Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

2013 Summer Research Symposium Abstract Book, Trinity College

Science Symposia Abstracts

2013 Summer volume of abstracts for science research projects conducted by students at Trinity College.

Substance Abuse Via Legally Prescribed Drugs: The Case Of Vicodin In The United States, Wendy K. Caldwell, Benjamin Freedman, Luke Settles, Michael M. Thomas, Anarina Murillo, Erika Camacho, Stephen Wirkus

Faculty Articles

Vicodin is the most commonly prescribed pain reliever in the United States. Research indicates that there are two million people who are currently abusing Vicodin, and the majority of those who abuse Vicodin were initially exposed to it via prescription. Our goal is to determine the most effective strategies for reducing the overall population of Vicodin abusers. More specifically, we focus on whether prevention methods aimed at educating doctors and patients on the potential for drug abuse or treatment methods implemented after a person abuses Vicodin will have a greater overall impact. We consider one linear and two non-linear compartmental …

Payments For Ecosystem Services And The Fatal Attraction Of Win-Win Solutions, R. Muradian, M. Arsel, L. Pellegrini, F. Adaman, B. Aguilar, B. Agarwal, E. Corbera, D. Ezzine De Blas, J. Farley, G. Froger, E. Garcia-Frapolli, E. Gómez-Baggethun, J. Gowdy

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications

In this commentary we critically discuss the suitability of payments for ecosystem services and the most important challenges they face. While such instruments can play a role in improving environmental governance, we argue that over-reliance on payments as win-win solutions might lead to ineffective outcomes, similar to earlier experience with integrated conservation and development projects. Our objective is to raise awareness, particularly among policy makers and practitioners, about the limitations of such instruments and to encourage a dialogue about the policy contexts in which they might be appropriate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Effect Of The Probiotic Pediococcus Acidilactici On The Gut Microbiota Ecology Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss Walbaum) Analysed Using Dgge, Alice Anderson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract heavily influences the health, growth and survival of fish. Probiotics have proved effective in improving fish productivity in aquaculture. Research suggests that probiotics, supplemented in the feed, may elicit these benefits by altering the ecology of the gastrointestinal microbiota. The probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici has been successfully used for terrestrial animals and humans but its use in aquatic organisms has been less researched. In the present study, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) were fed a diet that contained Ped. Acidilactici, or a control diet. Analysis of the posterior digesta bacteria, using a non-culture dependant technique, …

Osmotic Regulation Of The Amphipod Gammarus Chevreuxi (Sexton, 1912), Sam Houston

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This study investigated osmotic regulation in the amphipod, Gammarus chevreuxi, and is the first publication of this organism’s osmotic regulatory curves. Unlike most estuarine amphipods studied to date which are hyperosmotic regulators, G. chevreuxi is a hyper-hyposmotic regulator. The hyperosmotic gradient maintained by G. chevreuxi in dilute media is very low (~120mmol.L-1), which has been interpreted as evidence of freshwater ancestry among the Crustacea. Salinity acclimation did not appear to affect heart rate or pleopod beat frequency. The gill cells responsible for ion uptake appeared to be smaller in high salinities or distorted. The apical membrane in concentrated media shows …

The Collaboration Particle; Applying The Formalism Of Quantum Theory To Cognition., Kelsey E. Landis, Hontas F. Farmer

Hontas F Farmer

We propose that collaboration between two people can be thought of as a quantum cognitive process wherein the relevant reality to be comprehended is an idea being communicated from one person to the other. Through a combination of writing center pedagogy and quantum theory, supported by mathematical evidence, we assert that collaboration can be effectively and equally established in both face-to-face and online writing tutoring sessions through conscious, active meditation to harness what can be thought of as a particle. Included is an analysis of writing center scholarship to show how collaboration is traditionally considered in a writing center context, …

Microspheres For Liver Radiomicrospheres Therapy And Planning, Alejandro Amor-Coarasa

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Liver cancer accounts for nearly 10% of all cancers in the US. Intrahepatic Arterial Radiomicrosphere Therapy (RMT), also known as Selective Internal Radiation Treatment (SIRT), is one of the evolving treatment modalities. Successful patient clinical outcomes require suitable treatment planning followed by delivery of the microspheres for therapy. The production and in vitro evaluation of various polymers (PGCD, CHS and CHSg) microspheres for a RMT and RMT planning are described. Microparticles with a 30±10 µm size distribution were prepared by emulsion method. The in vitro half-life of the particles was determined in PBS buffer and porcine plasma and their potential …

Synthesis, Physicochemical Properties, And In Vitro Antibacterial Screening Of Palladium(Ii) Complexes Derived From Thiosemicarbazone, Mohammad Oves

Mohammad Oves

No abstract provided.

