2006-2007 STARS Scholars

Presenter:           Tanya Moore, Senior, Social Work (Third Year)

Mentor:                Dr. Jennifer Marshall, Behavioral Sciences, Raymond Walters College

Exploring the Utilization of Resources by the Adult Learners

The purpose of this study will be to explore the various resources available for college students. The focus of the research will be on the adult learner population (aged 25 and above) who have returned to college as students; does this population utilize the resources of Raymond Walters College? Some educators are noticing higher numbers of adult learners in their courses; with this fact would the students use the resources that are available for them to use? Objectives are to explore if the students are using the campus resources that be offered to them.  Also, examine which resources the students uses most plus look at if they are aware of the resources and if so but are not using them why? What is the significance of the study? Because adult learners are returning to school by utilizing the resources available for them would appear to help them be successful students.

Presenter:          Rosalynd Mincy, Senior, Biological Sciences (Third Year)

Mentors:             Dr. Ronald Millard, Pharmacology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine
                           Dr. W. Keith Jones, Pharmacology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine

The Presence of Phosphorylated Tyrosine-42 in IkB Acute and Chronic Experiments by Using Antiphospho-IkB (Tyr42)

Clinical studies show that NF-?B activation is increased in human heart failure and there is an association between reduced NF-?B activity and beneficial reverse remodeling (Brown et al., 2005).  Activation of this transcription factor is caused by multiple signal transduction pathways.  Therefore, it would be useful to investigate the mechanisms of this pathway and whether NF-?B activation could be blocked in cardiovascular disease models.  The phosphorylation status of the inhibitor for NF-?B and I?B will be investigated in tissue experiments by performing western blots.

Presenter:            Harry Allen, Junior, Biological Sciences (Second Year)

Mentor:                 Dr. Charles Collins, Psychology, College of Medicine

Understanding Sleep Abnormalities in Children

Dr. Charles Collins, at the University of Cincinnati, works in a local mental health clinic and many of the children he see between the ages of 3 to 12 are brought in for an assessment of behavior and emotional problems that have associate with sleep disorders. Children presenting for mental health services often have short cycles and wake early. As a result, a cascade of issues arises with a child up unsupervised early hours of the morning. The child is a risk for accidental injury. Many parents have to get up to care for them often parents are exhausted and unable to function the next day at work. The child can become dysfunctional in school secondarily to being tired and irritable further exacerbating the behavior problem. It is a negative and detrimental cycle that has to be addressed.

In efforts to understand the links between the two, it is important to understand the neuroscience of normal sleep of children. One involves understanding all of the neurological/anatomical structures associated with sleep and how they interact. Of course, it assumes a mastery of knowledge about common brain functions. The second is to elucidate the neuroendocrine pathways and hormones necessary for sleep. Understanding the above is necessary to be of assistance in determining if and what medications or other interventions that could be used to treatment the sleep disorder.

Presenter:          Nicolette Barbour, Senior, Biological Sciences (Third Year)

Mentor:               Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, Enrollment Management

M2SE Program Review:  The Effects of a Minority Focused Enrichment and Awareness  Program on Increasing the Frequency of Students through the STEM Academic Pipeline   

Historically minority students do not perform well in the areas of Math and Science. Due to this fact, minority students are underrepresented in professional fields with roots in math, science, engineering and technology. In recent years, math and science enrichment programs have been instituted to correct educational gap. Minorities in Mathematics, Science and Engineering (M2SE), IS A Cincinnati based program that for 18 years has aimed to significantly increase the number of students of color pursuing college degrees and careers in math, science, engineering and technology. Consequently, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the impact that the program has had on its students. This will be accomplished by first analyzing the factors derived from informational data of student participants i.e. length of participation, school affiliation, student aspirations, and graduation and retention.

Presenter:            NerferIfe Bell, Sophomore, Marketing (Second Year)

Mentor:                Ruth Edwards, JD, Business and Commerce, College of Applied Sciences

The need for regulation of interest rates and fees for check cashing and payday loan businesses.

Are check cashing and payday loan companies engaging in predatory business practices with unfair interest rates, fees? Is there a need for stricter regulations on check cashing and payday loan companies with regard to their interest rates and fees?

There is a need for further investigation into this topic to determine if more regulation is needed to limit the amount of interest and/or fees that check cashing businesses or payday loan companies can charge, particularly in the state of Ohio.

