Table of Contents
Schedule………...3
Welcome………..…4
Key to Abstract Numbers………...…..5
Abstracts Business……….…………..7
Education……….…………8
Engineering and Applied Science………...10
Letters, Arts and Sciences………...16
Nursing and Health Sciences………...………..27
Public Affairs………...….…….31
NISSSC Institute………32
Index of Authors………34
Featured Speakers………..37
Mountain Lion Research Day 2010 Schedule
Presenter Registration
7:30-8:30 A.M.
Posters are available for
viewing all morning
Poster presentations
8:30-11:30 A.M.
Featured Speaker
9:00-9:15 A.M.
Dr. Rebecca Webb,
Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering
Featured Speaker
10:00-10:15 A.M.
Dr. David Havlick,
Geography &
Environmental Studies
Featured Speaker
11:00-11:15 A.M.
Dr. Anatoliy Pinchuk,
Physics
Luncheon
Welcome
11:45 A.M.
Chancellor Pam
Shockley-Zalabak
Keynote speaker
Dr.
Lindy
Crawford,
Education
Sponsored by the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor
for Research and Innovationand El Pomar Institute for
2nd Annual Mountain Lion Research Day Dear Friends and Colleagues: Welcome to the 2nd annual Mountain Lion Research Day. There are two major objectives for the Mountain Lion Research Day: 1. To allow UCCS faculty to become better acquainted with the research being conducted by colleagues at the University with the hope of stimulating cross‐campus collaborations. 2. To introduce potential partners in the Pikes Peak region to the research happening at UCCS. As a "regional" university, it behooves UCCS researchers to engage with entities in Colorado Springs. UCCS is important to the future growth of Southern Colorado in many ways, not the least of which is by being a vibrant research university providing support for the companies who are already here or who may relocate here. Research Day is a showcase of projects across the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus. Thanks to all faculty, students, and staff involved. Let me take this opportunity to greet you. Have a great and productive day. Thank you for participating in Mountain Lion Research Day.
Dr. Michael Larson
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and
Innovation
Key to Abstract Numbers Table
Code No. Category Discipline
2.01 Business Accounting
2.02 Business Business Administration
2.03 Business Business Communication
2.04 Business Business Law
2.05 Business Finance
2.06 Business Human Resource Management
2.07 Business Information Systems
2.08 Business International Business
2.09 Business Management
2.10 Business Marketing
2.11 Business Operations & Tech Management
2.12 Business Professional Golf Management
2.13 Business Quantitative Methods
2.14 Business Sport Management
3.01 Education Counseling & Human Services
3.02 Education Curriculum
3.03 Education Leadership
3.04 Education Special Education
3.05 Education Professional Teacher Education 4.01 Engineering & Applied Sci Computer Science
4.02 Engineering & Applied Sci Computer Security 4.03 Engineering & Applied Sci Electrical Engineering
4.04 Engineering & Applied Sci Game Design and Development 4.05 Engineering & Applied Sci Mechanical Engineering
4.06 Engineering & Applied Sci Space Operations 5.01 Letters, Arts & Sciences Anthropology
5.02 Letters, Arts & Sciences Biology and Bioenergetics 5.03 Letters, Arts & Sciences Chemistry
5.04 Letters, Arts & Sciences Communication 5.05 Letters, Arts & Sciences Economics 5.06 Letters, Arts & Sciences English
5.07 Letters, Arts & Sciences Energy Science
5.08 Letters, Arts & Sciences Geography & Environmental Studies 5.09 Letters, Arts & Sciences Geology
5.10 Letters, Arts & Sciences Gerontology 5.11 Letters, Arts & Sciences History 5.12 Letters, Arts & Sciences Journalism
5.13 Letters, Arts & Sciences Languages and Culture 5.14 Letters, Arts & Sciences Library Science
5.15 Letters, Arts & Sciences Mathematics 5.16 Letters, Arts & Sciences Philosophy 5.17 Letters, Arts & Sciences Physics
Code No. Category Discipline 5.18 Letters, Arts & Sciences Political Science 5.19 Letters, Arts & Sciences Psychology 5.20 Letters, Arts & Sciences Sociology
5.21 Letters, Arts & Sciences Sports & Leisure Studies 5.22 Letters, Arts & Sciences VAPA-Art
5.23 Letters, Arts & Sciences VAPA-Theatre 5.24 Letters, Arts & Sciences VAPA-Music
5.25 Letters, Arts & Sciences Women’s & Ethnic Studies 6.01 Nursing & Health Sciences Nursing
6.02 Nursing & Health Sciences Health Sciences 7.01 School of Public Affairs Criminal Justice 7.02 School of Public Affairs Public Administration 8.01 National Institute of Science,
Space, and Security Centers (NISSSC)
Center for Homeland Security (CHS)
8.02 National Institute of Science, Space, and Security Centers (NISSSC)
Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (CSTEME/PIPES) 8.03 National Institute of Science,
Space, and Security Centers (NISSSC)
Center for Space Studies (CSS)
8.04 National Institute of Science, Space, and Security Centers (NISSSC)
Trauma, Health and Hazards Center (THHC)
Business Accounting 2.01 Business Administration 2.02 Business Communications 2.03 Business Law2.04 Finance 2.05
Human Resource Management 2.06 International Business 2.08
Management 2.09 Marketing 2.10
02.10.01 Performance and Success in Emerging Markets
Elizabeth Cronin, student, Marketing
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Carol Finnegan, Business
In a rapidly developing world, businesses strive to achieve successful growth and excellence in their performance. Many businesses seek out new opportunities in countries with high potential economic growth. In particular, emerging markets represent attractive locations for expansion and achievement of long term success. While the potential of developing economies is large and provides great opportunities to those businesses willing to invest time and effort into foreign markets, businesses need to consider strategic country and firm factors when planning their entrance into one of them. Performance and success will depend on how well key country factors are taken in consideration and how well companies are willing to adapt their own business strategies. This research will show the relationship that important drivers of expansion have to businesses performance and success.
Operations and Tech Management 2.11 Professional Golf Management 2.12 Quantitative Methods 2.13
Education
Counseling and Human Services 3.01 Special Education 3.04
Curriculum in Education 3.02 Professional Teacher Education 3.05 Leadership 3.03
03.03.01 Equity and Adequacy in Colorado School Finance: A Study of Categorical Funding for English Language Learners
Dr. Al Ramirez, Faculty, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Mike Siegrist, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Patrick Krumholz, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations
Colorado uses a complex system of formulas and programs to distribute over six billion dollars annually to fund the public schools. This study analyzed the fiscal equity between school districts that serve populations of English language learners (ELL) and those that serve few or none of these students. ELL students are found in concentrations in some urban, rural and suburban school districts around the state. A weighted student enrollment calculation was used to analyze funding data. Findings from the study revealed that school districts with populations of ELL students had fewer resources overall to educate all students in the district. Because of inadequate funding for ELL students, school districts with larger populations of ELL students had proportionately less resources per pupil than school districts that did not have to offer such educational services. The study concludes that funding is not equitable between ELL serving school districts and those school districts that do not educate such students.
