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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- Pond Lily
- An image of a pond lily
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- Poolchatti Kids
- Photograph from Fall 2010 - Winter 2011 issue of Images.
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- Postural Sway at Varying Heights: Athletes Versus Non-Athletes
- Despite a vast body of research on balance and postural sway, there is little known about the impacts that varying heights above ground level have on an individual's postural sway, whether in athletes or non-athletes. Knowing how athletic training affects an individual's balance at varying heights may affect how that individual trains, particularly when the competition involves events above ground level or the performance of balance intensive activities. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine how postural sway differs between athletes and non-athletes, thirty years of age and older, when they are placed at varying heights above ground level. Methods: Participants were asked to stand on the Nintendo Wii Fit platform at ground level to take a control measurement. They were then asked to stand on platforms at three consecutive varying heights (1, 2, and 3 feet off of the ground) and to remain as stable and still as possible. Measurements of average displacement off center were taken at all four heights. Results: There was a significant difference between postural sway in athletes and non-athletes (P=.00034). There was no significant difference of postural sway at the varying heights (P=.77). Conclusion: These findings suggest that athletes control their postural sway more effectively than non-athletes at the varying heights. The findings may be beneficial in the development of training programs for individuals competing above ground level as well as for athletes participating in balance intensive activities.
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- Potter - Consent Form
- Consent form for "Educational and Meaningful Time Outdoors: Cultivating Environmentl Stewardship in Local Youth" by Katherine Potter
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- Pouncing on the Heartland: The Impact of the Black Panther Party on Kansas City and Des Moines
- The Impact of the Black Panther Party on Kansas City and Des Moines
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- Predictors of College Students' Knowledge of Gun Control Laws and Statistics.
- Many studies have shown that people have significant gaps in knowledge when it comes to gun laws and statistics (Aronow, 2016; Cooke, 2004; Filindra & Kaplan, 2015). I studied the pre-existing knowledge of gun laws and statistics within the United States using college students at Fort Lewis College. I did this through a short questionnaire asking about their experience with guns, knowledge regarding laws and statistics, and their opinions of these laws and statistics. I had 19 females and 17 males (36 total) participate in my study. I found that males actually knew more about guns than females did, politically affiliated people (Democrats or Republicans) believe in background checks more so than non-politically affiliated people, religion has no correlation with views about guns, and people with more gun experience are more likely to believe that households would be safer with more guns. It was not surprising that people with more gun experience believe households would be safer with guns in the home nor that politically affiliated people believe in more background checks. It was unexpected that, when it came to knowledge about guns, males knew more than females, fitting the stereotype, although religion did not fit into the stereotype of more conservative attitudes. When beginning this study, I hypothesized that people generally would not know very much about guns. This was proven, with an average score of 31.6% on the gun-related test.
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- Preliminary Characterization of Soil Properties: Florida River Landslide Complex, La Plata County, Colorado
- The Florida River Landslide Complex (FRLC) is located in the southern part of La Plata County approximately 1 km downstream from Lemon Reservoir (~263,900mE, 4,138,250mN, Z13) and covers an area over 0.5 km2. Much of the FRLC burned during the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire and active landslides were observed by 2005. Previous studies of this landslide complex (Schulz et al., 2006) focused on assessing landslide activity using subsurface sampling, geologic mapping, and ground displacement monitoring. The purpose of this research was to: (1) determine the clay mineralogy; (2) estimate the engineering properties of the soil; and (3) evaluate the swelling potential of the soil for a relatively steep section of the FRLC. A soil sample collected in May 2012 was determined to have a Liquid Limit (LL) of 23.5%, a Plastic Limit (PL) of 18.5%, yielding in a Plasticity Index (PI) of 5%. Based on the LL and PL, the soil was classified as a low plasticity, lean clay (CL-ML). The relatively low PI and low LL moisture content indicate a low swelling soil potential. A plot of "PI versus Percentage of Clay in the whole sample" (clay percentages range from 40.6% to 79.4%) similarly supports a low swell potential. XRD clay speciation data verified the lack of Smectite (swelling) clay in five soil samples; the randomly ordered (R0) I/S clay fraction (with 90% Smectite clay) never exceeded 3.6% of the clay fraction (two samples contained less than 1%). In three of the soil samples, the R1, Mixed layer I/S (with 30% Smectite clay) fraction ranged from 46 to 63%. However, Kaolinite was the predominant clay fraction in the majority of the samples. Based on preliminary data from this study, which focused on only one relatively steep section of the FRLC, it seems unlikely that swelling soil will play a significant role in aiding slope failure under elevated moisture conditions.
