Category: 2011

Rehabilitation of Injured Dancers with a Transition Dance Class

Presenter: Elizabeth Foster, Dance, Human Physiology

Panel: Strategies for Support & Recovery

Mentor: Steven Chatfield, Dance

Time: 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Location: Century A

Huge demands are placed on the bodies of dancers who often push through pain and injury to continue pursuing their art. Most dancers have to retire by the age of 30 due to injuries and premature physical deterioration. Standard rehabilitation practices are not specific to the needs of injured dancers. This research incorporates physical therapy into a dance class as a transition dance class for injured dancers, allowing the dancers to be able to apply everything they learn in the class directly to dance. It not only retrains dancers in their technique and alignment but it also allows them to continue being artists in a time when they might not be able to otherwise. The class curriculum is designed from the physiological goals of the exercises that an athletic trainer would recommend to the participants. The participants are UofO dancers with persistent low back pain that requires them to modify their dance activity. Upon entering the study they took a survey asking them subjective questions concerning their injuries and when they leave the study they will be asked to complete a post-survey concerning their injuries and their views on the effectiveness of the study. There is a strong focus on refining alignment and dance technique. This research is currently in progress; preliminary results will be ready by May 12th. Human Subjects approval has been acquired and the first cohort is currently being worked with.

Center of Pressure Trajectory Differences Between Shod and Barefoot Running

Presenter: Eric Pisciotta, Human Physiology

Panel: Strategies for Support & Recovery

Mentor: Chou Li-Shan, Human Physiology

Time: 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Location: Century A

The trajectory of the center of pressure (COP) has been shown to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing foot function. The purposes of this study were to quantify changes in the position of COP relative to the foot during stance, examine changes in the AP and ML excursions of the COP, and to quantify changes in the variability of the COP trajectory between shod and barefoot (BF) running conditions. Utilizing a force plate and an 8-camera motion capture system, the average AP and ML position of the COP trajectory was calculated relative to the heel marker at each instant, for each foot, in a group of ten habitually shod recreational runners. (Mean age 32.4 ± 4) The variability was also calculated and plotted in increments of 10% stance. The COP was located significantly more medially at all time points in the BF condition compared to shod running. The trajectory of the COP during the BF condition was marked by a more medial location under the foot throughout stance, a more anterior position at initial contact, and reduced AP excursion. No significant differences were found in the variability of the COP trajectory or ML excursions. This suggests, apart from the initial contact position, the dynamics of foot roll over are similar between shod and
BF conditions. The few COP differences that were observed in this study are similar to COP characteristics that have previously been shown to be related to injury. Therefore future studies should examine how or if these changes may be related to injury risk during BF running.

Access to Critical Oncological Support Systems For Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients

Presenter: Julie Reid, Planning, Public Policy and Management

Panel: Strategies for Support & Recovery

Mentor: Jessica Greene, Planning, Public Policy and Management

Time: 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Location: Century A

A woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer is required to have a team of doctors who work together to carry out the various phases of treatment. It is important to new patients that they trust their doctor, yet women rarely are given the choice about who that doctor will be. Women lack knowledge about local support groups and patient advocates, are confused about who may attend support groups, and unclear about where to go to find answers to basic questions. This is a qualitative study of thirteen breast cancer patients diagnosed within the last seven years in Eugene, Oregon. The study examines the knowledge and accessibility of critical support systems, such as a good doctor-patient relationship, a support group, and a patient advocate. Results suggest that doctor trust and support is more likely to develop when the patient receives a referral from a familiar source. Results also suggest that support groups are important sources of information and comfort for patients that medical professionals could utilize. The role of a patient advocate needs to be further defined and expanded to provide resources for patients seeking ways to fill the gaps of a fragmented medical system in Eugene, Oregon.

Campus Scultures

Presenter: Alison Brown, Spanish

Poster: A-3

The lost wax method of casting a bronze sculpture is centuries old, yet pieces from ancient times still survive to tell the stories of our ancestors. This is the spirit of a bronze: an emotion and a message, immortalized. As a bronze artist, I believe it is my purpose to celebrate the tales we tell as humans through sculpture. To tell my own story, I have gathered my experiences of joy and intrigue from the University of Oregon and have commemorated them in a statue of the Oregon Duck Mascot. As an entrepreneurial sculptor, my goal is to share my creativity with other alumni who want their experiences remembered in bronze.

Jazz Project-A Dance Film

Presenter: Shannon Knight, Dance

Creative Presentation: 1:15-2:15pm

Century D

Mentor: Brad Garner, Dance

Jazz Project-A Dance Film, is an exploration in choreography for the camera, and layering of urban footage and still photography set to music that includes works by George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. The overall appearance of the short film is reminiscent of early cinematography. It is in black and white, and includes period costumes, and creative use of lighting. Over thirty hours of footage have been collected from studio rehearsals, live stage performances and site-specific improvisations. The research and editing process for this film began one year ago, and has ultimately helped to manifest a product that is nostalgic, unique and takes the viewer on a journey through urban scenery of Eugene, Portland, OR and Pittsburgh, PA. Most of the performers featured in this film are University of Oregon Dance students or Alumni. This film has earned remarks for being so original, and exhibiting a very well developed abstract of Classical Jazz Movement. The music, imagery and overall aesthetic of the film suggests close attention to a time in early twentieth century industrial America, and reflects one artist’s interpretation of a form perhaps now lost, but not forgotten.

