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Homecoming Student Scholar & Public Engagement Showcase

Persistent link for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/54847

The Homecoming Student Scholar & Public Engagement Showcase is an annual event celebrating the research, creative and outreach endeavors of members of the University community. The Showcase sponsors are: Office for Public Engagement; Office for Student Affairs; Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Office of the Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration; Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences; Office of Undergraduate Education; Office for Faculty and Academic Affairs; Office of the Vice President for Research; Office for Equity and Diversity; Office of Human Resources; The Graduate School; Council of Graduate Students; Graduate and Professional Student Association; and Minnesota Student Association.

This collection contains presentations made at the Homecoming Student Scholar & Public Engagement Showcase.

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Browsing Homecoming Student Scholar & Public Engagement Showcase by Type "Presentation"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 29
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    Adaptation: Culturally Sensitive Housing for Mexicans and Universal Design
    (2009-10-07) Karnes, Carol
    The Mexican population in Minneapolis has a unique cultural identity. They struggle with negative influences: economic inequality, language barriers, discrimination, and the reality of being a displaced people. They have strong cultural links. Adapting to life in the United States can be challenging for these people. Creating an affordable housing solution that gives them pride, helps them integrate, and provides them the opportunity to express their cultural identity is important. Being cognizant of the unique needs of culturally sensitive populations and implementing universal design solutions into the design of a single family residence was the primary outcome of this project.
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    Agricultural Biotechnology Companies and the Crops of the Poor
    (2009-10-07) Scott, Mary A.
    Critics claim that some of the world’s largest agricultural biotechnology companies are prolonging world hunger by making their innovations, for which they charge high technology fees and establish exclusive intellectual property rights, inaccessible to the poor. The significant implication in such assertions is that these firms are not concerned with the public good. What are ag-biotech companies doing that could improve agriculture for poor farmers around the world? What kinds of projects are they investing in, how are they organized, and with whom are they partnering? What, specifically, do the companies contribute? What are the results? Do these projects produce technology that is both helpful and accessible to the poor?
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    Complex Visual-Spatial Reproduction and Recall: Effects of Individual Differences and Information Processing Strategy Instructions
    (2009-10-07) Feijo, Alana M.
    This project has two AIMS: (1) To examine the effects of personality traits on copy and recall measures of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) Test. For example, does perfectionism influence the amount of time that individuals take in the copying portion of the ROCF? (2) To examine if performance accuracy on the ROCF is differentially affected by information processing strategy instructions that encourage participants to use relatively more analytic/controlled vs. nonanalytic/intuitive thinking, or to try to use both modes of thinking.
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    Computational Modeling of Protein Kinase A and Comparison with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data
    (2009-10-07) Shi, Lei; Veglia, Gianluigi
    Protein phosphorylation is fundamental in the modulation of myocardial contractility. Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase(SERCA) removes cytosolic Ca2+ to initiate relaxation, but the regulatory protein, phospholamban(PLN), decreases SERCA’s affinity for free Ca2+. Phosphorylation of PLN by Protein Kinase A (PKA) induces a relief of inhibition on SERCA and augments the rate of SERCA Ca2+ uptake. Here, we studied the interaction between PKA and PLN by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), computational docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Comparative simulations of PKA apo, binary and ternary states were performed, which provided molecular details to understand the mechanism of PKA substrate recognition.
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    Continuous Measures of Children's Speech Production: Visual Analog Scale and Equal Appearing Interval Scale Measures of Fricative Goodness
    (2009-10-07) Urberg-Carlson, Kari Elizabeth; Munson, Benjamin; Kaiser, Eden A.
    Children acquire speech sounds gradually, but the primary tool used to assess speech development, phonetic transcription, is by definition categorical. This presentation is part of a larger project, one of the goals of which is to develop novel perceptual methods for assessing children's speech production that capture continuity in speech-sound development.
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    Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences: Case Study Analysis of Minnesota, North Carolina and Kansas
    (2009-10-07) Hanzlik, Matthew
    The life sciences industry is a source of innovations in health, agriculture, and industrial technology. New life sciences businesses create high paying jobs, contribute to local economies, and develop innovations that can benefit society. The life sciences industry encompasses multiple, research-intensive industries. Due to the research-intensive aspects of the life sciences businesses, creating a new life science business is a difficult process. State governments interested in facilitating growth of their life science industry have developed strategies to make starting a life science business easier. Previous research has identified multiple factors that are required to start a research-intensive business. This research will apply those factors in a case-study analysis of Minnesota, North Carolina and Kansas, three states with life sciences industries at various stages of development. The research will explore specific state-level policies in each of these states aimed at facilitating entrepreneurship in the life science industry, highlighting the policy development process and measureable outcomes.
