Abstracts

This paper looks at social variables in order to determine if known brownfield remediation has any causal effects in their trends. The poverty rate was the only significant social variable that was affected by the percentage of remediated brownfields. Nine OLS models are designed to study the relationship and should be used in conjunction by economic developers (EDs) when planning brownfield redevelopment. Many Michigan municipalities are not in accordance with the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Enhanced Access to Public Records Act (EAPRA) when denying or charging a fee to researchers and academics from state universities for access to municipality owned GIS databases. The public is pulled between a public interest, a Right to Know and privacy. A closer understanding of the laws could encourage municipalities to update their policies and bring their actions in line with state regulations.

According to the New York Times, the introduction of Google Maps signaled the arrival of Internet-based geographic information systems to the broader public imagination. Technically, the rapid developments of web services technologies has provided solutions for this new generation of interactive maps and, together with map service technology, have given cartographers the tools needed to design maps that meet the changing expectations of people. This paper describes how the new technologies were used to create an online interactive campus map for Eastern Michigan University. The map caters to the needs of the campus community as well as visitors to the campus. Its main functions include allowing users to quickly locate buildings, parking lots, or even campus events; find the shortest route between places; and calculate distance between points.

One of the most important tools in crime prevention and safety is one that gets an accurate and timely picture of what is going on for people within the community. With the aid of Geographic Information System (GIS), we are already able to combine geographic data with police report data and then display the crime information on a map accessible by the public. Furthermore, the burgeoning web 2.0 technology, which possesses the user-create web content spirit, offers the possibility to encourage a broad public participation in order to facilitate and supplement the system at new levels. We will discuss a framework for the design of a web-based GIS public participation mapping system for area crimes. We also discuss the values and unsolved questions of putting the system into practical application on EMU's campus.

Logistic regression is one of the most popular techniques for biostatistical research which models log odds of an event by a linear predictor. In a binary logistic regression, the dependent variable is dichotomous and the explanatory variables are categorical, continuous, or both. A logistic regression equation can be used to predict the probability of occurrence of an event by fitting a logistic curve. The regression coefficients in the regression equation are used to estimate the odds ratio for each explanatory variable in the model. In this presentation, inference procedures relating to parameters in the logistic regression model will be revisited, and real life examples will be presented for interpretational purposes.

Chinese economy is a prime example of rapid growth among developing countries. With its dynamic population, China became one of the largest exporting countries in a couple of decades. The value of Chinese Yuan, which is artificially kept low by the Chinese government in the past, is considered to be the predominant factor for the recent Chinese trade surpluses. However, since July 21, 2005, China has started to loosen its exchange rate policy, and Chinese Yuan has been appreciating since then. This paper analyzes the relationship between the value of Chinese Yuan and China's balance of trade. The results suggest that there is a significant relationship between the value of Chinese Yuan and the balance of trade. Appreciation of Chinese Yuan is found to decrease the balance of trade surplus in China.

To find out whether bird-keeping is a risk factor for lung cancer, researchers conducted a case-control study of patients at four hospitals in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1985. Forty-nine patients under 65 years of age with lung cancer were compared to ninety-eight community-matched controls. Data were collected on the sex, age, socioeconomic status, years of smoking and bird-keeping status of the subjects. A fitted logistic regression model was selected to analyze the data. It was found that smoking and bird-keeping were significantly related to the incidence of lung cancer. The odds ratio for lung cancer among people who kept birds as pets was estimated to be 4.4 after adjusting for the effect of smoking. The results of this study suggest that there is a strong association between lung cancer and bird-keeping.

Scattered throughout the English countryside are the ruins of hundreds of Catholic religious houses. Prior to 1536 these abbeys, priories, nunneries, and monasteries flourished as the economic, social, and religious centers of many English towns and villages. Yet from 1536 through 1539, King Henry VIII and his government closed more than eight hundred religious houses in England and Wales in one of the largest instances of land redistribution in English history. But why did Henry VIII take such drastic measures to suppress the Catholic Church in England? Hadn't his desire for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon been Henry's prime motivation for the Anglican split with Rome? Research indicates that Henry's suppression of the monasteries was motivated by precedent, lack of resistance, and the overwhelming desire to accumulate personal wealth. This presentation will explore what Henry VIII gained _ and lost _ with his decision to dissolve the monasteries.

