Research Days Posters 2020

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  "No, We're Just Talking": Exploring the "Talking Phase" as an Emergent Dating Phenomenon

  Sherrina Abdool, Moyosola Adeyemi, Aquil Alexander, Matt Heider, Jordyn Plair, and Leora Wasserman

  This mixed-methods analysis explores the characteristics of the "talking phase", a preliminary stage of courtship which we hypothesize is prevalent in hookup culture on college campuses. We are investigating this stage of dating culture and intimacy accumulation as influenced by the nuances of communication in the age of social media, possibly emerging as a response to novel difficulties that are inadequately addressed by the traditional dating model. Our study seeks to assign an operational definition to the term "just talking" based on analysis of open-ended responses from students at a mid-sized eastern university describing their understanding of this stage. The goal of this analysis is to ultimately guide our continued exploration of what necessitated this phenomenon, how the most essential aspects of this stage have been operationalized, and how this understanding and usage varies across cultural, sexual and gender demographics.

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  Trash-Talking in Soccer: What It Tells Us About Human Nature

  Diana Almallah, Max Amram, and Kerry Harper

  Aggressive communication has been receiving more attention, not only in social endeavors, but in sports. Trash talking in athletics is one of the oldest forms of competitiveness, perhaps connecting to an innate human characteristic. We decided to focus on one sport and asked: what role does aggression play in organized soccer? We hypothesized that human nature does impact aggression in sports and our study aimed to investigate that inference. An online survey was sent to coaches and captains of varying schools and levels of soccer and then forwarded to players. The questions were designed to help us understand aggression's role in soccer, by asking how often participants experience or take part in trash talking and intentional penalizations, and how it all may affect their play. Players were given an opportunity to share examples of trash talking they have encountered and to explain whether or not they felt it was a part of human nature.

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  Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Influence on Kappa Opiod Receptor Function within the Nucleus Accumbens in Adult Rats

  Raymond Amirault, Mary Spodnick, and Trevor Towner

  Adolescent alcohol use is associated with a risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) in rats augments ethanol consumption in adulthood. In addition, chronic intermittent ethanol exposure reduces dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) via a kappa opioid receptor (KORs) mechanism. However, the impact of AIE on KOR-mediated regulation of dopamine is unknown. The goal of this study is to examine the impact of AIE exposure on dopamine transmission and KOR function. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed on alternating days to ethanol or water via orogastricgavage during early (P25-45; e-AIE) or late (P45-65; l-AIE) adolescence. Following protracted abstinence, coronal sections containing the NAc were harvested for dopamine transmission and KOR-function analysis. After baseline dopamine release was stable, KORs were activated pharmacologically and the effects on dopamine release were measured. Our data showed augmented KOR function in eAIE compared to e-water female rats. In contrast, no changes in KOR-function were observed in e-AIE male rats. Interestingly, in male and female l-AIE rats, KOR-function was reduced. This exposure-dependent disparity in KOR-function suggests differential temporal interaction between ethanol and KORs within the NAc during development.

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  Associations Among Internalized Homonegativity, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Religiosity in a Community Sample of Sexual Minority Individuals

  Violeta Bangiyev and Dana Ergas

  Coming from a religious background may increase the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals (Houp, 2019), but less is known about how the religiosity of the individuals, rather than their family, is related to internalized stigma. While religion often helps improve health and coping skills, it may negatively impact LGBTQ+ people due to the stigma experienced (Valdiserri et al., 2019). This study examined the associations among internalized homonegativity, adverse childhood experiences, and religiosity. The current sample was comprised of 107 community individuals who identified as a sexual minority. A majority (75.21%) of individuals had at least one adverse childhood experience. 30% identified as Christian, 19% identified as Atheists, and 9% identified as Agnostic. These proportions differ substantially from the national average whereby 65% of Americans identified as Christian, 4% as Atheists, 5% as Agnostic (Pew Research Center, 2019). This suggests LGBTQ+ individuals may be less likely to affiliate with a religion compared with the general American population. Additionally, adverse childhood experiences and degree of self-reported religiosity/spirituality were both positively and independently correlated with internalized homonegativity. This research is important to help us understand and support the LGBTQ+ community since it may help religious communities/leaders, and mental health practitioners in the future.

