Undergraduate Researchers Represent JMU at Premier Event

Scholarly and Creative Endeavors
Involve Students and Faculty
James Madison University, Office of Sponsored Programs
Undergraduate Researchers Represent JMU at Premier Event
16th National
Conference on
Undergraduate
Research
Inside this issue:
Softlithographic Patterning of the
Copolymer P (3HB-3HV)
The Reactions of Mg{Al(OPri)4}2 with
Catchol, Hydroquinone,
and 2,3-Dihydroxynaphthalene
Infrared Imaging and Measurement
of Tropospheric Carbon Monoxide
The Collapse of the Solid South: J.
Strom Thurmond & the Dixiecrat
Revolt of 1948
Noticing Changes & Remembering
Faces: Differences Between Men &
Women in Eye Witness Accuracy
Virginia State-Based Anemometer
Loan Program & Wind Resource
Study
Analysis of Surface and Electrical
Properties of Bonder Tips
Exaggerated Effects of Defeat: The
Spanish Armada of 1588
The Espionage Act of 1917 and the
Limitations of First Amendment
Rights During the Great War
Development and Testing of Gas
Filters Used in Correlation Radiometry for Co Measurement
The Bay of Pigs: Kennedy’s
“Orphan Child”
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
Scholarly research and creative
endeavors are touchstones of quality higher
education. James Madison University (JMU)
heartily supports faculty undertakings which
rely on internal and external sponsorship
and culminate in unique opportunities for
undergraduates to partake in research
experiences. The students ultimately benefit
greatly from this one-on-one facultymentored research, which provides a unique
facet to their educational experience at JMU
and gives them a distinct edge upon
graduation.
This year twelve students from JMU were
selected to participate and eleven attended
the 16th National Conference on
Undergraduate Research on April 25 – 27 at
the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The
JMU NCUR presenters represented five
disciplines and three colleges of the
university. JMU students joined participants
from over 400 colleges and universities from
nearly every state. Disciplines represented
included the creative arts, mathematics,
business, social science, the humanities,
physical and life sciences, and engineering,
among others.
Since its inception in 1987, NCUR has
become a major annual event drawing over
2,000 undergraduates, faculty, and
administrators to hear and discuss
undergraduate creative scholarly work. JMU
has sponsored representatives to the event
since 1989. Attendance at NCUR presents
an opportunity to hear nationally prominent
speakers and to discuss educational policy,
programs, and funding for undergraduate
scholarly work.
The NCUR association encourages
awareness of undergraduate research,
scholarship, and creative opportunities as
they exist in various disciplines and types of
institutions. NCUR promotes appreciation of
the valuable role these components play in
complementing the other aspects of
undergraduate education and in
encouraging the pursuit of advanced study
and academic careers. Similarly, NCUR
communicates and celebrates the results of
such student-mentor collaborations,
and fosters a multidisciplinary and
multicultural community of researchers,
scholars, and artists linked by a common
enthusiasm for learning.
Faculty members Dr. Michael J. Galgano
of the History Department, and Dr. Sherry L.
Serdikoff of the School of Psychology
accompanied the group to Whitewater,
Wisconsin for the three-day conference.
Read on for summaries of our
undergraduates’ research accomplishments
involving their work in the disciplines of
Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, History, and
Integrated Science and Technology.
Congratulations to all
students whose
research culminated in
the honor of selection
for attendance at the
16th annual NCUR
conference.
Page 2
Scholarly and Creative Endeavors
Determining the Optimal Parameters for Softlithographic
Patterning of the Copolymer P(3HB-3HV)
When undergraduates,
working alongside faculty,
participate in the
generation of knowledge or
artistic creation, they join
the university’s rich
intellectual community and
they derive unique, lifelong benefits.
Graham R. Beaber (Dr. Brian H. Augustine)
Department of Chemistry
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class
of fully biodegradable polymers produced
naturally by bacteria as an energy storage
media. Copolymer blends of PHAs can be produced and patterned into thin film form. Poly
3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate [P
(3HB-3HV)] thin films were patterned using a
novel hybrid soft-lithographic technique combining solvent assisted micromolding (SAMIM)
and micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC). Investigators varied solution concentration,
temperature and sample geometry in order to
understand how the PHA microstructures are
affected during patterning.
