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Abstracts

Author ↑ Department Professor Title Year
Ann Holland Special Education Gilbert Stiefel Person-Centered Planning for Persons with Disabilities
Person-centered planning is a widely used approach to planning the futures of persons with disabilities, and its use is increasingly encouraged by public policy. There has been some research on the effectiveness of person-centered planning, but many of these studies do not meet the standards of high quality research. While it appears that most researchers and advocates for person-centered planning would agree that a person-centered plan is based on the interests and goals of the person for which the plan is created, there is no universally accepted definition of person-centered planning or what it must, as a minimum, involve. It is not yet clear if person-centered planning is truly effective.
2010
Anna B. Brogan-Knight Women's and Gender Studies Deanna Mihaly Pretty Ribbons and Black Eyes
In this paper I explore the history of two very successful awareness campaigns, the AIDS red ribbon campaign and the pink ribbon campaign for breast cancer awareness and how these campaigns differ from campaigns that attempt to bring awareness to violence against women. I briefly discus several violence-against-women awareness campaigns and highlight the various reasons they fail to garner the popular support and momentum that is characteristic of other campaigns, especially breast cancer and AIDS. Discussion of the attitudes, expectations, and proscribed gender roles in our culture will enhance understanding of the inability of the movements to break into mainstream popularity and efficacy. I conclude with possible strategies for success and a call to action.
2011
Anna E. McComb Engineering Technology Shinming Shyu Economical and Aesthetic Aspects of Photovoltaic Systems for Residential Applications
My research will address the cost, installation, and efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels in residential applications. The installation research will not only explore new, innovative, and economical installation methods of the solar panels but will also discuss the possibility of finding more aesthetically pleasing installations for residential applications. My research will study the economical/financial pros and cons for using photovoltaic solar panels and will show the relationship between cost of installation and maintenance and the amount of energy conserved and produced. I will provide a detailed outline that will show the potential environmental, financial, and economical benefits of using PV solar panels.
2012
Anna F. Pierre History and Philosophy Ronald Delph Sacred or Profane? The Survival of Venus in Renaissance Florence
When Christianity took hold of the Italian peninsula, images of the pagan deities, along with their worship, were forbidden. How then can one explain the revival of certain gods and goddesses, such as Venus, in art and literature of the Italian Renaissance? Despite the views of the church on paganism, this goddess was not suppressed. Neoplatonist humanists wrote about Venus, which kept her in the minds of their contemporaries. Ancient statues and images, as well as new creations by masters like Botticelli, were openly placed in spaces where they could be admired. Using a topical approach, this essay explores the reasons behind the survival of the pagan goddess, Venus, in the Christian environment of 14th-17th century Renaissance Florence.
2011
Anna F. Pierre History and Philosophy Ronald Delph Was it Idolatry? A Study of Renaissance Florence Image Worship
Since antiquity, people have worshiped deities and have constructed images or representations of these deities; the people of Renaissance Italy were no exception. Using a comparative approach, this paper explores Florentine image worship and religious practices in the 13th-16th centuries. The Florentines of this time period worshiped sacred images of their God and his saints, and they believed that these images were powerful and animate. To them, God manifested his power when he used one of the sacred images to perform a miracle, heal someone, or show wrath to those who disrespected him or the saints. These miraculous occurrences furthered the belief of Florentines that they were not practicing idolatry when venerating their sacred images.
2010
Anne Wilkinson Engineering Technology Shinming Shyu Exploring Exemplary Interior Design Education Programs: A Study of Curricula and their Objectives for the 21st Century
Are interior design undergraduate programs addressing the skill sets necessary for students to compete and work in the 21st century job market? This study researched and analyzed six exemplary interior design programs at the University level and reviewed what general subjects are being taught, as well as specific subjects that are pertinent to the interior design profession. A comparison was done between each university's program, as well as a comparison between courses taught. From this research, I have a number of ideas and conclusions as to what the next steps should be to design my interior design curriculum in order to prepare interior design students for the 21st century job market. This study is significant because it examines current, highly rated interior design programs in the United States, analyzes each curriculum's focus, and assesses where their prospective students are headed.