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  Striatal Dopamine and Norepinephrine Levels in Conjunction with OCD-like Behaviors in a Novel Animal Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  Brooke Bokal, Miya Carmichael, Jessica Krupa Emily Bellow, Kayla Elder, and Danielle Stern

  This study evaluated behaviors and monoamine levels of the neonatal clomipramine (neoCLOM) model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in male and female rats (36 of each). Subjects were injected with 15 mg/kg of the serotonin-norepinephrine uptake inhibitor clomipramine during a developmentally sensitive period. A unique combination of Hole Board (HB) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) apparatuses was used to evaluate compulsiveness and anxiety. There was a significant effect of Treatment in the HB. Male neoCLOMs had increased hole poke and repeats versus control male neoSALs. In contrast, there was a significant effect of Sex in the EPM. Female neoCLOMs spent more time in open arms than male neoCLOMs. HB and EPM behaviors did not correlate for any group. Serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) levels in post mortem tissue homogenates from the hypothalamus and amygdala were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. There were significant effects of Treatment and Sex. Neurochemical abnormalities reflect monoamine dysfunction in OCD patients. Results support some aspects of the face and construct validity of the model. Further research is needed to evaluate the model's predictive validity, sensitivity to sex differences, and potential usefulness in identification of new treatment methods for OCD patients.

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  Optimizing Conditions for the Conjugation of Unusual Substrates to IgG1 Antibodies Using Microbial Transglutaminase

  Brittany Brems, Tak Ian Chio, and Breanna Demestichas

  Antibody drugs conjugations (ADCs) are an increasingly important targeted drug-delivery technology for the treatment of cancer. Site-specific ADCs are particularly advantageous due to the homogeneous nature of drug attachment, consistent drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and improved pharmacokinetic, efficacy and safety profile. Microbial transglutaminase is frequently used for preparation for these ADCs because it facilitates the facile formation of a specific peptide bond between alkyl amines and the amide side change of exposed glutamine residues. Previously, it was believed that the only viable substrates for transglutaminase were alkyl amines. However, we have recently found that non-amine substrates, such as hydrazines and hydrazides, are also suitable substrates for transglutaminase. These newfound substrates result in more stable products and allow for a greater diversity of drugs to be attached to ADCs. Herein, we describe the optimization of reaction conditions for the TG-mediated coupling of non-amine substrates to IgG1 antibodies. Initial conditions resulted in poor loading for many of the hydrazine and hydrazide substrates (DAR ~ 0.3). Optimization of temperature, pH, equivalents of linker payload/non-amine substrate, equivalents of transglutaminases, percentage of DMSO, and concentration of antibody. This resulted in a dramatic increase in reaction efficiency, resulting in a DAR of ~2, the maximum loading for transglutaminase-mediated site-specific conjugations. Loading of the conjugates onto a light-chain mutant of trastuzumab was evaluated using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry.

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  Increasing the Efficacy of Student Learning Groups

  Juliet Buddiga and Mel Phillip

  Many college classes involve work and assignments to be completed as a group. These student groups vary with respect to their ability to achieve their goals effectively, often due to insufficient cooperation within the group. This project seeks to improve student group function through education on the eight Core Design Principles derived from Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom. In a randomized control trial, students were provided with core design principle intervention, and the subsequent results will report on the effects of this intervention on group performance and satisfaction.

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  How Do People Understand and Communicate Their Sexuality?: Application of Labels and the Sexuality Spectrum

  McKenna Bunnell, Emelyn Ehrlich, and Gillian van der Have

  In the twentieth century, two well-known models, the Kinsey Homosexual-Heterosexual Scale and the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), were proposed to capture the complexity of sexual orientation. Though groundbreaking at the time of their conception, further research has concluded that the scales are flawed, and do not account for many aspects of sexuality. This has been reflected in several studies where subjects expressed their discontent with the current systems of measurement, due to limitations in communicating their sexual orientation and the identification process. For many people, sexuality can fluctuate throughout their lives, and the labeling systems that exist for sexual orientation are restrictive. The perception of homosexuality and how it is affected by norms of masculinity can also impact peoples' own views of their sexual orientation. Patterns reflected over the past eighty years show that the scales are no longer completely representative of sexuality, and these factors further complicate an already complex aspect of human life.

