Stander Symposium Projects

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  Regulating Proliferation and Differentiation of Notophthalmus viridescens' Immortal Cells in vivo

  Konstantinos Sousounis

  Notophthalmus viridescens, the red-spotted newt, shows astonishing regenerative capabilities. Part of the heart and brain, limbs, tail and eye tissues like the lens, are some of the organs that can be regenerated after removal. Studies show that newt tissues undergoing regeneration are resistant to cancer formation. This study was intended to investigate this linkage at the cellular level. Lens regeneration serves as a good model for this kind of study since lens is regenerated from the dorsal iris pigmented epithelial (IPE) cells and ventral iris can serve as a natural control. Primary goal was to create an immortalized IPE cell line. Iris pigmented epithelial cells (IPE) were isolated from the eye cup by surgery and enzymatic treatments. These cultured IPE cells were transfected with pSV3neo, a plasmid vector that expresses the simian virus 40 (SV40) Large T antigen. This protein is commonly used to immortalize cells that can create tumors. The transfected cells were selected with G418, a selective marker that pSV3neo has. Comparison between transfected and non-transfected cultured IPE cells revealed that these cells are resistant to the selective marker G418 in the concentrations that was tested even if they are not transfected. In addition, the IPE cells transdifferentiated to lens cells but they did not form lentoids as in cultured cells that G418 was not applied. The mechanism behind these initial observations is not known. Furthermore, using immunocytochemistry, it has been shown that SV40 Large T antigen positive cells are limited (<0.01%) and in combination to the fact that transfected cultured IPE cells with pSV3neo show to have more dead cells, it leads to a working hypothesis that the SV40 Large T antigen promotes apoptosis. In addition other vectors will be tried as well.

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  Rehabilitation Engineering: Design of a Shower Transfer Seat

  Rachael A. Johanek, Alexander P. Jules, Deborah M. Kinor, Kendra M. Rindler, Julia M. Schaeffer, Erin E. Sutton

  The Engineering Wellness and Safety Lab (EWSL), directed by Dr. Kimberly Bigelow, gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to perform biomechanical engineering research. This semester, the research team has partnered with the Kettering Health Network and NeuroRehab and Balance Center to design a handicapped-accessible shower transfer seat, a need identified by occupational therapists. After researching many current shower seats and collaborating with occupational therapists and shower seat users, the EWSL developed a list of design requirements. These requirements will be incorporated in each of our designs: an adjustable peri-care door, adjustable legs with a large range of heights, corrosion resistant materials, mildew and mold resistant materials, adjustable for right and left shower heads, proper drainage in the seat and legs, backrest, supports 350 pounds, weighs less than 10 pounds, does not allow water to leak out of the shower, and costs less than 150 dollars for the user. The lab also created a list of design criteria which will us to choose the best design. The design criteria for this project are: safe, adjustable, compatible with curtain, durable, low effort, easy to remove, comfortable, intuitive, space efficient, accessories within reach, and easy to clean. The design requirements and criteria will be used to develop an appropriate design to test. The final functional prototype will be presented to the Kettering Health Network and the NeuroRehab and Balance Center at the end of this semester.

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  Research exercise: An Ecological and Historical Perspective on the Glen Helen Region of Yellow Springs

  Frances D. Albanese

  Historical Ecology is a discipline that pieces together human land use, environmental factors, and forest dynamics over the course of a historical timeframe to better understand the current ecology of a region and point us in the direction of accurate restoration. This is the mindset in which the study of Glen Helen, a one thousand acre region in Yellow Springs, owned by Antioch College, has been approached. Frances Albanese and Graduate student Sean Goins, under the direction of Dr. McEwan, have pieced together the rich and complex forest dynamics and human history of this beautiful region. What may appear to be an old growth forest has functioned as a vacation and health resort, served as a stage coach road, provided land for agriculture and orchards, and even played host to a short-lived cult Commune as recently as the late 1800âs. In congruence with this knowledge is the intricate analysis of tree ring data from the property, with samples that are over 300 years old. This multidimensional approach allows one to appreciate the beauty of the region, and understand more fully how human history and the forest itself can direct restoration.