Parameters were varied as follows: copolymer concentration in chloroform (6.0 mg/mL,
4.5 mg/mL, 3.0 mg/mL, 1.5 mg/mL, and 0.6
mg/mL), temperature (0°C, 22°C, and 37°C)
and feature height (0.5mm, 1.0mm, 5.0mm,
and 10.0mm). Atomic force microscope (AFM)
images revealed that higher temperatures produce denser features, higher concentrations
improve the edge resolution of the features,
and shorter stamps retain the spherulitic microstructure observed in unstamped surfaces.
The Reactions of Mg{Al(OPri)4}2 with Catchol, Hydroquinone,
and 2,3-Dihydroxynaphthalene
Brycelyn M. Boardman (Dr. Donna S. Amenta
and Dr. John W. Gilje) Department of Chemistry
Interest in heterometalic alkoxides is increasing in part due to their use as precursors to mixed metal oxides, some of which
have use in microelectronics. This research
concerns the synthesis of derivatives of magnesium aluminum isopropoxide, Mg{Al(OPri)
4}2 (1) in which some of the isopropyl groups
have been replaced with aromatic moieties.
These syntheses were attempted in an effort
to stabilize the heterometalic alkoxides. The
reactions of 1 with hydroquinone (2), catechol (3), and 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (4)
were investigated.
The products have been characterized by
proton, carbon, variable temperature, and
COSY nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. Integration of 1H
NMR spectra indicate the empirical formula for
the product from reaction of 1 with 3 is MgAl2
(OPri)4(cat)2, where cat represents the C6H4O22ion. 1H and 13C variable temperature NMR
spectroscopy indicate a series of isomers in
which the isopropoxyl and catechol groups are
distributed between sites that bridges two metals and ones where an OR group is attached to
a single metal. Similar behavior was observed
for the product of the reaction of 1 with 4. A
single product seems to form from reaction of
1 with 2. Structural and kinetic details of these
systems were discussed.
Infrared Imaging and Measurement of Tropospheric Carbon
Monoxide Using Gas Filter Correlation Radiometry
Jenna E. Bourne, Megan M. Clark (Dr. Jonathan J. Miles) Department of Integrated Science and Technology
The project investigators attempted to
accurately quantify tropospheric carbon
monoxide (CO) concentrations by utilizing a
system that applies infrared imaging and gas
filter correlation radiometry (GFCR). GFCR
offers a differencing method of remote sensing of atmospheric gas concentrations over a
large area. A modified, ground-based version
of GFCR was used for this project using the
full moon as the reflecting infrared source.
The measurement was made by differencing
the signals obtained from the moon as
passed through an evacuated gas filter cell
or a gas filter cell containing a predetermined concentration of CO. With this measurement, the investigators’ model was used
to correlate the data to real CO concentrations in the troposphere. An ancillary purpose of this project was to calculate the responsivity of the
infrared imager used in
measurements by determining the power that is equivalent
to the outputted data number.
Summer 2002
Page 3
The Collapse of the Solid South: J. Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrat Revolt of 1948
Michael J. Citro (Dr. Raymond M. Hyser)
Department of History
The election of 1948 would prove difficult
for Harry S. Truman. He faced defection from
the liberal wing of the Democratic Party with
Henry Wallace’s Progressive Party and he
ran against a resurgent Republican Party led
by Thomas E. Dewey. Few political commentators predicted the dissolution of the solidly
Democratic South. However, southern leaders walked out of the Democratic Party convention after the party nominated Truman
and adopted a strong civil rights plank to the
campaign platform. These leaders formed a
third party, the Dixiecrats, and ran Governor
J. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina as their
presidential candidate. Based on the papers,
speeches, and writings of J. Strom Thurmond
as well as southern newspaper coverage of
the election, the Dixiecrat campaign was examined and analyzed, especially concerning
the third party’s bid to solicit votes from the
traditionally Democratic “Solid South.” As a
result of the Dixiecrat revolt of 1948, the
South as a Democratic stronghold was shattered, thus ushering in a new era of American political culture.
Noticing Changes & Remembering Faces: Differences
Between Men & Women in Eye Witness Accuracy
Rachel E. Harper, Justin W. Griffin, Jennifer
Richardson and Susan L. Davis
(Dr. Sheena J. Rogers) School of Psychology
Do men or women make better eyewitnesses? Investigators used a new experimental paradigm which measures inattentional change blindness to examine this
question. Specifically, many participants in a
staged social interaction do not notice when
their unfamiliar conversation partner is
switched with another, if the transition from
one to another is occluded (Simons and
Levin, 1997).
