Celebrating Student Research Abstracts

ANTHROPOLOGY

Title: Out in the Country: Youth, Media and Queer Visibility in Rural America

Student name: David Marshall, Jonnel Hannibal, Victoria Irizarry, Amanda Vallejo

Class standing: Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Junior

Faculty: Prof. Alisse Waterston

Department: Anthropology

Format: Poster & Scrolling PowerPoint

This is a group PowerPoint presentation that explores issues of identity, community and politics

among queer youth in America. A four-student group assignment in Applied Anthropology 212,

the project is based on Out in the Country, an ethnography by anthropologist Mary Gray. Gray‘s

story about rural queer youth provides a backdrop for exploring differences and similarities in

the lives of city and country gay youth struggling with social and political isolation and

invisibility and who are looking to combat their marginality. The project explores personal and

political dimensions of resistance. It also examines the use of online and public spaces to

educate communities about LGBT issues and to spread ―gay visibility: amidst an ignorant

conservatism. The presentation provides a multi-media account of Gray‘s book emphasizing the

ways in which her findings inform understanding of sexuality, gender, and youth, rural and urban

culture, and the role of news media in shaping personal identity and social movements. By

moving between the political and the personal, the group PowerPoint offers a creative way of

providing viewers information while raising controversial social, cultural and political issues.

*

ART & MUSIC

Title: The Eye Set Free: Ecological Art and Postindustrial Capitalism

Student name: Marina Leybishkis

Class standing: Junior

Faculty: Prof. Thalia Vrachopoulos

Department: Art & Music

Format: Presentation

In the presentation I will cover ecological art within the post-industrial capitalist climate today

prevalent in South Korea. I will introduce my topic by defining the meaning of this type of art

using the artists Ji Young Ho, Chondwoon Choi, U-Ram Chae, and Sung Kuen Lee as examples.

The first artist Ji Young Ho, reveals the textures ductility, and even the smell of the asphalt he

uses. It‘s quite palpable. Like nature, his forms are a mystery but never mysterious, their

physiognomy-gestural, postural, and musculoskeletal—are as evident, and revelatory, as

fabrications, though no less real for all that as imaginative events, as they would be if they were

living organisms in a natural setting which is the reason I am offering his work as exemplary of

the style. The second is Chondwoon Choi, he works with epoxy, acrylic, and other plastic resins,

PVC piping, polyurethane and multi-colored colloid gels. These are industrial materials whose

perceptual availability is strictly limited by the mundane practical objects we live but almost

never see. U-Ram Chae‘s objects have formal definition—they are after all something—but they

dawdle so perilously at the metaphysical boundary between design and sense, or meaning, that

his work gave me the uncanny experience of recognizing an object I couldn‘t identify. Sung

Kuen Lee‘s art is quite similar to U-Ram Chae but he goes further in rematerializing his objects.

The pattern of his pieces, their structure, is so dominant that their singularity makes them

incomparable—therefore everything and nothing.

*

Title: Green Ecology and Sustainable Design in Transportation

Student name: Jose Tavarez

Class standing: Sophomore




Today, many cultures in the world make a great influence in our lives, as a result, some of us end

up taking what is more interesting to us and make it part of our lives. In summer 2009, as

sophomore student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice I had the opportunity to be part of a

study abroad program which took place in South Korea. In the company of professor Thalia

Vrachopoulos, her assistants and friends, eight John Jay College students and I had a wonderful

time in South Korea. When I stepped out of the airplane in Incheon International Airport in

South Korea I knew I was going to have an unforgettable experience, and so I did. As a group we

visited many cities; Seoul, Incheon, Icheon, Jeonju, Ansan, Andong, Chuksan, Daegu, Gwangju,

Yeosu, Jincheon, Jeoju, Gyeongju, among others. In each of the cities we visited, we did similar

activities, yet each city had something in particular that made it special among others. For

instance, when we visited Andong, located on the eastern part of the country, the theme that

represents that city are the Hahoe masks, specifically the Yangban aristocrat, which is a national

treasure in the country. Another city where we spent most of the time was Seoul, the capital of

the country, where one of my favorite places we visited, Insadong, is located. Insadong has a

main street called Insadong-gil, which is a long market-like street that connects to many alleys

and pathways, where one can find many art galleries, antiques, artworks, souvenirs, restaurants,

sweet delicacies and many other interesting amenities that any tourist or local would find

pleasant. The food was something that at the beginning of the trip some members of the group

were not too pleased about, due to the different style of cooking and eating, however, as we

became accustomed to the seasonings and customs we ended up enjoying it as a local would just

do. Learning the language among locals was one of the greatest experiences. The locals were

always very polite and willing to help by giving directions, translating and even teaching their

language. Something that I was very pleased about in the city was the subway system. It is very

clean and tidy, their staff is remarkable, the trains and trains stations are exceptionally innovative

and safe, and the price is fair, nothing like New York City subway system which is totally the

opposite. This became my favorite mode of transportation. In the city of Yeosu, located in the

southern coast of the country, the other eight students and I were required to work on a

presentation based on ideas for a global exposition called ―Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea‖ that will

take place at that city in 2012 with the theme ―The Living Ocean and Coast‖. The area which I

was assigned to focus on is ―Green Ecology, Green Transportation and Sustainable Design‖. In

this area I came up with a project that can be used to transport guests from one facility to the

other and at the same time entertain them. It is a tunnel that is similar to that of an aquarium and

will work as a road for electric bicycle riders and a walkway for pedestrians who wish to

experience the view of the sky and marine life submerged halfway through under water. With

the ideas for the expo in Yeosu City along with many other activities in other cities, the study

abroad program became a successful experience that I am certainly positive every member of the

program will never forget.

*

Title: Korean Customs and Rituals

Student name: Rafalina Tineo





In June 2009 I was part of a journey that became a life time memory. I went to South Korea with

professor Thalia Vrachopoulos on a study abroad program called Korean Art and Culture of John

Jay College. After being on a plane for over fifteen hours all across the globe, then landing in

Seoul, South Korea, I became amazed with what I encountered among the people of that

beautiful country. Their art and they amazing culture left me breathless. I thought I knew

something about this culture from the previous history courses that I had already taken, but I was

wrong. When someone sets foot in a foreign land and gets to experience their living culture

everything comes more clear and lively. Koreans do not have boundaries when it comes to

kindness. I felt I was being treated as if I was from royal descent, since everywhere we were

invited we were the center of attention and everyone was always smiling and content. I retrace

my memories back when I was in South Korea and thinking about now, I feel glad I took

hundreds of pictures and they were not enough to hold on so close the unforgettable memories I

have from that beautiful land. A land where the ocean is brown and not blue I will have to say

that it impressed me tremendously. As a Latin woman coming from a country in the Caribbean,

Dominican Republic, where the ocean is blue and bright, I wandered why is the ocean of that

color in that part of our planet. The art and culture of Koreans have survived many attacks from

other countries, specially neighboring ones such as, China and Japan. Yet, they have overcome

all odds by keeping alive their traditions through their art and customs. Today, there is a strong

western religious influence among Koreans, Christianity, for instance. Nevertheless, Buddhism,

Shamanism among others beliefs have been present for a long period of time. To be able to

condense what South Korea is to me and what I learned is extremely difficult because every

individual experience made a great positive effect in my life. I had the honor to travel with

professor Vrachopoulos. Thanks to her staff and friends we were able to get the most out of our

trip.

*

Title: Transportation and Infrastructure

Student name: George Robles

Class standing: Senior




Today around the world many developing countries are using the Kyoto accord in which many

developing countries came to an agreement to cut down on global warming by reducing fossil

fuel consumption. The dependency on oil and coal resources to fuel the economies of many

countries in the world is threatening the very existence of all life on earth. The development of

alternative methods and the creation of a working model for countries to follow will be the theme

of the 2012 Yeosu World‘s Fair in South Korea. The city of Yeosu is located on the southern

coast of South Korea provides a unique example for many countries to see how city officials and

the government of South Korea can take a small city in a nationally preserved region of the

country where fishing and oyster beds are part of harbor activity along side of ship building and

steel making in the region. Today, Korea is heavily industrialized as well as a modern country

competing to keep up with powerful neighboring countries to the north, east and west. My

assignment on this project was to examine transportation systems and the infrastructure of the

city along with the geography of the region and to come up with eco-friendly alternatives for

minimally intrusive improvements on its roads, railways, airports, and sea ferries as an approach

to the city of Yeosu, from Incheon and Seoul

*

Title: Korean Dance and Music

Student name: Marie Figueroa





The decision to go to Korea and study the art and culture was an opportunity that I was not

willing to miss out on. John Jay College offered other study abroad programs that sounded

fantastic and an experience on their own. However the chance to travel half way around the

world to Asia and be in the middle of the Korean culture was what drew me to this particular

program.

One of the fist stops in our journey through Korea was in Ansung Kuksan. Where we arrived at

the Laughing Stone Dance Company; Those who were there to greet us was founder, world

renowned dancer and chorographer Sin Cha Hung. Ms. Hung is know as Korea‘s first advent-

grade dance and had received her dance master at Colombia University.

We were greeted by a community of dancers who lived on a mountain, where we were treated to

a traditional Korean dinner by Suki Bergeron. We continued up the mountain where we all

danced an Arabic dance which meaning was to introduce oneself to the group and being

welcomed into the group. Also while we were at the laughing stone we were treated to see

different modern Korean dance styles as Ms. Hung was know for her attempt to express Korean

spiritualism through contemporary western dance techniques.

The traditional styles that Ms. Hung and the dancers of her company draw their inspirations from

traditional dances that we also had the opportunity to see at the Korean House in Seoul. We were

treated to folk dances such as Poongmul Dance Nong-ak which is a strenuous from of fold dance

where dancers rotate their heads producing long spirals with the white ribbons attached to the

crown of their hats. This is a traditional former dance and in folk dances there is often vigorous

and rhythmic to that expresses the lives and emotions of the common people. We were also able

to see new traditional dance such as Buchaechum a fan dance which was created by Kim Baek-

Bong and first present in public in 1954.

Another style of dance that we were able to see was in Seoul in a Buddhist restaurant were they

had shows of Court dances. These dances designate from Confucian ritual ceremonies, Buddhist

dance and shamanism and the influences are greatly seen in the movement of these dances. We

saw a traditional Gyobang-Mu which follows the court style. Court style dances are much more

reserved a style that is often described as chong joong dong; motion within stillness. These

dances were precise and beautiful in the slow rhythm of the drums.

The music and dance of Korea was something I had never known about until our trip across

Korea. This trip not only let us see and understand the modern culture of Korea and its capital

Seoul but took us all around South Korea where we were able to see the traditional styles of this

country and the way people outside of the city live their lives.

*

Title: Yeosu tower of Tomorrow

Student name: Nneka Niles





The past and present failures that have led us to the Yeosu Fair denote a lack of foresight. My

effort, because I can only speak for myself, is to help change the dynamics that have governed

our long journey and the way we demonstrate our capacities, because we are capable of more.

We all are capable of more. We are. But somewhere in the course of progress, we have failed.

We have failed to recognize the human capacity to produce wondrous and beautiful things.

We've failed to recall we are a part of something larger. A larger world, a larger universe, and an

infinity beyond our capacity to imagine. And instead of conquering that, of conquering this

world, instead of tearing ourselves away from our world, destroying it as we do, as we have for

thousands of years, we should return, in every sense of the word, what this world has and does

give to each of us. As artists, architects, designers and every creative force gathered in Korea,

history tells us, again, and again, we must inspire change.

The International Exposition Yeosu, Korea 2012, should be the voice of a generation. I believe it

is the way we live which has a profound effect on our planet, and so, this generation, the Yeosu

Exposition, must meet the challenges of change in order to preserve our world, our very

humanity and oceanic harmony, in triplicate. Our duty today, and that day in Yeosu Korea, is to

protect our future and create a history that is both as contributory and individualistic as Korea.

The iconic tower of Yeosu should reflect these virtues. The virtues of a changing world and of a

new generation. My presentation will cover the ways and methods in which some of these

changes can begin to take place via design, art, and architecture.

*

Title: Untitled

Student name: Wilson Hung


Faculty: Prof. Mary Ting


Format: Sculpture

Title: Untitled

Student name: Stephany Diaz

Class standing: Freshman



Format: Sculpture

Title: Untitled

Student name: Alexander Mendez




Format: Sculpture

Title: Untitled

Student name: Mari Sugai




Format: Sculpture

Title: Untitled

Student name: Danneris Contreras

Class Standing: Sophomore



Format: Drawing

Title: Untitled

Student name: Steve Yaipen




Format: Drawing

*

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Title: Extremism In and Out of Prison: A Case Study Approach

Student name: Celinet Duran


Faculty: Joshua D. Freilich

Department: Criminal Justice

Format: Poster

Radicalization has been presented as a growing concern among investigators, especially with

regards to extremism. This project compares and contrasts domestic extremist groups, such as

white supremacist and Jihadist groups that (1) operate primarily in prison to (2) organizations

that operate both inside and outside of prison. A total of four case studies will be conducted as

one successful and one unsuccessful group will be selected from each of the three categories.

The study will examine the ideology, motivations, goals, structure, mobilization, recruitment,

and activities of these groups to uncover similarities and differences. The project will isolate key

factors that distinguish ―unsuccessful‖ groups from ―successful‖ organizations. Building upon

the ECDB/MAROB collaboration, ―successful groups‖ will be operationalized as organizations

that lasted for longer than three years, conducted numerous activities (both legal and illegal),

attracted a large membership and represented a threat to public security. ―Unsuccessful groups‖

will be operationalized as organizations that lasted less than two years, conducted few activities,

failed to attract large numbers of members and did not succeed in significantly harming public

safety. I will use MAROB and ECDB data to generate a listing of extremist groups in the United

States. I will draft a listing and timeline of these factors to make systematic comparisons across

the organizations. Later on, I would hope to use this information for a cross comparison of

radicalized prisoners between international borders, such as Europe for example.

*

ENGLISH

Title: Untitled

Student name: Emilio A. Herce


Faculty: Adam Berlin

Department: English

Format: Short Fiction Reading

My fiction is usually a study of what it means to be male in the modern world, as well as the

effects of solitude, loss, and gender roles on these young men. Some of it I draw from personal

experience, though I‘ve shied away from that recently, since it‘s too easy to write about. The one

I plan to read is a humorous, though darkly humorous, short story about what it takes to be

creative when one is saturated and sidetracked by so many stimuli.