It is important to understand the genetic changes causing uncontrolled cell proliferation leading to tumor formation. Common fragile sites can break under stressful conditions, resulting in inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. One such site is FRA3B, located within the fragile histidine triad protein (FHIT) tumor suppressor gene. We have a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) inserted into Saccharomyces cerevisiae that contains a 500 Kb segment of FHIT, containing FRA3B. Under conditions of replication stress, the fragile site insert breaks exclusively within a small region located within intron 5 of the FHIT gene. We document the narrowing of break positioning within intron 5 using telomere PCR and sequencing.

In Renaissance Florence between the 1430s and 1560s, Uccello, del Castagno, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vasari, and Bronzino created artworks with historical and martial themes for the city's most important public spaces. The works were commissioned by the government to serve the needs of the state, but the role and content of these works changed depending on the political climate in which they were commissioned. My research will show that in the period of Medici rule, art was tied closely to patronage and rewarded individual service; in the Republican era of 1494-1512, it called on citizens to perform their civic duty; and in the era of ducal rule from 1531, it signaled the consolidation of authoritarian and dynastic power.

From the beginning, starting with the earliest film by Thomas Edison, persons with disabilities have been represented in American films in a less than flattering manner, culminating in the stereotypic, ableist manner in which those with disabilities are represented in major motion pictures today. These depictions are troubling. Many Americans do not know anyone with a significant disability, and the only information they have ever received about those with disabilities comes from the mass media. If this is how those with disabilities are represented, what does this say about our society and our perceptions of people with disabilities, and what impact do these images have on how people with disability see themselves in our society?

This study examines the use of technology to facilitate knowledge sharing in Oakland County, Michigan. The study examined the opportunities that may be available to use technology in promoting knowledge sharing between the County and the cities, villages, and townships (CVTs) within the County. A survey was developed to examine the collaborative enterprises the CVTs have been or currently were involved in, the use or potential use of knowledge sharing, and the access to and use of information technology within the organizations. The literature reflected that the use of knowledge sharing was prevalent in local government as was the increasing use of technology to facilitate that knowledge sharing. The increased emphasis on the use of enterprise business processes in information technology was discussed. This is an area of research that is developing but not widely available. Opportunities for future research included the impact of further development of enterprise based applications to facilitate knowledge sharing and its use in local government. Many opportunities for future applications of such collaborative enterprises were apparent in the responses provided by the survey. One limitation of this study included the lack of specific demographic information for the respondents. In addition, the majority of the responses were by officials and managers, leaving information by clerical, technical, or other workers largely unavailable.

In this study I explore the role of family and social influences on the college-choice decision-making process of African American male students. This process encompasses a variety of experiences that shape a child's predisposition towards college beginning in kindergarten. A literature review of the factors that affect African American males depicts personal and environmental challenges that permeate poor urban communities. By focusing on the voices of college students through interviews and exploring the perceptions of their parents, the findings of the study highlight the unique obstacles that African American males must overcome to enroll in college. Key themes that emerge speak to the importance of their complex and challenging life experiences, including coping with social disorder, and factors that encourage discourage students in their pursuit of higher education.

Located at the north end of Ingalls Mall, the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies building is one of the most elegant and unusual structures on the University of Michigan's central campus. Designed in the sleek 'stripped classicism' of the late Art Deco period, its smooth, modern limestone exterior features just a light touch of classical detailing, which is sometimes so subtle it is almost hidden. The inside of the building is much more ornate and colorful, yet many of the design elements on the exterior are carried through the interior to create a coherent and pleasant whole. Built after World War I, during the Great Depression and just before the start of World War II, Rackham reflects the unique style and values of its time. It stands as a memorial to the life of Horace Rackham and represents the classical scholarship and forward-thinking research of the University.

There are many factors that go into a traditional organizational audit when using the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire. However, when analyzing highly competitive environments, some factors are more important than others. I argue that feedback is the most important and explain this in relation to job and communication satisfaction in a competitive environment such as a collegiate sports setting. In this study, participants from the EMU's Varsity Rowing Team were administered two different questionnaires: one a pared-down version of the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire and the other an extension of the first based on responses given. Interviews followed, providing validation for the results of the questionnaires. Analysis of data revealed that in this highly competitive environment, feedback satisfaction is a highly valued and important factor in conjunction with job and communication satisfaction.

