ability setting. The goal is to assess if it is possible to harness the
benefits of music-based educational programming and apply those benefits to a visually accessible realm. This will create
curricula that can be mainstreamed in a mixed classroom to increase the accessibility of the media for deaf children and
families of deaf children.
LITERATURE
Ratnasari Lusiaga, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Nature as Other or Nature as Brother in Moby-Dick
Nature as other and nature as brother are two conflicting viewpoints in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. For the case of
other, the project presented looks not only at Captain Ahab, but also the entire, gruesome whale-killing industry in
which he he excelled. For the case of brother, the question is asked if it is better to be Queequag, who may be quite
adept at killing a whale up close, but is an outsider to the mega-death culture of the fleets. The question must be settled
by a considering Ishmael, who walks between both worlds. Sources secondary to the book include museums visits to
Peabody Museum of Natural History, the Peabody-Essex museum, and the New Bedford Whaling museum. Sources also
include a review of critical literature concerning the novel, the industry, and the environment. The project examines this
novelistic snapshot of an entire culture based on the notion of how a man might prove himself by attacking nature. The
project considers a key question: Is our current western culture very different from what Melville portrayed more than a
century ago?
206
Jessica Mello, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Literature, Bristol Community College
Exploring Edgar Allan Poe using the lens of psychological criticism
Edgar Allan Poe has been described as a mentally unstable individual, and his work is a reflection of his distorted mind.
However, there are many who view his works as simply imaginative. In order to make make meaningful connections
between the disciplines of Psychology and Literature, this project seeks to examine several works that are similar in
nature: (“The Tell Tale Heart”,” The Black Cat”, and “The Raven”). Was Poe’s writing a way of staying sane, or was it an
outlet for his imagination? Do these works describe his desires? Is using psychological criticism helpful for understanding
these particular works or does it muddle the picture of our understanding?
MANAGEMENT
Corinne Bazzinotti, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Basis for a Living Wage in the United States
This presentation addresses the topic of living wages in the United States. The question for managers regarding living
wage is: what is living wage and would it be profitable for my business to incorporate it? Since there is currently
little work done on the effects and reasoning of establishing a living wage, I have chosen my topic to be a qualitative
jumping-off point for thinking about this issue. My project will determine what arguments are out there for living wage,
by different sectors of the public. In order to do this I have undertaken a literature review and developed a code for
analysis. For richer information, I have also conducted several interviews with members of different sectors. I expect to
find a great deal of diversity in the arguments for living wage, due in part to differing interests amongst the sectors,
and also due to the differing demographic interests of the authors and interviewees. I anticipate that the research will
help business people and others to better understand the scope of the issue. Furthermore, the research may serve as a
catalyst for new research to help with making business decisions concerning living wages.
Julie Broderick, Joan Mahoney (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Management, Worcester State University
Sam’s Club Small Business Project
The Worcester State University SIFE Team secured a $1500 grant from Sam’s Club to assist a small business (1) improve
energy efficiency and (2) impact the bottom. The money will be applied directly to sustainability improvements at
the client’s location. We met with the owner of a small restaurant and discussed sustainability issues and identified
the following key areas: Signage, web presence, business expansion opportunities, marketing and optimizing current
resources. The team then investigated energy audit options, developed a number of alternate signage opportunities
keeping budget and local codes in mind, and presented the pros and cons of various website development routes, as
well as focusing on Social Media forms such as Facebook and Twitter to market his business. We conducted a SWOT
analyses and spent considerable time exploring business expansion opportunities and focused marketing campaigns.
Our work was presented to the client and explained in detail. He made decisions on specific directions, which we then
further refined. Results will be presented at the conference.
207
Elena Svetlov, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
The Relationship Between U.S Multinational Corporations Off-shoring and Tax Avoidance
This research study examines the relationship between U.S multinational corporations off-shoring and tax avoidance.
This paper will address the following research question: To what extent are U.S multinational companies able to
strategically reduce taxable income through off-shoring? The research is conducted via the statistical/econometric
analysis of data from the off-shoring Research Network database. The findings of this research paper will potentially be
valuable to tax economists, policy makers, and business managers as the findings will provide a better understanding of
worldwide tax allocation. Also, the findings of this research may be useful for the potential establishment of regulations
for the protection of the competitiveness of U.S multinational companies, while potentially maximizing government
revenue.
lam Truong, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Human Imaginary as Scientific Future
Today’s technology allows man to manipulate animal DNA and create new hybrid creatures that once only existed in our
imagination. The purpose of this project is to see how classic and modern Sci-Fi films reflect humans’ attitudes about the
creation of new species. By using online data and Hollywood Sci-Fi films, this study compares the imaginary creatures in
movies with the process and outcomes of modern hybrid creations. The project found that many aspects of our movie
imagination are guides to actual science.
MARKETING
Smbat Defterderian, Joan Mahoney (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Management, Worcester State University
Worcester State Hockey Fan Bus
Co-Author: Nick Asterito Co-Author: Hurley Kane Worcester State University is a 4-year public institution of higher
education with a 23% current residential population and a planned increase to 37.6% within 2 years. Campus related,
culture-enhancing social opportunities are in demand. The WSU men’s ice hockey team has struggled with dismal
records. During 2010-11 the team improved, posting an 11-12-3 record with a playoff appearance. They currently sit
at 8-11-3 and are on track for a playoff spot. Although the team has been improving, fan attendance has not. Average
student attendance has been about 30. The lack of home-ice support impacts the moral of the team. The SIFE Team
secured funding for a free Fan Bus to transport students from campus to the arena for 2 home games. The bus was
created and marketed to address both issues above. Capitalizing on social media, we created a Facebook page (550
friends and followers) and Twitter account, linking the two. From home and away games, we tweeted updates on great
plays and scores and began advertising the Fan Bus. Traditional print ads were created and placed in classrooms and the
resident halls. A word-of-mouth Buzz campaign was launched with SIFE Team members, hockey players, and resident
advisors all talking-up the Fan bus. This multi-pronged push/pull strategy was successful; 48 students rode the first bus
and our attendance figure was over 72 student fans. With fan support, WSU proved victorious in the closing minutes.
The second bus is scheduled for 2/16 and we hope to improve!
208
Casey Finigan, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Fashion Devotee
This research paper investigates the “fashion junkie,” and their behaviors and brand attachment patterns in the fashion
industry in comparison to the industry’s average consumer. We use the term “fashion junkie” or “fashion devotee” in
our research to describe our focused consumer, which we define as a person who has a high involvement in the fashion
industry, and who emphasizes a strong importance of which brand they choose over others. By using data collected
from both focus-group interviews and surveys, We expect to develop an understanding of preferences and decision
processes of a fashion consumer. We hypothesize that there will be a strong correlation between brand preferences
and attachment with self-image as well as media pressures. With this understanding, we will be able to establish a
framework of consumer behaviors within the fashion industry, as well as briefly extend that understanding to other
industry’s consumers.
Anthony Battaglia, Benjamin Preston, Jacqueline Loiselle, Rich Tsai, Sheridon Moodley, Stephen M Cohen
Catalina James, William Diamond (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Marketing, UMass Amherst
Increasing the Perceived Tastiness of Healthy Foods
About 2/3 of Americans are overweight. Increased overweight occurs in all population subgroups (Briefel and Johnson
2004). Raghunathan et al. (2006) felt that an important obstacle to changing consumption was the “unhealthy =
tasty intuition.” That is, “part of the attractiveness of food lies in its perceived unhealthiness” (p. 170). It is therefore
important to increase the attractiveness of foods that people believe are healthy. This could involve managing food
perceptions through nutritional labeling (Wansink et al., 2005) or changing connotations through descriptive labeling
(Arieli et al., 2006). We hoped that increasing the perceived tastiness of a healthy food could be achieved by stating
that the healthy ingredient had been added for extra flavor. Thus, the “unhealthy = tasty” intuition could be reversed.
Methods Seventy-Four undergraduate students (58.1% female) participated individually in a food-tasting study in return
for course credit. They read a nutritional information brochure, tasted foods unrelated to the experiment, and were
randomly assigned to three experimental conditions. In the control condition, 26 participants tasted “Seasoned Chips.”
In the “Healthy” condition, 24 participants tasted “Whole Grain Seasoned Chips.” In the “Healthy Plus Corrective
Labeling” condition, 24 participants tasted “Seasoned Chips With Whole Grain For Extra Flavor.” The chips in all
conditions were identical. Results and Conclusions Overall, there were not significant main effects of the manipulations.
There were significant correlations between belief that “unhealthy = tasty” and the perceived tastiness of the food. The
results suggest that nutritional knowledge may play a role in the importance of the “unhealthy = tasty” intuition.
209
Erica Sherman, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Facebook Obsession: Personality Factors Influencing an Individuals’ Usage
Prior research has shown that an individual could be addicted to the Internet in general, but no research has been done
specifically to social networking sites such as Facebook. This study investigates how an individual’s personality type may
affect the amount of time they spend on Facebook, further concluding that they are either overly obsessive or not about
the usage thereof. Prior research was conducted using scholarly articles that focused on personality types and Internet
addiction. A framework was developed based on different personality theories and the Facebook Intensity Scale. The
model is tested using a two-step approach of qualitative and quantitative methods. A series of questions will be asked to
determine an individuals own personality type and a second series of questions will be asked to determine the amount
of time they spend using Facebook. Based on a sample of undergraduate students we can prove or disprove the theory
on personality types directly affecting and individuals Facebook usage. We expect the results to display either a positive
or a negative correlation between an individual’s personality type and the amount of time they spend using Facebook.
Eyal Stein, Jeffery Keisler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Finance, UMass Boston
Extreme Enthusiasts in Online and Offline Brand Communities
This study focuses on the motivation and influence relationship between enthusiasts, and extreme brand enthusiasts
in brand communities both online and off line. We aim to find the motivational and influential differences between on
line and off line environments. In the study, we define what an extreme brand enthusiast is, and the trait differences
between such an extreme brand enthusiast and a normal enthusiast. We will assess this initial correlation by conducting
personal interviews with enthusiasts that are exposed to the influence of extreme brand enthusiasts both on line and off
line. We will then conduct an empirical test with an online survey to confirm our results. The influences and motivation
are hypothesized to be more effective off line and in person. This research will help to further expand the understanding
of the relationship dynamic in brand communities.
Edward A McClain, Leah F Isherwood, Andrew Davey, Sigal Gottlieb (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Dartmouth
Gegenbauer Post Processing on Fourier Collocation Methods
Techniques for relying on finite representation of the Fourier series have become increasingly important in many different
fields. Specifically developments in the FFT algorithm have revolutionized many fields. The well known problem of the
Gibbs phenomenon in finite representations of the Fourier series, have been addressed by means of post processing.
Post processing with Gegenbauer polynomials has been particularly effective in filtering the Gibbs phenomenon. While
Gegenbauer polynomials post processing have been useful in eliminating the Gibbs phenomenon, it is unknown how it
affects another main source of error in a Finite Fourier Transform, aliasing error. Our project is a numerical experiment in
order to gain insight into the effects of Gegenbauer post processing on aliasing error.
210
Brendan DeCourcy, James Canning (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Computer Science, UMass Lowell
Analytical and Numerical Investigation of the Alpha-Effect in Geodynamo Theory
It is well known that our Earth, as well as other celestial bodies, has a magnetic field. What is not known, however, is
the process by which this field is created and sustained. Although not confirmed, Dynamo Theory is widely accepted
as a possible mechanism by which our Earth sustains its magnetic field. This theory suggests that the motions of the
electrically charged liquid core create the magnetic field our Earth possesses. Though a complete explanation of the
dynamo mechanism is still an open problem, there exist a number of theoretical models of dynamos that explain the
generation of a stationary magnetic field. All of these models are based on specific physical assumptions about the
turbulent motion in the liquid iron core. It is a confirmed and accepted fact that the presence of a turbulent motion is
necessary for the dynamo effect. A cylindrical region filled with a moving conducting fluid is considered. The average
fluid flow is assumed to be a uniform rotation about the z-axis. This flow is perturbed by a turbulent motion satisfying
the α-effect hypothesis: the magnetic field changes in time proportionally to the curl of the field. Inside the region the
magnetic field satisfies the advection-diffusion equation with the α-effect term. Outside the region it is governed by the
same equation without the α-effect term. The continuity condition on the boundary of the fluid-filled region is satisfied.
It is demonstrated that the above system of equations has a stationary solution that describes a magnetic field that
does not vanish with time. An explicit expression for this solution in terms of Bessel functions is obtained. The lines of
magnetic induction are investigated numerically.
Nicole McCafferty, Sigal Gottlieb (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Dartmouth
Analyzing Social Networks
Our presentation this semester will focus on the information we obtain from analyzing a mock social network. Using
a real network would not be feasible because they contain large amounts of data, and using sample sizes have shown
bias. A few methods our talk will focus on is breadth-first search and snowballing. Our first main focus will be to
present the code we produce that will generate a mock network. Using that data we will discuss how we went about
analyzing it using methods such as, breadth-first search and snowballing. Definitions, matrices and graphs will be used
to explain and show connections made through networks.
Laurie Murphy, Sigal Gottlieb (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mathematics & Statistics, UMass Dartmouth
Numerical Solutions for a Basketball Free Throw
The main purpose of this paper is to calculate the perfect basketball free throw. In doing so there are several steps
stated to follow thoroughly to be able to perfect each angle and velocity needed for each free throw. This paper focused
on the boundary conditions with the Fourier series. Additional theorems used in this paper will involve the “Shooter
Method” and “Magnus Effect” will be taken into account as well as the Fourier series. 18th Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference
211
Rose Beng, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Are Genetically Enhanced Children the Future?
New technology has been developed over the years to alter our appearances, but what if we could alter our genes to
enhance our looks? Is it ethical to alter our physical appearance against what nature originally intended? The purpose
of this project was to understand how future genetic precedures could be used to enhance physical appearance.
Brief explanantions of the procedures were presented to participants and then they were surveyed to gather opinions
regarding the ethics of the procedures. The results indicated that the procedures are dangerous and expensive yet there
are parents who are willing to pay the in order to ensure that their child’s appearance is “perfect.” The project concludes
the majority of people refuse to believe such a process is necessary but standards are needed.
Andrew Costain, Jonathan Rothstein (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Analysis of the Drop Impact of Shear Thickening Fluids
Shear thickening fluids are a branch of non-newtonian fluids that experience an increase in viscosity at high shear
rates. These shear thickening fluids will start as liquid like, but after a force is applied to them they will become more
solid. Two different types of shear thickening fluids were examined: Oobleck and a nanoparticle fluid. Depending on
the type of shear thickening fluid that is used these fluids may once again become liquid like at very high shear rates.
Determining what impact velocities produce what shear rate is very important. Finding these correlations will lead to a
correlation between impact velocity and viscosity, and also between impact velocity and response type. In order measure
these fluids at different impact velocities they needed to be dropped from varying heights. The impact of the fluids
were observed and analyzed using a high speed camera. That analysis showed what impact velocities corresponded to
liquid like, solid like, elastic or inelastic responses. In the case of the nanoparticle fluid it was found that even low impact
velocities will produce a shear rate so high that the nanoparticle has passed the solid response regime and has gone
right into a second liquid response regime. In the case of Oobleck these same impact velocities were found to produce
both inelastic and elastic responses depending on how high the impact velocity actually is. Shear thickening fluids are
currently used for: body armor, traction control, bomb blankets and jump boots. Hopefully this research will help to find
additional possible uses for shear thickening fluids such as printer ink.
212
Andrew Erwin, Frank Sup (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Development of a Haptic Feedback Device for Upper Limb Amputees
One out of every 200 people in the United States has had an amputation and from 1988-1996 38.5% of those were
upper-limb amputations. While prostheses have been in existence since ancient Egyptian times, the human-prosthesis
control interface remained largely unchanged until the 1960s with the advent of myoelectric prostheses. While
myoelectric prostheses have improved upper limb amputees’ lives, the high visual demand required to operate them
has limited their potential and the need for sensory feedback has been indicated in several surveys. Without sensory
feedback, amputees must rely on visual attention alone for precise control of the prosthesis, which reduces their
performance and ability to multitask. As a result, haptic feedback devices have been explored to create the afferent
feedback needed in prostheses. Most notable has been the use of motors to create skin stretch, servo motors to depress
the skin, or vibro-tactors to vibrotactile stimulation on the surface of the skin. In this work, a device, consisting of
five modules, has been developed which has the capability to create normal stimulation. Each module of the device
is light-weight and compact (10 g, 25 x 25 x 11.5 mm) consisting of a wire coil spooled on a non-ferrous core and a
neodymium magnet housed in a plastic component. A power supply energizes the coil to repel the magnet on the skin,
in order to create tactile feedback. The five modules are linked together in a cross-pattern spaced 25 mm apart. In an
experiment with five participants, 20 trials of individual stimulations and 20 trials of pattern stimulations were performed
on each participant. Participants reported 86% accuracy in correctly locating a single stimulus and 97% accuracy in
distinguishing between four basic stimulation patterns. Future work will capture Electromyography (EMG) signals from a
subject to control a virtual hand with feedback provided by the haptic device under development.
Keith MacWilliam, Jon McGowan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Mechanical Engineering, UMass Amherst
Analysis of Wind Turbine Integrated Buildings
The area of research for the independent capstone project is to analyze buildings with wind turbines integrated into
their structure. There have been new buildings constructed that utilize a particular design to funnel wind into a specific
area where wind generators can create electrical energy that is used to power the building. Examples of this design are
the Bahrain World Trade Center, which directs air blowing off the Persian Gulf into the center of the towers buildings
to rotate the three wind turbines integrated into the design, and the Strata Tower in London, which has three wind
turbines built in to the top of the building. The estimated electrical energy provided by these wind turbines is enough to
power about 8-15% of the total energy required to power the building. While these buildings were designed specifically
for this scenario, there are natural building orientations that create this wind funneling effect and can be utilized as
effective placements for wind turbines. By walking around the UMass Amherst campus on a slightly breezy day, the
spots where the air is funneled through it noticeable. The design and placement of Lederle and Goessman buildings
creates this wind effect between the two buildings. Theoretically, this would be an ideal place for a wind turbine that
can generate electricity for the buildings it is attached to. The research project will analyze the effectiveness of wind
turbines integrated into buildings to see if it can be a viable energy solution to reduce the dependence on nonrenewable
resources to generate electricity.
213
MICROBIOLOGY
Michael Boucher, Michele Klingbeil (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Functional characterization of Trypanosoma brucei POLID
Trypanosoma brucei is the protozoan parasite responsible for African sleeping sickness, a deadly neglected tropical
disease that is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and for which current treatments are both expensive and toxic. This
parasite contains a unique mitochondrial genome termed kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Unlike any other DNA in nature,
kDNA is a network containing thousands of catenated circular molecules (minicircles and maxicircles) that is condensed
into a disk-shaped structure. The proteins required for replication of this essential DNA network could serve as new drug
targets to combat African sleeping sickness. T. brucei contains three DNA polymerases (POLIB, POLIC, and POLID) that
are essential for kDNA replication and parasite survival. The goal of my research is to determine which of the predicted
POLID functional domains (polymerase and exonuclease) contributes to the protein’s essential role in kDNA replication.
This will be done using site-directed mutagenesis to mutate essential active site amino acids of each domain in order to
cripple the function of a single domain at a time. The mutant proteins will be expressed in vivo and RNA interference
(RNAi) will be used to deplete endogenous POLID in order to observe growth and kDNA replication phenotypes when
only the mutant protein is expressed. Current data show that RNAi induction in the cell line StLID3’UTR leads to ~80%
knockdown of POLID mRNA, growth inhibition, and kDNA loss, indicating that it is a suitable parental cell line for
mutational analyses. Expression of a tagged version of POLID can rescue the knockdown phenotype.
Xenia Chepa-Lotrea, Michele Klingbeil (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Investigating the Function of Trypanosoma brucei Kinetoplast DNA Polymerase IC
Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of African Trypanosomiasis, a fatal disease if untreated. Current medicines
are expensive, toxic and difficult to administer. One class of potential new targets includes proteins that replicate the
unique mitochondrial DNA network called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). This structure, composed of catenated maxicicles
and minicircles, is essential for parasite survival. RNA interference (RNAi) studies demonstrated that three mitochondrial
DNA polymerases (POLIB, POLIC and POLID) are essential to parasite growth and perform non-redundant roles in kDNA
replication. However, how trypanosomes use multiple polymerases for replication of the kDNA network is unknown.
We hypothesize the nucleotide incorporation function of POLIC is essential, but there exists a large N-terminal region
with no predicted function that might contribute to POLIC’s essential role. To determine what region holds the essential
function of POLIC, we generated a transgenic cell line that targets the 3’ UTR of POLIC for RNAi knockdown of
endogenous protein, and expresses a tagged version of POLIC with a different 3’UTR. In this system, we demonstrate
82% RNAi knockdown of POLIC and rescue of the effects of depleting endogenous POLIC with tagged wild type version
of POLIC. We are currently generating a polymerase domain mutant by site-directed mutagenesis, and a truncated
N-terminal region mutant to test in the parental POLIC 3’UTR RNAi cell line.
214
Rebecca Cottman, Derek Lovley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Geobacter sulfurreducens: The Crucial Role of the Gpm Protein Family in Electricigens
Geobacter species are soil-dwelling bacteria that have an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and iron.
Specifically, Geobacter can convert insoluble Fe(III) in the soil to soluble or crystalline Fe(II). It also has the unique feature
of a thick mesh of pili for extracellular electron transfer, producing an electrical current when grown on an anode.
Geobacter-catalyzed biogeochemical processes are mechanistically related to its ability to produce current. What is not
yet understood is how the bacterium removes excess protons left in the cytoplasm as electrons are passed outward by
c-type cytochromes and pili. The bacterium must have a method for secreting excess protons or the cytoplasm of the cell
would slowly acidify and lead to cell death. The Gpm protein family may be involved in this process because it is unique
to, as well as highly conserved amongst, Geobacter species. It also has structures that suggest that it could transport
protons across the inner membrane as predicted by protein folding programs. In order to test this hypothesis, we
grew Geobacter sulfurreducens wild type and mutant strains in conditions that varied in the level of acidic stress. RNA
was isolated from cells growing exponentially in these conditions in order to measure quantitatively the level of gene
expression through real-time Q-PCR of reverse-transcribed mRNA. It is expected that the G. sulfurreducens strain that
overexpresses the signal transduction proteins Grr1/Ghk1 will show overexpression of all gpm genes, as will the strain
in which nucleotide cyclase GnuC is deleted. It is also expected that strains will overexpress the gpm genes in growth
media that have a lower pH implying that they are involved in proton removal from the cytoplasm of the cell.
Daniel Flynn, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Bacterial Infections in Developing Countries
A major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries are bacterial infections. Most developing countries are
predominantly located in hotter, more tropical climates which are a perfect environment for microorganisms. There are
multiple reasons why people live in developing countries are more susceptible to bacterial infections, some of which are
water and food sanitation, work and living conditions, and lack of medical personnel and supplies. Some of the bacterial
agents that most affect developing countries the most are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae,
and Staphylococcus aureus. In most countries bacterial infections not an issue because of antibiotics, vaccines and
the advancements in medicine. Despite the advancements in medicine, however, bacterial infections are still a major
problem in these developing countries. By conducting a literature review of peer reviewed research on this topic, I will
examine why this issue is occurring, why it is an important issue that needs to be addressed and how countries and
organizations can help these developing countries deal with this deadly issue.
215
Tara Mahendrarajah, Jeffrey Blanchard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Characterization of Synergistic Isolates From an Adapted Biofuels Microcosm
Biofuels produced from a wide range of plant materials are a promising component in the development of alternative
energy sources. Microbial soil communities drive biogeochemical processes producing industrially relevant metabolites
such as ethanol and propanol from the degradation of plant material. While microbial soil communities are inherently
complex, understanding the interactions between microorganisms could shed light on the cooperative degradation of
cellulosic material which could further biofuels development. This study seeks to characterize substrate utilization and
growth patterns of two bacterial isolates from a soil microcosm. The strains were isolated from a switchgrass adapted
microcosm using culture-based methods, and have been morphologically characterized using microscopy. Preliminary
culture experiments demonstrate their synergistic growth potential. 16S rRNA sequencing suggests that the two isolates
are most closely related to Cellulomonas hominis and Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis. Growth of monocultures and cocultures will be assessed on various substrates to reveal substrate utilization patterns and metabolic activity, which could
enhance our understanding of how microbial communities produce biofuels from plant material.
Christopher Roy, Margaret Riley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Biology, UMass Amherst
Comparative inhibitory activity of colicins and antibiotics against a panel of uropathogenic E. coli: a case for narrowspectrum therapeutics
With the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria there is a pressing need for the development of novel therapeutics.
Since the advent of antibiotic use there has been a steady rise of pathogens that are able to resist many, or even most,
of our large arsenal of drugs due to various resistance mechanisms. Given this situation, it is increasingly important to
produce therapeutics that mitigate the rate of resistance evolution and thus help to promote drug efficacy. Colicins,
a diverse group of toxins produced by E. coli, are one such candidate therapeutic. Here, we present and compare the
inhibitory activity of colicins and commonly used antibiotics against a panel of uropathogenic E. coli. Like some existing
antibiotics these compounds may prove very effective at combatting infections caused by E. coli, such as urinary tract
infections. However, unlike many currently used antibiotics, these compounds are narrow-spectrum, preventing the
decimation of beneficial natural flora and ultimately reducing selective pressure for resistance development. In addition,
like some antimicrobials deployed today, these compounds could be used in combination to produce powerful inhibitory
action against pathogens.
216
Alice Tran, Michele Klingbeil (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Trypanosoma Brucei Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase POLID: Is it phosphorylated?
The unique mitochondrial DNA network of Trypanosoma brucei consists of dozens of maxicircles and thousands of
minicircles interlocked like chainmail and condensed into a disk, called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). The many steps for
replicating this intricate mitochondrial genome are spatially and temporally separated. For example, early stages such as
minicircle release and initiation occur in the kinetoflagellar zone while later stages such as Okazaki fragment processing
are thought to occur at the antipodal sites adjacent to the kDNA disk. One of the three DNA polymerases essential
for kDNA replication, mitochondrial DNA polymerase POLID, is known to localize throughout the mitochondrial matrix
and to redistribute to the antipodal sites during kDNA synthesis. However, the mechanism by which POLID achieves
this dynamic localization remains unknown. To better understand the mechanism governing the dynamic localization,
we investigated whether POLID undergoes in vivo phosphorylation. We immunoprecipitated PTP-tagged POLID (IDPTP)
from a single expressor T. brucei cell line that expresses only IDPTP protein using IgG sepharose beads which bind to
the Protein A moiety of the PTP tag. We then analyzed the resulting eluate by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and
found preliminary evidence indicating that POLID undergoes serine phosphorylation. Our next step is to analyze the
immunoprecipitated IDPTP sample by mass spectrometry for specific identification of the phosphorylated residues. Direct
evidence of POLID phosphorylation could guide future work, including site-specific mutagenesis of phosphorylation
sites to determine whether disrupting POLID phosphorylation also disrupts POLID’s localization pattern, inhibits kDNA
replication, and leads to parasite growth defects.
Benjamin Waldman, Steve Sandler (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Characterization of cellular filamentation caused by deletion of the rep helicase in Escherichia coli K-12
All organisms must replicate their DNA for their species to survive. As the primary goal of life, this process must
be protected and regulated to ensure efficient and accurate duplication. However, DNA replication is not perfectly
continuous; genetic damage or normal cellular processes can and frequently do cause DNA replication to halt. For
example, collisions between replicating DNA polymerase and a transcribing RNA polymerase are inevitable, and can
result in replication fork collapse. These conflicts must be resolved and DNA replication must be restarted for cells to
remain viable. In E. coli K-12, Rep is a 3’ to 5’ helicase known to play roles in replication fork restart and stability. It has
also been shown to be necessary for efficient DNA replication across areas of high transcription. This suggests that rep
plays a role in mediating transcription-replication conflicts. Cells lacking rep fail to divide normally, growing on average
three times longer than wildtype cells. In this study, we show that deletion of several nucleoid-associated proteins results
in suppression of filamentation of cells lacking rep. Inactivation of ihfA, slmA, and fis all result in substantially smaller cell
sizes in a null rep background. RpoC del(215-220) is also shown to inhibit this filamentation, suggesting a connection
to transcriptional activity. Through use of a parS/parB-gfp system, we show that deletion of rep results in a twofold
decrease of completed chromosomes. Fis point mutants were also found to have differential suppression upon rep
mutants, suggesting that amino acid 71 is crucial for suppression of filamentation. It is hypothesized that the absence
of rep in a cell results in a decreased ability to resolve fork arrest due to transcriptional-replication collisions. We propose
that these stalled forks are able to signal slmA to inhibit cell division in an SOS-independent manner and that fis and
ihfA deletions suppress this signal because they either decrease the rate of transcription or are part of the pathway to
communicating with slmA.
217
Nikita Nayyar, Kewei Zhang, Klaus Nüsslein (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Membrane Activity of Synthetic Mimics of Antimicrobial Peptides
Due to the increasing prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospitals and other community settings,
the field of healthcare is in need of novel antimicrobial agents to combat this emerging problem. Previous studies have
revealed that synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs) possess effective antimicrobial activity as well as
low-toxicity towards mammalian cells. Most of these SMAMPs function by disrupting bacterial membranes through
non-specific interactions with membrane lipids, which means that resistance is far less likely to develop. These attributes
of SMAMPs make them attractive candidates for safe and reliable implementation into therapeutics. The goal of
this project was to determine the relationship between the structure of these compounds and their effectiveness as
antimicrobial agents. Vesicle dye leakage assays and time-kill assays were used to test for the kinetics of these SMAMPs;
E.coli inner/outer membrane permeability assays were performed in an effort to find potential differential leakage
between the double membranes of Gram negative bacteria. Furthermore, checkerboard antimicrobial assays were
performed to test for potential synergy between different antimicrobial synthetics. Future study will focus on further
elucidating the benefits and safety of various SMAMP designs based on previous findings.
Shuning Zheng, John Burand (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
A survey of Viral Prevalence Over Time in Apis Mellifera From the Umass Apiary
Viruses are known to play an important role in causing disease amongst the European Honeybee population and,
consequently, our economy. Western Honeybees kept in the U-Mass apiary were examined over two years (2010 and
2011) for five viruses: Sacbrood Virus (SBV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Lake Sinai-1
Virus (LSV-1), and Lake Sinai-2 Virus (LSV-2) using RT-PCR. DWV was the most commonly occurring virus in bees,
followed by BQCV and SBV. All three of these viruses are linked to physical symptoms of disease in honeybees, although
not all infected bees are symptomatic. LSV-1 and LSV-2, on the other hand, are recently discovered honeybee viruses
not yet linked with any disease symptoms. DWV, SBV, and BQCV were found in all of the hives, although at differing
prevalence amongst hives and over time. LSV-1, a recently discovered bee virus, was detected in bees from hives
examined in 2010 and 2011. Its appearance is sporadic and shows no general trends. LSV-2 has not yet been detected
in any samples from 2010 or 2011. A general tendency of virus levels in BQCV, DWV, and SBV was to start very low in
the early spring and peak in late summer. DWV prevalence reached up to 80%, BQCV to 50%, and SBV cycled between
0 to 50%. Understanding the viral infection patterns will lead the way to further insights into the epizootilogy of these
disease causing viruses in honeybees, protecting the mutually beneficial relationship we have with these important
pollinators.
218
McGregory Meneus, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Sleeping Lions: Women’s progress in Afghanistan
This project explores the progress that Afghan women have made from the Taliban regime to the present Afghan
government, and the political, social and economic challenges they face due to the role structure dictated by the cultural
practices of the country. Afghan culture is explored using news sources and journal reports to find what the differences
in women’s societal roles are compared to men and how this has affected their treatment at the hands of the Taliban.