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  Assumptions about the Nature of Sexual Attraction and Asexuality

  Chloe Cairncross and Alex Rehman-Grosser

  Asexuality is defined as the non-experience of sexual attraction, but if humans are naturally sexual beings then the assumption is that asexuality must not be natural. This research explores the idea of asexuality as part of human nature. We reviewed literature on the topic of asexuality and administered a survey. The survey was released on five different platforms and received nearly 600 responses, the majority from individuals identifying on the asexual spectrum. The survey addressed understandings of asexuality and experiences of both asexual and non-asexual individuals. Almost all survey participants believed that asexuality is natural, however, approximately two-thirds also believed that humans were naturally sexual. We are advocating for further research into sexuality and the interaction of cultural views of what is "natural" with sexual expression as well as the misconceptions and intolerance towards asexuality.

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  Factors Impacting Age of Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Angela Candrilli

  Earlier diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is related to optimal outcomes (Turner, Stone, Pozdol, & Coonrod, 2006), but may be impacted by demographic variables (e.g., parental income, gender, race; Fountain, King, & Bearman, 2011). The contribution of system-level factors (e.g., service access, type of diagnosing professional, co-occurring conditions) is unclear. This study examined factors impacting age of ASD diagnosis for 105 children (6-17 years-old). Linear regression results indicate children receive ASD diagnoses later if they live in the Midwest United States (β=2.24, p< .05) or another country (β=4.08, p< .05) compared to the Northeast United States. Age of diagnosis was also later for diagnoses by psychologists compared to pediatricians (β=1.54, p< .05), or in cases of co-occurring mood disorders (β=3.02, p< .01). Children who received developmental services (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy) were diagnosed earlier (β=-1.93, p< .05) compared to those who had never received these services. Unlike past research, parental income, race, and ASD symptom severity were not related to age of ASD diagnosis. Systems-level variables best account for age of ASD diagnosis and should be considered in efforts to reduce barriers to care.

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  Evaluation of TAG and Glucose Concentrations to Determine the Degree of Adaptation to a High-Sugar Diet in Drosophila melanogaster

  Christina Capobianco, Azva Alvi, Matthew Pereira, and Thomas Rundell

  Experimental evolution strategies have been used to alter both phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of populations under laboratory selective pressures. In this project, an outbred population of Drosophila melanogaster will undergo selection for adaptation to high-sugar (HS) diets during early adulthood. Previous studies showed that HS feeding reduces the lifespan and health span in adult Drosophila, including obesity and hyperglycemia, compared to control flies. Therefore, the longest-lived survivors of chronic HS feeding will be mated to produce each generation, allowing selection for protective alleles. We hypothesize that the HS-adapted population will increase its tolerance to HS feeding over time, whereas the control population will not. To quantify tolerance to HS and determine if adaptation has occurred, weights will be recorded from flies from each of the populations. Triacylglyceride (TAG) and glucose concentrations will also be quantified over the course of the experiment. A shift of HS-selected populations toward more control-like phenotypes will be considered evidence for adaptation. Ultimately, these data will be used in tandem with whole genome sequencing to analyze evolutionary changes that dictate the effects of genotype on health during overnutrition.

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  Let's Talk About Sex...and Gender: The Varying Ways in Which Sex and Gender are Operationally Defined in Current Medical Research

  Marissa Cimmino and Jasper Otvertchenko

  Sex-based differences are a common area of study in health research, specifically in relation to disease manifestation and treatment. Hormonal makeup, genetic factors, and reproductive organs are a few factors lumped under the definition of sex while broad and varying social paradigms are examined as a framework for gender or excluded altogether. Operational definitions of sex and/or gender were compared within varying sectors of healthcare in western medicine, elucidating the differences in medical research practices overall. This content analysis shows limitations in how current studies define what sex characteristics are being examined, how sex/gender are defined, and if these distinctions are relevant. Studies often conflate sex and gender while failing to address the unique and often independent factors that contribute to their influences on the conditions being examined. These discrepancies create murky findings that often leave out intersex and transgender people from receiving adequate medical care and do not allow for differences within cisgender dyadic individuals. This preliminary study aims to review how sex and gender were operationally defined in previous healthcare studies, determine how sex and gender data were collected and reported from participants, and suggest a protocol to standardize data collection for these characteristics in future studies.