03.03.02 Teacher Development and Evaluation: A Study of Policy and Practice in Colorado
Dr. Al Ramirez, Faculty, Leadership, Research, and Foundations James Smith, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Shelmon Brown, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Michael Lamphere, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations Jennifer Pierceall Herman, PhD student, Leadership, Research, and Foundations
This study used a sample of teacher evaluation systems from 30 school districts in Colorado in an effort to judge the viability of these systems in promoting better teaching and school improvement. School districts represented in the study included large urban, small rural and suburban. The school districts were geographically distributed throughout Colorado. School district teacher evaluation policy and evaluation tools were reviewed using a
conceptual analysis. The team constructed a scoring rubric to measure elements of effectiveness among four conceptual domains: scope of assessment; instructional practice; systemic linkage; and, policy enhancement. Results of the study showed that most school districts scored low in all four conceptual domain areas and used teacher evaluation practices for compliance purposes as opposed to a vehicle for improved instruction, teacher growth or school improvement. 03.03.03 The Millennial Generation Gets Drunk: The Perceptions and Experiences of College Students and the Trends of Their Alcohol Use
Lauri Armstrong, student, Leadership/SAHE Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sylia Martinez, Education
The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions and actual experiences college students from the Millennial Generation have with alcohol. Students from Colorado College (a small liberal arts institution) were surveyed and participated in focus groups. The students
answered questions about their personal experiences with alcohol and substance use, and their perceptions of peer use and abuse in comparison to generations before them. Trends indicate that the millennial generation binge drinks and participates in extreme behaviors more frequently than any other generation. The perceptions of the general population were compared with Resident Advisor perceptions of alcohol use within this generation. The findings indicate that Resident Advisors perceive their generation to have a “problem” with alcohol, while the general student population’s perception is that their generation is no different than all the generations who came to college before them.
Engineering and Applied Science Computer Science 4.01
04.01.02 MUMS (a Measure of Human Motion Similarity)
Francisco Torres, student, Computer Science Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ed Chow, Computer Science
In areas like rehabilitation, analysis of emotion in dancing, prevention of injures in sports medicine, entertainment industry (i.e. making movies or videogames), etc, the analysis of human motion is a very important component of their process. This proposed word presents a way to measure human motion similarity that can be applied on those areas.
Even knowing that human body parts are not rigid structures, human body is often considered as a system of rigid links connected by joints when analyzing human motion: length of links are measured and positions of joints are calculated as a preprocessing step, after which the
calculation of forces, velocities, accelerations for specific parts of the body takes place and those are then compared against the expected results. This work avoids the preprocessing step by considering the human body as a generator of 3-dimensional curves that are compared to a model to measure their similarity. An existing method for representing 3-dimensional curves has been enhanced for its use in this new model, and the use of human movement notation in the model provides a granular analysis of the human motion time/limb based.
This work is part of a bigger scope of inter-discipline research that includes the evaluation of the smart rotation chair and effort performed at the Palisades high tech Nursing Center (Dr. Mary Ann Kluge, Michelle LeCompte, Jessica Hildebrand), and Human Motion Tracking and
Reasoning for Rehabilitation project sponsored by TNUA (Dr. James Carollo, GAIT Analysis Lab at The Children Hospital, Denver; Dr. Edward Chow, Dr. Semwal, Dr. Knight at UCCS; Professor Yunyu Wang at Colorado College)
Computer Security 4.02 Electrical Engineering 4.03
04.03.01 Low Power Unidirectional Transmitter for Leaf Sensor
Dr. Mark Wickert, Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Jennifer Price, Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering Matt Aldrich, student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Zane Kirk, student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
The principal objective of this project is to integrate a low power, low mass wireless transmitter to the Leaf SensorTM device. In conjunction with the wireless transmitter, a base station is developed to receive the transmitted signals and display the information to the user. The Leaf SensorTM is a solid-state phytometric device that operates by measuring the leaf’s thickness, represented as a Hall voltage. By measuring the leaf thickness, the Leaf SensorTM indicates the plant’s water deficit stress (WDS) level. The integration of wireless technology allows the user to deploy multiple sensors and immediately ascertain WDS level across an array of sensor equipped plants. Moreover, the absence of wires makes this application beneficial to home gardeners and greenhouse applications, and possible large-scale agriculture settings. To facilitate operational efficiency, and more importantly extend battery life, the solution relies on the use low-power microcontrollers and transmit only low-power radios.
The Leaf SensorTM device was developed for NASA by the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2007 and is licensed to Agrihouse of Berthoud, CO. The work is largely based on Hans Dieter Seelig's 2005 CU-Boulder doctoral thesis in aerospace engineering. The technology was
originally designed for use in conserving water for plant growth during long-term space flight. 04.03.02 Multisensory Feedback System
Jessica Detwiler, student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Josh Lawson, student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Sean McCormick, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mark Wickert, Electrical and Computer Engineering
The multisensory feedback system is a first generation prototype designed to translate sound, specifically musical productions, into light and touch. The main application of the system is to aid young students with physical or cognitive disabilities in experiencing music the way people without impairments do. Music is filtered into frequency sub-bands and made available to the students via a light display and tactile output. By employing this method, students who are impaired will be able to translate a musical experience via alternative methods. They will be able to perceive rhythm, volume, and even to a certain degree pitch through colors schemes and the amount of lights turned on at any given moment. The tactile means augments the perception of rhythm already being transmitted to the student through the lights. The tactile channels are needed in the specific case that the student is both blind and deaf.
The multisensory feedback system can additionally be used to establish a new mode of communication between the student and teacher, and therefore improve the student-teacher relationship itself.
Furthermore, this new system is designed to get the students remaining senses to interact with each other in ways not possible before. For example, if the student is deaf, he or she will begin to perceive rhythm both visually and tactilely. Through memory, the student will develop the insight to infer what rhythm, or a beat, feels like through sight and vice versa. People who are not deaf learn rhythm through hearing. 04.03.03 Adaptive Load Matching for Power Amplifier Using Tunable Ferroelectric Capacitors
Yulan Zhang, Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. T. S. Kalkur, Electrical and Computer Engineering
In order to transfer maximum power to the load from transistor, RF amplifiers need matching networks. Ferroelectric capacitors based on materials like Barium Strontium Titanate offer the flexibility of implementing voltage tunable capacitors. In this paper, we will discuss the various power amplifier architectures based on tunable BST capacitors for adaptive impedance matching. We will discuss the role of BST capacitor parameters such as tunability, Q factor and
non-linearity on the characteristics of impedance matching for power amplifiers. The simulated power amplifier characteristics will be compared with the fabricated amplifier on RF bread board.
