STRATA
STRATA, the STudent Research, Academic, and Talent Archive, is a collection of selected Fort Lewis College student work, including undergraduate research, senior seminar papers, published works, conference presentations, and other creative and artistic projects. Search by name, subject, title, or academic department.
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- OSL Dating of Fluvial and Lacustrine Sediment North of Durango, Colorado: A Record of an Asynchronous Glacial Advance at 55 Ka?
- New optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages were obtained from fine-grained fluvial sediment exposed in a well-preserved outcrop at the southern end of the San Juan Mountains, Durango, Colorado (Z13, 249144mE, 4132617mN; 2098 m). The sedimentary sequence exposed in the ~4 meter high outcrop consists of multiple and repetitive sets of mm-size rhythmite couplets, climbing ripples, planar laminae, and minor, small-scale water escape structures, overlain by a diamicton; the outcrop was previously interpreted as a remnant of the glacial landscape formed during a Bull Lake glacial advance (MIS 5d - 6). Three samples collected along a vertical transect (~0.8 meters apart) yielded preliminary ages of ~50±10ka, 51.61 ± 8.07 ka, and ~65 ± 13ka (MIS 4, early Wisconsin Glaciation, ~55ka). The OSL ages are asynchronous with northern hemisphere glacial maximums. No previous studies have reported significant asynchronous glacial advances as far south as the study area (~37°17' N latitude). Alternative explanations were sought to explain the seemingly anomalous ages, including: (1) OSL bleaching; (2) abandoned meander sequences in the adjacent glacial valley (Animas River); and, (3) deposition from a stream that presently occupies an incised channel and flows ~parallel to the outcrop (Spring Creek). Sediment deposited in glacial environments is often inadequately bleached, but OSL has been successfully used on glaciofluvial deposits. Insufficient bleaching would yield older ages, which suggests that the sedimentary sequence in this study is not correlative with older Bull Lake glacial deposits. Similarly, a lack of trough cross-bedded sands, mud drapes, lateral accretion surfaces, and fining upward sequences argue against a meander sequence. It is also difficult to explain the process linkage that would yield the change of stream flow direction required for sediment to have been deposited by an entrenched stream that, at present, drains away from the outcrop. Field evidence from the isolated outcrop was insufficient to definitely determine sediment provenance and glacial origin. Consequently, we remain open to the prospect that this outcrop may represent the first quantitative ages of a significant asynchronous glacial advance in the southern San Juan Mountains.
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- OSL dating of glacial outwash sediment in the Klondike Quarry, Colorado
- Three samples were taken from the Klondike Pit in DisappointmentValley, Colorado for optically stimulated luminescence age dating. Sampleswere gathered form a vertical transect bottom to top and were dated at 163.7 ±32.1 , 146.6 ±29.3, and 97.1 ±18.4 ka respectively.Field observations show evidence of sedimentarystructures commonly associated with glaciofluvial processes. The presence of unconsolidated cobbles with interbedded fine sands are an indication of a braided river system which is the common fluvial system found within glacial outwash deposits.
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- Octavia Butler's Dialogue on Race and Gender in Speculative Fiction
- Octavia Butler was a prominent speculative fiction author and also one of the first female African American writers to be successful in the genera. Butler unflinchingly critiques racial and gender issues that affect African American women. A textual analysis of the novels Wild Seed, Kindred, and Parable of the Sower, as well as the short story "Bloodchild," reveals Butler's unique expression of empathy and how the abuses of women in the past affect the present and future. Butler's works also allow for an uncommon interpretation of patriarchal ties that challenge women's ability to create a history of their own. Through a constant process of transformation, Butler provokes her readers to face complex, patriarchal hierarchies found in society that are often riddled with unescapable power inequalities. Cooperation is preferred to subjugation as her protagonists bravely assume their roles. Butler challenges society to acknowledge the heightened trauma inflicted on women, particularly on women of color such as rape and violence, and whose abuses allowed the concept of the nation's identity to flourish. Her message embodies a need for both masculine and feminine characteristics in the construction of personal identity. The author's extensive dialogue on slavery and power disparity in gender roles finds itself naturally embedded within her narratives and not forced upon her audience. In doing so, she "makes black normal" thus allowing the divine feminine spirit of African American women to be emphasized instead of condemned. An analysis of scholarly research reveals that Butler's speculative fiction expresses fluctuating ideas of economic status, race, and sexuality. In her fictions, Octavia Butler demands that these historically significant and ever-evolving ideas include diversity that can be applied to the societal needs of today.
