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The Effects of Floodplain Restoration on Biodiversity
Full text linkDuring the colonial era, numerous mills and dams were built in Pennsylvania. This and other intensive land uses led to sediment eroding from upstream and burying wetlands. The accumulated sediment is known as legacy sediment1.
There has been a significant loss of wetlands throughout the centuries, with many of them in the Piedmont region being buried under thick layers of legacy sediment as shown in Figure 1 below2.
The removal of legacy sediment is a new technique used to restore wetlands, mainly with the intent being to improve water quality3. However, a restored wetland as shown by Figure 1 may also have numerous benefits on the biodiversity within the area.
GOAL: To evaluate the effects of floodplain wetland restoration on the biodiversity
Investigating the Contribution of the Oncogenic Cyclin D1b Isoform to the Aggressive Growth Properties of SV40 T Antigen Transformed Human Diploid Fibroblasts
Full text linkCyclin D1 is a driving force of the cell cycle by the regulation of S-phase entry. Cyclin D1 complexes with kinase CDK4/6 to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein resulting in release of the E2F transcription factor. Over-expression or promotion of the alternatively spliced oncogenic D1b isoform is correlated with cancer. To determine the contribution of cyclin D1 to virally induced cancers, this study used immortalized and virally transformed HDFs. RT-PCR showed more D1a RNA produced compared to D1b and no significant difference in the amount of the isoforms in transformed cell lines. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence suggested that the cyclin is predominantly cytoplasmic, suggesting that little to no cyclin D1b is being produced at the protein level. Results are surprising but indicate that even though splicing factors are upregulated in transformed cells, they do not result in cyclin D1b production; thus, D1b does not contribute to aggressive growth in HDFs
Mastery-Based-Learning to Study Anxiety and Belonging in Circuit Analysis
Full text linkAnxiety and lack of belonging are two major obstacles college students face. These obstacles are more likely to impact students in demanding degree programs like engineering, predominantly underrepresented students. Mastery-based-learning (MBL) could lower students’ anxiety levels and increase their sense of belonging in the classroom. In MBL course structure, instructors identify key skills and students have several attempts to demonstrate mastery of these skill. Students are not required to attempt the next skill until they are proficient in the previous. To demonstrate the impacts of MBL, a survey will be given to students throughout the semester to gage their anxiety and belonging. These surveys will be distributed during the Fall 2022 among students taking the traditional course and in subsequent semesters after the course has transitioned to MBL. In preparation for this study, we identified key skills, developed a new grading structure, and created a schedule for the course
Laser Cutting and Engraving – Designing in the Digital Age
Full text linkLaser cutting and engraving uses are broad and have many application purposes in both Visual Arts and Engineering. Gaining an understanding of the hardware and software necessary for students to successfully use the Universal Laser Systems M‑300 laser cutter in the Engineering Fabrication Lab will open possibilities for both art and engineering projects at our school. After testing a series of materials including birch wood blocks, ceramics, and acrylics to find the correct settings for laser cutting, CorelDRAW software was used to design custom drawings to be laser cut or etched. The printmaking blocks were laser cut for prints to be fabricated on the etching and type high block presses. Student Emily Ward engraved Elizabethtown College logos on ceramic tile, created acrylic sea animals for the creation of a mobile, and made original prints. This work will provide future students with examples that they can apply to their studies and possibly commercial ventures
Playgrounds Should Be a Place for All Children
Full text linkPlay is one of the most important occupations of children, both because it supports development of children’s skills and because it provides meaningful experiences for play participants. Playgrounds provide a valuable community setting where children can play together, but the opportunity for children with disabilities to equally experience the benefits of playground play depends largely on a playground’s degree of accessibility, usability, and inclusivity. While there is research on the differences in play among children with different abilities and evidence-based guidance on how to make playground play more accessible, usable, and inclusive for children of all abilities, the extent to which local playgrounds reflect research guidelines for best practice is unclear. To address this question, several playgrounds in the Elizabethtown, PA area were analyzed using a modified checklist for inclusive playgrounds
Episode 1: Community
No full textIt may sound audacious, to say that a horse-and-buggy driving group, can teach us anything about living in a hyper-tech, hyper-everything world. Yet for Professor Kraybill, the Amish demonstrate how some old-fashion things, suddenly turn relevant, once again! In nine episodes Kraybill explores what he learned from the Amish about (1) Community, (2) Technology, (3) Apprenticeship, (4) Forgiveness, (5) Hacking (6) Smallness (7) Choices (8) Humility, and (9) Death.