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  Research exercise: Business Communication at ArtStreet Cafe

  Lauren E. Hennessy, Bryan P. Misencik, Elizabeth A. Rose, Harry E. Sullivan IV

  In the present business world, communication can be difficult due to continuous changes of employees in the work place. This study explores the communication practices for the professional setting that occurs at ArtStreet. In particular, the focus is on the Rhetoric between employees and how it affects day-to-day operations. Research results should stress the importance of professional communication application throughout all levels of a business. Methods used within this study include observations, direct interviews, and analysis of documents. Observation will occur throughout a two-week period for a total of 32-hours. Those observed include four employees of ArtStreet Cafe along with two of the managers for the facility. Observation of the physical characteristic of the facility will be recorded as well, along with informal, face-to-face interaction with open-ended interview questions. Documents collected from the business include flyers, promotions, memos and financial information. This method results in more detailed feed-back and personal opinions to be applied for analysis. Our study uses qualitative data to support our argument. This data will be gathered from a blend of our research methods. Analyses of results hope to support the argument of the importance of effective communication in an organization. Professional rhetoric will help to aid in successful communication and improve financial stability. In particular, the results can aid in the immersion of new employees into the company. From this research we hope to conclude the importance of effective communication within ArtStreet. The results will be of significance to anyone currently in a professional setting or those planning to enter one in the future. Proposal of new rhetoric techniques should be applied to the hiring of new employees to the facility.

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  Research exercise: Communication and Students with Autism

  Meghan C. Henry

  One of the defining characteristics of the Autism Spectrum Disorders is deficits in the development of communication skills. Children with autism can be nonverbal, be verbal but struggle with speech, and also have deficits in auditory processing. These developmental deficits not only make communication difficult for children with autism, they also make communication stressful. This paper describes the most common communication problems children with autism must deal with in school and life in general, and describes actions that educators can take in classrooms to enhance the learning of students with autism and make them more able to learn. When educators are more aware of the communication abilities of the students with autism that spend time in their classroom they will be better able to instruct these students in academic content areas. More importantly, they will be better prepared to understand each individual student and help him or her learn how to communicate with others more effectively.

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  Research exercise: Communication Tactics in Information Technology

  Brandy M. Brown, Kyle D. Speicher

  Over the past thirty years, research on communication practices in professional organizations has significantly increased. This project will add to the discussion by focusing on the communication patterns in a technology driven organization. Communication procedures at the University of Dayton's Flyer Enterprise IT department have been observed. As communication practices stand now, the IT department employees rely heavily on verbal communication to express large sets of data and extensive projects. The research conducted provides evidence of alternative solutions that would increase communication and work flow. The project gathers and utilizes qualitative data, interviews, field notes, and other written documents to gain knowledge about the organization's communication practices. After reviewing the information, the project will give qualitative results about the efficiency and productivity of FEIT's communication practices. The project's conclusion provides feedback on ways to improve communication functionality. The results include specific examples on ways to improve language used, context, or other forms of rhetoric to increase FEIT's communication abilities.

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  Research exercise: Defining Giftedness: Explaining Criteria, Models and Impact of Teachers on Gifted Education

  Molly J. Becker

  Knowing how to identify gifted students is a challenge that all teachers will face and this identification can shape a childâs future. According to the OSTP Standards (2005), Standard 1 states that teachers need to be able to ârecognize characteristics of gifted students, students with disabilities and at-risk students in order to assist in appropriate identification, instruction and interventionâ (p. 15). This paper delves deeper into the topic of gifted education in order to better inform future educators of the definitions of giftedness, the criteria used to identify gifted students, the different models of gifted education, and the impact of teachers on gifted students. By providing a broad base of knowledge in gifted education, the hope is that future teachers will be able to effectively identify gifted students within their classroom and better serve them. This paper explains there are many different definitions of giftedness, encompassing not only academic ability, but also creativity, task commitment, and leadership potential. Identification processes are shifting and future educators need to be prepared to identify students not purely in an academic sense, but in a multifaceted way.

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  Research exercise: Developing Each Child Academically: Applying Marianist Ideals

  Michael M. Dogal, Seth D. Holdmeyer, Alyssa Pool, Emily C. Spirk, Chelsea M. Wisniewski

  The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) strives to help students understand the importance of social justice and its impact on communities while providing students with opportunities to grow as leaders. The cohort integrates classroom education with service learning opportunities. This fall we participated in the first annual Book Buddy Program with the Cleveland Elementary School. Each member of the LLC donated a new book for a student in grades 4,5, and special education. All BSCJLLC members were trained by its community partner Project READ to tutor students in K-8 and young adults. Project READ then placed us in tutoring positions at the Dayton Early College Academy (DECA). DECA is an alternative college prep school for students run by the University of Dayton. This school offers students a better opportunity to excel academically so that they are able to achieve their goal of graduating from high school and attending a college of their choice. We each worked with our students on various assignments, such as drafting and revising English papers, practicing vocabulary, developing fundamental math skills, and improving their literacy skills through reading. Not only were we helping the students, but we also learned patience, the importance of education, as well as the responsibility to assist other members of society. Through our work we were able to apply the Marianist values of learning, leading, and serving into our daily lives.

