We have obtained three epochs of observations of the nearby spiral galaxy, NGC 300, using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Using this data, we searched for variability in the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of NGC 300's X-ray point source population. When the entire X-ray source population was considered, the XLFs were best described by using a power law with a slope of ~0.6-0.7. However, the XLFs of intrinsically variable X-ray sources showed significant variability between observations, especially at low luminosities (< 10^37 erg/s). We created synthetic, variable X-ray sources to probe the characteristics of the X-ray point source population in NGC 300. In order to match the observations, our models required that the peak X-ray luminosity of variable sources are significantly lower than commonly assumed, which is characteristic of a mass transfer due to direct wind accretion at significantly sub-Eddington rates.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 globally. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are two microscopic parasites that cause diarrhea, infecting both humans and animals. The current gold standard field method for collecting water samples for parasite testing (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1623), is not practical for remote sample locations as it requires 10-L of water to be kept on ice during transport to testing facilities. A pilot study by the UW Center for One Health Research will implement a new water sampling system, known as Bag-Mediated Filtration System (BMFS), to look at how these parasites impact low resource communities. My goal was to determine if BMFS could be used in conjunction with EPA 1623 to give recovery rates consistent with the current EPA 1623 method. I went to 4 different locations in Washington to retrieve surface water samples using the BMFS kit. Sites were chosen based on the likelihood that there would be parasites present: sources with the possibility of animal waste and areas with turbid water. The environmental samples, along with 10 parasite-spiked laboratory samples were analyzed using the EPA method - after filtration using the bag. Parasite numbers were measured as oocysts per liter using immunofluorescence, and recovery rates of spiked samples were compared to acceptance criteria from the EPA. This study will be useful to water quality researchers working in rural or remote field sites, or areas where climate conditions make sample storage challenging.

Agressive cancers are resistant to apoptosis and stem-like cancer cells may be responsible for re-growth of cancerous tumors. This inspired this search for compounds that could aid in the destruction of cancer cells with stem-like properties. Drosophila germ-line stem cells under radiative or chemotoxic stress are protected by a molecular signal from apoptotic daughter cells via the TIE receptor. Thwarting this protective signal by the introduction of a small molecule may lead to the discovery of compounds that can be effective against stem-like cancer cells. The NCI Diversity Set of 1,596 small molecules was screened by undergraduate research students, in-vivo, to find compounds that can induce apoptosis in germ-line stem cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Four compounds have been found that induce apoptosis in both the male and female germ-line stem cells at a low 5 uM concentration. Future investigations will uncover the mechanism of action and efficacy against stem-like cancer cells.

The current obesity epidemic catalyzed research in the area of incentive motivation, examining the role of reward mechanisms in our eating behaviors. Sugar-sweetened beverages are of particular interest as their consumption is correlated with obesity, increased energy intake, and incentive motivation. At the individual level, food choice and behavior are influenced by an array of factors, including reward, as well as explicit and implicit attitudes. Explicit preferences and even labels on food influence consumption while implicit attitudes toward stimuli also influence behavioral intentions, and are commonly examined with Greenwald and colleagues (1998) Implicit Association Test (IAT). In this study, the Personalized IAT is used, along with the Extended Personalized IAT using “I want” and “I don’t want” for responses to provide better understanding of hedonic liking and motivational wanting, respectively. The Personalized IAT is used to remove possible biases from extrapersonal associations such as influences of social norms. In this study, we combined the Personalized IAT and explicit measure questionnaires, Cohen’s (1988) Perceived Stress Scale and the Three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ, Stunkard & Messick, 1985) to examine the evaluation of sweetened beverages. These hypotheses indicate expected results: (1) sweetened beverages produce the same level of hedonic addictive value as natural sugar, (2) individuals with higher dietary restraint prefer sweetened beverages over non-sweetened, (3) BMI is positively correlated to both implicit liking and wanting, and (4) stress moderates the relationships between BMI and implicit liking and wanting.

Most of the tissues in our body contain adult stem cells that in theory could combat many aging phenotypes observed in human. However, these stem cells do not regenerate the tissue during aging. To understand, and in the future govern adult stem cell regenerative capacity we need to study the regulators of human adult stem cells. DPSCs are adult mesenchymal stem cells with powerful regenerative capacity that can easily be isolated from waste product, extracted wisdom teeth. Due to low cost and easy accessibility, dental pulp is a more feasible source for mesenchymal stem cells than bone marrow. DPSCs are thought to have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell lineages, and thus hold great promises in tissue regeneration. However, little is known about the molecular markers, cellular regulators, and differentiation capacity of these cells. The goal of my research project is to generate a large diversity set of DPSC to carry on a careful analysis of true common markers and differentiation capacity of these cells. At the moment I have optimized the procedures and isolated DPSCs from over 50 patients in partnership with UW dental clinic. We have now identified the molecular markers of DPSCs, and evaluated their differentiability to better understand the key criteria in the self-renewal and differentiation capacity of these cells. Western blot and flow cytometry analysis shows that most of our DPSCs have a robust expression of CD29 and CD146, both molecular markers of mesenchymal stem cells, but displaying an unexpected diversity on the levels of these markers among individuals. In differentiation tests, we also observe diversity in cartilage and adipocyte differentiation efficiency. With this unprecedented diversity set of easily accessible adult stem cells we will now identify the key components and metabolites that enhance the stemness and regenerative capacity of these adult stem cells.

This abstract is no longer available. Please contact urp@uw.edu if you have any questions.

This study explores the cognitive effects Bisphenol-A (BPA) has on the mature Helisoma trivolvis, a Ramshorn pond snail common in North America. BPA is a synthetic hormone used in plastics, making it ubiquitous around the world. BPA is easily leached into water and accumulates in many aquatic habitats, making this pond snail a prime candidate for research. BPA has been shown to interfere with the natural estrogen activity in the brain of pond snail embryos leading to developmental complications and premature death. This study focuses on the cognitive effects that BPA has on mature Ramshorn snails. Specifically the snail’s ability to form short-term memories in response to a negative stimulus. An operant conditioning procedure was used to assess the memory capacity of the mature snails in a range of BPA-contaminated conditions (10-800 µg/L). We raise two consecutive generations of snails both separated into five populations. Each generation had a control group containing non BPA treated water and four other groups with BPA concentrations of 10, 200, 600 and 800 µg/L solutions. Memory deficits were correlated with BPA concentrations. The results from this study add to the growing understanding of both the potential cognitive impacts of BPA as well as potential ecological consequences of BPA contamination.

Amnesic shellfish poisoning is the result of eating seafood contaminated with domoic acid, produced by toxigenic diatom species from the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. In the summer of 2015, abnormally large assemblies, known as super chains, of Pseudo-nitzschia australis appeared in the massive algal bloom that swept up the Pacific Coast. This affected commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting and cost millions of dollars in shellfish sales. Due to their recent appearance, knowledge of P. australis super chains is extremely limited. Here, we investigate the prevalence of super chains in Puget Sound and along the Pacific Coast. The deep chlorophyll maximum, DCM, is a layer in the water column that is often found to contain a high volume of photosynthesizing phytoplankton.  A collection of electronic devices that measure conductivity, temperature, and depth (also called CTD) was deployed to determine DCM, from which plankton samples were collected. Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to identify P. australis species and to examine the morphology of their associated bacteria. Most surveys have been conducted during the late summer when blooms are at their peak. By conducting our survey in the late winter, we have had the opportunity to measure P. australis super chain prevalence during what is typically a less active season. Our results provide novel information of P. australis super chains and their associated bacteria during a season that has been so far neglected. In addition, our diverse sample sites in Puget Sound and along the West Coast present a systematic survey and allow us to make regional comparisons. This study lays a foundation for more comprehensive research of super chains in the future. 

