IDA Mount Holyoke College Institutional Digital Archive
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Building Research Data Services at Mount Holyoke College
No full textObjective: Mount Holyoke College ranks high among liberal arts colleges in faculty research activities and has just initiated a new program in Data Science. In this context, and given the recent growth in the use of very large datasets in research, more coherent and comprehensive campus support for the management and storage of faculty research data at Mount Holyoke has become essential. This poster will describe how Library, Information, and Technology Services (LITS) at Mount Holyoke (a merged library and IT organization), strove to analyze faculty research data management and storage needs, develop policies and procedures for meeting these needs, set out support models for research data lifecycle management, and determined responsibilities for consultation and support.
Methods: In 2015-2016, a working group of MHC librarians and technologists from the Research and Instructional Support (RIS) Department began exploring the need for data services at MHC. The RIS team focussed on studying data services models at other institutions, administered a survey to learn about faculty research data practices, and finally developed a proposal for expanded data services at MHC. Also in the spring of 2016, a cross-functional team was formed to meet faculty data storage and backup needs. Ten members were drawn from multiple library and IT departments. This team developed use cases and personas to begin guiding the development of policies and procedures and planning infrastructure provisioning. Additionally, metadata librarians, research and instruction librarians, and digital assets managers planned support models for metadata creation and research data management planning.
Results: Gathering information from the faculty survey and interviews, along with background study of data services models elsewhere, gave LITS a better understanding of our users’ needs. These insights guided LITS in developing matrices of needs, services, and support responsibilities that allow us to better meet support requirements and future infrastructure provisioning for data storage and processing. LITS has also developed resources to support faculty in crafting research data management plans (DMPs) and creating metadata for archiving newly created data sets. LITS has recently arranged access for Mount Holyoke researchers to the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) and created an MHC Data Center to provide data storage and backup on LITS maintained servers.
Conclusion: The work of the Research and Instructional Support team and the LITS cross-functional team for research data support has given us a much clearer picture of how Mount Holyoke researchers are using and managing their data and has allowed us to begin plotting a path to a more coherent and robust set of services to support them in their work
FY2017-18 recycling report
No full textThis data is compiled from weight slips issued by MHC's recycling hauler. The hauler sends the Office of Sustainability monthly spreadsheets organized by day for each different kind of material, which are compiled into monthly totals in this master spreadsheet. At the end of the fiscal year, the new spreadsheet is uploaded into IDA.201
Virginia Woolf and the Art of Biography
No full textThis project examines Virginia Woolf’s relationship to biography throughout her career. I trace the influences of biography that impact her development as a life-writer, as well as her own experimentations and mediations on the genre. From her father’s work as the editor of The Dictionary of National Biography, to her friend Lytton Strachey’s nontraditional biographies such as Eminent Victorians, Woolf’s exposure to both traditional and critical biographies produces an enduring commitment to the genre. She begins to reframe biography as a feminist and a modernist technique, centering the lives of women and of artists.
Virginia Woolf assigns the subtitle “A Biography” to two of her fictional works. Flush and Orlando each blend the facts of the lives that inspired them with Woolf’s fictionalization. Fictional biographies allow Woolf to combine genres to develop a form conducive to her artistic and political objectives. In approaching Woolf’s career through her work with biography, this project aims to trace her recurring interest in the form and its many possibilities. Ultimately, this focus is not distinct from her writings that do not overtly engage with biography. Both strands, which I term “high modernism” and “fictional biography,” use different techniques to work through similar concerns. I situate readings of Flush, Orlando, and A Room of One’s Own within the larger context of her writings exploring the literary and historical ramifications of Victorianism, her increasing political feminism, and questions surrounding how the self can be constructed, defined, and represented in the world and in literature.Englis
A Retrospective Clinical Study and Analysis of Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Disease in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients
No full textCytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are two ubiquitous Herpesviruses that are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (Britt 2008; Cohen 2000). In transplant recipients, they can cause severe end-stage viral disease that manifests as multiple-system organ failure or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (Britt 2008; Cohen