Using women’s treatment under the Taliban as a baseline, women’s progress in the areas of education, politics and
security under the new Afghan government is detailed along with the challenges they face today in achieving equality
with men. The project concluses that the culture and attitudes are the culprits behind the oppression of women.
Progress for women and girls is only sustainable through international pressure on the Afghan government to keep it
dedicated to women’s rights.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Jessica Royal, Jim Chambers (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, UMass Amherst
Roles of TARP analogs STG-1 and STG-2 in C. elegans memory formation
Long-term potentiation (LTP) has been identified as the primary model for the molecular mechanism underlying memory
formation. LTP occurs when repeated excitation of a neuron increases subsequent synaptic communication involving
that neuron. One way that this is made possible is via the upregulation and synaptic localization of α-amino-3-hydroxy5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors following the increased neuronal activity. Auxiliary proteins known
as transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) have been identified as being crucial to this process.
Recent research has shown that TARPs play a role both in expression of AMPA receptors at the cellular membrane and
in anchoring the receptors at the synapse. However, the direct effects that TARPs have on memory formation remain
unknown. Two TARP analogs have been identified in the nematode C. elegans, STG-1 and STG-2. The present study
aims to determine the roles of these two proteins in associative memory formation utilizing STG-1 knockout and STG2 knockout mutant C. elegans and a positive butanone learning assay. Animals are exposed to a repetitive cycles of a
starvation period followed by access to food and exposure to butanone. Formation of the memory is defined by the
animals’ positive chemotaxis towards a spot of butanone on a plate rather than vehicle. Preliminary results indicate that
both short-term memory (two hours or less) and long-term memory (16 to 24 hours) are impaired in STG-1 knockout
mutant C. elegans as compared to wild-type C. elegans. These data indicate a crucial role for TARPs in memory
formation.
219
Miles Sarill, Edward Calabrese (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Biphasic Dose Responses to Phytoestrogens: An evaluation of mechanisms
Phytoestrogens are plant-derived chemical constituents with estrogen mimetic effects. Phytoestrogens can include
flavonols such as kaempferol and quercetin, coumestans such as coumestrol, and isoflavones such as genistein and
daidzein. These compounds are often found in food sources such as soya bean and, as such, are relevant to human
nutrition and health. Phytoestrogens have been noted to exert beneficial effects on various diseases such as breast
cancer, but their efficacy and safety are disputed. Evidence suggests that phytoestrogens have complex dose response
relationships that may be an example of hormesis. Hormesis is defined as a dose response model characterized by low
dose stimulation and high dose inhibition, manifesting as a nonlinear j-shaped or inverted-u-shaped dose response
curve. This work seeks to evaluate the mechanisms behind the biphasic dose responses of isoflavones and select other
phytoestrogens in gene expression and cell proliferation.
Ekaterina Shaikouskaya, Janice Telfer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst
Conservation of Molecular Function Between Dinosaurs, the Duck-billed Platypus, and Humans
The Scavenger Receptor Cysteine Rich (SRCR) domain is an ancient highly conserved protein domain present in the
closely related molecules WC1 and CD163. WC1 proteins are encoded by 13 genes in cattle. Previous studies have
shown that 3 out of 13 WC1 genes are involved in response to Leptospira, an emerging global pathogen, and that
another WC1 gene is involved in the response to Anaplasma. WC1 SRCR domains bind to Leptospira and other related
SRCR proteins bind to other bacteria, such as S.mutans and E.coli. CD163 and WC1 genes have been highly conserved
through evolution not only in their structure, but most importantly, in their multiplicity. The sea urchin genome contains
over 200 SRCR genes related to CD163/WC1, and their expression changes in response to bacterial challenge. We
hypothesize that multiple CD163/WC1 genes were conserved over evolutionary time because they contribute to immune
responses via their ligation of important pathogens. In order to test the bactrial binding affinity of WC1/CD163 SRCR
domains from human, platypus and chicken, I designed primers to obtain the PCR products, which I purified and ligated
into a mammalian expression vector and then transformed into competent bacteria. I will purify recombinant CD163
SRCR domain proteins and test their interaction with Leptospira spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi. Examining the affinity of
interaction of CD163 SRCR domains from chicken and platypus with bacteria will test the hypothesis that multiple SRCR
domain genes have been conserved over millions of years of evolution because they function as important pathogen
associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptors in the avian and mammalian immune systems.
220
NURSING
Irene Berantuo, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor)
Effects of Compassion on Healing
This presentation is to elaborate on the effects of compassion on healing. Compassion is a feeling or showing of
deep understanding and sorrow for another who is in misfortune, followed by a strong desire to relieve or lessen the
suffering. The feeling of compassion for someone leads to forgiving, giving, empathy, loving and motivation. It has been
scientifically proven that being able to forgive someone no matter the situation helps in reduction of negative emotion
(anger relief) such as sadness, depression, anxiety, despair and self-esteem. Giving also makes one feel good and as a
result has been proven as a healing component which leads to stress reduction. Showing empathy to someone in need
helps correct physical complaints through support and nurturing. The person in need feels warmth and closeness by
the empathy showed to him/her. Management of a patient’s pain can be done by showing empathy to the person.
Additionally, the love showed to sick people has been proven to be palliative medicine to most of them. Love helps one
to be relieved from pain and other distressing symptoms. Showing love to someone helps affirm life and regards dying
as a normal process. Love as a medicine can enhance the quality of life and may also positively influence the course of
illness. Compassion gives way for one to motivate the other who is in need. Motivation is used as healing when there is
psychological care stability and the feeling of acceptance not rejection. This presentation will demonstrate that showing
compassion to another who is sick or in pain plays an important role on how the person is going to survive or go
through the sickness.
Kerryn Kane, Paula Cruz, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
Stress Levels of Sophomore Nursing Students and their Food Choices Abstract
Background The purpose of our study is to analyze what types of food choices sophomore nursing students make
when under various levels of stress. According to the literature, changes in eating habits are a coping mechanism for
stress. This is a problem because overeating or under eating is a risk for developing long-term eating disorders. Methods
This was a non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive design and the data was collected from sophomore nursing
students. The study was approved by the IRB and each participant was given written consent with the assurance of
confidentiality before any information was given. Our data was collected using the Perceived Stress Scale and an
investigator developed a Food Questionnaire. Results Our results showed that there was no significant relationship
between stress levels and the food choices students made. The stress levels were moderate at 19.68 (0 – 40). Some of
our limitations were the small sample, non-gender neutral, only done on the UMass Dartmouth campus, generalized
food choices and the food survey was created by the investigators. Conclusions We concluded that sophomore nursing
majors experience some level of stress and they relatively chose healthy food choices. Our hypothesis was not supported
by our results because even with the levels of stress, there was an insignificant difference in food intake. The findings are
only generalizable to the population studies.
221
Paula Jackson, Maureen McRae (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, Salem State University
Vegetarian Diet In Pregnancy: What Women and Nurses Need to Know
The purpose of this study was to examine the vegetarian diet and its effect, if any, on the pregnant woman and
her developing fetus. Further exploration included whether specific risks exist during the labor and delivery process
in vegetarian women. A further focus of the study using a survey tool was to determine the nurses’ knowledge of
the effect of the vegetarian diet on pregnant women. Survey results suggest a significant lack of knowledge among
baccalaureate nursing students with regards to vegetarian diet in pregnancy. The findings have implications for
nursing education and practice. Study findings suggest a relationship between vegetarian diet and specific nutritional
deficiencies in the pregnant woman. No specific labor and delivery risks have been reported.
Jessica Jarvis, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
Relationship between Perceived Stress Levels and Happiness amongst Freshman and Sophomore Nursing Students
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stress levels and happiness in both
freshman and nursing students. High stress levels are related to depression, low self-esteem, poor adjustment to
college and lack of social support leading to significant effects on academic performance. Longer hours of studying
and lack of free time contribute to physical and psychological symptoms of stress. Methods: This is a non-experimental,
correlational, cross-sectional study. Data was collected through the completion of two questionnaires measuring stress
levels and happiness levels. Convenience sampling was done amongst freshman and sophomore nursing students
attending University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Results: There was a statistical significant relationship between the
variables, stress and happiness. Correlation measured -0.71 indicating a strong inverse relationship between stress and
happiness with a p value of 0.000. Stress total score mean measured to be 18.2 with a standard deviation of 7.8 and a
happiness score mean of 7.3 with a standard deviation of 1.6. Conclusions: Based on the finding, it would be beneficial
for nursing students to participate in stress relieving activities as a way of coping with stress. No unexpected findings
were found. The data supported the hypothesis regarding the inverse relationship between stress levels and happiness
and the data correlated with the information in the literature review. The findings of the study are only generalizable
to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth freshman and sophomore nursing students. If this research study could be
conducted on other campuses’ nursing programs, these findings may be generalizable to greater populations.
222
Anna-Rae LeClaire, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
Stress Levels and Drinking Habits in College Students
Anna-Rae LeClaire, Meg Doherty, Kim Saunders, Jackie Bousquet Stress Levels and Drinking Habits in College Students
Abstract: Background: Students who experienced higher levels of stress were more likely to report alcohol abuse to
relieve stress. (Cronin, 69, 2006) Freshmen experience the most problems related to drinking and the association
between heavy drinking and problems begins to decline through senior year and beyond college. (O’Hare, 43, 2006)
There is a significant positive correlation of .47 between perceived stress and drinking to cope in a survey of 351
college students. (Rice, 444-445, 2010) Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between
stress levels and alcohol consumption in college students. Method: The research design used was non-experimental,
prospective, and correlational. Informed consent was obtained from each subject and IRB approval was obtained from
the University. Data was collected using the Quantity-Frequency Alcohol Measure and the Perceived Stress Scale, from
students on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus. Results: The mean age of our subjects was 20.49 years
old. In our sample, 45.9% of the subjects identified as female, while 54.1% identified themselves as male. In the study,
48.6% of subjects were studying majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, 16.2% were majoring in Engineering,
8.1% were Nursing majors, and 13.5% reported their major as Other. Students reported drinking more than five days
a week on average and the average number of drinks consumed was about two. The top reason for drinking among
college students was to have fun. The correlation between stress levels and drinking was r=-.114. Overall, students
reported that they were rarely likely to drink when stressed. Conclusions: Based on this study, it is recommended that
nurses understand the prevalence of drinking in college-age students and recognize how it can become a risk factor for
disease. Also, drinkers may engage in high-risk behavior that could increase health risks. Further study is needed in this
area to obtain more accurate data using a larger sample size.
Abigail Roy, Barbara E. Stanley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Amherst
Health Care Providers Description of the Culture of their Practice Environment
The purpose of this descriptive study is to explore the culture of two different health care environments; the acute care
setting as well as the community health center setting. Interviews were conducted with healthcare workers/ nurses to
determine their perception of the cultural sensitivity of their work environments and explore similarities and differences
between their work settings. Interview questions utilized Leininger’s Cultural Care Model and focused on nurses’
experience, the culture and socioeconomic status of the clients they serve as well as the health facility’s support for the
delivery of culturally competent care. Descriptive statistical methods will be used to analyze the results and examine for
similarity, trends and differences between the two settings. Preliminary results may reveal that the majority of nurses
in both care settings believe their facility is culturally sensitive and that staff make efforts to provide care in a culturally
sensitive environment. This study will contribute to the knowledge of cultural diversity in acute care and health clinic
settings and could be utilized to improve the delivery of cultural competent care.
223
Michael R Massoud, Selina K Foster, Kasey Sullivan, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
The Effects of Stress on Sleepiness in College Students at Umass Dartmouth
Background: Adolescents and young adults require nine hours of sleep, but most receive only seven or eight. College
stressors which can affect the amount of sleep in adolescents and young adults include changes in living conditions,
academic pressures, and social environment. Studies have found that college students with high levels of stress are at
increased risks for negative outcomes such as suicide, smoking, drinking, and eating disorders. Purpose: The purpose of
this study was to determine if there was a correlation between stress levels and sleepiness in college students. Methods:
This study was a non-experimental, prospective, correlational study that examined the relationship between the variables
of stress and sleepiness. Four different researchers collected data from 40 undergraduate college students from different
grades, majors, ages and genders. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Perceived Stress Scale were used which were both
found to reliable and valid. IRB approval was given to this study and all participants gave informed consent. Results:
There was a positive correlation (r =.78, p =.069) between stress and sleepiness, but it was not statistically significant.
Students reported high levels of stress and sleepiness. The results only applied to the target population, but further
studies are recommended for other nurses on multiple campuses or with a larger sample size.
Nicole Tremblay, Kristen Sethares (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nursing, UMass Dartmouth
The Effects of Exercise on Stress Levels in College Students
Title: The Effects of Exercise on Stress Levels in College Students Nicole Tremblay, Marissa Mattei, Marissa Chapin,
Kathryn Hermanski, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, College of Nursing Background: Stress is a major issue
college student’s face that can cause physiological changes that affect health (Flinders & Plante, 2008). Evidence
indicates that the transition from high school to college accounts for a decline in the level of physical activity and
exercise patterns (Ames, Bian, DiClemente, Moore, Weiler, & Werch, 2007; Bartholomew, Herbert, & Kirkpatrick, 2005).
Poor academic performance, increased pressure to meet high academic standards, and decreased self-esteem account
for a reduction in the time spent on recreational and physical activities (Eli, Laurence, & Williams, 2009). Method: A
nonexperimental, cross sectional, descriptive correlational study was completed. IRB approval was received from the
University where the research was conducted. After consent was obtained, data was collected using the Godin LeisureTime Exercise Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale at one time from 40 college students. Results: Inclusion
criteria for this study included being a college student and ranging from ages 18 to 23. The students had to be enrolled
in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and could either be a resident at the college or a commuter. The data was
collected in a common area on campus, the residential dining area at one point in time, during dinner. The Perceived
Stress Scale showed a mean score of 14.8. This represents that out of the maximum stress experience of a possible
40.0, most students were experiencing very limited stress within the past month. The Godin-Leisure Time Exercise
Questionnaire expresses a mean score of 47.1. This represents that on average, strenuous, moderate and light activity
are not often carried out throughout the 7-day week for a period longer than 15 minutes. As expected, our research
demonstrated an inverse relationship between stress and exercise (r =-.106). Conclusions: Stress and exercise share
an inverse relationship, meaning that as exercise levels increase, stress levels decrease amongst the college students.
Physical and mental exercises have been suggested throughout the literature to improve cognitive function and physical
health and wellbeing. Students transitioning from high school to college experience immense amounts of stress that
force these students to make decisions regarding daily activities to include in their schedule and which activities to
go without. It is implied that the large amounts of stress spiral so fast out of control because of the little knowledge
students have regarding coping with stressors. It is important for nurses in hospitals across the country in both primary
care facilities and health services on campus to teach these young adults about the positive effects that come with
frequent heart-rate increasing activities to not only promote longevity but to limit the negative consequences of stressors
that are easier to control.
224
Eric Brack, Emmanouil Apostolidis (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Chemistry, Framingham State University
Determination of Phenolic Phytochemical Stability Over Extended Period of Storage of the Brown Seaweed Ascophyllum
Nodosum and Effect on In Vitro Antioxidant and Type 2 Diabetes Management Potential
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown intertidal seaweed native to the Northeastern American coast.
Previous research with water extracts have indicated there is a potential for A. nodosum-mediated type 2 diabetes
management linked to the phenolic antioxidant content, via inhibition of -glucosidase and -amylase, two carbohydrate
hydrolysis enzymes known to be important factors in the onset of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this experiment
we evaluated the effect on the long term storage of up to eleven years (2000-2011) from the time of harvest of A.
nodosum dried powered on the total phenolic content, using the Folin-Ciocalteu Assay, and subsequent antioxidant
potential, in terms of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and the in vitro α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory
activities. Five grams of dried sample were extracted in 100 mL of distilled water for 30 minutes at 90℃. RESULTS:
The total phenolic content was higher in seaweed samples harvested in 2011 (21 mg/g GA eq. DW) and decreased
with extended storage time (10 mg/g GA eq. DW in 2000). The antioxidant activities, in terms of 1, 1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, correlated with the phenolic contents observed, with seaweed
samples harvested in 2011 having the highest (90%) and 2000 the lowest (60%) antioxidant activity. Similar effect
was observed in terms of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with samples harvested in 2011 having the highest inhibitory
potential (74%) and samples harvested in 2000 the lowest (25%). The α-amylase inhibitory activity will be further
evaluated, to confirm the above findings. In addition, the phenolic profile of the extracts will be identified using HPLC,
to determine possible change in the phenolic profile over storage time. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the
total phenolic content and subsequent bioactivity of dried A. nodosum powder is decreasing over storage time. This
research provides essential information for further commercial utilization of A. nodosum by determining the effect of
storage on the quality of final product.
Julia Curran, Hang Xiao (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nutrition & Food Science, UMass Amherst
Synergistic Inhibition of Colon Cancer Cell Growth by Polymethoxyflavones and Simvastatin in Combination
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers. Epidemiological evidence suggests that certain
compounds from fruits and vegetables can provide protection against colon cancer. The present study investigated
the potential synergistic inhibitory effect of a combination of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), a class of novel flavonoid
compounds from orange, and simvastatin (SVST), a cholesterol-lowering drug, on human colon cancer HT29 cells.
The synergistic inhibition of cell growth by PMFs and SVST was demonstrated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Among the major PMFs, nobiletin and tangeretin showed strongest synergistic
interaction with SVST in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. Most interestingly, we found that the major urinary
metabolites of nobiletin and tangeretin, 4’-hydroxy nobiletin and 4’-hydroxyl tangeretin, respectively, also showed strong
synergy with SVST in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. For example, combined treatments with these metabolites
at 15 μm plus SVST at 5 μm produced 80% inhibition on HT29 cells after 72 hrs of incubation, while higher doses of
these metabolites at 30 μm alone or SVST at 10 μm alone only produced marginal inhibitory effects. Further studies
confirmed that combined treatments of these metabolites with SVST also produced strong synergy in inhibiting colony
formation of colon cancer cells. To investigate the mode of action of these different combinations, we are conducting
experiments to determine the effects of these combinations on cell cycle progression and apoptosis of colon cancer cells
by flow cytometry. These experiments are expected to provide important information on the mechanism by which the
combinations of PMFs and SVST synergistically inhibit colon caner cell growth. Overall, our results demonstrated a strong
synergy between PMFs and SVST, which provide a basis for further mechanistic investigations.
225
Kayla Seto, Julie Goddard (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Nutrition & Food Science, UMass Amherst
Analysis of the Roughness of Tomato Picking Buckets
The objective of this research was to develop a procedure to imitate the roughness of tomato picking buckets. New
bucket bottom were scratched using mending plates when placed in a sieve shaker. The roughness of the bucket
bottom was then analyzed and compared using an optical profilometer. This method was effective in imitating the
roughness of the original but only for a small area. Other forms of scratching will be tested in future experiments.
PHILOSOPHY
Lamya Nur, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Bible and the Qura’an in animal rights.
Despite the fact schools teach people the importance of treating animals humanely, the rights of animals have always
been overlooked. People eat animals, live with animals, abuse animals, and sacrifice animals. The purpose of this study
is to investigate what the Qura’an and the Bible teach about animals. In particular, the study investigates what animals
are special, what animals are forbidden to eat, and what are the consequences for abusing animals. This study was
conducted using the Qura’an, the Bible, scholars commentaries, and the explanations by “the people of the book and
the Sunnah.” Both traditions encourage animal rights, and warn of the consequences of abusing animals. However, the
Bible and the Qura’an differ in legislation about what animals not to eat. The study concludes that both the Qura’an
and the Bible stress ethical treatment of animals. Given the ethical treatment in these texts, both western and eastern
societies should stress animal rights.
PHYSICS
Olivia Campbell, Grant O’Rielly (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Dartmouth
Gain Calibrations for the BUNI Large-Volume NaI(Tl) Detector at MAX-lab
One of the most critical questions in nuclear physics today is how to describe the properties of protons and neutrons.
Previously, these particles were thought to be elementary but we now understand that they are made up of smaller
particles, quarks, which cannot be observed in isolation. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is a set of theories believed
to provide the framework for explaining these properties. A number of different approaches to solving QCD calculations
at low energies exist. Comparing the results from high quality measurements with predictions from various quark-based
theories provides a way to test theories. Pion photoproduction near threshold is one fundamental nuclear reaction
where both theory and experiment can provide accurate answers. A measurement of pion photoproduction from the
neutron is currently being performed at MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden. Using a liquid deuterium (heavy hydrogen) target,
the pion cannot escape to be detected directly but is instead captured in the target and produces a high-energy gammaray. Three large-volume sodium-iodide detectors were used to detect these gamma-rays. Each gamma-ray corresponds
to the production of a pi-minus, thus the number of gamma-rays is related to the number of pions produced which can
be compared with the theoretical predictions. The detectors have a core surrounded by a segmented cylinder. During
the data acquisition period, daily calibration runs were made using a Thorium-Carbon gamma-ray source to measure
the gain of the cylindrical segments. These calibrations ensured that changes in the detector gains were accurately
monitored and corrected for during the data analysis.
226
Olivier Dantiste, Chandra Yelleswarapu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Boston
Linear and Nonlinear Photoacoustic Studies of Glucose Solution
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important form of carbohydrate for the human body. Our body is finely tuned to
circulate the right amount of glucose in the blood. Cells use glucose as a primary source of energy. However, when
glucose concentrations are not within normal range, the person is diagnosed with Diabetes--hypoglycemia when it is
below normal range, hyperglycemia when it’s above. Using photoacoustics (PA) as a way of monitoring blood glucose
concentrations, we studied optical absorption properties of glucose molecules. Photoacoustics is a process in which
light beams rapidly heat the sample which thermally expands and produces acoustic waves. The generated acoustic
waves are detected using a piezoelectric transducer. Thus, rather than detecting the absorption signal directly (optical
absorption signal to electrical signal), the absorption signal is first converted to heat, then to acoustic pressure, followed
by an electrical signal (optical absorption signal to heat to acoustic to electrical signal). Photoacoustic experiments are
conducted in the near-IR region to study the linear and nonlinear absorption properties of glucose solution. At low
incident intensities, the absorption and hence the PA signal varied linearly with the incident intensity. However, as the
incident intensity is increased beyond a threshold value, the absorption is saturated and the PA signal became constant.
The experimental data is fitted to a simplified two-level absorption saturation equation and the saturation intensity (Isat)
value is obtained. The long term goal of this project is to assess the concentration of glucose using the Isat values.
Khayla England, Grant O’Rielly (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Dartmouth
Measurement of the Total Cross Section for pi-minus Photoproduction Near Threshold at MAX-lab
In nuclear science, researchers strive to describe the properties of nucleons (the proton and neutron) using the
framework provided by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). QCD is a theory of the strong force, one of the four
fundamental forces of nature, and describes the interactions between quarks, which form particles such as protons
and neutrons. A number of theoretical approaches to solving the QCD equations for nuclear processes exist. To test
these different approaches, the theoretical predictions can be compared with results from experimental measurements
for nuclear reactions where both theory and experiment can provide accurate answers. One such reaction is pion
photoproduction near threshold. Pion photoproduction is a fundamental nuclear process in which a photon interacts
with a nucleon to produce a nucleon and a [positively, negatively, or neutrally charged] pion. A measurement of the total
cross-section very close to threshold for pion photoproduction from the neutron is currently being performed using the
Tagged Photon Facility at MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden. This facility is able to provide a photon beam with a well-known
energy and flux, which are crucial to the experiment. Liquid deuterium (heavy hydrogen) was used to provide the
neutron target. Due to the target thickness, the pi-minus particles were not detected directly but instead were captured
on another nucleus to produce a gamma ray, which easily exited the target and was detected using three large NaI
detectors: CATS, BUNI, and DIANA. An overview of this measurement and preliminary results will be presented.
227
Jillian Giles, Cecil Joseph (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Lowell
Examining the Long Term Exposure Effects of Low-Power Terahertz (THz) Radiation on Bacillus subtilis
Medical and security Terahertz (THz) applications are currently being developed. As a result, there is a need to further
investigate the effects of THz radiation on biological systems. In this study, a 94 GHz mechanically tuned Gunn
Oscillator was used to irradiate Bacillus subtilis. The bacteria were cultured in trypticase soy broth (TSB) and placed
in polystyrene 96 well plates. The samples where irradiated during logarithmic growth phase for 1, 2, and 24 hours.
Both the experimental and control plates were kept at approximately 25°C during exposure and their temperature was
monitored using thermocouples interfaced with a computer via Labview software. The population density in each well
was evaluated by measuring the optical density of each well at 600nm immediately before and after irradiation. The
metabolic activity of each well was evaluated by adding tetrazolium dye, XTT, to each well after the exposure period and
measuring the optical density of each well at 490nm after 2 hours of incubation.
Frank Kettenring, Chandra Yelleswarapu (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Boston
Dual-plane In-line Holographic Microscopy – Simultaneous Recording of In-line Holograms to
Study Fast Dynamical Processes
Digital holography is based on the classical holographic principle, with the difference being that the hologram recording
is performed by a digital image sensor. In DHM, the interference pattern between the object and reference beams is
recorded using a CCD or CMOS device and the object information is reconstructed numerically with a computer. It is a
non-destructive, full-field, and label-free imaging technique. Off-Axis DHM and Phase-Shifting DHM (PS-DHM) are two
widely employed techniques to reconstruct the object information for suppressing the undesired dc and negative-order
diffracted waves. While the off-axis DHM does not make efficient use of whole area of the detector, PS-DHM requires at
least three sequential holograms. However, a large number of biological processes such as cell membrane fluctuations,
cell swelling, neuronal activity, and cytoskeletal dynamics occur at shorter time scales. Visualizing these fast dynamical
processes requires a microscopy technique that not only can achieve high acquisition rate but also facilitates quantitative
phase and/or three-dimensional information. Recently we developed a novel in-line DHM technique, based on the
recording of two interferograms at slightly different planes and numerically reconstructing the object information.
Here we present results based on simultaneous recording of the two required holograms using two identical CCD
sensors. A Labview routine is developed to grab the holograms simultaneously. Simultaneous recording eliminates phase
errors caused by mechanical vibrations and air turbulences. This increased acquisition rate together with the improved
reconstruction capability of the current technique may find applications in biomedical research enabling visualization of
rapid dynamic processes at the cellular level.
228
Christopher Seymour Seymour, Grant O’Rielly (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Physics, UMass Dartmouth
Photon Beam Monitors at MAX-lab
An important objective for nuclear scientists is to describe the properties of nucleons in terms of the framework
provided by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). The various theoretical approaches can be tested by comparing the
predictions from the theories with the results from accurate measurements. The Photon Tagging Facility at MAX-lab
in Lund, Sweden is capable of tagging photons with energies up to 200 MeV, which is ideal for testing fundamental
nuclear processes in the low-energy region. Exploring the pion photoproduction reaction near threshold will provide new
high-quality data to compare with the predictions from various QCD-based theories. Careful monitoring of the photon
beam characteristics is paramount to the success and accuracy of the experiment. Two beam monitoring systems are
now in use with the tagged photon beam at MAX-lab. One system, the x-y Beam Monitor provides a way to detect
horizontal or vertical shifts in the photon beam position. The second device, the In-Beam Monitor, is used to keep track
of the photon flux and to monitor the tagging efficiency during the data acquisition. These measurements are crucial for
the overall experiment. An overview of these two beam monitor systems, and their performance will be provided.
James West, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Applied Principals of Physics
This presentation will detail the applied principals of physics, and what they mean for our future. The topics covered
will include the history of physics, focused specifically on quantum physics history as well as quantum computers and
the fundamental issues surrounding them and what they could mean for us, and, how these tie in with Quantum
Entanglement. Additionally, String Theory, and how it could impact us, and wormholes, and how we could use them,
will be explored.
Andrea Colbert, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Market your Market: Developing a comprehensive plan for the Amherst Farmers’ Market
Across the nation, Farmers’ Markets provide an opportunity to connect food producers with the local community. The
demand for fresh and healthy produce is rising, but not all managers are familiar with the practice of market research
or know how to reach their target audiences most effectively. Employing new resources to increase accessibility
(i.e. accepting food stamps), market managers must now focus their attention on expanding their customer base.
A marketing plan for the Amherst Summer Farmers’ Market will be developed through the exploration of specific
market related metrics. Ultimately, this marketing plan aims to attract a diverse new customer base and lay down a
framework for “marketing the market”. Research will include interviews with managers from a variety of settings as
well as secondary data from sources such as the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. With the basic
framework of a specific marketing plan in place, other managers will be able to customize this plan to fit their own
needs and become familiar with some of the most current and effective marketing strategies.
229
Theresa Copeland, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Mushroom Farming in Western Massachusetts
The Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is home to a vibrant local agricultural community. Many of the farms in
the area focus on growing vegetables, with a smaller number also offering meat, flowers or eggs. However there are
few local mushroom growers of any capacity, and the existing ones appear to either pick wild varieties or grow only
shittake (Lentinula edodes) on logs outdoors. With farmer’s markets increasingly becoming a place where people can
get the majority or all of their food for the week, the lack of mushrooms is apparent. Mushrooms are a nutritious food
that can be grown year-round and due to the strong buy-local movement in the region, it seems likely there is a market
for mushrooms at this time. This project outlines a business plan for growing mushrooms on a small scale. It examines
potential markets, competition, partners, growing methods, and the legal ramifications of starting one’s own farm.
Eating locally is of vital importance in the face of climate change and peak oil, and adding mushrooms to the list of
foods the Pioneer Valley provides is a noble enterprise.
Hannah Haskell, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Save the Seeds: Planning for a Seed Bank in the Pioneer Valley
Seed banks are an organized way of storing and cataloging seeds from plants in a specific area. On a large scale, these
banks are important resources in the event of threats to plant species caused by climate change, disease, and natural
disaster. Seed banks that are more localized provide growers with the ability to preserve their crops, and therefore
their livelihood. This project explores the possibility of organizing and maintaining a seed bank in the Pioneer Valley of
Western Massachusetts, and presents a plan of action to begin the process. This project will allow local farmers and
gardeners to ensure their crops for future seasons and allow local botanists to help protect wild and native plant species
in the area for generations to come.
Christina Kollisch, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
A Call for Partnerships: Youth Participatory Evaluations for the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council
Through its Call for Partnerships Program (CFP), the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council (HFFPC), an organization
founded in 1995 to tackle food access issues, was able to provide grants to local agencies. Without the help of these
grants, many projects, such as the Nuestras Raices Harvest Festival, the afterschool gardening program, and the YMCA
bike shop would not have been realized. In this project, youth participatory evaluation techniques and communitybased strategies were utilized to evaluate CFP programs for efficacy, collaboration, and the need for more support. Over
the course of three months interviews were conducted alongside local youth group members to gather information
on CFP programs. This information was compiled to understand what worked effectively and what did not, and most
importantly how the HFFPC might be of better assistance in the future. Evaluation of the Call for Partnerships Program is
imperative to best utilize resources within the Holyoke community.
230
Andrew Locke, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Strengthening a Community Food System Using an Integrated Farming Plan
Locally grown nutritious food has become increasingly popular and many people are now more interested in personal
health and environmental quality. To help people explore this goal, more small, local farms are needed to serve the
increasing customer base and ensure the health of the community. Today, there is not a lack of food in this country, but
rather a lack of good nutritious food. Between the synthetic chemicals used on produce, the reliance of large farms
on non-renewable energy resources, and the amount of time and energy that goes into getting industrial food to our
plates, many people have become concerned about the impact of the food industry on our health and the environment.
