Category: Oral Presentation

Embodied Experiences: The Health Implications of Transnationality and Undocumented Migration Among Latin Americans

Presenter(s): Samantha Sidline

Faculty Mentor(s): Kristin Yarris & Christabelle Dragoo

Oral Session 1 C

Given the current political climate, studying Latin American migrant experiences and adverse consequences to health is particularly important and relevant. By evaluating health disparities, studying social stigmas, and examining institutions and policies, ethnographic research has been able to show how being a Latin American in a transnational setting negatively affects health outcomes. This project draws on three ethnographic studies about health and transnational migration written by Kristin E. Yarris, Whitney L. Duncan, and Sarah B. Horton. The ethnographic research follows the experiences of Latin Americans in three distinctly different transnational circumstances, including grandmothers serving as caretakers of their grandchildren in their migrant daughter’s absence, families separated by the United States and Mexico border, and undocumented migrants in California. The arguments of this presentation synthesize the findings in these ethnographies by identifying key themes and commonalties among Latin American transnational migrants and applying theories to these themes. The health outcomes of the individuals studied in these ethnographies reveal how mental and physical health symptoms are the manifestation of lived experiences based on social position, such as socioeconomic and legal status. These outcomes are directly related to the concept of syndemics, which describes the interrelationship between mental health struggles and chronic disease. Intersectionality Theory, which describes how systems of oppression contribute to health inequity, is also foundational in the evaluation of health outcomes across Latin American populations. The culmination of these ethnographic studies and the application of other theories demonstrate how Latin American transnational families and undocumented migrants suffer disproportionately from chronic disease and mental health challenges.

Landscape scale forest health assessment in Hendricks Park, Eugene, Oregon

Presenter(s): Kelly Shull

Co Presenter(s): Owen Collins, Jackson Dailey, Betsy Finn, Ben King, Haley Nicholson, Sky Ramirez-Doble, Nick Richardson, Haley Santos, Kiana Seto

Faculty Mentor(s): Peg Boulay

Oral Session 2 CLN

During Spring 2019, the Environmental Leadership Program will be partnering with the City of Eugene to collect data on Hendricks Park, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Hendricks Park team will collect data on vegetation, wildlife habitat features, recreational impacts, and invasive species in the original twenty-four plots that were surveyed in 1999. This data will be collected through multiple qualitative and quantitative measurements that indicate forest health, such as measurements of invasive species cover, coarse woody debris, and plant composition. The team will then conduct a comparative analysis of the 1999 and 2019 data to assess what has changed over time, and how this change influences the City of Eugene’s management objectives. This analysis will be compiled in a report for the City of Eugene to use and make informed decisions about the future management of Hendricks Park.

The Role of Intonation in Japanese Politeness

Presenter(s): Allene Shaw

Faculty Mentor(s): Kaori Idemaru

Oral Session 1 SW

The purpose of this study is to examine linguistic relationships between phonetics (the way people sound) and politeness in Japanese. Prior studies investigated voice characteristics in Japanese deferential speech (addressed to persons of superior social status) and non-deferential speech (used with persons of equal or inferior status). They found that the Japanese language exploits phonetic features to express politeness (Idemaru et al, forthcoming). Their study, however, observed overall intonation for entire utterances. I propose to conduct a more detailed analysis of their data, by dividing utterances into meaningful phrases in order to determine where in a sentence intonation is employed to express politeness. Understanding how and where important social cues like politeness are embedded in speech is critical for understanding how communications work in Japanese society and also for developing language and cultural fluency, particularly for non-native language learners.

Traditional research on politeness typically focused on type of words and grammatical features used to communicate politeness in various languages. However, a new wave of research began examining other dimensions such as voice characteristics and gestures (e.g., Winter and Grawunder, 2012; Brown et al 2014; Idemaru et al., forthcoming) with the theoretical view that speakers employ multiple politeness strategies to ensure successful communication. Their results indeed demonstrate that multiple linguistic and non-linguistic features contribute to produce the intended meaning of politeness. This study attempts to advance these efforts further. I will use the same data analyzed in Idemaru et al. (forthcoming) to measure and analyze important acoustic features (pitch, intensity, voice quality) at critical regions within words or phrases. This study will yield a more accurate understanding of the phonetic basis for one of the most fundamental Japanese social cues – politeness.