Presenter:             Reginald Bolding Jr.,  Senior, Criminal Justice (Third Year)

Mentor:                 Dr. Sandra Browning, Criminal Justice, College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services

The Color of Justice: An analysis of sentencing disparities, media coverage, and prosecutorial discretion in homicide cases in a Southwestern Ohio County

In 2005 there were 104 deaths ruled homicide in Hamilton County. This study will examine racial sentencing disparities in these cases, between Caucasians and African Americans in the Criminal Justice System.  Media coverage from these cases will be analyzed and compared across races, however investigating rather the Medias outside influence have effects in the courtroom.  Prosecutorial Discretion will be examined by focusing on the differential homicide charges given to separate offenders. (i.e. aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, etc…). 

Presenter:              Yossief Haileab, Junior, Pre-Pharmacy (Second Year)

Mentor:                  Dr. Bryan Mackenzie, Molecular and Cell Physiology, College of Medicine

Effects of Mutations in DMT1

Many people suffer from iron deficiency and approximately ten percent of women have iron deficiency problems. The transport protein DMT1 plays a vital role in the transport of iron in the intestines. DMT1 is a protein produced by cells in order to bind iron on the exterior of enterocyte cells and transport the iron into the cell.  The proton electrochemical gradient provides the force necessary to drive iron inside the cell. Without functional DMT1 on the cell membrane to transport iron into the body, the body cannot produce heme. Heme is vital for binding oxygen, without heme the body cannot bind iron which leads to anemic symptoms. Worldwide, scientists have identified three patients with mutation in DMT1 that lead to severe anemia. The molecular impact of these mutations is unknown.

 We plan to test the effects of these mutations by performing site-directed mutagenesis of the DMT1 gene. After mutating the gene, we transcribe it into RNA and inject it into Xenopus laevis frog oocytes. We will measure the transport activity of these oocytes radiotracer uptake and electrophysiology experiments. This work will allow us to explain the patients using phenotypes, as well as contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of DMT1. Knowledge in these areas will lead to greater understanding of anemia, and iron deficiency.

Presenter:             Keshia Jones, Sophomore, Sociology (Third Year)

Mentor:                  Dr. JoAnn Rogers, Sociology, McMicken Arts & Sciences

A LOOK INTO WOMEN & ADDICTION
How Addiction effects, crime rates, and changes family dynamics

The purpose of this study will be to find a correlation between chemical addiction in women and the increased prison rate. The study will examine how chemical dependency affects the increase in crimes committed by women and how the dynamics of the family is changed. Within this research we will also seek to find out why women pursue rehabilitation and what the main determining factor is for sobriety. 

The preliminary analysis show an increase from the 80’s until now, in violent crimes committed by women due to drug addiction, namely narcotic addiction. The data also displays an increase in the number of children directly affected by the addiction of their mothers.

Analyses show an increase in grandparent-parenting and an increase in the number of children in the foster care system. Multiple methods of research will be used to determine what makes women seek rehabilitation. The main source of information will come from direct interviews of women who are or have sought various means of rehabilitation from chemical dependency. However, for the initial phases of this research statistical and historical information will come directly from literary analysis.

Presenter:       Chanel Hari Robinson, Junior, University of Cincinnati (Third Year)

Mentor:           Dr. James Mack, Chemistry, McMicken Arts & Sciences

 Corannulenes Based Organic Materials

 Fullerenes and nanotubes have been of great interest to scientists because of their numerous potential applications in a variety of fields.  Each of these molecules possesses unique structural and electronic properties and has the ability to play an important role in the development of nanotechnology.  However, due to the crude manner that fullerenes and nanotubes are synthesized, it is difficult to tailor them for specialized applications in specific fields.    Corannulenes, which is 1/3 of fullerene [60], can be more easily modified to make various organic materials.  Corannulenes is not commercially available; therefore the ability to produce large quantities of this fullerene fragment is crucial to our ability to make Corannulenes based organic materials.  Our ability to synthesize multi-gram quantities of Corannulenes has laid the foundation for the synthesis of Corannulenes-based materials. 

Presenter:            Shybria Peeples, Junior, Psychology (Third Year)

Mentor:                Dr. Kathleen Burlew, Psychology, McMicken Arts & Sciences

Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Brief Strategic Family Therapy is done in order to reduce problem behavior in children and adolescents and to strengthen their families.

STARS Scholar:      Ashlee Carlisle, Junior, Business Marketing (Second Year)

Mentor:                   Dr. Andrea Dixon, Marketing, College of Business

   
Brittany Brantley
Sophomore
English

Morgan Perry
Communication
Sophomore
Mentor: Dr. Stacy Downing, Student Activities and Leadership Development

 
Ryan McGuire
Operations Management
Sophomore
Mentor: Dr. Ana Leonard, College of Business-Management