URCAF Abstracts 2016

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2016 URCAF Organizing Committee

Chair: John Hammond, Liberal Arts and Sciences (Math/Social Sciences)

Ramazan Asmatulu, Engineering

Anthony May, Business

Kimberly Engber, Honors College

Jim Granada, Education

Susan Sterrett, Liberal Arts & Sciences (Humanities)

William Flynn, Fine Arts

Aaron Bowen, University Libraries

Trisha Self, Health Professions

Dinorah Azpuru, Liberal Arts and Sciences (Social Sciences)

Sayed Farid, Student Member

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 9
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    16th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum: Program and abstracts
    (Wichita State University, 2016-04-05) WSU Undergraduate Students
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    The first Americans: Native American voting behavior today
    (Wichita State University, 2016-04-05) Matta, Emily
    Among the most critically neglected ethnicities when studying political behavior, Native Americans are often lumped into the ‘Other’ category in national surveys and resulting datasets. Composing a rather small but unarguably important demographic, this absence of information has rendered studying Native American political participation notoriously difficult. By utilizing survey data from GSS2012, and identifying ethnicity variables that include Native Americans, I intend to analyze Indian electoral participation in the 2008 presidential election to shed light on how many Native citizens vote and what circumstances may affect how they vote. Do Native Americans vote with the same frequency as white voters? Why not? I hypothesize that Native Americans are less mobilized not only because of education and economic disparities, but because of a lack of trust in the United States federal government. If proven true, initiatives like President Obama’s Gen-I (Generation Indigenous) might improve the relationship between Native Americans and the federal government over time and subsequently increase voter turnout.
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    Acomputational model of electroactive polymner assisted left ventricular contraction
    (Wichita State University, 2016-04-05) Richardson, Alec
    Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is classified as asymptomatic heart failure and is the most common cause of heart failure comprising about 60 percent of patients. LVSD is associated with reduced left ventricle (LV) contractility, and can therefore be diagnosed in patients with a reduced ejection fraction (EF). The purpose of this research is create and analyze three separate computational models of LV contraction. One model will illustrate normal LV contraction while another model will show LV contraction with systolic dysfunction. The third model will show restoration of normal LV contraction by incorporating a ventricular assistive device (VAD) into the model made from electroactive polymers. The three models will be set up in COMSOL Multiphysics 4.4 using the Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) and MEMS modules. Currently, only the model illustrating normal LV contraction is being considered. To reduce computing time, the left ventricle is modeled in 2D, and the geometry is consistent with end-diastole LV dimensions. Material properties for both the blood and myocardium were found from literature. Additionally, initial conditions and most boundary conditions were determined through literature. The model is being computed using a time-dependent study, allowing transient analysis of the fluid-structure interaction. After computing the results, a measurement tool in COMSOL will be used to determine the end-diastole and end-systole areas. Using these measurements, the EF will be determined for each of the three models. Normal EF values range from 55-75% and an EF of less than 40% is generally diagnosed as heart failure. Overall, a successful model will show the electroactive polymer assisting in the contraction of the left ventricle while restoring normal EF values. This research is a foundation for emerging technologies that will give hope to those with LVSD and heart failure
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    Promoting children's social emotional development through classroom consultation
    (Wichita State University, 2016-04-05) Davidson, Clara
    Setting up and executing effective interventions is important to the advancement of a classroom of children, particularly those who are at risk. The DECA-P2 was administered as a screening tool to five classrooms at community childcare centers. Children were categorized as “TYPICAL” or at “NEED” based on their T scores on Total Protective Factors and Behavioral Concerns. Children in “NEED” received individualized behavioral interventions. All were rescreened to see how classroom consultation by a mental health specialist affected their social and emotional functioning. This study examines the differences between Pre and Post DECA-P2 scores for children in “NEED” compared to children who were “TYPICAL” at pretest. Those in “NEED” showed more improvements in protective factors and behavior concerns than their “TYPICAL” peers. The results support classroom consultation as an intervention to address individual children’s behavioral challenges while supporting the social and emotional development of all children in the classroom.
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    Laser surface modification of the orthopedic bio-metal, cobalt chromium alloy
    (Wichita State University, 2016-04-05) Salerno, Martina
    Post-surgical site infections are common after medical implant placement. Infections in tissue surrounding an implant can cause patient suffering, medical device failure, and can potentially spread systematically. Post-operational infection associated with orthopedic implants is a critical and escalating problem which demands urgent attention for a decrease of occurrences. Implant related infections can require a patient to undergo additional surgeries following the initial implant placement surgery. Another challenge that exists for implant placement, due to orthopedic injuries, is tissue integration. Each year, there are more than 30,000 revision surgeries partially due to poor orthopedic implant fixation with bone. In order to combat infection, biomaterials and functional coatings used for medical implants are evaluated either for their ability to resist infection (resist bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation) or for their ability for tissue integration (to support tissue cell adhesion and proliferation). No viable clinical technology currently exists to address both these issues simultaneously. Our hypothesis is that laser micro-nano machining can create surface topographies on orthopedic implant surfaces that could provide a platform for simultaneous tissue integration and therapeutic delivery for biofilm prevention. This study explores the role of laser micro-nano machining in creating surface topographies on an orthopedic relevant bio-metal, cobalt chromium (Co-Cr) alloy. Co-Cr alloys are extensively used for orthopedic and dentistry applications. Laser modified Co-Cr samples were compared to other laser modified bio-metals, such as titanium. Co-Cr alloy and Ti were cut into 1cm x 1cm squares and were then modified using a nanosecond pulsed laser. A CoherentTM Avia 355X nanosecond pulsed laser with pulse energy of 95 μJ, spot size of 130 μm, line width of 100 μm, scan rate of 200 mm/min, and repetition rate of 20 kHz was used to raster scan the coupons with an overlap of 23%. A lens with a focal length of 10 cm was used for the experiments with the actual experimentation done at a defocused distance of 0.5 mm. Bare metal (control) and surface modified samples were characterized using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical and SEM results clearly show a radically different surface morphology for laser patterned samples when compared to control samples. Since laser parameters were kept constant, response varied for each material type. At 300X magnification, SEM results clearly show a ~100 μm width of the raster patterned zone of varying geometry. Ti seems to have a more uniform surface pattern when compared to Co-Cr alloy suggesting a need to further optimize Co-Cr alloy laser parameters. In summary, our results demonstrate the effect of laser treatment in creating micro-nano structured surface topographies on Ti and Co-Cr alloy which can be subsequently modified to address current orthopedic clinical needs.