The best way to produce good nutritious food is by supporting intelligent, sustainably minded and environmentally
friendly farmers. Using a “closed loop system” to guide the overall farming plan, this project will produce nutritious and
eco-friendly food products. The closed loop system is designed to keep usable resources on the farm by cycling nutrients
and carbon through the integration of plants and livestock. This project will produce a well-researched and sciencebased farming plan over consecutive years on a small, family farm in Truro, MA for the purpose of growing sustainable
food, creating profit, and keeping the community healthy.
E Alexa McKenzie, Joseph Elkinton (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Effects of adelgid density on hemlocks’ terpenoid production
The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is an aphid-like, sap-feeding insect introduced from Japan that is
decimating the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) throughout the eastern United States. In Massachusetts, hemlock
woolly adelgid is damaging and occasionally fatal to hemlocks, but the growth of the adelgid population is limited and
stabilized by density-dependent mortality. Previous research shows that much of this mortality is caused by decline of
the tree in response to adelgid attack, but the mechanism is not understood. Recent evidence suggests that densitydependent mortality may be observed within the first year of infestation, implying an immediate rather than cumulative
mechanism. When attacked by insects, hemlocks increase production of terpenoids, a class of plant defense chemicals
particularly important in conifers that may variously deter, poison, or prevent maturation of insects. The specific effects
of terpenoids on adelgids and their role in defending hemlocks against adelgid attack are poorly understood. This
study examines whether terpenoid levels increase in direct proportion to the population density of adelgids feeding on
a branch. If this effect is found, the tree’s terpenoid defense response would be implicated in the density-dependent
mortality limiting adelgid density, suggesting terpenoid composition as a key factor in selecting and potentially breeding
trees that can survive in the presence of hemlock woolly adelgid.
231
Julianne Scott, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Creating Awareness for Chronic Lyme Disease
Establishing awareness and support for those affected by chronic Lyme disease is important to the health of
communities in the United States. While an estimated 300,000 people are affected with chronic Lyme disease each
year, many people remain unaware of the existence of the disease. Lyme patients are often left feeling that their wellbeing and health are not the top priority of health-care providers and research institutions. This project aims to create
increased awareness of the disease in the Amherst, Massachusetts community, while establishing a support group for
those affected. Bringing people together to share experiences and solutions provides a valuable resource to individuals
and families struggling with the physical and emotional challenges of Lyme disease. An electronic survey will be
administered to a sample population to assess the current level of understanding of Lyme disease in the area. This initial
survey will serve as a comparative tool to evaluate the current level of awareness of chronic Lyme and how this may
change in the future. Perspectives on Lyme will be gathered through interviews and research with scientific and medical
professionals, patients, and community members. The completion of the project will create access to accurate and
current Lyme information and provide support for those affected with the disease in Western Massachusetts.
Steven Zych, John Gerber (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, UMass Amherst
Chicopee Chicken Peace: Collapsible Coops to Publicize Pro-Chicken Ordinances
The objective of this project is to design movable, collapsible chicken coops especially suited for populated areas. This
will promote urban agriculture using tactical management, increasing individual health and strengthening communities,
while creating an incentive for more pro-poultry ordinances. The Urban Chicken Movement has gained national
recognition for its economic and social value, but a negative public perception of raising poultry in cities is still prevalent.
Laws and restrictions that are designed to cause difficulty for inspiring stewards vary from city to city. This can be
disheartening, particularly when citizens are trying to build the confidence needed to move a community towards a
sustainable future. Compared to traditional stationary housing, this revamped design takes a preventative approach,
drafted structurally to deter pathogens and odors, simultaneously revitalizing depleted city soils while providing
urbanites with a source of food and companionship. These safe and sanitary coops operating in close proximity to
neighbors, will motivate more people to raise poultry, thereby decreasing our dependency on the corporate food system,
and enhancing individual and communal independence.
232
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Charles Gale, Robert Darst (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Political Science, UMass Dartmouth
To Fence or Not To Fence: Explaining Border Controls in the Developing World
PURPOSE: Border fences, paradoxically, have become a popular exercise among countries in the 21st century during a
period of international economic openness. As free trade and the open borders that complement it spreads, why do
developing countries try to restrict cross-border movement by building border fences? METHODS: This paper draws
upon foreign newspapers, policy reports, and scholarly works to examine three distinct cases: (1) India, which has built
a wall along its border with Bangladesh; (2) Saudi Arabia, which began building a wall along its border with Yemen in
the early 2000s, stopped construction for several years, and then resumed construction; and (3) the Dominican Republic,
which has not built a wall along its border with Haiti, despite a high influx of illegal immigrants with effects that would
lead one to expect a Dominican-built border wall. RESULTS: If a developing country experiences large inflows of illegal
immigrants who may pose a real or perceived threat to its security (India and Saudi Arabia), that country will build a
border fence regardless of its neighbor’s efforts to help control the immigration (Saudi Arabia). No fence will be built
if the immigration is considered an international issue or poses no security risk (Dominican Republic). CONCLUSION:
Construction of border walls in the developing world depends on several factors: the threat the immigrants pose to
the receiving country, the state of relations between the bordering countries, and the placement of responsibility of
the control of immigration. The most important factor is the threat the immigrants pose to the security of the receiving
country.
PSYCHOLOGY
Sydney Adams, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Positive Emotional Memory Processing Over Sleep
PURPOSE: Sleep enhances emotional memory consolidation (Baran et al., 2012; Payne et al, 2008; Hu et al, 2006;).
However, the effect of sleep on emotional reactivity is a highly debated topic. An existing model suggests that sleep
reduces emotional reactivity of negative emotional memories (Walker and van der Helm, 2009) based on nap and sleep
deprivation studies (Nishida, 2009; Gujar 2011). On the contrary, recent evidence comparing overnight and daytime
consolidation suggests that sleep may protect the individual’s initial negative emotional reactivity (Baran et al, 2012;
Lara-Carrasco et al, 2008). METHODS: Using an incidental memory task, the present study aims to determine sleep’s role
in positive emotional memory consolidation and emotional reactivity. Participants rated emotionally positive and neutral
pictures over two sessions separated by 12 hours. There were two groups. The Sleep group was tested first in the
evening (starting between 8-10pm) and again in the morning (starting between 8-10am). The wake group began in the
morning (between 8-10pm) and finished in the evening (between 8-10pm). RESULTS: Changes in ratings of valence and
arousal as well as recognition accuracy were compared across sleep and wake groups. Memory for positive stimuli was
better over sleep (F(1,69)=, p=.057). However, no such memory benefit was found for neutral stimuli. There were no
significant changes in emotional reactivity over sleep or wake. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to provide evidence
of a selective sleep benefit for memory for positive stimuli.
233
Jennifer Ly, Justine Alpert, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Hidden Barriers: How Music, Background Noise, and Anxiety Affect Working Memory Capacity
Daily Life provides many detours from our present mindset. This experiment tested the effects of music and background
noise on working memory capacity (WMC) and levels of anxiety. College students (N=60) were randomly assigned to
one of four experimental conditions and were asked to complete a digit span task. The four sound conditions were
vocals paired with either high or low levels of background noise and non-vocals paired with either high or low levels of
background noise. Each participant completed a series of 4 trials during their assigned experiment condition. Results will
be analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA. It is hypothesized that participants exposed to vocal music with a high
level of background noise would show lower levels of WMC than participants who were exposed to non-vocal music
and low levels of background noise. Implications for the effects and/or benefits of noise vs. music on learning in college
students will be discussed. In addition the impact of distractions such as noise on levels of students’ anxiety will be
discussed. Keywords: WMC, working memory capacity, background noise, white noise, anxiety, vocal, music, non-vocal,
Digit Span Task.
Angela E Pandolfino, Alexandra Anastos, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Labeling and Its Influence on Perceptions of Diagnosed Social Anxiety Disorder
For millions of people suffering from social anxiety, social interactions can be a source of dread. The goal of this study
was to expand on previous research examining perceptions of others towards those exhibiting social anxiety disorder
in conjunction with expressed behaviors, gender, and labeling. A sample of 240 undergraduates (120 women), were
randomly assigned to read one of four scenarios depicting either a male or female character expressing behaviors
associated with social anxiety disorder who were even labeled as having a social anxiety disorder or not. Participants
reported their perceptions of and willingness to engage with the character by answering a series of questions relating
to the scenario. Participants then completed self-report measures on social anxiety, social avoidance, and perceptions of
mental health issues. Results will be computed using a 2x2 between subjects ANOVA. Results should indicate that men
reading of a male scenario character without a label of social anxiety disorder will have more negative perceptions then
any other group. In addition, it is expected that men will report more negative perceptions of those with mental illness
and more negative attitudes towards seeking treatment for mental illness than will women. Results will be discussed
relative to treatment programs for those with social anxiety disorder since affected individuals place such a great
emphasis on the perceptions of those around them. College student populations will be specifically addressed Keywords:
Social anxiety disorder, gender, labeling, perceptions
234
Samantha L Glynn, Sarah Arena, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Health Anxiety Among Male and Female College Students
College students face many stressors when adapting to college life. Some of these stressors arise as a result of health
concerns. This study examined the rates and levels of health anxiety in college students across gender and place of
residence. A sample of 240 undergraduates, 120 women, read one of four scenarios depicting either a male or female
commuter or resident student whom on the way to class, came in contact with peers who were exhibiting symptoms of
the flu. The participants then answered a series of questions about the scenario character and reported on their personal
feelings about health and illness, as well as preventative measures they might take to avoid becoming sick. Results are
expected to demonstrate that will women report higher levels of health anxiety than men, and that they will report
taking more preventative measures than will men. It is also expected that resident students living on campus will be
perceived to have higher levels of health anxiety than commuter students. Female resident students will be perceived to
have the highest levels of health anxiety among all groups. Results will be discussed relative to ways that colleges can
help prevent the anxieties students may feel relative to their health and ways that they can help students overcome their
anxieties.
Steven Ayala, Susan Dutch (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
A Review of the Neuropsychology Literature on the Etiology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
This study reviews and evaluates the literature in the major scientific journals in Neuropsychology to determine what is
known at the present time about the etiology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The literature review will focus
on Position Emission Tomography (PET) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI) studies done on individuals
who suffer from OCD. A review of the literature revealed the presence of abnormal metabolic activity in several regions
of the Cerebrum, including the Orbital Frontal Cortex, the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus, and the Caudate Nuclei). These
cortical areas appear to be hyper-metabolic in individuals with OCD. Additional findings support the notion that
antibodies associated with streptococcal infection may induce hyper metabolic activity in some individuals. Because
infection diseases may play a role in the manifestation of OCD, prophylactic treatment of such illnesses may prove be a
successful method in preventing OCD from occurring.
235
Alina Gusev, Allison Hannan, Caitrin Walsh, Marysa E Mezzetti, Nicholas S Fulone`, Rebecca M Brossoit
Sophia M Dimartino, Alina Bahlavouni, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Age-Related Changes in Sleep-Dependent Consolidation of Visuo-Spatial Memory
Purpose: Sleep plays a key role in memory consolidation. We hypothesize that changes in sleep physiology in older
adults result in a reduction of the active, performance-enhancing effects of sleep, while the passive, protective role
of sleep against online interference remains intact. Our study uses a spatial memory task to test whether memories
consolidated over sleep. We also used an interference task to examine whether memories were resistant to subsequent
interference following sleep and wake in young and older adults. Methods: We tested 34 older adults (mean=66 yrs;
SD=7.4 yrs) and 59 young adults (mean=24 yrs; SD=2.8 yrs). Session 1 involved the encoding phase where participants
learned the locations of 20 images on a computer screen. Following encoding, immediate recall was tested. After a 12hour interval that consisted of either wake (“Wake” group) or overnight sleep (“Sleep” group), participants returned
for session 2 where they were either introduced to the interference condition prior to delayed recall, or were directly
tested for delayed recall without interference. Results: In the interference condition, for young adults, performance
was significantly superior in the Sleep group (n=8) relative to the Wake group (n=10) [F(1,16)=8.7, p=.009], and trends
towards significance in older adults [Wake n=6; Sleep n=5; F(1,9)=4.027, p=.076]. The Age (Young v. Older) x Condition
(Sleep v. Wake) interaction was not significant (F(1,25)=0.644, p=.43). Conclusions: These results suggest that spatial
memories are actively processed over sleep, making them resistant to subsequent interference, in young adults as well as
in older adults.
Hannah Barrett. Brian Lickel (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Social and Psychological Implications of Hearing Loss
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: There are large gaps in research concerning the social and psychological well-being of those
with hearing loss. While the body of research on that topic is developing, it still requires more attention, since many of
the findings of existing studies are outdated and inconsistent with one another. The present study explores predictors
of social and psychological well-being, such as perceptions of communication efficacy among deaf/hard-of-hearing
(DHOH) individuals, with stigma awareness as a mediating factor. METHODS: 207 DHOH individuals participated in
an online survey that assessed the nature of their hearing loss, their perceptions of the ease of their communication
with others, and their self-reports of stigma and well-being. RESULTS: Results showed a negative correlation between
levels of hearing-related stigma and well-being. Regression analyses demonstrated that perceptions of communication
efficacy predicted experiences of stigma and satisfaction with life. In addition, mediation analyses indicated that stigma
partially mediated the relationship between communication efficacy and life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Examining the
associations between DHOH individuals’ perceptions of communication efficacy and social and psychological well-being
has important implications for future research. With a better understanding of the factors that contribute to DHOH
individuals’ quality of life, steps can be taken to improve their experiences.
236
Rebecca Daniels, Michelle Beecoff, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor)
The Perceived Effects of Quality and Type of School on Academic Achievement
This study was designed to examine how the type and quality of schools affect perceptions of academic achievement.
Participants included 118 college students. They completed self-report measures on their academic behavior. They then
completed questions about a fictional character who was either in a private or public school of high or low quality. The
questionnaires were about academic motivation, academic confidence, academic misbehaviors, and home lives. Results
showed that the type of school did not affect perceptions of academic achievement whereas the quality of school did.
This may lead to further research on school quality and how to improve low quality schools.
Tobias Bennett, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
A Comparison of Extinction Memory in Healthy Heterosexual and Lesbian Women
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and extend previously reported sex differences in fear
conditioning and extinction memory retention by comparing the performance of heterosexual and lesbian females in
a Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction task. We hypothesized that lesbian females would retain more extinction
memory than heterosexual females after completing this task. METHODS: Participants were healthy heterosexual and
lesbian females with no history of reproductive or neurological disorders. They viewed colored lamps on a computer
screen, two of which were paired with an aversive shock to condition fear. The conditioned fear of one color was
subsequently extinguished by viewing it repeatedly without the paired shock. After 24 hours, participants were tested
for retention of extinction memory by measuring skin conductance response to the extinguished conditioned stimulus.
Lesser skin conductance response indicated greater extinction retention. RESULTS: Preliminary results found that after
conditioned and extinguished fear-eliciting stimuli, heterosexual women retained an average of 58.32% (SD = 41)
of extinction memory and lesbian women retained 37.32% (SD = 69). However, these results are not yet significant.
CONCLUSION: Results suggest that contrary to our hypothesis, heterosexual women are retaining more extinction
memory than lesbian women. However, more participants are needed to determine significance. A power analysis
suggests that 14 participants in each group will be enough to determine significance with 80% accuracy. If future
data support our hypothesis, they would suggest there are phenotypical differences between heterosexual and lesbian
women that affect fear conditioned memories and cognition.
237
Elizabeth McNulty, Samantha L Blache, Julie Bernazzani, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
The Impact of Commitment Level and Gender on Communication Methods between Romantic Partners
Today new technologies have created more options to choose from in terms of communication than ever before. This
study was designed to explore the impact of both commitment level and gender on the methods of communication
used within romantic relationships. Surveys were randomly distributed to 240 college students. Participants were asked
to read one of four scenarios depicting either a male or female who was either in a highly committed relationship
or in a non-committed relationship. Participants were asked to rate their level of agreement with which forms of
communication the scenario character would use to communicate with his/her romantic partner based on the perceived
commitment level of the scenario character. Participants also provided information regarding their personal choices of
communication methods with his/her romantic partner and provided demographic information. We expect our results
to indicate that men will perceive scenario characters to use more indirect methods of communication than women. In
addition, we expect that college students who read about a scenario character depicted in a non-committed relationship
will perceive the scenario character to use less direct methods of communication than scenario characters depicted in
a highly committed relationship. Our findings will discuss the implications of more indirect and less personal methods
of communication being utilized by college students. Recent developments and dependence on technology will also be
discussed.
Rima Bonemery, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Kiss and Don’t Tell
Much research has examined the acceptability of emotional infidelity and sexual infidelity based on gender. However
little is known about the perceptions of the different types of sexual infidelities in regard to forgiveness. This study
explored college students views on different types of relationship infidelities. The sample included 250 (half women)
at a small northeastern university. The majority of participants were Caucasian and ages ranged from 18-25 years
old. Surveys were randomly distributed, such that an equal number of participants read scenarios depicting either a
long term or short term relationship and either an act of kissing or sexual intercourse infidelity. Participants provide
demographic information and completed the following scales: Rosenberg’s Self Esteem scale, Forgiveness Scale, Dyadic
Trust Scale, and Relationship Issue Scale. A 2 X 2 X 2 Between Subjects ANOVA is expected to reveal that people will be
more likely to forgive an act of kissing more so than sexual intercourse. Furthermore, they will be more likely to forgive
their partners transgression in a long term relationship more so than a short term relationship. Results are expected
to suggest that women will be overall more forgiving of infidelity than men. Understanding of forgiveness towards
infidelity and its impact on relationship development among college students will be discussed. Key words: infidelity,
forgiveness, gender, relationship duration, cheating, monogamous,
238
Erin L O’Reilly, Emily R Phillips, Adrianna Bourdon, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Gender Differences and Reciprocal Liking: The Role of Physical Attractiveness
While reciprocal liking is a mediating factor in potential partner selection, the level of attractiveness of the potential
partner may also influence the response of reciprocal liking. The present study was designed to assess gender differences
in response to reciprocal liking, and the role of physical attractiveness of the self and potential partners among students
at a small northeastern university. Participants included 240 college students (50% women), who were either single or
in a relationship. Participants completed a short questionnaire and were randomly assigned to one of eight scenario
conditions depicting either an attractive or unattractive male or female pursuing a peer. After reading the scenario,
participants completed the Reciprocal Liking Scale (BOP-RLS), the Physical-Concept Scale (BOP-PCS), the Desired
Partner Scale (BOP-DPS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), and finally, demographic information.
We anticipate finding support for gender differences in men and women’s reported levels of perceived reciprocal
liking for physically attractive and unattractive potential partners. Additionally, it is expected that there will be a strong
positive correlation between self-esteem and self-attractiveness for men and women, as well as a strong positive
correlation between body-esteem and rated self-attractiveness for men and women, respectively. Implications for gender
differences in response to reciprocal liking when selecting a romantic partner will be discussed. Keywords: gender
differences, reciprocal liking, mutual interest, liking, partner selection, dating, “love-is-blind bias”, relationships, physical
attractiveness, attraction, self-esteem, self-concept, self-perception.
Alysia Boyle, Paula Pietromonaco (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Congruence between Spouses’ Perceptions and Observers’ Ratings of Support: The Moderating
Role of Attachment Style
Positive perceptions of spousal support have been linked to a variety of health benefits, such as lower mortality rates and
improved emotional well-being (Cohen, 2004; Uchino, 2009). Past research has suggested that perceptions of support
may vary due to individuals’ attachment style, which guides their expectations and behaviors in close relationships.
Although previous work has examined the connection between attachment style and perceptions of support, few
studies have examined how the perceptions of people with more secure or insecure attachment styles align with
observers’ ratings of actual behavior. The present research investigated this question with a sample of 225 newlywed
couples who attempted to resolve a marital conflict. We predicted that newlyweds’ attachment style would contribute
to differences in their subjective perceptions of support and their supportive behaviors. Both partners’ behaviors were
rated by third-party observers regarding how supportive they were of their spouse during the conflict discussion.
Partners also reported their own perceptions of how supportive they were of their spouse and how supportive their
spouse was of them. Results revealed that husbands higher in avoidance (i.e., uncomfortable with intimacy) perceived
both themselves and their spouse as less supportive, although neither they nor their spouse were rated as less supportive
by third-party observers compared to husbands lower in avoidance. Wives higher in avoidance also perceived both
themselves and their spouse to be less supportive compared to wives low in avoidance, but only the wives were rated as
behaving less supportively by third-party observers. The reverse effect was seen in wives high in anxiety. Anxious wives
perceived both themselves and their spouse as less supportive as compared to wives lower in anxiety, but only their
husbands were rated as less supportive by third-party observers.
239
Brianna M Sostilio, Meghan Bullock, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Relationship Violence Among College Students
Relationship violence among young adults and teens has been on the rise. Both physical and verbal abuse has increased
in these young adult relationships. This study investigated college students’ acceptability of intimate partner violence
within long-term and short-term college relationships. Participants included 240 undergraduates (120 men) of whom
majority were Caucasian. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four scenarios depicting either physical
or verbal abuse in either a short term or long term relationship. Next they completed questions relating to their
acceptability of abuse on the scenario, the Buss Perry Aggression Scale, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, and Relationship
Satisfaction Scale. Results are expected to show that men will report greater acceptance of aggression in intimate
relationships than will women. Additionally, students will report greater acceptance of aggression in short-term
relationships than in long-term ones. Implications for addressing these issues on college campuses will be discussed.
Keywords: acceptability, aggression, short-term relationship, long-term relationship
Jarad Bushnell, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
The Appeal and Subliminal Influence of the Golden Ratio: A Psychological Approach
The Appeal and Subliminal Influence of the Golden Ratio A Psychological Approach J. T. Bushnell ABSTRACT PURPOSE:
Throughout history, the visual charisma of the golden ratio has been the intrigue of philosophers, mathematicians,
architects, and artists. It is said that when the proportions of an object or shape are closest to that of the golden ratio
(1:1.618) they are more visually engaging. In the 1860s, psychologists took interest in this seemingly intrinsic, optical
charm. Around the same time, marketers did as well. Since then, many studies have been conducted on the golden
ratio’s effect on human emotion and the psyche. This paper hopes to establish a connection between the psychological
influences of the golden ratio when subtly incorporated into modern marketing design. METHODS: Using scholarly texts
and psychology studies conducted between 1860 and 2008, this paper traces the collective scientific conclusion that
there is a visual agreeableness contained within the golden ratio and that it does, in fact, influence human emotion.
RESULTS: Early studies which concluded in favor of a proportional appeal were criticized due to the rudimentary research
techniques of the time. Leading up to 2008, a distinct timeline is present which consists of studies which all concluded
in favor of a certain visual charm. Each newer study eliminated the shortcomings of the previous, was retested, and
concluded that there is a firm relationship between human emotion and the golden ratio. CONCLUSION: Through this
century-long collection of psychological data, a connection between the golden ratio and human emotion has been
proven. With this, coupled with advertising’s increasing interest in the golden ratio’s psychological appeal, marketers
have been garnering much consumer attention by designing ads, brands, logos, layouts and packaging according to a
1:1.618 ratio.
240
Audrey Carr, Nancy Forger (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Effects of Sex and Age on Postnatal Cell Death in the Mouse Amygdala
Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is central to the normal development of the brain. This study tracked the time
course of apoptosis in the mouse brain, specifically focusing on three areas of the amygdala. The amygdala has
been shown to be involved in emotional processing and fear, as well as many other functions. Certain regions of the
amygdala show sex differences in adulthood. Dying cells were stained using immunocytochemistry and the volume of
these regions, as well as the number of dying cells per region, were quantified on postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
We found that males had a significantly higher volume in the basolateral and medial amygdala by day 11. Our study
is the first to suggest a sex difference in the volume of the basolateral amygdala. Additionally, we found a strong age
effect, with cell death generally decreasing as the animal aged. However, the density of dying cells in each area peaked
at a different time point, suggesting region-specific sexual differentiation in the amygdala.
Maheen Chaudhry, Rebecca Ready (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Differential Effects of Stress on Nonverbal Subtests of WAIS-IV
High stakes decisions are based on neuropsychological test data, such as diagnosis of specific learning disabilities and
mental retardation. Thus, it is crucial to understand how stress affects test scores on the most contemporary IQ measure,
the WAIS-IV. Previous studies have shown negative effects of anxiety on performance on various cognitive tasks;
however, these studies either used a single assessment technique or tested only one or two tasks from previous versions
of the WAIS. The current study sought to examine the relationship of anxiety, determined by both the self-report
measures and physiological data, and performance on the WAIS-IV. Stress is expected to negatively impact performance
on perceptual and visuospatial tasks significantly more than performance on verbal tasks. Participants (n=25) were
administered the WAIS-IV, the PANAS, TIPI, and stress self-reported data were obtained. The four saliva samples, each
followed by a PANAS, were evenly spaced out throughout testing to obtain a comprehensive measure of physiological
stress response. Results indicate that the WAIS-IV Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) significantly correlates with selfreported anxiety (r = -.40, p < 0.05) and with average cortisol (r = 0.41, p = 0.05). Contrary to the prediction, the results
imply that higher levels of cortisol may positively affect performance on perceptual reasoning tasks. Nonetheless, people
who reported higher test anxiety performed worse than those who reported lower test anxiety. This finding implies that
certain levels of stress might be beneficial to performance on perceptual tasks, whereas it has no significant effect on
verbal performance.
241
Jacqueline M Messina, Haley Chrisos, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor)
Effect of Relatedness and Emotional Valence of Images on False Memory and Accuracy
This study was designed to examine the effects of emotional valence and relatedness on false memory and memory
accuracy. Participants included 116 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 to 24 who were randomly
selected to view one of four PowerPoint presentations in a classroom setting. Each presentation represented a different
emotional valence (neutral or negative) and relatedness (related or unrelated) of images. Each of the 54 black and white
images within each presentation was shown on a projection screen in the front of the classroom for approximately 2
s each. Prior to the PowerPoint presentation, participants’ self reported mood and self-esteem were examined. After
the presentation of images, a demographics questionnaire was distributed to the participants as a buffer activity. Once
the buffer activity was completed, a recognition test assessed participants’ level of false memory and overall accuracy
recognition of presented images. It was found that neutral and related images produced more false memories than
negative and unrelated images. Overall, emotional valence and relatedness of images had no effect on the accuracy
of memory. Additionally, participants’ mood and self-esteem were unrelated to both their false memory and accuracy.
Implications for the reliability of eyewitness testimonies and mental health diagnoses are discussed.
Tesiah Coleman, Michele Wolfson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Cape Cod Community College
Human Trafficking
Throughout this project light will be shed on the history and current state of human trafficking in many countries around
the world. One hundred and sixty one countries are affected by human trafficking, says the Global Initiative to Fight
Human Trafficking. Human trafficking has been, and continues to be, an issue faced by countries all around the world.
According to The Advocates for Human Rights, both sex trafficking and labor trafficking are the second largest, as well
as the fastest growing, criminal industries in the world. While looking at the history of this industry, special note will
be taken of the psychology effects on the victims involved. The Advocates for Human Rights noted that ninety-eight
percent of forced commercial sexual exploitation are women and girls. Women and girls also represent as many as fiftysix percent of forced economic exploitation. Through looking at the history of human trafficking around the world, as
well as in the U.S, we can begin to understand the catastrophic effects human trafficking has on its victims. We can
slowly become aware, and take steps towards putting an end to this immoral industry.
Laura Coutinho, Susan Dutch (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
Healthy Choices in Coffee Consumption
The medical community talks often about an obesity epidemic that is plaguing the United States. They implore
people to make healthier choices such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and making healthier choices with
regards to food and drink. One of the American staples in the daily diet is coffee. A large number of Americans go to
establishments and order coffee on their way to work to help start their day. This experiment seeks to find out if people
act on the recommendations for healthier choices when they order coffee. It is hypothesized that women will make
more healthy choices than men when they order their coffee. This hypothesis is based on the fact that the media sends
messages to women every day on the importance of looking good, with both beautiful and underweight models.
242
Victoria Creedon, Rebecca Ready (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Age and Emotion Films: Age differences in physiological and emotional responses to mood-inducing films
Age influences the way in which we interpret, respond to, and regulate emotions. We employed mood questionnaires,
such as PANAS, DAES, and BDI, to monitor the states of our participants’ emotions throughout the experiment, during
which time our participants were subjected to positive and negative valence film clips. Our study consisted of 20 adult
participants from three age groups, young, midlife, and older. Upon analysis of these data, we expect to see age
differences. Previous research shows that older adults report fewer negative emotions than younger adults (Charles
et al., 2001). We expect this trend to be similar to our findings. We expect that mood recovery from the negative
stimuli will be profound in older adults, regardless of the state of memory. These findings will allow a more complete
understanding of age differences in emotional reactivity and regulation.
Todd Crivello, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Epigenetics
This presentation shall examine the emerging paradigm of epigenetics. Epigenetics is becoming more popular among
research institutes and universities as the twenty-first century continues to pass by. The presentation will give a brief
history of epigenetics and how it becomes a topic of research. The history will lead up to the modern age, where
researchers such as Bruce Lipton and Dawson Church are looking into the interesting topic of epigenetics. Through their
research and others’, the topic of epigenetics will be explained. The theoretical uses of epigenetics will also be covered.
Taking the idea of the theoretical possibilities, the presentation will display various studies that have been done using the
concept of epigenetics as a therapy for certain diseases. The studies will showcase treatments on diseases such as cancer
and myeloma and the results of these clinical studies. The presentation will wrap up with an eye towards the future
of epigenetic research. The presentation will explain that the human genome is in the process of being mapped. Once
mapped, the concept of epigenetics can be applied much more effectively to cure diseases. The presentation will show
the efforts that are being made to map the human genome.
243
Dasha Daniels, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Sleep Dependent Consolidation of Value Based Learning in Young Adults
PURPOSE: Value based learning requires deciphering between important and irrelevant information (Castel, McCabe &
Balota, 2009). Research indicates that young adults remember information of high value more accurately and frequently
than low value information, suggesting that correct recall increases as value increases (Castel, Farb & Craik, 2007). The
present study aims to investigate the effects of sleep on value-based learning. Sleep enhances memory consolidation.
Recent research suggests that this sleep benefit may be selective, e.g. depending on expected future relevance (Wilhelm
et al., 2011) or emotional salience of the material (Payne et al, 2008). This study investigated whether the sleep benefit
would be specific for material that is deemed to be of higher value. METHODS: Young adult participants (aged 1830) were tested over two sessions divided by 12 hours of daytime wake or overnight sleep. Participants studied words
that were each assigned a numerical value between 1-20 and were instructed to remember as many words as possible
as well as to try to score as high as possible (calculated by the sum of values each correctly recalled word). Session 1
consisted of learning and immediate free recall of word-value pairs. Session 2 consisted of delayed free recall, cued-recall
and recognition based on the previous word-value pairs learned during session 1. RESULTS: Sleep group participants
remembered more words in general and obtained higher recall scores than the wake group, and consequently were
more likely to recall not only more words but also words of higher value; F(1,32) = 5.102, p = .031. In addition,
participants who slept were more likely to accurately recognize words from the first session that were mixed among a
group of foil words; F(1,32)=13.895, p = .001. CONCLUSION: Sleep selectively enhances important information over less
important information in value-based learning.
Jaclyn Duridas, Cynthia Prehar (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Personal Space as a Function of Intruder and Sitter Gender
This study used naturalistic observation to investigate the influence of gender on personal space preferences. Building
on prior research, it was hypothesized that intruders would give female sitters less personal space than male sitters.