Seattle’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system discharges approximately 100 million gallons of untreated sewage and storm water runoff into its waterways annually. The sewer system includes two combined waste streams: waste from sewer basins, which captures storm water runoff, and wastewater from buildings and industry. Pollutants in the effluent such as human waste, automotive by-products, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals can degrade ecosystems. To determine the impact that CSO outfalls have on Seattle’s waterways, this study tested for pollutant levels in sediment near two discharge areas: Elliott Bay and the western end of Seattle’s Ship Canal. Sediment samples were collected using a Van Veen grab, then handled and stored using sterile, inert materials to avoid contamination. Sediments were tested for heavy metals including mercury, via cold-vapor atomic absorption, and lead, via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The organic pollutants ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate were quantified via automated calorimetry. Laboratory testing for pollutants was done in accordance with EPA guidelines or standard analytical methods. Results were compared to the Washington Department of Ecology’s Sediment Management Standards. Preliminary results suggest that lead and mercury levels do not exceed the Department of Ecology’s sediment quality standards, while cadmium levels are slightly above or below recommended levels at each site. This data can be used as a baseline to help better understand the contribution of CSOs to pollution levels in these areas. More research will be necessary to determine the extent of damage to ecosystems near the outfalls.

Improving the efficiency of photosynthesis has the potential to help attain a net reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). Cyanobacteria are an enticing target phylum as they contribute an estimated twenty five percent of global photosynthesis. Under ideal conditions, cyanobacteria grow and reproduce rapidly yielding numerous generations over a relatively short time span. Most research on cyanobacteria carbon fixation has been conducted under increased concentrations of CO₂. In contrast, this research investigated: 1) whether cyanobacteria subjected to CO₂-limited conditions will produce successive populations that have improved carbon fixation efficiency, 2) the viability of those adapted populations in present day atmospheric conditions, and 3) whether the survivors fix carbon at an increased rate compared to control cyanobacteria. To answer these questions, control cyanobacteria were maintained in ambient air conditions while an experimental population of cyanobacteria was developed under a range of CO₂-limited conditions. Half of the adapted populations were then returned to ambient air conditions. The rate of carbon fixation under both CO₂-limited and ambient air conditions was approximated by measuring biomass. This research could provide a laboratory-scale proof of concept for net reduction of atmospheric CO₂ by low energy biological means. This method could also eliminate the need for direct gene manipulation by capitalizing on an evolutionary process. Future experiments could replicate this study with different species of cyanobacteria to develop regionally compatible cyanobacteria with more efficient carbon fixation resulting in a net reduction of atmospheric CO₂ in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The rise of multidrug resistant bacteria necessitates finding alternative therapies against bacterial pathogens. Virulence in many pathogenic bacteria are predicated on their ability to communicate and act in unison. In a phenomenon known as quorum sensing (QS), a threshold mass of bacterial cells produces an amplified chemical signal that triggers the collective expression of a new phenotype, such as enhanced virulence. Therefore, inhibiting QS, without preventing cellular growth, may be a recourse against drug resistant bacteria. Marine invertebrates found in warmer waters, such as the Australian reef and Indian Ocean, have shown quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) potential. However, most marine invertebrates in the Pacific Northwest’s Puget Sound have not previously been screened for QSI compounds. This research presents the findings for QSI sources among Puget Sound’s marine sponges and tunicates, using a bacterial reporter strain to screen for QSI activity. We used the reporter strain Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 12472), which uses the QS signal n-Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) to produce its purple pigment. QSI activity was screened for by overlaying the reporter strain with a sponge or tunicate sample. Subsequent absence of pigment in the indicator strain suggested the presence of a QSI compound. Promising compounds were then extracted and identified using analytical techniques. These results help expand the catalogue of known QSI molecules from marine sources, advancing potential therapies against existing and future antibiotic resistant pathogens.

Antibiotics are present in nearly every facet of our lives including personal hygiene, medicine, food processing, and the treatment of infectious diseases. Because of this widespread exposure, antibiotic resistance occurs in dangerous pathogens around the world. Novel antibiotics are needed to combat these resistant organisms and reduce both the loss of lives and treatment costs. Most antibiotics originated in microorganisms cultured from soil, but very few novel compounds have been discovered in this environment over the last several decades. It is imperative that other environments are screened for antibiotic producing microbes. We sampled the Puget Sound, isolating and culturing bacteria from the surface. Isolated cultures were tested against reference strains of common pathogens for antibiotic potential by measuring the zones of inhibition they produced via agar diffusion. Phylogenetic analysis with 16s ribosomal RNA was used for identification of cultures with inhibitory activity. This type of analysis, especially if scaled-up, has potential to identify novel therapeutic compounds that may elude common resistance mechanisms.

As concern over antibiotic resistance continues to grow, there is a critical need to discover and develop new methods of controlling and preventing bacterial infections. Essential oils derived from the peels of oranges are known to possess antimicrobial properties. Previous research has established that limonene, the principle compound present in orange oil extract, is a particularly effective antimicrobial agent that both destroys bacteria and inhibits bacterial growth. To determine whether different varieties of oranges have varying antimicrobial potency, the efficacies of oil distilled from blood, navel, and valencia oranges were compared. Oils extracted through steam distillation were diluted with methanol to concentrations ranging from 1:20 to 1:1. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli bacteria were exposed to the oils using the disc diffusion method on TSA plates. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each oil was determined using the agar diffusion method. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to compare the relative concentrations of limonene present in each essential oil. A better understanding of the potency of orange oil as an antimicrobial agent could lead to development of novel drugs and products to be used to combat infection and prevent the spread of bacterial pathogens.

DNA origami is the fabrication of biochemical structures using DNA as the building material. Using base pair design principles, DNA can be synthesized to self-assemble into dynamic objects such as a piston. The resulting creations have potential applications in nanotechnology including drug delivery, enzyme immobilization, photolithography, environmental restoration, and biocompatible devices. The goal of this project was to design a nanoscale mechanical spring and determine the parameters for spring constant and size. First, a spring comprised of multiple columns of double-stranded DNA was designed and fabricated. Size measurements were taken and morphology was verified using a transmission electron microscope. To measure the force constant of this structure, the 5’ end of the first column was functionalized with a thiol group which was then bonded to a gold cantilever tip on an atomic force microscope (AFM). This construct was brought very close to a magnesium substrate and allowed to bond. Force measurements for the spring were taken via AFM by slowly retracting the cantilever from the substrate. The spring force constant was calculated from this data using Hooke’s law in order to predict the amount of work that the DNA nanospring can perform when included in a complex nanostructure. The nanostructures created in this project can be used in conjunction with other DNA origami designs in order to create increasingly complex machines on the nanoscale.

Tree lines play a vital role in plant community composition in montane ecosystems. Over the past several decades, increasing annual temperatures have led to shifts in tree lines in montane environments. However, little is known about how local topography may have an effect on tree line advance. My research incorporates historical and repeat, ground based and aerial photography to assess the change of alpine tree line in a range of topographical conditions in Mount Rainier National Park over the past century. My study quantifies changes in tree cover and tree-line elevation in ridge and cove environments of the park. To track treeline change, historical and recent photographs were aligned, and areas of the photograph were broken up into polygons based on their small-scale topography. Random points were overlaid in these polygons to assess the rate of change of tree line shift. By looking at the change in tree cover in each random point relative to the polygon type, we are able to determine the amount of tree thickening that has occurred. We predicted that tree lines on sun exposed ridges will shift more quickly than those in cove environments. Snow is prevalent for longer periods of time in concave valleys limiting the amount by which the trees can shift up. Our results thus far indicate that small-scale ridge regions have the highest rate of change for tree line shift followed by cove. Subalpine meadows often occur in cove topography. Tree thickening in these regions over time may impact the wildflower populations and decrease species richness in subalpine meadows. In all, our research adds to the growing body of evidence that tree lines are moving up in elevation as well as provides the National Park Service with information about tree line influences on the plant communities of the park.

