Materials science: Breaking the neural code

The precise information that is conveyed between nerve cells remains unknown. Networks of nerve cells grown on silicon chips, using a polyester as a guide, may bring us closer to translating the elusive neural language

Direction of the Play: Sylvia

This project entailed the selection, background research and documentation, analysis, casting, direction, and post-production analysis of Yakima Valley Community College\u27s production of A.R. Gurney\u27 s Sylvia. Documentation includes research and analysis of the play and an evaluation of the show as a production vehicle for the department of Theatre Arts at Yakima Valley Community College

Apparatus for Inertial Sensing with Cold Atoms

A variety of experimental techniques and equipment for the measurement of inertial effects are herein presented. The bulk of the work relates to improvements to an existing local gravitational acceleration "little-g'' measurement apparatus. These improvements are predicted to push the statistical uncertainty in the measurement of g to less than 1 part-per-billion (ppb). To accomplish this goal, several other projects were undertaken. These include a finite-element model of the magnetic field coil setup used in the experimental apparatus, as well as the design and construction of a hermetically-sealed diode laser system with excellent long-term frequency stability. Additionally, a direct digital synthesis-based frequency generator was designed and built for a proposed frequency-domain atom interferometer experiment. Finally, a side-project involving the evaluation of the magnetic field uniformity/stability of a commercial optical isolator was performed, and its results are presented as an appendix

I Changed My Mind

Some might say that college is a time for people to find out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Students select fields based on their interest, to study and further turn into a career. Some students become unsatisfied with their choice, or even find interest in another field. This leads to students making the decision to change their major and pursue another major. In this paper, it is hypothesized that due to exposure to different, required, general education classes of different fields, students change their majors. Data was collected from students enrolled in capstone classes, through their participation in filling out a questionnaire, and those who were asked to do a follow up interview to obtain further information. Results, though limited, showed that the hypothesis of the experiment was found to be true. Although there has been little investigation as to why students do chose to change their major previously, this paper, through experiment, explores the underlying factors that help influence a change in major after entering into college

Hygiene: new hopes, new horizons.

Although promotion of safe hygiene is the single most cost-effective means of preventing infectious disease, investment in hygiene is low both in the health and in the water and sanitation sectors. Evidence shows the benefit of improved hygiene, especially for improved handwashing and safe stool disposal. A growing understanding of what drives hygiene behaviour and creative partnerships are providing fresh approaches to change behaviour. However, some important gaps in our knowledge exist. For example, almost no trials of the effectiveness of interventions to improve food hygiene in developing countries are available. We also need to figure out how best to make safe hygiene practices matters of daily routine that are sustained by social norms on a mass scale. Full and active involvement of the health sector in getting safe hygiene to all homes, schools, and institutions will bring major gains to public health