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  Sexual Consent: Do you get it? How college students' definitions of consent differ from their region's consent policy

  Alicia Clum, Hannah Bronson, Justin Chen, Phoebe Goldberg, Anastasia Guerra, and Emily Mendelson

  Although many colleges across the United States have incorporated some form of sexual consent policy into their code of conduct, these definitions vary by region and institution. Moreover, previous studies have found that although students may be aware of their university’s consent policy, it may not always be used in practice (Gronert & Raclaw, 2019; Ortiz, 2019). This study compares four samples of respondents by region (i.e. Northeast and South), assigning a regionally-typical consent policy to the sample and then analyzing the differences in sexual consent understanding and behaviors. We hypothesized that students’ internalized definitions of consent will differ both from their regionally-stated policy and from each other in significant ways. Data was collected from participants through an online national survey that asked questions regarding students’ definitions of consent and how they knew that their previous partners had given them consent. These responses were then analyzed to examine what themes exist between students’ perceptions of consent and their assigned regional policy. Implications for the utility of university consent policy upon student consensual behavior is discussed.

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  Character Profile of Relational Bullying Victims

  Kristin Crowder

  Bullying prevalence rates vary widely, due in part to differences in types of bullying experiences by gender and age (Sreckovic et al., 2014). Relational bullying is particularly ambiguous (Morton et al., under review) with increased risk for females (Espelage & Napolitano, 2003) and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Sasson, et al., 2012). Broadly, bullying increases through middle school and then decreases (Blake et al., 2012). The trajectory of relational bullying for youth with ASD is unclear. Parents of 155 youth ages 6-17 reported on their child's relational bullying experiences and completed the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2) as a measure of ASD symptoms. Logistic regression results indicate females are over twice as likely to experience relational bullying compared to males (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.49, p=.046). Compared to middle school, relational bullying was less likely in elementary school (OR=0.41, p=.070) or high school (OR=0.26, p=.017). Examining the interaction between gender and grade (χ2(2)=3.58, p=0.167) revealed that female relational victimization remains high through high school but male rates reduce significantly (χ 2(1)=7.39, p=0.007). Relational bullying was also associated with greater social impairment (OR=1.05, p=.065). Identification of and intervention for relational bullying should focus on middle schoolers and high school females.

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  Media vs. Law: How Human Trafficking is Represented in American Media

  Jen Daly and Eve Marks

  What do you think when you hear the term human trafficking? Do you picture a van pulling up and snatching a pretty white girl off the street? Do you see that girl being forced into a life of sexual slavery? Can you imagine this helpless girl being rescued from her evil captor? Mainstream media is the reason for this misconstrued image you may have pictured in your head. Most individuals have become sympathetic to this "rescue narrative" frequently depicted by American media and crime thrillers, yet its emphasis on sex trafficking leaves other forms of human trafficking without proper representation in modern media. Within our research, we will explore how the trafficking narrative is embedded in both national and international law. Subsequently, we will compare how these legally defined forms of human trafficking are depicted in American movies and television shows from 2009-2019. To conclude our analysis, we will describe what a human rights-centered approach to television and film would encompass. The representation of human trafficking in American media and key legal instruments creates a narrative that does not represent the complexities of this issue and favors rescuing and policing as opposed to the human rights of trafficked persons.

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  Impact of Colonialism on a States' Punitive Policies

  Ciacciarelli Deanna

  As humans, none of us want to go to prison. The main reasons being the lack of mobility and poor living conditions. However, have you ever thought about why these conditions are "bad" and why that is the stereotype of a prison? This emblematic of the pattern of worldwide human rights violations towards prisoners. Countries with poor prison conditions are reported on in their yearly human rights report. They are also in violation of several Mandela Rules, the 2015 updated version of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, an extension of violation of human rights. I will ask why some states create punitive penal systems while others pursue rehabilitation, with a focus on colonization as a factor. Are countries more likely to punish prisoners if it was created or colonized out of violence? I will review and evaluate literature about penal versus rehabilitative prisons, and compare their policies depending on the history of a state as a colony/colonizer. I will study this by quantifying data through Professor Cingranelli's quantitative research methods. These aid us in identifying why the current problems in the prison system are global and help guide us towards steps to resolve the epidemic.

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  An Examination of Guard Detainee Relations in Guantanamo Bay

  Samantha DeProspo

  No one among the American guard force, past or present, doubts for a moment that if these 'worst of the worst' were released they would go right back to the battlefield. Some would make the battlefield right in the United States. While this may be the dominant perspective regarding Guantanamo Bay, additional research has shown that guard detainee relations are incredibly complex. There have been many brutalities on record by guards. Although, there are some accounts of guards being seen as a friend or a helpful figure to detainees while they are in captivity. In this paper, I will explore the question of whether guards are coerced or complicit in their actions regarding detainee abuse. This will be done by using firsthand accounts written by people who have spent time at Guantanamo Bay. Some of these include Guantanamo Diary written by former detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi and Inside Gitmo: The True Story Behind the Myths of Guantanamo Bay by Gordon Cucullu, a retired Army colonel. The guard detainee relations are a critical aspect of any detention center.

