|
A-G (pdf)
H-N (pdf) O-Z (pdf) Groups (pdf)
Computerized
Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment in the
Emergency Department Alcohol has been found to be associated with liver disease, heart disease, pancreatitis, sleep disorders, depression, injuries, and some forms of cancer. In the United States, over seven million annual Emergency Department (ED) visits are attributable to alcohol use. An ED visit serves as an important “teachable moment,” to educate patients about the effects of alcohol consumption on health and motivate them to reduce their alcohol consumption levels to healthier limits. In June 2006, the University of California, Irvine Medical Center (UCIMC) Emergency Department implemented a Computerized Alcohol Screening and Intervention (CASI) kiosk with the objective of screening adult patients who visit the ED for possible alcohol use problems. CASI stores the anonymous responses of each patient who is screened and categorizes them as non, light, at-risk or dependent drinkers as outlined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) guidelines. Data were analyzed to describe the population who encountered CASI. The analysis showed that the percentage of individuals with alcohol use problems decreased with increasing age. The data also showed that the drinking pattern of Spanish speaking participants was significantly different compared to English speakers. Finally, the main reason patients at risk for alcohol use problems chose to change or would change their drinking habits was to avoid health problems. This study is part of a State-funded ongoing study aimed at motivating behavioral changes in populations at risk for harmful and hazardous drinking. Towards
the X-Ray Crystal Structure of P53r2, a P53 Inducible Ribonucleotide
Reductase The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is essential for synthesizing all four deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) to provide the progenitor molecules for DNA in the cell. RR is a tetramer of two homodimers, hRRM1 and hRRM2, and is over-expressed in cancer cells. Recently, a new enzyme, p53R2, was discovered with striking homology to hRRM2. The human p53R2 gene contains a putative p53-binding site, and unlike hRRM2, its expression is induced in a p53-dependent manner. Also, susceptibility differences to RR inhibitors exist between p53R2 and hRRM2, raising interest in development of subunit-specific RR inhibitors for cancer treatment. p53R2, cloned into a pET24a vector and expressed in Echerichia coli, was purified in three chromatographic steps. A p53R2 crystallization condition was found, in which subsequent optimization led to diffractable crystals. A dataset was collected at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory to 3.7Å. Using the molecular replacement method, this data yielded an electron density map. The goal of this project is to further optimize the crystals and to obtain a high resolution (2.5 Å or better) structure. A high resolution structure will be invaluable for in silico inhibitor screening and, ultimately, drug discovery. Synthesis
of Biopolymers in the Yeast Kluyveromyces lactis The ability to create artificial biomaterials, with controlled physical attributes, is crucial in furthering the development of fields such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. In previous experiments, the two yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris, have been used to synthesize native collagen, but not collagen variants. The yeast Kluyveromyces lactis has advantages relative to both these yeasts, but has not been used for the synthesis of collagen. Our goal was to develop a K. lactis strain that is capable of synthesizing collagen-like biopolymers. We initiated the work by first constructing a K. lactis strain able to synthesize native human collagen. A multi-copy plasmid with the collagen gene was constructed using fragments of two plasmids (one containing the backbone of a K. lactis expression vector, and the other carrying a GAL1 promoter-COL3A1 cassette). Each step of the plasmid construction was checked for accuracy with the use of restriction digestion and gel electrophoresis, which ensured that the plasmid was the desired size. This was followed by the integration of the genes P4HA2 and P4HB into the K. lactis chromosomes. The PH4 enzyme (proline 4-hydroxylase) is necessary to promote the triple-helical structure of collagen. Successful integration of the genes into the K. lactis genome was checked by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) The final step was to confirm collagen synthesis using Western blot. These experiments are expected to show that it is possible to synthesize collagen in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. Future studies will include characterizing the native collagen and inserting new gene cassettes for the collagen-like biopolymers. Different
Learning Methods Can be Served as Memory Assessments for Schizophrenia Schizophrenic patients suffer memory loss every day. This study was conducted to determine which type of learning method(s) would provide the best result in improving the patients’ memory according to their Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). In this study, three types of learning methods were administered to nine patients. The first was the verbal method of learning, which required the patient to recite the material aloud. Second, the written method allowed the patient to write the material by hand. Lastly, the visual learning method had the patient physically look at what was to be remembered. The results show no direct relationship between the PANSS and the overall test scores. However, there is a correlation between the duration the patients suffered from Schizophrenic symptoms and the test scores they received. The lowest scores belonged to the group of patients who had endured symptoms the longest; while the highest scores belonged to the group that had more recently been diagnosed with the disease. Moreover, the written learning method was concluded to be the best method among the three methods tested. Although the three learning methods in this project provide possibilities to help improve Schizophrenic patients’ memory, there are a variety of modifications that can be used. Panama
Productions Presents: Broadway Flops There is a common misconception that a show’s success on Broadway is a measure of its level of artistry and entertainment. It is common for deeply meaningful, insightful and intelligent musicals not to attract audiences for several reasons, whether it is that the audience didn’t “get” it, or that they would rather see a show that has a higher use of spectacle. To coin a phrase, what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right (for example, “Cats” ran for 18 years). The idea for this show came out of an admiration for two remarkable composers who have not always had the best box office success. The intelligence and specificity of Michael John La Chiusa’s and Stephen Sondheim’s work inspired a search of their underappreciated material. With a mission to showcase their and others’ less famous pieces, and to present a performance opportunity for UCI musical theater students, we succeeded in producing and directing a musical revue of these works. QoS
Improvements for VoIP in WiFi Networks Voice services are only prevalent within the wired Internet domain. However, the possibility of integrating Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) into the wireless domain through the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is becoming a reality. To create a quality Voice-over WLAN (VoWLAN) network, packet loss, jitter and delay in response to network traffic must be studied and minimized. Since the voice packets in a WLAN are multiplexed with other types of data traffic, and VoIP packets are time sensitive, there must be a quality of service (QoS) process that incorporates a biased channel allocation. This project studies the QoS performance of VoWLAN for both the 802.11 (unbiased) and 802.11e (biased) standards and looks for possible improvements. Using appropriate network setups, the performance of voice traffic was measured in terms of three metrics: end-to-end delay, jitter, and packet loss. It was found that 802.11e effectively minimizes the adverse effects on the considered variables for VoIP traffic. As the network load increased, the available bandwidth for VoIP transportation suffered only slightly, while it was severely degraded in 802.11 standards. Although the round trip time (RTT) has an inverse effect on bandwidth, round trip time in 802.11e varied minimally with the same test. In addition, random jitter and packet loss behaved as expected, increasing only slightly with increasing bandwidth. Social