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- Preliminary Rock Varnish Exposure Ages on Pediment Boulders from the Henry Mountains, Utah: Implications for Pediment Formation Processes
- Here we report the first rock varnish exposure ages on boulders from two pediment surfaces adjacent to the Henry Mountains (~38.1° N latitude). Rock varnish is a slowly accreting, Mn- and Fe-rich surface coating precipitated in microstratigraphic layers on subaerially exposed surfaces. Varnish microlamination compositional differences are principally influenced by regional climate conditions. Pediments are gravel-covered, gently-sloping, low-relief planation surfaces incised into bedrock; their processes and formation have been a source of debate for more than a century. In the Henry Mountains region, ten discrete, dissected pediment levels (L0-L9; oldest to youngest) have been previously mapped. Varnish microlamination (VML) dating was conducted on pediment level L6 (northeast of Mt. Hillers; UTM: Z17, -2124969mE, 4640124mN) and pediment level L8 (west of Mt. Ellsworth; UTM: Z17, -2137380mE, 4618798mN). VML exposure ages were derived using the varnish microlamination record for the western USA. An age of ~157 ka was obtained for pediment L6. This date correlates to wet period (WP) 11 in layering unit (LU)-6, which is correlative with MIS-6 (Late Illinoian Stage or Bull Lake Glaciation). An age of ~105 ka was obtained for pediment L8, which corresponds to LU-5 (WP8) and is coeval with MIS-5d (a cooler, wetter MIS-5 interval). Microlamination layers precipitated during periods of wet climate are black on ultra-thin sections under transmitted light microscope and Mn and Ba achieve their highest concentrations in these dark layers. Microlamination stratigraphy and mineralogy indicate that gravel emplacement/pediment formation occurred during periods of cold and wet climate wherein enhanced moisture levels may have promoted gravel transport. The Henry Mountains were not glaciated, but patterned ground and other periglacial features in the highest elevations correspondingly indicate that the region was impacted by episodes of cold and wet climate. Our aim is to contribute a better understanding of pediment formation and determine whether pediments are shaped by brief, high-energy, fluvial flow regimes during wet climatic events. Additional VML ages (forthcoming) are needed to determine whether all pediments in the Henry Mountains region formed in a similar fashion.
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- Preparation of Drugs to Selectively Kill Cancer Cells
- Rottlerin is a natural product isolated from the fruit of the kamala tree. Previous studies have shown that it is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C delta, an enzyme that is critical for the survival of many types of cancer cells. However, treatment of non-cancerous cells with similar doses of rottlerin has no effect. Thus rottlerin, or compounds similar in structure, could find use as selective drugs to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells. The goal of this project was to synthesize a palladium catalyst that could be used in future experiments to synthesize rottlerin analogs.
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- Preservation of Place
- Rights of land ownership including land claim acts that do not involve people's sense of place have, and continue to be, the cause of conflict and even war among peoples. Identifying and quantifying the procedures involved in categorizing a place as sacred is important to examine if there is to be an understanding of why land ownership rights give rise to so many conflicts. Data for this topic are pulled from a series of structured interviews conducted with both Native and non-Native peoples which will cover: (1) how people feel about land rights; (2) similarities and differences on what should constitute a place as sacred; (3) what should be done about federal intervention on sacred sites; and (4) what people can do to help preserve places in their local area. Along with the interviews, research will be pulled from ethnographies and other studies done by anthropologists. By asking community members how the La Plata area is part of their heritage and what constitutes a sacred place, similarities and differences can be seen, proving that there are aspects of land claims that need to be addressed. Many indigenous societies may not only have claim to land because of legally written documents, but also because they may feel a connection to a place with years of tradition and meaning. Further understanding of cultural practices will help make clear that gaining a better understanding of unwritten records are just as, or even more important than what is usually documented.
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- Preserving the York Minster Cultural Heritage Site: an in Depth Look at the Complex Issues that are Threatening to Undermine Historical Preservation in York, England Today
- In recent years, heritage sites all over the world have come under threat of destruction. From Afghanistan's Bamiyan Buddhas to Cornwall's 15th-century church, St. Stephen-by-Saltash, few heritage sites seem to be immune to the turmoil of our world. As a result of this sad fact, communities worldwide are facing the loss of cultural history brought about by the destruction of sites that have united them for years behind a shared sense of pride, identity, and belonging. My research focuses on one such threatened site, York Minster, a Norman age gothic cathedral located in York, England, that is suffering everything from acid rain erosion of its limestone structure to severe cuts to the funding for restoration. To prevent further deterioration of this site, local citizens have, ironically, been forced to resort to "salvage" methods that may be even more destructive than the passage of time. For example, a fundraiser called the York Minster Stone Auction recently took place, where original stones from the Minster were sold in order to raise money for preservation efforts. In order to understand why such desperate measures have been taken, I examine through library research, online consultation of websites, and email queries placed to museum personnel, various causes behind the negative preservation environment that is plaguing York Minster, ranging from the global and the national to the very local. By focusing on York Minster I hope to not only reach a better understanding regarding the factors negatively affecting that iconic site, but also to provide a resource for those who wish to help prevent the destruction of other heritage sites around the world.
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- Prevalence of MRSA in the Community
- Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first observed less than a year after the development of methicillin in 1960. Since that time it has become an important nosocomial pathogen: the rate of hospital acquired MRSA infections is still on the rise and studies have shown that MRSA perseveres at acquiring antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the occurrence of infections caused by community acquired MRSA cases has increased in recent years. In this study, isolates were collected from fifty unique sample sites throughout the Fort Lewis College campus and analyzed for presence of MRSA. The incidence of MRSA found in the community was compared with hospital MRSA rates obtained from a British Department of Health MRSA surveillance campaign. Results indicate that the incidence of MRSA found in the community is less than half of the incidence of MRSA found in the hospital setting. MRSA is an important pathogen in both the community and hospital environments and novel and innovative methods of decontamination and prevention of cross-contamination are necessary in order to contain the increasing rates of MRSA infections.