Most fire-retardant chemistry developed earlier exhibits toxicity problems and is easily removed during laundering. This study aims to develop nontoxic flame-retardant fabric using spiro cyclic pentaerythriol diphosphoryl chloride (SPDPC) as a flame-retardant component applied on the textile substrate. A feature of SPDPC is the six-member cyclic phosphate structure, which contributes to its high yield during synthesis and its general stability apart from its tendency to form char when heated. Synthesis of SPDPC was done in lab reaction kettle by reacting pentaerythriol and phosphoryl chloride. Further reaction of SPDPC with cotton was carried out in dimethyl formamide (DMF) at various mass ratios. Treated cotton will be tested for its flame-retardant and tensile strength properties. This will produce a fire-retardant fabric without any toxic substances. This will benefit many communities as well as combat army personnel.

While medical school training arms students with a wide array of technical skills, a physician also needs the ability to communicate clearly with and understand the viewpoint of the patient. Previous research has demonstrated that role-playing techniques can serve as effective tools for teaching these skills, but the methods have varying degrees of success. I have designed a series of lessons based on improvisational theater exercises, tailored to meet the specific needs of aspiring physicians. This paper focuses on three key areas: nonverbal communication, an understanding of status, and the impact of risk and trust on the patient/physician relationship. Implementing this program will help to develop physicians with stronger communication skills, leading to better patient compliance and ultimately improving health outcomes.

While medical school training arms students with a wide array of technical skills, a physician also needs the ability to communicate clearly with and understand the viewpoint of the patient. Previous research has demonstrated that role-playing techniques can serve as effective tools for teaching these less tangible skills, but the methods have varying degrees of success based on the level of student engagement, a student's role-playing capabilities, and the perceived value of the work. In order to address this weakness, I have designed a series of lessons based on improvisational theatre exercises, tailored to meet the specific needs of aspiring physicians. This paper focuses on three key areas: nonverbal communication, an understanding of status, and the impact of risk and trust on the patient/physician relationship. Implementing this program will help to develop physicians with stronger communication skills, leading to better patient compliance and ultimately improving health outcomes.

The women of Zimbabwe, who participated in the struggle for independence, fought a war on two fronts. They battled Rhodesia for the collective freedom of the indigenous population while simultaneously grappling with local African customs that restricted the personal liberties of women. Although the former was successfully achieved by obtaining independence in 1980, the latter conflict was not favorably resolved for women. Wartime liberties afforded to female combatants were both equivocal and short-lived. The politics of local culture and tradition superseded the promise of true equality for women. More concisely, the fundamental structure of traditional roles between men and women were not significantly or permanently improved. Issues related to marriage, lobola, sex, and birth control were dictated by a society steeped in male dominance. Consequently, female combatants returning from the war re-entered a society that did not embrace the liberties they had known or values they aspired to.

Language is often said to be not just a means of communication but also a means of building and maintaining relationships and harmony in the society. In cross-cultural encounters, native and non-native speakers of English often find themselves to be perceived as rude and impolite. In this session, the presenter reports on a case study investigating how native English speakers of North American English (two participants, one male and one female) and four non-native speakers of English (two males and two females) from other parts of the world (Ghana, Romania, Peru, and Taiwan) made refusals and how they were perceived by their interlocutors. It was worth noting that the two native speakers of English made refusal more directly and tended to mollify their refusals by suggesting an alternative. In contrast, the four non-native speakers of English tended to be indirect and indecisive, and when they did make direct refusals (which was rare), they hardly suggested any alternative. Findings of this study have implications for ESL curriculum development and instruction.

This review of research examines relationships among technological communication, learning, and social development. In order to keep educational fields current, one must understand the value technological communication has with students inside and outside of classrooms. The research in this review is intended to assist educational professionals in assessing what motivates, pressures, and academically stimulates students using various forms of technological communication. With a greater understanding of available research, educational professionals may adapt pedagogy in order to remain current and eliminate obsolete teaching methods.