Masting refers to annually variable seed production; whereby plant species release large quantities of seeds one year, followed by one or more years of significantly lower seed production. Seed masting behavior is thought to be evolutionarily favorable, a technique for survival. Two main theories exist to explain mast seeding, predator satiation and increased pollination. The purpose of this research study was to determine A) if a group of six conifer species within Mt. Rainier National Park exhibit mast seeding behavior (i.e. synchronized seed production over large areas, annual variation in seed production exceeds annual climate variation); B) Whether seed viability is greater in 'boom' years than 'bust' years (which would support wind pollination efficiency as an evolutionary driver of masting); and C) whether these patterns vary by species and/or elevation. We examined six species of conifers: Abies amabilis, Callitropsis nootkatensis, pseudotsuga menziesii, Thuja plicata, Tsuga heterophylla, and Tsuga mertensiana. Data was collected from 108 seed traps located in 18 stands at multiple elevation ranges within Mt. Rainier National Park. Seeds were sorted based on tree species, and classified as filled (viable) vs. unfilled (not viable). We then calculated mean total seed production for each stand and used correlations to assess how correlated annual seed production is across 18 stands. Next, we compared annual variation in climate within each stand, to assess whether species showed higher variation in seed production in comparison to climatic variation. Finally, we compared results for our six focal species to assess species specific similarities and differences. Understanding the mechanisms behind masting is important, as masting can control tree population demography, and influences ecosystem dynamics. Moreover, our study may provide greater understanding of the implications of climate change on masting dynamics for forests at Mt. Rainier National Park.

We know that climate sensitivity can vary within species, but the factors that influence which climatic variables influence population dynamics remain unclear. In this study, I am assessing whether macroclimate influences the climate sensitivity of three prominent conifer species: Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), and Alaska yellow cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) on Mt. Rainier. I am analyzing tree core data from three high elevation sites. Each site is located in a distinctly different climatic area on the mountain. I am comparing standardized tree growth to climate variables (mean growing-season temperature, total growing-season precipitation, snow duration, etc.) using linear mixed effect models. This will determine how influential climate variables differ by location and by species. Gaining more insight into which climate variables have the greatest influence on growth in different areas will allow us to better predict how specific plant populations will react to ongoing climate change. Moreover, studying tree communities at high elevations is particularly important, since behavior at treeline will determine whether a species’ range expands, contracts or shifts. Range expansion of one species could lead to the crowding or elimination of another. For example, conifer range expansion on Mt. Rainier could negatively affect the alpine wildflower meadows, a major attraction for tourists. Widespread range contractions could also decrease forest density and potentially reduce the ability of those forests to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Thus, with better predictions of tree shifts, we can make more informed management decisions for ecotourism and conservation.

Organic acids are crucial factors in creating the aromas and flavors in wine, each adding their own qualities and characteristics. Winemakers regularly use various forms of technology to quantitatively determine the contents of wine. Analytical tools such as enzymatic spectrophotometry, paper chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography offer methods to quantify chemical components including acetic, malic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids, as well as sulfates and sulfites. Although ion chromatography (IC) has not been a widely studied method to analyze organic acid content in wine, it offers the potential to simultaneously analyze multiple ions with greater specificity and sensitivity than other approaches. This project examines the various ways that IC can be used to analyze the components of wine, allowing for further application within the wine industry. The malolactic fermentation process was tracked to measure the changes of malic and lactic acids within the wine. Sulfites and sulfates were measured as the wine was exposed to oxygen during the aeration process. The results show that IC provides greater accuracy than paper chromatography and enzymatic spectrophotometry, the most commonly used methods in wineries. This increased accuracy provides additional knowledge that allows winemakers to further understand and evaluate the chemical components in the wines that they create. This is a useful step towards making the characterization and marketing of the wines less subjective.

With concern about climate change increasing, assessing how plant reproductive success is impacted by increases in temperature is crucial in order to fully understand how climate change influences ecosystem structure and dynamics. This study measures how population variation and the climate of different elevations affect the capsule size and seed mass of the high-elevation plant mountain monkeyflower, Mimulus tilingii, at Mt. Rainier National Park. If climate is the primary limiting factor determining the range of M. tilingii, plants within the species’ climate range will produce the most abundant capsules and seeds whereas plants grown outside the species’ distributional range will produce smaller amounts. Sample seedlings were planted at two elevation sites: 1)  M. tilingii’s range center and 2) below M. tilingii’s range to mimic the increase in temperature due to climate change. Populations were categorized as either within-population (for crosses within the same elevation site) or between-population (for crosses between the two elevation sites) with equal amounts at both sites. This study quantifies M. tilingii’s reproductive success both in the context of the site as well as the population type, allowing for comparisons on these two levels. Results show that parent plants from the lower site produced more flowers and grew faster, indicating that plants in the lower elevation site might be more successful. These unexpected results suggest that M. tilingii may be better adapted to a warmer environment and that climate change might even be beneficial for this reason. Determining the exact impact of temperature on reproductive success is crucial not only for measuring the species’ fitness but also for understanding how these new adaptations will play an even bigger role in competition for resources among different plant species and how those new interactions will alter the ecosystem as a whole as the climate warms.

Human stool sample collection is a non-invasive method of assessing the gut microbiome. Rapid changes in microbial composition upon defecation limit the use of fresh stool for microbial community analysis. This investigation tests the effects of stool sample storage and shipment conditions on bacterial DNA quality and microbial community structure to establish and validate a methodology for stool collection in human population-based studies. The goal is to establish a protocol that minimizes bias due to shipping conditions. Fresh stool samples were collected from three participants, homogenized, and aliquoted with or without a preservative (RNALater) within 48 hours of collection. To mimic sample transport conditions, we incubated samples from three individuals under the following conditions: -80°C without RNALater, 37°C, 22°C, 4°C, -80°C -5°C, or frozen samples packed in ice left at 22°C for 48 hours. Samples were then stored at -80°C for 48 hours after which fecal DNA was extracted. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V1-V3 region (Illumina Mi-seq) to measure the community composition. Multivariate analysis was used to test the effect of sample storage and shipping regime on the microbiome. On average, the phylum level distribution was 76% Firmicutes, 20% Bacteroidetes, 3% Actinobacteria, and <1% Lentisphaerae, Tenericutes, and Actinobacteria. A perMANOVA (F=2.25, p< 0.1) showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the phyla due to temperature and handling. Regardless of treatment, samples from each individual clustered together suggesting that between individual variation exceeds any differences due to shipping regimen. Our current protocol for stool collection and preservation shows no significant loss of bacterial DNA quality, nor does it significantly affect microbial community representation and is adequate for investigations on microbiome composition, structure and activity in human studies.