2011
Annette Richard, Jillian Carey, Bethany Gourley, Kevin Alschuler, Lauren Hart, and Courtney Sprague Psychology Flora Hoodin Mental Health Services (MHS) for Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) Survivors: Provider and System Delivery Characteristics that Influence Satisfaction with Care
Little is known about the most effective format for MHS delivery for HCT survivors despite professional recommendations for vigilance and treatment of psychological distress. This study aimed to inform effective care by determining types of MHS with which survivors are most satisfied. Participants were 153 survivors who completed our online survey and reported seeking MHS during or after transplant, in the hospital, the community, or both. Of those who had multiple service providers, significantly more indicated that their most helpful therapist was community- rather than hospital-based (p < .001). Satisfaction with MHS was significantly correlated with ratings of how knowledgeable about HCT the therapist was in hospital-based but not community-based MHS (p<.001). Ratings of therapist knowledge were generally more favorable in hospital- than community-based MHS. These findings imply that consideration of setting and therapist HCT knowledge would be important in development of MHS systems of care for HCT survivors.
2011
Anthony J. Galati Health Sciences Stephen A. Sonstein Prevalence of Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified in breast carcinogenesis. Paraffin embedded tissue collected between January 2005 and December 2010 from the Mercy Specimen Bank in Toledo, Ohio, were sampled in order to look for the presence of HPV by p16 determination. Forty cases of triple negative breast cancer were identified. When tested for p16 by immunohistochemical staining, approximately 87% were positive, suggesting the possibility of HPV as a causative mechanism for these tumors. The intensity of p16 staining correlated with younger age, mimicking the demographic distribution of other HPV infections in communities. Although HPV DNA was not confirmed by in situ hybridization, its low viral load rendered it difficult to confirm. However, the possibility that the elevated p16 occurred as a result of HPV infection during carcinoma development cannot be ruled out and should be further studied.
2012
Anthony J. Layton Technology Studies Denise Pilato Hot Water
Steam laws, regulations, and standards were slowly adopted in the United States between 1816 and 1915, but the rate at which these were adopted was not fast enough to prevent serious steam accidents. This paper examines various steam traction (tractor) companies and asks how steam traction manufacturers promote the safe use of their equipment. To do this, primary sources will be examined. Trade catalogs dating back to 1893 and other steam tractor ephemera will be analyzed. The purpose of this presentation is to identify ways in which consumers were educated about their steam tractors.
2010
Antonio A. Barroso English Language and Literature Christine Neufeld The Unnamable" and "The Fissure within the Symbolic Order'
Twentieth-century horror author H. P. Lovecraft often wrote his tales about entities that were beyond the scope of human language. His tendency to label these creatures as 'indescribable' led to much criticism and his response in the form of the short story 'The Unnamable.' Justifying his claim about the limits of human language, the text serves not only as a clever jab at his critics but also as a clear statement of his beliefs regarding the inadequacy of language. Reading this through the lens of Lacanian psycholinguistics, Lovecraft's abandoning of language represents the inadequacy of the Symbolic to fully grasp and maintain encounters with the Real. This leads to a more devastating realization from both the Lovecraftian protagonist as well as the reader, as exposure to the Real and the subsequent failure of Symbolic systems calls into question the stability of Symbolic structures, most notably, concepts of reality itself.
2012
Anupama Jasthi Chemistry Deborah Heyl-Clegg and Hedeel Evans Using Peptides to Examine an Interface Between Two Pyrimidine Pathway Enzymes in Aquifex Aeolicus
Pyrimidine nucleotides play a critical role in cellular metabolism by serving as activated precursors of RNA and DNA. Aquifex aeolicus encodes pyrimidine pathway proteins homologous to those found in mesophilic organisms. The aspartate carbamoylase (ATC) domain catalyzes the second step in the pathway forming carbamoyl aspartate that is then converted by the dihydroorotase domain (DHO) to dihydroorotate. The DHO and ATC domains from A. aeolicus were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. The X-ray structure shows that E193 and G194 on the DHO domain are residues that might be critical for interaction with the ATC. I used enzyme kinetics to test the functional significance of this region in the presence of a peptide synthesized to mimic a loop on the DHO.