Episode One: Community
Professor Kraybill explains how the horse-driving Amish, can teach the rest of us in a me-first world a lot about community. An Amish man describes the pros and cons of his Amish community. This is not a sales pitch for the Amish team, but an invite to tap some of their communal wisdom
How Colleges Use Social Media to Promote Podcasts
Full text linkBlue Jay Journey\u27s Media Posts Research Paper
Six Instagram accounts and one accompanying Facebook account were examined to observe how other colleges promote podcasts and keynote speakers to their campus and alumni. The colleges observed include Drew University, Juniata College, Millersville University, Boston University, and Moravian University. First observed was Drew University’s “@drew_alumni” page, and “@drewuniversity” was also observed to see how a keynote speaker was presented on the main page. The pages looked at from Moravian University include “@moravianalumni” on Instagram and the accompanying Facebook page “Moravian Alumni. Juniata’s Instagram account “@juniata_college” was also examined. The last page’s viewed were “@bualumni” and “@artdepartmentmu.” These were selected for multiple reasons, few fell into the landmark Conference, others are nearby, or they have a stellar example of how to promote these events. The information gathered will allow for Elizabethtown College, and more specifically the School of Arts and Humanities to follow similar practices to ensure they reach the largest audience possible
Engaging African American Male Youth in Assessing Factors Affecting Their Own Health and Wellbeing: A Photovoice and Community Engagement Approach
No full textThis study seeks to produce recommendations to improve the mental health and well-being of male youth in the neighborhood of Allison Hill, Harrisburg and the surrounding areas through youth-driven surveying, photovoice analysis and policy-oriented presentations. Our work will procure a wealth of information pertaining to challenges and opportunities for positive youth development in poverty-ridden areas and add to a growing field researching ways to improve mental health and wellness outcomes for minorities and underprivileged communities. Our research takes place in two different parts
Increased Expression of Splicing Factors SAM68 and SRSF1 in Immortalized-human Diploid Fibroblasts Expressing SV40 T-antigen does not alter BCL-X Splicing Profile
Full text linkThe BCL2L1 gene, also known as BCL-X, encodes both anti and pro-apoptotic proteins by alternatively splicing. Splicing factors SAM68 and SRSF1 direct the selection of most BCL-X isoforms, notably BCL-X(L) and BCL-X(s). Historically, SV40 T-antigen transformation of cells has been employed for elucidating the initiation and maintenance of cancer. To determine the role of alternative splicing in cellular transformation, this study employed immortalized-human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) expressing the early region of SV40. Results from immunoblotting show that SAM68 levels are directly correlated to T-antigen expression, and SRSF1 levels are increased in T-expressing cells. Surprisingly, there was no alteration in the RNA isoform ratio of BClX(L) and BClX(s), and only BCLX-(L) was detected by immunoblotting in all cells. Results suggest that the increased growth rate and density of the transformed HDF cells is not the result of increased anti-apoptotic BCLX-(L). Studies are ongoing to elucidate potential SAM68 and SRSF1 targets
Promoting Access to Archival Information on the Amish
No full textThe Elizabethtown College Hess Archives contains a wealth of Amish research materials and scholarship. This project, spanning nine weeks, served to add materials to the Hess Archives to be used for research on the Amish. Student Emily Erdlen, under archivist Rachel Grove Rohrbaugh, processed newly donated materials relating to a variety of Amish groups. The project led to a six-box addition to the Donald B. Kraybill Collection and the processing of two new collections, the Ben Riehl Collection and the Karen M. Johnson-Weiner Papers. Kraybill and Johnson-Weiner are both scholars who have studied Amish culture, and Riehl is an Amish man who has assisted Kraybill in his work. Processing included creating a processing plan, rehousing all donated materials, writing scope and contents notes, and creating a finding aid. As part of the project, Erdlen and Grove Rohrbaugh also conducted oral history interviews with Johnson-Weiner and Kraybill