04.03.04 A Modern Control Systems Solution for Geometric Distortions Due to Atmospheric Effects
Shane Kirkbride, Student, Electrical Engineering
This poster presents a process of developing algorithms in which modern control techniques will be used to stabilize an image sequence which has been distorted due to atmospheric effects; that is, we geometrically stabilize an image. Currently there are several image processing based techniques which are used to geometrically stabilize images. However, there is little known work in the controls systems field which addresses the process of geometrically stabilizing an image. We build on previous work in which an image is turned into a state space for blur estimation. The 2-D state space approach is being revisited due to today’s high speed FPGAs and CPUs which allow for real time algorithms at this level. It is our intent to take these methods and develop a modern control systems solution which stabilizes the geometrically distorted image.
04.03.05 Methods for Adaptive Volterra Filtering of Nonlinear TWT Amplifier Distortion
Jerry Malone, Student, Electrical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mark Wickert, Electrical Engineering
Satellite transponders typically use traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) for economical high power amplification of downlink signals. The TWTAs introduce significant linear and nonlinear distortion to these signals. The nonlinear nature of Volterra filters makes them a natural choice for use in cancelling these distortions; they are expected to give results superior to those of a linear filter. However, there is no known general algorithm for optimal Volterra filter design (at least beyond the second order). Some novel methods are explored for selecting adaptive Volterra filter coefficients to compensate for TWT nonlinear distortion, subject to various constraints. Some preliminary simulation results are presented.
Game Design and Development 4.04 Mechanical Engineering 4.05
04.05.01 Ballistic BBs
Jacob Schonig, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew Ketsdever
The University of Washington has formulated an experimental spacecraft propulsion system utilizing rail gun technology as a method of propulsion. This specific rail gun will provide thrust by firing macrons with exit velocities ranging from 5-10km/s. The resulting specific impulse (Isp) from a 1g macron being fired at 10 km/s in 1 second is approximately 1000s with an approximate force of thrust (F) of 10N. These performance parameters are extremely promising for the future of this propulsion system which creates the need for comprehensive modeling of this system’s effects on the space environment. The overall goal is to determine the effects these macrons will have on the space environment once fired and put this information into the hands of the spacecraft operators.
Stray or unaccounted for macrons orbiting the Earth with high velocities is highly undesirable and tremendously impacts space operations. In order to understand and in turn minimize the adverse affects of these macrons, simulations were created to model the behavior of these macrons in the space environment once the macrons have been fired. The two driving
parameters which determine the final trajectory of these macrons are the directions and velocities at which the macrons are fired. Therefore, comprehensive models were created to simulate all firing angle (0-360 degrees) and velocity (5-10 km/s) combinations.
04.05.02. Sustainability Through Microscale Physics
Julie Horvath , Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Webb
The United States alone uses more than 101 quadrillion BTUs of energy annually. However, only 0.07% comes from solar energy, one of the most viable and readily available sources of alternative energy. Currently, solar thermal energy collectors are used to produce electricity by concentrating sunlight on a fluid filled tube known as a Heat Collector Element (HCE). The fluid inside the HCE is then used as a heat source for a conventional steam turbine power plant. Large arrays of these solar thermal energy collectors can produce upwards of 350MW, while smaller arrays can be used in conjunction with traditional fossil fueled power plants to increase overall efficiency. Incorporating microscale features with existing solar thermal technology can increase efficiency and help begin mitigating our dependence on fossil fuels. Experimental and numerical investigations have demonstrated the addition of microchannels to the outer surface of the HCE increases the surface area significantly, maximizing the radiative and convective heat transfer.
04.05.03. Single Phase Liquid Nitrogen Flow in a Parallel Microchannel Array
Joel Halpert, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Webb
Single phase water flow in a microchannel heatsink has been identified as an effective method of cooling electronics. If semiconductor electronic devices are operated at cryogenic temperatures, rather than standard operating conditions, their performance can be improved significantly. The goal of this study was to determine whether single-phase liquid nitrogen flow could be subsisted for water flow in a
microchannel heat sink, allowing the benefits of microchannel flow boiling and cryogenic operation to be combined. Models for thermal resistance and pressure drop were generated to describe single-phase liquid nitrogen flow in the microchannel heatsink. The predictions of these models are compared to results obtained for single phase water flow in the same system.
04.05.04. The Crookes’ Radiometer Applied to Engineering Problems
Barry Cornella, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew Ketsdever
The Crookes’ radiometer has provided a fascinating yet complicated problem for scientists for more than 125 years. The radiometer problem has drawn interest from the likes of Crookes, Reynolds, Maxwell, Bruche and Littwin, and Einstein; yet, research had slowed immensely over the second half of the last century due to the lack of obvious application. However, over the last two decades, interest in radiometric forces has been renewed, stemming from the advent of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), the development microactuators, and the quest for finding a viable near-space propulsion technology. Recent computational and experimental studies have shed significant light on the contribution of the various force mechanisms (edge versus area forces) that drive a radiometer. This presentation will focus on one particular computational study in which the feasibility of increasing the radiometric force through etching holes in a single radiometer vane is investigated. The study indicates that a radiometer consisting of small vanes is capable of producing a force an order of magnitude higher than a single vane with the same area. An experimental approach to verify these results will also be discussed.
04.05.05. Energy Harvesting Play System
Briar Schumacher, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Webb
Energy demands are growing worldwide. Concurrently, nearly 1 in 5 children in the United States are obese. Energy harvesting playgrounds are one approach to help these two problems. Several common playground devices were under preliminary consideration for harvesting viability. They were linear sliders, spring riders, seesaws, slides, elevated platforms with ladders or stairs, swings, merry-go-rounds, spinners, and canopies. Of these, swings, merry-go-rounds, spinners, slides, and canopies were selected for further study. Solar canopies were determined to be the best source of energy harvesting. It is estimated that Colorado Springs could increase their use of renewable energy by 25% if 80% of the current playground canopy space was converted into photovoltaic solar collecting surfaces. Overall, a harvesting playground could produce enough energy to run the electrical needs of a park.
04.05.06. Laser Manipulation of Atomic and Molecular Beams
Taylor Lilly, Faculty, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
The interaction force between an atom or molecule and a laser field may be used to selectively affect the velocity distribution of an atomic or molecular beam. Applications for such a process involve providing well characterized neutral beams for chemical kinetics and gas-surface interaction studies as well as material processing and machining. Neutral beams offer several advantages over ion beams but suffer from unique and significant challenges to manipulate. The use of strong laser fields takes advantage of an induced dipole potential to affect the particle’s trajectory without ionizing it. This study conducts a numerical investigation into the effect of various laser fields on atomic and molecular beams. In addition to the numerical study, an experiment was conducted to demonstrate the process on a cesium atomic beam interacting with a resonant laser field. This project is collaboration between the University of
Colorado at Colorado Springs, the University of Southern California, the USAF Academy, and the USAF Research Laboratory at Edwards AFB.