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  Research exercise: Discovering Peace in Dayton

  Nicola Cerilli, Samuel W. Orman, Christina J. Rose

  The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC)is an opportunity for students to get involved with many aspects of social justice whether they are at the local, regional, national, or global level. The BCSJLLC has provided multiple opportunities for education, community service, and civic engagement. We participated in the Dayton Peace Plunge sponsored by the UD Center for Social Concern. The purpose of this Peace Plunge was to give participants an overall understanding of peace and how it can come from within and from out of the environment around us. We visited the Dayton Peace Museum, Missing Peace Art Space, and the Kin Killing Kin exhibit at the EbonNia gallery of art. At the exhibits we discussed and pondered the different meanings of peace. We viewed the history of peace and each of us reflected on what peace means to us, how we can apply it to our daily lives, and how it impacts the lives of others. We saw the violence and animosity that is present in our society depicted in many ways. The Peace Plunge has given us the opportunity to reflect on our personal growth, what it means to be human in the 21st century, and how we can have a positive impact on our society through education, reflection, and action.

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  Research exercise: Effective Instructional Strategies For Use with Upper-Grade Level Struggling Readers

  Claire M. Shaw

  This presentation will focus on struggling readers in upper level grades (9th through 12th). Most reading programs and research focus on literacy issues in elementary school. In many cases, reading instruction often ceases after eighth grade. After this point, teachers expect students to have a certain level of reading skill. Because of this, many students who struggle with reading will be mislabeled as having a learning disability.Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that a quarter of eighth-grade students perform below the "Basic" level of reading proficiency (Allington). Studies have also suggested that up to 70% of older readers are in need of remediation but do not receive it (Whithear). Because they lack reading skills, students cannot perform well in other classes, even in subjects like math and science where they may be capable of grasping the concept but cannot read the assignments or questions. Struggling readers cannot keep up with increasingly advanced language, and often drop out in high school and become adults without proficient reading skills.The focus for the Stander presentation will be on Chapter 2, the Review of the Literature for this research study. The review will focus on articles about struggling readers in urban and high-poverty schools. It will also focus on the most effective strategies teachers can employ to help students become proficient readers. Evidence based strategies that have been identified as effective will be examined. The impact of implementing these strategies in schools will be an outgrowth of the study. BibliograhyAllington, R.L. (2011). Reading intervention in the middle grades. Voices from the Middle, 19(2), 10-16.Whithear, J. (2011). A review of fluency research and practices for struggling readers in secondary school. Literacy Learning: The Middle Years, 19(1), 18-28.

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  Research exercise: English Language Learners

  Maria C. Roth

  Abstract:Current research shows that the number of English Language Learners in America is steadily increasing. This paper explains some approaches that are effective in teaching English Language Learners. These approaches include teachers using visual aids in their lesson plans, integrating their home cultures into their class, being patient with them, and work with them outside of class. This paper includes aspects from each approach in great detail. All of these approaches contribute to the success of English Language Learners in the classroom.What is the best approach for teaching English Language Learners?

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  Research exercise: Enhancing Adolescent Development through Service Learning

  Liam G. Buckley, Thomas M. Cipiti, Jacob R. Ewing, Travis R. Venanzi, Zachary R. Wisniewski

  As members of the Building Community through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) we are committed to improving literacy rates in the Miami Valley. We pursued this ideal in the fall by donating new books to children in the fourth, fifth, and special education classes at Cleveland Elementary School, a Dayton inner city school. The BCSJLLC community partner, Project READ, trained us to tutor students in grades K-8 and young adults as a part of our service learning commitment. After our training, we were placed in tutoring positions at Holy Angels Elementary School and the Dayton Early College Academy (DECA). We developed relationships with our students by helping them with their reading, vocabulary, and classroom assignment. We feel that our service learning filled a need at our volunteer sites and helped us to better understand the importance of service learning and its effects. As members of the BCSJLLC, we were able to learn and apply the Marianist ideals of lead, learn and serve for the benefit of our community.