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  The Contaminated Realities of Post-IBM Endicott Today

  Priya Desai

  Endicott, a small town in the Southern Tier of New York, experienced great economic success due to the birth of IBM in 1911 through the late 1900s. Today, the town is left with environmental degradation and is tainted by carcinogens as a result. The post-industrial town has endured corporate-state mitigation efforts for years. This research will explore the realities of the toxic plume in the twenty years since operations have ended at the IBM-Endicott plant. Through implementing participant observations and a myriad of interviews with experts, including NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) officials and Endicott residents, the plume’s lingering situation was revealed. The chemical spill continues to leave mixed emotions within the community. Some are angered at IBM, some retain their loyalty and respect, and others have come to terms with the efforts made and now see the plume as a part of Endicott’s history. This “toxic plume” is the worst reality of the possible effects that powerful corporations can impose on small towns, a reality that has become a fear for many such communities around the world. The ongoing story of the Endicott plume fits into the greater picture for the need of environmental justice; it is an example of precautions needed to be put into place so a community will never have to suffer as such.

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  Prisoners and The Wealth of Nations

  Michael Dua

  Prisoners are treated differently all over the world. Some countries, such as Denmark (the 15th wealthiest country in the world as of 2019 according to USA Today), treat their prisoners with respect and give them prisoners privileges that prisoners in other countries can only dream of. In contrast, in countries like Afghanistan (the 16th poorest country in the world, as stated by USA Today), which has multiple cases of missing suspects and instances of torture executed by law enforcement, prisoners are treated in a cruel fashion that violates several of their basic rights as prisoners, as outlined in the Mandela Rules. This contrast raises the question: what causes these differing methods of treatment towards prisoners? Is it religious oppression? Is it the political aspect of countries and how some countries are more democratic than others? Or does wealth play the biggest factor? I have chosen to delve more into the financial standings of different countries and how it impacts their treatment of prisoners. By utilizing Dr. Cingranelli's extensive coding system for rating countries based on how human-rights oriented they are, I hope to answer the question of whether or not the wealth of a nation impacts their prison system.

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  Exploring the Possibility of Foreign Prosecution in Regard to the Treatment of Detainees in Guantanamo Bay

  Erin Dunn

  Detainees held within Guantanamo Bay have been subjected to appalling treatment throughout their daily lives. In the past, they were forced to undergo questioning about their suspected connections to terrorism using enhanced interrogation techniques tantamount to torture. Despite having evidence to prove torture occurred, the United States utilizes a policy of enforced unaccountability to cover up the human rights violations that took place. Since classified information about United States torture policy has been made public by whistle blowers in the past decade, foreign governments have attempted to prosecute the United States officials who took part in the torture program. This work will demonstrate the treatment detainees at Guantanamo Bay were subjected to and the international community's response to that treatment. I will utilize documents pertaining to the attempts made by foreign governments--specifically, Germany, Italy, and Spain--to prosecute United States officials for torture to explore the possibility of the perpetrators receiving punishment for their crimes. This project will further the research into the treatment Guantanamo detainees were subjected to, emphasizing the difference between United States courts and foreign courts, and will lay out the possibility of a trial in a foreign court for the human rights abuses committed in Guantanamo Bay.

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  Development of Assay Platforms for Monitoring Human C-Reactive Protein

  Palmer Ernst and Corrine Stahura

  It is imperative to have rapid diagnostic assays available that provide healthcare workers with a rapid yes/no or semi-quantitative response to a biomarker of interest. Agglutination assays use the clustering of antibodies in the presence of an antigen to semi-quantitatively monitor specific protein levels. Our research details the development of a latex agglutination test (LAT) for the detection of C-reactive protein (CRP), an important marker of inflammation in various disease states, at physiologically-relevant levels. Blue latex beads were covalently coated with Protein A for oriented antibody immobilization, then functionalized with anti-CRP antibody at various concentrations. We determined the optimal concentrations of Protein A and anti-CRP and will carry out an assessment of particle size effects on visualization and detectable CRP levels. Further experiments will improve this test’s sensitivity and develop this into a platform assay for other biomarkers. For quantitative measurements in a laboratory environment, we also have developed a sandwich ELISA assay for CRP using anti-CRP conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. These platforms will establish and optimize the immunoassays, then we’ll use novel nanoparticles such as fluorescent liposomes and europium chelate particles to provide greater sensitivity and ease of use versus traditional latex beads or enzymes used for signal amplification.