When To Start Antiretroviral Therapy: The Need For An Evidence Base During Early Hiv Infection, James D. Lundgren, Abdel G. Babiker, Fred M. Gordin, Alvaro H. Borges, James D. Neaton

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background

Strategies for use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have traditionally focused on providing treatment to persons who stand to benefit immediately from initiating the therapy. There is global consensus that any HIV+ person with CD4 counts less than 350 cells/μl should initiate ART. However, it remains controversial whether ART is indicated in asymptomatic HIV-infected persons with CD4 counts above 350 cells/μl, or whether it is more advisable to defer initiation until the CD4 count has dropped to 350 cells/μl. The question of when the best time is to initiate ART during early HIV infection has always been vigorously debated. The …

Influence Of Media Composition On The Growth Rate Of Chlorella Vulgaris And Scenedesmus Acutus Utilized For Co2 Mitigation, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Xinyi E, Aubrey Shea, Michael D. Montross, Mark Crocker, Rodney Andrews

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased since the industrial revolution due to increasing combustion of fossil fuels. One possible CO₂ mitigation strategy is the use of microalgae for mitigation of CO₂. This paper focuses on the influence of media composition on the growth rate of two microalgae strains, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus actus. A KNO₃ based medium was found to work better for Chlorella, while a urea based equivalent worked better for Scenedesmus. The urea based media investigated here resulted in growth similar to that found with previously reported KNO₃ based media. …

Restricted Likelihood Ratio Tests For Functional Effects In The Functional Linear Model, Bruce J. Swihart, Jeff Goldsmith, Ciprian M. Crainiceanu

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

The goal of our article is to provide a transparent, robust, and computationally feasible statistical approach for testing in the context of scalar-on-function linear regression models. In particular, we are interested in testing for the necessity of functional effects against standard linear models. Our methods are motivated by and applied to a large longitudinal study involving diffusion tensor imaging of intracranial white matter tracts in a susceptible cohort. In the context of this study, we conduct hypothesis tests that are motivated by anatomical knowledge and which support recent findings regarding the relationship between cognitive impairment and white matter demyelination. R-code …

Identification Of Cisplatin-Binding Proteins Using Agarose Conjugates Of Platinum Compounds, Takatoshi Karasawa, Martha Sibrian-Vazquez, Robert M. Strongin, Peter S. Steyger

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cisplatin is widely used as an antineoplastic drug, but its ototoxic and nephrotoxic side-effects, as well as the inherent or acquired resistance of some cancers to cisplatin, remain significant clinical problems. Cisplatin’s selectivity in killing rapidly proliferating cancer cells is largely dependent on covalent binding to DNA via cisplatin’s chloride sites that had been aquated. We hypothesized that cisplatin’s toxicity in slowly proliferating or terminally differentiated cells is primarily due to drug-protein interactions, instead of drug-DNA binding. To identify proteins that bind to cisplatin, we synthesized two different platinum-agarose conjugates, one with two amino groups and another with two chlorides …

Augmentation Of Propensity Scores For Medical Records-Based Research, Mikel Aickin

COBRA Preprint Series

Therapeutic research based on electronic medical records suffers from the possibility of various kinds of confounding. Over the past 30 years, propensity scores have increasingly been used to try to reduce this possibility. In this article a gap is identified in the propensity score methodology, and it is proposed to augment traditional treatment-propensity scores with outcome-propensity scores, thereby removing all other aspects of common causes from the analysis of treatment effects.