2000). Currently, there is a significant gap in the literature for these infections in the context of pediatric patients. Thus, current protocols are extrapolated from adult medicine, dependent on inadequate studies, or based on theories derived from virology and transplant immunology (Gans, H., Chen, S. 2016). Given this significant lack in evidence-based medicine, a team of Infectious Disease physicians at Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) and I set out to begin to provide evidence for SUMC’s clinical practice guidelines. We also aimed to develop risk factor stratification for CMV and EBV outcomes, determine the role that CMV and EBV infection plays in the development of disease, and identify an effective prophylaxis protocol. I conducted a ten-year retrospective clinical study performing chart reviews on solid organ transplant recipients and storing relevant information in a secure database. For this thesis, I will be focusing on risk factor stratification in liver transplant recipients only. Utilizing the data I have collected and conducting robust statistical analysis, I hypothesize that donor serology pre-transplant plays a significant role in the development of disease post-transplant. Other risk factors such as rejection do not seem to be directly involved in the development of end-stage viral disease. This study has verified some hypothesized virologic interactions and provided evidence illustrating that other risk factors may be less integral to the development of disease than previously thought. The results of this study will not only be used to develop a new transplant protocol at SUMC, but also to encourage other physicians to pursue the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines to minimize the prevalence of needless and preventable suffering.Biological Science
Persistent Multi-robot Formations with Redundancy
No full textFor tasks such as collective transport, a multi-robot formation must preserve its global shape in order to prevent damage to the carried object. We focus on persistent leader- follower formations, which maintain local distance constraints in order to preserve the global shape of the formation. In this theoretical model of persistence theory, robots are modeled as vertices and dependencies between robots are represented as directed edges. To allow persistent formations to maintain persistence after mechanical failure, we incorporate redundancy into the existing theoretical model. We define persistence circuits to be persistent formations which become minimally persistent after the loss of any edge, present one method for creating these formations, and prove that persistent leader-follower formations cannot be redundantly persistent. For persistent leader- follower formations, we focus on a more restricted notion of redundancy and present 3 methods for constructing these formations. Finally, we present simulation results for 3 multi-robot formations simulated using Webots to evaluate behavior between formations with and without redundancy.Computer Scienc
UNCOVERING THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF CLPC DURING SPORULATION IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS
No full textClpC is a AAA+ ATPase chaperone/unfoldase that interacts with the ClpP protease during proteolysis in the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. ClpC has roles in several cellular processes including sporulation, cell competence, cell division, and degradative enzyme production. ClpC, while present during normal growth, is known to be produced in high quantities under stressful conditions to degrade protein aggregates. It has been shown previously that ClpCP preferentially localizes to the forespore during sporulation. However, very little is known about the spatial and temporal regulation of ClpC during sporulation. A few putative sporulation-specific promoters have been suggested by in silico predictive analyses, but no specific transcriptional regulators have been defined to date. We used PCR to amplify increasing amount of DNA upstream of clpC (each sequence encompassing different numbers of putative promoters) and cloned the DNA into a plasmid containing lacZ. Newly formed plasmids were transformed into B. subtilis and tested for β-galactosidase activity during sporulation. An increase in β-galactosidase activity around the second hour of sporulation coinciding with the time σH is active was observed. A knockout mutant of this sigma factor eliminated this activity. Another sigma factor, σF, is also active during this time. However, a knockout mutant of sigF did not show any significant difference in gene expression. Altogether, these results suggest that ClpC is at least partially under the control of a σH promoter during sporulation.Biological Science
Straight from the Horse’s Body: Reimagining Training through Classical Dressage
No full textIn this thesis, I critique the concept of training as it is conventionally defined and then expand the potential for training by reimagining it through using concepts found in classical dressage. Dressage, an ancient art in which a horse and rider work together to execute a series of dance-like movements, is at its core a practice of training. I put dressage concepts in conversation with works of feminist, queer, and affect theory in order to consider the question, how is our understanding of training limited by normative conceptions of power, authority, and methods of knowledge production? Through reworking these dressage ideas I reimagine training as a practice that is embodied, affective, intimate, complex, and connective.
I start by acknowledging the harmful role of vision in the rising popularity of competitive dressage but also note the benefits of embodied, situated vision. I then argue that, as an affective and embodied art, classical dressage values bodily knowledge and requires the concept of “feel,” a rider’s ability to feel a horse’s movement and affect. In the following chapter, I discuss position as a principle that organizes bodies and hierarchies of authority, and through examining the concept of submission as defined by dressage trainers and as it is used in human butch/femme relationships, I open up the concept of training to more nuanced understandings of how power hierarchies are constructed. Finally, I consider the riders’ common desire to connect deeply with their horses and, through exploring the various strategies dressage riders use to transcend a mind/body, horse/human split, I reimagine training as an Apollonian, affective process of becoming with.Gender Studie
Testing It Right: Assessing Vocabulary Breadth and Depth and Their Roles in Adult's Reading Comprehension
No full textThis study examined relationships among vocabulary breadth, vocabulary depth, and
reading comprehension in adults. The focus of the study was to determine the construct of
vocabulary knowledge and how these components influenced reading comprehension among
Adult Basic Education (ABE) students. Participants were 71 adults who were currently enrolled
in ABE programs in Massachusetts. They were asked to complete a total of 12 tasks known to
measure vocabulary breadth, depth, and reading comprehension. First, we found that our
assessments are reliable in testing vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension.