*

Title: Highway Prayers

Student name: Stacey-Ann McAllister


Faculty: Adam Berlin

Department: English

Format: Poetry Reading

*

Title: Army of Roses: Female Suicide Bombers

Student name: Darakshan Raja

Class standing: BA/MA

Faculty: Toy-Fung Tung

Department: English

Format: Poster/PowerPoint

Women have been involved in terrorist organizations from Colombia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,

Turkey, Iran, Norway, to the United States (Cunningham, 2003). However there is an increase in

employing females in the deadliest missions undertaken by terrorist organizations. In no other

form of violence is there a higher proportion of female participation than as perpetrators of

suicide bombings (Collins, 2008). Conservative estimates of the casualties from 49 suicide

bombers is approximately 600 dead and 800 wounded (Ness, 2008). However these statistics do

not present the casualties beyond 2003. Since 2003, there has been an increase in female suicide

bombers. Therefore the presentation will briefly present the recent trends in the deployment of

female suicide bombers. The presentation will briefly look at the link between psychopathy and

female suicide bombers. Particular case-studies will focus on the Palestinian and Iraqi female

suicide bombers. Material from interviews from failed female suicide bombers will be presented

to shed light on the motivations. The conclusion of the presentation will highlight the importance

of recognizing the evolution of women from support roles to main-stream suicide bombers.

Furthermore the presentation will explore policy recommendations such as the use of female

police officers.

*

Title: Colonialism for Natives: A Day to Day Guide to Surviving Your Colonial Overlords

Student name: Lee Koch


Faculty: Toy-Fung Tung

Department: English

Format: Poster/Multimedia

I researched colonialism, and I wrote a paper in the form of a survival manual mocking the

various heinous acts of colonialism. The manual is called "A Day to Day Guide to Surviving

Your Colonial Overlords." I will create a poster presentation 32‖ by 22‖ showcasing various

works on colonialism. I will make copies of my manual to give out or "sell" to the crowd. All

sales will go to benefit Haiti or some other institution affected by colonialism (Nigeria,

Dominican Republic, etc). My research and subsequent manual is based on research and

literature by Aimé Césaire, Mahmood Mamdani, Chinua Achibe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,

Shakespeare, and others, and it illustrates colonialism‘s impact on the world and literature.

Depending on cost, I will print some ironic t-shirts on colonialism in modern times, maybe

showcasing political statements about Afghanistan or Iraq. Rather than just answering questions

in a plain or academic manner, I believe I can act as a used car salesman and ‗sell Colonialism‘

to the spectators. To add to this, I can make buttons that say ―Colonialism NOW!!!‖ or

―Colonies on the Moon,‖ or ―Give Colonialism a Chance.‖ I can show the ‗failed-state index‘

and give reasons as to why American support is needed in failing countries. This idea shows that

colonialism is not dead; it has just had a face lift of the economic variety. The main goal is to

offend the sensibilities without being completely offensive by using humor to realize the

absurdity of colonialism.

*

Title: Guinea‘s Rebirth

Student name: Kadiatou Sylla


Faculty: Prof. Melinda Powers

Department: English Department

Format: Performance

For celebrating Students‘ Research Week, I will be discussing my play Guinea‘s Rebirth, which

recently had a staged reading at La Mama Theater Company, a world famous experimental

theater company in New York. Guinea‘s Rebirth began as a project in Professor Melinda

Powers‘ Classical Literature Class. Professor Powers assigned to my group a reading of

Aristophanes‘ Frogs and asked my group to interpret the play in relation to contemporary human

conditions. Thus, Guinea‘s Rebirth is a reinterpretation of Aristophanes‘ Frogs and discusses an

unprecedented turmoil in Guinea in all its aspects. For example, unarmed civilians, despite

being massacred by Guinea‘s security forces, are marching down the streets challenging

Guinea‘s government to be accountable and responsible. They‘re asking for a democratic

government not only in theory, but also in practice. One Hundred and fifty-seven people have

been massacred by Guinea‘s security forces. The Young scholar Dika, with the help of Guinea‘s

ancestors, crosses the river separating the dead and the living searching for the renowned

Guinean writer Camara Laye. Dika wants to bring Camara Laye back to life in modern Guinea to

help solve the problems the country faces. After briefly outlining the story, I will read a scene at

Celebrating Students‘ Research Week and will discuss some of the ways I‘ll be revising the play

based on the feedback I received at La Mama reading and the play writing groups I‘ve been

attending.

*

HISTORY

Title: Plotting Hitler‘s Death: The German Resistance

Student name: Ravesa Bajo


Faculty: Prof. Jessica Diller Kovler

Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

On July 20, 1944 a bomb exploded at Hitler's daily briefing. It was the last in a series of

assassination attempts against Hitler carried out by a group of military conspirators. Shortly

afterwards, using a legitimate military plan codenamed "Valkyrie," senior officers of the German

Home Army tried to seize power in an attempt to free Germany from the criminal Nazi regime.

But this assassination attempt, like all those before it, had failed. In consequence, within hours

orders were soon issued from Hitler's headquarters countermanding "Valkyrie." In some military

districts, such as France, the subordinate commanders were anti-Nazi and they followed the

"Valkyrie" orders without hesitation. The local Gestapo and SS were rounded up and detained.

But in other military districts, the news that Hitler had survived the assassination attempt was

sufficient grounds for disregarding "Valkyrie" and following the orders from Hitler's

headquarters instead. So the only uprising by Germans against the Nazi regime collapsed. In the

night of July 20, 1944, the first men associated with this German revolt against Hitler's

dictatorship were executed without trial. The first man to fall to the vicious Nazi retribution was

the man who had from early 1942 onwards developed and nurtured the coup d'etat plans, Plan

"Valkyrie": General Friedrich Olbricht. Thousands of other conspirators and their sympathizers

followed and were liquidated in a bloody retribution. Who were the men behind the conspiracy?

Was it really just a "tiny clique of criminally stupid officers" as Hitler claimed? And was Claus

Graf Stauffenberg - the only person named by Hitler - really the driving force behind it?

*

Title: The i-Cult: The Cult of the Apple Macintosh

Student name: Jazmin Johnson



Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

Since when have computer systems had blogs devoted to them, fans on Facebook and people all

over the world asking the question, ―Are you a Mac or a PC?‖ From its development and

introduction in the early 1980s to the invention of apps and iPads, we have all grown to know,

love and appreciate the Macintosh Empire for its many technological contributions. It has

acquired both leaders and followers and therefore, has resulted in its own revolution. This revolt

has, in result, led to the cult of Mac. Devoted disciples have arisen, drawn in by the allure of the

instant community and acceptance. Dependency on all things Apple, has led Mac users to

anxiously await the new iProduct and even pay homage by making pilgrimages to the annual

MacWorld Expo. Does the world really need an iCult?

*

Title: From Albania to New York: My Experience

Student name: Ledi Lumi

Class standing:


Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

During the last year I have met many different faces in CUNY, from various backgrounds, but

have also meant many from my own immediate community. Many of these individuals shared

the same story as me. Although New Yorkers, in my opinion, may not know too much about

Albania, they all seem to know a least one person from there. So in this project I want to inform

the audience about Albania, first by introducing them to Albanian history during communism

and post communism, as a cause of Albanian immigration to the States; secondly, the

immigration of Albanians to New York 1980-90s. The hardships of immigration, Albanian

communities in New York and the struggles of family, schooling and identity for first and second

generation Albanian immigrants, as well as the family and friendships system within Albanian

communities.

*

Title: Tammany Hall: The Power of ―Silent‖ Charlie Murphy

Student name: Timothy Murphy



Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

Tammany Hall, the great political machine that ruled many aspects of New York City was like

an Octopus whose tentacles could both nurture and destroy. It has been known for under-table

dealings and general corruption, most notable from the infamous Boss Tweed. But for twenty

two years another Boss gave the public a different perception of Tammany. ―Silent‖ Charlie

Murphy was the son of Irish Immigrants; he worked his way up from a dock hand to leader of

the Gas House district and eventually became the head of Tammany Hall. He changed the

machine toward a more progressive era by pushing for labor legislation and women‘s suffrage.

His power came from a willingness to compromise and accommodate, which maybe a lesson

today‘s leaders could learn from. ―Silent‖ Charlie may not have been a saint and was the product

of growing up in a Tammany run government but he was well liked by the working class,

offering a beer and soup for a nickel.

*

Title: The Holocaust: Keeping Memories Alive as Survivors Dwindle

Student name: Netanella Rafeal

Class standing:


Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

The Holocaust, where six million Jewish people were killed among millions of others, is not one

story; it‘s millions of individual stories. Today, as survivors are passing on, our generation must

take it upon ourselves to preserve their stories so that they will not be forgotten. With all the

Holocaust deniers and many Germans trying to disassociate themselves because of guilt, to have

survivors share their stories means a lot and so for people to hear the testimonies of living people

they get a more lasting impression then to just read a book. Through this research project I will

be exploring the live testimony of a Holocaust survivor and sharing the story with the rest of the

college community. The project will be in PowerPoint format and will include the story, clips of

the video and many pictures to help viewers connect to the survivor. As Zeida, and Israeli poet

once said, ―Unto every person there is a name.‖ These survivors are more than just numbers

tattooed onto their arms, they have individual stories and it is important for the world to hear

them.

*

Title: South Asians to the Caribbean

Student name: Naithram Singh



Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

This project will discuss the migration of Indians to the Caribbean. Many Guyanese of the older

generation share that they were never really educated about how their generation‘s culture in

Guyana and throughout the West Indies. Now that my parents and many other West Indian

families have migrated to New York, the culture and many other aspects have been brought as

well. It fills me with curiosity to find out why Indians were sent west to establish new life. What

was wrong with staying in their motherland, India? It amazes me how hundreds of years later, we

still practice the same religion and traditions as hour forefathers in India. Now, it has become this

large triangle with extreme knowledge to be learned. I could also ask the monk at my temple for

some insight. He is a Guyanese born but studied religion in India for many years. I could ask him

what that experience was like and what are some similarities and differences. Another primary

source I can use for my PowerPoint would be images and videos taken either in India or Guyana

that shows some type of migration or lifestyle related.

*

Title: Violence in Music

Student name: Nelly Vega


Faculty: Prof. Jessica Diller Vega

Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

The paper will discuss Hip Hop and its contribution to society. It will discuss the birth of hip

hop, and its formation as a culture. Through this culture, violence became a norm to those who

participated in the faction. Hip Hop originated by minorities who struggled through racism and

simple became tired of it. Through music they discussed the issues of racism, discrimination,

deprivation of economic gain, and the political abuse. The culture became a tool in

understanding one another, and started an era where music up roared the streets of the Bronx in

New York. The movement started in the early 1970‘s as what Emmett G. Price would call it the

―next generation civil human rights movement‖(Hip Hop and Culture(2006 p1). However it is

argued that Hip Hop ended up influencing violence among the youth. It is important to

understand this topic because Hip Hop is the foundation of an artistic movement relying on

music to express the feelings those within the culture.

The literature will review four books and three articles which each focus on different aspects of

Hip Hop. The paper will include four main topics about hip hop; its history, culture, influence,

and violence. The paper will conclude with the author‘s opinion that Hip Hop has created a

subculture of violence among teens today.

*

Title: Island Hopping: Analyzing MacArthur in Iwo Jima

Student name: Robert Bonilla


Faculty: Prof. Jessica Diller-Kovler

Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

I want to talk about the innovation of MacArthur‘s island hopping tactics. It was something that

many thought not necessary because the most popular thought was the Japan could be bombed

out of the war since air raids like the Tokyo night raids which killed 80,000 and left a million

homeless would be enough to make the Japanese lose the will to fight, however Mac Author

wanted to be on the safe side, and after rescuing American prisoners from Bataan and manila, he

used his island hopping strategy to force the Japanese back home , and to force them into a little

pocket area of the Pacific. It was in this area that the battles of midway, the Solomon islands, the

a-toll battles, Okinawa, Iwo Jima were all fought. There is debate over what the exact turning

point of the war was, I personally believe that Midway was a huge momentum and moral boost

for America, that the real turning point was the raising of the flag on MT. Sirobochi during the

battle of Iwo Jima. That image became a source of national pride, and it was the first time in

Japanese history that an original piece of their homeland was conquered by a foreign nation.

After losing the battle of Midway, and Iwo Jima many people thought that Japan would lose the

will to fight.

This is where my last topic comes into play, on the use of the island hopping tactics which

enabled the Americans to lift the flag at Iwo Jima, which upon being conquered became a major

air force hub and aided in stops for bombing raids on all Japan one would argue was this tactic

what really won it for America?

*

HONORS PROGRAM

Title: How Well Do Criminological Constructs of Religiosity Reflect Theological Conceptions

of Judiasm?

Student name: Michelle Hershkowitz


Faculty: Prof. Todd Clear


Format: PowerPoint

When criminal justice theorists have examined the relationship between religion and criminal

behavior, they have tended to address religion as if it were a cultural monolith. In turn, they may

have neglected to explore the possibility that different doctrinal systems yield different beliefs,

interpretations, and views of religiosity and ethical behavior. This paper investigates whether

Judaism's traditional viewpoint on religiosity is well represented by the way religious variables

have been theorized and operationalized in contemporary criminological literature.

*

Title: The Effects of Mortality Salience and Reminders of Terrorism on Perceptions of

Interrogation Techniques

Student name: Timothy Luke


Faculty: Prof. Maria Hartwig/ Prof. Todd Clear

Department: Psychology/Criminal Justice

Format: PowerPoint

Through a novel application of terror management theory, we investigated the effect of mortality

salience and reminders of terrorism on people‘s perceptions of the effectiveness and acceptability

of interrogation techniques. A dimensional structure by which people perceive interrogation

techniques was identified. Mortality salience was found to induce higher levels of acceptance of

violent and demeaning techniques, F (2,102) = 3.105, p < .05, but no other significant effects

were found. In line with terror management theory, the effect of mortality salience on only the

perceived acceptability of violent interrogation techniques suggests that people may be

motivated to use punitive techniques against those who threaten the cultural worldview,

regardless of the perceived effectiveness of these techniques.

*

Title: Characteristics of Bank Robbers and Bank Robbery

Student name: Megan Maiello




Format: PowerPoint

According to the FBI, there were 6,849 bank robberies in the U.S. in 2008. The average bank

robber is often portrayed as assaulting bank tellers and bystanders, guns blazing. However, over

70% of bank robberies are non-violent. This study examines the planning and preparation of

bank robbery and the methods bank robbers use in order to commit their crime.