Disasters: An Analysis of their Impact on the Community Disasters and community traumas occur throughout the world and almost always disrupt lives in unique ways. Much of the previous research on this topic has been devoted to analyzing the effects of natural disasters, especially their impacts at the individual level. In contrast, this study examined the effects of social disaster and trauma on the community by investigating two towns: Laramie, Wyoming and Jasper, Texas. In the late 1990s, both of these communities experienced a social trauma in the form of a brutal murder (of a gay young man, Matthew Shepard, and the dragging death of a black man, James Byrd, respectively) that were highly publicized nationwide. Archival data from three years before and five years after the incidents were collected in the target communities, as well as in two control communities (Kearney, Nebraska, and Center, Texas), on a number of different categories, such as reports of crime and economic (monthly tax revenue), educational (high school attendance rate), and medical (number of hospital admits) outcomes. Increases were observed in many of these measures in the target communities in the year after the events occurred, but they tended to stabilize over time. Interviews conducted with key community representatives, such as members of the police force and of various economic development commissions, further supported these quantitative findings. The results demonstrate that while there may be a significant short-term impact, communities as a whole are highly resilient and, in the long run, can return to operating at pre-trauma levels. Loss
Among College Students College students (n = 606, 432 female, mean age = 20.3) from an ethnically diverse campus participated in an online survey asking about stressful life events they had experienced over the course of their lives and the social support they had received for these events. We anticipated that students who had experienced prior losses would expect subsequent losses to be more distressing. As expected, females who had experienced both the death of a pet and at least one grandparent predicted higher levels of distress when they considered the prospect of experiencing another stressor (e.g., “serious accident or injury to a loved one” and “death of a friend,” p < .05 for both) than did females who had not previously experienced a loss. Similarly, males who had experienced the death of at least one grandparent were more likely to predict higher levels of distress at the prospect of another loss (p< .05) than were males who had not experienced loss. This study highlights the importance of prior loss in ongoing adjustment to stressful life events. It also highlights the value of examining loss in adolescents and young adults, who have previously been relatively neglected in the bereavement research field. Implications
of Personal Hygiene Practices on Bacterial Transmission A 2004 National Cleaning Survey showed that 43% of the people surveyed seldom or never washed their hands after coughing or sneezing. These results suggest an increased possibility of disease agent transmission, including bacteria and viruses. The goal of this study is to determine the percentage of people who follow good hygiene practices after coughing and sneezing and the implications of hygiene practices on bacterial transmission. Questionnaire surveys were used to determine the percentage of people around the UCI campus who follow good hygiene practices. Hand swab samples before and after hand sanitizing were used to measure the effectiveness of bacterial removal after hand sanitizing. Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) was used to culture heterotrophic culturable bacteria from hand swabs. In addition, mFC coliform media was used to determine the presence of fecal contamination. The surveys showed that a significant percentage of the sampled population seldom washed their hands because of the inaccessibility of soap and water or hand sanitizer. Swab samples taken after hand sanitation showed a significant decrease of bacteria count compared to the prior samples. Considering the substantial difference in bacteria count from before and after hand sanitizing, this implies that not following the good hygiene practice of washing hands after coughing or sneezing increases the likelihood of bacterial transmission from person to person. Mechanism
of the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylide to Alkenes and to
Alkynes Cycloadditions are some of the most important reactions in mechanistic and synthetic organic chemistry owing to their stereochemistry and versatility. The cycloaddition of 1,3-dipoles to alkenic and alkynic dipolarophiles is one of the most widely used routes to the construction of a variety of five-membered ring systems. Azacyclopentane (Pyrrolidine) rings are found in many bioactive natural products and their synthetic analogues. The conformational behavior, structures, and chemistry of nitrogen-containing five-membered rings have attracted considerable interest from experimentalists and theoreticians for many years. Although there are numerous experimental studies on the cycloaddition of 1,3-dipoles to alkenes, there are only a few computational studies on azomethine ylide with alkenes. To better understand the scope of the reaction, we have investigated the mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide to alkenes (ethene, propene, methylpropene, (E)-2-butene, (Z)-2-butene, 2,3-dimethylbutene, 1,1-difluoroethene, (E)-1,2-difluoroethene, (Z)-1,2-difluoroethene, 1,1-dicyanoethene, (E)-1,2-dicyanoethene, (Z)-1,2-dicyanoethene) to give azacylopentanes and to alkynes to afford azacyclopentenes have been studied using the CBS-QB3, B3LYP, B3PW91, MPW1PW91, CCD, CCSD, CCSD(T), QCISD, and QCISD(T) methods with the CBSB7, 6-31G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and cc-pVDZ basis sets. The predicted exothermic regioselective cycloaddition reactions are characterized by relatively low activation enthalpies (∆H‡) and the transition states are consistent with a synchronous concerted mechanism. Steric factors play a role, and increasing substitution of methyl groups (inductive electron donating) at the double bond or the triple bond increases the activation barriers for cycloaddition while electron attracting groups lower the activation barriers. For alkenes, CCSD/cc-pVDZ(T), QCISD/cc-pVDZ(T), and MPW1PW91 predict activation enthalpies (∆H‡) within 0.5 kcal/mol of the value predicted by the reference complete basis set CBS-QB3 method. B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) predict reaction enthalpies (∆Hrxn) within 1.6 kcal/mol of the value predicted by the standard method CBS-QB3. Glass-to-Glass
Bonding The goal of this research project is to bond potash soda lead glass to potash soda lead glass. There are many different hermetic sealing techniques, and we chose anodic bonding. Bonding glass to glass can be used for MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) applications such as the fabrication of sensors or other fluid handling devices. Currently, borofloat is bonded to silicon or borofloat is bonded to borofloat for use in MEMS. By using potash soda lead instead of borofloat, a better chemical resistance would be achieved, which would significantly improve the lifetime of MEMS devices in alkaline solutions. Successful bonding between potash soda lead has been obtained using silicon nitride and amorphous silicon as an intermediate layer, which was deposited by PECVD. To improve the uniformity of the intermediate layer, amorphous silicon deposition has been done on E-beam evaporator instead of PECVD, and it resulted in higher yield in comparison with the PECVD bonding. Radio
Drama Radio theater reached its peak in the mid-20th century before television displaced radio as an entertainment medium. For our project we have worked to reinvigorate radio theater by reincorporating the original style with more modern story lines. We have written four short scripts, including a mystery, a letter from a listener, a serial comedy and a serial sponsor skit. Our program will also include a fictional sponsor with commercials. Music and sound effects are an integral part of our work. We are working with our sound designer to compose sounds to be recorded and created live. We will air our production on KUCI with a live audience on Sunday May 13th. The live audience will witness the technical aspects of how the actor relates to the microphone and how the live sounds may be produced. The technical aspects of sound are still not our forte, but the production process has proven fun, improvisational and freeing to the actors. We hope both our listeners and live audience will be intrigued. Radio theater is an excellent field for developing talents for voice and sound production. The art form is there to be redeveloped once again into a popular form of entertainment. With modern technology, radio theater may find a new home in Internet podcasts or online streaming rather than the regimented weekly programming of radio airwaves. Substituent
Effects and 1,2- Rearrangements (Thia-Wolff) of Alkylsulfinyl Carbenes and