Correction of evolving background signals in single-shot transient absorption measurements

Presenter(s): Madelyn Scott

Faculty Mentor(s): Cathy Wong & Kelly Wilson

Oral Session 3 S

The electronic properties of organic molecules can be tuned to attain target electronic functionality. This feature of organic molecules enables their use in technologies like solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in replacement of conventional silicon materials. The electronic properties of organic systems can change depending on way individual molecules pack together to form larger aggregate structures. Understanding how the behavior of organic molecules changes while molecular aggregation occurs enhances our insight into how target electronic functionality can be obtained by altering the environment of the molecular system. Conventional methods of studying the electronic properties of molecular systems are not equipped to measure evolving materials. To examine the changing electronic properties of materials systems, we have developed a single-shot transient absorption (SSTA) spectrometer capable of measuring structurally non-equilibrated samples, like molecules in a solution stacking into a final aggregate structure. However, evolving samples have changing background signals which can hinder SSTA measurements of the electronic properties of a sample. In this work, we demonstrate a shot-to- shot correction of dynamic background signals for SSTA measurements. Our correction scheme improves the robustness of SSTA for measurement of materials systems during molecular aggregation. Characterizing the electronic properties of organic semiconducting molecules during molecular aggregation will ultimately facilitate the achievement of target electronic properties for use in technological devices, like solar cells and LEDs, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in our contemporary society.

Behavior of Human Beings and their Effect on Global Warming

Presenter(s): Tulku Sangye Tenzin

Oral Session 3 MI

Changes in the earth’s climate are a consequence of the actions of the human species in the past and present. If we care about our mother Earth, then we need to react to this situation by changing our behavior as a global community, specifically our motivation. How do we as individuals change our perception in order to reduce global climate change, and why don’t we respond to this issue with urgency this? For my research, I participated in environmental and climate justice events, watched a professional documentary about climate change, interviewed knowledgeable activists in the community who work to bring awareness to global climate change, and read reliable articles related to global climate change. My research shows that we have many methods that can help reduce climate change, including studying, changing our behavior, and informing ourselves so that we can change the world through our actions; however, this is complicated by the fact that there are many people in this world of different cultural, political, and economic backgrounds. On the other hand, if we all work together, we can have a powerful effect. My research predicts that if we can change, reduce the causes of climate change, and work continuously toward a solution, then we will naturally experience a positive result in the future. It is our responsibility to act because of the interdependent nature of the human activity and climate change.

SMC-5/6 E3 SUMO ligase subunit NSE-2 is required for robust repair of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks

Presenter(s): Alina Salagean

Faculty Mentor(s): Diana Libuda & Erik Toraason

Oral Session 3 M

Most organisms utilize meiosis, a specialized form of cell division, to produce haploid gametes such as sperm and eggs. Failure to maintain genomic integrity during meiosis can cause infertility and cancer. Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, previous work has demonstrated that the conserved Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes 5/6 complex (SMC-5/6) is required for robust repair of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in late meiotic prophase I. The specific mechanisms by which SMC-5/6 promotes DSB repair remain unknown. One subunit of the SMC- 5/6 complex, the E3 SUMO ligase NSE-2, has been implicated in DNA repair in multiple organisms. To identify the specific contributions of NSE-2 to meiotic DSB repair and fertility, we generated four nse-2 null mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and assessed their phenotypes associated with genome integrity across generations. Utilizing these nse-2 mutants, we find that similarly to SMC-5, NSE-2 is required for a germ line-response to exogenous DNA damage. In contrast, unlike SMC-5, NSE-2 is not required for maintenance of fertility over generations. These data suggest NSE-2 is required for either a specific subset of functions of the SMC-5/6 complex or the efficient function of SMC-5/6. Our future experiments will utilize both genetic assays and immunofluorescence imaging techniques to distinguish between these hypotheses. Taken together, our research defines mechanisms preserving genomic integrity and fertility across generations.