Maternal Smoking, Weight Status And Preecalmpsia And Eclampsia Risk Among Women Living In San Bernardino County, Fiona Bedelia Lewis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Preeclampsia is defined as pregnancy-induced hypertension affecting between 2% and 8% of pregnancies and accounting for about 10-15% of maternal deaths worldwide. Eclampsia is defined as the occurrence of one or more episodes of seizures in a pregnant woman related only to a preeclampsia diagnosis. Preeclampsia, if poorly managed, can progress to eclampsia resulting in injury and death to both mother and infant. The etiology of preeclampsia is not completely understood. Oxidative stress leading to abnormal placenta development and endothelial dysfunction are thought to be key components in the biological mechanism of preeclampsia.

Modifiable risk factors include maternal body weight …

Urban Agriculture Stormwater Management In California Cities, Rachel L. Cohen

Master's Theses

Cities within California are beginning to incorporate urban agriculture into their land use designations. Prompted by residents and local organizations, cities are hoping to capture the benefits that urban agriculture provides. Research has shown that urban agriculture renews and beautifies neighborhoods, provides healthy food choices, increases public health, has the potential to help with stormwater runoff, creates jobs, and fosters community. In the last few years, several California cities have made headlines as they have adopted new zoning codes that include urban agriculture.

In reviewing these new zoning codes and exploring the topic of urban agriculture, it became evident that …

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Human Skin Tissue Sections Ex-Vivo: Evaluation Of The Effects Of Tissue Processing And Dewaxing, Syed Mehmood Ali, Franck Bonnier, Ali Tfayli, Helen Lambkin, Kathleen Flynn, Vincent Mcdonagh, Claragh Healy, Thomas Lee, Fiona Lyng, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Raman spectroscopy coupled with K-means clustering analysis (KMCA) is employed to elucidate the biochemical structure of human skin tissue sections, and the effects of tissue processing. Both hand and thigh sections of human cadavers were analysed in their unprocessed and formalin fixed paraffin processed (FFPP) and subsequently dewaxed forms. In unprocessed sections, KMCA reveals clear differentiation of the stratum corneum, intermediate underlying epithelium and dermal layers for sections from both anatomical sites. The stratum corneum is seen to be relatively rich in lipidic content; the spectrum of the subjacent layers is strongly influenced by the presence of melanin, while that …

Estimating The Effect Of A Community-Based Intervention With Two Communities, Mark Van Der Laan, Maya Petersen, Wenjing Zheng

Wenjing Zheng

Due to the need to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based programs in practice, there is substantial interest in methods to estimate the causal effects of community-level treatments or exposures on individual level outcomes. The challenge one is confronted with is that different communities have different environmental factors affecting the individual outcomes, and all individuals in a community share the same environment and intervention. In practice, data are often available from only a small number of communities, making it difficult if not impossible to adjust for these environmental confounders. In this paper we consider an extreme version of this dilemma, in …

Session 4-2-A: Taking The Disorder Out Of Gambling Disorder, Denise F. Quirk, Colin M. Hodgen

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

DSM‐5 Gambling Disorder

A. Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by four (or more) of the following in a 12‐month period:

A. Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

Session 4-1-D: The Experience Of Lotto 6/49 And The Capacity To Trust: Elements For An Anthropology Of Gambling, Jocelyn Gadbois

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Anthropologists study Lotto 6/49 as an experience.

Lévy-Bruhl tries to compare the magical beliefs of serious gamblers with the magical beliefs of individuals he refers to as the ‘‘primitives’’ (1924).

After that, Henslin studied the superstitions of St.Louis taxi drivers who play craps during their work breaks and compared them to Skinner’s pigeon (1967).

I wanted in my thesis to help anthropology to reconstruct lost knowledge regarding gambling and beliefs about magic in capitalist society.

Session 4-1-C: Social Media Gambling Games: Impact On Young People, Sally Gainsbury, Jeffrey L. Derevensky

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Key concerns for youth

Normalisation & positive impressions of gambling

Misrepresenting the odds of winning

Encouraging transition to real money gambling

Development of problems

Session 4-1-A: The Problem Gambling Center, Robert Hunter

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Provides information and statistics on the Problem Gambling Center.

Session 3-4-A: Public Opinion And Problem Gambling, Don Feeney

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

What do we need to know?

How does the public perceive addiction?

Do they stigmatize addiction?

Do they recognize gambling addiction?

Do they understand the causes?

Do they understand the solutions?

Do they know where to go for help?

Do they know preventative factors?

What are they willing to do?

What messages are credible and appealing?