Arylsulfinyl Carbenes The objectives of these computational (theoretical) research projects include the analysis of activation parameters, thermodynamic data, structural features, and reactivity of alkylsulfinyl carbenes and of arylsulfinyl carbenes. Inductive effects, resonance effects, linear free energy relationships (LFER), partial atomic charges (NPA, CHELPG, MK, Mulliken, ATP), singlet-triplet gaps (S—T, ∆EST), 1,2-rearrangements (thia-Wolff), and intermolecular C—H insertion reactions of alkylsulfinyl carbenes and 4-substituted arylsulfinyl carbenes (X = H, CH3, OH, SH, OCH3, SCH3, NH2, N(CH3)2, CF3, CºN, NºC, F, Cl, Br, NO, NO2) have been studied using restricted and unrestricted HF, MP2, CCD, B3LYP, B3PW91, and MPW1PW91 with the 6-31+G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), 6-311+G(3d,2p), and cc-pVDZ, basis sets. The alkylsulfinyl carbenes and 4-substituted arylsulfinyl carbenes have singlet ground states, and electron releasing groups increase the ∆EST while electron attracting groups decrease it. The linear free energy (LFE) plot of ∆EST versus substituent constants gives a negative slope. This is consistent with the preferential interaction of the alkyl groups and 4-substituents with the singlet state rather than with the triplet state. The predicted barriers for the 1,2-rearrangment of singlet alkylsulfinyl carbenes and singlet 4-substituted arylsulfinyl carbenes to sulfines have been determined. The transition states and the predicted barriers for the C—H insertion reactions into methane of singlet alkylsulfinyl carbenes and singlet 4-substituted arylsulfinyl carbenes have also been determined. A
Prospective Investigation of the Effectiveness of Emergency Department
Bedside Ultrasonography in Patients with First Trimester Vaginal Bleeding Women in their first trimester (14 weeks or less) of pregnancy commonly present to the Emergency Department with vaginal bleeding. The goal of this study was to classify emergency ultrasound results from these patients into the following categories: intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), live IUP, abnormal IUP, and no definitive IUP, to correlate the ultrasound results with pregnancy outcome, primarily focusing on live births. Serum bHCG levels were obtained and an emergency ultrasound was performed either transabdominally or endovaginally for the 71 patients included in the study. We grouped the ultrasound findings into the aforementioned categories and followed up with the patients after their expected date of delivery. Live IUP ultrasounds resulted in the greatest number of live births, followed by those categorized as IUP and those having no definitive IUP respectively. There were no live births for patients falling into the abnormal IUP group. The results of our study will allow us to provide expectant mothers with concrete statistics regarding the likelihood of their pregnancies’ resulting in live births after presenting to the Emergency Department with vaginal bleeding in their first trimester. We are currently in the process of expanding our data and enrolling more patients in an attempt to substantiate the validity of our results. New
Polymeric Bonded Silica Phases for the Fast and Ultrafast Analysis of
Environmentals Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic compounds that are commonly found in tobacco smoke and grilled foods, and as by-products of carbon-containing fuels. These compounds constitute health hazards, and their presence in the environment can be determined accurately at low levels by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Previous studies have shown that the separation and analysis of these contaminants using HPLC columns with polymerically bonded C18 phases can be achieved, but require up to an hour to complete. A polymeric C18 column (Agilent Eclipse Plus PAH) was developed for the fast analysis of these environmental contaminants using polymeric C18 bonded silica gel. The extent of polymerization was determined by the SRM 869a shape selectivity mixture. Using 4.6 mm diameter columns with lengths ranging from 30 mm to 150 mm and average particle diameters of 1.8 mm, 3.5 mm, and 5.0 mm, we optimized the analysis times and resolutions for these compounds. Incorporating high flow rates and temperature control, we were able to achieve baseline separation of all 16 PAHs in less than 4 minutes, thus reducing existing analysis time by over 80 percent. We also developed a method for the fast separation of the 15 PAHs recommend by the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission for the analysis of smoke flavored foods, achieving baseline separation of all peaks in less than 17 minutes. A substantial decrease in analysis time for phenols, phthalate esters, and carbamates was also achieved using this column. Data
Acquisition System Computer-based data monitoring and processing is an essential part of modern industrial and laboratory operations. This Data Acquisition System (DAQ) provides an interface between an analog world and digital computers. A user interface has been created by using menus that do not require significant changes to the pre-existing software. This DAQ hardware is based on the PCIM-DAS1602 board from Measurement Computing Company. The software is based on MathWorks Data Acquisition Toolbox 2.7, which is a part of the Matlab 7.1 software. The DAQ system is designed for 8-channel single ended or differential electrical signals. The project includes the consolidation and expansion of existing hardware and software. The main effort has been developing and optimizing the current software for capturing, storing, archiving and displaying data from long lasting laboratory measurements. The inherent speed of the DAQ hardware and software also enables the capturing of fast data transitions. Stored data can be recalled later for analysis. Requests for FFT, RMS and Average Data calculations are to be part of the system software. A link between Microsoft Excel and the Matlab workspace has been implemented. The DAQ hardware and software have been checked for electrical and logical separation of all eight channels. The system has been calibrated for accuracy and linearity with DC voltage inputs. A condensed illustrated manual for the DAQ system operation has been written. The manual includes fast system diagnostic procedures. After completion of the project, the DAQ will be available for applications in laboratory operations. Sensitivity
of Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (Fast) in Pediatric Patients
with Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT) Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is a pervasive form of trauma experienced across all age groups, and is a major concern for pediatric patients. Focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) and Computed tomography (CT) are used to evaluate the extent of injury in BAT. FAST has exhibited high sensitivity in adult patients, but the research on pediatrics is less clear. The purpose of this study is to test the sensitivity of FAST on pediatrics with BAT. CT, as a highly sensitive and accurate scan, was used to compare and assess the sensitivity of FAST. We predicted FAST to be equally sensitive as CT when diagnosing clinically significant amounts of peritoneal fluid. The research was carried out in the Emergency Department of the UCI Medical Center, and pediatric patients were enrolled who presented with BAT and consented to the study. A total of 213 patients were enrolled: 160 patients had no amounts of free-fluid, 34 had trace amounts, 11 had low to moderate amounts, and 13 had clinically significant amounts of peritoneal fluid. The study does not support the hypothesis that FAST is equally sensitive to CT in diagnosing clinically significant amounts of fluid, with an overall sensitivity of 84.6%, and specificity of 97.7%. The research suggests that FAST is useful for pediatric patients with BAT, but further research must be carried out due to the limited number of patients enrolled that had clinically significant amounts of free-fluid. Flow
Localization During Superplastic Deformation In Zn-22% Al Alloy Superplasticity is the ability of some materials to exhibit upon deformation extremely large elongations prior to fracture. The two basic requirements for the observation of superplasticity are: (a) a testing temperature greater than half the melting temperature of the material, and (b) a fine, stable and equiaxed grain size. Early investigations of superplasticity in metallic alloys have reported the presence of three regions of deformation depending on the value of the strain rate: region I (low-strain rate region), region II (intermediate-strain rate region), and region III (high-strain rate region). Also, observations have shown that uniform deformation, where all parts of a tensile specimen deform to the same percentage as the overall deformation, occurs in region II, commonly referred to as the superplastic region. However, recent research has revealed that region I does not exist in high purity Zn-22% Al and Zn-22% Al + 0.1% Cu. In this case, region II extends to the lowest measurable strain rate with no evidence for region I. Based on this finding, it is expected that for Zn-22% Al + 0.1% Cu, deformation would be uniform. This expectation has motivated the present investigation, in which specimens inscribed with parallel lines perpendicular to the gauge length are tested in tension at 463 K. The tensile test is terminated at selected strain intervals to monitor the uniformity of deformation. Preliminary results show that deformation is uniform in both strain rate regions. Microelectrode