Secondly, it was predicted that female intruders would require less personal space than male intruders. Participants
included 62 male and female students in a computer lab at a small, public university. Four researchers coded intruder
gender and gender of the person already sitting. The number of vacant seats between the intruder and the sitter was
also recorded to measure personal space preferences. Coders achieved high inter-rater reliability (97-100% agreement)
on all variables. Chi-square analyses were used to examine both hypotheses. Contrary to expectations, no relationship
emerged between gender of the sitter and personal space given to them (p = .12) or gender of the intruder and
personal space preferences (p = .45). Timing of the observations was a limitation in this study as intruders had few
choices of where to sit during busier observation times. Future studies could improve upon this limitation by observing
personal space preferences in larger locations or during slower times of the day when more choices are available.
244
Tami Durrigan, Tom Grady (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Bristol Community College
Current Risky Fads Related to Alcohol Abuse
This presentation will investigate the psychological and social perspectives on teen alcoholism. The reasons for engaging
in risky behaviors will be explored, including the latest invention teens are using to get “high” fast. It will include how
this form of ingestion leaves no signs of alcohol consumption because the alcohol enters the blood stream directly
through the colon and not the stomach. It will include the significant impact this newly developed behavior has made on
the world since been reported in the media and labeled and “epidemic”.
Luke Eglington, Erik Blaser (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Boston
Toddlers With ASD Are Better at Visual Search Without Trying Harder: A Pupillometric Study
Introduction: Recently, we found that 2.5-year-olds with Autism Spectrum Disorder are much better than age-matched,
typically developing controls at ‘feature conjunction’ visual search (e.g. finding the target up to 2-3x as often in a
fixed duration trial, Kaldy et al., 2011). But how does the ASD group achieve superior performance? One hypothesis
is that they exert greater cognitive effort than typically developing children (searching more dedicatedly and/or faster),
while another is that they search more efficiently. To examine this, we compared changes in pupil dilation (a standard
measure of cognitive effort, Beatty, 1982) during search. Methods: A unique aspect of our search paradigm is that it
does not require verbal instructions, making it ideal for populations with weak language skills. 17 typically developing
toddlers and 17 with ASD participated (diagnosis was confirmed by ADOS, mean age: 29.6 +/- 4.8 months). Test stimuli
consisted of four single-feature trials (color and shape; set sizes 5 or 9) and nine conjunction trials (set sizes 5, 9 or 13)
in mixed blocks. The display was presented for 4 seconds, then the target item rotated; acting as feedback and reward.
A Tobii T120 recorded eye movements and pupil diameter throughout. Results: There were no significant differences in
pupil changes between the ASD and the typically developing group during search, or any of the other trial events (onset,
offset, reward animation). Conclusion: Pupillometry indicates that toddlers with ASD do not exert greater cognitive
effort (i.e. search harder) in conjunctive visual search than typically developing children (consistent with measures such
as number of fixations and overall search time per trial, which are also not significantly different). Instead, the ASD
group’s superior performance is likely due to perceptual and attentional factors that raise target saliency and hence the
efficiency of guided search.
245
Lauren Doyle, Taylor Ehrhardt, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Transitions: Perceptions of Stress for Freshmen and Senior Undergraduates as a Function of Gender and Level of Support
The many transitions of college for most individuals can bring about high levels of stress. This study investigated the
negative impact stress may have on an individual’s life if one does not have a fully functioning support system present.
A sample of 240 (120 male) undergraduates ranging in age from 18 to 25 years participated in this study. The sample
was comprised of a majority of Caucasian students varying in class status. Participants were randomly assigned to read
eight different scenarios about college students experiencing different levels of academic support in stressful situations;
such that an equal number of males and females read each scenario. After reading about the scenario character, they
answered a series of questions about how they perceived the scenario character would react to stress. Then they
completed measures of every day stressors, and levels of support. Based on results from a 2X2X2 Between Subject
Anova, it is predicted that college students will perceive senior college peers as experiencing greater levels of stress
than freshmen peers. Research will be discussed in relation to the implications of stress related factors as they relate to
student social supports on college campuses. Findings will also be discussed as to the impact stress and social support
may have on academic success. keywords: college students, stress, social support, sex, college, academic success, life
transitions, coping
Vanesa Estrella, Kim Hicks (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Holyoke Community College
T
he Dynamics and History of Doctor/Patient Relationships
This research explored the dynamics and history of doctor and patient relationships between the times of the Ancient
Egyptians to present time. With current quality care being patient-centered, going back in history reveals that this was
not always the case. Doctors were originally high regarded as being the expert, whereas the patient was obedient,
putting his or her full trust in their doctor’s expertise. With today’s advanced technology, there’s an expectation of
doctors and patients to look upon each other as equals, coming to a conclusion of treatment that satisfies both parties.
There’s a concern that patients who do not raise their voices are often not given as high quality a care compared to
patients who do. Research was done through an internet search of databases and articles, as well as asking related
questions from medical professionals themselves. With this information, a chronological list of centered care was
compiled, a possible correlation discovered between relationships and world events. It was also discovered how often
the dynamics changed, especially with the importance of patient rights and technological advancements of medical
care. Also, with the recognition of the individuality of both doctors and patients, care was varied. The research is a large,
ongoing process with no real conclusions in sight. What is known today may change tomorrow. Despite this, current
research reveals that there has been a great change in history with likely more to come. Unfortunately, not all doctors
or patients adhere to today’s current patient-centered expectations and this leaves gaps in care quality and equality. It’s
unsure as to whether future shifts will be more in favors of patients or in favor of the medical professionals who care for
them.
246
Lauryn Fennell, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Perceived Effects of Coping Style and Spirituality on Stress Level and College Adjustment
It is important to investigate how individual factors interact with environmental and sociocultural influences to better
individual outcomes during transitional phases. Therefore, understanding the perceived differences in experienced stress
levels and college adjustment as affected by coping style and level of spirituality may help students during periods of
transition. This study investigated the perceptions of experienced stress and college adjustment as influenced by coping
style (task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented) and level of spirituality (none, internal, and external). There were 242
undergraduate college participants, aged 18 to 26 years, of whom 78.9% were women and 87.6% were Caucasian.
After informed consent procedures, participants completed one of nine scenarios that varied coping style (task-oriented;
emotion-oriented; avoidant-oriented) and spirituality level (external; internal; no affiliation). Participants completed two
surveys assessing the scenario character (Student Stress Scale and College Adjustment Test), three surveys assessing
participant data (brief COPE, Student Stress Inventory, and College Adjustment Test), and a brief demographics. As
expected, avoidance-oriented characters were perceived to be significantly more stressed and be worse adjusted to
college than task- or emotion-oriented characters. Also, the character with no spiritual affiliation was perceived to be
significantly more stressed. Participant data reflected that students who were externally spiritual exhibited better college
adjustment than students who were both internally and externally spiritual. Additionally, externally spiritual students
exhibited less stress than students who reported being internally and externally spiritual. Further implications are
discussed.
John A Ward, Timothy Flynn, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Academic Parental Pressure: To Cheat or Not To Cheat
Academic dishonesty has been on the rise in recent years (Newstead, Franklyn-Stokes, & Armstead 1996). The first
step in correcting the problem is to understand some of the motivations behind cheating. This study examined such
motivations in a sample of 240 undergraduate participants ranging in age from 18-25 years. Participants were randomly
arranged to read one of four scenarios depicting either a male or female college student with either high or low levels
of parental pressure to achieve. Next they completed a questionnaire assessing the scenario characters likelihood of
cheating along with personal information. Results will be analyzed using 2 X 2 Between Subject ANOVAs’. It is expected
that students will report a greater likelihood of scenario character engaging in academic dishonesty when parental
pressure is heightened. It is also expected that students will report male scenario characters to engage in more cheating
regardless of parental pressure than female students. Results will be discussed in terms of prevalence of cheating in
relation to parental pressure and potential coping strategies for students. Key Words: Parental Pressure, Cheating,
Plagerising
247
Nicholas Fox, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Perceived Effects of Biological Sex and Gender Stereotyped Careers on Occupational Stress and Gender
This study investigated college students’ perceptions of biological sex and gender stereotyped occupations on gender
and occupational stress. Data were collected from 127 undergraduate students (64 male, 63 female) with a mean age
of 20.37 years (SD=1.37) from a small Massachusetts state university. Participants were randomly assigned to read one
of four scenarios. The scenario described a character as being male or female with a masculine or feminine occupation.
The perceived gender, masculinity or femininity, and the perceived stress of a scenario character were assessed through
the BEM Androgyny Test and the Perceived Stress Scale. The gender and the stress of the participants were then
assessed using the same measures. Differences in ratings of gender were found in the perceptions of the scenario
characters as well as the participants. For the scenario character, it seemed as if gender stereotyped occupation had a
stronger influence on gender perception than biological sex. This was suggested by higher ratings of masculinity for a
female firefighter than for a male nurse. In regard to participant ratings of gender, male participants rated themselves
more masculine than the female participants did. There were no differences found in the participant stress ratings for
perceptions of the scenario characters or for the participant data. Interestingly, participant stress levels were correlated
with the number of reported work hours per week. Results suggest that stress levels may not reflect the type of work
but the amount of time spent working. Implications for future research in gender studies are discussed.
Caitlin Gauvin, Linda Isbell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation and Mortality Salience on Judgment of Social Transgressions and Death-thought
Accessibility
Mortality salience (i.e., the knowledge of one’s impending death), has a negative emotional impact on individuals by
inducing fear. Such effects often lead to negative judgments of individuals and situations involving social transgressions,
and also lead to increased accessibility of thoughts related to death. This study examines the extent to which
mindfulness meditation can be used to reduce or eliminate these effects. Two hundred participants were randomly
assigned to one of four conditions: mindfulness/mortality salience, mindfulness/control (no mortality salience), nonmindfulness (control) /mortality salience, and non-mindfulness (control)/control (no mortality salience). To prime for
mindfulness, we guided participants through a mindful eating task in which they were led to eat three small food items
(raisin, chocolate covered pretzel, and a vegetable chip) in a highly experiential manner. In the non-mindfulness (control)
condition, participants were not provided with these instructions and instead simply sampled the food items. Regardless
of condition, participants wrote about each food item. Next, participants were asked either to answer questions about
their own death (mortality salience conditions), or about watching television (control conditions). Following a distracter
task, participants read and rated the severity of social transgressions described in a series of vignettes. Finally, death
thought accessibility was measured using a word-completion task. Although data collection is not yet complete, we
expect to find that mindfulness meditation will decrease the severity of individuals’ judgments of social transgressions.
In addition, we predict that mindfulness will similarly decrease death thought accessibility. Such findings would shed
important new light on the helpful role that mindfulness may play in regulating challenging emotional experiences.
248
Richard D Wiggill, Elizabeth Gilliam, Cynthia Prehar (Faculty Sponsor)
Type of Touch as a Function of Initiator and Recipient Gender
The importance of gender in predicting differences in touch initiation and reception was explored using naturalistic
observation on a university campus. Participants were 68 mixed- and same-sex dyads who were unaware they were
being observed. Observation and coding occurred in public areas on weekdays during the daytime. A chi square analysis
revealed that, overall, males initiated more touches (p = .02) and received more touches (p < .001) than females.
However, females initiated and received more non-hand touches than males. These findings help to update research on
gender and touch from the 1990’s (e.g., Hall & Veccia, 1990; Willis & Dodds, 1998). Future research could benefit from
examining a larger and more diverse sample.
Corinne Golash, Paula Pietromonaco (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Relationship Between Risky Family Background and Marital Satisfaction
Risky families, in which children are exposed to overt conflict, aggression, and a lack of warmth, can produce numerous
deficiencies within a child’s emotional regulatory mechanisms, thus affecting their emotional and psychological
functioning in adulthood. The present study investigated associations between risky family background and marital
satisfaction. Two-hundred and fourteen heterosexual couples (N = 428 individuals) completed individual questionnaires
about themselves and their relationship with their spouse, in addition to discussing an area of conflict in their
relationship. It was found that exposure to a harsh family environment during childhood was associated with lower
marital relationship satisfaction. Potential applications and implications of this research are outlined.
Kathy S Vieira, Tyler J Guay, Hannah Gorman, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
The Influence of Alcohol and Relationship Status on Perceptions of Rape Victim Blame
Sexual assault is a widespread issue on college campuses and this study was conducted to help gather information on
college student’s perceptions on sexual assault. In addition, purpose of this study was to expand on previous research
by examining college students’ perceptions of victim blame in sexual assault. Our group focused on contributing factors
such as alcohol, relationship status, gender stereotypes, and how these factors could influence victim blame. A total of
240 undergraduate participants ranging in age from 18 to 25 years from a small state university were randomly assigned
to four conditions involving a sexual assault. Participants read one of four scenarios depicting a sexual assault, either
with the presence of alcohol with either a stranger or an acquaintance. Next they completed the Rape Myth Acceptance
Scale, the Double Standard Scale, a personal demographic questionnaire, and an Alcohol Consumption Scale. Results
will be analyzed by using a 2 X 2 X 2 between factors ANOVA. It is predicted that participants’ perceptions of victim
blame will be influenced by a number of contributing factors. Implications of our study will be derived in terms of
college student’s awareness of attributions made about sexual behaviors in a college environment. Keywords: college
students, sexual assault, victim blame, gender stereotypes, double standard, rape myths
249
Amber Goulart, Seth Surgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Check You Out! Facial Symmetry and Self Esteem Among College Women
The current study looks at facial symmetry and self-esteem based on Festinger’s (1954) social comparison theory.
Previous research (Cash, Cash, & Butters, 1983; Baldwin & Wesley, 1996; Tiggemann & McGill, 2004) has established
that self-esteem is affected by comparison between oneself and one’s peers. Other research has found that comparing
one’s own attractiveness to others’ can significantly affect self-esteem (Cash, et al., 1983; Thorton & Moore 1993,
Thorton & Maurice 1999). This research, however, has been vague about what sorts of comparisons count and which
do not. This purpose of this project is to isolate facial symmetry as the dimension along which comparisons are made.
Data collection will begin at the end of February. Students will be measuring the symmetry of either their own face or
a face that is either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Using a one-way ANOVA with planned comparisons, we hope to find
that students who measure their own face will have lower self esteem students measuring the facial symmetry of others.
However, those who are measuring the facial symmetry of an asymmetrical person will have higher self esteem than
those who are measuring the facial symmetry of a symmetrical person.
Stephanie Gover, Dan Anderson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Differential Effects of Media on Parent Language
This study assessed the difference between parent-child interactions during storybook reading as compared to television
viewing. Forty 30-month old children were randomly assigned to either watch TV or read a storybook with their parent
for 30 minutes. Each condition had 20 parent-child dyads. The video observations were transcribed for parent language
and coded for average length of utterances, number of new words, and total number of utterances. It is predicted that
the quality and quantity of parent-child interaction will be enhanced, during storybook reading compared to the parentchild interaction during television viewing.
Thomas Gregory, Michael Milburn (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Boston
Authoritarian Attitudes towards Environmental Issues with Mortality Salience
The scientific community is almost in total agreement that burning fossil fuels today is the greatest contribution
to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Evidence also indicates that pollution and deforestation has disturbed the
earth’s ecosystem. However, there are individuals who believe these scientific findings are a “hoax,“ invented by
environmentalists and left wing liberals designed to force conservational changes to society. A person classified as a
high Right Wing Authoritarian (RWA) is defined by a strong desire for conformity, conventionalism, social conservatism
and either a natural tendency to follow orders, or dominate others. Current research has found an association between
conservative values such as conventionalism and denial of environmental issues. Studies have shown that high RWA’s
have consistently rejected warnings of disaster from environmental problems and believe that science and technology
will be able to alleviate any pollution problems that mankind has created. Confronting environmental destruction
requires acknowledging a serious threat. This threat could stimulate high RWA’s to become defensive and engage in
system-justification. According to System Justification Theory, the way a person feels about their social system depends
on existential needs to feel safe and secure in it. Previous research has also shown that salient reminders of death
increase the need for cultural validation, resulting in affection for those that share cultural beliefs and distain for those
who threaten them. This experimental research shows how high RWA’s express a lack of concern for environmental
concerns, and how mortality salience manipulation enhances their lack of concern.
250
Delia Guo, Pamela Ludemann (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Effect of Spirituality on Health Behavior and Well-Being of College Students’ Coping in Response to Stressful
Situations
This study was designed to examine gender differences in spirituality and the effects on health favoring behaviors,
well-being, and coping with stress in a college student population. A sample of 127 men and women read positive or
negative scenarios depicting characters facing familiar stressful circumstances and rated anticipated cognitive and social
coping responses. Self-report questionnaires on spirituality, life satisfaction, optimism, self-actualization, health locus
of control, relaxation methods, and demographics were also completed. Results showed that those scoring high on
spirituality tended to be optimistic, felt in control of their health, and exercised regularly. Women and those identifying
as spiritual reported praying as a relaxation technique and recommended use of positive cognitive and social coping
methods for handling stress. The result of this study may be of use to campus counselors when offering supportive
services or developing programs related to stress management given the strain of balancing academic, social, financial,
and family roles.
Andrew Allen, James Haley, Wayne Klug (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Berkshire Community College
Do nationality and socioeconomic status predict views on poverty and wealth? A comparative analysis of attributions by
Russian and American college students
An “attribution” is a causal explanation based on a guess—often a biased one. With regard to income inequality, the
authors hypothesized that people of different SES, or living in countries with different economic systems, would make
attributions for poverty and wealth that reflect their class’s or country’s dominant assumptions. They analyzed responses
to an internet questionnaire from 450 randomly-selected university students, recruited by e-mail, in Russia and the
United States; they also compared responses from different socioeconomic statuses within the U.S. Russian attributions
were significantly more “structural” (citing circumstances) than those of Americans, although paradoxically, with respect
to poverty, they were also somewhat more “dispositional” (citing reasons within the individual). Significantly more
dispositional were American attributions for wealth. In the U.S. alone, attributions by students of lower SES were more
structural than those by students of higher SES, although unexpectedly, there were no significant differences among
the strata in dispositional attributions. Results suggest that the overall Russian preference for structural explanations
reflects the country’s socialist history, but that capitalist “shock therapy” imposed there in recent decades—dominating
the lives of young adult respondents—may account for their ambivalence about the causes of poverty. Within the U.S.,
too, recent developments may offset tradition: the preference for structural explanations by students of lower SES may
reflect the influence of the current recession, while a capitalist tradition of “blaming the victim” may account for the
absence of class-based differences in dispositional explanations for poverty. Results support claims that people’s social
“understandings” reflect competing ideologies.
251
Helen Hardy, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A New Treatment for Depression
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, known as TMS, is a new method of treating depression in a non-invasive, painless
way, without the need for medication. A magnetic coil is placed on the head over the left frontal cortex of the brain.
Magnetic impulses are then sent through the skull to the brain to stimulate the neurons. This process is repeated
numerous times over a period of two weeks. While TMS is a very new treatment with only a handful of clinics, it is
hoped that in the future it will become a more widely used alternative to anti-depressant medications. The focus of this
presentation will be to shed light on this new therapy.
Grace Hauck, Maureen Perry-Jenkins (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Rocking the Boat: The Instability of Low-Income Single Mothers’ Family Structure and Role Overload
PURPOSE: The percent of births to unmarried mothers in the United States increased from 18.4% in 1980 to 40.6% in
2008. Although a great deal of research has focused on the effects of family structure on parent and child outcomes,
more recent research suggests that beyond family structure, the more important aspect to examine is instability in
structure. Specifically, it has been shown that multiple shifts across statuses such as married, cohabiting, and single are
far more problematic than family structure per se. The current study examines how family structure and instability in
family structure (e.g., noncohabiting partnered, cohabiting partnered, married, or living alone) is related to new mothers
role overload across the transition to parenthood. METHODS: The current research uses data from the Work and Family
Transition Project, a longitudinal study of 207, primarily single and cohabiting, low-income mothers, experiencing the
transition to parenthood. Mothers were interviewed in their homes 5 times across the transition to parenthood and
provided information of family demographics, mental health and major life changes. RESULTS: At the start of the study,
there were 30 married mothers, 80 mothers cohabiting with the biological father, and 94 single mothers. After the first
year, only 1 of the 30 married mothers had gotten a divorce In contrast, 22 of the 80 cohabiters had a change in family
structure, and 24 of the 94 single mothers experienced a change. Thus, although a majority of families remained stable,
a sizable percentage experienced significant changes in family structure over the first year of parenthood. CONCLUSION:
Future analyses will explore how stability or instability in family structure over the first year of parenthood predicts
maternal well-being.
252
Julianne LeGere, Rebecca Holmes, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor)
The Perceived Effects of Romantic Attachment Style and Family Structure on Quality of Romantic Relationships and
Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes
The purpose of this study was to examine how romantic attachment style and family structure may affect perceptions
of romantic relationship quality and sexual behaviors and attitudes. Participants were 173 college students between the
ages of 18 and 25 years who read scenarios depicting a character with either a secure, avoidant, or anxious attachment
style and an intact or non-intact family structure. Participants answered survey questions about romantic relationship
quality and sexual behaviors and attitudes based on the scenarios. Results indicated that participants perceived
anxious and avoidant scenario characters to have lower quality romantic relationships than secure scenario characters.
Participants also perceived secure scenario characters and scenario characters from an intact family to have more positive
sexual behaviors than avoidant or anxious scenario characters and scenario characters from non-intact families. Results
regarding perceptions of sexual attitudes were mixed. Implications for adolescent health and education are discussed.
Joanna Hong, Paula Pietromonaco (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Spouses’ Attachment Styles as a Predictor of Salivary Alpha-Amylase Responses to a Conflict Discussion
Purpose: Assessment of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) as a non-invasive marker for sympathetic nervous system has
gained great attention. Analysis of sAA has been readily used to assess physiological responses to stressful external
stimuli. A growing literature indicates that attachment style may be closely connected to physiological responses to
stress, but little is known about the link between attachment and sympathetic nervous system responses to stress in
adults. The current work examines this link, which may have important implications for adults’ emotional and physical
health outcomes over time. Methods: Participants included both members of 225 newlywed couples. Each spouse
provided saliva at times that reflected physiological stress before, during and after a conflict negotiation task with
their partner. Participants also completed a variety of questionnaires, including a standard measure of adult romantic
attachment that assessed the two dimensions of attachment avoidance and anxiety. Results: As expected, more
insecurely attachment individuals showed disrupted patterns of sAA activity in comparison to those who were more
secure. In particularly, attachment avoidance predicted higher salivary alpha amylase before the conflict and lower
recovery after the conflict discussion ended. Conclusions: Attachment style is associated in a theoretically meaningful
way with salivary alpha amylase responses to an interpersonal stressor. Future work will examine the interconnections
between this marker and related stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) for individuals with different attachment styles.
253
Jessica Hopkins, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Perceived Effects of Parental Depression on the Children’s Academic Beliefs, Risk for Depression, and Quality of
Relationships with their Parents
This study examined college students’ perceptions of the effects of parental depression on the children’s academic
beliefs, risk for depression, and quality of relationships with their parents. Research was conducted on a small state
university campus. Participants included 168 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 41. They read one
of six randomly assigned scenarios describing a school-aged boy or girl with a depressed mother, a depressed father,
or two depressed parents. Participants answered questions about the scenario characters’ academic beliefs, risk for
depression, and quality of relationships with their parents. Participants also completed a depression inventory about
themselves and some demographic information. Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that participants perceived
scenario characters with two depressed parents as having a higher risk for depression than scenario characters with
one depressed parent. Also, participants perceived daughters as having a lower quality relationship with their depressed
parents than sons of depressed parents. This study also revealed that college students perceived parental depression as
having no effect on children’s academic beliefs. These results imply that college students perceive parental depression as
only having an effect on certain aspects of a child’s life.
Elizabeth Howard, Seth Surgan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Video Game Habits and Personality
The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between personality characteristics and video game
preferences and behaviors. Previous research on video games and behavior has focused on the correlation between
video game habits and violence (Chory & Goodboy, 2011; Eastin, 2006). This study extends previous research by
addressing other personality aspects and their correlation to video game habits. This study investigates the relationship
between video game habits and tolerance of ambiguity, the big five personality traits and adventurousness. The
relationship between the video games and personality traits will be assessed using a hierarchical regression, which
will allow for the examination of both the relationships for individual traits and for combinations of traits. This study
will include between 50 – 100 undergraduate participate from Massachusetts state university who will complete 4
questionnaires designed to assess video game habits, Adventurousness, the Big Five and Tolerance of Ambiguity. Our
data analysis using hierarchical regression will be aimed at testing the degree to which the different personality traits
predict video game habits. We hope to find support for the following hypothesis Hypothesis 1: A high score on the
openness to experience scale, desire for adventure scale and tolerance of ambiguity will predict a tendency to play
action/adventure style games. Hypothesis 2: A high openness to experience score, but a low desire for adventure and
tolerance of ambiguity scores will predict a tendency to play social games. Hypothesis 3: A high tolerance of ambiguity
score will predict a tendency to play puzzle games. Hypothesis 4: A high score on adventurousness, tolerance of
ambiguity, openness to experience and extraversion will predict a tendency to play MMORPGs. Hypothesis 5: A high
score on adventurousness, tolerance of ambiguity and openness to experience will predict a tendency to play RPGs.
Hypothesis 6: A high scores on adventurousness and tolerance of ambiguity and a low score in extraversion will predict a
tendency to play strategy games.
254
Deanna Julian, Hal Grotevant (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Impact of Community Climate on Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parent Families
As increasing numbers of lesbian and gay (LG) couples are adopting children in the US (Gates et al., 2007), there are
both arguments supporting and opposing this process. Studies have demonstrated that children of same-sex and othersex parents develop in similar ways (e.g., Biblarz & Savci, 2010; Farr et al., 2010). There is also evidence that LG adults
may experience “sexual minority stress” as a result of discrimination and stigma, which may lead to increased depression
and anxiety. (Goldberg & Smith, 2011; Meyer, 2003). In this study, Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological theory provides
the framework to compare effects of community climate, or the degree of support for LG people within a specified area
(e.g., county) (Oswald et al., 2010), on mental health among adoptive families with same-sex and other-sex parents.
Data is used from the US Census (2000) and from a larger project of adoptive families headed by same-sex and other-sex
couples (e.g., Farr et al., 2010). Preliminary analyses have revealed that gay fathers are more likely to live in areas with
higher proportions of same-sex couples than heterosexual couples and in such areas LG parents reported higher overall
outness, r(112) = .22, p = .026 and increased recognition of their same-sex relationship by the community, r(112) = .19,
p = .044, supporting further research into how community climate affects mental health. By indicating that environment
has important impacts on the mental health of LG adoptive parents, this study could support the benefits of social
changes in creating more LG-supportive community climate.
Jessica Kent, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Effects of Napping on Emotional Memory in Preschool Children
PURPOSE: Sleep benefits memory in healthy young adults, but for other developmental stages, this relationship is less
clear. Preschool-aged children are at a unique point in development where their sleep habits are changing dramatically
from biphasic (overnight sleep and a mid-day nap) to monophasic sleep (no longer napping). They are rapidly developing
cognitive, motor and emotional skills. Therefore, it is important to investigate the role of napping in the context of
these developmental changes. In this study, we investigated how napping affects preschoolers’ ability to remember
emotional information METHODS: Children were tested on their memory for faces that were described as either “mean”
or “nice” following a typical mid-day nap, as well as following a similar period of time in which children were required
to stay awake. They were also tested the following morning to ensure for lasting results. RESULTS: Data was collected
during immediate, delay 1, and delay 2 recall phases. Analyses were run to find the percent correct difference scores
from the subjects’ responses. The results of the 24 hour recall suggest that material was better remembered after sleep
versus staying awake during nap time. CONCLUSION: This trend suggests that napping in preschoolers promotes better
memory for emotional stimuli. This further insinuates that missing a nap, which leads to inadequate sleep, in children
this age may hinder emotional processing. In addition, children who get less sleep may observe and react differently to
outside stimuli compared to those children who are well-rested.
255
Savannah M Young, William Lopez, Lauren LaCava, Pamela Ludemann (Faculty Sponsor)
Animal Rights: Gender Differences and Emotional Responses and Views of Acceptable Uses of Animals in Research, as
Pets, and as Food Sources
The purpose of the study was to examine gender differences in views of animal rights, animal empathy and cognition,
and emotional responses and attitudes toward the use of animals in research, as pets, in entertainment, and as food
products. Also of interest was how these attitudes and views inter-related. Participants included 165 college students,
85 of whom were women. Men and women were assigned to viewing one of four categories of animal stimuli (2 X 2
inch black and white images) pertaining to the categories of food, lab use, sport, and pets. While viewing the stimuli,
surveys on beliefs in animal cognition and feelings of animal-based empathy, attachment, liking, and attitudes towards
various uses were completed. Results indicated that women overall were against the use of animals in all categories
presented except as pets. The results also indicated that belief in cognition were related to animal-based empathy,
liking, and attachment. Further, compared to me, women overall had higher scores on belief in animal cognition,
which was correlated with empathy, liking, and attachment to animals scores. These findings may be useful in the
development of screening procedures for individuals planning to work with or own animals to better ensure humane
care. Understanding factors underlying views of appropriate animal treatment may help to improve handling methods,
especially in food product and research facilities, for both the animals and workers.
Amanda C Kenzerski, Meaghan Lafferty, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Influence of Personality Traits, Physical Attractiveness, and Financial Stability as they Impact Romantic Attraction
Romantic attraction, and what makes someone romantically desirable, is something that we encounter in our daily
lives. The present study examined the influence of personality traits on perceived romantic attractiveness. A total of 120
female college students were randomly assigned to read one of four scenarios depicting a hypothetical male character
who was described as either introverted or extroverted, and either agreeable or disagreeable in nature. Next they were
asked to complete questionnaires about how they value financial stability, personality traits and physical attractiveness in
a romantic partner. A 2x2 between subjects ANOVA will be completed to examine women’s reported values placed on
financial stability, personality traits and physical attractiveness of potential mate. Based on the literature, it is expected
that women will value extroversion and agreeableness more than introversion and disagreeableness as well as physical
attractiveness and financial stability in a potential mate. These results will suggest that personality, appearance, and
financial stability are essential in romantic attraction.
256
Leewood Lane, Susan McPherson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English Literature, Quinsigamond Community College
The Unconcious in Action: Nightmares and Lucid Dreams
The human mind is one of the most complex and powerful machines in existence. Crucial to the power of that machine
is the conscious, or the mental construct of the mind for the purpose of delineation of self and other. And to run the
conscious, the mind requires several controls on its perception of reality. But what about those times when the controls
are off? My project explores extreme states of the mind in its resting time, lucid dreaming and night terrors, when the
governors that rule how we interpret our world are shut off and the mind runs freely. I will show how these states
are studied as well as the predominant ideas behind their causes. Finally, I will demonstrate what these and future
discoveries can mean for humanity in the years to come.
Andrea E Lam, Michelle Lechtanski, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor)
The Perceived Effects of Birth Order and Agreeableness on Romantic Relationship Quality
This study examined the perceived effects of birth order and agreeableness on the quality of romantic relationships.
One hundred and thirty-two college students were randomly assigned to read one of four scenarios about a couple that
either matched or did not match in birth order and agreeableness. In addition to answering scenario based questions,
participants evaluated their own relationship quality based on their personality, and whether their partner and their own
birth order matched. Participants perceived that couples with the same level of agreeableness and a different birth order
had the highest relationship quality. For participant data, those who reported high levels of agreeableness had a higher
relationship quality. However, no significant difference was found for birth order match. Implications for sustaining
successful relationships are discussed.