2012
Aquila Sams English Language and Literature Martin Shichtman The Tale of Two Taverns: Alcohol Consumption in The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale
Throughout The Canterbury Tales, there are multiple instances in which the characters engage in the consumption of alcohol. The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale both begin with the Canterbury pilgrims and the Pardoner's characters drinking alcohol, yet as he speaks, the Pardoner delivers a sermon on the dangers of drinking alcohol. Some critics have described the Pardoner as a mindless alcoholic, similar to the drunkards he preaches against. By exploring the history of alcohol consumption during the Middle Ages and the use of religious sermons to discourage peasants from drinking, readers are able to see that the Pardoner is not an alcoholic. The Pardoner is simply using his speech to make the pilgrims feel guilty about their sins, so he can make a profit pardoning them.
2012
Architha Ellenki Chemistry Deborah Heyl-Clegg The Effect of Incorporated Cholesterol on Disruption of Model Membranes by hIAPP
Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) has been implicated in Type II Diabetes development. The extent of membrane disruption and the presence of amyloidal clusters on the surface of pancreatic _-cells reflect the severity of the disease. The development of Type II Diabetes increases with age, and age effects changes in cell membrane structure. Cholesterol is believed to inhibit hIAPP permeabilization of POPG model lipid membranes. Contrary to our hypothesis, liposome dye leakage experiments on DOPC/DOPS model liposomes in our study demonstrate that with elevated membrane-incorporated cholesterol levels and increased hIAPP concentrations, membrane disruption actually increases. These results will lead to further studies to attempt to correlate other membrane changes with a cell's susceptibility to hIAPP.
2012
Ashley A. Wiedemann Psychology Karen K. Saules Substance Use Trajectories of Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients Enrolled in Substance Abuse Treatment
High rates of substance abuse treatment admissions have been observed among post-bariatric surgery patients. It is unknown, however, whether substance use problems typically precede, co-occur, or arise subsequent to bariatric surgery. To advance our understanding of this phenomenon, we conducted chart reviews on 73 post-bariatric surgery admissions to inpatient substance abuse treatment. The majority sought treatment primarily for alcohol (62.3%), an additional 9.4% for alcohol plus another drug, 13.2% opiates, 7.5% benzodiazepines, and 7.6% other. Among alcohol users, 61.9% engaged in heavy use prior to their bariatric surgery. Relative to those admitted for other addictions, those with alcohol dependence were more likely to have had heavy substance use prior to surgery (65% of alcohol dependent cases vs. 30.8% of non-alcohol dependent cases reported onset of heavy use of some type of drug/alcohol prior to the surgery, p<.05). Greater pre-surgical screening of substance use and educating patients about post-surgical risks is warranted.
2010
Ashley A. Wiedemann Psychology Karen Saules An Examination of Post-Bariatric Patients who Develop Problematic Substance Use after Surgery: New Onset Users Compared to Controls
Our laboratory has documented that post-bariatric surgery patients are overrepresented in substance abuse treatment programs. Notably, about half of such patients first develop onset of heavy substance use after surgery. We refer to these patients as New Onset Users (NOU's); this report will examine how NOU's differ from non-bariatric substance abuse patients (Controls, N=42). Despite no differences in current age, NOU's first used alcohol (33.37?13.47 vs. 18.18?6.66, p <.001), drugs (32.25?13.24 vs. 19.03?9.77, p <.01), became concerned about their substance use (41.94?10.97 vs. 27.45?13.50, p <.001, and entered treatment (44.18?10.38 vs. 34.19?14.95, p <.05) at significantly later ages than controls. NOU's also experienced a shorter latency from age of concern to age of treatment (1.71?1.99 vs. 6.74?9.16, p <.05). Results yield unexpectedly high rates of new onset substance abuse among post-bariatric surgery patients. Bariatric patients who experience new onset post-surgical substance use may differ from 'typical' substance abuse patients and may have unique treatment needs.