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- Ode to Confusion-Causing Delirium
- Poem by Paige Blakenbuehler, published in the Fall 2010/Winter 2011 edition of Images.
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- Old and Abandoned
- Cover art from Images Fall 2010 - Winter 2011 issue
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- On a Dusty Shelf
- Short story by Rachel Seibel, published in Fall 2013-Winter 2014 issue of Images.
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- Oops . . . We Did It Again!
- The cohort of scholars in the honors 223/423 class have spent the academic semester examining concepts around making mistakes and why we continuously keep making the same mistakes. The class has completed a multi-disciplinary analysis of the mistakes made within each individual scholar's fields. Topics include Biochemistry, Biology, Political Science, Psychology, Medicine, Education, Philosophy in Gender Studies, and more. For the project, the class has done a compare-and-contrast analysis of mistakes made within their fields and synthesized the results with one another. The result is a multi-disciplinary framework that could possibly save you from making mistakes in the future.
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- Orion's Garden
- Artwork by Reid Devine published in Fall 2008 - Winter 2009 issue of Images.
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- Our Capitalist Society Makes Mentoring Necessary
- My project and research this semester has been focused on the inequalities within capitalism that have led to struggles within the family, specifically in the United States. I wanted to explore what has happened in our culture that has led to there being a need for non-profits that provide a mentoring component for youth. Many kids are not getting the close adult interaction they need from home, and I wanted to show how capitalism has made it difficult for parents to give their children what they need. The commodity culture and income inequality inherent within capitalism has led to a strained home life, and a lot of non-profits have been started to help manage some of those struggles and give our young population much needed attention. I have worked closely with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado(BBBS) for the last two years, and this semester I was able to intern for them as well. From my internship and research I have learned a lot about the non-profit world and the history that has led us to where we are today. I researched the correlation of income as it relates to the family, and the percent of kids who are utilizing the social resources provided in our community. By working with BBBS I was able to see how important positive adult relationships are for children. My research shows that children with close positive adult relationships are less likely to use drugs and alcohol early on, less likely to drop out of school, and less likely to be violent. There are many benefits to mentoring. Young people that engage in one to one mentoring relationships have a higher self-esteem, more educational success, and closer relationships with their families and communities. I have also been able to create a brochure offering information about mentoring/youth services in our own community. The brochure is organized by price, similar to a dining guide. My experience this semester has been extremely fulfilling, and I was able to get a job through my internship. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado has hired me as their Community Program Specialist and I start full time once this semester is over.
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- Ouroboros
- Poem by Kristina Umberger from Fall 2012 - Winter 2013 issue of Images.
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- Overexpression of the Klotho Protein in Human Epithelial Lung Cells and the Effect on AKT and P38 MAPK Concentrations in the IGF-1 Signaling Pathway: Investigating the Mechanisms of COPD
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S., with symptoms that include worsening cough and shortness of breath, followed by successive lung damage. Recently, the klotho gene has gained attention for exhibiting anti-aging properties at the cellular level. This gene encodes a soluble and a secreted form of the protein, which inhibit the AKT transduction pathway. Activation of AKT prevents transcription of vital detoxification genes that encode proteins to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during cell metabolism. Accumulation of ROS induces the activity of p38 MAPK, a kinase that promotes inflammation and apoptosis. KLOTHO inhibition of the AKT pathway may be the key to future efforts to prevent lung damage in smokers. We hypothesize that cells, which overexpress klotho will have significantly lower levels of AKT and p38 proteins versus unaltered cells. Human epithelial lung cells that overexpress klotho as well as control cells were treated with 200 µg/mL CSE for 6, 12 and 24 hours. RNA was isolated, and the klotho gene was amplified and quantified using RT-qPCR. Proteins were isolated and subjected to Western Blot. AKT and p38 levels were quantified using densitometry. Klotho mRNA levels were significantly higher in CSE treated cells versus controls at 12 hours post-CSE exposure. Basal levels of AKT and p38 were significantly increased in klotho overexpressing cells. AKT and p38 protein levels were significantly higher in CSE treated cells versus controls in cells that overexpress klotho only. Future experiments should focus on quantifying levels of active (phosphorylated) AKT and p38 proteins. This would provide more insight into whether activities of AKT and p38 are lowered, despite increased levels of total proteins, in response to klotho overexpression.