Alicia Leland, Holly Ketterer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Family Environment and Impulsivity in Adolescence
Previous research demonstrates that family environment has an impact on developing children. Negative home
environments may result in externalizing problems (e.g., impulsivity) in children. The purpose of this study was
to replicate quantitative research investigating the relationship between impulsivity and family environment in an
adolescent sample, and also to make an original contribution to the extant literature by creating a qualitative interview
to measure impulsivity. The primary hypothesis was that there would be a negative correlation between impulsivity
and family functioning. Additionally, it was expected that the following variables would be related to increased
impulsivity: living in a single-parent home, being first born, being strongly influenced by peers (rather than family
members), increased reactivity, and increased social desirability. To test these hypotheses, self-report questionnaire data
was collected from 469 (165 male, 302 female, 2 did not indicate gender) college students from a small northeastern
university, 10 of whom also participated in an impulsivity interview. The self-report questionnaire measured the following
variables: impulsivity, family functioning, reactivity, peer versus parent influence, and social desirability. ANOVA, T-tests,
and correlations were used to analyze the data. Results showed there was a negative correlation between family
functioning and impulsivity r = -.16 (as family functioning decreased, impulsivity increased), a negative correlation
between social desirability and impulsivity r = -.44 (as social desirability increased, impulsivity decreased), and a positive
correlation between peer vs. parent influence and impulsivity r = .32 (as peer influence increased impulsivity increased).
Exploratory results will also be presented.
257
Irina Orlovsky, David M Gilman, Brian Long, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Sleep Effects on Cognitive Sequence Learning
PURPOSE: Sleep has been demonstrated to benefit motor sequence learning in healthy young adults. It has yet to
be determined whether sleep is benefitting the motoric or the sequential aspects to this task. Animal literature has
previously shown neuronal replay of motor sequence tasks during nREM sleep, which was associated with better task
performance. While this supports a sequencing sleep benefit, this has yet to be conclusively studied in humans. We
sought to examine cognitive sequential learning in healthy young adults. METHODS: In session 1, participants learned
to navigate through a computer maze task. Throughout this maze participants were given cues that they might pick up
on to learn to better complete the task. In session 2, participants again navigated through the ten rooms; however, in
order to probe sequence learning, as opposed to simple stimulus-associations, we included cues that were previously
beneficial to performance out of their correct sequence order. Participants had a 12 hour intermission between the two
sessions, either containing sleep or no sleep, depending on the condition they were assigned to. The sleep group also
had their overnight sleep recorded electrophysiologically to assess which sleep stage is most associated with sequence
learning. RESULTS: Independent samples t-tests revealed that sleep did not benefit task performance (p= 0.63).
CONCLUSION: Results suggest that sleep does not benefit cognitive sequence learning. Further research is necessary to
determine sleep’s role in sequence learning.
Maggie Kirkbride, Michaela Plaster, Bethany MacRae, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Gender Differences and Sexuality: An Exploration of the Sexual Double Standard
In terms of sexual behavior, what may be considered appropriate for one gender is often not so for the other. This study
examined college students’ perceptions of gender differences in regard to the sexual double standard. Participants
included 240 undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 25 who were randomly assigned to read one of four
scenarios featuring either a male or female college student who was portrayed as either being promiscuous, with 20
sexual partners, or not promiscuous with one sexual partner. Participants then completed a series of questions regarding
perceptions of the scenario character’s sexual behaviors, self-report measures regarding their own attitudes about
sexuality in general, gender role stereotypes, sexual peer pressure and demographic information. A 2 X 2 between
subjects ANOVA will be used to analyze the results. It is expected that patterns of an existing sexual double standard will
emerge. Findings will be discussed relative to implications of sexual promiscuity as it relates to reputation status among
college students. Key Words: sexuality, double standard, sexual activity, college students, gender Sexual double standard:
The belief that it is acceptable for one gender, males, to be sexually promiscuous while it is unacceptable for females to
be sexually promiscuous. Sexual Activity: Vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse.
258
Marcia L Stafford, Jodie Morrell, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor)
The Perceived Effects of Parents’ Sexual Orientation and Genetic Relation to Their Late Adolescent on the Late
Adolescent’s Acceptance of Self and Others
This study expanded on limited research of college students’ perceptions of the effects of parental sexual orientation
(heterosexual, lesbian, gay) and genetic relation (biological, adopted) on late adolescents’ acceptance of self, others,
and parents. College students (n = 156) read one of six randomly assigned scenarios. Follow up measures were then
completed. Results suggested that participants believed the scenario character raised by adoptive heterosexual parents
would have the highest level of acceptance of self. Participants also believed that when the scenario character had gay
parents, a higher level of acceptance of others would be present. No significant findings were found for acceptance of
parents. Findings suggested that college students’ resistance to homosexual parenting could be attributed to the fact
that the majority of participants were from heterosexual families. Additionally, findings that involved adoption suggested
that college students believed that adopted parents wanted their children more than biological parents regardless of
sexual orientation.
Jessica Morse, Michele Wolfson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Cape Cod Community College
The Socio-Economic Suppression of Working-Class Women
Women have not been treated on an equal socio-economic level even when lawmakers seek to establish wages that
would allow for survivable standards of living. This was due largely to the types of careers open to them; domestic
service, unskilled factory hands, etc. The focus of this research paper will be to examine economic suppression of
working-class woman with the implementation of minimum wage which prevented them from obtaining a job or career
that would enable them to support their family. Although this project will be primarily about women in the workingclass, other groups who were affected will be examined as well. Research sources will include “Nickel and Dimed” by
Barbara Ehrenreich, “Neither Mother nor Breadwinners” from Feminist Economics by Ellen Mutari, et al., and will also
draw on research from the actual laws that were brought about at the turn of the century.
Alicen Murray, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
Perceptions of Academic Performance and Motivation in College Athletes
This study was designed to examine college student perceptions of athletes and their academic performance. It also
was designed to view gender differences and if that effected college student’s perceptions. Participants included 240
students (120 of which were women) at Framingham State University, believed to be between 18 and 24 years of age, a
majority of participants were Caucasian. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four scenarios. The scenario
characters were a male or female college student described as an athlete or not. The participants were given self-report
measures to complete in order to evaluate their perceptions of an athlete verses non athlete’s academic motivation, and
achievement. Furthermore the measures were designed to assess if gender of the scenario character and the participant
effects college students perceptions on a student’s academic performance based on their athletic status.
259
Andrea Norton, Hal Grotevant (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
College Preparation with High School Students in the Treehouse Community
The base of my project was to create a group in which high-school students living in the Treehouse community could
explore the various college options available to them. The student residents of Treehouse have experienced the foster
care system in some capacity. This is a yearlong project in which I have been able to work with various groups of
students. My work for the first half of the year involved helping two high-school seniors put together their applications
and complete their essays. Both students were able to apply to multiple schools by the end of December. I will spend
the second half of the year working with juniors and some sophomores and focus more on the college search process
and preparation for applying in the coming months (test taking, resume building, etc.). Participants in the group meet
weekly to discuss general topics related to college searches and applications and also to address any individual concerns
about the process. Parents of the participants, Treehouse faculty, and the students themselves have been responsive to
the program.
Chelsey O’Connor, Vanessa Diana (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Westfield State University
Seeing the World through Sensitive Eyes: What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
PURPOSE: Sensory Processing Disorder is not very well known in the medical world. Informing the audience about what
this condition is and, more importantly, what it is not will help provide understanding of and encourage appropriate,
effective treatment for this new disorder. METHODS: Using personal experience and medical research, he presenter
defines common symptoms and treatments for Sensory Processing Disorder. RESULTS: The presenter was born with
Sensory Processing Disorder and her family struggled to find the correct diagnosis and treatment. Because it is not
well known and is not recognized as its own specific disorder, most professionals believed the presenter was autistic.
Misdiagnosis is very common for children who suffer from the same disorder. Although sensory integration problems go
along with autism, it does not necessarily mean an individual must have one with the other. Many families are dealing
with misdiagnosis of their children because of their own and doctors’ lack of knowledge on the subject. Even when a
child is diagnosed correctly, there are very few options for treatment; and some of the best treatments are not covered
by insurance companies. CONCLUSION: Sensory Processing Disorder is its own standalone disorder and needs to be
recognized as such. It needs to be put in the DSM as its own condition so that misdiagnosis will not occur and so that
money can go into testing for future treatments and medication.
Lisa O’Donnell, Teresa Lyons (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Salem State University
The Presence of Others and Helping Decisions
Participants, who read a scenario, self-reported how likely they would be to intervene to stop a fight between a male
and female on the street. Contrary to previous bystander research results, participants who imagined that they were
with five other people, as opposed to one other person, were more likely to intervene to help the female when she was
physically attacked by the male. Participants were also more likely to help the female victim when they were told that
the other people with them would agree to help also. There was no interaction between the two independent variables.
260
Ashlee M Rossi, Nicholas Laquidara, Cori Ostrowski, Deborah McMakin (Faculty Sponsor)
Looking Beyond the Playground: College Students’ Perceptions of School vs. Workplace Bullying
The recent events surrounding cyber bullying has brought new attention to people’s awareness of the types and
consequences of bullying. This study examined college student awareness of workplace bullying versus school bullying
by comparing perceptions of relationally versus physically aggressive behaviors in both the school and workplace
setting. Participants included 240 college students (120 men). Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire
consisting of scales measuring aggression, acceptance of others, and prior experiences with bully behavior at both
work and school. The questionnaires also included an evaluation of the occurrence of bullying behavior in one of four
possible scenarios that varied in setting (work or school) and the type of aggression displayed (physical or relational).
Questionnaires were randomly distributed such that an equal number of participants read each scenario. Results will
be analyzed using a 2X2X2 between subjects ANOVA and correlational analysis to compare participants’ awareness
of bullying incidences within the context of setting, type of aggressive behavior, and past experiences with bullying.
Implications for the perceptions of both physical and relational aggression, as well as the effect of lower levels of selfesteem and acceptance of others on aggression will be discussed. This survey assesses how college students, with
limited or no prior workplace familiarity, interpret bullying behaviors beyond their school experiences. Findings may show
that those entering the workforce will not be prepared for these types of aggressive behaviors.
Rebecca Owen, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Body Image, Mood, and Anxiety after Viewing Images of Healthy Weight Models
Negative body image is associated with eating disorder vulnerability. Media industries often promote images of very
thin models, leading to general bias in favor of slim body shapes and increased vulnerability to eating disorders, anxiety,
and depression. Recently, prominent companies that market products to young women have developed ad campaigns
which doubly serve as public service announcements promoting healthy and realistic body ideals. In this study we
examined whether ad campaigns for healthy and realistic body ideals are effective. We found that for individuals with
low self-esteem such an intervention significantly increased the body mass index of one’s body ideal, while individuals
with normal self-esteem were unaffected. We conclude that ad campaigns for healthy and realistic body ideals may be
successful at improving body image in viewers in the long term.
261
Katherine Papazian, Dan Anderson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
The Effects of Media Exposure on Children’s Toy Play
PURPOSE: While children under 3 years have difficulty learning from video, research has shown that it can alter their
behavior. One way in which it can have an influence is by affecting their everyday play behaviors. METHODS: Thirtymonth-old children (n=24) will be recorded while they watch either a 30 minute episode of The Teletubbies or a 30
minute episode of The Night Garden. Afterwards, participants will play with a selection of toys for 15 minute recorded
free play session. The toys include a set of Teletubbies toys, a set of Night Garden toys, and a set of control toys.
Recordings of participants’ behavior will be coded for attention to the television, amount of time spent with each toy,
and the number of times the characters’ names were mentioned during the play period. HYPOTHESES: It is predicted
that participants who watched more television will spend more time playing with the characters from the program
that they just viewed. It is also predicted that participants who watched more will be more likely to speak the names of
characters. Taken together, this research could suggest that children can, indeed form product preferences and brand
loyalties from an extremely early age, as past studies have shown that children are more likely to prefer and remember
the names of products that they have been exposed to more frequently.
Shannon Peebles, Phyllis Wentworth (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Bristol Community College
Creativity, Intelligence and Mental Illness, and the Drive for Medicated Normalcy
This study will examine the correlation between creativity, mental illness, and intelligence, as well as look at the current
state of preferred “normalcy,” where psycho-active drugs are more common than learning proper coping mechanisms
and where genetic selection might be an option in our not so distant future. Furthermore, this study questions if this
condition could act as a stimulus to push for a selected-medicated normalcy that could potentially stifle creative and
intelligent minds, hindering their potential of future contributions that could help further humanity. The final aim of this
project is to create awareness and to dispel some of the stigmas that are associated with people who have been with
diagnosed with mental disorders.
262
Ariana Roche, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Beyond Friendsickness: A Good Home Life Doesn’t Always Lead to an Easy Transition to College
In fall 2011, a record-breaking number of approximately 19.7 million students were expected to enroll in American
universities and colleges according to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics (2010),
many of whom are high school graduates immediately making the transition to college after graduation. My study
researched the effect of home life on students’ adjustment to college at Westfield State University to prove that a good
home life resulted in a difficult adjustment. While research by Elizabeth Paul and Sigal Brier helped explain the effects of
friendsickness on first-year students’ adjustment to college (2001), I argue that a student’s home life may provide a fuller
understanding of why a first-year student may struggle in college. Friendsickness is often an indicator that the student
had a fulfilling home life, one in which stable friendships ensured strong bonds, confidence, and sense of self. Surveying
fifty undergraduate students at Westfield State University I reflected on those findings with the results I found through
my research with the use of the College Adjustment Test (CAT) developed by Pennebaker, Colder, and Sharp (1990) to
measure adjustment as well as a survey I created to measure adjustment and record demographics of the sample. A
correlational study was then performed to compare the data from the two surveys. My results suggest that a good home
life may make for a difficult adjustment to college. The data showed mixed results but much of it was in support of the
original hypothesis. This study can be useful to counselors, residential life staff, and even psychologists to identify why
students have a difficult time adjusting to living in a college setting.
Nathan Besnoff, Joseph Schwarz, Wayne Klug (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Psychology, Berkshire Community College
Too Tense to Care? The Relationship Between Stress and Empathy in an Undergraduate Population
As students who were increasingly stressed by academic and other demands, the authors sensed that they were
becoming less empathic—less able to extend themselves to others. They wondered if there was a general phenomenon
at work: As stress increases, does empathy decline? Are the two variables negatively correlated? One hundred twenty
community college students answered validated questionnaires measuring their levels of stress and empathy. Contrary
to hypothesis, the authors found a moderate positive correlation between the two variables. Lending support to this
finding was a t-test, based on a median split of stress scores, that revealed a significantly higher level of empathy in the
high-stress group. Results suggest that the experience of stress may actually heighten empathy for others who are also
coping with stress.
263
Robin Selwitz, Pamela Ludemann (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Effect of Music and Prosocial Lyrics on Mood, Memory and Stress
This study was designed to explore the effects of music and pro-social lyrics on mood, aggressive cognitions, stress and
short term memory. Three groups of college (n = 85) were exposed to one of three music conditions while completing
a word memory task, an aggression word completion task, and pre and post assessments of stress and mood. Music
conditions consisted of the song, “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson with lyrics, without lyrics, and with no music
playing. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences by music exposure condition were found, but trends were
in the expected directions. Lack of significance may have been the result of measure insensitivity. Memory effects preand post-exposure were noted. Across music conditions, participants with positive moods tended to recall more words
in general as well as larger number of nouns and pro-social words. The students with more positive moods also tended
to have lower stress levels, and lower stress levels were associated with greater word recall. Students scoring high
on aggressive-cognitions remembered more pro-social words and non-nouns. In addition, it was found that students
who used multiple memory strategies were able to remember a larger number of words than those relying on single
strategies. Music therapists and academic support personnel may find the information useful when recommending
memory or study strategies. Possible design flaws might also shed light on the designing of future studies.
Kristyna Smith, Anna Flanagan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Effects of Type of Intervention on Implicit Racial Attitudes
The current study investigated implicit racial biases and their potential to be reduced by an intervention. Specifically, the
current study used an Implicit Association Test (IAT) to measure implicit racial attitudes toward people of Middle Eastern
descent. The sample included 49 non-Middle Eastern participants, all of whom completed the Modern Racism Scale and
a Culture Quiz to highlight their explicit racial attitudes and cultural knowledge prior to the intervention. An IAT, which
varied Caucasian and Middle Eastern male faces with positive and negative words, followed the intervention. Results
indicated that the intervention (positive, negative, neutral) did not influence participants’ implicit biases as measured by
the IAT. However, results did suggest participants had implicit racial attitudes toward people of Middle Eastern descent.
Participants’ reaction time to associate positive words with Middle Eastern faces was slower than their reaction time to
associate positive words with Caucasian faces, and participants’ reaction time to associate negative words with Middle
Eastern faces was faster than their reaction time to associate negative words with Caucasian faces. Results may be
representative of the current social climate in the United States and how that environment can shape a population’s
attitudes toward an entire race.
264
Alycia Sullivan, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Effects of Sleep on Memory Consolidation of Motor/Procedural Learning
PURPOSE: Sleep enhances memory consolidation. Research from our lab suggests that this sleep benefit diminishes
with aging in a task specific manner; while we observe similar sleep benefits on a declarative word-pair learning task in
young and older adults, older adults do not get a sleep benefit for a procedural motor sequence learning task (Wilson
et al., 2012). In this study we focused on a procedural task which does not have a sequential component - a mirror
tracing task. METHODS: Male and female participants traced figures on an iPad with visual feedback coming only
from a mirror placed in front of them. Young (ages between 18-30) and healthy older adults (ages 50-80) participants
were tested over two sessions separated by an interval of daytime wake (i.e. the “Wake” group) or overnight sleep
(the “Sleep” group). Sleep was recorded using polysomnography (PSG). Changes in performance (reaction times and
accuracy measures) were compared between sleep and wake groups. Furthermore, based on previous findings that
REM sleep may be critical for this type of learning (Plihal and Börn, 1997) we looked for correlations between measures
of REM sleep (duration and latency) and overnight changes in task performance. We had three main hypotheses in
this experiment: 1) Young adults will trace faster and more accurately after a period of sleep as opposed to wake, 2)
Performance changes in accuracy and tracing time will positively correlate with REM sleep, 3) This sleep benefit will
be diminished in older adults and there won’t be any correlation between measures of REM and task performance.
RESULTS: Preliminary results suggest that sleep benefits task performance in young adults. Compared to the wake
group, the sleep group participants showed greater improvement in reaction time and time spent outside of the tracing
area. However, preliminary results do not reveal such a sleep benefit in older adults. CONCLUSION: Young adults get a
sleep benefit on a procedural non-sequential task whereas this effect is diminished in healthy older adults.
Sneha Suresh, Wilmore Webley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Default Network Activity Differentiates Adolescent and Young Adult Relatives of Persons with Bipolar Disorder and
Schizophrenia
INTRODUCTION: Hyperactivity and hyperconnectivity of the “resting state” or “default mode network (DN)” of brain
function is observed in patients with schizophrenia and their high-risk first-degree relations (HR-SZ) where the neural
network exhibits greater activation during rest than during task performance. This might suggest that the network
is a potential endophenotype for psychosis. Our research examined where hyperactivity in the DN is specific to such
familial risk for SZ or if this pattern extends to first-degree relatives of BDP, who exhibit many overlapping symptoms,
using functional MRI scans. METHODS: Subjects were 19 HR-SZ, 10 HR-BDP, and 20 healthy, control subjects selected
to be comparable on age (13-27), sex, education, handedness, and IQ. All subjects were unmedicated and free of
psychotic or other Axis I disorders. During functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), subjects alternated between
rest and performance of 0-back and 2-back working memory tasks. Mood was assessed on the day of scanning.
Working memory task-related suppression of the FMRI signal was examined using SPM2 (Department of Imaging
Neuroscience, London, UK)(www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/). RESULTS: There were no group differences in working memory
task performance or mood state. HR-SZ and HR-BDP (who were well-matched in WM performance) exhibited distinct
patterns of WM-related task suppression and FC. HR-SZ exhibited reduced parahippocampal (PHP) task suppression.
In contrast, HR-BDP exhibited exaggerated task-suppression of the DN that was greater than both controls and HR-SZ.
Non-suppression of the middle temporal and occipital regions of the DN was correlated with measures of psychoticism
with all three groups of the experiment. CONCLUSION: HR-BDP and HR-SZ show distinct connectivity patterns in the
DN. To our knowledge, this is the first time this has been reported. If replicated, these patterns may represent basic
differences in pathophysiologic risk for the two psychotic disorders.
265
Lauren Szymula, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Comparisons of Sleep Architecture Between Younger and Older Adults
PURPOSE: It is fairly well established that sleep quality declines with age. In general older adults sleep for the same
amount of time as younger adults, but have greater numbers of arousals, and experience a reduction in some of the
sleep stages, such as slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep. However, few studies have directly and quantitatively
compared age-related changes in all aspects of sleep physiology. This project evaluated the physiological difference in
sleep structure between younger and older adults. METHODS: Sleep physiology was collected with polysomnography
over one night. This data was scored for sleep staging, as well as assessed for sleep fragmentation. RESULTS: Results
replicate earlier findings that older adults and younger adults did not significantly differ on measures of total sleep
time or time spent in NREM2 sleep; however older adults did wake more often, and had reduced SWS compared to
younger adults. DISCUSSION: A better understanding of sleep differences between the young and old may facilitate our
comprehension of how sleep may affect the processes of aging.
Joseph Terranova, Geert de Vries (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Acute Restraint Stress Activates Vasopressin and Oxytocin Cells in the Supraoptic Nucleus of Male and Female Rats
In this study, we investigated sex differences in the stress-induced activation of the neurotransmitters argininevasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) using the immediate early gene, c-FOS, as a maker of neural activation. We
used an acute restraint stress paradigm, where male and female wistar rats were subjected to a one-time 30-minute
restraint test. Following the restraint test, animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde and brain tissue was
immunohistochemically processed for c-FOS, vasopressin-neurophysin, and OXT. Neural activation of AVP and OXT was
measured in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) using immunoflurosence and confirmed by confocal microscopy. Restraint
animals exhibited significantly greater activation of AVP and OXT in the SON than non-restrained controls. There were no
significant sex differences in the activation of AVP and OXT in the SON. Our results further elucidate the neurobiological
mechanisms of stress and reveal potential therapeutic targets for stress-related disorders.
266
Oanaki Torres, Pamela Ludemann (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
University Students’ Personal and Perceptions of Others’ Academic Motivation: Exploring Family and Personal Factors of
Academic Achievement
The purpose of this study was to clarify the area of academic achievement motivation and the various factors that
influence college students, including personality traits, learning approaches, goal setting, and family attachment.
Participants were 95 college students, of whom 81% were women, with a mean age of 20.6 (SD = 2.11) years. Students
were asked to complete surveys regarding perceptions of family attachment, their personality traits, and approaches
to learning. Results indicated personality traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and emotional stability
were positively related to academic achievement, as were the learning approaches of academic efficacy and mastery
goal orientation. In contrast, performance avoidance goal orientation was negatively related to academic achievement.
College students did not perceive family attachment as influential on academic achievement. These findings may be of
value to students, faculty, and college and university administrators. It is important that students understand that their
course performances in college are the results of dynamic and complicated relationships between personality, anxiety,
intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Colleges and universities could alter the methods of their advising and
support programs to focus more on working with students to discover their motivations as they enter and progress
through college, allowing time for gains in self understanding, instead of focusing largely on future career success.
Emily Tripp, Holly Ketterer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Worcester State University
Coping Skills and Impulsivity in Late Adolescence
Previous research has found a negative relationship between coping skills and impulsivity in adolescents. The better
the adolescent’s coping skills, the less impulsive the adolescent tends to be. The purpose of this study was to replicate
previous work by examining the relationship between coping skills and impulsivity in an adolescent sample, and also
to make an original contribution to the literature by creating a new coping skills measure in the form of a structured
interview. The primary hypothesis was that coping skills (assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures) would
be negatively related to impulsivity. Additionally, it was expected that the following variables would be related to
increased impulsivity: reactivity, peer influence, and social desirability. Participants included 469 freshman college
students (165 males, 302 females, 2 unreported). The study was completed in two phases. The first phase involved 10
students who completed the coping skills structured interview and a questionnaire packet, which included quantitative
measures of coping skills, impulsivity, reactivity, peer and parent influence, and social desirability. In the second phase,
459 participants completed the same questionnaire packet in their freshman seminar classes. The data were analyzed
using T-tests, ANOVAs, and correlations. The analysis showed that there was a significant negative relationship between
impulsivity and coping skills, r = -.24, p<.01. There was also a significant negative relationship between impulsivity and
social desirability, r = -.44, p<.01. Finally, there was a significant positive relationship between peer and parent influences
and impulsivity, r = .33, p<.01. Exploratory results will also be presented.
267
Alexandra Walls, Rebecca Spencer (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Changes in Motor Sequence Learning Over Sleep and Wake in Older Adults.
Learning of a serial reaction time task can be dissociated into motor-based learning and goal-based learning in which
perceptual learning is required to guide motor performance. Goal-based learning is correlated with visual pattern
memory, while motor learning is purely muscle memory. Young adults show a sleep benefit in their goal-based learning
not witnessed after a period of wake, yet their motor memory shows slight improvement over wake. Our hypothesis
is that this pattern of offline learning will not be seen in older adults, due to changes in sleep architecture that occur
with aging, particularly the decrease in slow wave sleep. The participants are split into eight groups consisting of young
and old adults, testing over wake versus over sleep, and goal based memory versus motor memory. The two session
study begins with instructions to press a key one key to the right of the on-screen prompt. During the second session,
participants press the key directly corresponding to the visual prompt. During the second session, motor learning is
probed by keeping the finger sequence the same, while goal based learning is investigated through not changing the
on-screen pattern. Currently 10 subjects in each group have been tested, with older adults showing no sleep benefit
over goal based learning while young adults appear to receive a benefit.
Amanda Winkler, Linda Isbell (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising on Knowledge and Perception of ADHD
Each year the average American views an estimated sixteen hours of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA), which
many claim improves knowledge about medications. Yet to date, no research has been done to investigate whether
DTCA affects viewer knowledge, or perception of an advertised disorder. This study was conducted to determine
whether exposure to an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication advertisement leads to changes in
individuals’ knowledge about and perceptions of ADHD. We also explored the different effects of the audio and visual
portions of these ads, which often appear to be incongruent. To do this, participants were randomly assigned to view
an advertisement for a non-stimulant ADHD medication under one of three conditions: (1) full advertisement (audio and
visual), (2) visual component only, or (3) audio component only. A fourth condition was included as a control (no ADHD
ad). After viewing the advertisement, participants completed an ADHD knowledge measures, reported their attitudes
about ADHD, and completed a series of demographic questions. We predicted that individuals exposed only to the
audio advertisement would score higher on the ADHD knowledge measure than those exposed to either the visual-only
or the full advertisement. In these latter cases, we expected that the visual images would serve to distract individuals
from learning the information. Although data analysis is on-going, preliminary analyses are consistent with these
expectations. Such findings may have important implications when evaluating the impact of DTCA on the psychological
community’s on-going battle against stigmatizing disorders.
268
Kira Wong, Pamela Ludemann (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Framingham State University
The Link Between Music Preference and Locus of Control: College Mainstream Music Fans’ and Their Perception of
Responsibility
Some research suggests that people who listen to music that is a more arousing medium (i.e. heavy metal, rock,
alternative, R &B, and pop) tend to be more aggressive than people who listen to less arousing music (i.e. country,
jazz, classical, indie, etc.). This study was designed to examine the relationship between music preferences and locus
of control. Participants included 106 students, mean age of 19, who were randomly assigned to read either a heavy
metal music scenario or a classical music scenario. In both scenarios, a scenario character was depicted as having
plans to attend the indicated type of musical event with friends but forgot to purchase a ticket. Perceptions of the
character’s likelihood of acting responsibly and irresponsibly were assessed. Self-report measures of locus of control,
drinking motives, aggression, and egalitarian attitudes were also completed. Results showed that external locus of
control was associated with low levels of hostility and other forms of aggression were related to drinking motives,
egalitarian attitudes, and money spent on drugs/alcohol. Contrary to expectations, perceptions of the scenario
character’s level of personal responsibility did not differ by type of music event presented. However, students’ personal
music preferences did impact some reported behaviors. Specifically, those who preferred mainstream music were more
verbally and physically aggressive than students who listen to non-mainstream music. These findings emphasize the links
among gender attitudes, views of alcohol and other substance misuse, and aggression, which may be useful in anger
management classes or rehabilitation facilities.
Sarah Zimmerman, Maureen Perry-Jenkins (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst
Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting Style and Children’s Social Competence
PURPOSE: Social competence is an important developmental skill that has been linked to children’s academic
achievement and positive mental health. It has been theorized that children develop social competence through
socialization and parents have been found to be a primary influence in the socialization of children’s development
of social competence, especially early in life. Much research has suggested that negative parenting styles (e.g.,
control, harshness) are related to children’s negative social skills. The current study examines the relationship between
parenting styles and children’s social competence during the transition to the first grade, which represents an important
developmental milestone that draws on children’s social skills as they negotiate the new world of school. METHODS:
Using videotaped parent-child interactions completed when the child was six years old, parenting styles have been coded
for criticism, lack of cooperation, and control. Children’s social competence scores are derived from teacher reports on
the Behavioral Assessment System for Children. RESULTS: For fathers, less cooperative parenting was related to fewer
leadership skills for daughters (r = -.35; p < .05) and fewer social skills (r = -.324; p = .06). For mothers, less cooperative
parenting (i.e., more directive parenting) was related to more social skills (r = .42; p < .05) and leadership skills in sons
(r = .43; p = .109). In addition, more strict maternal parenting was related to more leadership skills for sons (r = .40;
p = .05) CONCLUSION: The most interesting findings emerged as a function of gender. More controlling parenting on
the part of fathers was related to poorer social skills for daughter, but more controlling behavior on the part of mothers
predicted better social skills for sons.
269
PUBLIC HEALTH
Emmanuel Mensah, Ahmed Abubakar, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Chronic Stress and Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans
The number of people affected with chronic stress continues to increase in all Americans. Thirty-four percent of
Americans are living with chronic stress. Lifelong chronic and cumulative exposures to social and economic stressors have
been linked to chronic illness such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. However, many studies have shown
that African Americans are more prone to chronic stress and are more prevalent in cardiovascular diseases than their
counterpart. My project aims to review the link between chronic stress and cardiovascular disease in African Americans.
There is a marked increase in chronic stress from economic factors such as job insecurity, mortgage crisis, and other
forms of stressors in our society today and this may have contributed to the incidence of cardiovascular disease in
African Americans. A targeted intervention in stress reduction and management for this minority group could reduce
incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases in African Americans.
Shifat Ahmed, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Amherst’s Take on Tobacco
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death due to cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung diseases. According
to statistics from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), 16.1% of Massachusetts’ adult population who are 18 and
over are current cigarette smokers. Also, 20.9% of college students are smokers. This data shows that there is a need
for intervention on college campuses. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, among 400 other colleges around
the United States, is beginning an initiative called “A Tobacco-Free UMass Amherst”. In order to ensure the success of
this initiative it is essential for the surrounding community to understand the effects of tobacco intake. The aim of this
project is to increase awareness of these issues in communities that surround the university. The project is targeting the
adult population. We will evaluate their knowledge of health implications of cigarette smoking. This will be done by
presenting a presentation to the employees at the Amherst Town Hall, Amherst fire department and UMass Housing. We
will conduct a survey before and after the presentation to compare the knowledge of the participants. The presentation
will be informative and health related and will highlight both positive and negative aspects of cigarette smoking. We
also want to evaluate the viewpoints that Amherst residents have on this initiative. Through this project we hope the
residents of the town of Amherst will gain a better understanding of the effects of smoking, participate and support in
this initiative, and increase their own knowledge regarding smoking.