*

Title: The Effects of Colonialism on Religion and the Economy: The Case of Rwanda

Student name: Sara Moharrem


Faculty: Prof. Erica Burleigh/Prof. Todd Clear

Department: English/Criminal Justice

Format: PowerPoint

During the Rwandan genocide of 1994, Hutu militia killed almost one million Tutsis in about

100 days. What led to the division between these groups who lived together for centuries and

shared the same culture and religion? The Rwandan genocide was not the result of political

tensions. Rather, division in Rwanda arose as a result of European colonization and Europeans‘

misinterpretation of the Bible. These externally-imposed ethnic and social divisions, which were

further fueled by church leaders and church practices, in addition to Rwanda‘s post-colonial

economic instability, were main causes of the genocide.

*

Title: Examining Negative Attributional Biases toward Male Victims of Sexual Assault

Student name: Neethu Suresh




Format: PowerPoint

A considerable number of males experience sexual assault by male and female perpetrators.

However, little research focuses on male victims of sexual assault, or the potential blame

attributed to male victims. This study reviews the existing literature examining the effect of

victim sexual orientation and perpetrator gender on blame attributed to male victims of sexual

assault. Additionally, the potential sexual attraction hypothesis, which posits that victims will be

attributed more blame if their sexual orientation suggests potential attraction to the perpetrator, is

reviewed as a possible explanation for blame attributions towards male sexual assault victims.

*

Title: Post Mortem Interval Determination in Humans Using the Developmental Stages of the

Green Bottle Fly (Phaenicia sericata) and the Black Blow Fly (Phormia regina)

Student name: Lauren Weidner




Format: PowerPoint

Insects, especially blowflies, have become more widely used in the field of forensic science to

determine the post mortem interval. This research contains 24 series of maggots reared in a

controlled environment, with daily recording and photography of their growth and development.

The findings show that different species of maggots emerge at different times in both their egg

and pupae stages. Although maggot growth and development are temperature dependant, the

observation of 24 series allowed for the complete blowfly life cycle to be seen and recorded.

This shows how maggot specimens aid in identifying time elapsed since death.

*

HUMANITIES

Title: Reopening The Scarlet Letter: Puritan Values in Contemporary American Punishment

Student name: Jessica Sachse


Faculty: Prof. Bettina Carbonell

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Post 9/11 Interrogation Methods: Are they Legal? Are they Moral?

Student name: Danielle Broccolo


Faculty: Prof. Bettina Carbonell

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: A Look into Mutilation and Tattooing through the Chinese Dynasties

Student name: Craig Caffrey


Faculty: Prof. Toy-Fung Tung

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: From Past to Present: Divorce Laws in China

Student name: Cathleen Delva


Faculty: Prof. Toy-Fung Tung

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Child Mortality in Edwardian England and Barrie‘s Peter Pan

Student name: Jirandy Martinez


Faculty: Prof. Allison Kavey

Department: History

Format: Poster

*

Title: The Islamic Revolution of 1979 and its Negative Impact on Iranian Women: An Analysis

of the Revolution, its Justification, and Consequences

Student name: Nabeela Basheer


Faculty: Prof. Erica Burleigh

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Fictionalization as a Process of Liberation and Intervention: The Rafael Leónidas Trujillo

Regime

Student name: Suleyka Canelo



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Dominican Masculinity: A ‗Gender Battlefield‘ in Junot Diaz‘s Drown

Student Name: Janice Castro



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Ceausescu‘s Trial: Between Reality and Television

Student Name: Valentin Gradinaru



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Let Me Be My Brother‘s Keeper

Student Name: Tanya Harrigan



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Gender Disobedience in Shakespeare

Student Name: Katherine Higuera-McCoy



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: The Effects of Colonialism on Religion and the Economy: The Case of Rwanda

Student Name: Sara Moharrem



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: The Psychoactive Drug Industry for Children: Ethics and Benefits of Promoters

Student Name: Alexandra Nicu



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Genocide and Heart of Darkness

Student Name: Candice Persad


Faculty: Prof. Allison Pease

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Barbary Dolls

Student Name: Stephen Bruno


Faculty: Prof. John Staines

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Who are You Going to Call?

Student Name: Tynisha Robinson


Faculty: Prof. John Staines

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Otherness and the English: The Superior Subject, the Abject Other

Student Name: Berta Sandu


Faculty: Prof. Godfrey Elder

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: The Camera‘s Eye in the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I

Student Name: Alexsandra Santiago


Faculty: Prof. Godfrey Elder

Department: English

Format: Poster & Film Clip

*

Title: Triumph Over Oppression in Maya Angelou‘s ‗Still I Rise‘

Student Name: Jamie Bridgewater


Faculty: Prof. Jean Mills

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: A Critical Analysis of ‗Spring and All‘

Student Name: Derek Pappas



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: A Broken World: Anti-Militarism in Virginia Woolf‘s Mrs. Dalloway

Student Name: Erica Hahn



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: An Analysis of Same-Sex Desire through Memory in Virginia Woolf‘s Mrs. Dalloway

Student Name: Rachel Ramirez



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: TBD

Student Name: Jesse Lewis



Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Stirring the Pot: The controversy over marijuana legalization

Student Name: Rachel Ramirez


Faculty: Prof. Prof. Devin Harner

Department: English

Format: News Article

*

Title: Children‘s Theater Finds Permanent Home Near John Jay: Celebrities help The 52nd

Street

Project celebrate its opening, 30 years after it was founded

Student Name: Eric Jankiewicz


Faculty: Prof. Prof. Devin Harner

Department: English


*

Title: Professor Jailed For Activism

Student Name: Amanda Aponte


Faculty: Prof. Devin Harner

Department: English


*

Title: Homeless Families Struggle

Student Name: Masoud House


Faculty: Prof. Devin Harner

Department: English

Format: Poster

*

Title: Hamlet and Revenge

Student name: Class standing:

Faculty: Prof. Margaret Tabb

Department: English

Format: Video Performance

*

INTERDISIPLINARY STUDIES PROGRAM

Title: The Man Behind a Desk- Assemblyman Jose Peralta

Student name: Jarlene Jacome


Faculty: Prof. Susannah Crowder, Prof. Lyell Davies

Department: Interdisciplinary Studies, Communication & Theatre

Format: PowerPoint

In my film class the project was to engage in film techniques, editing, and be creative. The

project I had worked on took in total seven months to accomplish because I had to reschedule

and follow the Assemblyman in events. The editing part of the video took two months to really

edit and advance in the vision of modern and classic film techniques. I had met interesting

people and my assignment for the class was to create a film piece; I had chosen to make a

documentary film that focused on the work of an Assemblyman reaching out to the community.

Many people do not realize the type of work and Assemblyman does for their community and the

constant struggles in politics. I am proud to announce that after allowing the film to progress so

was the status of the Assemblyman in an upcoming special election. Assemblyman Jose Peralta

became Senator and Professor Crowder had encouraged me to push on in the campaign. It is a

great experience and I have learned to capture my experience through film. I wanted to educate

not only people but politics itself that life is not all about glamour.

*

Title: The Psychology of Guilt and Criminal Behavior

Student name: Elizabeth Morgan


Faculty: Prof. Susannah Crowder, Prof. Valerie Allen

Department: History/Interdisciplinary Studies, History/Interdisciplinary Studies

Format: PowerPoint

The purpose of this paper is to determine how guilt is related to criminal behavior. Some

criminals commit unlawful acts and show no remorse for their behaviors while others cannot

wait for an opportunity to confess to the acts they have committed. It can be assumed that the

person who confesses feels a sense of responsibility and guilt for their behavior and cannot keep

it secret anymore; and it is possible that those who show no remorse for their behaviors, feel that

their acts were somehow justified. If we were able to convince a criminal who found justification

their acts that their behavior was in all actuality, wrong; would he or she feel a sense of guilt?

Sigmund Freud explained that the Id, Ego, and Superego are the parts of our minds that make up

our personalities. The Id controls the part of our minds that seek pleasure while the ego controls

the part of our minds that attempts to benefit us in realistic ways. Sigmund and Anna Freud

explain in their writings how the Id, Ego, and Superego are connected to our feelings of guilt;

they also explain that we have certain defense mechanisms that help us overcome these feelings.

I will examine this theory in order to help my reader understand the causes of guilt and the

reasons why guilt, or the lack of guilt, plays a role in determining whether a person will engage

in unlawful behavior.

*

Title: Sudan Goes Nuclear: Energy Policy and International Treaties

Student name: Jessica Rivera




Format: PowerPoint

The topic I want to research is the role of nuclear energy in Sudan. In researching this topic the

two important questions I look to answer are: a) Why Nuclear Energy? And b) how does Sudan‘s

adoption of nuclear energy affect the relationships between Sudan and the rest of the world? The

reason I chose to research this topic is because I strongly believe that Sudan‘s energy needs are

far more important than, general global perception. The two treaties Sudan partakes in that

permit them to develop nuclear infrastructures are the Pelindaba and the Nuclear Non-

Proliferation treaties. The Pelindaba treaty‘s goal is to one day achieve an African Continent free

of all nuclear material. On April 11th

, 1996, Sudan signed to become a member of the Treaty.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does however; recognize the use of nuclear power

but aims to ensure that it is used strictly for environment-friendly purposes. Sudan is also a

signatory to this Treaty from December 24th

, 1968. Sudan is now starting to develop nuclear

infrastructures, which is causing nations to feel apprehensive about their new energy policy.

The sources I will use to support my position are maps of the African Continent that illustrate

different energy sources used and U.N database articles that explain why Sudan chose to go

nuclear rather than, using alternative energy sources in this region. I will also use books from the

Harlem public library due to the fact that they have books specifically on the Pelindaba and the

Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaties. Having reliable sources that explain the Pelindaba and

Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaties will help my audience understand the reason why Sudan was

approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to implement nuclear

infrastructures. Lastly, I will also use news articles from the Sudan Tribune to help my readers

understand Sudan‘s energy policy on going nuclear, their reasoning in supporting this new

energy source, and how they look to assure the world that the use of their nuclear infrastructures

are strictly for environmental, research and peaceful purposes.

The reason I chose this topic is because I strongly believe it is important for students,

governments, and mainly citizens around the world understand this situation and know; Why the

Sudanese President and government officials feel that it is necessary to have Nuclear Energy in

Sudan. Also, I wish for my audience to understand how the Sudanese government and the IAEA

will look to assure nations around the world that the development of the nuclear infrastructures is

solely for energy, research and peaceful means. Finally I wish for my audience to understand,

how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will work side by side with the Sudanese

government to assure all nations that these nuclear infrastructures will in no way, be used to

create nuclear arms. By answering these very important questions in the course of, analyzing

articles and the Pelindaba and Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaties; I look to show my audience

Sudan‘s true position on Nuclear Energy that may have not been so clear through media and or

perhaps by Sudanese government officials themselves.

*

Title: Looking for Mercy in the Modern American Judicial System

Student name: Karen Grant




Format: PowerPoint

The focus of the proposed study is to see whether or not Mercy, as a sub tenet of the Catholic

Virtues, plays a role in modern day Criminal Justice and how it influences decisions made in

every day facets of this field. The focus of the study will be limited to interactions in the court

room with criminals, judges, and jurors. If possible some attention will also be devoted to our

politicians and their sense of reform. In order to achieve this, I have analyzed a series of essays,

case studies, and books on the subject. Mercy is a theme that occurs in reference to criminals

often. The idea that it should be given or taken away is a dilemma that often presents itself in

many court cases. It is an aim to answer such questions as: How do current ethics rely on the idea

of mercy for their structure? How has mercy been regarded by the judicial system, criminals, and

politicians? Is mercy still a feasible virtue to rely on in reference to lawbreakers, those, in

particular, who do more damaging crimes? One significant outcome of the study is that a better

understanding of our legal system and its views concerning mercy will display itself. Also it will

be interesting to discern whether or not America which was built on this value has abandoned it.

*

Title: A Virtual Tour of Brooklyn‘s Historic Neighborhoods

Student name:

Class standing:

Faculty: Prof. Amy Green/ Prof. Richard Haw

Department:

Format: Various

Students in the ISP course, Brooklyn of the Imagination (Professors Amy Green and Richard

Haw), focused on the borough‘s diverse neighborhoods and communities through drama, film,

fiction, essays, and field trips to officially designated Historic Districts. Traveling in pairs,

students visited areas throughout Brooklyn and created visual as well as written reports on what

they found there. This exhibit will provide a virtual tour of Brooklyn‘s historic districts through

posters, PowerPoint slide shows, photo collages, and short documentaries.

*

Title: TBD

Student name: Francine Gallimore, Natallia Echavarria, Richard Hundertmark, Sarah Brady,

Anna Drozd, Clifton Moy, Edvard Bogouslavsky, Maricela Cano

Class standing: Freshman, Freshman, Freshman, Freshman, Freshman, Freshman, Freshman,

Freshman

Faculty: Prof. Andrea Balis

Department: History

Format: PowerPoint

*

LATIN AMERICAN & LATINA/O STUDIES

LAW & POLICE SCIENCE

Title: How Police-on-Police Shootings Correlate with the Shooting of Innocent Civilians

Student name: Annmarie Singh

Class standing: Masters

Faculty: Prof. Delores Jones-Brown

Department: Law, Police Science &CJA

Format: PowerPoint

On June 25, 2009, New York‘s Governor Patterson announced the establishment of the Police-

on-Police Shooting Task Force. The task force was created to evaluate law enforcement

members through a multidimensional lens, encompassing training factors, policy implementation

and social issues affecting police-on-police shootings. Since police officers enforce the law in

varied and sometimes challenging settings, perhaps it is inevitable that, in certain locations,

police responses become infected by prescribed fears or stereotypes. The current research was

undertaken to determine if police agencies that have experienced police-on-police shootings also

experience similar shootings with innocent civilians of the same race as police victims. Archival

research was conducted to determine the extent to which the risk of ―mistaken identity‖ or

―questionable‖ shootings may be shared by police and innocent civilians in some locations,

particularly when both types of victims are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. This

presentation reports the findings for each agency that experienced a police-on-police shooting

since 1994, when based on national data, considerably more minority officers began to be the

victims of ―friendly fire.‖ It also reports the efforts police agencies have made to reduce the

likelihood of such deaths.