Array for Cochlear Implants: 3-D Curvature Simulation and Characterization Cochlear implants can restore partial hearing for individuals who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) through electrical stimulation of the peripheral sensory nerves with an electrode. The human cochlea spans 2.5 turns, yet current prosthesis can only be inserted up to 1.5 turns, preventing stimulation of the lower frequency regions. Furthermore, these devices consist of wire bundles that, when inserted into the cochlea, conform to the outer wall of the scala tympani as opposed to the inner wall where the receptors are located. This results in low resolution, limited sound quality, and excess current discharge. An improved design is a curvature-controlled 3D microelectrode array. The basic operating principle involves a bi-layer consisting of biocompatible polymers with different volume expansion coefficients, which cause the structure to bend when an electric potential is applied. The conjugated polymer polypyrrole (PPy) offers fast swelling speeds and Su-8 provides mechanical support. The central goal is to identify an approach resulting in a curve pattern that matches the decreasing spiral shape of the cochlea. Computer simulations were developed in COMSOL to predict the degree of curling of the electrode array for several geometrical designs, including varying the thickness and shape of the deposited PPy layer and the support layer. Large displacements of the electrode array were obtained using a nonlinear solver. Preliminary fabrication work verifies the results obtained for uniform PPy thickness and shows promise for implementations involving a gradient. This innovative design will offer improved hearing and minimize the potential for trauma during insertion. The Effects of Maternal
Stress on a Child’s Development and Reaction to the Birth of a New
Sibling Maternal stress may influence a mother’s parenting style and the way her children perceive the world around them. The environment in which children mature may be a factor in how they perceive stressful situations throughout life. When children are reared in stressful environments, it is more likely that they will be developmentally delayed and hostile toward siblings. The purpose of this study was to assess if there was a correlation between maternal stress and a child’s adjustment, stress level, and language development in response to the birth of a new sibling. Twelve mother-child pairs (children ranging from 1.5–6 years) were recruited for this study. The assessment occurred three months after the birth of a new sibling. Maternal anxiety, depression, and parenting stress were evaluated with standardized questionnaires. Three measurements were then administered on the child. First, salivary cortisol samples were collected, followed by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III, and a modified version of the Berkeley Puppet Interview, which was adjusted to pertain to the birth of a new sibling. The results of this study are to be determined, but the degree to which maternal stress effects a child’s development and adjustment to a new sibling is an important issue to pursue, because these factors may greatly influence a child’s development into adolescence and adulthood. Animal
Model for Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), also known as dry eye, is an autoimmune disease of the conjunctiva due to decreased or abnormal tear production, which leads to severe discomfort, vision impairment, and blindness. Temporary remedies such as artificial tears are typically used, but a model is needed in which the symptoms of KCS can be studied to develop a long-term treatment for this disease. In this study, denervation of the V1-V2 junction of the trigeminal nerve was performed in male Sprague Dawley rats via stereotactic surgery, using radiofrequency ablation to induce a loss of corneal sensation and drying of the cornea. Within three days post surgery, the average tear production of the treated eye (left) was significantly reduced to 56% (P = 0.00004) of the control eye (right), which further decreased to 54% (P < 0.0002) on the fifth day; this was also associated with decreased corneal sensation and blinking. The control eye showed insignificant decrease in tear production of 3% (P > 0.40) from baseline on the third day and 16% (P > 0.08) on the fifth day. This study suggests that the denervation of the V1-V2 junction of the trigeminal nerve results in significant reduction in tear production in male Sprague Dawley rats. This rat model presents an opportunity to better understand one of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of KCS. Since the corneal surface of a rodent model is large, it may be useful in studying pharmacological efficacy in not only KCS but also corneal wound healing. Radio
Frequency ID Systems: Antenna Design and Selective Disabling Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are currently being integrated into printed optical and human-readable labels. Passive tags, the subject of this research, do not use a battery. Instead, they are powered by RF waves sent from an interrogator unit. By stepping down the frequency, the tag uses a portion of the RF energy to power its minimal circuitry. This circuitry includes a small amount of EEPROM memory, 69 bits in this project. A long reading range is an important criterion for passive RFID antennas. In part, this research investigated methods to increase this range. It was found that PCBexpress presents a viable method for testing antenna design prototypes. During the encoding process, however, tags must be isolated to ensure correlation between the RFID tag data and the printed label data. Industries using RFID technology require 99.99% accuracy at a minimum, and desire 100% accuracy in tag–label correlation. A practical method for tag isolation is presented, and tests of that method are included. This method shows promise, with added computer control potentially bringing disabling accuracy up towards 100%. Mothers’
Responsiveness to their Young Children’s Night Wakings Attachment theory suggests that infants who have caring and responsive caregivers will become more securely attached and willing to explore new environments than infants who do not receive similar attention. Maternal responsiveness is usually evaluated based on daytime interactions with the child. Responsiveness at night has been understudied and has tended to rely on maternal reports. A critical unknown is how valid maternal reports are in accurately capturing children’s nighttime behaviors. The methods used to gather data were based on a brief maternal survey and audio digital recordings of children’s crying behaviors during the night. Twelve mothers of 18-month-old toddlers were in the study sample. Mothers were instructed to place an MP3 recorder within five feet of their child’s sleep location for one night. The recordings were transferred to a computer software program designed to display sound waves. These objective audiotape measures of nighttime cries and wake behaviors were compared to mothers’ reports of their child’s nighttime activities. Reports were compared for congruency between maternal reports and the audiotaped readings. Specifically, maternal reports and coder reports were compared on dimensions such as whether the infant woke during the night, whether the child cried, and the duration and intensity of cries. In the short run, our goal is to have information on the validity of maternal reports of children’s nocturnal behavior. With further analysis of the larger study sample, we hope to determine whether children’s security of attachment is related to maternal responsiveness at night. The
Perception of Emotions The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, one of the major stress-responsive systems in humans, is characterized by large inter-individual differences that are associated with health outcomes. While some of these differences have been previously studied (e.g. age, gender, smoking, oral contraceptive use, etc.) other obvious moderators of the activity of this system are yet to be determined. This study investigates emotional perception in relation to cortisol, the end-product of the HPA axis, and ethnicity. We hypothesize that: (a) individual differences in the perception emotions will be associated with cortisol responses, and (b) cortisol responses to an acute stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) will differ between Asian and Caucasian participants. We also assume that participants’ perceptions of emotions are more accurate when they are presented by a member of one’s own race than by a member of a different race. Data will be collected on 40 college students: half male, half female; half Caucasian, half Asian. The participants will be asked to complete an evaluation of emotional and neutral faces of mixed ethnicity before and after the laboratory stressor. The TSST consists of two components: a mock job interview and a math task. After completion, participants will be asked to complete various surveys asking about prejudice, emotional intelligence, and feelings towards neutral observers. Results are pending. Positive
Correlation Between Ultra-Weak Photon Emission Intensity and Blood Flow
