Edward Waters College June 27, 2014 Students Research Proposals Lead to Prestigious Summer Internships Cheri Jones is spending her summer at the University of Iowa expanding a study proposal she started at Edward Waters College. The Psychology Major was awarded a paid summer internship from the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) consortium for her research proposal on The Effects of Mindfulness and Nutrition on Learning. The CIC is a coalition of the Big Ten member universities plus the University of Chicago. For more than 50 years, these research institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs. Jones' research proposal is to analyze student achievement in two large, urban school districts and examine the factors of nutrition quality and the integration of stress-relieving cognitive interventions in the form of mindfulness techniques. In the project, Jones suggests using a 2 X 2 ANOVA factorial design to determine the strength of individual factors as well as the potential interactions between them. Jones's internship includes a $3200 stipend, free room and board, round-trip airfare and other perks like GRE prep training. "This is a wonderful opportunity that will open so many doors for Cheri," said Assistant Professor of Psychology and Social & Behavioral Sciences, Dr. G. Victoria Landrum. "These are the kind of research projects major institutions expect from their doctorate candidates." Edward Waters College student Kenyetta Lowery is spending her summer in the "Big Apple" expanding her proposition for a documentary on Documenting Homelessness: A Visual Ethnography. The Mass Communications major was awarded a paid internship from the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) at New York University. The Leadership Alliance encourages students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities to pursue research careers in the academic, public and private sectors. SR-EIP provides undergraduates with training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to graduate schools. Kenyetta Lowery and her family were once homeless. In the project, she will use her firsthand experience to scrutinize the cultural perspective of the homeless residing in metropolitan Jacksonville as a proposed documentary film project for the purposes of enhanced realism and authenticity with a more phenomenological approach beyond conventional documentation practices. "Cheri and Kenyetta's proposals for research are ambitious and engaging. They tackle meaningful topics that affect all human societies. Their projects also prove that good work is being done at Edward Waters College. Our faculty really works hard at identifying the talent we see in our classrooms. We hone their skills and challenge them achieve great things," said Dr. Landrum. Both Jones and Lowery along with 13 other EWC students presented their project proposals in the 2nd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The symposium is held annually by the Office of Academic Affairs to showcase the research projects by students that year. Other presenters included: Identification of Pregnancy Indicators in Sharks Diamond Clark ABSTRACT: Three biochemical assays were examined as possible non-lethal alternative to traditional methods for testing in sharks: Relaxin, Prostoglandin & Estriol. Results were inconclusive and possible factors contributing to these findings were discussed. An Analysis of Ten Year Survival among Breast Cancer Patients Julia Burke ABSTRACT: A secondary data analysis from a Swedish research study of survival rates for patients with and without surgical interventions was performed. Pandemic Flu: Yes, We Can Do Something About It! Nyla Barker ABSTRACT: An historical report on influenza pandemics as well as the underlying biological mechanism of viral mutation was discussed. Cloning the Glyceraldehyde-3-Phospahte Dehydrogenase Gene (GAPDH) Victoria Alston ABSTRACT: An overview and description of the cloning process within the GAPDH genetic sequence was discussed. Diabetes and the African American Community Megan Caradine ABSTRACT: An historical report on epidemiological patterns in Type-1 and Type 2 diabetes with the African American population, as well as the underlying mechanism for insulin resistance was discussed, as well as the potential implications of these findings for health policy-making. Factors Predicting Asthma among African Americans Maurice Miller ABSTRACT: The underlying causes and biological mechanisms contributing to the development asthma among children in low-income communities were discussed, as well as conventional treatments to control the disease. Understanding the Cause, Symptoms and Treatment of Lupus Devin Bryant ABSTRACT: The underlying causes and biological mechanisms contributing to the development Lupus and epidemiological patterns of the disease across a range of demographic categories (e.g., race, gener, etc.) were discussed, as well as conventional treatments to control the disease. Assay Development for Quantification of House Dust Mite Specific IgE Antibodies Oneisha Fate ABSTRACT: An overview and description of the development of assays to determine IgE antibodies was discussed with regard to immunoglobulin from blood serum of common house dust mites. The Role of Prefrontal Cortex and Kinesthetic Learning for Mediating Adolescent Impulsivity Gerry Martin ABSTRACT: The relationship between the immature prefrontal cortex, kinesthetic learning and cognitive training for improved self-regulatory skills are considered as potential factors mediating adolescent impulsivity. A 2 X 2 ANOVA factorial design will determine the strength of individual factors as well as potential interactions between them for a dependent variable of impulsivity. Can Integrating Rastafarian, High Anti-Oxidant Foods into Our Diet Reduce High Blood Pressure? Thomas Smith ABSTRACT: An investigation of the individual and potentially combine (interacting) factors of high anti-oxidant rich Caribbean based diet and increased physical activity and their impact on blood pressure among middle-aged, hypertensive African Americans is proposed to reduce health risks in this population. Portrayals of Black Gays in the Media Princeton Johnson ABSTRACT: A narrative and content analysis of dramatic series programming comparing mainstream network versus Black cable television medias' treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) characters and situations is proposed with attention to potential stereotyping and codification of prescriptive social constructions of gender. Hypertension in African Americans Christopher Pettaway ABSTRACT: The underlying mechanism leading to high blood pressure, its symptoms, health consequences, conventional treatments, as well as epidemiological patterns of the disease among African Americans were discussed. Alzheimer's Disease and Oral Health Timothy Mincey, Jr. ASTRACT: The relationship between periodontal disease -- oral bacteria cause infection below the gumline, causing tooth loss and erosion of supporting bone tissue - and its impact on heart and vascular health was discusse Thank you for the kind support of this academic enrichment program and our EWC undergraduate researchers. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!