This project consisted of examining how disability is excluded from discussion and curricula in a high school setting, in particular, when the focus is around sex education. Students, youth and even adults with physical and intellectual disabilities are not exposed to the same imperative information around sex, sexuality, and relationships that is required for healthy sexual development and intimate relationships that their non-disabled peers receive. Nor do curricula on sex education have information concerning disability specifically. I focused on analyzing issues of consent, policy and law, violence, and what ableist ideologies and stereotypes surrounding disability are imbedded in the institution of sex education. For my project I reviewed and analyzed scholarly literature, conducted interviews with educators as well as students with disabilities, utilized platforms of social media such as Twitter to gather data and information on educational resources and examined online sources on disability-centric sex education and curricula. Myths and stereotypes around disability were found to be contributing factors to the lack of discussion around sex and disability, specifically the myth that all disabled people are asexual. Additionally, because of the stigma attributed to disability, parents, educators, and health professionals felt unprepared and uncomfortable addressing anything regarding sex with youth who were disabled. I worked with the social worker and health educators at Mountlake Terrace High School to bring in a new perspective on sexuality and relationships around disability. I created and provided an introductory kit that consisted of scholarly work from my research around Disability Studies, information on how and what kind of language to use, fact sheets, and lesson plans and curriculum ideas for them to use as a starting point for implementing a more inclusive experience for disabled students.

This research project explores disenfranchisement in America. Today, citizens living in unincorporated US territories (Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa) are considered “second-class Americans,” having all other fundamental rights as mainland Americans do except federal voting rights. To help understand this phenomenon, this project examines the circumstances under which the political elite had extended suffrage or had established additional protection for minority voters since the early 1900s. Since then, women, African-Americans, 18-year olds, and citizens living in US territories have used different movement techniques and strategies to achieve suffrage, such as establishing conventions, organizing violent and nonviolent protests, and committing to quid pro quo services like serving the country in times of war. This closes in on a theory where political will—defined as the mobilization of mass movements to gain the right to vote—helps explain why Congress votes to extend suffrage to previous disenfranchised groups. This variable is operationalized by counting the number of organized events and the number of people in the group lobbying for suffrage during the year prior to a congressional vote on the floor. I hypothesized that the greater amount of political will present in a year, the more bills will be introduced in Congress. The time frame of data used in this project is from 1910-2015. This presentation can serve as a guide to explain when suffrage extension happens, and what disenfranchised groups did to get what they wanted from big government.

In 1996, a scandal involving members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus triggered the United States Senate to launch an investigation. In the scandal, Asian American campaign contributors were accused of funneling foreign Chinese funds in an attempt to hijack U.S. politics. The Senate investigation concluded that several Asian Americans were committing espionage by colluding with the Chinese government as political spies. This research asks how the U.S. Senate concluded that these Asian American contributors were spies. My findings suggest that the Senate’s conclusion rested not on sound inculpatory evidence but a historic racial logic of Asian Americans as politically suspect. I argue that the “model minority” stereotype centrally informed the Senate’s racial logic of Asian Americans in their investigation. In particular, the model minority stereotype celebrates the industrious work ethic of Asians while condemning political participation as a dangerous behavior. My research thus explores the informative role of the model minority stereotype in the U.S. Senate’s investigation of the 1996 CAPAC’s scandal. My findings imply that the model minority stereotype ideologically disenfranchises Asian Americans within the American polity. In effect, Asian Americans are disproportionally scrutinized in the political arena through a racial logic that casts them as foreign, suspicious, and disloyal to the polity.

In the South China Sea, has the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Form been effective in crisis management since its inception in 1993? If so, to what extent? It is the only current multilateral framework for potential conflict management in the South China Sea disputes particularly with regard to island settlements between China and other claimant nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. This research will shed light on how effective this multilateral framework has progressed since its creation in achieving its mission of resolving regional conflicts and the implications this has for US foreign policy. The research relies on current scholarship and on expert interviews. The ASEAN Regional Forum is a work-in-progress in resolving regional conflict, especially island disputes in the South China Sea. Its operating emphasis on consensus-building and the ‘ASEAN Way’ assures that both weak and powerful nations alike are involved. Yet, differences between rival nations threaten to dismantle the positive influence it has potential to wield in the region. This has strong implications for the US ‘Asia Pivot’ and the continued influence of the US in the East Asia region as the forum is valuable in articulating US interests including adherence to international law under The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Public policy for families has shifted focus to population level evidence-based parenting interventions (EBPIs). EBPIs have been proven to reduce child maltreatment and improve emotional and behavioral health in research. As a result, there has been an increase in individuals trained in EBPIs, but this has not translated into successful implementation of EBPIs in the real world. One factor in the successful implementation of EBPIs is the practitioner’s perceived self-efficacy in delivering the intervention. One EBPI with the potential to saturate at the population level is Triple P. Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) is a multi-level parenting intervention designed within a public health framework that allows individuals to deliver the intervention within the communities they reside in. In this exploratory study, we hypothesize that individuals in certain work environments will report differential levels of self-efficacy in the delivery of Triple P post training. Our sample population was comprised of individuals from five different work environments, including social services, health, education, and youth offending. They completed surveys on self-efficacy across three time points: at baseline, immediately following training, and 6-8 weeks after training. Results of the study will attempt to seek if work sector may be an influencing factor on an individual’s self-efficacy following training in delivering Triple P. This is important because the qualities of Triple P training are highly generalizable to other EBPIs, thus this study increases knowledge about the role of promoting self-efficacy when supporting successful implementation. The consideration of work environment in implementation science can be used to determine what changes should be made for conducive implementation of interventions.

Until today, the Coptic culture is seen and studied by most of its onlookers as a dead Egyptian culture of late antiquity, neglecting the fact that there are more than 20 million people who identify as Coptic and live across continents and cultures. Copts only lived in Egypt until about 60 years ago, and thus, the sudden incline in rates of migration to different countries raised concerns regarding the loss of their culture's identity(ies), and opened dialogues concerning cultural adaptation. In light of these concerns and dialogues, this study explores what it means to be Coptic in a diverse society such as the U.S. The Coptic culture is founded on Orthodox Christian beliefs that are embedded in the symbolic significance of the physical aspects of the culture (i.e music, art, etc). Dressing these religious values in the aspects of a culture is a concept in this research termed as the "immersive experience" and has also been thoroughly explored. The data needed for this study has been gathered through 35 interviews, four focus groups, full participant observation, and auto-ethnography in three specific Coptic communities: Copts in Washington DC, Seattle, and in Mallawi in Egypt. The findings of this study construct a framework of meanings that shapes how the Coptic faith is embodied in the Coptic culture and how different Copts who have settled here in the States negotiate their culturally-embodied faith with the cultures of their new homelands. The framework suggests a theoretical approach that can provide both a proper transition of faith to new homelands, and a successful way to maintain heritage. This work is not only helpful to Copts, but also to communities of similar religious structure, and communities who wish to remain unified but not uniformed with their peers across different spaces and cultures.

In the late 1920s, geologist J Harlen Bretz proposed that a catastrophic flood - larger than any in human history - had carved the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington State. Established geologists rejected this theory as impossible and repeatedly attempted to discredit and deny his work. Undeterred, Bretz continued to research the Channeled Scablands and ultimately wrote 15 comprehensive academic papers on the subject. His megaflood theory did not see wide acceptance until the 1960s. Modern writings about J Harlen Bretz all tell the same story; he was a rebel protagonist with an outrageous theory who was vehemently opposed by his fellow geologists until vindication finally arrived after 40 years. But where did this story come from? Bretz's history has been recorded through academic papers, biographies, newspaper articles, and popular sources online. I use the language of these varied sources to explain how the perception of J Harlen Bretz changed from heretic to hero over the course of 40 years. The evolution of Bretz's legacy highlights that the process of science is not always as rational, dispassionate, and removed from human emotion as we would prefer to believe. It is a case study for the role of human nature in scientific pursuit.

