Influence of Genetic Variation on Birth Defects in Caenorhabditis elegans

In my Renee Crown Honors Capstone project, I studied how genetic variation influences birth defects that cause death in C. elegans embryos. I performed high-throughput hatching assay experiments of recombinant inbred advance intercross lines of C. elegans. These lines are genetically distinct from each other. I found significant variation in birth defects causing embryo death in these recombinant inbred advanced intercross lines. My results give evidence that gene interaction may play a significant role in causing birth defects resulting in death. My data also provides a starting point for studies making statistical arguments linking these birth defects to specific genetic interactions

Does parental substance use always engender risk for children? Comparing incidence rate ratios of abusive and neglectful behaviors across substance use behavior patterns

Parental substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with an added risk for child abuse and neglect, but less is understood about how a range of parental use behaviors is associated with differential maltreatment frequencies. This study used the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW I) to create categories for parental substance use behaviors that are conceptually associated with varying levels of substance-related impairments. The study sample was composed of 2100 parents of children ages 2–17 years from Wave 4 data collection. Weighted negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between substance use behavior patterns and maltreatment frequencies by type. Behavior patterns defined by some form of past year substance use were associated with a higher frequency of physical or emotional abuse compared to non-users. In contrast, only past year SUD was associated with a higher frequency of neglect compared to other categories. In sum, the relationship between substance use and maltreatment frequencies differed for abuse and neglect, suggesting different pathways may be underlying these observed relationships

Exploring the Ecological Association Between Crime and Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

OBJECTIVE: Routine activities theory purports that crime occurs in places with a suitable target, motivated offender, and lack of guardianship. Medical marijuana dispensaries may be places that satisfy these conditions, but this has not yet been studied. The current study examined whether the density of medical marijuana dispensaries is associated with crime. METHOD: An ecological, cross-sectional design was used to explore the spatial relationship between density of medical marijuana dispensaries and two types of crime rates (violent crime and property crime) in 95 census tracts in Sacramento, CA, during 2009. Spatial error regression methods were used to determine associations between crime rates and density of medical marijuana dispensaries, controlling for neighborhood characteristics associated with routine activities. RESULTS: Violent and property crime rates were positively associated with percentage of commercially zoned areas, percentage of one-person households, and unemployment rate. Higher violent crime rates were associated with concentrated disadvantage. Property crime rates were positively associated with the percentage of population 15–24 years of age. Density of medical marijuana dispensaries was not associated with violent or property crime rates. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous work, variables measuring routine activities at the ecological level were related to crime. There were no observed cross-sectional associations between the density of medical marijuana dispensaries and either violent or property crime rates in this study. These results suggest that the density of medical marijuana dispensaries may not be associated with crime rates or that other factors, such as measures dispensaries take to reduce crime (i.e., doormen, video cameras), may increase guardianship such that it deters possible motivated offenders

Application of Induced Acceleration Analysis and Computer Simulation in Sports

The purpose of this work is to use two examples to illustrate how forward dynamics formulations can be used to evaluate and enhance sports performance. In a baseball pitching study, induced accelerations were uses to determine that centripetal/coriolis effects along with shoulder and elbow moments made the largest contribution to ball velocity. In a figure skating project computer simulations were used to enhance the ability of skaters and coaches to explore different performance strategies during the flight phase of a figure skating jumps. Specifically computer simulation software was developed to provide insight into technical modifications necessary to produce meaningful improvements in performance. Once an improved movement pattern was identified, the skater returned to their home arenas to work on implementing this new pattern

Let\u27s Get These Works into Print! Translating German Women Writers as Engagement and Restorative Practice

This presentation focuses upon the importance of translating the works of unknown, little-known, and lesser-known German women authors. Translation of these women\u27s previously non-translated works will make them more widely available for study by English speaking researchers, faculty, and students

SAID (1947-)

SAID, who goes by this pen name for security reasons, was born in 1947 in Tehran, Iran and went to West Germany as a student in 1965. He has lived in Germany ever since except for a brief return to Iran in 1979. SAID writes in the German language and is a versatile author having written numerous works in a variety of genres including poetry, radio plays, short fiction, essays, satirical and humorous nonfiction, memoir, and children\u27s books. He has been the recipient of numerous literary awards