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  The Haudenosaunee in Contemporary Contexts

  Joela Falk

  The Haudenosaunee are a confederacy of six nations, three of which reside close to Binghamton in Central and Upstate New York: Oneida, Cayuga, and Onondaga. As sovereign nations, they impact, interact with, and influence their neighboring communities. The relationship between indigenous nations is examined both on part of the Haudenosaunee but also through outside communities' treatment of their cultures, histories, and sovereignty. Through Haudenosaunee existence and efforts of placemaking, tension is created with the United States government in relation to legal cases such as land rights claims and environmental activism. With this research, places like New York and Binghamton are viewed with a scope that encompasses aspects of social, economic, and political factors of local Haudenosaunee nations.

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  Art in Context: Murals, Graffiti, Street Art, and Activism in Contemporary Argentina and Ecuador

  Peter Farquharson

  Creative activism in the form of urban art has flourished in Latin American political and social discourse since the famed Mexican Muralist movement of the 1920's. Although there exists an abundance of scholarship which considers this particular artistic moment and the subsequent mural movements it engendered across the region into the 1960's, there remains a dearth of academic study concerning both muralism and alternate forms of urban art - namely street art and graffiti - occurring thereafter and since the 1990's especially. In an effort to fill the resulting scholarly lacuna, this presentation proposes several possible points of reentry for contemporary study as identified during fieldwork conducted in Argentina and Ecuador during the summer of 2019. In the most general sense these considerations can be categorized into two fields of inquiry: questions of change and continuity in artistic style, and reflections upon the efficacy of this urban art in enacting and maintaining meaningful political and social discourse within a larger overall media environment. To achieve the presentation objectives outlined herein, textual excerpts from relevant studies on urban art in activism will, in conjunction with primary source material, contextualize photographs compiled during the fieldwork aforementioned to create an informative and dynamic scholarly presentation.

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  Using Receiver Functions to Study Flat Slab Subduction Zones in Central Chile

  Miranda Fatolitis and Jessica Domino

  Subduction zones are a common geologic feature around the world. They are regions where dense oceanic crust descends into the mantle beneath less dense continental crust. Subduction zone margins are characterized by their presence of earthquakes and volcanoes. The longest subduction margin is along western South America where subduction of the Nazca plate is responsible for formation of the Andes. Along this margin there are distinct segments that are described by the changes in geometry of the down-going Nazca plate. The Chilean-Pampean segment is distinguished by a region of flat slab subduction geometry that corresponds to an absence of seismicity and volcanic dormancy.This study uses receiver functions, a passive source seismology tool that helps visualize vertical and lateral velocity changes of large structure at depth, to image the flat slab region. This study is focused on analyzing the lateral velocity changes above the flat slab in order to determine effects of slab geometry on fluid metasomatism in the mantle, indicated by anisotropy. Anisotropy in this region is proposed to originate from serpentinization of peridotite, caused by fluids escaping from the down-going Nazca plate. Constraining anisotropy in this region will provide implications for both seismicity and volcanism on the surface.

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  Torture in Guantanamo: An Examination of the George W. Bush Administration

  Dylan Fay and Brady Andrews

  The true nature of Guantanamo is unclear to many Americans, who simply believe it's where terrorists are held. This false idea behind the purpose of the detainment center is a result of the Bush administration's war on terror. The detainees held at the base were captured by, kidnapped by, or sold to the United States as suspects connected with terrorist activities or organizations. The majority of the detainees weren't charged or prosecuted. While at the base, they were subject to cruel punishments and torture such as waterboarding and sodomization. To justify their actions, the Bush government attempted to legalize the abuses by producing legal rhetoric to circumvent the Third Geneva Convention, claiming that members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban weren't prisoners of war. Our research covers the extent of the many abuses and violations that occurred in Guantanamo as a result of the RDI program from 2002-08. We examined the legal rhetoric used by the Bush administration as well as the unitary executive theory, which gave the president the ability to authorize the inhumane treatment of detainees in Guantanamo. After reviewing the evidence, the question we ask ourselves is should the Bush administration be prosecuted for their actions?