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Showcase Abstract 2020

The Effects of Animated and Static Concept Map on Students’ Learning Performance in Chemistry

The Effects of Animated and Static Concept Map on Students’ Learning Performance in Chemistry

Primary author: Oluwafemi Sunday
Co-author(s): Olusola Adesope; Rachel Wong; Krista Nishida
Faculty sponsor: Olusola Adesope

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Research in concept maps has shown that they facilitate meaningful learning. Although there is overwhelming research evidence showing that animations are better for learning than static concept maps, many of such studies have been conducted in laboratory settings. Hence, there is little understanding of the instructional efficacy of using animated over static concept maps in ecologically-valid environments. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of animated and static concept maps on students’ learning performance in a large undergraduate chemistry classroom. Previous research shows that animated concept maps produced no advantage over static concept map when spoken narration was provided to guide learning. In this experiment, we examined the effectiveness of animated and static concept maps on students’ chemistry learning performance in the absence of spoken narration using a 2 (animated/static) x 2 (map/text) factorial design. Students (N = 564) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Learning performance was measured via immediate and delayed posttests. Results show that the animated concept map group did not significantly outperform the static concept map group. This finding shows that animated and static concept maps are effective for learning as participants in both conditions were better able to integrate and process concepts learned in coherent manner regardless of concept map types. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.

Race and the Atlanta Braves from Summerhill to Cobb County

Race and the Atlanta Braves from Summerhill to Cobb County

Primary author: Clif Stratton

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Race and the Atlanta Braves from Summerhill to Cobb County is a historical analysis of the consequences of the arrival and departure of the Braves baseball franchise to (1966) and from (2016) its downtown Atlanta site from the late Civil Rights era to the present. Drawing on multiple archival collections and oral history interviews, I argue in this book-in-progress that the arrival of big-time professional sports in “the city too busy to hate,” as former mayor William B. Hartsfield once dubbed Atlanta, proved far more than a benign entertainment spectacle meant to strengthen community bonds, elevate civic pride, and court business and tourism. The Braves did, or at least had the potential at times, to contribute to the achievement of these noble aims.
But professional baseball’s descent on this New South city also exposed and exacerbated the deep-seated racial, economic, and spatial divisions that defined the city’s history in the second half of the 20th century and continue to do so well into the 21st. Thus, Race and the Atlanta Braves offers a high profile case study in how race and racism transformed the urban South into what historians call the Sunbelt South, the centerpiece of which was and is a corporate-driven, publicly subsidized model of capitalism that has come to dominate urban planning and policy, residential living patterns, and metropolitan social relations. Atlanta was part of a broader national phenomenon pioneered after World War II in cities across the Sunbelt, including San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, and Charlotte.

Cannabis Use and Metabolic Syndrome Among Clients with First Episode Psychosis

Cannabis Use and Metabolic Syndrome Among Clients with First Episode Psychosis

Primary author: Erik Stiles
Co-author(s): Karl Alcover; Oladunni Oluwoye
Faculty sponsor: Michael McDonell, PhD

Primary college/unit: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Campus: Spokane

Abstract:

Aim: We sought to explore the relationship between cannabis use and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among those with a first episode psychosis (FEP).

Background: Individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder are three times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. CVD accounts for approximately 16% of deaths among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 404 participants enrolled in the Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode – Early Treatment Program. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Using multiple logistic regression, we investigated the correlation between cannabis use and rate of metabolic syndrome. Demographics, time, baseline MetS and potential confounders were separated and analyzed. Finally, we explored the derangement of MetS components among cannabis users and abstainers.

Results: Cannabis users versus abstainers had similar rates of MetS at baseline (10% versus 13.7%, p=0.520). Those who used cannabis at any time during the study period tended to have lower triglycerides (OR=0.3, p=0.001) and higher high-density lipoprotein (OR=0.4, p=0.017). Cannabis users were less likely to develop MetS, relative to non-users (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.22-0.80], p=0.008). This effect remained after controlling for type of psychiatric medication (e.g., first- or second-generation antipsychotics, long-acting injectables).