Moreover, results showed vocabulary knowledge consists of at least two dimensions: vocabulary
breadth and vocabulary depth. Second, we also found that each component made a significant
independent contribution to explain reading comprehension. Finally, the research proposed
some suggestions for vocabulary instruction for ABE participants.Psychology & Educatio
Multi-Functionality in Business and Communications
No full textCommunications is a little-known, but exceptionally important element of the equine industry. This summer, I made strides in combining my passions and bridging the divide between two potential career focuses in my role as the Marketing and Communications Intern at the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center. The Equestrian Center is located on Mount Holyoke’s campus, and is home to four prestigious equestrian teams during the academic year. Over the summer, the facility stays active by hosting riding competitions, conducting facility rentals to different equine-centric programs, and giving tours to prospective students. Aside from the hard work of riding instructors, coaches, and barn staff, running a small business like the Equestrian Center requires the skill of a group of individuals dedicated to marketing and communications. For my contribution as an intern, I performed tasks including assisting in running facility rentals, creating and publishing advertisements, managing and updating the business’ social media accounts, and writing short pieces for local equine journals and blogs. My most intensive project was assisting in planning and running a nationally-recognized dressage competition. During this two-day event, my role was to coordinate, organize, and lead a group of volunteers. An unanticipated surprise during my summer was the amount of time I spent learning about marketing for a small business. This unexpected insight afforded me a greater understanding of equine communications, and helped me focus my career goals toward journalism and event planning in the equine industry.The summer before our senior year, this panel completed marketing internships at four different institutions. Though we completed varying tasks within our diverse roles, the main overlap resided in the knowledge we gained as we experienced everything the marketing and communications world had to offer. In unique ways, each panel member learned that in order to grow as professionals, we had to get our hands dirty and jump in. Brittney collaborated with a Danish alumna to create her six week internship experience in Copenhagen, Denmark thanks to the MHC Alumnae Association. This alumna and her colleague, both of whom are independent business consultants, required Brittney to conduct research for business development, and create international press releases. Stephanie Calas spent her summer as a marketing and communications intern at Mount Holyoke College’s renowned Equestrian Center. In addition to learning how to produce and publish advertisements online and in local equine publications, Stephanie organized and planned facility rentals, served as the volunteer coordinator at a nationally-recognized equestrian competition and managed the business’ social media accounts. Jojo Youngerman worked for Airware, a commercial drone technology startup in San Francisco. She not only was heavily involved with each aspect of marketing -- from PR, to event planning, to content, to digital -- but also worked with Airware's customer engagement and product teams to further support sales. Libby Corvin interned for H&L Partners, a national marketing firm headquartered in San Francisco. There she networked, developed and presented competitive analyses, and worked directly with McDonald’s and Toyota clients in Northern California. Our panel’s presentations will exemplify how, through the breadth of our internships, each member adapted to constantly changing work environments and expectations. This panel highlights the ways in which students can grow from proactive open-mindedness and embracing the multi-functionality of marketing and/or communications internships
Digitizing the Public Space
No full textThis thesis is about the politically unacknowledged, and their rebellion to be visible. Specifically, the tension lies in the emergence of political participation in the digital front, which has contributed significantly to the new wave of protest movements, from Occupy’s Trans World Order to “I Am UndocuQueer!” to even Bitcoin enthusiasts. These movements intend to address the shortcomings of contemporary democratic institutions that avoid crucial and fundamental issues of identity, citizenship, and sovereignty of marginalized peoples such as undocumented queer youths, trans and gender non-conforming individuals, and Indigenous people. Motivated by a desire to challenge hegemonic institutions of norms and beliefs that have largely remained unquestioned and unproblematized, these individuals are imbued with a sense of urgency to not only document their political injuries but also unmake their conditions of disavowal through online alternative public spheres. My preoccupation thus lies in the digital counter-culture generated by marginalized individuals to confront the mechanisms of disavowal. However, there are normative barriers as to how individuals from the margins, whose voices exceed the hegemonic discourse which governs the conventions of political life, can democratically engage without needing the nation-state’s recognition to validate their existence. As such, these marginalized individuals move their discussions onto the porous boundaries of the online world, which offer a host of opportunities to forge a more democratic political community but also challenge the definition of what “meaningful participation” might look like in the digital front. The possibilities for fulfilling democratic imaginings online are endless. However, the dangers to those possibilities are that conditions which socialize and depoliticize individual experiences of political disavowal are often provoked by anti-democratic practices, hence spoiling the desires of marginalized individuals for seeking meaningful political engagement altogether. Thus, the increasing political participation on the digital realm and the provocations of digital activists who seek for alternative democratic communities online beg the following questions: What are the implications for rejecting and contesting traditional political engagements for online political activity? Will the online political space prove to be as democratic as digital activists hope? Or, is the proliferation of ‘easy’ online political activities diverting their attention away from meaningful political responsibilities and engagement?Politic