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  Research exercise: Finding Inner and Outer Peace

  Erin M. Crotty, Kara L. Fry, Olivia C. Thobe

  Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) is a freshman cohort experience whose mission is to promote service learning as a way of advancing social justice and the Marianist ideals of lead, learn, and serve. Members of our group performed service learning activities in two different ways and in two very different settings. Erin volunteered with Acclaim Hospice while Kara and Olivia participated in a one-day Peace Plunge sponsored by the Center of Social Concern. Acclaim Hospice is an organization that provides companionship and peace for terminally ill patients that have a prognosis of six months or less of life. The types of service activities that Erin performed included reading to the patients, talking to them about their life and watching television shows together. The Peace Plunge is a one-day experience that helps participants focus on inner and outer peace. The activities that Kara and Olivia participated in included visiting the Dayton International Peace Museum to learn how other countries around the world work to achieve peace. They also visited an art gallery that displays works of a local artist, James Pate. His work focuses on how African Americans have worked to reach peace in the past and how they are working to reach inner peace now. The gallery experience focused specifically on how African Americans are gaining peace through learning and embracing their history. This experience also addressed how important it is for young African Americans to embrace peace so that they see how they can turn away from involvement in gangs, for example. We saw that no matter how small an act of kindness is, it contributes to peace. Both service learning experiences offered the opportunity for inner and outer peace to us and to people in the Dayton Community.

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  Research exercise: Flyer Enterprises: The Blend,A Business Communications Study

  Sean T. Belanger, Matthew E. Crawford, Stephen F. Gilbert

  Researchers and communications specialists have written extensively on the subject of business communications and the linkage between communication and performance. By their example, this study will examine a business, describe their communications practice, and illuminate the effects of their communication on their business performance (Doheny-Farina, 1986; Spinuzzi, 2007; Winsor, 2001). The objective of this study is to examinhe and gain an understanding of the way Flyer Enterprises: The Blend as a business communicates internally and externally, and how it relates to their success as an organization. This study will be administered through quantitative and qualitative methods. For example: anonymous surveys, employee interviews, and collection of data through printed material like training manuals and electronic communications. Involves participation of 5-6 individuals associated with The Blend including employees, managers, and customers. One additional purpose of this study is to find and shed light on a communications issue within the business and provide a remedy.

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  Research exercise: Flyer For-ex Fund

  Brendan W. Bruns

  Harrison (1987) sought to determine how one specific communication practice, writing, helps shape organizations. Over the course of the past 25 years, communication practices have helped shape many organizations. When this project observes the Flyer For-ex fund, the primary objective is to determine what communication practices this particular group uses, whether that is writing or another form of communication. More specifically, the project wants to see what communication practices help drive the Flyer For-exâs fundsâ success. In doing this, the project will include qualitative research such as interviewing a select number of the 40 participants in the Flyer For-ex fund, as well as the faculty member in charge of creating the Flyer For-ex fund. The project will observe some of the firmâs meetings in order to analyze and determine how they accomplish their work. In addition, this project will also analyze the communication documents given to all members of the fund such as policies and procedures or meeting notes. After completing this primary research, the project identifies how communication practices drive the For-ex fund to the success that they have. More specifically, the project will determine what communication practices may be helping the Flyer For-ex fund, as well as identifying certain communication practices that may be considered detrimental to the group. Finally, this project proposes remedies to some of the things that may be considered detrimental.

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  Research exercise: Flying with Angels

  Mariana Lopes, Allison C. Mckenna, Alexandra J. Rolnick

  The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) strives to help students understand the importance of social justice by focusing on educating the whole person. This is done by linking learning and scholarship with leadership and service learning. The primary mission of the BSCJLLC is literacy and all cohort members performed service learning in the community by tutoring. The cohort was trained by the LLC's community partner Project READ to tutor students in K-8 and young adults. Project READ then placed us in tutoring positions at Holy Angels Catholic School. The mission of Holy Angels Catholic School is to help their students excel academically while growing in leadership and faith. Through our partnership with this school we have built relationships with our students and the staff and learned more about the Dayton community. We worked with a fifth graders helping them with their multiplication and division tables, we assisted first graders with recognizing their vocabulary words on sight, and we read one-on-one to kindergartners. We believe our service learning experience helped our students; but we know they have helped influence and made a difference in our lives by allowing us to apply the Marianist principles of lead, learn and serve.