270
Kendall Bennett, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Strength Training Instruction in Youth: A Missing Link in Physical Education
While aerobic activity is often recommended by many organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and the
World Health Organization to improve overall health and prevent disease, little encouragement is given to strength
training programs. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of strength training on various body types and
to suggest a method to implement strength training in the public school system. Variables such as height, weight,
maximum bench press, maximum squat, and maximum power clean are compared with a test of overall strength to
assess the effect of weight-bearing exercise. Total body strength will be measured by the average watts an individual
can generate in one minute of rowing, as rowing engages most major muscle groups in the body. In addition, a review
of literature is conducted regarding the benefits of weight-bearing exercise on school-aged children. Initial results reveal
a significant correlation between body weight and total body strength (R2=0.40225). Correlation is also seen between
maximum bench press and maximum power clean with total body strength. In conclusion, weight-bearing exercise is
beneficial for increasing strength, improving motor control, and preventing injuries in youth, particularly in individuals
with a lower Body Mass Index number. Strength training can be implemented in physical education programs in an
inexpensive and efficient manner to instruct youth on safe and age-appropriate methods of improving total body
strength.
Caroline Brown, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
High Adolescent Fertility Rates in Nicaragua: a discussion of the determinants,
health concerns, and suggested health measures
According to the World Health Organization’s 2010 Health Statistics, Nicaragua’s fertility rate amongst adolescents is
the highest in Latin America; approximately half of female Nicaraguans give birth before they reach twenty years of
age. Adolescent pregnancy is problematic because the children of adolescent mothers are known to be at higher risk
for a multitude of health complications such as: low birth weight, higher infant mortality, and premature weaning from
breast milk. However, complex issues such as, but not limited to, a lack of sexual education in schools, the catholic
church’s strong presence in political and social spheres, and the powerful existence of the male machismo mindset,
make Nicaragua a perfect host for adolescent pregnancies. In spring of 2011, I worked as an intern in the labor
and delivery unit of Cesar Amador Molina Regional Hospital, a public, government- funded hospital in Matagalpa,
Nicaragua. Throughout the duration of my internship, I witnessed a large number of adolescent obstetric patients
firsthand. In fact, in March of 2011, on of the months I was interning, 22.1% of women entering the labor and delivery
unit were 19 years or younger. Nicaragua’s Ministry of Health has identified adolescent fertility as a public health issue,
but neither the country’s National Health Plan of 2004-2015 nor its Millennium Development Goals include preventative
programs that provide solutions to this national problem. My research seeks to investigate and discuss the social,
economic, and political determinants of Nicaragua’s high fertility rate by combining my personal experiences abroad
with a critical analysis of the current published literature on the topic. Additionally, I will create a culturally- relevant
health pamphlet targeted at pregnant Nicaraguan adolescents with suggestions towards maintaining a healthy body
throughout pregnancy. Given the complexity of adolescent fertility, I theorize that efforts in the field should be focused
predominantly on making sure those adolescents that are currently pregnant receive the proper health information
necessary to stay both informed and healthy throughout their pregnancy.
271
Brittany I Bausch, Jennifer Castelly, Lillian Lwanga, Angela Casado-Diaz, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Hypertension Prevalence in African American Women compared to Caucasain Women
This analysis will focus on the health disparity of hypertension in the United States among African American women and
Caucasian women. As of 2008 44% of African American women, aged 20 years and older, suffered from hypertension
compared to only 33% of Caucasian women from the same age group. This report will document the relationship to
one’s diet and resource availability to the onset of hypertension through examination of African American women and
Caucasian women as the focal groups. The higher prevalence in African American women seems to be a result of both
environment and lifestyle factors. Through examining prior research, it is essential to highlight that if the government
plays an active role in health awareness, then a reduction in health disparity can be seen.
Azra Caus, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Efficacy of Meditation in Stress Reduction and the Importance of Belief in Meditation for College Students
There are financial and physical costs of stress, including loss of work, hospital visits and health care costs. Stress
affects the body by causing issues with blood pressure, heart health, the immune system, sleep and anxiety. Mood also
affects stress by sending chemical signals to one’s brain. In addition, behavior involves stress influences by affecting
ways in which one responds to their stress. About five students will be recruited to participate in a 21-day meditation
challenge, including myself. There will be pre-test and post-test questionnaires, as well as interviews with focus groups.
Computerized biofeedback testing will be performed on me before and after the meditation challenge in the Mind/Body
Medicine Clinic at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health
Care, and Society in the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, MA will be visited to evaluate and
question the efficacy of meditation in stress reduction and importance of belief for meditation. Meditation is expected
to drastically reduce one’s stress levels in a healthier manner. The act of meditating will help discover conducive ways in
which stress can be handled, preventing financial and physical burdens in the future.
Stefanie Chin, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Women Awareness and Action in the Promotion of Paraben-free Health Beauty Items
Many everyday health, cosmetics, and body cleaning products contain chemicals like parabens that research has shown
are adversely associated with breast cancer. Parabens have been found in samples of breast cancer tumors. Many
women are affected by breast cancer, and use products on a daily basis that contain parabens, such as shampoo,
conditioners, deodorant, body lotion and so on. Many foods also contain parabens as a preservative. It is important for
the general population, especially women and children, to be aware of possible effects associated with the continuous
use of parabens. I plan to identify ways to provide the statistical and research-based information to the general female
population so they may gain awareness, seek out non-paraben products, and ultimately empower them with knowledge
and ideas to take action with a petition to the FDA for the regulation of safer health and beauty items in the United
States by the end of this semester. This project will include an outreach effort on Youtube with a video on parabens
made available, and possibly creating a Facebook informational page and brochures to reach out to a range of females,
informing both adolescents and adults.
272
Kristen Clark, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Breastfeeding Intervention for HIV Positive Mothers in Sub Saharan Africa
The 2011 World AIDS Day Report stated that there were approximately 16.6 million women living with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) globally. Of these infected women, 76 percent live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although a
diagnosis of HIV is troubling for all women, it is particularly challenging for mothers of the Sub-Saharan regions. Due
to the limited availability of Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs and clean water supplies, these women must often deal with
the dual repercussions of mother to child transmission (MTCT) and infant infection from contaminated water and food
sources. Recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend that the HIV positive mothers of Sub-Saharan
Africa should discontinue the use of commercial formula and utilize their own breast milk, in conjunction with ARV
therapy, to reduce MTCT. Yet, due to restrictions of mobility, decision-making, and access to resources, these women
lack education on the correct method of feeding. The purpose of this poster is to create a combination treatment and
educational program available for HIV positive mothers of Sub-Saharan Africa. Using recommendations by the WHO,
and international breastfeeding initiatives, we will develop a plan to educate mothers on the benefits of breast feeding
in conjunction with ARV treatments. Our goal is to increase the proportion of these women who exclusively breastfeed,
ultimately improving infant nutritional status and reducing the vertical transmission of HIV to infants.
Ketsia Clermont, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Efficacy of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods in Treating Malnourished Children in Haiti
Concern has arisen in recent years over the availability of natural resources. As availability of these resources is
increasingly becoming limited, issues of food security have presented themselves in the developing world. Children are
disproportionally affected by a lack of food availability in these resource poor settings. Poverty, food scarcity, economic
instabilities and social conditions impact the availability of food immensely. Worldwide, some 55 million children under
the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, 19 million of them from the most serious type- severe acute malnutrition
(SAM).(UNICEF) In response to this crisis, the international community has intervened to provide home based therapies
to address this issue. In recent years Ready -to- use therapeutic foods, or RUTF , have been introduced in Haiti, where
approximately 1 in 7 children are malnourished. RUTF is a generic term including different types of energy dense foods,
such as spreads or compressed products suitable for feeding children with SAM. Children enrolled in home based
therapies have shown an 85% recovery rate when treated with RUTF within a 6-week period. This therapy proves to be
a good short term response to SAM, however this treatment does not account for increasing food production, economic
hardship and the overall social conditions. There are a number of different supplementation schemes that need to
be analyzed in determining the most effective intervention. A comprehensive program can effectively reduce rates of
malnutrition. This program should be focused on giving the affected population the ability to treat SAM themselves.
They should be incorporated not only in the administration of RUTF but also the production of it.
273
Arielle Cline, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Springfield Sleep Study
In 2009, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of Springfield, MA was 6.1%, alarmingly high compared to the state average
of 4.7%. Upon taking a closer look, it was noted that several of these deaths were caused by unsafe sleep positions
and environments and essentially could have been avoided. A public health initiative, The Springfield Safe Sleep Study,
has been established to lower the IMR and advocate for safe sleep practices, particularly among Springfield’s large
African American and Latino populations. It is speculated that the IMR rate is higher among these populations because
of socioeconomic class as well as racial and ethnic disparities. How the media portrays safe sleep practices as well
as cultural beliefs all influence how and where an infant is put to sleep. As a research intern for The Springfield Safe
Sleep Study, this project will investigate current practices among Springfield families, define safe sleep procedures and
determine the best methods to broadcast this message most effectively in the community. Part of the research process
will be analyzing data collected during focus groups and observing the reactions and results of various safe sleep
campaigns nationally. By accomplishing these goals, it is predicted that the knowledge among Springfield parents and
caretakers will increase and the overall IMR will decrease.
Kendall Connors, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Infant Mortality and Means of Childbirth
Infant mortality rates in the United States have long been an area of concern to the public health community. While
there are a number of reasons for this, this capstone project will focus on the possible link between infant mortality
and giving birth in a hospital versus having a midwife deliver in the home. Women may not know the options they
have when it comes to childbirth and I feel that this information is vital with the rising rates of infant mortality. The
Capstone project will target expectant mothers as well as those making attempts to conceive. It will be done through
the distribution of pamphlets in hospitals, pharmacies, and birthing clinics/classes along with administering workshops.
At the workshops, there will be a poster of general information with some statistics regarding the topic. It will be
interactive and question and answer based so the women/couples can get answers to their own questions and concerns.
This will be an educational campaign providing information about the possible advantages and disadvantages of giving
birth in the hospital as well as those of giving birth at home with a midwife.
274
Mariah Crowley, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Heart Disease Among Hispanic Women in Massachusetts
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. In Massachusetts, Hispanic women face heart
disease nearly 10 years earlier than Caucasian women. Obesity, high cholesterol, poverty, language barriers, physical
inactivity, and lack of information all contribute to increased risk factors for women of color. According to WomenHeart
29% of Hispanics compared to 68% of white women are informed that heart disease is the leading killer of women.
Traditional diets high in cholesterol, including fried foods and lack of exercise, are places to make community changes
. Previous research states that 60 % of Hispanic women report engaging in no physical exercise program at all. Health
education programs on heart disease have shown to be very effective on lowering the risk of having a cardiovascular
disease. Brookside Community Health Center, a health center for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, provided an
opportunity for women 50 years or older, many of whom were Hispanic, to participate in a heart healthy program for
a period of 10 weeks. The program was designed by two Health Career Connection interns and myself. The program
consisted of educating these at risk women about healthy recipes, stress management techniques, exercising routines
such as yoga and zumba, and general cardiovascular health education. We also helped them sign up for fitness centers,
and provided them with educational materials on how to take care of their overall health. The participants were
recruited by referrals from primary physicians. These patients were diabetic, overweight or had a background of heart
disease. The goal of the program was not only to educate these women on heart disease, but was also for the patients
to develop a partnership with their doctors. Brookside Community Health Center is a newly designated patient Centered
Medical Home. The Patient Centered Medical Home is a health care setting that facilitates partnerships between
individual patients, and their personal physicians . Three weeks into the program, 80% of the participants reported to
be engaging in physical activity daily, and 95% reported to be eating in smaller portions, and low in cholesterol. This
capstone will include final results of the program.
Ashley Cubbedge, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Sex Education in High Schools
There has been a distinct change in sexual education programs in the US in the last 20 years but how these changes
have affected teen sexual activity must be examined. In a survey done by the Center for Disease Control they found that
between the years of 1991 and 2009 that there was an overall decrease in sexual activity among teenagers between the
ages of 15 to 18 years of age, and that there was also an increase in condom use among these students. Sex education
programs are an important part of awareness for adolescents to learn about sex and how to protect themselves. This
project will be looking at the different sex education programs and comparing how effective they are for students.
Unprotected sex can lead to many health problems. These programs can help prevent unsafe sex among teens and can
increase health and awareness.
275
John Dau, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa
South Africa is one of the Sub-Saharan Africa countries with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS. According to World
Health Organization, more than 5 million people in the country are living with HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS
is higher among youth and young adults. It’s estimated that 40% of the South African population is less than 15
years of age and that 15.64% of young adults age 15-24 are HIV- positive. The cause of HIV/AIDS prevalence among
young people in South Africa is due to lack of safe sexual behavior and proper sexual education. This research project
will examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on South African’s young generation and economic development. Since the
disease mostly affects young adults of working age, the level of productivity in the country decreases, especially in the
workplace, due to staff illnesses, absenteeism, and death. In addition, HIV- positive and negative mothers as well as
orphaned children of deceased victims widely affect the country’s economic development. The government of South
Africa together with international humanitarian organizations needs to employ better intervention and services to stop
the widespread of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Madeline DePina, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Strategy to Combat The Discrepancy In Infant Mortality Rates Between African American And Caucasian Women
Twice as many African-American babies are at risk of death before age one as compared to White American babies.
Racial factors among disparities in infant mortality have been consistently recognized in the United States; differences
in infant mortality rates between the groups have even increased in recent years. Today African-American infants have
2.4 times the infant mortality rate compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian infants. Why do infant mortality rates among
African Americans remain more than twice as high as White Americans? My goal is to explore this question and look
further into this disparity. Infant mortality is defined as the death of an infant before his or her first birthday. The infant
mortality rate is an important measure of the well-being of infants, children, and pregnant women because it is at times
indicative of factors such as maternal health, quality, and access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public
health practices. I will be evaluating different strategies used to approach this issue that examine the different causes,
and also I will create my own educational programming that aims to develop a prevention strategy that would help
combat the inequality in the rates between these groups.
276
Sonal Desai, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Bhopal and the Union Carbide Disaster
Public health is a broad field with many disciplines. One of the main goals of the public health community is prevention.
Exposure to dangerous chemicals and pollutants is large concern that affects the lives of many people all around the
world, and an issue that remains at the forefront of prevention efforts. The Bhopal gas tragedy that occurred on the
night of December 2-3, 1984 was a gas leak in Bhopal, India that rapidly killed 15,000 people and continues to affect
people in that area today, even 28 years later. Although many outreach efforts went out at the time of the disaster, not
much is being done currently to ensure that people in that area are safe from the dangerous chemical exposures that
killed thousands. Currently, hundreds of Bhopal residents are still becoming ill and/or dying due to the lingering effects
of the union carbide disaster. The capstone project, done with the help of the International Campaign for Justice in
Bhopal (ICJB), will be completed via literature review as well as a series of interviews with an ICJB volunteer herself. This
project will show people the dangers that are still posed by the now forgotten union carbide disaster and the effects
that the lingering exposures are having on the population. Furthermore, the details of the disaster will be explored in
order to investigate how events like this can be prevented and how this event and the consequences are related to our
everyday lives. Disasters such as this one should not occur in the future. People need to be aware not only of how this
event occurred, but how many lives are still being affected by this disaster today in order to prevent this from happening
again in the future.
Elaina Dominesey, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Asthma Education in Holyoke, MA
Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma and the numbers are increasing every year. A significant public health
problem, asthma affects approximately 1 in 10 people in Massachusetts - 9.9% of adults and 10.3% of children.
Asthma development has been linked to a variety of environmental factors including tobacco smoke, dust, mold,
mildew, cockroaches, and air pollution. In Massachusetts, 75.7% of adults and 65.2% of children with asthma are
classified as having not well controlled or very poorly controlled asthma. Although asthma cannot be cured, it can
be controlled through management plans and avoidance of environmental triggers. Emergency department visits,
hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma are preventable with appropriate treatment and education. According to the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the prevalence of asthma among Holyoke elementary and middle school
children, at 17.9%, is significantly higher than the statewide prevalence. Through my internship at the Holyoke Health
Center, I will be helping to develop workshops that will educate community members about asthma and how it can be
controlled. This report will detail these workshops and other steps that are being taken to raise awareness about asthma
in the Holyoke community.
277
Amanda Doolin, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Row Springfield
It is known that youth today struggle with weight, in part due to diet and in part due to physical activity. Lack of
physical activity for many young people in low socioeconomic areas is due to lack of access to a gym or inability to pay
for a membership/ pay to be a part of an athletic team. My initiative is to create a non-profit rowing program for high
school age girls and boys in the Springfield area which will help young people stay active, learn important skills like
cooperation, time management, mental toughness, loyalty, and trust. Along with the rowing aspect of this program I
will design an academic portion to ensure a brighter future the youth in low-income areas. This academic portion will
include programs such as SAT prep, tutors, and application process/ recruiting process for college. My program will be
modeled after similar rowing programs in Holyoke, MA and New York, NY by using their best practices and tailoring
them more to my targeted group.
Mitchell Doucette, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Review of North American Health Care Cost-Effectiveness Analyses
Introduction: Cost effectiveness analyses are necessary for determining the benefits and costs of new healthcare
processes of North American healthcare. As overall healthcare costs continue to rise, it is imperative for the role of
cost efficiency to be considered an important indicator for health care planning, policy, financing, and delivery. When
effective treatments or technologies are initially introduced, typically, the benefits exceed the costs. These technologies
and treatments can become inefficient over time either through becoming obsolete or growing potential medical risks.
That is why cost effectiveness is vital for healthcare practices, private, public, and non-profit alike. By determining
the optimal cost effective point of utilization, healthcare practices can eliminate financial waste and risky medical
treatments, allowing for increased efficacy and safety. Methods: To examine cost effectiveness analyses a literature
review was preformed through the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) database
and the American Economic Association’s electronic bibliography (EconLit). The included search terms for PubMed were
“cost-effectiveness analysis”[All Fields] AND ((“publishing”[MeSH Terms] OR “publishing”[All Fields] OR “published”[All
Fields]) AND (“north america”[MeSH Terms] OR (“north”[All Fields] AND “america”[All Fields]) OR “north america”[All
Fields])). These search terms yielded 119 results. The included search terms for EconLit were “health care AND costeffectiveness analysis” and included a geographic region limit of North America and the published date limit of year
2000. These search terms yielded 19 results. To better examine the impact cost-effectiveness analyses can have in North
America, the search was further refined manually to exclude results not published within the borders of North America.
Additionally, results that dealt with the cost-effectiveness or cost-effectiveness analysis of a singular drug or drug
treatment were excluded as well. The manual filter produced a total of 19 results (11 results from Pubmed and 8 results
from Econlit). Preliminary results indicate there is considerable room to raise efficiency by moving from inefficient health
interventions to efficient health interventions. Additionally, the concern from the private, public, and government sectors
of health care about the management of rising healthcare costs has increased the growth of cost-effectiveness analyses
in the medical sector.
278
Amy Elcock, Teresa Fitts (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Kinesiology, Westfield State University
Gender Differences in Exercise Motivations and Life Goals among Low Active College Students
Title: An Examination of Differences between Exercise Motivations and Life Aspirations in Low Active Males and
Females. Purpose: The lack of physical activity is a crisis that has swept through our nation and affects every age, race,
and gender. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that in 2008 only 50% of America’s male population
between the ages of 18-24 was engaged in regular physical activity, and only 30% of females between the ages of 1824 exercised regularly (CDC). This study examines the exercise motivations and life aspirations within the context of the
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was hypothesized that males and females who reported low physical
activity levels would be more extrinsically motivated to exercise, and less likely to express life goals relating to personal
meaning and health. Methods: Undergraduate male and female students were administered three questionnaires
relating to Physical Activity Level, Exercise Motivations and Life Goals following the approval of the institutional review
board. Physical Activity Levels were calculated utilizing the methods outlined in the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire with categorical values of Low, Moderate and Vigorous Activity. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation was
determined based on the results of the Exercise Motivations Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and the Aspirations Index
(Kasser & Ryan, 1996). A comparison of mean differences between males and females reporting low physical activity
will be conducted using t-tests. The results of this study will provide important information relating to the differences in
exercise motivations between males and females who are not very active, and also focus on the relationship between
exercise motivation and life aspirations. This study was completed as part of a larger study examining the physical
activity levels and motivation of college students.
Kristjan Endriko, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Alzheimer’s and the effectiveness of caregiver support
Alzheimer’s is a neurological degenerative disease that disrupts the function of the human brain and is associated with
the gradual decline in the ability to perform cognitive, physical, and social tasks. Victims of Alzheimer’s show impairment
in memory functions along with communication problems and personality changes. There are no known causes or
cures for the disease. Currently, improvements in patients are defined as those that prolong the rate of decline in brain
function. Two underlying issues are to be focused on throughout this capstone. First, the significance of research in
Alzheimer’s will be outlined including reasons as to how and why interventions are necessary. Then, proper methods
of care for victims of the disease will be discussed; including day to day challenges. In addition, obstacles and burdens
associated with the care of Alzheimer’s victims will be underlined. Three primary interventions recommended to ease the
stress on caregivers are to be examined. The influence of primary methods of care and caregiver interventions will be
assessed and related to the significance of research surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
279
Andrea Garon, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Emergency Preparedness in the Comunity Hospital Setting
Disasters can range from natural disasters, to epidemics, chemical spills, and large scale traumatic accidents. Because
disaster can hit at any moment, and the type of disaster and severity can vary, it is important to train individuals on
disaster and emergency preparedness in various situations, in order to achieve the most positive outcomes. The project
that I will be doing involves emergency room employees at Holyoke Medical Center, a local community hospital, to
help prepare these employees to react appropriately to disaster situations. Because of the recent hiring of many new
employees, only approximately 50% of the staff is trained in emergency preparedness. I will be collaborating with the
emergency preparedness coordinator of the hospital, to reach the two following goals: the first goal is to get 100%
of ER employees to take a two day course that focuses on hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and appropriate personal
protective equipment during disasters. The second goal is to create a committee of approximately ten people who
could be leaders during a disaster. The emergency preparedness coordinator and I will have monthly meetings with the
committee to update committee members on recent information and hold disaster drills. Outcome measures will include
successful learning of disaster preparedness, and appropriate staff responses during the drills. I will research various
government agencies- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and
the World Health Organization to identify their recommendations for training, and implement these recommendations
in the community hospital setting.
Kathleen Geoghegan, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Kitchen Boot Camp: Teaching College Students How to Take Charge in their First Kitchen
The modern college student gets an intensive education linked to their career of choice, but little realistic education on
everyday skills. In a fast paced college life- especially for those students who live off-campus- making food seems like a
time-consuming chore that will wield unappetizing results for those who do not have experience in the kitchen. Some
of them also seem to think that buying ingredients to make a good meal will cost more money than buying it prepared.
Another problem is that more young people are not taught how to cook at home, so when they move into their own
apartments in college they do not know how to start preparing their own food. To evaluate newly independent college
students’ eating habits and teach them some kitchen basics, a team consisting of the nutritionist at University Health
Services, the Dean of Off-Campus Students, the director of Health Promotion at University Health Services, and myself
are creating a cooking course to introduce these students to the difference between fresh food and prepared food,
and how to make a healthy meal in their own kitchens. The course covers kitchen essentials in cookware and basic
food supplies, making a shopping list, budgeting weekly groceries, and making a meal from scratch. To assess the
initial attitudes and knowledge of the students enrolled in this class there will be both a pre-test and a post-test onemonth after the class is completed. The pre-test will assess trends in grocery shopping, cooking, dining out, budgeting,
and reasons for which students make the meal choices that they do. The one-month post test uses many of the same
questions as the pre-test to monitor changes in attitudes and behavior towards cooking and grocery shopping. The goal
of this class is to discover what the major challenges are for students in learning to cook healthy meals, and to teach
students learn to find the time, money, or ability to make their own healthy food.
280
Christine Fitzgerald, Kimberly Gomes, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Factors of Late Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Our Solution
Breast cancer in the U.S. poses a serious threat to the female population. One in eight women in the U.S. will develop
breast cancer in their lifetime. Our project takes a closer look into what specific factors affect the stage at which breast
cancer is diagnosed in women. Specifically, the U.S. Scientific databases and journals revealed that African American
women are more likely than White women to have received inconsistent mammograms for breast cancer. African
American women also run the greatest chance of being diagnosed with a late stage of breast cancer when compared
to all other races. When looking at insurance status, uninsured patients were more likely to be diagnosed with Stage
II breast cancer when compared to a privately insured patient. A variety of factors contribute to these alarming facts.
After taking a look at the statistics, we would like to make recommendations for an outreach program. It would educate
women, specifically African American women and women of low socioeconomic status on preventive measures to take
that will increase the chance of diagnosing breast cancer at an early stage. This educational program will make women
aware of the precautions, like self-examinations to prevent breast cancer from going unnoticed and progress into a
later stage before it is diagnosed. This program would also stress the importance of getting mammograms regularly
and provide ways for uninsured women to receive mammograms that they may have not been able to get before. This
program aims to reduce the number of late stage breast cancer diagnoses by eliminated the barriers that exist today.
Kate Grannemann, Sanjiv Gupta (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, UMass Amherst
Prevention by Access: An Evaluation of the WIC program among American Indian Tribes
Healthy diet and lifestyle are necessities for human development, yet are not accessible to everyone in the United States
and the rest of the world. Policies, economics, and geography play a role in dietary behaviors and environment. This
Capstone project examines the differences in rates of adverse health outcomes among different American Indian tribes
as related to health-related behaviors and nutrition. I propose that varying levels of efficiency of the WIC (Women,
Infants, and Children) welfare program cause differences in the rates of health outcomes such as diabetes and obesity
in those populations. I use breastfeeding rates, education initiatives, and publications as indicators of a program’s
influence. I analyze aggregate data of the cost and size of the programs, in addition to participation rates and regional
differences to evaluate the WIC programs among various American Indian tribes. The results of my research will reveal
the weaknesses and strengths of different programs, and the variations in their effectiveness. My conclusion will lead
me to understand the successes and failures among different programs and to propose changes to the programs as
they exist now. In my conclusion, I will also address issues of food access, food environment, and cultural matters that
influence dietary patterns in American Indian households.
281
551 Auditorium 1:30-2:15 Board 88C
Jessica Gray, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Social Determinants of Health Care: Educating the Public
The US ranks 30th when it comes to life expectancy, but with its resources, it should be ranked in the top five. This
unexpectedly low life expectancy is based upon a growing healthcare problem within the US economy: the rise of
healthcare disparities.These disparities can be linked to education level, job rank, and place of residence. This idea of
“wealth=health” needs to be addressed in order to eliminate these disparities. This Capstone project will be about
informing the community about health disparities through an educational approach, pamphlets. The goal of my project
is to outline the health disparities that exist so that one day they may cease to exist in the healthcare field. The audiences
of my educational pamphlet are young adults through the age of 35 years old. These pamphlets will be in health care
centers and in them I would outline four social determinants of health such as college education level, high school
education level, urban vs. rural areas of residence and the importance of health insurance. I want to educate them on
these four things, which will help shape them for their future and let them be aware of what their health care status
could be. The community needs to be aware in order to advocate for better healthcare for all and/or inform others who
still do not know these health disparities exist and limits them.
Haley E Marshall, Wendy Bonsu, Shanzay Haider, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor)
Violence Prevention Education Program Among Middle School Aged Students
This community health project looks to focus and educate individuals on the issue of violence, specifically child abuse
and domestic violence. We have found that the most effective avenue to combat this issue is through highly effective
education geared towards middle school aged children. From the ChildHelp website they stated, “Middle school is an
important developmental time in the lives of young teens, when learning to identify what’s healthy and unhealthy in
relationships is crucial. Advances in the science of brain development indicate that this is a period of social emotional
learning and empathy maturity thus offering a key opportunity for education and prevention.” Proper education
on violence and how it should be dealt with are important points to bring to this age group. The focus on violence
education comes from the alarming increasing rates of child abuse and domestic violence in the past 10 years. In
2001, an average of 3.56 deaths occurred each day due to child abuse as compared to the more than 5 deaths a day
attributed to child abuse in 2011 (Childhelp, 2011). Furthermore, children who survive child abuse are more likely to be
perpetrators of spousal abuse, violence and crimes in the future (Childhelp, 2011). This capstone project will research
and deliver an effective and innovative educational experience that targets the core issues in preventing future violence
in our communities. In conjunction with the Commonwealth’s Department of Child and Family and Safe Passage
Domestic Violence Shelter, we are developing a campaign geared towards the Springfield middle school aged population
through education. Ultimately, we hope to inspire both the Springfield school systems and other Commonwealth
education facilities to implement this educational program into their curriculum. ChildHelp. (2011). National child abuse
statistics. Retrieved from http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics
282
Di Yi (Jessica) He, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Gendered Representations of Feminine Hygiene Products in Printed Media.
PURPOSE: This project will examine the methods by which advertisements through the years have represented feminine
hygiene products in American magazines. Two main target hygiene products that will be focused are sanitary napkins
and tampons. There will also be a portion dedicated to other lesser used feminine hygiene products: the Diva cup
and Glad Rags. Tampons and sanitary napkins will be compared to the Diva cup and Glad Rags in their relationship to
ideas about menstruation and health. The public health implication of this project is directly related to women’s health
and their relationship to their bodies. It is connected to gendered representations of menstruation in the media which
affects a woman’s view of their body. METHOD: This paper will explore how women and menstruation is represented
in marketing by analyzing advertisements of tampons and sanitary napkins in two magazines targeting women and
teens - Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. These magazines will date back five to ten years. Additional data of how women’s
biological health is viewed will be gathered using scholarly literature accessed through the University of Massachusetts
Amherst library database and Five College Catalog. Other sources of information will be through the website of the
feminine hygiene products.
Christopher Ingraham, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The Real Truth
Human embryonic stem cell research (hESC) is a topic that stirs both approval and criticism. Research shows that stem
cell research will help further our understanding of human development and differentiation. The research on embryonic
stem cells, also known as pluripotent stem cells, shows that these cells can perpetuate themselves and can differentiate
into all types of specialized cells. These cells have the potential to generate into all cell types within the body, due to
their ability to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers of a cell: ectoderm, endoderm, and
mesoderm. The regenerative advantage that stem cells possess means that they have the potential to treat disease and
replace damaged tissue. However, embryonic stem cell research provokes much debate on both morality and ethics.
Pluripotent stem cells originate from oocytes and embryos, and because of this, the argument of whom or what is
considered “human” is the focal point of controversy. I will illustrate the viewpoints of those for and against hESC, and
how each perspective defines a living human being. I will also present the pros and cons the research produces, and
will compare the United States view on hESC research to the views of other countries around the world. Advancements
in stem cell research are continuously expanding and developing. I will describe these new techniques and the benefits
they possess and create a benefit analysis to assist in advancing recruitment for donors.
283
Alyssa Johnson, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Effectiveness of The Prevention Program “The Montana Meth Project” on Methamphetamine Abuse
in Rural United States.
Methamphetamine abuse is a growing problem inordinately affecting rural areas of the United States; According
to the National Association of Counties, forty-seven percent of county sheriffs report methamphetamine as their
number one drug problem. Sixty-two percent of counties with populations less than 25,000 reported an increase
in methamphetamine abuse by women and forty-five states show a ninety percent increase in meth-related crime
in the past three years. Methamphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant, is white, odorless, and can be
taken orally, through the nose (snorting), injection through a syringe, or smoked. Treatment options currently
available for methamphetamine addicts include therapy, family counseling, and behavior modification, but because
methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug many addicts often fail to complete treatment programs or relapse. Within
recent years the public health community has attempted to address the problem of methamphetamine abuse through
primary prevention programs aimed at discouraging non-users from trying methamphetamine. This project explores the
effectiveness of prevention programs on methamphetamine abuse rates in rural communities.