04.05.07. Transient Topology Optimization Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
Andrew Kirk, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Georg Pingen
In recent years, the use and development of gradient-based topology optimization tools has increased rapidly, enhancing the engineering design process for fluids, structures, and a multitude of
multi-disciplinary applications. Due to the numerical complexity and cost of these toos, applications have been limited to steady-state problems.
In this work, we develop transient topology optimization algorithms for fluid dynamics using the lattice Boltzmann method and will illustrate initial results for two differently constrained flow regimes: (1) a diffuser and (2) a static valve similar to a Tesla valve. These two different problems are analyzed for a number of configurations in which parameters such as the Reynolds number, lattice Boltzmann steps, computational mesh size, and viscosity are varied. The resulting designs for the transient cases are shown to be improvements (at least local optima) when compared to those produced through a steady-state approach.
04.05.08. Terahertz Rayleigh Scattering of Particles in Rocket Exhaust Plumes
Anthony O’Shea, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew Ketsdever
The light spectrum has been analyzed and studied for many years and most of its properties have been explored and tested. However, one section did not receive as much attention as the rest of the spectrum until recently. This region is often called the “Terahertz gap” and it ranges from about 300GHz to 10THz. Although, there have been problems of developing a high intensity source, the applications of Terahertz radiation are many. For example, it can be used as a security screening measure both for people and inanimate objects. It is also being used in the medical and communications field. This project seeks to add a new application: the diagnostic of particles in rocket plumes.
Particles in rocket plumes are difficult to measure accurately. Some current methods involve collecting particles on a screen or sticking a probe into the plume itself. This project will use Terahertz radiation and the principles of Rayleigh light scattering to accurately determine particle number density, size, and velocity. A similar idea has been used before using lasers and Mie scattering theory, and produced accurate results. This new method removes some of the complications surrounding Mie theory.
The applications of the project include plume particle characterization for different propellant compositions. This lends as a measure of efficiency for different propellant mixtures. Also, this tool can be used to measure the efficiency and particle sizes in startup and shut down of rocket motors and engines.
04.05.09. Topology Optimization for Coupled Fluid-Thermal Applications
David Meyer, Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor: Dr. Georg Pingen
Electronic cooling applications are just one example of where the design of flow channels and surfaces to promote maximum heat transfer is of great importance. In order to design surfaces optimized for
maximum heat transfer under known flow conditions, a buoyant forcing term is applied to a coupled fluid-thermal topology optimization approach based on the thermal lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The buoyancy term accounts for the affect of temperature gradients on the flow field. Using prior hydrodynamic topology optimization work as a basis, every point in the computational domain can be varied continuously from fluid to solid. This Brinkman type porosity model enables the formation of new boundaries and designs. Thermal properties of both fluid and structure are considered thus permitting topology optimization for heat transfer applications.
Jesse McClure, Senior Professional Research Assistant, MIND Studios, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Luke Hooper, Senior Professional Research Assistant, MIND Studios, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dr. Michael Larson, faculty, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Jason Sieber, student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering David Hills, student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
As full service product design and prototyping shop housed within the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, MIND Studios is a place where clients can get help taking their ideas from paper to production.
MIND Studios houses full scale design and prototyping capabilities with experienced
engineering and designers on staff capable of providing the expertise and resources required to take a new design, research need, or product line to the next level.
04.05.11 A Laser Device for Fusion of Nasal Mucosa
Dr. Michael Larson, Faculty, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dr. Valmiki Sooklal, Faculty, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Luke Hooper, Senior Professional Research Assistant, MIND Studios, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jesse McClure, Senior Professional Research Assistant, MIND Studios, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
A prototype device has been created to fuse septal tissue membranes as an alternative to sutures or staples through the use of laser heating and pressure to induce protein denatruation and subsequent tissue fusion. Lasers have been used in wound closure over the last 15 years with encouraging results; however, no commercial delivery systems are currently available. This is primarily due to two factors: requiring an inordinate amount of experience on the part of the operator, and attempting to achieve general applicability for multiple tissue systems. The present device overcomes these barriers as it is tailored for the particular application of septal laser fusion, namely for the coaptation of mucoperichondrial membranes.
The important parameters involved in fusing tissue are identified. Experiments were designed to analyze the relative importance of optical properties using orthogonal arrays. The
experimental methodology was verified using tissue phantoms of known optical characteristics. Light scattering analysis using Monte Carlo based simulations were conducted in order to determine the thermal flux induced in the tissue. Test welds were conducted in vitro to analyze relevant device parameters, i.e., laser irradiance, dwell time, and spot size over a range of wavelengths. The optimum parameters were then employed in the final device design for future en vivo testing.
Letters, Arts, and Sciences Anthropology 5.01
Biology and Bioenergetics 5.02
05.02.02 Evaluating and Redesigning Biology Curriculum to Improve Learning
Kaily Ewing, student, Biology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lisa Hines
Over the past decade, there has been considerable interest in revitalizing undergraduate science education to enhance student engagement and excitement. Science educators recommend the incorporation of student research experiences into our regular academic-year curriculum in order to make such experiences more broadly available. In response to these recommendations, the Biology Department at UCCS has developed and implemented assessments as a means to identify ways to improve the biology curriculum, which includes the implementation of a hypothesis-driven approach into the introductory biology laboratory courses. One of the
assessments included a survey that was administered to students enrolled in Introductory Biology (BIOL 121) during the Spring 2008-09 semester. The results from this assessment reflect the need to transition to a more interactive, hypothesis-driven laboratory experience. In response to these results, the Biology Department has started to make changes to the existing curriculum, such as the creation of collaborative work groups and the incorporation of more hypothesis-driven experiments. This effort to improve the introductory biology courses is part of a broader endeavor within the Department to improve the biology curriculum. In order to determine other issues that need to be addressed, we have also developed a survey for the graduating seniors that evaluates the program in whole, emphasizing core knowledge and career preparation, as well as the use of newer technologies in the classroom and its perceived effect on learning. This will be administered for the first time during the Fall 2009-10 semester.
05.02.03 The Identification of Cytoplasmic Protein Interactions of Rad26 During Microtubule Stress
Zach Krych, student, Biology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Tom Wolkow
The yeast protein Rad26 is required to be located in the cytoplasm in order for a normal response to occur during microtubule stress. However, the protein-protein interactions of Rad26 in the cytoplasm remains unknown I will perform a pull down assay in order to isolate and identify these unknown proteins. Rad26 will be tagged with an antibody, which will bind to an
immobilized ligand allowing for the isolation of Rad26 bound proteins. These proteins will be separated by SDS-PAGE and identified through mass spectrometry. The identification of these proteins will help reveal the role that Rad26 plays during microtubule stress. Several proteins are expected to be found that are involved in cellular morphology and polarity.