2011
Ashley A. Wiedemann Psychology Karen Saules Weight Loss Surgery Patients in Substance Abuse Treatment: Do They Differ from the Traditional Substance Abuse Inpatient?
Weight loss surgery (WLS) patients are overrepresented in substance abuse treatment programs. To understand unique factors that may affect WLS patients' substance abuse treatment prognosis, the present study compared WLS patients in a substance abuse treatment program with their non-weight loss (N-WLS) counterparts. WLS patients reported a significantly later mean age of first regular use of alcohol/drugs, concern about alcohol/drug use, and alcohol/drug treatment, and a significantly shorter time between having concerns about substance use and seeking treatment. Analyses comparing rates of other behavioral excesses did not yield significant differences between WLS and N-WLS patients. Results indicate that WLS patients who experience post-surgical substance use may differ from the 'typical' substance abuse patient in several ways that may reflect unique treatment needs.
2012
Ashley Boys Psychology Stephen Huprich Dysfunctional Personality Traits and their Relationship to Physical Therapy Outcome
Few studies have looked at personality traits and their relationship to physical therapy outcome. The present study addressed this by examining dysfunctional personality characteristics and how they are related to patients' level of improvement at their discharge from physical therapy treatment. Participants at a physical therapy treatment center completed questionnaires at their first three physical therapy appointments. Therapists completed a series of questions that asked them to rate the patients on several dimensions (e. g., whether the patient achieved the maximum benefit from his/her treatment). Results indicated that patients who displayed dependent personality features were perceived by their physical therapists as being more cooperative; physical therapists viewed their relationships with these patients more positively. Therapists tended to rate narcissistic individuals as having less successful treatment outcomes. Patients with higher scores on Dysfunctional Detachment were more likely to be viewed as difficult to work with by their physical therapists.
2010
Ashley Schwedt History and Philosophy Joseph Engwenyu Extreme Fear: Justifying Adults' Fright of the World Wide Web
Technological innovations were a key theme of the 20th century, with the most significant being the creation of the World Wide Web. As one of the century's most extreme and unforeseeable changes, the Internet created anxiety, excitement, curiosity, and fear. While adults remained uncertain, youth took hold of the opportunities the Internet provided and made the most of this new media form. Today, youth have taken complete ownership of the Internet and made it into something both empowering and dangerous. Gen Y, also called Net Gen, are growing up as the first generation to have accessible Internet since childhood. This new and provocative media form will lead to the mobilization of millions of youth and will create a new, highly powerful youth culture with endless means of access and freedom.
2012
Asif A. Rohela Political Science Sukru Koyluoglu Senior Centers in America
This paper creates a road map for senior center directors to follow in order to operate a productive center and outlines the basic services a center should provide, while suggesting guidelines for allocation of funding to accomplish a center's basic goal of providing social- and health-related services to seniors. This paper will include justifications for a municipally operated senior center. The paper has three major sections: (1) justification for a senior center within a community, (2) maintaining an effective organizational culture to provide the best services to the community, and (3) maintaining the interest of the community by making the senior center into a destination for people to visit.
2010
Ayse Hancer Engineering Technology Vijay Mannari Formulation of Soy-based UV Coatings Using Acrylated Soy Methyl Esters as Reactive Diluents
Acrylated soy-methylesters (ASME) are renewable sources that are environmentally friendly and may reduce the impact of global warming. In this presentation, ASME will be evaluated as reactive diluents in free-radical UV-cure coatings. Replacement of conventional reactive diluents from standard UV cure formulation with ASME in 10, 25, 50, 100% will be studied, and mechanical properties such as (a) viscosity effect, (b) film properties,?and (c) acrylic conversion will be evaluated. Two types of UV coatings will be studied: epoxy-based and polyurethane-based UV clear coatings.
2010

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61–80 of 654 abstracts