*

Title: Racial Impact Statements

Student name: Dionne Aubourg



Department: Law, Police Science & CJA

Format: Poster

A study conducted by the Sentencing Project on racial disparities in prison sentences, found that

Blacks in the United States are imprisoned at a rate of 5.6 times that of Whites; for Hispanics, the

rate is 1.8. While African American youth make up only 37% of detained juveniles, they make

up 58% of youth committed to adult state prisons. After many years of advocacy around the

issue of racial disparities in the criminal justice system, the first racial impact statement

legislation was passed in 2008. Racial impact statements (RIS) are used as a tool to allow

lawmakers the opportunity to examine the potential impact of proposed legislation on people of

color before the legislation is enacted. RIS legislation is intended to minimize racial disparities

within the justice system and broader social context. The current research explores how RIS

legislation gained support, where the legislation has been adopted, the language used in such

legislation, and how the legislation is being applied.

*

Title: Stop, Question and Frisk Policing Practices in New York City: Inside the Numbers

Student name: Jaspreet Gill




Format: PowerPoint

Every day in New York City police officers stop, question, and sometimes frisk people as part of

their routine patrol duties. The number of these stops, as documented by the New York City

Police Department, tripled between 2003 and 2009, increasing from 160,851 to over 500,000.

These stops have become the center of considerable attention and controversy in the City. The

current research aims to illuminate how stop, question and frisk practices operate at street level

and the role of quantitative analysis in unveiling important information about: the reasons for

stops, the use of force during stops, the recovery of contraband and weapons, stop results in

terms of arrests and summonses and racial disparities among people stopped. In addition to

presenting substantive findings, this presentation seeks to elucidate the quantitative analysis

utilized in creating the Stop, Question and Frisk Primer. It will track the trajectory of the

research, addressing key issues such as: obtaining data, inputting and formatting data, using

statistical software to analyze the data, and presenting the data in an informative, aesthetically

appealing and comprehensible way.

*

Title: Are Hip Hop Artists Being Targeted by the Criminal Justice System?

Student name: Jonida Comashi




Format: Poster

Rap music, a component of hip hop culture, was born in post-industrial inner cities of the United

States. Since its emergence in the early eighties, and particularly following the emergence of a

version referred to as ―gangsta‖ rap, researchers have questioned rap music‘s potential

correlation to violence, especially among African American youth. Rap music has been

described as urban youths‘ art form for expressing their protest against the deteriorating

socioeconomic conditions in their communities. To many, the lyrics seem harsh, and yet they

relay cogent messages about the realities of everyday life in urban neighborhoods populated by

racial and ethnic minorities. Often the realities include experiences of racism and social

isolation, narcotics activity, poverty, stereotyped racial roles and police contact. In the current

study, archival research was used to begin an exploration of the prevalence of the association

between criminal justice processing and rap artists. To date, the research has unrevealed

information about fifty-five artists who have been convicted in thirteen states for offenses

ranging from homicide to drug possession, since the early 1990‘s. The data presented here

include the artists‘ given names and show names; the date, location and circumstances of their

arrest(s) and conviction(s); their official charge(s), the current status of their charges and their

sentences where applicable. Descriptive statistics are used to compare this sample of rap artists

to similarly situated males in the general population.

*

Title: New Media and the ―CriminalBlackman‖: The Shift in Racial Victimology in Police-on-

Police Shootings

Student name: Nicole N. Hanson

Class standing: Doctoral



Format: PowerPoint

In one of its more intriguing findings, the New York State Police-on-Police Shootings Task

Force recently discovered that between 1981 and 1994, the majority of police officers in the

United States that were shot by fellow officers were white. Since 1994, however, victims of

police-on-police shootings have been predominantly, minority—African American or Latino.

This raises the question: Why did the racial victimology shift so severely in the mid-1990s?

This presentation constructs a theoretical model to explain this racial shift. It draws on the

―criminalblackman‖ stereotype, long a staple of American perspectives on crime, and discusses

how that stereotype was amplified by: 1) record high crime rates and fear of crime in America in

the early 1990s; 2) the ―super-predator‖ theory made popular in the mid-1990s; and, 3) the

aftershocks of the crack epidemic and subsequent ―War on Drugs;‖ and how these worked to

solidify racialized perceptions of dangerousness in inner city communities. This amplified

racialized stereotype came to fruition just in time for the explosion of what is commonly referred

to as ―new media‖—the expansion of the Internet, both in substance and use, and the growth in

popularity of cable news and the 24-hour news cycle. It is hypothesized that these enduring

changes to American culture may have played a role in how police see criminals – and why a

Black man with a gun suddenly became a more compelling target.

*

MCNAIR PROGRAM Title: The Role of Community in Addressing the Cultural Legitimization of Domestic Violence among

Indo-Caribbean Immigrant Women

Student name: Aneesa Baboolal


Faculty: Dr. Carmen Solis

Department: SEEK

Format: Poster

This study explores how the predominantly Indo-Caribbean (South Asian Diaspora) community

of Richmond Hill, Queens, addresses cultural legitimization of violence against women. Theories

of culture, identity and criminology will be used to examine what community members perceive

as the cultural attitudes of Indo-Caribbean women in Richmond Hill, Queens. Formal and

informal acceptance of domestic violence within the community will be assessed; community

perception of attitudes of Indo-Caribbean women and cultural acceptance of domestic violence

within the family will also be examined. Interviews will be conducted with female community

residents who self identify as Indo-Caribbean (Trinidadian or Guyanese of Indian origin).

Recommendations for improving acknowledgment of the issue within the Indo-Caribbean

community will be provided.

*

Title: Defensive Style and Decision Making in Substance Abusers with Co-Occuring Trauma

Symptons

Student name: Jessica Armstrong


Faculty: Prof. William Gottdiener

Department: Psychology

Format: Poster

This study will examine the use of defense mechanisms and the processes of decision making in

100 inpatient substance abusers with and without co-occurring trauma symptoms. The substance

abusers will be inpatients at a rehabilitation treatment facility located within a hospital in New

York. Defense style, processes of decision making, and trauma symptoms will be assessed using

a self-report questionnaire methodology.

Data will be assessed using quantitative analyses. This study may offer further support for the

Self-Medication Hypothesis of Substance Use Disorders.

*

Title: Community Attitudes and Perceptions toward Sex Offenders

Student name: Susann Cortes


Faculty: Prof. Elizabeth Jeglic


Format: Poster

Sex offenders evoke strong sentiments from the community who influence the development of

public policy and legislation. However, attitudes toward sex offenders differ depending upon the

characteristics of the victim and the type of sexual offense. In an effort to better understand this

phenomenon; this study will examine public attitudes and perceptions toward sex offenders.

Undergraduate students will complete an online survey assessing attitudes toward sex offender

sentencing and treatment and how a history of sexual victimization can influence those attitudes.

These results will be discussed as they pertain to sex offender legislation and supervision.

*

Title: Transnational Motherhood: An Examination of the Latina Immigrant Mothers Sense of

Resiliency and Protective Factors

Student name: Denise Mieses, Class standing: Senior

Faculty: Prof. C. Jama Adams

Department: African American Studies

Format: Poster

The purpose of this study is to identify resiliency, coping and protective factors that Latina

immigrant mothers experience during a separation from their child(ren) when the mother decides

to immigrate to the United States. The aim is to examine how the conceptual framework of

motherhood has been modified to accommodate living and working apart from their children.

An examination of protective factors that contribute to the resiliency that has helped these

women cope with the distance between themselves and their child(ren) will also be examined.

The cases of Latina immigrant mothers in New York will be utilized to explore historical events

and the diverse economic and familial circumstances that have given rise to a reorganization of

productive and reproductive tasks both at the local and the global level.

*

Title: An Examination of the Impact of Delayed Gratification on Smokers

Student name: Nelly Pimentel


Faculty: Prof. William Gottdiener


Format: Poster

The proposed project aims to determine the effects of nicotine and frustration on the capacity to

delay gratification in smokers. Sixty nicotine abusers will first smoke a cigarette and then be

randomly assigned to complete a solvable (control) or unsolvable anagram

(experimental/frustration). Then the delay discounting task (a measure of delay of gratification)

will be administered. I predict that delay of gratification capacity will be significantly reduced

in participants in the unsolvable condition. The study findings could provide important

knowledge about factors that reduce the capacity to delay gratification in smokers—a

considerable problem for them (Gottdiener, et al. 2008).

*

Title: Violence, Political Instability and the Trafficking of Women in Colombia

Student name: Lina Rojas


Faculty: Prof. Carmen Solis

Department: SEEK

Format: Poster

According to the Survivors‘ Rights International organization (2003), human trafficking is the

third most lucrative global enterprise behind the arms and narcotics trades. Approximately two

million women have become victims of trafficking. Colombia has been engaged in political

struggles and violence for half a century. The social, political, and economic situation in

Colombia has facilitated opportunities for human trafficking. This project seeks to analyze the

trafficking of women during the armed conflict situation in Colombia. Drawing on violence,

peace and feminist theories the study will assess the relationship between the violence in

Colombia and the trafficking of women. The document analysis will focus on archival data and

scholarly journals provided by NGOs‘ annual reports and data from international agencies

attained via internet.

*

Title: Democracy vs. Military Rule in Guinea: An Examination of the type of Government and

its Impact on Emigration

Student name: Kadiatou Sylla


Faculty: Prof. Zelma Henriques

Department: Law & Police Science

Format: Poster

Following the death of Sekou Toure, President from 1958-1984, the military took over Guinea

by coup and continue to rule despite the ―democratic‖ election that was conducted in 1993. The

aftermath brought confrontations between the military and the civilians which resulted in the

death, torture and jailing of many Guineans. This study will examine how this phenomenon has

impacted the emigration of Guineans. A qualitative analysis featuring focus group interviews

with Guineans who have relocated to New York will be used to test the relationship between the

1993 election in Guinea and emigration.

*

Title: Examining College Students‘ Perceptions on Sex Offender Policies

Student name: Ysaeric Taveras


Faculty: Prof. Zelma Henriques

Department: Law & Police Science

Format: Poster

This project addresses college students‘ (ages 18-24) perceptions and knowledge of sex offender

policies in their communities. The purpose of this research is to figure out how informed people

are about the policies created and how it can affect them. This data for this research has been

collected through surveys given to a sample of college students living in New York. It is

hypothesized that the students will be supportive of the disclosure of information on registered

sex offenders.

*

Title: The Impact of Drug Trafficking in West Africa on Political Stability in Liberia

Student name: Sekou Kesselly

Class standing: Graduate

Faculty: Prof. Rosemary Barberet

Department: Sociology

Format: Poster

The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of West African cross border drug

trafficking on drug use and crime in Liberia. This is important because research is needed to

examine this issue, particularly since it has the potential to undo the fragile peace in the region.

Secondary and historical sources will be used to conduct this research.

*

Title: Unmasking Masculinity and Wartime Rape: A study of Hegemonic Hyper Masculine

Behavior and Systematic Rape in the Former Yugoslavia

Student name: Trisha Gangadeen


Faculty: Prof. Gail Garfield


Format: Poster

While engendering masculinity may differ depending on region, religion and culture, inherent in

hegemonic masculinities is the practice of dominance and control over oneself and others

(Connell, 2005). Because gender is constantly transforming, as it is a social construct (Kimmel,

1994) and therefore subject to different conceptualizations, there is room for examining

masculinity in war situations. This research examines the role masculinity plays in a systematic

rape during war and armed conflict. Focusing on the Former Yugoslavia, where systematic rape

was uncovered to be integral to Serbian Policy (Salzman, 1998), and through an analysis of court

documents from rape cases tries at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former

Yugoslavia, I hope to uncover beliefs and attitudes inherent in hegemonic hyper masculinity and

military culture that facilitate systematic rape.

*

Title: Nigeria‘s Development Paradox

Student name: Victoria Oyaniran


Faculty: Prof. Rosemary Barberet


Format: Poster

My paper explores the effect of the IMF and World Bank leading policies on Nigeria, and how

these policies and the corruption of Nigerian government officials have contributed to

underdevelopment. Past and current conditions of Nigeria‘s education, health, and economic

growth, policies are explored. This study contributed to the body of existing literature on the

IMF and World Bank‘s policies in Nigeria, as well as corruption, and underdevelopment in the

areas of education, health, and economic growth. Archival sources are used to investigate the

effect of corruption and multilateral lending policies on Nigerian underdevelopment. The

findings of this paper indicate that SAP‘s austerity package in Nigeria adversely affects people‘s

living condition. SAP also weakens the authority of the state, and furthers political impasses and

economic instability. Corruption of the Nigerian government halt investments and job creation

thus engenders poverty.

*

PSYCHOLOGY

Title: Witness Descriptions: Is there a Cross-race Effect for Hair?

Student name: Yinglee Wong


Faculty: Jennifer Dysart


Format: Poster

Previous literature on eyewitness descriptions has affirmed that eyewitness descriptions represent

a critical role in the investigation of any crime. Descriptions are circulated among the police and

broadcast to the public to narrow the search for possible suspects. Empirical studies investigating

perpetrator descriptions primarily focuses on general features (e.g., gender, age, height, and

physical build), but there are no studies examining witness accuracy in labeling and describing

hair and hairstyles. This study investigated how accurate people from different racial groups

(White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian) are when asked to label, describe, and recognize hair and

hairstyles from different racial groups. Participants (N=104) viewed 50 photos of common

White, Black, and Hispanic hairstyles and provided a label and description for each. Results

showed significant differences in accuracy of labeling between groups. Black and Hispanic

participants were more accurate at labeling and describing Caesar hairstyles from their own

group. Most participants labeled cornrows and dreadlocks accurately. White, Black, Hispanic,

and Asian participants were less accurate at labeling Caesar, shaggy/layered, faux hawk and buzz

cut hairstyles worn by White individuals. Distinct hairstyles such as long dreadlocks with gold

ends were accurately recognized. However, hairstyles with minor differences such as a change in

cornrow styles were incorrectly identified as previously viewed hairstyles by all racial groups.

Implications for eyewitness accuracy and police procedures are discussed.

*

Title: Empathy Levels for Victims of Hate Crimes Versus Non-hate Crimes: The Effects of

Victim, Participant, and Hate Crime Characteristics

Student name: Katie Griffin


Faculty: Professor Kevin Nadal


Format: Poster

.