05.02.04 Evaluation of Effects of Metabolic Disruption Combined with Chemotherapeutic Agent Methotrexate on Drug Resistant Tumor Cells
Michelle DeVore, student, Biology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Karen Newell, Bioenegetics
Drug resistance is the leading cause of cancer related death. A specific metabolic strategy of some cells to exploit fatty acid oxidation as an important energy source has been shown to confer
drug resistance. Through this mechanism, drug resistant tumor cells are able to resist apoptosis and reduce DNA damage under stressed conditions, likely by utilization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to facilitate beta oxidation of fatty acids in the mitochondria. Using drug resistant murine leukemia cell line L1210/DDP, effects of metabolic disruption were observed in
combination with treatment by a chemotheraputic agent. Specifically, effects of Methotrexate and the drug Etomoxir, an inhibitor of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I), which is involved in the transport of long chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane, was tested. In addition, treatment with 2-deoxyglucose, a glucose molecule lacking the 2-hydroxyl group which prevents it from undergoing further glycolysis, was included to hamper growth in these tumor cells. Cell death, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ROS levels were examined using flow cytometry. It is believed that combining the chemotheraputic agent with metabloic disruption will show significantly increased ROS and increased cell death.
Chemistry 5.03
05.03.01 Characterization of the Active Site of Peptidylarginine Deiminase 4
Ruthanne McCoy, student, Chemistry Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sonja Braun-sand
Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is a protein that post-translationally converts arginine residues into citrulline. It is involved in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), making it an important therapeutic target. A potential treatment for RA would be the development of small molecule inhibitors against PAD4. To develop treatments we must understand the catalytic mechanism of PAD4 and currently there is no consensus in the literature as to what the mechanism is, although there have been several proposed. This study aims to characterize the active site of PAD4, using the Protein Dipoles Langevin Dipoles / Semimicroscopic Linear Response Approximation method in the MOLARIS software package to assess the protonation states of the active site residues, which give important clues about which mechanism the protein most likely undergoes.
05.03.02 The Mathematical Criteria for an Equation of State of a Fluid
Dr. Jim Eberhart, Faculty, Chemistry
The equation of state (EoS) of a pure fluid provides the relationship between the density, temperature, and pressure for the fluid; plays an essential role in thermodynamic calculations; and is an important topic in a variety of physical chemistry and chemical engineering courses. The purpose of this submission is to answer a wide range of questions that are associated with the use of these equations. The questions include: (1) For what thermodynamic purposes can an EoS be used? (2) What are some of the simpler and more familiar of these equations? (3) What are the mathematical criteria for a good EoS and which of the above equations meet these criteria? (4) What states of matter and phase equilibria can be characterized by an EoS? (5) What are some of the ways that the parameters in an EoS can be determined? (6) What are the mathematical limitations of an EoS in the neighborhood of the critical point?
05.03.03 Investigation of Diversity and Best Practices in Scientific Research at UCCS
Dr. David Weiss, Faculty, Chemistry
This project endeavors to survey LAS natural-science, tenure-track faculty and their research students about diversity and inclusiveness in their research activities and laboratories. We plan to investigate the diversity of the research groups and how it compares to the diversity of the students in each natural-science major. For example, if the students in a major are evenly split between men and women, do most of the research students turn out to be men? Are they mostly minorities? Does this ratio change if students are undergraduates or graduate students? What factors did the students consider when choosing to do research? What do the faculty look for in terms of research students? Do they consider diversity and inclusiveness in their courses or research? Do they think inclusiveness is important? Respondents will be asked which department they are in, but their responses will not be linked to e-mail addresses. Survey
Monkey will be used for the online survey and the survey will take less than five
minutes. To encourage participation, some participants will win Jazzman’s gift certificates. 05.03.04 Reactions of Internal Acetylenic Acids
Desiree Mendes, student, Chemistry Faculty Advisor: Dr. Allen Schoffstall
During the course of testing the Sharpless conditions for forming triazoles using “click’ chemistry featuring Cu(II)as the catalyst, we were interested in investigating the scope of the reaction. Using a propiolic acid derivative as the alkyne source and 2-azido-1-phenylethanone as the 1,3-dipole, we formed a 1,2,3-triazole derivative in spite of the prediction that only terminal alkynes were subject to “click” chemistry conditions. The LC/MS results indicated the correct mass of the product less a neutral component of 44. Loss of carbon dioxide is common for certain carboxylic acids in MS, but we have found that the loss occurs in situ prior to the MS analysis. The extent of the decarboxylation includes halogenated acetylenes, and does not appear to be affected by the substitution or the nature of the catalyst.
Communication 5.04 Economics 5.05 English 5.06
05.06.01 Common Ground: Ancient Near Eastern Mythology in British Victorian Literature
Donah Grassman, student, English
Faculty Advisor, Dr. Susan Taylor, English
Identifying influences that Ancient Near Eastern mythology had on British Victorian
Literature (which strongly influenced American Literature) will give us insight into elements of world views that are shared by the Mid-East and West, common ground from which to explore today's social problems and cultural interactions at home and abroad.
Last year I found that ANE (esp. Babylonian and Assyrian) mythology did spread throughout the Middle-East, is alluded to in the Bible, and underlies many Classical Greek and Roman myths. Biblical and Classical mythology are often referenced in Victorian novels. This year I am looking at original source material written by Victorian travelers, and at popular fiction and visual images for common bonds between Western and ANE mythology.
Energy Science 5.07
Geography and Environmental Science 5.08
05.08.01 Lightning and Landscape
Dr. Brandon Vogt, Faculty, Geography and Environmental Studies
Since the time of Benjamin Franklin, it has been generally accepted that the higher the peak amplitude current of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, the larger the radius of an imaginary sphere originating from the tip of the leader that senses, and can potentially strike, ground objects. This method is known as the 'rolling sphere' method and is typically applied to
structures to identify zones into which lightning can and cannot enter (Lee 1977). This research applies the rolling sphere method to local high points, such as convex slopes, ridges, saddles, dikes, buttes, hogbacks, and towers scattered across parts of five counties in southeast Colorado. Data include 10 and 30 meter DEMs, radio and cell phone tower locations, and ~500,000 cloud-to-ground flashes recorded between Feb. 2005 and Aug. 2009. Results of the various mappings, which are constrained by the ~250 meter accuracy of the lightning strike location, indicate that high peak amplitude flashes favor local topographic highs. The research extends the rolling sphere method to the landform/landscape scale and has implications related to lightning protection and lightning safety.