Developmental phenotypic plasticity can be a vital means to buffer the sudden and persistent effects of anthropogenic climate change, through facilitation of species persistence and possible facilitation of species range shifts. Integrating our understanding of plastic physiological growth mechanisms with functional traits may prove useful for interpretation of the ecological impacts of climate change. We investigated the influence of water-stress and light limitation on leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf anatomy, and leaf gas exchange of juvenile Populus tremuloides trees. Leaves that developed while water-stressed had significantly elevated LMA, due to increased leaf density from significantly higher spongy mesophyll surface area per leaf area (A_smes/A) and reduced stomatal conductance (g_s) but only marginally reduced photosynthesis (Pmax). In shade, leaves had significantly reduced LMA, due to reduced thickness, density, and combined A_mes/A, but maintained the same A_smes/A, and reduced palisade mesophyll surface area per leaf area (A_pmes/A), which was coupled with a reduction of g_s and P_max. Furthermore, water-stressed leaves had elevated intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE_i: P_max/g_s) while the shaded leaves, despite reduced g_s, maintained similar WUE_i. Our results suggest that, under water-stress and full sunlight, greater A_smes/A conferred maintenance of photosynthetic rate possibly through reduction of mesophyll resistance (r_m), at the cost of reducing expansive leaf area (and increasing density) as leaves were more dense but were 20 % the area of control leaves. In shade, suppressing A_pmes/A while maintaining A_smes/A may be a plastic strategy to increase laminar light capture, as leaves had reduced density and thickness but were still 50 % the area of control leaves . Together, in P. tremuloides saplings, these stresses induced developmental plasticity in LMA with differing plastic underlying anatomy and function; we discuss future implications specifically in the context of developmental plasticity, growth trade-offs, and the ecological impacts of climate change.

We validated the LIATEST® Antithrombin III (ATIII) antigen assay for use on the Stago® STA compact analyzer. The LIATEST® is an antibody agglutination assay that measures the amount of ATIII antigen in patients who are on cardiopulmonary support systems. The LIATEST® was chosen because is more stable than the STACHROM (chromogenic) gold standard.

This abstract is no longer available. Please contact urp@uw.edu if you have any questions.

Sediment cores were recovered from Limnaea Sø and Braya Sø, closed-basin lakes in Southwestern Greenland, to reconstruct temperatures during the Holocene epoch (past ~10,000 years). The closed-basin topography makes the lakes ideal for studying changes in evaporation and precipitation, and variations in past lake conditions are recorded by authigenic carbonates in the lake sediments. The sediment cores were analyzed by x-ray, magnetic susceptibility, and bulk density to allow stratigraphic correlation between cores and to determine changes in sedimentation rate and lithology. After sectioning, a series of samples taken 20 cm apart were sent for radiocarbon dating, which placed the samples between present day and 9.5 ka (Calendar age). Due to the deposition rate (~0.1 mm/yr), these sediments were sectioned at 0.5 to 1 cm intervals to achieve ~100 year resolution. A series of samples were analyzed for total organic carbon, which provided insight into the history of vegetative changes surrounding the lakes. Samples were then prepared for δ13C and δ18O isotopic analysis on the Kiel Carbonate system/isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The δ13C and δ18O data show periods of isotopic changes, indicating either a strong change in the hydrologic regime or changes in surface air temperatures. We are analyzing these abrupt periods using novel clumped-isotope paleothermometry to determine whether the isotopic variations are a response to lake temperature variations as previous alkenone analyses indicate, or shifts in precipitation/evaporation patterns. While work from ice cores show relatively stable temperatures during the Holocene epoch, recent lake sediment records have suggested that temperatures may have been more variable than thought. If our results show no significant temperature variations, it will confirm previous interpretations based on δ18O that large shifts in the hydrologic cycle occurred. The clumped isotope paleothermometry technique will be the first of its kind applied to Greenland lake sediments to produce a temperature reconstruction.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a life-threatening disease that affects over 500,000 individuals in the United States. One in five patients is diagnosed as a child and they are at higher risk for kidney disease, early mortality and infection due to current immunosuppressive medications that serve as the only treatments. The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 sustains intracellular calcium levels needed for the activation of effector memory T-lymphocytes (TEMs), a cell associated with serious complications of SLE including lupus nephritis (LN). Because Kv1.3 is highly expressed on TEMs, we hypothesize that it could serve as a viable drug target for SLE. Preliminary data suggests that Kv1.3 expression is high on peripheral blood CD4+ (helper) and CD8+ (cytotoxic) TEMs from SLE patients compared to controls, but the inflammatory cells of interest are found within the tissues. In order to test for the expression of Kv1.3 on immune cells active in LN, we are characterizing Kv1.3 expression on cells in urine from pediatric SLE LN patients. Urinary leukocytes were isolated from 16 patients and applied to slides for analysis via multicolor immunofluorescence for the co-expression of Kv1.3 and CD3 (as a marker for T lymphocytes). Kv1.3 expression was observed on CD4+ TEMs verified by flow cytometry analysis. Further evaluation of patient lymphocytes will be performed by immunofluorescence in conjunction with flow cytometry assays showing the dual expression of Kv1.3 and CD3 on TEMs, and other cell types with potential pathogenic roles in LN, including B lymphocytes (CD19), monocytes (CD14) and epithelial cells (cytokeratin). Positive results will indicate the viability of Kv1.3 as a drug target for SLE treatment. This research has great implications for patients with SLE and those with a wide range of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile idiopathic arthritis, uveitis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.

From Caesar Augustus onward, various Roman emperors and their family members were officially declared to be gods.  The topic of this paper concerns the imperial deification process and the role subjectivity played in which emperors and imperial family members were accorded divine status.  Specifically, the personal and political considerations of the reigning emperor or senate that served as the basis as to why a certain individual obtained or was denied deification, and the evolution of the divinization process over time, are examined.  Conversely, an alternative act called damnatio memoriae, by which the memory of deposed emperors or other unwelcome persons was condemned to oblivion after their death by the state, is also compared.  The reactions (as preserved in the poetry and prose of ancient writers) of the Romans and imperial subjects to the imperial deification apparatus in general and the conferral of divinity upon specific persons are also noted.  The paper focuses in particular on the reign of Domitian, who upon his succession deified his brother and immediate predecessor Titus, and later his young son as well.  In contrast to past imperial customs of deifying emperors after their death, Domitian demanded to be hailed as a god during his own lifetime, and the paper investigates his justifications for this deviation from the precedent that only a deceased emperor or member of the imperial family could be granted apotheosis.  He suffered the condemnation of his memory after his assassination.  And while poets and writers bestowed voluminous adulations upon him in his lifetime and referred to him as a god, his reputation plummeted precipitously after his death.

Main sequence stars that are 20-50% the mass of the sun and have a cooler surface temperature of less than 4000 Kelvin making them appear red are classified as spectral type M. These low mass M dwarf stars are the most common type of star in the Galaxy and often exhibit strong magnetic fields and magnetic activity including chromospheric emission and flares. We are investigating how this activity is correlated with the rotation period and metallicity of the star. A dataset of a few thousand M dwarfs with measured rotational periods monitored by the Kepler spacecraft is now available to investigate these possible correlations. We obtained followup spectroscopic data from the ARC 3.5 meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO), and report the spectral types and metallicities of nearly 100 Kepler field M dwarfs with measured rotational periods. Previous studies utilize the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC) for estimates of spectral type and temperature that are based on multi-band photometry. Our independent spectral measurements are crucial to improve on these parameters as the KIC measurements are known to be unreliable for low mass stars. Using reduced spectra from the APO/3.5m Dual Imaging Spectrograph (DIS) high resolution mode (R~5000) we measured the magnetic activity through the chromospheric emission from the Hydrogen Balmer-alpha emission line. Metallicity measurements were obtained from DIS low resolution mode spectra (R~1000) via comparison to M dwarf calibration stars with known metallicities. We present our results including the magnetic activity correlation with rotation and metallicity at different M sub-types, and discuss the implications of these data for low mass star evolution.