In most situations, visual representations
are sparse and contain little detail. Investigators compared the accuracy of male and
female participants in detecting change and
in identifying actors in a brief social exchange, hypothesizing that an 'outgroup
homegeneity effect' would occur, such that
switches of actors of the opposite sex to the
observer go unnoticed more often than
switches of actors of their own sex. In other
words women make better eyewitnesses to
the identity of other women, and men to
men.
Administration of the Virginia State-Based Anemometer Loan Program
& Wind Resource Study of JMU’s East Campus
Matthew G. Heck (National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Department of Mines,
Minerals and Energy) Department of Integrated Science and Technology
Wind energy is a natural resource that
has been harvested for many centuries.
Whether for milling grain a century ago or
producing clean electricity today, wind is a
natural, inexhaustible source of energy with
no fuel and no pollution. The price of wind
has dropped from 40 cents per kilowatt
hour (kWh) in 1980 to 4-7 cents today making wind-generated electricity a good economic and environmentally conscious decision. As a result, the industry is the fastest
growing energy source in the world and is
looking for students who have the skills and
knowledge to enter the field. The east cam-
pus study of James Madison University
will expose students and teachers to the
technology and allow them to work with
real data from a place students can relate
to.
Virginia has a significant wind energy
resource, but has fallen behind many
states, such as New York and Pennsylvania in its use of wind energy technology.
The administration of the Department of
Energy’s State-Based Anemometer Loan
Program in Virginia will allow landowners
and companies to harness this wind energy resource at no cost. As a result, this
program should spur the use of wind energy in the state.
Page 4
Scholarly and Creative Endeavors
Analysis of Surface and Electrical Properties of Bonder Tips
Zachary R. Kostura (VAS Undergraduate Research Grant) Department of Physics
The production of microelectronic components involves the use of bonding techniques
in which an electric current passes through a
resistive metallic tip, increasing its temperature. The cyclical nature of this process
causes excessive tip wear which may affect
the quality of electric junctions produced. This
study represents a real-world manufacturing
problem, which required the development of
new instrumentation, measurement, and observational procedures.
An investigation of the correlation between
changing surface and electrical properties of
the bonder material and the number of electro-mechanical cycles the tip material has
undergone were presented. The surface
properties of the tip material, such as grain
size and structure, were determined using
various microscopy techniques, including
optical observations, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Electrical current, voltage and temperature
variations were monitored during the transient electro-mechanical bonding process.
The inherent effects of these changing materials properties on the manufacturing environment were also discussed.
Exaggerated Effects of Defeat: The Spanish Armada of 1588
“For the first time in
my life, I felt
passionate about an
issue… I wanted to
dig deeper into the
questions; I wanted
to search for my own
answers.”
Liam J. Paskvan (Dr. Michael J. Galgano)
Department of History
The defeat of the Armada of 1588, while
a tactical setback for Spanish arms, was not
the keystone event that historians see in the
toppling of an empire. For the duration of the
16th and into the 17th Century, Philip II’s Iberian kingdom retained economic, military,
and cultural preeminence on the European
continent, pursuing mercantilist policies in
the Americas, funding a draining war against
Protestant rebels in the Low Countries, and
reaching an unprecedented apex in literary
and cultural accomplishment.
Though the ill-fated campaign, which
failed to establish control of the English
Channel and transport the Army of Flanders from the continent to a predetermined beachhead in England, ended in
abject failure, Spain quickly regained its
position as the premier European power,
albeit with a tarnished aura of invincibility.
In this loss of prestige, Protestants gained
their greatest victory, realizing that Spain,
while still formidable, was no longer unbeatable. Conversely, Roman Catholics
viewed with consternation the humbling of
the Iberian power, doubting, for the first
time, the ability of the Spanish Crown to
defend the faith. The study used English
and Spanish sources.
The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Limitations of First
Amendment Rights During the Great War
Lindsey J. Paul (Dr. Raymond M. Hyser)
Department of History
In times of war, the government often imposes heightened restrictions on its citizens
in order to protect the security of the nation.
After American entry into World War I, the
Espionage Act of 1917 guarded the nation
from internal deceit but also harmed many
of the citizens it aimed to protect. It granted
the executive branch, specifically the Attorney General and the Postmaster General,
extraordinary powers of censorship and
prosecution. Using the Congressional Record
and newspaper accounts, the act’s debate in
Congress and its specific provisions were
examined. These include assisting foreign
nations, interfering in military operations,
particularly recruitment and drafting, and
using the mail system to promote acts of
treason or resistance to U.S. laws. Much of
this work focused on the implementation of
the legislation, which led to the persecution
of hundreds of Americans in 1917 and
1918. Based on Supreme Court decisions,
the conclusion of the research emphasized
several specific cases that provided much
insight into the suspension of civil liberties in
wartime: Schenck v. United States, Debs v.