Conclusions: Cannabis use may be associated with lower incidence of MetS in patients experiencing psychosis. Our findings may contribute to mitigating the elevated CVD risk in this population. Further research is indicated to explore and develop these observations.

Supervised Machine Learning for Columbia River Basalt Group Classification

Supervised Machine Learning for Columbia River Basalt Group Classification

Primary author: Ashley Steiner
Co-author(s): John Wolff

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

The Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) is a large igneous province located in the Pacific Northwest, USA that has a complex stratigraphy of ~210,000 km3 of basalts and basaltic andesites divided into half a dozen formations, more than 40 members and as many as 30 distinct flows distributed among a subset of those members. Many of these members can be distinguished from one another based upon the bulk rock geochemistry as determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The practice of identifying CRBG lavas based upon XRF-determined geochemistry has been utilized at the Peter Hooper GeoAnalytical Lab for the last ~40 years to great effect. Classification of unknown basalts within the group has historically been performed for academic and commercial uses by painstakingly ‘eyeballing’ bivariate plot after bivariate plot of major and trace data.
In this study, we have compiled our database of labeled CRBG XRF & ICP-MS geochemical analyses and created a preliminary pipeline of supervised machine learning models that use a multiclass logistic regression classifier to classify unknown lavas of the CRBG into formations, members and flows, respectively. The model was developed using the open-source Python module Scikit-learn v0.20.2. The logistic regression classifier utlizes the limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) solver and yielded a 97% accuracy score on a 20% test split of the 3700-sample CRBG geochemical dataset for formation classification. Applying this classification model to geographically seperated but geochemically identical lavas may provide insights into common petrogenetic processes.

Megacrystic, High-Pressure Pyroxenes From Lavas Co-eruptive with the Columbia River Basalt Group of Northeast OR, USA: Evidence of Deep Magmatic Storage

Megacrystic, High-Pressure Pyroxenes From Lavas Co-eruptive with the Columbia River Basalt Group of Northeast OR, USA: Evidence of Deep Magmatic Storage

Primary author: Arron Steiner
Co-author(s): John Wolff; Joe Boro

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

The Basalts of Magpie Table (BMT) of northeastern Oregon, make up small volume lavas (4 cm) megacrysts of clinopyroxene (cpx) with spinel inclusions. Cpx thermobarometry indicates a two-stage path from the mantle to the surface with >8 wt% Al2O3 cpx grown from a liquid in the mantle at the Moho at ~35 km deep and ~1210-1240°C. The magma with megacrystic cpx then rose to a second magmatic storage chamber at ~ 15 km deep indicated by cpx rim compositions. MELTS models predict olivine to crystallize at ~ 5 kbars and ~ 1100 °C. Olivine diffusion modeling shows two different diffusion times: Type 1 olivines ~ 15 days and Type 2 olivines ~500 days. The differences between Type 1 and Type 2 may be related to a recharge event which triggered the eruption. Type 2 olivines may have been generated before the Type 1 olivines and sat in the magma chamber prior to a recharge which supplied the Type 1 olivines and triggered the eruption.

Examining pilot safety performance indicators at critical phases of flight across multiple flight legs during commercial airline trips

Examining pilot safety performance indicators at critical phases of flight across multiple flight legs during commercial airline trips

Primary author: Rhiannon Soriano Smith
Co-author(s): Amanda Lamp; Ian Rasmussen; Ewa Basiarz; Chandler Keller; Gregory Belenky

Primary college/unit: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Campus: Spokane

Abstract:

Prior simulation and operational studies began to address whether the number of consecutive flight segments negatively affects cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness, without reaching a clear consensus. This study expands this literature by determining whether there are significant changes in cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness at critical phases of flight across multiple flight segments, while accounting for the number of segments, flight direction, trip day, and time-of-day.
Fifty commercial airline pilots were studied, each flying two separate short-haul trips ranging from 1-4 days and 1-10 flight segments. Cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness were assessed at top-of-climb (TOC) and top-of-descent (TOD) of each flight segment and trip day. Cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness were assessed using Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) speed, Samn-Perelli (SP) ratings, and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) ratings, respectively. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon t-tests and verified using ANOVAs.
Mean PVT speed (d =0.57), SP (d = 0.73), and KSS (d = 0.63) were significantly worse at TOD than TOC (p < 0.001); and varied across flight segments (p<0.001). Cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness were consistently degraded around the fifth flight segment, improved around the sixth to eighth flights segments, and were subsequently degraded around the eighth to tenth flight segments.
The results indicate that cognitive performance, fatigue, and sleepiness vary across flight segments, trip day, and phase of flight. Results suggest that these safety performance indices degrade after five segments, and further degrade after eight flight segments. The results presented could inform future airline scheduling and regulation.

Predicted Dermacentor andersoni iron metabolism genes and their response to iron reduction in cultured tick cells

Predicted Dermacentor andersoni iron metabolism genes and their response to iron reduction in cultured tick cellsPredicted Dermacentor andersoni iron metabolism genes and their response to iron reduction in cultured tick cells

Primary author: Muna Solyman
Faculty sponsor: Susan M. Noh

Primary college/unit: College of Veterinary Medicine
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

For most organisms, iron is an essential nutrient due to its role in many cellular processes. Consequently, insufficient iron levels cause cell damage and death while high concentrations of iron are toxic due to the formation of oxidative radicals, which damage cellular components. As obligate hematophagous parasites, ticks have access to large amounts of iron. Unlike all other hematophagous invertebrates, blood meal digestion within ticks occurs intracellularly rather than in the gut lumen. Due to their unique physiology, little is known about iron uptake and regulation in ticks. Some genes have been identified that are hypothesized to be involved in iron metabolism based on the presence of conserved domains and some limited experimental evidence. In this project, thirteen likely iron metabolism genes were chosen based on the literature and bioinformatics. Using, Dermacentor andersoni ticks, which do not have a published genome, we identified and sequenced these genes. Next, we developed a method to reduce iron in cultured tick cells using an iron chelator 2,2′-bipyridyl and measured the transcriptional response of the D. andersoni iron metabolism genes to iron reduction. Overall, the response of tick cells to iron reduction was less marked than in mammalian cells. The iron transport gene, ferritin 2, and the mitochondrial iron transporters ferrochelatase and mitoferrin were down regulated, while iron regulator protein 1 was up-regulated in response to reduced iron levels. This work lays a foundation for an improved understanding of iron metabolism in ticks and the potential identification of anti-tick targets.

Functionally antagonistic integrated domains of the Rpg5 NLR immunity receptor interact to regulate stem rust resistance in barley

Functionally antagonistic integrated domains of the Rpg5 NLR immunity receptor interact to regulate stem rust resistance in barley

Primary author: Shyam Solanki
Co-author(s): Gazala Ameen; Deepika Arora; Pawel Borowicz; Robert Brueggeman
Faculty sponsor: Robert S Bruggeman