Research has begun exploring the various aspects of hate crime including the impact on its

victims, the subsequent hate crime legislation and victim/perpetrator blame (e.g., McDevitt,

Balboni, Garcia & Gu, 2001; Cogan, 2002; Marcus-Newhall, Blake & Baumann, 2002).

Previous research has suggested that hate crime victimization specifically produces more

damaging psychological effects than that of non-hate crimes (e.g. McDevitt et al., 2001).

Furthermore, research has found prejudicial and/or racial attitudes, protected groups, and

political ideology to be influencing factors on individuals‘ attitudes toward hate crime legislation

(e.g., Quist & Wiegand, 2002; Johnson & Byers, 2003). Finally, research has demonstrated that

individuals are, on average, likely to attribute more blame to the perpetrator and less to the

victim of a hate crime than to that of a non-hate crime (e.g., Rayburn, Mendoza & Davison,

2003; Saucier, Brown, Mitchell & Cawman, 2006). However, there is a lack of research

assessing the differences in empathy levels individuals report for victims of hate crimes and non-

hate crimes.

The purpose of this study, therefore, was to expand on the knowledge relating to hate crime, as

well as attitudes toward this type of crime and its associated legislation by examining the role of

empathy. It was hypothesized that individuals will report higher levels of empathy toward

victims of hate crimes than toward victims of non-hate crimes and that those with such a pattern

will be most supportive of hate crime legislation. Case vignettes and questionnaires were

utilized to assess participants' empathy levels and levels of support of legislation. Results

suggested that the type of hate crime and religion each played a role in the extent to which

individuals empathized with hate crime victims. Furthermore, gender and type of crime had an

interaction effect on empathy as did gender and religion. Limitations and suggestions for future

research were discussed.

*

Title: Restorative Justice in Jamaica: Current Attitudes and the Way Forward

Student name: Chenelle Taylor


Faculty: Professor Mark Fondacaro


Format: Poster

Principles of restorative justice involve central themes of accountability among all stakeholders,

rehabilitation for offenders and providing a medium for victims to express their concerns.

Research suggests that the inability of current justice methods (retribution) to deter offenders, the

neglect of victims‘ rights and the need for offenders to be held accountable, provide a compelling

argument for what restorative justice seeks to achieve (Umbreit, 1998). The prevalence of crime

in Jamaica can be considered a result of these deficits in the retributive system. Studies show that

although people are primarily concerned with punishing the offender, they also opt for victim

and community restoration (Gromet & Darley, 2009; Umbreit, 1998; Zehr, 2002). Furthermore,

researchers contend that the question ―what do citizens believe will best achieve justice?‖ must

be answered in the attempt to achieve social justice integrity (Roberts and Stalans as cited in

Gromet and Darley, 2006). Findings suggest that restorative justice can be applied to serious

crimes, and both offenders and victims report satisfaction with these procedures (Daly, 2006;

Strang et al, 2006; Umbreit, 1998). Additionally, studies have indicated a relationship between

religiosity and the principles of restorative justice that appeals to the moral sensibilities of the

society (Hadley, 2001). In light of these findings and recent efforts by the Ministry of Justice

(Jamaica) in conjunction with the Canadian International Development Agency (Parker, 2002),

practical considerations are needed in order to make restorative justice useful in the general

justice system of Jamaica. The current study seeks to examine attitudes towards restorative

justice among a sample of Jamaicans from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the

religious based Northern Caribbean University (NCU). A cross-sectional design will be used to

assess attitudes towards restorative justice in comparison to retributive procedures.

*

Title: First Impressions of a Psychopath

Student name: Xem Bui


Faculty: Diana Falkenbach


Format: Poster

Psychopathy is a personality disorder marked by callousness, superficial charm, untruthfulness,

and a lack of remorse (Cleckly, 1941). The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare,

1991) can reliably detect the construct and has an underlying two-factor structure composed of

an affective/interpersonal factor (Factor 1) and an antisocial lifestyle/behavioral factor (Factor 2)

(Harpur, Hakstian, & Hare, 1988). Detection of psychopathy is important as psychopaths

present a greater tendency toward criminal behavior and recidivism (Hart, 1998; Hare & Wong,

1998). A study by Fowler, Lilienfeld & Patrick (2009) found that lay raters who were shown

brief interview clips of at least 5 seconds could predict which inmates were psychopathic and

which inmates were characterized by Factor 1/ Factor 2 traits, possibly relying on interpersonal

behavioral cues. Certain atypical behaviors have indeed been observed in psychopaths

(Gillstrom & Hare, 1988; Lee, Klaver & Hart, 2008).

Despite lay raters‘ accurate first impressions of psychopathy, studies suggest that psychopaths

possess a superior ―theory of mind,‖ or ability to interpret others‘ thoughts and feelings

(Premack & Woodruff, 1978), which allows for successful manipulation of others (Book,

Quinsey, Langford, 2007). In addition to this advantage, those with a prior history of

victimization and low assertiveness, a correlate of victimization history (Corbin, Bernat, &

Calhoun, 2001), express certain nonverbal behaviors that may attract predators (Wheeler, Book

& Costello, 2009). This study will evaluate the effects of prior victimization and low

assertiveness on the detection of psychopathy through certain behavioral cues that are more

pronounced in psychopaths.

*

Title: Influence of Mass Media on the Use of Household Substances as Drugs

Student name: Leslie Borbon, Diana Hristova, Diorkiris Reynoso


Faculty: Justyna Zapolska


Format: Poster

It is well documented that mass media has an impact on our society. The media constantly

exposes us to a wide range of information on which we rely to live our daily lives. Its impact can

have a positive or negative effect on our decision-making as well as on our attitudes and

behaviors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact that the mass media has on the use

of household substances as drugs (consciousness altering). Prior research demonstrated that the

internet can have an enormously positive influence on the attitudes and behaviors of adolescents,

reducing the initiation and use of common psychoactive substances: such as illicit substances,

over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals (Boyer, Shannon & Hibberd, 2005). Since the

use of household substances as drugs may be less self-evident it is possible that mass media may

actually encourage the use of household substances as drugs.

We will sample 90 respondents from the New York/ New Jersey area ranging in age from 18 and

older. We will use a questionnaire comprised of open-ended, multiple-choice, and Likert-type

questions. The study aims to assess whether the respondents‘ exposure to mass media and its

contents is correlated with increased use of household substances as drugs. We hypothesize that

the findings will confirm our hypothesis that being exposed to the mass media encourages the

use of household substances as drugs.

*

Title: The Effects of ―The Truth‖ Anti-Smoking Campaign Advertisements on Adults in New

York City

Student name: Denia Descartes, Anthony Chillemi and Antole Thelwell

Class standing: Junior, Senior, Junior

Faculty: Justyna Zapolska


Format: Poster

Tobacco growth is a multi-billion dollar industry, targeting individuals old enough to have access

to all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, hookahs and snuff. In the same way that

tobacco companies have advertised their products in an effort to encourage smoking, a new

campaign began in February 2000, called ―The Truth‖, which describes the physical damage that

smoking can cause and advises against smoking. Similar campaigns followed. Prior research

addressing the effectiveness of these campaigns has led to mixed results. A decline in youth

smoking prevalence between 1999 and 2002 (Farrelly, et al, 2005), was followed by reports that

no further reduction was noted between 2004 and 2005 (Ellis, et. al, 2007). Given the mixed

results on the effectiveness of the media campaigns it is not clear whether the campaigns, which

continue to be shown, remain a useful deterrent to smoking. This study aims to determine how

the media campaigns continue to influence the rates of smoking and continue to play a role in

individuals‘ smoking habits. In order to answer these questions we designed a survey which will

be administered to 100 individuals, both male and female, smokers and non-smokers, age 18 and

above. We anticipate that this study will show that during the past twelve months the media

campaigns still had an impact on audiences and have played a big part in educating the public

about tobacco use and health risks which may have led to a decrease in or prevention

of smoking among individuals.

*

Title: Gender and Ethnic Differences in Coping Styles

Student name: Gina Pagano


Faculty: Prof. Maureen Allwood


Format: Poster

Previous literature indicates that coping strategies differ for males and females as well as across

different ethnocultural groups. For example, research has indicated that males tend to endorse

problem focused coping while females tend to endorse emotion focused coping (Renk &

Creavey, 2003). Research concerning ethnocultural differences has shown that African

Americans cope most frequently through spirituality and social support such as activism, cultural

pride, and reliance on kinship ties (Davis, 2005). Mexicans have been shown to endorse high

rates of positive reframing, denial, and religion, regardless of immigration status while non-

Hispanic whites have been shown to endorse high levels of substance abuse and self-distraction

as a means of coping (Farley, Galves, Dickinson, & Perez, 2005). The present study examines

coping strategies among a diverse group of urban college students. The study examines sex and

racial differences in coping strategies. This study also examines how coping strategies may

differ based on life experiences, such as exposure to adverse events and trauma.

*

Title: Identifying ―Successful‖ Psychopaths from the Community

Student name: Samantha Lin


Faculty: Prof. Diana Falkenbach


Format: Poster

The recent examples of gross financial and ethical misconduct in corporate America have led to

the revelation of the wrongdoings of several high ranking executives; men whose positions

granted them unlimited power and ultimately, the ability to ruin the prosperity of innumerable

individuals. Leading psychologists in psychopathy and industrial & organizational psychology

hypothesize that people similar to these executives, who exhibit flagrant behavioral deviances in

modern corporations, may, in fact be psychopaths. Psychopathy is a personality disorder where

individuals exhibit Factor 1 interpersonal, affective deficits and/or Factor 2 impulsive, antisocial

behaviors. Deviant executives may be examples of ―successful‖ psychopaths who possess core

psychopathic traits but refrain from blatant criminality or arrest. Within the field of psychology

the primary focus of psychopathy research has been the assessment of incarcerated, criminal

samples, a population that is an obvious source of societal harm but excludes ―successful‖

psychopaths.

The current study proposes to address psychopathy within the corporate environment, targeting

non-criminal subjects whose psychopathic personalities may be inconspicuous, but detrimental

to a corporation. Previous attempts to identify non-criminal psychopaths yielded poor results.

This study aims to recruit students on the corporate path from competitive finance, business, and

law schools to examine whether or not they possess higher rates of psychopathy than a standard

university sample. The study will also assess whether or not this group has a higher Factor 1

than Factor 2 score, and look for the presence of moderator variables, such as intelligence and

socio-economic status.

*

Title: Race and Ethnicity in Psychopathy: An Exploratory Meta-analysis

Student name: Karla Sevilla


Faculty: Prof. Diana Falkenbach


Format: Poster

Psychopathy is a personality disorder consisting of a constellation of interpersonal, affective and

behavioral symptoms (Cleckly, 1976). In our current criminal justice system, those with

psychopathic traits present a greater risk of community aggression, criminal behavior,

recidivism, institutional infractions, and poor response to treatment (e.g., Edens, et al., 2001;

Hart & Hare,1997; Hemphill, et al.,1998; Skeem & Mulvey, 2001; Skeem, et al., 2003). Because

psychopathy plays an important role in legal decisions with mplications for sentencing,

conditional release, treatment, indefinite confinement or the death penalty, precision in the use of

this diagnosis is both a legal and ethical imperative (Edens & Petrila, 2006). However, despite

global utilization with diverse criminal justice populations, the majority of research does not

consider several factors that mediate the relationship between psychopathy and recidivism (e.g.,

age, gender, institutional setting, race, and country) (Douglas, Vincent & Edens, 2006). Often the

resolution to the complication of the reporting of race and ethnicity has been to ignore

heterogeneity within racial and ethnic minority populations through the use of overly broad

categories that may compromise generalizability (Delgado-Romero et al., 2005). Because ethnic

and racial minorities are grossly over represented in the U.S. criminal justice system (Skeem et

al., 2006), the current study is meta-analysis that examined race and ethnicity in the psychopathy

literature and determined that psychopathy articles are very broad; failing to assess important

information about both variables (e.g. country of origin, native language, generational status,

multi-ethnic background). Most importantly, the racial and ethnic composition of the

psychopathy research population differs significantly from that of the population of the

correctional system creating concerns about appropriate utilization of psychopathy measures

within legal settings.

*

SCIENCE Title: DNA Adducts Formed by Activation of Mitomycin C with Thiols

Student name: Stephanie Watson


Faculty: Prof. Elise Champeil

Department: Science

Format: Poster

The alkylation of calf thymus DNA by Mitomycin C involves the analysis the DNA treated with

Mitomycin C (MC). MC is an antitumor antibiotic. It has been used in the United States since the

mid 1970's to treat breast cancer, rectal cancer and bladder tumors. One distinctive property of

MC is its ability to alkylate DNA both mono and bifunctionally to create monoadducts and cross

linking. When MC does either of the two with DNA it creates six major MC Deoxyguanosine

adducts of known structures both in vitro and vivo. Several methods have been used to create

these MC DNA adducts in the past such as borohydride or sodium dithionite which are reducing

agents. Recently a safer and more direct assay for these adducts were discovered which involves

the use of thiols. Dr. Paz (Professor of organic chemistry, University of Scurtioger de

Compostella, Spain) has developed a new way to activate MC using the thiols. Dr. Paz has

prepared samples of the DNA treated with MC under various conditions where the

concentrations and nature of the thiols varied. Each sample sent in from Spain had to be prepared

for analysis on the HPLC. To prepare the samples an enzymatic digestion was done. Using

HPLC analysis, the amount of DNA which was successfully alkylated could be measured. The

peak area percent values were calculated and each varied as follows among the nucleosides: dC

(3.44% - 6.2%), dG (0.0439% - 2.815%), dT (0.0513% -3.2525%) and dA (0.0308% -

2.0441%).The results obtained allowed for conclusions to be made about the concentrations used

for the sample preparation and for improvements for the future.

*

Title: Determination of trace metals in Beer using inductively coupled plasma mass

spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Student name: Nazia Mahmood


Faculty: Prof. Yi He

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Determination of trace metals in beverage samples is important in forensic toxicology analysis

since essential ―finger print‖ information can be derived for unknown identification and

individualization. Beer is a popular and largely consumed alcoholic beverage all over the world.

This study was designed to quantify eighteen common trace metals in commercially available

beers purchased in New York City. These metals are Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Beryllium

(Be), Bismith (Bi), Cesium (Cs), Cobalt (Co), Cadmium (Cd), Indium (I), Molybedenum (Mo),

Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se), Uranium (U), Barium (Ba), Chromium (Cr), Nickel

(Ni), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn). Forty beer samples were categorized into alcoholic and

nonalcoholic groups based on their alcohol content and analyzed. Beer samples were digested

with optima grade nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen peroxide prior to analyzing by inductively

coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). All the elements were quantified by external

calibration method and a NIST multi-element standard (SRM 1643E) was frequently checked to

validate the analysis.