Session 3-3-A: An Improved Pathways Development Model Of Problem Gambling: A Summary Of 11 Studies In Hong Kong And Macau, Amy Chiu Sau Lam, Alice Chan Ying Ying, Chi Chuen Chan

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Introduction

The rationale of this study came from a casual meeting of our supervisor Dr. Chan Chi Chuen and Professor Blaszczynski on a bus after the 2009 Reno conference.

On the bus, C. C. promised Mr. Blaszczynski that he would validate the pathways model in Hong Kong and Macau. And in the next 5 years, Dr. C.C. Chan and his students conducted 11 research projects on problem gambling in Hong Kong and Macau.

Purposes of current study

• To arrive on a summary finding from 11 studies on problem gambling
• To validate the pathways development model proposed by Blaszczynski & Nower …

Session 3-3-C: The National Longitudinal Study Of Gambling Behaviour (Nlsgb): Preliminary Results, Andrew Dellis, Andre Hofmeyr, Harold Kincaid, Don Ross

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Introduction

The NLSGB tracked 300 gamblers over a 15-month period.

A comprehensive survey instrument was compiled to analyse factors that might influence changes in risk of gambling problems over time.

The study was conducted in the four major metropolitan areas of South Africa: Johannesburg, Tshwane, Durban and Cape Town. We will discuss the study’s design and implementation and some preliminary results.

Session 3-3-A: The ‘Circles Concept’ Of Gambling Addiction: An Empowered Framework For Change, Harry B. Mayr

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

The original ‘Circles Concept of (Gambling) Addiction’ was developed by Harry Mayr in 1982, while working as an addictions counsellor in a community-based health centre. It has always been a ‘user friendly’ concept … applicable and understood by people from all cultures, across all ages, and with or without an addiction issue. Years later, people have informed Mr Mayr how they still remember ‘those circles’, and how the concept helped them.

The ‘Circles Concept of (Gambling) Addiction’ is therefore a concept remembered as much for its visual cues as its verbal explanation – and thus applicable across languages, cognitive and …

Session 3-1-C: Gambling Behaviors Among American College Student-Athletes: Results From The 2012 National Collegiate Athletic Association Study, Tom Paskus, Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Caroline Temcheff

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Why Is the NCAA Concerned about Student-Athlete Gambling?

Student-athlete well-being

Contest integrity

Session 3-1-E: Segmenting Slot Machine Players: A Factor-Cluster Analysis, Stowe Shoemaker, Dina Marie Zemke

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Overall objectives of the study:

Understand the following aspects of slot players:

– Demographic profile

– Motivations to play

– Behavioral characteristics while playing

– Factors important in choosing a game to play

– Attitudes toward progressives

– Desire for themed games

Session 3-1-E: Anatomy Of A Jackpot: Characteristics Of Purchasers Of Large Jackpot Lottery Tickets, Todd Maki, Don Feeney

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Jackpot “Run” & Survey Design

Record breaking Powerball jackpot

Started at $40 million on Oct 6, 2012

Rolled 15 times to reach $550 million Nov 28, 2012

MN Sold $25.2 million worth of tickets

Sales from all lotteries totaled $1.3 billion

Internet Survey

1,000 Minnesota adults

In the field Dec 14 to 18

Took, on average, about 10 minutes to complete

Representative of the general population (age and gender)

Conducted by Ipsos

Ensemble-Based Methods For Forecasting Census In Hospital Units, Devin C. Koestler, Hernando Ombao, Jesse Bender

Dartmouth Scholarship

The ability to accurately forecast census counts in hospital departments has considerable implications for hospital resource allocation. In recent years several different methods have been proposed forecasting census counts, however many of these approaches do not use available patient-specific information. In this paper we present an ensemble-based methodology for forecasting the census under a framework that simultaneously incorporates both (i) arrival trends over time and (ii) patient-specific baseline and time-varying information. The proposed model for predicting census has three components, namely: current census count, number of daily arrivals and number of daily departures. To model the number of daily arrivals, …

Session 2-4-G: Gambling Segmentation Studies A General Approach To Segmentation For Various Gambling Agencies, Paul Lauzon, Don Feeney

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

What is Segmentation?

A segmentation groups a market or population into meaningful subgroups

Segment members share characteristics and market influences that cause them to have similar product and/or service needs

Each segment is unique from the other segments