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    EPR Analysis of Myosin Structural Dynamics
    (2009-10-07) Harris, Robert
    The structural dynamics of myosin during muscle contraction can be discerned in situ through site directed spin labeling of myosin and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. To achieve in situ measurements, spin labeled myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) is exchanged for endogenous RLC in rabbit psoas fiber bundles. In order to ensure the structural integrity of exchanged muscle fibers, functional measurements must be done before and after exchange. After verifying function after RLC exchange, we can use EPR to measure the orientational dynamics of the RLC in a variety of states during muscle contraction.
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    Gender Differences in Developing Romantic Relationships: Intimacy and Commitment
    (2009-10-07) Steele, Ryan D.
    Are there gender differences in the relation between adolescent romantic relationship intimacy and later romantic relationship functioning?
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    Homelessness and End of Life Care: A Qualitative Analysis of the Living Wills of Underprivileged Individuals
    (2009-10-07) Grengs, Leah
    The major objective of this study is to test an advance directive (AD) intervention in the homeless population of Minneapolis and St. Paul. This project will address the end of life (EOL) concerns of homeless people and provide the basis to test the needs of others who are separated from their loved ones and/or experience episodic healthcare.   Estimates of the number of homeless people in the United States range up to several million. In the Twin Cities metro area over 4,000 youth and adults are in temporary housing programs and over 600 are unsheltered.   “Homeless” is defined as having no regular place to live (i.e. having to stay in a shelter, a hotel paid for with a voucher, a friend’s house, an abandoned building or outdoors).   Among disadvantaged populations, homeless individuals experience the greatest risk of death, barriers to healthcare and lack of resources and close relationships deemed necessary for proper EOL care.   Homeless individuals are admitted to the emergency room and hospitalized at almost four times the rate of the general population of the United States.   Although homeless individuals experience such high rates of mortality and hospitalization, their attitudes, values and desires regarding EOL care had yet to be studied. Their concerns have generally been ignored, since most EOL care has focused on the concerns of the white middle class. In general, homeless people have been found to be very willing to describe their preferences and concerns and eager to have a voice in what the future may bring in the event of serious illness or death. Homeless people have been found to have very unique concerns regarding healthcare and EOL care, since they frequently witness sudden and violent death on the streets.
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    If I Take Your Perspective, Will I Understand You Better?
    (2009-10-07) Ranson, Jana
    The Davis multidimensional empathy model features two empathy components: affective (emotional concern, sympathy, caring, compassion) and cognitive (inferring the mental states of others). The cognitive-empathy (CE) capacity to conceptualize and understand another’s point of view - to be "in another’s shoes" - is called perspective-taking (PT). The proficiency with which one infers another’s thoughts and feelings is known as empathic accuracy. One’s capacity for CE/PT should therefore predict EA; however, studies have shown this not to be the case. EA and PT researchers have yet to define the controversial relation between EA and CE/PT. Whereas previous studies have defined PT as a capacity based on measures of dispositional CE self-report scales — and failed to reveal a PT-EA link — this study instead defined PT as a tendency to make spontaneous, literal first-person inferences, and measured this tendency based on one’s actual use of such inferences during an EA task.
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    Lead from Spent Ammunition: A Source of Poisoning in Bald Eagles
    (2009-10-07) Cruz, Luis; Redig, Patrick T.; Smith, Donald R.
    A 12-year (1996-2008) retrospective study of lead poisoning in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was conducted to test the hypothesis that spent lead from ammunition, present in the carcasses and gutpiles of white-tailed deer, represents an important source of lead exposure. Sample size consisted of n=300 lead poisoning cases from 1,150 eagles admitted.
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    Minnesota Agri-tourism: Status and Interest
    (2009-10-07) Schuweiler, Andrea; Gustafson, Kent
    Agri-tourism is defined as a set of activities that occurs when people link travel with the products, services, and experiences of agriculture. Examples of agri-tourism include, but are not limited to, farm stays, hay rides, wine trails, farm tours, and farm festivals. Agri-tourism can increase farm revenue, lead to a more diversified business, and stimulate local economies. In 2009, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center, in partnership with Renewing the Countryside, the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Minnesota Grown program of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture conducted a survey of Minnesota farms to learn about agri-tourism businesses, activities, and opportunities. The information gained from the survey is designed to help the University of Minnesota Tourism Center and its partner organizations provide better educational and marketing opportunities for agri-tourism in Minnesota.