*

Title: Pharmaceutical Pollutants in Water Samples

Student name: Dominika Mucha



Department: Science

Format: Poster

A method was proposed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with

Ultraviolet (UV) Detectoion for the detection of eight acidic over the counter drugs. The

analysis of ibuprofen, naproxen, meclizine, acetyl salycilic acid, omeprazole, clotrimazole,

loratadine, and doxylamine succinate were all confirmed according to their literature λmax values

on the Ultraviolent (UV) instrument. Concentration samples of 1ppm dissolved in methanol

were analyzed for the above acidic drugs: ibuprofen (263 nm), naproxen (260 nm) meclizine

(232 nm), acetyl salycilic acid (295 nm) omeprazole (290 nm) clotrimazole (252 nm)

doxylamine succinate (265 nm) and loratadine (278 nm)respectively. The results obtained

demonstrated a λmax which were successfully applied to the HPLC‘s parameters for the

corresponding drugs. A liquid-liquid-liquid micro-extraction (LLLME) will be optimized for

enrichment purposes. The method will be further applied to water samples from rivers, lakes,

and sewage plants for the determination of drug contamination.

*

Title: Genomic Identification of Putative Sko1 Promoters and Development of Low Copy

Protein Extraction Protocol for Candida albicans

Student name: Chantel Amarillo


Faculty: Prof. Jason Rauceo

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus, which resides throughout the human body. The cell

wall is fundamental for maintaining fungal homeostasis, cell shape, and interaction with the

external environment. The broad aim is to understand the mechanism of maintaining cell wall

integrity upon anti-fungal drug treatment. We have previously identified the novel Psk1-Sko1

cell wall damage signaling pathway, which maintains dynamic cell wall structure in response to

the anti-fungal drug caspofungin. Our current objective is to determine molecular mechanisms

that underlie the Psk1-Sko1 cell wall damage signaling pathway. Two separate strategies have

been employed to explore the interactions of Psk1-Sko1 components. First, in silico analysis

was used to identify a putative Sko1 DNA – binding sequence in Sko1-target gene promoters.

Using the web resource Regulatory Sequence Analysis tools (http://rsat.ulb.ac.be/rsat/), we have

identified the binding sequence T(G/T)ACGT(A/C)A in 60.95% of Sko1 dependent genes.

Conservation of the aforementioned promoter sequence in the baker‘s yeast Saccharomyces

cerevisiae suggests a conserved Sko1-DNA binding interaction. Second, a novel protocol was

developed to extract low copy proteins from C. albicans’ cells. Previous attempts to extract low

copy proteins utilized harsh and time-consuming methods. Our strategy uses a commercially

available mild detergent (Y-PER yeast protein extraction reagent Pierce) reagent.

Immunoblotting tests show Transcription factor Sko1p was extracted in yields comparable to

other traditional protocols. Ongoing experimentation will evaluate the efficacy of the developed

protocol upon extraction of other low copy transcription factor and kinases predicted to be part

of the Psk1-Sko1 signaling pathway

*

Title: Mercury Emissions from Sand and Soil Surfaces in Response to Precipitation Events

Student name: Christina Hui


Faculty: Prof. Anthony Carpi

Department: Science

Format: Poster

In the past, increases in Hg emissions have been observed to occur following natural and

artificial water addition to soil surfaces. To investigate the source of those increases, individual

experiments were performed. Soil and sand samples were agitated with a Teflon rake and later

had Millipore water added in a separate experiment. The Hg sample emissions were monitored

using individual dynamic flux chambers (and Tekran Mercury Vapor Analyzer unit). Before

each experiment, samples were allowed to reach a ‗steady state‘ of mercury flux prior to being

kept in a 24hr dark period (with following light exposure). The agitation of the samples was

performed to investigate a formerly suggested hypothesis that increases in Hg emissions (result

of natural/ artificial irrigation) was due to the release of interstitial soil gas. The result was an

increase of mercury emissions from 0.684 to 14.26 ng/m2/hr for the soil sample. The irrigation of

the samples using Millipore water in the second experiment (30ml/100g sand) initially increased

Hg emissions from 0.51998 to 21.730 ng/m2/hr for the soil samples within the 24hr dark period.

This flux then decreased until light was introduced. Following this, an immediate increase in

emission readings from 12.514 to 816.66 ng/m2/hr was observed for the soil sample. It is

possible that many mechanisms including the release of interstitial soil gases contributed to the

large Hg emission increase seen as a result of the water addition. The exact sources however,

cannot be concluded from the results obtained and further experiments will be necessary.

*

Title: Construction of Expression Vectors for the Candida albicans Cell Wall Protein Als1p

Student name: Leonid Sukala


Faculty: Prof. Jason Rauceo

Department: Science

Format: Poster

The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans can exist as a benign yeast in healthy

humans as well as a deadly pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. Adherence and

colonization of C. albicans to host surfaces is the initial critical step in pathogenesis. Our broad

interest is to understand the roles of adhesion proteins in C. albicans survival and pathogenesis.

The ALS family of cell-surface glycoproteins mediate adhesion and yeast cell–cell aggregation

between C. albicans and host surfaces. Further, Als adhesins are involved in pathogenesis,

biofilm formation, and also co-aggregate with other microbial pathogens to mediate

polymicrobial infections. Our previous studies showed that that Als5p-mediated microbial

adherence and cellular aggregation on mammalian surfaces has amyloid-like properties. Here,

we seek to address whether such mechanisms are consistent in Als1p. To meet this goal, we are

creating a series of plasmid expression vectors that will produce various domains of Als1p. We

have successfully amplified the ALS11-1325

gene fragment using PCR. Several attempts to clone

ALS11-1325

into the yeast expression vector pYes2.1-His-TOPO (Invitrogen) showed that the

ALS11-1325

insert is unstable, despite the fact that ALS5 is stable in this vector. We were able to

subclone ALS11-1325

into the non-expression vector pYES- TOPO blunt (Invitrogen) to create

plasmid pSR01. We are currently, using pSR01 as a template to shuttle ALS11-1325

into the stable

expression plasmid vector pYF5 using directional –based cloning. Future studies will

functionally characterize Als1p1-431

in adhesion assays.

*

Title: Fingerprinting Analysis with an Automated Identification System : AFIX

Student name: Roselynn Cordero


Faculty: Prof. Gloria Proni

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Currently on the market, there are many programs used for fingerprint analysis.These programs

are branches of the IAFIS, the fingerprint database used in the FBI. It is of vital importance to

determine how reliable each system is. A PC-based system called AFIX-TrackerÂ®, a minutiae-

based fingerprint identification system developed by AFIX Technologies, is used in this research

project. The present investigation aims to understand if the AFIX Tracker, Version 5.7.3

performs better during the fingerprint matching after a manual or an automatic minutiae

extraction and to compare the results with the ones obtained with the previous version (4.0) of

the software. In particular, I am focused on searching 1000 rolled prints against a database of

pressed fingerprint; in this analysis the minutiae will be extracted manually or with the help of

the Smart Extract feature included in the software package. A biographical and a latent prints

databases which are uploaded with 1,000 fingerprints are used in this investigation. Pressed

prints will be used to imitate latent prints while rolled pressed will be used to populated the

biographical database. The results obtained from version 4.0 found that the manually extracted

minutiae provided better results than the smart extract feature.

*

Title: Analyzing the Role of Alpha-Synuclein and Dopamine Transport in the Toxic Effects of

Dithiocarbamate Compounds on Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) cells

Student name: Carlos Cuellar


Faculty: Prof. Shu-Yuan Cheng

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Studies have shown that exposure to fungicides such as dithiocarbamate compounds can

potentiate the effects of neurotoxin 1- methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on

dopaminergic neurons in mice which can eventually lead to neurodegeneration and develop

parkinsonism syndrome. Dopamine transporter (DAT) is a protein known to play a role in

MPTP‘s toxicity by transporting MPP+, the metabolite of MPTP, into dopaminergic neurons.

Alpha-synuclein, a DAT-interacting protein, can mediate the recruitment or maintenance of DAT

on the cell surface, and may be critically involved in the toxic effects of dithiocarbamate

compounds. Our preliminary data from Cheng‘s Lab demonstrate that maneb (MB) and

mancozeb (MZ), the Mn-containing dithiocarbamates, enhance MPP+-induced cell death in

Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) cells. However, the neurotoxic molecular mechanisms

involved in the action of these dithiocarbamate toxins are still not clear. Our hypothesis is that

MB and MZ increase the interaction of DAT and alpha-synuclein followed by increasing cell

surface DAT expression which in turn enhances MPP+ uptake and cytotoxicity. Co-

immunoprecipitation/Western blot analyses were performed to study this interaction of alpha-

synuclein and the dopamine transporter on HEK293 cells. Cells were treated with 20µM of MB

and MZ and 75µm of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) for 1 hour at 37 C/5% CO2. After treating

the cells with the fungicides, cell lysates were subjected for co-immunoprecipitation by anti-

DAT antibody. Co-immunoprecipitated proteins were separated on SDS-PAGE and then

transferred to nitrocellulose membrane for Western blot analysis. Western blot showed an

increased in the interactions of alpha-synuclein and DAT after MZ treatment.

*

Title: The Potential Role of Silicon Dioxide as an Oxidizing Surface in Strong Sunlight: Studies

on Mercury Behavior

Student name: Amora Mayo-Perez



Department: Science

Format: Poster

As part of an ongoing multi-year study at the Blackrock Research Forest in Cornwall, NY we

have identified an atypical response of mercury deposited to pure silicon dioxide sand surfaces in

strong sunlight. Pure laboratory sand was pre-cleaned by baking the surface to 300°C and then

placed outdoors under a transparent Teflon roof to study the dry deposition of mercury to this

surface. Typically, mercury from natural surfaces demonstrates increased emission to the

atmosphere in strong sunlight, with the response trending toward deposition after sunset (Carpi

& Lindberg, 1998). Over a thirty-day period during March and April 2007, our sand surface

displayed ten days of irregular flux patterns. The study shows consistent negative fluxes until

mid afternoon and positive fluxes from approximately sundown until midnight. The process is

not fully understood. Negative fluxes are attributed to greater mercury concentrations in the

environment compared to the surface of the sand. Positive fluxes are representative of mercury

emissions from the surface of the sand compared to the surrounding mercury concentrations.

The irregular flux patterns occur on ten separate days with corresponding trends at the same

times-of-day. Data from The International Research Institute of Climate and Society, which

monitors atmospheric trends in the Blackrock Forest, is being used to determine the association

between barometric pressure, precipitation, temperature fluctuations, sunlight, and

uncharacteristic mercury fluxes.

*

Title: The Characterization of the Various Forms of Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP)

Student name: Katherine Reynoso


Faculty: Prof. Diana Friedland

Department: Science

Format: Poster

This study aims to characterize the differences in the various Pokeweed Antiviral Protein‘s

(PAP) isoelectric, SDS, and Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic behavior. Different forms

of PAP are produced by Phytolacca americana, the plant from where PAP is extracted. These

various forms of PAP are produced in numerous plant compartments of Phytolacca americana,

such as in the stems, seeds, leaves, and the roots, during diverse stages of its growth cycle.

Several forms of PAP are also seen when Pokeweed undergoes preprocessing cleavage in order

to become fully functional and acquire its toxicity to cells, and as these toxins are being stored in

cell walls and P-bodies in order to be allowed into the plant cells of Phytolacca americana. It is

hypothesized that even within a single compartment, at any stage of the plant‘s development,

PAP is expressed in diverse forms depending on what type of pathogen the plant has been

exposed to. These pathogens include fungi, bacteria, virus, and/or pests. The physical

characteristics of each form of PAP will be explored in purified mixtures since these may vary

even within the same year‘s harvest. Once the isoelectric behavior of PAPs have been completed,

their equilibrium binding properties with RNA caps and mRNA such as the Tobacco Etch Virus

(TEV RNA) structural variants, which may be capped or uncapped will also be examined. These

are known ligands for PAP.

*

Title: Zinc Porphyrin Tweezer in Host-Guest Complexation: Absolute Configurational

Assignment of a Self Assembling Light Harvesting Porphyrin by Circular Dichroism.

Student name: Eugene Gonzalez-Lopez, Irving Campoverde

Class standing: Junior, Junior

Faculty: Prof. Gloria Proni

Department: Science

Format: Poster

In order to trap the energy from sunlight antenna plants construct chlorophyll group from

chemical self assembly in a highly ordered manner. 10,20-bis(3,5 di-tert-butyl-phenyl-15-acetyl-

5-(hydroxyethyl)-porphyrin 1 is a ―synthesized‖ compound tested for harvesting solar energy as

an alternative to silicon-based photovoltaic devices. The determination of its absolute

configuration is of academic and practical importance. The absolute configuration determination

could be achieved by means of a supramolecular approach developed in the last decade. The

protocol relies on a host-guest complexation mechanism between an opportunely derivatized

chiral substrate ("guest") and a dimeric zinc porphyrin host that acts as a "receptor". The two

porphyrins in the complex adopt a preferred helicity related to the substrate‘s absolute

configuration. The relation between the absolute configuration of the substrate and the inter-

porphyrin helicity is predicted by molecular modeling studies.

Specifically, porphyrin derivative 1, needs to be coupled with a bidentate carrier to form the

bifunctional amide conjugate 2. Once the conjugate molecule is complexed with the achiral CD

sensitive host, the Zn porphyrin tweezer, it yields a host-guest complex that exhibits intense

negative or positive exciton-coupled CD in accordance to the absolute configuration of the

substrate.

*

Title: Fluorescence Studies of Suicide Drugs Interactions with DNA

Student name: Alicia K. Williams


Faculty: Prof. Ekaterina Korobkova

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Statistical studies over the last three decades have shown that psychiatric drugs are responsible for a

significant percentage of death cases when taken in overdose. Drug related death reports in USA, Canada,

and Scotland have identified some antidepressants and analgesic as the highest percent suicidal drugs.