Christine Kelly, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates Compared to Rates of Barrier Usage Among College Students
College students are part of the largest population of people currently contracting sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). This being the case we examined the usage rates of various barrier methods compared to the rates of STIs in the
college age population, specifically pertaining to HPV, HIV and Chlamydia. We collected data from a sample population
of students on the usage of barriers and STI contraction knowledge through a survey of questions. Once this data was
collected we used the Peer Health Model to provide an educational intervention for this population, in the form of an
interactive workshop. The topics addressed in this workshop explained the different barrier methods for sexual practices
and the prevention levels they have on the contraction of these specific STIs. We used educational activities such as
barrier demonstrations and informational posters highlighting local resources for testing and information, and statistical
information among others. We finally evaluated how much the participants learned concerning the effectiveness of
barriers by administering a survey upon completion of the workshop and compared these to the results of the survey
administered prior to the workshop.
284
Emily B DeChambeau, Caroline Kelly, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Peer Education Approach to the Detrimental Consequences of Indoor Tanning
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Every year there are more new cases of skin cancer
than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from artificial light is a major
risk factor for skin cancer. On average nearly 1 million people tan in indoor salons and about 70 percent of these tanners
are Caucasian females aged from 16 to 29 years old. Indoor tanning increases a persons’ chance of getting melanoma
by 74%. College students are among the majority of indoor tanning users and seem to look past the deadly effects of
indoor tanning. After examining multiple research and scientific studies on the effects of UVA and UVB rays emitted in
tanning beds, we realize the college student population is not knowledgeable enough on the consequences of tanning.
Educating college students about the detrimental effects of indoor tanning could effectively decrease the amount
of indoor tanners. This would in turn decrease skin cancer rates. This capstone project will develop and implement a
peer education class on the effects of indoor tanning. This educational class is informative while also being fun and
interactive. At the close of this study we will implement a peer education class to inform the University of Massachusetts
Amherst population on the dangers of artificial sunlight.
Eden Ketema, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Assessing the Needs of Springfield Communities in the Context of Square One Programs and Services
Square One is a non-profit organization that provides various services such as early childhood care and education,
resources such as the “BOOK IT” program, inviting children to take and keep one book every day, and “FRESH START”,
a peer recovery program for those parents who are substance abusers or recovering from substance abuse. The
organization, based in Springfield, MA, has existed since 1883. Square One has been dedicated to the provision of
quality early childhood education since it’s inception. Their most popular service is daytime childcare, provided at four
children’s centers throughout the year. Square One serves over 1,100 children and 1,200 families. With only 46% of
Springfield’s children reading proficiently by the conclusion of the third grade and 28% of the city’s population living
below the poverty level, the needs of Springfield’s residents are vast. This project will provide a plan for evaluating the
programs provided by Square One, which has not been done comprehensively since 2001. This project will also help
assess Square One’s impact on the community and lead to empirical evidence for their program’s successes and failures
in order to increase their programs’ effectiveness and improve their ability to obtain funding and support from other
organizations. In addition to this, the project will provide a thorough examination of the community’s population, the
various demographics of Springfield neighborhoods, and the social services available to the public with a focus on the
communities surrounding Square One’s four Springfield children’s centers. This project will be conducted by a group
of students from the Public Health Department at the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health
Sciences. The findings and evaluation plan will then be presented to the executive board at Square One.
285
Jaclyn Kozak, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Look at the Major Sources of Stress in Freshmen at UMass
The first year of college is an exciting time for young students. Poor coping skills, and major changes in social and
academic settings can lead to high stress levels among freshman. Living away from home, and finally being on your
own for the first time in life can be an overwhelming experience. Increased stress in college students has been positively
correlated with several negative consequences, including weight gain, poor academic performance, and depression.
The objective of our study is to find the major sources of stress among college freshman here at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst. Data from a survey handed out to freshman on campus will be used to further evaluate what
stressors effect freshman the most. We will be developing our questionnaire based on specific research as well as
feedback from professors UMass Amherst. In addition, we will examine the consequences related to increased stress
levels on college campuses. We seek to create a proposal for campus administrator’s that promotes effective and
efficient programs intended to minimize stress for future and current students here at UMass.
Katherine Kritikos, Wilmore Webley (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst
HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Sexual Behavior, and Risk Perceptions Among Students at UMass Amherst
PURPOSE: College students are particularly at risk for contracting HIV because of their high rates of sexual activity,
multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, and use of alcohol and other drugs during sexual activity. The
objective of the current study was to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and how it influences behavior and risk perception
among students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. METHODS: 477 UMass students were surveyed via
SurveyMonkey™, with participants consisting of 144 males and 333 females; the average age was 19.7 years. 12
questions were administered throughout the survey. RESULTS: A total of 24.3% of respondents reported being
previously tested for HIV. In general, respondents were aware of the three main routes of HIV transmission: body fluids
(99.4%), blood (98.9%), and breast milk (65.2%). However, 20.1% incorrectly thought that mosquitoes transmitted
HIV; another 4.2% believed that transmission could occur through kissing, and 0.8% believed that it could occur
through casual contact. 80.9% reported being sexually active within their lifetime, averaging 4.8 partners; 76.9%
reported being sexually active within the past year, averaging 2.4 partners. Of those who have been sexually active,
36.8% reported always using condoms and 57.5% reported using condoms during their last sexual intercourse.
However, 49.2% reported that they had failed to use a condom while under the influence of alcohol and/or marijuana.
Although 63.2% of respondents reported inconsistent condom use, only 9.1% of sexually active respondents believed
that they were at risk for contracting HIV. Males who engage in homosexual behavior, a high-risk group for HIV
transmission, represented 3.6% of sexually active respondents. CONCLUSION: We conclude that while students at
UMass Amherst are generally knowledgeable about HIV transmission and associated risk factors, their knowledge does
not necessarily translate into perceived personal risk of contracting the disease, or safer sex practices.
286
Jenna Lavallee, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Square One Needs Assessment
Square One is an organization committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed at school, at
work, and in life by providing educational programs, family support services, and health and fitness resources. A needs
assessment has been requested by Square One for our team to analyze the services and resources allocated to its
populations through conducting a literature review of demographics and similar services available in the Springfield
community, administering interviews to the staff and families, and conducting focus groups. We will then evaluate
aspects of Square One that need improvement and better awareness among families, staff, and surrounding community.
Kristy Lessard, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Efficacy of Needle Exchange Programs in Comparable Cities
Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leading to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an
epidemic on the national level. Locally, 22% of citizens living with the HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts were exposed to the
virus via injection drug use (IDU). Because IDU exposure is preventable, programs have been established in an attempt
to educate, prevent, and control exposure through this route of infection. These programs include needle exchange
programs (NEP) and safe injection facilities (SIF). The current study examines two urban Massachusetts cities, Lowell
and Cambridge, with comparable populations but differing HIV/AIDS prevention practices. The city of Cambridge hosts
a NEP program run by the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts while Lowell does not have any existing NEP
programs. This study analyzes a potential correlation between prevention programs and disease prevalence compared
to areas with no HIV/AIDS action plans. Cambridge reports 9% diagnosis via IDU while Lowell reports 11% of cases via
IDU. Preliminary data analysis shows no significant difference between cities with active IDU prevention programs and
diagnosis via this route.
287
Kelsey Lyons, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Social Implications of Intersex Genital Reconstructive Surgery at Infancy
An intersex person is someone with atypical sex chromosomes, gonads, or genitalia. Recent case studies have shown 1
out of every 1,500 children are born with different variations of intersex in the US. There are nine different dimensions
that make someone a typical male or female: chromosomes, genetics, gonads, hormones, internal genitalia, external
genitalia, brain differentiation, gender identity, and gendered behavior. Because there are so many variables, there
is a high chance of genetic mutation during sex determination and differentiation. When a child is born with a Y
chromosome and ambiguous genitalia, the doctor makes the decision on how to reconstruct the patient’s genitalia
based completely on cultural and social value judgments. After administering many of these surgeries, doctors are
discovering that people who had early sexual reassignment suffer psychologically, physically, and socially. The model of
dealing with genital ambiguity must be addressed to prevent large numbers of people faced with psychological damage
later in life. The Princeton Review ranks Smith, Hampshire and Mount Holyoke as part of the Top 20 LGBT-Friendly
campuses in the United States. Since these schools are in close proximity and members of Five College Consortium
along with UMass Amherst, why does our campus not share this same characteristic of our sister schools? By presenting
my poster in the Undergraduate Research Fair, my goal would be to disseminate comprehensive information to the
community about the biology behind gender to remove the “a-typicality” from the definition of intersex. If a larger
network of people contemplate the social implications of gender and sex for someone born intersex, UMass would
be one step closer toward a more accepting campus. In the long run, our informed generation will have the capacity
to change the medical model for children born intersex and assist in creating positive health outcomes for those
undergoing this experience.
Laura Malicia, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Factors Affecting the Rates and Incidence of Pre-eclampsia Among Latin American Women
Ensuring that women are healthy and able to reproduce healthy infants is crucial to starting and maintaining a healthy
population, which is a major goal of public health. One of the most common pregnancy related conditions affecting
women everywhere is hypertension induced by pregnancy, or pre-eclampsia. It is the most common medical problem
encountered during pregnancy and occurs in 6-8% of all pregnancies in the United States. This project aims to examine
the different reasons for such high rates of pre-eclampsia and the risk factors associated with these rates. It is believed
that socio-economic status has a large effect on the rate of hypertensive disorders and deaths due to hypertension in
pregnancy. These factors, as well as the other factors that are affected by socioeconomic status such as lifestyle factors,
age, and access to prenatal care are the variables that will be examined. Along with examining the source of the
problem, this project will look at the different programs and initiatives in place to reduce these complications, as well as
propose some new ideas and strategies to counteract the problem.
288
Silvana Melo, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Educating Kids About Local Foods
The rates of childhood obesity are increasing in the United States. According to the CDC, childhood obesity now affects
17% of children within the United States. Therefore, it is increasingly important to teach children about healthy nutrition
and food production. In this project, I would like to design a curriculum to educate children about local food and food
justice. The objective would be incorporate local food into the current nutrition curriculum as well as teach kids about
food in a way that is relevant to them. In addition, students will understand where their food comes from and how
they can choose to make healthier choices and encourage their families to do so as well. Through a set of discussions
and activities, students will be encouraged to think about the origin of their food. Students will learn about the health
benefits of incorporating more local fruits and vegetable into their diets. In addition, they will be able to identify
community resources, which provide access to local, healthy food options.
Tessa Merrick, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Student Action in Eating Disorder Education
Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and Binge-Eating, are
psychological disorders that involve extreme disturbances in eating behavior. Eating disorders run rampant in our society,
especially among college students. Although an increasing number of people are being diagnosed, getting people help
and then treating this illness continues to be an arduous process. Far too often eating disorders are not diagnosed until
they have had detrimental health effects on the individual. Many college students do not receive treatment until their
illness has reached an advanced stage. Because eating disorders are often thought of as primarily having an impact
on young teens, college students may not even realize they have a serious illness until after the eating disorder has
worsened. The more a college student knows about eating disorders, the better they will be able to determine whether
they, other college students, family members or friends have eating disorders. Understanding and educating the public
about this illness is a key step in treating an eating disorder before it is too late. As a Resident Adviser on campus, I have
the opportunity to develop and then present both a fun and informative educational program that teaches students the
facts and dangers of eating disorders. This can help in raising awareness and counteracting this serious illness among
college-age students, and could also be replicated by future Resident Advisers to continue educating students in the
future.
Elizabeth Metrano, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Prescription Drug Crisis in America
Too often the people of America are deprived of the medication that they need to survive. Certain types of medications
are becoming increasingly scarce across the country, especially over the past decade. With prescription drug shortages
many are facing increasing struggles coping with illnesses. This growing problem is affecting millions of Americans
each year with shortages ranging from cancer treatment drugs to anesthetics. There is not one sole cause creating
drug shortages. Issues that are generating prescription drug shortages include manufacturing and production issues,
contamination, and wasteful uses. With revisions in policy regarding prescription drug shortages, there could be a
dramatic decrease in amount of prescription drug shortages. To explore the current prescription drug shortage in the
United States, I will be researching published literature. With the results I will propose policy changes that could possibly
help to improve the current crisis before it becomes completely out of control.
289
Amal Mohiuddin, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Amherst’s Take on Tobacco: A Pre and Post Comparison of Knowledge
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death due to cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung diseases. According
to statistics of the Center of Disease Control (CDC), 16.1% of Massachusetts’s adult population who are 18 and over
are current cigarette smokers. Also, 20.9% of college students are smokers. This data shows that there is a need for
intervention in college campuses. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, among 400 other colleges around the
United States, is taking an initiative called “A Tobacco-Free UMass Amherst” starting July 1st 2013. It is important for
the surrounding community to understand the effects of tobacco intake. Our aim is to raise awareness of the issues
surrounding smoking. The target population of this capstone will be the general public of the town of Amherst.We will
evaluate their knowledge of health implications of cigarette smoking. This will be done by presenting a presentation to
the Amherst population at the Hampshire Mosque and the Tapestry Health Center. We will conduct a survey before and
after the presentation to compare the knowledge of the participants. The presentation will be informative and health
related and will highlight both positive and negative aspects of cigarette smoking. We also want to evaluate the stand
that the people of Amherst have on the initiative that UMass is taking. Through this project we hope that the town of
Amherst has a better understanding of the effects of smoking and they are able to take part in this initiative as well as
to be able to make better choices for themselves.
Rhode Moise, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Rectify Your Life:After School Dance Program helping to implement the Importance of education among teens
In the past couple of years we have seen an increase in dropout rates among high school students. Many programs
have been created to help improve this problem. With the issue of drop outs still increasing, more has to be done.
About half of dropouts are from households who receive welfare assistance. The children living in these low-income
communities lack the motivation to continue school, do not have the means to live a healthy life-style, and are involved
in risky behaviors. United States high school dropouts commit about 75% of crimes. This capstone Project will create
a theoretical after school program called Rectify . Rectify will focus on the children living in areas in the US that are
low- income communities. Rectify will focus on children ages nine to eighteen. Rectify goal is to help implement the
importance of education, responsibility, and life skills. This program will be able to provide a place where children
can come after school to do their homework, talk to counselors, and be involved with dance. Dance is used as the
foundation of the program to set an outlet for the children. Through dance they learn the importance of hard work,
working as a team, and responsibility. The children will be able to be part of the Rectify Program for years allowing them
to have a chance to improve and change with the help of the counselors and teachers. The creation of Rectify will help
set a goal for the children who partake in the program. Rectify will allow the children who will be in their last year of
the program to be able to take all the skills they learned and continue on the right path to success. The success will be
determined based on a yearly evaluation of the program based high school graduation rates in the community. After the
creation of this program rectify hopes to help reduce the rates of dropouts among teens in high school.
290
Debra Moreta, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Immigration and Access to Healthcare
The United States is a diverse country, with many of its residents emigrating here from many other countries. Over
the years the rates of immigration, legal and illegal, have risen and the influx of new individuals in our communities
has changed the way the United States functions in many ways. Immigrants, many coming for educational and work
opportunities, have entered our communities and become active contributors as much U.S. citizens do. While in the
United States they have set up families, borne children, and perhaps even sought out citizenship in order to remain in
the US permanently but are illegal immigrants and exempt from many policies and benefits that are available to most.
When looking at healthcare, the U.S. census reports many unauthorized and foreign borne adults are among the
highest users of Medicaid (2007), but this federally funded program does not always have enough funding for these
individuals to receive quality health care. If these immigrants become sick and are denied access to affordable health
care their well being, as well as that of their children, will suffer. Due to this I would like to pick a population in MA
that is heavily populated with immigrant families, interview them on the quality of their life in the United States on the
basis of education, health, and access to healthcare while in the United States. By specifically looking at the resources
available through Medicaid I want to identify if this program lacks funding for its healthcare program that could provide
additional healthcare, medical interpreters, and a better overall access to healthcare for these immigrants. Through the
resource of my internship at the Women of Color Leadership Network in Amherst, MA and any partnering organizations
in the community I would like to formulate a proposal to the government detailing why this population is at need for
funding and access to Medicaid as much as legal citizens are. It is my hope to spread awareness on a specific population
of immigrants and create a plan to advocate for them governmentally in order to improve their health care.
Viktoria Nakhabenko, Jennifer Hanselman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, Westfield State University
Dental Communication
This study was performed to examine: (1) The level of comprehension of people with English as a first and second
language (ESL) after reading two pamphlets about the dental air abrasion technique; and (2) if images were useful for
both groups in comprehension. Assessment of the comprehension of dental literature for the two groups was conducted
through reading two pamphlets and taking a survey questionnaire afterwards. Pamphlet 1 had simple terminology with
simple images, and Pamphlet 2 had complicated terminology with detailed images. Percentiles were used to assess
differences from the survey. The survey was given to 134 participants (73 English as a first language people and 61
ESL). ESL people had more difficulty comprehending both pamphlets (36% Pamphlet 1 and 59% Pamphlet 2) and had
no differences in comprehension of the pamphlets when compared to each other. In both pamphlets, images were not
useful to ESL people, but were useful to people with English as a first language. The greatest issue in comprehension for
people with English as a first language was the understanding of how the technology works, and terminology was the
main issue for the ESL participants. A gap between the two groups exists in comprehension of dental literature. Images
were not found to be useful for most of the ESL people. The results may have occurred because both pamphlets were
not designed for ESL people.
291
Michelle O’Brien, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Lack of Preventative Care in Haiti: Access to Immunizations
Haiti has undergone major disaster and devastation in recent years that threatens the health and quality of lives of
those in both rural and urban settings. The country’s enormous level of poverty and lack of affordable health care and
preventative care is the main reason why so many people suffer from otherwise preventable diseases. This literature
review looks at Partners in Health, an organization founded by Paul Farmer and others that provides preventative care
in developing countries. Paul Farmer began Partners in Health with the goal of providing better global health, especially
to disadvantaged populations in great need. Particular attention will be given to the distribution of clinics that provide
vaccinations and immunizations, and what populations are most targeted to receive them. It will examine whether
vaccination interventions are more common in rural or urban settings and what specific diseases are aimed at being
prevented. This project will also look at the main strategies used by Partners in Health to address the health of the
population of Haiti and will be presented to help others gain knowledge of the importance of preventative care and the
effects it has on populations’ health as a whole.
Catherine Piccolo, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
How Culture Affects Health
The United States has one of the highest obesity rates in the world at 22.5 percent and it is growing at a fast rate.
Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to life threatening consequences. Risks of obesity include heart disease,
diabetes and cancer. This capstone will compare the United States culture with Amsterdam’s to see how lifestyle, culture
and government policies influence the built environment and can make it more or less difficult to stay healthy. This
capstone will document and compare the amount of activity and types of food that are regularly consumed in both
societies. I would hypothesize that the culture a person is influenced by is a huge factor in their overall health. This
project will document steps the local, state and federal government could take to provide healthier built environments
for its citizens.
Deanna Bunch, Naja Sobers, Carolyn Reed, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor)
Alcohol Abuse at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Alcohol abuse in the form of binge drinking is of high prevalence among college-aged students. There is a strong need
for evidence-based, effective programming to reduce this risk. The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s University
Health Services has established a number of health initiatives to combat alcohol abuse on its campus. In this project,
three of these health initiatives will be observed aiming to understand the different methods used in combatting this
serious health issue. The three initiatives are the Social Norms Campaign, Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention
for College Students (BASICS), and Fresh and Sober. Each one of these initiatives intervenes on a different level of
healthcare- primary, secondary and tertiary. Overall the goal of this project is to evaluate and compare these initiatives on
campus as well as promote them to UMASS students.
292
Ellyn Robare, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Treatment Methods for Children and Adolescents Living With Chronic Pain
Pediatric chronic pain, as defined by the American Pain Society, is pain that is persistent, recurrent and can vary in
severity and frequency. Chronic pain in pediatrics may affect one organ or several and can also affect multiple parts
of the body. According to the American Pain Society (2001), chronic pain affects about 15% to 20% of the pediatric
population. With such a large portion of the pediatric population affected it is crucial that assessment and treatment
is done correctly and thoroughly. Chronic pain needs to be managed effectively and efficiently so children are able to
have a better quality of life. It is important to examine how chronic pain affects a child’s social life, family and home
life, emotions, school, sleep, diet, physical activity level and overall well-being. Coping with chronic pain can also be
very demanding and difficult for parents and siblings. Providing support for other family members is critical so they can
better understand and manage the situation. Treating children who suffer from chronic pain is a critical component to
managing the pain and improving one’s health. Using a multimodal approach to treatment is usually more effective than
a single approach. Incorporating different treatments such as, massage, biofeedback, physical therapy, medications,
occupational therapy, and different behavior techniques such as reinforcement, can make a dramatic difference. It is
extremely important that both the child and caretakers are educated on both the condition and the treatment the child
is receiving. In order for children suffering from chronic pain to be emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically well,
the management and treatment of chronic pain is a key component. For this project I will review current literature on
a broad range of treatment methods used for treating children and adolescents who suffer from chronic pain. The
ultimate goal is to see which treatment methods work best and which do not based on the underlying cause of chronic
pain and the past medical history.
Marissa Rodrigues, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Cape Verdean Women: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an alarming issue in Cape Verde. A reported 16.1% of Cape Verdean Women have
experienced IPV within their lifetime, which includes both sexual and physical violence. The victims who are most
affected by this matter are women. These underrepresented women deal with inequality and many health disparities
within the nation. Cultural ideologies such as the belief that it is a woman’s duty to maintain and do what is beneficial
for the family as well as fear of the unknown (effect of rising against traditional gender roles) prove to be a prominent
issue. The proposed program is an outreach prevention group that will provide information to women on the warning
signs of domestic violence and information on what they can do if they have become victims of IPV. Also, the program
will provide a support group for those families who have been affected by IPV. These outreach and prevention groups
will be implemented by a staff of psychologists, counselors, women’s rights advocates, inspirational speakers and legal
counsel in hospitals as well as clinics in high risks communities. The four objectives of this program are to decrease the
cases of unreported IPV, increase self-esteem in young women, increase awareness of IPV, and support the families that
are affected (within 5 years of program implementation). Evaluations of these programs will be conducted to insure
efficiency, such as monitoring and assessments prior and while in the program. The ultimate goal is to bring awareness,
provide support, and decrease the abuse women are receiving in the country of Cape Verde.
293
Samantha Rogers, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Local Health Resources in the Springfield Area
The Springfield Department of Human and Health Services is an expansive health department serving a large community
in many different ways. Springfield has a population of over 150,000 residents and has three times the national rate of
hospital beds by population, yet there remains a question of whether needs are being met. It is important to identify
health and social services in Springfield and the surrounding area and to make this information available to the public.
This capstone project will focus on what resources and local community service efforts are available to those in the
area. The Springfield Department of Health and Human Services will construct a resource guide to services available in
the Springfield area. This project will examine any accessibility issues for community members trying to access health
resources.
Massa Sammah, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
”A Diamond in the Rough”: The Rise and Decline of Healthcare in Sierra Leone
According to the United Nations (UN) Development Report Human Development Index (HDI), Sierra Leone, in West
Africa, is ranked 180 out of 187. Sierra Leone is wealthy in natural resources, being one of only 15 diamond producing
countries in the world, but yet continues to be ranked amongst the poorest countries in the Sub-Saharan of Africa.
In Sierra Leone diamonds are not referenced to economic wealth, but are more commonly referred to as “blood
diamonds.” Diamonds were the root of conflict during the vicious civil war in Sierra Leone that lasted 10 years from
1991 to 2001, which left Sierra Leone’s health care crisis in the most devastating state the country has ever experienced.
Sierra Leone is known to have one of the highest infant mortality rates in West Africa and even the world. The mortality
rates in Sierra Leone are constantly on the rise and 1 in every 4 children under the age of 5 are losing their lives to
preventable illnesses. This project examines and compares the quality of health care in Freetown, Sierra Leone and
surrounding rural towns within the country, among children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 15 prior to the
civil war and after the civil war. After the war, many children were left amputated, orphaned, traumatized, or dead as a
result of the violence. This thesis will question the role violence has played in the inconsistency of Sierra Leone’s health
care progress, along with the underprivileged health services, inadequate nutritional status, and the familiar childhood
diseases it still suffers from. In addition to these finding, this project will seek to find changes in the pattern of violence
throughout the country before and after the war and create new ways or programs to further reduce the violence in
the country. Though Sierra Leone is still a developing country, examining the causes and effects of the war on its failing
health care system will help in creating new ways to deal with their health care crisis, the country’s long history of
violence, and the prevalence of preventable and curable diseases that continues to kill the country’s youth.
294
Melissa Sanon, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Type II Diabetes in Women Of Color
In women of color one of the most prevalent health issues is diabetes. Research has shown that the prevalence of
diabetes is higher in women of color than among white women. For my capstone project I will assist in putting together
a panel discussion that focuses on Type II Diabetes in Women of color populations with my internship at the Women
of Color Leadership Network. This panel will consist of individuals that will speak to our core audience about different
aspects of Type II Diabetes such as, the socioeconomic status, treatment, prevention, etc. The panel will consist of four
speakers; a doctor that specializes in treatment and prevention, a dietitian, a professor and a support group leader. The
panel discussion will be take place in April. Having experts discuss diabetes to the audience will be beneficial to the
community because it not only will it inform people about prevention efforts it will be applicable to their own lives in
terms of lifestyle changes. What we hope to achieve is a large audience, predominantly women of color that are willing
to be educated about the health issue. Outcomes include a workshop evaluation to assess the usefulness of workshop.
A secondary outcome is to see if the workshop can be made a permanent offering.
Tracey Schnittman, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Psychological Intervention for Youth Victims of Child Maltreatment
Child maltreatment is a major ongoing problem that impacts the lives of many adolescents in the United States.
Adolescents who are victims of child neglect and abandonment tend to experience a whole array of negative
psychological health outcomes, physical health outcomes, and even death. Problems continue to persist through
adulthood if the child does not receive proper mental health care. In order for there to be improvement in the lives
of these young people there needs to be psychological intervention to positively influence healthy development
into adolescence and young adulthood. This capstone project is a program plan to address child maltreatment. The
purpose of this program is to create a safe haven for children, an environment where they can express themselves
openly and freely while under the supervision of proper care. The major goal of this program is to allow for the youth
who experienced child neglect to build a healthy and stable relationships with a mentor and learn how to develop
trust in others. The mentors will help to improve social skills and overall emotional well-being, increase cognitive
ability through conversing, and also be role models for these youth. Children will receive help in academics in a stable
environment, where they can get the extra attention they need to succeed in a larger academic setting. The program
will be designed as an afterschool program and will take place in the school or the community. If it is not located
nearby, reliable transportation from the school would be provided. The way the program will be facilitated will be a
one-on-one mentoring program with young adults or with social workers. The caregivers of the program will need to be
knowledgeable about child maltreatment and the effects it can have on a child. Besides just talking to a mentor, youth
would be allowed to be in a safe place where they can just be kids and connect with other youth who have experienced
similar problems. Besides psychological care, the program can include education about drug use and comprehensive
sexual education because children who have been maltreated tend to turn to alcohol and other drugs to deal with
their problems. If children with psychological issues have a place they can go where they can talk and play in a safe
environment they will have a better outlook on the future and can actually learn how to live a stable life.
295
Rachel Schwartz, Paula Stamps (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Smallpox: The Childhood Disease
Since the attack on September 11th 2001, there has been an increase in the awareness of terrorism by the general
population and media. With an increased threat level, researchers have conducted studies analyzing the possible
implications of a bioterrorism attack. However, little has been done to analyze the effects a smallpox attack would have
on the pediatric population. The purpose of this paper is to explore this underrepresented population. The paper will
analyze differences in immune response of children compared with adults, and how this impacts their ability to recover
from smallpox. I will focus on the lack of preparedness to treat this population, issues regarding vaccination, and mental
health implications an attack would have. Results will be drawn through a critical analysis of academic journal articles,
technical resources and case studies of past patients with a diagnosed case of smallpox. Limitations of this paper include
case studies being classified as old data due to the eradication of smallpox in 1980, and the lack of research conducted
on the mental health impact bioterrorism events have on children. This paper will demonstrate the differences in
immune response to Variola major between adults and children, the need for in-depth public health response plans
to protect children, the need for an improved vaccine, and the necessity for education on bioterrorism for aspiring
pediatricians. More research must be done to adequately reduce the high risk of mortality for the pediatric population in
the event of an intentional release of smallpox into the global population.
Nicole Sforza, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Control: A Case Study of Two Initiatives
In 2006 approximately 56,000 people in the United States contracted HIV. HIV weakens a person’s body by destroying
CD4+ T blood cells, which are necessary for the body to fight off disease. Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but great
strides have been made to prevent the spread of the disease which includes HIV testing programs. In early January
a HIV Social Networks program was implemented at Tapestry Health’s Needle Exchange Program in Northampton,
Massachusetts. The program aims to recruit injecting drug users (IDUs) who are at risk of HIV contraction due to their
social groups. The recruited participants will be motivated by monetary incentive to bring in others within their social
groups and communities for HIV testing. By implementing such programs more people at high risk for HIV are tested
and therefore decrease the risk of possible exposure to the community overall. My project aims to assess, analyze,
and evaluate the growth of the Social Networks program at Tapestry Health’s Needle Exchange Program and compare
it to the Social Networks program set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By comparing
the advantages and disadvantages of such programs, my aim is to identify how to improve programs in terms of
their effectiveness. Having efficient HIV testing programs that reaches a large percentage of the target population is
important because it reduces the risk of HIV and educates people on disease and preventative measures.
296
Sofia Shaikh, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Barriers Towards Treatment of Mental Illness in the United States
Mental illness is a serious problem throughout the United States. Mental illness, sometimes referred to as mental
disorders, is a broad term which encompasses irregular thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an individual, resulting
in distress and impairment of functioning, and is inconsistent with cultural normal and normal development. Mental
disorders have a high prevalence in the U.S.; according to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four Americans
(approximately 57.7 million people), experience a mental illness within any given year. Common mental illnesses in the
U.S. include but are not limited to mood disorders such as depression and mania, eating disorders, anxiety disorders,
personality disorders, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. This capstone project researches the barriers to treatment
of mental disorders. These barriers can be broken down into three main categories: stigma, access to care, and budget
cuts. Stigma is internal, affecting an individual’s self-esteem. Individual perceptions and negative connotations of mental
illnesses are reinforced and spread throughout the media. Access to care is also a huge barrier affecting treatment.
Without insurance, it is often unfeasible to pay for mental health services. Language, cultural, and geographic barriers
also prevent many from receiving adequate treatment. Lastly, recent budget cuts have become a huge barrier to
treatment of mental illness. There have been many cuts in governmental funding, which consequently, have led to
bed cuts. This has also created an increase in emergency room visits which increases U.S. health care expenditures
significantly. Despite the fact that some of the economic barriers which prevent treatment may be hard to overcome,
many of the barriers can be addressed in order promote a better quality of life for individuals living with mental illnesses.
Unfortunately, until the current barriers are addressed, the United States will continue to struggle to provide treatment
for mental illnesses.
Lauren Shewey, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Health Nutrition
Many Americans struggle with a variety of illnesses and health conditions amidst other uncomfortable symptoms.
Often people are unaware of the importance of quality nutrition and the impact of food intake on the human body
and overall holistic wellness. In part, this struggle stems from the perception of health as a lack of disease. In other
cultures, well-being encompasses all of the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual components affecting one’s life.