During Meditation Supports the Imperfection Theory of Biophotonics Meditation has been reported to down-regulate one of the most astonishing and ambiguous biological electromagnetic phenomena: spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). However, scientists have yet to discover the reason for such a decline in UPE intensity during meditation. According to what biophysicists call the imperfection theory, UPE may be a byproduct of occasional physiochemical energy imbalances caused by irregular steps in cellular metabolism. This study sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of UPE by simultaneously measuring UPE intensity and blood flow, a physiological marker for localized metabolic activity, during a hypometabolic state of meditation. If UPE intensity and blood flow simultaneously decreased during a meditative state, this would reveal that UPE is most likely a marker for metabolic activity. UPE intensity and blood flow parameters (flux, speed, and concentration) were measured in the palms of eight subjects during 10 minutes of pre-meditation rest, 20 minutes of meditation, and 10 minutes of post-meditation rest using a single photon counting system and Laser Doppler Flowmetry. It was shown that UPE intensity and peripheral blood flow decreased simultaneously in 75% of the subjects and increased simultaneously in the other 25% during meditation compared to rest. Even though 25% of the subjects presented an increased UPE intensity and blood flow during meditation, most likely due to stress and/or discomfort, UPE intensity and blood flow did change correspondingly nonetheless. Thus, it can be deduced that UPE is most likely a constituent of metabolic activity, lending support to the imperfection theory of biophotonics. Experimental
and Numerical Investigations on the Behavior of Composite Bolted Joints In this study, behaviors of different types of composite bolted joints were examined thoroughly. We focused on one type of composite, pultruded composite materials that are commercially produced in the United States. Different specimens were prepared and fabricated. Three particular materials were used in this investigation: Carbon/epoxy composites, E-glass/epoxy composites, and E-glass polyester composites. Several parameters were evaluated experimentally and numerically, including composite members’ size, thickness, edge distance, and hole diameter. After the joints were assembled, electronic strain gauges were attached to each specimen at various locations and they were loaded using a Tinius Olsen axial stress testing machine. Afterwards, stress vs. strain graphs were generated using load and displacement data from the test. The empirical results were compared to computer-generated results. The paper provides experimental data and failure modes of different bolted joints as well as numerical results. A comparison between the test and theory will be presented. This investigation will: (1) establish a better understanding of the relationship between composite member thickness and bolt hole diameters with respect to each different composite material; (2) accurately identify regions of high stress and complete failure analysis using the latest finite element analysis programs and compare the data to empirical results; and (3) identify the composite materials and connection methods that create the strongest joints. Research
on Intentional Communities: Past and Present This study was undertaken to define the concept of intentional community and to examine both historical and present-day examples. An intentional community may form along various ideals, ranging from political to spiritual. The underlying theme appears to be that of creating both a model and an alternative social structure to the problems and contradictions one faces residing under mainstream capitalist society. The value in this research lies in the suggestion that alternative forms of social organization, with emphasis on egalitarian principles, are not only desirable, given the inequalities featured in current forms of social organization, but are potentially successful as well. The study consisted of a literary analysis of four extant communities—the Israeli Kibbutz, the Mondragon Worker’s Cooperative in the Basque region of Spain, New Harmony, and Robert Owens’ Socialist Utopian Experiment—and the Shaker Society; and four ethnographic visits—to the Los Angeles Eco-Village, a small scale co-housing community; Arcosanti, an experiment in architectural design in the high desert of Arizona; Ecovillagio Torri Speriore in Ventimiglia Italy; and The Federation of Damanhur in Ivrea, Italy. These, in collaboration with historical accounts, may clarify that opposition to forced urbanization was, and is, a response that many have been willing to undertake as a step beyond the theoretical. This study helps to clarify the proposition that alternative experiments in social organization, with emphasis toward collectivity, equality, and democratic political participation, can exist within current industrial market systems, and may very well be desirable alternatives to current social systems and their various forms of inequality. Academic
Disparities Between African-American Males and Females: Measuring
Perceptions of Persistence The achievement gap is widening between African American males and females at every level of the education system. Examining the educational pipeline, African American women are significantly outnumbering men in completing high school and obtaining college degrees. The literature suggests that African American males feel more marginalized in educational institutions than their female counterparts and are less likely to solicit assistance for their academics. Multiple factors have been identified that contribute to African American males’ academic persistence and graduation. A plethora of the research, however, examines attrition from a model that blames the student, and does not examine the role of the society, school environment and mentorship. If the environment factors are examined, these variables are only reviewed individually, not offering a comprehensive perspective of African American college experiences. Using a psychosociocultural framework, this study examines the role of self-efficacy, self esteem, social support by peers and family, and spirituality on decisions of academic persistence. Surveying 100 African American college students, results will reveal the influence of the three clusters (P,S,C) on academic persistence decision-making processes. Moreover, the interrelationships among the study’s variables will be examined. Findings will provide insight for student affairs practitioners to better understand the experiences of African American male and female undergraduates at four-year institutions. Specific recommendations will be provided to introduce more effective retention efforts for both genders. Directives for future research will also be highlighted. Audience
Reaction to and Reason for Coming to See “The Vagina Monologues” Each year, “The Vagina Monologues” is performed at hundreds of colleges worldwide, and it has been produced for the past four years at UC Irvine. As participants and supporters of the production over the years, we have our own reasons for our involvement in the project, but we were unaware of our audience’s motivation. The purpose of the study was to find out what brought students and community members to see our production and the effect it had on them—were we clearly presenting the message of the show? Distributed with the programs for each performance was a survey asking our audience members for answers to our questions. An announcement was made following each show to ask everyone to fill out their responses. The results showed us that many people came because they had friends or family in the cast and because the show seemed entertaining. They also showed that our message was well received and that people felt they had a better understanding of women’s issues than before they saw the show. This shows us that while people may not be attending because of their interest or involvement in women’s issues, they do leave with a better understanding. This is important to us, because it shows our message got through. As a result of both the money raised and the production’s raising the issues, the goal of stopping violence against women and children is moving forward. Horton
Dance Technique at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance The modern dance technique of Lester Horton provides contemporary dancers a stable foundation upon which to build performance skills. Lester Horton (1906-1953), a modern dance pioneer, was known for incorporating cultural dance styles into a theatrical expression and developing the Horton Dance Technique. As dancers immersed in the study of the Horton Dance technique for a seven-week period, we learned fundamental exercises that strengthened our physical, mental and expressive training. Various exercises known as fortifications were practiced on a daily basis, followed by several more expressive choreographic phrases. Combined, these movement exercises help to establish some of the fundamental properties necessary for a pre-professional dancer. In a lecture-demonstration format, we will present portions of a standard Horton Dance Technique class and describe a Horton dancer’s progression from a basic warm up to complex movement phrases. In studying this technique, we have furthered our knowledge of modern dance and come to understand why Horton Dance Technique has retained its place in modern dance. An