United States, Frohwerk v. United States,
and Berger et al. v. United States.
Scholarly and Creative Endeavors
Page 5
Development and Testing of Gas Filters Used in Correlation
Radiometry for Co Measurement
Danielle N. Rockwood (Dr. Jonathan J. Miles)
Department of Integrated Science and Technology
The design and manufacture of gas filters
is critical in Gas Filter Correlation Radiometry (GFCR). Gas cells are either evacuated or
back-filled with carbon monoxide and serve
as high-resolution optical filters. The filters
must be able to maintain a sustained vacuum for several days and feature optics
transmissive in the infrared. GFCR is applied
to measure concentrations of carbon monoxide in the troposphere using the moon as a
radiance source.
The filters are an important component in
this experimental effort. In this presentation,
the design and manufacturing process associated with the filters was presented and
test results described. In order to test the
gas filters for functionality, two processes
were employed. The first was a simple pressure versus time experiment that showed
how well the cells operated under vacuum
pressure. The second utilized a Fourier Infrared Spectrometer that showed the absorption spectra within the gas filter. The later
analysis revealed whether outside air escaped into the gas filter.
The Bay of Pigs: Kennedy’s “Orphan Child”
Brandon D. Taylor (Dr. J. Christopher Arndt)
Department of History
Congratulations to the
participants of the 2002
NCUR Conference!
Graham Beaber
Brycelyn Boardman
Jenna Bourne
Michael Citro
Megan Clark
Rachel Harper
Declassified documents released in the
last five years regarding the Bay of Pigs
invasion illustrate a clear picture of how the
invasion unfolded. This new information
provides an excellent case study of American
foreign policy in Cuba and provides one with
knowledge of the complexities of covert
invasions. The investigator’s focus was on
Kennedy’s obsession with the Bay of Pigs,
specifically, his motivation to proceed with
the engagement and why the operation
failed. The covert plan for invasion began
under the Eisenhower Administration and
was inherited by Kennedy when he entered
office in the beginning of 1961.
Commencing in April 1961, the actual
invasion of Cuba would fail miserably. There
are two main arguments about the
invasion's failure; one contends that the air
strikes were inadequate, and the other
prescribes to the belief that the CIA made
faulty assumptions. Although scholars agree
that the invasion was a mistake, there is still
debate as to why Kennedy initiated the
operation. This essay argues that Kennedy’s
campaign promise to rid the Western
Hemisphere
from
Communism
would
ultimately dictate the plan
for the invasion and would
later alter Kennedy’s lucid
judgment for the Bay of
Pigs operation.
Matthew Heck
Zachary Kostura
Liam Paskvan
Lindsey Paul
Danielle Rockwood
Brandon Taylor
Enjoying the Wisconsin landmarks.
Summer 2002
Scholarly and Creative Endeavors
17th National Conference on Undergraduate Research
JMU Application Procedures
Students are selected by a committee composed of JMU faculty and administrators. For consideration to participate and represent JMU, students must fully complete and submit an application adhering to all deadlines.
The three-part applications may be obtained at the Office of Sponsored Programs or from the Web at the following
URL: http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/ncur.html
Complete the JMU Student Application and provide the research abstract on paper to the
Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) by 12:00 p.m. Friday, October 11, 2002. Faculty
advisors are to complete the Faculty Advisor Form and return it separately to the OSP by
October 11, 2002.
Dates to remember:
•
October 11, 2002 - Internal JMU NCUR application deadline.
Return complete application physically to the Office of Sponsored Programs (Medical Arts West, Suite 22B) by 12:00 p.m.
•
Notification of selection to represent JMU. (Note: Applicants
still must be accepted by NCUR to participate in the conference.)
•
November 11, 2002 - Complete NCUR Form A (ABSTRACT) at
the Office of Sponsored Programs
•
February 7, 2003 - Complete NCUR Form B (REGISTRATION)
at the Office of Sponsored Programs
•
Mid-January 2003 -Notification of selection to attend NCUR
The Office of Sponsored Programs
homepage can be accessed at
www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/
For details on other aspects of sponsored programs, please call
Pat Buennemeyer at (540)568-6872
or
E-mail [email protected]
OSP is located at Suite 22B
Medical Arts West