05.08.02 Disaster Mitigation through State-Level Planning Initiative
Melissa Housey, student, Geography and Environmental Studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. David Havlick, Geography and Environmental Studies
Even with decades of land-use planning policy implementation and refinement, natural disasters continue to plague our communities causing devastating losses for human populations. To combat these catastrophic events, policy-makers continue to revise existing policies and implement new policies at different levels and tiers including state-level initiatives. With the recent population increase causing the necessary expansion of development into hazard-prone areas, the continued need for a better
understanding of hazard mitigation in the early stages of planning is becoming evident.
With this, recent high profile disasters have captured the attention of academics and policy makers alike initiating more research relating to natural disasters. Even with this onslaught of research, an in depth approach evaluating the effectiveness of land-use planning policies in proactively mitigating hazards has yet to be truly examined. The purpose of this proposed research is to determine the effectiveness of planning policies in the reduction of the magnitude of effects from natural disasters, specifically, whether the implementation of state-level policies has reduced the frequency of disaster events and the magnitude of effects resulting from disaster events.
05.08.03 Measuring Sustainability in Higher Education: Aligning STARS with People, Planets, and Purpose
Kevin Gilford, student, Geography and Environmental Studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. David Havlick, Geography and Environmental Studies
Sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” (Brundtland, 1987) and incorporates three areas: environment, society, and economy. With the threats of global climate change, worldwide economic insecurity, and social instability on virtually every continent, sustainability is
increasingly important. However, because it touches virtually every aspect of our lives,
sustainability is difficult to measure. This presentation will explore measuring sustainability on the UCCS campus.
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recently released the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, or STARS. STARS is acomprehensive tool that measures, quantitatively and qualitatively, the various aspects of sustainability and provides an overall rating of the campus. This presentation explores how the student-managed STARS process, from data gathering and analysis to communicating and reporting results, can serve as an educational tool, help institutionalize sustainability on the campus, and create a living laboratory for sustainability research.
Part of the role of universities in our society is to lead by example -- to do that, there must be an accurate assessment of the sustainability of the campus itself. It is only then that a university can demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and provide education to individuals,
organizations, businesses and communities on how to become more sustainable. STARS can also be a catalyst to create a stronger sense of community around a common purpose, to be the most sustainable campus that UCCS can be.
Geology 5.09 Gerontology 5.10
05.10.01 Strategies for Success in a University-Corporate Partnership
Sara Honn-Qualls, Faculty, Psychology and Gerontology Center Hayley Gravette, Gerontology Center
Although attractive, university-corporate partnerships are also challenging. The cultures are sufficiently different to lead to disruptions of the goals and potential outcomes of partnership. We describe an innovative partnership model between UCCS and the Palisades at Broadmoor Park, a senior housing campus in Colorado Springs, that has launched successfully. The challenges faced in the first year after facility opening are described within the categories of competing goals, distinct work styles, communication, and resident and staff resistance. In each domain, the strategies used to address challenges are identified, and advice is provided to other entities desiring to work on a similar partnership.
History 5.11 Journalism 5.12
Languages and Cultures 5.13 Library Science 5.14
Mathematics 5.15
05.15.01 Numerical Studies of Interface Problems on Networks
Clint (Travis) Hunter, student, Mathematics Faculty Advisor: Dr. Radu Cascaval, Mathematics
Recent theoretical developments in the study of initial-boundary value problems for linear and nonlinear equations have motivated further numerical studies for interface problems for PDEs posed on networks. We investigate the scattering (transmission and reflection) at interfaces and at bifurcations for the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation, as a prototype model for
bidirectional wave propagation in physical media. NLS equation belongs to an entire class of nonlinear models, called integrable models, for which there is an intimate relationship between their solutions and the compatibility of a linear system (known as the scattering problem). Numerical simulations of such models posed on networks indicate that, even though the underlying equations are genuinely nonlinear, scattering at junctions still occurs in a linear fashion. This remarkable property has not yet been explained theoretically; our numerical results are the first in the literature and promise to reveal similar behavior even in nonintegrable
systems.
Philosophy 5.16
05.16.01 the Temporality of Architecture, Merleau-Ponty and the Inner Necessity of Temporality
Dorothea Olkowski, Faculty, Philosophy
The phenomenological philosopher Merleau-Ponty states that, “the subject is temporal by means of an inner necessity.” In other words, existential experience is temporal, it is that blind act by which we take up our destiny as a thinking self and still find a way to bring the I think to the transcendence of the I am, to bring consciousness to existence. Rather than an external force in a system of spatial coordinates, the temporality of being-for-itself is an attribute that becomes a dimension of the subject’s being, such that any analysis of temporality necessarily touches on subjectivity itself. This talk will explore the idea of the inner necessity of time in relation to space, in particular, in relation to architecture and the lived experience of architectural space.
Physics 5.17
05.17.01 Diversity of Ferroelectric Nano-Particles vs. a Liquid Crystals Variety: Together Much More Interesting!
Dr. Yura Garbovskiy, Faculty, Physics Vincent Weiss, Faculty, Physics
Liquid crystals have transformed the display industry. This material has been useful in many applications like watches, computers, cell phones, and televisions. At the same time,
ferroelectrics have revolutionized the memory storage industry, by producing an alternative way to store data. This study was conducted in order to investigate the combined physical properties of both materials in which nano-sized ferroelectric particles were introduced in a liquid crystal environment. In this research, a number of liquid crystals were used and combined with a variety of inorganic ferroelectric nano-particles to fabricate homogeneous liquid crystalline nano-colloids. The electro-optical response for each fabricated nano-colloid was studied. At the nano-sized scale, however, ferroelectric behavior is a bit of a mystery. So, additional studies (which were based on ferroelectric loop analysis via using Sawyer-Tower method), of basic characteristics like spontaneous polarization and Curie temperature, were conducted to understand ferroelectric behavior at nano-sized scale.
05.17.02 Microwave Assisted Switching in Bit Patterned Media: Accessing Multiple States
T. J. Fal , student, Physics
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Camley, Physics
Using a micromagnetics calculation we explore the properties of a small magnetic square with microwave assisted switching. For a 10 x 160 x 160 nm3 structure of Fe-Ti-N, there are three possible stable magnetic states at a static field of about 200 Oe. One can switch between these different states by adding a microwave field. The strength of the microwave field determines the final state. A microwave field of up to 30 Oe does not change the magnetization. Fields of 50 Oe to 75 Oe result in a new ground state, while larger microwave fields produce a different ground state.
05.17.03 Size and Temperature Dependence of the Surface Plasmon Resonance in Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Silica
James Vedral, student, Physics
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anatoliy Pinchuk, Physics
Plasmonic nanoparticles are currently studied due to a wide range of potential applications in such areas as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), surface enhanced fluorescence, bio-chemical imaging and cancer treatment, and sub wavelength optical waveguides to name just a few. Understanding of the temperature and size dependence of the SPR band is critical for academic and practical applications of the plasmonic nanoparticles. Size and temperature effects influence the position and width of the Surface Plasmon Resonance(SPR) band.