However, psychiatric drugs taken in low doses under normal therapies may already influence cellular

processes and cause various side effects, such as, for example, DNA damage. The interactions of drug

molecules with DNA were detected through changes of fluorescence intensity of a blue dye, TO-PRO-3

(TP3). TP3 is an intercalator for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). In the presence of DNA, TP3 fluoresces

significantly. (λex = 642nm, λem = 661nm) Binding of a drug molecule to dsDNA displaces TP3 molecule

from the double helix, which leads to the decrease in fluorescence intensity of TP3. Monitoring the

decrease of the TP3 dye fluorescence intensity with different concentration of the drug molecule allows

assessing the binding affinities of the drugs to dsDNA. We performed experiments, which demonstrated

that tricyclic antidepressant such as imipramine, quenches fluorescence intensity of TP3 bound to DNA.

This result indicates that imipramine has a significant potency for DNA binding, and may cause DNA

damage.

*

Title: In-vitro Studies of DNA Damage Caused by Tricyclic Antidepressants; Role of

Peroxidases

Student name: William Ng


Faculty: Prof. Ekaterina Korobkova

Department: Science

Format: Poster

The root causes of depression include genetics, the environment and chemical imbalance.

Chemicals called neurotransmitters send messages through the synapse which is a gap between

the neurons. The onset of depression occurs when the improper amount of neurotransmitters are

released. Antidepressants are used to correct the abnormality by increasing the brain chemicals

or enhancing the strength of the receptor sites to process signals. Mild side-effects are associated

with most medications like dry mouth, drowsiness, loss of appetite. In present work we focused

on DNA damage caused by more serious effects of the medications. We studied the potential

DNA damage caused by imipramine, amitriptyline, opipramol, and protryptyline. Agarose gel

electrophoresis experiments indicated that reactions between DNA and imipramine catalyzed by

horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide have led to complete

disappearance of the DNA band. This effect was due to the displacement of ethidium bromide

from the DNA double helix. Incubation of HRP in the presence of excess of H2O2 led to the

formation of purple color and the absorption spectrum with the maximum wavelength at 522nm.

The spectrum grew with time. We suggest that this spectrum is due to the presence of

imipramine radical formed during HRP catalysis. No DNA band disappearance or purple color

was observed in the case of the three other drugs. This reactive intermediate species probably

forms covalent complexes on DNA, which may prevent DNA from normal functioning.

*

Title: Understanding the Depth Profile of Elemental Mercury Emissions from Sand & Soil

Systems and Its Relevance to Long-Range Environmental Effects

Student name: Jason L. Quinones



Department: Science

Format: Poster

Mercury emissions from natural and anthropogenic sources pose a global problem. As a result,

mercury contamination is the number one cause of fishing advisories in the United States. Once

emitted to the environment, mercury enters into a complex biogeochemical cycle. Elemental

mercury (Hg0) can be oxidized in the atmosphere and deposited to soil and aquatic systems after

being transported over long distances Novoa-Munoz et al. [2008]. Mercury in soil and water

surfaces can be reduced to Hg0 and re-emitted to the atmosphere Wood [1974], Schlüter et al.

[1998]. One major factor that appears to play a dominant role in the soil reduction process is

light energy Carpi & Lindberg [1997], and Gustin et al. [2002]. Because the penetration of light

into soil systems could have a significant effect on how much mercury is reduced to its volatile

form, understanding the depth profile of mercury reduction is critical to understanding its

mechanisms. Mercury treated sand samples and untreated soil samples of varying depths (2

mm – 15 mm) were measured under a dynamic flux chamber to determine the affect of surface

depth on mercury emissions. Mercury emissions showed an increase with depth for sand

samples between 0.5 mm and 1.3 mm, but increasing depth had no affect on mercury emissions

above 2 mm. No relationship between depth and average flux was found with soil samples, with

all samples showing equivalent emissions regardless of depth (1.97 mm- 15.51 mm). This work

suggests that the mercury emissions process is limited to the upper surface of soil systems, thus

supporting the role of light as a dominant factor in the reduction process.

*

Title: Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Pesticides on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium

(MPP+) cytotoxicity & Evaluating their Effects on Cell Surface Dopamine Transporter

Protein Expression in Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC-12) Cells

Student name: Jason L. Quinones


Faculty: Prof. Shu-Yuan Cheng

Department: Science

Format: Poster

MPP+, the active metabolite of neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine

(MPTP), is known to induce toxic insult to dopaminergic neurons located in the Substantial

Nigra region of the midbrain. Dopamine transporter (DAT) required for dopamine (DA) re-

uptake is important for MPTP toxicity. When DAT is expressed on the surface of neuronal cells

at physiological levels, MPP+ follows dopamine entry into the cytosol where it then causes

oxidative stress via disruption of complex I in the electron transport chain of mitochondrion

leading to cellular apoptosis. Several pesticides such as maneb (MB), mancozeb (MZ) and

diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) have been shown to be neurotoxic as well, resulting in the

characteristic depletion of dopaminergic neurons observed with MPP+ toxicity. The deleterious

effects on dopaminergic neurons posed by these pesticides are consistent with physiological

manifestations seen in the CNS of individuals with Parkinson‘s disease. In this study, several

pesticides were evaluated for their potential to combine synergistically after treatment with non-

toxic dose of MPP+. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were determined using trypan blue exclusion

and MTT assay. Protein isolation was conducted with collected cell lysates followed by

biotinylation of cell surface proteins. After isolation of biotinylated proteins, Western blotting

was performed to detect differences in the cell surface DAT expression for DDC, MB and MZ

treated samples. Results showed that all three pesticide administrations were synergistically

cytotoxic with non-toxic dose of MPP+ and lead to an increased expression of cell surface DAT,

with MZ treated groups displaying the highest degree of cell surface DAT expression.

*

Title: The Role of MZF-1 as Part of a Signaling Mechanism for the Endocytosis of CTGF by

Thrombocytes

Student name: Richard Piszczatowski


Faculty: Prof. Nathan Lents

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) is a protein encoded by the CTGF gene. CTGF plays

a critical role in cell adhesion and proliferation, which explains its abundance in thrombocytes,

also known as blood platelets. Blood platelets are created by megakaryocytes located in the bone

marrow, and have been found to contain abundant amounts of CTGF while in the blood.

However, current research shows that when blood platelets are created by megakaryocytes, they

do not initially contain CTGF, nor do the megakaryocytic cells produce CTGF. Thus, blood

platelets must acquire CTGF from an external source via endocytosis, and the megakaryocytes

must provide some sort of signaling mechanism to initiate the production and excretion of CTGF

by nearby cells.

This research project will attempt to show that MZF-1 (myeloid zinc finger-1), a protein made by

megakaryocytes that acts as a transcription factor to affect the production of various genes,

affects the fabrication of CTGF at the transcription level of cells in the vicinity of

megakaryocytes. MZF-1 may be a possible contributor to the communication between

megakaryocytes and other bone marrow cells to produce and provide the CTGF protein to

thrombocytes. Identification and confirmation of MZF-1 as a transcription factor of the CTGF

gene may open the door to a new look at the development of blood platelets, as well as entire

blood clotting cascade. Results from this research project may have clinical implications as well,

as MZF-1 may provide a new outlook on how to approach poorly acting blood platelets as well

as a possible factor in the maintenance of proper hemostasis.

*

Title: Using Unique DNA Sequences to Identify Pathogens

Student name: Andrew J. Schweighardt


Faculty: Margaret M. Wallace

Department: Science

Format: PowerPoint

Biological pathogens that could potentially be used by a bioterrorist have historically been

identified by light microscopy. Although such identifications may be somewhat accurate, they

are also tedious and time consuming. Traditional methods of identification such as microscopy

may also lack specificity because closely related pathogens are often indistinguishable due to

shared characteristics. Microscopy and other conventional identification methods provide little

more than a presumptive identification because of an inability to distinguish one pathogen from

another closely related pathogen. A more accurate and rapid method of identification is sorely

needed. To that end, many recent propositions have focused on DNA-based methods of

identification. Genetic techniques have the greatest potential to make rapid and accurate

identifications because they rely on analyzing certain sections of DNA that are very unique from

organism to organism. These techniques are also amenable to real-time, field deployable

analyses because they involve rapid and semi-automated detections on instruments that are semi-

portable. This presentation will focus on a DNA-based method of identification that involves a

new technology called bead-based liquid arrays. This technology relies on small beads to which

a unique piece of DNA has been attached. Identification of the unknown (i.e., maliciously

introduced pathogen) is facilitated by binding of the unknown pathogen‘s DNA to the known

strands of DNA on the beads. This binding is made evident by a fluorescent emission that is

detected inside an instrument called the Luminex 100. Research results from specificity,

sensitivity, and mixture studies will be briefly discussed.

*

Title: Environmentally Friendly Forensics: The Characterization of Eco-Fibers

Student name: Brooke W. Kammrath,


Faculty: John Reffner

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Eco-fibers are now a growing sector in the fabric and textile industry. They claim to be the next

step in moving towards a healthier, sustainable global environment. Examples of eco-fibers are

rayon made from bamboo, polylactic acid from corn, lyocell from seaweed, azlon from milk

proteins and soybeans, recycled polyester, and the more commonly used organic cotton, organic

linen and organic wool. Eco-fibers are currently being used in the manufacturing of clothing,

footwear, handbags, toys, pillows, beddings, carpets, furnishings, and many other every day

products. As a result of this world wide green movement, it is inevitable that eco-fibers will

come across the lab bench of trace evidence examiners. In addition, eco-fibers are becoming the

fabric choice of conscientious consumers, and as a result a method must be developed for the

identification of counterfeits such as those selling cotton under the guise of organic cotton.

Although the forensic characterization of eco-fibers has begun, there is no large-scale collection

of microscopical, spectrophotometric, or chromatographic data of eco-materials. This research

focuses on the collection, analysis and characterization of several different eco-fibers. The

chemical characterization of these eco-fibers will be completed by polarized light microscopy,

micro-melting point analysis, chemical staining, microscopical IR spectrophotometric analysis,

micro-attenuated total reflection Fourier Transform (FT) IR spectroscopy, FT Raman

spectrometry, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The best discriminatory

method and combination of methods for the characterization and differentiation of eco-fibers will

be determined.

*

Title: Raman Spectroscopy of Pigmented Fibers

Student name: Shay M. Smith


Faculty: Prof. John A. Reffner

Department: Science

Format: Poster

In this research, pigments (small particles suspended in a medium in which they are insoluble)

have been identified using a combination of Raman and IR techniques. Standard pigment

samples in powder form were obtained from manufacturers and used to verify the method of

identification. Pigmented fiber samples have been obtained and analysis using the same method

has begun. These fibers‘ spectra will be compared to spectra of non-pigmented fibers and

spectra of the powdered pigments in order to identify the pigments used to color the fibers.

Fibers are a type of trace evidence sometimes found at crime scenes. Analysis and

characterization of these fibers may be pertinent to an investigation. Dyed fibers have been

successfully analyzed using techniques such as microspectrophotometry and thin-layer

chromatography. However, a successful technique for analyzing pigmented fibers has not been

established.

When completed, this research will show that Raman spectroscopy combined with FT-IR is a

successful method for identifying pigments used to color some fibers.

*

Title: Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) Exhibits Variable Binding Affinity to Uncapped

mRNA with Differing Structural Elements

Student name: Alexandra Toney


Faculty: Diana Friedland

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) exhibit N-glycosidase activity by depurinating a surface

exposed adenine of the α-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of the large rRNA, ultimately causing cell

death. They are found in numerous plant, fungi, and bacterial species and are powerful antiviral

agents. PAP is a single-chain RIP and also possesses mRNA recognition, cap binding, and

depurination activities that are novel to RIPs. PAP‘s recognition of certain secondary structural

elements of uncapped mRNA are of key interest in elucidating its enzymatic mechanism.

Here, constructs of tobacco etch virus (TEV) mRNA, each containing specific structural

elements, were used to study equilibrium binding. Steady state fluorescence spectroscopy was

used to study binding between PAP and three distinct mRNA constructs. The Kd values for the

TEV mRNA constructs are given here: Full length 5‘-leader (3 pseudoknots) (FL) = 63nM, PK1

(pseudoknot 1) = 183nM and S2-3 (a mutation in PK1) = 85nM.

These results suggest that PAP recognizes specific structural elements within the mRNA for

binding. The data here will be compared to equilibrium binding between PAP and FL, PK1, and

S2-3 capped TEV mRNA. This will show whether the cap structure recruits PAP at a higher

affinity than the uncapped mRNA in order to place PAP within the molecular reading frame for

scanning and possibly subsequent depurination.

*

Title: Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP): Mutations Effects on mRNA Recognition &

Depurination

Student name: Shari Maltz


Faculty: Prof. Diana Friedland

Department: Science

Format: Poster

An experimental plan for elucidating the effects of different amino acid mutations on Pokeweed

Antiviral Protein (PAP) mRNA recognition and subsequent depurination will be described. PAP

is a type I, toxic ribosomal inactivating protein (RIP). PAP has been shown to bind to the

sacrin/ricin loop of ribosomal RNA and subsequent depurination of the RNA results in the

termination of protein synthesis (the canonical RIP enzymatic activity). The ability to terminate

protein synthesis has resulted in characterizing PAP as an important antiviral agent. The

mechanism describing PAP‘s ability to inhibit protein synthesis is currently being studied. PAP

has been shown to bind to capped and uncapped mRNA and inhibit its transcription – a novel

RIP enzymatic activity. Some experts believe that initiation factors normally used to initiate

transcription are utilized in binding PAP to uncapped mRNA. Uncapped mRNA forms

secondary structures, which may facilitate PAP‘s selection of depurination sites on the RNA.

These secondary structures are different among various mRNA molecules and so it is likely PAP

has an affinity for some forms over others. Several mutations of PAP have been cloned and

overexpressed, such as C-terminal deletions, an N-terminal point mutation, and binding site

mutations. A histidine tag was incorporated during the mutagenesis to allow for subsequent

purification of these proteins. His-tag affinity chromatography will be utilized to separate the

target mutant proteins from other cellular proteins during the purification process. Once the

mutant proteins are isolated and checked for impurities using gel electrophoresis, steady state

fluorescence spectroscopy will be performed to measure the equilibrium association of the

proteins with capped and uncapped mRNA.

