Tag: Poster 40

Left Handedness in a Captive bonobo Group

Presenters: Tabatha Rood, Klaree Boose and Frances White

Mentor: Frances White

PM Poster Presentation

Poster 40

Handedness in great apes is related to laterality and cognitive development. Previous studies report a right-handed bias in 9 ape studies. This study observed a group of 16 captive bonobos (Pan paniscus) at the Columbus zoo that was presented with an artificial, baited termite mound. Data was collected from narrated video tapes taken June 29, 2011 – August 31, 2011. Handedness was recorded for 592 fishing and poking bouts by 14 bonobos. Following prior studies, handedness was defined from the percentage of bouts that were done with only the left hand, with 60% or more being left-handed and 40% or less being right-handed. This study group showed a left hand bias among individuals; 9 with left-handed bias (66.7% to 100% of tasks) and 6 with right-handed bias (39.4% to 0% of tasks). The group showed more left-handed (n=311) than right-handed (n=281) bouts, with 93 bouts involving both hands. Right-handed bouts were longer in duration, averaging 113 seconds, with left-handed bouts averaging 79 seconds. The frequency of left and right-handed bouts by individuals was compared to an expectation calculated from the 60% right-handed and 40% left-handed criteria from previous studies using a Replicated Goodness of Fit test and found to be significantly different (G=37.743, p<0.001) with significant heterogeneity (G=171.649, p < 0.001). We conclude that this group of bonobos is predominantly left-handed.

Stopping Heat: A Study of Repurposed Cork Insulation

Presenter : Sebastian Oviedo, Maria Burbano

Mentor : Alison Kwok

Major : Architecture

Poster 40

Over the last few decades, the construction industry has been increasingly concerned with its impacts on the environment. This relates both to the production and the operation performance of materials and assemblies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thermal performance of post-consumer cork stoppers re-used as insulation for OSB panels. With the use of an insulated HotBox and HOBO U12 data loggers, a sample of a cork stopper-insulated panel was tested for heat flow and thermal resistance, and compared to a panel insulated with commercial extruded polystyrene foam. The results showed that the repurposed cork insulation had a performance 17.3% higher than that of the commercial alternative. Repurposing post-consumer waste could diminish the amount of cork going to landfills, which is approximately 13 billion each year (13). Cork is a naturally produced, highly insulative material, which makes it a potential material for high-performance building construction.

A True Northern Paiute Hero: An Analysis of Chief Egan and his Leadership in the Bannock-Paiute War of 1878

Presenter: Kevin Lai

Mentors: Kevin Hatfield, History; Jennifer O’Neal, Special Collections

Poster: 40

Major: Biology

This research paper examines the circumstances surrounding Northern Paiute Chief Egan’s rise to prominence and his heroic depiction leading up to the Bannock-Paiute War of 1878. I argue that despite his Cayuse ancestry, Chief Egan’s wisdom, loyalty, and bravery made him the prime choice to act as leader over the course of the rebellion against Agent William Rinehart and the U.S. government at the Malheur Reservation. Additionally, this paper demonstrates that although Egan knew such a battle against the Americans would surely end in defeat, he decided to take such a gamble solely to give his people another chance at survival–proof of his devotion to the Northern Paiute culture. The paper is based on examination of a wide range of primary sources including letters, hearings, governmental reports, and oral history from community members, to evaluate both tribal and non-tribal perceptions of Chief Egan not only as a member of the Paiutes but as an individual. Battle records were examined to assess Chief Egan’s prowess as a capable war leader. This research helps to redefine what it means to truly be part of a Native American tribe, by blood or acculturation, in addition to contributing original research concerning Northern Paiute cultural identity, loyalty, and responsibility.