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Immunity is important for plants to protect themselves from pathogens. Immunity activation relies on perception of pathogen molecules or by changes they induce to colonize the host tissues. The molecules/proteins pathogens manipulate are susceptibility targets encoded by vulnerable regions of the genome that are under selective pressure by the pathogen. A new paradigm of plant immune receptor evolution suggests plant genome reorganization directed by the pressure exerted by pathogens leading to gene fusion of these susceptibility targets with NLR plant immunity receptors resulting in integrated domains (IDs) that act as pathogen ‘bait-proteins’. These NLR-ID baits allow plants to monitor pathogen induced changes in the host. We identified a barley NLR immune receptor Rpg5 containing a serine threonine kinase (STPK) ID that confers resistance against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), the stem rust pathogen. The Rpg5-STPK-ID progenitor, PRK1, an Arabidopsis stomatal kinase AtAPK1b ortholog was hypothesized as important for stomata opening during respiration. Confocal microscopy showed Pgt host entry through stomata in the dark expelling the current dogma that a light period is required for stomata opening and pathogen entry, suggesting stomatal manipulation by Pgt possibly targeting PRK1 to enter the host during the night when the stomates are closed. We hypothesize that the pathogen manipulates PRK1 to open the stomata and enter in the host at night when Pgt spores adapted to germinate, thus forcing the host to evolve the Rpg5-STPK NLR-ID which recognizes the pathogen’s attempt to manipulate PRK1 leading to the activation of plant defense responses.

Giant Steps: Practical exercises and patterns for aspiring electric jazz bassists

Giant Steps: Practical exercises and patterns for aspiring electric jazz bassists

Primary author: Frederick Snider

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Giant Steps is an iconic and difficult jazz composition by the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. It was released in 1960 on the album with the same name Giant Steps.

Giant Steps is a controversial composition for its difficult cyclic chord progression. Many jazz musicians find Giant Steps extremely difficult, using excuses as to why they do not perform it. Famous jazz musicians, to include the great jazz alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, refused to perform Giant Steps, claiming Coltrane’s version sounded like an exercise. The bottom-line is many jazz musicians do not know how to approach it.

There are books written on how to approach Giant Steps and are not bass-friendly. For that reason I have come up with a practical approach on how to study and perform it with ease on the electric bass.

I have formulated exercises and patterns that are broken down measure by measure and chord by chord. If studied correctly, students will achieve technical facility, sounding like Coltrane. The trick is not to push the process, putting the cart before the horse like many musicians do. Jimmy Heath stated, “Trane worked on Giant Steps for 4 years before recording it.”

Besides exercises and patterns, I have created a backing track with varying tempos—slow to very fast. With exercises, patterns and backing tracks, students have all they need to be successful.

I am planning on getting my project published by Jazzbooks.com—Aebersold Jazz.

Thin Filament Length Regulation Function of Leiomodin is Affected by its Affinity for Tropomyosin

Thin Filament Length Regulation Function of Leiomodin is Affected by its Affinity for Tropomyosin

Primary author: Garry Smith
Faculty sponsor: Alla Kostyukova

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Striated muscle is composed of organized arrays of basic contractile units, sarcomeres, which must be assembled and maintained for proper muscle function. In sarcomeres, thin and thick filaments, composed primarily of actin and myosin respectively, slide against each other to create muscle contraction. For this system to perform, thin filament length must be strictly regulated. It is not fully understood how this is achieved. Leiomodin (Lmod) and tropomodulin (Tmod), homologous muscle proteins binding to actin and tropomyosin (Tpm), participate in regulating thin filament length. In cells, both are found at the slow-growing pointed end of the thin filament, and, according to an earlier proposed competition mechanism, the two have opposite effects; Tmod halts thin filament growth while Lmod allows it. The 3-dimensional structure of the Lmod/Tpm interaction site shows that Lmod binds to Tpm such that it can only occur at the pointed end. We hypothesize binding to Tpm is crucial for Lmod and Tmod competition for the pointed end. Based on the aforementioned 3-dimensional structure, we designed Lmod mutants to have decreased affinity for Tpm. We used circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to confirm the affinity and tested mutants in cardiomyocytes. CD experiments showed L24G mutant did not bind while S23L had decreased affinity. Cardiomyocyte experiments showed the L24G mutation resulted in shortened thin filaments and increased Tmod assembly at the pointed end, while the S23L mutation had no effect. This demonstrates that binding to Tpm is important for Lmod function and proper pointed end formation.