I intend to address the internal size effect and study the influence of the size and temperate on the SPR wavelength and width. The internal size effect comes from the confinement of conduction electrons inside the nanoparticles which results from scattering electrons from the surface of the particles.
05.17.04 Theoretical Approach to Nonlinear Mixing of Waves in Ferromagnets
Jeff Marsh, student, Physics
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Camley, Physics
We have used a perturbation method to explore the amplification and generation of new waves in a ferromagnet when there are two input waves at different frequencies. This work was motivated by some recent experimental results, and our calculations are in good general agreement with the experiments. We also explore numerical solutions which do not have the limitations of
perturbation theory. We find that some modes can be substantially amplified, up to a factor of 100, by putting energy into a different mode. In addition we calculate the frequencies and amplitudes of the new modes.
05.17.05 Discrete Dipole Approximation of Nanparticles
David Smith, student, Physics
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anatoliy Pinchuk, Physics
Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) is a method that is used to model the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. DDA is especially useful with non-simple geometries for which there are no exact solutions to Maxwell's equations (which govern everything that relates to electromagnetism). Here, the DDA method is used to model nanoparticles of various geometries, and various materials, which are arranged in 1D or 2D arrays. The calculations required for this are numerous and, in order to produce data in a timely manner, must be run on a super computer. With the data from these calculations, certain wavelengths of light are found to interact more with the particles than others, and at special frequencies a resonance wave can occur in the particles which cause a spike in the absorption and/or scattering of the light. Using this method the most efficient material, shape, size, and arrangement of nanoparticles can be found for use in biosensors, solar cells, and many other applications.
Political Science 5.18 Psychology 5.19
05.19.01 Priming Effects in Young and Older Adults’ Abilities to Solve Riddles
Elizabeth Crandall, student, Psychology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lori James
The present study investigated the impact of priming on young and older adults’ ability to solve riddles. Participants were given a set of riddles to solve, one at a time, with a time limit for each. For one-third of participants (the control condition), this comprised the whole experiment. For the remaining participants, the researcher told them to take a break following riddle solution, during which they worked on a
supposedly-unrelated task of providing titles for some artwork, before returning to the riddles. For half of these participants (the primed condition), the artwork in this interventing task contained information relevant to the riddles’ solution. For the other half (the unprimed delay condition), the artwork was unrelated to the solutions. After the image titling was complete, participants in these conditions again worked on solving the riddles. Both age groups benefitted from being given a second attempt following the unrelated pictures (i.e., both young and older adults’ performance was better in the unprimed delay condition than the control condition). However, young adults did not show any additional benefit from the related pictures (i.e., their performance was similar in the primed and unprimed delay conditions), while older adults did benefit more from the related pictures than from a delay (i.e., their performance was better in the primed than unprimed delay conditions). We discuss possible causes of the particular benefit of priming obtained for older adults
05.19.02 Adult Attachment Style Affects ERP Responses to Emotional Images
John Chavis, student, Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Kisley, Psychology
Adult Attachment Style refers to typical patterns in which people negotiate interpersonal relationships. There are three main attachment styles: secure, avoidant, and anxious. An avoidant attachment style is characterized by an avoidance of dependency on significant others and a relative down-playing of the need for relationships. An anxious attachment style involves a strong need for others as well as insecurity in relationships, which associated with frequent concern about the sincerity of another’s interest. A secure attachment style involves relative ease in relationships, with relatively little worries about the sincerity of relationship partners.
The present study involved recording participants’ brain waves while they viewed a series of emotionally-oriented pictures of people (positive, negative, and neutral). Participants were categorized
according to their reported attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant). Groups were then compared for differences in brainwave amplitudes (ERPs) that were elicited in response to the emotional images.
It was found that the anxious attachment group tended towards larger brain responses (higher ERP amplitudes) in response to the positive versus the negative images. In contrast, the avoidant group tended to show the opposite relationship: higher ERP amplitudes in response to negative than to positive images. The implications of these results will be discussed.
05.19.03 The Effects of Guessing on Proper Name Learning in Young and Older Adults
Shalyn Oberle, student, Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lori James, Psychology
The present study investigated the impact of guessing on young and older adults’ ability to learn proper names in association with new faces. Participants were exposed to 10 faces and had the task of learning and recalling a surname for each face over repeated trials. Half of the participants in each age group were instructed that they were required to guess the person’s name if they did not remember it, and the other half were told not to guess the name, but only to give the name when they were absolutely sure of it. Not surprisingly, young adults outperformed older adults overall. Somewhat surprisingly, guessing was beneficial to name learning overall. Most interestingly, young adults’ learning was only slightly better in the required-guessing condition than in the prohibited-guessing condition, whereas older adults’ learning was dramatically better in the required-guessing condition. This finding runs contrary to suggestions that guessing leads to interference and decreased performance in proper name learning, and that such
interference underlies older adults’ particular difficulty in learning names in association with new faces. 05.19.04 Communication Patterns of Aging Families: The Role of Technology in Assisted Living Facilities
Dr. Sara Honn Qualls, Faculty, Psychology Melissa Doffing, Project Director, Caring Family
Dr. Rosemary Blieszner, Faculty, Gerontology and Family Studies Vair, Christina, Staff, Caring Family
Michael Williams, Chief Technology Officer, Caring Family
The placement of an older adult in an assisted living (AL) facility alters the role that family members undertake in the day-to-day lives of their aging loved one, including family interactions and communication patterns. Families show reciprocal support with older adults, and maintain connections within and across generations, yet older adults living in long-term care are at high risk of depression and loneliness which likely results from disconnection from previous social networks. This study assesses the impact of one device designed to facilitate communication between residents of ALs and their families. The Family Connections Service (FCS) allows AL residents to send text or photos from a one-touch digital mailbox with the assistance of
residential staff. This poster reports on the patterns of interactions between older adults from three diverse community assisted living facilities and family members interfacing with their preferred technology. Data on frequency of communication, range of persons communicating with the elder, and family and staff perceptions of usability as well as measures of impact on elder and family well-being will be used. The present study describes the initial data on the recruitment of older adults and family members and utilization launch and patterns. Findings are interpreted as demonstrating the acceptability of the technology, and the value to the families as well as the AL staff that accrues from more frequent communication with a larger range of the residents’ networks.