Interactive Museum Exhibit to Teach Restoration Ecology The EcoRaft Project is a multi-device simulation of an ecosystem designed to teach children the science of restoration ecology. The system was written in Java as a proof-of-concept consisting of three desktop PCs and three tablet PCs, referred to as islands and rafts respectively. Unfortunately, the EcoRaft Project was difficult to modify, inextensible, and not robust. Our project’s goal was to create an extensible platform written in Macromedia Flash upon which projects similar to the original EcoRaft Project could be built. We used the network framework from the original EcoRaft Project to learn how to structure the transfer mechanism. A wireless network was used to communicate between devices. Infrared was used to establish line of sight between machines. The system was largely built in Java and the graphical presentation was handled by Flash, with images imported from 3D Studio MAX. The Java module was responsible for simulating animal behaviors and managing inter-device communications. We modeled and animated three-dimensional models of animals and used a custom-made plug-in to export the animations frame by frame. Another plug-in was used to import the resulting images into Flash’s IDE. Our biggest challenge was to design a successful entertainment component while maintaining the educational content. Developing this project refined our skills in software and game development. However, we realized that our project did not scale well with Flash, which led us to believe Flash is not the most effective tool to use for a project of this magnitude. Digitally
Automated Temperature Control with Real-Time Feedback Feedback inputs can be seen in applications that vary immensely, for example, from an automobile cruise control to the transistor fabrication process. To control and maintain a stable system, it is necessary to compare iterations of output to a desired measurement of input. Our project focuses on improving and implementing innovative ideas to the temperature control feedback system for use in a spectrum of diverse fields. We have used LabVIEW as our controller and user interface. After the user inputs a desired temperature between 50 and 400 degrees Celsius, the program detects the temperature of the stove through the thermocouple and LabJack. Once LabVIEW compares the current temperature to the desired one, it turns the stove on or off. It keeps the stove on until it reaches the desired temperature, and then oscillates between on and off cycles to maintain that temperature. We have used relays that are controlled by a 5-volt output from LabJack that turns the power supply of the stove on and off. In wafer design and solder bonding applications, the feedback system can be used to ensure a correct temperature that would cause the most effective bonding of circuits and components. The
Effect of Microgravity on RhoA and MLCP Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Contraction The goal of this study was to investigate the changes in RhoA mediated contraction as a result of simulated microgravity. Both microgravity and simulated microgravity induce decreased contractility of the vascular smooth muscle. RhoA can modulate contraction by regulating the level of myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Specifically, RhoA activates Rho kinase which, in turn, phosphorylates MYPT1, the regulatory subunit of MLC phosphatase (MLCP). This inhibits MLCP activity, allowing an increase in MLC phosphorylation and, therefore, contraction. Using hindlimb unweighted rats, we studied the effects of simulated microgravity on the rat abdominal aorta. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the relative levels of RhoA, Rho Kinase (ROCK), MYPT1, and phosphorylated myosin light chain (P-MLC) following stimulation by the alpha adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine. Contractility was measured in response to U46619, a thromboxane-mimetic that has been shown to work almost exclusively through the RhoA pathway. HU treatment had no effect on Rho kinase. In contrast, HU treatment decreased the expression of RhoA, increased expression of MYPT1, and decreased expression of P-MLC. HU treatment also resulted in a reduced contraction to U46619. These data suggest that HU treatment results in an impairment in Rho mediated contraction. Processing
of Nanocrystalline Nickel Using Pulsed Electrodeposition Nanocrystalline (nc) materials with average grain sizes in the range 1–100 nm possess special characteristics due to their large volume fraction of grain boundaries, junction lines, and nodes. Recent efforts have been devoted to synthesizing bulk nc-materials. Pulsed electrodeposition (PED) is a technologically and economically viable procedure to synthesize nanocrystalline (nc) materials with variable grain sizes, both in bulk form and as coatings. The grain size of the material deposited can be controlled by the variation of the physical and chemical process parameters. In this project, a PED unit was designed to produce nc-nickel. The grain size and distribution of the nickel deposits were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and an transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mechanical properties and microstructure of the deposited nickel were studied using a hardness tester and TEM. Electrodeposited nc-nickel generated from PED was shown to have not only high purity and low porosity, but also good mechanical properties. Clownzilla:
A Love Story Our group was formed to explore in detail the art of clowning. Through our training in clowning we have learned about losing inhibitions, comedic timing, maintaining focus, living in the moment, and how to respond to an audience’s reactions. Throughout the months we have continued to fine tune our work and collaborative process in creating our original show, “Clownzilla: A Love Story.” Many of our collaborative results have come without verbal communication. Our improvisational process works strongly by trial and response. If someone has an idea, we try it; each experiment seems to spark inspiration for another idea. By following through with each idea we learn which ones work best in the context of our show by the responses we receive from the audience and each other. We have also learned that each of our clowns has the potential to be affected by a live audience. Their reaction helps inform what we are going to do next, which, due to the improvisational nature of our show, is completely feasible. During our upcoming trip to Italy we will have an opportunity to collaborate non-verbally with international students. This is an important collaboration to pursue because the comedy created in clowning amplifies some of the most common and instinctive human emotions and behaviors, which make it universal. Therefore, we anticipate overcoming language barriers with international performers through our art. We aim to combine all of our individual skills to create a unique and original group performance that will tell a universal story and evoke an immediate reaction from our audience. Estimation
of Global Abundance and Distribution of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus The marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are picophytoplankton that are commonly found in sunlit surface waters across the world’s oceans. The goal of this project is to establish a quantitative model of the global abundance and distribution of these organisms and to identify the factors that control their distribution. To address these questions, we compiled data from several research cruises to identify the correlation between the abundance of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus and temperature, light, and the nutrient concentrations. Though this is an ongoing project, we have observed that both Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus increased in abundance with temperature and light intensity along with a slight decrease in Prochlorococcus and a slight increase in Synechococcus with an increase in nitrate and phosphate concentrations. We plan to input remote sensing and World Ocean Atlas data into this model and calculate the global distribution of these picophytoplankton. Subsequently, we will integrate this data with cell-specific primary production rates to estimate their contribution to the global Net Primary Production. Microplasma
Propulsion in MEMS Devices It has been shown that high-voltage electric fields can be used to create unidirectional fluid motion very effectively on small scales. This project investigated the possibilities of using high voltage potentials to ionize a fluid for use in microchannels, and covers subjects such as flow control and separation effects. Currently, milli-sized channels have been produced and tested with a voltage potential of 6 kV, and fluid movement and control has been proven. To characterize the effects of different variables, such as electrode geometry, dielectric materials, input amplitude and waveform, several macro-scale channels were created and tested. For the first set of prototypes, the electrodes consisted of copper tape, while the dielectric was variable-thickness Kapton tape. Flow visualization in early models was achieved via a smoke generator, and the process has now moved on to AlO, with a particle size of 1 micrometer on average. The results of the investigation show that changes in electrode geometry and dielectric material have no discernible effect on the resulting flow velocity, and current considerations include flow directionality and control, as well as accurate flow velocity measurements using Optical Coherence Tomography. The construction process is currently moving away from PDMS cast towards photolithography. Water