Thus, a large majority of people in the United States are detached from their intuitive experiences with food. Food is the
lifeblood of one’s being. Though, the aforementioned disconnect has resulted in a cultural mindset regarding obesity,
sleep deprivation, fatigue, gas, acne, sexual dysfunction, rage, and so forth, as normal life functioning. College students
in particular are at a heightened risk for exposures to such unpleasant symptoms due to hectic, fast-paced lifestyles
that typically neglect proper nutrition. For my project, I have researched various nutrition related health topics through
documented studies and reports, including psychology, sexuality, sleep, relationships and so forth that feature how
diet works to either support or hinder one’s quality of wellness. Based upon my findings, I’ve compiled written article
summaries emphasizing pertinent information on nutrition presented to the student body through both the University
Health Services StudentHealth101 e-magazine and The Daily Collegian. My research demonstrates the vital role of
nutrition as it impacts health, a truth that is often disregarded. A diet full of processed foods, high in sugar and fat can
lead to a multitude of ills and risks, including inflammation, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and certain cancers,
as well as a host of other distressing symptoms. Students benefit from the knowledge regarding nutrition and how it
affects their health, encouraging them to make wiser, more informed choices about what they feed their bodies, so they
can live fuller, more productive lives as they thrive off of nutritionally whole meals.
297
Kelvin Xu, Devesh Shrestha, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water
Access to clean water is a human right. However, lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation has threatened
the health status of millions of people. Arsenic poisoning affects over 137 million people in more than 70 countries,
including the country of Nepal. Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, internationally bordered by China and India.
Currently, nearly 10 percent of the population, 2.7 million people in Nepal are drinking water with arsenic levels above
the World Health Organization guidelines (10 parts per billion). Arsenic contamination is a major threat to human life
since arsenic contaminated water can cause several diseases including bladder cancer, Blackfoot disease and skin cancer.
We will look at the different types of testing methods and existing data sets that have been used to measure arsenic
concentrations in order to compare and analyze the effectiveness of the interventions. This capstone will show that
combining multiple interventions to combat arsenic contamination will improve the ability of the world to provide safe
drinking water, identify risk areas, educate people about good sanitation practices and the importance of hygiene will
help develop awareness and reduce arsenic exposure through drinking water.
Tynesia Smith, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Intervention in Underserved Communities
Teen pregnancies are a huge epidemic in the United States averaging about 750,000 teenage pregnancies annually.
In the Holyoke and Springfield areas of Massachusetts the teen pregnancy rate is exceptionally high. In a 2010 report
from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Holyoke, MA had a teen birth rate more than five times the state
average. It is important to address this problem because there are many physical health complications, such as, higher
rates of infant death compared to women who have children at a later age. In addition, there is a correlation between
low socioeconomic status, racial disparity and teen pregnancy. Therefore, to help educate teenagers in Holyoke and
Springfield’s underserved communities understand these complications, we will conduct workshops focused on both
prevention and intervention approaches. The methods used to prevent teen pregnancy will focus on teens that are at
risk and intervention methods will be for those that have children and need assistance with finding proper resources.
The program will include condom demonstrations, methods of contraceptives, and media and interactive skits. In order
to make this efficacious we will model successful programs that have already been implemented by health officials.
The purpose of this capstone project is to educate young women and men on ways to prevent pregnancy and create
awareness around options that are available if they have already become pregnant.
298
Claire Sommers, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Group Homes Promotion of Independent Living
This capstone is an empirical research project to determine if group homes promote independent living for people with
disabilities. Independent living for people with disabilities does not mean living completely by oneself. It means the
opportunity to have options in one’s life. A person’s physical or mental disability does not mean that the person should
be excluded from participation in society. In the past, segregation had been a major part of the lives of people with
disabilities, which has since been recognized as a serious societal problem. People with disabilities living in group homes
should be given financial and supporting the aid for independent living. There have been many biases against people
with disabilities. There have been many struggles on stopping stereotypes about people with disabilities. Many people
also believe that people with disabilities should not be a part of communities. There was a major change in thought in
the 1960s where many parents fought for their children living in their homes rather than institutions. This was a push
to encourage people with disabilities to interact with communities, learn in schools and have jobs like any other person.
The purpose of this study is to investigate independent facilities to see if their residents are given adequate financial
aid and time to promote better independent living practices for people with disabilities. This can only be done in a
supportive environment. It is difficult to have individual based plans because it is both expensive and takes a lot of time,
but as a Group living much can be to involve their residents into the community. This not only enriches the lives of many
people with disabilities but the community in whole.
Anastasia Sumner, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Teen Pregnancy in Holyoke, MA: An Analysis of Effective Prevention Methods and Factors
Teen birth rates in Massachusetts have declined 11% since 2007, making it the lowest teen birth rate the state has
seen in decades. Despite the decline of teen birth rates in the state, Holyoke continues to have one of the highest rates
of teen pregnancy in Massachusetts especially among Latinas. The teen birth rate is over five times the state’s rate and
nearly three times the national. The purpose of this presentation is to develop a better understanding of the issues that
influence teen pregnancy in Holyoke, MA, create effective prevention programming, and compare them to Holyoke’s
current teen pregnancy prevention efforts to combat this issue. Within the Latino community there are some cultural
and social norms that may influence teens’ decisions. The lack of sexual and reproductive health education is also a
risk factor for teen pregnancy. Culture also is a factor in the lack of understanding of current pregnancy prevention
campaigns within the Latino community. Part of the culture in the Latino community is to have a family unit. Campaign
messages such as “don’t have children” may be interpreted as anti-familial messages to Latinos. If their culture was
taken into consideration when creating these public health campaigns, the campaigns may become increasingly effective
and better received. The goal of this public health initiative is to create a prevention program that will address all of the
possible issues pregnant Latina teenagers face. This will result in helping them navigate how to prevent teen pregnancy
while still holding on to their traditional values.
299
Cassandra L Nordstrom, Janey W Scuzzarella, Colleen Taylor, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor)
Efficacy of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs: A Comparison of Lawrence and Holyoke, Massachusetts
Currently, the United States’ teen pregnancy rate is the highest of all developed countries. The effects of teen
pregnancy for the teen parents and the community are a widely felt concern. According to the CDC, teen pregnancy
costs taxpayers more than $9 billion per year for increased health care and foster care, increased incarceration rates
among children of teen parents, and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among
teen mothers. Additionally, children born to teenage mothers are on average, more likely to have lower school
achievement and to drop out of high school, have more health problems, and as adults be incarcerated and encounter
unemployment. For this public health issue, high school sexual education curricula have been a popular mode of
intervention. These evidence-based, comprehensive approaches are often successful in lowering teen pregnancy rates.
In recent years, the Massachusetts teen pregnancy rate has declined, however certain communities like Holyoke and
Lawrence remain high above the state average. This project will focus on these two municipalities and compare teen
pregnancy prevention initiatives within their respective public high schools. By creating evidence-based evaluation
criteria and interviewing educators and students at the schools, the project will compare and contrast different aspects
of the programs such as focusing on specific health goals, addressing multiple sexual risk and protective factors, and
incorporating cultural and community values. Through this comparison we will identify implementable improvements
within their sexual health curricula.
Kayla Tegeler, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
UMass Night Out: An attempt to reduce alcohol and other drug use at the University of Massachusetts
UMass Night Out is a program on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus that consists of various alcohol free
activities from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The purpose of the program is to provide students with the opportunity to engage in
safe nighttime activities while promoting healthy behaviors and choices. UMass Night Out is a great opportunity for
UMass students to recognize their abilities to enjoy the weekend without the use of alcohol or other drugs. At the
same time, this program also offers a preferred type of nightlife to those students who typically do not engage in the
illegal or unhealthy behaviors of using alcohol and other drugs. The goal of the UMass Night Out program is to reduce
alcohol and other drug use by UMass students, as well as to reduce the rate of high-risk behaviors involving alcohol and
other drugs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the UMass Night Out program at changing alcohol
and other drug related behaviors of students. In order to evaluate this program, surveys will be taken by students after
they have attended a UMass Night Out event. These surveys will be used to draw statistics on the effectiveness of the
program. This program evaluation will also include a comparison to similar programs at other college campuses.
300
Adam St. Jean, Luckar Thach, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
A Policy Review and Recommendations Concerning Rates of Childhood Obesity in Developed Countries
Childhood obesity is a growing problem and becoming rapidly more visible as the number of children affected by this
disease continues to rise. Major studies suggest that low socio-economic status and poverty is associated with higher
rates of childhood obesity in Canada, as well as developed countries such as the U.S. and Norway. This disparity is
attributed to the lack of preventive education in low-income communities, as well as accessibility to a healthy lifestyle.
Family intervention may positively influence children’s dietary quality and lower risk of childhood obesity. Concern
surrounding obesity also includes additional problems such as increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, higher risk for
diabetes, and even psychological issues, all of which may result from the disease. This capstone project will explore
prevention techniques and policies related to treatment of obesity in hope of ending the growth of this epidemic
in developed countries such as the United States and Canada. We aim to review a variation of studies and policies,
particularly focusing on physical inactivity, low-SES, and family intervention to analyze possible ways to preventing
childhood obesity and integrate healthier lifestyles. By doing so, future policy and regulations may be made to better the
outlook for poor nutritional and lifestyle. This research is important so that better policy recommendations can be made,
and so health professionals can take further initiative toward decreasing the rate of childhood obesity.
Devon Thibodeau, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
The Prevalence and Side Effects of Obstetric Interventions During Labor and Delivery
Obstetric interventions are widely utilized during childbirth, creating numerous adverse health outcomes related to care
during labor and delivery. This literature review will highlight the prevalence and side effects of obstetric interventions
and offer methods to reduce their use. Patients should be well informed of the possible medical interventions
physicians and midwives may utilize during childbirth. They should understand the risks and potential harm certain
pain medications, labor inducing drugs, emergency cesarean surgery, and other medical interventions can have on the
mother and newborn. These types of interventions are used all too often in the United States, creating adverse side
effects along with a variety of short and long term health problems for women and infants. Perhaps alternatives that
would reduce their use and prevent adverse health outcomes could include homebirths with midwives and doulas,
meditation, hypnobirthing, massage, and other forms of relaxation techniques to calm the mother and take her focus
off of the pain. Because hospitals are businesses, making money is one of their top priorities. Therefore, speeding up
the labor and delivery process allows hospitals to make the most of their facilities in the shortest time possible. Patient
care should always come first, but sometimes this simple philosophy adopted by medical professionals gets overlooked.
Public health officials should intervene when necessary to make labor and delivery as safe and stress-free as possible for
those involved in order to prevent morbidity and mortality and to improve the childbirth experience.
301
Avae Thomas, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Can’t Help But to Be Sick
For years African-Americans have been the victims of public policies that have led to some of the worst health outcomes
in the United States. There is an overwhelming gap in health outcomes between Whites and African-Americans that
can be attributed to a variety of social determinants such as occupation, residence, origin, or financial status. Cultural
differences do provide some answer to the question as to why African-Americans tend to have worse health outcomes
than Whites, but there is more to the story. There have been strategic policies implemented over the course of America’s
history that have not only prevented African-Americans from advancing in the realms of finance, education and social
mobility but also in terms of health. Specific labor laws, discriminatory measures, and matters of access to healthcare
have all attributed to the health inequalities among African-Americans. This project seeks to examine various policies
that have been enacted in America that have played an instrumental role in causing negative health outcomes among
African-Americans. Evaluating measures of the past that have exploited minorities as test subjects and current legislature
that limits access and affordability share a role on what is now a significant disparity in health. Policy constructed in
combination with the influence of racism has developed a unique dynamic in American healthcare that has not been
completely eradicated, but rather dimly faded into less overt inequality.
Daniel Unkel, Risa Silverman (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Risky Behavior of Colleges and Universities and How it Effect Surrounding Communitie
Relationships exist between every college and university and the town or city in which they reside. Town resources
are sometimes exhausted by having to help college students who partake in risky behavior. For example on any given
weekend town resources can be tied up dealing with issues ranging from fire, medical, and police emergencies on or
off campus, thereby making them unavailable for similar emergencies off campus, and in town. Many of these issues
could be prevented if the students were given more alcohol free activities and learned how their actions affect others.
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst does not offer many activities on weekend nights leaving students on their
own to find something to do. This often turns into consuming too much alcohol and results in town resources having to
be tied up dealing with something that could have been prevented. This capstone will examine the relationship between
University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the town of Amherst, describing the current agreements and whether the
University drains the town resources, which are already functioning at the bare minimum. Also this capstone will look at
current agreements, and suggest models from other town-gown communities that have the best practices.
302
Nakia Weaver, Christie Barcelos (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Public Health, UMass Amherst
Mothers and Girls Dancing Together Trial- MAGNET Trial
Very low levels of physical activity are common among adolescent African-American girls and are the leading cause
of obesity and diabetes that may develop later in life. Therefore, it is important that we find good ways to increase
their physical activity levels. A way to increase the activity level of children is to increase their parents (especially their
moms’) physical activity level. Dancing is one type of program that both African-American girls and women will enjoy,
however very little is known about the type of dance styles that they may like. This project will create a health promotion
program that will focus on key parts of an African style dance class and a health education program that will appeal to
7-10 year old Africa-American girls and their mothers. For this project “mother” is defined as the main female figure
that lives with the girl. The research team will measure the daughters’ height, weight, and waist size, and the daughter
will also be asked to complete surveys about her physical activity levels. The goal is to implement the dance and health
education program proposal and see if it creates changes in health behaviors. Findings from this research may provide a
viable option for increasing physical activity for African-American girls and their mothers, and thereby help to identify a
strategy for reducing obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in African-American girls.
Edward Lipchus, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
The Price of Development as Portrayed in Japanese and Western Film
Cinema is a great vehicle for cultural ideas and values. Japanese and Western films display very different results when
humans pursue progress at the expense of nature. This project explores some recent films that depict the future of the
Human vs Nature conflict; and extrapolates what each culture believes the actual end result will be. Through viewings
of movies from each culture - Origin: Spirits of the Past, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Godzilla from Japan;
and Metropolis, Blade Runner, and Avatar from America/Europe - this project shows that the Japanese see a need to
live in harmony with nature less mankind is destroyed, whereas Americans/Europeans see a dystopian future of absolute
urbanization - of a world where nature has been consumed in the name of progress.
303
Beth Teague, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Will Bringing Pandora on the Road Mean Leaving Radio in the Dust?
Most people will say that when they drive they do so while listening to FM radio, known as terrestrial radio, in their cars.
Many additionally will say that Pandora radio, a free internet radio service geared toward a user’s personal style of music,
often plays on their computers while they are at home or work. Hyundai has made changes to their new line of vehicles
that allow Pandora to be streamed into the cars using iPhones, which could potentially damage the terrestrial radio
industry. Contrary to fears articulated by terrestrial radio owners and documented by those like Erik Sass in “Hyundai
Offers Drivers Pandora on the Go” that streaming Pandora into cars will decrease the use of terrestrial radio, I, along
with Ralph Hanson, author of Mass Communications: Living in a Media World, argue that because radio has historically
survived significant shifts in entertainment and communication, use of terrestrial radio will not diminish. I suggest that,
much like people’s fears about radio becoming obsolete when television was developed, such concerns are motivated
not by evidence, but by tropophobia (fear of change). Recognizing tropophobia in this instance and examining options
like HD radio, which provides a CD-like quality to one’s listening experience, may enable people to understand that
change and/or new developments in communications and entertainment don’t necessarily end our dependence on or
use of previous ones, but they do encourage us to re-evaluate our relationship to older technologies.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Hakeem Eguntola, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Attitudes towards nature in the world’s major religions
Religious institutions have influenced social attitudes towards the environment. This project compares four prominent
religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam), with respect to ideas on how each shapes our attitudes to nature.
Using primary religious texts, credible online sources and religions/scientific journals, this project analyzes scriptural
quotations for beneficial and non-beneficial environmental implications. The project also discusses the similarities in
these religions’s attitudes with contemporary psychology. A discussion of the pros and cons of religious ideas concludes
that all four major faiths have consequential impact on our atttitudes about the environment.
Alejandra Marin, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Christ vs Kukulcán: Clash of Cultures
Many religious practices can both emphasize the importance of protecting the environment and provide foundations
for the destruction of the environment. The objective of the project is to find ways in which the beliefs of a precolumbian religion, and its contemporary Christian conqueror promoted or undermined the sustainable use of natural
resources. Using primary resources such as the Bible, and secondary research such as articles, interviews and religious
texts; a comparison of the two religions is made. Research showed that there is a clear difference between the Mayans,
a biocentric religion, and the Christians, an anthropocentric religion, in terms of how man uses and abuses natural
resources. This research suggests, it is important to address religious attitudes to understand how different cultures treat
nature.
304
SOCIAL THOUGHT AND POLITICAL ECONOMY
Elizabeth Abate, Stephanie Kelly (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Geography, Westfield State University
Emergency Preparedness Housing Plans for Special Needs Adults: Worcester County
PURPOSE: Considering the vulnerability of special needs adults and recent natural disasters, the goal of this study is
to develop best practices for an emergency response plan for group homes for adults with special needs. A needs
assessment of safety conditions and evacuation plans for group homes will be conducted, and a model emergency
preparedness housing plan for adults with special needs in Worcester County will be developed. METHODS: Case studies
of homes for special needs adults will be compiled from across the nation and regionally to compare design aspects as
they relate to emergency preparedness plans. The most effective circulatory attributes for adult homes will be identified.
Current housing stock and zoning classifications for the targeted population of group homes will be examined and
analyzed. Housing stock will be mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to graphically display location of
units to coordinate evacuation under various scenarios. Current FEMA regulations for the targeted population will be
evaluated. RESULTS: A risk assessment/ vulnerability matrix for the targeted population will be developed. Best practices
and action plans for an emergency preparedness plan model will be related specifically to scenarios such as weather
events including flooding, severe wind and storms, and biological and terrorist events. The action plans will be based
on the risk assessment matrix. CONCLUSION: A regional map depicting optimal emergency staging areas for selected
homes, and coordinated emergency centers will be generated. Proposed educational materials including pamphlets with
exit maps and procedures to exit buildings will be presented.
SOCIOLOGY
Ryan Baker, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
Polygamy in the United States – a perspective of the Mormon Women
This project discusess what life for woman in Mormon Polygamist relationships. The modern day Church of Latter Day
Saints (LDS), as the Mormon Church refers to itself, has come to the agreement that Polygamy is not a legal practice
and anyone found practicing Polygamy will be excommunicated. Currently people who consider themselves both
Mormon and Polygamist are considered rogue. Generally, those who are Mormon Polygamists are part of various sects
of Mormonism, not related to the LDS church. This project addresses issues modern day Polygamists face in American
Society , from the perspective of what women in the Polygamist culture are facing. This project examines sources and
interviews of Mormon Polygamists and analyzes how they livetheir daily lives in America. Recent media has focused on
attention on Mormon sects that have been abusing human rights and practicing under-age marriage and sex within
Polygamist relationships. This project distinguishes between sects that have given modern day Mormon Polygamist
relationships a bad reputation, and addresses issues Mormon Polygamist adults are facing due to media attention.
Through addressing the history of Mormonism, Polygamy and spotlighting how some Mormon Polygamists are currently
living in the United States; the project raises awareness on the hot topic of Polygamy in the United States.
305
Jessica Coons, Jennifer DiGrazia (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Westfield State University
Factory Farmed Food: Moralized?
Recognizing that Jonathan Haidt and Craig Joseph’s concept of “purity”, as articulated in their essay The Moral Mind,
differs from culture to culture; I argue that some Americans’ resistance to change their dietary habits comes from
inherited values and experiences. The reasoning for resistance to change parallels evidence found in Paul Rozin and
Leher Singh found in their study on the moralization of cigarettes. They found that there was a correlation between
people who did not smoke and people who found smoking disgusting. Whereas there was no correlation between nonsmokers and those who were fully aware of the negative health affects of smoking. For those who are resistant to the
moralization argument, focusing on the disgust aspects of factory farming may be a more persuasive argument. After
explaining Haidt and Joseph’s claims about our moral mind and five moral foundations, I suggest that despite attempts
by activist groups and the government to endorse healthier eating habits, some people will continue their eating habits
because everyone’s moral foundations are different.
Haley Cote, Michele Wolfson (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Psychology, Cape Cod Community College
Domestic Violence: Social Construction and the Psychological Consequences for Women
Domestic violence, particularly in regard to women, is an epidemic. This form of oppression toward women is a problem
worldwide in many societies and cultures, and is known to have serious psychological repercussions on victims. This
paper will look at the correlation between domestic violence and mental health among women. It will examine the
prevalence ratings of abused women who suffer from mental illness and look at specifically what types of mental
disorders emerge. In order to fully understand domestic abuse toward women and its psychological repercussions,
sociocultural factors must be considered, since they are undoubtedly at play. Thus, sociocultural factors contributing to
abuse will also be examined and the impact these factors have on the onset of mental dysfunction. Recognizing that
domestic violence is in part a result of sociocultural factors and can lead to the development of mental illness is critical in
order to help treat patients and provide better social environments for the women facing this kind of oppression within
societies.
Jillian S Waters, Megan O’Connor, Sarah Donovan, Marian Cohen (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Sociology, Framingham State University
Does Just an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?
The purpose of the research is to determine which lifestyle behaviors, in terms of actions taken in a daily routine,
make for strong health status, defined as the general, mental, and physical health, of an individual. The research will
contribute to the Health Belief Model developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock (Rosenstock 1966) that discusses ways to
maintain good health, by predicting both general behaviors and key demographic characteristics of individuals as they
affect health. The researchers conducted secondary analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study data. These
data were collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through various state health departments in 2009
and 2010. The sample size for the study was 432,607. Data obtained from this research will allow individuals to better
understand and sustain healthier lifestyles.
306
Chelsea J Mitchell, MacKenzie Fluckiger, Naomi Lansing, Mary Dulong, Marian Cohen (Faculty Sponsor)
Breaking the Mold: Attitudes Towards Nontraditional Families in American Society
This study explores Americans’ attitudes toward nontraditional families. The research focuses on how aspects of
socialization and family history, as well as attitudes toward traditional sex roles, affect attitudes towards nontraditional
families. Demographic variables, such as age, sex, marital status, and education, along with patterns of family
relationships while growing up, such as working mothers or stay-at-home fathers and marital status of parents, will
be examined relative to the target attitudes. The research will contribute to sociological knowledge of the family by
examining attitudes toward various types of nontraditional family forms. The data for this study were collected in a
cross-sectional Social Trend Survey by Princeton Survey Research International. Telephone interviews were conducted
with 2,020 American adults in early 2007. The researchers expect to find that socialization in a nontraditional setting
leads to greater acceptance of nontraditional family structures and sex roles. As the notion of “family” changes in our
society, it is important to both understand factors that affect our current perceptions and those that could help predict
developing attitudes over time.
Aaron L Arata, Christopher E Hickman, Janelle Engerman, Marian Cohen (Faculty Sponsor)
“I Can’t Get No Sa-tis-fac-tion”: Factors That Contribute to American Job Satisfaction
How often do you say, “I hate my job“, or hear that phrase uttered by your co-workers and your friends? This study
aims to identify factors that contribute to American employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The researchers studied
the effect of ethnicity, gender and education level as well as specific aspects of one’s job, such as income, chance of
promotion, and relationships with co-workers, on overall job satisfaction. It was anticipated that employees who see
their jobs as part of their identity, rather than just a means to gaining an income, will rate higher in quality of life and
job satisfaction. The research tested sociological theories of alienation proposed by Marx and Durkheim. Data from the
Pew Social Trends Survey, collected in June and July of 2006, were used for analysis. The survey included 2,003 adults
living in the continental United States with household telephones. The findings in this study could help the management
staff of businesses better understand their employees by identifying what contributes to happier employees. This
could encourage the development of methods to increase employee satisfaction, which may result in an increase in
productivity.
307
Tologon Eshimkanov, Luke Sallisbury (Faculty Sponsor) Department of English, Bunker Hill Community College
City Dwellers Attitudes About Nature In An Urban Environment
A large portion of the population spends most of their working and leisure time in an urban environment. This project
investigates the effects of living in an urban environment on people’s attitudes about natural places, and their feelings
about parks and plantings in cities. Using individual interviews; behavioral observations of people in parks; along with
primary and secondary written and internet sources, this project shows that living in an urban environment like Boston
has clear impact on people’s desire to connect with nature. The results suggest urbanites would benefit from an increase
in the amount of natural spaces within cities.
Amanda Bellone, Chelsea Langelier, Kerri A McCarthy, Pamela S Swanson, Melanie Figueroa,
Susan Dargan (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, Framingham State University
How Many Ways Can You Spell Family? An Exploration of Varying Attitudes about Gender Roles within Families
Today’s definitions of American families differ from those in the past. The notion of the traditional family has previously
consisted of two heterosexual parents living in a household with children where fathers were the major breadwinners,
and mothers stayed home and cared for children. In the 21st century there are many forms of families, some traditional
and some non-traditional, and with these changing family forms, people’s notions of the typical family have changed.
Along with changing family forms, the roles each member takes on within families are changing. This study hypothesizes
that social factors may influence Americans’ attitudes toward non-traditional gender roles in families. The researchers
examined data from the PEW Marriage Dataset (2007) to examine the role that social factors play in attitudes towards
gender roles in families. This study consisted of a nationally representative sample of 2,020 adults residing in the
continental United States. The researchers hypothesize that younger people, women, those with democratic political
ideologies, and those who have experienced non-traditional family socialization or family status will be more likely than
will older people, men, conservatives, and those who have only experienced traditional family socialization and status to
accept non-traditional gender roles in families. They also hypothesize that Caucasians, those living in the South or rural
communities, those who are more religious, and those with lower education will be less likely than African Americans,
those not living in the South or rural communities, those who are not religious, and those with higher education levels
to be tolerant of non-traditional gender roles in families.
308
Jessie Czekalski, Rachael Love, Matthew Fortier, Candace Shivers (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Sociology, Mount Wachusett Community College
Social Computing and Commerce
Social computing plays an indispensable role in the world of commerce. The purpose of this research is to highlight how
social computing has affected commerce as a whole. The Internet increasingly prevails in twenty-first century society
and as a result capital, assets, and investments are becoming ever more virtual. People are turning to computers and
cell phones for online banking, investments and loans. Physical interaction is becoming outdated in the financial world,
and the global economy is faster and larger than ever. Banking and money management have changed, which carries
both positive and negative effects. Shopping has also been transformed dramatically due to advancements in social
computing. Businesses are forced to seek sales outside their domain and enter the cyber world to reach customers at
their homes. Surveys show ease of purchasing online encourages the consumer to spend more money. Policing and
securing social computing is evolving because of the lucrative and dangerous pandemic of cybercrime. The research
explains why social computing has made it easier for criminals to access the weakest link in social computing, the
consumer. These results were obtained through various surveys conducted on campus and well as the use of scholarly
references. Increased commerce through social computing impacts businesses, financing, and the security of consumers.
Emma E Brady, Pamela S Roper, Phillip Smith, Cassandra Hulecki, Candace Shivers (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Sociology, Mount Wachusett Community College
Relationships and Social Computing: An Electronic Friend or Foe?
Relationships we make with each other are said to be one of the most important aspects of our lives. We begin forming
bonds the moment we are conceived, from the first time we hear our mother’s soothing voice from inside the womb,
to the friends we create when we go off to college and beyond. The use of social computing has broadened our lives,
introduced us to new friends and lovers, and provided us with a tool to connect with people from all across the world.
Thanks to the technology of today, social interaction has never been easier. Social gaming has allowed individuals to
connect and play games with people from virtually anywhere. Employers use social media for a variety of reasons. For
example, midwives are now using the diverse tools available to find new clients, maintain a close relationship with their
current ones, and even to hire new employees. With this ease of communication there have been both positive and
negative impacts on relationships. Online relationships account for one of every eight marriages in the U.S and have
been found to bring families together and keep loved ones in contact over long distances. However, this new technology
is also to blame for many divorces, partly due to the instant and private communication it provides. Additionally,
bullys have used this as a tool to take their torment to a new level, causing devastaing effects like never before. Social
computing has brought about changes to our society and through our research we have explored the effects of social
computing on all types of relationships.
309
Caitlin McAlister, Jessica L Turnbull, Nicollette Ianniciello, Marian Cohen (Faculty Sponsor)
Aging: Positive Attitude Can Lead to a Positive Lifestyle
The purpose of this research was to examine factors that affect planning for old age and retirement. Aging is a natural
progression that occurs in everyone’s lifetime; therefore, the research is an extremely important topic to investigate.
Data from the Attitudes Toward Aging dataset were used in this research. The data were collected from December 29,
1999 to March 5, 2000 by the National Council on Aging using telephone interviews. The sample size was 3,048, and
included 1,340 males and 1,708 females. Disengagement Theory suggests that as people age, they gradually withdraw
from the roles they occupied during their middle years and become preoccupied with, and focused on, their own lives.
It was hypothesized that the more engaged the respondent considers him/herself, the less likely he/she is to think about
retirement and old age and the less likely he/she is to plan for old age and retirement. The researchers expect to find
that people will plan for old age and retirement as they disengage themselves from their busy lives.
James J McCarthy, Kurt H Leone, Nicholas B Clark, Aleigh Jerome, Vincent Ferraro (Faculty Sponsor)
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Crime and Justice Studies, Framingham State University
For Better or for Worse: Marital Happiness in America
The institution of marriage has changed dramatically throughout the years. In today’s society, divorce has become more
socially acceptable than in the past. What constitutes happiness in a marriage today is far different from what it used
to be; existing research shows that people do not need to be married to feel as though their life is complete. This study
measures and examines the factors which contribute to happiness in a marriage and in particular if one’s past negative
experience with divorce alters their perception of the importance of marriage. The research design is secondary survey
analysis using cross- sectional data collected by the Princeton Survey Research International. These data were collected
from February 16, 2007 to March 14, 2007 from a nationally representative sample of over 2,020 individuals throughout
the United States. The literature suggests that people who have endured a divorce or parental conflict as children are
less likely to view marriage as a necessity in life. This study will test whether exposure to divorce reduces the likelihood
of marriage in the individuals’ futures. This study seeks to demonstrate whether age, gender, past negative experience
and income are associated with marital happiness and personal fulfillment. The results of this study might suggest earlier
adjustments to the institution of marriage are having strong consequences on current and future generations.
310
Caileen Norris, Emily Josselyn, Marian Cohen (Faculty Sponsor) Department of Sociology, Framingham State University
Marriage and Parenting
The research focuses on social forces that affect attitudes towards social trends in marriage and parenting. An
understanding of marriage and parenting trends can provide insight on traditional and non-traditional lifestyles and
whether society views current trends as a good thing or bad thing for society. The Pew 2007 Marriage study, with a
national sample of 2,020 individuals in the United States, was used for secondary analysis. This dataset asks questions
about attitudes towards non-traditional social trends with regard to marriage and parenting. It was hypothesized that
young, educated, non-religious, white, females of higher income, who are single with no children are more likely to view
non-traditional social trends as a good thing for society. It was found that individuals with these demographics are more
accepting and flexible with regard to changes within marriage and parenting. It was found that the strongest predictors
of attitudes toward non-traditional social trends are religion, political ideology, and education. The other factors studied
were weakly related to attitudes or were found not to be predictive of attitudes. This means that only a few social forces
appear to influence the respondents’ attitudes towards social trends.
Bethany Senechal, Patrick E Galligan, Jonathan Julian, Greg Long, Susan Dargan (Faculty Sponsor)
Waking up From the American Dream: Has the American Dream Become the American Fantasy?
Over the last 30 years, many Americans have come to find that the possibility of achieving the American Dream is
shrinking. This dream includes owning a home, being employed at a job with prospects for career growth, and having
access to quality affordable health care. In the last four years of economic turmo

Here - UMass Amherst

Transcription

Similar documents

ConEdison Solutions, Gexa, Pepco Energy 7:30am

30 days

12-18-15 Email and Newsletter

Phiona Karungi

The 19th Annual Dave Nelsen Scholarship Golf Tournament

DONATE VOLUNTEER

sunday, june 28, 2015 - Berkshire Humane Society

Northville downs - Transportation Club of Detroit

Amherst Middle School Boys Win Division Soccer

va car reg.