*

Title: The Role of RTP801 in Maneb- and Mancozeb- Induced Cytotoxicity

Student name: Seon Oh


Faculty: Shu-Yuan Cheng

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Environmental factors, such as pesticide exposure, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of

neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson‘s disease (PD). Manganese (Mn)-containing

ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate compounds, maneb (MB) and mancozeb (MZ), have been

extensively used for pesticides over the past 50 years. Exposure to MB lowers the threshold for

dopaminergic damage triggered by MPTP, which is a human Parkinson‘s disease inducing

neurotoxin. Preliminary data from Cheng‘s lab demonstrate that MB and MZ enhance 1-methyl-

4-phenylpyridium (MPP+)-induced cell death in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. However,

the neurotoxic molecular mechanisms and the signal transduction pathways involved in the

action of these dithiocarbamate toxins in PD are still not clear. Neuron death, regardless of

initiating causes, generally requires proapoptotic gene activation. Studies using serial analysis of

gene expression (SAGE) showed RTP801 is the most induced by stresses. Several PD mimetics

(6-hydroxydopamine, MPP+, and rotenone) induced RTP801 in neuronal cells. A sequential

mechanism (induction of RTP801, suppression of mTOR signaling, and then depletion

phosphorylated/activated Akt) has been suggested to be the mechanism of neurotoxins-induced

cell death. This proposed project will to explore the role of RTP801 and it subsequent signaling

mechanism in maneb- and mancozeb- induced neuronal cell death. Several biochemical and

molecular biological techniques, such as Western blot analysis, RT-PCR, and shRNA knock-

down, will be used to study this project. Uncovering the toxic mechanisms of Mn-containing

dithiocarbamates will provide a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of PD and help

develop new therapeutic or prevention strategies for PD.

*

Title: Are you there eIFiso4e? It‘s me, PAP

Student name: Jacqueline Chaparro


Faculty: Diana Friedland

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) depurinate ribosomal RNA (rRNA) disrupting the

synthesis of proteins. This activity causes the cell to die imparting the toxicity that RIPs possess.

Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) is a type I RIP purified from the leaves of Phytolacca

Americana and has been found to depurinate the conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop of the large

ribosomal subunit in plant viruses. It has also been found that PAP depurinates capped and

uncapped messenger RNA (mRNA) indicating a specific site on the mRNA that PAP can bind to

and possibly use as a mechanism to interfere with protein synthesis. PAP‘s depurination of

uncapped mRNA, in some cases requires the presence of certain eukaryotic initiation factors

(eIFs). eIFs are a class of proteins that are involved in the initiation phases of both cap and cap-

independent protein synthesis. We are investigating the roles of eIFs in PAPs mRNA recognition

and depurination. The eukaryotic initiation factor eIFiso4e is the cap binding protein directly

initiating cap-dependent protein synthesis.

We have purified eIFiso4e, from Escherichia coli and the wheat gene is cloned into the pET-3d

vector. We have also fluorescently labeled PAP (PAP*) using an NHS-Fluorescein Antibody

Labeling Kit and determined that the degree of labeling of PAP to fluorophore is 1:1. Steady

state fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the interaction between PAP* and eIFiso4e.

The Kd value for this interaction is 30nM. These results indicate a protein-protein interaction.

*

Title: Quantitative Determination of Gamma Butyrolactone in Beverages by Colorimetric

Method

Student name: Teehshavi Narayne



Department: Science

Format: Poster

Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) is determined quantitatively in beverages by colorimetric method.

UV/VIS spectrometer is used to analyze the purple ferric ion complex that was the product of the

reaction of GBL with hydroxylamine-HCl and ferric chloride in samples. The main goal of the

research will be to quantitatively determine the concentrations of GBL in each sample using the

generated calibration curve. A stock solution of the wine beverages will be at 1500mg/l using

33ul of GHB solution in 25ml of ultra high purity water. From this stock solution there will be

various serial dilutions made from 1400mg/l to 300mg/l or 400mg/l depended on the relative

standard deviation values for the lowest concentration created. A relative standard deviation of

the lowest concentration should be above 10% to ensure a proper R-squared value, and above 5%

for the preceding concentrations. The stock solutions of the wine have been altered from the

original procedure due to various interferences due to the deep rich color of red and some white

wines. The values of the concentrations versus the absorbance averages will be plotted on a

linear curve and the R-squared values will be calculated to ensure efficiency and accuracy of the

method. The analysis results showed good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.995) and precision (RSD ≤ 5% )

sensitivity of the method.

*

Title: A Microscopical Study of the Impact of Gunpowder Particles to Nylon Fabric

Student name: Dale K. Purcell


Faculty: Prof. John A. Reffner

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Microscopical examinations of nylon material were performed to determine if propellant/GSR

particles had fused or adhered to the fibers or whether changes to the birefringence of the fibers

had occurred, which may be attributed to the impact and thermal effects of interaction with the

propellant particles. Nylon fabric targets were impacted at various distances by commercially

available ammunition (Speer Lawman, Winchester) from a Glock Model 23, 40 S&W. Some of

these propellant particles may have contained enough energy to introduce an additional strain

birefringence at locations of particle impact where they did not adhere to the fiber or, conversely,

the change in birefringence may be the result of relaxation in the polymer orientation at locations

where the hot propellant particle impacts the fiber, but did not have the heat capacity to actually

fuse to the fiber or yarn. Polarized light microscopy with elliptical compensation was used to

measure the relative difference in birefringence at these locations. Thermal analysis of fibers

and propellant was investigated and the results of this study will be presented and discussed.

*

Title: Statistical Analysis of Screwdriver Toolmarks

Student name: Loretta Kuo


Faculty: Nicholas Petraco

Department: Science

Format: Poster

Toolmark analysis involves the examination of a toolmark to determine if it was made by a

particular tool and only that tool. The NAS report contends that ―much forensic evidence –

including, for example, bite marks and firearm and toolmark identifications – is introduced in

criminal trial without any meaningful scientific validation, determination of error rates, or

reliability testing to explain the limits for the discipline‖ (p. 3-18). The experiment we are

conducting will seek to develop a statistical foundation for assessing the likelihood one tool is

the source of the toolmark to the exclusion of all other tools by examining CMS of screwdriver

marks. This will be done by analyzing CMS pattern agreement between questioned toolmarks

with test toolmarks.

*

SOCIOLOGY

Title: Program Evaluation and Recommendations for the NYPD Auxiliary Police Program

Student name: Hideki Aida


Faculty: Prof. Andrew Karmen


Format:

The NYPD Auxiliary Police have been providing volunteer police services to the City of New

York since the inception of the program in the 1950s; it is the largest auxiliary police program in

the U.S. (approximately 4500 members as of 2008). Auxiliary officers are issued the standard

NYPD uniform and equipment, with the exception of minor differences including adding

―AUXILIARY‖ on all patches, a star-shaped badge, and approval to carry only a department

issued wooden baton for protection. Auxiliaries perform many functions within the NYPD

including neighborhood patrols, traffic/crowd control, crime prevention initiatives, and special

details (for example, parades, street fairs, and concerts). Perhaps due in part to a lack of interest

in the field of part-time volunteer police officers, save for a few incidents, neither the media nor

social researchers have expressed much interest in the Auxiliary police force. As a result,

relatively few citizens are aware of the NYPD Auxiliary Police program and what the volunteer

police officers do for their communities.

This research will reveal the virtually unknown volunteer police program within the NYPD

including the subcultural traits of the program, the independent rules and regulations, the roles

and authorities, the major legal issues involving the auxiliary police, auxiliary police unions and

their agendas, internet based communications among auxiliary police and regular police officers,

and auxiliary police use for anti-terrorism initiatives. Finally, a discussion regarding both the

expansion and marginalization of the NYPD Auxiliary Police program will be presented.

Title: In-prison Transitional Programs: Strategies for Success

Student name: Justin Lee


Faculty: Douglas Thompkins


Format: PowerPoint

In-prison transitional programs are essential for the successful reintegration of former prisoners

into society. However, due to the limited and outdated information and resources provided, upon

their release, prisoners participating in many of these programs lack the services, skills, and

information that could contribute to a more successful process of reintegration. Problems

associated with in-prison transitional programs could be in part a result of allowing long-term,

high-status prisoners to manage these programs. Due to the fact that these prisoners have yet to

reintegrate themselves, they lack the proper training, as well as access to the resources and

information needed to facilitate a successful program. Data collected from a larger study suggest

that strategies for success might include the implementation of a central program coordinator,

mandating that the transitional programs be supervised and managed by a person trained to do

so, centralizing information so that prisoners receive current information and leads that actually

exist, and the development of curriculum which emphasizes the unaddressed needs of prisoners,

such as communication skills (written, verbal, and body language), banking skills, vocational

skills, available housing, and information about how to reunite with a community that may not

want them back.

*

Title: It‘s All About Who You Know: Increased Resident Organization During the

Gentrification Process

Student name: Joshua Eichenbaum


Faculty: Douglas Thompkins


Format: PowerPoint

This paper focuses on the organization of residents during the gentrification process. The

suggestion being made is the gentrification process will support increased organization amongst

members in the community who have resided in the neighborhood for a over a decade.

Specifically, this study looks at members of the community identified as ‗old-timers‘ and their

ability to develop stronger bonds amongst one another. This paper suggests the disruption of

their day-to-day structure assists in developing a new social identity of community members.

The social identity reinforces their purpose in the community and serves to further strengthen

bonds amongst those residents. This research is part of a larger study looking at the relationship

between informal social controls and public safety.

*

Title: Juvenile Delinquency: Crime, Theory, and Policy

Student name: Justine Lee


Faculty: Mia Green


Format: PowerPoint

The purpose of this study is to investigate the disproportionately high arrest rate of larceny-

among juveniles in New York. In addition, several theories will be used to explain how and why

this crime occurs. More specifically, this study will examine the social demographic and

environmental factors (education, family, community, peers, and employment) that contribute to

juveniles‘ involvement in such criminal behavior. This ongoing research seeks to discover

juveniles‘ perceptions and ideas regarding possible solutions to this phenomenon. The findings

of this study will contribute to the existing literature regarding how environmental factors relate

to or cause crime. The findings obtained will identify environmental factors that contribute to

larceny-theft, which will initiate the development of policies, designed to prevent crime. In

addition, the respondents‘ suggestions will be considered to better formulate such policies.

*


Student name: La‘Donna Foreman

Class standing: Faculty: Mia Green


Format: PowerPoint

There are many problems associated with violent crimes appear to have a great impact on

parental control, some families simply do not care about their youths and other teens are being

verbally and physically abused at home. The aggression that teens face in society is a cause for

their outburst. The violence can be the result of a combination of all these factors including

family, school, peers, weapon availability, money, drugs and racial discrimination combined

with internal triggers such as stress and anger to cause young people to turn to violence.

Parenting classes should also be offered because often time‘s situations arise in the home and

parents do not know how to deal with it. In this presentation, I recommend a series of solutions

that to help assist teens and their families so that they can be steered in the right direction.

*


Student name: Lashaunna White

Class standing: Faculty: Mia Green


Format: PowerPoint

Teen pregnancy is a growing problem among adolescences today, it can lead to truancy, the

inability to complete primary education and obtain sufficient employment. Without these basic

accomplishment these adolescences begin to participant in delinquent behavior to make ends

meet or to cope. Solutions to this rapidly growing problem will require parents, ands schools to

educate the youth starting in junior high school on the consequences of becoming a teen parent,

also provide adequate information about the prevention methods available to young men and

women.

*


Student name: Jarred Beckwith


Faculty: Prof. Mia Green


Format: PowerPoint

Arson is an increasing problem amongst juveniles. In this presentation I plan to address the

arson problem in Philadelphia. There are eight theories that apply to juveniles who commit

arson. In this presentation I will primarily address the learning theory. The learning theory

consists of four parts these include imitations, definitions, differential association, and

differential reinforcement. In this presentation I will address a few of the most damaging arson

cases in Philadelphia and how juveniles were used to commit these actions. I will also address

what the primary reasons are for juveniles to commit arson. I will propose a series of

interventions designed to reduce the prevalence of arson.

*

Title: Terrorist Act or Ordinary Crime?

Student name: Diana Rodriguez


Faculty: David Green


Format: Poster

The social construction of terrorism by the media is important because it affects both how the

public perceives and responds to terrorist incidents. This case study first considers varying

definitions of terrorism as they relate to two recent crimes with ideological motivations—the

murder of George Tiller by anti-abortionist Scott Roeder and the deadly attack by Nidal Malik

Hasan, an army psychiatrist, at Fort Hood, Texas. The study then analyses and compares

mainstream press coverage in the New York Times and the Washington Post in order to

investigate whether and why the incidents were characterized as terrorist acts or as ordinary

crimes, and to identify the claims-makers who made these distinctions.

*

Title: COMPSTAT Comes to New York City Department of Probation

Student name: Iris M. Hill


Faculty: Prof. Andrew Karmen


Format: PowerPoint

The New York City Department of Probation conducts a monthly session that is very similar to

the New York Police Department‘s COMPSTAT. The session is called STARS, which stands for

the Statistical Tracking Analysis and Reporting System. STARS gives the Department the ability

to track compliance with fulfilling their critical tasks of preparing investigation reports for the

Court and supervising probationers in the community with the goal of reducing the likelihood of

the recidivism. STARS also standardized the collection and reporting of key performance

indicators, which helped to improve accountability at all levels of management and provided an

incentive for staff to excel in the managing of their operations.

Each month one borough is selected to present. The Assistant Commissioner and Branch Chiefs

and his/her management team are called on to report before the Commissioner and the Executive

Directors of the agency. The Assistant Commissioner and Branch Chiefs are asked to explain

various trends noted in his/her borough and to discuss what remedial steps and/or solutions were

implemented to address these trends. STARS gives the managers and the staff the chance to be

recognized for their successes and to identify areas where changes and/or improvement is

needed.

*

Title:

Student name: Kritsyn Fiorni

Class standing:

Faculty: Prof. Mia Green


Format:

Childhood sexual exploitation/abuse had become an insidious global phenomenon occurring at

every societal level, affecting members of both sexes found in both the developed and

developing countries. Sexual exploitation ―is a contemporary form of slavery where a multitude

of children are caught in the web of sexual bondage and has become increasingly complex due to

its transnational scope‖ (Fontana, pg. 1982). A major form of child sexual exploitation is sex

trafficking. Child sexual exploitation is affecting the lives of many children worldwide.

Southeast Asia is one of the largest countries contributing to this global phenomenon. Victim-

Precipitation Theory has been looked at in an effort in understanding this growing problem. I

plan to explore this topic and to provide solutions to reduce its prevalence.

*

Documents

Celebrating Student Research Abstracts