Innovative prevention strategies for MSM/TGW that effectively reduce incidence are critically needed; building these strategies will require identifying transmission networks and associated drivers of ongoing HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to identify drivers and sources of transmission among MSM/TGW in Lima, Peru through two aims: 1) To recognize geographic transmission hotspots through mapping locations of venues at which participants reported having sexual encounters and their residences; 2) To identify clusters of related incident infections through phylogenetic analysis and link these clusters to real-time data on sexual encounters, high-risk behaviors, and attendance at social venues (bars, clubs, saunas, etc.). Between 9/2013 and 10/2015, MSM/TGW (n=3,191) were screened for participation in a 24-month follow-up study (HIV prevalence=20.5%). HIV-uninfected individuals (n=2,078) agreed to monthly HIV testing and completing surveys covering drug/alcohol use, sexual activity, and attendance at venues. Cohort HIV incidence was 8.6 per 1000 person-years (n=303). To identify HIV hotspots, locations of HIV-infected participants’ residences and venues where participants reported a sexual encounter were mapped and analyzed using the Getis-Ord-Gi* method. Putative transmission networks were identified by phylogenetic analysis of partial pol sequences from incident HIV infections. In the geographic analysis, 7 of the 20 social venues were identified as transmission hotspots (99% confidence); no neighborhoods were identified as hotspots. Phylogenetic analysis indicated 13 clusters of highly-related infections (bootstrap values >90%). Within clusters with sufficient behavioral data covering the time of infection (n=7), all or most members reported sexual encounters in the 60 days prior to HIV diagnosis with partners they met at specific venues that had been identified as transmission hotspots. Phylogenetic and geographic cluster analyses identified related incident HIV cases associated with specific venues indicating increased risk of HIV acquisition. These results support offering HIV prevention services, testing, and linkage-to-care efforts at venues rather than current services centered around neighborhoods. 

Many biological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors increase women’s risk of acquiring HIV, especially in low-resource settings. Currently, there aren’t any options that allow women to discreetly protect themselves from HIV acquisition. To address this, we developed a topical nanofiber mesh to be inserted into the vagina to deliver antiretrovirals for HIV prevention. Benefits of this dosage form include high drug loading, tunable drug release, and imperceptibility to users while protecting them from HIV over the course of a week. We designed a “fiber-in-fiber” system: the “burst” release nanofiber delivers an initial bolus of drug, while the “sustained” release nanofiber (polyester) prolongs drug release over a week. Nanofibers are synthesized via electrospinning, which involves exposing a polymer and drug solution to an electric field to create a nanofiber mesh. After polyester fibers are electrospun, they are micronized using a food processor and electrospun directly into the burst release fibers. The final product is a burst release nanofiber mesh that contains small polyester fiber particles. Initially, the polyester fiber particle sizes were large and variable, ranging from 8 to 2000 micrometers. After optimizing the micronization process, the median particle size was reduced to 179 micrometers. We compared this to the median particle size of post-electrospinning, which was 26 micrometers. The data indicate that smaller nanofibers are more likely to be electrospun into the fiber-in-fiber mesh. Thus, minimizing particle size is essential to achieve the desired drug loading. Furthermore, loading the micronized fibers with a fluorescent dye revealed that they are evenly distributed throughout the burst release fiber mesh. Recent experiments assessed the drug release profiles of this fiber-in-fiber system, which showed that it is able to sustain drug release. Evaluating the drug release benefits of this fiber-in-fiber system will allow this system to be applied to other topic drug delivery systems.

Over the last 10 years, the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has gradually begun to decline for the first time in decades. While previous research has looked at this change in the rate of undocumented immigrants across the country as a whole, there is very little information on how or why these trends have changed within and across states. Yet, some states are losing more undocumented immigrants than the nation as a whole, and some states still have a growing undocumented immigrant population. Why has the rate of undocumented immigration dropped so much more in particular states since the mid 2000s, when compared to the national rates since the same year? To answer this question, I employ statistical methods and examine the relationship between the number of undocumented immigrants within a state, as well as state immigration legislation. I expect that the number and severity of state laws regulating or deterring undocumented immigrants corresponds with a more significant drop in the number of undocumented immigrants.

The traumatic loss of one or both parents is difficult for children to manage, even under the best circumstances. For children in low- and middle-income countries, the effects of being orphaned can be devastating. In Kenya and Tanzania, it is hard to meet orphans’ basic needs, such as food and shelter, let alone their mental health needs. The present study is examining data from a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mental health treatment for orphans in Kenya and Tanzania. In the intervention condition of the RCT, orphaned children in these countries who presented with posttraumatic stress or grief symptoms participated in a 12-week Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) intervention, along with their guardians. TF-CBT was previously adapted to fit this cultural setting based on an earlier pilot study. This evidence-based treatment consisted of weekly group sessions led by trained local lay counselors following a predetermined schedule of TF-CBT components. We will be looking at data from 64 study participants’ qualitative interviews conducted 12 months post-treatment, in which children and their guardians reported their levels of satisfaction with the treatment they received. We are currently conducting content analysis on interview responses to identify common themes in the overall experiences, opinions, and life changes associated with participating in the TF-CBT intervention. Findings from this project have important implications for examining whether orphans and guardians in this setting found TF-CBT acceptable and worthwhile, helping inform future research and implementation efforts.

Making the surrounding of a yellow target brighter will make the target appear darker and change its hue to brown. These changes are called darkness induction and brightness induction, respectively. Brown induction is interesting because the shift from yellow to a different dark hue, brown, is not found for the other basic colors—red, green, and blue. To assess whether the same neural and perceptual processes mediate brown and darkness induction, we explore the possible parallels with a checkerboard variation of White’s Illusion, which produces unexpected and theoretically controversial darkness induction effects. Surround stimuli consisted of a 20x10 black and white checkerboard grid. In a portion of the checkerboard grid, either the white or black squares were replaced by a 4x4 set of target squares, leaving the target squares surrounded by either only black or only white squares, respectively. For the darkness induction task, gray target squares were adjusted in luminance (physical light level) so that targets on white matched targets on black in perceived darkness. For the brown induction task, yellow/brown target squares were adjusted in luminance so that each target was right at the boundary between pure brown and yellowish brown, the “brown boundary.” The magnitude of the White’s Illusion effect was expressed as the difference in luminance between the two darkness-matched targets (darkness induction) or the two brown-adjusted targets (brown induction). Preliminary results show the White’s Illusion effect for brown induction to generally be in the same direction, but much weaker in magnitude, compared to darkness induction. This suggests that brown induction cannot simply be concluded as being darkness induction. These results help us to begin to understand the differences in the underlying perceptual and neural processes that mediate the two key properties of human vision, darkness induction and brown induction.

From blood vessels to the small intestine to the spinal cord, tubes are an essential part of nearly all living organisms. The study of the formation of biological tubes, called tubulogenesis, is therefore indispensible in the understanding of the developmental pathways that, when impaired, cause many of the birth defects that afflict infants today. Our lab uses the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to study these complex pathways. Recently, we discovered that a family of genes known as Imaginal Disc Growth Factors (IDGFs) are linked to tubulogenesis in fruit flies. However, the mechanisms by which these genes act, and their involvement in the tubulogenesis pathway, remain unclear. My project investigates the function of a specific IDGF, the gene CG5210, using a powerful new method for deleting genes known as the CRISPR/Cas9 system. With this technique, I created flies lacking the CG5210 gene by first designing highly specific plasmid vectors, which encoded RNAs that bound to the target DNA. When injected into fly embryos, these RNAs directed the Cas9 protein to cleave the DNA on either side of CG5210. Cas9 then replaced the gene with DNA that encodes a red fluorescent protein expressed in the eyes of the fly. The fluorescent red eyes served as a marker for a successful deletion in my later experiments. If my initial hypothesis is correct, I expect to see unusual phenotypes in these mutant flies that correlate with tube formation or growth pathways. From there, the next phase of my research will include further exploration of this genetic pathway, including determining what other genes and pathways interact with CG5210 to cause similar mutant phenotypes. This information will be an important contribution to our understanding of tubulogenesis and provide new insight into disease pathways that cause defects such as spina bifida in newborns.