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  Research exercise: Guiding Little Angels: A Literacy Experience at Holy Angels Elementary School

  Domenic M. Miccinilli, Eric W. Mueller, Erik D. Stanbery

  The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC)is committed to the ideal of improving literacy in the Greater Miami Valley. During our first semester, our cohort participated in the first annual Book Buddy Program with Dayton's Cleveland Elementary School. We donated brand new books to students in the fourth and fifth grade and to students in special education. The BCSJLLC's community partner, the non-profit organization Project READ, trained us to tutor reading for students in grades K-8 and young adults. Then Project READ placed us in tutoring positions at Holy Angels, a private elementary school. Holy Angel's mission is to guide its students to academic excellence. Our mission was to support the classroom teachers and to assist five and six year-old students with their reading and vocabulary skills. Our tutoring time was spent going over math worksheets, alphabet flashcards, their spelling words, and reading books with students. Throughout the spring we have learned more about the Dayton community and through our service we have learned more about the importance of the Marianist ideals of lead, learn, and serve.

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  Research exercise: Helping Angels Find Their Wings

  Henry P. Hessel, Matt D. Hurtubise, Jake W. Kocinski

  The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) strives to help students understand the importance of social justice, community service, and civic engagement while providing students with opportunities to grow as leaders. The LLC's primary mission is literacy and all BSCJLLC members performed service learning in the community by tutoring. All members of BSCJLLC were trained by the LLC's community partner Project READ to tutor students in K-8 and young adults. Project READ then placed us in tutoring positions in local elementary schools like Holy Angels Grade School. Throughout our tutoring we developed great relationships with the students and assisted teachers that were overworked. We helped students improve their skill in math, reading, and writing by using a number of educational strategies like flashcards to help them memorize and pronounce words. It is through this program that we learned how to carry out the University of Dayton's mission of civic engagement at the local level and to apply the Marianist principles of learn, lead, and serve.

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  Research exercise: Highly Effective Teaching Strategies That Impact Low Achieving Mathematics Classrooms

  Erin M. Yacovoni

  This research study will look at the importance of teachers using particular instructional strategies and their impact on student learning, within a low achieving high poverty mathematics classroom. Dr. Deborah Ball, the dean of the School of Education at the University of Michigan, uses the term "high-leverage practices". This term is defined as "those practices at the heart of the work of teaching that are most likely to affect student learning" (Ball, 2010/2011). The study would include looking at these terms used for these practices, and reviewing the effectiveness of these practices. In looking at the ways teachers instruct their classroom, the study will review the literature on the professional development of preservice and inservice teachers in learning these strategies. The study will examine the emphasis made during the professional development of teachers on the connection between instructional practices and student learning. This research may result in teachers being encouraged to use these research based methods in their classrooms. The achievement gap will be considered as part of this research study.Bibliography:Ball, D. L. (2010/ 2011). Teaching skillful teaching. The Effective Educator, 68(4), 40-45.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: An Explanation of Bonded Labor

  Lauren C. Hirsch, Jane Littlefield

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an overview of modern day slavery along with an in depth look at one of the major types of human trafficking: Bonded Labor.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: An Explanation of Child Sex Trafficking.

  Sean E. Montgomery, Catherine M. Shea

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an overview of modern day slavery along with an in depth look at one of the major types of human trafficking: child sex trafficking.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: An Explanation of Child Soldiers

  Tyler J. Eidson, Alexander J. Ulintz

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an overview of modern day slavery along with an in depth look at one of the major types of human trafficking: child soldiers.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: An Explanation of Debt Bondage among Migrant Laborers.

  Kevin T. Erbs, Amon R. Williams

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an overview of modern day slavery along with an in depth look at one of the major types of human trafficking: Debt Bondage among Migrant Laborers.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: An Explanation of Forced Child Labor.

  Amy N. Bush, Jamie A. Leaver

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an overview of modern day slavery along with an in depth look at one of the major types of human trafficking: Forced Child Labor.

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  Research exercise: Human Trafficking: Forced Agricultural Labor in the US

  Whitney J. Leigh, Ryan J. Singler

  An estimated 27 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking, or the modern day slave trade, is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world and may be the greatest human rights challenge of our time. This poster presents an in depth look at forced labor in the US agriculture industry.