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    Modeling the Response of Arctic Vegetation to Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
    (2009-10-07) Cassidy, Emily
    An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is contributing to planetary warming that is strongest over high latitude land areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and strong warming have led to changes in vegetation distribution, permafrost depth, and snow cover, which significantly affect the interactions between terrestrial ecosystems and the climate through biophysical and biogeochemical processes. With a continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions and additional warming in the high latitudes, uncertainty exists as to how the Arctic biosphere will respond in the coming decades and whether Arctic ecosystems will remain a carbon sink or instead become a source of carbon to the atmosphere. Elevated carbon dioxide and climate change can affect vegetation growth through changing the assimilation of carbon dioxide and the respiration of carbon from the vegetation and soil. Using a dynamic global vegetation model (IBIS), potential changes in both the biophysical and biogeochemical processes of Arctic vegetation were analyzed to determine how future climate change and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide may alter their functioning and ability to store carbon.
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    Multicompartment Micelles from Miktoarm Star Block Terpolymers
    (2009-10-07) Liu, Chun; Lodge, Timothy P.; Hillmyer, Marc A.
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    Multivariable Analysis of Hard Anodization
    (2009-10-07) Norby, Gregory
    Anodized Aluminum Oxide (AAO) nanopores are used as molds in the electrodeposition of metal nanowires. The diameter of the pores can greatly affect the wires’ properties. The Hard Anodization (HA) method was employed: higher 2nd anodization voltage, faster sample production. The 1st and 2nd anodization steps were analyzed: powerful effect on diameter, relative lack of understanding of their effect with HA.
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    The Perception of Vietnamese-American Women Towards Cervical Cancer and Prevention Methods
    (2009-10-07) Nguyen-Tran, Thuy Duong
    The purpose of this project was to learn about the perceptions Vietnamese-American women have towards cervical cancer and prevention methods. In addition, this project sought to better understand barriers Vietnamese-American women may have in receiving preventative care, such as Pap tests, and ways to increase awareness and usage of preventative medicine.
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    The PKC Inhibitor Gö 6976 Blocks C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Activation of Guanylyl Cyclase B
    (2009-10-07) Lou, Xiaoying
    This study characterizes the effects of the widely used protein kinase C inhibitor, Gö 6976, on NPR-B guanylyl cyclase activity as a means to identify its inhibitory mechanisms.
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    Plant Signaling Compounds Alter Secondary Metabolite Production Among Antagonistic Streptomyces
    (2009-10-07) Bakker, Matthew; Salomon, Christine; Kinkel, Linda
    Streptomycetes have been implicated in the control of soil-borne plant pathogens, and are known to produce an extensive array of antimicrobial secondary metabolites. We investigated the hypothesis that plants manipulate the production of secondary metabolites by streptomycetes. We tested a collection of diverse Streptomyces isolates for responses to potential signaling molecules produced by plants, including plant hormones, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and crude root exudates. Secondary metabolite production was investigated with the use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bioassays for inhibitory activity. We found evidence that streptomycetes respond to plant-produced compounds with altered patterns of secondary metabolite production. Streptomyces isolates in our study had the ability to chemically modify and produce close analogs of plant-derived compounds. The production of similar chemical compounds may facilitate cross-kingdom communication. Our work suggests the potential for plants to manipulate the activities of soil microbial communities, which may confer a selective advantage in suppression of plant pathogens. These results concur with studies from many different systems showing that microbial activity is tightly linked with the health and functioning of higher organisms.
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    The Politics of Space Dominance: Weaponizing Orbital Space
    (2009-10-07) Zimmerman, Joseph
    Throughout history, warfare has essentially been based on the holding or taking of one’s position on land, water, and just recently in the air. In today’s world the new frontier of orbital space is slowly becoming the latest addition to this list of the precious places which are vehemently fought over by humans. Satellites are now the foundation on which commerce, communication, warfare and other vital domains are built. To protect the United States’ space systems, the Department of Defense (DOD) is funding several programs which have the objective to keep space a safe place for the United States to operate. These purpose of these programs can be called Space Control, and the aim in my research was to discover as much as I could about these programs. The funding for these programs is somewhat large yet not enormous, with the amount of money requested for RDT&E in Space Control at approximately $2164.1 million, which is 13.4% of the requested funds for RDT&E of Space Weapons as a whole. Of the programs devoted to this field, three programs stand out as being on the cutting edge, yet they are also representative of Space Control as a whole. These programs are Counterspace Systems, Front-end Robotics Enabling Near-term Demonstration, and Starfire Optical Range. In this poster I will go into detail about Counterspace Systems, Front-end Robotics Enabling Near-term Demonstration (FREND), and Starfire Optical Range. Counterspace Systems and Starfire Optical Range are Program Elements of the United States Air Force, meaning they consist of multiple projects while FREND is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program which does not consist of any other programs besides itself. I also summarize six other programs, of which five are USAF Program Elements and one is a DARPA program. After that I put these and Space Control in context with other Space Weapon applications and the Department of Defense. At the end I theorize about the outlook for the future of Space Control of the future of this research project. All monetary figures used are for Fiscal Year 2009.