In the aging community, our ultimate goal is to lifespan and healthspan, the period of time that an individual lives healthily. Previous studies have found that aging results in decline of heart functions and increases prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Characteristics of cardiac aging include enlargement of the left ventricle, impaired diastolic functions, and reduced myocardial performance. Oxidative stress has been implicated as one of the mechanisms underlying cardiac aging. SS-31 peptide, a tetrapeptide that targets the inner membrane of the mitochondria, has been shown to interact with cardiolipin and enhance the electron carrying function of cytochrome c, an essential component of the electron transport chain. SS-31 peptide also limits oxidative damage to cardiolipin, a phospholipid that is almost exclusively located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, by reducing peroxidase activity of cytochrome C. SS-31 treatment has been shown to protect mitochondria in pressure-overload induced heart failure and oxidative injury in other tissues. In this study, we performed echocardiography and treadmill running and showed that 8 weeks of the SS-31 treatment improved diastolic function, myocardial performance, and enhanced exercise endurance in old mice. Using quantitative real-time PCR, I am assessing the gene expression changes regulated by the SS-31 treatment. Understanding the mechanism of how SS-31 improves cardiac aging will provide insight on potential therapies to improve cardiac health in the elderly populations.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a generally aggressive blood cancer with poor prognosis for which the fundamental treatment approach has not changed substantially. The need for new therapies is thus unquestioned. One therapy currently under phase I/II investigation at UW/SCCA for patients with newly diagnosed AML and those with relapsed or refractory disease, is G-CLAM (Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, Cladribine, cytArabine, and Mitoxantrone). The phase I portion of the clinical trial involved evaluating the regimen for safety and escalating the dosage of mitoxantrone to determine the maximally tolerated dose. The main purpose of phase II, which is now ongoing, is to evaluate the effectiveness of the regimen, measured by the rates of complete remission and overall survival. Patients are accepted into the trial after having their medical history, laboratory, pathology and radiology results thoroughly reviewed to ensure all of the eligibility criteria have been met. As in all clinical trials the eligibility criteria are designed to help minimize risks to patients and homogenize the study population. However, the use of a set of criteria to define trial eligibility introduces a potential bias in the study and raises the question as to the degree to which findings can ultimately be extrapolated to the AML population at large. Studying the latter question is facilitated by the fact that a larger number of patients have received the same treatment off-protocol, e.g. because they were too sick to be eligible or did not have insurance coverage for study participation. We are collecting data on these off-study patients to compare their characteristics and treatment outcomes with those treated on-study. Findings are anticipated to answer whether the promising treatment results we have seen in the on-protocol patients carries over to those treated off-protocol as well and thus whether our results can be validly applied to the general AML population. 

 Variations in sea ice extent have a large impact on the energy budget of the artic and, consequentially, temperature variations in the arctic region. It has been proposed that the recent arctic sea ice melt has influenced mid-latitude weather, yet others argue that arctic warming anomalies also respond to influences from other latitudes. The purpose of this project is to examine relationships between temperature fluctuations in the lower troposphere of the arctic and variations in weather at other latitudes. Using NOAA's 20th Century Reanalysis data, a recent analysis involving interpolation and assimilation of past weather observations, we identified global geopotential height trends during warm and cold years in the arctic region. Preliminary conclusions of these results suggest that warm temperatures over the arctic are associated with low 500mb geopotential heights over the northern Pacific Ocean during winter, spring and fall months as well as high 500mb geopotential heights over the southwestern Pacific Ocean in fall months when temperatures in the arctic are warmer than usual. Our next goal will be to compare the 500mb height maps created to El Nino temperature indices to assess the viability of a claim that arctic temperatures are correlated with El Nino events. As of now, the results indicate that a warm arctic temperatures can be associated with sea surface temperature variations. The conclusion that lower tropospheric arctic temperatures are correlated with El Nino events indicates that care must be taken in associating a warmed arctic with weather anomalies over the continental USA. We will attempt to distinguish the effects of historical El Nino variability from the effects of the recent human-induced arctic melting.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder showing persistent deficits in social communication, social interaction across context and communication deficits (DSM-5, 2013). Research suggests that pre- and perinatal conditions such as low birth weight, small gestational age and intrapartum hypoxia (Briston et al., 1996) could be considered as potential risk factors for the development of ASD. Children with lower birth weight are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with autism (Lampi et al., 2012). The goal of this study is to extend the research on these risk factors by examining pre- and perinatal risk factors in a population of high functioning children, and between genders. Participants included children with ASD (n=20) and children with typical development (n=20) between the ages of 8 to 17 years. Parents of participants completed a medical history interview including information about pregnancy conditions and birth related problems. We compared birth weight, gestational age and other perinatal complications in children diagnosed with autism to our control group. We expect to find a lower average birth weight, an overall smaller gestational age, and a higher number of other related pregnancy complications in children diagnosed with ASD compared to our control group. We will then examine how pre- and perinatal conditions might differ for male and females who develop autism. Male children are nearly five times more likely than females to be diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2014), and so this study, will also explore whether the rates of obstetric complications occur significantly higher in ASD males as well. The results of this study will add to our understanding of these potential risk factors, which may emphasize the importance of early screening and monitoring.

The Heesch number of a shape (or tile) is the maximum number of complete "layers" said shape can form around itself in a tiling. Regular hexagons can tile the two-dimensional plane in exactly one way, so tiling theorists impose "matching rules" on them to make things interesting. A matching rule on a regular hexagon dictates which of the six sides, when indexed, may touch which other sides and with what orientation. There are four possibilities: two sides cannot match, they can match with only the same orientation, they can match with only opposite orientations, or they can match in either manner. This yields approximately 4.4 trillion rule sets. The ultimate goal of this project is to use the computing cluster to find which of these rule sets give rise to finite Heesch numbers, but the existing code that exhaustively checks each rule set takes an exorbitant amount of time if the Heesch number is large or the rule set tiles the plane (has an infinite Heesch number). We are building filters that identify which rule sets tile the plane in a k-tile-transitive manner, currently as far as k=4. We hope that this will allow us to run the exhaustive Heesch number checking code on a much smaller data set, which would allow us to see results in a reasonable amount of time. 

While many community mental health agencies have shown increasing emphasis in the direction of evidence-based practices (EBP) for children’s mental health, most training efforts have not included consultation on intervention delivery following training. A rising body of evidence suggests that one-time training workshops do not provide enough support to sufficiently influence clinician adherence with respect to EBP delivery, and that ongoing expert consultation is vital for motivating providers towards satisfactory implementation. Though the literature outlines consultation broadly, the fundamental elements of consultation, to date, remain elusive, and further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this critical training strategy is warranted. To investigate consultation, biweekly consultant-led call summary emails (N=73) generated by five Ph.D. level expert consultants following EBP trainings were examined via identification of thematic issues addressed among community therapists belonging to six-month-long training cohorts. To ensure inter-rater reliability—improving internal validity—three peer examiners were commissioned to offer concordant verification of identified themes in the coding process. Each coding team member independently reviewed summary transcriptions and developed a list of themes. These subcategory themes were evaluated, discussed, and consolidated by the coding team into a coding scheme for each subcategory. By the day of the symposium presentation, data analysis will reach completion and key findings will be reported. Prospective results may include emergent themes related to EBP delivery (i.e., frequently addressed clinical issues, therapeutic barriers to treatment, etc.) This study contributes to a larger effort of examining core consultation functions, which may have broad applicability in the assessment of the conceptual framework needed to best improve consultant-clinician training initiatives in community mental health.