05.19.05 Utilization of a Community Caregiver Intervention Program: Who Comes and Why?
Lindsay Anderson, Student, Psychology Kimberly Hiroto, Student, Psychology
LeAnne Starr, Caregiver Program Director
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sara Honn Qualls, Psychology
Caregiver programs are encouraged to tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of individual clients. Although the literature on caregiving interventions is becoming well established, profiles of caregivers who seek therapy in community settings may differ markedly from those described in research contexts. Thus, an understanding of individuals who seek caregiver services is vital for clinicians who wish to provide caregiving interventions. The present research describes characteristics of 297 caregivers who sought therapy in an established Aging Families and Caregiver Program embedded within a community-based clinic. Two major questions were addressed: (1) Who seeks caregiver family therapy, and (2) What difficulties prompt this decision to seek help. Results show that, unlike many research samples, our clinic draws larger numbers of caregivers who are adult children (61%, n = 180) than spouses (31%, n = 91). Help is sought at various points throughout the caregiving career (M = 2 years, SD = 27.15; range: 1 month - 14 years) and length of treatment varied tremendously based on individual needs (M = 4 sessions, SD = 4.89; range: 1 - 48 sessions). Moreover, family caregivers are often concerned about navigating important transitions and decision-making (89% of our sample was involved in decision-making for their loved one) in addition to distress and burden. Given that subsamples of caregivers (e.g., adult children vs. spouses) may have distinct concerns and needs, our findings support that service providers embedded within community settings should account for
population characteristics when deciding on intervention approaches. 05.19.06 Validity of the NAB Naming and Boston Naming Tests
Michelle Livengood, Student, Psychology Lisa King, Student, Psychology
Katherine Kane, Student, Psychology Anne Mueller, Student, Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brian Yochim, Psychology
Considering anomia, an impaired ability in recalling words, is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease (Salmon & Bondi, 2009), it is imperative for neuropsychologists to assess word-finding ability when evaluating older adults. The most commonly used word-finding measure, the Boston Naming Test (BNT; Kaplan, Goodglass, & Weintraub, 1978), has limitations (Ross & Lichtenberg, 1998). The Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB; Stern & White, 2003) includes a Naming subtest as part of its Language module. Utilizing a larger sample of 110 older adults, this study extends research of Yochim and colleagues (2009) by comparing the NAB and BNT’s convergent and divergent validity and by comparing these tests’ relationships to gender, education, and age.
Participants included 110 adults over 60 with an average of 15 years of education. Sample was 97% European American and 3% Hispanic American, and 68% were women. To establish convergent validity subjects completed the NAB Naming test, the BNT, the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-2; Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Oberg, 2000), and the Brief
Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R; Benedict, 1997). For divergent validity,
participants completed the Judgment of Line Orientation test (Benton, Sivan, Hamsher, Varney, & Spreen, 1994), WAIS-3 Processing Speed Index (PSI) (The Psychological Corporation, 1997), and 20 Questions subtest of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS).
Correlations were calculated between Naming tests and all other variables.
Results suggest the NAB Naming test displays greater divergent validity than the BNT with a comparable degree of convergent validity. Findings demonstrate convergent and
divergent validity of the NAB Naming test.
05.19.07 Planning in Aging Families of Persons with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Williams, Ashley, Faculty, Psychology Qualls, Sara Honn, Faculty, Psychology Anderson, Lindsay, Student, Psychology Gibson, Sheri, Student, Psychology Gray, Christine, Student, Psychology Vair, Christina, Student, Psychology
Because the life expectancy of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) has increased dramatically over the past fifty years, their family members are experiencing a new phenomenon of needing to transition away from parental care as parents age and die. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine how these family members envision the future, focusing on the period of time when the parent caregivers’ aging causes illness and death, which will alter caregiving arrangements for individuals with I/DD. From these conversations, information about family structures, developmental stages, and chronic stressors that facilitate and hinder planning processes were derived. Learning about families from the families’
perspectives was a priority, which led to the development of themes and key concepts as well as testable hypotheses about this phenomenon. Family members also spoke of partnering with the service delivery system across the lifespan. Results have the potential of shaping future research and intervention strategies.
05.19.08 Mediation of Age Related Changes in Decision Making in Children, Adults, and Elderly
Kevin Beitz, student, Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Hasker Davis, Psychology
Individuals (N > 1000) 5-89 years of age took the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), an analog of real world risky decision making (Bechara, et al., 1994). A repeated measures ANOVA was
conducted with the safe choices minus risky choices as the dependent variable and age (5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20s . . . 80s) as the independent variable. Significant effects of blocks of trials,
F[3,3315] = 232.0, p = .001, η = .17, and age, F[9, 1105] = 8.66, p = .001 η = .066, were detected. A significant interaction between age and blocks of trails was detected, F[27, 3315] = 4.11, p = .001, η = .047. Post-hoc analysis of the interaction indicated that children and elderly performed more poorly than young adults. Children 5-9 years of age made fewer safe choices than all other age groups, children 10-14 made fewer safe choices than participants 15-79 years of age. Participants 15-19 made significantly fewer safe choices than participants 40-59 years of age. Participants 60-79 made significantly poorer choices than participants 40-59. Finally, 80 year olds performed worse than participants 15-59 years of age. Simple meditational analyses of risky decision making and aging were also conducted using fluid intelligence, processing speed, and emotion recognition on children (5-19), adults (20-59), and elderly (60-89). Age was found to be a significant moderator of IGT performance across the lifespan. Fluid intelligence was found to be a significant mediator on performance for children and adults, while processing speed was significant for elderly.
05.19.09 Test-Retest Reliability of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism
Andrea Naftz, Student, Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sandy Wurtle, Psychology
Contrary to the myriad of evidence supporting the cognitive ability of older adults, many age-related stereotypes still exist. Recently, the Fraboni Scale of Ageism
(FSA) was developed to measure the attitudes and beliefs about older adults. Although there is empirical evidence that the FAS is a multidimentional measure
of ageism, no research has examined the reliability of this questionnaire. The goal of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the FAS. One hundred and seven adults completed the FAS once, and then two weeks later. Results indicated that overall, there was a significantly high degree of consistency between scores on the FAS at time 1 and time 2. These results support the psychometric qualities of the FAS, and indicate that this measure can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing ageist stereotypes.
Sociology 5.20
05.20.01 Parental Knowledge of Child Sexual Abuse: Myth vs Fact
Kimberly Marzullo, Student, Sociology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Hilary Smith, Faculty
Typically, adults consider themselves reasonably educated about child sexual abuse (CSA) when, in fact, they know very little and much of the information they do have in incorrect or inaccurate. The purpose this research project was to explore parents’ overall awareness, understanding, and knowledge of the epidemic of CSA based on income level, education level, age, and gender. Data from 29 parent surveys and one expert interview was collected and analysis performed to evaluate whether most parents were more familiar with the myths surrounding CSA vs. the facts. This information would be useful in determining how
knowledgeable parents were on the topic of CSA, which specific grounds of parents would most benefit from CSA prevention education, and whether current programs were effectively reaching parents. This project reinforced the need for more progressive CSA prevention programs
targeting parents, rather than reactionary programs currently available.
Sports & Leisure Studies 5.21 VAPA-Art 5.22
VAPA-Theatre 5.23 VAPA-Music 5.24