What Do We Say Now: An Analysis of Mass Communication and Advertising for the Prevention of Sexual Assault

Presenter: Jesse Summers

Faculty Mentor: Kim Sheehan, Heather Shoenberger

Presentation Type: Poster 40

Primary Research Area: Social Science

Major: Journalism: Advertising, Journalism

Sexual assault has become a prevalent issue in recent years. From university campuses to the White House, the issue is being discussed and addressed in many different ways. This thesis specifically discusses the It’s On Us and No More campaigns as well as two pieces of popular media used to spread awareness of the issue of sexual assault. The Transtheoretical Model of Change, a social health model for understanding an individual’s willingness to change their behavior, is used as a basis for analyzing the videos produced for these campaigns and categorizing them based on their potential to influence a viewer’s behavior. Semiotic analysis is used to analyze specific content in each video and associate the videos with stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Initial results show that many of the current videos focus on creating awareness and are associated with the pre-contemplation or contemplation stages. However, analyzing specific links between these videos and other content such as websites creates the potential for viewers to move beyond these stages with the inclusion of additional information and action steps. This research and the areas outlined for further research are critical for expanding communication literature applying theory to media content and expanding research done in the intersection of social health and mass communication.

Comparing Post-Mortem nd Osteological Measures Of Primate 2D:4D Digit Ratios for Sex Determination

Presenter(s): Libardo Gomez − Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Frances White

Poster 40

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

The length ratio of the second digit (2D) to the fourth digit (4D) changes with an individual’s exposure to certain hormones prenatally, specifically testosterone (Manning 2002). Scientists therefore use 2D:4D as a proxy for an individual’s testosterone exposure in the uterus; a lower ratio demonstrates higher levels of prenatal testosterone exposure, and a higher ratio demonstrates lower levels of prenatal testosterone exposure (Manning 2002). In primates, testosterone plays a significant role in male-male competition and is therefore higher in males than in females. To collect the most accurate 2D:4D measurements, hands need to be in a fully fleshed stated; due to the limited access to fully fleshed hands, my colleagues and I developed a method to assess accurate 2D:4D ratios post mortem was developed, with results showing articulated bone measurements to have the closest 2D:4D ratio to fleshy skin measurements. Drawing on the many studies that have shown that finger length ratios might be characteristic that can be related to sexual dimorphism (Gillam 2018). We hypothesize that the 2D:4D ratio will be higher in male than female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and could be used to estimate male from female skeletons. Because rhesus macaques are one of the main non-human primates studied for biological research, this study hopes to expand the body of literature on 2D:4D ratios and prenatal environment effects on bone. Preliminary results show higher male ratios (2D 0.93, 4D 1.14) than in female (2D 0.80,4D 1.02) promising support of this hypothesis.

Examining patterns in volume and spatial occurrence of cinder cones at Newberry Volcano, Oregon

Presenter(s): Hannah Kruse

Faculty Mentor(s): Thomas Giachetti

Poster 40

Session: Sciences

Newberry Volcano is a large quaternary shield-shape volcano that sits 60 km to the east of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It is the second most voluminous volcano in the Cascades (~500 km3) and has more than 400 satellite vents dotting its flanks, some over 20 km away from the central caldera. Many of these vents sport cinder cones that postdate the last caldera-forming eruption and are most common to the north and south of the caldera, less so to the east and rare to the west, drawing a crescent across the landscape. This is an unusually high number of satellite vents for any volcano to exhibit, and in an unusual geographic pattern. These vents may tell us something unique about the internal structure of Newberry’s magma chamber and plumbing system.

Using geological maps and Digital Elevation Models, my research focuses on gathering and analyzing data that describe the spatial and temporal occurrence, size, volume, and chemical composition of Newberry’s cinder cones to find any relationships that exist between them and the central caldera, other local geologic features, and each other. Newberry provides a unique opportunity in its abundance and preservation of somewhat recent vents to explore these. Newberry is currently designated as a “Very High Threat” by the U.S. Geological Survey. Understanding its architecture and eruptive patterns is therefore essential to hazard assessment, preparedness, and mitigation.