The effects of restoration fill elevation on carbon accumulation in Pacific Northwest estuaries

Presenter(s): Emil Sadofsky

Faculty Mentor(s): Scott Bridgham

Oral Session 2 M

Agricultural development has significantly decreased the extent of costal wetlands in the Pacific Northwest. Some previously developed wetlands have been restored, but the effects of restoration on their carbon cycling functions are still unknown. To better understand land use effects on carbon cycling, we compared soil carbon dynamics in restored and reference wetlands in the South Slough estuary in Coos Bay, Oregon. We measured soil carbon content and used radioisotope dating to calculate carbon pools and carbon accumulation rate, and we measured in situ carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions in restored and reference wetlands to better understand carbon fluxes. To compare different methods of restoration, the restored sites were originally restored to different elevations. We found that the restored wetlands will have smaller and shallower carbon pools than reference sites. We also found that carbon accumulation will be fastest in the reference marsh. Among the restored marshes, we found that carbon accumulation is fastest in the low elevation marsh and slowest in the high marsh.

Why Can’t We Be Friends?: Masculinity in the TV Sitcom “Friends”

Presenter(s): Elle Rogers

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Allison McGuffie

Oral Session 2 O

On the surface, “Friends” is viewed as an All-American, wholesome
television series. Though the love for the series is immeasurable by
original audiences and the newest generation of on-demand viewers like myself, many commentators have said “Friends” upholds masculinist social norms that are unacceptable in our current era marked by gender awareness such as the me too movement. A close analysis of looking relations in a single episode, in fact, reveals that the male gaze, originally defined by Laura Mulvey, maintains control of the show’s depiction of masculinity at the expense of femininity. Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity and building on David Gauntlett’s analysis of gender identity in television, this presentation examines exactly how Friends enforces hegemonic masculinity. I ultimately show that problematic norms of masculinity in the episode, “The One with Ross’s Teeth,” are enforced by character depictions, the construction of the gaze, and the utter absence of feminine perspective.

“I Don’t Have Deaths on my Conscience”: Perspectives of Intravenous Drug Users on a Peer-Delivered Naloxone Program in Eugene, Oregon

Presenter(s): Eleanor Rochester

Faculty Mentor(s): Melissa Graboyes

Oral Session 1 C

The United States is in the midst of an epidemic of overdose deaths. In response, harm reduction programs commonly distribute the opioid antagonist naloxone directly to drug users so that they can act as first responders to overdose. When injected, naloxone reverses respiratory depression and can save the life of a person overdosing on opioids. As evidence for the effectiveness of these programs at reducing deaths continues to be collected, little research has been conducted into the impact of serving in this role on drug users themselves. To better understand the lived experiences of drug users with naloxone, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen syringe exchange participants who currently carry naloxone. Interviews revealed that carrying and using naloxone is empowering for many drug users, because it contrasts with the powerlessness they may feel in other aspects of their lives. Peer administrators use naloxone in a way that reinforces the community of care among drug users. This aligns with the goals of harm reduction programs, which seek to empower drug users to make choices to improve their lives, without abstinence as the ultimate goal. Future programs distributing naloxone to drug users should be aware of it’s potential not only to save lives, but to increase drug users’ self- confidence and strengthen the network of overdose care in their communities.

Infrastructural Inhibiters: The Social and Educational Barriers for Individuals with Mobility Impacting Disabilities on the University of Oregon Campus

Presenter(s): Sydney Retamar

Faculty Mentor(s): Pascoe CJ (Cheri Joe)

Oral Session 3 RA

In a time where advancements in architecture have the feasible potential to give all body types access to innovative landscapes, ableism is still present in many institutions. Sociological literature that illustrates explicit acts of ableism in popular institutions such as college life are sparse. The focus of this study was to explore ableism and its manifestation(s) in universities. The research conducted in this study sought to answer the following question: How do infrastructural landscapes shape the social and educational experiences of individuals with mobility impacting disabilities? Through in-person interviews, six individuals with disabilities were given a platform to voice and/or elevate their experiences with ableism on the University of Oregon campus. This research demonstrates that there is a lack of visibility and awareness for accessible accommodations. Results also suggest that infrastructural barriers inhibit students from socially and educationally participating on the University of Oregon campus. A unanimous consensus from participants illustrates unacceptable architectural landscapes that individuals with mobility impacting disabilities attempt to use or alternatively are unable to use daily. Aside from few exceptions, accommodations—if made at all—are a second thought and are conceived by participants of this study to be made for legal protection of the university above all else, not as a means of inclusion for all body types.