Chlorination’s Affect on Concentrations of Trihalomethane and
Trichloroamines in Pool and Lifeguard Vicinities Chlorine is a disinfectant used to destroy bacteria and promote public health. Although it is an important factor in keeping water free from harmful microorganisms, risks from chlorination must be taken into account. Many studies have directed attention at microorganisms in pool water and their effects on public health; however, more attention should be directed towards the chemicals used to destroy bacteria and the byproducts that they create. Trihalomethanes and chloroamines are byproducts of pool water chlorination that have raised attention in recent studies because they have been linked with several health concerns. In pool environments, the area most saturated with trihalomethanes and chloroamines lies within the three meters above the pool. Our study identified and quantified the concentration of four types of trihalomethanes: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform, as well as the concentration of trichloroamine. Air samples were collected directly above the pool water and upwind of the pools. Samples were collected at an elevation of about two meters. We took samples at two outdoor recreational pools at UCI—the ARC pool and Crawford pool—and the indoor Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach. The gases were analyzed by gas chromatography using electron capture detection and mass spectrometry. Analysis of the chromatograms showed high concentrations of all trihalomethanes at all pools. In all cases, samples taken directly above the water were more concentrated than upwind samples. Similarly, the indoor pool samples were more concentrated than those from the outdoor pools. Conformational
Analysis of Antimalarials: 1,2,3-trioxacycloheptane,
1,2,4-trioxacyclo-heptane, 1,2,5-trioxacycloheptane, and
1,3,5-trioxacycloheptane and their Derivatives The mechanism of the antimalarial bioactivity of organic peroxides is not clear, and is still under debate. Conformation dictates overall molecular size and shape influence molecular properties and bioactivity, and control chemical reactivity and selectivity. The 1,2,4-trioxacyclohexane ring in the potent antimalarial artemisinin is in the 1,4-twist conformation. To elucidate the mechanisms of the oxygen-oxygen bond (O—O) in the antimalarial activity of 1,2,4-trioxacycloheptane derivatives, we have investigated the conformational analysis of 1,2,3-trioxacycloheptane (1), 1,2,4-trioxacycloheptane (2), 1,2,5-trioxacycloheptane (3), 1,3,5-trioxacycloheptane (4), and their selected derivatives. These theoretical (computational) studies have been carried out using CBS-4M, B3LYP, CCD, CCSD, and QCISD with the CBSB7, 6-31+G(d,p) and cc-pVDZ basis sets. Transition states were located for twist chair pseudorotations, boat pseudorotations, and twist chair-boat conformational interconversions. The relative energies of the carbon-centered radicals and of the oxygen-centered radicals were also investigated. Wireless
Optical Digital Radio Today, optical communication is achieved through fiber optic cables. To enable wireless communication through optical frequencies, fiber optic cables must be eliminated, resulting in free space optics (FSO). In this project, we attempted to build a small scale FSO to demonstrate the potential for a low cost, portability system. Our system includes a transmitting side with a microphone unit connected to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts the analog sound of everyday life to a digital signal through a pulse code modulation system (PCM). The signal leaves the transmitter through a red laser across one meter of free space and enters the receiver through a photodiode. The signal then passes through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts the digital signal back to analog, after which the signal is emitted through a speaker. Amplifiers between each stage ensure good signal strength, especially after the microphone and photodiode. Difficulties encountered include compatibilities between components, clock skew, and faulty equipment. The radio is still inoperable; however, we are sure that a low-cost, portable wireless optical digital radio can work if more time and resources are devoted to this area of research. Intelligent
Power System Our goal was to develop an application for monitoring power consumption using wireless motes. Wireless motes, or remotes, are sensors the size of hockey pucks that can sense a wide range of parameters like humidity, temperature, voltage, etc., and relay them wirelessly. Our project develops a power sensor and couples it with a wireless solution. Industries and housing and apartment complexes have electrical environments that change dynamically with every hair dryer or servo machine that is plugged in or unplugged. Such dynamic electrical environments give rise to undesirable ground leakage currents, which can cause damage to existing machinery and also increase electricity costs due to wastage. Our intelligent motes can be used to monitor power consumption in homes. These motes can also be used to stream home power consumption data to a truck that passes through the neighborhood, thereby allowing utility companies to collect data efficiently and cheaply. Additionally, these motes can be used by architects and builders to design optimal electrical wirings in apartment and industrial complexes. With some modification, they can also be deployed along a power grid for monitoring the health of transmission lines and detecting faults. We were able to successfully build the device and test it for low wattage home appliances to a fair degree of accuracy. Seeking
Triangulating Automated Load-Key Engineered Robot The Seeking Triangulating Automated Load-Key Engineered Robot 2007, STALKER 2007, is a motorized car/robot that that will follow a flat surface/object/person. The idea stemmed from the desire for an automatic car. Although automated navigational devices such as GPS (and other wireless triangulation), RADAR, LIDAR and even machine visualization are viable methods of achieving an automated car, they are far from being reasonably priced. Ultrasonic sensors are relatively low cost devices that have potential for implementation in an automated navigational machine. The creation of a low cost navigation device would open a multitude of applications such as automated shopping carts, baby strollers, luggage and cars. The goal of this project was to provide a prototype device offering the desired functionality on a smaller scale. The STALKER is designed so that, when the surface is drawn away from the robot, the robot will be able to direct a path to the surface by determining the direction the surface turned. Using a remote controlled car as a foundation, ultrasonic sensors and microcontrollers were attached to give the vehicle the desired functionality, while a wireless unit allowed all data to be captured and transferred to a laptop for analysis. It was found that the shape of the object being followed has an effect on accuracy; the vehicle was able to accurately and effectively follow most targets. Oral
Care Self Efficacy Education for Underserved Population of El Testerazo,
Baja California, Mexico Oral health is directly affected by oral hygiene. Many aspects of systemic health are also directly affected by the efficacy of oral cleansing procedures. However, many people in an underserved population may lack the necessary education and supplies to maintain adequate oral hygiene. As a result, many underserved populations continue to eat sugary substances that adversely affect their health, increasing their chances of developing cavities, gum diseases, gingivitis, periodontal diseases, and other oral diseases with long-term consequences. If these conditions remain untreated, they will have adverse effects on patient long-term health. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects on oral health of monthly oral hygiene instruction, provision of oral hygiene supplies, and monitoring of oral cleanliness in the underserved population of El Testerazo, Mexico for eighteen months. Patients’ oral health was evaluated through three different indexes (Oral Hygiene Index, Gingivitis Index, and Decay, Missing, and Filling Index). After four months, 66 patients agreed to participate in the study. However only 18 patients visited more than once and were eligible for analysis. Of the 18 patients, approximately 78% experienced improvement in their Oral Hygiene Index score, 72% saw no change or improvement in their DMF scores, and 83% saw improvement in their Gingivitis Index score. The study found that the majority of patients improved their oral health when given oral hygiene supplies and proper oral health education. Patients who did not improve their oral health were found to be mainly adolescent teens with primary education. U.C.