Chromatin Regulation During Fin Regeneration in Zebrafish

Presenter: Matthew Garish, Biology

Poster: B-1

Mentor: Kyrn Stankunas, Institute of Molecular Biology

Vertebrate organisms such as the Zebrafish have developed molecular processes to regenerate their fins after amputation by epigenetic cell reprogramming. An insight into the molecular processes could prove clinically useful in addressing such problems as tissue repair. The transcript of KDM6B.1, a histone demethylase (me3K27H3), has already been established in caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish via in situ hybridization. I hypothesize that KDM6B.1 plays a crucial role in zebrafish fin regeneration. I propose to spatially and temporally establish expression patterns of KDM6B.1 during fin regeneration. To address this question, I have purified a KDM6B.1 antigen and antibodies against the antigen. I performed techniques to surgically remove a portion of the Zebrafish’s fin. I have characterized the antibody using such in vitro methods as affinity purification and immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis. After characterizing the antibody, I performed studies on the zebrafish such as immunohistological analysis during fin regeneration. The results concluded higher expression of KDM6B.1 specifically in regenerating tissue. I believe that understanding the results of a histone demethylase during fin regeneration has given insight to the ability of a cell to reprogram itself in response to injury which will give insight to tissue repair.

Effects of a Natural Environment on Caenorhabditis elegans

Presenter: Anna Crist, Biology

Poster: A-4

Mentor: Patrick Phillips, Biology

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism in the field of biology and yet little is known about how it lives in its natural environment. In order to study C. elegans in a more naturalistic setting, we created artificial soil microcosms. Populations of C. elegans were estimated over time by taking small periodic samples. We were able to maintain large, stable populations for over one month, or twelve generations. This methodology could be a useful tool in many areas of C. elegans biology. We are investigating the effects that this naturalistic environment has on a known aging mutant, daf-2. The effect of this mutation, although well characterized in a laboratory setting to have an extension in lifespan, is unknown in a natural environment. Artificial soil microcosms will aid future C. elegans studies in determining the effects of a natural setting on lab-characterized traits.

Lack of Ventilation – Intoxication: Studying Carbon Dioxide Levels in a Student’s Apartment

Presenter: Shannon Ladner, Gina Realmuto, Ayla-Mae Vedder, Architecture

Poster: B-6

Mentor: Alison Kwok, Architecture

As building technology increases, buildings are being sealed tighter to reduce heating and cooling costs. With this increase in energy efficiency comes a decrease in quality. Air quality, specifically, has become a major concern as people spend more time indoors. In a student’s small apartment near the University of Oregon, ventilation has become a pressing problem. Our team set out to test the build-up of the highly known chemical compound carbon dioxide in a four-hundred square foot apartment. The American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers has set the ventilation standard at a maximum of one-thousand parts per million of carbon dioxide. After testing the apartment with carbon dioxide meters, we found the average amount of carbon dioxide to be one thousand six-hundred and fifty parts per million. Determined to find a solution to this ventilation problem, we decided to test the effectiveness of a common remedy: opening a window. Our hypothesis was that an open window would bring in enough fresh air to reduce the apartment’s carbon dioxide level to one thousand parts per million within four hours. The results were a success and in fact only took an average of forty-five minutes. However, it being winter, this method of ventilation sacrificed the residents’ thermal comfort. This research jump-started our interest in finding more convenient and passive ways to ventilate spaces as an alternative to mechanical ventilation systems.

Scaling Up: Expanding Community Health Worker Programs for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Bururi Province, Burundi, East Africa

Presenter: Alex Goodell, Biology

Poster: B-2

Mentor: Janis Weeks, Biology

Burundi, a small and often-forgotten country in East Africa, lies directly south of Rwanda. Though poorly covered in the media, Burundi suffered a similar conflict as its northern border, with ethnic-driven violence plaguing the nation for 13 years. When the conflict officially ended in 2006, Burundi was ranked as the poorest country in the world. Its health statistics are equally low. According to the WHO, one in five children die before their fifth birthday, half of those driven by malaria. Only 200 doctors serve the population of 8 million and most of the poor have no access to healthcare. In some areas, days of walking are required to reach the closest physician. Additionally, hundreds of thousands became refugees or internally displaced persons during the conflict and have little access to resources. In this setting, the use of “Community Health Workers” (CHWs) is appropriate. Village Health Works, a small clinic in the rural Bururi province, has implemented a small CHW program similar to Partners in Health. Over a six-month period in 2009 and 2010, data was collected on 10000 patients regarding their medical status, location, and demographic information at VHW. Additionally, GPS data was collected on the location of the CHWs. This presentation looks at the history of CHW programs worldwide and analyzes the health metrics of the area surrounding VHW. It then makes a series of suggestions on how VHW could better serve its patients with CHWs, specifically focusing on refugees and internally displaced persons.

Differences in Acute Stress Response between Lab Adapted and Non-Lab Adapted Caenorhabditis remanei

Presenter: Catherine Ituarte, Biology

Poster: B-5

Mentor: Bill Cresko, Biology

Organisms can adapt to the environments they inhabit in amazing ways, but sometimes adaptation to one environment can lead to a decrease in fitness in another environment. One example of this phenomenon is the potential difference in an organism’s ability to respond to stress depending on if the organism is kept in laboratory conditions or in its natural environment. I used the small nematode worm, Caenorhabditis remanei, to address the interplay between lab adaptation and stress response. I hypothesized
that populations that have adapted to laboratory conditions would be less stress resistant than non-lab adapted populations. Six populations of C.remanei were maintained under standard laboratory conditions for four months while six populations did not have prolonged exposure to laboratory conditions. These populations were then assayed for their resistance to acute heat and oxidative stress. The populations that were in the lab for four months had a lower average percent survival after an acute stress event than the populations that were not, supporting my hypothesis. These results suggest that evolving under laboratory conditions compromises an organism’s ability to respond to environmental stress, highlighting the importance of considering adaptation to laboratory conditions when designing experiments. My experiments form the basis for studying the complex relationship between an organism and its environment in this model organism, opening the possibility of identifying the genetic basis of this laboratory adaptation.