Elevated levels of arsenic have been reported in surface waters of many urban lakes around the Puget Sound as a result of the widespread heavy metal contamination from the late ASARCO smelter in Ruston, Washington. Arsenic is a neurotoxin and carcinogen and a priority Superfund contaminant. However, the mobility and toxicity of arsenic is not fully understood. Physical and biogeochemical processes that lead to elevated arsenic concentrations in the water column and aquatic organisms have been studied well in thermally stratified lakes, but not in periodically mixed (polymictic) oxygenated lakes. This project examines the mobility, bioaccumulation and toxicity of arsenic in four urban lakes in south King County that range from seasonally stratified and oxygen depleted (anoxic) to polymictic and oxygenated (oxic). Specifically, we aim to discover why one of the lakes has elevated levels of arsenic (up to 40 ppb) in surface waters, yet regularly mixes and thus remains oxygenated. Typically, arsenic is only mobilized from sediments when a lake becomes anoxic during stratification. Monthly water quality parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductivity) were measured and water samples (alkalinity, chlorophyll, sulfide, iron, arsenic, and nutrients) were collected at multiple depths throughout the water column. Plankton samples were also collected using vertical net tows. Water and plankton samples were analyzed for dissolved and total arsenic (after digestion) by ICP-MS. Phytoplankton and zooplankton in polymictic oxic lakes accumulated more arsenic than plankton in thermally stratified lakes, even though aqueous arsenic concentrations were similar between the lakes. This data suggests that arsenic in polymictic urban lakes is not only bioavailable, but has the potential to travel up the food chain. This project aims to create a model for predicting arsenic bioavailability based on physical lake characteristics to better predict possible toxicity and, therefore, has important implications for lake management.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience debilitating social communication deficits that often lead to lifelong difficulties building social relationships. With high prevalence estimates (1:68 children) (Baio, 2014), it is crucial to study social influences, such as family and social networks, on the development of individuals with ASD. As the primary partners in early social interactions, caregivers shape the lives of children with ASD. However, family contributions to the peer social competence and friendships of children with ASD are not well understood. This research will (1) describe caregiver activities that aim to support peer interactions and (2) examine the relationship between caregiver support and peer social competence and friendship quality in children with ASD. Participants include 24 children with ASD, ages 10-13 years old (mean age 11 years, 9 months) and their caregivers. The participants have diverse levels of cognitive ability, from very low to average on the Differential Abilities Scale-Second Edition, and severity of ASD symptoms, from mildly to severely impaired based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale, Second Edition. Independent variables measure caregiver support activities of arranging, hosting, and monitoring peer play sessions in the home using the Peer Social Contact Questionnaire (PSCQ). Dependent measures include (1) the PSCQ to examine children’s interactions with specific peers during at-home play; (2) the Friendship Qualities Scale to investigate the quality of children’s reciprocal friendships based on five dimensions of friendship: companionship, help, security, closeness, and conflict; and (3) the Social Skills Rating System to provide a rating of peer social competence. Preliminary results indicate that the majority of children with ASD have at least one friend. We anticipate that caregiver arranging, hosting, and monitoring will be positively correlated with peer social competence and friendship quality (Guralnick, Neville, Connor, & Hammond, 2003; Meek, Robinson, & Jahromi, 2012; Guralnick & Neville, 1997).

The purpose of this quality improvement study is to determine if hospital protocols regarding central line disinfection techniques are being followed. A central line is an intravenous access with a catheter leading directly to the heart, and is more permanent than a standard peripheral intravenous line. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a serious concern within patient care settings. Improper central line maintenance techniques contribute to CLABSI incidence, which leads to significantly increased patient health burden, length of hospital stay, medical costs, and mortality risk. Observations will be performed in four intensive care units at a metropolitan level one trauma hospital in the greater Seattle area. Patients with central lines will be identified on observation days. The number of opportunities for central line lumen caps to be covered by an alcohol-impregnated cap versus the number of caps that are actually covered will be counted. Number of opportunities are identified as being: unused lumen of central line, any unused or used peripheral IV, and side ports of tubing connected to central line or peripheral IV, per institution policy. Moreover, if a RN accesses a line during observation, disinfection techniques will be observed and compared to institution policy. We anticipate our results to show a 50% compliance rate with the protocol we are observing. We also anticipate that a lack of knowledge on the protocol will play a role in this, as evidenced by nurses asking questions during our observations. It is the hope of this study to identify if disinfection practices are in compliance with central line maintenance care protocols. If not, then further interventions can be developed and put into place to increase compliance and aid further in the reduction of CLABSI.

In 2015, the American Heart Association (AHA) stated that sudden cardiac arrest is still a primary cause of death in the United States. During cardiac arrest, lack of intervention to maintain the perfusion of tissues with oxygenated blood leads to irreparable damage to the brain and vital organs within minutes. In 2010, the A-B-C (airway, breathing, circulation) of CPR changed to C-A-B (circulation, airway, breathing) due to strong evidence that supports the idea that high-quality CPR chest compressions help sustain life until the underlying causes of cardiac arrest are addressed. The purpose of this study was to use technology to measure and review chest compression data collected during cardiac resuscitations, and evaluate specific compression parameters, in relation to AHA standards, for overall quality improvement. The CODE-STAT™ technology used in this study measured changes in thoracic pressure during a cardiac resuscitation, and then generated a report stating rate of chest compressions per minute, and total time spent on chest compressions. The data was then given to the hospital resuscitation teams so that they could visualize and discuss the quality of their performance in comparison to AHA and hospital standards. Thus far, results of the study have shown that in-hospital resuscitation teams have compression rates that are too fast and there are too many pauses, or times without chest compressions. A compression rate above 120 beats per minute can decrease sufficient blood return to the heart from the rest of the body, making subsequent compressions less effective at dispersing blood. Too many pauses in chest compressions can negatively impact the pressure gradients in the thoracic cavity that are required to maintain adequate cerebral and coronary blood flow. Hospitals must continue to implement technologies that measure CPR performance so that cardiac arrest patients receive the best possible outcomes for survival.

Rome, Italy, is a city of constant revision. Grand monuments erected for short-lived leaders, hasty demolitions in the name of historic preservation - these traces of history were left behind then scrubbed away throughout the course of Rome’s extensive history. Countless hints of the past are scattered around the city, yet many people pass them by with little thought to their significance. The Tiber River showcases the nature of Rome as a palimpsest of revision throughout history, home to “ghost” bridges, ports, and shorelines, as well as lost communities that once congregated there. This architectural design proposal aims to illuminate the rich history of revisions that have taken place along the Tiber – especially flooding, reconstruction, and embankments – and revive its previous activity and community life. The northern bend in the Tiber, between Ponte Vittorio Emanuelle II and Ponte Principe Amadeo, would become home to the Museum of the Tiber. The project would overlook the ruins of the “ghost bridge,” the Pons Neronianus, reflecting on the river’s history and connecting the Via Giulia (a historic artery of the city) to the renewed activity along the Tiber. The aim of the project is to draw people back to the community life that once took place along the river’s banks, while encouraging thoughtful reflection on the river’s evolution in Rome.