Irvine Rocket Project In September 2006, a group of multidisciplinary engineering students formed the second Rocket Project in the history of UCI. The goals of the UCI Rocket Project are to: (1) design, build, launch, and recover a rocket capable of delivering a CanSat type payload to an altitude of 12,000 feet above ground level (AGL); (2) develop an attitude control system to control the roll angle of the rocket; (3) design and build an onboard data acquisition system capable of recording and transmitting such parameters as altitude, velocity and acceleration for use in post-flight analysis; and (4) design and build a redundant video recording system capable of recording and transmitting video to show the deployment of the parachute and the effectiveness of the attitude control system. The requirements, design process and decisions for the subteam areas of airframe and propulsion, roll control, data and video telemetry, and recovery system are presented. The Airframe and Propulsion System (APS) subteam used rocket performance simulations, CAD modeling and stress analysis to design the external and internal rocket structure and select a rocket motor. The Roll Control System (RCS) subteam is using computer programming skills and control design theory to develop an algorithm to control the roll attitude of the rocket. The Data and Video Telemetry System (DTVS) subteam has set up avionics for data acquisition with real-time telemetry. The Recovery System (RS) subteam has analyzed various configurations and descent rates for a safe and reliable parachute system for rocket recovery. The launch is scheduled for June 9, 2007 at the Lucerne Dry Lake bed. Flight data will be analyzed to determine system performance and to decide if the project goals were achieved. Aldrich
Park—Creative Student Visions Students at the University of California, Irvine may feel that social life on campus is lacking. The development of the new Student Center will provide students a place where they can hang out with friends, have club meetings, or just study, but students have not had this type of a meeting place for the past three years. One way to study what students think is lacking on campus is to have them create an idea of the changes they would suggest for Aldrich Park, if cost and practicality were not an issue. A mapping exercise was administered to students in four classes from different departments on campus. The students answered questions, including what they liked best and least about Aldrich Park and the most important activity they would like to be able to do in Aldrich Park. The exercise also instructed students to create their own ideal plan for Aldrich Park and to title their plan. After the qualitative data from the Mapping Exercise was collected and analyzed, a quantitative survey was administered to confirm and further understand the qualitative data. The findings of this study are expected to give us a better understanding of what could be done to improve the social life of students on campus. SAE
Aero Design Each year the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) organizes a competition for which students are asked to design a plane, fitting the competition requirements, that can lift as much weight as possible. The restrictions for the 2007 competition included a limited lifting area of 1000 in.2, a take-off field length of 200 ft. and a specific power plant. Starting with the design rules, the team set out to maximize the wing’s load, then to build the rest of the plane to be dynamically and statically stable, lightweight and strong enough to support the loads experienced during the take-off, cruise and landing portions of a flight. The team successfully designed and built a plane. In addition to the plane, the team was required to present a technical report describing the design and manufacturing process. The UC Irvine team was awarded first place by the Autodesk Inventor Design Communication Award. UCI/UCSB
Dance Exchange The goal of the Dance Exchange is to foster and promote creative, artistic and academic dialogue between emerging and imminent university dancers. In its fourth year, the Dance Exchange will reunite the UCI Etude Ensemble with the UCSB Dance Company for another exciting collaboration in dance. The two-day format (May 16 and 18, 2007) of the Dance Exchange will allow each company to experience the educational and artistic environment of the other. The Etude Ensemble will host the UCSB dancers during their day-long visit to our campus. Both companies will be able to share a deepening of their craft, both artistically and academically; highlights of the program include technique classes, an evening performance showcasing both companies’ unique repertories and an open Q&A session for the audience with directors and dancers from both companies. The performance will feature Donald McKayle’s Personal: Bound No’th Blues, To Artina, Down Where I am, and The Dream Keeper, a new suite premiered this year based on the poetry of Langston Hughes, as well as dances from Mr. McKayle’s lengthy repertory, such as The Rainbow Suite: Dink’s Blues, Skillet, and The Rainbow Etude and Remembered Journey: Minstrel Man, Island, and I’ve Known Rivers. The Exchange will also feature new works by undergraduate choreographers within the Ensemble. The Etude Ensemble will have an opportunity to experience company life by traveling to UCSB to complete the second leg of the Exchange. The Dance Exchange will provide both students and educators a larger perspective on the validity of dance as a worthwhile academic pursuit in a university setting, and give the participants an opportunity to make contacts in the dance world. Design/Build/Fly The Design/Build/Fly Competition is an international contest to design, fabricate and demonstrate the flight characteristics of a remote controlled airplane built to meet strict mission goals. It is a team project that requires knowledge of diverse engineering disciplines and prepares students for jobs in industry. One mission is to carry payloads through a specified flight path. The payloads include an air-sampler tube and a camera ball payload. The goal is to create a balanced design possessing good demonstrated flight handling qualities and practical and affordable manufacturing requirements, all while providing a high level of flight performance. This aircraft will compete against those of other institutions, and will be rated according to a given score formula. To achieve the best score, the designers need to focus on a lightweight design that can accomplish the required tasks. Time for loading and unloading of payloads, take-off distance, and the written report also affect the overall score. The purpose of the project is not only to design the aircraft effectively, but also to provide students with a chance to apply their academic knowledge towards practical applications in a competitive environment. Formula
SAE West Competition Race Car The purpose of the project is to design, manufacture, and test a high performance prototype production vehicle for the nonprofessional weekend autocross racer. This vehicle will compete in the 2007 Formula SAE West competition against entries from 80 colleges and universities from around the world. There are few restrictions on the overall vehicle design to allow flexibility and creativity in design. The vehicle limitations and minimum safety requirements are specified on the competition Web site. This project enables team members to participate in every aspect of the design and development of a new product. Student team members at UC Irvine apply the theory learned throughout their coursework in the vehicle design stage. They then put to practice their manufacturing skills by fully fabricating and assembling the full design of the vehicle. Finally, student team members test and tune the vehicle for optimum performance. Every stage is fully documented for replicability. A design presentation, cost report, and sales pitch presentation are also part of the competition. The project emphasizes having students become integrated members of an engineering team with one common goal, while learning what it takes to communicate to other members of a large group and successfully fabricate the vehicle while meeting demanding deadlines. |